Browse Articles

Ring‐Opening Arylation of Cyclic Diaryliodoniums via Cyclic Triaryliodanes as Aryne Precursors and Dynamic Aryl Reservoirs

ABSTRACT Cyclic diaryliodonium salts are widely employed as linchpins for constructing functionalized biaryls and as precursors to arynes under basic conditions. However, their synthetically practical engagement with strongly nucleophilic organometallic reagents has remained largely unexplored. Here we disclose a reaction between these salts and aryl Grignard reagents that delivers iodine‐capped teraryls with predominant meta ‐selectivity. In contrast to ligand coupling at iodine(III) or direct base‐induced aryne formation, the present transformation is initiated by the formation of a cyclic triaryliodane, which serves as both an aryne precursor and a dynamic aryl reservoir within a self‐propagating carbomagnesiation sequence. Spectroscopic analyses and control experiments support the involvement of the triaryliodane and reversible aryl exchange with aryl Grignard reagents, while trapping experiments intercept both aryne and terarylmagnesium intermediates. The reaction tolerates sterically and electronically diverse aryl Grignard reagents with consistent meta ‐selectivity, whereas strongly perturbing substituents on the iodonium salts can modulate the regioselectivity. The resulting iodo‐teraryls retain a versatile C─I bond amenable to further π‐extension or recyclization into cyclic iodonium architectures.

Charge-transfer-induced ultrafast valley depolarization in WS2/GaSe van der Waals heterostructures

The interfacial processes of two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) are of critical importance to their ultrafast carrier transfer dynamics and device performances as optoelectronic and valleytronic devices. Herein, the intricate interfacial dynamics and valley polarization behavior in WS2/GaSe vdWHs have been studied. Charge transfer (CT) is suggested to be the major interfacial process governing the photocarrier dynamics in this WS2/GaSe heterostructure (HS) by the control experiments, in which an 11-nm h-BN spacer between WS2 and GaSe effectively confirms the pronounced effect of the CT process on the dynamics of the HS. Considering spectral overlap between WS2 and GaSe excitons and multilayer interference effects, contribution from non-radiative energy transfer cannot be fully excluded. Furthermore, valley-resolved measurements reveal that the CT process drastically shortens the valley polarization lifetime to 151 fs in WS2/GaSe compared to 362 fs in monolayer WS2. This acceleration of valley depolarization may be interpreted by spin-degenerate valence bands in GaSe arising from its weak spin–orbit coupling. Acting as interlayer intermediate states, this valence band could facilitate an indirect carrier scattering pathway of “WS2 K valley → GaSe valence band → WS2 K′ valley.” This valley lifetime partially recovers when CT is blocked by h-BN insertion, directly correlating accelerated valley depolarization with interfacial CT. This work gains deep insights into the relationship between the charge separation and valley polarization dynamics in vdWHs, which is crucial for designing future valleytronic and optoelectronic devices.

Characterization and resource utilization of dyeing sludge in Taihu Lake Basin, China

Isolation of bioactive compounds from the petroleum ether soluble fraction of Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms flowers with dual evaluation: In silico studies of isolated molecules and in vitro/in vivo activities of the extract

Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth), an invasive aquatic plant, has attracted interest as a potential source of pharmacologically active natural products despite its ecological impact. The present study investigated the petroleum ether soluble fraction (PSF) of the methanolic extract of E. crassipes flowers to identify bioactive constituents and evaluate their biological activities. Chromatographic isolation followed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy led to the identification of five compounds: Kaempferol (Compound 1), Luteolin (Compound 2), Stigmasterol (Compound 3), 4-carboxybenzyl alcohol (Compound 4), and 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (Compound 5). Antimicrobial activity was assessed using disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays, thrombolytic activity through an in vitro clot lysis method, and antidiarrheal activity using the castor oil–induced diarrhea model in mice. Molecular docking and ADMET analyses were performed to explore potential target interactions and pharmacokinetic characteristics. The PSF exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity, with the highest inhibition against Bacillus subtilis (20.33 ± 1.25 mm) and MIC values ranging from 15.6–500 μL/mL. The extract also produced 14% clot lysis in the thrombolytic assay. In vivo antidiarrheal testing showed dose-dependent inhibition, reaching 38.89% reduction in diarrheal count at 600 mg/kg, approaching the activity of loperamide. Molecular docking analysis revealed that the identified compounds exhibited potential binding affinities comparable to standard ligands, suggesting potential interactions with relevant biological targets. The stigmasterol showing the highest interaction toward the κ-opioid receptor (−10.3 kcal/mol), comparable to loperamide (−9.1 kcal/mol). Flavonoids such as kaempferol and luteolin demonstrated notable binding with antimicrobial targets including dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase (KAS), as well as thrombolytic target tissue plasminogen activator (TPA). ADMET predictions indicated favorable drug-likeness for the flavonoids but highlighted lipophilicity-related limitations for stigmasterol. Collectively, these findings highlight the PSF of E. crassipes as a promising reservoir of multi-target phytochemicals with potential applications in gastrointestinal, infectious, and thromboembolic disorders.

Raman analysis of anisotropic strain in semipolar (112¯2) AlN grown on m-plane sapphire

The anisotropic strain characteristics of semipolar (112¯2) AlN grown on m-plane sapphire were investigated by Raman spectroscopy and high-resolution x-ray diffraction. The Raman quasi-TO mode exhibited a systematic asymmetry in the line shape, which was quantified by the asymmetry factor β using bi-pseudo-Voigt fitting. XRD analysis of multiple diffraction planes confirmed the presence of anisotropic strain in the films. A monotonic correlation was found between β and the anisotropic strain parameter (εaa−εam) derived from XRD. These results suggest Raman β-factor analysis can serve as a practical, nondestructive indicator of anisotropic strain in semipolar (112¯2) AlN.

Impact of physical activity on clinical outcomes in patients with liver cirrhosis: a prospective observational cohort study

Abstract Physical activity (PA) is a recognized determinant of outcomes in chronic diseases, yet its prognostic role in cirrhosis remains incompletely understood. To evaluate the relationship between habitual PA and liver disease severity, sarcopenia, and mortality in cirrhosis, and to develop a clinically applicable risk stratification model. In this prospective cohort study, 116 patients with cirrhosis were assessed for PA using the International PA Questionnaire–Short Form (IPAQ-SF), from which a PA Index (PAI; 0–7 scale) was derived. Clinical, laboratory, nutritional, imaging, and outcome data were obtained from routinely collected hospital electronic medical records and prospectively verified during scheduled follow-up visits. Predictors of 12-month mortality were identified using Cox proportional hazards models, and a risk-tiered classification system incorporating PAI was generated. Lower PAI was significantly associated with higher Child–Pugh scores (ρ = −0.28, p  = 0.002), higher INR ( p  = 0.005), and lower albumin ( p  = 0.018). Sarcopenia was most prevalent among patients with low PAI ( p  < 0.001). Independent predictors of mortality included low PAI (HR = 2.12, 95% CI 1.22–3.68, p  = 0.008), Child–Pugh class C, older age, hypoalbuminemia, sarcopenia, and sarcopenic obesity. The proposed risk-tiered model effectively discriminated against 1-year survival (low risk: 89.2%; moderate risk: 64.7%; high risk: 42.5%; very high risk: 18.2%; p  < 0.001). The IPAQ-SF–derived PAI independently predicts mortality in cirrhosis and, when integrated with established prognostic factors, enhances risk stratification. Incorporating routine PA assessment into cirrhosis management may refine surveillance intensity, optimize transplant prioritization, and guide individualized prehabilitation strategies.

Advanced glycation end product accumulation was associated with renal function impairment in males in large health examination population

The accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is a risk factor for renal dysfunction. However, no investigation has been conducted on the association between AGEs and renal function in health screening participants. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between AGEs and kidney function in health screening participants who underwent health screening examination. Overall, 1,651 health screening examinees without a history of renal dysfunction diagnosis were recruited and AGE accumulation was measured by skin autofluorescence (SAF). The association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and AGEs was subsequently investigated in all examinees. The mean age was 56.6 ± 9.5 years; 812 (49.1%) were males, and the mean eGFR was 73.3 ± 13.4 mL/min. Multiple regression analysis identified that AGEs were significantly negatively associated with eGFR. This finding was also observed in examinees with normal eGFR (≧ 90 mL/min/1.73 m 2 , G1 stage according to the Japanese Society of Nephrology: N = 207). In conclusion, skin AGEs were significantly negatively associated with eGFR. To clarify whether AGEs contribute to renal dysfunction progression, additional research is required.

Thermodynamic scaling of coercive field in ferroelectric films: Single-domain and multi-domain switching competition

The scaling of the coercive field Ec with ferroelectric thickness d is critical to device miniaturization. Here, we integrate Thomas–Fermi screening self-consistently into the Landau–Ginzburg–Devonshire framework via Gauss's and Kirchhoff's laws, thereby treating depolarization without resorting to an empirical background dielectric constant. By linking the d1/2 scaling of equilibrium domain size to the energy barrier of 180° multi-domain (MD) switching, we perform a comparative analysis of the Gibbs free energies for single-domain (SD) and MD reversal pathways to determine the energetically favored mechanism. We show that above a critical thickness (∼36 nm for PbZr0.2Ti0.8O3) the MD route dominates and Ec ∝ d−1/2, and below it the SD path prevails, leading to a monotonic decrease in Ec with reduced thickness until it vanishes in the ultrathin limit. Our work provides a unified thermodynamic description of Ec scaling across all thickness regimes, serving as a predictive tool for assessing ultrathin ferroelectrics.

A large-scale annotated Urdu corpus and deep learning benchmark for mental health classification

Abstract Millions of people worldwide are affected by mental health disorders, particularly anxiety and depression, which pose a growing health concern globally. Early detection and intervention are critical for improving treatment outcomes. Conventional clinical evaluation methods face significant barriers including limited accessibility, social stigma, and diagnostic delays. Recent advances in artificial intelligence and natural language processing have demonstrated promising capabilities for automated mental health detection through text analysis of social media. However, most existing research focuses exclusively on high-resource languages such as English, leaving a critical gap for low-resource languages. Our study addresses this limitation by developing a comprehensive deep learning framework for mental health classification in Urdu. More than 230 million people speak Urdu, but it is severely underrepresented in computational mental health research. This research provides the first large-scale, publicly released Urdu dataset specifically designed for multi-class anxiety, depression, and neutral classification, and establishes performance benchmarks for future work. We created and validated a novel annotated dataset of 36,000 Urdu tweets classified into anxiety, depression, and neutral categories through systematic translation, manual annotation, and automated labeling with rigorous quality validation. Three established deep learning architectures were adapted and systematically evaluated in this study. The CNN+BiLSTM model achieved an accuracy of 79.08%, while the CNN+BiGRU model attained 78.25%. Among all evaluated approaches, UrduBERT delivered the best performance with an accuracy of 81.71%, along with superior precision, recall, and F1-score values across all categories. These findings highlight the advantage of transformer-based contextual representations in modeling complex linguistic structures in morphologically rich languages. Overall, the proposed framework provides a strong basis for scalable and culturally sensitive mental health monitoring systems, with the potential to support early detection of at-risk individuals in linguistically underrepresented communities.

Reinforcement learning for policymaking in epidemic control: A scoping review

Background Managing an epidemic demands policies that respond at the pace of the outbreak. Conventional rule‑based interventions struggle to keep up, prompting interest in reinforcement learning (RL) for designing non‑pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). However, current evidence is fragmented across diverse models and reporting styles. Objectives To systematically map how RL is applied for epidemic NPI design, describe modeling choices, algorithm architectures, evaluation practices, and identify trends and research gaps. Methods Peer-reviewed studies (2014–2025, English) that applied deep RL to select NPIs were retrieved from IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, searched on December 23, 2025. Reference list scanning supplemented database results. Predefined data items (bibliographic details, epidemic and RL model characteristics, experiments, validation methods, outcomes) were charted and summarized descriptively. Results Of 512 retrieved records, 10 met the inclusion criteria, and three additional studies were identified via reference-list scanning, yielding 13. Five employed value‑based methods, four policy‑gradient, and four hybrid; one study additionally incorporated model-based planning. Six simulations relied on compartmental models, six on agent‑based models, and one on a hybrid model. Action spaces were predominantly discrete restriction levels. Five studies incorporated sequence-modeling techniques to include temporal context into a state space. Eleven studies designed reward functions as a trade-off between pandemic severity and socio-economic cost. According to the reviewed studies, RL policies across various settings outperform heuristic, rule-based, and historical baselines in reducing infections, deaths, or lockdown duration while limiting economic loss. Conclusions RL shows promise for adaptive epidemic control. Comparison is hampered by simplified economic costs, inconsistent calibration rigor, varied evaluation metrics, and limited uncertainty or policy robustness analysis. Future work should establish common benchmark environments and reporting standards, incorporate empirically grounded economic and behavioral models, adopt uncertainty-aware and probabilistic RL, develop more sophisticated control spaces, investigate more advanced algorithms, and validate learned policies prospectively to enable real-world deployment.

Light-induced polarization effect in SrTiO3

Optically modulating key material parameters, notably the polarization P or dielectric constant ε, offers a novel approach to enhancing the performance and functionality of electronic devices such as sensors and memristors. The existence of the non-thermal photodielectric effect (NT-PDE) in quantum paraelectric SrTiO3 was confirmed using the relax time distribution method. Among all crystal orientations, the <110> direction exhibits the largest NT-PDE of 26.61% (which is 850.16% of the enhancement effect produced by the thermal effect). Spatially extended symmetric strong lattice distortions lead to the formation of photopolarizable domains (PPD), whose finite lifetime prevents the formation of long-range order, and the PPD generation–annihilation process also triggers regional redistribution, leading to unconventional relaxation processes. This greatly improves the production efficiency of opto-dielectric type devices and provides a strong support and potential application value for the development of next-generation optically driven microelectronic devices.

Organic Transistor with Dual‐Heterojunctions Embedded Dielectric for Trimodal Self‐Adaptation Vision

ABSTRACT Biomimetic visual adaptation is crucial for machine vision to sustain robust perception over a wide luminance range. However, most existing adaptive optoelectronic devices rely on the joint regulation of external bias voltage and incident light intensity. Here, we present a trimodal organic active adaptation transistor (TM‐OAAT) by integrating two bulk heterojunctions within the gate dielectric. This architecture enables synergistic modulation of photocapacitance enhancement and interfacial charge‐trapping suppression. As a result, the device autonomously switches between scotopic, mesopic, and photopic vision modes without external gate bias modulation, covering a wide luminance range from moonlight to sunlight (10 −2 –10 6  cd m −2 ). Imaging experiments and simulations demonstrate that the device effectively restores image features across all three adaptation modes, achieving recognition accuracy exceeding 97%. By achieving trimodal self‐adaptation through illumination alone, this compact device provides a platform for low‐power, wide‐dynamic‐range bio‐inspired neuromorphic vision.

The new role of abortion in the context of low fertility in Czechia and Slovakia

Abstract This study examines how the role of abortion has evolved in the context of low fertility and delayed childbearing, with a focus on Czechia and Slovakia—two countries that experienced both high abortion rates and a demographic shift toward later motherhood since the 1990s. Using demographic data and survey analysis, it investigates the interplay between abortion, fertility, and contraceptive use under changing reproductive regimes. The analysis is structured around three objectives: (1) to assess long-term changes in the intensity and structure of induced and spontaneous abortions since 1993; (2) to evaluate the relationship between modern contraceptive use and abortion trends; and (3) to compare evolving public attitudes toward abortion in both countries. Data from national statistical offices were used for the demographic component, while binary logistic regression was applied to European Values Study data to explore the sociocultural dimension. The findings show that in low-fertility contexts with liberal abortion laws and widespread contraceptive access, abortion rates can remain low even as contraceptive prevalence declines, suggesting a weakening of the direct association between contraceptive use and abortion trends. This challenges the assumption that abortion levels directly reflect contraceptive failure. The study offers new theoretical insights into how reproductive behavior adapts to late fertility patterns and highlights the need for nuanced reproductive health policies that account for shifting social norms and individual agency.

Multidrug resistance and inappropriate empiric therapy as predictors of hospital stay in diabetic foot infections

Objectives This study explored the causative pathogens, resistance patterns, and treatment appropriateness for diabetic foot infections (DFI) at a tertiary care center in Jordan. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on 234 patients diagnosed with DFIs at a tertiary care center in Jordan. Data collected included patient demographics, diabetes history, infection severity, culture results, and antibiotic treatment details. Bacterial isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant (MDR) or non-MDR based on standard definitions. Therapy was considered appropriate if at least one antibiotic given within the first 48 hours of admission covered all identified pathogens and was administered with the correct dosage, formulation, and route. Statistical analyses examined the relationship between resistance patterns, treatment adequacy, and hospital stay duration. Results The most frequently isolated bacterium was Staphylococcus aureus , identified in 117 cases (50.0%), including MRSA (n = 46, 19.6%) and MSSA (n = 71, 30.3%). This was followed by Escherichia coli in 33 cases (14.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 32 cases (13.7%). MDR organisms accounted for 152 infections (65%). Empiric therapy was deemed appropriate in 111 patients (47.4%), inappropriate in 74 (31.6%), and not assessable due to missing data in 49 (20.9%). Following culture and susceptibility results, antibiotics in 87 cases (37.2%) remained unchanged. In multivariate analysis, only infection severity was significantly associated with prolonged hospitalization (β = −0.161, P  = 0.034). Conclusion MDR organisms were common in DFIs but not significantly associated with prolonged hospitalization. Infection severity was the key predictor of length of stay. These findings highlight the importance of early infection assessment, appropriate empirical therapy based on local resistance patterns, and robust antibiotic stewardship.

Shear-strain-dependent thermal conductivity of diamond explored via a machine learning potential

Diamond is regarded as a critical material for the thermal management of high-power electronics. However, the impact of shear strain, which is a prevalent deformation mode in complex stress fields, remains unclear. In this work, the lattice thermal conductivity of diamond under shear strain has been systematically investigated using high-accuracy neuroevolution potential and homogeneous non-equilibrium molecular dynamics. Distinct from isotropic or uniaxial strain cases, shear strain induces pronounced threshold effects and strong anisotropy. Beyond a critical shear strain of 0.01, the thermal conductivity exhibits a sharp decay, with the reduction along the [001] direction (perpendicular to the (001) shear plane) being markedly greater than that along the [100] and [010] directions (parallel to the (001) shear plane). This anisotropy is attributed to a distinct phonon frequency shift compensation mechanism. Along the [100] and [010] directions (parallel to the shear plane), a phonon redshift drives high-frequency modes into the 10–30 THz range critical for thermal transport, thereby partially compensating for scattering-induced losses. Consequently, it can be concluded that the microscopic origins of strain-dependent thermal transport provide further theoretical insights into the thermal management of electronic devices employing diamond heat spreaders under complex stress fields.

Effect of immersive virtual reality on fear, anxiety, and pain in pregnant women during vaginal examination in clinical training: a randomized controlled trial

The relationships among perceived league product quality, spectator satisfaction, trust, team identification, and loyalty in the Chinese Super League

Objective This study integrates perceived league product quality, spectator satisfaction, trust, team identification, and loyalty into a unified analytical framework to examine their relationships, thereby providing empirical evidence to inform more effective marketing strategies for the Chinese Super League (CSL). Methods Guided by the ABC attitude model and conceptual definitions, as well as prior research, the study develops a theoretical model and an initial pool of measurement items. Expert consultation and a pilot study were subsequently conducted to refine items. On-site questionnaires were administered to the CSL spectators, yielding 320 responses, of which 278 were valid. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0, AMOS 23.0, and PROCESS v4.2 to assess scale reliability and validity, evaluate the structural model fit, and test path coefficients and mediation effects. Results The theoretical model demonstrated a good fit to data, path analysis revealed that perceived league product quality had significant positive effects on satisfaction (β = 0.759, p  < 0.01), trust (β = 0.540, p  < 0.01), and team identification (β = 0.570, p  < 0.01), but not on loyalty (β = 0.205, p  > 0.05). Satisfaction (β = 0.038, p  > 0.05) and trust (β = 0.029, p  > 0.05) did not significantly affect loyalty, whereas team identification had a significant positive effect on loyalty (β = 0.534, p  < 0.01). Mediation analysis indicated that the indirect effects of league product quality on loyalty, mediated by satisfaction and trust, were not significant, whereas the indirect effect through team identification was significant. Furthermore, a chain mediation pathway of league product quality → Satisfaction → Team Identification → Loyalty was found to be statistically significant. Conclusion Higher perceived league product quality significantly enhances spectator satisfaction, trust, and team identification. Among these factors, team identification emerges as the strongest predictor of spectator loyalty and serves as the primary mediating mechanism through which perceived league product quality is translated into sustained spectator loyalty.

Kinetically controlled crystallization via plant-derived additives boosts the efficiency of carbon-based perovskite solar cells exceeding 20%

Effectively controlling crystallization kinetics to obtain high-quality perovskite films with large grains and low defect density is a key strategy for fabricating high-performance hole transport layer-free carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs). Herein, a natural plant-derived molecule, locust bean gum (LBG), was introduced into the precursor solution to regulate the crystallization process of perovskites. The addition of LBG more effectively promotes the transformation of PbI2 into PbI3− complexes as prenucleation clusters to accelerate the nucleation process. Meanwhile, the growth rate of perovskite grains during annealing is significantly slowed down due to the stronger interaction between the precursor material and LBG. Benefiting from such rapid nucleation and slow crystallization, high-quality perovskite films with larger crystal sizes and optimized energy level arrangements have been formed. Consequently, the optimized C-PSC achieved a maximum power conversion efficiency of 20.23%, surpassing the efficiency of 18.22% for control devices. Additionally, the long-term stability testing demonstrates excellent storage stability and enhanced light stability under illumination. These findings provide new insights into the potential of natural plant-derived additives for achieving higher-performance perovskite photovoltaic devices.

Green synthesis of pistachio shell-derived carbon nanofibers: synergistic photocatalytic activity in TiO₂ nanocomposites

Geoglyphs and formative-period activity in the middle Chillón Valley, Peru: Ceramic association and null-model tests of route proximity

Geoglyphs are widespread in arid landscapes, but their chronology and relationship to movement corridors are often difficult to evaluate where direct dating is unavailable. This study examines four geoglyph groups documented through systematic pedestrian survey and RPAS-based recording in two quebradas of the middle Chillón Valley, central coast of Peru: Huarabí (n = 2) and Pichausa (n = 2). Chronological inference is necessarily limited. Diagnostic Formative-period ceramics were recorded only in Huarabí, where they indicate nearby activity rather than directly dating geoglyph construction. Pichausa remains chronologically unresolved. To evaluate whether the documented geoglyphs occur closer to mapped route proxies than expected under explicit counterfactual assumptions, we measured nearest-route distances from within-geoglyph sampling points (k = 20 per geoglyph; n = 80 total) and from six unweighted Formative ceramic findspots in Huarabí. Observed distance distributions were compared with Monte Carlo simulations in which geoglyph shapes were randomly repositioned within defined survey windows while route geometries remained fixed. Across 999 simulations, Huarabí deviates from the tested null model under the survey-polygon window, or buffer = 0 m (p = 0.021), whereas Pichausa does not (p = 0.380). Results vary substantially under broader availability windows, indicating that inference is strongly conditioned by how potential placement space is defined.. These findings provide exploratory, model-dependent evidence that some Huarabí geoglyph contexts and associated ceramic findspots occur nearer to mapped route proxies than expected under the specified null model. They do not establish intentional route association, geoglyph construction age, or valley-wide spatial organization. The principal contribution is methodological: the study demonstrates how small geoglyph datasets can be evaluated through transparent null-model procedures while making explicit the limits imposed by sample size, surface chronology, spatial uncertainty, and the absence of terrain-based feasibility modeling.