Browse Articles

Hybrid carbon matrices enable the suppression of polysulfide shuttle effect in Li–S batteries

Integrative, Orientational Self‐Sorting at the Four‐Crossing Level in Molecular Knots and Links

ABSTRACT Low‐symmetry mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) remain challenging targets because of their anisotropic structures and synthetic complexity. We devised a self‐sorting strategy employing two unsymmetric flexible bidentate ligands, L ab and L cd , which co‐assemble with two size‐differentiated rigid chelating building blocks and half‐sandwich organometallic units. This approach yields three discrete topologies with high orientational fidelity: a Solomon link (), a figure‐eight knot (4 1 ), and a trefoil (3 1 ) knot, enabling systematic investigation of oriented entanglements. Notably, we successfully implemented a “MIM‐to‐MIM” strategy that enables the transformation between fully interlocked molecular species, representing the first example in which both reactants and products are discrete MIMs. Through either this interlocked molecular fusion process or completely integrative self‐sorting of mixed unsymmetric components, a heteroleptic Solomon link was constructed in a non‐statistical manner. The outcome highlights how diverse noncovalent interactions, the conformational adaptability of ligands, and geometric complementarity cooperate to direct complex self‐sorting behavior in unpredictable, non‐rigid mixed‐assembly systems.

GPATCH11 ortholog Sap34 regulates pre-mRNA splicing by interacting with early spliceosomal complexes in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Two‐Dimensional Mesoporous Tungsten Oxynitride/Carbon Nanosheets: Enabling High‐Performance Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries

ABSTRACT Lithium‐sulfur batteries (LSBs) hold great promise as next‐generation energy storage devices, owing to their ultrahigh theoretical energy density (2600 Wh kg −1 ). However, their real‐world implementation is limited by the polysulfide shuttle effect and the poor electrical conductivity of sulfur species. To address these problems and achieve high‐performance LSBs, it is crucial to develop multifunctional catalysts featuring abundant active sites, short and accessible ion transport channels, and lightweight architectures. Herein, a novel two‐dimensional mesoporous tungsten oxynitride/carbon nanosheet (WNO‐MCS) material is successfully fabricated via a self‐template‐guided interfacial assembly strategy. The resulting WNO‐MCS exhibits a uniform two‐dimensional nanosheet morphology, featuring vertically aligned mesoporous channels across the sheets with a pore size of 3.9 nm, a high surface area of 588.7 m 2 g −1 , and well‐confined WNO nanoclusters (∼2.9 nm) embedded in the mesopores. This unique 2D mesoporous structure provides short, open pathways for ion transport and highly exposed active sites; thus, LSBs with a WNO‐MCS‐modified separator deliver a remarkable areal capacity of 7.7 mAh cm −2 under a high sulfur loading of 8.0 mg cm −2 . Moreover, the pouch cell achieves an initial discharge capacity of 0.62 Ah with a high energy density of 360 Wh kg −1 .

Comparative analysis of genomic profiles and clinical outcomes in cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer

High‐Entropy Tailored UCl ₃ ‐Type Halides With Enhanced Ionic Conduction and Stability for All‐Solid‐State Sodium Batteries

ABSTRACT Designing advanced halide‐based solid electrolytes (SEs) combining high ionic conductivity and exceptional (electro)chemical stability is crucial for all‐solid‐state Na‐ion batteries (ASSNIBs). However, most sodium‐based halide systems remain restricted in high‐voltage ASSNIB applications, due to their low conductivity from blocked ion‐diffusion channels, and insufficient oxidation stability caused by anionic anti‐oxidant bottlenecks. Here, we design a high‑entropy CeCl 3 ‐based composition, NaLa 0.472 Ce 0.472 Ta 0.155 Nb 0.155 Zr 0.155 Cl 6 (HE‐CeCl 3 ), which exhibits an optimal ionic conductivity over 10 −3 S cm −1 and enhanced stability. Local structural distortions incorporated into the HE‐CeCl 3 structure give rise to promoted inter‐site Na‐ion exchanges so that they can percolate through contiguous one‐dimensional migration pathways along the c‐axis with flattened energy barriers. Moreover, the HE‐CeCl 3 configuration enables suppressed Cl − oxidation kinetics and enhanced thermodynamic stability, thereby delivering robust high‐voltage stability (4.46 V vs. Na + /Na) and good solvent tolerance, showing great potential for wet‐processed ultrathin electrolyte films. When coupled with a Na 3 (VOPO 4 ) 2 F cathode, ASSNIBs with HE‐CeCl 3 catholyte present long‐term stability (88.3% capacity retention at 0.3 C after 600 cycles in mold‐type cells) and high areal capacity (1.7 mAh cm −2 in pouch‐type cells). This work provides a versatile high‐entropy design strategy for simultaneously enhancing ion conduction and (electro)chemical stability in sodium‐ion conductors, accelerating the development of practical ASSNIBs.

Organ at risk sparing by non-coplanar prone breast radiotherapy on Halcyon/Ethos linacs utilizing breast couch slewing

Abstract Organ at risk (OAR)-dose reductions are needed to minimize radiation toxicity in settings with high OAR-doses, like adjuvant breast and lymph node radiotherapy. Non-coplanar techniques, combined with prone positioning and deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) techniques, could accomplish this. A planning study was performed in patients requiring left-side adjuvant breast and axillary/periclavicular lymph node irradiation ( n  = 8). Simulation was performed in prone crawl position using DIBH. Coplanar and non-coplanar short-arc VMAT plans were compared. Non-coplanar plans featured ≤ 20° angular separation between planes. Feasibility was tested using a CAD model, including a prone crawl breast couch positioned in an up to 20° angle (transverse plane) with the couchtop. Non-coplanar techniques can further reduce radiation exposure. Adding beams in planes with ± 15° to ± 20° angular separation with the transverse plane yielded > 20% mean-dose reductions simultaneously to heart, lungs and esophagus, compared to coplanar plans. Plans with ≤ ± 20° angular separation with the transverse plane proved feasible on linacs lacking couch isocenter rotations. Angular separation of ± 15° seems the best compromise between OAR-sparing and technical challenges. Non-coplanar radiotherapy options yielded superior OAR sparing compared to coplanar techniques in patients requiring adjuvant breast and lymph node irradiation and should be considered for improved radiation toxicity prevention.

Recent Trends in Metabolomics by NMR Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT This review is an update of our previous contribution published in Angewandte Chemie in January 2019 and provides a critical analysis of the overall scientific production and key findings from NMR‐based metabolomics between January 2018 and April 2025. We developed a strategy (described in the Methodological Approach section) for systematically analyzing the literature that enabled us to identify 5081 studies published during this observation period. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize this large dataset in terms of frequency distribution of certain experimental parameters (e.g., magnetic field, pulse sequences, NMR active nuclei, etc.) and to identify six broad main fields of application: human health, food and nutrition, veterinary, plants, environment and analytical methods. The major one remains human health; in absolute terms, its share is greater than the sum of the other five. Within each field, we focused on a few key topics and, for each of them, we provided a detailed and critical analysis of the three articles that have received the largest number of citations per year.

A generalisation study in deep learning-based segmentation of lower-limb muscles across different populations

Abstract Accurate and consistent segmentation of lower-limb muscles across different populations (e.g., children, young adults, and older individuals) remains challenging due to substantial anatomical differences. This study evaluated the performance of deep learning models for the automatic segmentation of lower-limb muscles in typically developed children (TDC). We present a novel investigation into their generalization ability across different cohorts (healthy young people (HY) and post-menopausal women (PMW)). Our focus was on the Attention-Feature-Fusion-Unet (AFFU) model, which incorporates a feature fusion module into U-Net. First, manual segmentation of T1-weighted images from TDC cohort was conducted by different operators and a reproducibility analysis was evaluated. Then a comparison study was carried out with UNet, UNet +  + , and Attention UNet. The model AFFU achieved the best Dice Similarity Coefficient 0.86 and Relative Volume Error 0.09 on children cohort. It also significantly reduced the Hausdorff Distance and Average Symmetric Surface Distance by approximately 34% and 20%, respectively, compared to the baseline U-Net ( p  < 0.01). It can be observed that larger, regularly shaped muscles achieved higher segmentation accuracy, while smaller and irregular muscles posed difficulties. The experiment showed that a single type of cohort model training is not enough to improve the model generalisation ability. The best results in terms of generalisation were achieved with a training set of mixed multi-class cohorts and a complex model using attention mechanisms.

The association between time in range with sarcopenia and its components in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Sub‐Nanometer PtSn Interlayer Tuning Ligand and Strain Effects Boosts Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis

ABSTRACT The integration of ligand and strain effects in core/shell architectures offers a compelling avenue for boosting the catalytic efficiency of noble metals. However, conventional thin‐Pt‐shell catalysts incorporating small‐radius transition metals suffer from an over‐compressed Pt lattice, leading to limited oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance toward fuel cell devices. Herein, we report a class of PdSn/PtSn/Pt sandwich‐structured nanowires based on large‐radius Sn elements, taking advantage of its diffusion inclination to Pt, to construct the sub‐nanometer PtSn interlayer so as to address this trade‐off issue. We demonstrate that the intermetallic Pt‐Sn bonds with elevated covalency downshift the d‐band center of Pt through strengthened ligand effect, and the diffusion of large‐radius Sn atoms from PdSn core to Pt shell surprisingly offsets an optimally compressive strain for surface Pt. Thanks to such two‐tier tuning from PtSn interlayer, the resulting PdSn/(PtSn/Pt) 2‐3L NWs with the thinnest Pt shell exhibit exceptional catalytic behaviors by achieving a mass activity of 4.26 A mg Pt+Pd −1 (13.91 A mg Pt −1 ) at 0.9 V RHE , with < 30% decay after 20 000 cycles, overweighing most reported Pt/Pd‐based ORR catalysts. The corresponding H 2 ‐O 2 anion‐exchange‐membrane fuel cell device delivers a very high peak power density of 1.64 W cm −2 , with an impressive Pt utilization up to 11.71 W mg Pt −1 .

Protective roles of green plant extracts as functional foods and N-acetylcysteine against CCL4-induced hepatic toxicity on AML-12 cell line

A Revised Model for Muscarine Biosynthesis Involving Lysine Trimethylation

ABSTRACT l ‐(+)‐Muscarine is a widespread fatal toxin produced by various mushrooms that pose a severe threat to human health when they are mistaken for edible species. Apart from a single 1970s study that assumed l ‐glutamate and pyruvate were the building blocks of this unusual quaternary amine, surprisingly little is known about the toxin's biogenesis. We used Collybia rivulosa (syn . Clitocybe rivulosa ), a mushroom notorious for producing muscarine, as our model for stable isotope incorporation experiments and subsequent extensive mass spectrometric analysis. Our results provide unambiguous evidence that the backbone of muscarine is assembled from two amino acids, l ‐lysine and l ‐alanine. Furthermore, we found that iterative ε‐methylation of non‐protein‐bound l ‐lysine is the biosynthetic gateway step that yields ε‐ N , N , N ‐trimethyl‐ l ‐lysine. This methylation is specific to fungi that produce muscarine. Despite a substrate overlap with the biosynthesis of l ‐carnitine, we demonstrate that these two pathways are distinct. Our results provide compelling insight into the biogenetic origin of muscarine and fundamentally revise the previous biosynthetic model for this infamous toxin. The revised biosynthesis model lays the foundation to discover as yet unknown muscarine‐like metabolites that are potentially toxic as well or pharmacologically relevant.

Development of a pH-responsive starch-based nanocarrier polyacrylic acid containing SiO2 for controlled quercetin release in cancer therapy

Outside Back Cover: Let There be Light! Light as an Engine and Regulator in Synthetic Cells (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 24/2026)

Nano‐G _s Protein Peptidomimetics: Rational Design of Gα C‐Terminus‐Derived Peptides Mimicking Key Components of G _s ‐β ₂ AR Interactions

ABSTRACT G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in most human physiological processes and one of the largest families of approved drug‐targeted proteins. Heterotrimeric Gαβɣ proteins bind to the intracellular cavity of the activated receptor mainly through the C‐terminal α5 helix of the Gα subunit (GαCT). Modulation of GPCR activity through intracellular GPCR binding sites is emerging. Here we develop highly active Gα s CT‐derived peptidomimetics that stabilize the β 2 adrenergic receptor (β 2 AR) in an active‐like conformation when the helical conformation of Gα s CT is preserved by a covalent tether (“staple”). By rational design, integrating the information of two crystal structures showing different binding modes of Gα s CT with β 2 AR, an appropriate staple position was identified. The key interactions observed in the two distinct β 2 AR structures (β 2 AR‐G s (empty)) and β 2 AR‐T4L‐G s CT‐CC), namely Y391 and E392, were substituted with non‐canonical amino acids to improve activity. Optimization resulted in the identification of a potent peptidomimetic capable of stabilizing an active‐like receptor conformation, whilst blocking receptor‐mediated cAMP formation. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated a peptidomimetic binding mode that may represent another intermediate state preceding that of β 2 AR‐G s (empty). We envision this approach to be useful for further structural and functional exploration of other GPCRs or as a tool in drug discovery.

Correction: Continuous shear wave measurements for dynamic cardiac stiffness evaluation in pigs

GRP78 Selective Inhibitors From a Direct‐to‐Biology Strategy

ABSTRACT Because cancer cells have heightened protein homeostasis (proteostasis) requirements, there is interest in targeting proteostasis machinery, including the 70 kDa heat shock proteins (HSP70s), as potential cancer therapeutics. However, studies have shown that the HSP70 family is differentially regulated across cancers, and global targeting may produce unwanted toxicities. For this reason, our lab has focused on isoform‐selective targeting of HSP70s, including the endoplasmic reticulum‐resident HSP70, GRP78 (HSPA5 or BiP). GRP78 is a central component of protein homeostasis in the secretory system and is the principal regulator of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Here, we report the use of a direct‐to‐biology (D2B) strategy to optimize a dipeptide‐based scaffold that binds selectively to GRP78, relative to the other canonical HSP70s. We show that our lead compound, 12 , potently and selectively inhibits GRP78, binds to the substrate binding pocket, kills A549 lung cancer cells in 2D (grown as a monolayer) and 3D (grown as spheroids) cultures, engages GRP78 in cells, and that GRP78 inhibition is responsible for the mode of action. This work represents the first GRP78‐selective inhibitor that inhibits substrate binding.

Postoperative outcomes of combined interpectoral–pectoserratus versus combined deep–superficial serratus anterior plane blocks in minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery: A prospective randomized study

Integrating Dissociating Stators and Conducting Rotors Within an Amphidynamic COF‐Based Solid‐State Polymer Electrolyte for Rapid and Consecutive Li ⁺ Transport

ABSTRACT Solvent‐free solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) suffer from sluggish and discontinuous Li + transport. Although high‐polarity fillers enhance dissociation, liberated Li + tends to be trapped on filler surfaces due to the spatial and dynamic mismatches, hindering Li + long‐range migration. To bridge this gap, we establish a consecutive Li + transport pathway by integrating dissociating stators and conducting rotors within an amphidynamic COF (AD COF)‐based polymer electrolyte. In the AD COF, the highly polar rigid skeletons (stators) facilitate ionic dissociation, while the tethered flexible oligo(ethylene oxide) side‐chains (rotors) with dynamic conformational mobility enable rapid short‐range Li + relay corresponding to a segmental relaxation time of 1.10 × 10 −5  s. Subsequently, Li + is directed into 1D channels of COFs where the confined polymer (PAPE) sustains long‐range migration. Benefiting from this rapid and seamless dissociation‐conduction synergy, the resulting dry polymer electrolyte (AD COF‐PAPE) achieves a room‐temperature ionic conductivity of 1.18 × 10 −4 S cm −1 , surpassing the PAPE and the all‐rigid COF‐based polymer counterparts by 460% and 150%, respectively. The AD COF‐PAPE enables enhanced electrochemical performance in both Li symmetric cells and NCM‐based full cells, underscoring the critical importance of molecularly orchestrating spatial proximity and dynamic matching to overcome the intrinsic trade‐offs in SPEs.