Browse Articles

Aqueous Upcycling of Polyethylene Furanoate From Mixed Plastic Feeds Into Metal‐Organic Frameworks

ABSTRACT Mixed and contaminated plastic waste is the dominant obstacle to plastics' circularity because most recycling or upcycling technologies require clean, pre‐sorted feedstocks. Here, we demonstrate a sorting‐free upcycling method with purification embedded in upcycling. Polyethylene furanoate (PEF), an emerging biomass‐derived polyester, is converted in water into the valuable metal‐organic framework (MOF) MIL‐160 in high yield. This method remains effective when using unsorted polymer mixtures, including mixtures containing competing polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA), yielding a pure MOF with no loss in sorption performance. To address the MOF's own end‐of‐life, we demonstrate the ease of recovering 2,5‐furan‐dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) from MIL‐160 for recycling and redeployment to produce other MOFs such as CAU‐28. This connects plastic upcycling to MOF end‐of‐life management, showing that the upcycled product is not a dead‐end material but a reversible reservoir of FDCA that can be recovered and recirculated. Life cycle assessment showed that producing MIL‐160 from mixed PET/PEF plastic feedstock results in a 31% reduction in life‐cycle global warming potential compared to using biomass directly. Additionally, techno‐economic analysis supported the economic feasibility of producing MIL‐160 from mixed PET/PEF. Valorizing PEF into MOFs with diverse applications offers viable end‐of‐life solutions for these bioplastics.

MDM2 and DDIT3 coexpression in dedifferentiated liposarcoma with myxoid features: a retrospective cohort study

Sulfur‐Doped Heptagon Embedded Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as Non‐Benzenoid Derivatives of Pentacene

ABSTRACT Incorporating heteroatoms and non‐benzenoid rings—such as pentagons or heptagons—into polycyclic aromatic frameworks represents a key approach for designing advanced optoelectronic materials. In this work, two novel pentacene derivatives, DSH‐1 and DSH‐2, were synthesized by embedding sulfur‐doped heptagons into the conjugation backbone via efficient Ullmann coupling and acid‐catalyzed Friedel–Crafts reactions as the key steps. Single‐crystal analysis shows that DSH‐1 adopts a curved bow‐shaped structure, integrating an oxygen‐doped pentagon and two sulfur‐doped heptagons to form a unique 7‐5‐7 system. In contrast, DSH‐2 features a 7‐6‐7 system and displays a Z‐shaped conformation. Because of their difference in conformation, DSH‐1 exhibits a significantly red‐shifted absorption, superior thermal stability, and tighter intermolecular interactions, and shows p‐type semiconducting property with charge mobility of 0.25 cm 2 V −1 s −1 . Because of the nonplanar configuration of these two molecules, the sulfur atoms can act as anchoring groups in the single‐molecule conductance characterization. In addition, DSH‐1 can be oxidized to a radical cation DSH‐1 •+ with red‐shifted absorption around 650 nm and high stability, resulting from the enhanced aromaticity of the sulfur‐doped heptagon rings after oxidation.

Therapeutic potential and synergistic effects of antifungal and off target drugs against clinical isolates of Cryptococcus laurentii

A hybrid PCA-ICA and multi-level feature scaling framework with bidirectional LSTM-GRU architecture improves multivariate time series forecasting accuracy

Abstract Precise multivariate time series (MTS) forecasting, particularly in atmospheric applications like air quality monitoring, is still a challenging task because of high dimensionality, temporal correlations, and non-stationary interactions between features. The classical methods such as Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average) ARIMA and isolated Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) are likely to fail to capture nonlinear relationships and are highly sensitive to the scale of features, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) based dimensionality reduction is likely to result in information loss. To mitigate these constraints, we introduce PIHS-Bi-LSTM-GRU, a deep learning hybrid model that combines PCA-ICA-based reduction of dimensions, multi-level hybrid scaling of features, and an improved Bidirectional LSTM- Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) architecture with dual-layer normalization and dropout. Our approach begins by taking a weighted ensemble of Min-Max, Z-Score, and Robust scalers for stabilizing heterogeneous distributions of features. PCA is used to alleviate redundancy, followed by Independent Component Analysis (ICA) to yield statistically independent latent signals. The deep learning model subsequently learns temporal patterns from the transformed sequences. A new component-wise inverse transformation mechanism provides exact reconstruction in the original feature space. Comprehensive evaluation on actual air quality data shows that the proposed model considerably outperforms baseline methods in Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), and $$R^{2}$$ on all features. The findings verify the effectiveness of the framework in picking up on intricate temporal-spatial relations and enhancing predictive reliability under multivariate prediction situations.

Cytokines and immunologic checkpoint molecules in predicting success of allergen immunotherapy

Abstract There are large variations in how individual patients respond to allergen immunotherapy (AIT) against grass and/or birch allergy. There are currently no reliable biomarkers to predict which patients are likely to benefit from the treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of cytokine and soluble immunologic checkpoint molecule (ICM) levels as biomarkers for AIT success. Blood samples collected before starting AIT were analyzed for concentration of 92 different cytokines and 14 different ICMs. Traditional univariable statistical analysis was performed to evaluate differences between responders and non-responders. Furthermore, both unsupervised and supervised machine learning algorithms were used for multivariable analysis of differences between the responders and non-responders and to try to identify clusters within the subjects which could potentially be linked to endotypes of allergic rhinitis. Neither univariable nor multivariable analysis showed any significant correlations between AIT outcome and pre-treatment levels of cytokines or soluble ICM. In the cluster analysis, 4 clustering algorithms consistently grouped 48 of the 60 subjects into 3 distinct clusters. However, these clusters did not correlate with clinical characteristics, indicating that the clusters are unlikely to represent actual biological endotypes. The findings of this study did not provide evidence supporting the use of pre-treatment levels of cytokines and ICM as biomarkers for AIT outcome.

Electric‐Field‐Driven Assembly of Ultrathin and Crystalline iCOF Membranes for High‐Performance Molecular Sieving

ABSTRACT The fabrication of high‐performance ionic covalent organic framework (iCOF) membranes is fundamentally constrained by the kinetic conflict between the slow crystallization required for structural order and the rapid film formation needed for defect‐free continuity. Here, we introduce an electric‐field‐driven assembly (EFDA) strategy that actively overcomes this limitation. By applying a directional electric field across the liquid–liquid interface, we create a steep field gradient that electrophoretically pumps ionic monomers against diffusion barriers, achieving rapid and focused interfacial enrichment. This active supply enables the fast (∼4 h) growth of an ultrathin (∼45 nm), continuous, and highly crystalline iCOF layer—a combination unattainable by passive diffusion methods. The resultant membrane exhibits an exceptional water permeance of ∼70 L m −2 ·h −1 ·bar −1 coupled with precise charge‐selective separation (>98% rejection of anionic dyes), outperforming most reported nanofiltration membranes. Demonstrated with various ionic monomers, the EFDA strategy presents a universal platform for the rational construction of advanced molecular sieving membranes.

Correction: Direct investigation of localized leakage currents in GaN-on-sapphire pn-diodes

Electrode “Cocktail Effect” Enables Charge Selective C─C Bond Cleavage of Acetonitrile for Aryl Halide Methylation

ABSTRACT The introduction of a single methyl group onto aromatic frameworks can profoundly alter molecular properties and biological activity. However, controllable aromatic methylation using simple and inexpensive acetonitrile remains challenging due to the difficulty of selectively cleaving the C─C bond and stabilizing the resulting methyl species without organometallic catalysts. Herein, we report an electrode‐controlled electrochemical methylation strategy enabled by a stainless steel cathode, in which a multi‐metallic “cocktail effect” arising from the cooperative interaction of charge‐differentiated Cr, Fe, and Ni sites promotes acetonitrile polarization, selective C─C bond cleavage, and stabilization of surface‐adsorbed methyl radicals. Fluorene is employed as a single electron transfer mediator to selectively activate aryl halides and generate aryl radicals, which subsequently attack the electrode‐stabilized methyl radicals to afford the methylated products. This cooperative electrode‐mediator system enables selective coupling of substrates with diverse properties and provides a general platform for controlled radical transformations.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of toripalimab and bevacizumab versus sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma in China

HybridTrust: on-device federated learning with crypto-agile security for legacy and quantum-safe medical devices

Robust rotation-invariant fingerprint image hashing using fast wavelet transform and fractal coding for noise filtering with minimal run-time

Donor‐Acceptor Stacks in Flexible Porous Coordination Polymers Toward Room‐Temperature Ferroelectricity

ABSTRACT Ferroelectricity has long been of great scientific interest due to its tremendous potential for information storage technologies and wide‐ranging applications. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) or porous coordination polymers (PCPs), with their structural tunability and dynamic host‐guest chemistry, offer a powerful platform for engineering next‐generation ferroelectrics. However, progress in ferroelectric MOFs/PCPs has been limited by their intrinsically weak polarization, restricting the realization of non‐trivial switchable ferroelectricity feasible at room temperature. We address this limitation, reporting a series of flexible PCPs with mixed donor‐acceptor (D‐A) stacks designed to achieve room‐temperature ferroelectricity via strong charge‐transfer interactions. The 3D Zn‐based PCP, {[Zn( o ‐phen)(2,6‐ndc)]·DMF} n , having a supramolecular dynamic nano‐space for D‐A stacking, exhibits intrinsic flexibility that endows structural adaptation to the guest molecules of varying shape, size, and chemical nature. The encapsulation of electron‐rich aromatic amine guests like N , N ′‐dimethyl aniline and N , N ′‐dimethyl‐ p ‐toluidine results in the formation of extended D‐A stacks with acceptor motifs of the framework along a particular crystallographic axis. Peierls‐like distortion of these 1D extended D‐A stacks gives rise to spontaneous polarization, ultimately resulting in room‐temperature ferroelectricity. We furthermore show that the ferroelectric features of the PCP are closely related to the packing and geometry of the guest molecules incorporated.

The interplay between cytokine genes and microRNAs in anemia of inflammation among hemodialysis patients

Abstract Anemia of inflammation (AI) represents the second most prevalent anemia globally particularly in conditions of prolonged immune activation including hemodialysis (HD). While the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in disrupting iron homeostasis and erythropoiesis is well-established, the regulatory mechanisms involving microRNAs (miRNAs) remain incompletely elucidated. The current study investigates the intricate relationships between cytokines and miRNAs in the pathogenesis of AI among HD patients. The study comprised 30 HD patients with AI and 30 healthy controls. Expression profile of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and inflammation-associated miRNAs (miR-34, miR-130, miR-16b) were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and iron metabolism markers (serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation and total iron binding capacity) were analyzed. Correlation analyses and pathway enrichment studies were performed to identify cytokine-miRNA regulatory networks. HD with AI exhibited significant overexpression of IL-6, TNF-α and miR-34 ( p  < 0.001), while miR-130 and miR-16b were significantly downregulated ( P  < 0.001) compared to control group. MiR-34 was positively correlated with IL-6 ( r  = 0.96, p  = 0.001) and TNF-α ( r  = 0.98, p =  0.001), while it showed significant inverse correlation with miR-130 and miR-16b ( p =  0.001 for both). Furthermore, strong positive associations were observed between lower levels of transferrin saturation and decreased expression of IL-6, TNF-α and miR-16b ( p =  0.01, 0.009, 0.001 respectively). The markedly increased ferritin levels (> 600 mg/mL) showed direct positive relationship with elevated expression of IL-6 and TNF-α in HD with AI. The present findings are exploratory and hypothesis-generating, suggesting possible relationship between miRNA dysregulation and the development of AI in HD patients, and provide the rationale for external validation in larger, independent HD cohorts. The interaction between miRNA expression and cytokine signaling may provide novel insights into the mechanism that could perpetuate AI in HD unravelling potential therapeutic targets that could mitigate the inflammatory response ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Radiation shield for neonatal incubators: design and dosimetric evaluation in NICU radiography

Optimized CNN-based ensemble deep learning approach for potato leaf disease detection with data augmentation

UAV-based multispectral imaging and machine learning for detecting and mapping maize leaf diseases in smallholder farms

Current Collector Design Principle for Long‐Cycling Aqueous Zinc Batteries With Minimal Anode Usage

ABSTRACT Zinc (Zn)‐based aqueous electrochemical systems promise low‐cost, high safety, and simplicity, yet they struggle with poor rechargeability due to dendritic Zn growth. The root cause of dendrite formation and poor utilization of Zn electrodes is identified as the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and its co‐deposition of insulating side‐products, the latter deteriorating both the nucleation and growth of Zn electrodeposition. By investigating the effect of substrate materials, we classified the thermodynamic and kinetic effects of both HER and Zn reduction and their influence on Zn reversibility. Benefitting from this guideline, we developed a multifunctional graphite‐coated copper current collector that significantly suppresses HER while maintaining good affinity with Zn deposition. The substrate design enhances Zn reversibility to 99.95% with 1‐time excessive Zn design, and endows an aqueous Zn//AC supercapacitor with over 400 000 cycles and a high‐areal‐capacity Zn‐MnO 2 battery with a low N/P ratio.

Identification of GCNT3 as a glycometabolism-associated biomarker in endometrial cancer

Pyridone‐Fused Aromatic Belts: Synthesis and Properties of Amide‐Bridged [6]Cycloparaphenylenes

ABSTRACT Pyridone‐fused aromatic belts, namely amide‐bridged [6]cycloparaphenylenes, were successfully synthesized to investigate how polar amide groups govern symmetry and electronic structure in π‐conjugated nanobelt molecules. The polar orientations of the six amide bonds give rise to two discrete structural isomers: S 6 ‐ and D 3 ‐symmetric aromatic belts. These compounds were obtained through an efficient macrocyclization directed by the cis ‐preference of tertiary aromatic amides, followed by Ni‐mediated intramolecular aryl–aryl coupling. Single‐crystal x‐ray diffraction analyses revealed that both isomers adopt rigid belt‐shaped architectures with enhanced π‐conjugation along the framework. The D 3 ‐symmetric isomer was successfully resolved into ( M,M )‐ and ( P,P )‐enantiomers using chiral HPLC and the isomer exhibited a distinct chiroptical response in electronic circular dichroism spectroscopy (| g abs | = 2.7 × 10 −3 ). Notably, cyclic voltammetry was used to demonstrate that the D 3 ‐symmetric isomer possesses a narrow HOMO–LUMO energy gap of 2.35 eV together with considerably stabilized frontier molecular orbitals. This work establishes a versatile molecular design concept for constructing aromatic belts with well‐defined chiroptical properties and high oxidative robustness, expanding opportunities in nanobelt science and chiral functional materials.