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Factors of pet ownership associated with human health: A representative cross-sectional survey of Switzerland
Background Studies have discussed the relation between pet ownership and several health outcomes, but the evidence remains inconclusive. It is suggested that factors related to the owner, the animal, and the human–animal relationship might explain general associations in findings. This study investigates differences in health, social support, life satisfaction, loneliness, and psychological well-being by pet ownership and regular animal contact status. It explores whether these outcomes are associated with attachment to the animal, perceived socio-emotional support from the animal, the animal species, and the amount of animal contact and how these variables relate to each other. Method We investigated data from a representative survey of 2,328 Swiss participants. We used health behaviour, health status, healthcare use, social support, life satisfaction, loneliness, and psychological well-being to conduct regression analyses, with pet ownership, human–animal contact, attachment to the animal, socio-emotional support from the animal, and the animal species as the predictors, while controlling for socio-demographic variables. Results Pet owners reported a slightly lower health status and a slightly higher frequency of unhealthy behaviour. We found no difference in healthcare use, loneliness, life satisfaction, psychological well-being, or the amount of human social support between pet owners and non-pet owners. People with regular animal contact did not differ in health status, health behaviour, healthcare use, loneliness, life satisfaction, psychological well-being, or human social support compared to people with no regular animal contact. Attachment to the animal and the animal species were not related to health, loneliness, life satisfaction, and psychological well-being, while socio-emotional support from the animal and the amount of animal contact were sometimes associated. Moreover, we found that attachment to and socio-emotional support from the animal were higher in females, in relation to dogs, and when people spent more time with the animal. Discussion We found little evidence for a general association between pet ownership or regular animal contact and human health and well-being. However, relationship-related factors, including socio-emotional support from the animal and the amount of contact with the animal, were sometimes associated with well-being. Moreover, the quality of the human–animal relationship depended on different factors, such as the amount of spent time with the animal or animal species. These findings suggest that associations between pet ownership and human health and well-being depend on characteristics of the owner, the animal and the human–animal relationship itself. Our study shows that pet ownership is a complex construct and should be conceptualised multidimensionally to understand its possible positive or negative associations with health outcomes.
Social determinants of health and postnatal wellbeing among women with type 2 diabetes in Thailand: An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study protocol
Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects pregnancy and can lead to maternal complications. Women affected by diabetes during pregnancy have ongoing physical, psychological, and social needs until birth preparation and after childbirth. The Social Determinants of Health (SDoH) can have a greater impact on health outcomes than healthcare services or personal lifestyle choices alone. To date, no study has explored how women with type 2 diabetes experience life after childbirth. To help close this knowledge gap, the proposed study aims to: 1) Culturally adapt and translate the Postnatal Well-being in Transition scale into Thai. 2) Quantitatively describe the SDoH and postnatal well-being during the diabetes transition among Thai women with T2DM. 3) Explore Thai women’s experiences regarding their SDoH, based on the mean scores of their postnatal well-being during the diabetes transition. And 4) Explore and analyze the impact of postnatal care on women with T2DM using a mixed-methods approach. Methods This is an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study protocol with two distinct phases. The first phase involves the translation of the study instrument, while the second phase focuses on data collection for the mixed-methods study. Data will be collected from 50 postnatal women with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have delivered a baby within the past six weeks. Participants will provide data on demographics, social determinants of health, and their postnatal well-being in transition. From this group, 12 women will be selected to participate in semi-structured, one-on-one interviews to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences. The study will use triangulation to integrate and validate the findings from both the quantitative and qualitative data sources. Ethics and dissemination Human Research Ethics Committee approval has been received from the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University. The study findings will be reported in international journals.
Selective Reduction of Carbon Dioxide in Water Using [M(bpy2+)(CO)3(I)]2+ (M = Mn, Re) Electrocatalysts with Pendent Cations
Abstract Manganese(I) carbonyl complexes are promising electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction, yet their application in homogeneous aqueous media remains limited by poor solubility and selectivity. Here, we report water-soluble Mn(I) and Re(I) complexes fac-[M(bpy2+)(CO)3X]2+ (X = I or Cl), featuring bipyridine ligands functionalized with −Ph−CH2–(NMe3)+ cationic ammonium groups that integrate water solubility with secondary-sphere stabilization. In a bicarbonate buffer at pH 6.8, the Mn catalyst is completely selective for CO production at a low overpotential (η = 0.3 V), operating by a protonation-first mechanism with observed rates of ∼10 s–1. Pulse radiolysis reveals that the one-electron-reduced Mn species undergoes dimerization in the absence of CO2 but reacts competitively with CO2 through an initial pre-equilibrium followed by fast formation of a dinuclear CO2-bridged species (ΔGo = −12.4 kcal mol–1). At a higher 0.6 V overpotential, a faster reduction-first pathway (∼100 s–1) is available upon reduction of the metallocarboxylic acid intermediate, Mn-CO2H2+; however, this regime is functionally limited by the formation of a resistive, noncatalytic film on the electrode surface. Comparison to the analogous water-soluble Re catalyst (kobs = 440 s–1, η = 0.6 V) highlights the distinct mechanistic advantages of earth-abundant Mn in low-potential catalysis. These results demonstrate how cationic second-sphere design enables selective, homogeneous CO2 reduction in water while revealing competing radical and electrode-mediated processes that govern catalytic performance.
Effect of microwave irradiation cycles on the pore structures and fractal dimension of coals with different ranks
A better understanding of the changes in the coal pore structure and the fractal dimension after microwave irradiation is beneficial for studying the reservoir stimulation and thus enhanced coal bed methane (ECBM) extraction. Place coal samples of three different ranks, namely subbituminous coal, bituminous coal, and anthracite coal, under microwave irradiation (2.45 GHz) for 1, 3, 5, and 10 cycles, respectively. Low temperature nitrogen gas adsorption (LT-N 2 GA) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) were employed to characterize pore structure changes before and after irradiation cycles quantitatively, and fractal theory was applied to analyze the overall roughness and irregularity index of pores. The results show that the overall type of pores in three kinds of coal samples does not change after microwave irradiation cycles modification, but only changes the pore volume distribution of the coal samples. The total pore volume of coal samples was increased by microwave irradiation cycles; The pore volume and specific surface area of micropores (<10 nm) decreased; The increase of pore volume and specific surface area of small pores (10–50 nm); The surface irregularities and irregularities in pore size distribution of micropores and small pores are reduced, and this phenomenon further weakens with the increase in the number of cycles. With more cycles of microwave irradiation, the pore volume of macropores (>50 nm) in coal increases, while their specific surface area decreases. After irradiation, the size distribution irregularity of macropores (50 nm-20 μm) is reduced, whereas that of macropores (>20 μm) is increased. Microwave irradiation cycles promote the development, expansion, and connectivity of coal sample pores and fractures, and make some micropores expand into small pores, which increases and enhances the connectivity of macroporous fractures.
Phenotypic and molecular characterization of Salmonella enterica isolated from retail beef in Peshawar, Pakistan
Salmonella enterica is a major foodborne pathogen associated with beef contamination and increasing antimicrobial resistance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This study investigated the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and genetic diversity of S. enterica isolated from retail beef samples in Peshawar, Pakistan, using combined phenotypic and molecular approaches. A total of 250 beef samples were collected from urban, rural, and peri-urban retail markets. Salmonella enterica was isolated using standard culture and biochemical methods and confirmed by PCR targeting the invA gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method, and genetic diversity was assessed using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA PCR (RAPD-PCR). Overall, S. enterica was detected in 150 samples (60.0%), with higher prevalence in rural markets (77.5%) compared with urban (52.5%) and peri-urban (50.0%) locations. A high percentage of isolates were resistant to azithromycin (94.0%), tetracycline (68.7%), and streptomycin (52.0%), indicating widespread multidrug resistance among isolates. Five isolates (3.3%) were identified as extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers and carried bla TEM-1, bla CTX-M-15, or bla SHV-12 genes. RAPD-PCR analysis revealed substantial genetic heterogeneity, with isolates distributed across multiple phylogenetic clusters, suggesting diverse contamination sources rather than clonal dissemination. These findings indicate that retail beef in Peshawar represents a significant reservoir of genetically diverse and antimicrobial-resistant S. enterica . The combined use of phenotypic methods with targeted molecular and low-cost genotyping approaches provides a practical framework for surveillance of foodborne Salmonella in resource-limited settings.
Multimorbidity patterns and their associations with demographic characteristics, behavioral factors, and urban–rural residence: A latent class analysis in the Thai population
Multimorbidity, defined as the presence of two or more chronic conditions, is a growing public health concern. Understanding disease clustering and risk profiles is crucial for prevention and planning purposes. This study analyzed data from the National Health Survey in Thailand, which included 142,753 participants. Latent class analysis investigated nine non-communicable diseases, while multinomial logistic regression explored the characteristics associated with class membership. Four distinct classes were identified: low burden, hypertension–metabolic, predominant hypertension, and high multimorbidity. Advancing age revealed an increased probability of membership in all multimorbidity classes. Females exhibited a higher propensity to belong to the hypertension–metabolic and predominant hypertension classes. Urban residency was associated with an elevated probability of membership in the hypertension–metabolic and high-multimorbidity classes. The body mass index displayed significant variations across classes. Overweight and obesity were linked to the hypertension–metabolic and predominant hypertension classes, with obesity also associated with the high multimorbidity class. Underweight individuals demonstrated a reduced likelihood of membership in the hypertension–metabolic class but an increased likelihood of membership in the predominant hypertension class. Smoking was correlated with a higher probability of membership across classes, particularly among current smokers. Dietary behaviors were distinctly associated across classes. Frequent consumption of high-fat and instant foods was linked to the hypertension–metabolic class, whereas instant food consumption was also associated with the predominant hypertension class. Fruit consumption was correlated with a higher probability of membership in the hypertension–metabolic class, whereas vegetable consumption was associated with a reduced likelihood of membership in the predominant hypertension class. Moderate consumption of non-alcoholic sugary drinks was associated with a lower probability of hypertension–metabolic class membership. These findings underscore the heterogeneity of multimorbidity patterns in Thailand and delineate the demographic, behavioral, and residential profiles associated with non-communicable disease clustering.
Burden of heart failure in Asian Countries from 1990 to 2021: Update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Heart failure (HF) remains a major public health challenge in Asia, with rising prevalence and disability burden. This study analyzed data from the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study (GBD 2021) to assess HF trends across 48 Asian countries from 1990 to 2021. In 2021, there were 29.5 million HF cases in Asia, a 155% increase since 1990, with an age-standardized prevalence rate rising from 583.62 to 633.76 per 100,000. Years lived with disability (YLDs) also surged by 155%, reaching 2.86 million in 2021. China accounted for 44.34% of Asia’s HF cases, with the highest YLDs. Treated HF cases were most common, but severe HF contributed most to YLDs. The middle-high socio-demographic index (SDI) region had the highest age-standardized prevalence rate, while most SDI regions saw increasing trends, except Japan and Cyprus. The findings highlight the growing HF burden in Asia, urging targeted interventions to address this escalating health crisis.
Quantitative logics for directed evolution of an asexual population
Directed evolution of asexual populations is expected to offer a wide range of benefits to humanity. Achieving efficient directed evolution (DE) requires a quantitative formulation of experimental methodologies—or logics—that can address potential challenges throughout the evolutionary process. In this article, ten logics designed for resolving such difficulties when performing DE are introduced. To illustrate their application, a hypothetical scenario is considered in which an imaginary asexual population limb evolves into a wing, using a matrix-based discretization method to represent the trait of interest. Specifically, based on the operator model, fifty simulation iterations with logics applied and thirty iterations without logics were done. The results indicate that the introduced logics can accelerate the evolutionary process by roughly 2.6 times, while achieving an average accuracy for reaching the objective trait of approximately 82%. Based on these findings, key considerations for implementing quantitative logic-based DE are discussed, along with approaches for improving alignment between the final outcome and the target reference trait. Moreover, factors that could contribute to making the quantitative logic-based DE process more practical and rigorous are also examined.
A flashing success: A community-engaged approach to finding western U.S. fireflies
Fireflies are well-documented in many regions of the USA. However, the presence of flashing fireflies in much of the western United States remains largely unknown. Leveraging citizen science, this study aimed to locate populations of bioluminescent fireflies across Utah. Through a multifaceted public outreach campaign and an interactive website for data collection, citizen scientists were invited to report firefly sightings. Over nearly a decade, the project successfully amassed reports from diverse locations, significantly expanding the known distribution of bioluminescent fireflies in Utah and beyond. Validation of reports was conducted through on-site observations and specimen collection. Despite challenges in data reports (e.g., reports from outside desired area) and public interest management (e.g., protecting private property sites), the project achieved remarkable success, with over 135 unique localities documented. Media coverage, social media engagement, and educational outreach further amplified the impact of the project. Limitations in data quality and public engagement were addressed through iterative improvements in reporting protocols and outreach strategies. Future directions include expanding the project to encompass the western United States and exploring innovative communication strategies. By partnering with organizations in neighboring states, the project aims to create a robust dataset and foster public awareness of these charismatic invertebrates. This study highlights the effectiveness of community-engaged approaches in biodiversity research and underscores the importance of public involvement in scientific endeavors.
Ferroelectric Switchable Altermagnetic-Like Compensated Ferrimagnets with Charge Ordering
Abstract Unconventional collinear magnets with almost zero magnetization but prominent nonrelativistic spin splitting, such as altermagnets, can inherit the advantages of both ferromagnets and antiferromagnets. By incorporating more degrees of freedom such as ferroelectricity and charge ordering, these unconventional magnets can be even more interesting and functionalized. With this design principle, the Fe3O5 monolayer is predicted to exhibit a hybrid spin-splitting mechanism, with the superposition of the altermagnetic-like k-path alternating splitting and ferrimagnet-like Zeeman splitting. Benefiting from the hidden magnetoelectricity based on spin-charge coupling, such spin splitting can be fully switched by an electric field. Its conductivity is highly spin-polarized, with a polarization ratio above 99%, comparable to half-metals but with zero magnetization.
A lightweight hybrid framework integrating convolutional neural networks and fast Fourier transform for reliable and calibrated ECG-based cardiac abnormality detection
The electrocardiogram (ECG) is an essential non-invasive tool for detecting cardiac abnormalities; however, accurate interpretation often requires specialized expertise that may be unavailable in resource-limited clinical settings. While deep learning models have demonstrated high classification performance, many existing architectures remain computationally intensive and lack assessments of predictive reliability, hindering their deployment in clinical decision support systems. In this study, we propose a lightweight hybrid framework integrating Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) components. This architecture combines time-domain morphological representations learned from raw ECG signals with physiologically relevant spectral features to enable accurate and efficient classification. Unlike previous approaches, this work emphasizes reliable model evaluation by incorporating probability calibration and a rigorous patient-wise validation protocol. The proposed method was evaluated on the publicly available PTB-XL dataset using the official 10-fold cross-validation protocol for both binary and five-class multi-label classification. In addition to conventional discrimination metrics, model reliability was assessed using Expected Calibration Error (ECE). The model achieved an accuracy of 92.42% and an AUC of 97.8% for binary classification, alongside a macro-AUC of 92.46% for five- class multi-label classification. Calibration analysis demonstrated well-calibrated probability estimates with low ECE values. Despite its competitive performance, the architecture is highly efficient, containing only 87K parameters and 0.26 GFLOPs. These findings highlight the potential of lightweight hybrid architectures combined with calibration-aware evaluation to support reliable AI-assisted ECG diagnostics in resource-constrained healthcare settings.
Beyond Geometric Effects: Particle Size-Dependent Electronic Promotion in Ru Catalysts for Ammonia Synthesis
Abstract Metal particle-size effects in heterogeneous catalysis are commonly interpreted in geometric terms, where catalytic trends arise from variations in the density of active surface ensembles while the intrinsic properties of the sites are generally assumed to remain unchanged. Here we demonstrate that metal particle size also governs the intrinsic properties of active sites via size-dependent electronic promotion, beyond conventional geometric effects. Using well-defined Ru catalysts supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes for ammonia synthesis, we separate the geometric contribution of B5-like site density from changes in the intrinsic properties of the sites induced by electronic promotion. Without promoters, the adsorption and catalytic properties of these sites remain essentially invariant with particle size, consistent with classical geometric interpretations. In contrast, with electronic promotion using BaO, interfacial charge storage and capacitive effects enable smaller Ru particles, with higher surface-to-volume ratios, to accumulate greater electron densities. This size-dependent electronic enrichment directly tunes the intrinsic reactivity of individual B5-like sites, strengthening N2 activation through enhanced π-backdonation and alleviating hydrogen poisoning, leading to higher site-specific activity. These findings establish particle size as a dual control parameter that modulates both site density and intrinsic site properties via electronic effects, providing new insight into the complex interplay between catalyst structure, charge distribution, and intrinsic catalytic activity.
Body fat, skin tone, and the accuracy of smartwatch caloric expenditure estimates
Smart watches are commonly used to provide continuous feedback on activity and caloric expenditure and are leveraged for weight management, clinical decisions, and public health strategies. Most wrist-worn wearables combine photoplethysmography, accelerometry, and proprietary algorithms to estimate caloric expenditure. Prior research indicates significant errors, yet the roles of potential moderators, specifically skin tone and body fat percentage (BF%), remain insufficiently examined. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to quantify the accuracy of smartwatch-derived physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) estimates relative to indirect calorimetry and to examine whether error varies by device brand, body fat percentage, and skin tone. We tested whether brand, BF%, and Fitzpatrick skin type (III–V) predict caloric expenditure error versus indirect calorimetry. Hispanic adults ( n = 58) completed a single 10-minute recumbent-cycle protocol with alternating 2-minute intervals at ~64–76% and ~77–95% HRmax (Tanaka formula), bracketed by 5-minute rest/recovery. Participants wore Apple Watch Series 8, Fitbit Sense 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, and Garmin Forerunner 955; COSMED K5 metabolic system provided the criterion. After device-specific data quality filters, analyzable participant–device pairings were Apple = 52, Garmin = 51, Samsung = 50, Fitbit = 44. One-sample tests indicated significant mean bias for three of four devices, p < .05. Importantly, the non-significant Fitbit bias depended on device-specific outlier removal. Bias ( M , SD ) and 95% CI (kcal): Apple 21.60 (36.63), 11.59–31.60; Garmin 68.61 (55.86), 53.28–83.94; Samsung 56.76 (42.03), 45.11–68.41; Fitbit 3.14 (40.95), −8.96 to 15.24. Mixed-effects models showed a device main effect ( p < .001), a BF% main effect ( p < .01), and a device by BF% interaction ( p = .02): Physical activity energy expenditure (PAEE) error increased with adiposity across all brands ( p < .01). Common smart watches substantially misestimate PAEE relative to indirect calorimetry, with error magnitude increasing as BF% rises and varying by brand. Current consumer devices do not yet provide reliable caloric monitoring for individuals or for research; improving accuracy across body types is essential for clinical and public health applications.
Mapping the chaperonin TRiC/CCT interactome in mouse photoreceptors reveals functional significance for energy metabolism
The eukaryotic chaperonin TRiC/CCT is essential for folding a diverse set of proteins, yet its interactome and functional roles in specialized neurons remain incompletely understood. To investigate TRiC-mediated folding in rod photoreceptors, we generated a transgenic mouse line expressing an epitope-tagged Tcp-1α subunit, enabling purification of intact TRiC complexes from retinal tissue. Mass spectrometry identified 226 TRiC-interacting proteins, including known TRiC substrates and co-chaperones as well as numerous novel candidates enriched in RNA processing, cytoskeletal organization, and cell-cycle regulation. Using a TRiC loss-of-function model in which expression of a short splice isoform of phosducin-like protein (PhLPs) competitively inhibits TRiC activity, we observed marked reductions in canonical TRiC substrates, including tubulins, transducin β subunits, and triosephosphate isomerase, as well as secondary alterations in proteins involved in cytoskeletal stability, membrane trafficking, energy metabolism, and phototransduction. Quantitative metabolomic profiling revealed that TRiC deficiency induces a metabolic “energy crisis” characterized by reduced glycolytic- and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, acylcarnitines, ATP, NAD, and NADH, implicating widespread impairment of glucose utilization, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and fatty acid oxidation. Integrative proteomic–metabolomic analysis identified a small subset of proteins, including Rab10 and Anxa1, as potential drivers of these metabolic disruptions, with defective Rab10-dependent GLUT4 trafficking emerging as a plausible mechanism underlying impaired glucose uptake in TRiC-deficient rods. Finally, experiments using a perpetually unfolded Gβ 1 mutant and Gγ 1 -knockout mice demonstrated that substrate overload sequesters TRiC and competitively displaces other clients, exacerbating proteostasis imbalance. Together, our study provides a comprehensive in vivo mapping of the TRiC interactome in mammalian rods, reveals a connection between TRiC-dependent proteostasis and energy metabolism in rods, and indicates a mechanism by which misfolded TRiC substrates exacerbate a proteostasis imbalance that ultimately results in neurodegeneration.
Supramolecular Seeding-Induced Fibrillar Refinement for High Efficiency and Stable Organic Solar Cells
Abstract Achieving optimal morphology and long-term stability in organic solar cells (OSCs) remains challenging because the donor–acceptor crystallization sequence is often poorly coordinated during solution processing. Here, we develop a supramolecular crystallization seeding strategy by introducing a hydroxyl-terminated, highly crystalline acceptor (Y–OH) into the D18/L8-BO system. By engineering a hierarchical thermodynamic compatibility gradient (χD18/Y–OH &gt; χL8-BO/Y–OH &gt; χD18/L8-BO), Y–OH becomes interface-active and exhibits an interfacial distribution tendency in the multicomponent film. In situ UV–vis measurements reveal that Y–OH undergoes early stage ordering on a time scale closer to the donor, thereby participating in the initial morphology evolution and steering the subsequent organization of L8-BO into a refined interpenetrating fibrillar network with reduced fibril diameters. This morphology simultaneously promotes efficient exciton harvesting/charge generation and enables balanced charge transport, leading to concurrent enhancements in short-circuit current density (JSC) and fill factor (FF). As a result, the optimized ternary devices deliver a PCE of 20.90% (vs 20.05% for the binary control). Moreover, hydroxyl-enabled supramolecular interactions provide noncovalent anchoring that retards thermally driven morphology relaxation, allowing the devices to retain ≈83% of their initial efficiency after 900 h at 65 °C. This work highlights supramolecular crystallization seeding as an effective design principle for simultaneously improving efficiency and thermal stability in OSCs.
Quantitative comparative study on the verb-direction constructions “V+ Xia (下)”, “V+ Xialai (下来)” and “V+ Xiaqu (下去)” in mandarin Chinese
“V+ Xia (下)”, “V+ Xialai (下来)” and “V+ Xiaqu (下去)” are common verb-direction constructions in Mandarin Chinese, exhibiting certain similarities in syntactic distribution and semantic content. Employing collostructional analysis, this study quantitatively and visually calculates the collocational strength and attraction between different types of verbs and these verb-direction constructions. It analyzes the polysemy of the three constructions, summarizes the differences in their prototype meaning, and examines the distribution of collocational strength and relative semantic distance between prototypical and non-prototype meanings. Furthermore, it explores the characteristics of the semantic network structures presented by the three constructions. The findings indicate that “V+ Xialai ” possesses the largest number of attracted verbs, the broadest verb selection range, and the highest productivity among the three constructions. “V+ Xia ”, constrained by prosody, exhibits the lowest productivity but the highest average collocational strength. “V+ Xia ” has the highest number of semantic types with a relatively uniform distribution of collocational strength, whereas the distributions for “V+ Xialai ” and “V+ Xiaqu ” are more concentrated around their prototype meanings. The semantic networks of “V+ Xia ” and “V+ Xiaqu ” overall display a gradient continuum, while that of “V+ Xialai ” is relatively discrete, with certain semantic types showing a tendency to form independent clusters. The prototype meanings of all three constructions demonstrate strong semantic coherence. Non-prototype meanings with high collocational strength also exhibit relatively strong internal coherence, while those with low collocational strength are more discrete, displaying characteristics of diversity.
Optimization of CNC milling parameters for YXR-7 tool steel using fuzzy MARCOS: A multi-response approach to improve machining productivity
This study presents an integrated optimisation method for CNC milling of heat-treated YXR7 tool steel using carbide cutting inserts under varying lubrication and process parameters. A full factorial experimental design comprising 27 runs was employed to assess the influence of depth of cut ( d c ), feed per tooth ( f t ), cutting speed ( C s ), and nano-cutting fluid ( C f ) on critical performance responses such as surface roughness ( Ra ), material removal rate ( MRR ), and tool wear rate ( TWR ). An advanced modelling through regression and ANOVA showed complex interactive and non-linear effects among process parameters. To effectively navigate these interdependencies, a novel hybrid decision-making model combining the Full Consistency Method (FUCOM) and fuzzy-MARCOS was employed. This multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) method was described for uncertainties in machining performance and successfully ranked experimental alternatives based on their proximity to ideal performance. The optimal configuration (Experiment 21) accomplished a superior balance across all criteria, notably achieving a low surface roughness (Ra ≈ 0.42 µm) and TWR (~0.148 mm³/min) while maintaining a high MRR (~109.4 mm³/min). The proposed fuzzy-FUCOM-MARCOS method reveals high robustness, adaptability, and decision reliability, contributing a valuable strategy for precision machining of hard-to-cut steels. This work bridges experimental understandings with intelligent optimisation, fostering sustainable and high-performance manufacturing practices in the tooling industry.
Programmable Helicity and Spin Polarization in Pt6L4 Coordination Capsules through Guest-Mediated Chiral Control
Abstract Programmable regulation of spin polarization enables molecular-scale spin filtering, yet reversible control of its sign in supramolecular systems remains challenging. Herein, a chiral-directing strategy modulates multiple helical states of octahedral capsules, enabling programmable and reversible control of chirality-induced spin selectivity (CISS). The strategy transfers (R)-1,1′-bi-2-naphthol chirality to induce capsule helicity, followed by controlled helicity inversion upon introduction of (R)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diylhydrogen phosphate via host–guest interactions. Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) reveals chirality-dependent changes in electronic states, while magnetic conductive atomic force microscopy (mc-AFM) independently demonstrates spin-selective charge transport. Systematic modulation of host–guest electronic coupling enables reversible switching of spin polarization. These results demonstrate that dynamic, chirality-matched host–guest interactions emulate enzymatic stereochemical control, offering molecular-level insight and a general design principle for chiral coordination architectures with programmable spin functions.
Investigating the adaptive coping mechanisms of rewilded elephants: A comparison of behavioural and physiological variables with wild elephants
Literature on the adaptability and environmental processing abilities of ex-captive (rewilded) African elephants ( Loxodonta africana ) is sparse, emphasising the importance of this research area. By broadening our knowledge on the topic of rewilded elephant behaviour, we can generate a realistic expectation for stakeholders wanting to secure locations for these captive elephants with the aim of rewilding them. We studied 11 African elephants who have been rewilded onto various fenced reserves in South Africa. We measured their adaptability and response to their environment by comparing their behavioural frequencies within four categories and their physiological responses (faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations), to those observed for free-roaming elephants in South Africa. All study animals were grouped into three age/sex categories (Adult females (AF); Adult males (AM); Sub-adult females (SAF)). The results demonstrated that rewilded elephants expressed similar behavioural frequencies to their wild counterparts, except within the “Attentive” category, where both rewilded AMs and SAFs showed significantly lower frequencies than wild elephants. On the contrary, rewilded AFs and SAFs had comparatively higher fGCM concentrations than wild elephants. Through individual comparisons, it was evident that rewilded elephants have adopted unique mechanisms to process environmental stimuli. When the relationship between behavioural and physiological responses was investigated, certain rewilded elephants showed a strong relationship between the two parameters. However, for other elephants, there was no clear correlation between behavioural frequencies and fGCM concentrations. These distinctive differences might largely be influenced by personality traits that will determine whether the elephants respond actively or passively to their environment. This study has shown that rewilded elephants can adapt to wild environments after long-term captivity and that each of them implemented unique ways of coping with both natural and management-related pressures in the different reserves.
Hexagonal Close-Packed 2H-Cu Nanocrystals
Abstract Tuning the morphology and structure of Cu nanomaterials could effectively regulate their property, functions, and applications. However, it still remains challenging to directly synthesize Cu nanomaterials with an unconventional phase. Here, we report a one-pot wet-chemical synthesis of Cu nanocrystals (NCs) with a hexagonal close-packed (hcp, 2H type) phase, which is different from their thermodynamically stable face-centered cubic (fcc) phase. Compared to the conventional fcc-Cu NCs, the obtained 2H-Cu NCs exhibit enhanced catalytic activity and selectivity in the electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), achieving a high Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 73.1% toward multicarbon (C2+) products at 600 mA cm–2 under alkaline conditions in a flow cell. Moreover, in situ characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the 2H-Cu NCs can optimize the adsorption of the *CO intermediate, leading to a low energy barrier for the formation of C2+ products. This work not only demonstrates an improvement in CO2RR performance of Cu NCs by using the strategy of phase engineering of nanomaterials (PEN) but also opens up an avenue to explore the intrinsic properties and applications of unconventional-phase nanomaterials.