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Differences by sex and type of hypertension in mortality from hypertensive diseases between 1997 and 2020, and predictions for 2035 in Latin American and Caribbean countries
Background Hypertension is the most prevalent cardiovascular condition and a leading contributor to premature mortality in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Despite its public health relevance, few studies have examined long-term trends in hypertensive disease mortality across the region. The objective was to analyze trends in mortality due to hypertensive diseases from 1997 to 2020 in LAC countries, disaggregated by sex and type of hypertension, and to project mortality rates to 2035. Methods We conducted an ecological time-series study using age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) extracted from the World Health Organization Mortality Database. Mortality from hypertensive diseases was defined by ICD-10 codes I10–I13 and further stratified into primary hypertension (I10) and hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD, I11–I13). Trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression to estimate average annual percent change (AAPC) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Projections to 2035 were calculated using Norpred based on age – period – cohort analysis. Results Between 1997 and 2020, mortality from hypertensive diseases increased in most LAC countries. Among men, significant increases were observed in Brazil (AAPC: 2.6%), El Salvador (6.6%), and Panama (6.1%), while Trinidad and Tobago was the only country showing a significant decline (AAPC: −5.7%). Among women, the most marked increase was seen in El Salvador (7.6%). By 2035, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Paraguay are projected to have the highest ASMRs for hypertensive diseases among men, while for women, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela will remain among the most affected. Mortality from primary hypertension represented the greatest burden across countries, while HMOD exhibited lower but variable rates. Conclusion Hypertensive disease mortality is projected to rise in LAC, with notable disparities by sex, country, and type of hypertension. These findings underscore the urgent need for regionally tailored prevention, screening, and control strategies.
Reliable parameter estimation of nonlinear chaotic systems and PMSMs with the stellar oscillation optimizer
Unleashing the power of zero-valent platinum single atoms for enhancing low-temperature oxygen activation
Surface Ferroelectricity in Lead‐Free Nonferroelectric Chiral Perovskites Beyond Neumann's Principle
ABSTRACT According to Neumann's Principle, the chiral‐polar photovoltaic effect (CPPE) is restricted to crystals in one of the five chiral ferroelectric space groups—based on the assumption of perfect long‐range periodicity and bulk symmetry. However, this framework overlooks symmetry breaking at crystal boundaries. Herein, we report the emergence of surface ferroelectricity in a one‐dimensional chiral nonferroelectric perovskite, R / S ‐MPZSbBr 5 (MPZ = 2‐methylpiperazine), achieved through interlayer antiparallel alignment of polar Sb–Br chains. The bulk structure adopts a nonferroelectric phase with alternating polar domains, resulting in net‐zero polarization. Yet, at the (001) surface, the breaking of continuous translational symmetry gives rise to local ferroelectricity. This surface‐driven polarization, coupled with the intrinsic chirality of the crystal, enables a localized CPPE. Moreover, the synergy between surface ferroelectricity and pyro‐photovoltaic effects significantly enhances the performance of self‐powered circularly polarized light (CPL) detection. Our work reveals the limitations of Neumann's Principle at crystal interfaces and opens new avenues for engineering ferroelectricity and chiral optoelectronics in nonferroelectric systems.
Characterization of a spontaneous microphthalmia-like mutant mouse with isolated ocular defects
Microphthalmia is a significant eye defect owing to its profound effects on visual acuity. Microphthalmia accounts for 3.2%–11.2% of blind children. To date, there has been no cure for this disease. In this study, we aimed to identify microphthalmia-like mutant mouse and study its growth and development. In this study, we identified mutant mice exhibiting eye abnormalities using a forward genetics approach in a C57BL/6J cohort. To identify ocular characteristics of the mutant mouse, we conducted systematic evaluations including basic measurements (body length, body weight, and palpebral fissure width), optical coherence tomography (OCT), optomotor response (OMR), and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. At early developmental stages, there are notable differences in body length and weight between mutant and normal mice. Mutant mice displayed microphthalmia-like phenotypes, characterized by significantly reduced eyeball and lens sizes as well as decreased anterior chamber depth compared to wild-type controls. Visual impairment was evident in the mutant mice. Mutant mice exhibited rosette-like structures in the retina without impacting other organs of the body. Overall, these results support microphthalmia-like mutant mouse as a valuable tool for studying this congenital ocular malformation.
Analysis of isobaric quantitative proteomic data using TMT-Integrator and FragPipe computational platform
Abstract Isobaric mass tags, such as isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and tandem mass tag (TMT), are widely utilized for peptide and protein quantification in multiplex quantitative proteomics. We present TMT-Integrator, a bioinformatics tool for processing quantitation results from TMT and iTRAQ experiments, offering integrative reports at the gene, protein, peptide, and post-translational modification site levels. We demonstrate the versatility of TMT-Integrator using five publicly available TMT datasets: clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) whole proteome and phosphoproteome datasets from the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium, an E. coli dataset with 13 spike-in proteins, and two human cell lysate datasets showcasing the latest advances with the Thermo Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer and TMTpro 35-plex reagents. Integrated into the widely used FragPipe computational platform ( https://fragpipe.nesvilab.org/ ), TMT-Integrator is a core component of TMT and iTRAQ data analysis workflows. We evaluated the performance of FragPipe coupled with TMT-Integrator analysis pipeline against MaxQuant and Proteome Discoverer with multiple benchmarks, facilitated by the bioinformatics tool OmicsEV. Our results show that FragPipe coupled with TMT-Integrator quantifies more proteins in the E. coli and ccRCC whole proteome datasets, quantifies more phosphorylated sites in the ccRCC phosphoproteome dataset, and overall delivers more robust quantification performance compared to other tools.
Ligand‐Engineered Metal–Organic Cages Boost Charge Separation for Efficient Photocatalytic Synthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide in Pure Water
ABSTRACT Photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) offers a sustainable alternative to the traditional anthraquinone process, yet its efficiency is often hampered by the rapid recombination of photogenerated charges and the instability of reactive intermediates. Herein, we report a tetrahedral Zn(II) ion coordinated metal−organic cage ( MOC ) C3 constructed from a C 3 ‐symmetric terpyridine ligand incorporating pyridinium units. In pure water under an O 2 atmosphere and without sacrificial agents, C3 exhibits an H 2 O 2 generation rate of 678.15 µmol L −1 h −1 . Moreover, the confined cavity of the MOC is proposed to help stabilize crucial intermediates (*OH from water oxidation and *OOH from oxygen reduction), thereby further promoting the catalytic performance. This work illustrates a ligand‐engineering strategy for photocatalyst design by employing functionalized ligands to construct MOC that primarily improve charge‐separation efficiency and create directional electron‐transfer channels within the cage framework, while the confined microenvironment secondarily stabilizes key reactive intermediates, thus offering a route toward advanced photocatalytic H 2 O 2 generation.
The Platform Messaging Effect (PME): A quantification of how go-vote reminders on social media platforms can influence voting intentions
Over the past decade, researchers have identified and quantified about a dozen new forms of influence made possible by the internet. Although experts have expressed concern about how users may be harmed by social media content, few studies have sought to quantify the extent to which go-vote reminders on such platforms can impact voting. In the present study, we sent go-vote reminders to US voters on a simulation of Facebook and found (a) that interspersing vote reminders in the message feed significantly increased the magnitude of voting intentions (by over 40% under certain conditions) and (b) that vote reminders also had a significant impact on how people might vote. Because reminders of this sort are ephemeral, social media platforms that send vote reminders to users in a partisan fashion might be able to shift the outcomes of close elections without people’s knowledge.
Daily briefing: Neanderthal dad, human mum was more common than the other way round
Unifying non-Markovian dynamics and agent heterogeneity in scalable stochastic networks
Abstract Stochastic processes underpin dynamics across biology, physics, epidemiology, and finance, yet accurately simulating them remains a major challenge. Classical approaches such as the Gillespie algorithm are exact for Markovian, time-independent systems, where propensities depend only on the current state and agents of a given type are statistically identical. While efficient, this framework misses a defining feature of many real systems: heterogeneity and memory at the level of individual agents. Cells may divide or differentiate on distinct intrinsic timescales, individuals may preferentially interact with specific partners, and inter-event-time distributions can deviate strongly from the exponential. We introduce MOSAIC (Modeling of Stochastic Agents with Individual Complexity), a general and scalable framework that embeds agent-specific properties directly into the dynamics. MOSAIC unifies heterogeneous rates, dynamic interaction preferences, and both Markovian and non-Markovian waiting-time distributions within a single stochastic formalism, while retaining Gillespie-like computational cost. Applications to delayed biochemical reactions, competitive immune-cell dynamics, and temporal social networks show that MOSAIC reproduces empirical features that existing methods either miss or capture only at prohibitive computational cost, establishing it as a practical tool for simulating heterogeneous stochastic systems.
Comparison between moderate-load and high-load exercises in the rehabilitation of runners with Achilles tendinopathy: Protocol for a blind randomized controlled trial
Background Achilles tendinopathy is one of the most frequent conditions affecting runners. Exercise-based interventions are the main treatment options for Achilles tendinopathy; however, the ideal exercise dosage remains unknown. Objective The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of a moderate-load exercise intervention compared to a high-load exercise intervention in runners with Achilles tendinopathy in terms of pain, symptom severity, quality of life, muscle strength, and function. Methods Sixty amateur runners will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: high-load exercise group (HLG) and moderate-load exercise group (MLG). The HLG will start the treatment with calf exercises with 55% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) and progressively increase the exercise load in 12 weeks to 90% 1RM. The MLG will perform exercises with 55% 1RM during the 12 weeks of intervention. The RM load will be reassessed every 2 weeks, and the total training volume (total repetitions and tendon time under tension per week) will be the same in both groups. Both groups will also perform strengthening exercises for the quadriceps and gluteal muscles. The primary outcome will be symptom severity (Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment−Achilles), which will be evaluated at baseline, at week 6, at week 12 (end of intervention), and 6 months after the intervention. Pain will be evaluated using the visual analogue scale during the same time points. Secondary outcomes will include peak isometric strength of ankle, knee, and hip muscles, function of plantar flexor muscles, quality of life, and perception of improvement. Results will be analyzed under the intention-to-treat principle using generalized estimating equations (GEE) and Bonferroni-adjusted post hoc tests. Discussion This will be the first randomized controlled trial comparing high-load exercises versus moderate-load exercises in individuals with Achilles tendinopathy applying equal training volume. Trial registration number RBR-4vwy5xj
Biomimetic actuator crafted from a relaxor ferroelectric polymer nanocomposite
Phosphorus Vacancy‐Engineered Ultrathin RuP Nanosheets for Accelerated and High‐Capacity N‐Ethylcarbazole Hydrogen Storage
Abstract Precisely constructing efficient and durable catalysts for liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) is essential for large‐scale hydrogen storage and transport. In this work, we present a salt‐templated synthesis of ultrathin ruthenium phosphide nanosheets enriched with phosphorus vacancy (U‐RuPv). The catalyst exhibits remarkable catalytic performance for N‐ethylcarbazole (NEC) hydrogenation, achieving complete NEC conversion and a 98.11% yield of 12H‐NEC within 1.0 h at 180 °C and 7 MPa H 2 . The enhanced activity arises from abundant phosphorus vacancies on ultrathin RuP nanosheets, which modulate the electron configuration of adjacent Ru atoms, generating electron‐rich Ru σ+ (0<σ<3) active sites that promote efficient hydrogen activation and spillover. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that these vacancies induce local charge redistribution and a downward shift in the d‐band center, facilitating hydrogen desorption and NEC activation. This work highlights a dual‐engineering approach combining ultrathin nanoarchitectures and defect chemistry to advance LOHCs catalytic performance, offering new insights for catalyst design in hydrogen storage applications.
Genome-wide association study in a diverse grapevine collection provides insights into the genetic basis of berry size and cluster architecture traits
Berry and cluster size are pivotal determinants of grapevine productivity and consumer preferences and remain major targets in grapevine breeding. However, given their complexity as quantitative traits under polygenic control, a deeper understanding of their genetic determinants is needed. The gene pool of the Brazilian grapevine has made a significant contribution to enhancing grapevine performance in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a diverse panel of 288 Vitis spp. accessions from the Instituto Agronômico Germplasm Bank, Brazil. This panel was phenotyped for six cluster architecture traits over 12 years and genotyped using the Vitis18kSNP array. Using two different algorithms, the GWAS identified 56 significant SNPs distributed across 17 chromosomes, validating previously identified quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and revealing novel associations. Four closely spaced markers on Chr1 suggest the presence of a QTL influencing five traits simultaneously. A strong association signal, with phenotypic variance explained (PVE) values of approximately 29–35%, indicated a major QTL for berry length (BL) and width (BWi) on Chr14. Additionally, major-effect SNP loci were identified for cluster weight (CW) on Chr1, cluster length (CL) on Chr7 and 14, cluster width (CWi) on Chr6 and 18, and berry weight (BW) on Chr4, with PVE values ranging from 18–27%. Furthermore, 80 genes associated with berry traits and 52 genes associated with cluster traits were identified as putative candidate genes in the genomic regions associated with significant SNPs. These candidate genes are involved in the regulation of growth and development, hormone regulation, protein synthesis, stress response, and other physiological processes essential for cell health and functionality. Our results provide valuable insights into the genetic determinants of grape berry size and cluster architecture, offering critical data to support future functional studies and enhance the efficiency of related breeding programs.
Accurate prediction of tensorial spectra using equivariant graph neural network
Near‐Infrared‐Activated Multiphoton Photocatalytic System for Synergistic Therapy via CO Generation and •OH Production
ABSTRACT Light‐triggered controllable carbon monoxide (CO) release represents a promising approach for cancer therapy but is limited by the poor tissue penetration of light and insufficient CO release rates within deep tumor microenvironments. Herein, inspired by near‐infrared (NIR)‐activated multiphoton photocatalysis, a novel zinc‐based metal‐organic framework (ZnTBH) is reported, for the first time, to enable effective NIR‐mediated synergistic therapy through combined CO gas therapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in deep‐seated tumors. The engineered MOF integrates a V‐shaped Tröger's base (TB) derivative with an A‐π‐A configuration as the organic linker, synergistically enhancing CO 2 adsorption to overcome the “dilute CO 2 ” challenge in tumors while enabling efficient endogenous CO 2 ‐to‐CO conversion via NIR‐driven multiphoton photocatalysis. Moreover, the photogenerated holes localize on biphenyl‐4,4'‐dicarboxylic acid can drive water oxidation to hydroxyl radicals (•OH), thereby further improving therapeutic efficacy. This study presents a significant advancement in the design of NIR light‐driven photocatalytic systems for safe, precise, and localized CO delivery, offering new opportunities for CO‐based or combination therapies in the treatment of deep‐seated tumors.
Self-reported mental health in teenagers who received CI before the age of 2.5 years in relation to typical hearing peers and parents of both groups
Objective The aim of this study was to investigate and compare how teenagers who received cochlear implants (CI) before 2.5 years of age perceive their own mental health, in relation to peers of the same age with typical hearing (TH). Comparisons were also made between teenagers’ self-reports and their parents’ assessments in both groups. Additionally, the study explored how various background factors might be associated with mental health outcomes. Materials and methods The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), both the self-report and parent-report version, was used to assess the mental health of teenagers with CI (n = 26) and teenagers with TH (n = 57). SDQ total and subscale scores were compared between groups, between teenagers and their parents, and in relation to background characteristics collected via a questionnaire developed specifically for this study. Results No significant differences in scores were found between teenagers with CI and TH. However, among those who reported clear difficulties, the challenges had persisted for a longer period of time for the CI group. Parents of the teenagers with CI scored similarly to their children on all scales except for Peer and Emotional problems. In contrast, parents of teenagers with TH scored significantly different from their children across all scales. Conclusion The mental health outcomes by the SDQ suggest positive development trends in teenagers with CIs, when compared to findings from previous studies. These results indicate that early cochlear implantation, combined with family-centered habilitation, may establish essential conditions for improved quality of life and psychosocial well-being in this population.
ReactionSeek: LLM-powered literature data mining and knowledge discovery in organic synthesis
Construction of Chiral Frustrated Lewis Pair Framework for Efficient Asymmetric Hydrosilylation of Imines and Enantiomeric Separation
ABSTRACT Construction of stable and highly crystalline chiral frustrated Lewis pair (FLP) frameworks can enhance their prospects for application in practical transformation reactions; however, the scarcity of synthetic approaches has strongly hindered the development of chiral FLP frameworks. Based on the conformational chirality theory, we successfully prepared a series of chiral Lewis base‐centered covalent organic frameworks (PCOFs) by leveraging the chiral memory effect during the dynamic cage‐to‐COF transformation. Subsequent integration of these PCOFs with tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane afforded chiral FLP frameworks (CFLPs), which efficiently catalyzed the asymmetric hydrogenation of imines. CFLP‐1 exhibited optimal catalytic performance, facilitating the hydrosilylation of imines with a product yield exceeding 99% and an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 85%. CFLP‐1 was then deposited onto a nylon membrane to fabricate a CFLP‐nylon composite membrane. This modification not only significantly enhanced the reaction rate but also enabled chiral resolution of the product, achieving a turnover frequency (TOF) of 209.37 h − 1 and an ee value of 98%. These results demonstrate that the novel CFLP material has broad application prospects in heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis and enantiomeric separation.