Browse Articles

Silver nanoparticles derived from Calotropis and Plumeria plants as a green approach to extend the vase life of Alstroemeria flowers

Abstract The cut flower industry is valuable due to the aesthetic features of cut flowers; therefore, maintaining product attractiveness during the postharvest period is essential in this industry. In cut Alstroemeria flowers, premature yellowing of leaves on the stem before petal drop is one of the major postharvest problems, which reduces the commercial value of the flower. The experiment was conducted as a completely randomized factorial design with three replications and nine treatments at the Agricultural Faculty Laboratory of the University of Hormozgan in 2024. The treatments included chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles and green silver nanoparticles synthesized from leaf extracts of Calotropis procera ( Calotropis ) and Plumeria rubra ( Plumeria ) at concentrations of 10, 15, and 20 ml L −1 . In addition, a 3% sucrose solution and distilled water were used as control treatments. All treatments except for the distilled water control contained 3% sucrose. The measured parameters included fresh flower weight, floret diameter, vase life, ion leakage, bud opening percentage, water uptake, total soluble solids, reducing sugars, total chlorophyll, anthocyanin, and the activities of ascorbate peroxidase and catalase enzymes. The findings clearly showed that the application of silver nanoparticles, especially those synthesized from Plumeria (NP) and Calotropis (NA) extracts, had a significant effect on improving physiological, biochemical traits, and vase life of cut Alstroemeria flowers. The results showed that the application of silver nanoparticles had a significant effect on improving the postharvest performance of Alstroemeria cut flowers. The longest vase life (18 days) and highest bud opening percentage (over 93%) were observed in the green Plumeria nanoparticles at 10 ml L −1 (NP10), while the shortest vase life (13 days) was recorded in the chemically synthesized nanoparticles at 20 ml L −1 (N20). The NP15 treatment increased fresh flower weight by approximately 22% and water uptake by 18% compared with the control. Moreover, the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) were 1.6‑fold and 1.4‑fold higher than those of the control, respectively. Given that biological nanoparticles appear to be more biocompatible, stable, and safer than chemical counterparts, their use in the postharvest management of ornamental flowers could potentially be a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach.

Sanger Sequencing of Xeno‐Nucleic Acid

Abstract Xeno‐nucleic acids (XNAs) offer biostable genetic polymers for biotechnology and information technology, but are incompatible with prevailing DNA sequencing methodologies. Here we report a Sanger sequencing approach tailored for XNA, enabling direct readout of XNA strands up to 50 bases. This new method relies on a Bst DNA polymerase mutant, which not only recognizes XNA as a template but also efficiently incorporates dideoxyribonucleoside triphosphate (ddNTP) substrates, facilitating sequencing of XNA by synthesis of complementary DNA. The Bst F710Y mutant exhibits at least two orders of magnitude higher activity in catalyzing ddNTP incorporation. Our method demonstrates accurate sequence determination of diverse XNA strands of distinct backbone chemistries such as TNA and FANA. Lastly, we showcase proof‐of‐concept automated XNA sequencing on a genetic analyzer instrument, by leveraging Bst mutant's ability to stochastically incorporate BigDye‐labeled ddNTP substrates in a single reaction. This work establishes a direct sequencing platform for XNA employing a chain termination strategy, and lays a foundation for future de novo identification of functional XNA and development of XNA‐based data storage system.

Creatine increases muscle fiber size in embryonic chick muscle cells and age-dependent swimming performance in zebrafish

Supervised learning for predicting unknown modifying variables in pliable lasso

Competitive Ni/Mn Reduction and Microstrain‐Coupled Negative Thermal Expansion in Delithiated Li‐Rich Cathodes

Abstract The demand for high energy density in the field of Li‐ion batteries has intensified interest in lithium‐rich Mn‐based layered oxide cathodes (LRLOs) owing to their high capacity and low cost. Nevertheless, the thermal runaway becomes an urgent concern because of the high‐voltage operation (up to 4.8 V), and the structural evolution mechanism of delithiated LRLOs during heating remains unclear. Here, we combine in situ high‐temperature X‐ray diffraction and absorption spectroscopy to systematically investigate the structural and chemical evolution of Li 1.2 Ni 0.2 Mn 0.6 O 2 (LLNMO) across distinct charge–discharge states. Interestingly, Ni is the first element to undergo thermally induced reduction in the charged state of LLNMO. With further increasing the temperature, Mn reduction sets in, coinciding with extensive lattice oxygen loss, and a phase transition from layered to disordered layered or Li‐containing rock‐salt‐type phase occurs. More intriguingly, after the initial electrochemical cycle, LLNMO exhibits negative thermal expansion at low temperatures below 200 °C, which are attributed to the cycling‐induced microstrain accumulation and long‐range structural ordering. These findings provide a mechanistic insight into the state‐of‐charge‐dependent thermal behavior of Li‐rich layered materials and offer guidelines for designing safer, high‐capacity battery materials.

Light cone cancellation for variational quantum eigensolver in solving noisy Max-Cut

Abstract Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE) is a quantum-classical hybrid algorithm used to estimate the ground energy of a given Hamiltonian. It consists of a parameterized quantum circuit, which the parameters are optimized using a classical optimizer. With the increasing need in solving large-scale problems in real-world applications, solving those large problems with fewer qubits and fewer gates becomes essential, so that we reduce the simulation difficulty and mitigate the effect of noise in real quantum hardware. In this study, we applied the Light Cone Cancellation (LCC) method to reduce the number of qubits and gates required in a two-local ansatz. LCC removes redundant gates that are not required in the calculation of the expectation value for a local observable. This leads to two consequences: 1) the quantum circuit used to create the trial wavefunction of VQE can be broken down into multiple quantum subcircuits with fewer qubits, enabling large-scale problems to be solved without actually simulating the entire circuit; and 2) reduced number of quantum gates in the circuit leads to the noise mitigation in quantum hardware. The main purpose of this work is to demonstrate the effectiveness of this method (called the LCC-VQE) in mitigating the device noise when solving the Max-Cut problem up to 100 qubits, using simulations on small (7-qubit and 27-qubit) fake noisy backends. Employing a single-layer two-local ansatz circuit architecture, the results show that LCC-VQE yields higher approximation ratios than those cases without LCC, implying that the effect of noise is mitigated when LCC is applied. An analysis of more than one layer of two-local ansatz is also performed, but empirical results show that the single-layer ansatz still performs the best among them. We also compare LCC-VQE under noiseless conditions with the Goemans-Williamson algorithm.

Chloride Chemistry in Multivalent‐Metal Batteries: From Interphase to Bulk Phase

Abstract Rechargeable magnesium (Mg) batteries are promising candidates for next‐generation energy storage due to their high energy density, intrinsic safety, and earth‐abundant Mg resources. However, their practical application is limited by sluggish desolvation and slow diffusion of divalent Mg 2+ . Here, amine‐hydrochloride‐based Mg electrolytes are designed to form favorable interphases and chloride‐based channels. A ligand exchange strategy is proposed to simultaneously promote fast desolvation on interphases and rapid Mg 2+ diffusion within cathodes. Detailed analysis reveals that the formation of the chloride‐containing cathode–electrolyte interphases and the MgH 2 ‐containing anode–electrolyte interphases are found to facilitate the desolvation process of solvated Mg 2+ . Moreover, the chloride‐based channels significantly reduce the diffusion barriers of Mg 2+ in Mo 6 S 8 from 0.712  to 0.517 eV, demonstrating rapid Mg 2+ diffusion kinetics. Consequently, Mo 6 S 8 ‐based full cells achieve a capacity retention of over 80% after 100 cycles at 1 C. Furthermore, this strategy is compatible with chloride‐free electrolytes, the full‐cells consisted of activated Mo 6 S 8 cathode delivers a high specific capacity exceeding 90 mA h g −1 and 80.3% retention after 900 h of cycling. It is also applicable to organic cathodes and Mo 6 S 8 ‐based calcium‐metal full‐cells. Overall, this work presents a generalizable strategy for designing high‐energy‐density rechargeable multivalent‐metal battery systems.

Epidemiology of refractive errors and its associated factors among medical students

Reinventing Phosphorus Anodes: Taming Pulverization via Strain‐Induced Interfacial Coupling

Abstract Alloy‐type anodes offer high theoretical capacity, yet their practical application is hindered by substantial volume expansion and particle pulverization. In this work, a proactive strategy is proposed to converts the inherent volume change from a detrimental issue into a driving force for interfacial stabilization. By leveraging the flexibility of robust single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and the large volume variation of phosphorus upon lithiation, the induced tensile strain in SWCNTs enhances their interaction with fragmented alloy particles, promoting interfacial coupling and the formation of P─C bonds. Operando Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT) calculations corroborate this chemomechanical coupling mechanism, which effectively stabilizes fractured phosphorus clusters, suppresses intermediate dissolution, and facilitates the reconstruction of a robust conductive network. As a result, the phosphorus anode incorporating only 1 wt% SWCNT delivers a high specific capacity of 1981.6 mAh g −1 at 0.1C, 1235.6 mAh g −1 at 5C, and maintains 1301.9 mAh g −1 (78.1% retention) after 500 cycles at 1C. Moreover, the NCM811//BP─SWCNT full cell achieves 507 Wh kg −1 and 1459.7 mAh g −1 after 500 cycles at 1C. This study establishes an active stress‐utilization design principle, providing new perspectives for developing high‐energy‐density alloy‐type anodes.

Correction: Automated tumor stroma ratio assessment in colorectal cancer using hybrid deep learning approach

Toward Industrial Electrosynthesis of Ethylene: Energy‐Efficient and Stable Acetylene Semi‐Hydrogenation on a Copper Phosphide/MXene Electrocatalyst

Abstract Electrocatalytic semi‐hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene (EHAE) using renewable electricity represents a promising alternative approach for ethylene production. However, its relatively low energy efficiency (EE) and insufficient electrocatalyst stability hinder its industrial applications. The conduct a techno‐economic analysis indicates that the EHAE process becomes profitable when the EE exceeds 22.8% at an industrial current density of 0.2 A cm −2 . Herein, we report a novel electrocatalyst featuring firmly immobilized copper phosphide (Cu 3 P) nanoparticles on MXene nanosheets (Ti 3 C 2 /Cu 3 P) for a stable EHAE process at industrial currents using membrane electrode assembly (MEA) system. Specifically, the Ti 3 C 2 /Cu 3 P electrocatalyst achieves an EE of 23.0% at 0.2 A cm −2 , demonstrating its potential for practical application and economic viability. The strong interactions between Cu 3 P and Ti 3 C 2 MXene prevent the agglomeration and dissolution of Cu 3 P nanoparticles during long‐term EHAE process. Notably, in a 4 cm 2 MEA, Ti 3 C 2 /Cu 3 P catalysts can sustain high performance for 100 h at 1.0 A with an ethylene Faradaic efficiency decay of only 0.051% per hour. Quasi in situ electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and theoretical calculations indicate that Ti 3 C 2 /Cu 3 P facilitates water dissociation and synergistically enhances the adsorption of acetylene and active hydrogen (H * ), thereby accelerating the kinetics of EHAE process.

Longitudinal and cross-sectional associations of myocardial stress markers with kidney function and chronic kidney disease in the BiomarCaRE project

Abstract Given the complex relationship between cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), CVD-related markers may serve as CKD biomarkers. We examined associations of three major CVD-markers [mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), MR-pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP), and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)] with CKD. Cross-sectional analyses included up to 61,830 participants, and longitudinal analyses (NT-proBNP only) 4205 individuals. Kidney function was assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using creatinine, cystatin C, or both (eGFRcr-cys). Markers were categorized into four groups. Cross-sectional analyses found that higher levels of all three markers were consistently associated with lower eGFR and higher CKD prevalence. For example, per 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in log-transformed NT-proBNP, corresponding to a 2.71-fold increase in the original concentration, was associated with -2.35 (-2.49, -2.21) ml/min/1.73m 2 lower eGFRcr-cys, and the highest NT-proBNP group had a 5.72-fold higher odds of CKDcr-cys (eGFRcr-cys < 60 ml/min/1.73m 2 ) compared with the lowest. Associations with eGFR were stronger among participants with CVD and diabetes. In longitudinal analyses, participants with higher baseline NT-proBNP had faster declines in eGFR, with a 10-year decline of -1.37 (-1.77, -0.98) ml/min/1.73m 2 eGFRcr-cys per 1 SD increase, and higher CKD incidence. These findings suggest MR-proADM, MR-proANP, and NT-proBNP as CKD biomarkers.

Unlocking Full State‐of‐Charge of Polyoxometalate for High‐Energy‐Density Redox Flow Batteries via Concerted Proton‐Electron Transfer

Abstract Polyoxometalates (POMs) exhibit exceptional multi‐electron transfer capacity for next‐generation high‐energy‐density redox flow batteries (RFBs), while their operable state‐of‐charge (SoC, ≤33.3%) is commonly limited by universal highly reduced metastable states under proton‐starved conditions. Herein, by establishing a proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) paradigm for [P 2 W 18 O 62 ] 6− ({P 2 W 18 }) cluster, we reveal that protonation at oxygen sites stabilizes reduced tungsten sites via concerted proton‐electron transfer (CPET). Marcus theory combined with DFT calculations quantifies the thermodynamic driving force and kinetic barrier for region‐selective CPET processes, and operando analyses by pH monitoring and Raman spectroscopy further confirm this proton‐coupled reversible redox mechanism. Guided by these findings, we engineer the high‐proton‐activity H 6 {P 2 W 18 } negolyte paired with a VOSO 4 ‐based posolyte and stepwise charging‐discharging protocol that enables stable full SoC operation. The resulting RFBs achieve unprecedented performance, which maintains 95.04 Ah L −1 without decay over 600 cycles (over 1020 h) at 66.7% SoC of 0.3 M H 6 {P 2 W 18 }, and 141.75 Ah L −1 at 100% SoC of 0.3 M H 6 {P 2 W 18 }, as well as delivers a record‐breaking 236.03 Ah L −1 and 239.02 Wh L −1 at 100% SoC of 0.5 M H 6 {P 2 W 18 }. This work unlocks full SoC of {P 2 W 18 } by translating CPET mechanistic insights into actionable electrolyte design, establishing a generalizable pathway toward high‐energy‐density POM‐RFBs.

Adaptive Bayesian learning for stability characterization of re-entry vehicles

Insights into the Controlled Formation of Zr‐Based Metal–Organic Gels: Linking Macroscopic Properties with Molecular Information from Solution State NMR

Abstract Understanding and controlling the formation mechanisms of metal–organic gels is crucial for their rational design with well‐defined properties for diverse applications. However, rapid methodologies enabling atomic‐resolution structural characterization of gel formation are still largely lacking. Here, we report for the first time the molecular‐level characterization of the in‐situ formation of a Zr‐based metal–organic gel by monitoring solvent structuration during gelation using solvent‐observed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. UiO‐66‐type gels were optimized under mild conditions, i.e., 40 °C and in the absence of acidic modulators, providing a biocompatible environment suitable for the in‐situ encapsulation of sensitive biomolecules during gelation. The combined analysis of saturation transfer difference and spin diffusion transfer difference NMR growth curves enabled real time monitoring of nucleation and gelation stages, revealing an excellent correlation between the progressive structuration of water within the gel network and the resulting macroscopic properties. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this NMR approach allows tracking of the in‐situ encapsulation of therapeutic biomolecules within the gel, exemplified by a glycolipid with anti‐inflammatory properties.

PRPF8-associated retinitis pigmentosa variant induces human neural retina-autonomous photoreceptor defects

Abstract Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is an inherited retinal disorder characterized by the progressive loss of photoreceptors that currently lacks effective treatment. Here, we investigated the effects of the PRPF8-Y2334N variant on neural retina cells using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived retinal organoids. Expression of PRPF8-Y2334N variant resulted in photoreceptor defects, including thinning of the outer segment layer. This indicates that the neural retina is impacted independently of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). At the molecular level, we observed relatively minor changes in mRNA expression in multiple retinal cells. We also found splicing alterations in genes associated with neural and retinal diseases, including those involved in intraflagellar transport, suggesting that these genes may represent common targets of splicing factor mutations. Finally, we detected the misexpression of several circular RNAs (circRNAs), which could serve as early biomarkers of splicing defects caused by RP mutations. Together, we present a model of RP that recapitulates photoreceptor degeneration and demonstrates that these defects are independent of RPE degeneration.

Photoactivatable Time‐Evolving Afterglow of Carbon Dots via Coupled Triplet and Exciplex Persistent Emission for Programmable Photonic Encoding

Abstract Photoactivatable time‐evolving afterglow color (TEAC) materials offer programmable delayed emission for dynamic photonic applications. However, achieving light‐triggered and multistate afterglow control in metal‐free systems remains a formidable challenge. Here we report a carbon dot‐polymer composite (CDs@ABS) that exhibits dual photoactivatable delayed emissions with distinct lifetimes, generating reversible TEAC with optical memory. Upon brief UV exposure, the film shows no visible afterglow; prolonged irradiation activates a dynamic emission that evolves from red to orange, yellow, and finally green, with a memory duration of up to 40 min and excellent long‐term stability. In this architecture, electron‐rich CDs act as triplet emitters and donors, while the electron‐deficient, oxygen‐permeable ABS matrix serves as both acceptor and regulator of exciton dynamics. The coupled emissive channels originate from oxygen‐regulated red phosphorescence of CDs triplet excitons and green long‐persistent luminescence from donor–acceptor exciplexes, which is progressively enhanced by photoinduced charge accumulation and strengthened hydrogen bonding. Their cooperative interplay produces light‐triggered, reversible TEAC behavior. Leveraging this functionality, the CDs@ABS film enables programmable and multilevel photonic encryption and dynamic anti‐counterfeiting. This work presents a generalizable strategy for cost‐effective, metal‐free, photoactivatable afterglow systems, opening avenues toward next‐generation dynamic information security and spatiotemporal photonics.

Three‑dimensional immune cartography uncovers subclinical remodeling in psoriasis

Reoriented Interfacial Water Structure Around Pd Enhances Oxygen Reduction Kinetics in Zn–Methanol–Air Batteries

Abstract The dynamics of interfacial water within the electrical double layer (EDL) play a pivotal role in governing charge transfer during electrocatalysis. While previous strategies primarily focused on modulating electrolyte compositions or pH to tune the EDL, tailoring the interfacial water structure through catalyst design remains underexplored. Herein, we report a composite catalyst comprising atomically dispersed cobalt sites (Co SA ) embedded in a N‐doped carbon matrix and palladium nanoparticles (PdCo NP @Co SA NC), which exhibits enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). In situ spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal that Co SA  incorporation induces a negative shift in the potential of zero charge ( E PZC ), causing more positively charged surface under working conditions compared to the Co‐free analogue (Pd NP @NC). This charge redistribution reorients interfacial water from H‐down to O‐down configuration, promoting *OH hydrogenation by strengthening electrostatic interaction with the OH sol − product. Consequently, PdCo NP @Co SA NC achieves an outstanding half‐wave potential of 0.937 V and a mass activity of 2.58  A mg Pd −1  for ORR, along with 6.15  A mg Pd −1  for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR), outperforming Pd NP @NC and commercial Pd/C. Leveraging its bifunctional ORR/MOR activity, we construct carbonate‐free Zn–methanol–air battery with decent kinetics up to 100 mA cm − 2  and stable operation over 2500 h with an energy efficiency of 70%.

Sustainable sizing, dispatch, and resilience planning of hybrid microgrids using Arctic Puffin Optimization

Abstract Hybrid microgrids combining photovoltaic (PV), wind turbine (WT), diesel generator (DG), and battery energy storage systems (BESS) provide a practical pathway for delivering reliable and low-carbon energy to isolated regions. However, their optimal sizing and dispatch planning constitute a challenging multi-objective problem due to renewable intermittency, battery degradation, and competing economic–environmental trade-offs. This paper proposes a novel Arctic Puffin Optimization (APO)-based framework for the techno-economic planning of standalone hybrid microgrids. The model simultaneously minimizes the Annual System Cost (ASC), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions, and Loss of Power Supply Probability (LPSP) through integrated component sizing, dispatch optimization, and adaptive constraint handling. Two real-world case studies from Ras Ghareb, Egypt, using hourly solar, wind, and load profiles validate the proposed approach. Comparative results demonstrate that APO consistently outperforms Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO), Ant Lion Optimizer (ALO), and Starfish Optimization Algorithm (SFOA), achieving up to 8% lower ASC, 17% higher renewable penetration, and zero LPSP while maintaining stable convergence behavior. Sensitivity analyses across varying load demands, wind speeds, irradiance levels, and generator constraints confirm the robustness of the optimized configurations. By directly incorporating emission costs and battery degradation into the objective function, the framework ensures realistic, economically viable, and environmentally responsible system design suitable for off-grid hybrid energy applications.