Browse Articles

Third- and concerned-party positions in moral dilemmas: Effect of empathy on ethical judgment

The present study proposes a categorization of moral dilemmas into third-party dilemmas in which a judge’s choice affects only the life or death of others, and concerned-party dilemmas in which not only others’ but also the judge’s life or death is altered. While the former requires the judge to make only moral judgments to save others, another rational decision-making process that considers the judge’s life and death may also impact the latter. We examined ethical judgments based on these two types of dilemmas with a focus on empathic concern. Participants in Experiment 1 were more ethically permissive to save the many including him/herself at the expense of one person in the concerned-party dilemma than in the third-party dilemma, but empathic concern in both types of dilemmas consistently suppressed such utilitarian choices derived from “instrumental harm” (IH), which permits sacrificing a few necessary when it saves many. In Experiment 2, we also confirmed the suppressive effect of empathic concern for utilitarian choices derived from IH in the Pareto concerned-party dilemma in which the death of one person remains fixed regardless of the judge’s choice. We discuss the importance of categorizing these two types of dilemmas in moral dilemmas and demonstrates the public goods dilemma as a Pareto concerned-party dilemma in everyday life.

Switching Fluorescent–Phosphorescent Radioluminescence in Organic X‐Ray Scintillators via a Host–Guest Strategy

ABSTRACT Organic scintillators have attracted increasing attention for applications in medical diagnostics, nondestructive inspection and high‐energy physics. Regulating the radioluminescence (RL) lifetime and emission wavelength is crucial for developing organic scintillators that meet diverse application requirements, yet remains challenging. Achieving switchable fluorescent‐phosphorescent RL through a simple and effective approach is therefore highly desirable for x‐ray imaging applications. Here, we report an efficient host–guest strategy to realize switching between fluorescence and phosphorescence in RL from a single guest emitter. Accordingly, the fluorescence and phosphorescence exhibit decay lifetimes of 4.28 ns (emission at 450 nm) and 1140.41 ms (emission at 529 nm), respectively. Moreover, the phosphorescent scintillator demonstrated pronounced scintillation performance at elevated temperatures. Notably, 2‐TBASF@DMAP exhibits a long afterglow exceeding 0.8 s over a wide temperature range from 78 to 375 K, highlighting its strong potential for high‐temperature x‐ray detection and advanced imaging technologies. This work opens new possibilities for organic scintillators in multimodal detection, as the switchable emission modes enable enhanced signal discrimination and environmental responsiveness.

Maturity-based prediction of UHPC early-age strength: systematic assessment and a new piecewise fitting approach

Socioeconomic equity in maternal health services use in Bangladesh: The role of service readiness in health facilities during the period 2001–2016

Background Equity in health service utilization refers to equal treatment for equal health needs, regardless of socioeconomic status. In low- and middle-income countries, inequity in maternal health service use remains a pressing issue in the pursuit of universal health coverage by 2030. This study examines whether socioeconomic equity in the use of key maternal health services—antenatal care (ANC) from a medically trained provider, facility delivery, and management of complications—improved faster in districts with high facility readiness than elsewhere in Bangladesh between 2001 and 2016. Methods and findings We analyzed data from three rounds of the Bangladesh Maternal Mortality and Health Care Survey and corresponding Bangladesh Health Facility Survey rounds. These datasets were linked at the district level and pooled for the years 2001, 2010, and 2016. Using an adaptation of the Difference-in-Differences (DID) model based on linear probability models, we estimated whether poor-nonpoor gaps in maternal health service utilization changed differently over time in districts with high facility readiness than in districts with lower readiness. Bangladesh achieved substantial improvements in overall maternal health service use during the study period. However, these gains were not equitably distributed. Socioeconomic equity improved modestly for ANC and complication management but worsened significantly for facility deliveries. The gap between nonpoor and poor women widened more in high facility readiness districts than in low readiness districts (p < 0.05). Additionally, equity in ANC use improved among women living within one hour of a private facility (p < 0.05). Conclusions This is the first systematic investigation of the role of facility readiness in maternal health equity in Bangladesh using nationally representative data. Despite overall progress, persistent and, in some cases, widening socioeconomic inequities were observed—especially in facility-based delivery. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy action to ensure that improvements in service readiness translate into more equitable maternal healthcare access and outcomes.

Positional Effects of Single‐Atom Active Sites in 1D Porphyrinic COFs on Photocatalytic CO ₂ Reduction

ABSTRACT The selective photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) to methane (CH 4 ) remains a formidable challenge due to the demanding eight‐electron/proton‐coupled reduction process. Here, we report a positional engineering strategy for tailoring the spatial distribution of single‐atom active sites within 1D porphyrinic covalent organic frameworks (CPOF‐13‐M 1 ‐M 2 , where M 1 = H/Cu and M 2 = H/Cu), enabling tunable catalytic selectivity. By selectively positioning Cu atoms at either edge‐ or central‐positioned porphyrin sites of the framework, or both, we elucidate how active‐site location governs charge‐carrier dynamics and reaction pathways. Central Cu sites favor CO formation via *CO desorption, whereas edge‐positioned Cu sites promote sequential hydrogenation of *CO toward CH 4 through multielectron transfer, achieving a CH 4 production rate of 31.6 µmol g −1 h −1 with 92.9% electron selectivity. Dual‐site configurations exhibited intermediate selectivity, reflecting the competing catalytic preferences of the two differently positioned active sites. These findings establish active‐site positional engineering as a versatile design principle for tailoring photocatalytic pathways in COF‐based catalysts, opening new avenues for the rational design of reticular materials for solar fuel generation.

Steatotic liver disease and the risk of fertility-related gynecological disorders in reproductive-aged women: a nationwide cohort study

Longitudinal omics study of transcriptional dynamics in Lactobacillus crispatus

Background The vaginal microbiome is an important component of female reproductive health. Community State Type I (CST-I), which is dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus , is generally considered to be closely associated with a healthy vaginal microecological state. Although the taxonomic composition of CST-I communities remains relatively stable, the transcriptional dynamics of Lactobacillus crispatus across different phases of the menstrual cycle remain unclear. Methods A healthy reproductive-age woman with a stable CST-I vaginal microbiome was enrolled in this longitudinal study. Vaginal secretion samples were collected at six non-menstrual time points throughout a menstrual cycle. Third-generation full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metatranscriptomic sequencing were performed. Differential transcript expression analysis, KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, and Mfuzz time-series clustering were applied to systematically characterize the transcriptional dynamics of the vaginal microbiome across different phases. Results Full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed that Lactobacillus crispatus remained the dominant species at all six sampling time points, with no substantial changes in overall community composition. However, metatranscriptomic analysis revealed pronounced phase-specific transcriptional reprogramming. During the pre-ovulatory phase, pathways involved in DNA replication, biosynthesis, and central carbon metabolism were upregulated. On the first day after ovulation, pathways associated with carbohydrate utilization, quorum sensing, and redox homeostasis were selectively upregulated. During the mid-to-late luteal phase, pathways related to cell proliferation and growth were generally downregulated, whereas pathways involved in cofactor biosynthesis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and D-amino acid metabolism showed increased expression. Mfuzz clustering further revealed distinct phase-specific functional transitions in L. crispatus that were absent in non- L. crispatus lactobacilli. Conclusion The ecological dominance of Lactobacillus crispatus is maintained not solely through numerical abundance, but also through rhythmic and phase-specific transcriptional regulation. Dynamic functional remodeling and metabolic plasticity may represent important mechanisms underlying its long-term persistence and ecological dominance within healthy CST-I vaginal communities.

Electrochemical–Chemical Cascade Catalysis for Green Synthesis of Phenols Over a Three‐Dimensional Hexaazatrinaphthalene‐Based Covalent Organic Framework

ABSTRACT Phenols are essential intermediates widely used in chemical and pharmaceutical industries, yet conventional synthetic routes typically demand energy‐intensive conditions and multi‐step procedures. Herein, we report a green and efficient cascade strategy for phenol synthesis that integrates in situ electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) generation with chemical oxidation of arylboronic acids using molecular oxygen under mild conditions. This approach demonstrates excellent functional‐group tolerance and broad substrate scope (20 examples), achieving high conversion and selectivity without employing toxic solvents. A three‐dimensional covalent organic framework (3D COF) with hexaazatrinaphthalene (HATN) building units and htp topology is designed as a robust electrocatalyst, delivering a remarkable H 2 O 2 production rate of ∼7.0 mol g cat −1 h −1 . Mechanistic studies reveal that the abundant nitrogen sites in the COF backbone act as hydrogen‐bond acceptors, which facilitate proton transfer, promote a well‐matched proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) process, and stabilize the key *OOH intermediate, thereby collectively enhancing the selectivity and activity of the 2e − oxygen reduction reaction. Techno‐economic (TEA) analysis further validates the potential economic feasibility of this integrated route based on laboratory scale. This work highlights the potential of rationally engineered 3D COFs to bridge electrosynthesis and synthetic chemistry, offering a mild and sustainable alternative to conventional energy‐intensive phenols production.

Cross-validation optimism undermines hyperparameter optimisation in rare-event predictive maintenance: a leakage-resilient benchmark for urban electric transport

Assessing the investment risk: An empirical analysis of Altman’s Z-score model

Investors can play a significant role in reviving the economy and addressing the national agenda of poverty elimination through job creation. Though foreign and local investment are the backbone of any economy, especially in developing economies like Pakistan, investors face the challenge of assessing investment risk to protect the capital employed and achieve an appropriate return on investment. The aim of this research is to assess investment risk faced by firms in Pakistan using the most suitable approach, and then to develop an economic model for a comprehensive assessment of the factors influencing investors’ risk, focusing on firm-specific characteristics, economic conditions, and political stability. The introduction of the Investment Risk Index based on Altman Z-scores provides a structured diagnostic approach to assessing investment risk in Pakistan. Earlier studies have mainly used financial ratios to explain risk. The estimation results using an analytical approach (the Investment Risk Framework) confirm that firm-specific characteristics and economic, political, and financial stability indicators significantly impact investment risk. The findings, based on 443 firms over the period 2014–2023, reveal that the proportion of firms in the distress zone increased from 4.8% to 8.5% (a doubling) during the study period. Retained earnings relative to total assets emerged as a strongly correlated factor with investment risk, while the market value of equity relative to total liabilities played a significant role in keeping firms (around 88% of the sample) in the safe zone. For the determinants, the GMM results indicate that past values of investment risk strongly predict future risk. A 1% increase in past risk is associated with a 0.395% higher future risk. Additionally, political stability, GDP growth, inflation, current account balance, broad money, dividend premium paid, and growth opportunities are found to have a significant impact on the investment risk. Furthermore, internal factors such as fixed asset accumulation, firm size, and tax expenses also influence risk, with larger firms facing higher risk. This study underscores the importance of understanding investment risk factors for informed decision-making. The findings offer valuable insights for investors and policymakers, with potential applicability to other developing economies.

Unveiling Poisoning Mechanism Toward the Rational Design of Durable Amine‐Containing Catalysts for Na/Cl ₂ Batteries

ABSTRACT Rechargeable Na/Cl 2 batteries are promising for next‐generation energy storage owing to sodium abundance and high theoretical energy density. However, achieving fast and stable NaCl/Cl 2 conversion is extremely challenging because of the high lattice energy of NaCl. While amine‐containing organic catalysts can accelerate NaCl/Cl 2 redox kinetics, a sharp rise in polarization voltage under sustained operation causes severe energy output loss, hindering their practical application. Herein, for the first time, we identify a previously unrecognized poisoning process of nucleophilic amine‐based organocatalysts in the AlCl 3 /SOCl 2 electrolyte using in situ Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, producing N‐sulfinylated species. Based on these insights, a resonance‐assisted hydrogen‐bonding strategy is proposed to construct a “resonance quasi‐ring” structure, which simultaneously suppresses SOCl 2 /AlCl 3 ‐induced poisoning and further enhances the reaction kinetics. As a result, the anti‐poisoning is improved by an order of magnitude (10‐fold). The assembled Na/Cl 2 cells delivered a greatly enhanced cycle life (from 200 to 1500 cycles) with only a 90 mV increase in polarization voltage. The effect was further validated in Ah‐level pouch cell models. This work opens a new perspective for constructing efficient and robust organic catalytic systems in harsh electrochemical environments.

Antibacterial activity and surface fractal properties of Ag/CuO-doped hardystonite nanocomposites against bacteria

Mechanistic evaluation of NSC 57774 as a SHP2 inhibitor in gastric cancer: Multi-pathway signaling modulation in vitro

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, driven by late-stage diagnosis, metastatic progression, and therapeutic resistance. Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) has emerged as a critical regulator of oncogenic signaling in gastric tumorigenesis, yet its therapeutic targeting remains underexplored. In this study, we evaluated the anti-cancer efficacy of NSC 57774, a novel SHP2 inhibitor, using integrated bioinformatics and functional assays in AGS gastric cancer cells. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and UALCAN datasets revealed marked upregulation of SHP2 and multiple receptor tyrosine kinases in gastric cancer tissues. NSC 57774 potently inhibited cell proliferation and migration, demonstrating selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells over non-cancerous fibroblasts. Mechanistically, NSC 57774 disrupted key oncogenic pathways including MAPK/ERK, AKT and STAT3 in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, with higher doses achieving more sustained pathway suppression. NSC 57774 suppressed NF-κB inflammatory signaling at early timepoints and induced cleaved caspase-3 across all treatment groups at 72 hours, indicative of pro-apoptotic activity. A paradoxical late-phase increase in phospho-p38 was observed at 72 hours, consistent with a compensatory pro-apoptotic stress response. Comparative analysis revealed that NSC 57774 outperformed the commercial SHP2 inhibitor NSC 87877 and doxorubicin in reducing viability and migration of gastric cancer cells. Collectively, these findings position NSC 57774 as a promising candidate for targeted gastric cancer therapy, capable of disrupting multiple signaling pathways involved in tumor progression, metastasis, and inflammation, warranting further preclinical and clinical investigation.

Kinetically Stable Boron‐Heteroatom Bonds

ABSTRACT Achieving kinetic stability of hydrolytically labile bonds remains a persistent goal of chemistry. The present study investigates the kinetic stability of boron‐heteroatom bonds in N ‐methyliminodiacetic acid (MIDA) boronates. The hemilabile nature of the ligand has enabled the synthesis of molecules that would otherwise be considered too hydrolytically labile. Depending on the structure, acid‐promoted migration of the boryl substituent was found to produce molecules with boron bound to nitrogen in different oxidation states. The formation of azidoboronate over aminoboronate is a particularly interesting consequence of kinetic stabilization and is at odds with the expectedly low‐energy path to nitrogen gas elimination. By focusing on the unusual stability of boron‐heteroatom bonds in different settings, this study contributes to the development of fundamental aspects of organoboron chemistry and offers a path to versatile building blocks that should find widespread utility in chemistry.

Features of the fatty acid profile of down and guard fibers of felted wool of the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountain sheep breed

Field evaluation of 3-(N-acetyl-n-butyl) aminopropionic acid ethyl ester - IR3535 as a spatial repellent to control malaria: A Randomised, Before-After-Control-Intervention trial

Background Malaria remains a major public health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Increasing mosquito resistance to insecticides can significantly limit current vector control strategies. Spatial repellents represent a promising complementary tool by disrupting mosquito human-seeking behaviour. This trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of IR3535 as a spatial repellent in Tambai, a high-transmission rural area in central Mozambique. Methods This was a randomised, Before-After-Control-Intervention trial. Four Tambai blocks were randomly selected, with 40 households randomly assigned to receive IR3535 spraying and 40 assigned to as a no-repellent control group. Plasmodium falciparum malaria prevalence was estimated in children under 5 years of age using polymerase chain reaction, before, at year one and at year two. Data were first analysed using frequentist methods and subsequently using spatiotemporal Bayesian models, incorporating INLA-based models to assess the impact of repellent intervention on mosquito density and diversity, sporozoite rates, and malaria prevalence in the repellent and control groups. Results A total of 5716 mosquitoes were collected, 57.2% were Anopheles and 42.7% were Culex sp. . An. funestus s.l. females, were the most prevalent mosquito both indoor (92.7%) and outdoor (82.5%), followed by An. gambiae and An. tenebrosus . The total number of An. funestus s.l. females was lower in the repellent group compared with the control group [indoors: 765 vs 1,432; outdoors: 175 vs 293], as was the average number of mosquitoes collected per household [indoors: 18.6 vs 35.0; outdoors: 4.3 vs 7.1]. Spatiotemporal analysis revealed evidence of repellent-associated reduction in mosquito densities, with species-specific and indoor-outdoor differences, highlighting An. funestus s.l. dominance and spatial-temporal clustering patterns. P. falciparum prevalence among children under five declined from 72.6% (95% CI = 64.1–80.2) at baseline to 51.3% (95% CI = 43.5–59.1) at year one and 43.3% (95% CI = 35.7–51.1) at the end of the study, with similar reductions in both repellent and control groups. Sporozoite rates were slightly lower in the repellent group, particularly outdoors, however, these differences could not be directedly attributed to the repellent. Conclusion Our findings indicate that the use of IR3535 as a spatial repellent reduces indoor and outdoor malaria vector densities, which may contribute to reduced malaria transmission. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04419766

4‐Mercaptophenylboronic Acid‐Grafted CuO Simultaneously Enhances *CO Adsorption and *H Supply to Boost the Electroreduction of CO ₂ to C ₂₊ Products

ABSTRACT A molecular modification strategy is effective for enhancing the selectivity of copper (Cu)‐based catalysts to multi‐carbon (C 2+ ) products in the electrochemical CO 2 reduction reaction (eCO 2 RR). However, conventional modifying molecules fail to simultaneously optimize *CO adsorption and *H supply on the catalysts, greatly limiting efficient formation of C 2+ products. Herein, a novel modification strategy using a bifunctional 4‐mercaptophenylboronic acid (MPBA) molecule is reported to simultaneously enhance *CO adsorption and *H supply on Cu‐based catalysts. The optimal CuO‐MPBA‐0.4 catalyst achieved a Faradaic efficiency of 86.4% for C 2+ products with a partial current density of 751.5 mA·cm −2 , exceeding those of most molecularly modified Cu‐based catalysts reported. Mechanistic investigations and theoretical calculations demonstrated that the mercaptan groups in MPBA molecules formed Cu–S bonds with Cu, increasing the d ‐band center of Cu sites, which enhanced *CO adsorption on CuO‐MPBA‐0.4. Concurrently, the phenylboronic acid groups in MPBA molecules accelerated H 2 O dissociation, ensuring a sufficient *H supply in the eCO 2 RR, and thus promoting the hydrogenation of *CO to *CHO as well as asymmetric *CO–*CHO coupling. This unique synergistic mechanism of simultaneously enhancing *CO adsorption and *H supply provides new insights for other electrocatalytic reaction systems involving intermediate activation and *H transfer.

Biochar-biostimulant combinations enhance nodulation, yield, and antioxidant defense in mungbean under reduced NPK fertilization

Abstract Reducing mineral fertilizer inputs while maintaining crop productivity is a central challenge for sustainable grain legume production. This study evaluated whether biochar–biostimulant combinations could improve mungbean ( Vigna radiata L.) performance under reduced NPK fertilization. A polytunnel pot experiment was conducted using a completely randomized 2 × 4 factorial design with two NPK levels, 100% and 50% of the recommended dose, and four treatments: biochar alone, biochar + humic acid, biochar +  Bacillus amyloliquefaciens , and biochar +  Pseudomonas fluorescens . Biostimulant addition to biochar improved plant growth, pigment status, and antioxidant response, with the strongest responses observed under reduced NPK supply. Under 50% NPK, biochar +  P. fluorescens increased grain yield by approximately 90% compared with biochar alone and maintained grain yield (4.00 g plant⁻¹) comparable to the 100% NPK biochar-only control (3.85 g plant⁻¹). It also enhanced nodulation, increased total chlorophyll by approximately 60%, and reduced malondialdehyde by approximately 50%. Grain weight was positively associated with nodule number and ascorbic acid content and negatively associated with H₂O₂ content. These findings support biochar-assisted P. fluorescens supplementation as a promising strategy for sustaining mungbean productivity under reduced NPK input, warranting further field validation for broader applicability.

Leveraging expression quantitative trait loci information in single-cell resolution to identify cell-specific genes for gestational diabetes

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication with long-term metabolic consequences for both mother and offspring. While genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified risk loci, the cell-type-specific genetic architecture remains poorly characterized due to the limitations of bulk-tissue analyses. Methods We integrated GWAS summary statistics from FinnGen (12,332 cases, 131,109 controls) with single-cell expression quantitative trait loci (sc-eQTL) data from 12 immune cell types in the OneK1K cohort. Using the OTTERS framework and ACAT-O omnibus testing, we performed single-cell transcriptome-wide association studies (scTWAS) to identify GDM-associated genes. We performed bulk-level TWAS as a sensitivity analysis. To investigate the function of significant genes, we performed functional enrichment. Results We detected 14 unique genes significantly associated with GDM across immune cell types (FDR < 0.05), with the strongest signals in CD4 + T cells and monocytes. Notably, ERAP1 and ERAP2 showed associations in 10 of 12 cell types (ACAT. P  = 2.17 × 10 −5 ), and RIOK2 emerged as a shared regulator. Gene Ontology analysis consistently highlighted “antigen processing and presentation via MHC class I” as the top enriched pathway (FDR < 10 −5 ). In contrast, traditional bulk TWAS using GTEx whole blood identified only two genes with nominal associations. Conclusion Our sc-TWAS identifies cell-type-specific GDM-associated genes that are not detected in bulk tissue, highlighting dysregulated antigen presentation in peripheral immune cells. Colocalization prioritizes monocytic LNPEP as the primary causal candidate, while associations for ERAP1 , ERAP2 , and RIOK2 likely reflect complex LD or tissue-specific effects.

Spatially Hierarchical Gradient Orientation of Liquid Crystal Gels for Antagonistic Cooperative Actuation

ABSTRACT Muscle‐inspired soft actuators with high compliance and environmental adaptability hold significant potential for advancing miniaturization, autonomy, and intelligence in robots. However, conventional liquid crystal (LC) actuators are constrained by a chemically uniform anchoring environment, struggling to construct multidimensional programmable director gradients essential for complex deformation and locomotion. Here, we report a patterned nanoassemblies‐engineered hierarchical gradient orientation strategy for fabricating seamlessly integrated antagonistic LC actuators through deliberately programming physicochemical anchoring environments for guiding the spatially gradient alignment of LCs. Owing to the enhanced orientational order, dynamically regulatable strain incompatibility, and mechanical heterogeneity over the film thickness, the obtained splayed LC actuators exhibit helical shapes with periodically evolving parameters, generating bidirectional reversible deformation modes of loosening and tightening that cover a broad adjustable range from −85% to 233%. Furthermore, these antagonistic actuations can be arbitrarily integrated into a monolithic system by precisely controlling the patterned orientational frameworks, facilitating the controllability of omnidirectional motions in both direction and placement, which is essential for navigation within confined spaces. This generic design principle opens a pathway for exploring stimuli‐responsive materials with designable actuation for next‐generation soft robots.