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Hand-like autonomous flying robot for airborne grasping and interaction
Abstract Birds’ extraordinary aerial agility and environmental interaction enable complex tasks such as mid-air hunting, perching, and nest-building, inspiring the development of advanced aerial robots with similar manipulation capabilities. However, existing platforms often face challenges such as large size, heavy payloads, end-effector torque interference, and limited functionality, severely restricting their practical deployment. Drawing inspiration from the biological, structural, and actuation characteristics of human hands, we propose a hand-like robot that integrates flight and grasping, demonstrating the synergistic advantages of compact structure, agile flight, and versatile manipulation. We propose an autonomous framework including efficient mission planning and multi-level adaptive control, enabling the robot to precisely and smoothly perform human-like grasping, opening doors, forest perching, object transport, and interactive tasks. Additionally, the framework supports human-robot collaboration, empowering individuals with mobility impairment to conduct remote transportation and airborne operations. Outdoor tests, which include perching in various scenarios, navigating confined spaces, and transporting payloads across challenging terrain, validate the proposed vehicle’s potential in aerial delivery and manipulation tasks. These results demonstrate emerging possibilities for aerial operation, assistance, and delivery with integrated flight and manipulation abilities.
A deep learning ensemble framework for multi-subtype renal tumor classification using contrast-enhanced CT
A radiolabeled dendrimer non-invasively identifies and tracks innate immune cell activation in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Clonal expansion of cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells in lecanemab-associated ARIA
Social connections are differentially related to subjective age and physiological age acceleration amongst older adults
Abstract Human social connections are complex ecosystems formed of structural, functional and quality components. Weak social connections are associated with adverse age-related health outcomes, but we know little about the ageing-related processes underlying this. Using data from 7047 adults aged 50+ in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, we explore associations between diverse aspects of social connections and both older subjective age and accelerated physiological age using a validated physiological ageing combining cardiovascular, respiratory, haematologic and metabolic indicators. Doubly robust estimations using inverse-probability-weighted regression adjustment estimators show that living alone, low social integration and low social support are risk factors for physiological age acceleration. However, weak social connections did not have a statistically significant association with older subjective age. Analyses are robust to multiple sensitivity analyses and maintained four years later. We propose the hypothesis that accelerated physiological ageing may be a mechanism underpinning the relationship between weak social connections and age-related morbitidy and mortality.
A neutral cyclic aluminium (I) trimer
Abstract As part of the quest to develop metal-based redox chemistry beyond the d-block, low oxidation state aluminium complexes have gained wide recognition as discrete and versatile 2-electron reductants. Despite reports of monomeric, dimeric and tetrameric neutral structures, as well as a range of charged aluminyl compounds, neutral trimeric structures have remained notably absent. Furthermore, trimeric nuclearity has previously not been considered when investigating reaction mechanisms. Here, we report two neutral Al I trimers, cyclotrialumanes . The molecules are extensively characterised using both experimental and computational techniques, with the Al–Al bonds described as principally covalent in nature and the trimeric structure shown to be retained in solution. The cyclotrialumanes are highly reactive, activating a range of small molecules and unsaturated substrates (e.g. H 2 , alkyne, benzene). Most significantly, through a series of extraordinary reactions with ethylene, the cyclotrialumanes are shown to react directly as trimers, forming 5- and 7-membered Al–C ring systems.
Governing black soils for food and climate security
Decreased N-acetylaspartate plus N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate levels in the caudate of schizophrenia patients with tardive dyskinesia
Trace metal pollution and ecological effects on five crops around a typical manganese mining area in Chongqing, China
Abstract Manganese mining and smelting release trace metals into surrounding agricultural systems, posing potential ecological and human health risks through crop contamination. We assessed the accumulation, tissue distribution, and risks of nine trace metals (Mn, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, As, Cr, and Sb) in five staple crops (rice, maize, peanut, soybean, and sweet potato) from a manganese mining area in Chongqing, China, using bioconcentration factors, pollution indices, and USEPA-based health risk models. Mn was the most abundant metal in all crops, with rice showing higher accumulation than other species (2.27–3.37-fold, p < 0.05). Rice also exhibited the highest Cr and As concentrations, while Cd and Zn were preferentially enriched in peanuts and soybeans (BCF > 1). Most metals were retained in roots and leaves, with limited accumulation in edible parts (BCF: 0.01–0.05). Pollution assessment identified rice as the most contaminated crop, with Cr and As in rice exceeding food safety thresholds (P N > 25). Health risk assessments indicated that rice consumption poses a potential risk of chronic arsenic exposure in adults and exhibits chronic toxic effects in children, whereas all other crops remained below the risk level (T HQ < 1) for both adults and children. Rice is the dominant exposure pathway for trace metal health risks in mining-affected regions, whereas sweet potato, peanut, soybean, and maize are comparatively safer. These findings support crop substitution strategies and targeted soil remediation to enhance food safety in mining-impacted agricultural systems.
Correction: Multi-GeV electron beam generation via two-stage laser wakefield acceleration
Development of Dirofilaria immitis adult worms in NSG mice, detection of parasite-derived microRNA and comparative analysis of laboratory isolates
Seismic reflection characteristics and genesis of goafs and underlying coal seams
Abstract Coal is an important energy and industrial resource. Coal mining-resulted goafs and subsequently developed caving zones exhibit strong heterogeneity and instability, which can severely restricts the exploration and development of deep coal seams. Focusing on a coal mine in eastern China, this study relied on 2D migrated seismic profiles, and seismic simulating and imaging on a model to systematically investigate the seismic reflection characteristics and its genesis of goafs, caving zones, and their underlying strata. The results indicate that the bottom of goafs presents strong seismic reflections, caving zones generate intense seismic scattering, and reflections from the underlying coal seams exhibit three diagnostic features: namely energy attenuation, phase anomalies, and reduced continuity. Energy attenuation stems from the superimposed effects of strong reflection at the goaf bottom and intense scattering in caving zones. Phase anomalies are dominated by the low-velocity property of goafs and caving zones. Poor continuity is mainly controlled by the scattering in caving zones. The proposed correlation between the attributes of goaf-caving zones and the reflection responses of underlying strata can be used to evaluate the occurrence state of goafs and provide support for the exploration and development of deep coal resources.
Effect of solid-state polymerization on fiber structure development in melt spinning of mechanical recycled PET
Engineering novel ceramic metal borates containing carbon for efficient sequestration of Toluidine Blue O from wastewater
Enhancing cucumber production through compost and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria in an unheated soil based greenhouse
Abstract The transition toward more sustainable horticultural practices requires approaches that maintain productivity while reducing environmental impact. The use of organic amendments such as compost and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offers environmentally friendly strategies to enhance soil health, nutrient availability, and plant resilience. Here, we investigated the effects of different compost doses and PGPR inoculation on plant growth, yield, and fruit quality of greenhouse-grown cucumber, cv. ‘Oscar’. Compost was applied to the upper 10 cm depth of soil at four rates (0 g m −2 , 100 g m −2 , 200 g m −2 , 300 g m −2 ) and two PGPR strains, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescens , were applied twice to the root zone. Correlation analysis and Principal Component Analysis were used to evaluate associations between growth parameters, yield, and leaf nutrient status. The interaction between compost and PGPR significantly increased root fresh and dry weight. The most effective treatment—200 g m −2 compost combined with Pseudomonas fluorescens —enhanced marketable yield by 9.3% relative to the untreated control. Yield improvements were closely linked to increased nutrient uptake, particularly magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P), as confirmed by PCA. The highest nutrient enrichment was observed with the 300 g m −2 compost + Pseudomonas fluorescens treatment, where Mg and P increased by 13.5% and 27%, respectively, compared to the control. Overall, the combination of compost at 200 g m −2 with Pseudomonas fluorescens represents a practical and sustainable strategy to improve cucumber performance under greenhouse conditions. Future research should assess its effectiveness across diverse soil types, stress conditions, and production systems to optimize long-term implementation.
Prediction of liquid accumulation in a shale gas pipeline
Development of a shop floor scheduling and allocation framework for operations management excellence using cutting-edge technologies
Neurotransmitter alterations in seasonal affective disorder
Abstract Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of unipolar depression characterized by depressive symptoms mainly during the cold season, which were often linked to alterations in the serotonergic system. It is assumed that other neurotransmitter systems, such as glutamate and GABA, are similarly affected. Hence, we investigated differences in glutamate and GABA between SAD patients and healthy control subjects using magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI). Fourteen SAD patients (11 female, 36 ± 11 years) and 14 sex- and age-matched healthy controls, were scanned once between October and February using multi-voxel 3D-GABA-edited MEGA-LASER MRSI at 3 T. Mean GABA+ and Glx (glutamate + glutamine) to total creatine (tCr) ratios were calculated in five brain regions. Mann–Whitney-U-Tests were performed for each region and neurotransmitter ratio independently as well as correlation analyses between neurotransmitter ratios and clinical scores, respectively. A significant reduction in GABA+/tCr ratios in the hippocampus ( p corr = 0.049) between SAD patients and healthy individuals was revealed. No significant changes in other brain regions or correlations with the investigated clinical scores were shown. Our findings of altered GABA concentrations in the hippocampus are in line with neurotransmitter alterations across other subtypes of depression, hinting towards common neurobiological mechanisms and highlights the interplay between environmental factors and neurotransmitter systems.