Browse Articles

Origami folding enables ultrahigh and reversible mechanical energy storage in pillared graphene

The ability to accommodate large deformation while maintaining full structural recoverability remains a challenge in the design of lightweight mechanical energy storage materials. Here, we demonstrate through molecular dynamics simulations that pillared graphene, a three-dimensional nanostructure made of parallel graphene sheets interconnected by vertically aligned carbon nanotubes, can achieve an unprecedented combination of ultrahigh mechanical energy storage and complete structural recovery up to 38% compressive strain. This exceptional performance stems from a unique deformation mechanism wherein the graphene layers undergo reversible Miura origami-like folding, generating an extended stress plateau together with pronounced auxetic behavior. Parametric analyses further reveal distinct roles of geometric parameters: inter-pillar distance governs the transition between global and localized folding modes, while pillar height independently modulates the elastic modulus without compromising deformation reversibility. Our findings establish a design paradigm for high-capacity energy storage and mechanical buffering systems, and highlight architecturally guided deformation as an effective strategy for exploiting the elastic potential of carbon-based nanomaterials.

Evaluation of bone changes in patients born premature using mandibular indices and fractal dimension analysis on dental panoramic radiographs

Brush‐Like Tetrameric Acceptors Achieving over 20% Efficiency With Exceptional Stability and Mechanical Robustness

ABSTRACT Well‐defined high‐molecular‐weight acceptors have recently emerged as promising materials for organic solar cells (OSCs), offering high power conversion efficiency (PCE), long‐term stability, and intrinsic stretchability. However, the limited synthetic accessibility of these materials hampers their large‐scale application. Herein, we propose an efficient “brush‐like” synthetic strategy to construct high‐molecular‐weight acceptors (diYCl, teYCl, and pYCl) with precisely controlled molecular structures. Our results reveal that the well‐defined molecular architecture and enlarged molecular sizes effectively suppress molecular diffusion, thereby improving thermodynamic stability. Among them, teYCl achieves the optimal balance between efficiency and stability, affording a PCE of 18.02% in D18/teYCl‐based quasiplanar heterojunction (Q‐PHJ) OSCs. The device also exhibits remarkable operational durability, with T 80 lifetimes of 5000 h at 65°C and 61 600 h under dark storage. Moreover, when teYCl is employed as a coacceptor in Q‐PHJ architectures, the PCE further rises to 20.19%, representing the highest efficiency reported for such bilayer‐dominated Q‐PHJ devices. The enlarged molecular size also endows the OSCs with enhanced mechanical robustness, with teYCl‐ and pYCl‐based stretchable devices maintaining 80% of their initial PCEs at 31% and 40% strain, respectively. This study offers a practical molecular design strategy for developing high‐efficiency, stable, and intrinsically stretchable acceptors toward next‐generation OSCs.

Applying the Stimulus - Organism - Response framework for exploring use intention - a case study for a digital cultural and creative product, The Forbidden City 365 app

At present, little is known about the behavioral mechanisms underlying “individuals” use of digital cultural and creative products (DCCPs). To fill this research gap, this study investigates the key determinants influencing users’ use intention, with a particular focus on how external stimuli affect users’ behavioral intentions through their psychological and emotional states. This study adopts the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) model and takes the Forbidden City 365 app as a case to explore the key experiential factors influencing users’ use intention of digital cultural and creative products, using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) as the analytical method. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey, yielding 403 valid responses. Media richness significantly enhances users’ perceived cultural value and satisfaction; design aesthetics exerts a significant positive impact on perceived cultural value, satisfaction, and cultural identity; and high culture effectively strengthens satisfaction and cultural identity. Meanwhile, perceived cultural value, satisfaction, and cultural identity, as key mediating mechanisms, all exert significant positive predictive effects on users’ use intention. The findings support the proposed theoretical hypotheses. They suggest that the development of DCCPs should emphasize in-depth cultural expression, diversified media presentation, and optimized aesthetic design. Such an approach can achieve the dual goals of effective cultural communication and enhanced user experience.

Experimental Raman investigation of thickness-dependent and oxidation-induced lattice dynamics in 2D Fe3GeTe2

Fe3GeTe2 is a representative two-dimensional (2D) magnetic material whose lattice dynamics are highly sensitive to reduced dimensionality and external perturbations. Here, we present a systematic Raman spectroscopy study of Fe3GeTe2 from the monolayer to multilayer regimes, focusing on the effects of environmental oxidation and optical excitation. Our results demonstrate a pronounced thickness-dependent evolution of phonon modes, as well as oxidation-induced shifts in Raman features, indicating reduced symmetry and lattice distortion. In addition, continuous laser irradiation leads to pronounced changes in phonon frequencies, linewidths, and relative intensities, with the response primarily governed by the combined effects of oxidation state and optical excitation rather than purely thermal effects. These results reveal a close interplay between lattice dynamics, surface chemistry, and optical excitation in Fe3GeTe2, providing insight into the environmental stability and optical responsiveness of 2D magnetic materials.

Deep learning-based HTTP TRACE flood detection in wireless sensor network using deep spectral multi-layer convolutional neural network

Mechanism of the Photodecomposition of Stable Triarylmethyl Radicals

ABSTRACT Luminescent radicals, the vast majority of which are derivatives of tris(trichlorophenyl)methyl (TTM), are of significant recent interest because of the unique photophysical properties of the doublet excited state. Though they show high chemical stability, most trityl radicals show very poor photostability, which hinders their application as magnetic, optical and quantum‐related materials. In this work, we use density functional theory to study the mechanism of photodegradation of TTM. We isolate the photodecomposition products and characterize them via mass spectrometry, NMR, EPR, UV‐Vis absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and X‐ray crystallography. We show that the reaction proceeds by a 5‐electron electrocyclization followed by an unusual 1,8‐sigmatropic chloride shift, affording two fluorenyl radicals, which slowly oxidize and hydrolyze to form semiquinone products. We carefully examine the reported photostability of >80 substituted triarylmethyl radicals and demonstrate that other common triarylmethyl radicals, including benchmark luminescent derivatives with the highest photostability, the carbazole‐appended TTMs, photodecompose through the same cyclization mechanism, and thus the DFT‐calculated activation energy of cyclization can be used to guide the design of photostability in new luminescent triarylmethyl radicals.

Correction: Prevalence of peripheral arterial disease and arterial calcification based on three ankle-brachial index calculation methods (highest, average, and lowest systolic ankle pressure): A cross-sectional study in Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Peru

Trends in renal failure–related mortality among U.S. multiple myeloma patients aged ≥ 45 years, 1999–2023: analysis of CDC data

Solid Solution In Situ‐Reconstructed Mg‐Cu ₂ O/Cu Heterointerface for CO ₂ Reduction to C ₂₊ Alcohols in Neutral and Acidic Media

ABSTRACT Electrochemical CO 2 reduction presents a sustainable route for producing value‐added liquid C 2+ alcohols. Using neutral and acidic media enables high CO 2 utilization, but suffers low C 2+ alcohols selectivity and production rate, due to high energy barrier of C─C coupling and competing C 2 H 4 pathway on conventional Cu catalysts. Herein, we report porous Mg‐stabilized Cu 2 O/metallic Cu (Mg‐Cu 2 O/Cu) heterointerface, in situ reconstructed from block copolymer‐derived mesoporous MgCuO solid solution under operating CO 2 reduction conditions, that realizes extraordinary neutral and acidic CO 2 ‐to‐C 2+ alcohols performance. In situ spectroscopic and computational investigations disclose that Mg‐Cu 2 O/Cu heterointerface facilitates *CO hydrogenation and triggers energy‐favorable asymmetric *CO─CHO coupling, distinctive to energy‐intensive symmetric *CO─CO dimerization catalyzed by bare CuO‐derived Cu surface. More importantly, the heterostructure modulates bonding strength of key C 2+ intermediate with enhanced O─C yet weakened Cu─O bonds, switching selectivity from C 2 H 4 on Cu to C 2+ alcohols on Mg‐Cu 2 O/Cu. Along with porous architecture affording abundant accessible sites, we achieve remarkable Faradaic efficiencies of 70.4% at an industrial current density of 448.7 mA cm −2 in neutral electrolyte and 61.4% at 316.1 mA cm −2 in acid for C 2+ alcohols, placing among the highest levels reported hitherto. This work provides a general catalyst design framework for steering reaction pathways in practical CO 2 electrolysis.

Minigenes for heterologous expression of human and mouse cationic trypsinogen

Inborn mutations in the PRSS1 gene encoding human cationic trypsinogen cause hereditary pancreatitis. In mouse models, PRSS1 mutations are often studied in the context of the Prss3b gene that codes for mouse cationic trypsinogen. To characterize the cellular and biochemical effects of trypsinogen mutations, heterologous expression in transfected cell lines is often employed. Recent studies with the human and mouse trypsin inhibitor SPINK1 indicated that minigene expression constructs carrying a short intron yield markedly higher recombinant protein levels than cDNA constructs. Here, we investigated whether the minigene approach would increase the expression of human and mouse cationic trypsinogen in transfected HEK 293T cells. We found that compared with the cDNA, minigene constructs increased PRSS1 and Prss3b mRNA levels by 2.5-fold and 4.5-fold on average, respectively. Surprisingly, however, the amount of secreted human cationic trypsinogen remained unchanged while secretion of mouse cationic trypsinogen was increased 2.9-fold. The observations indicate that minigene expression constructs are effective in boosting mRNA levels in transfected cells, however, this may not always translate to elevated protein secretion. In these cases, inefficient protein translation and/or folding may be rate limiting.

Computational evaluation of aluminum and zinc doped C20 fullerenes as advanced sensors for the detection of the narcotic dimethyltryptamine

Abstract N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (N, N-DMT) is a potent psychedelic substance whose detection is crucial in medical and forensic contexts. In this study, we computationally evaluate the potential of aluminum- and zinc-doped C 20 fullerenes (AlC 19 and ZnC 19 ) as advanced sensors for N, N-DMT detection. Using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT, along with NBO, NCI, RDG, and ESP analyses, we assess key sensing parameters including adsorption energy, recovery time, electrical conductivity, and UV-vis spectral shifts. Results reveal that AlC 19 exhibits the strongest adsorption energy (-49.57 kcal/mol), making it suitable for N, N-DMT capture and removal. In contrast, ZnC 19 shows a significant conductivity decrease upon adsorption and a pronounced redshift in absorption wavelength (from 455 nm to 523 nm), along with a practical recovery time (~ 3.70 × 10⁴ s). These features make ZnC 19 a highly promising candidate for real-time electrochemical and colorimetric sensing of N, N-DMT, while AlC 19 is better suited for adsorption applications.

Catalyst‐Free Ammonia Formation at the Gas‐Liquid Interface Enables Selective Nitrogen‐Saccharide Association Under Abiotic Conditions

ABSTRACT Ammonia (NH 3 ) is one of the quintessential building blocks in the renowned nitrogen cycle, which sustains life activities. Probing the abiotic formation of ammonia is vital to both understanding the prebiotic nitrogen incorporation, and exploring novel opportunities in its synthetic acquisition. Here, we report a catalyst‐free process for in situ ammonia formation at the gas‐liquid interface of aqueous microdroplets. Specifically, saccharide molecular‐probe solution through dinitrogen nebulization generated saccharide‐ammonium adducts [M+NH 4 ] + in mass spectrometry detection that were absent under argon‐mediated control experiments, while ion chromatography and UV–Vis spectroscopy independently verified ammonia generation exclusively in aqueous microdroplet. Quantitative isotope‐dilution mass spectrometry determined an overall NH 3 formation rate of 8.35 × 10 −4  mg·h −1 in the microdroplet spray region. Spin‐trapping, electron paramagnetic resonance, radical‐scavenging, and intermediate‐derivatization experiments, supported by electric‐field‐assisted theoretical calculations, further indicate a hydrogen‐radical‐mediated, stepwise nitrogen hydrogenation pathway involving N 2 H 4 . Additionally, saccharides, decreasing microdroplet size enhances ammonium adduct formation while suppressing alkali‐metal adducts, a trend rationalized by electric‐field‐dependent stabilization of [M+NH 4 ] + over [M+Na] + and [M+K] + , as supported by density functional theory calculations. These findings support a microdroplet‐electric‐field‐driven ambient ammonia formation at the gas‐liquid interfaces, and provide mechanistic insights into prebiotic nitrogen‐saccharide association under abiotic conditions.

Daytime sleepiness and specific food cravings: The moderating role of insulin sensitivity

Purpose Daytime sleepiness is posited to stimulate hunger and food intake of specific macronutrients such that obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk may be elevated. To assess this hypothesis, this study of insulin sensitive and insulin resistant non‑diabetic individuals utilized standardized meal administration conditions to examine: 1) the extent to which self-reported sleepiness was associated with specific food cravings over the course of a day; and 2) whether insulin sensitivity interactively influenced this relationship. Methods Non-diabetic men and women (N = 143) participated in one session, where a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemia clamp was used to provide an insulin sensitivity index, and in a subsequent 14‑hour session, where four standardized mixed-meals and one pre-bedtime meal were provided. Concurrent pre-meal measures of sleepiness and cravings for sweet, salty, and starchy foods, and fruit, meat, and dairy foods were obtained. Hierarchical linear modeling analyses examined the within- and between-person association of sleepiness with food cravings across meals as a function of insulin sensitivity, controlling for age, sex and caloric intake administration. Results Craving ratings were highest for fruits, followed by dairy and starchy foods, meat, and then salty and sweet foods (p < .001). Analyses showed that insulin sensitivity moderated the positive association of daytime sleepiness with all food cravings, except for salty foods (p = .011 to .036), independent of covariates. This moderation effect displayed the strongest magnitude at below-average and average insulin sensitivity levels (p < .001). Conclusions Study results extend previous findings to show that daytime sleepiness is positively associated with cravings for a range of food types. The fact that these associations were increased in persons with more diminished insulin sensitivity is novel and supports further examination of underlying mechanisms linking daytime sleepiness and food cravings with food consumption and metabolic dysregulation early in diabetes pathophysiology.

Deep reinforcement learning for network resource optimization in MIMO-NOMA networks to maximize utilization with minimal overhead

Sustaining Methanol‐Oxidation and Hydrogen Evolution at Low Voltage by Applying Periodic Polarity Reversal on a Symmetric Pt‐Based Electrode Pair

ABSTRACT It has been established that Pt‐based electrocatalysts can enable the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) to produce value‐added formate at ultralow potentials. However, their sustainability is severely limited due to acute CO poisoning, particularly at high current densities. To address this challenge, we develop Pt@NiM‐LDH electrocatalysts (M = Co, Mn, Cu, Fe) by anchoring Pt sites onto NiM layered double hydroxide (LDH) support via Pt─O─Ni bonding, which mitigates CO poisoning. Critically, it is found that applying periodic current polarity reversal to a symmetric Pt@NiCo‐LDH‖Pt@NiCo‐LDH electrode pair drastically attenuates CO‐poisoning. This system thereby enables concurrent productions of hydrogen and formate for at least 120 h at an industrial‐level current density (300 mA cm −2 ) and a low cell voltage of 1.02 V, yielding a combined Faradaic efficiency of nearly 200%. Comprehensive experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the NiCo‐LDH support electronically modulates the Pt sites, suppressing both CO formation and adsorption. Furthermore, it is verified that the polarity reversal strategy weakens CO adsorption strength by inducing structural reconstruction of the electrical double layer (EDL). These synergistic mechanisms significantly enhance the sustainability of Pt‐based electrodes for coupled MOR‖HER electrolysis. This work thus provides a promising strategy for designing highly efficient and CO‐tolerant Pt‐based electrocatalytic systems.

Influence of COVID-19 on postoperative prognosis and pain management

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected healthcare, particularly surgical care. Although short-term effects on surgical outcomes have been examined, understanding of long-term postoperative prognosis and pain management in COVID-19 patients remains limited. This knowledge gap is critical as the pandemic evolves and the need for optimized postoperative care becomes increasingly important. Objective The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 infection on postoperative outcomes and pain management in surgical patients. We aimed to assess surgical mortality, complication rates, and postoperative pain levels in COVID-19-positive patients relative to a closely matched control group. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU following surgery. Data were collected on baseline characteristics, postoperative complications, mortality and pain scores. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 infection on postoperative pain. Stratified and interaction analyses were additionally performed to examine the robustness of these associations across subgroups. Results Mortality rates and the incidence of sepsis were significantly higher in the COVID-19 cohort. Patients with COVID-19 also experienced longer duration of mechanical ventilation in the ICU and prolonged ICU stays. In the fully adjusted multivariate linear regression model, COVID-19 infection was positively associated with higher postoperative visual analog scale pain scores (β = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.03–1.98; p < 0.001), corresponding to an average increase of 1.51 units in postoperative pain. Stratified analysis largely corroborated these findings across subgroups. Conclusions Surgical intervention in patients with COVID-19 was associated with higher mortality and sepsis rates, longer ICU stays, and increased postoperative pain scores. These findings highlight the need for continued research to optimize surgical care and improve patient outcomes in the evolving post-pandemic era.

Curcumin delivery system based on biodegradable polyhydroxybuterate Chitosan copolymer and Cobalt oxide nanoparticles against colorectal cancer

Abstract In this study, a biodegradable nanocomposite composed of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-chitosan and cobalt oxide (PHB-co-CS/Co 3 O 4 ) was developed for targeted and sustained in-vitro release of curcumin (CUR). The nanocomposite was prepared by varying the concentrations of Co 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) and using chitosan with different molecular weights (LCS, HCS) to optimize the release profile. The PHB-co-CS copolymer was synthesized through a coupling reaction between PHB-diol and the terminal isocyanate groups of chitosan, using stannous octanoate as a catalyst. PHB-diol was obtained via transesterification of PHB with ethylene glycol. Amine group in CS was protected by phthalic anhydrides followed by reaction with hexamethylene diisocyanato. Co 3 O 4 NPs were synthesized by reacting cobalt acetate with sodium carbonate in ethylene glycol. CUR was first loaded onto the Co 3 O 4 NPs and then dispersed within the PHB-co-CS copolymer matrix. Structural and chemical characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. In-vitro release studies were conducted in buffer solutions at pH 5.4 and 7.4, showing enhanced release in acidic conditions, which supports tumor-specific targeting. Formulations with lower molecular weight chitosan released curcumin more rapidly. Among the tested systems, the PHB-co-LCS/10%CUR@Co 3 O 4 nanocomposite exhibited the strongest anticancer effect, with IC 50 of 29.1 µg/mL against HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells. These results highlight the promise of combining green materials and sustainable approaches to develop effective, targeted drug delivery platforms for cancer treatment.

Orbital‐Level Chemical Coding for Exclusive Detection of VOCs Gases in Chemiresistive Sensors

ABSTRACT Cost‐effective chemiresistive gas sensors are widely applicated in the commercial detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, their poor selectivity towards a target VOC within chemically similar mixtures impedes both qualitative and quantitative accuracy. This arises from the absence of intrinsic chemical criteria for designing selective sensing systems. This research emphasizes the importance of orbital engineering to achieve selectivity in chemiresistive materials. We tailor O 2 p ‐band center (ε O‑2 p ) of the model material SnO 2 , achieving near 100% selectivity towards triethylamine (C 6 H 15 N) and exceptional selectivity towards formaldehyde (CH 2 O), respectively, and maintaining these selectivity performances in gas mixtures. Specifically, tailoring the ε O‑2 p enables energy‐level matching between O 2 p orbitals and frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) of distinct VOCs gases, thereby inducing selective orbital hybridizations. Such hybridization drives specific adsorption‐reaction processes and provides the electron‐transfer channel, ultimately triggering the exclusive electrical response. These findings not only unveil the origin of sensing selectivity but also establish a chemical coding strategy for the rational design of exclusive gas sensors based on an orbital‐energy‐matching framework.

Towards a systematic framework to assess restoration success of interventions in coral reef ecosystems

An ecosystem is defined as a collection of organisms that move energy within and outside of a system, while sustaining both the system itself and the multiple services that benefit humanity. Ecosystem restoration, then, is ultimately concerned with reviving and maintaining ecosystem processes by repopulating organisms and enhancing the habitat after periods of disturbance or loss. Whether interventions are considered “successful” depends on three criteria: 1) were the goals/outcomes clearly defined before implementing the intervention; 2) did the outcome arise directly from the intervention, and 3) does the outcome reflect a functioning ecosystem in the long term (e.g., > 10 years)? The answers to these questions have been challenging for coral restoration practitioners, as they are often hindered by the lack of predefined hypotheses and rigorous experimental design and by confusion between metrics quantifying coral production and outplanting efforts rather than recovery of community structure and ecosystem functioning. As a result, the impacts of restoration efforts are inconsistently and often incorrectly interpreted, and funding is often tied to intervention activities instead of outcomes. Here, we present a framework to implementing robust experimental designs and measure more relevant ecosystem indicators in order to assess the impacts of interventions and promote more informed and effective restoration outcomes. We then illustrate these concepts by reviewing coral restoration-specific case studies to demonstrate the degree to which successful outcomes under such a framework have been achieved. Through these practical recommendations, we hope to support coral restoration practitioners in designing and executing future interventions, and to encourage the broader community, including funders, to adopt a more systematic framework to evaluate and report restoration success.