Browse Articles

Synergistic Donor‐Acceptor Effect in Conductive Covalent Organic Frameworks of Polyphthalocyanines for Aqueous Zn–I ₂ Batteries

ABSTRACT The development of materials with sufficient electrical conductivity and electroactivity is crucial for advancing their application in energy storage; however, integrating feasible electron transport properties and redox activity in a material remains a significant challenge. Here, we report two conjugated COFs constructed with fully aromatic linkages, namely poly‐zinc phthalocyanine ( p ZnPc) and poly‐zinc naphthalocyanine ( p ZnNPc), which exhibit distinct degrees of π‐conjugation, endowing them with good electrical conductivity. Iodine incorporation further induces remarkable conductivity increases up to two orders of magnitude with 1 S m −1 for p ZnPc and 0.15 S m −1 for p ZnNPc, along with a 200% enhancement in the electroactivity of iodine (I 2 ). Spectroscopic analyses and density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that the host‐guest charge‐transfer interaction between the COFs and I 2 allows the formation of an electron donor‐acceptor system, which synergistically facilitates electron transport to improve the electrical conductivity of the system and lowers the reaction barrier for the iodine redox reaction, consequently suppressing the shuttling of the I 3 − /I 5 − intermediates. As a result, the host‐guest complex material I 2 @ p ZnPc as a cathode in aqueous Zn–I 2 batteries delivers a high specific capacity of 234.4 mAh g −1 , close to the theoretical limit of I 2 , meanwhile offering excellent cycling stability of over 40,000 cycles.

Electronic structure and fast neutron direct-conversion detection in organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites

Traditional semiconductor neutron detectors improve neutron detection efficiency by covering organic materials as the neutron conversion layer. However, the injection efficiency of the recoil proton into the semiconductor detector is also affected by the scattering of the conversion layer itself. Here, we report the hybrid perovskite MAPbBr3 (MA = CH3NH3+) material, which merges the converter and semiconductor together at the atomic-scale, as a fast neutron direct-conversion detector to achieve efficient recoil proton injection. This hybrid material has a hydrogen concentration of 2.87 × 1022 n cm−3 and a μτ product of 4.49 × 10−3 cm2 V−1, combining the advantages of organic and inorganic materials. For two-dimensional perovskite materials, (PEA)2PbBr4 (PEA = C6H5CH2CH2NH3+) has a higher hydrogen concentration. However, the carrier transport in the Z direction is hindered by its double quantum well structure. The MAPbBr3 detectors achieved direct fast neutron detection and exhibited a good response with a deuterium–tritium (D–T) mixed beam neutron generator. Further calculations show that MAPbBr3 exhibits a self-repairing effect, and the existence of H-vacancy defects neither creates deep-level defects nor significantly affects the interlayer band alignment. This work opens up a new strategy for high-efficiency fast neutron detectors from the perspective of organic and inorganic hybrid materials.

The impact of climate and vegetation on the riverside architecture of the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract This research aimed to investigate the impact of vegetation conservation on the local climate and architectural production of two riverside communities in one of the capitals of the Brazilian Amazon, one close to and the other far from the urban area. Based on the inductive-exploratory method, we collected primary climatological data in the external area and inside the dwellings in both communities (October 2022 to May 2023), developed analyses of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) (August 2022 to May 2023), and finally collected architectural information from the dwellings investigated. Our results show that the climatological data from the two communities are statistically different, being more favorable to comfort in the community with greater vegetation conservation. Analysis of remote sensing images showed that vegetation density in this community indicates a strong relationship with vegetative regeneration capacity after the most critical dry months of the period investigated. Regarding thermal comfort inside dwellings, the data showed that, both through statistical analysis and the thermal comfort model adopted, the combined effect of building materials, vegetation cover, and environmental context favors better thermal comfort conditions. The results presented point to the importance of vegetation conservation, which positively influenced the local climate and thermal comfort of riverside dwellings. In addition, our results encourage the perpetuation of traditional knowledge that adapts architecture to the forest.

Implementation and acceptability of high efficiency particulate air filters to reduce respiratory infections in care homes: Process evaluation of the AFRI-c cluster randomised controlled trial

Respiratory infections are easily transmitted within care homes. Within a clinical trial (called AFRI-c), which tested the effectiveness of high-efficiency-particulate-air (HEPA) filters to reduce respiratory infections in care home residents, we conducted a mixed-methods process evaluation. We aimed to understand their acceptability, fidelity, and implementation to aid interpretation of the effectiveness findings. We used qualitative remote and face-to-face interviews with staff (n = 25), residents (n = 20), and relatives (n = 12) from care homes (n = 22) in the AFRI-c trial. We purposively sampled homes for variation in size, nursing or residential provision, and deprivation. We used reflexive thematic analysis, drawing on normalisation process theory to understand implementation. We used staff questionnaires (n ranges from 191 to 351 depending on questionnaire) and resident (n = 1158) questionnaires with descriptive and regression analyses. We used the triangulation protocol to integrate qualitative and quantitative findings. The use of HEPA filters became normalised, although some residents disliked the draught. Self-reported intervention fidelity was high, which is important context for interpreting the trial’s null outcome for infection reduction. HEPA filters made no difference to resident or staff satisfaction with the care home environment. We found no evidence that using HEPA filters changed infection control and prevention practices. While staff felt it was a priority to prevent respiratory infections, residents were more concerned about quality of life and care. Our mixed methods process evaluation of the AFRI-c trial found the use of HEPA filters was acceptable, with high levels of adherence and low levels of contamination, suggesting that the null trial results were not due to poor adherence. Some effort was required to ensure they were kept on. Approaches to data collection may have caused under-reporting of mild infections. We should not assume that infection prevention is always a priority for residents.

Mitochondria‐Targeting Iridium(III) Complexes Induce PANoptosis and Ferroptosis for Boosting Chemoimmunotherapy Against Immune‐Desert Colorectal Cancer

ABSTRACT Over 80% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases are classified as microsatellite stable (MSS), a subtype characterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that poses a significant challenge for chemotherapy. Emerging evidence suggests that inflammatory programmed cell death pathways can effectively activate anti‐cancer immunity across various cancer types. However, studies exploring the role of these death pathways in reversing the immune desertification and providing unique therapeutic advantages in MSS‐CRC remain scarce. Herein, we present a strategy using iridium(III)‐based inducers to concurrently trigger immunogenic PANoptosis and ferroptosis, aiming to reverse the “immune desert” phenotype of MSS‐CRC and integrate chemotherapy with immunotherapy. Upon mitochondrial accumulation, these iridium(III) compounds inhibit complex I of the electron transport chain, leading to electron leakage and excessive reactive oxygen species generation, which collectively initiate the PANoptotic and ferroptotic signaling pathways in MSS‐CRC. Proteomic analysis and in vivo experiments further demonstrated that Ir2 can activate PANoptotic and ferroptotic pathways to counteract immune desertification in MSS‐CRC. Importantly, this study establishes a mechanism‐guided chemical design strategy whereby subtle ligand engineering within a cyclometalated Ir(III) platform governs mitochondrial accumulation, redox disruption, and subsequent induction of immunogenic cell death.

Analog-to-digital converter based on spin–orbit torque magnetic tunnel junctions

Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) serve as a crucial interface between the physical and digital worlds, playing an essential role across a wide range of applications. However, achieving an ADC that simultaneously offers high speed, high resolution, and low power consumption remains a significant challenge. Recent advances in spintronics, particularly in spin–orbit torque magnetic tunnel junctions (SOT-MTJs), have shown significant promise for the development of true random number generators (TRNGs). In this study, we propose and demonstrate an ADC architecture based on SOT-MTJ-driven TRNGs with tunable resolution. We experimentally verify the stochastic switching behavior of SOT-MTJs and utilize this property to implement a resolution-adjustable ADC. Circuit-level simulations implemented on a Field-Programmable Gate Array platform confirm the feasibility of the proposed design. Our results further broaden the application of SOT-MTJs, which may play an important role in external signal processing and artificial intelligence hardware acceleration in the future.

The association between best friends or fixed peer groups and academic performance among Korean children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Selective GPR17 antagonism enhances structural and functional recovery in animal models of demyelination

Myelination, driven by differentiation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells, is critical for metabolic and structural support and efficient axonal signal transmission in neurons. Loss of myelin is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis and other devastating demyelinating disorders. As demyelination persists, neurons become increasingly vulnerable, leading to neurodegeneration and chronic disability. Restoring myelin through endogenous repair mechanisms offers a promising therapeutic approach to mitigate progressive neuronal loss. One key regulator of myelination is the G protein-coupled receptor 17, GPR17, whose chronic upregulation in oligodendrocyte precursor cells is commonly seen with myelin injury. In line with single-nucleus transcriptomic data showing predominant expression of GPR17 in committed oligodendrocyte precursor cells, our postmortem immunohistochemical analyses of MS patient tissue revealed a significant upregulation of GPR17 + /BCAS1 + oligodendrocyte precursor cells adjacent to and in demyelinated lesions. Importantly, remyelinated lesions lacked GPR17 immunoreactivity, consistent with a model in which sustained GPR17 expression is associated with demyelination and impaired oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation. To test the impact of pharmacological GPR17 inhibition on remyelination, we evaluated the effects of a novel, selective GPR17 antagonist in cuprizone-induced murine demyelination models. This toxin-induced approach has been widely used to study mechanisms of de- and remyelination, in the absence of the full inflammatory complexity of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. We show that oral treatment results in robust functional recovery consistent with remyelination, as evidenced by improved spatial memory and recovery of visual evoked potential latency delays. GPR17 antagonism also accelerated structural remyelination in the corpus callosum and optic nerve. Together, these findings support a role for pharmacological GPR17 antagonism in promoting remyelination and highlight this G protein-coupled receptor as a promising therapeutic target for demyelinating disorders.

<i>C</i> -axis textured M-type hexaferrite with tailored magnetic properties and narrow FMR linewidth for Ka-band self-biased circulator applications

C-axis textured BaZn0.3Ti0.3Fe11.4O19 M-type hexaferrite was synthesized by solid-state reaction under magnetic field alignment, and its crystallographic site occupation, static and dynamic magnetic properties, and self-biased circulator performance were systematically investigated. At this intermediate substitution level, Rietveld refinement and Raman spectroscopy independently reveal that Zn2+–Ti4+ dopants are distributed across all five Fe3+ sublattices, with the 12k site accommodating the largest individual fraction—marking the onset of a multi-site substitution regime distinct from the selective 4f1/4f2 occupation dominant at lower doping levels. The saturation magnetization reaches 70.01 emu/g with a remanence ratio of 0.84, while the anisotropy field is reduced to 9871 Oe, reflecting a balance between the 4f1/4f2-driven anisotropy reduction and partial compensation by the 12k site. A narrow ferromagnetic resonance linewidth of 428 Oe is obtained at 58 GHz, and surface-integral analysis of the position-dependent demagnetizing factor demonstrates that finite-size-induced broadening contributes less than 9% to the measured linewidth. A slotted-structure self-biased circulator designed with the measured parameters exhibits a center frequency of 31.7 GHz and a 15-dB bandwidth of 2.3 GHz at the Ka-band. These results demonstrate that the intermediate-doping regime, wherein the 12k site becomes the primary dopant recipient, provides an effective route for simultaneously achieving a reduced anisotropy field and a narrow linewidth in substituted M-type hexaferrites for self-biased millimeter-wave circulator applications.

Accelerometer measured physical activity and menstrual distress across menstrual and nonmenstrual days in mild and moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea

Abstract Dysmenorrhea and menstrual features have a major impact on patterns of physical activity; however, objective assessments of these associations using accelerometry remain limited. This study aimed to compare sitting and physical activity times, measured using a Fibion accelerometer, during the first three days of menstruation and days 8–10 of the follicular phase in age-matched women with mild and moderate-to-severe primary dysmenorrhea (PD). This observational study included 46 women aged 18–45 years whose primary dysmenorrhea severity was categorized based on the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS). Symptom severity was measured using Working ability, Location, Intensity, Days of pain, Dysmenorrhea (WaLIDD) and Dysmenorrhea Symptom Interference (DSI) scores. Sitting time and light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity were measured using a Fibion triaxial accelerometer worn for three consecutive days in the menstrual phase (days 1–3) and three consecutive days in the follicular phase (days 8–10). Multiple 2 × 2 mixed ANOVA analyses were used to assess differences between the menstruation and follicular phases in both groups for the outcomes of interest. Chi-square tests were performed to compare self-reported menstruation information. Participants demonstrated similar activity patterns during their menstrual and follicular days and spent most of their time sitting (~ 11 h/day), followed by light-intensity activity (~ 3.8–4.0 h/day), with considerably less time in moderate activity (~ 34–36 min/day) and minimal vigorous activity (&lt; 1 min/day). No significant differences in sitting time (p = 0.586), light intensity (p = 0.414), moderate intensity (p = 0.776), or vigorous intensity (p = 0.162) were detected between the two dysmenorrhea groups across both phases. WaLIDD scores were not significantly different for the severity of pain over the last 3 months or the duration of menstrual pain but showed a statistically higher number of pain locations and level of interruption of daily activities in women with moderate-to-severe PD. The DSI differed significantly between the groups in all domains (p &lt; 0.001). While objectively measured physical activity levels did not significantly differ between the menstrual and follicular phases or across dysmenorrhea severity groups, women with moderate-to-severe dysmenorrhea experienced greater symptom interference and disruption of daily activities. According to these results, dysmenorrhea significantly affects self-reported function and the perceived ability to be active during menstruation, even though it may not significantly change overall activity intensity. To clarify the physiological and behavioural mechanisms underlying these relationships, further longitudinal studies are needed.

Dual-input deep learning system for microbial identification from blood agar plates

Objective The morphological classification of microbial cultures and colonies requires specialized knowledge and experience; therefore, automation in this field remains limited. This study examines the feasibility of automating the identification of pathogenic microbial species from colony images of cultured microorganisms. Methods Two distinct image datasets were constructed for 10 clinically relevant species: a colony image dataset, consisting of individual colony images cropped, and a tile image dataset, generated by dividing entire images of the culture plate into tiles. Separate ResNet-50–based models were trained in each dataset, and their outputs were integrated to evaluate the classification performance. Training was conducted using 10,048 colony images and 23,003 tile images collected from 418 strains, and performance was assessed with five-fold cross-validation (K = 5). Results The colony image model achieved a sensitivity of 0.934 and a specificity of 0.993, while the tile image model achieved a sensitivity of 0.918 and a specificity of 0.991. Integration of the two models into an ensemble model further improved performance, yielding a sensitivity of 0.955 and a specificity of 0.995 when tested on 76 independent strains. Conclusion The ensemble model approach provides high accuracy and robustness, suggesting its potential technical contributions to microbial identification in clinical microbiology laboratories.

Enhancing the electrical insulation performance of epoxy resin composites via <i>in situ</i> grafted Cu2S nanoparticles

With the continuous increase in voltage levels of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission, the requirements for the insulation properties of epoxy resin insulating materials have become increasingly stringent. However, existing methods for enhancing the insulation properties of epoxy resin through nanoparticle modification commonly face bottlenecks such as cumbersome processes, particle agglomeration, and weak interfacial bonding, making it difficult to achieve efficient and stable interfacial charge management. Herein, we report a reaction-induced in situ grafting strategy for nanoparticles. Using copper(II) diethyldithiocarbamate as a single-source precursor, Cu2S nanoparticles and tetraethylthiourea (TEU) surface-modifying molecules are simultaneously generated via its thermal decomposition reaction, achieving in situ chemical grafting of TEU onto the Cu2S surface. The resulting TEU@Cu2S functional nanoparticles were incorporated into the epoxy resin matrix, successfully constructing a stable ternary composite interface. The results demonstrate that this interface can suppress space charge accumulation by introducing deep-level charge traps, thereby significantly enhancing the DC breakdown strength and volume resistivity of the composite, while effectively reducing the surface charge accumulation density. This work provides an innovative and practical solution for the development of high-performance HVDC insulating materials.

Integrative multi-omics characterization of HECTD3 across pan-cancer and its functional validation in thyroid cancer

Expression of Concern: Signatures of tumor microenvironment-related genes and long noncoding RNAs predict poor prognosis in osteosarcoma

Single‐Molecule Additive Integrating Na‐Ion Reservoir, Cosolvent, and Diluent Functions for Low‐Temperature Na‐Ion Batteries

ABSTRACT Na‐ion batteries hold great promise for low‐temperature energy storage, but their performance is severely constrained by Na‐ion loss, electrolyte freezing, and elevated viscosity. While each issue demands carefully tailored additive molecules, their combined use often leads to performance interference and complicates the manufacturing process. To overcome these concurrent challenges, we report an organic molecule, NaB(C 2 H 5 ) 4 , designed via machine learning, which incorporates three functional components in a single entity: Na + to replenish sodium inventory, B(C 2 H 5 ) 3 as a low‐freezing‐point cosolvent, and C 4 H 10 as a viscosity‐reducing diluent. NaB(C 2 H 5 ) 4 undergoes complete decomposition below 4.0 V via a free‐radical cleavage pathway, as confirmed by NMR and mass spectrometry. The incorporation of this molecule reduces the freezing point of the ether electrolyte to −85.0°C, and when formulated in an ether‐based electrolyte at −60°C, it achieves an ionic conductivity of 0.61 mS cm −1 and a viscosity of 49.7 mPa s. As a result, the hard carbon||P2‐Na 2/3 Ni 1/3 Fe 1/3 Mn 1/3 O 2 pouch cell exhibits an improved initial Coulombic efficiency from 64.8% to 83.7%, along with 90.2% capacity retention over 200 cycles at −60°C.

Intrinsic layer Hall effect with half-quantization in PT-broken magnetic topological insulators

The layer Hall effect (LHE) in antiferromagnetic topological systems originates from layer-locked Berry curvature, which gives rise to opposite Hall responses associated on different layers. Experimentally, in PT-symmetric even-layer MnBi2Te4, a perpendicular electric field is usually required to observe a layer-polarized anomalous Hall conductance. In principle, antiferromagnetic topological materials with intrinsic structural asymmetry provide a relatively simple route to revealing the LHE without external field control. Using first-principles calculations and a tight-binding model, we show that the intrinsic antiferromagnetic topological material MnBi4Te7, which lacks PT-symmetry protection, gives rise to an intrinsic LHE with a half-quantized plateau at σxy=±0.5e2/h, whereas MnBi6Te10 also exhibits a layer-polarized anomalous Hall conductance, although the half-quantized value is not realized. The tight-binding results are in good agreement with the first-principles calculations. Since MnBi4Te7 has been widely synthesized and characterized in experiments, this study provides an optimal platform for exploring the intrinsic LHE with half-quantization without external electric field.

Effect of massed versus distributed preclinical training on subgingival instrumentation skill across the preclinical-to-clinical transition

Abstract Consolidation of preclinical subgingival instrumentation skills during early clinical exposure is poorly quantified, especially after the new German dental licensing regulation (nGDLR). Within a shared digitised training programme (DTP), we compared in vitro performance after preclinical training and after the first periodontal patient course under distributed (oGDLR; 7th semester, S7) versus massed (nGDLR; 6th semester, S6) schedules. In a non-randomised, sequential two-cohort design (a consequence of a 2020 curriculum change), 102 students (oGDLR, distributed/longitudinal schedule, n = 45; nGDLR, massed/block schedule, n = 57) provided 136 evaluations after preclinical DTP (nGDLR S6, oGDLR S7) and/or after the first periodontal patient course (S8). Because oGDLR training (S7) overlapped with first clinical contacts whereas nGDLR training (S6) preceded intensive patient care by ~ 1.5 semesters, schedule density and clinical proximity co-vary and cannot be fully separated. Only 34 students (oGDLR n = 22; nGDLR n = 12) were evaluated at both time points, so most comparisons are cross-sectional. Each student instrumented six teeth with Gracey curettes (GRA) and a sonic scaler (AIR) on periodontitis manikins. Effectiveness of simulated plaque removal (ESP), treatment time, calculus removal and an 8-item Likert self-assessment were analysed by non-parametric tests and multivariable regression with cluster-robust SE. oGDLR was associated with higher ESP (β=+5.16%, p = 0.001) and twofold higher calculus removal (adjusted OR 2.00, p &lt; 0.001); treatment time was comparable. From post-DTP to S8 both cohorts became faster by ~ 60s/tooth (p &lt; 0.001) while ESP declined (β=−4.26%, p = 0.002) — a speed–accuracy trade-off; the schedule×time interaction was non-significant. In the paired subgroup, the trade-off was confirmed in oGDLR (n = 22; ESP − 7.2%, p &lt; 0.001) but power-limited in nGDLR (n = 12). Excluding magnifying-loupe users (concentrated in nGDLR) widened rather than narrowed the oGDLR ESP advantage (β=+6.02%, p &lt; 0.001). nGDLR rated AIR more favourably (learnability OR 0.40; effectiveness OR 0.48). Pass rates (≥ 55% ESP) exceeded 86%. In this non-randomised cohort, the distributed schedule was associated with higher absolute performance, but the decline occurred similarly under both schedules. Because schedule density could not be separated from proximity to clinical exposure, and because the data are largely cross-sectional and derive from a manikin-based in vitro model, these associations should not be read as causal. The transition to first patient care is vulnerable: cleaning quality may erode as students prioritise speed. Distributed preclinical practice was associated with a higher absolute baseline, but the decline across the transition was similar in both schedules; structured reinforcement during the early clinical phase remains necessary to consolidate competence.

Research on Benggang identification and deformation monitoring based on optical and Radar data

Benggang erosion, a severe soil erosion landform in southern China, threatens ecological security and regional development. Conventional methods can delineate surface morphology but lack capability to characterize vertical dynamics. To address it, this study presents an integrated method of deep learning and multi-temporal InSAR based on optical and radar data, and conducts benggang identification and surface deformation monitoring in typical benggang regions of Wuhua County, Guangdong, China. The results show that a U-Net model trained on Gaofen-2 high-resolution imagery achieved accurate automated Benggang delineation with a mean IoU of 86%. Subsequently, 90 Sentinel-1 SAR scenes acquired between 2022 and 2024 were processed using SBAS-InSAR and D-InSAR techniques, with Kriging interpolation employed to generate a spatially continuous deformation field. The framework successfully resolved millimeter-scale interannual vertical surface deformation, with internal cross-validation metrics (R 2  = 0.978, RMSE = 0.544 mm, MAE = 0.313 mm) confirming high spatial consistency of the fused deformation field. The proposed framework offers a reliable and scalable technical pathway for stereoscopic Benggang monitoring and demonstrates strong potential for geohazard early-warning and ecological risk management.

Cyclotron mass-selective de Haas–van Alphen measurements using temperature modulation

We present a temperature-modulated de Haas–van Alphen measurement technique that allows selective addressing of quantum oscillations with different effective masses m∗ using a non-monotonic amplitude evolution with temperature and magnetic field, governed by the temperature derivative of the Lifshitz–Kosevich factor. The technique relies on harmonic modulation of the sample temperature and phase-sensitive detection of quantum oscillations in the voltage induced in a pickup coil. We use a set of frequencies with strong Zeeman-driven harmonic content in the compensated topological semimetal MoSi2 as a natural linear mass comb ranging from 1 m∗ to 13 m∗ to demonstrate the tunability of the mass-dependent quantum oscillation amplitudes experimentally. The technique allows us to reliably isolate weak contributions of heavy orbits that are inaccessible in conventional de Haas–van Alphen frequency spectra because their frequency peaks overlap with much stronger frequency peaks of lighter orbits.

Reflux ratio modulates algal and bacterial metabolic balance to enhance refractory pollutant removal