Browse Articles

Atomic-scale mechanism unlocks thermal-stable high-κ performance in HfO2 via coherent interfaces

The associations of maternal liver biomarkers in different trimesters with birth weight outcomes

Giant unusual anisotropic magnetoresistance enabled by hole-electron resonance in van der Waals heterostructures

Oral Lentinula edodes mycelia extract enhances the antitumor effect of radiotherapy via gut-associated activation of dendritic and cytotoxic T cells

Effects of local anesthetics on yield and differentiation of synovial mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract Human synovial mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) demonstrate high chondrogenic capacity for regenerative medicine. While ultrasound-guided collection procedures utilize local anesthetics for patient comfort, their effects on synovial MSCs remain unclear despite their known cytotoxicity to other MSC types. This study investigated whether clinically relevant concentrations of lidocaine and ropivacaine affect synovial MSC proliferation and differentiation. Human synovial tissue from eight donors undergoing knee surgery was minced and treated for 20 min with 0.5% lidocaine, 0.2% ropivacaine, or saline control. Following enzymatic digestion, cell viability and nucleated cell yield per synovial weight were assessed immediately and after a 14-day culture expansion. Trilineage differentiation capacity was evaluated through chondrogenic pellet culture, adipogenic Oil Red O staining, and calcification Alizarin Red staining. Cell viability, nucleated cell numbers per synovium weight, and cell yield after 14-day expansion showed no significant differences between treatments. Cartilage pellet weights, Oil Red O-positive adipogenic colonies, and calcification areas remained comparable across all groups. Lidocaine or ropivacaine can be safely used during ultrasound-guided synovial tissue collection without compromising therapeutic potential. These findings support the safe clinical implementation of ultrasound-guided synovial tissue harvesting using local anesthetics, reinforcing this process as a feasible and practical platform for synovial MSC-based regenerative therapies.

Research on surrounding rock deformation characteristics and support optimization measures for tunnel TBM crossing through fault fracture zones

Investigation and countermeasure of the dietary nutrition status of college students from the perspective of healthy China

Abstract This study examined dietary nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) among college students and proposed improvement strategies within the framework of Healthy China. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 815 students, and correlation and inferential statistical analyses were performed. Results revealed significant positive correlations among nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practices ( p < 0.01). The total KAP score was strongly correlated with knowledge ( r = 0.825), attitudes ( r = 0.492), and practices ( r = 0.742). Females scored higher than males in nutrition knowledge and attitudes, while no significant sex difference was found in dietary practices. Only 54.97% of students had a normal BMI. In descriptive analyses, students with normal weight tended to have higher mean scores in attitudes, practices, and total KAP, although these differences were not statistically significant. The average knowledge (7.74 ± 2.81) and practices (10.43 ± 2.37) scores were relatively low, indicating knowledge deficits and poor dietary practices, although attitudes were positive (3.61 ± 0.86). Universities should strengthen nutrition education through digital platforms (e.g., social media, apps, short videos) to enhance students’ nutritional literacy and promote healthier dietary practices.

Adaptive capacity of Asian populations of Lymantria dispar to non preferred plants during northward expansion

Abstract The spongy moth ( Lymantria dispar ) is one of the most widespread insect defoliators in the Holarctic, with a capacity to form regular large-scale outbreaks. In the context of global climate change, the geographic range of this species is undergoing a shift that necessitates adaptation to novel host plants, including conifers. The present study assessed the capacity of insects from two L. dispar populations to use pine and larch as hosts, namely Pinus sylvestris and Larix sibirica , as compared to their habitual birch host, Betula pendula . The survival rate of larvae from a Novosibirsk population (south Siberian steppe) was similar on birch and larch, but lower on pine. In contrast, the survival of larvae from an Altai population (south Siberian mountainous landscape) was similar on all three hosts. However, females from both populations exhibited a reduced tendency to oviposit on pine compared to birch and larch, with no discernible differences observed between larch and birch. Hatching success was found to be independent of the host plant. Feeding on pine significantly reduced pupal mass and prolonged larval development compared to birch and larch in both populations. Physiological correlates of adaptation to new host plants were also examined. In 4th instar larvae, alkaline protease activity increased on larch and pine compared to birch but decreased on pine relative to larch, showing no population-specific tendency. Esterase activity exhibited variation exclusively in males, while malondialdehyde accumulation increased for both populations on larch. The findings reported here show that the spongy moth exhibits sufficient physiological adaptability to utilize coniferous hosts, thus highlighting its potential to expand into new ecological niches under changing environmental conditions.

A novel Hankel norm approximation-based AGC for a hydro-dominated power system

Abstract Analyzing power system disturbances for automatic generation control (AGC) requires solving a large set of differential equations, which remains computationally demanding even in linearized form and hence limits the practical implementation of most control strategies. In addition, the presence of time constants and delays further complicates the modeling by influencing the response of generators, governors, and control mechanisms especially for hydro dominated power systems. To address these challenges, Model Order Reduction (MOR) techniques play an important role in solving these issues for higher order and complex systems. This paper applies the Hankel norm approximation (HNA) method to develop reduced-order models for AGC in a hydro-dominated power system. An eleventh-order model is reduced to seventh, eighth and ninth-order representations. Stability margins of these reduce order models are evaluated through eigenvalue analysis, and the dynamic responses of the reduced order models are compared against the original model. Results demonstrate that the reduced order models preserve the essential dynamics while substantially lowering computational effort in AGC. To further assess the effectiveness of HNA, a Truncation-based reduction approach is also applied, and comparative results are offered to show the benefits of the proposed work.

Integrating random forest-based regression kriging for analyzing spatial variability of rainfall in arid and semi-arid regions

Copper‐Catalyzed Phosphorus Radical Transformations for the Assembly of P‐Stereogenic Architectures

Abstract Phosphorus‐centered radicals hold transformative potential for organophosphorus synthesis, yet their configurational lability and distinctive reactivity profiles have historically restricted their application in asymmetric catalysis. Herein, we report a copper‐photoredox catalytic system that enables the stereoselective generation of copper‐bound P‐centered radicals and their subequent stereoretentive transformations within a well‐defined chiral environment. The synergistic approach achieves unprecedented kinetic resolutions of racemic H‐phosphinates with α‐trifluoromethyl styrenes or gem ‐difluorostyrenes, delivering 85 fluorine‐containing P‐chiral phosphinates with up to 98% ee. The method thereby bridges a synthetic gap for these previously inaccessible, pharmacologically significant compounds. Mechanistic and computational studies reveal a stereochemical relay: enantiodiscriminatory binding of racemic substrates, photoinduced ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer (LMCT) for radical generation, and stereoretentive bond formation. By reconciling radical reactivity with stereochemical fidelity, our strategy establishes metallaphotoredox catalysis as a versatile paradigm for heteroatom‐centered stereochemistry.

Structural controls on multi-field coupled ore-bearing hydrothermal migration in Zhugongtang Zn-Pb deposit, Southwestern China

A new combined reduction anatomical plate for the treatment of acetabular anterior column and posterior hemi-transverse fractures: a finite element analysis study

Proton Transfer‐Hydrogen Bonds Network for Highly Efficient and Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells

Abstract The development and application of self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) has revolutionized the advancement of inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, the performance of inverted PSCs remains limited by intrinsic defects in perovskite thin films, primarily due to inadequate control over crystallization on the poor‐quality SAM substrates. Here, we reported a proton transfer‐hydrogen bond network using a multifunctional additive phenylguanidine carbonate over a co‐adsorbed SAM (Co‐SAM) system. This strategy promoted the formation of guanidinium‐formamidinium hydrogen‐bonded complexes, which stabilize intermediate phases, suppress the generation of impurity phases during nucleation and accelerate the transition from δ‐phase to α‐phase. The significantly delayed crystallization process successfully induced large perovskite grains with suppressed intrinsic defects. Moreover, a high coverage, uniformity, and dense molecular packing was achieved for the Co‐SAM, ensuring an excellent growth substrate for subsequent perovskite deposition. PSCs ultimately achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 26.65%, with enhanced operational stability‐retaining 92.5% of initial PCE after >1200 h of maximum power point tracking.

Recruitment patterns of hothubs and dark functional networks correlating activity and connectivity with magnetoencephalography

Abstract In functional imaging studies, the activity and functional connectivity of regions of interest (ROIs) are two indexes to measure the importance of ROIs. This study aimed to investigate the activity-connectivity coupling relationships of ROIs during action observation-induced swallowing imagery and non-induced swallowing imagery tasks. Magnetoencephalography data were collected from fourteen healthy young participants. Time–frequency analysis of event-related spectral perturbations was conducted to assess the activity of ROIs during the tasks. Using corrected imaginary phase locking values to construct brain functional networks, network parameters are computed to assess connectivity. The correlation between activity and connectivity was evaluated using Pearson coefficients. Furthermore, the nodes were categorized into hot hubs (strong activity + strong connectivity), nonhub hotspots (strong activity + weak connectivity), cold hubs (weak activity + strong connectivity), and nonhub cold spots (weak activity + weak connectivity) for further analysis, and dark functional networks (subnetworks composed of cold hubs) were detected and analyzed. Both tasks exhibited positive activity-connectivity coupling relationships, however, the coupling strength remained below a moderate level (< 0.6). Notably, both tasks demonstrated limited activation of hot hubs. During the action observation-induced swallowing imagery task, there was a notable increase in the activation of non-hub hotspots within the visual system, extending bilaterally. Additionally, the dark functional network, composed of cold hubs, exhibited increased swallowing-related ROIs in action observation-induced swallowing imagery task. This study provides insights into the activity-connectivity coupling and dark functional network characteristics during swallowing imagery tasks. The findings contribute to our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying swallowing imagery and may have implications for the development of therapeutic interventions for swallowing disorders.

ZrO2 supported Fe-based catalysts for direct synthesis of light olefins via CO2 hydrogenation

Construction of Small‐Molecule Deubiquitinase‐Targeting Chimeras to Reactivate and Stabilize Mutant p53 Y220C in Vitro and in Vivo

Abstract Wild‐type p53 is a tumor suppressor protein that is crucial in various pathological processes. The predominant strategy for p53 Y220C mutant involves binding reactivators to mutation‐induced pocket to stabilize the protein thermally and restore wild‐type structure. However, the corrected p53 Y220C remains vulnerable to ubiquitination, reducing protein levels and impairing function. Herein, we report the development of p53 Y220C‐specific deubiquitinase‐targeting chimeras (DUBTACs)—bifunctional small molecules concurrently recruiting both p53 Y220C and the deubiquitinase OTUB1. The most potent compound, A1 , effectively restored wild‐type conformation and potently removed ubiquitin. Furthermore, A1 demonstrated superior efficacy in inducing apoptosis in p53 Y220C‐mutant Huh7 cells and achieved a 61.06% reduction in tumor weight in Huh7 xenograft model. Our results demonstrated the viability of the DUBTAC strategy for p53 Y220C, successfully re‐establishing conformation and promoting deubiquitination. More importantly, this study provides the first proof‐of‐concept for DUBTAC application in vivo, establishing targeted deubiquitination as a therapeutic approach.

A compact dual-band antenna using a gap-coupled monopole branch for Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 applications

Ring Expansion of Oximes via Photochemical Aza‐di‐π‐methane Rearrangement

Abstract Skeletal editing has emerged as a transformative strategy for manipulating cyclic architectures, with radical‐based approaches providing particularly mild and versatile routes. While significant progress has been made, molecular editing via diradical intermediates under visible‐light irradiation remains rare. Herein, we report an unprecedented visible‐light‐driven ring expansion of cyclic oximes through a photochemical aza‐di‐π‐methane rearrangement, mediated by energy transfer catalysis. This diradical‐mediated photochemical rearrangement provides a mild and efficient synthetic route, exhibiting broad substrate scope, excellent functional group tolerance, and versatile downstream reactivity of the rearranged scaffolds. The transformation can also be conducted under photochemical continuous‐flow conditions. Mechanistic studies support a stepwise sequence involving triplet diradical formation, a challenging 4‐exo‐trig cyclization, β‐scission elimination, and diradical recombination. This method expands the toolbox of radical‐based ring expansions, complementing classical approaches such as the Dowd–Beckwith reaction.

An adaptive model predictive control approach for robust load frequency control under renewable energy disturbances

Abstract This paper presents an Adaptive Model Predictive Control (AMPC) strategy for robust load–frequency control (LFC) in single-area and double-area power systems under load variations, parameter uncertainty, and renewable energy disturbances. The controller integrates online system identification using Recursive Least Squares (RLS) with a receding-horizon optimization framework to ensure real-time model adaptation and constraint-aware predictive regulation. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed AMPC significantly improves transient and steady-state performance compared with conventional PI/PID controllers. In single-area systems, the AMPC achieves settling times of 0.5–1 s, compared with 30 s for PI, and eliminates overshoot while reducing undershoot from 4.5 × 10⁻³ to 1 × 10⁻³. Under dynamic and wind disturbances, peak-to-peak deviations are reduced to ≈ 0 , whereas PI exhibits deviations up to 26.5 × 10⁻³. In double-area systems, the AMPC reduces settling time from 20 to 40 s (PID) to 1–2 s and minimizes undershoot by up to an order of magnitude. Comparative studies further confirm the proposed AMPC’s superiority over Harmony Search (HS), Sine–Cosine Algorithm (SCA), Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO)-optimized PID/PIDA controllers and the Marine Predator Algorithm (MPA)-based cascaded PIDA, establishing AMPC as an effective and scalable solution for low-inertia grids with high renewable penetration.