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Chirality induced by supramolecular self-assembly of fluorinated π-conjugated carbon dots for bright circularly polarized electroluminescent light-emitting diodes
Alternating Magnetic Field Promotes Ammonia Cracking by Disrupting the Sabatier Limitation of Ruthenium Catalytic Species
Non-ordinary states of consciousness evoked by breathwork correlate with improved heart-rate variability
Abstract High-ventilation breathwork is a breathing practice that involves deep, accelerated breathing over an extended duration (> 15 min). Variants of this technique appear across diverse traditions, from Pranayama to Holotropic and Conscious-Connected breathwork (CCB), and have been reported to benefit physical and mental health, often by evoking non-ordinary states of consciousness. However, scientific research on the effects and mechanisms of high-ventilation breathwork is still in its infancy. This study examines the physiological and experiential effects of CCB. Specifically, we characterize subjective breathwork experiences using Natural Language Processing analyses of semi-structured phenomenological interviews, and relate them to changes in heart-rate variability. Finally, to disentangle the effects of the breathing technique itself from context effects, we tested whether accompanying the session with music altered its impact. Our findings show that CCB consistently triggers non-ordinary states of consciousness, intensifies emotional experience, and leads to reduced HRV during the session, but increased HRV post-session. Notably, this post-session increase in HRV was larger for subjects who experienced a wider range of emotions during the session, but not predicted by HRV fluctuations during the session. This suggests that post-session HRV improvements might be a product of emotional release (catharsis) rather than a purely physiological stress adaptation (hormesis, i.e., an adaptive improvement in function following time-limited, manageable physiological stress). Finally, none of these effects were significantly impacted by music, underscoring the central role of the breathing practice itself.
High-order photonic degeneracy enables topological reconfiguration in bound states in the continuum
Abstract Extreme suppression of free-space radiation in open planar photonic systems remains a long-standing goal in nanophotonics. Conventional bound states in the continuum (BICs), constrained by symmetry-protected or accidental singularities, restrict experimental Q - k scaling exponents to n = 2-8 because ordinary bands lack sufficient degrees of freedom to host, redistribute or merge additional radiation-suppressing singularities. Here we demonstrate a degeneracy-driven topological-reconfiguration mechanism: an E 2 -type high-order degeneracy at Γ acts as a multi-charge reservoir, enabling controlled release, inversion and merging of topological charges under symmetry breaking. This unlocks a Q ∝ k −10 radiation-suppression regime in a single-layer all-dielectric metasurface. Experimentally, we realize ultrahigh free-space Q-factors with 3% geometric robustness and a maximum Q of 1.1 × 10 6 . A 100-pixel array exploiting these resonances demonstrates picometre-scale spectral discrimination by resolving ultranarrow H 13 C 14 N absorption lines. These results establish high-order-degeneracy-enabled BIC physics for robust ultrahigh-Q photonics and precision free-space spectroscopy.
The Selective Routing of Plasmonic Interface Charge Transfer in Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy or Chemical Reaction
On the origin of the effect of silent articulation on speech perception
AI digital pathology as a key tool providing in-depth understanding of the progression and regression of MASH and fibrosis in male mouse models
Abstract Optimizing murine models for studying Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH) and fibrosis is crucial for understanding disease mechanisms and evaluating therapies. In this study, we characterized diet-induced male murine models of MASH and liver fibrosis using an AI-digital pathology (DP) pipeline for zone-specific analysis and spatial (co)-localization of key MASH features within the liver microarchitecture, providing insights beyond standard histology. Model characterization included an integrative omics-based approach, standard blood-chemistry, and traditional histology. AI-DP revealed previously unknown temporal events leading to MASH, emphasizing the interplay between inflammation and dysmetabolism in disease progression. We also noted distinct morphometric characteristics of granulomas and their correlation with fibrosis. In efficacy studies of clinically-validated treatments, Semaglutide (GLP-1RA), Resmetirom (THRβ-agonist), and MK-4074 (Acetyl-CoA-carboxylase inhibitor), AI-DP demonstrated differential effects on macrosteatosis, microsteatosis, and colocalized fibrosis. Overall, integrating AI enables identification of fit-for-purpose disease models for therapeutic testing, and facilitates robust preclinical study designs for advancing effective therapeutic strategies.
A Robust Carbon Overlayer as Hydrogen Spillover Highway and CO-Binding Barrier Enhances Reverse Water–Gas Shift
Microwave-assisted eco-friendly synthesis of carbon quantum dots derived Cichorium intybus for fluorometric detection of cefdinir
Association-gated multiphoton activation of inert haloarenes via sequential electron donor–acceptor assembly
Self-Splicing RNA Platform Encodes Twin PROTACs for Dual-E3 Ligase Recruitment and Programmable Protein Degradation
Tumor Acidity-Activatable Ionizable Lipid Nanoparticles for Selective Oncolytic Therapy
Novel in ovo application of green-synthesized Fe3O4, Cu, and ZnO nanoparticles: enhancing early growth and physiological responses in Domiaty ducks
Abstract Enhancing embryonic nutrient utilization is a key strategy for improving the early growth and health of poultry. This study investigated the effects of in ovo injection (30 µg/egg) of green-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe 3 O 4 -NPs), copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs), and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) on the early growth performance, physiological responses, antioxidant status, and intestinal morphology of Domiaty ducklings. The nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and zeta potential analyses, confirming their spherical morphology, nanoscale size (2–16 nm), and good stability. A total of 450 fertile duck eggs were assigned to five groups: non-injected control, saline-injected control, and three NPs-treated groups. In ovo administration was performed on the 14th embryonic day (ED). The results showed significant improvements in hatchling body weight and 7-day post-hatch growth in all NPs-treated groups, with Fe 3 O 4 -NPs and ZnO-NPs producing the greatest responses. Serum lipid profiles showed favorable changes, with reduced cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Hemoglobin (Hb), transferrin (Tf), thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), IgG levels, and antioxidant indicators, such as total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH), were enhanced, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were reduced. Histological examination revealed improved jejunal villus development and crypt architecture. In general, the findings reveal that in ovo administration of biosynthesized metal NPs may positively influence early growth, selected physiological and immune-related traits, antioxidant status, and intestinal development in Domiaty ducks.
Lone-pair-electron-governed gas-recognizable flexibility in a stable MOF for boosting C3H6/C3H8 separation via aqueous scalable synthesis
Chemical Synthesis of Asymmetric Nucleosomes Reveals Intramolecular Activation of UHRF1 E3 Ligase by H3K9me3
Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution over Single-Atom Catalysts via Electrostatic Polarization in Contact-electro-catalysis
Pilot study of autonomic and cardiovascular responses to orthostatic stress among young adults with visual and hearing impairments
Abstract Individuals with visual and hearing impairments often experience reduced physical activity and limited participation in daily activities, which may affect autonomic regulation and cardiovascular risk. However, impairment-specific physiological characteristics in young adults remain poorly understood. This exploratory and hypothesis-generating cross-sectional pilot study investigated autonomic modulation during an acute orthostatic stress test in 35 university students divided into three groups: healthy controls, individuals with visual impairments, and individuals with hearing impairments. Indicators of arteriosclerosis, physical function, autonomic nervous system activity assessed by heart rate variability (HRV), physical activity level, and quality of life were evaluated and compared among groups. The primary outcomes of this study were vascular and autonomic responses during the acute orthostatic stress test, specifically the Arterial Velocity Pulse Index (AVI), Arterial Pressure-volume Index (API), and heart rate variability (HRV) indices. Secondary outcomes included baseline body composition, motor performance, daily physical activity levels, and quality of life (QOL) scores. Although no significant group × time interactions were observed for HRV parameters during the acute orthostatic stress test, a significant main effect of group was observed for HF, whereas no significant group effects were observed for the other HRV parameters. Significant group differences were observed for both API and AVI, with post hoc comparisons indicating higher values in the hearing impairment group than in healthy controls. These preliminary findings may suggest potential impairment-specific cardiovascular profiles that warrant further investigation in larger studies. No significant differences were observed in physical function or quality of life among the groups. Overall, the findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the exploratory design and small sample size. These exploratory findings may suggest possible differences in vascular characteristics in young adults with sensory impairments, with exploratory observations regarding autonomic modulation. However, these observations require confirmation in larger adequately powered studies.