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Patchy nanoparticles by atomic stencilling
Abstract Stencilling, in which patterns are created by painting over masks, has ubiquitous applications in art, architecture and manufacturing. Modern, top-down microfabrication methods have succeeded in reducing mask sizes to under 10 nm (refs. 1,2), enabling ever smaller microdevices as today’s fastest computer chips. Meanwhile, bottom-up masking using chemical bonds or physical interactions has remained largely unexplored, despite its advantages of low cost, solution-processability, scalability and high compatibility with complex, curved and three-dimensional (3D) surfaces3,4. Here we report atomic stencilling to make patchy nanoparticles (NPs), using surface-adsorbed iodide submonolayers to create the mask and ligand-mediated grafted polymers onto unmasked regions as ‘paint’. We use this approach to synthesize more than 20 different types of NP coated with polymer patches in high yield. Polymer scaling theory and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation show that stencilling, along with the interplay of enthalpic and entropic effects of polymers, generates patchy particle morphologies not reported previously. These polymer-patched NPs self-assemble into extended crystals owing to highly uniform patches, including different non-closely packed superlattices. We propose that atomic stencilling opens new avenues in patterning NPs and other substrates at the nanometre length scale, leading to precise control of their chemistry, reactivity and interactions for a wide range of applications, such as targeted delivery, catalysis, microelectronics, integrated metamaterials and tissue engineering5–11.
Proximal cooperative aerial manipulation with vertically stacked drones
Medicago sativa’s antixenotic and antibiotic resistance mechanisms differentially impact three members of the Bemisia tabaci species complex
Abstract The Bemisia tabaci species complex threatens worldwide agriculture. While host-plant resistance is sustainable and effective, it is a relatively unexplored strategy for whitefly control. Three alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) populations were developed and used in high-throughput B. tabaci MEAM1 nymph-mortality screens. The phenotypic resistance/susceptibility spectrum in these populations indicated that whitefly resistance to MEAM1 is multigenic. Alfalfa lines highly resistant (R1, R2, and R3) and susceptible (S1) to B. tabaci MEAM1 were identified and further characterized. When life history parameters for three B. tabaci species (MEAM1, MED and NW1) were assessed on the four lines, whitefly species-specific responses to R1, R2 and R3 plants were revealed. While nymph mortality was high for MEAM1 and NW1 on resistant alfalfa, MED nymph development was surprisingly unimpaired. In addition, significant differences in oviposition, host-choice and longevity were observed amongst the three B. tabaci species. Collectively, these data indicated that R1, R2 and R3 plants each express a unique set of antibiotic/antixenotic resistance traits providing a potent multigenic and multi-faceted resistance to whiteflies with each B. tabaci species displaying distinct behaviors on the resistant lines. Our nymph-mortality simulation models indicate that deployment of the nymph mortality-mediated resistance of R1 and R3 alfalfa could substantially suppress whitefly population expansion in the field.
The effects of daily carbon market dynamics on urban air quality in China
Relationships between hemoglobin levels at admission and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in patients with preeclampsia
Background Maternal hemoglobin is very important for maternal and perinatal outcomes. Due to the pathophysiological changes in patients with preeclampsia, the influence of hemoglobin on pregnancy outcomes may differ from that in normal pregnant women. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to evaluate the relationships between maternal hemoglobin levels and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in patients with preeclampsia. Methods All clinical data were retrospectively collected from the medical records of a tertiary obstetrics and gynecology hospital in China. This study evaluated the incidence of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in patients with preeclampsia with different hemoglobin levels at admission. The odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with preeclampsia with anemia and high hemoglobin levels were estimated, with the normal hemoglobin level serving as the control. Results A total of 1,715 patients with preeclampsia with singleton pregnancies were included in this retrospective study. Compared with patients with preeclampsia with normal hemoglobin levels, patients with anemia at admission had a greater risk for postpartum hemorrhage (OR: 3.800; 95% CI: 1.677–8.610) and cardiac dysfunction (OR: 2.860; 95% CI: 0.979–8.356). Moreover, patients with high hemoglobin levels at admission had increased risks of HELLP syndrome (OR: 2.503; 95% CI: 1.198–5.229), SGA (OR: 1.343; 95% CI: 0.997–1.808), neonatal asphyxia (OR: 2.046; 95% CI: 1.107–3.784) and NICU admission (OR: 1.359; 95% CI: 1.060–1.742). However, not all abnormal hemoglobin levels were associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Patients with preeclampsia with anemia had a lower risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, including SGA (OR: 0.731; 95% CI: 0.517–1.032) and NICU admission (OR: 0.737; 95% CI: 0.567–0.960). Conclusion This study revealed that both anemia and high hemoglobin levels at admission were related to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in patients with preeclampsia. The effects of hemoglobin on adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes in patients with preeclampsia may differ from those in normal pregnant women.
Associations between systemic immune-inflammation index and iron deficiency
Exogenous salicylic acid, abscisic acid, and shikimic acid enhance drought tolerance in tea by modulating antioxidant defense and osmotic regulation
Tea (Camellia sinensis), a widely cultivated crop across more than 50 countries, is highly vulnerable to drought stress, which impairs growth and reduces yield. This study examines the potential of exogenously applied salicylic acid (SA), abscisic acid (ABA), and shikimic acid (ShA) in enhancing drought tolerance in tea plants. Plants were pre-treated with SA, ABA, and ShA for 4 days, followed by 10 days of drought stress during which no water was provided by either foliar spray or soil irrigation. Leaf samples collected on day 15 were analyzed for various physiological and biochemical markers, including antioxidant enzyme activities (POD and GST), reactive oxygen species (H2O2) levels, and contents of total chlorophyll, carotenoids, and proline. Results showed that all treatments mitigated drought-induced physiological damage, reduced oxidative stress, and elevated antioxidant enzyme activity compared to untreated control plants under drought conditions. Treated plants also exhibited higher proline and chlorophyll levels, suggesting improved osmotic regulation and photosynthetic efficiency. Among the treatments, SA demonstrated the most pronounced enhancement of drought tolerance. To clarify the functional roles and relationships of 76 genes found through a literature review associated with the SA and ShA pathways under drought stress were examined using Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, subcellular localization, and KEGG pathway analysis. These findings indicate that exogenous application of SA, ABA, and ShA enhances drought resilience in tea by strengthening antioxidant defenses and maintaining cellular integrity, presenting a promising approach to sustaining tea production in drought-prone areas. Future studies should explore the potential of combining these inducers with genetic or microbial strategies to further enhance drought resilience in tea plants.
Ion stencils used for synthesis of patchy nanoparticles
Preparation and evaluation of temozolomide loaded PLGA nanoparticles for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme
Pre-pandemic mental health and brain characteristics predict adolescent stress and emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic had profound effects on developing adolescents that, to date, remain incompletely understood. Youth with preexisting mental health problems and associated brain alterations were at increased risk for higher stress and poor mental health. This study investigated impacts of adolescent pre-pandemic mental health problems and their neural correlates on stress, negative emotions and poor mental health during the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. N = 2,641 adolescents (median age = 12.0 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) cohort were studied, who had pre-pandemic data on anxiety, depression, and behavioral (attention, aggression, social withdrawal, internalizing, externalizing) problems, longitudinal survey data on mental health, stress and emotions during the first 15 months following the outbreak, structural MRI, and resting-state fMRI. Data were analyzed using mixed effects mediation and moderation models. Preexisting mental health and behavioral problems predicted higher stress, negative affect and negative emotions (β = 0.09–0.21, CI=[0.03,0.32]), and lower positive affect (β = −0.21 to −0.09, CI=[−0.31,-0.01]) during the first ~6 months of the outbreak. Pre-pandemic structural characteristics of brain regions supporting social function and emotional processing (insula, superior temporal gyrus, orbitofrontal cortex, and the cerebellum) mediated some of these relationships (β = 0.10–0.15, CI=[0.01,0.24]). The organization of pre-pandemic brain circuits moderated (attenuated) associations between preexisting mental health and pandemic stress and negative emotions (β = −0.17 to −0.06, CI=[−0.27,-0.01]). Preexisting mental health problems and their structural brain correlates were risk factors for youth stress and negative emotions during the early months of the outbreak. In addition, the organization of some brain circuits was protective and attenuated the effects of preexisting mental health issues on youth responses to the pandemic’s stressors.
Antioxidant status, cytokine level, immunocompetence, Hsp70 mRNA expression, and selenium metabolism of goats fed higher selenium under heat stress conditions
Influence of age and antiepileptic comedication on lacosamide concentrations in children with epilepsy: A retrospective cohort study
Object To explore the influencing factors of lacosamide serum concentration in children with epilepsy, and to provide evidence-based guidance for individualized dosing strategies. Methods Clinical data of pediatric epilepsy patients treated with lacosamide from September 2021 to January 2025 were retrospectively analyzed. Participants were stratified by age into ≤6, 6–12, and >12 years groups. Non-parametric tests were employed to compare differences in daily dose, weight-adjusted daily dose, serum concentration, and concentration-to-dose ratio (CDR) across sex, age, and concomitant antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify independent factors influencing serum concentration. Results The study enrolled 438 patients (boys: 261, 59.59%; girls: 177, 40.41%), with age distribution as follows: ≤ 6 years (n = 85, 19.41%), 6–12 years (n = 294, 67.12%), and >12 years (n = 59, 13.47%). The > 12 years group exhibited significantly higher daily dose, weight-adjusted daily dose, and CDR compared to younger cohorts. Concomitant use of non-hepatic enzyme-inducing AEDs resulted in elevated serum concentration and CDR relative to lacosamide monotherapy. Regression analysis identified body weight, weight-adjusted daily dose, and coadministration of non-hepatic enzyme-inducing AEDs as independent predictors of serum concentration. Conclusion Age and concomitant non-hepatic enzyme-inducing AEDs therapies significantly influence lacosamide exposure, underscoring the necessity for age-based dynamic dose optimization and rigorous evaluation of polypharmacy regimens to achieve precision therapeutics.
Design of low power energy efficient sigma-delta ADC for biomedical IoT applications
Geometric and arithmetic characterization of D-module flatness with applications to tensor products
This paper establishes a comprehensive framework for studying flatness properties and tensor products of D-modules across algebraic, geometric, and arithmetic contexts. We develop new criteria characterizing flatness through Lagrangian geometry, homological algebra, and irregular Hodge theory, revealing deep connections between these perspectives. The work introduces a geometric obstruction theory for globalizing pointwise flat modules and proves fundamental results about the monoidal structure of the derived tensor product category. Applications include compatibility theorems for Beilinson-Bernstein localization and arithmetic characterizations of flatness in characteristic p. The methods combine microlocal analysis, irregular Riemann-Hilbert correspondence, and p-adic techniques to yield new insights into the interplay between local and global properties of differential systems.
State-of-the-art assessment-based review of boiling heat transfer and friction factor correlations for NH3–H2O, NH3–LiNO3 and NH3–LiNO3–H2O mixtures in a plate heat exchanger
Identification of genes that differentiate Mannheimia haemolytica genotypes 1 and 2 using a pangenome approach
Mannheimia haemolytica is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen associated with the economically costly bovine respiratory disease. Two genotypes have been described, of which genotype 2 is more strongly associated with disease. Several previous studies have investigated the genomic differences between the genotypes and/or the major serotypes (1, 2 and 6) of M. haemolytica, however we still lack a clear basis for the greater disease association of genotype 2 (serotypes 1 and 6) and demonstrations of phenotypic differences are scarce. This work builds upon previous investigations to identify genes that differentiate the two genotypes with a particular focus on genes that may play a role in virulence and fitness in the respiratory tract microbiome. We identified 422 genotype differentiating genes in a collection of 206 unique M. haemolytica genomes (61 genotype 1, 145 genotype 2). Genotype differentiating genes included genotype-associated variants of a TonB-dependent siderophore receptor homolog, transferrin binding protein B, leukotoxin A, and IgA1 proteases. We also identified a genotype 1 associated lytic transglycosylase, and a genotype 2 specific highly immunogenic outer membrane lipoprotein. Genotype 2 genomes were significantly larger in size and contained more predicted protein coding genes than genotype 1 genomes. These results expand our knowledge of what differentiates the genotypes 1 and 2 of M. haemolytica and provides information that can be used as the basis for laboratory investigations of corresponding phenotypic differences.
A model testing study of cervical cancer screening behavior using rogers’s protection motivation theory
Unveiling the influence of social network characteristics on sustainable performance in small and medium-sized enterprises: A dynamic capabilities perspective
Gaining a deeper understanding of the mechanism through which social networks influence sustainable performance and exploring the role of resource bricolage in enhancing competitiveness are valuable. These insights can help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) better adapt to market changes in the digital age and ultimately, this can enable SMEs to achieve sustainable development. In the context of accelerated technological change and resource scarcity, the question of how SMEs can leverage network resources to achieve sustainable growth has become a pressing issue. This study, grounded in social network theory and resource-based theory, develops a theoretical model exploring the relationships between social network characteristics, resource bricolage, and SME sustainable performance. Using survey data from 230 SMEs, the study empirically demonstrates that both social network scale and social network strength have significant positive impacts on sustainable performance. Additionally, resource bricolage mediates the effects of social network scale and strength on SME performance. Moreover, opportunity identification and opportunity exploitation-key dimensions of dynamic capabilities—moderate the relationship between resource bricolage and sustainable performance. This study highlights the mechanisms through which SMEs can leverage social networks to enhance their sustainable performance, offering theoretical guidance for effectively identifying and utilizing network resources in uncertain and dynamic environments.