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Prevalence and associated factors of non-communicable diseases among men: A cross-sectional analysis of Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022 data

PLoS ONE John Baptist Asiimwe, Lilian Nuwabaine, Angella Namulema et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0327266

Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) increasingly being disproportionately affected. Although anecdotal evidence or reports indicate an increasing number of Kenyan men having NCDs, the prevalence and associated factors are not well understood. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of non-communicable diseases among men in Kenya. Methods Secondary data comprising 14,439 men aged 15–54 years from the 2022 cross-sectional Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) in Kenya were analyzed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses in SPSS, version 29. Results Overall, the percentage of men with at least one NCD was 9.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.7–10.2%). Whereas the proportion of participants with multiple NCDs was 1.9 (95% CI: 1.6–2.3). Across NCDs, the highest prevalent NCD was hypertension (3.5% 95%CI:3.1–3.9) followed by depression (2.2% (95%CI:1.9–2.5), anxiety (1.6% (95%CI:1.3–1.9), arthritis (1.4% (95%CI:1.1–1.6), heart disease (1.2% (95%CI:0.9–1.5), diabetes (1% (95%CI:0.8–1.3), lung disease (1% (95%CI:0.7–1.3), and cancer (0.1% (95%CI:0–0.1). In terms of multiple chronic conditions (multimorbidity), the majority of the participants had diabetes and hypertension (0.5% (95%CI:0.3–0.7) followed by hypertension and depression (0.3% (95%CI:0.2–0.4), hypertension and anxiety (0.3% (95%CI:0.2–0.4), and arthritis and depression (0.2% (95%CI:0.1–0.2). Several factors, such as age, region, residence, ethnicity, education level, health status, wealth index, religion, media access, and living a sedentary lifestyle, were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of NCDs. Conclusion The overall prevalence of NCDs among men is relatively low based on available national data. We found that sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were significantly associated with the prevalence of NCDs. Although causal relationships cannot be inferred from this study, the findings suggest that initiatives such as tailored health education, regular medical checkups, and the promotion of physical activity may be relevant components of broader efforts to support men’s health in relation to non‑communicable diseases (NCDs). Region‑specific policies and culturally sensitive approaches may help address variations in risk factors and observed ethnic disparities. Encouraging healthier lifestyle practices among men of all backgrounds and improving access to integrated healthcare in rural areas may also be important considerations. Further research is needed to explore how media exposure, media content, health messaging, and religious contexts may influence men’s exposure to NCDs in Kenya and other sub-Saharan countries.

Synergistic High‐Connectivity and Nonplanar Conformation Generates a Stable Hydrogen‐Bonded Organic Framework for Benchmark Methanol‐to‐Olefin Product Separation

Angewandte Chemie International Edition Shengjie Lin, Yaning Qiao, Yuxuan Du et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/anie.4395812

ABSTRACT Hydrogen‐bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are promising porous materials, yet their development is hindered by an inherent trade‐off between structural stability and functional site accessibility. Conventional stabilization strategies relying on extensive π–π stacking inevitably shield aromatic surfaces, compromising adsorption performance. Herein, we report a synergistic design strategy that integrates high hydrogen‐bonding connectivity with inherently nonplanar molecular conformations to overcome this challenge. The strategically designed tetraisophthalate linker, featuring a hexamethylbiphenyl core, adopts a nonplanar conformation that suppresses extended π–π stacking, while its eight carboxylic acid groups form a dense hydrogen‐bonded network ensuring framework robustness. The resulting HOF‐ZJNU‐10 exhibits a high BET surface area (2500 m 2  g −1 ), exceptional stability, and crucially, fully accessible aromatic surfaces lining the pore channels. This unique combination enables outstanding methanol‐to‐olefins (MTO) product purification, delivering polymer‐grade ethylene and propylene with record‐high productivity. This work establishes a general blueprint for decoupling stability from functional site masking in HOFs.

Coupling exogenous and endogenous forces in rural revitalization: a village-scale coordination diagnostic in Fujian, China

Scientific Reports Ming Xiao, Shuaitao Luo, Sisheng Yang Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-62214-x

Identification of divergent PTPN11 mutations in canine histiocytic sarcomas reveals evidence of an independent clonal origin

PLoS ONE Stéphanie Mottier, Armel Houel, Solveig Bouchard et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0345429

Background Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare but highly aggressive neoplasm in humans, with limited knowledge on indicators markers and no standardized treatment. Dogs naturally develop HS, offering a powerful comparative model. Activating mutations in PTPN11 , affecting two recurrent hotspots (E76 and G503), are the most frequent drivers of canine HS and are strongly associated with the disseminated form (DHS). While DHS is typically considered metastatic, we hypothesize that multiple independent tumor clones may arise within the same individual. Methods We investigated clonal heterogeneity in 38 dogs affected with DHS presenting tumors in both abdominal and thoracic organs. PTPN11 hotspot mutations were analyzed by high-sensitivity droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to detect low-abundance variants. The frequency of divergent mutations between tumor sites was used to infer the proportion of cases arising from independent clonal origins. Results Divergent PTPN11 mutations were directly observed in 3 of 28 dogs with PTPN11 -mutated tumor pairs. After correcting for the limited detectability inherent to hotspot-based analysis, we estimated that, in this cohort, up to 24–45% of DHS cases may harbor clonally independent PTPN11 mutations in distinct tumors. In addition, analysis of somatic mutations and copy number variants by Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) in two cell lines derived from the same patient confirmed the independent origin of the clones. Conclusions Our findings suggest that a significant numbers of dogs with DHS develop several genetically distinct HS lesions either simultaneously or within a short time interval. This need to be confirmed in larger cohorts but this clonal diversity challenges the assumption that DHS is predominantly metastatic and has major implications for prognosis, therapeutic strategies, and the use of canine HS as a comparative model for human disease. Further exploration of clonal evolution in HS is warranted to improve treatment approaches in both species.

Effect of targeted versus fixed dosing of nafamostat mesylate on filter life in patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy

Scientific Reports Harin Rhee, Kyung Sook Jung, Eun Young Ku Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-63297-2

Correction: miR-217 inhibits triple-negative breast cancer cell growth, migration, and invasion through targeting KLF5

PLoS ONE Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0354115

Unveiling Aziridine‐Containing Natural Products by Genomic and Spectroscopic Approaches

Angewandte Chemie International Edition Ronghui Wang, Zhihao Liu, Weiting Liao et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/anie.8862620

ABSTRACT Aziridine‐containing natural products are prized for their potent bioactivities, yet their scarcity and poorly understood biosynthesis have limited systematic exploration. Here, we address this by integrating genome mining with a 1 H– 13 C coupled HSQC metabolomic approach that exploits the distinctive NMR signatures of aziridines, enabling their direct detection from complex extracts. This strategy unveiled the desertolides, the first macrolides incorporating a rare terminal 2‐methyl‐aziridine‐2‐carboxylate moiety. Genetic and isotopic studies identified a dedicated biosynthetic subcluster ( desA – desN ) that assembles and installs this unit from glutamate, and heterologous expression confirmed the self‐sufficiency of this subcluster. Direct MS evidence reveals the aziridine moiety covalently bound to the active‐site Cys113 of DesN, establishing this KAS III homolog as the first dedicated aziridine‐transferase and a promising tool for polyketide engineering. Bioinformatic analysis uncovered over 50 biosynthetic gene clusters, suggesting that this aziridine‐associated biosynthetic logic may be more widespread than currently appreciated. This work establishes a tractable platform for the targeted discovery and engineered biosynthesis of aziridine‐containing natural products, opening this underexplored pharmacophore to systematic interrogation.

Long-term monitoring of heavy metals and physicochemical characteristics in leachate-affected waters of Upper Lake, Bhopal

Scientific Reports Anupam Sharma, Sudhir Singh Bhadauria, Amit Vishwakarma Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-60039-2

Repeatability and reproducibility of a clinical device for Brillouin microscopy to measure the biomechanics of the anterior segment of the eye: In vivo tests

PLoS ONE Hannah Pearl Glucksman, Andrew Shin, Lawrence Yoo et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0353667

Purpose We performed a prospective study to assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the novel Brillouin Optical Scanning System (BOSS ® ) in measuring the biomechanical properties of the cornea and crystalline lens in vivo, to determine device utility in a clinical setting. Methods Adult study participants underwent standard ophthalmic exams to confirm eligibility. At two separate visits to the clinic, monocular lens scans and corneal scans (one point and seven points, respectively) were performed three times on each of three BOSS devices, operated by different technicians. The measured Brillouin parameters per person included the lens stiffness and the stiffnesses (e.g., “Mean”, “Minimum”) across the seven corneal points. Results were combined across participants to calculate the coefficients of variation (CVs) for repeatability (within each device) and reproducibility (across devices), along with the repeatability and reproducibility limits (2.8 times the respective standard deviations). Results Eleven of the 33 participants (ages 24–72 years; 15 females) had keratoconus (5 with prior crosslinking, 3 without crosslinking, and 3 post-keratoplasty); the other 22 participants were visually normal. There were no adverse events. The average lens stiffness was 3.33 ± 0.052 GPa (mean ± SD), with an overall repeatability CV of 1.6%, with values ranging from 3.35 ± 0.037 GPa with a CV of 1.1% to 3.30 ± 0.071 with a CV of 2.1% across the separate devices. The mean corneal stiffness was 2.83 ± 0.031 GPa, with an overall repeatability CV of 1.1%, ranging from 2.85 ± 0.015 with a CV of 0.5% to 2.81 ± 0.036 with a CV of 1.3% across devices. The reproducibility CVs were 2.1% and 1.6% for lenses and corneal Means, respectively. Conclusions The study results demonstrated consistent stiffness values for both lenses and corneas within and between the three BOSS devices tested. The study shows that this device could be a useful new biomechanics-measuring tool for applications in ophthalmology.

A Rigid and Strong Donor Strategy for Solution‐Processed Neat‐Film Near‐Infrared OLEDs Beyond 900 nm

Angewandte Chemie International Edition Shuo Li, Zhaomeng Sun, Wansheng Liu et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/anie.7852611

ABSTRACT Near‐infrared (NIR) organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) generally suffer from low external quantum efficiencies (EQEs). Conventional NIR thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters predominantly rely on triphenylamine (TPA)‐based donors, restricting further molecular design. Herein, we develop four new NIR‐TADF emitters incorporating a rigid and strongly electron‐donating donor unit, in which the charge‐transfer characteristics are finely tuned by regulating the connection positions of cyano groups on the acceptor framework. Solution‐processed neat‐film OLEDs exhibit electroluminescence from 867 to 922 nm. Notably, the device based on tBPz‐CN36 achieves an EQE of 0.01% at 922 nm, representing one of the highest values reported for neat‐film NIR TADF OLEDs in this spectral region. This work demonstrates that the introduction of a rigid donor that is independent of the TPA system, together with acceptor‐site engineering through regulation of cyano connection positions, provides an effective molecular strategy for achieving long‐wavelength NIR TADF emission beyond conventional TPA architectures.

Deep learning-based early warning of tailings storage facility instability using Sentinel-1 and Radarsat-2 InSAR calibrated with a geomechanical model

Scientific Reports Maral Bayaraa, Brian Sheil, Cristian Rossi Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-51005-z

Abstract This study advances the science and application of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) for monitoring tailings storage facilities (TSFs) by integrating multi-scale and multi-source satellite data with geomechanical modelling and deep learning to detect ground movement precursors to failure. A novel calibration strategy combining geomechanical finite element (FE) predictions with InSAR measurements is introduced to dissect the origins and expressions of known InSAR limitations related to phase unwrapping. By investigating different InSAR processing algorithms along with data from both commercial (Radarsat-2) and public (Sentinel-1) sensors, the study demonstrates the extent to which these limitations can be overcome. During periods of rapid or non-linear deformation, such as buttress construction over the TSF, Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PS-InSAR) time series show more sensitivity to phase unwrapping errors, making phase ambiguities more readily observable. The extent to which such ambiguities can be identified and calibrated using physics-based finite element model predictions is demonstrated in this study. In contrast, Intermittent Small Baseline Subset (ISBAS) processing reduces the visible expression of phase ambiguities through inherent signal averaging (i.e. multi-looking), while maintaining a higher spatial density of deformation measurements. An uncertainty analysis for both InSAR approaches links accuracy to SAR signal distortions and uncertainties in FE model parameters. Finally, the capabilities of the deep learning early-warning framework capable of ingesting multi-source InSAR datasets, including different sensors, geometries and decomposed motion components are presented. Embedding-based integration of line-of-sight and decomposed Radarsat-2 (RS2) InSAR data reveals that orbit configuration and resolution directly influence predictive performance. Specifically, the horizontal deformation components provide the clearest precursors to failure, outperforming line-of-sight and vertical motion components. The combined use of RS2-InSAR, Sentinel-1 PS-InSAR, Sentinel-1 ISBAS, FE modelling and deep learning offers a promising framework for TSF monitoring. This integrated approach promises to reduce uncertainties inherent in individual methods and to significantly improve the ability to reduce risks of environmental and economic losses.

Integrating biomedical HIV prevention in schools: Protocol for a systematic review of interventions for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa

PLoS ONE Cecilia Afua Lodonu-Senoo, Lily Ogyiri, Kwasi Torpey et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0352973

Introduction Despite global progress in reducing HIV incidence, adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa remain disproportionately affected. Biomedical HIV prevention tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, condoms and HIV testing are effective but underutilized, especially within facility-based models. Schools represent consistent and scalable contact points for reaching adolescent girls and young women, yet evidence on the feasibility, accessibility and effectiveness of school-based biomedical HIV prevention interventions remains limited. Objective This systematic review aims to synthesize evidence on how school-based programs implement, deliver and achieve outcomes in HIV prevention interventions involving pre-exposure prophylaxis, condom and HIV testing for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. Materials and methods This review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines. Eligible studies will include randomized and non-randomized trials and qualitative research published between January 2015 and December 2025. Databases to be searched include PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and the African Index Medicus, together with relevant grey literature sources (WHO, UNAIDS, UNICEF and PEPFAR). Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts, extract data, and assess risk of bias using appropriate tools. Quantitative data will be synthesized using meta-analysis where feasible, while qualitative findings will undergo thematic synthesis. Outcomes of interest include the feasibility, accessibility, and effectiveness of school-based HIV prevention interventions. Discussion This review will provide a comprehensive synthesis of evidence on biomedical HIV prevention interventions delivered in school settings for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings will highlight implementation process, barriers, facilitators and equity considerations. Trial registration number: PROSPERO CRD420251249595

Towards a better understanding of adverse life experiences in autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Scientific Reports Olujolagbe Layinka, Punit Shah, Lucy Anne Livingston Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-61918-4

Abstract Individuals with autism and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) face greater adversity, which is typically associated with negative life outcomes (e.g., depression), but potentially, adaptive strengths (e.g., resilience). Little is known about the types of adversity experienced by autistic/ADHD adults, the processes underlying this increased risk, and the subsequent impact of adversity. Further, almost nothing is known about whether and how strengths arise from adversity in neurodevelopmental conditions. Autistic/ADHD adults ( N  = 123), living in the UK or USA, reported their adverse life experiences, including the role of autism/ADHD, and any resulting strengths. Data were analysed using codebook thematic analysis. Overall, eight themes (11 subthemes) highlighted four factors underlying adversity (Cognitive, Social, Emotional, and Sensory), two major types of adverse experiences (Marginalisation and Mistreatment), and two long-term outcomes of adversity (Health Outcomes and Strength Outcomes). Autistic/ADHD individuals experience an array of adversities across settings (including schools, homes, and workplaces), in part due to autism/ADHD-associated cognitive, social, emotional, and sensory factors. Whilst there are negative consequences of adversity, we also highlight that adverse life experiences may confer strengths. These findings underscore the need for tailored interventions to mitigate the susceptibility to adversities and subsequently reduce the negative impact of adversities in autism/ADHD.

Autobiographical memory of validating and invalidating consultations is associated with recall capacity for health information

PLoS ONE Charlotte E. Lee, Hollie Birkinshaw, Matthew Garner et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0353615

Managing chronic pain involves cognitive and emotional challenges that may affect treatment adherence. Patients’ ability to remember clinician advice is therefore important. Clinician behaviours may influence these processes. To investigate whether recounting autobiographical memories of perceived validating (vs. invalidating) healthcare experiences influences subsequent recall of health-related information in people living with chronic pain, 245 adults with chronic pain (≥3 months) were recruited online. Eligibility criteria included: age ≥ 18 years, fluent in English, no hearing difficulties or mental health conditions, and at least one healthcare visit in the previous two years. Participants were quasi-randomly assigned to describe either a validating or invalidating consultation they had previously experienced. Before and after this task, participants rated their pain intensity and pain-related fear. Participants then listened to 20 health messages and were later asked to recall them in an incidental memory test. The primary outcome was incidental recall of health messages, operationalised as the likelihood of recalling each of the 20 messages. Secondary outcomes included pain intensity and pain-related fear. Recall was analysed using a binomial generalized linear mixed-effects model accounting for individual differences (pain intensity, pain-related fear, immersion in the task, age, sex, and pain duration).Participants who described a validating consultation were more likely to recall health messages than those in the invalidating condition (19% higher odds of recalling each message, based on model estimates). The association was not mediated by change in pain-related fear. These findings indicate that remembering validating consultations might boost retention of health information, highlighting clinician-validation as a potential strategy to support cognitive functioning in people living with chronic pain.

Umbilical cord blood biomarkers of neuronal injury in sleep-disordered breathing during pregnancy

Scientific Reports Laura Cànaves-Gómez, Daniel Morell-Garcia, Jose M. Gonzalez-Alaguero et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-50906-3

Mapping multilevel barriers impacting the performance of Ethiopia’s Community-Based Health Extension Program: A scoping review

PLoS ONE Kora Tushune Godana, Zewdie Birhanu, Gugsa Nemera et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0351989

Background Ethiopia’s Health Extension Program (HEP) aims to improve primary care access through community-based delivery of essential preventive and promotive services. Despite progress, some health outcomes remain suboptimal, underscoring the need to optimize HEP implementation. Identifying barriers of the HEP and its Health Extension Workers (HEWs) is critical for enhancing program effectiveness. This scoping review aims to identify and synthesize evidence on the barriers impacting the performance of the Ethiopian HEP and HEWs. Methods A comprehensive search strategy was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and relevant institutional websites, as well as hand searches via Google Scholar and Google engine, to identify both published and unpublished documents (documents (government reports and policy documents (strategic plans, program reviews, annual performance reports), development partner publications, doctoral dissertations, and masters theses) related to the HEP. The review encompassed studies published since January 2003. Data extraction was performed using Atlas.ti software version 7.5.18, which facilitated the collection of verbatim excerpts and the application of thematic coding to highlight key findings. The results are organized and presented through thematic analysis, focusing on multi-dimensional barriers and challenges. Results The review reveals multi-dimensional barriers, including a misalignment between the HEP’s preventive design and the community’s demand for curative services, which undermines community trust and program acceptance, and gender-imbalanced workforce, which creates barriers to service delivery in certain cultural contexts. Additional barriers include a lack of training and retention strategies, and digital literacy and access gaps which further impede effectiveness of the program. Excessive workloads, non-health tasks, and poor living conditions, divert HEW’s focus from their primary responsibilities. Weak community engagement, inadequate integration of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), and inefficiencies in model family development limit the program’s impact. Misconceptions in the community, resource constraints, fragmented stakeholder interactions, ineffective supervision, governance issues, and political interference directly impede performance. Conclusion The HEP faces deeply entrenched, multi-dimensional barriers that limit its potential to achieve optimal health outcomes. Key policy recommendations include integrating curative services, ensuring a balanced gender mix in the workforce, improving working conditions and expanding community engagement. Further research is needed to quantify barriers, assess their impact, and identify key influencing factors, with stakeholder engagement and implementation research being essential for developing effective solutions.

Efficacy and safety of invasive laser acupuncture (650 and 830 nm) on knee osteoarthritis: A pilot randomized clinical trial

PLoS ONE Raeon Jang, Changsop Yang, Jae-Hong Kim et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0353654

This pilot study explored the safety and efficacy of invasive laser acupuncture (ILA) using two wavelengths (650 and 830 nm) compared with a sham laser in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). This randomized, parallel-arm, patient- and outcome assessor-blinded, placebo-controlled, single-center clinical trial was designed with three groups (control, 650, and 830 nm), and 45 participants were randomly allocated in a ratio of 1:1:1. All participants were treated with ILA on the more affected side at SP9, SP10, ST34, ST35, EX-LE2, EX-LE4, and GB34 for 10 minutes per session, twice weekly, for a total of 12 sessions over 6 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in pain visual analog scale (VAS) score at rest and during activity at baseline (Visit 1) versus 1 week after intervention completion (Visit 13). Secondary outcomes included VAS scores after six treatments (Visit 7) and 6 weeks after intervention completion (Visit 14), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, European Quality of Life Five Dimension Five Level Scale (EQ-5D-5L), patient’s global assessment, rescue medication dosage, and responder rate. Changes in the VAS scores at rest (p = 0.0044, Visit 13; p = 0.0001, Visit 14) and during activity (p = 0.0038, Visit 13; p < 0.0001, Visit 14) were significantly different among the three groups. Significant differences were also observed in WOMAC total (p = 0.0278, Visit 7; p = 0.0485, Visit 13; p = 0.0051, Visit 14), pain (p = 0.0073, Visit 7; p = 0.0210, Visit 13; p = 0.0038, Visit 14), function subscale (p = 0.0055, Visit 14), and EQ-5D-5L scores (p = 0.0131, Visit 14). No ILA-related adverse events or significant changes in vital signs or laboratory results were observed during the study. ILA at 650 and 830 nm showed preliminary signals of short-term pain reduction. However, these preliminary findings should be confirmed in larger, rigorously designed clinical trials. Trial registration CRIS registration number: KCT0008860; registered on 10/11/2023 ( https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/25506 ).

Reconstructing Solvation Chemistry via Cosolvent Regulation for Interfacial Engineering Toward Stable High‐Voltage O3‐Type Cathodes

Angewandte Chemie International Edition Longchen Li, Junying Weng, Kuiming Liu et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/anie.1924612

ABSTRACT O3‐type layered oxides have emerged as promising cathode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to their high reversible capacity. However, their fast‐charging and long‐term cyclability under high‐voltage operation are limited by interfacial and structural degradation, such as electrolyte decomposition, oxygen release, transition‐metal dissolution, and irreversible phase transitions. Herein, a multifunctional co‐solvent of dimethyl difluoromalonate (DMDF) is introduced into carbonate electrolytes to stabilize O3‐type Na 0.85 Mn 0.45 Ni 0.25 Li 0.05 Cu 0.1 Ti 0.15 O 2 (NMNLCTO) cathode within a voltage range of 1.5–4.5 V. In/ex situ characterizations and theoretical calculations reveal that the DMDF facilitates the formation of a robust NaF‐rich cathode‐electrolyte interface, suppresses electrolyte decomposition, and regulates solvation structure for fast Na + transport. The formulated NaClO 4 /carbonate‐DMDF electrolyte endows the NMNLCTO cathode with record‐breaking cycling stability, achieving 80% capacity retention over 600 cycles at 500 mA g − 1 . The assembled hard carbon//NMNLCTO full cells deliver high energy densities of 304.5 and 156.4 Wh kg − 1 (based on the mass of the cathode and anode) at 20 and 800 mA g − 1 , respectively. This work indicates that dimethyl difluoromalonate acts as an efficient co‐solvent to upgrade O3‐type SIB cathodes under high‐voltage operation.

Ultrafast interfacial charge transfer and fast interface relaxation in graphene-WS2 van der Waals heterostructures

Applied Physics Letters Haoyu Zhai, Zhaofei Sun, Zhixuan Qu et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1063/5.0313255

Graphene-WS2 (Gr-WS2) van der Waals heterostructures have emerged as a versatile platform for ultrafast optoelectronics, offering unprecedented control over interfacial charge dynamics. However, the precise role of intrinsic defect states in modulating these processes remains a critical unresolved issue. In this work, we systematically investigate the carrier dynamics in monolayer WS2 and Gr-WS2 heterostructures using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. By employing pump photon energies both above and below the WS2 bandgap, we provide evidence that ultrafast interfacial charge transfer from graphene to WS2 occurs under sub-bandgap excitation. Under above-gap excitation, the insertion of a graphene layer markedly accelerates the overall carrier population decay compared with pristine WS2. Quantitative analysis of the decay dynamics reveals reductions in both fast and slow effective relaxation components in the Gr-WS2 heterostructure. For pristine WS2, the fast component is mainly associated with surface-defect trapping in the chemical vapor deposition-grown monolayer, whereas its pronounced shortening in the Gr-WS2 heterostructure indicates the emergence of an additional graphene-mediated interfacial relaxation pathway. The slow component is mainly attributed to electron–hole recombination. These findings clarify the interplay between interface-modulated relaxation dynamics and defect-influenced carrier trapping in two-dimensional heterostructures, offering valuable guidance for the development of high-speed optoelectronic devices based on two-dimensional heterostructures.

Diagnostic and prognostic values of differentially expressed genes in canine mammary carcinoma: An integrated bioinformatics analysis

PLoS ONE Oscar Hernán Rodríguez-Bejarano, David Santiago Padilla, Daniel Alzate et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0354033

Background Canine mammary carcinoma (CMC) is a common tumor in unspayed dogs and poses a significant health concern for animals. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CMC and adjacent healthy mammary tissue through an integrated RNASeq bioinformatics analysis that combined an independently generated dataset from the present study, CPA-UN (CPA-UN), composed of RNA-seq data obtained from CMC and matched normal mammary tissue samples, with publicly available GEO datasets generated using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Candidate genes associated with diagnostic and prognostic potential were subsequently explored through integrative downstream analyses. Methods and findings DEGs were identified using DESeq2 and further analyzed for functional enrichment (ClusterProfiler, Pathview, and GSEA), co-expression gene networks, and tumor immune infiltrate deconvolution (CIBERSORTx). The GSE119810 dataset was used for exploratory overall survival (OS) analysis. Transcriptomic data from 88 CMC cases and adjacent healthy mammary tissue samples identified eight DEGs common across all four datasets. Among these, ACAN , COL11A1 , EDIL3 , NDUFA4L2 , and IGFBP5 showed higher transcript levels in CMC tissues than in healthy mammary tissue, whereas TNNC1 , PCK1 , and METTL24 showed lower transcript levels in CMC tissues than in healthy mammary tissue. Functional enrichment analyses indicated that DEGs with higher transcript levels in CMC were predominantly associated with extracellular matrix remodeling, cell adhesion, tumor microenvironment interactions, immune and inflammatory responses, and signaling pathways involved in tumor progression and metastasis. In contrast, DEGs with lower transcript levels were mainly enriched for cytoskeletal organization and tissue structural integrity, suggesting a loss of normal mammary gland architecture and myoepithelial-associated functions during tumor progression. GSEA further demonstrated coordinated enrichment of hallmark gene sets related to cell-cycle dysregulation, proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, metabolic adaptation, inflammatory signaling, and stromal remodeling, supporting the presence of integrated transcriptional programs that drive tumor progression and TME remodeling in CMC. Co-expression gene network analysis revealed a highly modular organization, with densely interconnected clusters of co-expressed genes that may reflect coordinated biological processes and regulatory programs. Exploratory CIBERSORTx analysis found no significant differences in the relative proportions of the 22 infiltrating immune cell types between CMCs and paired healthy controls after multiple-comparison corrections. Nevertheless, dataset-specific trends were observed in regulatory T cells, M1 macrophages, activated CD4 memory T cells, plasma cells, dendritic cells, and mast cells, though these findings should be interpreted cautiously. An exploratory survival analysis of 1,759 DEGs from the GSE119810 dataset identified 53 genes nominally associated with overall survival in CMC. However, none remained statistically significant after multiple-testing correction, underscoring the exploratory nature of these findings and the need for validation in larger cohorts. Conclusion This study provides a preliminary transcriptomic framework for CMC, identifying candidate genes and pathways associated with tumor-related processes and supporting future functional validation to clarify their roles in tumorigenesis, progression, and tumor aggressiveness. However, these findings remain exploratory and require validation in larger cohorts to confirm their diagnostic and prognostic relevance, given the limitations of secondary data analyses and potential variability in tissue collection and processing across studies.