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Postural reeducation and oral device interaction in rhythmic gymnasts: effects of byte use on stiffness-related performance and low back pain perception
A Rho GTPase-related gene signature predicts prognosis and reveals an immunosuppressive microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma: an integrated analysis of bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data
Hierarchical Assembly of Multilayer Core–Shell DNA Origami Crystals
ABSTRACT A multilayer core–shell architecture capable of selectively capturing distinct nanomaterials into a predetermined layer is anticipated to facilitate multifunctional isolation or cascade processes at the microscale. However, fabricating single‐crystal architectures featuring numerous shells with intricate distribution patterns remains challenging. In this study, we employed DNA nanotechnology to construct microscale multilayer core–shell DNA origami crystals. The internal layers exhibit tunable properties, including size, quantity, self‐similarity, and morphology. The shell size can be regulated from 700 to 1800 µm 3 , and the layer quantity can be extended to five. We also fabricated eight distinct crystals exhibiting non‐self‐similarity and two types of heteromorphic core–shell crystals. Each layer has operational independence, allowing the customized capture of nanomaterials and implementation of compartmentalized reactions. These multilayer core–shell crystals have potential for serving as compartmentalization templates for functional units, which may provide possibilities for simulating cell work or constructing artificial organelles.
Directional permeability anisotropy of 1 mm3 sandstone digital sub-samples under fixed micro-CT field of view and its relationship with tortuosity anisotropy
The Japanese Palaeolithic deserves more attention in Western narratives about human expansion across Asia
Enhanced insecticidal efficacy of nanoencapsulated bergamot essential oil against stored-product pest Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)
Abstract In this study, bergamot essential oil (BEO) was encapsulated within β-cyclodextrin/gum Arabic (BEO–βCD/GA) to enhance its physicochemical properties and its toxicity against Tribolium castaneum , a major stored-product pest. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry detected D-limonene (59.38%) as the predominant component of BEO. The optimized BEO–βCD/GA exhibited a particle size of 194.26 ± 2.45 nm, a low polydispersity index (0.04 ± 0.003), zeta potential of − 31.23 mV, and a high encapsulation efficiency of 88.12%, indicating a homogeneous system. BEO–βCD/GA showed greater toxicity than BEO, producing lower LC values and higher T. castaneum mortality across concentrations and exposure periods. The carrier substances showed no toxicity to T. castaneum , confirming that the observed effects were due to BEO or BEO–βCD/GA. The LC 50 and LC 90 values of BEO–βCD/GA were consistently lower than those of BEO across all exposure periods (1–7 days). At 7 days, BEO–βCD/GA recorded markedly lower LC 50 (106.85 ppm; 3.15–173.54) and LC 90 (319.49 ppm; 200.18–4468.97) compared with BEO (LC 50 : 437.72 ppm: 359.29–596.06; LC 90 : 3195.87 ppm: 1710.83–10801.66). The BEO–βCD/GA achieved near-complete inhibition of progeny emergence (97–100%) at higher concentrations, compared to 61–79% for BEO. In addition, BEO–βCD/GA significantly reduced grain weight loss and exhibited strong antifeedant activity. Neither treatment adversely affected wheat germination nor seedling vigor. These physicochemical characteristics, together with the formulation’s enhanced insecticidal performance, suggest improved stability and bioavailability of BEO within the βCD/GA system, making it a promising, eco-friendly alternative for sustainable stored-product pest management.
Electrically Coded Retinomorphic Spectrophotodetector
ABSTRACT Accurate color sensing is essential for applications ranging from materials analysis to autonomous vision, yet compact systems that can classify color directly at the device level without bulky optics or computationally intensive post‐processing remain limited. Here, a machine learning‐free, self‐powered retinomorphic pyro‐photodetector is demonstrated for direct electrical wavelength encoding from 365 to 940 nm. The multiterminal Ag/ZnO/ n ‐Si/Ag device uses electrostatically balanced built‐in potentials to convert incident wavelength into distinct photo and pyroelectric current fingerprints, enabling direct in‐sensor spectral discrimination without spectral reconstruction and external neural processing. The device achieves wavelength decoding with less than 3 nm accuracy and a pyroelectric current rise‐time of ∼46 µs. At the system level, direct in‐sensor encoding enables end‐to‐end wavelength classification with 300 ms latency while reducing downstream energy and computational complexity. The encoded electrical readout enables accurate color classification and is further applied to plant health and pigment‐state sensing, as well as quantification of 0% to 40% water adulteration in milk, curd, coconut water, and salt and sugar solutions, with classification accuracy above 92%. This work establishes a portable retinomorphic platform for real‐time, energy‐efficient, and high‐precision spectral sensing, providing a general route toward direct in‐sensor color recognition and wavelength classification.
Unraveling daily dynamics of supraglacial lakes in response to hydrological pulses and anomalous climate signals
Abstract Mass loss from debris-covered glaciers in High Mountain Asia drives the expansion of small supraglacial lakes (SGLs) and changes the occurrence patterns of hazardous processes including glacial lake outburst floods. Here, we analyse surface area changes of small SGLs ( > 0.045×10 4 m 2 ) in the Sagarmatha region, Eastern Himalaya, integrating data with daily resolution from 2016 to 2024. The results show SGLs expanded at a mean rate of 5.90 ± 1.49×10 4 m 2 ·yr⁻¹. Starting from October 2022, SGLs in the study area have exhibited anomalous expansion, with the total lake area reached its maximum during this period, 67.35% higher than during the second peak (2020). The seasonal fluctuations of SGLs are synchronous with short-term variations in global temperature. By mid-century, SGL expansion in High Mountain Asia is expected to continue. Given their rapid response to climate change, small SGLs could support the development of early-warning frameworks for hydrological pulses and extreme climate events.
Individualized HIFU in women over 60: ultrasound assessment of layer-specific facial soft-tissue thickness changes
Abstract High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is widely used for facial rejuvenation, but standardized depth settings may not adequately account for age-related variation in facial soft tissue architecture in women aged 60 years and older. In this exploratory pilot study, 20 women underwent three HIFU sessions at 4-week intervals (Weeks 0, 4, and 8) and were evaluated at Week 16 (8 weeks after the final session). Participants received either a conventional protocol or an anatomy-guided protocol individualized using high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) measurements. HFUS assessed superficial fat thickness, deep fat thickness, and skin-to-SMAS distance at baseline and Week 16. Both protocols produced reductions in lower-face and submental tissue thicknesses. Across all HFUS endpoints, the anatomy-guided protocol showed larger mean reductions than the conventional protocol. In this exploratory analysis, nominal, unadjusted between-group differences were observed for lower-face skin-to-SMAS distance (difference in change, − 0.19 mm; 95% CI, − 0.38 to − 0.02; p = 0.035), submental superficial fat thickness (− 0.20 mm; 95% CI, − 0.39 to − 0.02; p = 0.032), and submental skin-to-SMAS distance (− 0.19 mm; 95% CI, − 0.38 to − 0.02; p = 0.035). These differences were small in absolute magnitude and should be interpreted cautiously in relation to ultrasound measurement precision. Investigator-rated improvement of “much improved” or better occurred in 40% of the conventional group and 60% of the anatomy-guided group. These preliminary findings suggest that anatomy-informed HIFU may be associated with small, layer-specific ultrasound-measured soft-tissue thickness changes in older women; however, the submillimeter magnitude of the differences, small sample size, parallel-group design, and short follow-up warrant cautious interpretation.
Quasi-solitons in Rydberg atom chains
Abstract Solitons—localized wave packets that travel without spreading—play a central role in understanding transport and properties of nonlinear systems. In quantum many-body systems, however, such robust excitations are typically destroyed by thermalization. Here, we theoretically demonstrate the existence of solitonic excitations in high-energy states of Rydberg atom chains in the regime of strong nearest-neighbor Rydberg blockade. These localized wave packets propagate directionally atop a special class of reviving initial states related to quantum many-body scars and are capable of carrying energy. Exhibiting long coherence times, these states constitute a form of non-ergodic quantum dynamics and can be efficiently implemented on Rydberg atom simulators. In this work, in addition to a phenomenological description of solitons, we identify their counterpart in a classical nonlinear dynamical system, demonstrate their potential use in quantum information transfer, and conjecture their relevance for anomalous energy transport reported in numerical studies of Rydberg atom arrays.
Secondary traumatic stress among healthcare workers in Egypt and the mediating role of workplace protective factors
Abstract Healthcare workers are occupationally exposed to traumatic events, placing them at risk of secondary traumatic stress (STS) a condition characterized by intrusion, avoidance, and arousal symptoms. To determine the prevalence of STS among healthcare workers, identify early warning signs, evaluate the effectiveness of workplace preventive measures, and identify factors associated with STS. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2025 among 783 healthcare workers in critical care units at Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire including the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale (STSS), an early warning signs scale, and a preventive measures scale. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify associated factors with STS. The frequency of STS was 64.5%, with a total mean score of 58.16 ± 11.18. The most frequent early warning signs were chronic exhaustion (3.43 ± 1.126), increased anxiety about safety (3.18 ± 1.156), and difficulty maintaining work-life boundaries (3.17 ± 1.206). A strong positive correlation was observed between STS score and warning signs score ( r = 0.76, p < 0.01). Multivariate logistic regression identified physicians (AOR = 2.14), working > 40 h/week (AOR = 2.07), > 8-night shifts/month (AOR = 2.56), absence of preventive measures (AOR = 2.87), and sick leave history (AOR = 1.89) as significant associated factors of severe STS. Mediation analysis revealed that social support mediated the relationship between occupational stressors and secondary traumatic stress, with a significant indirect effect (0.105, 95% CI: 0.062–0.148) accounting for 23.4% of the total effect. STS is highly prevalent among Egyptian healthcare workers and is significantly associated with modifiable workplace factors. The absence of essential organizational interventions highlights critical gaps in occupational health protection. Routine surveillance, mandatory debriefing, and enhanced organizational support are urgently needed.
Operation Limits of Integrated Photo‐Rechargeable Batteries
ABSTRACT Monolithic photo‐rechargeable batteries (PRB) are attractive solution for powering off‐grid autonomous systems. However, the fundamental effects limiting the light‐charging process in such devices are not well understood. Herein, we present an integrated PRB design that can be fully charged under a range of illuminances. We use it as a model system to correlate the decay in photo‐charging current with photo‐induced charge kinetics. Our results indicate that light‐induced hole transport gradually deteriorates with increasing state of charge, which is attributed to the anion‐coupled hole accumulation in the cathode layer. Furthermore, our device reveals that the potential gap between the hole transport layer and the cathode is critical for driving a photo‐induced delithiation of the cathode. If the cathode has a more positive delithiation potential than the hole transport level, the photo‐charging current rapidly decays despite the photo‐cells providing sufficient voltage to charge the battery. These findings demonstrate that the device physics of PRBs vary greatly from that of separately coupled solar cells and batteries, thus providing new insights in their working mechanism and their future design guidelines.
β-arrestin recruitment facilitates a direct association with G proteins
Abstract G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targets for almost a third of all FDA-approved drugs. GPCRs are known to signal through both heterotrimeric G proteins and β-arrestins. Traditionally these pathways were viewed as largely separable, with G proteins primarily initiating downstream signaling while β-arrestins modulate receptor trafficking and desensitization in addition to regulating their own signaling events. Recent studies suggest an integrated role of G proteins and β-arrestins in GPCR signaling, however the cellular and biochemical requirements for G protein:β-arrestin interactions remain unclear. Here, we show that G proteins and β-arrestins can directly interact. Through utilization of β-arrestin-biased receptors and artificially enforced β-arrestin relocalization, we demonstrate that recruitment of β-arrestin to the plasma membrane is sufficient to interact with the G protein Gαi. Using purified proteins, we show that Gαi directly interacts with β-arrestin. In addition, we find that Gαi family members differ in their degree of association with β-arrestin, and that a large degree of this selectivity resides within the alpha helical domain of Gαi. These findings delineate the cellular and biochemical conditions that drive direct interactions between G proteins and β-arrestins and illuminate the molecular basis for how they interact.
Control of single and multi-species biofilms in food processing by environmental bacteria metabolites
High Spin Manganese Boosting Photo‐Magnetic Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution Over Covalent Organic Frameworks
ABSTRACT Harnessing electron spin to suppress photogenerated carrier recombination represents a relatively underexplored frontier in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. However, conventional photocatalysts are predominantly diamagnetic and respond weakly to external magnetic fields, limiting the exploitation of spin‐dependent carrier dynamics. Here, we report for the first time the application of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) in photo‐magnetic coupled hydrogen evolution. Specifically, a post‐synthetic metalation strategy is developed to introduce high‐spin Mn 2+ ions (3d 5 , half‐filled configuration) into a chemically robust sp 2 ‐carbon‐linked COF (sp 2 c‐COF dpy ). The resulting sp 2 c‐COF dpy ‐Mn exhibits intrinsic spin polarization with an unprecedented 100% spin polarization degree at the Fermi level, as revealed by density functional theory calculations. Under an external magnetic field of 500 mT, the material achieves a record photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 208.48 mmol·g −1 ·h −1 . Combined experimental and theoretical analyses demonstrate that the half‐filled d 5 configuration of Mn 2+ maximizes unpaired electrons, inducing strong spin polarization and a large magnetic moment. The external magnetic field further activates negative magnetoresistance and spin‐flip processes, synergistically suppressing electron‐hole recombination and accelerating interfacial charge transfer to Pt cocatalyst sites. This work not only establishes the first example of COFs in photo‐magnetic catalytic hydrogen evolution but also provides a general spin‐engineering strategy for designing high‐performance magnetically responsive photocatalysts.
Major urinary protein 1 modulates neuronal excitability in the medial prefrontal cortex in a male mouse model of affective empathy
Human-organ-scale x-ray fluorescence ghost imaging for radioisotope-free diagnostics
Self‐Limiting Ultrathin Heterocycle‐Bridged Interface Enabling Efficient p–i–n PbS Quantum Dot Solar Cells
ABSTRACT Hole‐transporting self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) have driven rapid efficiency gains in solution‐processed p–i–n solar cells over the past few years. By contrast, while efficient electron extraction is equally crucial for device operation, electron‐transporting SAMs remain scarcely explored, thereby constraining further improvements in device performance. Here, we present an electron‐extraction‐modulating self‐limiting ultrathin molecular layer strategy for PbS quantum dot (QD) solar cells. The designed thiophene‐based molecules feature thiol anchors that coordinate with surface Pb 2 + ions to suppress nonradiative recombination, while their electron‐rich aromatic rings engage in π–π interactions with the top C 60 layer to enhance electron extraction. Critically, their high volatility enables the removal of excess molecules during annealing, yielding a compact, ultrathin molecular modification at the interface. This interface engineering delivers a power conversion efficiency of 14.47% in p–i–n PbS QD solar cells‐the highest value reported to date. These results provide a robust and scalable pathway for applying self‐limiting ultrathin molecular layer as a powerful paradigm for interfacial design.