Browse Articles

Utility over novelty: How performance expectancy converts hedonic motivation, future expectations, and price sensitivity into private e-scooter purchase intention

This study explains private e-scooter purchase intention through a mechanism-based process model that links value cues to performance beliefs and, subsequently, to motivational readiness to commit. We argue that hedonic motivation, forward-looking expectations about the technology, and lower price sensitivity strengthen perceived performance (usefulness, reliability, and access). In turn, perceived performance primarily increases purchase intention by enhancing perceived autonomy and competence, while consumer innovativeness plays a limited role in translating beliefs into purchase intention. We employ a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design. Survey data (n = 338) are analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling, followed by 26 semi-structured interviews to interpret the pathways and identify boundary conditions. The findings show that perceived performance is the key appraisal in the model. It is shaped by enjoyment, future expectations, and price evaluation, and it influences purchase intention mainly through autonomy and competence rather than novelty-oriented exploration. The qualitative findings show that infrastructure, safety, parking clarity, service continuity, and transparency in ownership cost shape the strength of this mechanism . Overall, the findings support a utility-first adoption logic. For managers addressing younger urban consumers in emerging-market contexts, the priority is to make performance credibility and ownership support visible through reliable product performance and robust after-sales assurance. For policymakers in similar settings, protected links and more transparent governance can stabilize perceived performance and strengthen confidence in everyday use..

Co-ADAM: a co-evolutionary signaling game framework for equilibrium cyber deception in industrial IoT

Abstract Cyber deception in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) environments faces a fundamental challenge, insufficient deception investment fails to trap attackers, while excessive deployment causes rational adversaries to accumulate skepticism, progressively neutralizing deceptive mechanisms. To the best of our knowledge, no existing reinforcement learning (RL) framework has jointly characterized the optimal deception investment level under these dynamics and trained against a co-evolutionary adversary that explicitly models skepticism accumulation. This paper introduces Co-ADAM, a Co-evolutionary Adaptive Deception-Aware Multi-mechanism defense framework that formalizes IIoT cyber deception as a constrained Markov decision process (CMDP) with an embedded signaling game. We establish that the co-evolutionary training will reach some equilibrium of skepticism (Lemma 1, Propositions 1, 2) and characterize the resulting joint policy as an ε -Nash deception equilibrium with exploitability ε  = 2.4523 (4.43% normalized). A deep Q-network (DQN) defender is trained against an adaptive attacker pool of size K  = 10 across 5000 episodes, with skepticism dynamics, attacker momentum, and budget constraints embedded directly in the environment. Compared to seven baselines over three IIoT datasets, CIC-IIoT 2025, WUSTL-IIoT 2021 and Edge-IIoTset, Co-ADAM attains an Attack Mitigation Rate (AMR) of 0.8363 under random and 0.8033 under adaptive attackers, with cumulative rewards of 147.91 and 102.52 respectively, all differences are statistically significant at p  < 0.001. The learned policy transfers across heterogeneous IIoT environments with 99.61% mean AMR retention, scales to 1000 devices with less than 0.26% AMR degradation, and converges empirically at episode 1377. The most significant element of the architecture confirmed in ablation as adversarial skepticism (Cohen’s d  = 3.57), forms the foundation of principled skepticism modeling as a critical component of deception-based IIoT defense. Physical validation on a 10-day IIoT testbed comprising a Centerm D660 honeypot, three ESP32 sensors, and a Kali Linux attack machine confirms simulation findings with testbed AMR of 0.9975 exceeding simulation AMR of 0.8363.

AI-guided CRISPR screening reveals therapeutic targets in psoriasis

A multi-country qualitative evaluation of rapid mortality surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background Low- and middle-income countries without well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems struggle to obtain accurate and complete counts of total (i.e., all-cause) mortality, especially during a pandemic. The aim of this evaluation was to assess whether rapid mortality surveillance (RMS) provided timely and useful counts of deaths to inform pandemic response, despite competing demands on government and public health responders, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first published evaluation of efforts to test the feasibility, utility, and impact of efforts to improve or establish mortality surveillance. Methods We supported 13 low- and middle-income countries to implement RMS during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. From August to October 2021, we conducted a qualitative assessment of each country’s progress. Results Analysis of in-depth interviews with 16 respondents in 13 countries surfaced common themes related to facilitators of RMS implementation. These include 1) government ownership and buy-in; 2) data collection and digitalization; 3) interagency collaboration and data sharing; 4) data analysis and interpretation; and 5) data use for decision-making. Conclusion Robust and digitalized CRVS systems can serve the rapid mortality surveillance function well. For locations where digitalization and connectivity of systems are still improving, more feasible and fit-for-purpose approaches are needed. These findings should inform the development of CRVS mortality surveillance functions in low- and middle-income countries.

Biomimetic Supramolecular Assemblies With Programmable Structural and Chiroptical Dynamics

ABSTRACT The kinetic–thermodynamic synergy in protein folding has inspired out‑of‑equilibrium nanostructures; however, precise control and real‑time visualization of their time‑dependent structural evolution remain inaccessible, leaving the formation mechanisms of the final structure fundamentally constrained. Herein, a biomimetic non‐equilibrium supramolecular assembly was developed, capable of spontaneous transformation from a metastable state to a thermodynamically stable state via a mechanism analogous to amyloidogenesis. This morphological evolution was accompanied by a fluorescence shift from yellow (580 nm) to green (520 nm), which enabled real‐time visual monitoring, along with an amplification of the g lum value to 5.0×10 − 3 . The kinetics of transformation can be modulated by chirality, temperature, stirring, and seeding. Notably, a hydrogel matrix mimicking crowded intracellular environments was employed to investigate the assembly evolution, revealing accelerated transformation kinetics. The resulting fluorescence‐tunable hydrogel was further exploited for time‐dependent information encryption. This work offering new avenues for designing dynamic biomimetic materials with programmable chiroptical functions.

Gut microbiome dynamics and alcohol use outcomes during naltrexone treatment: a 12 week follow-up study

Li–air chemistry inspired electrodialysis for direct lithium carbonate production from seawater

Correction: Anti-vibration method for sensing ring of fiber optical current transformer integrating structural design and adaptive signal processing

A systematic evaluation of the reliability of feature selection methods and SHAP-based interpretability in machine learning models for arrhythmia analysis

Programmable Construction of Supramolecular Polymers Achieved in Neutral Lipid Environments

Abstract Supramolecular polymerization within living cells has emerged as a promising strategy for controlling cellular functions. Lipid droplets, intracellular organelles mainly composed of neutral lipids, provide low-polarity environments, yet their role in regulating supramolecular assembly pathways remains unclear. Here we show that triolein, a representative triacylglycerol featuring three ester groups and cis-9-octadecenyl chains, acts as an effective medium for kinetically controlled supramolecular polymerization. An alanine-based diamide-functionalized fluorophore forms supramolecular polymers in triolein through a nucleation-elongation mechanism, in which an initial nucleus triggers subsequent growth. Although the thermodynamic stability is comparable to that in di- n -butyl ether, a commonly used organic solvent, triolein suppresses spontaneous nucleation and inter-fiber bundling, creating a lag phase during which seeded polymerization guides monomers along a defined assembly pathway. Kinetic studies with ethyl oleate, a structural analogue of triolein, indicate that transient solute-solvent interactions contribute to the suppression of both nucleation and bundling events. This kinetic control enables stepwise seeded growth of multiblock nanostructures and establishes neutral lipids as functional media for the precision-controlled construction of supramolecular polymers.

Regional language effects on accent perception and language attitude: The case of mandarin vs. cantonese speakers in mainland China

The perception of L2 English accents has been extensively studied across disparate language groups, yet it remains unclear how these judgments operate among speakers of closely related varieties, where shared linguistic heritage might heighten sensitivity to phonetic differences. This study investigates how L2 English accent judgments operate among L2 English speakers whose L1s belong to the same broader language family. We recruited 164 English learners in mainland China with Cantonese and Mandarin backgrounds defined here by their first-acquired and dominant spoken Chinese variety (i.e., L1/dominant Cantonese vs. L1/dominant Mandarin), and asked them to rate the comprehensibility and accentedness of 12 pre-categorized Mandarin- and Cantonese-accented English short passages of different accent strengths and to rate 18 attitudinal traits concerning the superiority, attractiveness and dynamism of those same short passages. Two native English short passages were also added as controls. Results show that the native English speakers were rated less accented than and socially superior to both Mandarin- and Cantonese-accented English regardless of accent strengths. Both Cantonese and Mandarin speakers tended to rate Cantonese-accented English as more accented than Mandarin-accented ones, although both had similar level of comprehensibility. In terms of language attitude, Cantonese-accented English was rated as more friendly but lower-class compared to Mandarin-accented English in some aspects, whereas Mandarin-accented English was rated as more dynamic than and superior to Cantonese-accented English by both L1 Cantonese and Mandarin speakers. Results show that both Cantonese and Mandarin speakers of English considered native English as the superior variant of accent.

A custom soil electrochemical profiling system for detecting electrochemical activity changes in soil

Abstract Physicochemical soil parameters drive biogeochemical processes by controlling microbial activity and the mobility, solubility, and bioavailability of organic and inorganic matter. Because these properties vary with depth, depth-resolved electrochemical tools are needed, yet existing systems are often limited in travel range, automation, cost, or flexibility. Here, we present a custom-built Soil Electrochemical Profiling System (SEPS) for water-saturated soils and other conductive porous media. Built from off-the-shelf components, the custom manipulator hardware can be assembled for less than $200, provides up to 27 cm vertical travel, and operates with a minimum mechanical step interval of 25 μm. SEPS integrates with a potentiostat to perform open-circuit-potential-based redox profiling, cyclic voltammetry, and chronoamperometry. We tested the system using ferricyanide/ferrocyanide standards and hydrogel diffusion experiments. We then demonstrated proof-of-concept applications in homogenized, water-saturated soil mesocosms, where SEPS resolved time- and depth-dependent redox changes and voltammetric responses. In addition, a polarized carbon-tip electrode supported long-term biofilm enrichment and subsequent depth-resolved chronoamperometric measurements. SEPS provides a practical, low-cost platform for electrochemical profiling in saturated soils, hydrogels, sediments, and related porous media.

Levitated macroscopic rotors with 10 hours of free spin at room temperature

Modeling and analysis of forward and inverse kinematics for a flexible Stewart platform

Stewart platforms are widely used in flight simulators, precision machining, and other fields due to their advantages in high precision, high dynamic response, and full six-degree-of-freedom spatial motion. However, the positioning accuracy of traditional rigid Stewart platforms is difficult to further improve due to limitations such as the structure of telescopic rods and insufficient kinematic solution accuracy. To address this technical challenge, this study proposes a flexible Stewart platform and conducts modeling and analysis on its forward and inverse kinematic solutions. First, by introducing piezoelectric ceramics to calculate the displacement loss caused by telescopic rods overcoming the inertia of the moving platform and load, a precise mathematical model for inverse kinematics is established based on geometric analysis and kinematic theory. Second, aiming at the problems of low efficiency and low accuracy in solving forward kinematics using the Newton-Raphson method and traditional BP neural networks, an improved BP neural network method based on the Levenberg-Marquardt (L-M) algorithm is innovatively proposed. By constructing a multi-layer feedforward neural network model and using inverse kinematic formulas to generate training datasets, a nonlinear mapping from rod lengths to platform pose is achieved, effectively avoiding the complexity of traditional calculation processes. Finally, MATLAB simulation results show that regarding inverse kinematics, the calculated displacement range of piezoelectric ceramics covers 27.9 nm to 47.4 nm. In terms of forward kinematics, the relative error of pose prediction using the proposed improved algorithm is controlled within 0.5% across the entire domain, with absolute errors in heatmaps controlled around 0.02 mm. The forward and inverse kinematic solution methods proposed in this paper for high-precision positioning flexible Stewart platforms are significantly superior to traditional methods in terms of friction displacement compensation range and pose prediction accuracy. This work not only provides an innovative solution for high-precision positioning technology but also lays an important theoretical foundation for applications in industrial robotics and precision measurement.

Adversarial-resilient lightweight phishing url detection: Evaluating lexical & metadata features under evasion techniques

Time-resolved Coulomb explosion imaging of a photochemical ring opening reaction

Key targets and mechanisms by which gut microbiota-derived metabolites regulate Alzheimer’s disease through the immune - inflammatory pathway: Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking

This study integrated network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and molecular docking to explore potential immune-inflammatory pathways associated with the relationship between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A total of 260 gut microbiota – derived metabolites were initially retrieved, and 196 common targets were identified by intersecting predicted metabolite-associated targets with AD-related targets. Further screening identified 14 key overlapping targets, including IL6, NFKB1, IL1B, PTGS2, TLR4, and PPARG. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis identified IL6, NFKB1, IL1B, CXCL8, PPARG, FOS, and JUN as central hub genes. Functional enrichment analyses indicated that these targets were mainly involved in immune-inflammatory responses, response to lipopolysaccharide, oxidative stress-related processes, and regulation of apoptosis. KEGG pathway analysis further suggested that the overlapping targets were associated with several inflammation-related signaling pathways, including the NOD-like receptor, TNF, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways. In silico pharmacokinetic and toxicity evaluation showed that several representative metabolites exhibited heterogeneous but informative drug-likeness and pharmacokinetic/toxicity-related profiles relevant to gut–brain-axis hypothesis generation. Molecular docking was performed as an exploratory structural assessment and suggested that selected metabolites, including Enterodiol, Coumarin, and 3,9-dihydroxy-6H-benzo[c]chromen-6-one, showed top-ranked predicted docking poses in computationally identified surface-accessible pockets of representative hub proteins such as IL6 and NFKB1, with docking scores ranging from – 6.8 to – 8.1 kcal/mol. These docking scores were interpreted only as qualitative descriptors of predicted structural compatibility and were not used to infer quantitative biological activity, target inhibition, or therapeutic efficacy. Overall, this study prioritizes a potential multi-target immune-inflammatory network centered on IL6, NFKB1, and IL1B, providing a hypothesis-generating framework for understanding the possible role of gut microbiota-derived metabolites in AD-related neuroimmune regulation. Further experimental studies are required to validate the predicted metabolite–target associations and clarify their biological relevance.

Accelerating SuFEx Reactions via Aryl Fluorosulfate Structural Engineering for Enhanced Covalent Targeted Cancer Therapy

ABSTRACT Aryl fluorosulfate warheads, possessing sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reaction, hold significant promise for the development of covalent protein drugs. However, their SuFEx reactivity remains limited within the complex microenvironment of protein interactions. To address this challenge, we sought to enhance their reactivity by adjusting the electronic and steric properties of warheads. Herein, we synthesized various maleimide‐functionalized aryl fluorosulfate (MFS) bearing different substituents (e.g., o‐F, o‐CF 3 , o‐NO 2 , o‐CH 3 , o‐OCH 3 , o‐Cl, o‐Br, o‐I, 2,6‐diF, and m‐F), which were then chemically conjugated to Adnectin (an EGFR‐targeting protein). The SuFEx reactivity of the resulting xMFS‐modified Adnectin was systematically investigated by comparing their covalent cross‐linking efficiency to EGFR. Notably, the meta‐Fluoro‐substituted MFS warhead, featuring moderate electrophilicity and minimal steric hindrance, exhibited the highest reactivity, achieving a 3.5‐fold increase in cross‐linking efficiency compared to unsubstituted control. The m‐F MFS‐modified Adnectin was further attached to the surface of albumin‐bound DXd. Leveraging its enhanced SuFEx reactivity, the resulting covalent albumin‐bound drug exhibited 6.4‐fold higher intracellular accumulation, 3.0‐fold greater tumor retention, and 4.0‐fold higher antitumor efficiency compared to unsubstituted control. Overall, fine‐adjusting the electronic and steric properties of warheads significantly enhances their SuFEx reactivity, enabling the rational design of SuFEx‐based warheads and facilitating the application in covalent protein drugs.

Gold nanoparticles as dual-action antiviral agents: disruption of SARS-CoV-2 viral envelopes and RNA integrity

Abstract Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) possess unique physicochemical properties that enable interactions with viral particles; however, most reported antiviral studies rely on surface-functionalized nanoparticles or indirect assays without direct structural evaluation of viral components. In this study, we investigated the in vitro interaction of citrate-capped (non-functionalized) AuNPs with Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) clinical samples using a combined approach integrating molecular detection, sequencing, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Cytotoxicity assays in HEK293T and A549 human cell lines demonstrated that AuNPs were well tolerated at lower concentrations (0.1 and 0.5 nM) over 24 and 72 h. However, exposure to 1 nM for 72 h reduced viability to ~ 60%, indicating dose- and time-dependent effects without definitive cytotoxicity. AuNP exposure was associated with reduced RT-qPCR–detectable viral RNA in four clinical samples, with variable responses (complete reduction in 2/4 samples and partial reduction in 2/4 samples). These findings reflect changes in RNA detectability rather than confirmed inhibition of viral infectivity. AFM analysis demonstrated time-dependent structural perturbation of model single-stranded RNA under simplified in vitro conditions, while whole-genome sequencing did not show evidence of viral genome fragmentation. Collectively, these findings provide a mechanistic indication that non-functionalized AuNPs may contribute to viral particle destabilization rather than direct genomic degradation. This study highlights a combined biophysical and molecular framework to evaluate nanoparticle–virus interactions using patient-derived samples. Further studies incorporating infectivity assays and in vivo models are required to determine therapeutic relevance.

Conserved and lineage-specific mechanisms drive chromatophore differentiation in reptiles

Abstract The mechanisms by which novel differentiation pathways evolve to produce new cell types are still not fully understood. Chromatophores, the pigmented cells in the skin, offer an ideal paradigm because each type independently develops from neural crest cells to produce a distinct colour using well-characterised biosynthetic pathways. Here we show, using single-cell gene expression analyses, that canonical chromatophores develop in the embryonic skin of corn snakes and bearded dragon lizards. Yet, we identify previously undescribed chromatophore subtypes in the bearded dragon. These populations co-express progenitor and mature markers and possibly contribute to embryonic skin patterning, as revealed by whole-mount in situ hybridisation. Comparative analyses uncover that while mature chromatophores show cross-species similarity reflecting shared pigmentary function, progenitor states differ in transcription factor usage, including species-specific deployment of MITF, PAX7, and TFEC. Integration with teleost and amphibian datasets confirms that diversification of pigmentation arises through distinct progenitor trajectories converging on similar mature states.