Browse Articles

Bottom‐Up Regulation of Perovskite Growth and Energetics via Oligoether Functionalized Self‐Assembling Molecules for High‐Performance Solar Cells

Abstract Self‐assembling molecules (SAMs) are widely used as interfacial layers to optimize the surface properties of nickel oxides (NiO x ) in inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, less attention is paid to the effect of SAMs on the regulation of perovskite growth and energetics. Here, based on the donor‐acceptor molecular backbone, an oligoether chain is introduced with different chain lengths to endow two novel SAMs, namely, EPA and MEPA, with good capability of bottom‐up regulation of perovskite formation and energetics. Compared to the model SAM MPA, EPA and MEPA can render NiO x with better coverage and conductivity. Moreover, the oligoether chain‐containing SAMs are able to assist the formation of perovskite film with ordered growth, high crystallization, and importantly well‐matched energy level alignment at the top surface, especially for MEPA. Consequently, a remarkably high efficiency of 25.50% is realized for NiO x /MEPA‐based PSCs along with good device stability, which can maintain 90% of the initial efficiency under ISOS‐L‐1 conditions over 1260 h.

Urban governance to support adaptable solutions for conversion of residual street spaces into social spaces

Abstract Abandoned residual street spaces, frequently marginalised in formal urban planning frameworks, represent a significant yet unrealised resource for enhancing urban liveability, especially within the complexities of dense historic urban neighbourhoods. This study investigates how such underutilised spaces can be strategically transformed into vibrant social hubs. Focusing on the Castello neighbourhood in the historic centre of Cagliari, Italy, the research adopts a unique mixed-methods approach grounded in a sequential exploratory design. It begins with spatial analysis using space syntax techniques, including segment analysis, axial analysis, and visibility graph analysis, followed by GIS-based land use mapping and field-based qualitative assessments to identify and prioritise residual spaces based on their social potential. The findings highlight several high-potential sites characterised by pronounced spatial configuration and contextual qualities, suggesting practical insights into the design and governance of adaptive social spaces. The original contribution of this study lies in its incorporated and replicable methodological framework that combines quantitative spatial analysis with qualitative urban evaluation. The results not only advance the theoretical discourse on residual urban space but also provide pragmatic strategies for inclusive urban regeneration. The proposed framework is applicable across diverse urban contexts, offering a scalable model for cities aiming to enhance sociability through the adaptive reuse of neglected urban fragments.

Opt1 imports CoA precursors as glutathione mixed disulfides

Anionic Coordination‐Regulated Metal‐Organic Cages for Efficient CO ₂ Photoreduction

Abstract Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) provides a promising strategy for producing high‐value chemicals and fuels. However, developing high‐performance photocatalysts for CO 2 reduction remains a great challenge due to the poor stability of reaction intermediates. Herein, we present an anionic coordination strategy to facilitate the stabilization of intermediates by constructing halogen‐coordinated metal‐organic cages (MOCs) (Ni 8 L 12 X 4 , X = Cl, Br, I). Theoretical calculations show that the formation of *COOH intermediate is the rate‐limiting step and halogen coordination effectively regulates the energy barrier for this reaction. Notably, iodide anions significantly reduce the energy gap between the Ni d and iodide p orbitals, enhancing electron transfer from the Ni center to adsorbed CO 2 and promoting the production of *COOH. As a result, Ni 8 L 12 I 4 demonstrates superior performance with a CO production rate of 2680.23  µ mol g −1  h −1 and 95% selectivity, outperforming Cl‐ and Br‐coordinated Ni MOC by 200‐ and 5‐fold, respectively. This work opens a new coordination engineering strategy for fabricating efficient photocatalysts for CO 2 reduction.

Germination ecology and environmental influences on prickly golden fleece (Urospermum picroides) and implications for weed management

Abstract Knowledge of the germination ecology of weed species provides information about their potential aggressiveness and helps develop effective weed management strategies. Therefore, the influence of gibberellic acid (GA3) and environmental factors (temperature, light, osmotic stress, salinity, cutting times, and seed burial depth) was evaluated on seed germination and seedling emergence of Urospermum picroides a winter annual weed. The results indicated that maximum seed germination was 94% and 83% when seeds were soaked for 12 and 24 h with 1000 and 800 ppm of GA3, respectively. Seed germination was not influenced by light conditions but was influenced by temperature. The highest germination percentages (95% and 93%) occurred at a constant temperature of 30 °C and an alternating temperature of 20/10°C, respectively. In response to light, the results showed that U. picroides is non-photoblastic and can germinate in darkness. Seed germination in response to different cutting times demonstrated that maximum germination was observed in brown achenes (81%), while minimum germination was obtained in white (0%) and yellow (4%) achene stages. Seed germination decreased from 92.5 to 12.5% as water potentials decreased from 0 to -0.4 MPa, and germination was completely inhibited at -0.5 MPa. The salt concentration required for a 50% reduction in maximum germination was estimated at 170 mM NaCl. Maximum seedling emergence occurred at an optimal burial depth of 1.18 cm. In conclusion, this study indicated that at lower soil depths, U. picroides is likely more fit than other species under conditions of low to moderate water and saline stress.

Cysteine oxidation of a redox hub within complex I can facilitate electron transport chain supercomplex formation

A randomized controlled trial of the short-term effect of rosuvastatin on the corrected QT interval

Regulator of G protein signaling 2 as a suppressor of sphingosine-1-phosphate 2– and 3–mediated signaling in colon cancer cells

Prediction model of heat transfer coefficient for high pressure water descaling based on water flux

Potent antioxidant and mitochondrial-protective effects of ATH434, a moderate affinity iron chaperone

Improving virtual try on clothes using image depth estimation

Modeling Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis in lung epithelial organoids reveals strain-specific host responses and intercellular crosstalk

Mathematical Double‐Matrix Switchable Homochiral Ferroelectric

Abstract Homochiral ferroelectrics have attracted increasing attention in recent years because of their distinctive chiroptical effects in contrast to ordinary ferroelectrics. Moreover, they provide a great opportunity to show mathematically switchable matrix elements between nonzero and zero values in both second‐order nonlinear optical susceptibility χ (2) and piezoelectric d matrices to realize the dual on/off switching of second‐harmonic generation circular dichroism (SHG‐CD) and piezoelectric responses, which, however, has never been reported. Herein, for the first time, we reported homochiral metal halide ferroelectrics ( R ‐/ S ‐BTA) 2 CdBr 4 (BTA = 3‐bromo‐2‐hydroxypropyltrimethylammonium), which exhibits a 432 F 2 ferroelectric phase transition at 362 K, accompanied by the switchable matrix elements between nonzero (for point group 2) and zero (for point group 432) values in both χ (2) and d matrices. They show strong SHG‐CD effects with an anisotropy factor up to 1.28, far exceeding that of other chiral ferroelectrics. Notably, the 432 F 2 phase transition enables ( R ‐/ S ‐BTA) 2 CdBr 4 to show the unprecedented dual on/off switching of SHG‐CD and piezoelectric response between the SHG‐CD/piezoelectric active state in the ferroelectric phase and SHG‐CD/piezoelectric inactive state in the paraelectric phase. Our findings shed light on the exploration of mathematical double‐matrix switchable chiral ferroelectrics with SHG‐CD and piezoelectric response switching.

Monitoring the effect of alcohol intake via facial temperature variations using thermography synchronized with heartbeat

Abstract Accurate assessment of alcohol-induced physiological effects is critical for preventing overconsumption and ensuring safe activities such as driving. While breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) measurement is widely used due to its simplicity, it can be confounded by mouth alcohol effects and provides only momentary data. Building on our previously developed Synchro-thermography technique, which synchronizes infrared thermal imaging with heart rate variability to detect vascular-related skin temperature fluctuations, we applied it to monitor physiological changes induced by alcohol. In an alcohol intervention experiment, we observed that under non-drinking conditions, facial temperature fluctuations strongly synchronized with heartbeats. In contrast, following alcohol consumption, this synchrony markedly weakened within 10–30 minutes, regardless of the presence or absence of flushing responses. These results suggest that dynamic monitoring of temperature-heart rate synchrony offers a sensitive, non-contact indicator of early alcohol effects. Although preliminary, our findings highlight the potential of Synchro-thermography as a practical tool for non-invasive, real-time monitoring of alcohol-induced physiological changes.

Correction: Autoantibodies against the cell surface–associated chaperone GRP78 stimulate tumor growth via tissue factor

Geographical analysis of malignant tumor incidence and treatment in China

Conversion of an agonistic anti-TNFR2 biparatopic antibody into an antagonist by insertion of peptide linkers into the hinge region

Assessing the impact of air pollution on lung function in South Korea using Bayesian kernel machine regression

Activation of the stress-activated protein kinase JNK in response to herpes simplex virus-1 infection coordinates transition of BRD4 from chromosome association to transcription elongation

Doping Bulky Fluorinated Organic Anion to Construct Highly Efficient Anion‐π ⁺ Type Photosensitizers for Cancer Phototheranostics

Abstract Anion‐π + type photosensitizers with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) feature have demonstrated promising potential in photodynamic therapy (PDT) against cancer. However, previous reports mainly focused on modifying the π + core but often overlooked the crucial role of anions. Herein, we present a facile strategy to modulate the fluorescence intensity and cellular uptake of anion‐π + type AIE photosensitizers by doping bulky fluorinated organic anions into nanoparticles (NPs). Anion‐π + type AIE photosensitizer DPBCF‐Br with different ratios of bulky anions (TB or FTB) were encapsulated into DSPE‐PEG 2000 to obtain NPs (named DF‐TB X or DF‐FTB X , X denotes the molar ratios of TB or FTB to DPBCF‐Br). Expectedly, as the doping molar ratios increased, a progressive enhancement in fluorescence intensity of the obtained NPs was observed. This can be ascribed to the steric effect of bulky organic anions and the formation of a hydrophobic environment within the NPs. Interestingly, the optimal cellular uptake was achieved at X  = 8 in DF‐TB 8 and DF‐FTB 8 , resulting from the balance between lipophilicity and electronegativity. Ultimately, DF‐FTB 8 demonstrated outstanding cellular imaging capabilities and high intracellular reactive oxygen species generation, achieving efficient cancer phototheranostics. This facile bulky anion doping strategy will pave a new way for the construction of robust anion‐π + type photosensitizers.