Browse Articles

Psychometric validity of the Perceived Home Management Hassles Scale

Effect of heat treatment on the microstructure and mechanical properties of CX stainless steel fabricated by selective laser melting

Study of the impact of citizens’ perceived behavioral control on waste littering behavior and the resulting environmental status

Conditional Stabilization of the Hypoxia‐Inducible Factor HIF1α— Photoswitchable Stapled Peptides Prevent Elongin BC–Mediated Degradation

Abstract Oxygen levels and its distribution are tightly regulated due to their critical impact on health. Hypoxia‐inducible factors (HIFs) are traditionally recognized as key regulators of the transcriptional response to low oxygen (hypoxia). Recent research expanded their functions, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. Despite these advances, there is still a need for chemical biology tools that offer precise spatiotemporal control within the HIF network and output. Here, we introduce an optochemical approach that enables significant differences in expression of HIF1α‐target genes depending on the photostationary state (PSS). Our photoswitchable stapled peptide PS B ‐BCB‐04 stabilized HIF1α under normoxic conditions by targeting EloBC ( k i   =  7.9 ± 1.3 nM) and preventing VHL‐mediated degradation. Visible light allowed reversible regulation of peptide conformation, which entailed a sevenfold difference in its EloBC‐binding capacity. In a proof‐of‐concept study, we demonstrated that inhibition of HIF1α degradation enabled isomer‐specific expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) in prostate cancer cells. Our results validated the potential of photopharmacological stabilization of HIF1α and provided a new toolbox for on‐demand photocontrol over the HIF‐signaling pathway as well as VHL‐mediated degradation.

A deception detection model by using integrated LLM with emotion features

Interpretable AI-assisted diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer cytopathology using graph neural networks and knowledge graphs

Abstract This study presents an interpretable AI-assisted diagnostic approach for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cytopathology by combining graph neural networks (GNNs) with knowledge graphs (KGs). Routine cytology smears from 281 PTC cases were scanned, labeled, and processed using the Cascade RCNN model to detect pathological cell features, including 45,680 ground-glass nuclei, 712 nuclear grooves, and 116 intranuclear inclusions. By integrating GNNs, the model achieved a mean intersection over union (mIoU) of 56.14% and a mean average precision (mAP) of 0.87. The GINet model further improved classification accuracy to 88.84%. Our approach also incorporates a clinical decision support system (CDSS) for querying KGs, providing explainable diagnostic outputs. This method offers an interpretable and reliable AI tool for PTC diagnosis, enhancing the transparency of AI-assisted pathology systems.

Establishing 3 <i>d</i> –4 <i>d</i> Orbital Hybridization for Efficient Photothermal Catalytic CO ₂ Hydrogenation

Abstract Photothermal catalytic CO 2 conversion offers a promising way to address the energy and environmental issues; however, the development of self‐supporting catalysts with high activity and selectivity remains a great challenge. Here, we report the decoration of PdCo alloy on self‐supporting carbon cloth with N‐doped carbon arrays (PdCo‐NC/CC) for efficient photothermal catalytic methanation. In situ spectra and density function theoretical (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the 3 d ‐4 d hybridization between Co and Pd enables an increase in the energy level of the dz 2 ‐5 σ and dyz ‐2 π* states in the CO/PdCo alloy, thus enhancing the binding strength of the *CO intermediate and accelerating the CO hydrogenation. Specifically, the self‐supporting substrate provides highly dispersed metal sites for CO 2 methanation while serving as a photo‐to‐heat converter to improve the temperature of the reaction system. As a result, PdCo‐NC/CC exhibits unprecedented photothermal performance toward CO 2 methanation, delivering a CH 4 generation rate as high as 15.23 mol g metal −1  h −1 and a selectivity of 100% in batch reaction under the irradiation of Xenon lamp without any external thermal source. Moreover, the continuous flow photothermal reaction can be smoothly proceeded over 100 h, demonstrating the high stability of PdCo‐NC/CC in CO 2 hydrogenation.

Improved optical characteristics of PEO polymer integrated with graphene oxide

C(sp ² )─H Bond Activation with a Heterometallic Nickel–Aluminium Complex

Abstract Herein we present a ligand‐catalyzed bond‐breaking and making process that occurs with a Ni–Al heterometallic complex. While combinations of Ni pre‐catalysts and Al additives are known for site‐selective C─H functionalization, detailed studies of such systems are rare. Combining [Ni(COD) 2 ] and [(BDI)AlH 2 ] ( 1 ; BDI = 2,6‐diisopropylphenyl‐β‐methyldiketiminate) results in facile formation of a Ni–Al heterometallic complex [( η 4 ‐COD)Ni{( μ ‐H) 2 Al(BDI)}] ( 2 ; COD = 1,5‐cyclooctadiene). Once generated, this species can effect the C(sp 2 )─H activation of 4‐dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) or pyridine with concomitant H 2 evolution, a process that is accelerated through addition of PCy 3 . The mechanism was studied through kinetics, kinetic isotope effects (KIEs), isotope labeling studies, and modeling. The reaction is 1 st order in PCy 3 and proceeds with a KIE of 0.9–1.1. Support is provided for a pathway involving the synergistic action of both metals, promoted by reversible coordination of the phosphine. The data suggest that both C─H oxidative addition and H 2 reductive elimination steps in this system are readily accessible and are not rate limiting. This finding has implications for future catalyst design using combinations of Ni and Al metals and suggests that control of ligand exchange steps may be the most important consideration in determining the rate of reaction.

The gut microbiome as a target in cancer immunotherapy: opportunities and challenges for drug development

Synergy of Oxygen Vacancies and Ni Single Atoms Toward Efficient Urea Photosynthesis from CO ₂ and N ₂

Abstract The direct photochemical synthesis of urea under mild conditions presents considerable promise. Nevertheless, the photocatalytic urea synthesis is severely restricted by the co‐adsorption and activation of inert CO 2 and N 2 molecules. Herein, an ingenious design of a high‐performance Ni 1 /TiO 2‐ X catalyst by strategically coupling Ni single atoms (Ni SAs) and oxygen vacancies (Ov) onto urchin‐like TiO 2 architecture. By virtue of the unique synergistic catalysis between atomically dispersed Ni species and precisely engineered Ov sites, the Ni 1 /TiO 2‐ X catalyst achieves a remarkable urea production rate of 15.73 µmol g cat. −1 h −1 . Further mechanistic studies reveal that the atomically dispersed Ni sites facilitate N 2 adsorption and activation, generating *N 2 species, while the adjacent Ov sites activate CO 2 to form *CO intermediates. More intriguingly, the *CO species can migrate from the Ov site to the nearby Ni active centers, where they spontaneously undergo thermodynamic coupling with *N 2 to form a “tower‐like” urea precursor (*NCON* intermediate), subsequently converting to urea. The present work establishes a dual‐active‐site mechanism, comprising isolated Ni centers and adjacent Ov sites, which synergistically lowers the activation barrier for urea photosynthesis and accelerates reaction kinetics, and pioneers a transition strategy for the environmentally friendly and efficient synthesis of high‐value products.

The Diels–Alder Reaction as a Mechanistic Probe for Vibrational Strong Coupling

Abstract Vibrational Strong Coupling (VSC) has recently been reported to alter reaction kinetics. Hypotheses on how it does this have been proposed, but open questions remain regarding the importance of the polarity of the reaction mechanism and of intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR), among other factors. We propose the Diels–Alder (DA) reaction as a probe to study chemistry under VSC, owing to the high diversity of its reaction partners. Herein, fixed‐width cavities and UV–vis spectroscopy were used to determine the rate constants for the reactions of the diene 1,3‐diphenylisobenzofuran (DPIBF) with various dienophiles under different coupling conditions. We investigated the effect of coupling six different solvents and of cooperative coupling of the dienophile through the solvent. Secondly, as the DA reaction can be catalyzed by hydrogen bonding, we investigated how the reaction was influenced by coupling alcohol solvents. Finally, we explored the direct coupling of vibrational modes of the dienophiles, including the stretching mode of the reactive C═C bond. In all cases, no substantial changes to the reaction rate constants were observed among the diverse coupling scenarios explored. This work initiates the use of the DA reaction as a mechanistic platform to understand how VSC changes chemistry and invites further experimental and theoretical studies.

Targeting neutrophils for cancer therapy

Hyaluronidase-enhanced subcutaneous delivery of bNAbs: a phase 1 randomized controlled clinical trial in HIV-uninfected women

Structural basis for HIV-1 capsid adaption to a deficiency in IP6 packaging

Abstract Inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) promotes HIV-1 assembly by stabilizing the immature Gag lattice and becomes enriched within virions, where it is required for mature capsid assembly. Previously, we identified Gag mutants that package little IP6 yet assemble particles, though they are non-infectious due to defective capsid formation. Here, we report a compensatory mutation, G225R, in the C-terminus of capsid protein (CA) that restores capsid assembly and infectivity in these IP6-deficient mutants. G225R also enhances in vitro assembly of CA into capsid-like particles at far lower IP6 concentrations than required for wild-type CA. CryoEM structures of G225R CA hexamers and lattices at 2.7 Å resolution reveal that the otherwise disordered C-terminus becomes structured, stabilizing hexamer-hexamer interfaces. Molecular dynamics simulations support this mechanism. These findings uncover how HIV-1 can adapt to IP6 deficiency and highlight a previously unrecognized structural role of the CA C-terminus, while offering tools for capsid-related studies.

Microbiome data integration via shared dictionary learning

Coagulation factor XII haploinsufficiency is protective against venous thromboembolism in a population-scale multidimensional analysis

CLADES: a hybrid NeuralODE-Gillespie approach for unveiling clonal cell fate and differentiation dynamics

Cryo-EM structures of CRAF/MEK1/14-3-3 complexes in autoinhibited and open-monomer states reveal features of RAF regulation

Abstract CRAF (RAF1) is one of three RAF-family kinases that initiate MAP kinase signaling in response to activated RAS and is essential for oncogenic signaling from mutant KRAS. Like BRAF, CRAF is regulated by 14-3-3 engagement and by intramolecular autoinhibitory interactions of its N-terminal regulatory region. Unlike BRAF, it is thought to require tyrosine phosphorylation in its N-terminal acidic (NtA) motif for full catalytic activation. Here we describe cryo-EM reconstructions of full-length CRAF in complex with MEK1 and a 14-3-3 dimer. These structures reveal a fully autoinhibited conformation analogous to that observed for BRAF and two “open monomer” states in which the inhibitory interactions of the CRD and 14-3-3 dimer are released or rearranged, but the kinase domain remains inactive. Structure-function studies of the NtA motif indicate that phosphorylation or acidic mutations in this segment increase catalytic activity by destabilizing the inactive conformation of the kinase domain. Collectively, these studies provide a structural foundation for understanding the shared and unique regulatory features of CRAF and will inform efforts to selectively block CRAF signaling in cancer.

Inverted temperature gradients in gold–palladium antenna-reactor nanoparticles

Abstract In addition to enhanced fields and possible charge transfer, the concentration of photothermal energy at the nanoscale is a central feature of plasmon-driven photochemistry. It is well known that light energy can be efficiently concentrated in metal nanoparticles to length scales far below the wavelength of light. Here we demonstrate that the energy absorbed by a gold nanoparticle can be further localized within a bimetallic gold-paladium nanoparticle system by the dissipation of energy into the attached palladium satellite nanoparticles. After pulsed excitation of the gold core, the satellites collect nearly all photothermal energy and heat up by 180 K while the light-absorbing gold core remains much colder. By comparing transient absorption dynamics of a series of bimetallic nanoparticles with a three-temperature model, we can precisely assess the temperatures of the electronic and vibrational subsystems. We find a strong inverted temperature gradient that opposes the direction of energy input and concentrates the light energy at the active catalytic nanosite.