Browse Articles

Chaotic, rational and irrational oscillations of nonlinear waves in the Earth’s magnetosheath featuring bi-regularized $$\kappa$$-distributed electrons

Influence of microwave thawing technique on the quality of brown shrimp, Metapenaeus Dobsonii in comparison to conventional thawing methods

Whitening efficacy and enamel properties of 30% hydrogen peroxide solution incorporated with strontium-containing Fluorapatite

A multi-molecular biomarker assessment of thermal preconditioning in two scleractinian coral species

Abstract Coral reefs face escalating threats from rising sea temperatures, triggering widespread mass bleaching and mortality events. Thermal preconditioning, a process in which corals exposed to sublethal thermal stress become more tolerant to subsequent thermal stress, is increasingly recognised as a promising strategy for restoration purposes. However, its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Furthermore, species-specific responses to thermal preconditioning must be understood to ensure its broad applicability. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive multi-molecular biomarker analysis to investigate the physiological and molecular effects of thermal preconditioning on two coral species, Pocillopora damicornis and Stylophora pistillata, by exposing them to a sublethal thermal stress of + 3 °C above ambient temperature, followed by an acute stress of 32 °C (+ 8 °C). In both species, preconditioned corals showed delayed bleaching, maintaining chlorophyll a and c2 concentrations, along with Symbiodiniaceae density, for longer periods compared to non-preconditioned corals. At the molecular level, this increased thermal tolerance could be linked to the higher activity of antioxidant enzymes measured, suggesting enhanced protection against oxidative stress and consequently lower levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) damage. Preconditioned corals also exhibited a slower downregulation of Hsp70 or sustained Hsp70 expression above basal levels during acute heat stress, possibly reflecting prolonged cellular homeostasis. Additionally, they demonstrated delayed or reduced hsp70 gene expression, indicating a less immediate response to thermal stress. Furthermore, the acquired thermal tolerance lasted longer in P. damicornis, highlighting a species-specific response to thermal preconditioning. Our study provides crucial molecular insights into the complex mechanisms of thermal preconditioning, which will be essential for developing more effective and species-targeted preconditioning protocols for practical application in coral reef restoration efforts.

Structural and optoelectronic properties of NiOx thin films synthesized via co-precipitation for hole transport layer applications

Abstract Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as promising next-generation photovoltaic devices due to their high power conversion efficiencies and low fabrication costs. However, the performance and stability of PSCs are strongly influenced by the quality of charge transport layers, particularly the hole transport layer (HTL). This study investigates the structural, morphological, and optoelectronic properties of nickel oxide (NiOx) thin films prepared via a chemical co-precipitation method and applied as hole transport layers (HTLs) in perovskite solar cells. NiOx films were spin-coated and thermally treated at different calcination temperatures to evaluate their effect on phase formation, surface morphology, and interfacial compatibility. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of cubic NiO with increased crystallinity at higher calcination temperatures, while FTIR spectroscopy revealed the transformation of Ni(OH)₂ to NiOx through the disappearance of hydroxyl bands and the appearance of metal-oxygen stretching vibrations. Surface morphology assessed by FESEM and morphology analysis by ImageJ showed that films calcined at 300 °C presented uniform and fine-grain structure, while the 400 °C samples exhibited coarsening and increased roughness. UV-Vis spectroscopy demonstrated variations in optical absorption and band gap narrowing with increasing crystallinity. These optoelectronic improvements are critical for efficient hole extraction and transport. The optimized film at 300 °C provided a balance between crystallinity, morphology, and surface quality, making it a promising candidate for enhancing the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells.

Association between dietary patterns and obesity-related metabolic phenotypes in Chinese middle-aged and older adults: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Middle-aged and elderly people are prone to obesity or metabolic abnormalities, and an unreasonable dietary pattern is an important factor affecting the occurrence or development of metabolic diseases. 15,160 middle-aged and elderly participants classified into four categories on the basis of obesity metabolic phenotype criteria: metabolically healthy nonobese (MHNO), metabolically unhealthy nonobese (MUNO), metabolically healthy obese (MHO), and metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). The main dietary patterns of the study population were identified via food frequency questionnaire and principal component analysis. A multi-categorical logistic regression model was used to observe the relationships between dietary patterns and different obesity metabolic phenotypes in middle-aged and elderly people. A total of four dietary patterns were extracted. Higher scores for the “egg-dairy preference” pattern were associated with a reduced risk of MUNO, MHO, and MUO. A high consumption of the “plant preference” pattern was also associated with a reduced risk of MUNO. Conversely, a high intake of the “grain and meat preference” pattern was associated with the highest prevalence of MHO. Our study revealed a strong association between a diet rich in eggs and dairy and a lower prevalence of the obesity-related metabolic phenotype in middle-aged and elderly people.

Monocular delay during visually guided actions is as effective as monocular deprivation in driving ocular dominance plasticity

COVID-19 mortality and nutrition through predictive modeling and optimization based on grid search

Secondary traumatic stress and burnout in healthcare professional: systematic review and a meta-analysis based on correlation coefficient

Node Flexibility Unlocks Structural Adaptability and Guest Versatility of Anionocages

AbstractDue to their exceptional nodal flexibility, anionocages are promising host molecules capable of mimicking the dynamic self‐assembly and host–guest chemistry of proteins. However, their application has been limited by the challenges in constructing large internal cavities. Here, we present an effective strategy to overcome this limitation by enhancing node flexibility to improve both structural adaptability and guest encapsulation versatility. Specifically, anion coordination between a C3‐symmetric tris‐urea ligand (L) and an organophosphate, PhPO42− (A), generates highly flexible nodes that enable adaptive self‐assembly and the encapsulation of guests of unprecedented size. Crystal structures revealed that the same ligand and anion can form three geometrically distinct anionocages (A4L4 tetrahedron 1, A6L6 trigonal antiprism 2, and A6L8 octahedron 3), with cavity sizes ranging from 0.208 to 1.320 nm3. In solution, controlled interconversions among the three anionocages can be achieved by modulating the guest template, A/L ratio, and concentration. These nanoscale cavities successfully encapsulate the luminescent metal complex, [Ru(bpy)3]2⁺ (bpy = 2,2′‐bipyridine), resulting in a ∼5‐fold increase in quantum yield, and a ∼2‐fold increase in lifetime. Moreover, circularly polarized luminescence of racemic [Ru(bpy)3]2⁺ is induced via chirality transfer using a chiral‐anion‐directed octahedral cage (4) as the host.

Fabrication and characterization of MA₃Bi₂I₉ Bismuth-based perovskite material for potential solar cell applications

Building a coronavirus disease 2019 healthcare registry in an evolving pandemic

A hybrid intrusion detection model based on dynamic spatial-temporal graph neural network in in-vehicle networks

Mechanochemical Strategies Applied to the Late‐Stage Modifications of Pharmaceutically Active Compounds

AbstractThis review explores the potential of mechanochemistry in the late‐stage modification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), offering a comprehensive analysis of methods designed to transform structurally complex molecular scaffolds by examining the scope, efficiency, and mechanistic aspects of these approaches. To further assist researchers, we provide a detailed table summarizing the discussed APIs, their respective modifications, and any necessary prefunctionalizations. This resource should provide a practical guide for selecting suitable substrates to evaluate the pharmaceutical relevance of existing and novel (mechano)chemical methods.

Multi-component gradient enhancement for accurate frost detection and quantification on leaf surfaces

Abstract Accurate frost detection on leaf surfaces is critical for agricultural monitoring, yet existing methods struggle with segmentation errors caused by complex backgrounds (blurred, soil, weeds) and subtle frost-leaf texture differences. To address this, we propose MCGE-Frost, a multi-component gradient enhancement method that integrates color space analysis with gradient fusion theory. The algorithm extracts gradient features from individual color channels (HSV, Lab), applies adaptive weighting to enhance frost-leaf boundary contrast, and employs morphological filtering to suppress background noise. Experiments on leaf images demonstrate that MCGE-Frost achieves a total algorithmic error segmentation rate of 3.29%, significantly outperforming ExG (8.63%), OTSU (8.98%), and HSV (11.98%). The method reduces computational complexity by 40% compared to deep learning-based approaches while maintaining robustness across diverse backgrounds. MCGE-Frost achieves 0.8 s/image processing on GPU-accelerated systems, balancing accuracy and efficiency for edge deployment. Additionally, it improves the intelligence of frost quantification with minor manual calibration. This advancement supports real-time frost monitoring in precision agriculture, providing actionable insights for frost protection and crop management.

Rapid and Modular Access to All‐Carbon Quaternary Center‐Containing 2,2‐Disubstituted Bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes via Cyanocarbene Addition to Bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes

Abstract While 1,3‐disubstituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) have garnered considerable interest in medicinal chemistry as bioisosteres of para ‐substituted benzenes, the utilization of bridge‐functionalized BCPs, especially those containing all‐carbon quaternary centers at the bridge‐positions, in drug design has lagged behind. This is primarily due to the synthetic challenges associated with these scaffolds. Herein, we report the insertion of diazo‐free donor‐acceptor carbenes into the C─C bond of bicyclo[1.1.0]butanes (BCBs), enabling the rapid and modular synthesis of 1,2,2,3‐tetrasubstituted bicyclo[1.1.1]pentanes (BCPs) bearing three all‐carbon quaternary centers in up to 83% yield. This transformation is metal‐free, one‐pot, operationally simple, and accomodates to a wide range of substrates. The decoration of bioactive molecules with 2,2‐disubstituted BCP exhibits superior antitumor activity compared to the anticancer drug Sonidegib, rendering this method highly practical and appealing. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations combined with control experiments reveal that the reaction proceeds through a stepwise nucleophilic ring‐opening/recyclization pathway, involving the reaction between the singlet carbene species and the BCB skeleton.

Individuating experience moderates the effect of implicit racial bias on eye movements to other race faces: a cross-cultural study

Deformation characteristics and motion process prediction analysis of the Lanbazi landslide in Wanzhou District, Chongqing

Abstract The Lanbazi landslide, a typical reservoir landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir, has exhibited significant and increasing deformation over the past two years, posing a severe threat to the safety of nearby residents’ lives and property. This study employed a combination of field investigation, engineering geological survey, SBAS-InSAR interpretation, and RAMMS numerical simulation to predict and analyze the spatial and temporal evolution of landslide deformation and the instability movement of the Lanbazi landslide. The results suggest that the deformation rate of the landslide ranges from − 73.5 mm/a to 24.7 mm/a from January 2022 to December 2024, and the deformation of the middle and rear edge of the landslide is the largest and the movement rate is the most significant. The RAMMS software is used to calculate the movement process of the secondary potential landslide instability area. The total time from the start to the end of the landslide is 275 s, the maximum movement speed is 25.2 m/s, the maximum movement accumulation height is 31 m, the maximum impact force is 1265.2 kPa, and the landslide accumulation body will eventually flow into the Yangtze River, which will produce a surge of up to 11.7 m. This study innovatively combines SBAS-InSAR and RAMMS numerical simulation technology to realize the collaborative analysis of landslide deformation monitoring and instability motion prediction. This method breaks through the separation problem of deformation analysis and disaster prediction in traditional research.

Disproportionality analysis of GLP-1 receptor agonists combined with metformin based on the FAERS database

Phospholipid‐Drug Conjugates Self‐Organized into Well‐Defined Supramolecular Nanotubes for Efficient Drug Delivery

AbstractControlled self‐organization of amphiphilic phospholipid camptothecin (CPT) conjugates (named PCCs) selectively forms supramolecular nanotubes with varying lengths and polydispersity. Our study elucidates the underlying mechanisms governing PCC assembly, demonstrating that π–π stacking interactions derived from the planar, conjugated structure of CPT play a pivotal role in nanotube formation. Precise modulation of the hydrophobic characteristics of PCC linkers enables fine‐tuning of π‐stacking strength, thereby controlling the length of the nanotubes, ranging from the nano‐ to micro‐scale. With exceptionally high drug‐loading efficiencies (43.9% to 52.3%) and stimulus‐responsive release properties, the optimized PCC nanotubes exhibit tumor‐selective cytotoxicity of 20‐ to 50‐fold greater potency against tumor cells compared to normal cells. Furthermore, PCC nanotubes of intermediate length (0.3–0.5 µm) display prolonged circulation times than conventional liposomes, resulting in enhanced tumor‐targeting and therapeutic efficacy.