Browse Articles

AI agency drives college students’ entrepreneurial thinking through human sense of agency in human and ai symbiosis

Abstract As artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly penetrates education and entrepreneurial practice, cultivating students’ entrepreneurial thinking in a “human-AI symbiotic” environment has become a crucial issue in entrepreneurship education. Based on symbiotic agency theory and triadic reciprocal determinism, this study constructs a theoretical model of “AI agency—human sense of agency—entrepreneurial thinking,” using opportunity recognition and creativity as the core dimensions of entrepreneurial thinking to examine how AI agency is associated with college students’ entrepreneurial cognition. Based on a sample of 972 college students, the study employs a hybrid research method combining SLR, SEM, and fsQCA. The results show that: (1) AI agency is composed of three dimensions: cognitive support, interaction support, and action support, forming a stable structure of human-AI symbiotic environment in entrepreneurial learning contexts. (2) AI agency is positively associated with entrepreneurial thinking both directly and indirectly through the human sense of agency. (3) High-level entrepreneurial thinking is not associated with a single factor alone but with configurations of multiple conditions, with interaction support and sense of agency playing stable core roles. (4) Furthermore, creativity and opportunity recognition exhibit different generative logics. The study theoretically elevates AI from a tool to a technological partner and capability community in entrepreneurial learning, and provides insights for the design of AI instructional courses in entrepreneurship education.

Prenatal cannabinoid exposure alters excitation-inhibition balance through glutamate and GABA receptor-mediated signaling

Propane-CO ₂ Coupling Reaction over Isolated Cr Active Centers in the Beta Zeolite

mTOR signalling mediates the spinal osteoblast pathotype at the curve apex in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Abstract Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is associated with dysregulated bone remodelling, yet the molecular underpinnings remain unclear. To investigate site-specific osteoblast phenotypes at the spinal curve apex, we performed bulk RNA sequencing on primary matched osteoblasts isolated from the convex, concave, and non-curve regions of AIS patients. Principal component analysis revealed distinct transcriptional clustering by spinal site, independent of patient-specific factors. Differential expression analysis identified region-specific molecular profiles in convex and concave osteoblasts compared to non-curve controls, with the mTOR pathway being highlighted as one of the most dysregulated. Rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, reduced Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, Osteoprotegerin (OPG) secretion, and mineralization, while modulating osteogenic gene expression, including sustained upregulation of RUNX2 and COL1A1 . In AIS patient-derived osteoblasts, rapamycin elicited pronounced inhibition of mTOR signalling and osteogenic activity in convex cells compared to control. Convex osteoblasts also showed elevated mTOR expression but reduced downstream translation-related signalling, suggesting dysregulated or uncoupled mTOR activity. Notably, mTOR expression level correlated with curve severity, reinforcing the link between mTOR dysregulation and AIS pathology. These findings identify mTOR signalling as a key regulatory pathway in AIS osteoblast dysfunction and highlight rapamycin as a potential, though complex, therapeutic candidate.

DNA methylation, nucleic acid structure, and rett mutations tune MeCP2 binding affinity and cooperativity

Geochemical environment affected by acid mine drainage: a case study of trace and rare earth elements of Colorful Lakes in Wieściszowice (Western Sudetes Mts., Poland)

Nuclear translocation of triosephosphate isomerase 1 under aerobic glycolytic conditions is associated with HIV-1 transcription

The Role of Chirality-Induced Spin Selectivity in Helicene-Based Photogenerated Radical Pairs

MA-DyRoLT: multi-agent path finding method based on dynamic waypoints and learning communication topology

Decoding of amidated aromatic C-terminus and sulfation by cholecystokinin receptors reveals conserved and divergent evolutionary mechanisms

Si–O–Si Replacement of Spirobiindane Carbon Centers Unlocks a General Route to Tunable Chiral Spiro Ligands

Inside Back Cover: The Role of Shape Commensurability in Chirality Transfer: Gold Nanoshape Solutes in a Discotic Nematic Liquid Crystal Solvent (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 27/2026)

Optimizing nitrogen and maize plant density to improve competitive advantage and fertilizer use efficiency in maize soybean intercropping in Northwest China

Abstract Maize-soybean intercropping is a critical ecological planting technique that embodies the essence of China’s intercropping agricultural practices, enhancing farmland productivity while preserving soil health and ensuring sustainable production. However, the interplay between nitrogen management and planting density, along with interspecific interaction/competition dynamics in maize-soybean strip intercropping under rain-fed conditions, remains unclear; elucidating these factors is critical for optimizing resource utilization efficiency in arid farming systems. This study employed a split-plot field design under maize–soybean intercropping conditions, with maize planting density as the main plot factor (52500, 60000 and 67500 plants ha⁻¹) and nitrogen application rate as the subplot factor (300, 375 and 450 kg ha⁻¹). Maize and soybean monocultures were included as controls. Results demonstrated that increasing planting density and nitrogen application significantly affected crop growth, photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and economic return in the maize–soybean intercropping system. With increasing planting density from D1 to D3, maize yield increased first and then declined, whereas soybean yield decreased overall. Increasing planting density altered maize growth traits, suppressed soybean growth, decreased leaf vapor pressure deficit(VPD), and generally increased net photosynthetic rate (Pn). With increasing nitrogen application from N1 to N3, crop growth and yield formation were improved under D2, but under D3, excessive nitrogen input reduced transpiration and weakened productivity. Compared with D1, maize yield under D2 increased by 28.76%, whereas soybean yield under D3 decreased by 36.15%. Therefore, N2D2 (60,000 plants ha⁻¹ combined with 375 kg N ha⁻¹) was identified as the optimal planting strategy for maize–soybean intercropping under rain-fed conditions in southern Ningxia.

Asymmetric Hydroamination Using Oxidative Radical Initiation in Flavin Enzymes

Lightweight stateless transaction verification with outsourced witness updates for UTXO blockchains

Laboratory assessment of novel endophytic Trichoderma-based bioformulations for the biological control of sorghum leaf spot and stalk rot diseases

Abstract Stalk rot and leaf spot, caused by Fusarium verticillioides and Curvularia lunata , respectively, are among the most destructive seed-borne fungal diseases of sorghum, resulting in substantial yield losses. In the present study, two novel endophytic strains, Trichoderma asperellum SEPA11A and Trichoderma harzianum SEPA11B, were isolated from healthy sorghum seeds and evaluated for their biocontrol potential and growth-promoting effects. Out of 39 Trichoderma isolates screened, the isolates 35 and 3 exhibited the highest antagonistic activity in dual culture assays, inhibiting the mycelial growth of F. verticillioides by 68.88% and 66.67%, and C. lunata by 57.77% and 59.30%, respectively. Both strains were identified based on morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequencing and have been deposited in GenBank under accession numbers LC866760.1 and LC866759.1, and coded as SEPA11B and SEPA11A respectively. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of culture filtrates revealed 55 bioactive metabolites, while scanning electron microscopy demonstrated severe ultrastructural damage to pathogen hyphae. A granular formulation of SEPA11B and SEPA11A maintained high viability for up to 14 months under storage. These results collectively indicate that SEPA11B and SEPA11A represent promising, sustainable, and cost-effective alternatives to chemical fungicides for integrated management of stalk rot and leaf spot diseases, with the added as a potential benefit of enhancing sorghum growth and productivity. This unique trait makes seed-derived endophytic Trichoderma isolates promising for effective, persistent biofungicide development. Adapted to the seed-soil interface, they can colonize the rhizosphere, outcompete pathogens, and remain active under field conditions. Thus, they are strong candidates for sustainable biofungicides, pending greenhouse/field validation and large-scale production optimization.

An Iron-Based MRI Probe with Tunable Spin State for Bioorthogonally Catalyzed Activation Imaging

Time-dependent predictive contribution of the triglyceride-glucose index for incident cardiovascular disease in a 9-year Chinese cohort

Photocatalytic Activation of Alkyl Diazirine Probes for In Situ Drug Profiling and Extracellular Vesicle-Based Diagnostics

The complete genome of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’ highlights carboxylic acids as primary carbon and energy substrates in phytoplasmas

Abstract Phytoplasmas are wall-less plant pathogens characterized by highly reduced genomes and limited metabolic capabilities, leading to an obligate host dependency. Since phytoplasma axenic cultivation has not yet been achieved, genomic approaches are essential to unravelling their biological and pathogenic traits. However, such insights are currently hindered by the scarcity of complete genomes and the lack of data for several clades, as is the case for the quarantine-relevant ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma phoenicium’ (group 16SrIX-B), the causal agent of the severe stone-fruit disease almond witches’ broom (AlmWB). In this study, we present the complete genome sequence of the Lebanese strain F1A, which consists of a 552,248 bp chromosome with a 24.29% GC content and encodes 450 protein-coding genes. Comparative analyses with 16SrIX group draft genomes revealed high conservation among Lebanese AlmWB strains; however, comparisons with related 16SrIX-C phytoplasmas were limited by their low assembly completeness. Beyond providing a complete reference genome for this phytoplasma group, the F1A chromosome revealed distinct metabolic features. Strain F1A lacks the upper glycolytic pathway, indicating a metabolism that relies on glycerol-3-phosphate uptake and carboxylic acid fermentation. Notably, in addition to the conserved malate-to-acetate pathway, F1A encodes a complete citrate lyase complex, suggesting the potential for citrate utilization. Phylogenetic analysis of the associated 2-hydrocarboxylate symporter revealed the widespread occurrence of two phylogenetically distinct variants in phytoplasmas. Apart from the deduced metabolic capacities, the predicted effector repertoire shows similarities with those of other phytoplasmas, including proteins associated with branch proliferation and witches’ broom symptoms. Overall, these findings link genome reduction to host-dependent carboxylic acid metabolism in a quarantine-relevant phytoplasma, establishing a framework for comparative and functional studies of 16SrIX phytoplasmas and providing a basis for future investigations of AlmWB ecology and pathogenicity.