Browse Articles

Evolution of network structure and driving mechanisms of food production resilience in arid regions: a machine learning-based approach

Synergistic Lewis Acid Photocatalysis Over Cluster‐Defect‐Engineered UiO‐66 for Efficient Liquid Biomass Upgrading

ABSTRACT Defect engineering provides new opportunities to overcome the intrinsic limitations of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in photocatalysis. Herein, a cluster‐defect engineering (CDE) strategy is employed to modify the pristine UiO‐66 framework, wherein Zn incorporation followed by selective acid etching yields defect‐rich A/(Zn,Zr)UiO‐66 catalysts featuring hierarchical porous architectures and abundant Lewis (L) acid sites. Optical and photoelectrochemical analyses confirm that CDE broadens visible‐light harvesting, narrows the bandgap, and prolongs carrier lifetimes. The synergistic interplay between L acid sites and photocatalysis over A/(Zn,Zr)UiO‐66 results in an excellent photocatalytic performance in biodiesel production via oleic acid (OA) esterification with methanol (CH 3 OH) under mild reaction conditions, outperforming pristine UiO‐66. Notably, the optimized A/(Zn,Zr)UiO‐66‐0.2 achieves a remarkable 99.3% biodiesel yield under mild conditions, alongside superior stability and reusability. Further, in situ spectroscopic investigations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations disclose that CDE lowers the coupling barrier of OA and CH 3 O• radicals by strengthening OA adsorption and activation as well as facilitating charge stabilization at unsaturated Zr sites. This work highlights CDE as an ingenious strategy for tailoring the electronic configuration and interfacial chemistry of MOFs, offering a versatile platform for visible‐light‐driven biomass upgrading and sustainable fuel production.

FireSmoke-FL: a privacy-preserving federated learning framework for real-time fire and smoke detection

Crystal Engineering of Intrinsic Dynamicity in Metal‐Organic Frameworks for Adaptive Multicomponent Catalysis

ABSTRACT Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) provide unique catalytic environments through steric confinement imposed by their pores that govern reactivity, but concomitantly limit complex multicomponent transformations. Here, we first report a crystallography‐guided design of intrinsically dynamic MOFs that overcome this longstanding challenge. A crystallography–catalysis feedback loop with dimensionality and ligand‐flexibility tuning built a homologous Zn‐MOF series, revealing intrinsically dynamic, layer‐pillared Zn‐Bpe as the optimal catalyst. Mechanistic studies with a ligand‐substituted rigid analogue, host‐guest binding, density functional theory (DFT), and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) reveal an adaptive catalytic mechanism where guests induce in situ framework dynamics, enhancing the diffusion of the substrates and the activity of the catalytic center. This dynamicity enables efficient and selective multicomponent couplings, exhibiting broad substrate tolerance and functional group compatibility, including a tandem domino Petasis reaction. Our findings establish intrinsic dynamicity as a generalizable design principle in MOF catalysis, balancing accessibility, selectivity, and structural integrity in complex transformations.

Edge-prior and reliability-guided collaborative learning for white blood cell classification

Cyclo‐Polyproline: Chameleonic All‐Peptide Macrocycles With Induced‐Fit Host‐Guest Recognition

ABSTRACT We report the design, synthesis, and characterization of a novel class of all‐peptide macrocycles, Cyclo‐Polyprolines ( CP ). Exploiting the precision of Fmoc‐based solid‐phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) and head‐to‐tail macrocyclization, this platform grants unparalleled control over the macrocycle's primary sequence and secondary structure, offering a viable route toward exo ‐/ endo ‐functionalization and addressing a bottleneck of traditional synthetic host macrocycles. The resulting CP scaffold is highly amphiphilic, exhibiting excellent solubility in both organic and aqueous media. Structural analysis via NMR spectroscopy and single‐crystal x‐ray diffraction reveals a distinct chameleonic character: the macrocycle shifts from an all‐junctions‐ cis conformation in organic solvents to a predominantly all‐junctions‐ trans isomer in water. We demonstrate that this transition is driven by a cooperative hydration effect, wherein water molecules stabilize the expanded framework through precise two‐point hydrogen bonding. Demonstrating responsive host‐guest capabilities, CP undergoes induced‐fit isomerization to bind ligands, successfully forming, among other species, an all‐peptide pseudo‐rotaxane. This methodology establishes a robust platform for creating functionalized, proline‐based hosts with significant potential in medicinal chemistry, drug delivery, and organocatalysis, thereby bridging the gap between supramolecular systems and enzyme mimetics.

Comparative efficacy of second- and third-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotics against systemic Escherichia coli infection in broiler chickens in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) causes severe colibacillosis in poultry. This study compared the efficacy of the third-generation fluoroquinolone levofloxacin and the second-generation enrofloxacin against APEC. In vitro, 155 samples (livers, hearts, and lungs) from broiler farms in Qalyubia, Egypt, yielded 43 E. coli isolates, of which 16 formed strong biofilms. Antibacterial sensitivity testing revealed that levofloxacin achieved a higher susceptibility rate (43.75%) and larger inhibition zones (26 mm) compared with enrofloxacin (18.75%, 13 mm), indicating superior antibacterial activity. In vivo, 150 broiler chicks were experimentally infected with APEC O2 and allocated to five groups: negative control, positive control, levofloxacin-treated, enrofloxacin-treated, and enrofloxacin-colistin combination. Levofloxacin treatment resulted in significantly higher cumulative body weight gain and lower mortality (2460.37, 3.33%), compared with enrofloxacin (2126.09, 6.67%) ( P  < 0.05). Levofloxacin was further associated with improved hematological and biochemical profiles, reduced oxidative stress markers (MDA, SOD, GSH), and lower bacterial counts in visceral organs ( P  < 0.05). Collectively, these findings indicate that levofloxacin offers enhanced therapeutic efficacy over enrofloxacin in the treatment of avian colibacillosis under the conditions of this study.

Ligand‐Controlled Chemoselective and Enantioselective Cyclization of Enynes With Aroyl Chlorides

ABSTRACT Herein, we report a palladium‐catalyzed, ligand‐controlled approach for the switchable construction of cyclopropane‐fused heterocycles and seven‐membered N‐heterocyclic compounds via the chemoselective cyclization of enynes with aroyl chlorides. Furthermore, enantioselective synthesis of cyclopropane‐fused heterocycles was achieved using a chiral ligand. To highlight the synthetic utility, late‐stage modifications of acid chlorides derived from natural products and pharmaceuticals were demonstrated. DFT calculations reveal that the ligands play an important role in the chemoselective cyclization process by favoring either β‐H or β‐C elimination of the alkyl‐Pd(II) intermediate.

Assessment of the contact and spatial efficacy of the BiteBarrier perimeter device for area control of Ixodes scapularis

A Bioinspired Nanozyme Enables Glycoimmune Therapy via Precision Sialoglycan Trimming

ABSTRACT Aberrant sialoglycan–Siglec interactions constitute an emerging glycoimmune checkpoint driving tumor immune evasion, yet selective intervention remains challenging for current cancer immunotherapies. Existing strategies, including Siglec blockade and sialidase treatment, are constrained by instability, immunogenicity, and limited tumor targeting. Here we report a molecularly imprinted nanobiomimetic enzyme (MINBE) that integrates a template‐defined catalytic pocket with a pH‐responsive protective inorganic‐polymer architecture, enabling selective editing of tumor‐associated sialic acids and immune modulation. MINBE is engineered utilizing a sialic acid‐containing disaccharide template to encode an imprinted catalytic nanocore, while inorganic scaffolds and polymer shielding enhance stability during systemic circulation. In the acidic tumor microenvironment, the pH‐responsive inorganic layer dissociates to expose its hydrolytic core for desialylation, thereby disrupting sialoglycan–Siglec signaling. Concomitantly, this activation is accompanied by the release of Mn ions, which promote dendriticcell activation. Both in vitro assays and in vivo studies in tumor‐bearing mice showed efficient tumor desialylation and pronounced tumor growth inhibition. This molecular imprinting encoded design provides a generalizable strategy for programmable sialoglycan editing, with potential applicability to modulate glyco‐immune checkpoints across tumor types and other glycan‐driven processes beyond cancer.

From muscles to motion: the role of sensor layout and physiological factors in hand motion decoding

Abstract Despite substantial progress in decoding biosignals for human motion prediction, the influence of participant- and experiment-related factors on the decodability of these signals has received comparatively little attention. This study evaluates the continuous prediction of hand and wrist joint flexion using the MyoKi database, which comprises surface electromyography, inertial measurement units, and force myography data from 35 participants without disabilities performing 74 daily-life tasks. Unlike existing datasets, MyoKi includes tasks that mimic real-world scenarios by allowing natural movement variations and muscle fatigue. Using a long short-term memory neural network, the impact of participant- and experiment-related factors on decoding accuracy was investigated. Our results show that both expanding sensor coverage to additional muscle regions and combining multiple sensor modalities significantly improve decoding performance, with the greatest gains observed for joints controlled by extrinsic muscles. Muscle fatigue, recording time, and participant characteristics such as weight also influenced model accuracy. However, decoding of movements driven by intrinsic hand muscles remains challenging due to anatomical limitations. These findings highlight the importance of sensor placement and multimodal fusion for myoelectric decoding and provide guidance for optimizing sensor configurations in future prosthetic and robotic applications.

Triphenylene‐Involved π‐Extension Combining With Phenyl‐Blocking Enhances the Stability of MR‐TADF Emitter: Top‐Emitting OLED Realizes EQE Approaching 60% With BT.2020 Green Gamut and Long Lifetime

ABSTRACT The realization of ultrahigh definition displays necessitates pure‐green organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) with simultaneously exceptional efficiency, high color purity, and long‐term operational stability. Herein, we develop a series of pure‐green multi‐resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR‐TADF) emitters based on the boron/nitrogen‐embedded polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (BN‐PAH), designed through a rational moderate π‐extension and peripheral phenyl blocking strategy. The molecular designs afford narrowband pure‐green emission with a full‐width at half‐maximum (FWHM) of nearly 20 nm and high photoluminescence quantum yields ( Φ PL s, up to 95%). By systematically blocking the redox‐active positions with phenyl groups, the emitters exhibit significantly enhanced electrochemical and photochemical stability. In bottom‐emitting OLEDs, the optimized emitter BN‐Tpl‐Ph achieves a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE max ) of 33.8% and long operational lifetime (LT80 = 4012 h at 1000 cd m −2 ). Notably, in a top‐emitting OLED configuration, BN‐Tpl‐Ph delivers a pure‐green emission with a Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) y‐coordinate of 0.78, a high EQE max up to 59.2%, and an LT80 of 409 h at 5000 cd m −2 . This work reveals the effectiveness of molecular design strategies that combine moderate π‐extension with peripheral phenyl blocking for developing high‐performance pure‐green MR‐TADF emitters.

Investigating the interaction of design factors on fretting and corrosion resistance in modular femoral head tapers

Abstract Mechanically assisted crevice corrosion (MACC) at the modular femoral head taper junction in total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a significant concern, influenced by a combination of design factors such as taper length, diameter, surface finish, and neck shaft angle. While each factor individually affects corrosion resistance, their interactions play a critical role in determining overall implant performance. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the interaction of key design factors on fretting and corrosion performance in modular femoral head tapers. A full-factorial Design of Experiments (DOE) approach was utilized, testing 16 unique taper configurations under cyclic loading conditions. Fretting currents were measured at various intervals, and post-test analysis included Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) to qualitatively assess surface damage and corrosion byproducts. Surface finish emerged as the most influential factor, with rough finishes significantly reducing fretting currents compared to smooth finishes. The combination of larger taper diameters and longer lengths, which enhance structural rigidity, also contributed to lower fretting currents. SEM and EDS analyses corroborated these findings, showing less deformation and corrosion product accumulation in configurations with rough surface finishes and enhanced rigidity. This study highlights the importance of accounting for interactions among design factors when evaluating modular taper performance. Increased structural rigidity and roughened surface finishes were associated with reduced fretting currents and corrosion under the conditions tested (Ti-CoCr pairing), suggesting that these design characteristics may help mitigate mechanically assisted crevice corrosion and extend implant longevity in total hip arthroplasty.

Formation of an Amorphous LaAlBO _x Overlayer on Crystalline LaAlO ₃ Perovskite for Highly Efficient and Stable Propane Oxidative Dehydrogenation

ABSTRACT Supported boron oxide catalysts have demonstrated ultra‐high selectivity in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP), but their practical deployment is severely limited by poor thermal stability and rapid deactivation, primarily due to the hydrolysis of active B–O sites forming volatile boric acid. Here, we develop a catalyst comprising a crystalline LaAlO 3 (LAO) perovskite coated with an amorphous LaAlBO x overlayer, achieved through the thermal treatment of physically mixed H 3 BO 3 and LAO. During reaction, the amorphous LaAlBO x overlayer grows in thickness, wherein the concurrent formation of strong M–O–B (M = La, Al) bonds effectively suppress boron volatilization, ensuring long‐term structural stability. The optimized catalyst achieves a propylene yield of 21% and a total olefin selectivity of 97% during continuous operation at 500°C for 100 h, which ranks among the top‐tier performance reported in the literature. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the formation of M–O–B bonds not only stabilizes boron species from volatilization but also lowers the energy barrier of the rate‐determining‐step in ODHP, thereby leading to remarkable catalytic performance. Importantly, this strategy is found to be extendable to other perovskites (e.g., SmAlO 3 , SrTiO 3 , BaTiO 3 ), underscoring its generality for designing durable boron‑based catalysts.

In-house primer panel driven resource-efficient whole-genome sequencing of hepatitis B virus

DNA voyages through intercellular tunnels

SHP2 induced ferroptosis resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma via modulating CREB/EZH2/FOXO1 signaling induced autophagy/NCOA4/GPX4 protein expression

Effortless immortalization of primary mouse fibroblasts

Unlocking Catalyst Activation as a Critical Bottleneck in Cross‐Coupling Reactions: Room‐Temperature Couplings of Weak Nucleophiles Enabled by [Pd(1‐MeNAP)TFA] ₂ Precatalysts

ABSTRACT The trifluoroacetate‐bridged methylnaphthyl complex [Pd(1‐MeNAP)TFA] 2 is introduced as a bench‐stable, highly soluble palladium source that consistently delivers exceptional catalytic activity. It reacts within minutes with even the most sterically demanding ligands to form monoligated Pd complexes and, upon exposure to nucleophiles, including weak, non‐reducing N ‐nucleophiles, rapidly generates reactive Pd(0) species with the release of inert naphthalene derivatives. Across 15 representative transformations, catalysts generated in situ from [Pd(1‐MeNAP)TFA] 2 enable substantial reductions in reaction temperature, often by 80°C, while preserving established ligands and reaction conditions, thereby providing a drop‐in solution to existing reactivity limitations. As a result, arylations of amides, carbamates, sulfonamides, amidines, ureas, cyclopropylamines, and trifluoroethylamines can be performed at room‐temperature with markedly improved functional‐group tolerance and compatibility with sensitive, coordinating heterocycles. Mechanistic studies reveal that catalyst activation, rather than catalytic turnover, has been the principal bottleneck in many cross‐coupling reactions.

A hybrid reconstruction approach for estimating topside ionospheric scale height and its altitudinal variation using Jicamarca ISR measurements