Browse Articles

Study on the service behavior of rivets connected with brake pads of high speed trains

Molecular Design and Synthesis of Narrowband Near‐Ultraviolet and Pure Deep‐Blue Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Materials by an Ether Group Strategy

Abstract Boron‐containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are promising materials for the development of displays due to their multiple‐resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence (MR‐TADF) with narrowband emission. However, except for electrophilic aromatic borylation reactions, synthetic strategies for the generation of boron‐containing MR‐TADF molecules remain virtually unexplored. In particular, the synthesis of MR‐TADF emitters that exhibit narrow near‐ultraviolet and pure deep‐blue emission constitutes a challenging task. Here, we present a directed tri‐ ortho ‐lithiation–borylation approach that provides a new family of N , N ‐bridge‐type triphenylboranes that bear phenylimino groups instead of the methylene groups at the 8‐ and 14‐positions and ether groups instead of the hydrogen atoms at the 3‐ and 19‐positions of 1‐borapentacyclohenicosanonaene. The effects of the electron‐donating resonance of the oxygen atoms of the ether groups and the incorporation of oxygen atoms in the six‐membered cycle allow the precise tuning of the HOMO–LUMO energy gaps, resulting in narrowband near‐ultraviolet and pure deep‐blue TADF with Commission‐International‐de‐l’Éclairage coordinates (CIE x , y ) of (0.142–0.160, 0.029–0.063) for the photoluminescence (PL) and (0.146–0.160, 0.026–0.053) for the electroluminescence (EL). The CIE x , y for the EL meet the BT.2020 requirement for the blue primary of ultrahigh‐definition displays.

An investigation of improving validity in upper limb measurements for people with tetraplegia using construct specification equations

Abstract The aim of this paper is two-fold: to investigate development of a Construct Specification Equation (CSE) for UL task difficulty, , and a CSE for person UL ability, , in support of the validity of these two constructs. Measurements of UL task difficulty, , and person UL ability, were derived from applying the Rasch model on the Tetraplegia Upper Limb Activity Questionnaire (TUAQ). The formulations of CSEs as explanations of the two constructs were done using Principal Component Regression (PCR). The CSE for UL task difficulty, , was to a large degree explained by the number of joints involved and the CSE for person UL ability, , was dominated by grasp-related variables. Pearson coefficients of 0.94 and 0.73 were obtained between UL task difficulty and UL person ability from the CSE, respectively, when correlated with each empirical measure. The present work has both explored and extended the methodology for using more qualitative explanatory variables. Specifically, for UL measurements for people with tetraplegia a good CSE for task difficulty, , supports the validity of TUAQ when measuring person UL ability. Additionally, the CSE formulated for person ability, , can be used both for validation purposes as well as a clinical tool.

Chemical Bond Covalency in Superionic Halide Solid‐State Electrolytes

Abstract Halide solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) are promising superionic conductors with high oxidative stability and ionic conductivity, making them attractive for all‐solid‐state lithium‐ion batteries. However, most studies have focused on ion‐stacking structures, overlooking the role of bond characteristics in ionic transport. Here, we investigate bond dynamics and the superionic transition (SIT) in bromide electrolyte, Li 3 InBr 6 , using synchrotron X‐ray techniques and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. We demonstrate that the SIT in halide SSEs is driven by a thermally induced transition in bonding character (ionic to covalent) rather than a change in crystal phase. AIMD simulations further reveal enhanced Li⁺ diffusion and collective anion motion at elevated temperatures. Expanding our study to Li 3 LnBr 6 (Ln = Gd, Tb, Ho, Tm, and Lu), we confirm the widespread occurrence of SIT in this material class, with Li 3 GdBr 6 exhibiting the highest ionic conductivity (5.2 mS cm −1 at 298 K). More importantly, the ionic‐covalent transition is highly tunable through electrolyte modifications, such as cation/anion substitution and synthesis methods. Our findings provide a new perspective on ionic transport, highlighting the critical role of chemical bond characteristics in halide SSEs.

Regional variations in the trend of iron supplementation during pregnancy and its multi-level predictors in Pakistan

Abstract Iron supplementation during pregnancy is a key intervention preventing and treating iron deficiency anemia, which is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes, including severe maternal anemia, miscarriage, hemorrhage, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Despite this, a comprehensive understanding of the trends and predictors of iron supplementation across different regions and provinces in Pakistan remains limited. This study aims to assess both the temporal trends in iron supplementation among pregnant women and its multi-level determinants. This research utilizes repeated cross-sectional study design using secondary data from four waves of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS; 2006–07 to 2019) to analyze the regional variations on the trend of iron supplementation. Participants included ever married women of reproductive age who have responded to the question of “uptake of iron supplementation during last pregnancy”. Various individual, community and institutional level factors from the data set of PDHS 2019 were used as independent factors to study the predictors of iron supplementation among women during pregnancy. For studying the trends, rate differences, rate ratios, changes in percentages and differences in percentages of iron supplementation during pregnancy were calculated, while for analyzing the predictors of iron supplementation, binary logistic regression models were used. There has been a 44.1% increase in iron supplementation among pregnant women nationwide, with regional increases of 61.7% in rural areas and 19.9% in urban areas, leading to a current national supplementation rate of 65.4%. Factors such as older age, rural residency, living in Sindh or Baluchistan, smoking history, higher number of pregnancies and losses, and more children born or deceased were associated with lower odds of iron supplementation(p < 0.005). Conversely, higher education, residency in Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmi, as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and lady health worker’s advice regarding antenatal care were the significant factors with antenatal care utilization as the strongest predictor of supplementation in both unadjusted (OR = 30.07; 95% CI: 23.55–38.40) and adjusted models (AOR = 31.29; 95% CI: 14.37–68.11). Although over half of pregnant women in the study population take iron supplements, the rate is still lower compared to many other countries. Significant regional disparities suggest the need for targeted efforts to increase supplementation rates and improve maternal health outcomes, such as increasing healthcare access in underperforming regions, expanding educational campaigns, and strengthening community-based programs to improve supplementation adherence.

Robust Ionic Gel Elastomers Derived from Molecularly Entangled Nodes

Abstract In various types of intelligent devices, such as bionic robots, flexible polymeric elastomeric materials are essential for their operation, alongside the rigid skeleton. Conventional polymeric elastomeric materials, however, encounter a compromise between intelligence and mechanical robustness. Here, we construct ionic gel‐based elastomers that harmoniously merge high intelligence with superior mechanical attributes by employing molecularly entangled nodes that facilitate polymer chain entanglement. The entangled nodes’ dynamic interplay enables stress‐induced dissociation, promoting polymer chain slippage that effectively dissipates energy and disperses stress. Consequently, these ionic gel‐based elastomers exhibit a tensile strength of 33.5 ± 0.5 MPa and a strain capacity of 4000 ± 280%, maintaining stable performance over 7000 cycles, while also possessing the ability to detect minor material defects, thereby advancing the versatility and reliability of intelligent devices.

Molecular level characterization of interactions between asphaltene and solid surface for forecasting changes in wettability

An Atomically Precise Alkynyl‐Functionalized Silver–Polyoxotungstate Nanocluster with Sandwiched Three‐Layer {Ag ₁₃ } ¹³⁺ Cluster Architecture and Enhanced Antitumor Activity

Abstract The synthesis of atomically precise, structurally well‐defined polyoxometalate (POM)‐stabilized silver clusters with accessible silver surfaces remains a significant challenge. Here, we report an alkynyl‐functionalized silver–POM hybrid nanocluster, [( n ‐Bu) 4  N] 7 [(C 6 H 9 ) 6 (PW 11 O 39 ) 2 Ag 13 ] ( (PW 11 ) 2 ‐Ag 13 ), which comprises of a distinctive homovalent three‐layer {Ag 13 } 13+ cluster. This architecture yields a lower HOMO − LUMO energy gap of 1.93 eV, compared to the precursor [PW 11 O 39 ] 7− (2.74 eV). Structural characterization and theoretical calculations confirm that the lacunary [PW 11 O 39 ] 7− and alkynyl units direct the formation of the atomically precise {Ag 13 } 13+ cluster, preventing undesirable silver aggregation while maintaining exposed silver surfaces that are crucial for catalytic activity. The synergistic redox capabilities of the POM and silver components enhance the redox reactivity of (PW 11 ) 2 ‐Ag 13 , promoting efficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation via a Fenton‐like mechanism. Additionally, biological evaluations further reveal that (PW 11 ) 2 ‐Ag 13 exhibits significantly superior antitumor activity than [PW 11 O 39 ] 7− , primarily through ROS‐induced apoptosis facilitated by the active silver cluster sites. These findings highlight the potential of silver cluster‐POM hybrids as promising candidates for anticancer therapeutic applications.

Optimizing FCN for devices with limited resources using quantization and sparsity enhancement

Set configuration influences cardiovascular responses to resistance exercise in postmenopausal females in a randomized crossover trial from the CARE project

Frontispiece: Mechanism of First Proton‐Coupled Electron Transfer of Water Oxidation at the BiVO ₄ –Water Interface

Discrete ecological gradient in thermokarst ponds in a palsa mire in northern Norway

Abstract Palsa mires constitute a zonal peatland type in the discontinuous permafrost region of the Northern Hemisphere. They typically consist of permafrost mounds and thermokarst ponds. Global warming has accelerated thawing of permafrost in palsa mounds and an increase in the area of thermokarst ponds in recent decades. Understanding long-term consequences of this process requires in-depth knowledge of the internal diversity of palsa mire vegetation types and their functions. Most studies so-far focused on the palsa mounds. Hereby, we focus on the thermokarst ponds, analysing their vegetation composition and habitat conditions from the top of a palsa plateau down to a fen without current palsa formation close to an adjacent river. We observed a distinct ecological gradient from Sphagnum-dominated ponds in the uppermost part of peat plateau to brown moss-dominated fen flarks at the riverside. This reflected well the poor – rich gradient typically recognised in mire vegetation, confirmed by our hydrochemical analyses. However, in contrast to the gradual shifts in species composition along typical mire zonation in temperate regions, palsa microtopography with mounds, rims, strings, and hollows, creates a sequence of mire basins forming a discrete gradient from base-poor to base-rich conditions, allowing different plant species to dominate these distinct locations.

Prediction of the risk of transplant rejection based on RNA sequencing data of PBMCs before transplantation

Abstract Novel methods for detecting transplant rejection are craved, since conventional methods can detect ongoing rejection that may sometimes have already caused irreversible damage in transplanted organs. Here, we applied a transcriptomics database of recipients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before liver or kidney transplantation on the weighted gene co-expression network and machine learning models to evaluate the risk of rejection. Gene clusters positively correlated with rejection were enriched for genes related to antiviral response and regulation/production of interleukin-1(IL-1) in liver transplantation, and genes related to innate immune responses (IL-8 and toll-like receptor signaling pathways) and T cell responses were positively correlated with rejection in kidney transplantation. Our study presents a novel approach for feature engineering based on RNA-seq data of PBMCs collected before transplantation. The features derived from this method demonstrated potential in predicting the risk of rejection and may serve as candidate predictors in future clinically applicable models.

A ¹⁹ F‐Labeled Probe for the Chiral Discrimination of Thiols and Thioethers

Abstract Sulfur‐containing compounds are pivotal in cellular processes such as redox balance and signal transduction. Traditionally, these compounds, especially thiols, are detected using fluorescence probes. However, these probes fall short in targeting thioethers due to their lower reactivity. Moreover, the chiral discrimination of thiols and thioethers typically relies on chromatographic methods, where separation‐free, in situ strategies are highly desirable. To address this, we have developed a novel 19 F‐labeled chiral platinum probe capable of distinguishing both thiols and thioethers. This technique generates distinct 19 F NMR signals that correspond to the stereoconfiguration of the analytes, enabling direct determination of their enantiocomposition. This method holds potential for integration into high‐throughput workflows, boosting pharmaceutical and biological research by facilitating rapid, efficient chiral analysis of crucial compounds.

Diagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis of machine learning in predicting biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer

The network linking daytime sleepiness, chronotype, and emotional distress is bridged by anxiety and depression in young adults

Uric acid mediates the association of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein with gallstones in adult women in the United States

Harnessing Bifunctional <i>N</i> ‐Benzoyloxyamides for Photoredox Amidative Dual Functionalizations of Alkenes

Abstract Here, we present a photocatalytic strategy for the intermolecular dual functionalizations of alkenes using N─O bifunctional reagents in an atom‐economical fashion. By leveraging N ‐benzoyloxyamides as bifunctional precursors for generating both amidyl radical and internal O‐nucleophiles, this approach achieves chemoselective olefin amidation with simultaneous incorporation of additional functional groups. The current method readily accesses a range of doubly functionalized amino products through 1,2‐amidooxygenation, amidoazidation, and formal anti ‐Markovnikov hydroamidation. Mechanistic studies revealed that the selective interplay of radical and ionic pathways is operative to enable a unified platform for this olefin dual functionalization.

Molecularly Engineered Circular Additive with Multisite Desolvation for High‐Performance Zinc Ion Battery

Abstract Additive engineering can effectively relieve interface issues of aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs), but most additives induce the sluggish interface kinetics and boosted polarization, especially at high current density and low temperature. Herein, the relationship between additive molecular structure and desolvation behavior is built by utilizing a series of circular and linear sugar molecules as prototypes, which systematically reveals molecular size, steric configuration, and electronic structure as design criteria for additives to achieve fast desolvation. As indicated by theoretical simulations and experiments, circular fructose (FRU) molecule with small size, quasi‐planar adsorption configuration, and enhanced electron delocalization enables the compact electric double layer (EDL) with shorter Zn 2+ diffusion path and lower activation energy via multisite desolvation, thus obtaining the rapid interface kinetics and facilitating highly reversible zinc anode over a wide temperature range. Zn//Zn cell exhibits long cycle life exceeding 9500 h, and Zn//NVO cell maintains 83.92% high‐capacity retention after 2480 cycles under 6.95 µL mg −1 lean electrolyte and 11.94 mg cm −2 high loading.

Prevalence and patterns of antiretroviral resistance in HIV-infected Latin American asylum seekers