Browse Articles

Promoting the Rate Performances of Weakly Solvating Electrolyte‐Based Lithium‒Sulfur Batteries

Abstract Lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are promising next‐generation energy storage devices due to their theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh kg −1 . Employing weakly solvating electrolyte (WSE) effectively alleviates the polysulfide shuttle effect and improves the cycling lifespan. However, the sulfur cathode kinetics in WSE is highly sluggish to render degraded rate performances. Herein, the sulfur cathode kinetics of WSE‐based Li–S batteries is systematically investigated to help promote the rate performances in practical pouch cells. Concretely, the sluggish cathode kinetics of the previous charging process is identified as the main limitation for specific discharge capacity loss at high rates. Further polarization decoupling manifests activation polarization corresponding to polysulfide oxidation to elemental sulfur constitutes the dominant kinetic challenge. Accordingly, a redox mediation strategy is proposed to accelerate the charge‐transfer kinetics of polysulfide oxidation in WSE. 3 Ah‐level pouch cells cycle stably under a high rate of 0.2 C, and 5 Ah level pouch cells achieve an actual energy density of 470 Wh kg −1 . This work deepens the comprehension of the sulfur cathode kinetics in WSE and highlights the redox mediation strategy in achieving high‐energy‐density and high‐rate Li–S batteries.

Retraction Note: Applications of complex picture fuzzy soft power aggregation operators in multi-attribute decision making

Visible Light‐Driven Benzaldoxime Synthesis by Glutathione‐Modified CdS Quantum Dots

Abstract Inspired by the secondary coordination sphere of nitrite reductase, we report herein the first photocatalytic benzaldoxime synthesis from NO x − ( x  = 2, 3) and benzyl alcohol. Different from introducing co‐catalysts, the integration of glutathione (GSH) relay with CdS quantum dots (QDs) can effectively mediate hole transfer and facilitate selective benzyl alcohol oxidation to benzaldehyde. At the same time, GSH assists continuous proton transfer to promote selective NO x − reduction and form NH 2 OH in situ. As a result, the synergic C–N coupling delivers a series of benzyl oximes from NO x − and benzyl alcohols with excellent yield and selectivity. Benzaldoxime synthesis proceeds at a rate of 18.7 mmol g cat −1 h −1 and TON of 52,875, accomplishing 90.6% benzyl alcohol conversion and 72.3% benzaldoxime yield, which is comparable to the best records for electrocatalytic benzaldoxime synthesis. The excellent long‐term recyclability and scaled reaction to produce 0.58 g benzaldoxime with a yield of 41% demonstrate efficient, atom‐economic, and step‐economic photocatalytic oxime synthesis via selective C–N coupling from abundant resources.

Gene expression and molecular pathway analyses differentiate immunotherapy-induced myositis from spontaneous dermatomyositis

Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (ICI)-induced myositis (irMyositis) occurs in about 1% of patients treated with anti-PD1 or anti-CTLA-4 antibodies and can be debilitating or even fatal. We compared gene expression profiles from skeletal muscle biopsies between irMyositis patients, patients with spontaneous dermatomyositis (DM, comprising anti-Mi2-positive and anti-TIF1-γ-positive subtypes), and non-diseased controls (NDC). We used the NanoString nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel to perform differential gene expression (DGE) and pathway enrichment analyses. We identified 93 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across conditions. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) suggested activation of interferon gamma (type-II IFN) and interferon alpha/beta (type-I IFN) signaling in irMyositis and DM, respectively. For instance, type-II IFN was upregulated exclusively in irMyositis when compared to DM, which conversely showed upregulation of effector genes downstream type-I IFN. The observed fold-change of a subset of 33 genes drove the GSEA. We further characterized the DEGs using network interaction and expression correlation analyses. This allowed us to describe potential differences between regulatory hubs and cells involved in irMyositis susceptible to ICI effects. For example, the downregulation of FOXP3 we observed together with the upregulation of the chemokine CCL14 in irMyositis may have been a consequence of T cell activation upon ICI therapy. The gene expression correlation and putative molecular interactions set irMyositis apart from DM, particularly with respect to IFN response and DGE of interactors of ICI protein targets (CTLA4, PD-1, PD-L1). Our results suggest new avenues for understanding immunotherapy-related adverse events.

Photo‐Tuned Solid‐Liquid Transition of Azo‐Grafted Poly(thioctic acid) with Ultrahigh Photothermal Conversion Efficiency

Abstract Functional materials with photo‐regulated solid‐liquid transition have garnered significant attention and found extensive applications across cutting‐edge domains. However, previous photo‐liquefiable behaviors of azopolymers are usually induced through UV light, which may damage the performances of the materials and is also harmful to human health. Here, a novel azopolymer (Azo‐PTA) was fabricated via the ring‐opening copolymerization of thioctic acid (TA) and azobenzene‐modified thioctic acid (Azo‐TA). Interestingly, Azo‐PTA could undergo a reversible solid‐liquid transition under green light irradiation. The phase transition process of Azo‐PTA was investigated systematically through various experimental and measurement methods. The results demonstrated that the solid‐liquid transition of Azo‐PTA was ascribed to the photothermal effect rather than the photochemical process. The light‐to‐heat conversion efficiency of Azo‐PTA was as high as 84.9%, and the temperature could increase to above 90 °C within 30 s of green light irradiation. Consequently, azopolymers with green light‐regulated solid‐liquid transition behaviors were successfully achieved. Moreover, several cutting‐edge applications of Azo‐PTA were explored, including photo‐switchable adhesion, self‐healing coating, and smart window. Our finding thus opens up a new platform for the fabrication of azopolymers with visible light‐regulated solid‐liquid transition.

Nurses knowledge attitude and practice in preventing osteoporosis complications in China

Mechanism‐Driven Bioactive Indazole Frameworks: Photoinitiated Demethylation–Aromatization Synthesis and Biosensing Applications

Abstract Indazole frameworks are pivotal in medicinal chemistry and fluorescent conjugate design. Herein, we reported a photochemical strategy enabling efficient N ‐demethylation and aromatic cyclization of N ‐methyl amines via UV‐induced nitroso intermediates, offering an environmentally benign route to structurally diverse 2 H ‐indazole scaffolds. Diverging from conventional methods, this protocol demonstrates exceptional substrate compatibility with various alkyl/aryl amines, facilitating streamlined assembly of functionalized 2 H ‐indazole modules. The methodology has been successfully applied to synthesize modified drugs and tumor‐specific fluorescent probes targeting G‐quadruplexes. Preliminary evaluations of physiological toxicity and cellular fluorescence imaging highlight their biomedical potential, establishing these strategies as potential tools for pharmacological development and bioimaging research.

Structural characterization of uranium and lanthanide loaded borosilicate glass matrix

Abstract Borosilicate glass is a potential candidate for high-level radioactive waste conditioning, thus understanding the effects caused by the combined presence of uranium and actinides within these matrices is of great importance. The glass matrix was simultaneously loaded with UO3 and lanthanide oxides (CeO2, Nd2O3, and Eu2O3) as chemical surrogates for actinides. Neutron diffraction in combination with Reverse Monte Carlo simulation confirmed that the basic glass structure is comprised of tetrahedral SiO4, and BO3/BO4 units. X-ray absorption spectroscopy indicated the presence of Ce mainly as CeIII and the co-existence of UV and UVI. U acts as an intermediate oxide and reduces the number of four-coordinated B, lanthanide ions serve as modifiers, with their increasing concentration shifting the B-O coordination from 3 to 4. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed a depth-dependent variation in the UIV/UVI ratio. Leaching tests showed increased dissolution of Si, B, and Na, compared to the glass matrix.

Surface functionalized albumin nanoparticles of palbociclib with amplified brain delivery for treating brain glioblastoma

Immune profiling of canine B cell lymphoma reveals cross-species conservation of prognostic markers

Abstract Only 60% of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma are cured following standard of care therapies. While immune contexture is associated with outcomes in patients treated with chemotherapy, immune mechanisms driving differential therapeutic responses remain unclear. Here, we undertook a comparative analysis of dogs with spontaneous B cell lymphoma (BCL), which exhibit similar dichotomies in therapeutic outcome, to identify conserved and species-specific transcriptional and circulating biomarkers associated with remission duration. In addition, we compared treatment naive and relapsed samples to determine how treatment impacts immune contexture at the time of treatment failure. Among eighteen client-owned dogs with aggressive BCL undergoing multi-agent chemotherapy, comparative immune profiling revealed increased T cell transcripts associated with prolonged remissions and, as in humans, IL2RB expression was associated with favorable outcomes. Increased angiogenic markers were associated with shorter remissions. In treatment naive samples, macrophage associated cytokines were increased, whereas multiple T cell-associated transcripts were enriched in relapsed nodes. Collectively, our findings reveal that changes in immune composition are associated with varying chemotherapeutic outcomes in canine BCL and highlight the potential for comparative oncology approaches to identify factors associated with disease progression, providing insight for development and testing of novel therapeutic approaches.

Accelerated Exciton Dissociation and Charge Transfer via Third‐Motif Engineered Conjugated Polymers for Photocatalytic Circulation‐flow Synthesis of H ₂ O ₂

Abstract Achieving effective exciton dissociation and charge transport in linear polymer photocatalysts for H 2 O 2 photosynthesis remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we fabricated three‐motif cross‐linked polymers by rationally introducing a third functional component into a two‐motif linear polymer, which were employed for circulation‐flow photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production. By strategically modulating the third component, we precisely tuned the electronic structure, significantly lowering exciton binding energy and enlarging the molecular dipole moment. Compared to the original linear configuration, the resulting cross‐linked structure creates multidirectional electron transport channels. Combined experimental and calculation investigations demonstrate that these synergistic effects collectively promote exciton dissociation and intramolecular electron transfer. PAQ‐TABPB photocatalyst with optimized third‐motif accelerates oxygen‐to‐superoxide radical transformation by lowering the *OOH binding energy, thereby facilitating the two‐step single‐electron oxygen reduction pathway, attaining an exceptional H 2 O 2 production rate of 3351 µmol g −1 h −1 . Notably, we constructed a circulation‐flow reactor for the photocatalytic synthesis of H 2 O 2 . Benefiting from improved gas‐liquid mass transfer and efficient light irradiation, this high‐speed flow system achieved a 5.2‐fold increase in H 2 O 2 production compared to a conventional batch reactor under the light intensity of 27 mW cm −2 , reaching an accumulated yield of 3125 µmol g −1 with stable recyclability. This work highlights the potential of multi‐component polymeric photocatalysts and circulation‐flow reactors for H 2 O 2 photosynthesis.

Anticancer activity of triterpene glycosides from the sea star Solaster pacificus

Abstract Marine triterpene glycosides are known to exhibit significant anticancer activity. We investigated pacificusoside C and cucumariosides C 1 and C 2 isolated from a sea star Solaster pacificus in prostate cancer models with varying drug resistance and in non-cancerous cells in vitro. Cucumarioside C 1 showed selectivity comparable to cisplatin, whereas the other compounds were less selective. Cucumarioside C 1 induced apoptosis and enhanced cytotoxic effects of cisplatin, carboplatin, docetaxel, and cabazitaxel, making it a potential candidate for combination therapy. All three glycosides were active in docetaxel-resistant cells and were neither inhibitors nor substrates of P-glycoprotein, indicating P-glycoprotein-independent activity. To explore the mechanism of anticancer activity of cucumarioside C 1 , we performed functional kinome profiling of treated 22Rv1 cells, predicting activation of kinases involved in stress response and survival (IKKα, IKKβ, IKKε), necroptosis (MLKL), metabolism (GCN2, PDK1), cytoskeletal dynamics (RHOK), mitophagy (PINK1), apoptosis and cell cycle regulation (PITSLRE), and immune modulation (COT). Notably, only MAP kinases p38 and ERK1/2 were predicted to be specifically inhibited, that was further validated by Western blotting. These findings may potentially explain previously reported anticancer effects of cucumarioside C 1 and related marine glycosides. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report triterpene glycosides’ effects on the kinome of cancer cells.

Adjustable Upcycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate to Biodegradable Polymer Monomers by Mn‐Catalyzed Solvent Switching Strategy

Abstract Waste plastics represent a new resource for the chemical industry. In this study, we demonstrate a solvent‐switching strategy to upcycle waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into monomer terephthalic acid (TPA) and key bulk feedstocks for biodegradable polymers, such as lactic acid (LA) or glycolic acid (GA). PET undergoes rapid and mild depolymerization into its monomers TPA and ethylene glycol (EG) under the catalysis of a manganese complex. When methanol (MeOH) is used as the solvent, it undergoes selective dehydrogenative coupling with in situ generated EG, efficiently yielding TPA and LA with yields exceeding 98%. By replacing MeOH with tert ‐amyl alcohol ( t ‐AmOH), PET is quantitatively converted into TPA and GA. The PET conversion mechanism was elucidated through deuterium‐labeling experiments and molecular model studies. This work presents a sustainable and innovative approach for upcycling waste PET into high‐value products while opening a new route to synthesize biopolymer monomers, which are essential for developing chemically recyclable and biodegradable polymers, thereby advancing the production of sustainable single‐use polymer products.

Evidence of the consequences of the prolonged fire season on air quality and public health from 2024 São Paulo (Brazil) data

Breaking Bonds at Tin(II): Reductive or Oxidative Addition?

Abstract Here, the addition of H─H, Be─Be, B─B, and B─H bonds to Sn II is studied by experimental and theoretical means. We report the first examples of B─B and Be─Be bond additions to a main group metal centre, along with the first example of borazine B─H bond addition to any element of the Periodic Table. Quantum chemical calculations suggest that the classification of these reactions as prototypical “oxidative” addition processes may be misleading and that a more nuanced description is warranted.

Immune cell subsets in autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I

Abstract Autoimmune Polyendocrine Syndrome Type 1 (APS-I) results from mutations in the Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) gene and serves as a valuable model to understand autoimmunity and immune deficiency. Various studies have produced differing results on how AIRE dysfunction affects the balance of immune cell subsets in blood in humans. We conducted high-resolution whole blood immune cell subset analysis using a 36-panel mass cytometry assay in Norwegian APS-I patients (N = 18) and compared with age and sex-matched healthy subjects (N = 19). Additionally, we provide a comprehensive summary of findings from 28 other studies examining blood immune subset distributions in APS-I patients. Norwegian APS-I patients had significantly reduced numbers of B cells, which was driven by lower levels of the naïve and transitional B cell compartments. We further observed trends indicating reduced frequencies of NK cells, as well as deviations in CD16-expressing cells in several subsets in APS-I patients. Contrary to previous reports, our study did not find differences in regulatory T cell levels between APS-I patients and healthy controls. Several studies in our summary consistently reported lower frequencies of resting naïve B cells in APS-I patients and higher proportions of activated memory B cells in APS-I patients. The composition of other immune cell subsets was more diverse between studies, probably reflecting contributions by other factors like medications, ethnicity, disease complexity, insufficient sample sizes, time of sampling, ages, unique immune profiles and health conditions of the patients and controls. Future research should prioritize investigating antigen-specific responses in blood and tissues to further illuminate this complex area.

Engineering a Meltable MOF to Tune Liquid Transition and Promote Coenzyme Regeneration

Abstract Modulating the liquid phase of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) presents new opportunities for functionalizing glassy MOFs, expanding the fundamental science and practical application for this emerging family of materials. Herein, we report the fabrication of a bimetallic glassy MOF via a liquid–liquid transition process. This is achieved by introducing a robust Schiff base–cobalt functional group into Zn‐ZIF‐62, which attracts negatively charged imidazolate ligands, facilitating low‐temperature melting. This ultimately leads to the formation of a bimetallic glassy MOF (Co/Zn‐a g ZIF‐62‐ipy) upon melt‐quenching. The material features an exceptionally high glass‐forming capability, uniformly distributed bimetallic ions, and a markedly enhanced visible light photogeneration efficiency of enzymatically active nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) when compared with Co‐doped ZIF‐62 glass. These findings offer novel insights into modulating the liquid phase of an MOF to develop functional glassy MOF photocatalysts for coenzyme NADH regeneration and other advanced applications.

Human fall direction recognition in the indoor and outdoor environment using multi self-attention RBnet deep architectures and tree seed optimization

Anion Vacancies Triggered Spin Polarization Enables Efficient Piezocatalysis for Water Cleanup (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 32/2025)

Synergistic Stabilization of Pt Single Atoms by Cl and Ru for Industrial‐Scale Current Density Hydrogen Production

Abstract Pt single‐atom (SA) catalysts are considered ideal cathodic materials for PEM water electrolysis (PEMWE) due to their excellent atom utilization and tunable local coordination environment, yet their durability for practical applications remains an unresolved challenge. Herein we report the Pt SAs, synergistically stabilized by Cl‐ligand and Ru nanoparticles, exhibit both high activity and durability for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). A key finding is that the dynamically evolved Pt–Cl–Pt coordination structure protects Pt SAs against aggregation. Theoretical analysis reveals the unique electronic structure of Pt SAs is finely tuned through the synergistic role of Ru and Cl, resulting in a notable stabilization of Pt SAs. PEMWE with such a catalyst at an ultra‐low Pt loading delivers a cell voltage of only 1.66 V at a current density of 1.0 A cm −2 , while maintaining the outstanding electrocatalytic and structural stability of the Pt–Cl–Pt coordination over 1000 h, thus providing an application potential of SA catalysts.