Browse Articles

Refuge limitation structures habitat use in agricultural landscapes: evidence from Sunda pangolins

Abstract Wildlife persistence in human-modified landscapes is often inferred from habitat use, yet this assumption may overlook critical life-history constraints such as access to secure resting refuges. Using long-term Very High Frequency telemetry of eight sympatric Sunda pangolins ( Manis javanica ) in a forest–oil palm plantation mosaic in Sabah, Malaysia, we quantified denning range size, spatial overlap, sleeping site use, and reuse to evaluate how fine-scale refuge use structures space use. Denning range size and spatial overlap did not differ between forest-only and mixed forest–plantation individuals, indicating that macrohabitat context alone did not constrain denning spatial organisation. However, pangolins disproportionately used structurally enclosed sleeping sites such as tree hollows and burrows, while plantation use was largely restricted to exposed palm crowns that exhibited the lowest reuse rates. Sleeping site reuse probability was higher in forests than in plantations and was primarily structured by microhabitat type. These results demonstrate a decoupling between habitat use and functional habitat suitability, whereby animals may occupy modified landscapes while remaining dependent on a limited set of structurally stable refuges. Conservation strategies in agricultural landscapes should therefore prioritise the retention and restoration of structurally complex refuges, rather than relying solely on habitat extent or connectivity, to avoid overestimating functional habitat suitability for shelter-dependent species.

From intention to action in youth sustainable landscape engagement within urban residential communities

Abstract Sustainable landscape practices in urban residential communities increasingly connect ecological governance, spatial renewal, and residents’ everyday lives in the context of globalization, urbanization, and post-pandemic urban change. However, youth participation at this micro-level remains limited. This study examines the low-participation of young residents aged 19–34 in sustainable community landscape practices in different types of urban residential communities in Zhengzhou, Henan, China. Drawing on a qualitative research design, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 young residents who had engaged only minimally or had almost no involvement in such practices, and interpreted the data through reflexive thematic analysis. The findings suggest that young people’s low-participation does not simply stem from insufficient environmental awareness, but rather from the combined influence of multiple daily contextual factors. The study further shows that relational and responsibility-based motivations, together with experiential and belonging-based support, may activate participation intentions when community conditions are enabling. By situating youth engagement within everyday residential contexts, this study provides a micro-level explanation for the gap between sustainability awareness and action, and offers implications for youth-friendly sustainable community development.

Direct Seawater Hydrogen Evolution via Atomically Precise Regulation of Interfacial pH and Ion‐Water Interactions

ABSTRACT Direct seawater electrolysis offers a sustainable route to green hydrogen production from abundant saline water resources, yet industrial applications are limited by sluggish kinetics and catalyst deactivation caused by Mg(OH) 2 /Ca(OH) 2 precipitation or Cl − corrosion. Here, we report a pH‐gradient‐mediated interfacial engineering strategy that simultaneously enhances activity and stability of metal nanocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in natural seawater. By using atomically precise Pt 6 (TPP) 4 Cl 5 nanoclusters (NCs) (Pt 6 ‐TPP, TPP = triphenylphosphine) as paradigm catalysts, we demonstrate self‐organized TPP ligands on cluster surface tether Na + /K + via cation–π interactions. The locally concentrated Na + /K + cations disrupt the hydrogen‐bond network of water molecules for accelerating HER kinetics, and electrostatically attract OH − to establish an alkaline interfacial pH, which can propagate into a diffuse pH gradient toward the bulk of the solution. This pH gradient drives Mg 2+ /Ca 2+ precipitation away from the catalytic surface, preventing site blockage. The enriched OH − can also resist Cl − corrosion of Pt 6 ‐TPP NCs. Consequently, Pt 6 ‐TPP achieves 10 mA cm −2 at an overpotential of 292 mV and retains exceptional stability (> 500 h) under intermittent renewable‐energy operation, with one‐tenth the Pt loading of commercial Pt/C. This work establishes a pH gradient‐mediated interfacial chemistry framework enabled by atomically precise engineering, providing guidance for sustainable and efficient direct seawater hydrogen evolution.

Neural oscillations underlying the impact of the road environment on hazard perception

SPECTRAL: An Intelligent and Ultra‐Sensitive Photonic Hydrogel Platform for Biomarker‐Based Cancer Prediction

ABSTRACT Point‐of‐care (POC) biosensing holds great promise for noninvasive cancer diagnostics, as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) serves as a minimally invasive biomarker for early detection. However, effective ctDNA detection remains challenging due to low abundance and complex workflows. Herein, we present SPECTRAL (Smart Photonic‐hydrogel Enhanced chip for Cancer Type Recognition and AnaLysis), a sequencing‐free platform integrating photonic‐crystal hydrogels with charge‐neutral peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes for efficient volumetric signal transduction and single‐nucleotide discrimination. Photonic‐crystal‐enhanced fluorescence amplifies signals of fluorescently labeled recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) amplicons, achieving a detection limit of 100 copies per µL, with substantially improved sensitivity over conventional fluorescence assays. A single SPECTRAL chip simultaneously profiles 205 ctDNA mutations and eight protein biomarkers from plasma samples. The PNA sensor library is generated via an automated synthesis system guided by machine learning (ML)‐predicted probe difficulty. Multimodal signals are analyzed using cloud‐based ML to classify multiple cancer types (lung, breast, and colorectal), achieving 90.0% specificity and 86.7% sensitivity (87.5% overall accuracy) within 100 min from sample to diagnosis, based on validation with patient plasma samples. By combining molecular biosensing, photonic signal amplification, and AI‐driven analysis, SPECTRAL provides a low‐instrument‐dependent platform for decentralized liquid‐biopsy cancer diagnostics.

Insights from the competition–palatability trade-off paradigm on the reversibility of coral-to-macroalgae regime shifts

Abstract Regime shifts often have profoundly negative ramifications, underscoring the need to better understand processes that influence their reversibility. We explored the interplay between trophic and competitive interactions in shaping resilience of seaweed states following coral-to-macroalgae shifts on tropical reefs. Herbivore feeding and competition assays indicated that interactions involving common seaweed species were consistent with the competition-palatability trade-off paradigm: the most consumed alga ( Amansia rhodantha ) ranked as best competitor, the least consumed ( Turbinaria ornata ) ranked as the worst, and a third ( Sargassum pacificum ) was intermediate in both aspects. A two-year experiment revealed that mixed-species seaweed assemblages became overgrown by Amansia when herbivores were excluded, whereas Turbinaria was the only seaweed that persisted under high herbivory. Additional experimentation showed that much less herbivory was needed to extirpate palatable seaweeds relative to unpalatable Turbinaria . This relationship between seaweed resistance and palatability supports predications that coral-seaweed bistability becomes more likely when algae are less vulnerable to consumers. As such, the trade-off paradigm provided valuable insight into the nature and reversibility of coral-to-macroalgae shifts. Because such trade-offs are likely to be common in plant communities, these insights may well be applicable to regime shifts in a broad range of ecosystems.

Engineering and supercritical systems for improving the solubility and nanoparticles by development of computational machine learning models

The fascinating complexity of seagrass bio-fibres: insights from bio-chemo-hygro mechanical analysis for their reuse as soil reinforcement

Abstract Beached Posidonia oceanica seagrass fibres are an abundant yet underutilised Mediterranean biowaste with potential for sustainable reinforcement of cement-treated sediments. We present a first multiscale bio–chemo–hygro–mechanical characterisation, combining high-resolution synchrotron X-ray tomography with a 250 nm voxel size, FE-SEM/EDX, tensile testing, water-retention measurements. An image-based method links Aegagropile diameter to fibre length, enabling targeted selection of fibres in the 10–25 mm range to minimise clustering and favour reinforcing-network formation within the potentially-treated material. Air-dried fibres exhibit higher tensile strength, whereas pre-soaked fibres show greater porosity, tortuosity, ductility and toughness, and water-retention capacity, highlighting a moisture-dependent trade-off between strength and deformability. Water-retention curves reveal two storage domains: intra-fibre absorption within the lumen’s porosity and capillarity in the inter-fibre pore space of bundled fibres. Within a cement-treated sediment mixture, 1% fibre addition does not significantly increase the unconfined compression strength, which is mainly governed by curing and cementation, but improves post-peak response, residual resistance, distributed cracking, ductility, and damage tolerance while maintaining comparable internal compactness. Ultrasonic pulse velocity results support that fibre inclusion does not compromise the internal compactness of the cement-treated sediment, while curing promotes progressive matrix densification. This dual mechanical and moisture-storage functionality positions Posidonia oceanica fibres as a circular bio-based reinforcement for cement-treated sediments.

Compatible Dynamically Wetting Electrolyte–Electrode Interface Design for Solid‐State Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

ABSTRACT Solid‐state lithium–sulfur batteries feature high energy density and stability, but their practical application is constrained by limited ion transport at the electrode/solid‐state electrolyte interfaces and safety concerns arising from Li dendrites. This study presents a solid polymer electrolyte (SPSLL) constructed from an ultrathin flame‐retardant sulfonated copolymer (phthalazinone biphenylether sulfone) skeleton, into which a mixed phase of poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene), succinonitrile, and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide is incorporated, together with a liquid metal interfacial wetting phase. This design enables a dynamic wetting mechanism that facilitates the formation of compatible electrolyte‐electrode interfaces. Through its sulfonated polymer skeleton, SPSLL promotes lithium salt dissociation and enhances thermal stability. Simultaneously, the LM serves as dynamic active sites, both strengthening interfacial physical contact and facilitating the formation of alloyed solid electrolyte interphases. As a result, the SPSLL‐based solid‐state Li‐sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (Li||SPAN) battery exhibits excellent cycling stability, maintaining a capacity retention of 92.2% and a Coulombic efficiency of 99.9% after 500 cycles. Furthermore, the SPSLL single‐layer pouch cell has an initial specific capacity of 948 mAh g −1 . The dynamic wetting strategy presented in this work offers a promising research direction for interface design in solid‐state batteries.

Investigating the separation and sorting of high-quality sperm in spiral microchannels using the Dean flow regime

Abstract Infertility is a growing global issue that affects millions of couples, posing significant challenges to personal and societal well-being. This study explores a novel approach to separating and sorting high-quality sperm using spiral microchannels to enhance assisted reproductive technologies (ART). We developed a spiral microchannel that utilizes inertial microfluidics and Dean flow to effectively separate sperm based on motility and morphology. The microchannel was fabricated using CO 2 laser engraving, resulting in a spiral design with a width of 0.35 mm, a total radius of 18.5 mm, and a depth of 0.2 mm. In a series of experiments, semen samples were injected at varying flow rates (ranging from 0.5 to 2 ml/min) to determine the optimal conditions for separating motile sperm from non-motile sperm. The results indicated that increasing the flow rates significantly improved separation efficiency. The formation of Dean’s vortices directed motile sperm toward the inner wall of the channel, while immotile sperm and solid particles were directed toward the inner wall. Notably, at a flow rate of 1.3 ml/min, the separation rate improved significantly, demonstrating the effectiveness of this microfluidic approach in yielding a higher quantity of viable sperm with less DNA damage while preserving sperm integrity as quantified by the Sperm Retrieval Index (SRI) with up to 4.5 fold improvement over baselines per World Health Organization standards. This innovative method holds promise as a valuable supplement to conventional ART techniques, offering scalability and reduced processing time. Sperm DNA fragmentation assays at select rates (0.5, 1.3, and 2 mL/min) confirmed the channel’s superiority in minimizing damage relative to raw samples, likely attributable to diminished reactive oxygen species exposure. This label-free, scalable method serves as an efficacious adjunct to traditional ART protocols, curtailing processing duration and oxidative stress while enhancing clinical applicability for routine infertility management.

Energy based assessment of submarine landslide tsunamis in the Bay of Naples southern Tyrrhenian Sea

Abstract Submarine mass failures (SMF) represent a potential tsunami source for densely populated coastal areas such as the Bay of Naples (southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). This study applies a three-dimensional numerical modeling framework, combining GEOWAVE/TOPICS and FUNWAVE, to simulate tsunami generation, propagation, and nearshore impact associated with two geomorphologically plausible submarine landslides located at the Dohrn Canyon head and along the Ischia Bank slope. A third configuration considers their combined activation within a deterministic scenario-based approach. The simulations highlight the rapidity of near-field tsunami impact, with waves reaching all monitoring stations (Pozzuoli, Procida, Ischia, Napoli, Sorrento, and Capri) within a few minutes from slide initiation (e.g., arrival times as short as 201 s). The spatial distribution of maximum wave amplitude (MWA) shows significant variability, reflecting the influence of source location, bathymetry, and coastal morphology. In addition to MWA, a cumulative energy indicator (E tot ), obtained by integrating the squared free-surface elevation over time, was evaluated at each virtual gauge. The results indicate that MWA and cumulative energy do not scale linearly. For example, in the combined multi-source scenario, a relatively high MWA of 4.15 m at Ischia (IS) corresponds to a cumulative energy lower than that recorded at other stations characterized by smaller peak amplitudes. This behavior reflects the influence of wave-train duration, local bathymetric effects, and source orientation on energy redistribution. The findings suggest that, while MWA remains the primary parameter for hazard-oriented assessments, cumulative energy provides complementary information on the temporal persistence and overall hydraulic loading of tsunami signals in complex coastal environments.

Regulating π–π Stacking Interactions to Boost Near‐Infrared Light‐Driven CO ₂ Reduction

ABSTRACT Developing highly efficient photocatalysts to achieve near‐infrared (NIR) light‐driven CO 2 reduction is of great significance yet remains a great challenge. In this article, we found that BODIPY‐based π frameworks can serve as good NIR photocatalysts, achieving highly efficient CO 2 reduction to HCOO − coupled with benzyl alcohol oxidation to benzaldehyde in pure water. More impressively, the photocatalytic performance of these π frameworks can be improved by regulating π–π stacking interactions, among which the optimized π‐pyrenyl (π‐PY) framework with the most π–π stacking interactions exhibits HCOO − production rates of 4045 and 1693 µmol g −1 h −1 in >99% and 15% CO 2 atmospheres, respectively. π‐PY, thus, stands for the current state‐of‐the‐art photocatalyst in NIR‐light‐driven CO 2 reduction. Experiments together with theoretical calculations demonstrated that the high photocatalytic activity of π‐PY could be due to the abundant π–π stacking interactions, which accelerates charge separation and transfer, as well as prolongs carrier lifetime and reduces energy gap. This work gives new insights in understanding the contribution of π–π stacking interactions to photocatalysis, and introduces a new strategy for developing efficient photocatalysts for NIR‐light‐driven CO 2 reduction.

Palladium(II) complexes suppress biofilm formation and virulence in multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Defect-Mediated Catalysis for Low-Temperature Formation of Graphene-Based Materials

Correction to “Thermally‐Stable Single‐Site Pd on CeO ₂ Catalyst for Selective Amination of Phenols to Aromatic Amines Without External Hydrogen”

An AI-enabled federated blockchain framework for adaptive energy coordination in smart electric mobility networks

Enhancement of red lettuce growth and photosynthesis through the use of coherent-structure and hybrid water sources supplemented with sodium selenate

Polymer-Modulated Solvation Chemistry via Compatibilizing-Solvent Plasticization for Stable High-Energy Lithium Metal Batteries

ST-GNNFormer: coupling dynamic graph learning and multi-scale temporal attention for traffic flow forecasting

A Deep‐Red‐Absorbing Osmium(II) Complex as a Photosensitizer for Photodynamic Therapy Inducing Immunogenic Cell Death

ABSTRACT Immunogenic cell death (ICD), which converts tumor cells into their own vaccine, plays a pivotal role in the development of novel anticancer therapies. Here, a small series of osmium(II) polypyridyl complexes was synthesized, and their biological activity in the dark and upon light irradiation against various cancer cell lines was studied. The compound Os2 (bearing two 4,7‐diphenyl‐1,10‐phenanthrolines and one substituted bipyridine ligand) was discovered to be the most effective photosensitizer (PS) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of this series through the photogeneration of 1 O 2 and •OH. In addition, Os2 was found to exhibit promising toxicity upon deep‐red irradiation under both normoxia and hypoxia. These observations indicate that this PS is working through a mixture of Type‐I and Type‐II mechanisms. More interestingly, upon 740 nm irradiation, Os2 can stimulate a strong ICD response on CT26 and MCA205 cells both in vitro and in vivo. A comprehensive immune analysis showed that mice vaccinated with Os2 ‐treated CT26‐luc cells boosted the systemic specific adaptive immune responses, including the activation of CD8 + T cells and reprogramming of macrophages, leading to effective inhibition of tumor growth. Os2 is, to the best of our knowledge, the first photoactive osmium‐based complex inducing ICD.