Browse Articles

Study on exploring the relationships between physiological indicators in near-death experiences by drawing on in-mold electronics and node displacement concepts in brain-computer interface signal transmission

Towards Sustainable Synthesis of Peptide Therapeutics via Tag-Assisted Peptide Synthesis and Aryl Selenoester Aminolysis Ligation

Factors influencing the intention to use “Internet+Nursing Service” among enterostomy patients based on an extended UTAUT2 model

Integrating Transcription Factors with Electrochemical Pendulum Bioanalysis for Hormone Detection

Multimodal PET/CT-based PD-L1 status prediction in lung cancer via semi-supervised and unsupervised deep learning

Solvent-Free Dehydrohalogenative Polycondensation toward Robust Covalent Organic Frameworks

In vitro biological properties of chitosan and polydopamine-based biopolymer surfaces fabricated on AZ61L alloys

Water Microdroplets Induce Heterocyclic Transmutation: Skeletal Editing of Aniline into Pyridine at the Air–Water Interface

Melt-driven freshwater inputs as potential drivers of harmful algal blooms: evidence from a diatom bloom in Northwestern Patagonia

Abstract Harmful algal blooms (HABs) in coastal waters are an increasing ecological and socio-economic concern in Northwestern Patagonia (NWP). One widely accepted mechanism proposes that reduced freshwater input weakens water-column stratification and increases residence time, allowing nutrient-rich oceanic waters to intrude and favor HAB development. Here, we demonstrate that riverine controls exerted on HABs extend beyond low-flow conditions to include shifts in the timing and magnitude of high-flow pulses. Using long-term hydro-meteorological records, satellite-based data, and a citizen science water quality time series from the Puelo River, we assess how peak freshwater inputs modulated the conditions leading up to a diatom HAB ( Thalassiosira cf. pseudonana ) in the Reloncaví Fjord (41.5°S) in November 2023. Based on inference from spring 2022 and 2024 monitoring, such discharge peaks provide short-lived windows of enhanced nutrient availability, characterized by elevated reactive silica (> 100 µmol L⁻¹), dissolved iron (> 0.3 µmol L⁻¹) and nitrogen-rich nutrient ratios (N:P > 16). An anomalous high-turbidity pulse, usually dampened by downstream lake regulation, suggests threshold effect of meltwater inputs, which likely gave this taxon a competitive advantage. Antecedent conditions also include a sustained winter runoff effect on stratification and exchange flow, followed by an unusually dry early spring, weakening stratification during the period of increased solar radiation, both preconditioning the system for the HAB.

Site-Selective Distal Arylation of Sugars Enabled by Cyclic Acetals

Assessing the performance of various polymer films as artificial skin for jellyfish tentacle firing and venom toxicity evaluation with comparative life cycle assessment

Abstract Global increases in jellyfish populations due to climate change, pollution, and overfishing have led to more encounters with humans, resulting in an uptick in jellyfish envenomation. Appropriate first-aid treatments have sparked ongoing debates among specialists regarding the use of topical chemical agents. Despite the establishment of various testing assays, issues with stability, scalability, suitability for on-site testing, and reproducibility remain. This research aims to develop a polymer-based artificial skin layer by evaluating four different polymer films—polypropylene, linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), a blend of polylactic acid and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PLA/PBAT), and silicone rubber. These materials are being tested as potential alternatives to the traditional porcine intestine film used in the Tentacle Skin Blood Agarose Assay (TSBAA) for jellyfish envenomation testing. The films underwent tensile, puncture resistance, chemical stability, and permeability tests to assess their suitability. Mechanical changes were also studied after exposure to deionized water, salt water, 70% ethyl alcohol, vinegar (5% acetic acid), and baking soda slurry—chemicals that porcine tissue might encounter in TSBAA studies. Results showed that PP, LLDPE and PLA/PBAT silicone were able to form an ultra-thin film (39, 42, 47 μm MD and 38, 47, 45 μm TD, respectively) while silicone exhibits at least double the thickness of the other films. PLA/PBAT blend demonstrated a favorable balance of low puncture resistance (1.80 MPa)—approaching that of silicone rubber (0.84 MPa)—while maintaining superior chemical stability across tested solutions. Although silicone rubber exhibited the lowest puncture resistance, its relatively poor chemical durability and the highest environmental impacts up to 4-fold higher than other polymers, limit its suitability as a sustainable alternative. In contrast, PLA/PBAT films combined adequate puncture performance with improved environmental profiles compared to silicone rubber, supporting their potential as a more balanced and eco-friendly material for TSBAA applications. Life cycle assessment (LCA) further confirmed that PLA/PBAT and polypropylene films exhibited lower global warming potential (2.86 ⋅ 10 − 4 kg CO 2 eq) and non-renewable energy use per functional unit (3.72 ⋅ 10 − 3 MJ), underscoring their viability as sustainable alternatives for biomedical assay systems. This work serves as a proof-of-concept, laying a foundational step for developing standardized synthetic skin models. Future studies will focus on optimizing film properties and conducting rigorous validation using live tentacles or isolated cnidocytes, ultimately leading to a more efficient, sustainable, and widely applicable framework for mitigating jellyfish envenomation.

Association of Toll-like receptor gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a case–control study

Synergy of Spin States, Active Centers, and H Adsorption Sites on <i>d</i> - <i>p</i> Hybridized Fe–Sn–N ₆ –C Dual-Atom Catalysts for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction

Multifunctional high gain antenna apertures using radial line slot array for multistandard 5G new radio

Abstract In this paper, we propose radial line slot array antenna for 5G fixed beam solutions aimed at integrating multiple frequencies of high gain aperture into a single antenna with a common feed. Thus generated shared aperture will facilitate multi-functional antenna aperture for 5G new radio applications in FR-2 band. With increasing diversity in paradigms of communication systems, especially in mm-wave frequency bands, antenna arrays with specialized, multifunctional radiation capabilities are being pursued. This includes RLSAs for multi-band, multi-polarization and multi-beam radiation. This paper will introduce a low-profile, shared-aperture Radial Line Slot Array (SA-RLSA) antenna for these applications in the mm-wave frequency band. The available design methods for these antennas require complex feeding structures, which could be inconvenient for mass production. This work uses a simple capacitive hole-assisted coaxial feed and a conventional substrate containing the radiating slots on the upper plane. A shared aperture approach is adopted to generate beams at multiple frequencies with pencil and conical shapes and to obtain dual polarization. The measured responses from the fabricated samples for dual-band (28 GHz and 47 GHz), dual-beam (pencil beam at 28 GHz and conical beam at 47 GHz), and dual-pol (28 GHz and 47 GHz with X-pol and 38 GHz with Y-pol) showed a very good agreement with the simulated result. At operating frequencies, $$\sim$$ 20+ dBi gain is obtained, which can be enhanced by increasing the size of the slotted aperture.

From Microcurrents to Macrodynamics: Harnessing Mixed Potentials for Large, Tunable Acceleration of Belousov–Zhabotinsky Oscillations

Processing efficiency predicts cognitive performance in aging

Enantioselective Synthesis of Polysubstituted Boron-Stereogenic BODIPYs Enabled by Pd/Norbornene Catalysis

Comparative analysis of mycorrhizal communities in distinct landscapes of the brazilian tropical savanna

Binary-Cooperative Patterned-Crisscrossing Membranes with Gas Separation

Impact of personalized coaching on the use of digital health interventions for movement therapy in rheumatology: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Spondyloarthropathies (SpA) are characterized by low back pain and limited mobility. Therefore, physical activity (PA) is an essential part of the treatment, yielding positive effects on clinical symptoms. Digital health applications (DHAs) present new opportunities to promote clinical outcomes, however, their long-term effectiveness is often limited by low adherence and high dropout rates.This study investigates whether integrating personalized or AI-driven coaching enhances the therapeutic benefits of DHA in patients with SpA. SpAs patients were randomized into one of 3 groups. They were instructed to exercise at least 2–3 times per week for 6 months with the DHA according to their group (intervention groups: ViViRA (with personal coaching) or Kaia Health (with AI-based coaching); control group: ViViRA (without coaching)). Personal coaching consisted of a one-time, 30-min online coaching session prior to using DHA, while the AI coaching consisted of video-based AI integrated into DHA to provide movement guidance during each session. At baseline, after 3 and 6 months sociodemographic, questionnaires and mobility were assessed. Data from 78 participants were analyzed (mean age 51 years; 68% female). All three digital interventions showed a significant improvement in mobility (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASM), range: 0–10, lower scores = better mobility; BL-3 month: mean BASMI change − 0.6 to − 0.7; all p  &lt; 0.001). Pain intensity decreased substantially in all arms (PainDETECT, neuropathic pain, range: 0–38, higher scores = more severe pain; BL-6 month: mean reduction − 4.6 to − 6.6 points; all p  ≤ 0.006). PAHCO (Physical Activity-related Health Competence) control competence increased over time and reached statistical significance only in the ViViRA + coaching group (PAHCO: higher scores = better physical activity-related health competence; BL-6 month: + 1.02, p  = 0.013) but did not exceed the other interventions in a direct comparison. Overall, none of the coaching strategies showed significant superiority over the stand-alone digital therapy. Adherence was the same in all groups after 3 months (2–3 weekly use of DHA). Digital movement therapy with the use of DHA improves mobility and pain independently of coaching in SpAs patients. In contrast, personal coaching has been shown to improve health-related skills which could indicate potential benefits for self-management and long-term treatment adherence. Trial registration The study is registered in the German clinical trial registry (DRKS) under the following ID: DRKS00035191, https://www.drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00035191/details, Registration date: 01.10.2024.