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Identifying policy-relevant traffic crash risk factors in Cheongju, South Korea using logistic regression and explainable machine learning

Rapid urbanization and increasing traffic volumes have made the occurrence of traffic crashes and the resulting harm a major public safety concern. This study analyzes traffic crash data from Cheongju, a mid-sized city in Chungcheongbuk-do, to identify key determinants of crash severity and provide evidence-based policy recommendations. Our approach is novel in that it integrates statistical modeling and machine learning methodologies; this dual approach not only overcomes the limitations inherent in using either technique alone but also allows for the identification of consistent risk factors influencing traffic crash severity that may have gone unrecognized otherwise. Marginal effects of explanatory variables were interpreted using ordinal logistic regression, while feature importance in machine learning models—including Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, XGBoost, and LightGBM—was evaluated using SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) values. Both analytical approaches consistently identified traffic signal violations, failure to comply with safe driving obligations, and the absence of a median barrier on undivided roads as significant predictors of crash severity. By leveraging empirical data specific to Cheongju, our research provides regionally tailored insights that distinguish our work from prior studies with broader or less localized focus. These findings highlight the need for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and structural improvements in roadway infrastructure and can inform policymakers in formulating effective, context-specific measures to enhance road safety.

Domain polarization in core–shell composites: Simultaneous high permittivity and low loss via filler cluster electron migration

Dielectric polymer composites with high permittivity (ε) and low dissipation factor (tan δ) are critical for advanced energy storage and capacitive applications, yet achieving both properties simultaneously remains challenging due to the typical trade-off driven by interfacial polarization and long-range charge transport. Herein, we propose a domain-type polarization mechanism mediated by electron migration across filler clusters to decouple this interdependence. A series of barium strontium titanate@titanium dioxide (BST@TiO2) core–shell particles with systematically tuned shell thicknesses is synthesized and incorporated into a poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) matrix. We find that the ε and tan δ exhibit a non-monotonic dependence on the TiO2 shell thickness, rather than following conventional interfacial polarization models. At an optimal shell thickness, the composite achieves decoupled regulation of a maximized ε with a minimized tan δ. This anomaly is attributed to the balanced contribution of intra-particle and inter-particle polarization, enabled by the formation of enlarged yet insulated polarizable filler clusters. The cluster-based mechanism is quantitatively supported by scaling laws linking relaxation strength and time, offering a new design paradigm for high-performance dielectric composites. The optimized BST@TiO2/PVDF composite demonstrates superior dielectric properties and breakdown strength, providing a viable pathway toward high-energy-density capacitors.

Correlation between calf circumference and skeletal mass index among type 2 diabetes mellitus individuals with sarcopenia

Abstract Individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) are more likely to develop sarcopenia. Sarcopenia is one of the new complications that lead to decreased muscle strength and mass. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the correlation between calf circumference and skeletal mass index among T2DM participants with sarcopenia. This study included 62 individuals diagnosed with T2DM with Sarcopenia aged between 40 and 70 years. The examiner noted demographic details, including age, sex, height, weight, and BMI. The correlation between skeletal mass index and calf circumference was analyzed using Spearman’s correlation. The mean age of the 29 female participants in this study was 58.2 ± 8.57 years, and the 33 males were 61.1 ± 8.37 years. A significant positive moderate correlation between calf circumference and skeletal mass index was found (Spearman’s r  = 0.58 for females and 0.62 for males, respectively, p  < 0.001). The multivariable linear regression model was statistically significant (R² = 0.556, adjusted R² = 0.515, F(5,54) = 13.547, p  < 0.001). Assessment of calf circumference is a feasible, easy-to-incorporate, and cost-effective way to screen patients with T2DM and sarcopenia, and it can be incorporated into tertiary healthcare settings.

Test–retest reliability and sensitivity of horizontal jump inter-limb asymmetry in youth soccer players across maturity stages

The present study examined the test–retest reliability and sensitivity of inter-limb asymmetry derived from the single-leg hop test (SLHT) across different maturity stages in young male soccer players. Sixty-four youth soccer players aged 8–16 years participated in this study and were assessed using the SLHT to quantify inter-limb asymmetry. Participants were divided into prepubertal (n = 34; age: 8.1 ± 1.4 years; body mass: 35.7 ± 3.4 kg; height: 122 ± 9 cm; maturity offset: −2.38 ± 0.83 years) and post-pubertal groups (n = 30; age: 16.5 ± 0.3 years; body mass: 39.6 ± 6.1 kg; height: 154 ± 7 cm; maturity offset: 1.17 ± 0.45 years) according to individual peak height velocity. During the SLHT, participants performed maximal horizontal hops on each leg separately, and the greatest distance achieved was recorded for analysis. Inter-limb asymmetry demonstrated good relative reliability in both groups, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.78 and 0.92 for the prepubertal and post-pubertal groups, respectively. Absolute reliability was also acceptable, as the typical error of measurement was < 5% in both groups. Sensitivity analysis showed that the standard error of measurement (SEM) exceeded the smallest worthwhile change (SWC; 0.2 standard deviations) in the prepubertal group, indicating a marginal ability to detect small performance changes. In contrast, the SEM was lower than the SWC in the post-pubertal group, indicating good sensitivity for detecting small changes in performance. These findings indicate that SLHT-derived inter-limb asymmetry scores demonstrate acceptable reliability in youth soccer players across maturity stages, while sensitivity to detect small changes may differ between prepubertal and post-pubertal players. The results contribute to the methodological understanding of inter-limb asymmetry assessment in youth soccer and may assist practitioners and researchers in interpreting asymmetry data across different stages of maturation.

Publisher's Note: “Recoverable ultrathin Hf0.5Zr0.5O2-based ferroelectric tunnel junction” [Appl. Phys. Lett. <b>128</b> , 202901 (2026)]

Comprehensive evaluation of capsicum genotype-environment interactions utilizing AMMI and GGE biplot models across staggered transplanting environments

Non-linear impact mechanisms of multi-modal urban traffic on air quality: An interpretable machine learning study for sustainable policy making

Urban air pollution, specifically Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ), presents a multifaceted challenge that is intricately coupled with the stochastic, multi-modal, and non-linear dynamics of mega-city traffic systems. This study systematically investigates the non-linear impacts of mixed traffic flow—comprising motorcycles (MC), private cars (PC), and heavy vehicles (BT)—on local air quality at the iconic Bundaran HI intersection in Jakarta, Indonesia. Leveraging a high-resolution, year-long longitudinal dataset, we developed a robust Random Forest (RF) modeling framework integrated with Permutation Importance and Partial Dependence Analysis (PDP) to decipher the environmental footprint of urban transport under tropical conditions. Our results reveal that private car volume and the Volume-to-Capacity (V/C) ratio act as the primary catalysts for NO 2 spikes, significantly outweighing the contribution of heavy vehicles in this specific urban corridor. Crucially, a distinct non-linear threshold effect was identified: NO 2 concentrations undergo a regime shift, rising exponentially once the V/C ratio exceeds a critical “elbow” of 0.65. This non-linearity indicates that traditional linear mitigation strategies and average-speed-based emission models significantly underestimate pollution risks during saturated traffic states. Policy scenario simulations demonstrate that a 30% reduction in private vehicle volume yields a 5.8% reduction in mean NO 2 , offering nearly six times the environmental utility of heavy vehicle restrictions. Furthermore, the study explores the role of road surface materials—specifically Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA)—and meteorological interactions in exacerbating localized pollution. This research provides a data-driven, interpretable framework for urban planners to transition from generic traffic bans toward precision-based, sustainable management strategies that align with the core principles of cleaner production, urban resilience, and UN Sustainable Development Goal 11.

Grain‐Oriented Dissolution Enabled by Hydrogel for Highly Reversible Zn Anodes

ABSTRACT The reversibility of Zn anodes is severely compromised by dendritic growth and parasitic hydrogen evolution reactions. Directing Zn to undergo grain‐oriented stripping offers an effective approach to mitigating these issues. However, this strategy has rarely been explored, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we design a multifunctional hydrogel composed of aramid nanofiber‐polyvinyl alcohol (ANF‐PVA) and calcium lignosulfonate (LS) to dynamically regulate the anode interface. The ANF‐PVA hydrogel framework possesses excellent mechanical stability and a uniform porous structure that promotes a homogeneous electric field distribution. Concurrently, the incorporated LS preferentially adsorbs onto specific Zn crystal planes, which equilibrates the stripping energy barrier. Through the synergistic regulation between ANF‐PVA and LS, grain‐oriented dissolution is achieved. The in situ formed solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) can further guide uniform Zn deposition and effectively suppress side reactions. Consequently, Zn||Zn symmetric cells exhibit exceptional cycling stability under both ambient (5000 h at 2 mA cm −2 /1 mAh cm −2 ) and low‐temperature conditions (10 900 h at −40 °C). The Zn||I 2 full cell achieves 78.2% capacity retention after 20 000 cycles at 5 A g −1 . Remarkably, pouch‐type cells also sustain 700 cycles. This work opens a new avenue for achieving highly reversible Zn anodes through grain‐oriented dissolution.

A framework based on metasurfaces for dynamic angular momentum holographic encryption

Angular momentum (AM) holography encodes information onto a single metasurface, encompassing both the spin and orbital AM dimensions of light, providing a high-dimensional space for optical encryption. However, the trade-off between the ever-increasing channel multiplexing capacity and the computational cost of generating the required phase distribution in real time limits existing AM encryption schemes to static, offline-designed architectures with fixed key mappings. This paper proposes a Dynamic AM Holographic Encryption (DAHE) framework that co-designs fast phase synthesis and time-varying key derivation on a non-interlaced metasurface platform. The dual-domain wavelet attention network generates the basic phase hologram in approximately 221 ms per channel on a single Graphics Processing Unit, while the Transformer-based module derives a non-repeating optical key set from a timestamped user identifier within 5 ms. Both outputs are fed into a deterministic overlay layer where we propose a comb-convolutional spiral phase encoding strategy. By convolving the spiral phase with a two-dimensional Dirac comb function, the orbital AM singularity is replicated on a periodic local central lattice, thereby achieving efficient multi-channel AM multiplexing across the entire monolithic metasurface and producing the final multiplexed metasurface phase. Multi-user time-varying access experiments confirm that correct image reconstruction requires valid user identity, timestamps, and matching AM optical states simultaneously; unauthorized or time-mismatched queries only return noise. The DAHE framework combines real-time holographic phase engineering with updatable cryptographic key management, opening a practical pathway for dynamic secure displays and optical authentication.

Phytochemical characterization, nutritional profile and biological activities of Urtica urens L. plant organs

Molecular modeling of highly selective CDK1 Inhibitors based on pyrazolo-pyrimidines using 3D-QSAR, docking, and molecular dynamics simulations

Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) has emerged as a compelling target for anticancer drug development due to its essential role in cell cycle regulation. In this study, a series of pyrazolopyrimidine-based inhibitors was investigated through an integrated computational approach that combined molecular docking, three-dimensional quantitative structure-activity relationship (3D-QSAR) modeling, and molecular dynamics simulations. CoMFA and CoMSIA models were established to elucidate the structural features influencing CDK1 inhibition, demonstrating high reliability with q² and r² values of 0.58 and 0.945, respectively. Docking studies using the crystal structure of CDK1 (PDB ID: 4Y72) revealed key interactions and hotspot residues, such as L83, V18, and D86, which contribute significantly to ligand binding. From a library of 100 in-house compounds, compounds 34 and 37 exhibited strong binding affinities (−12.61 and −12.50 kcal/mol) and were further evaluated through molecular dynamics simulations. The stability of these complexes was supported by RMSD analysis and binding free energy calculations (−94.99 kcal/mol for compound 34). Moreover, ADMET profiling indicated favorable pharmacokinetic properties and synthetic accessibility. These findings offer critical insights into the structural determinants of CDK1 inhibition and support the further development of pyrazolopyrimidine scaffolds as potential anticancer agents.

Precisely Constructing Ag ₁ /C ₃ N ₄ Dual‐Site for Highly Efficient Chlorine‐Mediated Electrocatalytic Methane Valorization

ABSTRACT Electrocatalytic conversion of CH 4 to CH 3 Cl offers a sustainable route for inert alkane valorization. The core challenge is the tension between activating the initial C─H bond and suppressing sequential dehydrogenation, which critically depends on the electrogenerated *Cl mediators. Here, we construct a silver single‐atom electrocatalyst on graphitic carbon nitride (Ag 1 /C 3 N 4 ) that enables *Cl generation at the C site of the C 3 N 4 support, markedly facilitating the *Cl generation and selective methane chlorination. In a flow cell with saturated NaCl at ambient conditions, Ag 1 /C 3 N 4 attains a benchmark CH 3 Cl yield of 1784.5 mmol g −1 h −1 with 88.0% selectivity at 1.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Combined experimental and computational insights reveal that the electrogenerated *Cl locally restructures the Ag 1 –C 3 N 4 interface to contribute to a synergistic Ag─N─C─*Cl site that promotes CH 4 activation and chlorination. This *Cl‐induced metal‐support synergy markedly lowers the energy demand for initial C─H cleavage (from 1.32 to 0.67 eV) and CH 3 Cl formation (from 1.52 to 0.83 eV), with a low CH 3 Cl desorption energy (0.27 eV) to suppress over‐dehydrogenation. This work establishes a *Cl‐mediated dual‐site pathway for electrocatalytic methane valorization, offering a promising strategy for mediator‐guided active site engineering in challenging inert‐alkane valorization.

Interlayer Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction tuned magnetic ground states in rectangular spin-lattice heterojunctions

Magnetic heterostructures, owing to their intricate spin interactions, provide a versatile platform for exploring emergent spin configurations and tunable magnetic phenomena. In this work, we investigate the regulatory role of interlayer interactions on magnetic order using a heterojunction model composed of an AB-stacked rectangular spin-lattice system. Monte Carlo simulations based on an effective spin Hamiltonian, including the Heisenberg exchange interaction, Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), and magnetocrystalline anisotropy, reveal that interlayer DMI can induce controllable magnetic stripe-domain walls or skyrmion states. Increasing the x or y component of interlayer DMI (Dx or Dy) drives the system from a ferromagnetic phase to transverse or longitudinal stripe-domain phases with controllable size. To validate this model, we designed a two-dimensional material CrSBrI through iodine substitution in two-dimensional ferromagnetic CrSBr. First-principles calculations combined with Monte Carlo simulations confirm the presence of interlayer DMI and the emergence of stripe-domain states. Strain engineering further enables efficient tuning of domain-wall properties, thereby modulating electron, spin, magnon, and heat transport.

Sustained intravitreal delivery of carnosic acid by RADA16 peptide hydrogel protects the retina in acute ocular hypertension

Retraction: Digital twin–driven design and testing of laser shock processed aluminum–graphene composites for spacecraft docking tribology

High-pressure synthesis and multi-element doping engineering promote thermoelectric performance of anisotropic WSe2 bulk material

Transition metal dichalcogenides possess thermoelectric conversion potential based on their nontoxic, low-cost, earth-abundant compositions and high Seebeck coefficient. The challenges are the intrinsically poor electrical conductivity and high lattice thermal conductivity. Here, we take WSe2 for example to demonstrate the systematic strategy of high-pressure synthesis and multi-element doping to tailor carrier transport and phonon scattering. The high-pressure technique enables effective multi-element doping and rapid crystal growth with layered grains reaching the 10 μm scale in 30 min through its kinetic conditions. A series of chemical compositions W1–x–yNbxMoySe2−zSz (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.06, 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.7, 0 ≤ z ≤ 0.3) are rationally designed with a doping sequence of Nb, Mo, and S elements. Both temperature-dependent carrier and phonon transport behaviors change from acoustic phonon scattering for the pristine sample to alloy scattering after multi-element doping. The carrier concentration is improved by four orders of magnitude to 1020 cm−3 as Nb content is above x ≥ 0.02. This approach achieves a power factor of 1006 μW m−1 K−2 at 823 K for W0.67Nb0.03Mo0.3Se1.8S0.2 in the perpendicular direction, which is among the highest reported for WSe2-based bulk materials. Guided by phonon scattering analysis, the multiple substitutions achieve 75% and 68% reduction in lattice thermal conductivity at room temperature along the parallel and perpendicular directions, where mass fluctuation plays a dominant role in disorder scattering. Based on the anisotropic analysis, maximum zT values of 0.27 and 0.23 at 823 K are achieved for the W0.67Nb0.03Mo0.3Se1.8S0.2 sample. This work provides a feasible strategy of high-pressure synthesis combined with multi-element doping to promote electrical transport and phonon scattering for layered thermoelectric materials.

Discriminant compounds and a predictive S-score for the manual grading standard of Jasminum sambac

Abstract Jasmine ( Jasminum sambac ) is a highly valued aromatic plant, widely used for scenting tea and extracting essential oils. Flower quality directly influences the market value of these products. However, the classification of jasmine flowers currently relies on empirical visual inspection and mechanical sieving, lacking objective chemical markers. In this study, freshly picked commercial jasmine buds (grade A and grade B) and fully bloomed flowers (grade I and grade II) were analyzed to examine differences in their volatile compound profiles using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). According to the general commercial grading standards used by growers and tea companies, 25 compounds differed significantly between grade A and grade B buds, while 134 compounds differed significantly between grade I and grade II opened flowers ( P  &lt; 0.05). Intersection analysis identified six compounds common across grade comparisons. By comprehensively evaluating their fold changes and relative abundances, three compounds—( E )-3-Hexen-1-ol, Caryophyllene, and ( E , E )-3,5-Octadien-2-one—were selected as potential markers. Based on the current dataset, the S-score provides an objective, data-driven approach to distinguish jasmine flower grades. However, as a preliminary model, its proposed threshold (S &gt; 9.5) requires independent validation using samples from different seasons, regions, or production batches before any practical application.

Determine the optimal ignition timing function based on combustion duration, load and fuel blending ratio of an engine powered with diesel-methanol blends

The study employs AVL Boost software to investigate the effects of different methanol blending ratios (BR) in diesel–methanol mixtures (ranging from 0 to 50%), ignition timings (IT), and combustion durations (CD) on the power and brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of a single-cylinder diesel engine under various loads of 85, 70, and 50%. Throughout this study, the term IT refers to the start of combustion of diesel fuel in the combustion chamber. The simulation model is validated by comparing the power and torque simulated results and experimental data, with the discrepancy less than 5%. The optimal ITs for maximum power and minimum BSFC are identified, then predictive models are developed based on these optimal IT values as functions of BR at various engine loads and CDs. The results show that the correlations between the IT, BR, CD, and engine load are linear functions. The ITs that simultaneously deliver peak power output and the lowest BSFC are governed primarily by CD, with the BR exerting a secondary effect; whereas, engine load plays a comparatively minor role. For maximum power, the largest variations in optimal ITs are approximately 15 o CA for CD, 5 o CA for BR, and 4 o CA for load. For minimum BSFC, the corresponding maximum differences are about 15, 5, and 3 o CA for CD, BR, and engine load, respectively. Optimal IT prediction models have been established that can minimize the time and cost associated with engine experimental tests to obtain the lowest BSFC and highest engine power at various CDs, engine loads, and methanol BRs.

Outside Front Cover: Predicting and Rationalizing Piezoelectricity in Racemic Bioorganic Molecular Crystals (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 26/2026)

Synthesis of Hollow Polyaniline Nanospheres <i>via</i> Surface Tension‐Guided Double Emulsion System for Zn Carriers in Aqueous Batteries

ABSTRACT Hollow mesoporous architectures present new opportunities for electrode design, yet conventional syntheses remain hampered by tedious hard‐template or unstable soft‐templates. Herein, a surface tension‐guided double‐emulsion template strategy is reported for the one‐step synthesis of uniform hollow polyaniline (PANI) nanospheres. Distinct from disordered emulsions, this double emulsion architecture features a central monomer droplet stabilized by a discrete intermediate micellar layer. By precisely modulating the solvent surface tension, the sizes of the hollow nanospheres are finely tuned, achieving diameters of 130–500 nm, cavities of 70–300 nm, and shell thicknesses of 30–80 nm. The resulting hollow PANI host creates a synergistic mechanism to regulate zinc deposition: chemically, the abundant nitrogen sites reduce the nucleation energy barrier; geometrically, the concave interior surface induces a negative curvature effect that enriches zinc ions, thereby guiding preferential deposition within the cavity. Capitalizing on these merits, the zinc‐preloaded hollow PANI anode exhibits exceptional stability and utilization. When assembled into full cells, this lightweight host enables a high specific capacity of 273 mAh g −1 while achieving a remarkably low negative‐to‐positive (N/P) ratio of 1.91. This work demonstrates that the double‐emulsion‐engineered hollow architecture is a promising route for developing high‐energy‐density, lightweight carriers for aqueous zinc batteries.