Browse Articles

Circularly Polarized Luminescent and Melt‐Processable Copper(I)‐Organic Glasses Based on 2,2′‐Bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl

ABSTRACT The melting and vitrification behavior of metal–organic materials endows them with high processability, enabling the formation of bulk solids with potential in optical applications. Nevertheless, obtaining metal–organic glasses with chiroptical properties, such as circularly polarized luminescence (CPL), remains challenging due to the limited thermal and mechanical stability of current chiral metal‐organic materials. Here, we report a pair of homochiral copper(I) cyanide complexes based on 2,2′‐bis(diphenylphosphino)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl (BINAP) that can be readily vitrified by either melt‐quenching or desolvation. Structural analysis reveals that vitrification disrupts only the intermolecular stacking of the complexes, while preserving the local coordination environment. The resulting melt‐quenched glasses are CPL‐active and exhibit yellow–orange triplet excited state decay via thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) at room temperature, which is environment‐dependent due to an additional 3 BINAP↔ 3 (Cu→BINAP) CT (CT = charge transfer) equilibrium. Centimeter‐sized monoliths and thin films can be fabricated by molding and thermal annealing, highlighting their excellent processability. Moreover, the glasses can be recrystallized by solvent vapor treatment, which triggers distinct changes in luminescent properties. These results establish BINAP‐based copper(I) cyanide complexes as a versatile platform for the design of CPL‐active metal–organic glasses and point to their promise in optoelectronic applications.

Prediction of distribution areas of the rare Iris kuschakewiczii B.Fedtsch. species across its range using the MaxEnt model

Retraction: SiC ultra -thin films for high-performance quantum spacecraft applications fabricated via nanosecond pulsed laser deposition and doping

Multi-objective optimization of dimensional accuracy and part weight in injection molding of a 3D curved shin guard plate

Abstract Injection molding of complex three-dimensional curved components is highly sensitive to processing conditions, particularly when dimensional accuracy and packing quality must be balanced simultaneously. This study proposes an integrated optimization and decision-making framework to improve the molding quality of a commercial curved shin guard plate (SGP) by combining Response Surface Methodology (RSM), adaptive non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II), and entropy-weighted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). A Box–Behnken design was employed to investigate the effects of packing pressure ( PP ), melt temperature ( MT ), and cooling time ( CT ) on absolute dimensional deviation ( ΔD ) and molded part weight ( PW ). The results showed that the developed quadratic response surface models exhibited good predictive capability, and analysis of variance identified PP as the most influential parameter. The surrogate models were integrated with standard and adaptive NSGA-II algorithms to perform multi-objective optimization and generate well-distributed Pareto-optimal solutions, with the adaptive NSGA-II showing improved Pareto-front exploration capability based on crowding-distance and hypervolume analyses. Entropy-weighted TOPSIS was subsequently applied to identify the most suitable compromise solution. Experimental validation was conducted at the TOPSIS-selected optimum together with two additional Pareto-optimal conditions. The validation results showed satisfactory agreement between predicted and experimental responses, with deviations remaining below 7.41% for ΔD and below 1.70% for PW . These results demonstrate the practical applicability of the proposed optimization framework for complex injection-molded components under industrial manufacturing conditions.

Exploration of the associations between muscle oxygen saturation and skin temperature responses during isokinetic strength exercise

Previous studies suggested that skin blood flow, and therefore skin temperature affect changes in muscle oxygenation (SmO 2 ). Given that near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements consider a depth of a few centimeters to capture changes in SmO 2 , in this study, we aimed to explore whether a relationship between skin temperature and SmO 2 is observed after sets of isokinetic strength exercises. Seventeen males (age: 25 ± 6 years old and body mass: 74.7 ± 12.4 kg) completed five series of 30 maximum unilateral (preferred) knee extension isokinetic exercises at 180º·sec -1 with a 60-second rest between series to exercise quadriceps muscles. At baseline, after a warm-up, and 50 seconds after each series of exercise, SmO 2 related to vastus lateralis and skin temperature of the anterior thigh were evaluated in the exercised and non-exercised legs. Significance was established at p < 0.05. Exercise reduced mean skin temperature throughout the consecutive repetitions in both the exercised and non-exercised legs (p < 0.01). SmO 2 increased during exercise only in the exercised leg. No significant correlations were found between skin temperature and SmO 2 , and weak correlations were observed between skin temperature and total haemoglobin for absolute (r = 0.4 and p < 0.001) and delta values (r = 0.3 and p = 0.03) only in the non-exercised leg. In conclusion, this exploratory study suggests that skin temperature and SmO 2 are compatible as they explain different physiological responses, although these measurements are not associated during a controlled exercise.

Metal‐Organic Complex‐Engineered Artificial Metalloenzymes With Synergistic Site and Cascade ROS Elimination to Treat Cerebral Ischemic‐Reperfusion Injury

ABSTRACT Ischemic stroke is a fatal cerebrovascular disease, and reperfusion, the primary approach for restoring blood supply, can lead to significant oxidative stress and subsequent damage to the cerebrovascular system. Developing strong antioxidant agents could be a solution, but it remains a Herculean challenge. Herein, inspired by the three‐dimensional coordination structures and active center of natural Mn‐superoxide dismutase, coupled with the synergistic monoatom/cluster sites found in antioxidases, we propose the de novo design of Mn‐organic complex‐supported Ru clusters (MnCP‐Ru) to function as an artificial metalloenzyme for cascade elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS), aimed at protecting against cerebral ischemic‐reperfusion injury. Our studies show that Mn‐organic ligands increase the electron density of Ru clusters, thereby improving their binding to oxygen species and resulting in effective, cascade‐like antioxidase activities. Accordingly, the MnCP‐Ru can reduce the number of apoptotic neurons by attenuating ROS‐induced cell damage and exert powerful anti‐inflammatory effects by inhibiting lipid peroxidation, microglial and astrocyte activation in brain tissues, thus leading to powerful protection and repair of cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion injury. We believe the MnCP‐Ru biocatalyst, with its synergistic sites and cascade ROS elimination, offers effective antioxidative performance, paving the way for developing materials to treat ischemic‐reperfusion injury and other oxidative stress‐related diseases.

Systematic hybrid feature selection using optimal filter classifier pairing and parallel evaluation

Optimization of banana sucker production using different macropropagation structures and substrates

Banana ( Musa spp .) production in Malawi is constrained by limited access to high-quality planting materials, restricting farm productivity. This study evaluated the effects of macro-propagation structures and substrates on growth and sucker production of banana cv. Williams, and examined the relationship between decapitated primary suckers and secondary sucker production. Field experiments tested three macro-propagation structures (standard chamber, standard chamber with black net, and mulched open bed) and three substrates (loam soil, rice husks, and sawdust). Growth parameters, including leaf number, plant height, root number, root length, and number of suckers harvested, were recorded, while regression, correlation, and principal component analyses were conducted. The standard chamber produced the tallest plants (20.50 ± 0.83 cm) and highest sucker number (102.22 ± 14.09), whereas sawdust and loam soil supported the highest sucker yields (85.33 ± 13.81 and 79.00 ± 11.95, respectively). Rice husks promoted the longest roots (11.49 ± 0.69 cm). The combination of standard chamber with sawdust maximized plant height (22.33 cm) and sucker yield (135.33). Regression analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between decapitated primary suckers and secondary sucker production (R² = 0.741, p < 0.001), confirming that decapitation enhances sucker proliferation. Principal component analysis showed that shoot and sucker traits were the main contributors to variation among treatments, while root traits varied inversely with aboveground growth. These results demonstrate that optimizing macro-propagation structures and substrates, together with sucker decapitation, can significantly improve banana sucker production, thereby increasing the availability of quality planting materials in Malawi.

Linking Synthetic Materials Chemistry to Electrocatalytic Performance

ABSTRACT Synthetic materials chemistry is the central foundation for advancing the design of solid‐state electrocatalysts, where control over synthetic properties such as phase, composition, crystallinity, defect density, oxidation state, coordination environment, morphology, particle size, and electrical conductivity determine electrochemical performance descriptors. These descriptors include nature of active sites, number of active sites, mass and charge transport, and the local reaction environment, which collectively govern electrocatalytic peformance (ECP), namely activity, selectivity, and durability. In this review, we highlight the synthetic strategies currently employed in the electrocatalysis literature and show how they enable control over the properties of the in situ‐formed active catalyst and its ECP. After highlighting the state of the art, we discuss how new developments in in situ analytics, data‐driven discovery, and autonomous robotics could further improve the understanding, predictability, reproducibility, and throughput of materials synthesis. With these advancements, synthetic materials chemistry will remain a key driving force for electrocatalyst development.

Precise Synthesis of Highly Branched <i>Angelica dahurica</i> Polysaccharides up to 66 Units Reveals a Minimal Motif for Wound Repair

ABSTRACT Polysaccharides derived from Angelica dahurica exhibit potent wound healing activity, yet the pronounced structural heterogeneity of natural extracts has obscured the identity of the active motif and hindered clinical translation. Here we report a convergent, one‐pot [22+22+22] glycosylation strategy based on glycosyl donor preactivation that enables the precise chemical synthesis of a 66‐unit A. dahurica polysaccharide. This approach facilitates the efficient assembly of a comprehensive glycan library spanning tetrasaccharides to the full‐length 66‐mer polysaccharide, allowing for systematic biological evaluation. Functional screening identifies the reducing end hexasaccharide as the minimal active motif responsible for wound healing activity. Mechanistic analyses reveal that the synthetic hexa‐ and dodecasaccharides promote fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation and migration, while concurrently reprogramming macrophage polarization. Crucially, gram‐scale synthesis of both glycans enables definitive in vivo evaluation, demonstrating significantly accelerated wound closure through attenuation of excessive inflammation and promotion of organized collagen deposition. Collectively, these findings establish a general paradigm for deconvoluting heterogeneous natural polysaccharide extracts through de novo synthesis of structurally well‐defined glycans as precision‐engineered wound healing therapeutics.

Metaproteomic profiling reveals viral proteins and associated host proteomic alterations in glioblastoma

Abstract Glioblastoma (GB) is a WHO grade 4 brain cancer with dismal prognosis, yet its aetiology remains poorly defined. Although viral involvement has been proposed, findings across studies remain inconsistent, reflecting inherent limitations of individual technologies and cohort size. Here we applied metaproteomic profiling to a publicly available GB proteome dataset (12 control, 21 adjacent, 159 tumour) and an independent cohort of 81 samples (37 control, 44 tumour) to detect viral proteins in tumour and controls tissues. Across cohorts, we detected viral proteins from diverse species, with human herpesviruses (HHV-1, 2, and 8) more frequently detected in GB tumours compared with control tissues. Analysis of the host tumour proteome revealed differential abundance of proteins related to transcriptional regulation, RNA processing, protein translation, immune responses, and mitochondrial-associated metabolism. Correlation analysis identified associations between viral and human proteins, with several linked to biological processes previously implicated in DNA virus-host interactions. Further stratification of tumour by HHV-1 status showed consistent alterations in proteins associated with mitochondrial-associated metabolism, protein turnover, and cell adhesion/signalling.In summary, this study demonstrates the feasibility of metaproteomics for detecting viral components in archival GB tissues. Using this approach, we observed differences in viral protein landscape across cohorts and identified associations between viral presence and host proteomic features, providing a protein-level framework for future studies of virus-host interactions in GB.

Determinants of low birth weight babies delivered at paropakar maternity and Women’s hospital: A case-control study

Background Low birth weight remains a major public health concern due to its association with adverse neonatal, developmental, and long-term health outcomes, with no substantial improvement observed over the past decade in Nepal. Multiple socioeconomic, maternal, and obstetric factors contribute to low birth weight, particularly in low-resource settings. This study aimed to identify the determinants of low birth weight babies delivered at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal. Methods A hospital-based age-matched (± 5 years) case-control study was carried out from 1 st August 2024–30 th January 2025 among mothers who delivered live babies at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital. A total of 57 cases (birth weight &lt; 2500 g) and 114 controls (birth weight ≥2500 g) in the ratio of 1:2 were selected. Data on exposure variables were collected through interviews and medical records review. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and binary logistic regression were performed at 95% confidence interval (CI) to find the significant determinants of low birth weight by using SPSS version 11.5. Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that independent risk factors of LBW babies were educational status of mother (AOR: 6.32; 95% CI 1.90 to 21.05), per capita income (AOR: 2.89; 95% CI 1.02 to 8.18), parity (AOR: 4.80; 95% CI 1.91 to 12.07), hemoglobin level (AOR: 6.19; 95% CI 1.79 to 21.38), period of gestation (AOR: 8.16; 95% CI 2.42 to 27.49), weight before pregnancy (AOR: 4.86; 95% CI 1.02 to 23.29), history of chronic medical illness (AOR: 8.22; 95% CI 2.25 to 29.99) and illness during pregnancy (AOR: 3.33; 95% CI 1.20 to 9.28), type of diet (AOR: 4.84; 95% CI 1.14 to 20.64). Conclusion The findings emphasize the importance of maternal health, nutrition, and prenatal care in preventing low birth weight. Interventions targeting maternal education, nutritional status, regular antenatal care, and timely management of maternal illnesses may reduce the incidence of low birth weight.

Discovery and Biosynthesis of the Novel Glycotetrapeptide Antibiotic Biffamycin A

ABSTRACT The clinical deployment of antibiotics is undermined by antimicrobial resistance. Without new agents to treat antibiotic‐resistant bacterial infections, mortality rates are predicted to reach 10 million people per year by 2050. Most antibiotics are derived from natural products (NPs) produced by bacteria; however, this resource was abandoned by industry because of high rediscovery rates. We are amid a natural product renaissance fuelled by inexpensive access to genome sequencing and sophisticated bioinformatic tools, which have highlighted that most of the biosynthetic pathways for NPs are not expressed in the laboratory. Here, we engineered the expression of a silent biosynthetic gene cluster harboured by an environmental isolate of Streptomyces albidoflavus . Using a bioinformatics‐guided approach, we isolated and structurally characterised a novel glycopeptide antibiotic (GPA) named biffamycin A, which is the smallest GPA known and harbours unprecedented 5‐chloro‐4‐methoxy tryptophan and 3‐hydroxy(α‐D‐mannoysl)‐D‐lysine moieties. Biffamycin A possesses antimycobacterial and antistaphylococcal bioactivity, including against methicillin‐ and vancomycin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus .

Anticancer activity with physical property analysis of Mollugo cerviana (L). Ser whole plant extract on hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2)

Outcomes of In-hospital Cardiac Arrest: Insights from a Medical Intensive Care Unit

Background Critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) usually suffer from life-threatening illnesses, and many are hemodynamically unstable. The incidence of cardiac arrest in the ICU is approximately 22 per 1000 admissions, and survival to discharge after in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is approximately 14%. Variables associated with IHCA survival are poorly understood and the outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the ICU are poorly reported in the literature. We investigated the characteristics of IHCA and factors that are associated with poor IHCA survival. Methods and Findings After adjusting for age, APACHE III score, and initial rhythm, every one-minute increase in CPR duration was associated with 1.161 (95% CI 1.119–1.204; p &lt; 0.0001) odds of death during resuscitation and 1.154 (95% CI 1.059–1.258; p &lt; 0.0001) odds of death at the time of ICU discharge. Hospital survivors had a lower APACHE III score (Mean = 88.3, SD 29.8, IQR 66–106) and acute physiology score (Mean = 75, SD 30, IQR 56–94) compared to non-survivors. Hospital survivors were also more likely than non-survivors to have a shockable rhythm at the time of arrest (20% versus 7.5%), shorter average CPR duration (5.4 minutes versus 12.8 minutes), longer length of ICU stay (14 days versus 1.8 days) and longer length of hospital stay (25 days versus 6.1 days). Conclusion Based on our retrospective analysis, we conclude that the odds of IHCA mortality is directly proportional to the duration of CPR regardless of age, initial rhythm, and severity of underlying illness.

Salt‐in‐Salt Mediated Weak‐Solvent Electrolyte Enabling Fast‐Charging and Wide‐Temperature Lithium‐Ion Batteries

ABSTRACT Realizing the practical application of spinel LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO) cathodes requires electrolytes with fast‐charging capability and wide‐temperature adaptability, which conventional electrolytes lack due to insufficient high‐voltage stability, sluggish ion transport, and unstable interphases. Herein, we propose a salt‐in‐salt mediated “strong‐weak synergy” strategy for fluorinated weakly solvating electrolytes (WSEs), distinct from conventional ether‐based or single‐component WSEs. Harnessing the moderate Lewis acidity of Mg 2+ from Mg(TFSI) 2 , we promote LiDFOB dissociation to enrich anion‐rich contact ion pair/aggregate (CIP/AGG) solvation structures, while concurrently inducing a “drag” effect on Li + ‐coordinated solvents/anions to synergistically accelerate Li + desolvation. Notably, Mg 2+ from inorganic MgF 2 dynamically captures interfacial anions, directing the formation of a thin, robust inorganic CEI. This dual‐regulation mechanism simultaneously optimizes bulk electrolyte ion conduction and interfacial stability, overcoming the intrinsic limitations of poor oxidation resistance and sluggish kinetics in traditional WSEs. Consequently, LNMO||Li cells exhibit exceptional fast‐charging capability and cycling stability across a wide temperature range (–30 to 70°C), with pouch cells retaining 88.9% capacity after 400 stable cycles. The developed electrolyte also exhibits non‐flammability and broad compatibility for nickel‐rich LiNi 0.8 Co 0.1 Mn 0.1 O 2 , LiNi 0.92 Co 0.06 Mn 0.02 O 2 and olivine‐type LiFePO 4 cathodes. This work offers fundamental insights into solvation chemistry and interfacial engineering toward safe, high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries.

Use of mesenchymal stromal cells derived from the Wharton’s jelly of human umbilical cord for treating patients with steroid-resistant graft versus host disease: predicting clinical response by a validated immunopotency assay

AI-assisted thematic synthesis of existing neurological core outcome sets: A descriptive reference framework (COS-Neuro)

Background Neurological disorders affect approximately 3 billion people globally, yet clinical trial success is often hindered by poorly selected outcome measures, impacting trial design, compliance, and interpretation. Over the past 25 years, Core Outcome Sets (COS) have emerged as standardized tools to enhance outcome selection, ensuring comparability across studies and reflecting the priorities of both researchers and patients. Despite the success of COS initiatives in other fields, their development in neurology remains limited, leaving many trialists without disease-specific guidance. Objectives This study aimed to conduct an AI-assisted thematic synthesis of outcome domains from existing COS, with the goal of identifying structural patterns common to these sets and generating descriptive reference framework to inform future COS development. Methods COS-Neuro was developed using AI-assisted thematic framework analysis, complemented by expert review. A modified five-step thematic analysis was conducted without pre-determined codes: 1. Dataset Gathering – Data was collected from the COMET database, and COS domains for neurological disorders were coded. 2. Prompt Design &amp; Testing – Large language models (LLMs), including ChatGPT 3.5, Google Gemini 1.5 Flash and Meta Llama-2-70b, were trialled, and prompts refined based on their outputs. 3. Thematic Analysis – LLMs categorised domains into core areas. 4. Human Refinement – Experts reviewed LLM-generated core areas and selected those most appropriate for further interpretation. 5. Clinical Validation – Experts validated the domains, core areas, and concepts. This approach integrated AI with expert oversight to develop an AI-descriptive thematic map of existing neurological COS. Results Utilising LLMs, particularly ChatGPT, an AI-assisted conceptual framework synthesising existing neurological COS was developed based on the analysis of 112 published COS. Through adaptation of the OMERACT model, the final framework comprised four overarching concepts, 13 core areas, and 75 domains identified through expert consensus. Conclusion COS-Neuro provides a preliminary AI-assisted descriptive synthesis of existing neurological COS, organised using the OMERACT Filter 2.1 as a structural reference. This hypothesis-generating framework may serve as a foundational resource for future COS research and trial design, particularly in areas where no disease-specific COS exists. However, it requires prospective validation through disease-specific, multi-stakeholder consensus processes before clinical application. COS-Neuro also demonstrates the feasibility of AI-assisted thematic synthesis in this context and warrants evaluation in other specialties.

Radical Cation Lifetime Regulating Anomalous Signal Fluctuation on Au(111) Unveiled by Electrochemiluminescence Microscopy

ABSTRACT The electrocatalytic activity of metals is intrinsically governed by their surface chemical states, which, however, often degrades due to surface oxidation during electrocatalysis. Thus, enhancing oxidation resistance to improve the catalytic performance of metal materials is a pivotal challenge. Herein, we report a strategy to revive the catalytic activity of oxidized Au(111) facets via chemical reduction by highly reductive radicals in situ generated during electrocatalysis. Using electrochemiluminescence microscopy (ECLM), we achieved the real‐time visualization of an anomalous signal fluctuation on Au(111) facets during ECL reactions, which arises from the continuous surface redox dynamics. In conjunction with electrochemiluminescence self‐interference spectroscopy (ECLIS) and finite element simulations, we reveal that the lifetime of co‐reactant radical cations strongly modulates the reduction kinetics of Au surface oxides and that the localized Au oxide reduction is governed by the surface distribution of co‐reactant radicals. For the first time, we capture the ECLM‐based real‐time images of the surface redox processes on Au(111) facets during electrocatalysis with a temporal resolution of 100 ms. This work underscores the potential of ECLM for in situ monitoring of electrocatalytic reactions and establishes a new strategy for reviving the catalytic activity of Au(111) using reaction‐derived highly reductive radicals.

Consumption of Fructose-Containing Food and Beverage Sources in Childhood Through to Adulthood and Risk of Hypertension: A Prospective Cohort Study

Background: High intakes of fructose-containing sugars among children and adolescents is implicated in obesity and related comorbidities, including hypertension. However, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), fruit juices, and whole fruit have different nutritional profiles and matrices, which may confer different effects on blood pressure. Methods: GUTS (Growing Up Today Study) is a longitudinal cohort of 25 749 individuals (55% female) drawn from 2 enrollment waves, GUTS 1 (n=16 875; baseline 1996) and GUTS II (n=10 918; baseline 2004), followed up prospectively through 2021 (mean age at enrollment, 12 years; mean age at end of follow-up, 36 years). Participants provided updated information on lifestyle, health status, and habitual diet through validated food frequency questionnaires every 1 to 4 years. We conducted multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate the associations of total fructose and SSB, fruit juice, and whole fruit intake (cumulative averages) with incident hypertension (hazard ratios [HRs] and 95% CIs), adjusting for major diet and lifestyle factors. We also modeled substitutions of SSBs or fruit juice with whole fruit, milk, and water. Results: During up to 25 years of follow-up, 1625 participants (6.3%) reported a hypertension diagnosis. Total fructose intake was not associated with incident hypertension (highest versus lowest quintile HR, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.92, 1.25]; P trend&lt;0.001). However, participants with the highest intake of SSBs (≥2 servings/d versus &lt;3 servings/week) and fruit juice (≥1.5 servings/d versus &lt;1 serving/wk) had a higher risk of hypertension (HR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.27, 1.83]; P trend&lt;0.001 and HR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.06, 1.71]; P trend=0.018, respectively). In contrast, whole fruit was not associated with hypertension (highest versus lowest category HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.59, 1.05]; P trend=0.08). Replacing 1 serving/d of SSB with milk, water, or whole fruit was associated with a 13% (95% CI, 5%, 20%), 9% (95% CI, 3%, 15%), and 22% (95% CI, 11%, 31%) lower risk of hypertension, respectively. In addition, replacing fruit juice with whole fruit was associated with a 19% (95% CI, 3%, 32%) lower risk of hypertension. Conclusions: SSB and fruit juice intakes were positively associated with a higher risk of hypertension independently of overall diet quality, physical activity, and other factors. Our findings support public health guidelines to limit the overconsumption of SSBs and fruit juice starting in childhood to protect against the development of hypertension.