Browse Articles

Emission dipole orientation reveals dynamic single-molecule interactions with 2D crystals at solvent interfaces

Multimodal semantic learning for early fault diagnosis in warp knitting machines via masked fault modeling

Drivers of technology diffusion speed in countries

Hybrid transformer–fuzzy framework for interpretable sentiment classification in deepfake social media content

A skin-conformal rigid-in-soft array-based imaging system

[99mTc]Tc-FAPI-04 SPECT/CT for initial staging of gastrointestinal malignancies: a prospective comparison with contrast-enhanced CT

Evolution of increased longevity and slowed ageing in a genus of tropical butterfly

Abstract Evolution has given rise to lifespans in extant species ranging from days to centuries. Given that mechanisms of ageing are highly conserved, studying long-lived lineages across the animal kingdom could yield insights relevant for healthy ageing in humans. The long lifespans reported for the Heliconius butterfly genus position it as a promising new model system for such studies, but its potential is limited by a paucity of available data. Here, we collate data from commercial butterfly houses, mark-release-recapture studies, and insectary populations to reveal the evolution of a three-fold lifespan extension in Heliconius over their close relatives in the Heliconiini tribe, with maximum lifespans in some species stretching nearly up to a year. We further demonstrate through captive experiments that this lifespan extension is accompanied by slowed actuarial and physiological ageing. Together, these results establish Heliconius as a powerful model for investigating the evolutionary and mechanistic basis of increased longevity.

Europium-decorated carbon quantum dots for dual Cu2+/Fe3+ detection and live-cell bioimaging

Generative-model-based null-space iterative reconstruction for atomic electron tomography with sparse data

A discrete enzyme action optimizer for traveling salesman problems with a smart tourism routing application: a case study in Bitlis, Türkiye

Epigenetic lockdown of type I interferon sensing and signalling in human pluripotent cells

Abstract The Human Silencing Hub (HUSH) complex safeguards genome integrity in human somatic cells, repressing transposable elements and regulating type I interferon (IFN-I) induction. Here, we use depletion of MPP8 in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a tool to investigate epigenetic control of the IFN-I system in early development. We confirmed that human iPSCs display an attenuated IFN-I pathway, whereas iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) respond robustly to IFN-I pathway agonists. We found that, in iPSCs, depletion of MPP8 was sufficient to induce expression of young LINE-1 elements and genes linked to the IFN-I system including double-stranded RNA sensors and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). ISG upregulation occurred without IFN-I signalling, suggesting that, in contrast to differentiated cells, this ISG regulation is uncoupled from nucleic acid sensing specifically in early development. Chromatin profiling confirmed MPP8 enrichment at HUSH-regulated ISGs and revealed a bimodal binding profile of MPP8 to both ISGs and non-ISGs, the latter largely driven by young LINE-1 elements. We propose that shutdown of the IFN-I system in pluripotent stem cells is essential to prevent lethality from unwarranted self-nucleic acid sensing. This shutdown is achieved through a triple-layer of epigenetic lockdown targeting ligands, sensors, and effectors across the IFN-I pathway.

Digital twins for lifespan prediction of used storage racks

Abstract Digital twins (DTs) are vital tools to (1) model products or systems at their design stages and (2) monitor systems’ conditions and predict their lifespans in their deployment stages. However, not many real-world case studies of DTs have been reported in literature to show significant benefits to Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). In this paper, DTs are proposed to predict the lifespans of used resources to pursue the sustainability of Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems (RMSs). To illustrate the potential applications of DTs in enhancing the sustainability of real-world SMEs, a Technical Assistive Project (TAP) for the assessment of lifespans of materials storage racks is presented. The background and data collection methods are introduced, and digital models for 4 selective racks are developed to evaluate their Factor of Safety (FoS) subject to the worst loading scenarios. Parametric design studies are defined and conducted to investigate the dependence of FoS on varying loads. The results support managers’ scientific decision-makings on reusing and recycling manufacturing resources in Sustainable Manufacturing.

Warming transforms the western Arctic Ocean into a hub of drifting matter

Abstract The Arctic Ocean is increasingly stressed by anthropogenic pollution and rapid environmental change. River discharge plays a crucial role in this transition by delivering freshwater, nutrients, carbon, and contaminants to the ocean. Yet how river-borne materials will spread through the Arctic under future climate warming remains unclear. Here we show that climate warming accelerates and expands the dispersal of Arctic river waters and drifting materials through multi-scale changes in ocean circulation linked to sea-ice decline and reduced upper-ocean density. Stronger ocean eddy activity and altered wind-driven circulation transform the Beaufort Gyre from a predominantly regional reservoir into a pan-Arctic convergence zone that efficiently accumulates river-derived materials from Siberia. Meanwhile, intensified boundary currents and Transpolar Drift accelerate the export of Siberian discharge toward the North Atlantic. Together, these circulation changes greatly increase cross-basin connectivity, with broad implications for marine ecosystems in the northern high-latitude oceans and for Arctic coastal communities.

A reinforcement learning-enhanced fuzzy multi-objective equilibrium optimization framework for multiple sequence alignment

High performance organic solar cell enabled by manipulating the exciton dissociation and charge transfer via dielectric engineering

Abstract As core processes determining the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs), exciton dissociation and charge transfer are fundamentally restricted by the low intrinsic dielectric constant of organic semiconductors. Herein, two dielectric regulators (Drs) named Dr-1 and Dr-2 are judiciously designed with different molecular dipole moments to conduct research on dielectric engineering. The incorporation of S···F noncovalent conformational locks (NoCLs) endows Dr-2 with an extended π-conjugated backbone, improved molecular polarizability, reinforced charge delocalization and a larger dipole moment than Dr-1. Thus, Dr-2-modified OSCs based on the D18:L8-BO system achieve a PCE of 20.85%, surpassing the 20.13% of Dr-1-treated counterparts. Enhanced efficiencies across diverse donor-acceptor systems confirm the universal applicability of this strategy. Furthermore, 300 nm-thick OSCs incorporated with Dr-2 deliver a record-high PCE of 19.56%. This work provides a strategy for designing high-performance dielectric regulators via tuning molecular dipole moment and planarity simultaneously, thereby achieving high-efficiency OSCs.

Mediating effect of health anxiety in patients with inflammatory bowel disease between disease perception and self-management behavior

Fibroblastic aspartoacylase suppresses TGFβ-mediated responses and cancer progression

Measuring information density in interlanguage through entropy analysis

Abstract Interlanguage development is often assessed through structural counts that only partially capture how learner language is organized probabilistically. This study examines whether information-theoretic indicators are sensitive to proficiency-linked distributional differences in argumentative interlanguage writing. It analyzes 200 de-identified argumentative essays: 143 L2 English essays labeled B1, B2, or C1 and 57 genre-matched L1 English essays used as a reference sample. The primary analysis focuses on four operational indicators: lexical entropy (Hlex), grammatical divergence from an L1 reference distribution using POS trigrams (KLgram), compression ratio (CR), and the positional concentration index (PCI). The broader analytical framework also includes an exploratory phraseological layer operationalized as entropy over contiguous 3-word lexical sequences. Descriptive results suggested increasing phraseological dispersion across proficiency levels; however, because more than 90% of these sequences occurred only once within the fixed 250-token windows, the estimates were treated as supplemental and were excluded from the primary inferential analysis. Welch’s ANOVA and Games-Howell post hoc tests indicated ordered group differences in the observed analytic sample. Hlex and PCI increased across proficiency groups, whereas KLgram and CR decreased, suggesting broader lexical dispersion, closer local grammatical alignment with the L1 reference distribution, greater global structural regularity, and stronger early information packaging. The findings are interpreted as evidence of probabilistic reorganization within this bounded argumentative-writing corpus, not as a universal model of L2 development or as a mathematical validation of the measures. They should be read in light of the study’s genre, sampling, annotation, fixed-window, metadata, and data-sharing constraints.

Modular Scalable Synthetic Gene Circuits for Complex Functions Within Minimal Computational Layers in Human Cells

Building Crosslinking Network via Catalytic Furan‐to‐Pyrrole Conversion

ABSTRACT To address the limitations of conventional furan resins, which rely on furfural derivatives for synthesis and exhibit constrained performance, this work presents a catalytic polycondensation strategy that synthesizes high‐performance resins directly from furfural and amines. Catalyzed by NH 4 Cl, the process transforms furan rings into pyrrole rings via a Schiff base intermediate, proceeding through aromaticity disruption, nitrogen‐atom incorporation, and aromaticity reconstruction. This unreported mechanism constructs a multi‐substituted pyrrole cross‐linked network, which demonstrates exceptional thermal stability (450°C decomposition), flame retardancy (limiting oxygen index of 31.7%), superior mechanical strength (tensile strength of 70 MPa, flexural strength of 131 MPa), excellent fatigue resistance (a resin spring surviving 10 000 compression cycles at 95% strain), and robust adhesion to diverse substrates, particularly on stainless steel across an extremely broad temperature range (−196°C–200°C). The solvent‐free, atom‐economical method, coupled with dynamic covalent bonds enabling reprocessing, offers a sustainable pathway for biomass‐based furfural utilization and establishes a general strategy for furan‐to‐pyrrole conversion with potential in engineering plastics, structural adhesives, and coatings.