Browse Articles

Aerosol interplay with meteorology in a biodiversity-rich high-altitude site in India: impacts of southwest monsoon on aerosol chemical characteristics

Abstract Atmospheric aerosols significantly impact climate, and the hydrological cycle, in high-altitude regions like the Western Ghats in India, where monsoon dynamics play a critical role. Here we present the first Q-ACSM-based characterization of non-refractory submicron aerosol (NR-PM 1 ) and organic aerosol (OA) source apportionment from Munnar, Kerala, during the Southwest monsoon season (06 June—25 July 2021). The organics comprised the largest fraction of NR-PM 1 (42.1 ± 23.7%), closely followed by sulfate (41.0 ± 19.6%). Aerosol composition was strongly controlled by meteorological regime: sulfate dominated during active monsoon periods and exhibited a persistent high-speed W–SW transport signature consistent with strong marine influence, while organics became the dominant fraction (52%) during the mixed period. OA source apportionment, conducted using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), identified four key factors: hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA, 11.4 ± 10.4%), biomass-burning OA (BBOA, 14.0 ± 13.8%), Biomass-Burning-derived Oxygenated OA (BB-OOA, 40.2 ± 23.0%), and Oxygenated OA (OOA, 34.3 ± 24.3%), suggesting dominance of secondary aerosols in the region. These findings highlight the contrasting roles of long-range marine transport and local secondary processing in shaping fine aerosol composition at high-altitude monsoon sites, with implications for aerosol hygroscopicity and cloud condensation nuclei activity over the Western Ghats.

Mapping structural variants in Populus tomentosa reveals adaptive signatures and improves prediction of wood properties

Defining Rational Photoelectron Routing for Targeted Intracellular Energy Transfer

ABSTRACT Microbial artificial photosynthesis offers a promising strategy for light‐driven biomanufacturing, yet its efficiency remains limited by the non‐selective conversion of photogenerated electrons into metabolically usable reducing power, causing energy dissipation and weak coupling between light capture and metabolic reactions. Here, we report a rational strategy using riboflavin (RF), a membrane‐permeable and biocompatible flavin photosensitizer, to selectively channel photonic energy into intracellular NADPH regeneration. Quantum chemical calculations and spectroscopic analyses reveal that light‐excited RF exhibits a specific binding affinity and favorable electron transfer trend toward NADP + . In vivo, RF activation markedly elevated intracellular NADPH levels and enhanced the synthesis of NADPH‐dependent metabolites through NADPH reductase‐associated pathways. Transcriptomic and inhibition analyses linked RF‐mediated NADPH regeneration to NADP + /NADPH redox enzymes rather than glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase‐mediated flux, while NADH‐related redox genes remained largely unaffected, demonstrating the selectivity of this reductive route. Cross‐species and multi‐product validations consistently reproduced these results, underscoring the generality of this mechanism across distinct NADPH‐dependent microbial chassis. This work establishes a mechanistically defined and broadly applicable framework for directing photogenerated electrons into specific cellular reducing equivalents, paving the way for efficient artificial photosynthetic and bioelectrochemical platforms.

Green-synthesized tellurium nanoparticles as a multifunctional leather finishing agent: antimicrobial and mechanical enhancement

Abstract Leather is highly susceptible to microbial colonization due to its moisture retention and nutrient-rich structure, which promotes bacterial and fungal growth and compromises hygiene, durability, and user comfort in applications such as footwear and upholstery. In this work, tellurium nanoparticles (TeNPs) were green synthesized through redox reaction using plant extract and structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to confirm crystalline phase, particle size, and morphology. The TeNPs were then applied to leather substrates to generate antimicrobial leathers. The distribution and surface morphology of TeNPs on leather were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) to verify nanoparticle anchoring and elemental composition. Mechanical performance was assessed through tensile strength and elongation testing to evaluate the influence of TeNP incorporation on the integrity of the leather matrix. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of TeNP-treated leather were quantified against representative Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and Aspergillus fungal. The antimicrobial efficacy of TeNPs is attributed to ROS generation, disruption of microbial cell membranes, inhibition of thiol-containing respiratory enzymes, and Te redox cycling-mediated oxidative stress, which together achieve broad-spectrum inactivation of bacterial and fungal pathogens. The TeNP-functionalized leather exhibited pronounced antibacterial and antifungal activities while enhancing mechanical performance, indicating its potential as a high-value, hygienic leather material for advanced footwear and other consumer applications.

Using connectome-based predictive models to reveal the systems standardized tests and clinical symptoms are reflecting

Dual Regulation of Molecular Orbital and Interfacial Water on Nickel Phthalocyanine for Highly Selective H ₂ O ₂ Synthesis

ABSTRACT Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) electrosynthesis via the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e − ORR) is fundamentally challenged by both spin‐forbidden O 2 activation and sluggish proton‐coupled electron transfer. Herein, we move beyond conventional metal‐centered design and propose a dual‐regulation strategy that integrates molecular orbital engineering with control of the interfacial water network. Using nickel phthalocyanines as a platform, extended π ‐conjugation combined with polar methoxy (‐OCH 3 ) groups was introduced. It narrows the HOMO–LUMO gap and facilitates potential‐driven formation of a paramagnetic superoxide intermediate, while the methoxy groups further reorganize the interfacial water layer with moderate hydrogen‐bonding strength that enables efficient proton delivery for subsequent hydrogenation steps. This led to high H 2 O 2 selectivity (up to 96.49%) over a wide potential range, with stable performance in both flow cell and porous state electrolyte reactors for over 50 h. In situ spectroscopy and simulations reveal how molecular orbital regulation contributes to the catalytic process, and how the interfacial water layer facilitates hydrogenation. Our work provides a molecular orbital perspective on the cooperative roles of metal and ligand, establishing a design strategy that co‐regulates electronic and interfacial determinants for selective multi‐electron electrocatalysis.

Low-profile conformal triple-band textile antenna using conductive fabric and PDMS for wearable electronics

Artificial intelligence for detecting fetal orofacial clefts and advancing medical education

X‐Ray and Mechano‐Induced Valence Transition and Luminescence of Ln ³⁺ /Ln ²⁺ in CsCaCl ₃

ABSTRACT Lanthanide (Ln)‐doped perovskites show immense potential in luminescence. Although Ln 2+ ions offer superior luminescence efficiency and spectral tunability over Ln 3+ , realizing Ln 2+ luminescence remains a formidable challenge. Here, a novel strategy based on reduction potentials of 12 Ln 3+ ions is developed to achieve selective reduction of Ln 3+ to Ln 2+ in CsCaCl 3 using x‐rays and mechanical force. Specifically, ions with lower reduction potentials (Eu 3+ , Yb 3+ , Sm 3+ ) are reduced to the divalent state, whereas those with higher reduction potentials remain trivalent. Notably, the photoluminescence of Eu 2+ increases by two orders of magnitude after x‐ray irradiation. Meanwhile, non‐reducible Ln 3+ ions exhibit ultra‐long persistent luminescence from the ultraviolet to near‐infrared region, with Tb 3+ showing a persistence time of 98 s (decay to 1/10 of its initial intensity) outperforming most commercial materials. Moreover, both Ln 2+ and Ln 3+ in CsCaCl 3 exhibit bright mechanoluminescence. Mechanistic investigations identify Cs vacancies as hole traps and Cl vacancies as electron traps, governing carrier storage and release. Leveraging these properties, proof‐of‐concept applications are presented in radiation warning, collision detection, and x‐ray imaging. This work establishes a multi‐stimuli‐responsive platform for valence‐selective luminescence, opening new avenues for smart optoelectronic devices.

Model-informed dose optimization of carvedilol and nebivolol in cirrhotic patients: a pilot randomized clinical study

Abstract Liver cirrhosis causes physiological and pharmacokinetic alterations that complicate antihypertensive therapy, in the presence of portal and arterial hypertension. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of PBPK-guided dosing of carvedilol and nebivolol in cirrhotic patients. First, PBPK models were validated using clinical pharmacokinetic data from healthy volunteers and optimized for cirrhosis, then applied to simulate untested cirrhotic populations and estimate unbound plasma exposure across disease stages. Second, a prospective, open-label, parallel randomized pilot study enrolled 44 cirrhotic patients (Child-Pugh; CP-A or B) with arterial hypertension, who received PBPK-guided doses of carvedilol or nebivolol, with 3 months of follow-up including monthly monitoring of adverse events, blood pressure, heart rate, portal hemodynamics by Doppler ultrasound, and laboratory safety parameters. The model predicted dose reductions of carvedilol 25 mg once daily and nebivolol 10 mg once daily to 11.26 mg and 4.98 mg in mild cirrhosis, 5.52 mg and 2.98 mg in moderate cirrhosis, and 1.99 mg and 1.23 mg in severe cirrhosis. Following administration of doses as close as possible to the PBPK-guided doses in CP A and B, both agents were well tolerated, effectively reducing blood pressure and heart rate without significant changes in hepatic and renal parameters. Portal hemodynamics and platelet count improved in both groups, with carvedilol showing greater effects; adverse events were mild and more frequent with carvedilol. While both drugs controlled blood pressure, carvedilol improved portal hemodynamics more. PBPK-guided dosing addressed pharmacokinetic changes, but pharmacodynamic differences between CP-A and CP-B persisted due to disease progression.

Glycosylated extracellular matrix drives immune suppression by modulating macrophage-T cell crosstalk in triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract The tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) is increasingly recognized as a key driver of immune suppression and therapy resistance in cancer. However, the specific ECM components and mechanisms that create this immunosuppressive environment remain poorly understood, hindering the development of new therapies. Here, we use comprehensive multi omics profiling of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive and treatment-resistant subtype, to investigate this issue. We report that ECM immunomodulation in TNBC is mediated by post-translational glycan modifications on ECM proteins. Using decellularized human TNBC samples, we show that targeted enzymatic removal of these ECM glycans modifies the tumor immune microenvironment. This modification reprograms tumor-associated myeloid cells toward an immunomodulatory phenotype and improves infiltration of T cells. Notably, ECM desialylation alters selectin and selectin-ligand programs on T cells, consistent with improved trafficking and intratumoral access. In parallel, macrophage–T cell interactions are reshaped, leading to reduced T cell exhaustion. Our findings identify ECM glycan modifications as critical regulators of the innate and adaptive TNBC immune microenvironment. They suggest that targeting ECM glycosylation could offer potential strategies to boost anti-tumor immunity in this aggressive breast cancer subtype.

Micro‐Stepwise (100) Crystal Face Coupling Molecular‐Layer Engineering Promises High‐Performance Zn‐Iodine Batteries in Wide pH and Seawater Electrolytes

ABSTRACT Aqueous zinc–iodine batteries (ZIBs) are promising for large‐scale energy storage but suffer from interfacial challenges in wide pH and seawater electrolytes, such as polyiodide shuttling, chloride‐induced pitting, and dendrite growth. This study proposes the engineering of micro‐stepwise structures with exposed (100) facets via molecular modulation, which guides uniform distribution of zinc species preventing the formation of passivation layers in wide pH electrolytes. Additionally, the molecular layer reduces interfacial H 2 O activity via hydrogen bonds and physically blocks the migration of Cl − and polyiodides towards the anode, alleviating corrosion and pitting within seawater electrolytes. Benefiting from the coupling effect of micro‐stepwise and molecular layers, the Ah‐level Zn||I 2 pouch cells deliver high capacities of 1.13 (2 mA cm −2 ) and 0.61 (4 mA cm −2 ) Ah after 110 and 1000 cycles in acidic electrolytes. The full cells also operate stably in acidic and alkaline electrolytes. It's worth noting that the Zn||I 2 full cell delivers a high capacity of 180 mAh g −1 at 20 A g −1 after 20 000 cycles in seawater electrolyte. This study presents an effective interface engineering strategy for balancing long‐term stability with rapid electrochemical reaction kinetics of ZIBs under diverse electrolyte scenarios.

Optimized convolutional neural network - kernel ridge regression-error correction method: an advanced model for predicting soil saturated hydraulic conductivity

Disease-associated genetic variants can cause missense effects in tissue-specific protein isoforms

Abstract Genetic variants can cause protein-coding mutations that result in disease. Variants are typically interpreted using the reference transcript for a gene. However, most human multi-exon genes have alternative isoforms. We show that, consistent with their reduced evolutionary constraint, coding exons in alternative isoforms harbour more population variants than exons of reference isoforms, and that these variants are more likely to cause nonsynonymous mutations. Common and rare disease-associated variants mapping to alternative transcripts can lead to amino acid substitutions predicted to be structurally damaging in the corresponding protein isoform. The alternative transcripts to which disease-associated variants map demonstrate high tissue-specificity, with many unannotated in reference human genomes, and only revealed by long-read RNA-sequencing. As an example, we report an unannotated, alternative transcript of the inflammasome regulator DPP9 that is lung epithelium-specific, that harbours a common genetic variant associated with severe COVID-19 and lung fibrosis. Using deep RNA sequencing of full-length transcript isoforms by targeted capture, we confirm the expression of the unannotated DPP9 isoform. The DPP9 isoform variant causes a p.Leu8Pro missense mutation in an alternative first exon, predicted to disrupt the encoded alpha helix, and we show that the variant alters DPP9 enzymatic activity. Our findings highlight the importance of considering alternative isoforms, their tissue-specific expression, and full-length transcripts in variant interpretation, with implications for uncovering underappreciated mechanisms of both common and rare disease.

Aethrene: A Stable Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon With a Triplet Ground State

ABSTRACT Owing to their unique electronic structures and magnetic properties, high‐spin radicals have garnered significant interest in the fields of organic electronics and spintronics. Nevertheless, the high reactivity of high‐spin radicals renders efficient synthesis and selective isolation of the species a formidable challenge. An aethrene derivative 2 with an A‐shaped geometric skeleton was designed with a Clar structure of allylic radicals embedded with aromatic benzenoid rings, and two bulky steric substituents were introduced at the zigzag edges to endow the compound with excellent stability. 2 exhibits a 15.5‐day half‐life under ambient and light conditions. The structure of 2 was unequivocally confirmed through x‐ray crystallographic analysis. Aethrene 2 was demonstrated to possess a triplet ground state through DFT calculations and experimental methods, including continuous wave and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance and superconducting quantum interference device measurements. Notably, its dication was successfully obtained by in‐situ oxidation with NO·SbF 6 and exhibited a closed‐shell ground state. This work shed new light on the design and synthesis of novel stable PAHs with high‐spin multiplicity.

Expectations predict early pregnancy-related symptom burden

Abstract Early pregnancy is commonly accompanied by a wide range of symptoms, yet psychological determinants of pregnancy-related symptom burden remain poorly understood. Evidence from other medical contexts suggests that expectations may contribute to symptom burden. This prospective study examined whether first-trimester symptom expectations predict pregnancy-related symptom burden and disability at the beginning of the second trimester. In the PrExpect study, pregnant women up to the 10th gestational week completed online questionnaires assessing pregnancy-related symptoms, symptom expectations, psychological variables, and pregnancy characteristics, with follow-up at the beginning of the second trimester. Hierarchical regression models identified predictors of symptom burden and disability. Bidirectional temporal associations between symptoms and expectations were examined using a cross-lagged panel model. Exploratory analyses assessed pregnancy-related mindsets. A total of 347 women provided baseline data, and 227 completed follow-ups. Symptom burden was high and increased across the first trimester. Stronger baseline symptom expectations consistently predicted greater symptom burden and disability at follow-up. Cross-lagged analyses indicated bidirectional associations between expectations and symptoms over time. Several negative pregnancy-related mindsets were associated with higher symptom burden. These findings identify symptom expectations as a psychological correlate of early pregnancy-related symptom burden and disability, suggesting that symptom expectations may represent a promising target for future intervention studies to support well-being in early pregnancy.

Structural basis and immunogenic efficacy of porcine circovirus type 3 virus-like particle

Carbohydrate Physicochemical Properties: The Innate Hydrogen Bond Donating Capacities of α‐Glucoside and α‐Galactoside Alcohol Groups

ABSTRACT Despite the significance of hydrogen bonding in protein‐carbohydrate interactions, carbohydrate conformation, and crystallinity (solubility), relative hydrogen bond donating capacities (HBDC) of individual alcohol groups of a given sugar are poorly characterised. Here the first systematic determination of the HBDC of individual sugar alcohol groups has been achieved, which were ranked in a HB‐scale (p K AHY ‐scale) that is relevant for medicinal chemistry purposes. HB determination was achieved using an IR‐based protocol with methyl α‐glucoside‐ and α‐galactoside‐based model compounds that exclude any contributions from HB cooperativity effects. A wide variation in HBDC was found, especially for galactose, with a strong stereochemical dependence not only of the alcohol group itself, but also at adjacent and even remote positions. The glucose 4‐OH and, notably, the galactose 6‐OH groups were the strongest donors, whereas the glucose 2‐OH and, notably, the galactose 4‐OH groups were the weakest donors. Interestingly, the galactose 6‐OH is the only group with a stronger HBDC than cyclohexanol. These differences could be qualitatively rationalised by a combined IR, NMR, and computational analysis, pointing to counteracting influences from inductive and the often multiple possible intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding effects. The difference between the factors that determine carbohydrate HB donating capacities and Brønsted acidities is discussed.

Microplastics in nucleus pulposus tissue of humans revealed by Raman mosaic imaging screening

Rossby wave-modulated orbital precipitation anomalies in the Asia-Pacific region

Abstract Orbital-scale dynamics of Indo-Pacific Warm Pool (IPWP), Earth’s dominant heat and moisture source, exert far-reaching yet incompletely understood influences on global hydroclimate. Here, by synthesizing sedimentary proxies with transient simulations, we identify a coherent, banded precipitation anomaly across the Asia-Pacific region that cannot be explained by regional dynamics alone. We show that seasonal deep convection over the IPWP excites planetary Rossby waves. On orbital timescales, their integrated effects are consistent with precessional forcing, while precession simultaneously modulates the large-scale atmospheric background state that influences their spatial organization. Guided by summer circulation, the Rossby-wave-related responses extend poleward and reorganize large-scale moisture transport and precipitation across the mid- and high-latitudes. The cumulative wave response and background-state modulation provide a robust dynamical linkage between tropical convection and extratropical hydroclimate on orbital timescales. This mechanism offers a physically consistent interpretation for how low-latitude orbital forcing imprints hydroclimate variability across Pan-Asia via planetary-wave dynamics.