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This article from Fast Company highlights the winners of the Innovation by Design Awards, showcasing 20 projects that have been recognized for their excellence in various categories. These projects include a building made of living trees, an innovative earbud design, a rebranding of the crowdfunding platform Patreon, a provocative marketing campaign for Skims, a revolutionary building material, a compressed toilet paper packaging solution, an innovative office space in Detroit, and an app to help refugees settle in Poland. The article provides a brief overview of each project, emphasizing their unique features and contributions. Additionally, the article discusses partnerships between the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and design manufacturers, resulting in new products inspired by the architect's designs. These partnerships aim to appeal to a younger and more diverse audience, while also generating increased royalty income for the foundation. The document also includes a comprehensive list of designs and products recognized for their innovation and impact in various categories, along with the judges and finalists in each category. [Extracted from the article]

We document the need to examine digital game play and app use as a context for cognitive development, particularly during middle childhood. We highlight this developmental period as 6- through 12-year olds comprise a large swath of the preadult population that plays and uses these media forms. Surprisingly, this age range remains understudied with regard to the impact of their interactive media use as compared to young children and adolescents. This gap in knowledge about middle childhood may reflect strong and widely held concerns about the effects of digital games and apps before and after this period. These concerns include concurrent and subsequent influences of game use on very young children's and adolescents' cognitive and socioemotional functioning. We highlight here what is currently known about the impact of media on young children and adolescents and what is not known about this impact in middle childhood. We then offer recommendations for the types of research that developmental scientists can undertake to examine the efficacy of digital games within the rapidly changing media ecology in which children live. We conclude with a discussion of media policies that we believe can help children benefit from their media use. Our hope is that this review will foster greater investigation of the cognitive socialization, as raised over 20 years ago by developmental psychologist and early games researcher Patricia Greenfield, that digital games serve during the middle childhood period, and childhood more generally.

In the United States, there are significant disparities in the oral health of children from families with high and low socioeconomic status and between majority and minority children. Extant research on these health differences has focused predominately on caregiver knowledge, beliefs, and practices as well as structural barriers such as Medicaid coverage, dentist availability, and transportation issues. Little attention has been paid to the quality of care families experience when taking their child to the dentist or the ways in which dental schools train their students to work with young children. This policy report describes some of the experiences of low-income and ethnically diverse young children and their parents in dental clinics and highlights some of the weaknesses of dental training. We contend that increasing the standards for dental training and practice are necessary for improving young children's oral health and reducing these disparities.

This document provides a comprehensive list of innovative ideas and projects across various fields. Some notable examples include Google's use of artificial intelligence to reduce airline emissions, Ember LifeSciences' reusable self-refrigerated box for tracking medication temperatures, and Clean Crop Technologies' use of cold plasma technology to remove contaminants from seeds. Made for a Woman provides employment opportunities for vulnerable women, Holcim uses recycled concrete for new buildings, and Mikyoung Kim Design incorporates public gardens into a life-sciences campus. Vivobarefoot uses 3D scanning and printing technology to create custom-fit shoes. These projects aim to address global challenges and make a positive impact in their respective fields. [Extracted from the article]

AbstractColorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor recognized as a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Therefore, novel liposomes of oleic acid coated with camel α-lactalbumin (α-LA coated liposomes) were developed for their potential antitumor activity against CRC, both in vitroand in DMH-induced CRC-modeled animal. In vitroresults indicated the high safety of α-LA coated liposomes towards normal human cells with potent antitumor activity against Caco-2 cells at an IC50value of 57.01 ± 3.55 µM with selectivity index of 6.92 ± 0.48. This antitumor activity has been attributed to induction of the apoptotic mechanism, as demonstrated by nuclear condensation and arrest of Caco-2 cells in sub-G1 populations. α-LA coated liposomes also revealed a significant up-regulation of the p53 gene combined with a down-regulation of the Bcl2 gene. Moreover, in vivoresults revealed that treatment of induced-CRC modeled animals with α-LA coated liposomes for six weeks markedly improved the CRC-disorders; this was achieved from the significant reduction in the values of AFP, CEA, CA19.9, TNF-α, IL-1β, MDA, and NO coupled with remarkable rise in SOD, GPx, GSH, CAT, and CD4+ levels. The histopathological findings asserted the therapeutic potential of α-LA coated liposomes in the treatment of CRC. Therefore, the present results proved the antitumor activity of α-LA coated liposomes against CRC through the restoration of impaired oxidative stress, improved immune response, and reduced inflammation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

•Largest and most diverse genetic study of plasma fibrinogen identifies 54 regions (18 novel), housing 69 distinct variants (20 novel).•Links to (1) liver enzyme, blood cell, and lipid genetic signals, (2) liver regulatory elements, and (3) thrombotic and inflammatory disease.

Restoration is a key component of global and national efforts to combat ecosystem degradation, reduce biodiversity loss, and adapt to climate change, and there is currently an impetus to scale up restoration efforts. However, our ability to track progress toward restoration targets is limited by the lack of consistent and standardized data on objectives, interventions, and outcomes. To address this, a collaboration of conservation practitioners and scientists from around the world have developed the Mangrove Restoration Tracker Tool (MRTT), an application to record and track outcomes from mangrove restoration projects. The MRTT records information across the lifetime of a project, capturing data describing the site background and pre-restoration baseline and the restoration interventions and costs, as well as post-restoration monitoring that incorporates both socioeconomic and ecological factors. The MRTT allows decision makers, practitioners, and site managers to access information that is essential in making informed, evidence-based decisions on restoration interventions to maximize impact and success.

Complementary X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) and Raman spectroscopy studies were conducted on various UCl3concentrations in alkali chloride salt compositions. The samples were 5 mol % UCl3in LiCl (S1), 5 mol % UCl3in KCl (S2), 5 mol % UCl3in LiCl–KCl eutectic (S4), 50 mol % UCl3in KCl (S5), and 20 mol % UCl3in KCl (S6) molar concentrations. Samples were heated to 800 °C and allowed to cool to room temperature with measurements performed at selected temperatures; the highest temperatures showed the most stability and will be primarily referenced for conclusions. The processing and interpretation of the Raman and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) peaks revealed several uranium–oxygen bond lengths and symmetries in the samples before, during, and after heating. Based on published thermodynamic data of similar systems, X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy, and identification of Raman peaks, a β variation of α-U3O8, typical at room temperature, is the suspected dominant phase of all samples at high temperatures (800 °C). In the existing literature, this β structure of U3O8was synthesized by slow cooling of uranium oxides from 1350 °C. This paper suggests the rapid formation of the compound due to the decomposition of the uranium chlorides or oxychlorides at increasing temperatures and O2reaction kinetics.

Photon upconversion in the solid state has the potential to improve existing solar and infrared imaging technologies due to its achievable efficiency at low power thresholds. However, despite considerable advancements in solution-phase upconversion, expanding the library of potential solid-state annihilators and developing a fundamental understanding of their solid-state behaviors remains challenging due to intermolecular coupling affecting the underlying energy landscape. Naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene has shown promise as a suitable solid-state annihilator. However, the origin of its multiple underlying emissive features remains unknown. To this point, here, we investigate NaPy/poly(methyl methacrylate) thin films at varying concentrations to tune the intermolecular coupling strength to determine its photophysical properties at a range of temperatures between 300–50 K. The results suggest that the multiple emissive features present in the NaPy thin film emission at room temperature arise from a multidimensional I-aggregate (520 nm), an excimer (550 nm), and a strongly coupled J-dimer (620 nm). In addition, we find that at low temperatures, the emission spectrum is dominated by direct emission from the 1(TT) state.

A commercial process for vepdegestrant (1), the most advanced PROTAC protein degrader in human clinical trials, has been developed to support clinical and commercial needs. The process features an efficient convergent synthetic strategy through the final reductive amination of two advanced chiral intermediates, as well as several highly efficient telescoped processes and robust crystallization for purity control. The final commercial process of vepdegestrant (1) consists of seven proposed regulatory GMP steps with five isolations in an overall yield of 29%.

(R)-1-(2,5-Difluoropyridin-3-yl)ethyl(1-methyl-4-(5-(2-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine-5-carboxamido)pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-5-yl)carbamate (GS-2278) is a lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 antagonist under development for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. GS-2278 is assembled in a 9-step sequence. Initially, 2-bromo-5-fluoropyridine is metalated and trapped with ethyl difluoroacetate. Then, after condensation with tosyl hydrazide, Sakai cyclization with methylamine, and carboxylation with carbon dioxide, the triazole carboxylic acid core is generated. For the final assembly, the core is elaborated through a two-step hydroxamic acid formation and Lossen rearrangement to form an isocyanate which is trapped in situ by a chiral alcohol. The resulting carbamate is Boc-deprotected and subjected to amide coupling with a pyrimidine carboxylic acid to yield the active pharmaceutical ingredient. Process development was conducted to determine reaction and isolation conditions to enable scale-ups to support preclinical and early clinical studies. This paper focuses on the development of conditions from the medicinal chemistry route to the Ph 1 manufacturing route.

In this study, we investigate the quaternary ammonium-based ionic liquid (QAIL), methyltrioctylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, [N1888][TFSI], utilizing small angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements and polarizable molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to characterize the short- and long-range liquid structure. Scattering structure factors show signatures of three length scales in reciprocal space indicative of alternating polarity (k∼ 0.44 Å–1), charge (k∼ 0.75 Å–1), and neighboring or adjacent (k∼ 1.46 Å–1) domains. Excellent agreement between simulation and experimental scattering structure factors validates various simulation analyses that provide detailed atomistic characterization of the different length scale correlations. The first solvation shell structure is illustrated by obtaining radial, angular, dihedral, and combined distribution functions, where two dominant spatial motifs, N+···N–and N+···O–, compete for optimal packing around the polar head of the [N1888]+cation. Intermediate and long-range structures are governed by the balance between local electroneutrality and octyl chain networking, respectively. By computing the charge-correlation structure factor, SZZ, and the spatial extent of the octyl chain network using graph theory, the bulk-phase structure of [N1888][TFSI] is characterized in terms of electrostatic screening and apolar domain formation length scales.

We have investigated the structure of a novel aza-cata-condensed derivative, obtained by photochemical cyclization of 1-(2-phenanthrenyl)-2-(3-quinolyl) ethene. To our delight, by using Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) on nanostructured gold films produced by pulsed-laser deposition, we could reliably assign the molecular structure of this achiral byproduct. This use of SERS was enabled by density functional theory calculations, and the outcomes are fully supported by NMR results. This study illustrates the potential of SERS in characterizing novel aza-aromatic derivatives with complex structures.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are emerging human pathogens linked to severe pulmonary diseases. Current treatments involve the prolonged use of multiple drugs and are often ineffective. Bacterial dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a key enzyme targeted by antibiotics in Gram-negative bacterial infections. However, existing DHFR inhibitors designed for Gram-negative bacteria often fail against mycobacterial DHFRs. Here, we detail the rational design of NTM DHFR inhibitors based on P218, a malarial DHFR inhibitor. We identified compound 8, a 2,4-diaminopyrimidine exhibiting improved pharmacological properties and activity against purified DHFR, and whole cell cultures of two predominant NTM species: Mycobacterium aviumand Mycobacterium abscessus. This study underscores the potential of compound 8as a promising candidate for the in vivovalidation of DHFR as an effective treatment against NTM infections.

The recent global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted treatments for coronavirus infection as an unmet medical need. The main protease (Mpro) has been an important target for the development of SARS-CoV-2 direct-acting antivirals. Nirmatrelvir as a covalent Mproinhibitor was the first such approved therapy. Although Mproinhibitors of various chemical classes have been reported, they are generally less active against nirmatrelvir-resistant variants and have limited pan-coronavirus potential, presenting a significant human health risk upon future outbreaks. We here present a novel approach and utilized DNA-encoded chemical library screening to identify the noncovalent Mproinhibitor 5, which demonstrated a distinct binding mode to nirmatrelvir. A macrocyclization strategy designed to lock the active conformation resulted in lactone 12with significantly improved antiviral activity. Further optimization led to the potent lactam 26, which demonstrated exceptional potency against nirmatrelvir-resistant variants as well as against a panel of viral main proteases from other coronaviruses.

Inhibition of integrin αvβ6 is a promising approach to the treatment of fibrotic disease such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Screening a small library combining head groups that stabilize the bent-closed conformation of integrin αIIbβ3 with αv integrin binding motifs resulted in the identification of hit compounds that bind the bent-closed conformation of αvβ6. Crystal structures of these compounds bound to αvβ6 and related integrins revealed opportunities to increase potency and selectivity, and these efforts were accelerated using accurate free energy perturbation (FEP+) calculations. Optimization of PK parameters including permeability, bioavailability, clearance, and half-life resulted in the discovery of development candidate MORF-627, a highly selective inhibitor of αvβ6 that stabilizes the bent-closed conformation and has good oral PK. Unfortunately, the compound showed toxicity in a 28-day NHP safety study, precluding further development. Nevertheless, MORF-627 is a useful tool compound for studying the biology of integrin αvβ6.

Densities (ρ), viscosities (η), and refractive indices (nD) have been measured for binary mixtures of oxolane (tetrahydrofuran, THF) with 2-alkoxyethanols (2-ethoxyethanol, EE; 2-butoxyethanol, BE) over the entire composition range and at temperatures from 298.15 to 323.15 K in 5 K increments. From these data, excess molar volume (VmE), thermal expansivity (α), excess thermal expansivity (αE), deviation in viscosity (Δη), free energy for the activation of viscous flow (ΔG≠) and its excess (ΔG≠E), and deviation in refractive index (ΔnD) were calculated. The variations in these properties with the composition and temperature indicate that cross-hydrogen bonding, chain length effects, and molecular packing play significant roles in both EE + THF and BE + THF systems. The measured ρ, η, and nDdata were fitted to concentration-dependent polynomial equations, while excess properties (VmE, Δη, ΔG≠E, and ΔnD) were fitted to Redlich–Kister-type equations. Densities were additionally correlated using the Jouyban-Acree model. The correlating abilities of various viscosity models (McAllister three-body, McAllister four-body, and Ausländer) were also evaluated. Furthermore, density functional theory, a quantum mechanical approach, was used to assess intra- and intermolecular interactions within the binary mixtures.

Chronic neuropathic pain is an increasingly prevalent societal issue that responds poorly to existing therapeutic strategies. The α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) has emerged as a potential target to treat neuropathic pain. However, challenges in expressing functional α9α10 nAChRs in mammalian cell lines have slowed the discovery of α9α10 ligands and studies into the relationship between α9α10 nAChRs and neuropathic pain. Here, we develop a cell line in the HEK293 background that stably expresses functional α9α10 nAChRs. By also developing cell lines expressing only α9 and α10 subunits, we identify distinct receptor pharmacology between homomeric α9 or α10 and heteromeric α9α10 nAChRs. Moreover, we demonstrate that incubation with nAChR ligands differentially regulates the expression of α9- or α10-containing nAChRs, suggesting a possible mechanism by which ligands may modify receptor composition and trafficking in α9- and α10-expressing cells. We then apply our α9α10 cell line in a screen of FDA-approved and investigational drugs to identify α9α10 ligands that provide new tools to probe α9α10 nAChR function. We demonstrate that one compound from this screen, diphenidol, possesses antinociceptive activity in a murine model of neuropathic pain. These results expand our understanding of α9α10 receptor pharmacology and provide new starting points for developing efficacious neuropathic pain treatments.

For patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), dual immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) with CTLA4 inhibitors and PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitors (hereafter, PD-(L)1 inhibitors) is associated with higher rates of anti-tumour activity and immune-related toxicities, when compared with treatment with PD-(L)1 inhibitors alone. However, there are currently no validated biomarkers to identify which patients will benefit from dual ICB1,2. Here we show that patients with NSCLC who have mutations in the STK11and/or KEAP1tumour suppressor genes derived clinical benefit from dual ICB with the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab and the CTLA4 inhibitor tremelimumab, but not from durvalumab alone, when added to chemotherapy in the randomized phase III POSEIDON trial3. Unbiased genetic screens identified loss of both of these tumour suppressor genes as independent drivers of resistance to PD-(L)1 inhibition, and showed that loss of Keap1was the strongest genomic predictor of dual ICB efficacy—a finding that was confirmed in several mouse models of Kras-driven NSCLC. In both mouse models and patients, KEAP1and STK11alterations were associated with an adverse tumour microenvironment, which was characterized by a preponderance of suppressive myeloid cells and the depletion of CD8+cytotoxic T cells, but relative sparing of CD4+effector subsets. Dual ICB potently engaged CD4+effector cells and reprogrammed the tumour myeloid cell compartment towards inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)-expressing tumoricidal phenotypes that—together with CD4+and CD8+T cells—contributed to anti-tumour efficacy. These data support the use of chemo-immunotherapy with dual ICB to mitigate resistance to PD-(L)1 inhibition in patients with NSCLC who have STK11and/or KEAP1alterations.

A nickel-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling of redox active N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHP) esters and iodoarenes for the synthesis of α-aryl nitriles is described. The NHP ester substrate is derived from cyanoacetic acid, which allows for a modular synthesis of substituted α-aryl nitriles, an important scaffold in the pharmaceutical sciences. The reaction exhibits a broad scope, and many functional groups are compatible under the reaction conditions, including complex highly functionalized medicinal agents. Mechanistic studies reveal that reduction and decarboxylation of the NHP ester to the reactive radical intermediate are accomplished by a combination of a chlorosilane additive and Zn dust. We demonstrate that stoichiometric chlorosilane is essential for product formation and that chlorosilane plays a role beyond activation of the metal reductant.

•EMD mimics the architectural complexity of solid tumors, marked by diverse microenvironments, multiclonality, and TNFRSF17and GPRC5Dlevels.•EMD shows infiltration of active T cells spatially confined to niches segregated from MM cells, potentially affecting the therapeutic response.

We report two related experiments to introduce column chromatography in the context of a second-year organic chemistry lab course or an upper-division advanced organic chemistry lab course. Both experiments involve functionalization of guaiazulene via electrophilic aromatic substitution, and the highly colored starting material and products serve as clear visual indicators of reaction progress and of the purification. The longer version of the experiment scaffolds the chromatography process by guiding students to develop conditions to purify their own unique compound. The products are amenable to a wide variety of characterization techniques, including UV–visible absorbance spectroscopy and 2D NMR spectroscopy. These experiments are highly flexible and have been implemented in a second-year course as an activity taking a single lab period and in an upper-division course as an activity taking three full lab periods. As judged by the results and discussion from their lab reports, students in both classes were largely successful at meeting the learning objectives for these experiments, including monitoring reaction progress using thin-layer chromatography, separating compound mixtures using column chromatography, and assessing the success of a reaction based on experimental data.

Mixed Sn–Pb halide perovskites are promising absorber materials for solar cells due to the possibility of tuning the bandgap energy down to 1.2–1.3 eV. However, tin-containing perovskites are susceptible to oxidation affecting the optoelectronic properties. In this work, we investigated qualitatively and quantitatively metastable oxygen-induced doping in isolated ASnxPb1–xI3(where A is methylammonium or a mixture of formamidinium and cesium) perovskite thin films by means of microwave conductivity, structural and optical characterization techniques. We observe that longer oxygen exposure times lead to progressively higher dark conductivities, which slowly decay back to their original levels over days. Here oxygen acts as an electron acceptor, leading to tin oxidation from Sn2+to Sn4+and creation of free holes. The metastable oxygen-induced doping is enhanced by exposing the perovskite simultaneously to oxygen and light. Next, we show that doping not only leads to the reduction in the photoconductivity signal but also induces long-term effects even after loss of doping, which is thought to derive from consecutive oxidation reactions leading to the formation of defect states. On prolonged exposure to oxygen and light, optical and structural changes can be observed and related to the formation of SnOxand loss of iodide near the surface. Our work highlights that even a short-term exposure to oxygen immediately impairs the charge carrier dynamics of the perovskite, while structural perovskite degradation is only noticeable upon long-term exposure and accumulation of oxidation products. Hence, for efficient solar cells, exposure of mixed Sn–Pb perovskites to oxygen during production and operation should be rigorously blocked.

There is limited research on associations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with areal bone mineral density (aBMD) through adolescence and whether bone-strengthening factors ameliorate effects. In the Project Viva cohort (N= 484; 50% female), we used sex-stratified linear regression and quantile g-computation mixture models to examine associations of mid-childhood (median: 7.8 years; 2007–2010) plasma PFAS concentrations with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry total-body aBMD Z-score in early and late adolescence (median: 12.9 and 17.6 years, respectively). We explored stratum-specific estimates by parent/self-reported physical activity and dairy intake. Using linear mixed models, we evaluated associations with aBMD accrual from mid-childhood through late adolescence. Females with higher perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorodecanoate (PFDA) had lower early adolescent aBMD Z-score [e.g., β(95%CI)] per doubling PFOA: −0.19(−0.41, 0.03)]. Youth with higher PFOA and PFDA had lower late adolescent aBMD Z-score, but CIs were wide [e.g., PFOA: females, −0.12(−0.40, 0.16); males, −0.10(−0.42, 0.21)]. Mixture models generally corroborated single PFAS results, and in linear mixed models, females with higher PFAS concentrations, and males with higher PFOA, had slower aBMD accrual. Less active males with higher PFOA, PFDA, and the PFAS mixture had lower late adolescent aBMD Z-score. Some PFAS appeared more negatively associated with the aBMD Z-score among those who consumed less dairy, but there was not consistent evidence of effect modification. Exposure to select PFAS may affect bone accrual through adolescence, with possible resilience conferred by greater physical activity and dairy intake.

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) is a technique that analyzes the chemical information and spatial distribution of surface analytes. Most MSI studies are conducted in microprobe mode, in which a mass spectrum is collected for each pixel to create a mass image. Thus, the spatial resolution, sample imaging area, and imaging speed are linked. In this mode, halving the pixel size quadruples the analytical time, which presents a practical limit on the high spatial resolution MSI throughput. Fast mass microscopy (FMM) is, in contrast, a microscope-mode MSI technique that decouples spatial resolution and imaging speed. FMM circumvents the linear-quadratic relationship of pixel size and analytical time, which enables increased imaging size area and the analytical speed achievable. In this study, we implement instrument modifications to the FMM system, including the addition of linear encoders that enable roughly 8.5× faster imaging than was previously achieved, allowing a 42.5 × 26 mm2sample area to be imaged at a 1 μm pixel size in <4.5 min. Linear encoders also enable the alignment of multipass images that increase image homogeneity and signal intensity. The applicability of FMM to large area samples has made it important to define the tolerance to height variations of the technique, which was determined to be at least 218 ± 0.03 (n= 3) μm.

Films commonly used in food packaging are often derived from petroleum-based plastics, which pose a threat to the environment due to them being nonbiodegradable and nonecological. Herein, we present an approach wherein robust and flexible cellulose-based films were continuously generated using a flow casting method, involving the extrusion of dope through a slit, followed by resolidification in acid. The extruded films were deposited on a conveyor belt submerged in an acid bath and capable of operating at speeds up to 7 cm/s. The morphological and physiochemical properties of films were assessed using field emission scanning electron microscopy, solid-state 13C NMR, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). XRD analysis revealed that carboxymethylated cellulose films regenerated at higher extrusion speeds exhibited a higher alignment in the orientation of cellulose crystals. The tensile stress of the film increased from 105 to 125 MPa as the speed of the conveyor belt increased from 0.8 to 7 cm/s. Notably, the tensile strength in the belt direction (BD) (125 MPa) is significantly higher (125 MPa) than the tensile stress in the cross direction (76 MPa). This difference confirms the anisotropic nature of the films, with cellulose chains preferentially aligning along the BD, as well as the specific crystallographic planes (11̅0) and (110).

In addressing the critical challenge of calendar aging in silicon (Si)-based lithium-ion batteries, this study introduces a groundbreaking strategy utilizing glyme-type dual-salt electrolytes (lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide [LiTFSI] and lithium difluoro(oxalato)borate [LiDFOB]). These electrolytes are demonstrated to significantly mitigate parasitic reactions and capacity loss in Si-NMC (lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide) full cells, especially when compared with traditional carbonate-based electrolytes. Our exhaustive mechanistic analysis reveals that such electrolytes not only preserve the integrity of the Si anode but also improve the cathode/electrolyte interphases (CEI) through the formation of a conformal coating on the high-voltage cathode surface. This dual-salt approach, enhanced by the addition of a phosphate additive, effectively decelerates calendar aging, marking a substantial advance in the quest for durable and reliable Si-based energy storage technologies. The findings underscore the vital role of electrolyte composition in extending the calendar life of Si batteries, offering an alternative avenue toward maximizing the performance and longevity of next-generation Li–Si batteries.

Fossil fuels have historically occupied an important spot in the global energy scenario. However, their use is associated with the release of greenhouse gases such as CO2, which is a major contributor to climate change. To mitigate the effects of climate change, numerous international organizations, including the United Nations, emphasize the significance of biofuels. In this context, lignocellulosic biomass is a promising feedstock for biofuel production. To do this, the problematized experimental activity educational tool was used to analyze the Grounded Theory. The focus was on the pyrolysis of Piper nigrumL. crop waste to produce biofuel. Yield of the bio-oil that students produced was also measured in this study, and the results ranged from 32.8% to 37%. In addition, the relationship between Sternberg’s theoretical assumptions and the three dimensions of intelligence was also investigated. Metacognitive indicators displayed positive values, indicating that cognitive abilities in the analytical (mean of 5.66), creative (mean of 5.10), and practical (mean of 5.06) aspects of intelligence were developed.

The ongoing development and eventual implementation of magnetic nanocrystals in devices requires not only syntheses that can bring bulk compositions down to the nanoscale but also a deep understanding of their formation such that size, morphology, and composition can be finely tuned. Chromium chalcogenide spinels are a class of materials that epitomize this dilemma; their unique magnetic and magneto-optical properties make them promising for applications in spintronics, data storage, and quantum information sciences, but only a few compositions have been synthesized as colloidal nanocrystals. Furthermore, these few existing reports lack mechanistic understanding and demonstrate little control over the physical characteristics of the final products. Here, we set forth to understand the synthesis of CuCr2Se4nanocrystals by examining how the structure, composition, and magnetic properties evolve over the course of the reaction. We find that the material proceeds through binary copper selenide nanocrystal intermediates followed by Cr incorporation via diffusion. This process results in polycrystalline CuCr2Se4nanocrystals that do not exhibit magnetic ordering until Cu incorporation modifies their stoichiometry and defects are annealed, which takes approximately 40 min at 340 °C to achieve. The resulting CuCr2Se4nanocrystals show a strongly enhanced magnetic circular dichroism signal at the bulk plasma frequency of ℏωpl∼ 1.0 eV with a field dependence that reflects magnetization of the Cr3+spin sublattice. These results highlight the possibility of solution processing strong near-IR magneto-optical materials for future device integration.

Vanadium oxides are widely tunable materials, with many thermodynamically stable phases suitable for applications spanning catalysis to neuromorphic computing. The stability of vanadium in a range of oxidation states enables mixed-valence polymorphs of kinetically accessible metastable materials. Low-temperature synthetic routes to, and the properties of, these metastable materials are poorly understood and may unlock new optoelectronic and magnetic functionalities for expanded applications. In this work, we demonstrate topochemical reduction of α-V2O5to produce metastable vanadium oxide phases with tunable oxygen vacancies (>6%) and simultaneous substitutional tin incorporation (>3.5%). The chemistry is carried out at low temperature (65 °C) with solution-phase SnCl2, where Sn2+is oxidized to Sn4+as V5+sites are reduced to V4+during oxygen vacancy formation. Despite high oxygen vacancy and tin concentrations, the transformations are topochemical in that the symmetry of the parent crystal remains intact, although the unit cell expands. Band structure calculations show that these vacancies contribute electrons to the lattice, whereas substitutional tin contributes holes, yielding a compensation doping effect and control over the electronic properties. The SnCl2redox chemistry is effective on both solution-processed V2O5nanoparticle inks and mesoporous films cast from untreated inks, enabling versatile routes toward functional films with tunable optical and electronic properties. The electrical conductance rises concomitantly with the SnCl2concentration and treatment time, indicating a net increase in density of free electrons in the host lattice. This work provides a valuable demonstration of kinetic tailoring of electronic properties of vanadium–oxygen systems through top-down chemical manipulation from known thermodynamic phases.

•The risk of VTE was increased among individuals with SCT, independent of genetic ancestry, and this risk was lower than heterozygous FVL.•The risk of PE in SCT is significantly higher than the risk of isolated DVT; this pattern suggests a unique mechanism of thrombosis in SCT.

•The allele frequency of variants in genes linked to Wnt/β-catenin signaling differed between pediatric ITP and control cohorts.•No genetic variants met genome-wide significance in a comparison of spontaneously resolving ITP and chronic ITP.

Globally, bats provide critical ecosystem services. Rabies, caused by rabies virus and related lyssaviruses, is one of the most significant zoonoses associated with bats. Bat biologists study bats in the laboratory and the field. To minimize the risk of disease, all bat handlers should be vaccinated against rabies and undergo routine serological testing to measure their rabies virus neutralizing antibody levels. They should use best practices to avoid exposures, such as personal protective equipment, especially gloves appropriate to the size of the bat(s) being handled. Attention to such details will prevent unnecessary exposures and avoid some of the accompanying negative perceptions that endanger bats on a global level. The small body sizes of many bats (<50 g, many <20 g) and small teeth makes their defensive bites easy to overlook. Breaks in the skin, however small, may result in exposure to lyssaviruses in the animals’ saliva. Exposure to blood-feeding bats is less common because these species are geographically restricted to the Neotropics and are the only species whose natural feeding behavior could involve transmission of rabies virus. Understanding viral transmission, preventing exposures, and responding appropriately to bites will minimize the consequences of this deadly zoonosis.

Here, we highlight 35 global researchers approximately under the age of 35. This third annual cohort was self-generated by initial seed invitations sent by the editorial team, with each contributor suggesting two more in a nominally supervised self-selecting pyramid-like scheme. The final collection reflects both the diversity and excitement across the field of materials science.

Now extinct, the aurochs (Bos primigenius) was a keystone species in prehistoric Eurasian and North African ecosystems, and the progenitor of cattle (Bos taurus), domesticates that have provided people with food and labour for millennia1. Here we analysed 38 ancient genomes and found 4 distinct population ancestries in the aurochs—European, Southwest Asian, North Asian and South Asian—each of which has dynamic trajectories that have responded to changes in climate and human influence. Similarly to Homo heidelbergensis, aurochsen first entered Europe around 650 thousand years ago2, but early populations left only trace ancestry, with both North Asian and European B. primigeniusgenomes coalescing during the most recent glaciation. North Asian and European populations then appear separated until mixing after the climate amelioration of the early Holocene. European aurochsen endured the more severe bottleneck during the Last Glacial Maximum, retreating to southern refugia before recolonizing from Iberia. Domestication involved the capture of a small number of individuals from the Southwest Asian aurochs population, followed by early and pervasive male-mediated admixture involving each ancestral strain of aurochs after domestic stocks dispersed beyond their cradle of origin.

Sleep is integral to cardiovascular health1,2. Yet, the circuits that connect cardiovascular pathology and sleep are incompletely understood. It remains unclear whether cardiac injury influences sleep and whether sleep-mediated neural outputs contribute to heart healing and inflammation. Here we report that in humans and mice, monocytes are actively recruited to the brain after myocardial infarction (MI) to augment sleep, which suppresses sympathetic outflow to the heart, limiting inflammation and promoting healing. After MI, microglia rapidly recruit circulating monocytes to the brain’s thalamic lateral posterior nucleus (LPN) via the choroid plexus, where they are reprogrammed to generate tumour necrosis factor (TNF). In the thalamic LPN, monocytic TNF engages Tnfrsf1a-expressing glutamatergic neurons to increase slow wave sleep pressure and abundance. Disrupting sleep after MI worsens cardiac function, decreases heart rate variability and causes spontaneous ventricular tachycardia. After MI, disrupting or curtailing sleep by manipulating glutamatergic TNF signalling in the thalamic LPN increases cardiac sympathetic input which signals through the β2-adrenergic receptor of macrophages to promote a chemotactic signature that increases monocyte influx. Poor sleep in the weeks following acute coronary syndrome increases susceptibility to secondary cardiovascular events and reduces the heart’s functional recovery. In parallel, insufficient sleep in humans reprogrammes β2-adrenergic receptor-expressing monocytes towards a chemotactic phenotype, enhancing their migratory capacity. Collectively, our data uncover cardiogenic regulation of sleep after heart injury, which restricts cardiac sympathetic input, limiting inflammation and damage.

Research on current-induced domain wall (DW) motion in heavy metal/ferromagnet structures is crucial for advancing memory, logic, and computing devices. Here, we demonstrate that adjusting the angle between the DW conduit and the current direction provides an additional degree of control over the current-induced DW motion. A DW conduit with a 45° section relative to the current direction enables asymmetrical DW behavior: for one DW polarity, motion proceeds freely, while for the opposite polarity, motion is impeded or even blocked in the 45° zone, depending on the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction strength. This enables the device to function as a DW diode. Leveraging this velocity asymmetry, we designed a Y-shaped DW conduit with one input and two output branches at +45° and −45°, functioning as a DW selector. A DW injected into the junction exits through one branch, while a reverse polarity DW exits through the other, demonstrating selective DW routing.

Anomalous X-ray diffraction (AXD) and neutron diffraction can be used to crystallographically distinguish between metals of similar electron density. Despite the use of AXD for structural characterization in mixed metal clusters, there are no benchmark studies evaluating the accuracy of AXD toward assessing elemental occupancy in molecules with comparisons with what is determined via neutron diffraction. We collected resonant diffraction data on several homo and heterometallic clusters and refined their anomalous scattering components to determine metal site occupancies. Theoretical resonant scattering terms for Fe0, Co0, and Zn0were compared against experimental values, revealing theoretical values are ill-suited to serve as references for occupancy determination. The cluster featuring distinct cation and anion metal compositions [CoCp2*][(tbsL)Fe3(μ3–NAr)] was used to assess the accuracy of different f′ references for occupancy determination (f′theoretical± 15–17%; f′experimental± 10%). This methodology was applied toward calculating the occupancy of three different clusters: (tbsL)Fe2Zn(py) (6), (tbsL)Fe2Zn(μ3–NAr)(py) (7), and [CoCp*2][(tbsL)Fe2Zn(μ3–NAr)] (8). The first two clusters maintain 100% Fe/Zn site isolation, whereas 8showed metal mixing within the sites. The large crystal size of 8enabled collection of neutron diffraction data which was compared against the results found with AXD. The ability of AXD to replicate the metal occupancies as determined by neutron diffraction supports the AXD occupancy methodology developed herein. Furthermore, the advantages innate to AXD (e.g., smaller crystal sizes, shorter collection times, and greater availability of synchrotron resources) versus neutron diffraction further support the need for its development as a standard technique.

This study delves into the intricacies of creating highly effective power conversion assemblies from van der Waals heterostructures of phosphorene and graphene quantum dots by employing density functional theory calculations. We emphasize the role of individual monomer properties and their interlayer interactions in the power conversion ability by focusing on visible light absorption, charge carrier generation, and their separation. Different edge atom functionalization (H, NH2, Cl, OCN, CN) in the phosphorene quantum dots and heteroatom doping (Group IV = Si, Ge, and Group VI = O, S, Se) in the basal plane of graphene quantum dots were employed to alter the monomer properties. Our results indicate that select combinations of these modification techniques yield staggered frontier molecular orbital alignments (Type II) with spatial separation of the highest occupied and lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals. These candidates possess an improved visible light absorption range with reduced intensities owing to the dominance of charge transfer excitations. Edge functionalization of phosphorene was identified as the most significant contributor to interlayer interaction strength, with functional groups that are electron-withdrawing in nature forming stronger interactions. Heteroatom doping of graphene was recognized as the most important contributor to improving visible light absorbance owing to the reduction in fundamental gaps. From the candidates considered, systems with relatively weaker interlayer interactions were determined to be better at charge carrier separation due to the potential gradient being concentrated at the interfacial region. These systems possess approximated power conversion efficiencies ranging between 11 and 29%, among the highest reported for quantum dot systems characterized by density functional theory calculations.

Hydrogels have emerged as promising biomaterials for tissue regeneration; yet, their inherent swelling can cause deformation and reduced mechanical properties, posing challenges for practical applications in biomedical engineering. Traditional methods to reduce hydrogel swelling often involve complex synthesis procedures with limited flexibility. Inspired by nature’s efficient designs, we present here the approach to improve hydrogel performance using 3D printing-assisted microstructure engineering. By utilizing polymerization-induced phase separation of hydrogel from copolymerization of gelatin methacrylate and hydroxyethyl methacrylate (poly(GelMA-co-HEMA)) in the confined space during vat photopolymerization (VPP) 3D printing, we replicate the cuttlebone-like microstructure of hydrogels with enhanced mechanical properties and swelling resistance. We demonstrate here a 4-fold increase in elastic modulus compared to bulk polymerization of poly(GelMA-co-HEMA), together with improved mechanical and dimensional stability. This method offers promising opportunities for practical biomedical and tissue engineering applications, overcoming previous limitations in the design and performance.