Using Vibration for Secure Pairing With Implantable Medical Devices: Development and Usability Study.

Background: Implantable medical devices (IMDs), such as pacemakers, increasingly communicate wirelessly with external devices. To secure this wireless communication channel, a pairing process is needed to bootstrap a secret key between the devices. Previous work has proposed pairing approaches that often adopt a "seamless" design and render the pairing process imperceptible to patients.

Synergistic Dual-Pinning Engineering Enables Stable Mn-Based Layered Oxide Cathodes for High-Performance Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Mn-based oxide cathodes for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) often suffer from structural degradation caused by Jahn-Teller distortion and irreversible phase transitions. Here, we propose a dual-site stabilization strategy by Mo/Mg codoping, which not only drives the transformation of the tunnel-type NaMnO into a P2-layered structure (NaMnMoMgO, denoted as MoMg-12) by modulating the total energy to enhance capacity but also employs Mo and Mg ions substituting Mn sites to implement synergistic dual-pinning engineering to stabilize the structure. This dual-pinning mechanism concurrently suppresses Jahn-Teller distortion by stabilizing Mn redox activity and improves air stability by reducing Na/H exchange while promoting a hydrophobic surface.

The pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic dengue fever patterns in southeastern coastal China in 2019 and 2024: molecular evolution and strain replacement.

Background: The evolutionary dynamics of dengue virus type 1 (DENV-1) in non-endemic settings such as southeastern coastal China where outbreaks predominantly stem from imported cases, remains insufficiently defined, particularly in relation to lineage displacement dynamics.

Methods: Ninety-three DENV-1 isolates (56 from 2019, 37 from 2024) collected in southeastern coastal China underwent whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum likelihood methods under the GTR + G + I model.

Synergistic integration of extracellular vesicles and metal-organic frameworks: unlocking new opportunities in disease diagnosis and therapy.

The combination of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is a cutting-edge strategy in nanomedicine, leveraging the immune evasion, targeting capabilities, and biocompatibility of EVs with the high loading capacity and tunable functionality of MOFs. This review comprehensively discusses the latest advancements in the EV-MOF collaborative system, including its combined form and preparation process, focusing on its synergistic applications in disease diagnosis and treatment. EV-MOF platforms have demonstrated enhanced sensitivity in biosensing and bioimaging, offering new avenues for early cancer detection using signal amplification and fluorescence imaging technologies.

Revolutionizing pharmacological research of traditional Chinese medicine with single-cell omics technologies.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach to healthcare, yet its modernization is hindered by the immense complexity of its multi-component formulations and multi-target mechanisms. Conventional bulk-level analyses fail to capture the cellular heterogeneity underlying TCM's therapeutic effects, resulting in a substantial gap between its empirical success and mechanistic understanding. This review aims to systematically summarize the applications of single-cell omics technologies (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) in TCM pharmacological research.

Polystyrene nanoplastics carrying copper ion induce FDX1-mediated cuproptosis.

Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) and copper ions (Cu²⁺) are common environmental pollutants, yet their combined toxicological effects remain poorly understood. This study demonstrates that PS-NPs act as carriers of Cu²⁺, facilitating intracellular accumulation and inducing cuproptosis, a recently identified form of regulated cell death. Using zebrafish larvae and Hep G2 cells, we showed that co-exposure to PS-NPs and Cu²⁺ disrupted copper homeostasis, promoted DLAT oligomerization, impaired mitochondrial structure and function, and activated the cuproptosis pathway.

Spatial frequency as a critical modulator: How oxytocin and facial expressions jointly affect cuteness perception of infant faces.

Cuteness plays a vital role in facilitating parent-child bonding and prosocial behavior. However, few studies have examined cuteness perception from the perspective of visual information processing mechanisms. The current study employed spatial frequency (SF) as an experimental probe to investigate how stimulus-driven factor (infant facial expressions) and perceiver-dependent factors (observers' oxytocin) influence cuteness perception using a subjective rating task.

Exercise-mediated IL-6 downstream effects modulate brain pathology-can exercise training protocols influence the downstream effects?

The dual role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) as beneficial in physiological conditions and detrimental in pathological conditions has been a subject of research interest since its discovery. This has surpassed the traditional view of IL-6 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine, primarily due to its multifunctionality. To coordinate this multiple effect, several downstream signaling pathways are involved.

Antibiotics and benthic fauna diversity affect nitrogen removal and greenhouse gas emissions in constructed wetlands by changing enzyme activity and microbial community.

Antibiotic contamination in wastewater presents substantial ecological risks. However, the effects of antibiotics on nitrogen (N) removal and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in benthic fauna-enhanced constructed wetlands (CWs) remain poorly understood. In this study, 30 CW microcosms were established with three levels of benthic fauna richness (no fauna, three single-species, and one three-species), under conditions with or without sulfonamide antibiotics.

Evaluation of large language model-driven AutoML in data and model management from human-centered perspective.

As organizations increasingly seek to leverage machine learning (ML) capabilities, the technical complexity of implementing ML solutions creates significant barriers to adoption and impacts operational efficiency. This research examines how Large Language Models (LLMs) can transform the accessibility of ML technologies within organizations through a human-centered Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) approach. Through a comprehensive user study involving 15 professionals across various roles and technical backgrounds, we evaluate the organizational impact of an LLM-based AutoML framework compared to traditional implementation methods.

Accelerated Discovery of Refractory High-Entropy Alloys via Interpretable Machine Learning.

Due to the outstanding thermal stability, inherent high melting points, and elevated temperature strengths, refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEAs) have been widely used for extreme environments in aerospace, nuclear energy, and advanced propulsion systems. Herein, we present an integrated design and simulation framework for RHEAs, combining machine learning potentials, supervised regression models, and multiobjective optimization algorithms. Utilizing a universal neuroevolution potential version 1 (UNEP-v1), the framework significantly enhances the accuracy of atomic-scale simulation while substantially reducing computational cost.

Ocean acidification changes the interspecific competition of Sargassum fusiforme and Ulva lactuca by regulating carbon and nitrogen metabolism.

Due to different response mechanisms of cultivated Sargassum fusiforme and its main epiphyte Ulva lactuca to ocean acidification caused by increased CO concentrations, the effects of U. lactuca on its host may be different at elevated CO concentrations. In this study, the effects of U.

Superstructure Engineering Enables NASICON-Type Phosphate Cathodes with Increased Working Voltage and Energy Density.

Na Super Ionic CONductor (NASICON)-type iron-based phosphate cathode has attained extensive research interest due to its green, low cost, and superior rate capability for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). However, owing to strong Fe─O covalent character in the NASICON frameworks, the low Fe/Fe redox potential (<2.5 V vs Na/Na) has led to an undesirable energy density of phosphate cathode.

SERS nose arrays based on a signal differentiation approach for TNT gas detection.

TNT, a well-known explosive, is highly toxic and difficult to decompose, making the detection of trace amounts of residual TNT in the environment a topic of significant research importance. Label-free surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been demonstrated to be capable of capturing rich compositional information from the sample being tested. Here we show a SERS nose array that contains six individual SERS substrates composed of different components based on a signal differentiation approach (SD-SERS arrays).

Hydrophobic Lattice Engineering of Prussian Blue Analogs with Accelerated Redox Kinetics for High-Areal-Capacity Sodium-Ion Battery Electrodes.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are considered a promising solution for large-scale energy storage owing to their high safety and economic advantages. Fe-based Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) have attracted significant attention due to their open-framework structure, low cost, and high theoretical capacity (170 mAh g). However, huge lattice distortion, moisture sensitivity of high-spin Fe (Fe), and sluggish electron transport induced by strong Fe···Fe electronic coupling of Fe-based PBAs impede their industrial application.

The effects of biotic stress on the sexual reproduction process of flowering plants.

The sexual reproduction phase of flowering plants encompasses a multitude of physiological processes, including floral induction, floral organ morphogenesis, fertilization, and the maturation of seeds and fruits. In addition to being vital to the successful reproduction of the plants, these processes are also crucial to their adaptation to diverse environmental conditions. However, this phase is extremely complex and vulnerable to environmental impacts and constraints, with both biotic and abiotic stresses playing a significant role.

Chimonanthus salicifolius essential oil protects against endotoxin-induced acute lung injury via suppression of β2 integrin-mediated neutrophil adhesion and chemotaxis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Chimonanthus salicifolius S. Y. Hu (Salicaceae), known as "Liu Ye La Mei," is traditionally used by the She ethnic minority in China to treat respiratory ailments including cough, asthma, and bronchitis.

Spatial Confinement in Structural Biomimetic Catalysts: Enhancing Sulfur-Chain Homolysis and Enzyme-like Activity for High-Performance Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Our study addresses the critical challenges of sluggish sulfur reaction kinetics and severe lithium polysulfide shuttling in high-energy-density lithium-sulfur batteries under high sulfur loading and lean electrolyte conditions. Inspired by the structure of cytochrome c oxidase, we designed an enzyme-mimetic Fe-TCPP@Cu-BTC catalyst with spatial confinement effects. Its spatially confined configuration induces the homolytic cleavage of LiS to LiS and accelerates their subsequent conversion to LiS.

Fluorine doping of biomass-derived hard carbon for boosted sodium-ion storage.

Mainstream hard carbon anode materials in sodium-ion batteries are frequently hindered by issues such as low kinetics for sodium-ion storage. In this work, we present a novel approach to overcome these key limitations by fluorine doping of wheat straw-derived hard carbon, which gives rise to a higher defect density, larger interlayer spacing and faster sodium-ion storage kinetics, when compared to the undoped hard carbon. As a result, the fluorine-doped hard carbon (HCF) exhibits an enhanced rate performance, higher specific capacity and optimized balance between slope and plateau capacity ratios, achieving a reversible capacity of 295 mAh g at 1.

The effect of cognitive avoidance on rumination in college students: the chain mediating role of perfectionism and stress.

This study aimed to examine the effect of cognitive avoidance on rumination among college students, and to explore the mediating roles of perfectionism and stress. Cognitive avoidance involves efforts to evade distressing thoughts, while rumination refers to repetitive negative thinking. A cross-sectional survey was conducted via convenience sampling among students from four universities in Xinjiang, Henan, and Guangdong.

Reactive and water-soluble lignin-base dye for efficient coloration of silk fabric.

Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer in nature next to cellulose. Utilizing this non-fossil low-cost resource to develop textile dyestuffs will help to promote a green and sustainable textile industry. In this study, we proposed a novel modification strategy in which the chlorotriazine and sulfonate groups were sequentially grafted on lignin molecules through two successive nucleophilic substitution reactions to obtain a reactive and water-soluble lignin-derived dye.

Emissions, health risk, and policy impact on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon release in Hangzhou, China: 2010-2050 future trends.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants that pose significant environmental and health risks, especially in rapidly urbanizing cities such as Hangzhou, China. Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of PAH emissions, distribution, and health risks is essential for developing effective control strategies. In this study, PAH emissions in Hangzhou from 2010 to 2022 were estimated and their multimedia environmental distribution was simulated using a Level IV fugacity model.

High Efficiency Layered Double Hydroxide-Based Electrocatalysts: Rational Interface Regulation via Defect Engineering.

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs)-based electrocatalysts, owing to their structural designability and interface responsiveness, have emerged as promising candidates for constructing efficient non-noble metal electrocatalysts. Through interfacial structural modulation, defect engineering facilitates the exposure and activation of catalytic sites, ultimately boosting the electrocatalytic performance of LDH systems. This review analyzes the principle of interface structure design in LDHs driven by defect engineering.

Biomarkers in body fluids and their detection techniques for human intestinal permeability assessment.

Introduction: Intestinal permeability (IP) is a crucial index for intestinal tract integrity, reflecting intestinal barrier function, injury, diseases, and related systemic conditions. However, current mainstream testing methods are invasive and qualitative. Biomarkers for IP in body fluids offer noninvasive and quantitative advantages for IP assessment while pose challenges for high-performance detection techniques.

Global spillover of land-derived microbes to Ocean hosts: Sources, transmission pathways, and one health threats.

Terrestrial pathogens are increasingly being detected in marine organisms, raising concerns about ecosystem sustainability, biodiversity loss, and threats to human health. Over the past two decades, reports of microbial contaminants crossing from land to sea have increased, suggesting shifts in pathogen ecology driven by environmental changes and human activities. Pathogens originating on land can spread, adapt, and persist in marine environments, infecting a wide range of hosts and potentially re-entering terrestrial environments.