Browse Articles

E-scooter riders sustain more head and internal injuries than motorcyclists and cyclists in England and Wales

Distinguishing compound and cumulative hazards using machine learning and fuzzy logic in multi-hazard susceptibility mapping

Key factors and temporal stability of severe laboratory accidents in Chinese universities and research institutes

Adaptive runtime framework for energy-efficient fault tolerance in large-scale distributed and high-performance computing systems

Small-scale farmers’ pesticide use practices, knowledge, and risk perception in Tokke Kuttaye District, Ethiopia

Ecology and bioreceptivity of basaltic rocks from Xitle volcano in Mexico

Inhaled sphingosine reduces bronchial Pseudomonas aeruginosa burden during porcine ex vivo lung perfusion and shows tissue delivery in explanted human lungs

Abstract Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection remains a major challenge in donor lung management and post-transplant respiratory care, particularly in the setting of antimicrobial resistance. Ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) provides an opportunity for localized antimicrobial intervention before transplantation and allows detailed assessment of infection-associated lung injury under controlled conditions. In this study, we evaluated inhaled sphingosine in a porcine EVLP model of acute P. aeruginosa airway contamination using three experimental groups: uninfected controls, infected lungs treated with 0.9% NaCl, and infected lungs treated with sphingosine. This design allowed us to assess both the impact of P. aeruginosa infection on EVLP physiology and the effects of sphingosine on bacterial burden and infection-associated lung changes. Infected porcine lungs showed greater declines in dynamic and static compliance than uninfected controls, whereas pulmonary artery pressure, peak airway pressure, oxygen-exchange capacity, lactate accumulation, lung weight gain, and histological injury scores were not significantly worsened under the present experimental conditions. Inhaled sphingosine reduced bronchial P. aeruginosa CFU counts, whereas 0.9% NaCl did not. Sphingosine treatment did not further impair lung physiology, oxygenation, lactate accumulation, histological injury, or lung weight gain. Mechanistic analyses showed association of sphingosine with bacterial cardiolipin and increased colocalization of sphingosine with P. aeruginosa , consistent with a membrane-associated antibacterial mechanism described in previous studies. In exploratory experiments using four explanted human recipient lungs, sphingosine inhalation increased sphingosine levels in bronchial and parenchymal tissue and altered related sphingolipid metabolites, including sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramide, and sphingomyelin, without apparent acute histological damage in assessed airway samples. One of the four human specimens showed bacterial colonization, in which a marked reduction in detectable bacterial growth after sphingosine inhalation was observed as a hypothesis-generating finding. Together, these data suggest that inhaled sphingosine can reduce acutely accessible bronchial P. aeruginosa burden during porcine EVLP without detectable short-term adverse effects and provide a basis for further investigation of sphingosine-related lipid metabolism and local antimicrobial strategies during EVLP.

The mediating role of spiritual intelligence in the relationship between emotional intelligence and mobbing perception among healthcare professionals

Abstract This study examines workplace bullying (mobbing) among healthcare professionals through the lens of cognitive, emotional, and spiritual resources. The healthcare sector is characterized by high stress levels, heavy workloads, and complex interpersonal dynamics, all of which increase the risk of mobbing. While the protective role of emotional intelligence has been in the literature, the role of spiritual intelligence in this process remains unclear. Accordingly, this study investigates the mediating role of SI in the relationship between EI and mobbing perception. This study employs a cross-sectional quantitative design and was conducted with 907 healthcare professionals working in both public and private sectors in Türkiye. Data were collected through snowball sampling from 907 healthcare professionals working in both public and private sector hospitals across Türkiye. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were performed, and the mediating effect was tested using the bootstrap method. The findings indicate that EI has a significant negative effect on MP. EI also positively influences SI. In turn, SI is positively associated with MP. Moreover, SI exerts a partial and inconsistent (competitive) mediating effect in the relationship between EI and MP. Specifically, while EI directly reduces MP, it may indirectly contribute to an increase in such perceptions through SI. The findings suggest that MP are shaped not only by organizational factors but also by individual psychological characteristics. EI appears to play a protective role by enabling individuals to regulate and interpret negative workplace experiences more effectively. In contrast, individuals with higher levels of SI may exhibit heightened sensitivity to ethical violations and perceived injustices, which may lead to increased recognition of mobbing behaviors. These findings highlight that MP is not a unidimensional construct but rather a complex, multilayered phenomenon shaped by the interaction of emotional and spiritual processes.

Bridging grain mapping and dark field X-ray microscopy for multiscale diffraction imaging

Development and validation of a stability indicating RP HPLC method for simultaneous estimation of Sulbactam–Durlobactam with multi metric sustainability assessment

Anthropometric indices as predictors of type 2 diabetes in a 10-year cohort study from the Yazd Healthy Heart Project

Effect of tenapanor on bowel movements in hemodialysis patients with hyperphosphatemia based on a pooled post hoc analysis of three clinical trials

Abstract Hyperphosphatemia is a common complication in patients receiving dialysis. It is often managed with phosphate binders (PBs), which contribute to constipation and diarrhea. Tenapanor, a selective sodium/hydrogen exchanger 3 inhibitor, reduces intestinal phosphate absorption and can affect bowel movements. This pooled post hoc analysis of three Japanese phase 3 trials examined tenapanor’s effects on bowel movements and laxative prescribing by patient background. Outcomes included diarrhea incidence, changes in Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) score, daily stool frequency, and laxative prescribing. These were evaluated across patient background and baseline PB type. Overall, 166 placebo- and 379 tenapanor-treated patients were included. Younger age, higher body mass index, presence of diabetic nephropathy, baseline laxative use, absence of probiotic use, and lower baseline bowel movement frequency were associated with lower diarrhea incidence by tenapanor within 8 weeks. In the tenapanor group, mean BSFS score and daily stool frequency increased from baseline to Week 1 across all background subgroups. The proportion of patients prescribed laxatives and the number of tablets prescribed tended to decrease over time compared with baseline in the tenapanor group. Tenapanor affected bowel movements and reduced laxative use across diverse patient backgrounds, supporting its use in patients with hyperphosphatemia receiving dialysis.

The Emergence of BLZ‐20: A Novel Wide‐Bandgap Donor Polymer Achieving a Record 20.55% Efficiency in Organic Solar Cells

ABSTRACT To address the critical challenge of the scarcity of low‐cost wide‐bandgap polymer donor materials, we have developed a novel ester‐substituted benzotrithiophene acceptor unit. The incorporation of an ester group into the benzotrithiophene structure induces a fundamental transformation, shifting it from an electron‐donating entity to a weakly electron‐withdrawing one. Leveraging this innovation, we synthesized a new low‐cost wide‐bandgap polymer donor material, namely BLZ‐20 , by using the ester‐functionalized benzotrithiophene as the acceptor unit, benzodithiophene (BDT) as the donor unit, and 3‐alkylthiophene as the π ‐bridge. BLZ‐20 exhibits excellent solution‐processability and unique temperature‐dependent aggregation properties. Building on these advantageous characteristics, the BLZ‐20 :L8‐BO blend film exhibits a well‐defined nanofiber network structure that not only promotes efficient exciton dissociation and charge transport but also effectively reduces nonradiative losses. The BLZ‐20 :L8‐BO‐based binary organic solar cell (OSC) has achieved a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20.13%, setting a new industry‐wide benchmark for OSCs. Furthermore, the BLZ‐20 :L8‐BO:BTP‐eC9‐based ternary OSC has attained an even more impressive PCE of 20.55%, ranking among the highest‐performing OSCs ever reported. Our research findings unequivocally demonstrate that the wide‐bandgap polymer BLZ‐20 , derived from benzotrithiophene, is a cost‐effective and high‐performance donor material. It offers significant potential for advancing the practical application of OSCs.

Psychological distress and trauma response among war-exposed young adults in Gaza

Abstract The Gaza Strip has suffered massive civilian harm, widespread displacement, and near-total disruption of health services since 7 October 2023, creating an acute humanitarian and mental-health emergency. In this study, we measured anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms and examined their associations with different types of war-related traumatic events among young adults from Gaza. A cross-sectional online survey conducted between October and December 2024 included 604 participants (mean age 21.4 ± 1.6 years) who were exposed to the war, using validated measures of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and war-related traumatic events. Symptom burden was high: 74.0% of participants scored in the severe/probable range for anxiety, 85.1% for depression, and 79.6% met the threshold for probable PTSD. Most participants reported multiple war-related trauma types (mean 10.4 of 19; 62.9% reported ≥ 10 types). Notably, 44.0% of participants had high trauma exposure (≥ 10 trauma types), severe/probable anxiety, severe/probable depression, and probable PTSD simultaneously. The number of trauma types demonstrated a positive dose–response relationship with symptom severity, correlating with anxiety ( r  = 0.25), depression ( r  = 0.25), and post-traumatic stress symptoms ( r  = 0.35; all p  < 0.001), with no evidence that this association differed by gender. Nevertheless, women reported higher symptom levels across all three domains. Participants who remained in Gaza, and those living in tents or shelters, reported more trauma types than those who had left or lived in houses, and shelter residents showed higher post-traumatic stress symptom severity. At the item level, witnessing family members injured, witnessing shootings, siege, and witnessing an ambulance being prevented from reaching the injured showed the strongest associations with symptom severity. Because the war was ongoing at assessment, these responses are best understood as traumatic-stress reactions to continuing danger; the findings document a severe mental-health emergency among young adults in Gaza and underscore the need for scalable, culturally grounded mental-health support.

Cooperative and Ordered Cross‐Scale Assembly of Carbon Nanotube Fibers

ABSTRACT Carbon nanotube fibers (CNTFs) exhibit exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties, granting them broad application potential in aerospace, flexible electronics, and advanced composites. However, the performance of CNTFs produced by the FCCVD dry spinning method is far below the theoretical limit of a single carbon nanotube (CNTs). This gap is largely attributed to weak interfacial interactions between CNTs, catalyst residues, and multiscale structural defects. Conventional research has often focused on adjusting isolated process parameters and preparation strategies based on equilibrium‐state assumptions, lacking a systematic grasp of non‐equilibrium growth kinetics and the synergistic regulation of multi‐physical fields. Therefore, this study explores the cooperative assembly of CNTFs through the lens of non‐equilibrium states and multi‐field synergy. It systematically reviews recent advances in CNTs synthesis and fiber optimization across three scales: the microscale (atomic‐level growth mechanisms and interface modulation), the mesoscale (structural evolution and multi‐physical field coupling during CNTs assembly), and the macroscale (bulk fiber properties). With a focus on enhancing CNTFs performance, the work outlines cross‐scale structural regulation strategies. The aim is to provide theoretical support for future cross‐scale modeling, reactor design optimization, and defect engineering, while offering a systematic reference and technical roadmap toward high‐performance CNTFs and breakthrough property advancements.

Proximity of parks to polluting sites in the United States

Wide‐Bandgap Subcells for Tandem Solar Cells: From Metal Halides to Metal Chalcogenides and Metal Chalcohalides

ABSTRACT Efficient wide‐bandgap (WBG) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have propelled the rapid advancement of perovskite (PVK) tandem solar cells (TSCs). However, their commercialization remains impeded by the intrinsic instability of WBG PSCs, particularly under high‐temperature maximum power point tracking conditions, underscoring the urgent need to develop robust, high‐performance WBG top‐cell materials. Here, we first summarize strategies to enhance the device performance of mainstream WBG metal halide PSCs, highlighting advances achieved through interface engineering, additive engineering, and related approaches. Then we evaluate the potential of metal chalcogenides solar cells as top‐cell candidates, identifying their high processing temperatures as a key factor that constrains their integration in TSCs. Finally, we propose metal chalcohalides as promising top‐cell materials for TSCs, owing to their suitable bandgaps, low toxicity, superior stability, and moderate processing temperatures. This review aims to provide design guidelines for the development of next‐generation WBG top‐cell materials in TSCs.

Association between light BioAge and cognitive impairment risk in middle-aged and elderly people: a retrospective cohort study

Electro‐ and Photocatalytic C─X Bond Coupling in Valorization of Waste Plastics/Biomass: Reaction Mechanism and Catalyst Engineering

ABSTRACT Electro‐ and photocatalytic carbon─heteroatom (C─N/S) coupling has opened an emerging avenue for upgrading waste plastic/biomass‐derived feedstocks into value‐added nitrogen‐ and sulfur‐containing chemicals, such as amides, amino acids, and organosulfur compounds. However, this process is hindered by complex reaction networks, competing side reactions, and unstable active sites, which compromise activity, selectivity, and long‐term stability. Overcoming these challenges requires a fundamental understanding of catalytic mechanisms and rational catalyst design to achieve efficient substrate activation and optimized intermediate management. However, a systematic review specifically addressing the transformation of waste plastics/biomass into C─X compounds remains lacking to date. To fill this gap, this review summarizes recent advances in electro‐ and photocatalytic C─X coupling reactions for the valorization of waste plastics/biomass, focusing on the design of synergistic active sites, the control of reactive intermediates, mechanistic elucidations, and large‐scale production design. Furthermore, we evaluate the economic feasibility and environmental benefits of such strategies through techno‐economic analysis and life‐cycle assessment. Finally, key challenges in process integration and scale‐up are discussed, outlining future directions to advance these technologies toward practical implementation in a circular carbon economy.

Handedness and self-regulation in the early years

Abstract Evidence shows that non-right-handed children are more likely to present with neurodevelopmental conditions compared to their peers, possibly because of brain lateralization differences. This, in turn, suggests that atypical cognitive abilities may explain this elevated risk. We explored whether non-right-handed children exhibit atypical patterns of self-regulation, an ability related to both cognitive and emotional development ( N  = 11,147, 50.19% girls). We used longitudinal data from the UK’s Millennium Cohort Study, a large and representative birth cohort. Self-regulation was assessed at ages 3, 5, and 7 with two parent-completed subscales of the Child Social Behaviour Questionnaire: independence self-regulation (related to cognitive self-regulation) and emotional dysregulation. Handedness (hand preference for writing) was reported by children at age 14 (a retrospective measure). We fitted linear growth curve models to examine if handedness predicts children’s cognitive and emotion regulation trajectories, adjusting for covariates. While handedness was not related to emotional dysregulation, being non-right-handed predicted lower cognitive self-regulation. Effects sizes were very small. In the sensitivity analysis excluding the mixed-handers from the non-right-handed group, this finding was not replicated. Overall, this study suggests that lower cognitive self-regulation might account for the higher risks that mixed-handed children face in their development, but also that left-handed and right-handed children show similar cognitive and emotional regulation in the early years.