X-ray time-lapse flexible imaging and information retrieval significantly broaden the application scope of X-ray technologies, while posing new challenges for the design of advanced scintillators. Herein, we report a phase transition-guided strategy for the rational design of Mn-doped ternary cadmium chlorides long afterglow emitters, wherein crystal growth dynamics are precisely modulated via solubility-controlled synthesis. By sequentially preparing powders and single crystals of Cs2CdCl4:Mn, Cs3Cd2Cl7:Mn, and CsCdCl3:Mn, we achieve phase-selective synthesis through fine-tuning of mixed solvent ratios, establishing a robust framework for phase engineering in the Mn-doped Cs-Cd-Cl system. Among them, CsCdCl3:Mn exhibits the highest trap density, resulting in a pronounced scintillation afterglow. Benefiting from this unique property, a flexible scintillating film fabricated by embedding phosphor powders into a polymer matrix enables high-resolution time-lapse X-ray imaging (13.6 lp mm-1), along with thermally stimulated image retrieval after X-ray exposure. This work not only presents a generalizable approach for phase-controlled afterglow modulation in Mn-doped chlorides, but also offers new avenues toward flexible, high-performance X-ray scintillators with delayed visualization capabilities.

The interaction between host microbiomes, pathogen diversity, and environmental stress is a critical but understudied mechanism shaping disease outcomes in marine foundation species. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) suffering from wasting disease, caused by the protist Labyrinthula zosterae, offers a powerful system with which to probe this interaction. We conducted complementary laboratory experimentation and field surveys to examine three main questions: (1) whether thermal stress compromises the eelgrass microbiome and exacerbates disease outcomes; (2) whether different isolates of L. zosterae differ in virulence and their effects on the host microbiome; and (3) whether laboratory-derived microbiome signatures of heat stress correspond with those observed in the field. In the lab, we exposed eelgrass pieces to two temperature regimes (11°C vs. 19°C) and inoculated with two L. zosterae strains. We tracked lesion development, pathogen load via qPCR, and epiphytic microbiome dynamics via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In parallel, we tagged and sampled intact intertidal eelgrass in situ at Fourth of July Beach, San Juan Island, Washington, before and after a three-day heat stress event, tracking tissue damage, growth, and microbiome dynamics. In the lab, elevated temperature significantly heightened wasting disease severity across both pathogen isolates, with no significant difference in virulence between them. High temperatures in the lab also led to more pronounced diseased-induced microbiome dysbiosis: community composition shifted, and a greater number of microbial taxa changed in abundance relative to controls, including Colwelliaceae. Both lab and field heat stress decreased microbiome diversity with intertidal eelgrass experiencing extensive tissue damage and reduced growth. Warming accelerates wasting disease progression in Z. marina by some combination of microbiome disruption, enhanced pathogen virulence, or compromised host defenses. Although pathogen strain identity had limited influence, temperature emerged as a dominant driver of both disease outcomes and microbiome shifts. While temperature stress in the lab and field was not comparable in duration and intensity, we show consistent trends towards microbiome dysbiosis characterized by changes in diversity and taxon abundance. Exploring the four-way interaction among host, microbiome, pathogen, and environment promises deeper insights for forecasting disease outbreaks and bolstering resilience in eelgrass ecosystems.

This study explores the intertwined dynamics of financial inclusion and digital payment growth in shaping macroeconomic outcomes in India over the past decade. Using multivariate regression analysis on time-series data from 2015–16 to 2024–25, the research investigates the impact of the Digital Payment Index (DPI) and the number of Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) accounts on GDP per capita. Results reveal that financial inclusion, proxied by PMJDY account expansion, significantly contributes to GDP growth, affirming the role of foundational financial access in economic development. In contrast, the DPI—while reflecting exponential digital adoption—did not show a statistically significant short-term impact on GDP, suggesting a delayed or indirect influence of digital payments. The findings are situated within the frameworks of Endogenous Growth Theory, Financial Intermediation Theory, and the Inclusive Growth paradigm, offering critical insights into the policy design of India’s financial and digital infrastructure. The study underscores the importance of integrated policy strategies that bridge financial access with meaningful digital usage to realize inclusive, sustainable growth.

Accurately quantifying forest volume and identifying its driving mechanisms are critical for achieving carbon neutrality objectives. Using data from the National Forest Inventory (NFI), plot-level measurements, and environmental variables from pure larch (LP), birch (BP), and mixed larch-birch (LB) forests in the mountainous region of northern Hebei, China, this study employed random forest (RF) algorithms to evaluate the relative importance and partial dependence of biotic and abiotic factors on stand volume growth. A total of 33 predictors related to climate, topography, and soil were analyzed, and model hyperparameters were optimized through grid search combined with blocked cross-validation to mitigate spatial autocorrelation. The RF models exhibited strong predictive performance, with the BP model achieving the highest R ² (0.92). The minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio12) was identified as the most influential predictor across all stand types, while stand age also exerted a substantial effect on growth dynamics. Young and middle-aged forests demonstrated higher productivity compared with near-mature and mature stands, suggesting that the latter require improved management interventions to sustain growth. The LB stands exhibited higher productivity than pure stands, likely due to species complementarity and interspecific facilitation. In LP, growth was primarily driven by the interaction between stand age and canopy density, whereas in BP, slope position was more decisive. The management of LB stands offers potential to maintain or enhance forest productivity. The findings emphasize the importance of adaptive forest management strategies that optimize forest structure and mitigate climate change impacts. These insights contribute to advancing carbon sequestration efforts and supporting the development of carbon neutrality policies by enhancing forest productivity and resilience to climate variability.

Sepsis, a clinically defined life-threatening condition, is a global contributor to high morbidity and mortality rates in humans. It is caused by systemic bloodstream bacterial infections, primarily involving aerobic pathogens such as Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , and Klebsiella pneumoniae . Rapid and accurate identification of these pathogens is a high-demand task, as prolonged diagnosis may increase the mortality rate among sepsis patients. Globally, commercial blood culture systems like the BD BACTEC™ FX blood culture system, which utilizes BD BACTEC™ PLUS Aerobic/F culture bottles (used in this study), are commonly used to detect aerobic bloodstream infections. However, due to high costs (∼$10.00–$15.00/bottle), limited availability of culture media (especially in low- and middle-income countries, and war zones), and a lack of customization for antibiotic susceptibility assay and epidemiology research, there is a need for secondary alternatives to facilitate the growth and identification of bloodborne pathogens. Therefore, we developed a low-cost (∼$4–$5/bottle) in-house culture medium with a newly improved formulation of Brain Heart Infusion media that enhances bacterial growth from spiked human blood tested on a panel of bacteria ( Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Acinetobacter baumannii , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and Enterococcus faecalis ). The growth dynamics of these microbes in in-house formulated BHI-Blood+ culture media coincide with those in BACTEC™ Plus Aerobic/F culture vials, which primarily suggests the compatibility of bloodborne pathogens with this media and can be flagged positive <8 h based on cellular growth rate. Additionally, conventional qPCR-based early detection (<24 h) and validation with the Oxford Nanopore MinION NGS platform highlight the value of this in-house culture media as an alternative to commercial culture media in terms of low-cost availability.

High-throughput combination screening of Pidnarulex and other G-quadruplex ligands in multi-cell type tumor spheroids.

Enhancing propionic acid formation and biogas yield from grass silage via co-fermentation of Pediococcus acidilactici and Lentilactobacillus buchneri.

Gel-based propellants have gained significant attention in aerospace and propulsion applications, yet the atomization characteristics of gel-based propellants with shear-thinning behavior are still lacking understanding. In this study, the primary atomization behavior of shear-thinning fluid jets is investigated using a three-dimensional coupled Volume of Fluid and Lagrangian Particle Tracking model integrated with direct numerical simulation. A modified power-law model is employed to accurately capture the shear-dependent viscosity, and the numerical approach is rigorously validated. The results show that shear-thinning jets exhibit earlier onset and faster radial growth of surface instabilities compared with Newtonian jets. During the early stage, a viscosity–pressure positive-feedback mechanism accelerates wave amplification, while downstream axial curvature effects dominate and suppress further growth, consistent with the observed reduction in cumulative deviation beyond ≈11D. Interface steepening enhances aerodynamic shear and induces multilayer recirculation near surface waves, promoting the formation of internal voids within the liquid column. With increasing consistency index k and decreasing power-law index n, the maximum cumulative deviation rises from 2.77D to 4.14D, while the length of the positive-feedback region decreases from 11.0D to 9.46D, indicating that stronger shear-thinning effects accelerate the amplification of instability waves while confining their axial growth. These findings provide new insights into the nonlinear instability dynamics and interfacial evolution during the breakup of shear-thinning jets and establish a theoretical foundation for optimizing fuel injection systems utilizing rheologically complex or gel-based propellants.

Modeling the growth of Bacillus cereus in fresh wet noodles of temperature abuses in cold chain.

Unveiling the Real-Time plant growth dynamics using wearable fiber Bragg grating sensors with enhanced Resilience for Agricultural Intelligence

Dynamic forecasting of beef freshness using multi-step time series analysis of electronic nose signals.

PFBS disrupts lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function in human trophoblast cells.

Nucleation and dynamic growth of Al coatings electrodeposited from AlCl3-N-methylformamide system: Combining electrochemistry with in-situ microscopy

Dynamic growth properties of an internal crack in piezoelectric plates based on the improved mechanical energy release rate criterion

The rising demand for sustainable and health-conscious protein sources has driven interest in fungal-derived mycoprotein as an alternative to conventional meat products. While commercial mycoprotein production predominantly relies on Fusarium venenatum, concerns over mycotoxin potential and limited strain diversity indicate the need to explore safer and edible basidiomycetes. In this study, 28 species across four taxonomic orders within Basidiomycota were screened for their potential as mycoprotein sources. Hyphal growth dynamics were measured on potato dextrose agar, and crude protein content was quantified from submerged mycelial cultures using the Kjeldahl method. Results revealed significant inter-order variation: Polyporales exhibited the fastest radial growth, while Agaricales grew the slowest. Highest crude protein levels were observed in Inonotus obliquus (41.98%), Neolentinus lepideus (40.27%), and Bjerkandera adusta (39.15%). The dual assessment of growth kinetics and nutritional value identified strains from Gloeophyllales, Hymenochaetales, and Polyporales as promising candidates for scalable mycoprotein development. These findings show the potential of basidiomycetous fungi as safe and effective sources of mycoprotein and provide a framework for future fermentation optimization and functional food innovation.

Optimizing nutrient and water availability is fundamental for producing robust oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) seedlings. This study examined how different urea concentrations and irrigation intervals influence seedling performance during the pre-nursery period. The experiment, conducted from April to July 2022 in Simalingkar B, Medan (±88 m a.s.l.), used a factorial randomized block design consisting of three urea levels (0, 1, and 2 g L⁻¹) and three watering schedules (once every three days, once every two days, and daily), each replicated three times. Growth indicators-including plant height, stem girth, leaf number, leaf dimensions, and leaf area-were recorded weekly until 12 weeks after planting. Urea doses significantly enhanced height and leaf morphological traits, while watering frequency strongly influenced overall canopy expansion. Daily watering and 2 g L⁻¹ urea produced the most vigorous seedlings. No interaction was detected between the two factors, indicating independent modes of action. These results highlight the importance of sufficient nitrogen supply and consistent water availability for producing high-quality oil palm seedlings.

In this study, pulse current electrochemical deposition of nanocrystalline copper on 300 mm wafers is investigated with the aim of understanding the impact of key process parameters on nanocrystalline copper stability over time. The objective is to achieve a stable nanocrystalline copper microstructure suitable for wafer-to-wafer hybrid bonding of fine-pitch structures at low temperature.Copper is widely used in the back-end-of-line (BEoL) due to its excellent electrical conductivity and electromigration resistance. With the rise of 3D integration, wafer-to-wafer hybrid bonding has become a key technology, enabling fine-pitch interconnects with short signal paths, lower losses, and improved performances. A major challenge is achieving reliable Cu-Cu bonding under low thermal budgets, typically below 200 °C. Optimizing the copper microstructure is therefore crucial to enable robust bonding at low temperatures.Two main copper candidates have emerged: nanocrystalline copper (NC-Cu) and <111> nanotwinned copper (NT-Cu). Both offer improved thermal expansion compatibility, good resistivity, and oxidation control at the bonding interface [1]. However, achieving a <111> nanotwin orientation in fine-pitch structures remains challenging due to the loss of <111> orientation in small-sized pads. NC-Cu, in the other hand, is more readily achievable in fine-pitch applications. It provides a large area of grain boundaries, which serve as effective diffusion paths for atomic movement during bonding. This enhances the bonding process by facilitating grain growth and interface elimination, even at lower temperatures.In this study, the main objective is to obtain a stable nanocrystalline copper film suitable for fine-pitch applications at low temperatures. Pulsed current electrochemical deposition (ECD) was carried out on 300 mm wafers in a commercial electrolyte bath to produce nanocrystalline copper that remains stable at room temperature over extended time periods. To achieve this, key electrodeposition parameters were identified to assess their influence on the long-term stability of the nanocrystalline microstructure. Comparative studies between pulsed and direct current (DC) ECD were conducted. Parameters such as pulse frequency, duty cycle, peak and average current, and wafer rotation were explored to understand and control the kinetics of copper self-annealing. These studies focused on the impact of the deposition mode on copper microstructure, time-dependent grain growth dynamics, impurity incorporation, and the strain/stress induced by this microstructure both in the copper film and at the wafer scale. As illustrated in Figure 1, the average current is a key parameter to improve nanocrystalline stability. Lower average currents were found to significantly improve the structural stability of the nanocrystalline copper over time.A comprehensive set of advanced characterization techniques was employed to further investigate the mechanisms involved, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), resistivity measurements, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), X-ray diffraction in situ (XRD), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), and wafer bow stress analysis.This study was further extended to investigate the influence of copper film thickness on microstructural stability, as well as the filling behavior in various cavity structures of different sizes to fit the requirements of fine-pitch hybrid bonding. The objective was to determine whether different deposition conditions could produce similar and stable nanocrystalline microstructures within cavities. In addition, annealing treatments were carried out to study the behavior of the copper microstructure under thermal budgets representative of those used for low and high-temperature hybrid bonding. Keywords- copper grain engineering, nanocrystalline, fine grain, fine-pitch, hybrid bonding, copper plating, pulse current, ECD, damascene, microstructure [1] Y. Kagawa, « Development of face-to-face and face-to-back ultra-fine pitch Cu-Cu hybrid bonding », 2022 IEEE 72nd Electronic Components and Technology Conference (ECTC) Figure 1

Aqueous batteries are expected to significantly impact future grid energy storage systems due to their abundant raw materials, low commodity pricing, and non-flammable electrolyte formulations. While these attributes meet basic techno-economic expectations, optimizing materials and their interfaces is crucial to fully utilizing active material content, enable fast recharging, and achieve cycle life requirements for systems lasting 30 years or more. This talk will focus on the traditional lead-acid battery technology and the emerging organic redox aqueous electrolyte flow batteries by examining the fundamentals of the electrochemical interface in each system and identifying new avenues for accelerating their development.Despite being one of the oldest electrochemical technologies, current lead-acid batteries utilize only 50% of their materials for energy storage, are slow to charge, and have a shorter cycle life compared to Li-ion. To unlock their full capabilities, we must address fundamental limits of the discharge reaction on both negative and positive electrodes. By developing high-purity, well-defined Pb and PbO2 surfaces with nanometer-scale roughness, we will discuss how the discharge capacity is limited by surface passivation due to the insoluble discharge product, PbSO4. By examining the relationship between discharge rates and capacity, the Peukert relationship, under various conditions, we derive the Peukert equation from first principles, connecting thermodynamics, kinetics, and mass transport properties. This provides insights into controlling active material thickness for higher utilization at both electrodes. Importantly, we demonstrate how intrinsic properties of a flat interface relate to commercial electrode types, highlighting the relevance of fundamental knowledge to practical battery design.For recharging, size-selected and shape-controlled PbSO4 nanoparticles serve as an ideal platform to demonstrate the role of particle size and interfacial energy in determining lead sulfate practical charging rates in lead-acid electrodes. By understanding discharge and charge processes and the impact of additives on nucleation, growth dynamics, and dissolution kinetics, we will discuss the development of a high-throughput autonomous-ready electrolyte design platform. The Electrochemical Small Molecule Accelerated Reaction Testing platform (E-SMART) allows simultaneous mixing of up to six electrolyte streams in a microfluidic platform connected to an electrochemical flow cell, enabling evaluation of ~50 new molecules per week. This accelerates the creation of a structure-property database necessary for predicting functional groups relevant for enhancing discharge and charge properties. Insights from lead-acid batteries and modern tools can be applied to other dissolution/precipitation energy storage chemistries.In the second part, we explore electrode interface processes using nitroxide radicals like 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (HT) as redox-active materials in aqueous electrolytes for redox flow batteries (RFBs). While low concentrations and fast charge rates show HT as highly reversible, high concentrations and slow rates reveal a surface passivation process limiting HT reversibility. Extensive characterization using SEM, XPS, and EQCM reveals a polymeric layer formation under specific conditions. We will discuss how surface reactions on the current collect can remove this passive film, restoring the electrode's ability to oxidize HT, offering a solution to secondary processes that may limit battery lifetime.Lastly, multiple factors influence the electrochemical interface properties, such as electrolyte solvent, co-solvents, anion and cation nature, and pH, thus requiring an accelerated experimental platform. We discuss the FLOW-AIDE: Flexible Laboratory for Optimizing Wide-ranging Autonomous Investigations and Discoveries in Electrochemistry. This system includes sixteen electrochemical testing channels, each with four peristaltic pump channels and selector valves, all controlled by software for electrolyte design and delivery, enabling complete automation and close-loop capabilities. FLOW-AIDE is chemistry agnostic, suitable for exploring various redox-active materials across different electrochemical systems, including aqueous and non-aqueous. Thus, combining fundamental interfacial investigations with accelerated electrochemical platforms move us closer to deploying electrochemical energy technologies. Acknowledgements: The research was conducted at Argonne National Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory, operated by UChicago Argonne, LLC under Contract no. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The authors acknowledge the support from the Lead Battery Science Research Program and the American Battery Research Group via a Collaborative Research and Development Agreement. The submitted abstract has been created by UChicago Argonne, LLC, Operator of Argonne National Laboratory (“Argonne”). Argonne, a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science laboratory, is operated under Contract No. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The U.S. Government retains for itself, and others acting on its behalf, a paid-up nonexclusive, irrevocable worldwide license in said article to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, and perform publicly and display publicly, by or on behalf of the Government. The Department of Energy will provide public access to these results of federally sponsored research in accordance with the DOE Public Access Plan. http://energy.gov/downloads/doe-public-access-plan

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) presents a major kinetic challenge in alkaline water electrolysis. Nickel oxide (NiO) is generally accepted as a favorable material due to its abundance and stability, yet it also exhibits limited intrinsic catalytic activity. In this study, nanocolumnar NiO electrodes were fabricated using glancing angle deposition (GLAD), and key deposition parameters, film thickness, angle, and deposition rate, were systematically tuned to optimize OER performance. An overpotential of 311 mV at 10 mA/cm 2 was achieved for a 512 nm thick film deposited at 78° with an increasing‐rate profile. Interestingly, this performance peak coincided with a morphological transition zone within the nanocolumns, where growth dynamics likely promote a favorable defect landscape. In contrast, thicker films showed reduced activity, likely due to diminished defect density associated with further morphological evolution. Electrochemical cycling further enhanced performance via a self‐reconstruction process, forming branch‐like NiOOH/Ni(OH) 2 features and reducing the overpotential to 269 mV. These results highlight the impact of growth‐induced structural transitions and defect formation on catalytic performance, positioning GLAD as an effective platform for rational OER catalyst design.

A novel mathematical investigation of carbon emissions, economic growth, carbon taxation and renewable energy dynamics: stability analysis and forecasting