Nitrogen-containing compounds from the fruits of Elaeagnus angustifolia L.

Synthesis of h-BN/CNTs nanocomposites for good cycling stability supercapacitors

ABSTRACT How does knowledge of the material foundations and socio-ecological impacts of digital markets shape green and ‘just transitions’ efforts? This article argues that growing awareness of digital markets’ embeddedness in societies and ecologies paradoxically spurs further transnational market-led efforts to attend to the ecological impacts of digital markets. This argument is grounded in the case of blockchain-based digital asset markets emerging over the decade between 2014 and 2024. Growing knowledge of the dirty and unequal underpinnings of blockchain-based markets generated by academics and Environmental NGOs like Greenpeace is shown to have resulted in more rather than less market-driven initiatives. We contend that knowledge infrastructures foregrounding (dis)connections between the digital and the socio-ecological worlds are essential heuristics for better understanding possibilities and perils as well as enacting just transitions.

Characterization of key aroma compounds contributing to tropical fruity and Citrus notes and the mechanism of characteristic aroma formation in Dali-variety black tea.

Reversible blue-green emitting CsPbBr3 perovskite quantum dots glasses for anti-counterfeiting.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, a primary cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), is driven by a self-amplifying loop of oxidative burst and immune cell infiltration. In this work, the classical herb pair Astragalus membranaceus (AM) and Angelica sinensis (AS) is employed as a composite precursor to synthesize nitrogen-rich carbon-dot nanozymes (AM-AS@CDs) via a one-step hydrothermal method. AM‑AS@CDs exhibit superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic activity superior to that of CDs derived from single herbs. In vitro, AM-AS@CDs effectively alleviate oxidative stress-induced cellular damage and significantly inhibit apoptosis. In vivo, AM-AS@CDs markedly attenuate I/R-induced AKI and reduce immune cell infiltration in renal tissues. Transcriptomic analyses reveal that AM-AS@CDs downregulate the expression and phosphorylation of Fosl1 and c-Jun. Consequently, the AP-1-chemokine signaling axis is disrupted, which reduces immune cell recruitment. Furthermore, AM-AS@CDs restore redox homeostasis by upregulating antioxidant enzymes such as SOD, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and catalase (CAT). They also attenuate the excessive activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Overall, this precursor-formulation strategy enables precise modulation of heteroatom doping and surface chemistry in CDs. AM-AS@CDs effectively interrupt the oxidative-inflammatory positive feedback loop through dual mechanisms. These findings provide both theoretical and material foundations for the development of natural product-based nanozymes for I/R-related diseases.

The potential of soft actuators for tasks in complex environments remains constrained by their lack of real-time proprioceptive capabilities. Here, this challenge is addressed through a multimaterial digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing strategy for constructing bilayer actuators integrating thermoresponsive actuation with strain-sensing functions. Two photocurable functional inks were developed and integrated into a single heterogeneous bilayer system via multimaterial DLP 3D printing. The passive layer consists of a dual-network ionoelastomer based on a polymerizable deep eutectic solvent (PDES) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), with favorable mechanical properties (tensile strength ∼0.5 MPa) and sensitive strain-sensing performance (gauge factor = 2.11). The active layer is composed of a functionalized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel; the incorporation of a DES synergistically enhanced its mechanical performance (compressive strength ∼1.05 MPa) while enabling effective regulation of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST: 32-46 °C). Seamless integration and robust interfacial bonding between these heterogeneous materials were achieved by systematically optimizing the printing process. The resulting bilayer actuators demonstrated efficient and tunable thermoresponsive actuation, with programmable complex deformations realized through the structural design of the active layer. Furthermore, the integrated sensing capabilities enabled self-perception, allowing the actuator to monitor its own deformation states during actuation. This multimaterial DLP 3D printing strategy established a material and processing foundation for the construction of intelligent soft systems with proprioceptive capabilities.

This article examines how the global transition from a fossil-fuel-based energy system to an electricity-centered energy order is reshaping the geopolitical structure of power. It argues that the rise of an electricity-based civilization is not merely an energy transition, but a profound transformation in the material foundations, strategic logic, and institutional forms of global politics. In contrast to the oil age in which geopolitical competition primarily revolved around the control of fuel reserves and transport routes, the electricity age is increasingly defined by competition over critical minerals, high-end power equipment, nuclear energy technology, and grid standards. Focusing on copper and lithium as strategic resources, transformers and nuclear power as key industrial capabilities, and ultra-high-voltage transmission and technical standards as instruments of structural influence, the article analyzes the emerging geography of power in the electricity era. It further compares the strategic choices of China, the United States, and the European Union, showing that China seeks to consolidate full-chain industrial advantages and enhance its rule-shaping capacity, the United States prioritizes hegemonic maintenance through supply-chain restructuring and alliance-based exclusion, and the European Union pursues a balancing strategy centered on energy sovereignty, regulatory influence, and multilateral coordination. The article contends that the geopolitics of electricity is shaped by three principal fault lines—resources, technology, and rules—while also generating new incentives for cooperation under conditions of climate vulnerability and infrastructural interdependence. It concludes that the future global electricity order is likely to evolve toward a pattern of multipolar leadership, regional integration, and pluralistic co-governance, in which technological capability, resource control, and standard-setting authority jointly determine the reconfiguration of global power.

Rooted in Eastern philosophy and culture, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has safeguarded human health for millennia and remains a vital source for novel drug discovery. Notably, supramolecular nanostructures, spontaneously formed through non-covalent interactions among multiple bioactive components, have been identified in TCM and show significant therapeutic potential. These supramolecules exhibit unique therapeutic advantages by improving the aqueous solubility of lipophilic bioactive constituents and demonstrating synergistic pharmacological effects with reduced toxicity profiles. This review consolidates recent advances in three categories of supramolecular nanoplatforms, focusing on: (1) self-assembled nanoaggregates from TCM decoction, (2) self-assembled carbonized nanoarchitectures from Chinese carbonized drugs, and (3) self-assembled extracellular vesicle-like nanoparticles from Chinese fresh herbs. This paper mainly introduces the nanoplatforms' morphology, self-assembled mechanisms, and pharmacological activities of these supramolecules. Bioactive supramolecular assemblies derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offer novel insights into TCM's material foundation and present potential therapeutic alternatives for disease treatment, thereby advancing TCM modernization efforts.

Multi-stimulus responsive and durable liquid crystal elastomer fiber actuators for artificial muscles and reconfigurable circuits.

Modern conditions of development of military education in Ukraine require high-quality training of higher education applicants capable of acting effectively in professional conditions. One of the key prerequisites for such training is a properly organized educational and technical base, which forms the material foundation of the educational process and directly affects the development of professional knowledge, skills and practical readiness. The article analyzes the main structural elements of the educational and technical base used in combined military training of higher education applicants and clarifies their functional role. It is established that this base should be considered as an integrated system that includes classroom facilities, training grounds and specialized sites, library and information support, sports and health infrastructure, barracks and communal support, as well as simulation and modeling tools. Their coordinated use ensures the combination of theoretical learning, practical training, physical development, independent work and technological modeling of professional situations. It is substantiated that the functioning of the educational and technical base should rely on the principles of complexity, relevance, accessibility, safety and resource efficiency. It is concluded that improving this base is an important condition for increasing the effectiveness of combined military training in higher education institutions.

To investigate the effect of Ca 2+ doping on the local states of Fe ions in NdFeO 3 , a series of Nd 1-x Ca x FeO 3 (x = 0-0.4) samples were synthesized using the sol-gel method and characterized by XRD, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and VSM. The results indicate that with increasing Ca 2+ doping content, the degree of lattice distortion in the orthorhombic system decreases, and the crystal symmetry of the samples improves. Mossbauer spectroscopic analysis reveals that as the doping content increases, the hematite phase content in the samples gradually rises; concurrently, the characteristic doublet signal of Fe 4+ becomes increasingly pronounced with higher doping levels, indicating the progressive formation of a mixed Fe 3+ /Fe 4+ valence state in the system. Magnetic measurements reveal a significant reduction in remanent magnetization and coercivity, which is highly consistent with the increase in the hematite phase, the weakening of magnetic ordering, and the enhancement of magnetic exchange inhomogeneity observed in the Mossbauer spectroscopic analysis. This study elucidates how Ca 2+ doping regulates the local states of Fe ions through the synergistic effects of charge compensation and structural distortion, providing important spectroscopic evidence and a material foundation for the magnetic analysis of perovskite-type ferrites.

In traditional Chinese medicine and various ethnic medical practices, the roots of Aconitum pendulum N. Busch are commonly used for their ability to dredge meridians, dispel rheumatism, promote blood circulation, and alleviate arthralgia. As a result, this medicinal plant has become a well-regarded treatment for sprains and rheumatic diseases across different ethnic medical systems. This study investigated the mechanisms by which six previously isolated compounds from A. pendulum ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related inflammation using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. A combination of techniques, including network pharmacology, molecular docking, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR), and western blot (WB), was employed. Results demonstrated that smirnotine A, one of the six compounds, alleviates RA symptoms by targeting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and suppressing the inflammatory response. These findings provide a scientific basis for understanding the material foundation and mechanistic action underlying the traditional use of A. pendulum in treating RA.

High-sensitivity rapid detection of ammonia (NH3) in environmental monitoring, industrial safety, early diagnosis, and other fields is of great significance. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have shown great potential in the field of gas sensing due to their designable porous structure and active sites. However, the traditional solvothermal synthesis method of COFs has problems such as cumbersome steps, high energy consumption and serious environmental pollution. Therefore, it is of great significance to invent a new method for COF synthesis that is green and efficient and makes it easy to conduct flexible ammonia gas sensing. This study first reported a solvent-free synthesis of imine connection 1,3,5-Triformylbenzene (TFB) and p-Phenylenediamine (PDA)-a new strategy for COF. This method innovatively employs zinc trifluoromethyl sulfonate (Zn(OTf)2) as a bifunctional catalyst. This catalyst not only efficiently catalyzes para-phenylenediamine, but its zinc ions also play a unique structural guiding role, guiding the reactants to be arranged in a directional manner, thereby constructing a highly ordered porous crystal structure. A series of characterizations confirmed that the obtained TFB-PDA-COF had good crystallinity and a high proportion of imine bonds (C=N). The powder material was coated onto a flexible polyimide (PI) substrate, successfully constructing a resistive ammonia gas sensor that operates at room temperature. The test results show that this sensor has a high response value, rapid response/recovery capability, and good selectivity for ammonia gas. More importantly, based on a flexible PI substrate, the device can maintain stable sensing performance even under repeated bending conditions, demonstrating its great potential in practical flexible electronic applications. This work not only provides a brand-new "zinc ion-guided" paradigm for the green and controllable synthesis of COF but also lays a material foundation for their application in the next-generation flexible sensing field.

This article examines how the British military responds to sexual violence experienced by its servicewomen. Drawing on observations of 15 hearings at a British military court center, it argues that the logic of operational effectiveness saturates the material and conceptual foundations of military justice. The article shows how the institution is imagined as the victimized subject within the military courts, in turn creating the conditions for the institutional gaslighting of the victim-survivors of sexual violence. This article is the first in-depth, qualitative study of the British military courts, and provides an important new empirical contribution to the study of sexual violence within militaries.

Si3N4@MgSiN2 composite powder with a core-shell structure was successfully synthesized via the in situ reaction between Mg and α-Si3N4 using a NaCl-KCl mixed molten salt in this study. The effects of process parameters, including the molten salt system, reaction temperature, and Mg/Si3N4 mass ratio, on the morphology, phase composition, and microstructure of the coating layer were investigated. The results indicate that the reaction follows a "template growth" mechanism. Mg-containing species dissolve in the molten salt, diffuse to the surface of Si3N4 particles, and react with α-Si3N4, resulting in a relatively uniform MgSiN2 layer at 1300 °C. The yield of MgSiN2 layer exhibits a linear positive correlation with the Mg/Si3N4 mass ratio, enabling controllable microstructural regulation through adjustment of the starting materials composition. The core-shell powder forms a liquid phase at a relatively low temperature (approximately 1350 °C), demonstrating excellent sintering activity. This work provides a new material foundation for the fabrication of silicon nitride ceramics with high thermal conductivity.

Combining switchable bandgaps with Dirac-like mobility remains a grand challenge for high-performance electronics. Here we propose a "3D semi-Dirac semiconductor" (3D-SDS) paradigm, integrating an intrinsic bandgap with gate-tunable, low-dimensional Dirac transport. By simulating uniaxial compression of layered C60 solids, we predict a stable body-centered orthorhombic distorted C60 solid (bco-dC60) as a concrete realization, whose simulated XRD pattern aligns with unassigned experimental peaks from diamond-rich coatings. Its low-energy conduction bands form a broad and clean 3D semi-Dirac cone at the phase boundary between a trivial insulator and a topological nodal loop─well-captured by a two-band tight-binding model from a cluster-assembled hierarchical lattice. Furthermore, bco-dC60 exhibits extreme electrical anisotropy with ∼95% axial polarization, enabling quasi-1D Dirac transport in the bulk. Generalizing these findings into a generalized k·p model and symmetry analysis, we establish the conceptual and material foundations for topological transistors, unveiling a cluster-assembly route to unite logic switching with ultrahigh-speed anisotropic transport.

Algae-based biomaterial synthesis and applications for a sustainable green bioeconomy: A review.

Vertical gradients in membrane structure and functionality are critical for achieving high filtration efficiency, precise size selectivity, and enhanced anti-fouling properties. However, the fabrication of vertically graded membranes with controlled micro-pore size distribution and directional functionality remains a significant challenge in both scalability and reproducibility. Herein, a gradient aerogel (GE) membrane was fabricated via a one-step temperature-gradient-controlled spray-freezing process that synergistically controls substrate temperature, suspension flow rate, and nozzle-to-substrate distance to match solidification front velocity with droplet accumulation dynamics. This approach generates a seamless pore gradient from ∼100µm at the top surface down to ∼3µm at the base, containing restrictive pore throats as small as ∼0.2µm. The resulting GE membrane delivers ultra-high flux of 35586 and 25479 L m- 2 h- 1 bar- 1 for 10 and 5µm microplastics, respectively, with >99.7% retention. Crucially, in sediment-rich environments, the GE membrane outperforms commercial counterparts, where its hierarchical architecture effectively manages sediment load to sustain significantly higher flux and retention efficiency for polydisperse microplastics (1-10µm). This scalable platform technology provides a versatile foundation for next-generation separation materials and multifunctional composite architectures.

Abstract The β -Ga 2 O 3 epitaxial thin films were grown on (001) β -Ga 2 O 3 substrates using metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), and the effects of key growth parameters — including temperature, pressure, and oxygen-to-gallium ratio (O 2 /Ga) — on the crystalline quality, surface morphology, and electrical properties of the films were systematically investigated. The results show that while variations in these parameters did not alter the (001) preferential orientation of the β -Ga 2 O 3 films, they significantly influenced other properties. By optimizing the growth parameters, films with a surface roughness as low as 1.5 nm and the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 33.7 arcsec were achieved. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that the oxygen vacancy concentration was significantly reduced under the optimized O 2 /Ga ratio of 820. Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) were fabricated from three different β -Ga 2 O 3 films grown under distinct O 2 /Ga ratios. The SBD fabricated under the optimized O 2 /Ga ratio of 820, exhibits a low turn-on voltage of 0.5 V, low on-resistance of 0.022 mΩ⋅cm 2 , and a high forward current density of 678.16 A/cm 2 at 3 V. These results provide essential material and theoretical foundations for the development of β -Ga 2 O 3 based high-power electronic devices.