This research study assesses the applicability of drift tube ion mobility spectrometry (DTIMS) to resolve ammonia (NH3) from its isotopologue, ammonia-d3 (ND3). DTIMS, known for its rapid response at ambient pressure, was employed to conduct real-time analysis of gaseous samples. Two ammonia introduction methods were evaluated, evaporation of a 3 ppm(v) aqueous ammonia solution and dry gas synthesis. The study tested these methods for the mixture analysis of ammonia and examined their impact on resolution. The resolution of isotopologues and the influence of moisture in the carrier gas on separation were assessed. Individual analysis by evaporation method provided drift times of 6.03 ms for NH3 and 6.17 ms for ND3, from which reduced mobility (K0) values of 2.52 cm2 V-1 s-1 and 2.46 cm2 V-1 s-1 were calculated, respectively. The presence of moisture in the carrier gas was found to significantly reduce the resolution of isotopologue separation. To address this limitation and enhance signal clarity, the application of wavelet denoising was conducted, with universal thresholding based on Symlet, Daubechies, and Coiflet wavelet families systematically evaluated. The Daubechies wavelet (db9) at level 9 was identified as the optimal denoising approach. Following this, multivariate curve resolution alternating least-squares (MCR-ALS) was employed for the decomposition of the complex overlapping signals into their pure ion mobility spectra and corresponding concentration profiles over time. The integration of wavelet-based denoising and MCR-ALS offers a practical strategy for the enhancement of DTIMS performance in complex isotopologue separation, particularly for future studies focused on quantitative analysis. Future work will involve the integration of steady-state isotopic transient kinetic analysis (SSITKA) for a comprehensive kinetic framework for kinetic models.

Green synthesis and primary mechanism of AgNPs-Codonopsis pilosula stem solution with efficient antibacterial and catalytic reduction properties of antibiotic.

The syringolin natural products are covalent inhibitors of the 20S proteasome that inspire therapeutic development. Here, we report a new route to the syringolins amenable to solution and solid-phase synthesis that overcomes a problematic macrocyclization. Exploiting our synthetic approach and substrate mimicry models for proteasome inhibition by the syringolins, we generated a collection of hypothetically selective inhibitors of the Plasmodium falciparum proteasome, which is an emerging target for antimalarial drugs. We identified compounds from the library having high second-order rate constants for Plasmodium proteasome inhibition and nanomolar antiparasitic activity. They exhibited selectivity for the Plasmodium proteasome over the human proteasome. We solved cryo-EM structures of an inhibitor bound to both 20S proteasomes, revealing key contacts favoring species-selective inhibition. Together, this work provides an improved route to syringolin analogs, sheds new light on substrate mimicry by the syringolins, and provides a structural basis for the pursuit of new antimalarial drugs.

A 3D multidirectional covalent hexaphenylbenzene‐based porphyrin polymer with precasting Co‐(Pyrrolic N) 4 moieties was thermally transformed into carbon microspheres with surface‐exposed Co‐(Pyrrolic N) 4 sites. The resulting material demonstrated efficient electrocatalytic performance for the two‐electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e ‐ ORR) to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) in 0.1 M perchloric acid (HClO 4 , pH = 1), 0.1 M phosphate‐buffered saline (pH = 7), and 0.1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH, pH = 13). In H‐type electrolytic cells, it achieved an H 2 O 2 production rate of about 512–850 mmol g cat. −1 h −1 in three electrolytes, exhibiting better durability. Moreover, the H 2 O 2 production rate was further elevated to 3.12 mol g cat. −1 h −1 in an alkaline flow cell with about 95% Faradaic efficiency. Experimental and theoretical studies revealed that a 3D multidirectional porphyrin polymer facilitated the formation of abundant Co‐(Pyrrolic N) 4 sites on the carbon surface, which can effectively adsorb *O 2 and *OOH intermediates, thereby promoting a four‐step 2e ‐ ORR mechanism with a low energy barrier. This work presents a multidirectional porphyrin polymer‐derivation strategy for precisely engineering Co‐(Pyrrolic N) 4 sites on a carbon surface, enabling efficient and durable electrochemical H 2 O 2 synthesis in different pH solutions.

The proton-electron transfer (PET) reaction is a fundamental pathway in redox catalysis that drives critical processes from enzymatic reactions to sustainable fuel generation. Yet its efficient implementation in heterogeneous systems often necessitates liquid-phase molecular mediators, which limit sustainability and simplicity. Direct H2O2 synthesis exemplifies this challenge, where high selectivity conventionally requires organic solvents to mediate PET and suppress side reactions. Herein, this limitation is mitigated by employing C60 as a solid-state replacement for molecular mediators; we report a palladium adatom catalyst on C60 that enables direct H2O2 synthesis in pure water, achieving an exceptional rate of 150 mol kgcat-1 h-1 with 90% selectivity and a record product concentration of 0.56 wt %. The benchmark performance stems from a "C60-buffered PET" mechanism, wherein C60 dynamically regulates both electron density and proton/hydrogen species flux, which cooperates with the selective palladium adatom site to inhibit both O-O bond cleavage and overhydrogenation.

Vacancy-ordered double perovskites have emerged as promising scintillator materials for X-ray imaging applications. However, they typically necessitate the sophisticated synthetic approaches and exhibit weak emission. Here, an uncomplicated, large-scale, and cost-effective solution synthesis of Te4+-doped Cs2ZrCl6 double perovskite was adopted. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence study on Te4+-doped Cs2ZrCl6 revealed an abnormal negative thermal quenching phenomenon with an increase in temperature. During this process, as the carriers obtain sufficient thermal energy, they can participate in radiative recombination after escaping the trap states, thereby increasing the photoluminescence intensity. Te4+-doped Cs2ZrCl6 microcrystals exhibit highly efficient yellow photoluminescence with a photoluminescence quantum yield of 82% and robust stability, and they are used as scintillators to demonstrate a notable light yield of 24,415 photons MeV-1 and spatial resolution of 8 lp mm-1. It is believed that this scintillator screen shows potential for use in X-ray imaging.

Syntheses of low-dimensional macromolecules with increasing size and complexity in solution pose substantial challenges in terms of their precise structural characterization. Electrospray ionization coupled with scanning tunneling microscopy (ESI-STM) has emerged as a promising tool for the characterization of these nonsublimable macromolecules in real space. However, the weak ionization of such macromolecules and the three-dimensional configuration of the attached solubilizing groups severely impede high-resolution STM imaging. In this work, we synthesized a series of graphyne-graphdiyne concentric macrocycles with triphenylamine groups to enhance the ionization efficiency, which in turn ensures the sample cleanliness for STM characterization. To tackle imaging interference from solubilizing groups, single-molecule tip manipulation and large-scale bromine-assisted thermal treatment were developed for alkoxy and/or alkyl chain removal, enabling the acquisition of unprecedented bond-resolving structural images and angstrom-resolution frontier molecular orbital maps. Our methods resolve the long-standing dilemma between the solubility requirements of solution synthesis and the molecular planarization demands of high-resolution STM characterization, pushing the resolution limit of macromolecules to the angstrom level.

Development and optimization of solid solution synthesis based on metal halides of two crystalline classes

Urbanization fundamentally fractures the natural water cycle, leading to a cascade of interconnected problems including increased flood risk, degraded water quality, stressed groundwater resources, and inefficient distribution networks. Traditional, fragmented management approaches that address these issues in isolation have proven inadequate. This research argues for a paradigm shift towards an Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) framework anchored in the concept of the “river-aquifer-pipe network continuum”, treating these components as a single, dynamic hydrological and infrastructural entity. Drawing upon a series of detailed case studies from Eastern Romania, this paper synthesizes the systemic impacts of development across the entire urban water system. Evidence from the Prut, Olt, and Bahlui river basins demonstrate how channelization exacerbates flood peaks and leads to severe biochemical degradation. Hydrogeological modeling of the Gherăești-Bacău wellfield reveals the vulnerabilities of over-extraction, while analysis of the Iași water network highlights the challenge of water losses in the aging infrastructure. In response, a modern, multi-tool approach is consolidated into a practical, three-stage framework for action: Diagnose, Prescribe, and Optimize. This framework advocates for (1) a comprehensive diagnosis using a suite of predictive numerical models (a “digital twin”); (2) the prescription of foundational, nature-based solutions, such as floodplain restoration, to heal core ecological functions; and (3) the continuous optimization of engineered infrastructure using smart, real-time control technologies. The synthesis concludes that an integrated, data-driven, and collaborative approach is the only sustainable path forward. Future research should focus on formally coupling these diagnostic models to create true Digital Twins of urban water systems—an essential step towards building resilient, water-secure cities for the 21st century.

In this work, the electrochemical behavior of potassium jarosite-type solid solutions synthesized via a controlled hydrothermal method was evaluated. Structural characterization by X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the formation of potassium jarosite. FTIR spectra complemented these findings, revealing bands characteristic of Fe-O metal coordination (625 and 505 cm-1). Voltammetric tests evidenced redox processes attributable to the Fe3+/Fe2+ couple, suggesting that iron within the jarosite framework contributes electrochemically to the observed conductivity. The assembled galvanic cells demonstrated the capability for electrical energy microgeneration, and the presence of jarosite was found to enhance ionic transport within the system. Overall, these results suggest an intergranular ionic-conduction mechanism, possibly facilitated by the mineral matrix, which would act as a structural medium enabling the mobility of charged species.

IntroductionSoil salinization strongly shapes rhizosphere microbial communities and their functional potential in arid ecosystems. Tamarix is a key halophytic shrub in desert saline–alkali environments, yet how its rhizosphere microbiomes respond to natural salinity gradients remains insufficiently understood. Here, we compared community structure, functional potential, and potential salt-adaptation strategies across a soil salinity gradient.MethodsRhizosphere soils of Tamarix were collected from four sites (S1–S4) in Xinjiang, China spanning increasing salinity. Soil physicochemical properties were measured, followed by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Taxonomic profiles and functional annotations were generated from metagenomic data and compared among salinity groups.ResultsSalinity was associated with clear shifts in community composition. Bacteria dominated at low-to-moderate salinity, whereas archaeal relative abundance increased at higher salinity, with Euryarchaeota becoming dominant in the high-salinity group. Functional profiling indicated that core metabolic pathways remained prevalent along the gradient, suggesting relative stability in overall metabolic capacity. However, higher salinity was accompanied by enrichment of functions linked to genetic information processing (e.g., translation and replication/repair) and ion transport, while lipid metabolism, cell motility, and signal transduction were reduced.DiscussionTogether, these results support a salinity-driven transition in microbial functional strategy from “growth expansion” toward “homeostasis maintenance.” Under high salinity, microbes appear to allocate more resources to maintaining cellular integrity and coping with stress, consistent with the observed enrichment of genetic information processing and repair-related functions. Mechanistically, the increased representation of Na+/H+ antiporter systems and V/A-type ATPases in the very high salinity group suggests that energy-dependent ion homeostasis is a prominent adaptation, helping regulate intracellular ion balance and mitigate salt toxicity. In contrast, pathways for compatible solute synthesis (e.g., betaine and ectoine biosynthesis) were relatively reduced, indicating that osmoprotection may rely less on de novo solute production and more on ion regulation and maintenance processes along this gradient. Overall, the metagenomic evidence clarifies how Tamarix rhizosphere microbiomes restructure taxonomically and functionally with increasing salinity and highlights key candidate mechanisms underpinning salt-stress adaptation. These insights provide a microbial basis for understanding plant–microbe interactions in desert saline–alkali soils and may inform ecological restoration and management in salinized regions.

High-quality single-crystal ingots of Cs2TeX6 (X = Cl, Br) with dimensions of Ø10 × 40 mm and a mass of 9 g were grown using the vertical Bridgman-Stockbarger method. The solution synthesis method improves the purity of the resulting Cs2TeX6 powders to 99.995% compared to the starting materials (99%) and yields more than 95%. The photoluminescence of Cs2TeX6 was studied in the temperature range 80-280 K. A broad luminescence with a wavelength maximum at 595 nm for Cs2TeCl6, and at 693 nm for Cs2TeBr6, was observed at 80 K. With the temperature increase, the emission maximum of Cs2TeBr6 exhibits a red-shift of 11 nm and the luminescence intensity is completely quenched above 210 K. For Cs2TeCl6, the emission maximum exhibits a red-shift of 14 nm and weak luminescence persists up to room temperature. The proposed luminescence mechanism via self-trapped exciton (STE) emission is supported by strong electron-phonon coupling, as evidenced by the high Huang-Rhys parameters (S = 25 for Cs2TeCl6 and S = 21 for Cs2TeBr6). Raman spectra reveal only four active modes, T2g(1), T2g(2), Eg, and A1g, identified between 49 and 292 cm-1, as well as a four-phonon decay through the Eg mode of Cs2TeCl6.

Self-crosslinked fucoidan nanoparticles via electron beam irradiation: Synthesis, physicochemical analysis, and drug delivery application

In situ synthesis of MIL-100(Fe) nanocages loaded with 8-hydroxyquinoline for sustainable corrosion protection

We report a one-step, nickel-catalyzed allyl/alloc deprotection compatible with solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to address the reliance on costly palladium conditions and limited on-resin compatibility of base-metal alternatives. Our two-component system employs an air-stable Ni(PPh3)2Br2 precatalyst and NH3BH3 reductant and operates rapidly in SPPS-compatible solvents under inertion. This protocol efficiently and chemoselectively deprotects allyl- and alloc-protected amino acids, small molecules, and peptides in solution and has been extended to on-resin deprotection, showing promise for SPPS applications.

This article is devoted to researching the specifics of contemporary marimba performance in ensemble music-making, which underwent active development in the second half of the 20th century and early 21st century and became one of the key trends in percussion art. Despite the growing interest of composers and performers in the marimba, there are still few scientific works in Ukrainian musicology that comprehensively analyze its role in collective performance. The aim of the study is to identify and characterize the main performance and artistic-stylistic features of contemporary marimba playing in an ensemble context, as well as to clarify its role in the formation of new sound and communicative possibilities of a percussion ensemble. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive approach: the historical and cultural method is used to trace the evolution of the ensemble use of the marimba; the systemic and analytical method is used to generalize the performance techniques and structural features of the instrument; and elements of semiotic analysis are used to interpret timbral and expressive means. The article shows that the marimba occupies a special place in modern percussion ensembles due to its wide range, rich timbral nuances, and ability to integrate into both traditional and experimental forms of music-making. The article shows that the marimba occupies a special place in contemporary percussion ensembles due to its wide range, rich timbral nuances, and ability to integrate into both traditional and experimental forms of music-making. The article examines the problems of interaction between performers in an ensemble, the specifics of the repertoire, and innovative sound production techniques. It is proven that contemporary ensemble practice with the marimba is characterized by a synthesis of acoustic and electroacoustic solutions, the expansion of spatial models of instrument placement, and the use of intergenre and intermedia means. The results of the study allow us to outline the prospects for further research on the domestic school of ensemble performance on the marimba against the backdrop of the international musical context.

A covalent triazine framework (CTF) was synthesized via a typical solution synthesis route and applied as an anode for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). The extended conjugate structure of CTF not only endows structural stability and limited solubility, but also improves electronic conductivity and offers numerous active sites. Meanwhile, the CTF displays a Na+ storage capacity of 82.6 mAh g-1 after 9000 cycles at 2.0 A g-1, indicating a superior long-term cycling stability. The Na3V2(PO4)3//CTF full cell demonstrates a capacity of 57.6 mAh g-1 after 1500 cycles at 1.0 A g-1.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and particularly the unique AGE10 epitope, may be a potential biomarker of immunopathology in rheumatic diseases. They may be associated with inflammation, joint damage and ossification processes. AGE10 present in human and animal tissues could be detected with monoclonal antibody against melibiose-derived glycation product MAGE synthesized in anhydrous conditions. This MAGE product was different from the classic synthesis in water solution. The epitope was determined in serum with ELISA using these anti-MAGE monoclonal antibodies. This work aims to determine serum AGE10 levels in patients with reactive arthritis (ReA)-caused with Chlamydia trachomatis (group 2) and ReA with C. trachomatis during the reactivation of EBV infection (group 3). Additionally, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients (group 4) were involved in the study, due to the potential evolution of ReA toward AS. The control group maintained physiological AGE10 levels (316µg/ml), while the combined infection group showed elevated AGE10 (850µg/ml) compared to the chlamydial-only group (17µg/ml). Fluorescent fAGE were at the highest level in AS patients. A striking finding was the complete absence of detectable AGE10 antigen in the AS group, coinciding with notably elevated immune complex AGE10-anti-AGE10 levels. A similar pattern was observed in patients with ReA caused by C. trachomatis alone (Group 2), albeit to a lesser extent. In contrast, both the control group and patients with ReA associated with EBV coinfection (group 3) displayed an inverse relationship, characterized by higher antigen levels and lower immune complex concentrations. Thus, diminished level of AGE10 could be caused, besides local accumulation, also by immune complexes formation, a pathogenic factor. Therefore, evaluating disease activity in ReA and AS is crucial to further our understanding of the pathophysiology of AGEs formation and predicting prognosis.

Amorphous metal oxides hold promising and yet, untapped potential as new classes of functional engineering materials due to their long-range disordered structures. While such disruptive features are alluring, fundamental understanding of structure-composition properties during their disorder-to-order transitions hold the key to their rational design as novel functional materials. Recently, we employed laser ablation synthesis in solution (LASiS) to kinetically entrap amorphous and metastable Al-oxide (a-AlO x ) nanostructures with non-stoichiometric compositions (x ∼ 2.5-3.0) that indicated remarkable stability from carbon interfaces. In this work we provide detailed insights into thermally induced phase change characteristics and structural evolution of these highly disordered a-AlO x /C nanocomposites (NCs) using Atomic Pair Distribution Function (PDF) analyses from X-ray scattering experiments. Our results indicate that the ultra-small AlO x nanostructures evolve from highly disordered to low-order polycrystalline structures while undergoing Al-O bond re-arrangements indicating coordination shifts during each step of high-temperature (>500-800 °C) phase transition. We also demonstrate our ability to tailor the composition (x = O/Al ratio) and percentage crystallinity in these NCs by varying the laser flux within accessible ranges by comparing two discrete nanosecond pulse durations (5 ns and 9 ns) during LASiS; this paves the path for ability to regulate their energy release and trapped oxidative gas contents in their design as solid-state phase change materials (SS-PCMs) in energetic applications. These studies provide critical insights into the stability and structural bond re-arrangements in metastable a-AlO x /C NCs undergoing disorder-to-order transitions during high temperature isothermal phase change processes. Such studies pave a novel path for the future design and development of advanced SS-PCM based energetic additives as intrinsic initiators/oxidizers in next-generation solid propellant formulations.

Synthesis in the water solution, semiconductor, and photocatalytic properties of ferroelectrics SbSI and SbSBr: comparative analysis