At the present time, the increasing use of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles has created unprecedented pressure for end-of-life management and resource recovery. This article reports on a direct recycling approach to regenerate spent cathode active materials, in particular Ni-rich NMC622, via a hydrothermal re-lithiation strategy and thermal annealing. An initial screening process was established to separate high purity spent cathode active materials from disassembled LG Chem pouch cells from Hyundai KONA battery packs. A full factorial design was applied to provide a meaningful statistical analysis of the influence of hydrothermal variables - LiOH concentration, temperature and reaction time. The results indicate that lithium concentration and temperature have a strong main effect on regeneration efficiency, while interaction effects with time are more influential for lithium incorporation. The regenerated cathode active materials exhibited structural, morphological and electrochemical performance comparable to commercial NMC622, especially for samples treated at 160 °C, 4 M LiOH and 1 h reaction time. This process demonstrates the feasibility of regenerating degraded cathode active materials for reuse in new batteries, contributing to circular economy strategies and critical raw material independence in Europe. On the other hand, detailed material characterization validated the recovery of layered crystalline structure and localized cation mixing, conditions required for best battery performance. Regenerated electrodes retained high specific capacity during electrochemical testing and displayed good stability over 50 cycles under the conditions tested. Interactions were quantitatively significant and through the statistical analysis approach, optimal synthesis conditions were directed based on interaction limits. Against this background, the proposed method circumvents the high energy consumption and material losses of the pyrometallurgical route and the secondary pollution and reagents needed in the hydrometallurgical leaching process. In summary, direct recycling appears to be a more resource-efficient and sustainable route for the recovery of cathode materials in future battery supply chains.
How anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) change subsequent vaccine responses remains uncertain. We conducted a prospective, phase IV, open-label study of adults who received mRNA-1273 or BNT162b2. Cohort 1 included outpatients with acute COVID-19 previously randomized to mAbs (tixagevimab/cilgavimab or amubarvimab/romlusevimab), camostat, or placebo in ACTIV-2/A5401. Cohort 2 included unvaccinated adults without reported prior COVID-19 and was analyzed as naïve or non-naïve by baseline neutralizing antibodies (nAbs). We measured binding IgG, nAbs, spike-specific memory B cells, and CD4+/CD8+ T cells at baseline and days 28, 56, and 140. Forty-three participants were analyzed. At day 140, nAb titers were lower among prior mAb recipients and COVID-19-naïve participants than among placebo/camostat recipients and those with evidence of prior infection (overall p=0.018). RBD-specific, but not spike-specific, memory B cells were reduced after prior mAb therapy at days 56 and 140. Frequency of spike-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses did not differ by prior mAb exposure. Adverse events were mostly grade 1-2 and consistent with vaccine trials. Prior anti-SARS-CoV-2 mAb treatment limits endogenous RBD-focused B-cell responses to later mRNA vaccination without measurably affecting T-cell immunity. Timing of vaccination after mAb therapy may matter and warrants study. NCT04952402.
The association of long COVID with health-related quality-of-life (HrQOL) has not been well-characterized. Participants who received blinded placebo in the ACTIV-2/A5401 outpatient COVID-19 treatment trial were included in an analysis of the association of long COVID with HrQOL (both pre-specified exploratory trial endpoints) 9 months after acute COVID-19. Long COVID was defined as presence of self-assessed COVID-19 symptoms and HrQOL was assessed with EQ-5D-5L and SF-36v2 questionnaires. Associations were evaluated by Fisher's exact tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Of 546 participants, 13% had long COVID. Long COVID was associated with greater risk of reported problems in the EQ-5D-5L dimensions of mobility, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression (risk ratios 3.45-6.00, all p < 0.001) and worse self-reported health scores (median 80 vs. 95, p < 0.001). Participants with long COVID also had worse SF-36v2 composite physical and mental component scores (both p < 0.001) and individual SF-36 domain scores (physical functioning, physical role, bodily pain, general health, vitality, social functioning, emotional role, and mental health; all p < 0.001). Associations were similar regardless of baseline (pre-COVID-19) medical history. Long COVID is associated with impaired HrQOL across multiple domains, highlighting the need to develop preventative and therapeutic interventions for this protean condition.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended contact precautions for healthcare personnel caring for COVID-19 patients since the beginning of the pandemic. However, current scientific evidence points to transmission through small respiratory droplets or aerosols and not contaminated fomites as the dominant routes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We believe science shows there is no benefit and thus only negative consequences to patients, the environment, and the U.S healthcare system associated with ongoing contact precautions for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and we advocate for updated guidelines reflecting current science.
Tinnitus is a common condition that can severely impact patients' quality of life. However, little is known about how individuals with chronic tinnitus evaluate and prioritize available treatment options. This study aimed to explore the preferences, values and expectations of patients with chronic tinnitus to inform more patient-centered strategies in clinical care. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May 8 to June 19, 2025, involving 45 patients with chronic tinnitus. A structured 36-item questionnaire assessed demographic information, tinnitus severity using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), treatment preferences across 16 key questions, perceived information needs, and impact on daily functioning. Participants (mean age 50.7 ± 14.8 years, 62.2% male, median tinnitus duration 12 months) showed strong preferences for non-invasive treatments: sound therapy (73.4%), tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT; 55.6%), and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT; 44.4%). Pharmaceutical interventions had lower acceptance, with hearing aids showing highest rejection (33.3%). Key concerns included drug dependency (48.9%) and psychiatric medication stigma (28.9%). 51.1% of respondents expected complete symptom resolution despite limited evidence. Information needs were high across all modalities (40-50%). Sleep disorders (THI difference: 12.9 points) and anxiety (6.5 points) significantly associated with increased tinnitus severity. Tinnitus patients strongly prefer non-invasive treatments while harboring unrealistic expectations for cure. These findings underscore the importance of structured education and shared decision-making to align clinical care with patient values and promote more effective tinnitus management.
All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) employing lithium (Li) metal anodes or an anode-less configuration, despite their superior energy density, suffer from performance degradation under low stack pressure, hindering their practical application. To address this, we design a mechanically adaptive anode interface that leverages an elastic polymer incorporating mechanically interlocked polyrotaxane (PR). This interface synergistically combines the elastic resilience-derived from the unique ring-sliding motion of PR-with indium fluoride (InF3), which undergoes spontaneous conversion to form a chemically stable interface. This approach enables robust cycling stability and reliable operation under commercially relevant conditions (25°C, 0.8 MPa), even in an anode-less configuration (N/P = 0), thus demonstrating the potential of mechanically interlocked molecular architectures for maintaining void-free interfaces in low-pressure ASSBs with high energy densities.
Schizophrenia (SCZ) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are associated with physical decline and motor dysfunction, but objective wearable-based motor assessments remain underutilized in psychiatric research. This study compared handgrip strength (HGS) and gait features between healthy controls (HCs) and individuals with SCZ or AUD using wearable sensors. A total of 434 participants (HCs: n = 210; AUD: n = 80; SCZ: n = 144) completed instrumented Timed Up and Go, walking, and HGS tests. Fifteen motor features were extracted and analyzed using multivariable linear regression adjusted for age, sex, and BMI. Five features-HGS, relative HGS (rHGS), walk quality index, symmetry index, and mid-turning phase duration-significantly differentiated one or both diagnostic groups from HCs. In AUD, rHGS showed moderate associations with multiple gait parameters, consistent with more widespread motor dysfunction. In SCZ, these associations were weaker, suggesting reduced coupling between upper- and lower-limb motor function. Both groups showed reduced HGS and gait alterations, but with distinct coordination patterns. These findings support wearable-based grip and gait metrics as scalable and objective motor functional markers in SCZ and AUD.
The rapid digitalization of modern energy systems—including smart grids, advanced metering infrastructures (AMI), and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks—has increased their vulnerability to cyberattacks. Although encryption secures energy data, it also conceals malicious traffic, complicating intrusion detection. This vulnerability exposes critical systems to threats, such as false data injection, command tampering, and advanced persistent attacks. Consequently, distinguishing benign from malicious activity becomes increasingly challenging, especially when attackers exfiltrate sensitive data through encrypted channels. This study proposes an adaptive feature selection (AFS) method to enhance cybersecurity in energy systems. In contrast to conventional models that focus solely on statistical relevance, AFS incorporates gradient-based relevance to capture context-sensitive traffic patterns, thereby revealing malicious activities within encrypted, noisy environments. Experimental results, conducted on the CIRA-CIC-DoHBrw-2020 dataset, show that AFS improves detection accuracy by 24.74% and reduces training time by 35% compared to conventional PCA-based methods. This approach strengthens cybersecurity in energy systems by improving the detection performance of intrusion detection frameworks, thereby enhancing operational reliability, data integrity, and overall network security.
Tryptanthrin is a natural indole-quinazoline alkaloid and a major component of the traditional blue dye indigo naturalis (IN). Although oral administration of IN has shown therapeutic effects in patients with ulcerative colitis and evidence supports its anti-inflammatory activity, its development as a drug has been limited. We hypothesized that ingested IN could engage in biomimetic reactions with human microbial metabolites, particularly reactive monoamines, leading to the formation of anti-inflammatory products. Under acid-promoted and elevated-temperature conditions, tryptanthrin selectively reacted with tryptamine to yield spirocyclic compound 1 rather than a typical imine. Kinetic evaluation revealed that endogenous organic acids, such as short-chain fatty acids and lactic acid, promoted this reaction at body temperature in aqueous solvent systems. Analogous transformations with other endogenous indole monoamines, including serotonin, 5-methoxytryptamine, and the xenobiotic indoleamine 5-chlorotryptamine, afforded spirocyclic adducts 2-4, respectively, and their kinetic data supported a chemically plausible reaction pathway. Compounds 1-4 retained anti-inflammatory activity by reducing IL-1β secretion associated with inflammasome activation in stimulated macrophages while maintaining favorable passive membrane permeability. Collectively, the formation of spirocyclic adducts of tryptanthrin with indole monoamines under biomimetic conditions provides chemical novelty and scaffold diversification without compromising druglike physicochemical properties.
Household energy demand data are essential for designing load-shifting strategies, storage solutions and demand response programs. This is the first publicly available dataset that integrates multiple household-level energy and mobility metrics. These include grid imports and exports (30-minute intervals), rooftop photovoltaic (PV) production (30-minute intervals), EV charging sessions, and detailed journey logs (start time, end time, distance, and duration) from the same households of a pilot energy community located on the Dingle Peninsula, Ireland. The dataset includes four volunteer households, each equipped with a 2.1 kWp rooftop PV system, 5 kWh Sonnen battery, a Hyundai Kona Electric (64 kWh), a Pulsar Plus EV charger (7.4 kW AC), and a Mitsubishi Electric Ecodan air-source heat pump.While grid and PV data span three years, EV mobility logs cover February 2021 to January 2022. Battery telemetry and heat pump demand data are available for the final six to eight months of the observation period (mid-2021 to early 2022), enabling detailed whole-home analysis for that specific window.
Stabilizing chemically labile bioactive molecules remains a fundamental challenge in functional materials and therapeutic formulations. Here, we report a solvent-directed interlayer reconstruction strategy that enables controlled dimensional transformation of zinc-ascorbate nanohybrids via coordination reorganization. By tuning the ethanol-water ratio during co-precipitation, two distinct zinc-ascorbate architectures are obtained: a layered ascorbic acid-zinc basic salt (AA-ZBS), which is here referred to as two-dimensional Vitabrid (2D-Vitabrid) intercalate at low ethanol content, and a porous ascorbic acid-metal-organic framework (AA-MOF), which is here referred to as three-dimensional VitaMOF (3D VitaMOF) at intermediate ethanol levels. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy analyses reveal that this transformation is governed by solvent-mediated Zn-ascorbate coordination dynamics. An optimal ethanol window (∼60-70%) promotes hydrolysis-assisted recoordination and framework maturation, whereas complete dehydration (100% ethanol) disrupts structural ordering and yields poorly defined phases. The optimized 3D framework exhibits a significantly enhanced surface area (553.95 ± 34.68 m2 g-1) compared to its 2D counterpart, enabling improved ascorbate loading and stabilization. Both nanohybrids show high biocompatibility (∼80% viability in CCD-986sk fibroblasts) while exhibiting potent cytotoxicity against melanoma (SK-MEL-28, WM-266-4) and squamous carcinoma (A431) cells, with IC50 values of 0.01-0.06 mM, outperforming free ascorbic acid. These findings establish solvent-programmed dimensional reconstruction as a generalizable strategy for stabilizing labile bioactives and engineering high-performance nanohybrid systems.
Atmospheric and vacuum distillation consume more than 1,100 TWh year-1 and emit more than 160 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually1,2, making membrane-based pre-fractionation a compelling retrofit strategy for lowering the energy and carbon intensity of petroleum refining3-10. Here we demonstrate that porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) membranes, typically used as support layers, achieve effective molecular refining of crude oil at steady state. Under tangential flow, PAN membranes exhibited high crude oil permeances of up to 0.591 ± 0.040 l m-2 h-1 bar-1, a more than 23-fold increase over the previous benchmark (<0.1 l m-2 h-1 bar-1)1,11, selectively yielding enriched lighter hydrocarbon fractions such as naphtha and kerosene. This unexpected selectivity arises from the dynamic deposition of heavy hydrocarbons within the initially approximately 15-nm surface mesopores, which narrows the pore diameter to sub-2-nm dimensions. Depth-resolved chemical identification reveals selective accumulation of n-alkanes, suggesting a self-limiting pore constriction mechanism that stabilizes selective transport pathways. Once the n-alkane deposition is stabilized, selective enrichment of raw crude oils occurs with sustained stability over 4 weeks. Process simulations show that PAN-membrane-based pre-fractionation could reduce energy by 31.6%, cooling water by 20.7% and CO2 emissions by 37.6% compared with traditional atmospheric distillation.
Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor in children, shows a pronounced tendency to spread to the leptomeninges. Leptomeningeal metastasis accounts for nearly all medulloblastoma-related deaths, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving this process remain poorly understood. Progress has been hindered by limited access to patient samples, the fragile anatomy of the leptomeninges, and the lack of robust preclinical models. Here, we developed an in vitro model that captures key features of the early leptomeningeal niche. We demonstrate that human meningeal cells promote medulloblastoma survival and proliferation under nutrient-deprived conditions both in vitro and in vivo. Using this system, we uncovered mechanisms that govern distinct patterns of leptomeningeal colonization in vivo. This physiologically informed and experimentally validated model offers a tractable platform for elucidating the molecular basis of leptomeningeal colonization and for identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities that can prevent medulloblastoma dissemination.
Research suggests that many parents desire more information about their child's learning and thinking abilities and possible school supports during their child's cancer treatment. The primary aim of this project was to evaluate whether a brief psychoeducational program to provide this information to parents of children with pediatric cancer was deemed feasible and acceptable. During a brief telehealth psychoeducational intervention, parents received information about cognitive and psychological late effects of pediatric cancer, educational supports and resources, and neuropsychological evaluations. Parents completed questionnaires via REDCap, both before and after the intervention. Program evaluation included information about parent-reported satisfaction with the program and initial outcomes (e.g., parent-reported perceived increases in knowledge). The intervention was brief and completed with high fidelity. Twenty-three parents (including three parent dyads) completed the intervention, with high levels of program satisfaction and perceived increase in knowledge reported. This one-session psychoeducational telehealth intervention appeared feasible to complete and acceptable to parents. A future randomized controlled trial is needed to determine whether this intervention would be an important component of parental education during their child's cancer treatment and ultimately improve educational and developmental outcomes. NCT05268315.
Sodium metal provides exceptionally high theoretical capacity but suffers from poor cycling stability due to uncontrollable sodium deposition. Alloy-type anodes with defined structural frameworks offer a promising route to stabilize Na plating. Here, we report a molten-alloy-derived Na-Sn composite anode (NaSn-10) composed of a continuous Na matrix interpenetrated by a three-dimensional Na15Sn4 network. A simple melt alloying and rolling process induces spontaneous formation of finely dispersed Na15Sn4 domains, which act as a mechanically robust and highly sodiophilic framework. Selective Na extraction reveals an interconnected Sn-rich skeleton, confirming the internal topology of the composite structure. The strong coupling between the Na matrix and the embedded Na15Sn4 network accelerates Na nucleation, increases the exchange current density by nearly 1 order of magnitude relative to pristine Na, and induces uniform Na plating. Symmetric cells with NaSn-10 exhibit stable cycling for hundreds of hours at 0.5-1.0 mA cm-2 with low polarization. In situ optical observation further demonstrates compact, laterally uniform Na deposition, in contrast to the filament-type growth observed on bare Na. Full cells paired with high-loading Na0.9Ni0.45Mn0.55O2 deliver ∼120 mAh g-1 and retain capacity over 200 cycles at 200 mA g-1. This study establishes a structurally engineered Na-Sn alloy architecture as a scalable pathway toward stable and practical sodium metal anodes.
This exploratory study evaluates audio-rendering method and listening position in-cabin music listening environments under controlled audiovisual presentation. Twenty-two participants experienced two, 6 min music excerpts under five scenarios combining reference stereo playback, measured impulse-response-based seat-specific auralization, and surround-enhanced Dolby 5.1 reproduction. Perceptual ratings consistently differentiated the scenarios. Surround-enhanced conditions generally improved spatial impression, envelopment, and presence/realism relative to the standard auralized conditions, while front and rear listening positions produced different clarity and reverberance patterns consistent with measured impulse-response differences. Heart rate variability showed a significant omnibus effect for the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio in the orchestra excerpt, although corrected pairwise differences were not robust; electroencephalography alpha power showed condition-dependent regional differences in temporal, parietal, and occipital areas. Correlation analyses linked level and psychoacoustic descriptors, including sharpness and dynamic level range, to perceptual attributes, indoor soundscape expressions, and overall impression. The study contributes a reproducible measurement-based workflow for seat-aware in-cabin music soundscape evaluation and suggests that passenger audio tuning should consider rendering method and listening position as coupled design variables.
Ewing Sarcoma (ES) is a rare but aggressive malignancy of bone tissue in adolescents and young adults, where early detection of progression and real-time treatment monitoring remain unmet clinical needs. Tumor extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry surface markers and nucleic acid cargo that can serve as minimally invasive biomarkers, but single-marker EV assays often lack specificity, and colocalized-marker approaches may suffer from low sensitivity. Here, we report the ES EV Capture-Release-Capture (CaReCa) assay, a two-step enrichment strategy that combines desthiobiotin (DTB)-mediated capture/release of CD99+ EVs with click chemistry-mediated recapture of CD99+/B7-H3+ EVs, introducing molecular specificity to suppress background signals. To overcome limited yield from EVs with colocalized markers, we incorporated RT-digital PCR quantification of encapsulated ACTB mRNA, a stable housekeeping transcript, as a sensitive proxy for EV abundance. Using only 100 µL of plasma, the ES EV CaReCa assay distinguished ES patients (n = 20) from healthy donors (n = 20) with an AUROC of 0.98. Longitudinal analysis further demonstrated that dynamic changes in the assay readouts paralleled disease progression and treatment response, consistent with PET/CT findings. Together, these results establish CaReCa as a sensitive, specific, and scalable liquid biopsy platform with translational potential for noninvasive monitoring of ES patients.
Funding freezes can strike active clinical trials without warning. Participants still need care. Science still needs integrity. This paper offers a practical, seven-day playbook for safely pausing active clinical trials when funding stops.
INAFM2, the human homolog of the Drosophila inaF, is a predicted membrane protein with no known function in vertebrates. Through an in vivo genome-wide transcriptional activation screen, we uncovered INAFM2 as a potent driver of metastasis, leading us to propose naming the vertebrate gene and its protein product ROME (regulator of metastasis). We discovered ROME's subcellular localization, posttranslational modifications, and transcriptional profiles related to its expression. ROME negatively regulates the canonical Wnt pathway by directly binding to β-catenin. Blocking rome expression in zebrafish embryos results in severe developmental defects and early mortality, which can be reversed by inhibiting the canonical Wnt pathway. Notably, we demonstrate that ROME expression regulates human cancer cell motility and invasion in vitro and metastasis in vivo in both zebrafish and immunodeficient mice via tail vein and orthotopic injection models. ROME-mediated increase in cancer cell intravasation is dependent on its direct interaction with vimentin. Furthermore, we show that elevated ROME expression correlates with poorer patient survival in multiple human cancers. Taken together, this is the first report of the vertebrate ROME gene producing a biologically active plasma membrane glycoprotein that is critical for normal development and metastasis. This is the first report of a detailed characterization of the molecular features of ROME (INAFM2) protein in mammalian cells and its biochemical and biological functions related to vertebrate development and cancer metastasis.