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Microscale syntheses of thirty‑two n-alkenyl derivatives of alkylphosphonic acids - sixteen symmetric O,O-dialkenyl diesters and sixteen O-alkenyl monoesters (analyzed as their O-trimethylsilyl derivatives) were carried out for comparative mass‑spectrometric and chromatographic studies. These compounds fall under Schedule 2.B.04 of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC); however, twenty‑four of them are absent from major mass‑spectral libraries (NIST 23, OCAD v28_2026, VGWD_2026) and lack published retention index (RI) values. GC‑EI‑MS and GC‑CI‑MS analyses were performed, and methane PCI conditions yielded abundant protonated molecules [M+H]+, which frequently constituted the base peak and provided reliable confirmation of molecular weight. Distinct fragmentation behavior enabled classification of the compounds into two structural groups: derivatives with terminal double bonds and crotyl derivatives, the latter showing suppressed [M+H]+ intensities and altered adduct formation. For all homologous series, RI values showed linear correlations with the number of carbon atoms in the alkenyl chain or, in the case of crotyl derivatives, with the alkyl group attached to phosphorus. The generated EI and PCI mass-spectral data, diagnostic ions, and experimental and predicted RI values expand the analytical basis for identification of CWC‑relevant compounds. All results have been submitted for incorporation into the OPCW Central Analytical Database (OCAD) to support chemical-weapons verification and non‑proliferation efforts.

Among the chemicals in weapons abandoned by Japan in China during World War II, 1,4-thioxane, a typical degradation product of mustard gas, has environmental persistence and potential ecological risks. However, its toxicity mechanism and efficient remediation strategy remain unclear. This study first employed multi-omics technologies (16S sequencing, metagenomics, and metabolomics) to analyze the toxic effects of 1,4-thioxane (0-100 mg·L-1, 120 days) on water microecology. Subsequently, an efficient degrader, Pseudomonas sp. M1, was screened, and transcriptome analysis revealed significant upregulation of Fe-S cluster assembly-related genes (sufB, sufU, sufS), which are key components of the SUF sulfur conversion system. These three genes were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli to construct three engineered strains, each capable of degrading 1,4-thioxane via the SUF system. When mixed in equal proportions to form a synthetic microbiome, they completely degraded 100 mg·L-1 1,4-thioxane in culture medium within 16 h and achieved 100% removal in simulated polluted water within 15 days. Integrated multi-omics analysis demonstrated that 1,4-thioxane is highly persistent (residual rate > 98%) but significantly inhibits nitrogen cycling, manifested by NH4+ accumulation (1.5-3.1-fold increase) and NO3- depletion (24.9-87.6% decrease), along with reduced ammonia monooxygenase, nitrite oxidoreductase, and nitrate reductase activities (67.8-91.0%, 53.2-90.1%, and 42.8-80.9% reductions, respectively). Ionome analysis showed K and P accumulation and Mo depletion; 16S sequencing revealed reduced microbial diversity, suppression of nitrogen-cycling genera, and enrichment of Pseudomonas; metagenomics uncovered widespread suppression of nitrogen metabolism pathways, dysregulation of antibiotic resistance genes, and decreased viral abundance; and metabolomics confirmed global inhibition of the alanine-aspartate-glutamate pathway. This is the first study to combine multi-omics toxicity analysis with synthetic microbiome remediation based on the SUF sulfur conversion system. The findings provide a theoretical basis and technical support for ecological risk assessment and bioremediation of sites contaminated by relic Japanese chemical weapons.

Kinetic energy non-lethal weapons are designed to induce target compliance without causing severe injury and death. Computational torso models are a powerful tool used to evaluate the safety of new projectile designs before they are fielded, but the utility of such biomechanical models rely on experimental data for validation. To address this need, biomechanical test data from three different types of Post-Mortem Human Surrogate (PMHS) experiments are presented. In the first test series, rib velocities were evaluated in four PMHS torsos during impacts with a rubber projectile. In the second test series, flesh over the ribs of these same PMHS was removed, termed defleshed, to allow for direct impact to the ribs. By comparing the rib response between the first two test series, it was determined that the layer of flesh and muscle have a substantial effect on the rib response. The third test series evaluated the individual rib response by performing dynamic 3-point bend tests on the non-fractured ribs from the previously tested PMHS. The general trends across the three test series demonstrate that the intermediate rib levels (ribs 6-8) are structurally stiffer than the upper and lower ribs. Additionally, anterior rib cage impact locations tend to be more compliant than lateral and posterior locations. Results provide valuable validation data for future computational torso models by characterizing the response of the isolated rib, bare rib cage, and fleshed rib cage in an application for kinetic energy non-lethal weapons.

School closure continues to be a contentious policy decision in cities around the United States, with opponents emphasizing negative effects of closure on urban neighborhoods. Little research has been done on the association of school closure with firearm violence, a major challenge affecting US cities. We sought to determine the impact of the 2013 Chicago mass public school closure on firearm violence in neighborhoods affected by building vacancy following closure. We used an inverse probability of treatment weighted design to balance treatment and control groups. The study period was from 2010 to 2019. The unit of analysis was an individual school, with the primary exposure being immediate building vacancy. The primary outcome was shootings with secondary outcomes of weapons violations and assaults/battery with a firearm, drawn from administrative data from the Chicago Police Department. School closure was associated with a 9.88% increase in shootings near the school location (95% CI: 3.59-16.99; p = 0.001). Long term building vacancy was associated with a 10.20% increase in shootings near the building location (95% CI, 2.73-18.84, p = 0.005). Secondary outcomes of assaults/battery with a firearm and weapons violations also demonstrated significant increases. These results demonstrate that school building vacancy following closure is associated with an increase in shootings in the surrounding neighborhood. In decisions around school closure, policymakers should consider the multifactorial impacts of closure on communities and potential community-driven productive re-use of space, particularly given closure frequently occurs in already-disinvested neighborhoods.

The practical verification analysis of chemical warfare agents, notably the G-series organophosphorus nerve agents, and their related chemicals─including precursors, byproducts, and degradation products─is critical not only for attributing the use of chemical weapons but also for retrospection of illicit production networks and gathering crucial forensic evidence. However, this task is significantly challenged by the vast "chemical space explosion" of potential analogues and the limitations of conventional database-dependent methods, necessitating high-throughput nontargeted screening approaches. In this study, following systematic characterization of fragmentation pathways and characteristic ions through integration of mass spectral libraries and clustering analysis, an integrated dual-ion source nontargeted screening strategy based on gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry was established for the identification of unknown nerve agents and their related chemicals. Under electron ionization mode, a set of 52 specific "Alerting Ions" and 12 types of structures was established and applied for the rapid screening and classification of millions of suspected compounds. These candidates, after being located via retention index, were further verified under chemical ionization mode through Kendrick Mass Defect analysis of their molecular ions. Plausible structures were proposed through comprehensive spectral interpretation, and the candidate list was significantly refined using an RI prediction model. Final confirmation was achieved by comparison with reference standards. This strategy was validated using 73 home-synthesized compounds and exhibited a low limit of detection of 10-50 ng/mL. It was successfully applied to the analysis of environmental authentic samples from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Organophosphorus nerve agents (OPNAs), represented by neurotoxic organophosphorus pesticides and chemical warfare agents, present formidable challenges to aquatic ecological security. As foundational primary producers, algae exhibit complex, bidirectional interactions with these contaminants. This review systematically synthesizes current knowledge on the fate of OPNAs in aquatic systems and their multifaceted interplay with algae. We elaborate on the toxicological mechanisms affecting algal physiology, the enzymatic degradation networks facilitating bioremediation, and the genetic basis of adaptive evolution under chronic stress. Beyond environmental risks, we highlight the translational potential of these interactions, ranging from algal-based biosensors for rapid detection to engineered bioremediation systems for chemical threat neutralization. Furthermore, the necessity of establishing standardized ecotoxicity frameworks for persistent agents like VX is emphasized to support the safe demilitarization of chemical weapons. Finally, a future roadmap is proposed to bridge the gap between molecular insights and engineering applications, advocating for a paradigm shift from passive monitoring to active, nature-based solutions against global chemical pollution.

Understanding timing of forensic exam and specific acts of interpersonal violence (IPV), such as head trauma and non-fatal strangulation (NFS), related to victim demographics and physical findings can improve screening and assessment. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of various forms of IPV and the breakdown of sex among assailants and victims, to examine the rates of NFS and head injury by type of violence, and their relationship to other indicators of assault severity. As well, this study examined the likelihood of visibility of injury in cases of NFS and head injury during the medical-forensic exam based on the timing between the incident and examination. A retrospective analysis of 1,172 forensic nursing records over 5 years compared victims who reported head impacts and/or strangulation to those who did not. Incident characteristics and injury visibility were assessed. Most victims were female assaulted by males. Among them, 53.5% reported NFS, particularly when the assailant was an intimate partner. Head trauma was associated more with physical than sexual assault. Weapons use correlated with higher reports of head trauma and strangulation. Physical injuries to the head/scalp, neck, and face were more common in these cases and more visible when the forensic exam occurred within 36 hr of the assault. Findings emphasize the importance of timely forensic exams, highlighting key indicators of serious assault, aiding clinical and legal evaluations.

Coevolution proceeds through the evolution of traits that mediate ecological interactions and evolutionary outcomes. In the arms race between toxic Pacific newts ( Taricha ) and their garter snake predators ( Thamnophis ), this interface involves tetrodotoxin (TTX), an antipredator defense that inhibits nerve and muscle function by blocking voltage-gated sodium channels. In response, snakes have evolved TTX-resistant channels, in some cases leading to snake populations that are nearly invulnerable to TTX. For decades, newt TTX has been treated as a single defensive trait, yet TTX occurs as a family of structurally related analogs that may represent alternative defenses against snakes. Here, we characterize TTX analog diversity in all four species of Taricha and evaluate how these compounds interact with sodium channels in coevolved garter snakes. Using LC-MS analysis of newt skin secretions, we detected a diverse suite of TTX analogs previously unrecognized in Pacific newts. We then used molecular docking models to evaluate interactions between various TTX analogs and variants of the skeletal muscle channel (Na V 1.4) that span the range of TTX resistance in garter snakes. We found that some TTX analogs docked better than canonical TTX in resistant snake channels. Notably, we show that 11-deoxy-4-epi-TTX and 11-deoxy-TTX have favorable interactions with hydrophobic amino-acid substitutions in extremely resistant garter snake sodium channels, potentially circumventing predator resistance to canonical TTX. Our results suggest a complex arms race involving multiple newt TTX analogs and multiple snake sodium channel variants. As such, newts may keep pace with snakes by diversifying their arsenal of chemical weapons. In western North America, some newts have enough toxin in their skin to kill most predators, but coevolution has led to toxin resistance in their garter snake predators that in some cases is so extreme that snakes should be able to withstand more toxin than newts could possibly possess. Here, we explore the possibility that newts may be able to fight back against these resistant predators through the by evolving a diverse repertoire of toxins. We use chemical analyses and computational modeling to show that newts have a wide variety of toxins, some of which are likely to be more effective against resistant snakes, suggesting that coevolution may continue to occur even when snakes become very resistant.

Natural toxins represent structurally diverse class of bioactive compounds that pose underrecognized risks extending beyond traditional food safety concerns into chemical security applications. Recent high-profile incidents have highlighted critical gaps in detection capabilities, clinical management, and regulatory frameworks governing these substances. This review discusses the diversity, potency profiles and security implications of natural toxins with a focus on compounds with outstanding acute toxicity, such as batrachotoxin from Phyllobates poison dart frogs (LD50 2-3 μg/kg intravenously), amatoxins from Amanita species (LD50 100-300 μg/kg) and conotoxins from cone snails (LD50 10-100 μg/kg), comparable to synthetic chemical warfare agents. Critical vulnerabilities include the absence of specific antidotes, analytical challenges related to structural diversity and incomplete coverage by routine toxicological screens. Historical examples of intentional intoxications (e.g., ricin assassination of Georgi Markov in 1978 and bioterrorism by mail between 2003 and 2013) illustrate the general availability but also the limitations of this modus operandi. Developments in high-resolution mass spectrometry and computational toxicology offer promising improvements in detection. International regulations under the Chemical Weapons Convention need further improvement to address the growing threat posed by these natural but potentially weaponizable compounds.

Twenty-eight composite surface soil samples collected from four ecosystem types across El Kala National Park, Algeria - a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Biosphere Reserve. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve - were characterized for 40K, 137Cs, 226Ra, 228Ra, and 232Th by high-purity germanium (HPGe) gamma spectrometry. Mean activity concentrations were 178.7 ± 84.4 Bq kg-1 for 40K, 12.1 ± 9.7 Bq kg-1 for 137Cs, 112.1 ± 30.3 Bq kg-1 for 226Ra, and 25.4 ± 11.8 Bq kg-1 for 232Th-series (all uncertainties reported at coverage factor k = 2). Radium-226 concentrations exceeded the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) worldwide median of ~35 Bq kg-1 by a factor of ~3, reflecting geological enrichment within Tertiary phosphatic sedimentary formations of north-eastern Algeria. Potassium-40 and 232Th concentrations were within worldwide typical ranges; 137Cs was consistent with residual global fallout from mid-twentieth century atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. In-situ absorbed dose rates (park mean 83.8 nGy h-1) include a cosmic radiation contribution of ~35 nGy h-1 that is absent from terrestrial dose rates calculated using UNSCEAR (2000) conversion coefficients applied to site-specific data (park mean 74.8 nGy h-1. Subtracting the cosmic component yields a corrected terrestrial in-situ mean of ~49 nGy h-1 - ~35% below the calculated value - consistent with systematic overestimation by the UNSCEAR semi-infinite source geometry when applied to surface-concentrated (0-15 cm) radioactivity profiles. RESRAD-BIOTA Level 1 ecological screening, applying ICRP Publication 108 protective benchmarks of 10 mGy d-1 for terrestrial animals and 1 mGy d-1 for terrestrial plants, produced sum ratio factors (SRFs) of 0.0119 and 0.146, corresponding to safety margins of 84-fold and 6.8-fold below their respective benchmarks. Both SRF values were well below unity, confirming that Level 1 screening criteria are satisfied without requiring higher-tier assessment for terrestrial animals; a Level 2 assessment is recommended for terrestrial plants given the more constrained margin. Radium-226 dominated total biota dose (53% for animals; 75% for plants). These results establish the first systematic radiological baseline for this ecologically sensitive Mediterranean protected area and demonstrate the applicability of RESidual RADioactivity - BIOlogical Transport of Activity (RESRAD‑BIOTA) graded screening in naturally enriched geological settings.

Synthesis route attribution enables accurate source tracing of chemical warfare agents and effective discrimination between distinct synthetic pathways. In the current study, we report for the first time the identification of trace process-related impurities derived from the synthesis of the vesicant ethyl sesquimustard, which is listed in Schedule 1.A.04 of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). Using 1,2-ethanedithiol and 2-mercaptoethanol as precursors, 22 different synthetic routes were designed, and 88 batches of samples were produced through micro-synthesis. Gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) coupled with a non-targeted screening strategy was employed to analyze route-specific compounds. The obtained dataset was further used to train the orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis algorithm and generate a classification model consisting of eight sub-models. The verification results showed that the overall classification accuracy of the model was 21/22 (about 95%).

Safety in the city has become a pressing issue in modern smart cities because of the rising rate of violence, attacks, and incidences involving weapons recorded by extensive CCTV networks. Conventional surveillance systems also have difficulties in real-time recognition, scaling, and transparency, as they are not always able to identify cases of violence on time. This paper proposes DeReV, a novel explainable deep feature-level ensemble framework that integrates two variants from each of the DenseNet, ResNet, and VGG families within a multi-backbone feature fusion architecture for multi-class violence detection in videos. The model is based on the Smart-City CCTV Violence Detection (SCVD) dataset to classify CCTV video as either normal, violent, or weaponized. DeReV resulted in better performance with an accuracy of 96.15 and a macro F1-score of 0.9617, which is better than the individual baseline networks such as ResNet101 (91.67%), DenseNet169 (92.30%), and VGG16 (92.94%). The ROC analysis has shown that the AUC scores are 0.99 (normal), 0.98 (violence), and 0.98 (weaponized), whereas the Precision-Recall curves are 0.99, 0.97, and 0.95, respectively, which prove the high capability of discrimination and stability under different conditions. The interpretability and transparency of the results were achieved by using Explainable AI (XAI) methods like Grad-CAM, LIME, and Counterfactual Temporal Importance to identify salient spatial and temporal features in the predictive behaviors of the decision outcomes. The suggested DeReV framework not only offers more accurate predictions and model explainability but also supports trustworthy near real-time and citizen-centered AI surveillance, building safer and more resilient smart city ecosystems.

This study aims, first, to analyse the position of forensic evidence in the criminal justice process in Indonesia; and second, to examine the extent to which forensic evidence is effectively employed as a basis of proof by judges and public prosecutors in the criminal justice process in Indonesia. This study was conducted in two stages, namely a doctrinal analysis of legal regulations in Indonesia and an empirical study through the collection of court decisions betwen January 2023 and December 2024 from four district courts representing three regions of Indonesia. The role of forensic evidence in Indonesian criminal procedure remains problematic owing to the absence of explicit regulation. At present, it is not formally recognised as a distinct evidentiary category under the Criminal Procedure Code, but rather subsumed under expert testimony, documentary evidence, or indications as stipulated in Article 184. This ambiguity diminishes the attention given by law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and judges to the probative value of forensic science. Data from four district courts between January 2023 and December 2024 show that there are five categories of cases with the highest percentages decided on the basis of forensic evidence, namely narcotics offences (96.26%), assault (94.61%), firearms and sharp weapons offences (92.08%), electronic information and transactions offences (72.63%), and corruption (59.38%). It is therefore recommended that forensic evidence be specifically classified as an independent category of evidence within Indonesian criminal procedural law, in order to strengthen objectivity, enhance fairness, and ensure a more reliable criminal justice system.

As two-dimensional metamaterials, metasurfaces have attracted considerable research interest owing to their advantages of small volume and simple fabrication. By integrating the metasurfaces with active components controlled by electric bias, active metasurfaces are able to dynamically manipulate electromagnetic (EM) waves and realize innovative applications across diverse fields. However, conventional active metasurfaces are difficult to achieve continuous and dynamic control of absorptivity and reflectivity over a wide frequency band, which immensely restricts their application in weapon stealth and camouflage. This study presents what we believe to be a novel design that employs an absorbing active metasurface (AAM) to continuously and dynamically control the reflection amplitude, which is achieved by flexibly controlling the external voltage of PIN diodes across multiple layers. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed AAM can achieve continuous and dynamic amplitude modulation within the frequency range of 2.0-15.5 GHz at normal incidence, and maintain angular insensitivity within the incidence angle range of 0°-50°. This inspiring design not only has excellent dynamic control capabilities for EM waves absorption and reflection, but also possesses the advantages of simple design, small thickness and easy fabrication, which has tremendous application potential in stealth weapons and other smart metadevices.

To examine trends in firearm suicides in Switzerland in comparison to other methods of suicide, and to assess the impact of the availability of military firearms over time. Descriptive statistical secondary analyses of Swiss cause of death statistics and data on army personnel for the period 1969-2023. Firearm suicides occurred almost exclusively among men. While the suicide rate in Switzerland has been declining since the early 1980s, firearm suicides continued to rise until the 1990s. From then on, there was a slight decline in firearm suicides in the age group 18-64 years and a sharp decline in the 2000s. In the age group>64, the decline was significantly less pronounced. The data suggests that there has been little shift to other methods of suicide. Restricted access, particularly to military weapons, was accompanied by a marked reduction in firearm suicides. Untersuchung der zeitlichen Entwicklung von Schusswaffensuiziden in der Schweiz im Vergleich zu anderen Suizidmethoden sowie des Einflusses der Verfügbarkeit von Armeewaffen.Deskriptiv-statistische Sekundäranalysen der Schweizer Todesursachenstatistik und der Daten zur Anzahl Armeeangehöriger für den Zeitraum 1969–2023.Schusswaffensuizide kamen fast ausschließlich bei Männern vor. Während die Suizidrate in der Schweiz seit Anfang der 1980er Jahre rückläufig ist, zeigten die Schusswaffensuizide noch bis in die 1990er Jahre einen Anstieg. Ab dann kam es in der Altersgruppe der 18–64-Jährigen zu einem leichten und in den 2000er Jahren zu einem starken Rückgang der Schusswaffensuizide. In der Altersgruppe der > 64-Jährigen war der Rückgang deutlich weniger ausgeprägt. Die Daten legen nahe, dass kaum eine Verlagerung hin zu anderen Suizidmethoden stattgefunden hat.Die Methodensicherung, insbesondere in Bezug auf Armeewaffen, ging mit einer deutlichen Reduktion der Schusswaffensuizide einher.