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Constructing powerful anode/cathode interphases by modulate ion solvation structure is the principle of electrolyte design. However, the methodological and theoretical design principles of electrolyte/solvation structure and their effect on electrochemical performance are still vague. Here, we propose a cationic weakly coordinating-intervention strategy for modulating the Na + solvation sheathes and constructing robust anode/cathode interphases in sodium-metal batteries. Unlike the local highly concentrated electrolytes, 1,2-difluorobenzene can weakly coordinate with Na + thus transforming the solvation structure into Na + -anion-incorporated structures and strengthening anode/cathode interphases formation by combining with salt decomposition. Furthermore, the correlations between the electrode interface properties and solvation structure are revealed, which can be tuned by the weakly coordination. Ultimately, the modulated electrolyte achieves 97.5% Coulombic efficiency for 600 cycles in Na‖Cu cells at 1 mA cm −2 and a beneficial lifetime (2500 h) in Na‖Na cells. Meanwhile, Na‖PB cells have achieved long-term operation at 4.8 V, along with operation at wide temperatures. Here, authors propose a weakly coordinating-intervention strategy to modulate the Na+ solvation sheath and construct a robust interphase in sodium-metal batteries. Correlation between electrode interface properties and solvation structure is also stated.

Photocatalytic uranium removal from nuclear wastewater is a promising strategy for radionuclide mitigation, yet its practical deployment is greatly hampered by inefficient charge separation of electron-hole pairs in photocatalytic systems, which critically limits the generation of reactive oxygen species essential for uranium precipitation. Herein, we propose a approach that leverages weakly localized electrons to enhance electronic coherence in fluorine-functionalized covalent organic frameworks, thereby strengthening charge separation and promoting directional electron transport for greatly boosting photocatalytic uranium removal from nuclear wastewater. We demonstrate that the partial fluorination in covalent organic frameworks induce weak electron localization and strong electronic coherence, which delivers a record-high solar-to-chemicals conversion efficiency of 1.52% and achieves 100% uranium removal efficiency within the pH range of 3-6, outperforming non-fluorinated (0.31%) and over-fluorinated (0.85%) counterparts. More importantly, a self-designed flow-type reactor achieves 99% uranium removal efficiency and superior U processing capacity of 281.3 g m -2 day -1 under natural sunlight, significantly surpassing reported photocatalytic systems and meeting World Health Organization discharge limits. Mechanism investigation reveal that the partial fluorination enhanced electronic coherence improves photogenerated carrier transport and reparation for accelerating reactive oxygen species synthesis, thereby promoting uranium removal from nuclear wastewater. The practical application of photocatalytic uranium removal is hampered by the inefficient charge separation of electron-hole pairs in photocatalytic systems, which limits the generation of reactive oxygen species needed for uranium precipitation. Here, the authors show that weakly localized electrons enhance the electronic coherence in fluorine-functionalized covalent organic frameworks strengthening charge separation and promoting directional electron transport to boost the photocatalytic uranium removal from nuclear wastewater.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) can be used as photocatalysts for the direct photosynthesis of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) from oxygen, water and sunlight. However, their highly symmetric structure can lead to weak adsorption of O 2 and, therefore, unsatisfactory photocatalytic performance. Here we explore the local asymmetric electron distribution induced by Pauli and electron–electron repulsion in COFs to construct localized bonding sites for O 2 species, which promotes photocatalytic H 2 O 2 production. Experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal that TAPT–FTPB COFs (where TAPT is 1,3,5-tris-(4-aminophenyl) triazine and FTPB is 5-(5-formylthiophen-2-yl)thiophene-2-carbaldehyde) with an asymmetric electron distribution show strong O 2 adsorption interaction and a record-breaking solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 1.22% for direct photosynthesis of H 2 O 2 from oxygen and water, which is higher than in the photosynthesis of plants (~0.1%). A flow-type photocatalytic microreactor integrated with TAPT–FTPB COFs exhibits 100% sterilization efficiency for killing bacteria and 97.8% conversion for photocatalytic 2-thiophene methylamine coupling. This work reports a strategy for manipulating the local electron distribution in COFs, opening the door for research on the rational design of high-performance photocatalysis with a local asymmetric electron distribution. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are promising photocatalysts for the direct photosynthesis of H 2 O 2 , but their symmetric structure can lead to weak O 2 adsorption. Now thiophene sulfur atoms are introduced into COFs to induce local asymmetric electron distributions, which enhance the O 2 adsorption capacity and interaction of the COFs, promoting direct photosynthesis of H 2 O 2 .

This study aims to explore interrelationships among leisure activities and depression and the mediating roles of activities of daily living (ADL) and self-reported health (SRH) among older adults in China. Data were extracted from 9,893 participants aged 50 and older from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) conducted in 2018. Pearson correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis were conducted by using SPSS, and the mediating effect was tested using the Process plugin. Leisure activities were negatively correlated with depression ( r  = − 0.169, P  < 0.001), and positively correlated with ADL and SRH ( r  = 0.223, r  = 0.123, P  < 0.001). ADL and SRH were negatively correlated with depression ( r  = − 0.120, − 0.376, P  < 0.001). Leisure activities can not only directly and negatively affect depression, but also can indirectly affect depression through positive effects on ADL and SRH. The mediating effect accounts for 30.79% of the total effect. ADL and SRH play mediating roles in the relationship among leisure activities and depression. The participation of elderly people in leisure activities reduces the risk of depression by increasing their level of daily activity ability and perceived health.

The long-term stressful utilization of forests and grasslands has led to ecosystem degradation and C loss. Since the late 1970s China has launched six key national ecological restoration projects to protect its environment and restore degraded ecosystems. Here, we conducted a large-scale field investigation and a literature survey of biomass and soil C in China’s forest, shrubland, and grassland ecosystems across the regions where the six projects were implemented (∼16% of the country’s land area). We investigated the changes in the C stocks of these ecosystems to evaluate the contributions of the projects to the country’s C sink between 2001 and 2010. Over this decade, we estimated that the total annual C sink in the project region was 132 Tg C per y (1 Tg = 1012 g), over half of which (74 Tg C per y, 56%) was attributed to the implementation of the projects. Our results demonstrate that these restoration projects have substantially contributed to CO₂ mitigation in China.

Background Physical activity is a key determinant of healthy aging, playing a crucial role in preventing chronic diseases, maintaining mobility, and enhancing the quality of life among older adults. However, significant gender disparities in physical activity levels exist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like China and India, where cultural norms, socio-economic conditions, and gender roles often restrict women’s participation in physical activities. These disparities are especially concerning in older populations, where women may face compounded barriers due to lifelong inequalities, caregiving responsibilities, and limited access to resources. This study examines gender inequality in physical activity among older adults in China and India, two of the world’s most populous countries with rapidly aging populations. Methods Data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and the 2017–2019 Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) were analysed. We conducted descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, logistic regression, and dominance analysis to examine gender differences and associated factors in physical activities, applying appropriate sampling weights using Stata 17. Results The results reveal significant differences in elderly populations between China and India. In India, 56.5% of the elderly have no education, compared to 29.2% in China. Additionally, 30.8% are employed, whereas in China, the corresponding figure is 13.3%. Health metrics indicate that 82.8% of elderly Indians report good health, compared to 70.8% in China. Vigorous physical activity decreases with age; 34.5% of Chinese men aged 60–69 participate, dropping to 8.5% at age 80+. Gender disparities are also evident, with 27.2% of Chinese males and 25% of Indian males engaging in vigorous activities, compared to 19.4% and 12.1% of females, respectively. In China, place of residence is the most dominant factor for vigorous activity among males (43.8%) and females (40.5%). In India, current employment status is the strongest predictor of vigorous activity, with dominance scores of 73.4% for males and 78.3% for females. Age and health status also play significant roles, but with varying importance across genders and countries. Conclusion The study highlights the need for targeted, gender-sensitive interventions, including community-based programs and public health campaigns, to promote physical activity among older women. By addressing these disparities, China and India can improve the health outcomes of their aging populations and contribute to more equitable public health strategies. The research underscores the importance of a collaborative approach involving governments, healthcare providers, and community organizations in developing and implementing policies that create inclusive opportunities for physical activity among older adults.

The foliar application of selenium (Se) is an effective method for biofortification of Se in crop grains in order to provide sufficient Se for human health. As a staple food in China, the foxtail millet ( Setaria italica L.), which had been Se biofortification, would be helpful to overcome Se deficiency in the diet. The Se fertilizer and its application technology are vital for reducing environmental risk while enriching selenium. Hence, the Se-rich nutrient solution developed by ourselves was used, and the effect of its amount and growth stage applied on the accumulation of Se in grains of foxtail millet ( Setaria italica L.) was studied in the present study. The results were as follows: (1) the Se concentration in grains increased with the Se application rate increasing, and the highest Se concentration in grains was 1.83 mg kg -1 at the sprayed concentration of 61.5 gSe hm -2 ; (2) the accumulation of Se sprayed in the grain-filling stage was 1.3–1.6 times higher than that in the joint stage; and (3) the organ damage could be found under low Se/S ratio, which happened in the rice leaves when the Se rate was higher than 76.875 gSe m -2 with the low sulfate application compared with the formulation. This Se-rich nutrient solution could be used to produce the Se-rich millet grains and foliar application in the reproductive stage to produce qualified Se-rich millet.

Proteins face several challenges in biomedicine, including issues with antibody production, degradation by proteases, rapid clearance by the kidneys, and short half-lives. To address these problems, various nano delivery systems have been developed, with virus-like particles (VLPs) emerging as a leading solution. VLPs, which are self-assembled protein complexes, offer effective encapsulation and transport of proteins. They provide enhanced stability, extended circulation time, preserved biological activity, improved targeting for therapies or imaging, and reduced side effects due to minimized systemic exposure. This review explores various methods for encapsulating proteins within VLPs. It assesses the benefits and limitations of each method and their applications in imaging, therapeutic enzyme delivery, vaccines, immunotherapy, nanoreactors, and biosensors. Future advancements in VLPs will depend on improving packaging methods, controlling protein loading, optimizing assembly techniques, and enhancing capsid design. The review also discusses current challenges and proposes solutions to advance the use of VLPs in various applications.

Neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related disorders, remain difficult to treat because of their multifactorial pathogenesis, limited disease-modifying therapies, and insufficient central nervous system exposure of many therapeutic agents. Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs) are emerging as biogenic nanovesicles that combine intrinsic bioactivity with natural nanocarrier properties. Enriched with lipids, proteins, small RNAs, and phytochemicals, PELNs may exert neuroprotective effects while offering opportunities for gastrointestinal stability, systemic transport, and potential central nervous system delivery. This review critically summarizes the dual bioactive-delivery roles of PELNs in AD and related neurodegenerative disorders. We discuss their potential mechanisms in modulating neuroinflammation, glial cell-mediated immune responses, redox imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, pathological protein aggregation, neural repair, and gut-brain axis regulation. We further examine how administration routes, biodistribution patterns, cellular uptake, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) models influence the interpretation of evidence for central nervous system (CNS) targeting. In addition, recent advances in isolation, purification, characterization, cargo loading, and surface engineering strategies are reviewed in the context of improving stability, targeting capacity, and translational feasibility. Despite their promise, the clinical development of PELNs remains constrained by source-dependent heterogeneity, non-standardized isolation methods, insufficiently defined critical quality attributes, inconsistent dosing metrics, limited pharmacokinetic and biodistribution data, and unresolved long-term biosafety concerns. Establishing rigorous Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) frameworks, reproducible quality-control assays, and evidence-based translational pathways will be essential for advancing PELNs from experimental bioactive vesicles to clinically relevant neurotherapeutic platforms.

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) mediate bidirectional nucleocytoplasmic transport of substances in eukaryotic cells. However, the accurate molecular arrangement of NPCs remains enigmatic owing to their huge size and highly dynamic nature. Here we determined the structure of the asymmetric unit of the inner ring (IR monomer) at 3.73 Å resolution by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy, and created an atomic model of the intact IR consisting of 192 molecules of 8 nucleoporins. In each IR monomer, the Z-shaped Nup188–Nup192 complex in the middle layer is sandwiched by two approximately parallel rhomboidal structures in the inner and outer layers, while Nup188, Nup192 and Nic96 link all subunits to constitute a relatively stable IR monomer. In contrast, the intact IR is assembled by loose and instable interactions between IR monomers. These structures, together with previously reported structural information of IR, reveal two distinct interaction modes between IR monomers and extensive flexible connections in IR assembly, providing a structural basis for the stability and malleability of IR.