South China Normal University

p-Phenylenediamines (PPDs) and their derived quinones (PPD-Qs) are emerging pollutants. Information on their occurrence, fate and chiral signatures in the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and its receiving waters is scarce. This study explored the distribution, removal efficiency, mass balance, environmental emission and enantiomeric fractions of these pollutants in two WWTPs in Guangzhou, China. It also examined the impacts of WWTP effluents on the distribution of these contaminants in the receiving rivers. The concentrations of Σ(PPDs+PPD-Qs) ranged from 3.95-20.4 ng/L in influent, 0.69-3.94 ng/L in effluent, and 2.14-19.8 ng/g dry weight in sludge, respectively. PPDs (81.6%) and PPD-Qs (78.6%) were effectively removed in the WWTPs primarily through biotransformation, but sludge adsorption and separation also contributed to the removal. One of the WWTPs could increase the levels of these pollutants in the downstream of receiving river, suggesting that WWTP effluents are significant vectors of PPDs and PPD-Qs to the aquatic environment. The results also highlight different nonracemic chiral signatures of 6PPD and 6PPD-Q between the two WWTPs and the receiving waters, which merit further investigation for mechanism. Future studies should elucidate the environmental risks that PPDs and PPD-Qs may pose to receiving rivers and accurately assess such effects at the enantiomeric level.

Gas‐water/catalyst triple‐phase interface and the microenvironment play critical roles in the reaction kinetics and production rate of electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reactions (CO2RR), which steer concerted proton‐electron transfer steps. Inspired by Tillandsia leaves, which efficiently capture H2O and CO2 from the air, copper nanosheets with dual‐functional channels are we designed: the superhygroscopic network enables capillary condensation, converting H2O(g) into H2O(l) to form H2O channels that ensure a stable supply of protons, while the CO2 channels formed by the microporous structure enhance the diffusion of CO2, thus enriching the carbon source. This synergistic design creates an optimal microenvironment for CO2 conversion by simultaneously delivering both protons and CO2 to the reaction interface. Time‐of‐flight secondary‐ion mass spectroscopy (TOF‐SIMS), X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and multiphysics simulations further reveal the designed H2O and CO2 channels in the microenvironment to boost mass transports. Hence, the Faradaic efficiency (FE) for ethylene reaches up to 96% at ‐200 mA cm⁻² with such localized triple‐phase interfaces, which simultaneously exhibits ultra‐high stability for over 170 h in the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) system. This strategy provides a construction methodology of H2O and CO2 channels for improving the selectivity and stability of electrochemical CO2 upgrades.

This study investigated whether cognitive adjustment at work (CAW) mediates the relationship between future work self‐salience and proactive career behaviors. Data were collected from 763 Chinese employees, aged between 22 and 58 years at the baseline time point, and a total of 548 participants provided data at the two subsequent time points (baseline, 3‐month follow‐up, and 6‐month follow‐up). Self‐report questionnaires assessed participants’ future work self‐salience, CAW, and proactive career behaviors. Mediation analysis using a fixed‐effect cross‐lagged panel model was conducted on the longitudinal data and showed that CAW mediated the relationship between future work self‐salience and proactive career behaviors. These findings contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms influencing the relationship between future work self‐salience and proactive career behaviors and have important implications for the promotion of employees’ proactive career behaviors and enhancing their career management skills.

Scintillators featuring bright and fast‐response properties are essential for high‐speed and dynamic X‐ray imaging. Nevertheless, simultaneously possessing high light yields and fast response remains a significant challenge for most scintillators. Herein, we propose a strategy to achieve the bright and fast‐response characteristics of scintillators by leveraging the combined effects of dielectric and molecular confinement in organic‐inorganic hybrid scintillators (TPA)2MnBr4. Thereinto, large tetrapropylammonium cations (TPA+) surround [MnBr4]2− units, forming a zero‐dimensional (0D) molecular confinement structure that promotes electron localization and achieves a notable light yield of 56800 photons MeV−1. Meanwhile, the low dielectric constant of TPA+ can enhance dielectric confinement of [MnBr4]2− units, mitigating exciton capture by deep defects. These synergistic effects in the scintillators lead to a large exciton binding energy of 1028.8 meV and an ultrafast response time of 500 fs. Notably, under the irradiation of X‐rays, (TPA)2MnBr4 exhibits an extremely low detection limit of 18.7 nGyair s−1 and an exceptional spatial resolution of 21.0 lp mm−1. Given the bright and fast‐response features of scintillators, we demonstrate the potential applications in 3D dynamic and real‐time X‐ray imaging. These findings lay the groundwork for designing high‐performance scintillators and open avenues for innovative applications in high‐resolution and dynamic imaging

Methanogenic endosymbionts are the only known intracellular archaeans and are especially common in anaerobic ciliated protists. Studies on the evolution of associations between anaerobic ciliates and their methanogenic endosymbionts offer an excellent opportunity to broaden our knowledge about symbiosis theory and adaptation of eukaryotes to anoxic environments. Here, the diversity of methanogenic endosymbionts was analyzed with the addition of nine anaerobic ciliate populations that were newly studied by various methods. Results showed that diverse anaerobic ciliates host methanogenic endosymbionts that are limited to a few genera in orders Methanomicrobiales, Methanobacteriales, and Methanosarcinales. For the first time, anaerobic ciliates of the classes Muranotrichea and Prostomatea were found to host methanogenic endosymbionts. Distinct origins of endosymbiosis were revealed for classes Armophorea and Plagiopylea. We posit that armophoreans and plagiopyleans might have harbored Methanoregula (order Methanomicrobiales) and Methanocorpusculum (order Methanomicrobiales), respectively, as methanogenic endosymbionts at the beginning of their evolution. Subsequently, independent endosymbiont replacement events occurred in methanogen-ciliate associations, probably due to ecological transitions, species radiation of ciliate hosts, and vertical transmission bottlenecks of endosymbionts. Our results shed light on the evolution of associations between anaerobic ciliates and methanogens, and identifies the necessary preconditions for illustrating mechanisms by which endosymbioses between these partners were established.

Scintillators featuring bright and fast‐response properties are essential for high‐speed and dynamic X‐ray imaging. Nevertheless, simultaneously possessing high light yields and fast response remains a significant challenge for most scintillators. Herein, we propose a strategy to achieve the bright and fast‐response characteristics of scintillators by leveraging the combined effects of dielectric and molecular confinement in organic‐inorganic hybrid scintillators (TPA)2MnBr4. Thereinto, large tetrapropylammonium cations (TPA+) surround [MnBr4]2− units, forming a zero‐dimensional (0D) molecular confinement structure that promotes electron localization and achieves a notable light yield of 56800 photons MeV−1. Meanwhile, the low dielectric constant of TPA+ can enhance dielectric confinement of [MnBr4]2− units, mitigating exciton capture by deep defects. These synergistic effects in the scintillators lead to a large exciton binding energy of 1028.8 meV and an ultrafast response time of 500 fs. Notably, under the irradiation of X‐rays, (TPA)2MnBr4 exhibits an extremely low detection limit of 18.7 nGyair s−1 and an exceptional spatial resolution of 21.0 lp mm−1. Given the bright and fast‐response features of scintillators, we demonstrate the potential applications in 3D dynamic and real‐time X‐ray imaging. These findings lay the groundwork for designing high‐performance scintillators and open avenues for innovative applications in high‐resolution and dynamic imaging

The role of family resilience in protecting family well-being has become increasingly important, particularly in relation to adolescents’ mental health. While previous studies on family resilience typically focus on families facing specific adversities, there remains a gap in research on the general population. This study examined family resilience among 1,331 adolescents in China and analyzed the relationship between family resilience and adolescents’ mental health. Moreover, the study investigated the mediating role of personal strengths in the relationship between family resilience and mental health outcomes. Latent profile analysis revealed four family resilience groups: highest, moderate high, moderate low, and lowest family resilience. Adolescents in the first two groups reported significantly lower levels of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and stress, compared to their peers. Structural equation modeling showed that personal strengths partially mediated the negative relationship between family resilience and adolescents’ mental health issues. This study suggests that family resilience has both direct protective effects on adolescents’ mental health and indirect effects through the cultivation of their personal strengths. The findings suggest a multi-dimensional approach that targets both family dynamics and personal strengths for future interventions.

This work demonstrates high-efficiency grating couplers (GCs) designed for single-mode fiber coupling in the visible spectrum (centered at 532 nm) on an X-cut thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) platform. By systematically optimizing the device architecture, the lithium niobate (LN) layer thickness was reduced to 150 nm, effectively enhancing coupling efficiency (CE). A hybrid optimization approach, combining commercial finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations with a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, was employed to determine the optimal geometric parameters. This strategy yielded a simulated CE of 65% (−1.8 dB loss for non-uniform GC) and a measured CE of 45.2% (−3.45 dB loss for uniform GC). These results represent the highest, to the best of our knowledge, reported CE in the visible band for TFLN-based GCs. The demonstrated high-performance GC configuration serves as a critical photonic component for advancing integrated optical systems in visible-light communications, quantum photonic processing, and precision frequency metrology applications.

In the post‐Moore era, single‐atom magnets and metal‐fullerene clusters are gradually replacing conventional magnetic storage semiconductor devices due to their high‐density magnetic storage capability. However, the stability of these materials in room‐temperature environments remains a challenge. A solution to this problem is proposed by doping atomically precise gold nanoclusters (NCs) with heteroatoms to induce high‐ and low‐spin isomers, which are governed by the point group symmetry of metallic core using time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) combined with the complete active space self‐consistent field (CASSCF). Based on the field‐dependent magnetic susceptibility and electron paramagnetic resonance, the high‐ and low‐spin isomers of M@Au8 NCs (M = Fe, Cr, Mn) are formed by core–shell electron coupling to form a stable magnetism, and all of them show paramagnetic properties with the magnetic order remaining intact, and they are capable of stable information storage at room temperature. These computational results provide a novel research direction for the development of magnetic semiconductor switching devices.

This study aims to investigate the dynamics of basketball game pace and its influence on game outcomes through a novel intra-game segmentation approach. By employing K-means clustering on possession duration, we categorized possessions from 1,141 NBA games in the 2019–2020 season into high-frequency (HFS), low-frequency (LFS), and normal-frequency segments (NFS). A sliding window method was utilized to identify these segments, revealing distinct temporal patterns within games. To analyze the predictive value of these segments, we applied machine learning models, including Random Forest and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM), complemented by SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) for interpretability. Our findings demonstrate that HFS segments increase toward the end of each quarter, driven by rapid transitions and tactical urgency, whereas LFS segments dominate the middle phases, reflecting strategic tempo control. NFS accounts for the majority of game time but decreases as the game progresses. The LightGBM analysis highlighted the importance ranking of key performance indicators (KPIs) across different segments and revealed differences in the importance of these indicators within each segment. Compared to traditional methods, our approach provides a finer-grained analysis of game pace dynamics and offers actionable insights for optimizing coaching strategies. This study not only advances the understanding of basketball game rhythm but also establishes a robust framework for integrating machine learning and statistical models in sports analysis.

As an important branch of the covalent organic frameworks (COFs) family, one‐dimensional COFs (1D COFs) which formed by the ordered arrangement of confined covalent bonds in one dimension and non‐covalent interactions (van der Waals force, π‐π interactions and hydrogen bonds, etc.) in the vertical two and three dimensions has aroused much attention. Compared with 2D/3D COFs, 1D COFs behaved more easily dispersing and had more opportunities for active sites exposure due to their weaker interchain/interlayer interaction, modified nonlinear edge, and pore structures. These features make them have great application potential in many fields including catalysis, energy storage, adsorption, sensing, and others. In this minireview, we highlight the state‐of‐the‐art advances of 1D COFs in the structure design principles of building blocks, synthesis strategies, and their related applications. Furthermore, we present an in‐depth outlook on the challenges and opportunities faced by 1D COFs, aiming to offer insights for future studies in this intriguing and significant research field.

As an important branch of the covalent organic frameworks (COFs) family, one‐dimensional COFs (1D COFs) which formed by the ordered arrangement of confined covalent bonds in one dimension and non‐covalent interactions (van der Waals force, π‐π interactions and hydrogen bonds, etc.) in the vertical two and three dimensions has aroused much attention. Compared with 2D/3D COFs, 1D COFs behaved more easily dispersing and had more opportunities for active sites exposure due to their weaker interchain/interlayer interaction, modified nonlinear edge, and pore structures. These features make them have great application potential in many fields including catalysis, energy storage, adsorption, sensing, and others. In this minireview, we highlight the state‐of‐the‐art advances of 1D COFs in the structure design principles of building blocks, synthesis strategies, and their related applications. Furthermore, we present an in‐depth outlook on the challenges and opportunities faced by 1D COFs, aiming to offer insights for future studies in this intriguing and significant research field.

This study aims to develop an exploratory classification model for Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy (JME) based on electroencephalogram (EEG) microstate features to assist clinical diagnosis and reduce misdiagnosis rates. A total of 123 participants were included in this study, consisting of 74 patients diagnosed with JME and 49 patients with Frontal Lobe Epilepsy (FLE). Resting-state EEG data were retrospectively collected from all participants. After preprocessing, microstate analysis was performed, and 24 microstate features (including duration, occurrence rate, coverage, and transition probability) were extracted and analyzed. Finally, the extracted microstate parameters were used to train six machine learning classifiers to distinguish between the two types of epilepsy. The performance of these models was assessed by calculating accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and area under the curve (AUC). The study found that all parameters of microstate A showed high consistency between the two groups. However, the JME group exhibited lower occurrence and smaller coverage of microstate B compared to the FLE group, while showing longer durations for microstate C. Additionally, the transition probabilities from microstate B to C and D were lower in the JME group, while the transition probability from C to D was significantly higher. When EEG microstate features were integrated into the six machine learning classifiers, the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) algorithm achieved the best classification performance (accuracy of 76.4%, precision of 79.5%, and AUC of 0.817). This study found significant differences in EEG microstate characteristics between JME and FLE. Based on 24 microstate features, a classification model was successfully developed and validated. These findings underscore the potential of EEG microstates as neurophysiological biomarkers for distinguishing between these two epilepsy types.

Theoretical systems thinking (T‐ST) and applied systems thinking (A‐ST) represent two complementary systems thinking research paths. A‐ST focuses on using systems ideas and systems methodologies to solve practical problems in different fields; T‐ST focuses on discussing the nature of systems thinking and providing theoretical support for applying systems methodologies. The theoretical sources of T‐ST primarily originate from the traditional Eastern and Western systems ideas, interdisciplinary concepts and theories of complexity science. The construction of T‐ST involves abstracting systems ideas and systems principles from theories and general laws about complex systems. Systems ideas such as ‘emergence and hierarchy’, ‘information and control’, ‘evolution and self‐organisation’, constitute the ontological assumptions of a systems worldview. Systems principles function as meta‐methodology, including the principle of non‐reductive systemhood, principle of dialectical synergy and principle of adaptive becoming. We advocate greater attention to and research on T‐ST in the future development of systems thinking.