In this study, we evaluate the seismic vulnerability of buildings in Dir City, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, using a modified rapid visual screening (RVS) approach.

Immunization has long played essential roles in preventing diseases. However, the desire for precision delivery of vaccines to boost a robust immune response remains largely unmet. Here, we describe the use of acupoint delivery of nanovaccines (ADN) to elicit dual-niche immunological priming. ADN can simultaneously stimulate mast cell-assisted maturation of dendritic cells at the acupoint and enable direct delivery of nanovaccines into the draining lymph nodes. We demonstrate that ADN not only provokes antigen presentation by lymph node-resident CD8α⁺ dendritic cells, but also induces the accumulation of nanovaccines in B-cell zones, amplifying antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and immunoglobulin G antibody expression in draining lymph nodes. ADN also generates systemic immune responses by causing immune memory and preventing T-cell anergy in the spleen. Further supported by evoking effective antitumor responses and high-level antiviral antibodies in mice, ADN provides a simple yet versatile platform for advanced nanovaccination.

A new study proposes that multi-step fragmentation at approximately 1 GeV/nucleon could be a game-changer for producing rare neutron-rich nuclei. Simulations show that the method—using thick targets—outperforms traditional techniques by orders of magnitude, enabling access to drip-line isotopes previously beyond reach. If confirmed by experiments, this approach will expand our capacity to explore uncharted regions of the nuclear chart and investigate the structure of exotic nuclei.

Hormones affect human physical functions, behaviour and mental well-being, with testosterone, a primary androgen hormone, playing a vital role in shaping male social cognition and behaviour. A research team of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has conducted interdisciplinary research to uncover the neurocognitive correlates of testosterone in the brain function of young men, and their impact on social behaviour. The findings provide valuable insights into potential applications of testosterone therapy in clinical and mental healthcare. 

As 5G deployment accelerates and 6G development begins, the demand for high-performance microwave dielectric ceramics (MWDCs) has surged. A team of researchers has developed a new garnet-type ceramic material, Y₃MgAl₃GeO₁₂ (YMAG), with excellent microwave properties, including low permittivity, high quality factor, and good temperature stability. By optimizing the material with TiO₂, they achieved near-zero temperature coefficient of resonant frequency, and a dielectric resonator antenna based on this material demonstrated outstanding performance in the X-band, highlighting its potential for 5G/6G applications.

North China faces extreme heat, with temps hitting 40°C+ in 2023—breaking 60-year records. A new study links the heatwave to high-pressure systems and dry soils, warning such events may become normal due to climate change. Urgent adaptation needed for energy, health, and crops.

Slow scintillation component due to charge carrier capture at point defects is a serious issue in scintillator materials. Therefore, the fabrication of scintillators with a high proportion of fast component in scintillation response is of great interest to material scientists. By applying the defect engineering strategy in the advanced optical Lu₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce,Mg (LuAG:Ce,Mg) ceramics, ultrahigh fast scintillation proportion can be achieved with slight loss of the fast scintillation light. This strategy has a broad application potential in improving fast scintillation proportion of various oxide scintillators.  

Transition metal diborides (TMB₂) are materials of choice for the applications in hypersonic vehicles and scramjet engines due to their unique combination of fascinating properties such as high melting point, high elastic modulus, excellent thermal and chemical stability, etc. Understanding microscopic information such as the electronic structure and chemical bonding of TMB₂ is essential for establishing the structure-property relationships. However, for decades, direct observation of atomic arrangements in TMB₂ was seldom conducted due to the limited resolution of transmission electron microscope and filling this research gap was imperative. Herein the crystal structure and chemical bonding of CrB₂ were approved for the first time using aberration corrected transmission electron microscopy coupled with electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) accessory. Combined with first-principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), CrB₂ is confirmed to have an AlB₂-type structure, where Cr bonds to each other in (001) plane by metallic bonding and B is bonding in the form of a graphite-like six-membered ring in (002) plane through sp² hybridization, while Cr-B ionic-covalent bonding is formed in (110) plane. A detailed analysis of the experimental and calculated results of EELS of CrB₂ show that the hybridization between Cr 3d and B has a significant effect on EELS of transition metal borides (TMB₂). In addition, hysteresis loop of CrB₂ was tested for the first time based on the theoretical calculation and the molar susceptibility of CrB₂ was about 5.77×10^-4 emu/mol.

In a recent review published in Science Bulletin, Professor Chen-Yu Zhang’s group at Nanjing University introduced the concept of “RNA immunity”—a previously underrecognized antiviral mechanism in mammals. Small RNAs can move between cells, silence viral genes, and may even be boosted by exercise or absorbed from foods like honeysuckle decoction. Researches now believe this “RNA immunity” may represent a hidden third layer of our immune system, alongside antibodies and immune cells.