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The development, characterization, and exploitation of novel materials based on the assembly of molecular components is an exceptionally active and rapidly expanding field. For this reason, the topic of molecule-based materials (MBMs) was chosen as the subject of a workshop sponsored by the Chemical Sciences Division of the United States Department of Energy. The purpose of the workshop was to review and discuss the diverse research trajectories in the field from a chemical perspective, and to focus on the critical elements that are likely to be essential for rapid progress. The MBMs discussed encompass a diverse set of compositions and structures, including clusters, supramolecular assemblies, and assemblies incorporating biomolecule-based components. A full range of potentially interesting materials properties, including electronic, magnetic, optical, structural, mechanical, and chemical characteristics were considered. Key themes of the workshop included synthesis of novel components, structural control, characterization of structure and properties, and the development of underlying principles and models. MBMs, defined as “useful substances prepared from molecules or molecular ions that maintain aspects of the parent molecular framework” are of special significance because of the capacity for diversity in composition, structure, and properties, both chemical and physical. Key attributes are the ability in MBMs to access the additional dimension of multiple length scales and available structural complexity via organic chemistry synthetic methodologies and the innovative assembly of such diverse components. The interaction among the assembled components can thus lead to unique behavior. A consequence of the complexity is the need for a multiplicity of both existing and new tools for materials synthesis, assembly, characterization, and theoretical analysis. For some technologically useful properties, e.g., ferro- or ferrimagnetism and superconductivity, the property is not a property of a molecule or ion; it is a cooperative solid-state (bulk) property—a property of the entire solid. Hence, the desired properties are a consequence of the interactions between the molecules or ions, and understanding the solid-state structure as well as methods to predict, control, and modulate the structure are essential to understanding and manipulating such behaviors. As challenging as this is, molecules enable a substantially greater ability of control than atoms as building blocks for new materials and thus are well positioned to contribute significantly to new materials. The diversity of components and processes leads to the recognition of the critical role of cross-disciplinary research, including not only that between traditionally different areas within chemistry, but also between chemistry and biochemistry, physics, and a number of engineering disciplines. Enhancing communication and active collaboration between these groups was seen as a critical goal for the research area.

ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVCommunicationNEXTA New Nonhydrolytic Single-Precursor Approach to Surfactant-Capped Nanocrystals of Transition Metal OxidesJörg Rockenberger, Erik C. Scher, and A. Paul AlivisatosView Author Information Department of Chemistry, Box 101 University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley California 94720 Cite this: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 49, 11595–11596Publication Date (Web):November 24, 1999Publication History Received10 September 1999Published online24 November 1999Published inissue 1 December 1999https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ja993280vhttps://doi.org/10.1021/ja993280vrapid-communicationACS PublicationsCopyright © 1999 American Chemical SocietyRequest reuse permissionsArticle Views7246Altmetric-Citations652LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail Other access optionsGet e-AlertscloseSupporting Info (1)»Supporting Information Supporting Information SUBJECTS:Metals,Nanocrystals,Nanoparticles,Oxides,Transmission electron microscopy Get e-Alerts

Explanation of how 92 studies provided data regarding 127 analyses. (DOC 36 kb)

A simple yet highly reproducible method to fabricate metallic electrodes with nanometer separation is presented. The fabrication is achieved by passing a large electrical current through a gold nanowire defined by electron-beam lithography and shadow evaporation. The current flow causes the electromigration of gold atoms and the eventual breakage of the nanowire. The breaking process yields two stable metallic electrodes separated by ∼1 nm with high efficiency. These electrodes are ideally suited for electron-transport studies of chemically synthesized nanostructures, and their utility is demonstrated here by fabricating single-electron transistors based on colloidal cadmium selenide nanocrystals.

Top-down studies of methane (CH4) emissions often use the average ethane-to-methane (C2/C1) ratio of wellhead gas in a basin for source attribution between thermogenic and biogenic sources. Biogenic (CH4) sources (ruminants, wetlands, landfills, and other methanogenic sources) do not co-produce ethane (C2H6); the presence of C2H6 indicates a thermogenic CH4 source. However, the C2/C1 ratio often varies within and across basins, as well as among emitting sources and facility configurations. This study uses Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) data from exhaust stack tests of both four-stroke rich-burn and four-stroke lean-burn engines, comparing the relative “destruction efficiency” between the engines and across species. Results show that engines combust heavier hydrocarbons more efficiently than CH4, as evidenced by consistently higher destruction efficiencies for C2H6 across all engine types. The data indicates a preferential destruction of C2H6 (and higher hydrocarbons) relative to CH4; the exhaust gas C2/C1 ratio is consistently lower than the fuel gas C2/C1 ratio. Additionally, recent design modifications at O&G production facilities resulted in a reduction of both C2H6 and CH4 emissions with a more pronounced reduction in C2H6 emissions. In the Denver-Julesburg basin in Colorado, natural gas production increased by 73.9 % from 2015 to 2021. Despite these increases, the companion paper by Daley et al. (2025) reveals that top-down CH4 and C2H6 emissions from oil and natural gas facilities decreased by -25.3%% and 63.6 %, respectively. This work provides a possible explanation and may indicate a shift in emissions from the production sector to the midstream sector.

Recent extensive metatranscriptome mining vastly expanded the range of apparently covalently closed circular (ccc) RNA replicons. A notable family of such replicons is Obelisks, ~1 kilobase (kb) cccRNAs encoding a protein with a unique fold, Oblin-1, and detected in diverse metatranscriptomes. To identify potential cccRNAs in a sequence similarity-independent manner, we adopt the Fragmented and primer-Ligated DsRNA Sequencing (FLDS) method to selectively sequence double-stranded (ds) RNAs, replicative intermediates of RNA replicons. We focus on candidates with predicted extensive intramolecular base-pairing, a hallmark of viroid-like elements. Using FLDS, we explore metatranscriptomes from acidic hot springs in Japan and discover a distinct family of Obelisks apparently associated with thermoacidophilic bacteria (Hot spring Obelisks, HsObs). Despite lacking sequence similarity to known Oblins, HsObs share key features, including ~1 kb genome size, rod-like RNA secondary structure, and the predicted fold of the encoded protein, HsOblin. A comprehensive metatranscriptome search for Oblin-1 and HsOblin homologs expands Obelisk diversity about two-fold, revealing multiple subfamilies sharing the same core fold,. some of which are also predicted to encode additional small proteins with simple alpha-helical folds. These findings highlight Obelisks as widespread and overlooked components of microbial ecosystems, expanding understanding of viroid-like RNA replicon diversity and evolution.

The development, characterization, and exploitation of novel materials based on the assembly of molecular components is an exceptionally active and rapidly expanding field. For this reason, the topic of molecule-based materials (MBMs) was chosen as the subject of a workshop sponsored by the Chemical Sciences Division of the United States Department of Energy. The purpose of the workshop was to review and discuss the diverse research trajectories in the field from a chemical perspective, and to focus on the critical elements that are likely to be essential for rapid progress. The MBMs discussed encompass a diverse set of compositions and structures, including clusters, supramolecular assemblies, and assemblies incorporating biomolecule-based components. A full range of potentially interesting materials properties, including electronic, magnetic, optical, structural, mechanical, and chemical characteristics were considered. Key themes of the workshop included synthesis of novel components, structural control, characterization of structure and properties, and the development of underlying principles and models. MBMs, defined as “useful substances prepared from molecules or molecular ions that maintain aspects of the parent molecular framework” are of special significance because of the capacity for diversity in composition, structure, and properties, both chemical and physical. Key attributes are the ability in MBMs to access the additional dimension of multiple length scales and available structural complexity via organic chemistry synthetic methodologies and the innovative assembly of such diverse components. The interaction among the assembled components can thus lead to unique behavior. A consequence of the complexity is the need for a multiplicity of both existing and new tools for materials synthesis, assembly, characterization, and theoretical analysis. For some technologically useful properties, e.g., ferro- or ferrimagnetism and superconductivity, the property is not a property of a molecule or ion; it is a cooperative solid-state (bulk) property—a property of the entire solid. Hence, the desired properties are a consequence of the interactions between the molecules or ions, and understanding the solid-state structure as well as methods to predict, control, and modulate the structure are essential to understanding and manipulating such behaviors. As challenging as this is, molecules enable a substantially greater ability of control than atoms as building blocks for new materials and thus are well positioned to contribute significantly to new materials. The diversity of components and processes leads to the recognition of the critical role of cross-disciplinary research, including not only that between traditionally different areas within chemistry, but also between chemistry and biochemistry, physics, and a number of engineering disciplines. Enhancing communication and active collaboration between these groups was seen as a critical goal for the research area.

<ns3:p>The article discusses the impact of seal failure in insulating glass unit (IGUs) and the resulting loss of filling gas on deflections as well as the operational safety of glass structures, with particular emphasis on roof glazing and skylights. The main objective was to demonstrate the critical role of the gas in ensuring composite action between the glass panes when transferring external loads. Numerical analyses were performed in the RF-Glass module of the RFEM 5 software for typical insulating glass configurations. The behavior of the glazing unit in a fully sealed state was compared with the situation after seal failure and gas loss, where the external load is borne solely by the outer pane. Additional comparisons of various structural variants (different thicknesses, tempering, lamination of inner and outer panes, as well as single-chamber and double-chamber arrangements) made it possible to assess how modifications to the glazing composition affect stiffness and stress levels. The results highlight that gas loss significantly worsens the working conditions of the outer pane and may lead to exceeding the ultimate limit state of load-bearing capacity. In extreme cases, this can result in sudden failure of the element and pose a risk to user safety. The article emphasizes the need for special care regarding the airtightness of insulating glass units and the rational selection of layer configurations in the design of modern metal-glass structures.</ns3:p>

BACKGROUND: The global rise in cancer incidence and survivorship is contributing to escalating health-care expenditure. Yet comprehensive and internationally comparable data on direct cancer costs worldwide remain scarce, limiting insights into cross-country spending patterns, their relationship to cancer outcomes, and future cost trajectories. METHODS: We assembled data on direct cancer costs up to the year 2022 from academic journals, government statistical reports, and the grey literature. Drawing from 19 sources in 39 countries, we estimated total, per-patient, and per-capita cancer expenditure in US dollars (US$) by cancer type, assessing associations between spending and cancer outcomes, alongside recent trends. RESULTS: Annual cancer costs varied substantially and reflected differences in national income, ranging from US$1989 per diagnosis (Ethiopia) to US$129 494 per diagnosis (United States). Annual costs per capita ranged from US$1.43 (Ethiopia) to US$713 (United States). Annual expenditure was positively correlated with survival for most cancers but showed diminishing returns in high-income countries. Moreover, expenditure had no apparent relation with overall cancer mortality. Where data were available, spending patterns by cancer type reflected country-specific incidence profiles. Across all countries, the 4 costliest cancers accounted for one-third to almost one-half (37%-48%) of direct cancer costs. In countries with reliable time series, costs rose steadily over time, with growth rates ranging from 1.4% (Japan, 2009-2022) to 9.3% (Republic of Korea, 2004-2022). These increases consistently outpaced gross domestic product growth by 1.0%-7.7% over the respective observation periods. CONCLUSION: Greater reforms to cancer control, and health-care more broadly, are required to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability while maximizing population health outcomes.

Automating the manipulation of branched deformable linear objects (e.g. wire harnesses) with multiple robots is a complex challenge due to the object's flexibility. In this paper, a coordinated planning and simulation pipeline is presented enabling multiple industrial robot arms to jointly manipulate a deformable object in a manufacturing context. The pipeline is modular, consisting of task definition, physicsbased deformable linear object (DLO) modeling, coordinated multi-robot trajectory planning with deformation constraints, inter-robot collision checking, and simulation-based validation of planned motions. The system is validated primarily in simulation, showing that three robots can successfully route DLOs through complex geometries without entanglement or collisions, and a qualitative real-world demo to illustrate feasibility. The proposed approach is the first to demonstrate a multi-robot planning pipeline for branched DLO manipulation with multiple robots. The results highlight how careful coordination and planning can enable multi-robot deformable object manipulation, offering a foundation for automating wire harness installation in manufacturing.