Browse Articles

Bioactivity and textile dyeing potential of pigments produced by Arcopilus cupreus T8

Assessing body position through experimental cremation: A pilot study using colorimetry and FTIR-ATR analyses

This pilot study evaluates the feasibility and limitations of a multi-proxy approach for identifying potential indicators of horizontal positioning in cremated heads from archaeological, and to a lesser extent, forensic contexts. Two outdoor experimental cremations using fleshed and dry pig crania were conducted to evaluate the influence of pre-burning condition, vertical placement within the pyre and pyre dynamics on the expression of lateralised burning patterns. Combining macroscopic observations, fragmentation, colorimetric and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) mode, our preliminary observations suggest that lateralised differences in thermal exposure may be detectable under certain conditions. Significant differences (p-value < 0.005) were found between direct contact areas and indirect contact areas, with direct contact regions exhibiting lighter colouration and greater calcination. Higher crystallinity (IRSF) was also noted in direct contact areas, especially for the head placed on top of the pyre (Head 1). Inner surfaces consistently retained darker hues, indicating tissue shielding effects. Fleshed and dry elements also behaved differently: the dry cranium was less fragmented and with a more homogeneous colouration. As a small-scale experiment involving heterogeneous specimens and variable pyre dynamics, this study does not attempt to reconstruct body position but instead identifies methodological variables with potential for future replicated research. These preliminary results support the value of combining multi-proxy analyses such as colorimetry and FTIR-ATR for detecting specific burning patterns and inferring body position in cremation studies and provide a starting point for the refinement of methodology in future experimental works.

Vertical r-GeO2 Schottky barrier diodes on single-crystal r-GeO2 substrates

In this work, we report on the electrical characterization of vertical r-GeO2 Schottky barrier diodes (SBDs) fabricated on low-doped single-crystal r-GeO2 substrates using Ni-based Schottky contacts. Capacitance–voltage analysis reveals a donor concentration of 2.1 × 1017 cm−3 as well as a built-in potential of 1.7 V. The devices exhibit excellent rectification with an on/off current ratio exceeding 1010 at ±3 V, a turn-on voltage of ∼1 V, and a high forward current density of 376 A/cm2 at 3 V. A low differential specific on-resistance of 4.4 mΩ cm2 demonstrates efficient carrier transport and effective backside Ohmic contact formation. Furthermore, an apparent Schottky barrier height of 1.17 eV and an ideality factor of 1.21 are extracted. Temperature-dependent J–V measurements from 25 to 200 °C reveal thermally activated forward conduction transitioning toward thermionic-field emission at elevated temperatures, consistent with barrier inhomogeneity. Moreover, reverse leakage currents remain nearly temperature-independent, emphasizing the high thermal stability of the SBDs. Finally, a median breakdown voltage of 132 V is achieved, corresponding to an estimated electric field of 2.8 MV/cm. These results highlight the potential of r-GeO2 as a promising ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor for next-generation power electronic devices and applications.

Explainable AI for diabetic retinopathy detection using vision transformers

The effectiveness of a foot-care education program based on multi-theory model in diabetic patients with risk of foot ulceration: A randomized controlled trial protocol

Background Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most common and serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). The high disability and fatality rates of DFU raise the importance of early medical treatment. However, delays in seeking medical treatment among DFU patients are common, emphasizing the need for targeted health education. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a Multi-Theory Model (MTM)-based foot care education program on improving healthcare decision-making and foot care behaviors in diabetic patients with risk of foot ulceration. Method A multicenter randomized controlled trial will be employed. Diabetic patients at risk of foot ulceration will be recruited from two different tertiary hospitals in different cities. Eligible participants will be randomly allocated to receive either routine education and a foot-care handbook (control group) or comprehensive foot-care education based on MTM (intervention group). The intervention period will last for 4 weeks, followed by a 3-month post-intervention follow-up. Questionnaire data and clinical data will be collected at baseline, immediately after the 4-week intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up. The primary outcome will be pre-hospital delay intentions. Foot care knowledge, foot care self-efficacy, and foot care behaviors will be investigated using questionnaires. Clinical data, including blood glucose, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI), will also be assessed. Discussion Based on the MTM, this study developed a comprehensive foot-care education program for diabetic patients at risk of foot ulceration. By integrating systematic, theory-driven educational components, the program may equips both hospitals and community health services with a structured approach to deliver targeted foot-care education. Trial registration The RCT registry number: ChiCTR2400082853, 09/04/2024.

Enabling Access to sp ³ ‐Enriched Targeted Protein Degraders via Redox‐Neutral Radical Cross‐Coupling

ABSTRACT Cullin‐RING Ligase 4 Cereblon (CRL4 CRBN )‐mediated targeted protein degradation (TPD) via cereblon (CRBN) E3 ligase modulatory drugs (CELMoDs) or ligand‐directed degraders (LDDs) represents a new modality in modern drug discovery. However, the CRBN‐binding portion of these degraders has been limited to flat, rigid architectures of conventional glutarimide scaffolds. This study presents a modular route to C3(sp 3 )–C(sp 3 ) linked glutarimides via a redox‐neutral cross‐coupling/palladium‐catalyzed hydrogenation sequence. This two‐step protocol is operationally simple, chemoselective, and broadly tolerant of diverse functional groups. It delivers sp 3 ‐rich, three‐dimensional scaffolds that access previously untapped chemical space. The resulting building blocks are ready for immediate use in the CELMoD and LDD arena and provide a versatile platform for next‐generation TPD design. Preliminary studies of BRD4‐targeting LDDs derived from C3(sp 3 )–C(sp 3 ) linked glutarimides demonstrate CRBN‐dependent degradation of BRD4, underscoring their translational potential.

Polarization-modulated electrical transport and photodetection in graphene/ <i>β</i> -InSe/graphene heterostructures

Sliding ferroelectricity in 2D β-InSe has been confirmed, but its intrinsic electrical and photo-response under ferroelectric polarization remain unclear. Here, graphene/β-InSe/graphene heterostructures were fabricated using graphene electrodes, avoiding the destruction of InSe intrinsic ferroelectric polarization from interface defects in conventional metal contacts. Electrical measurements show robust in-plane and out-of-plane ferroelectric polarizations with synergistic regulation, ultralow switching voltage (&amp;lt;6 V), and a four-order resistance window. The device exhibits high specific detectivity (∼1011 Jones) across the visible range, with photo-response effectively modulated by polarizations, unaffected by photocarriers. This system holds great promise for low-power nonvolatile electronics and intelligent optoelectronics.

First-principles multiscale modeling of cerebral hemodynamics enables personalized predictions of human brain temperature

The chain-mediating role of caregiver burden and illness uncertainty between social support and preparedness among family caregivers of spinal cord injury patients

Objective This study aimed to examine the effects of social support, caregiver burden, and illness uncertainty on preparedness among family caregivers of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to analyze the mediating roles of caregiver burden and illness uncertainty in the relationship between social support and preparedness. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted between June 2024 and April 2025 among conveniently selected SCI patients and their family caregivers from the orthopedics departments of two tertiary hospitals in Hohhot, China. Data were collected using the General Information Questionnaire, the Mishel Uncertainty in Illness Scale, the Social Support Rating Scale, the Chinese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory, and the Chinese version of the Preparedness for Caregiving Scale. Results Correlation analyses indicated that caregivers’ preparedness was positively correlated with social support and negatively correlated with caregiver burden and illness uncertainty. Mediation analyses revealed that social support not only directly enhanced preparedness but also indirectly improved it by alleviating caregiver burden and reducing illness uncertainty. Furthermore, caregiver burden and illness uncertainty were found to form a sequential mediation pathway between social support and preparedness. Conclusion Social support enhances preparedness both directly and indirectly through reducing caregiver burden and illness uncertainty. To translate these findings into practice, healthcare providers should routinely assess caregivers’ support needs, integrate burden screening into follow-up visits, and offer uncertainty-management counseling. Hospital- and community-based support programs focusing on skill-building and peer support are also recommended to strengthen caregiver preparedness.

Anomalous Nernst and Hall effects in Cr-doped MnSb thin films

The anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) has attracted extensive attention from both academia and industry owing to its unique thermoelectric physics and outstanding application potential. This study investigated the ANE and anomalous Hall effect in Cr-doped MnSb thin films deposited on MgO (100) substrates by varying the Cr content. All samples were deposited at 250 °C by employing the radio frequency sputtering process. The experimental results reveal that increasing the Cr content substantially enhanced both the ANE magnitude and the Nernst angle (θANE) by up to 3.5 times and more than five times, respectively. Furthermore, the transverse thermoelectric conductivity (αyx) and Hall conductivity (σyx) improved, while the longitudinal electrical resistivity (ρxx) decreased. Additionally, the sign of the normal Hall effect signal in MnSb thin films was found to be governed by the presence or absence of Cr doping. This study emphasizes the effectiveness of doping engineering as a viable pathway for tuning transverse thermoelectric responses in ferromagnetic systems.

Finite element analysis of warpage and debonding behavior in RDL-first and molding-first fan-out panel-level packaging

Abstract This study investigates the applicability of various carrier materials in fan-out panel-level packaging (FOPLP) processes through finite element analysis (FEA). Numerical simulations were performed for RDL-first and molding-first process flows to evaluate warpage and stress distribution across different carrier types, including steel, glass, and ceramic. Two panel dimensions, 600 $$\:\times\:$$ 700 mm and 680 $$\:\times\:$$ 680 mm, were modeled under varying manufacturing processes, temperature settings, and material properties. The simulations incorporated both mechanical and chemical shrinkage effects, with the molding-first process modeled from compression molding to the debonding stage. The element birth and death technique was implemented to account for material addition and removal during processing, thereby enhancing simulation accuracy. The results indicate that the average reference temperature provides the lowest prediction error in the RDL-first process, while maximum von Mises stress consistently occurs in the RM 1 and WAL layers. Furthermore, a significant increase in warpage is observed during the debonding stage in the molding-first process. A comparative analysis between simulation and experimental results demonstrates a high level of agreement, confirming the validity and reliability of the modeling approach. By systematically examining the thermo-mechanical behavior of multiple carrier materials in different process flows, this work establishes a comprehensive design guideline for carrier selection and process optimization in advanced FOPLP manufacturing.

A scoping review of computational models of the diabetic foot

The prevalence of diabetes is expected to be 650 million people by 2030, and diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is one of its most severe complications. It poses a significant challenge to global health and brings substantial social and economic burdens. Although many studies have explored the mechanisms of DFU development, they are still not fully understood. Due to the high cost of the experimental research, many recent studies have employed the computational modelling approaches to simulate the effects of diabetes on foot tissues from mechanical, thermal, fluid, and cellular perspectives. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of computational modelling approaches used to investigate various factors influencing DFU, discuss current knowledge gaps and limitations, and outline future research directions. A systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases, identifying a total of N = 1631 records up to March 2025, 31 of which studies met the inclusion criteria and were analysed in this study. Results showed that DFU-related computational models can be categorized into five types: mechanical stress models, thermal models, vascular and nerve system models, multiphysics models, and cellular-based models. These models explore the formation mechanisms of DFU from different perspectives, including biomechanics, temperature, fluid dynamics, HHμm neural signalling, and cellular responses. However, except for mechanical stress models, the other approaches remain in the early stages of development, and the single physics modelling strategies are unable to provide understanding on the coupled processes with the foot and their effect on DFU. Future research should further develop modelling approaches and couple these together to develop comprehensive understanding of DFU pathogenesis.

Anisotropic quantum confinement in interface-defined stanene quantum dots

Quantum dots (QDs) embedded in two-dimensional (2D) materials provide an ideal platform for exploring tunable quantum confinement in real and momentum space. Here, we investigate interface-defined stanene QDs by low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. The QDs form as nanometer-scale confined regions within a continuous stanene monolayer due to buried interfacial SnxO nanopatches. Differential conductance spectra reveal discrete resonant states accompanied by pronounced quantum interference patterns. Spectroscopic mapping along orthogonal crystallographic directions shows strong anisotropy of the confined states, indicating quasi-one-dimensional confinement. The observed energy levels are well described by an effective one-dimensional hard-wall model with a spatially varying potential. These results establish interface-controlled quantum confinement in stanene and demonstrate how buried interfacial structures can fundamentally reshape electronic states in supported 2D Xene materials.

Enhancing complaint locations prediction with image-space embedding representations and customized large language models

Speed, slope, and synchrony: Empirical insights into SAR searcher behavior

Wilderness search and rescue (SAR) missions are time-critical and terrain-dependent, so planners must quickly allocate resources across complex landscapes. In practice, they rely on expert judgment and experience-based assumptions to coordinate individuals and teams, yet few of these assumptions have been formally validated with field data and modeling. We address this gap by analyzing GPS tracks from 64 SAR incidents, selecting 61 tracks from 13 cases. The tracks are categorized by search tactic: hasty, sweep, or team sweep, with the last divided into six teams of varying size. To quantify how tactic and terrain shape movement, we bootstrapped exponential speed-slope fits, ran Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests, and used a nested ANOVA with random effects. Median uphill and downhill speeds are statistically indistinguishable (0.48 m/s vs. 0.52 m/s; KS p  = 0.093), suggesting that slope penalties on pedestrian speed can be modeled symmetrically. Hasty searches are faster than sweeps (0.53 m/s vs. 0.39 m/s; KS p  &lt; 10 −3 ), with no interaction between slope and tactic. Team-level analyses using Spearman correlation, time-lagged cross-correlation, and transfer entropy revealed tightly coupled movement and identifiable leaders, with follower reaction lags of only a few seconds. These empirically derived parameters–search-type specific baseline speeds, a single slope coefficient, and realistic coordination bounds–offer practical inputs for SAR coverage calculations and agent-based models. Incorporating values drawn from real field data could refine human mobility assumptions while remaining compatible with the existing SAR operational framework.

Ultrasensitive acoustic sensing and optical comb generation in a hybrid optomechanical system

Cavity optomechanical systems have emerged as a powerful platform for high-sensitivity acoustic sensing. However, their sensitivities at kilohertz frequencies are typically limited due to the inherent challenge in simultaneous optimization of optical and mechanical modes within a single resonator. In this work, we demonstrate a hybrid optomechanical system consisting of a tapered microfiber evanescently coupled with a microtoroid cavity. The microfiber supporting multiple kilohertz-frequency mechanical modes acts as a sensitive acoustic transducer, while the microtoroid serves as a sensitive readout cavity. Utilizing the strong acousto-optic interaction, the system enables thermal noise-limited ultrasensitive acoustic sensing in the kilohertz-frequency range, achieving an optimal noise equivalent pressure of 0.72 μPa/Hz1/2 at 19.85 kHz. Furthermore, under strong acoustic driving, the system enables generation of optical frequency combs, with over 100 comb lines and tunable repetition rates across the kilohertz range by exciting different mechanical modes of the microfiber. This hybrid optomechanical system offers significant potential for applications in trace gas photoacoustic sensing, bioacoustic monitoring, and high-resolution spectroscopy.

A nationwide survey of medical resource usage for cancer treatment using Japanese health claims data from 2011 to 2022

Abstract Multidisciplinary cancer treatments have advanced significantly, especially with molecular targeted therapies improving prognosis. Although these are expensive, their cost impact remains unverified. This study aimed to investigate the overall utilization of healthcare resources and identify the cost drivers of cancer treatment in Japan. In this retrospective cohort study, patients diagnosed with malignancies between April 2011 and March 2022 were classified by cancer type, and monthly insurance claims and applicable medications were analyzed. Breast cancer was the most common, followed by stomach and colon cancers. Cost analysis by cancer type revealed that lung cancer was the most expensive overall, whereas multiple myeloma was the most expensive per person-month. When antineoplastic drug costs were aggregated by mechanism, a rapid increase was observed in the immune checkpoint inhibitor category. Since the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors, the number of insurance claims for antineoplastic drugs in Japan has increased. Japan’s public healthcare system has seen an increase in the cost of cancer treatment at a rate exceeding national economic growth. These findings highlight the need for policies that address the cost-effectiveness and sustainability of cancer care to ensure continued access to high-quality treatment within publicly funded systems in Japan and globally.

Controllable nonlocality of acoustic meta-surfaces based on Willis coupling

Significant nonlocality is the principal mechanism enabling superior and versatile functionalities of non-local meta-surfaces with efficiency that goes far beyond conventional designs. Distinct from the design strategy of minimizing the non-local coupling effects in acoustic phase-gradient meta-surfaces, nonlocality has been explored to achieve anomalous wave manipulations with extremely high efficiency. However, the controllable exploitation of non-local coupling effects to intentionally tailor acoustic behavior remains a challenge. Therefore, we proposed a theoretical model for predicting the acoustic performance of finite meta-surfaces using Willis coupling as an additional degree of freedom, in which a coupling index βn is derived to explicitly characterize and leverage the non-local coupling effects. Numerical calculations performed on a random three-meta-atom array confirmed the accuracy of our model and demonstrated the dominant influence of non-local coupling effects on both the scattering strength and directivity of the constituent meta-atoms. Furthermore, the controllability of non-local coupling effects via the derived βn was demonstrated in two sound-isolation meta-surfaces, where the acoustic responses of all meta-atoms were modulated and synchronized, achieving a significant enhancement in transmission loss. This work novelly elevates non-local coupling effects from an inherent phenomenon to a controllable parameter based on Willis coupling for the practical design of high-efficiency non-local meta-surfaces.

Multimodal fusion-based prediction of postoperative survival in gallbladder adenocarcinoma: Model development and validation

Experimental quantum Bernoulli factories via Bell-basis measurements

Randomness processing in the Bernoulli factory framework provides a concrete setting in which quantum resources can outperform classical ones. We experimentally demonstrate quantum randomness processing based on Bell-basis measurements of two identical input quoins prepared on IBM superconducting hardware. Using only the measurement outcomes (and no external classical randomness source), we realize the classically inconstructible Bernoulli doubling primitive f(p)=2p, and, as intermediate outputs from the same Bell-measurement statistics, an exact fair coin f(p)=1/2 and the classically inconstructible function f(p)=4p(1−p). We benchmark the measured output biases against ideal predictions and discuss the impact of device noise. Our results establish a simple resource-efficient experimental primitive for quantum-to-classical randomness processing and support the viability of quantum Bernoulli factories for quantum-enhanced stochastic simulation and sampling tasks.