Browse Articles

Comment on “Determining angle of arrival of radio-frequency fields using subwavelength, amplitude-only measurements of standing waves in a Rydberg atom sensor” [J. Appl. Phys. 138, 114402 (2025)]

Impact of field stress pattern on the performance of HfO2-based ferroelectric tunnel junctions

In this study, we examine the performance of the Hf0.5Zr0.5O2/Y2O3 bilayer ferroelectric tunnel junction under both unipolar and bipolar stress conditions. The introduction of a delay time between consecutive pulses clarified the role of charge traps and defect formation in modulating the tunneling current of the device. In the context of unipolar stress pulses, the dynamics of electron trapping and detrapping are essential for the accumulation of charges at the ferroelectric/dielectric interfaces. In addition to the inherent polarity of these trapped charges, the duration between consecutive pulses plays a crucial role in determining the extent of trap filling at these interfaces. This, in turn, critically influences the On to Off ratio, either by diminishing or enhancing it. When the device was subjected to alternating positive and negative switching pulses, defect formation occurred within the device stack. This results in a significant enhancement of the On and Off currents, increasing by more than two orders of magnitude. By appropriately engineering the delay interval between the alternating pulses, we observed an On to Off ratio exceeding 100, indicating that the contribution of trapped charges is the primary cause of current modulation over field cycles.

Verification of the resonance properties of the electromagnetic dipole-hybrid mode and magnetic toroidal dipole mode of the metasurface and its clothing fabric sensing performance

Here, a metasurface design strategy with high-quality factors and figure of merit (FOM) value is proposed and verified in the 4.0–20.0 THz range. By introducing symmetry breaking, the disk array is transformed into a tetramer cluster structure. The electromagnetic dipole-hybrid (ED–MD) mode and the magnetic toroidal dipole (MTD) mode are excited by the proposed metasurface. The ED–MD mode and MTD mode show high quality factors and extremely narrow bandwidth, which are beneficial for clothing fabric sensing applications. The amplitude and resonance positions can be modulated by using asymmetric parameters. The ED–MD mode exhibits a measured refractive index sensitivity of 921.25 GHz/RIU, and the corresponding FOM value is 3.56 × 104 in the clothing fabric sensing. This proposed metasurface verifies the asymmetric resonance characteristics and the clothing fabric sensing applications.

Exchange bias effects in Co3C/CoFe2O4 FM/FiM nanocomposites

The exchange bias effects in hard/soft magnetic nanocomposites are of significant interest for spintronic and high-density data storage applications. However, to get stable exchange bias through interfacial coupling remains main challenge. Here, Co3C/CoFe2O4 FM/FiM nanocomposite is successfully synthesized via the polyol reduction method to investigate the role of interfacial exchange interactions between ferromagnetic Co3C and ferrimagnetic CoFe2O4 phases. The structural characterization confirmed the coexistence of both phases with nanoscale crystallinity, while magnetic measurements revealed strong temperature-dependent hysteresis behavior. A large coercivity of ∼7899 Oe at 50 K and ∼655 Oe at 300 K was observed, along with a clear exchange bias field of 6–169 Oe at 300–50 K, showing enhanced interfacial spin coupling. The zero-field-cooled and field-cooled magnetization curves showed a blocking temperature above 400 K, indicating strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy and significant interfacial exchange coupling in the nanocomposite. The observed exchange bias is attributed to exchange coupling between the hard CoFe2O4 phase and the ferromagnetic Co3C phase at their interfaces. The maximum energy density (BH)max of the nanocomposite ranges from 3 to 97 MGOe, and the magnetic anisotropy constant ranges from 0.1005 to 1.3879 × 105 Jm−3 at 300–50 K. This work is considered a first study of exchange coupling between a ferromagnetic metal carbide (Co3C) and a ferrimagnetic oxide (CoFe2O4), establishing how carbon at the magnetic interface modifies exchange anisotropy and reversal mechanisms in a rare-earth-free hard/hard bi-magnetic system. These findings open a route for a novel composite and its potential for spintronics and rare-earth-free magnets.

Quercetin modulates mast cell activation and the IL-33/ST2/NF-κB axis in allergic rhinitis

Abstract Allergic rhinitis (AR) is driven by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated mast cell (MC) activation, leading to degranulation and type 2 cytokine release. Quercetin has shown anti-allergic effects, but its precise mechanism in AR remains incompletely understood. Quercetin’s impact on interleukin-33 (IL-33)-stimulated rat basophilic leukemia-2H3 (RBL-2H3) cells was assessed using both direct IL-33 exposure and IgE-mediated activation via anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP)-IgE sensitization and DNP- conjugated human serum albumin (HSA) challenge. Cytokine secretion, degranulation, apoptosis, and expression of IL-33 /suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (ST2)/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway components were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting, and reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). A mouse model of AR induced by ovalbumin (OVA) was employed to assess in vivo efficacy. Symptom scores, inflammatory cytokine levels, nasal mucosal histology, and key signaling molecule expression were analyzed to confirm quercetin’s protection. Quercetin significantly suppressed IL-33-induced cytokine production, degranulation, and apoptosis in vitro; these effects were partially reversed by ST2 overexpression. In vivo, quercetin alleviated AR symptoms, reduced serum T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, OVA-specific IgE (OVA-sIgE), and IL-33 levels, improved histopathology, and downregulated IL-33/ST2/NF-κB pathway proteins in nasal tissues. Our findings demonstrate quercetin’s anti-allergic effects against AR, which are likely mediated through suppression of mast cell activation and inhibition of the IL-33/ST2/NF-κB signaling cascade.

Energy-controlled supercapacitors based on polybenzidine-oxidant-GO hybrid electrodes with vanadate and dichromate redox chemistry

Physical therapy using digital therapeutics in infants with congenital muscular torticollis: a pilot study

Abstract Congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is a common musculoskeletal problem associated with unilateral sternocleidomastoid muscle stiffness. We evaluated the feasibility of the newly developed digital therapeutics (DTx) ACESO-APP, a personalized exercise app with real-time feedback, using skeleton-based motion analysis and artificial intelligence-driven body reconstruction models. Fourteen participants were randomized to undergo either weekly PT with standard home program education (SE group) or weekly PT with digital therapeutics lead home program (DTx group). A 12-week home exercise program (HEP) comprising stretching exercises was encouraged in both groups with weekly in-hospital PT. Clinical changes were assessed using the torticollis overall assessment at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, and participants’ HEP adherence over 1 week was assessed using a questionnaire. Recruitment and completion rates, adherence rate, System Usability Scale scores, and adverse events were summarized using descriptive statistics. Eight participants (4 in each group) completed the study. The overall recruitment rate was approximately 5.2 participants per month, and the completion rate was 57.1% for both groups. The DTx group demonstrated higher adherence, with no reported adverse events. ACESO-APP demonstrated feasibility but achieved a suboptimal completion rate. These preliminary findings support large-scale trials and further optimization of HEP using the ACESO-APP in children with CMT.

Obesity, food habits and socio-demographic factors among university students in Germany: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Obesity represents a growing public health challenge globally, with rising prevalence among university students. Its causes extend beyond diet and exercise, encompassing socioeconomic background, and family education and migration history. This study examined obesity among German university students using data from the 2016 Studitemps survey, which included over 9,960 participants and mirrors key characteristics of national statistics and the largest social study of German students “Sozialerhebung 2016”. Logistic regression results indicate that with each additional year, the associated chance of obesity increases. Students whose parents hold university degrees had significantly lower associated chances of obesity—nearly half—compared to those whose parents had not attained any university entry-level qualification (OR = 0.536). Furthermore, living alone or with a partner, as opposed to in shared accommodation, was associated with higher odds of obesity (OR = 1.878), as was frequent use of food delivery services (OR = 1.498). Student income showed no association with obesity in either the regression or descriptive analyses; however, students with obesity appeared more reliant on student loans. Public and university initiatives should focus on at-risk groups by improving access to shared accommodations, promoting healthier food choices to reduce reliance on delivery services, and addressing cultural challenges faced by students from lower-education households. In conclusion, this study highlights the complex interplay of socio-demographic and lifestyle factors in obesity among university students.

An attention-weighted hybrid feature learning framework for bearing fault diagnosis and maintenance cost optimization

Effect of the nature of cation of ionic liquid on the CO2 conversion to cyclic carbonates—a theoretical study

Patient-matched transcriptomics of in vivo and in vitro colonic epithelium substantiate organoids as a translational model for ulcerative colitis

Abstract Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by cytokine-driven inflammation and barrier disruption in the colon, making epithelial dysfunction central to disease pathology. Intestinal epithelial organoids (IEOs) preserve donor-specific genetics and architecture, offering a promising model, but their ability to replicate patient-specific epithelial inflammation remains undetermined. To directly compare in vivo epithelial transcriptional states with defined cytokine-induced responses in vitro, we analyzed patient-matched transcriptomics from laser microdissected inflamed and uninflamed colonic epithelium and IEOs derived from uninflamed biopsies of the same UC patients. IEOs were stimulated with UC-relevant cytokines (TNF, IFNγ, IFNλ1, or TNF + IFNγ) or a cytokine cocktail (TNF, IL17, IL1β, IL22, Poly(I:C), IFNγ). Key inflammatory genes were validated by immunoblotting and immunostaining. Cytokine-stimulated IEOs recapitulated key in vivo epithelial inflammation, including interferon signaling, antigen presentation, and unfolded protein response pathways. Among the tested conditions, TNF + IFNγ combination and the cytokine cocktail most closely replicated UC epithelial inflammation, with concordance for over 350 UC-relevant genes and protein-level validation of IRF1, ERAP2, NOS2, DUOX2 confirmed patient-dependent expression between inflamed epithelium and cytokine-stimulated IEOs. Our study shows that cytokine-stimulated IEOs provide a robust, personalized platform for modeling epithelial inflammation, enabling discovery of epithelial-specific disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets.

Source apportionment of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils of the Huayuan Manganese Mining Area using PCA-IDW and PMF

Mapping metabolic modules to chemotypic variation in Iranian Anethum graveolens L. ecotypes under harvest times

Bio Polyhydroxybutyrate /Fiber castor Oil Hybrid Composite (CO-BPFHC) as adsorbent for simultaneous removal of Pb(II), Cd(II), and Cr(VI) from wastewater: mechanistic insights and thermodynamic evaluation

Kitchen waste-derived activated carbon from Murraya koenigii seeds as an electrode material for supercapacitors

Legume cover cropping enhances soil function and yield stability in wheat–maize systems under groundwater overexploitation in the North China Plain

Gender gap in returns to publications

Abstract Gender equity in science depends not only on who participates in research, but also on how their work is rewarded. We examine gender gaps in monetary returns to research productivity, pay, and credit attribution using a novel dataset linking salary and publication records for professors at U.S. public universities. While our main contribution shows that there is no robust evidence of a significant gender gap in monetary returns to publications, we uncover substantial heterogeneity across disciplines and authorship structures. Women in medical and health sciences experience a negative gap in returns of 10.7% relative to men for equivalent research output. The unconditional gender pay gap averages 15.4%, with variation across disciplines, ranging from 5.5% in agricultural sciences to 20.9% in social sciences. It declines to 4.9% after controls. Finally, women earn higher returns to solo-authored work but lower returns to larger co-author networks than men.

Personality development from early to middle adulthood in the general population and those with mental health difficulties

A new approach to evaluation and recalibration of the reference evapotranspiration models based on pan evaporation for Iran’s coastal regions

Tunable mechanical, corrosion, and antimicrobial performance in multifunctional Cux‑Cr-Fe-Mn-Ni high-entropy alloys and E-beam coatings

Abstract Cu x -Cr-Fe-Mn-Ni high-entropy alloys and their electron-beam-deposited coatings demonstrate a tunable balance of mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, and antimicrobial performance, offering a new paradigm for multifunctional protective materials. Dense nanocrystalline coatings with complex phase coexistence achieved exceptional hardness (~ 9.4 GPa) and a high elastic strain-to-failure ratio (H/E ≈ 0.05), indicating potential for improved resistance to wear and contact damage. Controlled Cu content governs surface oxide composition, simultaneously enhancing corrosion protection and enabling targeted bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (up to 71% reduction), mitigating microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) in saline environments. These results reveal a critical interplay between phase structure, surface chemistry, and functional performance, establishing a rational pathway for designing high-performance coatings and bulk alloys with environment-specific multifunctionality. Cu x -Cr-Fe-Mn-Ni HEAs are versatile candidates for industrial, marine, and energy applications where tailored mechanical, chemical, and antimicrobial properties are required.