Browse Articles

Correction: Molecular simulation-based investigation of thiazole derivatives as potential LasR inhibitors of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Canting-induced anomalous Hall effect in RGaGe (R <b>=</b> Nd, Gd) single crystals

Recently, the non-centrosymmetric Weyl semimetallic candidate family RTX (R = rare-earth element, T = poor metal, X = Si and Ge) has recently attracted significant attention due to its exotic quantum states and potential applications in quantum devices. In this study, our comprehensive investigations of high-quality NdGaGe and GdGaGe single crystals reveal distinct magnetic and electrical responses. Both compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic transitions with TN ∼ 7.6 and 22.4 K for NdGaGe and GdGaGe, respectively. NdGaGe exhibits strong magnetic anisotropy (χc/χa ∼ 70). In contrast, GdGaGe displays weak magnetic anisotropic behavior (χc/χa ∼ 1) with a distinctive spin-flop transition. Below TN, NdGaGe shows significant negative magnetoresistance due to the reduced spin-disorder scattering arising from the field-induced spin alignment. GdGaGe exhibits more complex magnetoresistance behavior: positive values at low fields transitioning to negative values attributed to the reduced spin-flop scattering. Specifically, NdGaGe demonstrates a large anomalous Hall conductance (AHC) of approximately 368 Ω−1 cm−1, which is dominated by the intrinsic mechanism. These results reveal the pivotal role of rare-earth elements in modulating the electronic structure, magnetic properties, and transport characteristics of the RGaGe system, thereby providing valuable insights for developing next-generation spintronic devices.

Near‐Infrared Light Catalysis of Carbon Dioxide Reduction by Conjugated Porous Aromatic Frameworks

Abstract Current CO 2 photocatalytic systems mainly work in ultraviolet (UV) and visible (Vis) light regions, and the inability to utilize the abundant near‐infrared (NIR) radiation or the low utilization rate is still a bottleneck for practical applications. We address this challenge through the strategic synthesis of metal‐free conjugated porous aromatic frameworks (PAFs), PAF‐332‐DCM, to enhance the NIR absorption capabilities, achieving a CO production rate of ~74.7 µmol g −1  h −1 in gas‐solid phase CO 2 reduction, surpassing typical NIR‐responsive catalysts. Meanwhile, PAF‐332‐DCM can obtain a CO production rate of 344.1 µmol g −1  h −1 in full‐spectrum irradiated CO 2 reduction. Infrared thermography reveals that the non‐radiative attenuation of PAF‐332‐DCM leads to high photothermal temperature under NIR irradiation, which accounts for its reduction performance. Mechanistic studies combining fs‐TA spectroscopy and in situ infrared characterization elucidate the photocatalytic pathway and intermediate formation. This result indicates that PAF‐332‐DCM can be a promising metal‐free catalyst for practical solar‐driven CO 2 conversion.

The role of healthy lifestyle categories and score trend in managing hypertension among hypertensive adults

Understanding the influence of self-concept on clinical decision-making among nurses: A cross-sectional study

Background Self-concept, defined as an individual’s perception of their professional identity, competencies, and abilities within their nursing role, significantly influences clinical decision-making (CDM) processes. Clinical decision-making represents a complex cognitive process involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and professional judgment that directly impacts patient safety and care quality. Despite established theoretical frameworks linking self-concept to professional performance, limited empirical research has examined this relationship within the unique socio-cultural and healthcare context of Palestine, where nurses face distinctive challenges including resource constraints, high patient acuity, and systemic pressures. This study aimed to examine the influence of self-concept on Palestinian nurses’ clinical decision-making in governmental hospitals. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to July 2024 in governmental hospitals across Palestine. A total of 381 nurses working in emergency, medical-surgical, and intensive care units participated, selected through convenience sampling. Participants were recruited from 11 governmental hospitals across northern, middle, and southern regions of Palestine to enhance sample diversity. Data were collected using the validated Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing Scale (CDMNS) and the Nurses’ Self-Concept Questionnaire (NSCQ). Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for this study were 0.89 for CDMNS and 0.90 for NSCQ, demonstrating strong internal consistency within the Palestinian nursing context. Results The mean nursing self-concept score was 205.5 ± 26.0 out of 288 (indicating moderately high self-concept, representing 71.4% of the maximum possible score), while the mean CDM score was 152.1 ± 22.2 out of 200 (indicating high decision-making confidence, representing 76.1% of the maximum possible score). A significant positive correlation was found between self-concept and CDM (r = 0.609, p &lt; 0.001). Multiple regression analysis, controlling for age, professional experience, and demographic variables, showed that self-concept was the strongest predictor of CDM (β = 0.641, B = 0.546, p &lt; 0.001), explaining 37.7% of the variance (adjusted R2 = 0.372). Conclusion This study provides empirical evidence that nurses with higher professional self-concept demonstrate significantly stronger clinical decision-making abilities, even after controlling demographic and professional variables. Targeted interventions (e.g., structured mentorship) to enhance self-concept may improve CDM. However, the cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and future longitudinal studies are needed to establish temporal relationships. These findings have important implications for nursing education, professional development, and healthcare policy in Palestine and similar contexts.

Cold atmospheric plasma selectively suppresses oral squamous carcinoma through ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), an emerging therapy in the physical treatment landscape, offers notable benefits in oncological interventions. This study undertook a comprehensive investigation of CAP's biological effects and its modulation of molecular networks in oral squamous cell carcinoma squamous carcinoma cells (SAS) cells. Our findings demonstrate that CAP selectively inhibits SAS cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, triggering apoptosis via reactive oxygen species generation, with minimal toxicity on healthy cells. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that CAP significantly alters the transcriptional profile of SAS cells, regulating key signaling pathways involved in cell growth, apoptosis, and mitochondrial function. By exploring the interface of physical and biological interactions, this study elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying CAP's anticancer activity and provides compelling experimental evidence to support its clinical potential. These insights broaden the biomedical applications of CAP and offer additional perspectives for advancing innovative physical therapies.

Advanced integrated strategy for structural and mineralogical exploration of inaccessible regions employing remote sensing and multiscale analysis of aeromagnetic data

Abstract Rugged terrains and remote desert environments present notable challenges for geological data analyses due to limited accessibility and scarcity of surface and subsurface data. One of such challenging areas is Wadi Dif, located in South Eastern Desert (SED) of Egypt. This study presents an integrated approach combining aeromagnetic and remote sensing data to effectively investigate such environments. A Multiscale Derivative Analysis (MDA), utilizing the Enhanced Horizontal Derivative (EHD)of, is applied to reduced-to-the-pole aeromagnetic data of Wadi Dif area. This method is formed by a weighted sum of increasing order derivatives of the field data and enables high-resolution delineation of both deep-seated and shallow geologic structures. Additionally, color composites imagery derived from remotely sensed data played a vital role in lithological and structural mapping. The obtained results from remote sensing and geophysical observations for shallow and deep structures were used to outline the deformation history of Wadi Dif area. This deformation history begins with early NNE-SSW crustal shortening, followed by NNW-SSE folds and crenulation cleavage in phase D2. Crenulations and kink folds emerge from oblique non-coaxial deformation of cleaved rocks. The Kharit graben and Cretaceous sediments are formed in phase D4, followed by ENE-WSW dextral and N-S sinistral strike-slip faults that further alter preexisting rocks and displaced earlier structures. The distribution of lineament density and surface alteration zones yielded two maps highlighting areas with possible ore deposits. Alteration zones which are mainly propylitic zones, CO3 and Mg-OH bearing minerals are associated with areas of moderate to high lineament density, which facilitated fluid movement. However, not all high-density areas showed alteration, likely due to differing rock composition. Lineament trends mainly follow N-S and NW directions, aligning with the Hamisana shear zone and Najd fault system, suggesting they are pathways for ore fluids. The integration of MDA of aeromagnetic data with remote sensing data improves structural interpretation and mineral potential appraisal in inaccessible regions where traditional fieldwork is inoperable like Wadi Dif area. This approach proves effective in delineating fault systems, geological boundaries, and deformation patterns, presenting an invaluable tool for mapping deep-seated and shallow structures and mineral potentials in arid remote environments.

Retraction: How to promote the balanced development of urban and rural China? Evidences from reallocating idle rural residential land of Zhejiang province, China

Strong coupling enables high-efficiency sum-frequency generation in a DBR-based lithium niobate waveguide

Sum-frequency generation (SFG) is of particular importance in coherent light sources, single photon detection, hyperspectral imaging, etc. However, high-efficiency SFG remains a challenge. Here, based on the strong coupling of two high-quality (Q) guided mode resonances (GMRs), we propose an effective means to realize high-efficiency SFG in a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR)-based etchless lithium niobate (LN) waveguide structure. Two prominent resonances in the near-infrared region are generated due to the spectrum splitting induced by strong coupling of GMRs respectively supported by the LN waveguide (GMRLN) and DBR (GMRDBR), which create a remarkable condition for high-efficiency SFG. A high SFG conversion efficiency of 2.13 × 10−2 is achieved even though the intensity of input beams is low at 0.01 MW/cm2. Furthermore, high-efficiency SFG exhibits wide-angle insensitivity to the incident light and perfect unidirectional emission in the backward direction due to nearly unchanged high-Q factors of GMRs and perfect blocking of forward emission by the DBR, respectively. Our results provide an excellent paradigm for enhancing light–matter interactions and boosting nonlinear conversion efficiency without breaking the in-plane structural symmetry, which may find possible applications in quantum nanophotonics, optical communication, and nonlinear light sources.

Regio‐, Diastereo‐, and Enantioselective Hydrosilylation of Alkyl <i>gem</i> ‐Difluoroalkenes to Construct Carbon and Silicon Stereogenic Centers

Abstract The asymmetric hydrofunctionalization of aliphatic alkenes without auxiliary or stabilizing groups presents a significant challenge in modern organic synthesis. We report herein the nickel‐catalyzed enantioselective hydrosilylation of alkyl‐substituted gem ‐difluoroalkenes, which enables the generation of chiral α‐difluoromethylsilanes with excellent regio‐ and enantioselectivity. Moreover, the simultaneous construction of carbon‐ and silicon‐stereogenic centers was achieved with excellent diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity using prochiral silanes. This method provides an efficient approach to access sp 3 ‐enriched C‐stereogenic centers equipped with high‐value difluoromethyl groups. The resulting enantioenriched silanes could undergo a range of stereospecific transformations. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed to elucidate the detailed mechanism.

Selenization of V2O5/WO3 bilayers for tuned optoelectronic response of WSe2 films

Scalable and controlled doping of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides is essential for tuning their electronic and optoelectronic properties. In this work, we demonstrate a robust approach for the substitution of vanadium in tungsten diselenide (WSe2) via the selenization of pre-deposited V2O5/WO3 thin films. By adjusting the thickness of the vanadium oxide layer, the V concentration in W1−xVxSe2 is systematically varied. Electrical measurements on field-effect transistors reveal a substantial enhancement in hole conduction, with drain current increasing by nearly three orders of magnitude compared to undoped WSe2. Temperature-dependent electrical resistivity indicates a clear insulator-to-metal transition with increasing V content, likely due to band structure modifications. Concurrently, the photoconductive gain decreases, suggesting enhanced recombination and charge screening effects. These results establish vanadium doping via selenization of V2O5/WO3 films as a scalable strategy for modulating the transport and photoresponse of WSe2, offering promising implications for wafer-scale optoelectronic device integration.

Lithium-doping enhanced WO3 photoanodes: Reduced carrier loss and extended collection length

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar-fuel conversion represents a promising approach for efficiently capturing and storing solar energy. WO3 is extensively utilized as a PEC photoanode, but its performance is constrained by small polaron hopping dominated carrier losses. This study comprehensively investigates the enhancement of WO3 photoanode performance through lithium (Li)-doping. The results demonstrate that Li-doping significantly enhances charge mobility and reduces charge transfer resistance, thereby enabling a photocurrent of 0.98 mA cm−2 at 1.4 V vs RHE, 2.51-fold larger than the pristine WO3. Carrier distributions and loss characteristics were quantified using the optical transfer matrix method and incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency measurements. These analyses reveal that Li-doping effectively suppresses carrier loss within the WO3 film and extends the carrier collection length by 8 nm, leading to significantly enhanced PEC performance. This work provides deeper insights into the charge dynamics of WO3 photoanodes, synergistically integrates experimental characterization with optoelectronic modeling, and lays a theoretical foundation for high-performance PEC device design.

Temperature dependent characterization of 140–180 nm AlGaN/GaN HEMTs using DC and small-signal RF measurements

We conducted comprehensive direct current (DC) and small-signal radio frequency (RF) characterization on AlGaN/GaN high-electron-mobility transistors (HEMTs) from 25 to 500 °C to investigate temperature-dependent variations in key device performance metrics, such as transconductance (gm), maximum-to-minimum drain current ratio (Imax/Imin), current gain cutoff frequency (fT), maximum gain frequency (fmax), unilateral power gain, and maximum stable gain. We compared prototype 140 nm AlGaN/GaN HEMTs made with regrown Ohmic contacts with production 180 nm AlGaN/GaN HEMTs made with standard alloyed Ohmic contacts. Our findings indicate that irrespective of the type of technology, DC and RF performance parameters decline with increasing temperature. Specifically, for every 100 °C increase in temperature, fT, fmax, and gain decreased by 6–8 GHz, ∼17 GHz, and ∼1 dB, respectively. These measurements provide insights onto how these GaN-based RF devices can be used in extreme thermal environments.

Efficient Red Light–Driven Singlet Oxygen Photocatalysis with an Osmium‐Based Coulombic Dyad

Abstract Photoactive osmium complexes are widely used sensitizers for the generation of singlet oxygen because they can be excited directly into their triplet states with low‐energy red light. However, their short‐lived excited states reduce quenching efficiencies and reaction quantum yields significantly. To elongate the excited state lifetime, osmium complexes have been linked to organic chromophores to form molecular dyads. This approach, although effective, is time‐ and resource‐consuming, hampering larger‐scale applications. Here, we demonstrate a straightforward approach by directly mixing a readily available cationic osmium complex and an anionic perylene derivative in solution. Strong Coulombic interactions facilitate rapid energy transfer (∼100 ps) from the excited osmium complex to the perylene derivative, mimicking a dyad‐like system. Detailed spectroscopic investigations revealed an increased singlet oxygen formation rate by over one order of magnitude at sub‐millimolar perylene concentrations, attributed to i) the three orders of magnitude longer lifetime of the perylene triplet state produced via intra‐ion‐pair energy transfer and ii) an inherently high singlet oxygen quantum yield of that key species. The novel catalyst system enables highly productive photooxygenations in water and in a MeOH/H 2 O 10:1 mixture, highlighting the broad applicability and versatility of the Coulombic dyad approach for photocatalytic synthesis and wastewater treatment.

Interelectrode space optimization in photon-enhanced thermionic emission solar cells with near-field radiative transfer and bidirectional space-charge effects

This study investigates the often-overlooked bidirectional space-charge effect that arises from the simultaneous electron emission of both electrodes during the optimization of interelectrode spacing in photon-enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) devices. By incorporating both near-field radiative transfer and the bidirectional space-charge effect into our analysis, we demonstrate that the bidirectional discharge model predicts lower efficiency at elevated anode temperatures and smaller optimal interelectrode gaps width for peak efficiency compared to models considering only forward discharge. When the anode temperature ranges from 600 to 1000 K, the optimal gap width for the space-charge forward-discharge (SCBD) model falls within the interval of 1.275 to 0.901 μm. In contrast, for the SCBD model, this range is smaller, spanning from 1.275 to 0.683 μm. In addition, the cathode temperature generally rises as the gap width d increases. However, it exhibits a slight decline within the range of d≈0.8∼2 μm, attributed to changes in the transport conditions of the heat fluxes. These findings underscore the necessity of including bidirectional space-charge effects in the performance analysis and design optimization of PETE devices.

Sn-doping effect on dielectric properties of Ba(Ti1–<i>x</i>Sn<i>x</i>)O3 studied by x-ray absorption and emission spectroscopies

Significant enhancements of the dielectric and piezoelectric constants of Ba(Ti1−xSnx)O3 ceramics are of considerable interest in the quest for lead-free alternatives. The Sn-doping effect for x≤0.3 was investigated using x-ray absorption (XAS) and emission (XES) spectroscopy from a microscopic viewpoint. The Ti-K pre-edge XAS peak characteristic of Ti off-center displacement retains its intensity up to x=0.075, indicating the stability of the electric dipole moment at the Ti site, which was also confirmed by the locally sensitive charge-transfer peaks observed in Ti Kβ XES. In contrast, Sn L3-edge XAS shows a monotonic decrease in the characteristic peak intensity in the same x range, which is interpreted as the association of oxygen vacancies with Sn-doping at the Ti site based on the spectral simulation. The response to the electric field of the dipole moment at the Ti site becomes significant with the help of reduced dipole–dipole interaction by inevitably introduced oxygen vacancies, which leads to an enhancement of dielectric properties in the Sn low concentration range.

Magneto‐Luminescence Thermometry with Magnetic Circularly Polarized Luminescence

Abstract Lanthanide(III) materials display remarkable optical properties, making them valuable for advancing remote luminescent sensors. The narrow emission bands and energy‐transfer processes can be tailored to respond to external stimuli, such as temperature changes and magnetic fields. The application of magnetic fields lifts the Zeeman degeneracy, creating electronic spin polarization, and giving rise to magneto‐optical phenomena. Magnetic circularly polarized luminescence (MCPL) is a magneto‐optical technique in which the differential emission of left and right circularly polarized light is induced by a magnetic field oriented parallel or antiparallel to the light propagation axis. In the context of lanthanide(III) materials, this technique has only been explored in a few studies as a characterization tool. In this study, we present MCPL for a Dy(III) complex for the first time, highlighting its significant potential for magneto‐luminescence thermometry. By studying the [Dy(acac) 3 (phen)] complex (phen: 1,10‐Phenanthroline; acac: acetylacetonate) as an example, a maximum relative sensitivity of 19.7% K −1 was observed at 293 K, highlighting the tremendous potential that MCPL emitters hold in the field of luminescent thermometers.

Erratum: “Versatile confocal microscopy for imaging objects oscillating at frequencies exceeding the frame rate” [Appl. Phys. Lett. <b>126</b> , 263704 (2025)]

Dimensional control of magnetic phases and gate-tunable magnetism in van der Waals ferromagnet Fe4GeTe2

van der Waals (vdW) ferromagnet Fe4GeTe2, notable for its high Curie temperature, is investigated for its potential in electrically controlled spintronic devices. We report a systematic study of thickness-dependent magnetic properties and ionic liquid gating effects in mechanically exfoliated Fe4GeTe2 flakes using anomalous Hall effect (AHE) measurements. As thickness decreases from bulk down to 25 nm, significant changes in magnetic behavior are observed, including a 215% enhancement in AHE amplitude, a transition from magnetic phase coexistence in thicker flakes (e.g., 877 nm) to a homogenized phase below a critical thickness (e.g., 67 nm), and a strong thickness dependence of coercivity (Hc). A spin reorientation transition around 100 K is also identified in both bulk and thin flakes. Furthermore, we demonstrate effective electrical control over magnetism in 25 nm Fe4GeTe2 devices using ionic liquid gating. Applying gate voltages of ±3 V at 100 K resulted in a substantial modulation of magnetic properties, increasing the saturation Hall resistance (Rs) by up to 74% and Hc by up to 64%, attributed to gate-induced modification of hole carrier concentration. These findings highlight the tunability of magnetism in Fe4GeTe2 via dimensionality and electric fields, presenting opportunities for developing vdW material-based electrically controlled spintronic applications.

Suppression of step bunching in graphene growth on 4° off-axis SiC (0001) by a two-step growth technique

Step bunching during graphene growth on 4° off-axis SiC (0001) was effectively suppressed using a two-step growth technique. In the first step, a graphene buffer layer was obtained under vacuum. In the following step, additional graphene layers were grown under an argon atmosphere at atmospheric pressure, with good control over the number of layers. The first-step layer played a key role in suppressing step bunching during the second step, resulting in a one-order-of-magnitude reduction in surface roughness compared to a conventional growth method exclusively using an argon atmosphere. The effect of the off-angle on step bunching was also investigated by analyzing the differences between on-axis and 4° off-axis substrates. Our findings suggest that atomic diffusion is restricted by the presence of the graphene buffer layer.