Browse Articles

Assessment of the environmental impacts of regional groundwater flow path fluctuations in the water-stressed drought prone Northern Region of Bangladesh

Topographically selective atomic layer deposition within trenches enabled by an amorphous carbon inhibition layer

To meet the demands for more advanced computer chips, creating devices with advanced 3D architectures is becoming commonplace in the semiconductor industry. To ensure alignment between the different layers, the bottom-up technique of area-selective deposition (ASD) is promising. However, ASD may not always be feasible depending on the various surface chemistries present during manufacturing of complex semiconductor devices. Topographically selective deposition (TSD) is emerging as an alternative, focusing on differences in surface orientation rather than chemical properties. This work demonstrates a TSD supercycle approach in which atomic layer deposition (ALD) is directed to proceed exclusively within a 3D trench structure, by covering the top of the trench with an amorphous carbon (aC) inhibition layer. The aC layer is applied selectively on the top surface of the trench by exploiting the ion-radical synergy required for its deposition. Since the aC layer lacks adsorption sites for ALD precursors, growth of the target material is inhibited on the top surface of the trench, whereas it occurs selectively within the trench. After several ALD cycles of selective deposition of the target material, the aC layer is removed and reapplied in a supercycle recipe until sufficient material has been deposited in the trench. The selective deposition of an aC inhibition layer on the top surface of the trench, as well as the selective deposition of 3.0 ± 0.1 nm of TiO2 in a trench is demonstrated on a 3D nanostructure.

Effect of dietary anthocyanins on the risk factors related to metabolic syndrome: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective This meta-analysis aims to systematically investigate whether dietary anthocyanin supplementation can reduce metabolic syndrome (MetS)-related risk factors: abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia (low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and hypertriglyceridemia), hypertension, and hyperglycemia by conducting a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods A systematic search of 5 electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Embase) was conducted from inception until April 25, 2024. A total of 1213 studies were identified, of which randomized controlled trials involving subjects with MetS-related factors, comparing dietary anthocyanin supplementation with placebo, and reporting results on anthropometric, physiological, and metabolic markers relevant to this study were selected. Depending on the heterogeneity of the included studies, a fixed-effect model was applied for low heterogeneity (I2 < 50%), whereas a random-effects model was employed when substantial heterogeneity was present (I2 ≥ 50%). The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results This meta-analysis included 29 randomized controlled trials with 2006 participants. The results showed that dietary anthocyanins significantly improved various lipid and glycemic markers: HDL-C: increased by 0.05 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.01 to 0.10, p = 0.026), LDL-C: decreased by 0.18 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.28 to -0.08, p = 0.000), Triglycerides (TGs): reduced by 0.11 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.20 to -0.02, p = 0.021), Total cholesterol (TC): lowered by 0.34 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.49 to -0.18, p = 0.000), Fasting blood glucose (FBG): reduced by 0.29 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.46 to -0.12, p = 0.001), Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c): decreased by 0.43% (95% CI: -0.74 to -0.13, p = 0.005). Weight: (WMD: -0.12 kg, 95% CI: -0.45 to 0.21, p = 0.473), Body mass index (BMI): (WMD: -0.12 kg/m2, 95% CI: -0.26 to 0.03, p = 0.12), Overall WC: (WMD: 0.18 cm, 95% CI: -0.51 to 0.87, p = 0.613), Systolic blood pressure (SBP): (WMD: -0.12 mmHg, 95% CI: -1.06 to 0.82, p = 0.801), Diastolic blood pressure (DBP): (WMD: 0.61 mmHg, 95% CI: -0.03 to 1.25, p = 0.061), Insulin levels: (WMD: -0.02 mU/L, 95% CI: -0.44 to 0.40, p = 0.932), HOMA-IR: (WMD: -0.11, 95% CI: -0.51 to 0.28, p = 0.573). Additionally, a 100 mg/day dosage of anthocyanins significantly reduced: Waist circumference (WC): by 0.55 cm (95% CI: -1.09 to -0.01, p = 0.047). Subgroup analyses based on intervention duration, anthocyanin dosage, health status, formulation, dosage frequency, physical activity levels, and baseline levels of corresponding markers revealed varying significances, particularly in relation to blood pressure. Conclusion Dietary anthocyanins effectively improve low HDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia, making them a promising adjunct for managing MetS. However, it is important to note that dietary anthocyanin interventions may raise systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) depending on intervention dose, duration, participant health status, and formulation. Clinicians should fully consider these effects when recommending anthocyanin supplementation. Further long-term, well-designed, large-scale clinical trials are needed to draw definitive conclusions.

One lung ventilation during thoracoscopic lobectomy alters lung microbiome miversity and composition

Anisotropic phonon responses of 2D NbOX2 (X<b>=</b>Cl, Br, I) under uniaxial tensile strain

The van der Waals crystal NbOX2 (X = Cl, Br, I) has recently attracted much attention due to its remarkable in-plane anisotropy and substantial second-order nonlinear optical response. Moreover, the importance of modulating its physical properties through strain has become increasingly prominent. Herein, we investigate the anisotropic phonon response of NbOX2 along various crystallographic directions under uniaxial tensile strain by Raman spectroscopy. The results show that opposing frequency shifts manifest in the Raman modes when uniaxial tensile strain is applied either parallel or perpendicular to the polar axis, and the highest frequency peak, P5, shows significant blue or red shifts. Density functional theory calculation results are consistent with the observed Raman shifts under strain. The change in Nb–O bond length is the main reason for the significant blue shift of P5. The anisotropic and pronounced frequency shifts of NbOX2 under strain can serve as sensitive indicators for strain modulation, offering insights for potential applications such as flexible optoelectronic devices and strain sensors.

User experience with pregnancy tracker mobile apps: Findings from comment-based qualitative study

Background Worldwide, millions of pregnant women use pregnancy-related apps to monitor their baby’s growth and development. While most of the apps are user-friendly, not all of them are equally appealing. This study aimed to explore the user experience (UX) of pregnancy tracker mobile apps used by pregnant women. Methods This study explored the dynamics between users’ experiences and multifaceted dimensions of advanced features, high-quality materials and information, strict privacy policies, problem-solving abilities, and the usefulness of app features and contents. This study applied reviewers’ comment-based qualitative study, accessing crowdsourced data gathered from different pregnancy tracker app websites. A thematic and content analysis approach was used. Results This study found that when users are satisfied with using advanced content and features, it aligns with their perceived self-righteousness and rationality, and reflects their cultural values and expectations of using the apps. Conversely, when users encounter challenges such as erroneous baby size comparison and app updating issues, they perceive these as disadvantages of the apps utilised. Moreover, the study sheds light on the specific desires of pregnant women, highlighting their expectations for content that addresses their physical and mental well-being, as well as their unborn babies. The desire for free access reflects the cultural emphasis on cost-effectiveness, while the willingness to invest financially in enhanced experiences demonstrates the recognition of the value and potential benefits of improved content and features. This study also provides valuable insights into the complex relationship between users’ experiences, cultural values, advanced features, high-quality materials and information, privacy policies, problem-solving abilities, and relevant content in creating positive app experiences that align with users’ cultural expectations and needs. Conclusion This study provides essential insights into the user experience and underscores the importance of a user-centric design approach for developers. By capturing the current landscape of these digital tools, can provide valuable feedback for the enhancement of existing applications and guide the development of future iterations, ensuring the diverse preferences and expectations of pregnant women worldwide.

Study on molecular mechanism of polyoxyethylene to prevent coal and rock and gas composite dynamic disasters

Oxygen vacancy distribution and phase composition in scaled, Hf0.5Zr0.5O2-based ferroelectric capacitors

In this paper, we address correlations between film thickness, phase composition, and oxygen vacancy (VO) distribution in scaled, hafnia-based ferroelectric capacitors (FeCAPs), necessary to achieve low operating voltages, higher endurance, and advanced node integration. Using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, grazing incidence x-ray diffraction, and electrical characterization, we investigate the evolution of phase composition and VO profiles in Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO) films of 6 and 10 nm thickness. We demonstrate that thinner films exhibit a greater fraction of the non-polar tetragonal phase (t-phase), with increased VO concentration at the interface, affecting the device performance. Electrical measurements reveal contrasting wake-up and fatigue behavior between the two thicknesses, with thinner films showing decreased remanent polarization (2PR) due to t-phase dominance and VO redistribution during field cycling. These findings highlight the critical interplay of strain, phase stability, and VO dynamics, providing key insights for the optimization of HZO-based FeCAPs for advanced, low-power memory applications.

The effects of L-carnitine and fructose in improved Ham’s F10 on sperm culture in idiopathic severe asthenospermia within 24h

To study the effects of L-carnitine and fructose on semen parameters of severe asthenospermia patients by sperm culturing in vitro within 24h. We optimized the energy composition and antioxidant substances of sperm culture medium in vitro (based on Ham’s F10 culture medium) by orthogonal test for preparing high quality culture medium. Sperms of 60 patients with idiopathic severe asthenospermia were collected, and cultured in vitro within 24h, by Ham’s F10 culture medium added to different concentrations of L-carnitine and fructose and culture temperature, whose effects on sperm motility were observed to determine which is the most appropriate concentration and temperature. For determining the appropriate concentration of L-carnitine and fructose and the suitable culture temperature in Ham’s F10 culture medium, the orthogonal experiments were carried out to optimize above three factors, which had great influence on sperm viability, survival rate, deformity rate and DNA fragmentation index (DFI). The final concentration of L-carnitine and fructose was determined in terms of initial tests to assess the effects of different concentrations (4, 8, 12, and 16 mg/ml L-carnitine and 0.125, 0.250, 0.375, and 0.50 mg/ml fructose) on sperm viability and motility in culture. During the operation of processing and culturing sperms in vitro within 24h, orthogonal test showed that sperm viability was better at the final concentration of 8 mg/ml L-carnitine and 0.375 mg/ml fructose in improved Ham’s F10 culture medium at 36.5°C. Idiopathic severe asthenospermia sperm can be effectively improved by the modified Ham’s F10 culture medium of the final concentration of 8 mg/ml L-carnitine and 0.375 mg/ml fructose at 36.5°C within 24h, which has shown better culture effect and is superior to Ham’s F10 basic medium.

Comparative analysis of fungal and bacterial composition in natural wines and their closest pesticide-treated counterparts

Li-ion storage characteristics and migration mechanisms of intrinsic, doped, and oxygen-deficient CeO2 and La2O3: A study using DFT+<i>U</i>

Rare-earth oxides (REOs) represented by CeO2 and La2O3 became a focal point in the study of Li-ion battery (LIB) electrode materials. However, leveraging defects to tune the intrinsic electronic structure of REO to enhance electrochemical performance, as well as understanding the underlying physical mechanisms at the atomic level, remained an open challenge. Density functional theory plus U calculations revealed that doping and oxygen vacancies not only regulated Li-ion insertion stability but also reduced the migration energy barriers in CeO2. Doping also decreased the volume change rate of CeO2 during Li-ion insertion. Oxygen vacancies lowered the Li-ion migration energy barrier in CeO2 from 1.516 to 0.903 eV. In comparison, Li-ion migration energy barriers in the La2O3 series structures were significantly lower than those in CeO2. Experimental results confirmed that the Li-ion diffusion coefficient of La2O3 was markedly higher than that of CeO2. Upon Li-ion insertion, the bandgap of CeO2 decreased from 2.18 to 1.60 eV, and density of states analysis revealed the profound impact of lithiation on the electronic structure. This comprehensive study enhances the understanding of the application potential of these typical rare-earth oxide materials in LIBs.

The effects of flight training on flying cadets’ brain structure

In recent years, the impact of professional training on brain structure has sparked extensive research interest. Research into pilots as a high-demand, high-load, and high-cost occupation holds significant academic and economic value. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of flight training on the brain structure and cognitive functions of flying cadets. The structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) data from 39 flying cadets and 37 general college students underwent analysis using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM) methods to quantitatively detect and compute multiple indicators, including gray matter volume (GMV), curvature, mean curvature of the white matter surface (MC-WMS), the percentage of surface white matter gray matter (WM-GM percentage), surface Jacobi (S-Jacobi), and Gaussian curvature of white matter surface (GC-WMS). At the voxel level, the GMV in the left temporal pole: middle temporal gyrus region of flying cadets significantly decreased (Gaussian random field, GRF, P &lt; 0.05). At the surface level, there was a significant increase in curvature, MC-WMS, and S-Jacobi in the lateral occipital region of flight cadets (Monte Carlo block level correction, MCBLC, P&lt;0.05), a significant increase in WM-GM percentage in the cuneus region of flight cadets (MCBLC, P&lt;0.05), and a significant increase in GC-WMS in the middle temporal region of flight cadets (MCBLC, P&lt;0.05). In addition, these changes were correlated with behavioral tests. Research suggested that flight training might induce changes in certain brain regions of flying cadets, enabling them to adapt to evolving training content and environments, thereby enhancing their problem-solving and flight abilities. By analyzing multiple indicators at the voxel and surface levels in an integrated manner, it advances our understanding of brain structure, function, and plasticity, while also facilitating a more profound exploration of the neural mechanisms within the pilot’s brain.

Author Correction: Flow prediction in sound-based uroflowmetry

Polarization-insensitive microwave power receiving composite array based on reflection phase gradient metasurfaces

This paper presents a polarization-insensitive microwave power receiving composite metasurface array. The composite array consists of a reflection phase gradient metasurface array and a horizontal omnidirectional antenna, with a central operating frequency of 5.8 GHz. The reflection phase gradient metasurface array elements are insensitive to the polarization of the incident wave and are arranged radially around the array center. This configuration creates a radial reflection phase gradient that efficiently converts incident plane waves of different polarizations into surface waves converging toward the center. The surface wave energy is then extracted by the horizontal omnidirectional antenna and converted into direct current (DC) by a rectifier. Numerical simulations demonstrate that the composite array maintains effective surface wave excitation and propagation toward the center for both circularly polarized and various horizontally polarized plane waves, achieving a plane wave-to-surface wave conversion efficiency of 74.89%. Experimental validation shows that the proposed array achieves a maximum energy collection efficiency of 62.23% and an RF-DC conversion efficiency of 39.96% over a broad frequency range of 5.6–6.0 GHz. This study achieves polarization insensitivity while simultaneously enhancing the operational efficiency of microwave energy receivers. The results offer a valuable design reference for leveraging reflection phase gradient arrays in wireless power transfer applications.

Addressing imbalanced data classification with Cluster-Based Reduced Noise SMOTE

In recent years, the challenge of imbalanced data has become increasingly prominent in machine learning, affecting the performance of classification algorithms. This study proposes a novel data-level oversampling method called Cluster-Based Reduced Noise SMOTE (CRN-SMOTE) to address this issue. CRN-SMOTE combines SMOTE for oversampling minority classes with a novel cluster-based noise reduction technique. In this cluster-based noise reduction approach, it is crucial that samples from each category form one or two clusters, a feature that conventional noise reduction methods do not achieve. The proposed method is evaluated on four imbalanced datasets (ILPD, QSAR, Blood, and Maternal Health Risk) using five metrics: Cohen’s kappa, Matthew’s correlation coefficient (MCC), F1-score, precision, and recall. Results demonstrate that CRN-SMOTE consistently outperformed the state-of-the-art Reduced Noise SMOTE (RN-SMOTE), SMOTE-Tomek Link, and SMOTE-ENN methods across all datasets, with particularly notable improvements observed in the QSAR and Maternal Health Risk datasets, indicating its effectiveness in enhancing imbalanced classification performance. Overall, the experimental findings indicate that CRN-SMOTE outperformed RN-SMOTE in 100% of the cases, achieving average improvements of 6.6% in Kappa, 4.01% in MCC, 1.87% in F1-score, 1.7% in precision, and 2.05% in recall, with setting SMOTE’s neighbors’ number to 5.

Host plant flooding stress in soybeans differentially impacts avirulent and virulent soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) biotypes

Resonant-type multifunctional device using organic piezoelectrics for detecting differential pressure and acceleration

In this study, a multifunctional device was developed using the organic piezoelectric material polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to detect mechanical operations. This device utilizes a mechanism in which the resonance of the element structure is excited and detected using PVDF. This enabled the proposal of a device principle that can allow detection of various physical quantities, such as differential pressure and acceleration. The device can detect low pressures of up to 1.5 kPa with a sensitivity of −0.19 Hz/Pa. Additionally, it can measure acceleration with output linearity and cross-axis sensitivity. This device is advantageous because it can evaluate both pressure and acceleration using a common sensor structure and measurement methods, and it can be manufactured at room temperature using inexpensive materials. It holds potential for applications in the maintenance of various industrial machinery and monitoring of natural disasters.

On the hedge and safe-haven abilities of bitcoin and gold against blue economy and green finance assets during global crises: Evidence from the DCC, ADCC and GO-GARCH models

This paper investigates the diversification, hedging, and safe-haven capabilities of Bitcoin and gold against blue economy and green finance assets using three different MGARCH models (DCC, ADCC, and GO-GARCH) during adverse events such as the COVID-19 health crisis and the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict. Blue economy assets, which refer to sectors that sustainably utilize ocean resources, are a key focus alongside green finance assets. The findings reveal that during crises, Bitcoin demonstrates robust safe-haven characteristics, particularly against blue economy assets like BJLE and OCEN. Conversely, gold exhibits pronounced safe-haven properties against specific blue economy and green finance assets such as BJLE and FAN. The GO-GARCH model highlights gold’s strong diversification and safe-haven roles, especially against BJLE. Bitcoin, on the other hand, is more effective as a diversifier for PIO. Moreover, the GO-GARCH model consistently outperforms the DCC and ADCC models in terms of hedging effectiveness, showing that gold is the preferred hedging instrument for GNR and TAN, while Bitcoin is more effective for other blue and green assets. The results underscore the distinct roles of Bitcoin and gold in portfolio management strategies, offering insights for investors navigating market uncertainties in the context of sustainable investments.

Integrated visual and text-based analysis of ophthalmology clinical cases using a large language model

High thermal durability and thermoelectric performance with ultra-low thermal conductivity in <i>n</i>-type single-walled carbon nanotube films by controlling dopant concentration with cationic surfactant

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are promising candidates for use in thermoelectric generators (TEGs) to power Internet of Things (IoT) sensors. For practical applications, the major challenge for SWCNTs is improving the thermoelectric performance and thermal durability of n-type SWCNT films. Here, SWCNT inks were prepared using a dopant, which is a cationic surfactant of dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride (DODMAC), by changing the mass ratio of DODMAC/SWCNT. The SWCNT films were fabricated by vacuum filtering, followed by heat treatment at 423 K. The in-plane thermoelectric properties were measured at 300 K, and the Seebeck coefficient changed from positive to negative values when the DODMAC/SWCNT was 10−2. The highest dimensionless figure-of-merit, ZT, of 1.0 × 10−2 was exhibited at a DODMAC/SWCNT of 80, which was close to saturation concentration. This ZT was achieved mainly because the thermal conductivity decreased significantly to 0.16 W/(m · K), and it is currently one of the highest values among those of n-type SWCNT films with various dopants. To demonstrate power generation, we fabricated a SWCNT-TEG consisting of n-type SWCNT films with the highest ZT. The SWCNT-TEG exhibited an output voltage of 24 mV and a maximum power of 0.9 μW at a temperature difference of 80 K. Furthermore, to investigate the thermal durability of n-type SWCNT films, thermal cycling tests were performed at temperatures ranging from 300 to 423 K. The SWCNT film with a DODMAC/SWCNT of 80 exhibited the highest durability. These findings will contribute to the widespread use of SWCNT-TEGs as power sources for IoT sensors.