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Hierarchical graph-based integration network for propaganda detection in textual news articles on social media

Numerical modeling of ultrasound propagation in the inner ear for sonoporation-mediated drug delivery

To date, no treatment has been developed for targeted delivery to the inner ear (IE). Sonoporation, a promising drug delivery method, increases the permeability of round window membranes (RWMs), enhancing drug diffusion to the IE. A dedicated ultrasound protocol is essential to treat IE pathologies in combination with sonoporation. In situ acoustic pressure (AP) measurements cannot be used for RWM sonoporation because of the heterogeneous anatomy of the temporal bone. This study aimed to model ultrasound propagation in the IE to ensure adequate AP for RWM sonoporation. The impact of the position of the ultrasound probe relative to the RWM on AP as well as potential temperature increases caused by tissue/ultrasound interaction were investigated. Using MATLAB®, a surgical procedure was simulated based on the computed tomography scans of sheep heads (14 IEs). An ultrasound probe (12.7 mm in diameter, 1 MHz) with a degassed water-filled adapter was placed in front of the RWM. Mechanical properties, such as tissue density, sound speed, and ultrasound attenuation, were computed. Ultrasound propagation was simulated using k-wave. Standing waves can double the AP locally; however, the final AP is comparable to a free water field map when accounting for microbubble-induced attenuation. The angle and distance of the probe relative to the RWM have minimal effect on the AP; the main effect is caused by centering the probe on the RWM. No significant thermal elevation was observed. The developed computational model paves the way for designing an optimal and safe ultrasound protocol for sonoporation-mediated drug delivery into the IE.

TSC complex decrease the expression of mTOR by regulated miR-199b-3p

A flexible piezoresistive three-dimensional strain sensor based on laser-induced graphene/nanosilver/MWCNTs for precise human all-range motion detection

Flexible piezoresistive strain sensors are crucial for monitoring human motion, but achieving the right balance between sensitivity and operating range has always been challenging. Additionally, the complexity of muscle movements across different body parts means that relying on sensors with limited dimensional sensing is insufficient. This paper presents a flexible piezoresistive three-dimensional strain sensor (FPTDSS) designed to address these challenges. The FPTDSS features a wide operating range capable of detecting various human movements and boasts a high sensitivity, with a maximum gauge factor of 20 479. It can capture strain information along both the X- and Y-axes, as well as small vibrations along the Z-axis, through its intrinsic stretching and vibration properties. The sensor's effectiveness comes from the synergy between laser-induced graphene, silver nanoparticles (a zero-dimensional nanomaterial), and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (a one-dimensional nanomaterial). The synergistic effect of nanomaterials with different dimensions enables the FPTDSS to perform three-dimensional strain sensing, allowing for accurate detection of a broad range of complex human motions without requiring intricate circuit designs or preparation processes. This approach moves beyond limited strain information to provide a comprehensive view of three-dimensional strain, making the sensor versatile for detecting everything from subtle pulse vibrations to significant joint movements.

Author Correction: Taxonomy and Identification of the Genus Scolopendra in China Using Integrated Methods of External Morphology and Molecular Phylogenetics

Parallel manipulation of multiple ink droplets via near-infrared light on lubricant infused surface

Previous studies on light-driven droplet transport often use light to heat the substrate to generate a temperature difference, thereby changing the wettability or surface tension at two ends of a droplet, to propel the droplet forward, and not much attention has been paid to the droplets with photothermal properties. Herein, we introduce a method of ink droplet manipulation via near infrared light-driven on lubricant infused surfaces. Rather than heating the substrate itself, this method uses near-infrared light to irradiate one end of an ink droplet, creating a temperature gradient inside it and forming a Marangoni flow that pushes the droplet forward. It is demonstrated that the ink droplets would experience two stages during sliding, and the movement ability of the ink droplets depends on their absorbance and size; specifically, the average acceleration and steady velocity of the droplets are both positively correlated with their absorbance and negatively correlated with their volume. The work not only proves that the method can realize conventional individual droplet manipulation such as controllable transport along arbitrary paths, but also proposes a unique customized transport and merging strategy for multiple ink droplets. This investigation offers a simple and versatile manipulation approach for ink droplets, and the relevant results have potential applications in the fields of precise maneuver of light-driven droplets and droplet-based inkjet printing.

Extended spectrum betalactamase and Carbapenemase producing gram negative bacteria from healthcare workers gowns at Debre Berhan Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

Manipulating the electronic and magnetic properties by ferroelectric polarization switching in 2D NiCl2/Ga2S3 van der Waals heterostructure

Exploring magnetoelectric coupling properties in multiferroic materials is scientifically intriguing and of great technical importance in nanoscale devices. In this work, the magnetoelectric coupling behaviors in the two-dimensional (2D) multiferroic heterostructure (HS), NiCl2/Ga2S3, are explored using density functional theory calculations. Our results show that the NiCl2/Ga2S3 HS remains in the ferromagnetic (FM) state in both ferroelectric (FE) polarization states, with the magnetic easy axis lying close to the xoz plane in the Ga2S3-P↓ state and aligning along the eclipsed z axis in the Ga2S3-P↑ state, respectively. Moreover, the HS in the Ga2S3-P↑ polarization state behaves as an FM semiconductor, while it changes to be an FM half-metal in the Ga2S3-P↓ polarization state. By applying tensile strains, the NiCl2/Ga2S3-P↓ can transit from FM quasi-half-metal to FM semiconductor with type-II band alignment. The regulation of physical properties that is induced by the FE layer in the HS originates from interfacial charge transfer due to the proximity effect. This work offers a platform to fabricate a magnetoelectric coupling interaction in 2D multiferroic devices.

Caprini score combined with thrombotic molecular markers for predicting DVT in patients with traumatic fractures

Ferromagnetism and structural phase transition in monoclinic FeGe film

Binary compound FeGe hosts multiple structures, from cubic and hexagonal to monoclinic. Compared to the well-known skyrmion lattice in the cubic phase and the antiferromagnetic charge–density wave in the hexagonal phase, the monoclinic FeGe is less explored. Here, we synthesized the monoclinic FeGe films on Al2O3 (001) and studied their structural, magnetic, and transport properties. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy characterizations indicate that the FeGe films are epitaxial to the substrate. Unlike the antiferromagnetic bulk, the monoclinic FeGe films are ferromagnetic with Curie temperature as high as ∼800 K, contributing to the anomalous Hall effect in the transport measurements. Similar to the hexagonal FeGe, we captured a structural phase transition in the monoclinic FeGe films at ∼100 K in real and reciprocal spaces by transmission electron microscope. Our work enriches the phase diagram of the FeGe family and suggests that FeGe offers an ideal platform for studying multiphase transitions and related device applications.

A nomogram for postoperative pain relief in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture treated with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement

Multifunctional complementary field-effect transistors based on MoS2/SWNTs heterostructures

The rapid evolution of devices based on low-dimensional materials such as MoS2 and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) has garnered significant interest for high-performance field-effect transistor (FET) applications. We present a multifunctional MoS2/SWNT device exhibiting non-monotonic current modulation with a rectifying ratio of up to 600. The device also demonstrates remarkable optoelectronic memory performance, including fast erasing/writing times (20.1/1.9 ms), a high erasing/writing ratio (104), multilevel data storage, robust retention (10 000 s), and excellent endurance (1000 cycles). Additionally, we demonstrate ternary inverters combining SWNTs FETs with MoS2/SWNTs heterostructure FETs, highlighting their potential in advanced logic applications.

Synergetic effects of nano-boehmite and Y nano-zeolite on catalytic cracking of residue oil

Efficient optical trapping force tuning for cusp-catastrophe autofocusing beams using deep neural networks

Structured light adjusts optical trapping forces through flexible structure design. However, it is challenging to evaluate optical forces on microscopic particles in structured light due to high computational hardware requirements, prolonged computation times, and data inefficiencies associated with solving optical trapping forces using generalized Lorenz–Mie theory. We propose the use of deep neural networks for predicting and tuning the optical trapping force of cusp-catastrophe autofocusing beams on Mie particles. Inputs include beam's structural parameters, laser power, and the size of captured particle, while the output is the optical trapping force. Following iterative training, the neural network achieved a mean square error of 1.5×10−5. Evaluation using 150 sets of test data revealed that 95.3% of the predictions had a relative error of less than 1.8%, indicating a high prediction accuracy. In contrast to traditional computational methods, the neural network model demonstrates a remarkable efficiency improvement—104 times faster in optimizing beams for optical trapping. This advancement demonstrates the advantage of deep learning neural networks for the application of structured light including autofocusing beams in optical tweezers.

Exploring novel solitary wave phenomena in Klein–Gordon equation using $$\phi ^{6}$$ model expansion method

Observation of uncommon elastic wave group velocity in common honeycomb structure and its potential for debonding detection

We report wave propagation with an uncommon negative group velocity (NGV) feature in the common honeycomb structure. Theoretical analysis indicates that the NGV feature arises from the repulsion between skin's localized resonance modes in the same family, influenced by the relative parameters between the core and skin, such as skin thickness. Experimental results show that the NGV feature in honeycomb structure is unlike in isotropic plates, and it only appears in the front half of the hexagon hollow unit, which is surrounded by the honeycomb core. More notably, the NGV feature disappears in the skin–core debonding area and reappears in the intact area, suggesting potential applicability for detecting debonding defects.

Designing of a wide-area power system stabilizer using an exponential distribution optimizer and fuzzy controller considering time delays

Kinetic inductance and non-linearity of MgB2 films at 4K

We report on the fabrication and characterization of superconducting magnesium diboride (MgB2) thin films intended for quantum-limited devices based on non-linear kinetic inductance (NLKI) such as parametric amplifiers with either elevated operating temperatures or expanded frequency ranges. In order to characterize the MgB2 material properties, we have fabricated coplanar waveguide (CPW) transmission lines and microwave resonators using ≈40 nm thick MgB2 films with a measured kinetic inductance of ∼5.5 pH/□ and internal quality factors Qi≈3×104 at 4.2 K. We measure the NLKI in MgB2 by applying a DC bias to a 6 cm long by 4 μm wide CPW transmission line and measuring the resulting phase delay caused by the current dependent NLKI. We also measure the current dependent NLKI through CPW resonators that shift down in frequency with increased power applied through the CPW feedline. Using these measurements, we calculate the characteristic non-linear current parameter, I*, for multiple CPW geometries. We find values for corresponding current density, J*=12–22 MA/cm2, and a ratio of the critical current to the non-linear current parameter, IC/I*=0.14–0.26, similar to or higher than values for other superconductors such as NbTiN and TiN.

Strong immune responses and robust protection following a novel protein in adjuvant tuberculosis vaccine candidate

Abstract BCG remains the only licensed vaccine for tuberculosis (TB), but its efficacy wanes over time. Subunit vaccines, aim to improve BCG immunity and protection, by inducing responses to a few mycobacterial antigens delivered with a specific platform. Since the platform shapes the immune response induced, selecting the right platform has been challenging due to the lack of immune correlates of protection. Recently, the protein-adjuvated subunit vaccine. M72/AS01E, demonstrated 49.7% efficacy in preventing active TB in latently infected adults, indicating that protective immunity through subunit vaccines is possible. In this study we evaluated the immunogenicity and efficacy of the promising mycobacterial antigen PPE15, formulated with five adjuvants developed by the Vaccine Formulation Institute. While all adjuvants were immunogenic, PPE15 with LMQ protected vaccinated mice against an in vivo Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge, both as a standalone vaccine and as a boost to BCG. Vaccinated mice had enriched lung parenchymal antigen-specific CD4 + CXCR3 + KLRG1− T cells previously associated with TB protection. Heterologous vaccination strategies were also explored by combining intranasal ChAdOx1.PPE15 viral vector, with intramuscular PPE15-LMQ resulting in improved protection compared to individual vaccines. These findings support the progression of this vaccine candidate to the next stages of development.

GaO<i>x</i> interlayer-originated hole traps in SiO2/<i>p</i>-GaN MOS structures and their suppression by low-temperature gate dielectric deposition

In this study, we investigated the impact of SiO2 deposition temperature during plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition on the generation of fast hole traps, which cause surface potential pinning, in p-type GaN MOS structures. The thickness of a gallium oxide (GaOx) layer at the SiO2/GaN interface was estimated and correlated with the hole trap generation. The 200 °C-deposited SiO2/GaN MOS structures exhibited a smaller amount of fast hole traps and a thinner GaOx interlayer than the 400 °C-deposited samples. In the 200 °C-deposited samples, annealing at a temperature below 600 °C did not lead to an increase in the fast hole trap and GaOx layer thickness, while the amount of fast traps significantly increased just after 800 °C-annealing in O2 ambient, accompanied by the growth of the GaOx interlayer. These findings suggest that the major origin of fast hole traps in SiO2/GaN MOS structures is a thermally induced defect existing inside a GaOx interlayer and that the low-temperature SiO2 deposition is effective in reducing the fast traps.