Search Results (11,736)

This paper presents a real-time magnetic adhesion force estimation framework for wall-climbing robots equipped with Halbach permanent magnet arrays (PMAs) and air-gap–adjustable mechanisms. Accurately computing the magnetic adhesion force between a PMA and a large ferromagnetic surface is challenging due to the nonlinear magnetization behavior of soft magnetic materials and the strongly coupled, highly nonuniform magnetic fields generated by Halbach arrays. Conventional analytical models fail to capture these effects, while finite element methods (FEM) incur prohibitive computational cost for real-time applications. To address this, we propose an analytical magnetic-force estimation model based on the magnetostatic MoI (Method of Images), which replaces the unknown magnetization inside the steel plate with an equivalent image magnet distribution that satisfies boundary conditions at the air–steel interface. The method avoids solving complex magnetization in soft magnetic media and enables a unified force computation for arbitrarily oriented magnet elements. Additionally, complex Halbach PMA geometries are approximated through cuboid-element segmentation into cuboid magnet array, allowing efficient force evaluation. Comparative studies demonstrate that the proposed method achieves accuracy comparable to FEM while reducing computation time by several orders of magnitude. Experimental validation using a linear Halbach array and a large steel plate proved that the framework can reliably estimate magnetic adhesion force across varying air-gap distances, meeting the real-time requirements of air-gap–adjustable wall-climbing robots. Full article

The third-quadrant operation of silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs is investigated from the perspective of carrier transport, focusing on the interaction between two parallel conduction paths. Through experimental characterization and TCAD simulation, the conduction behavior of the PiN body diode and MOS channel under various gate-source bias conditions is examined. Results reveal that body-effect-induced threshold voltage (Vth) reduction enables channel conduction even under negative gate bias. Based on this mechanism, a transfer-characteristic-based method is developed to identify gate-voltage boundaries between conduction modes. The impact of negative gate bias on reverse recovery parameters, peak current (I_rr), charge (Q_rr), and time (t_rr), is quantitatively evaluated. At the unit-cell level, current sharing between the two paths is analyzed, clarifying the physical mechanism governing their redistribution. Full article

Disease-specific alpha-synuclein (αsyn) strains have been linked to different synucleinopathies. Current αsyn biomarkers are limited to binary detection of pathogenic αsyn in peripheral tissue biopsies or fluids, limiting differential diagnosis. Hence, there is an urgent need for methods that allow strain-specific detection and characterization of αsyn strain architecture. Notably, luminescent conjugated oligothiophenes (LCOs) have been successfully used to detect distinct protein strain conformers in prion diseases and Alzheimer’s disease, highlighting their utility in differentiating disease-specific amyloid structures. Species-dependent differences in αsyn structure are increasingly recognized as one of the critical aspects that shape how fibrils form, propagate and interact with molecular LCO probes. Here, we evaluate the potential of the LCO h-FTAA to differentiate species-specific αsyn strains and conduct a translational investigation using peripheral cardiac tissue of a gut-first synucleinopathy rodent model. Our in vitro data demonstrate strain-specific probe–fibril interactions, reflecting a differential strain architecture and cellular micro-environment. While h-FTAA binds with comparable efficiency to mouse (mo-) and human (hu-) pre-formed fibrils (PFFs), h-FTAA exhibits markedly lower quantum yield when bound to moPFFs versus huPFFs. Spectral imaging revealed h-FTAA-moPFF binding produces blue-shifted maxima (505–550 nm), contrasting with the red-shifted maxima (545–580 nm) of huPFFs. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy confirmed h-FTAA’s intrinsic sensitivity to species-dependent variations through distinct temporal fluorescence signatures (moPFFs: ~0.60–1.5 ns vs. huPFFs: ~0.65–1.0 ns). Our translational investigation showed h-FTAA binding to peripheral cardiac pathology exhibits comparable red-shifted emission, but distinct fluorescence lifetimes of h-FTAA-bound aggregates in moPFF-injected (~1.0–1.4 ns) versus huPFF-injected (~0.69–0.8 ns) rats. Interestingly, we observed distinct blue-shifted emission profiles in a few selected regions of the heart of moPFF-injected rodents, further characterized by extra-long fluorescence decay shifts (~1.5–1.9 ns), reflecting differences in both aggregate conformation and maturity in moPFF-induced compared with huPFF-induced rats. Taken together, our findings underscore the potential of LCO ligands, like h-FTAA, to enable more precise disease staging and diagnosis through peripheral biopsies, complementing existing αsyn biomarker methods. Full article

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising candidates for nanoscale wear-protective coatings. The mechanisms governing their tribological behaviour (i.e., friction and wear) are material-dependent. In this work, we use atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to investigate nanoscale sliding, friction, and lithographic tracks in two 2D materials, graphene and MoS${}_2$, both placed on a SiO${}_2$ substrate. Our results reveal fundamentally different deformation mechanisms in the two materials, where deformation comes as a consequence of applied normal load. MoS${}_2$ deforms via the formation of a stable out-of-plane pucker beneath the contact, enabling efficient absorption and elastic redistribution of mechanical energy within the coating as well as simultaneous reduction of plastic deformation of the underlying material. Wear prevention in the substrate comes at the cost of localised damage to the MoS${}_2$ layer along the sliding path once it reaches the rupture point. On the contrary, graphene exhibits strongly localised deformation due to its high in-plane stiffness and atomic thickness, leading to plastic deformation of the underlying material and mitigating layer damage. These findings provide clear design guidelines for 2D coatings in nanotribological applications, and highlight layered materials, such as MoS${}_2$, as particularly effective for wear protection. Full article

Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures are attractive for optoelectronic devices due to their lattice-mismatch tolerance and tunable band structures. Here, we report a gate-tunable Au/MoS₂/WSe₂ dual junction photodetector featuring competing asymmetric built-in electric fields. Spatially resolved photocurrent measurements reveal that selective utilization of these built-in electric fields decouples the transport dynamics of dark and photogenerated carriers. Such decoupling allows for independent modulation of the dark current and photocurrent, enabling the concurrent realization of the ultralow dark current and high photocurrent. Moreover, gate-voltage modulation enhances the photoresponse by ~245%, yielding a detectivity of 1.98 × 10¹² Jones over the 532–940 nm range. Imaging and optical communication further verify the device’s practical potential. These results provide a viable route toward high-sensitivity and electrically reconfigurable broadband photodetectors. Full article

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and cardiometabolic comorbidity, have been increasingly associated with cognitive impairment and dementia. These associations, however, remain underexplored and underappreciated in middle-aged individuals with AF. This study aimed to explore the associations of early cognitive impairment with the presence of cardiometabolic comorbidities and potential associations with echocardiographic markers in middle-aged patients with and without AF. Methods: Between 2023–2024, fifty-six consecutive outpatients with a diagnosis of AF aged 45–65 years underwent clinical evaluation, transthoracic echocardiography, and comprehensive neuropsychological assessment using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease battery (CERAD). A control group of 58 age group-matched individuals without known cardiometabolic disease was included in comparative cognitive analyses. Results: Patients with AF and cardiometabolic comorbidities demonstrated early cognitive deficits, particularly in episodic memory and visuospatial functions, detectable even in individuals with normal MoCA scores, compared with the control group. However, no associations were observed between cognitive performance and conventional echocardiographic parameters in the group with AF. Conclusions: This study corroborated prior evidence of an association between cardiometabolic impairment and subtle cognitive impairment, but did not identify a specific contribution of echocardiography markers. More extensive and sensitive biomarkers of left atrial structure and function may be required to detect harmful associations with subtle cognitive impairment in middle-aged individuals. Further prospective studies, with a more balanced control for comorbidities, are warranted to clarify the clinical relevance of atrial structural remodeling in this context. Full article

Background: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the status of kinesiophobia in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) and to evaluate its relationship with cognitive functions, anxiety, depression, disease severity, and pain level. Methods: Fifty FMS patients (mean age 44.06 years; range 18 to 60 years) were included in the study. Fifty healthy participants (mean age 42.04 years; range 18 to 60 years) were included in the study as a control group. Participant recruitment for the study was conducted in a state hospital in Türkiye. Disease severity level in the FMS group was assessed using the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). The Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK) was administered to determine the participants’ kinesiophobia status. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess the participants’ anxiety and depression status. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test was administered to assess cognitive functions. Results: TSK, HADS-Anxiety, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and FIQ scores were higher in the FMS group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). MoCA total scores, MoCA-Visuospatial/Executive, and MoCA-Attention scores were higher in the control group (p < 0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between TSK and FIQ scores in the FMS group (p: 0.02, r: 0.31). There was a weak negative correlation between TSK and MoCA-Naming scores in the FMS group (p: 0.02, r: −0.31). Conclusions: Increased kinesiophobia was found in FMS patients compared to the general population. It was determined that the level of kinesiophobia in FMS patients was related to disease severity and naming-related cognitive functions. Clinicians dealing with FMS should take this into particular consideration. Full article

Developing an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection platform remains challenging due to the limited enrichment efficiency of ECL emitters and co-reactants at the electrode interface, as well as the insufficient catalytic enhancement of co-reactant conversion. Moreover, simultaneous in situ analyte enrichment and efficient anti-interference capability are often difficult to achieve in a single sensing interface. Herein, a new ECL platform was developed based on nanocatalyst-supported nanochannel-confined surfactant micelle (SM) system, which integrates an enhanced luminol-dissolved oxygen (DO) ECL response for the ultrasensitive detection of antibiotic rifampicin (RIF). A nanocomposite comprising nitrogen-doped graphene quantum dots and a molybdenum disulfide nanosheet (NGQDs@MoS₂) was modified on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode. This nanocomposite layer catalyzed the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), boosting the co-reactant efficiency of DO. Vertically ordered mesoporous silica film filled with surfactant micelles (SM@VMSF) was subsequently grown in situ on the NGQDs@MoS₂ surface. The hydrophobic micelles enable the simultaneous enrichment of luminol, DO, and RIF. Integrating the triple-enrichment effect of surfactant micelles with the high electrocatalytic effect of NGQDs@MoS₂ nanocomposite results in significant ECL enhancement of the luminol–DO. SM@VMSF also provides an excellent molecular sieving effect, endowing the sensor with high anti-interference capability and stability. RIF quenches the ECL signal by consuming superoxide anion radicals, enabling sensitive detection. Detection of RIF was established with a high sensitivity (2927 a.u. per nM) wide linear range (10 pM to 10 μM) and a low limit of detection (LOD, 2.5 pM). The fabricated sensor exhibits good selectivity and high fabrication reproducibility (relative standard deviation, RSD, of 1.9%). Additionally, the determination of RIF in eye drops and seawater samples was realized. This work offers new insights for the design of high-performance ECL sensing interfaces and sensitive detection of RIF. Full article

Machine learning interatomic potentials (MLIPs) are typically developed for globally ordered homogeneous systems (GOHomS), which exhibit only minor local deviations from equilibrium configurations. Consequently, most existing MLIPs trained on GOHomS often perform inadequately when applied to locally ordered heterogeneous systems (LOHetS), e.g., substitutional alloying elements in multicomponent alloys. To describe doping alloy systems, we develop a fine-tuned MLIP based on the MACE foundation model, specifically tailored for Mo-based dilute alloys containing one or two out of 20 substitutional elements: Cr, Fe, Mn, Nb, Re, Ta, Ti, V, W, Y, Zr, Al, Zn, Cu, Ag, Au, Hg, Co, Ni, and Hf. The model is built on more than 7000 equilibrium and non-equilibrium structures derived from first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The optimized large-scale fine-tuned model attains state-of-the-art accuracy, with a mean absolute error (MAE) and root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 2.27 meV/atom and 3.79 meV/atom for energy predictions, and 13.83 meV/Å and 24.26 meV/Å for force predictions, respectively. Systematic evaluation under different data-splitting protocols shows that unknown element extrapolation remains challenging under strict dopant hold-out, whereas substantially improved accuracy can be achieved in partial-exposure transfer settings. The fine-tuned models reduce the MAE by approximately 7–10 times compared to models trained from scratch, and by 10–20 times relative to zero-shot foundation models. This performance gain remains consistent across varying dataset sizes (equilibrium vs. non-equilibrium structures) and model scales. Our work illustrates the efficacy of transfer learning from globally ordered homogeneous systems to locally ordered heterogeneous multicomponent alloy environments. However, direct transfer to entirely unknown elements remains challenging, especially when proxy embeddings are employed without fine-tuning. Thus, to achieve high accuracy without incurring additional cost, it is essential to include unknown elements in the training dataset while minimizing the number of configurations containing known elements. Moreover, the current findings are primarily validated for dilute Mo-based alloy systems. Extending this approach to more compositionally complex alloy spaces may necessitate additional data and further fine-tuning. Full article

Small and medium-sized ports are currently underutilised within supply and logistics chains, yet many can be successfully integrated through optimisation. A significant share is located near large cities and industrial zones, a situation that can be exploited not only to make better use of the ports themselves but also to develop nearby cities and regions. The “integration” of small and medium-sized ports into the Motorways of the Sea (MoS) system encompasses technical, technological, organisational, and legal aspects. This article primarily analyses the adaptation of small and medium-sized ports to the MoS objectives from a technical and technological perspective. The adaptation of the technical capabilities of small and medium-sized ports, linking them with major ports, focuses on bypassing “overloading” in land transport systems, optimising the costs of transporting goods by up to 25–30%, and reducing environmental impact compared with road transport by up to 50%. The article presents a mathematical model for adapting small and medium-sized ports to the MoS system, assessing the cost of cargo transportation, the reduction in environmental impact, and the technical and technological utilisation of these ports. Full article

Objective: To investigate the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and the progression of motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: We used data from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) cohort with a follow-up duration of >5 years. Baseline assessments included genetic analysis, brain MRI, cardiovascular risk factors, and overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Motor symptoms and non-motor symptoms of PD were evaluated using the Movement Disorders Society revised Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) and sub-scores, Hoehn–Yahr stage, and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Statistical analyses comprised univariate and multivariate linear regression and stratified analysis. Results: A total of 169 newly diagnosed PD patients and 78 healthy controls (HCs) were included. At baseline, no significant differences in cardiovascular risk factors or overall CVD risk were observed between PD patients and HCs. Hypertension (β = 6.748, p = 0.040) and hyperlipidemia (β = 8.316, p = 0.005) were associated with faster motor progression. ApoE genotype was correlated with motor progression (β = 7.593, p = 0.007). PD patients with a moderate-to-low CVD risk (<20%) had milder axial motor symptoms (3.0 [IQR, 4.0] vs. 4.0 [IQR, 5.0], p = 0.048) and lower MDS-UPDRS Part I total scores (7.0 [IQR, 6.25] vs. 9.0 [IQR, 7.0], p = 0.039) at last follow-up compared to high-CVD-risk (≥20%) patients. Overall CVD risk was negatively correlated with total MoCA score at last follow-up (β = −0.208, p< 0.001). Conclusions: Cardiovascular risk factors accelerate the progression of motor and non-motor symptoms in PD, suggesting that management of modifiable CVD risk factors may represent a promising target to delay the progression of PD. Full article

Nanoparticles (NPs) of urban dust can be hazardous to human health due to the possibility of a high accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), high penetration ability into organisms, and their ability to cause injury to cells, tissues, and organs. The composition of NPs of urban dust may vary during the year; however, there are so far no studies on the seasonal changes in their elemental composition and related ecological and health risks. The current work was carried out using samples of urban dust from Moscow, the largest megacity in Europe, collected in spring, summer, and autumn. It was found that NPs of urban dust are polluted by PTEs, namely W, Bi, Hg, P, S, Sn, Mo, Cu, Cd, Pb, Sb, and Zn. The highest pollution and ecological risks were found in NPs of urban dust collected in summer (RI = 592) as compared to autumn (RI = 399) and spring (RI = 231). The same regularity was observed for health risks. The highest possible cancerogenic risk was found in summer NPs (CTCR = 3.0 × 10⁻⁴) followed by autumn NPs (CTCR = 2.5 × 10⁻⁴) and spring NPs (CTCR = 3.5 × 10⁻⁵). However, the difference between mean values obtained for the three seasons was not statistically significant. Additionally, it was demonstrated that vehicle emissions are one of the main sources of pollution of NPs, and their intensity does not significantly change throughout the year in Moscow. The results obtained offer new insights into the regularities of seasonal variations in elemental composition, pollution, and related ecological and health risks of NPs of urban dust. Full article

Naturally abundant endophytes colonize plants internally without causing harm to their host plants. Endophytes are likely to occupy the same ecological niches as phytopathogens and thus have a high potential to be effective biological control agents. Their demonstrated ability to suppress more than one plant pathogen suggests that they can offer a viable alternative to chemical fungicides and a strategy for decreasing the inoculum potential of soil-borne pathogens. Some biocontrol endophytes are also known to improve soil health and the overall health of plants. However, the results in greenhouse studies do not always translate to consistent field efficacy. In this study, the efficacy of three endophytic bacterial isolates (PRT (Bacillus subtilis), PSL (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens), and IMC8 (Bacillus thuringiesis) were evaluated against Phytophthora capsici in a field environment and compared with two commercial biological fungicides, Serenade^® (Bayer Crop Science, St Louis MO, USA) and Double Nickel^® (Certis Biologicals, Columbia, MO, USA), and water control. Plants were inoculated with the bacteria strains using seed treatment for early plant colonization before transplanting to a field infested with P. capsici. Treatments with commercial bio-fungicides followed label recommendations. Data on plant growth vigor, disease severity, number of fruits, fruit size, total yield per plant, and percent of diseased fruits displayed significant differences between the bacteria treatments. While PRT was the best treatment for most traits, followed by PSL on pepper, PSL and Double Nickel were the best treatments on tomatoes. IMC8 was best for plant vigor and larger fruit size, but with fewer fruits per plant on both crops. This study suggests bacterial isolates PRT, PSL, and IMC8 can provide additional products for growth promotion and P. capsici disease management in pepper and tomatoes. Full article

Background/Objectives: The efficacy of inactivated foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) vaccines depends on the structural integrity of the 146S virions. However, instability of 146S antigens during vaccine manufacturing and storage can compromise vaccine quality. Despite its high immunogenicity, the Korean serotype O strain O Jincheon (O JC) exhibits poor physical stability. Methods: To enhance antigenic stability while preserving strain-specific antigenicity, we engineered a VP1-substituted recombinant virus, (R) O1 M–O JC_VP1, by integrating the VP1 coding region of O JC into the O1 Manisa (O1 M) backbone. Results: The resulting chimeric virus exhibited significantly improved capsid stability, as demonstrated by an increased melting temperature and enhanced resistance to thermal stress, chloroform exposure, and long-term storage. Importantly, the recombinant antigen maintained its immunogenicity and induced antibody responses comparable to those induced by the parental O JC strain in vaccinated pigs. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that VP1-direct chimeric engineering can improve capsid stability without compromising antigenicity and provide a practical approach for developing a stable FMDV vaccine. Full article

A ternary CdS–MoS₂–rGO photocathode was developed to enhance visible light-driven hydrogen evolution through interfacial heterostructure engineering. The composite was fabricated via a solution-based deposition method followed by thermal conversion, resulting in crystalline CdS and MoS₂ phases that were uniformly integrated within a conductive reduced graphene oxide (rGO) framework. Structural and surface analyses (XRD and XPS) confirmed the coexistence of Cd²⁺, Mo⁴⁺, and S²⁻ chemical states without detectable secondary phases. Photoelectrochemical measurements revealed that the ternary architecture significantly improves charge separation efficiency and interfacial charge-transfer kinetics compared to binary and single-component films. The CdS–MoS₂–rGO photocathode exhibited the highest photocurrent density, reduced charge-transfer resistance, and favorable Tafel slope under visible-light irradiation (0.25 sun, neutral electrolyte). Gas chromatography measurements verified that these electrochemical enhancements translate into increased hydrogen production rates, following the trend: CdS–MoS₂–rGO > CdS–rGO > MoS₂–rGO >> rGO. Applied bias photon-to-current efficiency (ABPE) analysis further confirmed improved photon utilization efficiency in the ternary system. The enhanced performance is attributed to synergistic integration of CdS (light harvesting), rGO (rapid electron transport), and MoS₂ (catalytic edge sites), which suppresses recombination and accelerates proton reduction kinetics. These findings demonstrate that rational multi-component heterostructure design is an effective strategy for improving hydrogen evolution rate under mild operating conditions. Full article