Search Results (856)

Physics-based models are useful for the analysis and optimization of crystalline-silicon solar cells when many device designs must be evaluated. This paper presents a compact transfer-matrix framework for one-dimensional carrier transport and physics-constrained optimization in bifacial $p^{+}$–n–$n^{+}$ crystalline-silicon solar cells under front-side illumination. The model includes a distributed optical generation profile, explicit emitter, base, and rear-field regions, surface recombination, doping-dependent mobility, Auger recombination, band-gap narrowing, sheet and contact resistances, and external series and shunt losses. The front and rear dopant distributions are described by complementary-error-function profiles, so their junction depths follow from the diffusion parameters and base concentration instead of being independent optimization variables. The solver is verified in limiting transport conditions and with tabulated generation data. The complete model is then calibrated against the reported photovoltaic figures of merit of an experimental bifacial n-type passivated-emitter and rear-totally-diffused (n-PERT) solar cell, which serves as the reference device and is subsequently applied to global optimization. The calibration reproduces a short-circuit current density of $J_{sc}=39.20\mathrm{mA}/{\mathrm{cm}}^2$, an open-circuit voltage of $V_{oc}=653.1\mathrm{mV}$, a fill factor of 0.783, and an efficiency of 20.05%. For the 180 µm reference geometry, the optimized design reaches an efficiency of 20.63%. Independent optimizations for wafer thicknesses of 160, 180, and 200 µm produce a consistent family of solutions with efficiency gains of approximately 0.56–0.60 percentage points. These gains result from the higher open-circuit voltage and fill factor despite a moderate reduction in short-circuit current density, while the optimized total series resistance remains nearly constant. The framework provides a physically interpretable method for combining carrier-transport modeling, experimental calibration, inverse design, and repeated global optimization. Full article

ADP-glucose transporter HvBT1 is a key component of the starch biosynthesis pathway in barley; however, its functional domains and protein-level detection tools remain poorly characterized. In this study, domain dissection and transport activity assays revealed that the full-length HvBT1 exhibited the highest activity, while combinations of two domains restored 65–69% of the activity and single domains maintained only 42–49% of the activity, suggesting that the synergistic action of the three domains contributes to optimal transport function. Based on these findings, the polyclonal antibody against HvBT1 can effectively detect endogenous barley proteins even at a dilution ratio of 1:20,000. This antibody was then applied to evaluate protein expression in 115 early-maturing barley accessions, revealing a significant positive correlation between protein abundance and total starch content (R² = 0.5345, p < 0.0001), suggesting a potential association that merits further investigation. Our study provides insights into the potential synergistic contribution of the domains in HvBT1 and develops an antibody-based protein evaluation approach for barley germplasm. The findings suggest that HvBT1 protein abundance may serve as a potential marker for preliminary screening of high-starch barley varieties, although further validation in independent populations is warranted. Full article

Background/Objectives: In myelodysplastic neoplasms, autoinflammatory syndromes result from dysregulated innate immunity and cause severe, organ-dominant inflammation. Interleukin-1 signaling through the NLRP3 inflammasome is implicated in the pathogenesis of myelodysplastic disease and related inflammatory complications, especially in the context of RAS-pathway activation. Reports describing therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome with pulmonary autoinflammatory syndromes are rare, and the efficacy of interleukin-1 blockade in this setting has not been previously documented. Results: A man in his 60s with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (del 5q) following rectal chemoradiation developed a recurrent, lung-predominant autoinflammatory syndrome refractory to corticosteroids and Janus kinase inhibition. Next-generation sequencing identified gain-of-function mutations in NRAS, PTPN11, SF3B1, and ASXL1. On two separate occasions, anakinra produced rapid clinical improvement with normalization of inflammatory biomarkers and radiographic resolution; on both occasions, discontinuation of anakinra led to prompt relapse within days, with ferritin rising to above 5500 ng/mL and C-reactive protein exceeding 300 mg/L. Conclusions: This case demonstrates that interleukin-1-mediated inflammation can drive pulmonary complications in therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome. Targeted cytokine blockade with anakinra produced reproducible and measurable clinical improvement when conventional therapies were insufficient. The recurrence of symptoms following anakinra withdrawal, and rapid improvement upon re-administration, underscores the functional link between interleukin-1-driven inflammation and clinical outcomes. The RAS/MAPK mutational context and the observed on–off response to anakinra further support an interleukin-1-driven mechanism that merits further investigation. Full article

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a type of bone marrow cancer characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of myeloid cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that play a crucial role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. This study aims to examine the association between miR-33a-5p and Ankyrin 3 (ANK3) in CML and to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of miR-33a-5p in the progression of this disease. mRNA expression profiles were obtained from the GSE100026 dataset within the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was conducted to assess the expression levels of miR-33a-5p and ANK3. To investigate the regulatory mechanism of miR-33a-5p/ANK3, various databases such as miRNet, miRDIP, TargetScan, BioGRID, and CancerSEA were utilized. The expression of miR-33a-5p was markedly elevated, while ANK3 expression was significantly reduced. Furthermore, pathway clustering and functional assessments of ANK3 demonstrated its involvement in regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis. The findings identify an inverse expression pattern between miR-33a-5p and ANK3 across the two cell models and support a candidate regulatory relationship that warrants direct functional validation. This relationship may merit further investigation as a potential molecular target in CML. Full article

Background/Objectives: Molar–incisor hypomineralization (MIH) causes post-eruptive enamel breakdown, hypersensitivity, and altered chewing, which may unbalance occlusal force distribution and masticatory muscle activity. The functional consequences of restoring MIH-affected teeth remain poorly understood. This exploratory pilot study assessed the feasibility of measuring short-term changes in occlusal force distribution and masticatory muscle activity after restorative treatment of MIH-affected molars. Methods: In this prospective single-arm pilot study, five children (aged 8–10 years) with symptomatic MIH affecting 10 first permanent molars were treated with a bulk-fill glass-hybrid material. Lateral occlusal force distribution (LOFD) was pre-specified as the primary exploratory outcome, bilateral masseter and anterior temporalis surface electromyography during maximum voluntary clenching as a secondary exploratory outcome, and the Schiff Cold Air Sensitivity Scale (SCASS) as an additional exploratory measure. Assessments were performed at baseline and three months. Results: All five participants completed follow-up. Mean deviation from bilateral occlusal balance fell from 11.14 ± 6.12 to 4.63 ± 2.89 percentage points (pp); the mean change was 6.51 pp (95% CI 0.44–12.57; p = 0.041 nominal; Cohen’s dz = 1.33), and all five children changed in the same direction. Hypersensitivity resolved in all five participants (SCASS = 0 at T1 in every treated tooth); because the 10 teeth were nested within 5 children, this outcome is reported descriptively, with a participant-level sensitivity analysis (p = 0.063). No statistically detectable changes in the assessed sEMG parameters were observed over the three-month follow-up. Conclusions: In this small exploratory cohort, restoration of MIH-affected molars was followed by resolution of hypersensitivity and a reduction in lateral occlusal force asymmetry, while masticatory muscle activity showed no detectable change. These hypothesis-generating findings should not be read as evidence of efficacy; LOFD was feasible to measure and merits evaluation as an exploratory functional outcome in adequately powered controlled studies. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07336212. Full article

Pluralistic health systems, in which biomedical and traditional providers coexist, shape how care for persons with disabilities is organised in low-income settings. In Sierra Leone, little is known about how providers from different sectors conceptualise care for persons with disabilities. This study examines how providers describe their professional roles, conceptualise disability care, and position themselves in relation to other providers. It draws on semi-structured interviews with ten healthcare providers in Freetown, Sierra Leone (five biomedical, five traditional), analysed using qualitative content analysis. Providers understand their roles through distinct professional trajectories. Traditional healers explain disability through spiritual, social and functional causes; biomedical providers primarily through clinical frameworks. Both sectors combine treatment, rehabilitation and everyday support in their practice. Referral between sectors is asymmetrical: traditional healers refer to hospitals and within their own networks, while biomedical providers refer exclusively within the formal sector. Among the ten participants in this exploratory study, disability care was described within a pluralistic but hierarchically structured health system, with providers working with overlapping populations but occupying unequal positions of authority. The findings point to unacknowledged interdependencies between sectors and suggest implications for more equitable and coordinated disability care in similar settings that merit further investigation. Full article

Hydride perovskites have emerged as promising multifunctional materials for sustainable energy technologies owing to their potential for hydrogen storage and thermoelectric energy conversion. However, despite recent theoretical studies on tin-based hydride perovskites, a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between their structural, electronic, mechanical, thermoelectric, and hydrogen-storage properties remains limited. In this work, a systematic first-principles investigation of cubic XSnH₃ (X = Rb, Cs) hydride perovskites was performed using density functional theory within the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FP-LAPW) method, combined with Boltzmann transport calculations. The optimized structural parameters are in excellent agreement with previously reported theoretical data, confirming the reliability of the adopted computational approach. Both compounds satisfy the mechanical stability criteria and exhibit metallic electronic behavior dominated by Sn-p states around the Fermi level. The calculated thermoelectric properties reveal that the electrical conductivity decreases with increasing temperature, whereas the electronic thermal conductivity, power factor, and thermoelectric figure of merit increase continuously over the investigated temperature range. Among the studied compounds, RbSnH₃ exhibits superior thermoelectric performance together with a higher gravimetric hydrogen content (1.45 wt%) than CsSnH₃ (1.18 wt%). These findings demonstrate that alkali-metal substitution provides an effective strategy for tailoring the multifunctional properties of hydride perovskites and identify RbSnH₃ as a promising candidate for future hydrogen-storage and thermoelectric energy-conversion applications. Full article

With the growing demand for continuous health assessment and early disease screening, biofluids have attracted increasing attention because they provide molecular information that cannot be obtained from conventional physical signals alone. However, practical biofluid analysis remains constrained by limited sample volumes, unstable wet interfaces, complex fluid transport, and dependence on external power sources. Triboelectric nanogenerators and triboelectric nanosensors offer a promising solution by combining mechanical energy harvesting with direct signal transduction. This review provides a critical overview of the theoretical basis of triboelectric biofluid sensing, including working modes, figures of merit, charge-transfer mechanisms, and the differences between solid–solid and solid–liquid electrification. Material selection, interfacial functionalization, fluid collection, wearable configurations, and multimodal integration are further discussed. Recent applications involving sweat, tears, saliva, urine, interstitial fluid, blood, and wound exudate are summarized to clarify how triboelectric devices function as either power sources or active sensing interfaces. Particular attention is given to their potential in early screening, risk assessment, and auxiliary diagnosis. Current limitations associated with biofouling, charge dissipation, individual variability, biosafety, durability, calibration, and clinical validation are also evaluated. Finally, future directions are proposed to improve analytical reliability and accelerate the translation of self-powered biofluid sensors from laboratory prototypes to clinically meaningful healthcare platforms. Full article

Background/Objectives: Diet is a modifiable determinant of kidney health, and sex differences in kidney physiology support sex-specific evaluation of dietary patterns. We examined the association of Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) adherence with cystatin C-based eGFR decline, and its modification by sex, in US adults aged 50 years and older. Methods: We analyzed 2126 Health and Retirement Study participants (950 men, 1176 women) with diet assessed by food frequency questionnaire in 2013 and cystatin C-based eGFR measured in 2012 and 2016. Survey-weighted regression models, adjusted for baseline eGFR and for demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and clinical covariates, related PHDI to eGFR change and to a ≥30% relative eGFR decline; sex interaction was tested on the multiplicative and additive scales. Results: PHDI adherence was nonsignificantly associated with lower eGFR decline (β per 10-point increment 0.218; 95% CI −0.065 to 0.466). Among women, each 10-point-higher score was associated with slower eGFR decline (β 0.355; 95% CI 0.029 to 0.681; p = 0.034) and 20% lower odds of ≥30% eGFR decline (OR 0.799; 95% CI 0.687 to 0.930; p = 0.005); no significant association was observed in men (β 0.080; 95% CI −0.294 to 0.454; OR 1.080; 95% CI 0.901 to 1.295). Sex modified the association with ≥30% eGFR decline on both a multiplicative (p = 0.002) and additive scale (p < 0.001). Conclusions: PHDI adherence was associated with slower kidney function decline in women aged 50 years and older, with non-significant effect in men. Sex merits consideration as a biological modifier when plant-forward diets are evaluated as potentially nephroprotective strategies. Full article

In this study, n-channel 4H-SiC MOSFETs with a high-k/SiO₂ stacked gate dielectric and a p⁺-polysilicon gate are proposed and investigated via numerical simulations. The high-k dielectric increases the gate capacitance, thereby reducing the specific on-state resistance of the devices. The p⁺-polysilicon increases the work-function difference between the gate and the surface p-SiC, which compensates for the threshold voltage reduction caused by the high-k dielectric. Simulation results demonstrate that replacing the SiO₂ and n⁺-polysilicon with an Al₂O₃/SiO₂ stack and p⁺-polysilicon, respectively, reduces the specific on-resistance by 26.9% while lowering the threshold voltage by only 0.02 V at 25 °C. At 175 °C, the threshold voltage increases by 0.28 V. The temperature coefficient of the threshold voltage is reduced from −6.2 mV/°C to −4.1 mV/°C. In addition, the breakdown voltage, the high-frequency figure of merit, and the switching loss also improve, though the inter-electrode capacitances and the gate-to-drain charge increase. This work provides a practical solution for n-channel 4H-SiC MOSFETs adopting high-k gate dielectrics. Full article

Spontaneous fermentation is central to ancestral mezcal production, yet the bacterial and fungal communities associated with Agave cupreata must remain insufficiently characterized. This exploratory study described community composition and predicted functional profiles at three stages of a traditional fermentation defined by sugar depletion: 10 °Brix (0 h), 5 °Brix (72 h), and 2 °Brix (144 h). Ambient temperature ranged from 21.7 to 23.7 °C, must temperature from 28.5 to 29.9 °C, pH from 4.6 to 5.2, and relative humidity from 51.3% to 58.7%. At each stage, material collected from two wooden vats and three vertical positions was pooled into one composite sample. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene and fungal ITS1 amplicons were sequenced and analyzed using QIIME 2. At 10 °Brix, five dominant bacterial genera accounted for more than 93% of relative abundance. Lactic and acetic acid bacteria represented more than 91% at 5 °Brix, while Pediococcus, Lactiplantibacillus, and Loigolactobacillus were prominent at 2 °Brix. Seven fungal genera represented more than 98% of the initial profile, whereas Saccharomyces, Debaryomyces, and Maudiozyma accounted for more than 98% at 2 °Brix. PICRUSt2 predicted pathways related to carbohydrate degradation and fermentation, whereas FUNGuild assignments were predominantly saprotrophic at the later stages. Because one pooled sample was analyzed per stage, these patterns are descriptive and require validation in replicated fermentations. Despite these limitations, this study provides baseline information on the microbial communities associated with ancestral A. cupreata fermentation and identifies taxa and predicted functions that merit future isolation and experimental validation. Full article

Herein, a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent sensing system is developed for the accurate quantitative determination of γ-Hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH, Lindane). With carboxyl-functionalized CdSe/ZnS core–shell quantum dots (QDs) as the substrate, 3-Aminophenylboronic acid (3-APBA) is covalently conjugated onto the quantum dot surface via an amidation reaction. Systematic characterizations are used to confirm the successful fabrication of the CdSe/ZnS-COOH@3-APBA fluorescent probe, which exhibits excellent luminescence properties and superior colloidal dispersion stability. Under optimal experimental conditions, an increased γ-HCH concentration induces gradual attenuation of the probe fluorescence intensity. A favorable linear correlation is achieved within 10–140 nM, and the limit of detection is 2.62 nM. Mechanistic studies reveal that γ-HCH binds to 3-APBA on the probe surface via halogen bonding to form non-fluorescent ground-state association complexes, thereby triggering static quenching of the probe. This method can effectively distinguish α-, β-, and δ-hexachlorocyclohexane isomers. With the merits of simple operation, high sensitivity, excellent stability, and strong anti-interference capability, it provides a new strategy for the rapid screening and accurate quantification of γ-HCH residues in environmental and food matrices. Full article

This paper focuses on three finite difference schemes for the interval advection equation based on a novel interval calculus framework. Different from classical interval arithmetic, this innovative framework equips the interval number space with a rigorous Hilbert space structure and enables a critical decoupling of the derivative for interval-valued functions, where the center component obeys classical differentiation rules and the radius component complies with multiplicative differentiation principles. Using this unique decoupling property, we construct interval counterparts of three representative classical finite difference schemes, namely the Upwind, Lax–Friedrichs, and Lax–Wendroff schemes, and conduct a comprehensive and rigorous theoretical assessment of their numerical properties. Utilizing the inherent isometric isomorphism between the interval space and ${\mathbb{R}}^2$, we rigorously establish the consistency of the proposed schemes and adopt the von Neumann method for systematic stability analysis. A sharp, explicit Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy (CFL) condition is derived, which jointly accounts for the center velocity and logarithmic radius velocity of the interval advection field, and the scheme convergence is strictly guaranteed via the Lax equivalence theorem. Extensive numerical experiments are carried out to validate the theoretical conclusions and verify the practical merits of the developed interval schemes. The numerical results demonstrate that the proposed methods retain nearly constant interval width in long-duration simulations, completely bypass the switching-point complexity that intrinsically exists in traditional generalized Hukuhara (gH)-based interval approaches, and deliver competitive computational efficiency. This work corroborates that the newly proposed interval calculus framework serves as an elegant, solid, and versatile foundation for the numerical computation and analysis of interval partial differential equations. Full article

Silicone elastomers are attractive matrices for transdermal drug delivery systems, but the controlled release of poorly water-soluble drugs from hydrophobic silicone networks remains challenging. Medical-grade silicone elastomers are generally regarded as chemically stable, biologically inert, and highly biocompatible polymer matrices, which supports their use in biomedical and pharmaceutical materials. Here, ibuprofen-loaded silicone/polyol composite films were prepared from hydroxyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-OH) using glycerol- and 1,2-propylene glycol-derived alkoxysilane cross-linkers and amino-terminated PDMS as a metal-free room-temperature-vulcanising catalyst. The effects of cross-linker composition, glycerol, PEG 200 and selected functional additives on film formation, morphology, apparent ibuprofen release and preliminary Strat-M^® permeation were evaluated. FTIR analysis indicated no covalent reaction between ibuprofen and the silicone network, but suggested hydrogen-bonding interactions with polyol-rich domains, particularly in glycerol-containing systems. Raman mapping supported ibuprofen incorporation within the films, while SEM showed phase-separated microdomains whose morphology depended on the formulation. Apparent release into 0.9% NaCl at 37 °C was formulation-dependent over 72 h. The optimised F-9 film showed approximately 83% cumulative apparent release, whereas the F-10 film containing copper oxide nanoparticles and sea buckthorn oil showed the highest numerical cumulative apparent release, approximately 94%. Kinetic analysis of the apparent release data supported a mainly diffusion-controlled contribution, modulated by hydrophilic microdomains. These results provide preliminary materials-development evidence that silicone/polyol films can be used to tune apparent ibuprofen release and merit further optimisation for local topical or transdermal applications; however, efficient skin permeation and biological performance require dedicated validation. Full article

Visceral white-nodules disease (VWND), caused by Pseudomonas plecoglossicida, poses a severe threat to the large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) aquaculture industry. Although breeding resistant strains is a promising strategy, the molecular basis of disease resistance in this host remains poorly understood. Here, 1500 fish were artificially infected, and extreme phenotypes (30 resistant, RL; 30 susceptible, SL) were selected based on survival time and liver pathogen load. Liver histopathology revealed that RL fish maintained intact architecture with only mild vacuolation, whereas SL fish exhibited widespread necrosis, inflammation, and hemosiderin deposition. Consistently, RL fish showed lower MDA levels and higher GSH-Px activity and TAC. Transcriptomic analysis identified 172 differentially expressed genes (DEGs): RL fish were characterized by upregulation of anti-inflammatory and tissue-protective genes (Epo, CAV3) and downregulation of pro-coagulant factors (PAI1, K1kb1). Proteomic analysis identified 111 differentially expressed proteins, with significantly enriched pathways including the peroxisome, pentose phosphate, and phagosome pathways. Integrated cross-omics analysis revealed eight co-enriched KEGG pathways; among them, arginine/proline metabolism, phagosome, oxidative phosphorylation, and focal adhesion were consistently upregulated in the RL group. These findings suggest that effective resistance to VWND in L. crocea may involve a coordinated, multi-layered defense program encompassing redox balance, regulated immune responses, metabolic reprogramming, and cellular homeostasis. Cross-omics-supported candidate factors (e.g., P4ha1, COX6B, RAB5A, CAV3) represent promising targets for functional validation via DNA-level experiments in independent sample sets, and the prominent enrichment of arginine-proline metabolism indicates a potential target for dietary intervention that merits further investigation. Full article