Search Results (1,136)

Studies on two-dimensional materials (such as topological insulators or transition metal dichalcogenides) have shown that they exhibit unique properties, including high charge carrier mobility and tunable bandgaps, making them attractive for next-generation electronics. Some of these materials (e.g., HfSe${}_2$) also offer thickness-dependent bandgap engineering. However, the standard device fabrication techniques often introduce processing contamination, which reduces device efficiency. In this paper, we present a modified mechanical exfoliation technique, the Reversed Structuring Procedure, which enables the fabrication of hybrid systems based on 2D microflakes with improved interface cleanness and contact quality. Hall effect measurements on Bi${}_2$Se${}_3$ and HfSe${}_2$ devices confirm enhanced electrical performance, including the decrease in the measured total resistance. We also introduce a novel Star-Shaped Electrode Structure, which allows for accurate Hall measurements and the exploration of geometric magnetoresistance effects within the same device. This dual-purpose geometry enhances the flexibility and demonstrates broader functionality of the proposed fabrication method. The presented results validate the Reversed Structuring Procedure method as a robust and versatile approach for laboratory test-platforms for electronic applications of new types of layered materials whose fabrication technology is not yet compatible with CMOS. Full article

Empathic behavior is increasingly incorporated into socially assistive robots, yet little is known about how older adults’ personality-based self-regulatory processes shape responses to such designs. The present study examined a recognition-based “mirror effect” framework of narcissistic self-regulation, referring to the ways individuals maintain a valued self-image through social feedback and acknowledgment. We focused on two core dimensions: narcissistic admiration, characterized by self-promotion and the pursuit of affirmation, and narcissistic rivalry, characterized by defensiveness, antagonism, and sensitivity to threat. Community-dwelling older adults (N = 527; M_age = 72.73) were randomly assigned to view a video of a socially assistive robot interacting in either an empathic or a cold manner. Participants reported their perceived recognition by the robot, defined as the subjective experience of feeling seen, acknowledged, and valued, as well as multiple robot evaluations (anthropomorphism, likability, perceived intelligence, safety, and intention to use). At the mean level, empathic robot behavior increased perceived recognition, anthropomorphism, and likability but did not improve perceived intelligence, safety, or intention to use. Conditional process analyses revealed that narcissistic admiration was positively associated with perceived recognition, which in turn predicted more favorable robot evaluations, regardless of robot behavior. In contrast, narcissistic rivalry showed a behavior-dependent pattern: rivalry was associated with reduced perceived recognition and less favorable evaluations primarily in the empathic condition, whereas this association reversed in the cold condition. Importantly, once perceived recognition and narcissistic traits were accounted for, the cold robot was evaluated as more intelligent, safer, and more desirable to use than the empathic robot. Studying these processes in older adults is theoretically and practically significant, as later life is marked by shifts in social roles, autonomy concerns, and sensitivity to interpersonal evaluation, which may alter how empathic technologies are experienced. Together, the findings identify perceived recognition as a central psychological mechanism linking personality and robot design and suggest that greater robotic empathy is not universally beneficial, particularly for users high in rivalry-related threat sensitivity. Full article

The concept of individual cellular intelligence reframes cells as dynamic entities endowed with sensory, reactive, adaptive, and memory-like capabilities, enabling them to navigate lifelong metabolic and extrinsic stressors. A likely vital component of this intelligence system is stress-responsive G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) networks, interconnected by common signaling adaptors. These stress-regulating networks orchestrate the detection, processing, and experience retention of environmental cues, events, and stressors. These networks, along with other sensory mechanisms such as receptor-mediated signaling and DNA damage detection, allow cells to acknowledge and interpret stressors such as oxidative stress or nutrient scarcity. Reactive responses, including autophagy and apoptosis, mitigate immediate damage, while adaptive strategies, such as metabolic rewiring, receptor expression alteration and epigenetic modifications, enhance long-term survival. Cellular experiences that are effectively translated into ‘memories’, both transient and heritable, likely rely on GPCR-induced epigenetic and mitochondrial adaptations, enabling anticipation of future insults. Dysregulation of these processes and networks can drive pathological states, shaping resilience or susceptibility to chronic diseases like cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders. Employing molecular evidence, here, we underscore the presence of an effective cellular intelligence, supported by multi-level sensory GPCR networks. The quality of this intelligence acts as a critical determinant of somatic health and a promising frontier for therapeutic innovation. Future research leveraging single-cell omics and systems biology may unravel the molecular underpinnings of these capabilities, offering new strategies to prevent or reverse stress-induced pathologies. Full article

The concentration of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the peripheral blood of COVID-19 patients is increased. Nevertheless, their potential role in the transmission of infection remains unclear. This study was performed to determine whether EVs produced by the sub-genomic replicon system developed in Baby Hamster Kidney (BHK-21) cells could transfer SARS-CoV-2 replicon RNA, leading to the establishment of a viral replication system in human cells. Purified EVs from the SARS-CoV-2 sub-genomic replicon cell line BHK-21 were cultured with a naive human cell line. The success of EV-mediated transfer of SARS-CoV-2 replicon RNA and its productive replication was assessed using G-418 selection, a luciferase assay, immunostaining, and Western blot. We found that the A549 cell line cultured with EVs isolated from SARS-CoV-2 BHK-21 replicon cells developed G-418-resistant cell colonies. SARS-COV-2 RNA replication in A549 cells was confirmed by nano luciferase, Nsp1 protein. SARS-CoV-2 RNA replication causes massive morphological changes. Treatment of cells with the FDA-approved Paxlovid demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition of viral replication. We isolated two human epithelial cell lines (gastrointestinal and neuroblastoma) and one vascular endothelial cell line that stably support high-level replication of SARS-CoV-2 sub-genomic RNA. Viral elimination did not revert the abnormal cellular shape, vesicle accumulation, syncytia formation, or EV release. Our study’s findings highlight the potential implications of EV-mediated transfer of replicon RNA to permissive cells. The replicon model is a valuable tool for studying virus-induced reversible and irreversible cellular reprogramming, as well as for testing novel therapeutic strategies for SARS-CoV-2. Full article

The automotive industry’s shift to a Circular Economy for global sustainability is vital, but it faces challenges when establishing efficient Reverse Supply Chains. Reverse Supply Chain implementation is dependent on multiple barriers and enablers, including eco-nomic, managerial, technological, regulatory, and social domains, thus making single-factor solutions ineffective. The purpose of this review is to conduct a systematic literature review to understand how these interconnected barriers and enablers can collectively shape Reverse Supply Chain implementation and performance, specifically within the automotive sector, which remains little known. The PRISMA framework was utilised, which resulted in 129 peer-reviewed articles being selected for review. Findings showed that the literature focuses primarily on Electric Vehicle batteries within developing economies, particularly China. Reverse Supply Chain implementation is governed not only by isolated barriers but by complex systemic interdependencies between enablers as well. This complex inter-relationship between barriers and enablers can be categorised into five key dimensions: economic and financial; managerial and organisational; technological and infrastructural; policy and regulatory; and market and social. The study reveals two systemic patterns driving the transition: technology–policy interdependence and the conflicting relationship between large-scale production and value extraction. Our findings also presented a research agenda focusing on strategic value creation through material streams of automotive electronics, plastic, and composites with high potential value, and further insights are needed in regions such as the Middle East, Oceania, and the Americas. Organisations should consider Reverse Supply Chain as a strategic approach for securing critical material supplies, while policymakers could leverage the use of digital tools as the foundational infrastructure for subsidies allocation and prevent fraud. Full article

Laser local forming is an effective method for reshaping optical glass, yet the deformation of the material during the cooling phase remains poorly understood. This study investigates the dynamic evolution of the molten pool, specifically focusing on the transition from an initial convex shape to a final “M-shaped” profile. A combined approach using thermal-fluid simulation and high-speed imaging experiments was employed to track the surface changes throughout the heating and cooling cycles. The results show that while the surface bulges outward during laser irradiation, the material redistributes after the laser is switched off due to non-uniform cooling and volumetric shrinkage. The specific roles of viscosity and surface tension in driving this reverse flow were identified. Furthermore, the study established a quantitative model linking laser parameters to the final surface dimensions, providing a reliable tool for predicting and controlling the precision of glass forming. Full article

Pumped-storage power stations (PSPSs) are vital for grid stability, yet pump-turbines (PTs) operating in the S-shaped region often induce severe hydraulic instability. To reveal the mechanism of these self-excited oscillations, this study establishes a nonlinear mathematical model based on rigid water column theory and a cubic polynomial approximation of the PT’s nonlinear characteristics. Both analytical derivations and numerical simulations were conducted. Analytical results indicate that, in the absence of surge tanks, self-excited oscillations occur when the PT’s negative hydraulic impedance modulus exceeds the pipeline impedance. With a single surge tank, the system behaves analogously to the Van der Pol oscillator, exhibiting oscillations that converge to a stable limit cycle governed by system parameters. Numerical simulations for a dual-surge-tank system further reveal that, due to initial negative damping, the PT transitions to alternative stable equilibria. Crucially, the transition direction is governed by the polarity of the initial disturbance: negative perturbations lead to the regular turbine region, while positive ones lead to the reverse pump region. Additionally, pipe friction causes the steady-state discharge to deviate slightly from the theoretical static value, with deviations remaining below 2.96%. This work provides a theoretical basis for stability prediction in PSPSs. Full article

We present a high-precision endoscopic shape-sensing method using only two calibrated outer cores of a multicore fiber Bragg grating (MC-FBG) array. By leveraging the geometric relationship among two non-collinear outer cores and the central core, the method estimates curvature and bending angle without relying on multiple outer-core channels, thereby reducing complexity and error propagation. On canonical shapes, the proposed method achieves maximum relative reconstruction errors of 1.62% for a 2D circular arc and 2.81% for a 3D helix, with the corresponding RMSE values reported for completeness. In addition, representative endoscope-relevant configurations including the α-loop, reversed α-loop, and N-loop are accurately reconstructed, and temperature tests over 25–81 °C further verify stable reconstruction performance under thermal disturbances. This work provides a resource-efficient and high-fidelity solution for endoscopic shape sensing with strong potential for integration into next-generation image-guided and robot-assisted surgical systems. Full article

Laboratory mice are the most widely used model organisms in biomedical and behavioral research, yet growing concerns regarding reproducibility and translational validity have highlighted the substantial influence of housing and husbandry conditions on experimental outcomes. Although domestication is often assumed to have rendered laboratory mice fully adapted to artificial environments, evidence from ethology indicates that many core behavioral and physiological needs remain conserved. As a result, standard laboratory housing may generate chronic stress, alter behavior, and introduce systematic bias into experimental data. This narrative review critically examines how ethological constraints persisting after domestication interact with key environmental factors, social housing, environmental enrichment, ambient temperature, and lighting regimes to shape welfare and experimental validity in laboratory mice. Rather than providing an exhaustive overview of mouse behavior, the review adopts a problem-oriented and solution-focused approach, highlighting specific welfare-related mechanisms that can distort behavioral and physiological readouts. Particular attention is given to social isolation and aggression in male mice, the role of nesting material in mitigating thermal stress, and the effects of circadian disruption under standard and reversed light–dark cycles. By integrating ethological theory with laboratory animal welfare research, this review argues that housing conditions should be regarded as integral components of experimental design rather than secondary technical variables. Addressing welfare-related bias through evidence-based refinement strategies is essential for improving reproducibility, enhancing data interpretability, and strengthening the scientific validity of mouse-based research. Full article

Normalization is a critical step in Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) because it transforms heterogeneous criterion values into comparable information. This study examines normalization techniques through the lens of entropy, highlighting how criterion data structure shapes normalization behavior and ranking stability within TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution). Seven widely used normalization procedures are analyzed regarding mathematical properties, sensitivity to extreme values, treatment of benefit and cost criteria, and rank reversal. Normalization is treated as a source of uncertainty in MCDA outcomes, as different schemes can produce divergent rankings under identical decision settings. Shannon entropy is employed as a descriptive measure of information dispersion and structural uncertainty, capturing the heterogeneity and discriminatory potential of criteria rather than serving as a weighting mechanism. An illustrative experiment with ten alternatives and four criteria (two high-entropy, two low-entropy) demonstrates how entropy mediates normalization effects. Seven normalization schemes are examined, including vector, max, linear Sum, and max–min procedures. For vector, max, and linear sum, cost-type criteria are treated using either linear inversion or reciprocal transformation, whereas max–min is implemented as a single method. This design separates the choice of normalization form from the choice of cost-criteria transformation, allowing a cleaner identification of their respective contributions to ranking variability. The analysis shows that normalization choice alone can cause substantial differences in preference values and rankings. High-entropy criteria tend to yield stable rankings, whereas low-entropy criteria amplify sensitivity, especially with extreme or cost-type data. These findings position entropy as a key mediator linking data structure with normalization-induced ranking variability and highlight the need to consider entropy explicitly when selecting normalization procedures. Finally, a practical entropy-based method for choosing normalization techniques is introduced to enhance methodological transparency and ranking robustness in MCDA. Full article

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced aberrant oncogenic signalling has been proposed to mediate the progression and development of pleural mesothelioma (PM). In this study, we demonstrate how ROS promote oncogenic signalling, especially in the context of cell migration and immune evasion via YB-1 phosphorylation in mesothelial and PM cell models. Xanthine (X)- and xanthine oxidase (XO)-generated ROS exposure led to increased migration and a more elongated cell shape in mesothelial and PM cells in live-cell videomicroscopy analyses. These effects were associated with the enhanced phosphorylation of ERK, AKT, and YB-1 and the elevated gene expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2, which were analysed with immunoblotting and quantitative real-time RT-PCR, respectively. The pharmacological inhibition of AKT (ipatasertib), MEK (trametinib), and RSK (BI-D1870) resulted in the reversal of ROS-induced effects, with the strongest effects observed upon the inhibition of YB-1 phosphorylation by BI-D1870. The results suggest that ROS exposure has a strong impact on cell migration and immune evasion not only in PM cells but also in mesothelial cells, from which PM arises. Interfering with ROS-responsive kinase pathways, particularly YB-1 phosphorylation, could counteract pro-migratory and immune-evasive effects in PM. Full article

This study proposes a high-strength bottom-bar interlocking and anchorage precast beam–column joint (HSRU-PBCJ), which utilizes high-strength longitudinal reinforcement combined with U-shaped anchorage at the beam bottom. Low-cycle reversed loading tests were conducted on two precast specimens and one cast-in-place specimen to evaluate their seismic performance. Based on these results, parametric analyses were conducted through numerical simulations to investigate the effects of axial compression ratio, concrete strength, beam-end longitudinal reinforcement strength, and beam-end longitudinal reinforcement ratio on the seismic performance. The results indicate that the proposed joint exhibits stable and full hysteresis loops, cumulative energy dissipation comparable to that of the cast-in-place joint, and a 23.94–26.39% increase in equivalent viscous damping after yielding, achieving a displacement ductility coefficient of 4.14, which confirms its substantially improved seismic performance. The parametric study shows that maintaining a moderate axial compression ratio (≤0.6) enhances both load-bearing capacity and energy dissipation, whereas excessive values result in strength reduction. Increasing the beam-end longitudinal reinforcement strength significantly improves load-bearing capacity but may reduce energy dissipation. In addition, improving concrete strength and appropriately increasing the reinforcement ratio can further enhance both load-bearing capacity and energy dissipation, although a balance between seismic performance and economic considerations is recommended. Full article

Metastasis is still the leading cause of cancer-related death. It happens when disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) successfully navigate a series of steps and adapt to the unique conditions of distant organs. In this review, key molecular and immune mechanisms that shape metastatic spread, long-term survival, and eventual outgrowth are examined, with a focus on how tumor-intrinsic programs interact with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, angiogenesis, and immune regulation. Gene networks that sustain tumor-cell plasticity and invasion are described, including EMT-linked transcription factors such as SNAIL and TWIST, as well as broader transcriptional regulators like SP1. Also, how epigenetic mechanisms, such as EZH2 activity, DNA methylation, chromatin remodeling, and noncoding RNAs, lock in pro-metastatic states and support adaptation under therapeutic pressure. Finally, proteases and matrix-modifying enzymes that physically and biochemically reshape tissues, including MMPs, uPA, cathepsins, LOX/LOXL2, and heparinase, are discussed for their roles in releasing stored growth signals and building permissive niches that enable seeding and colonization. In parallel, immune-evasion strategies that protect circulating and newly seeded tumor cells are discussed, including platelet-mediated shielding, suppressive myeloid populations, checkpoint signaling, and stromal barriers that exclude effector lymphocytes. A major focus is metastatic dormancy, cellular, angiogenic, and immune-mediated, framed as a reversible survival state regulated by stress signaling, adhesion cues, metabolic rewiring, and niche constraints, and as a key determinant of late relapse. Tumor-specific metastatic programs across mesenchymal malignancies (osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and liposarcoma) and selected high-burden cancers (melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, glioblastoma, and breast cancer) are highlighted, emphasizing shared principles and divergent organotropisms. Emerging therapeutic strategies that target both the “seed” and the “soil” are also discussed, including immunotherapy combinations, stromal/ECM normalization, chemokine-axis inhibition, epigenetic reprogramming, and liquid-biopsy-enabled minimal residual disease monitoring, to prevent reactivation and improve durable control of metastatic disease. Full article

Miniature commercial trucks constitute a critical component of urban freight systems but face elevated crash risk due to distinctive driving patterns, frequent operation, and variable loads. This study quantifies how long-term and short-term driving behaviors jointly shape crash economic loss levels and identifies factors most strongly associated with severe claims. A driver-level dataset linking multi-source running behavior indicators, vehicle attributes, and insurance claims is constructed, and an enhanced Wasserstein generative adversarial network with Euclidean distance is employed to synthesize minority crash samples and alleviate class imbalance. Crash economic loss levels are modeled using a random-effects generalized ordinal logit specification, and model performance is compared with a generalized ordered logit benchmark. Marginal effects analysis is used to evaluate the influence of pre-collision driving states (straight, turning, reversing, rolling, following closely) and key behavioral indicators. Results indicate significant effects of inter-provincial duration and count ratios, morning and empty-trip frequencies, no-claim discount coefficients, and vehicle age on crash economic loss, with prolonged speeding duration and fatigued mileage associated with major losses, whereas frequent speeding and fatigue episodes are primarily linked to minor claims. These findings clarify causal patterns for miniature commercial truck crashes with different economic losses and provide an empirical basis for targeted safety interventions and refined insurance pricing. Full article

Background/Objectives: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) improves obesity-related metabolic disorders, yet post-operative dietary composition critically shapes outcomes. This study explored how RYGB and high-fat diet (HFD) differentially regulate hepatic transcriptional programs. Methods: We performed RNA-seq on liver tissues from diet-induced obese C57BL/6 male mice 8 weeks post-RYGB or sham surgery, maintained on chow or HFD. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using DESeq2. Gene sets were categorized as RYGB-induced (commonly regulated by surgery across diets), Reversal (RYGB-driven counter-regulation of obesity-induced changes), and HFD-induced (commonly regulated by diet). A subset of RYGB-specific HFD-induced genes was derived by excluding HFD-induced genes from the RYGB Chow vs. RYGB HFD contrast. Pathway enrichment was conducted using STRING. Results: RYGB induced 365 DEGs, including pathways related to extracellular remodeling and reduced mitochondrial/antioxidant activity. Among these, 119 Reversal genes countered obesity-associated transcriptional patterns and accounted for ~27% of the RYGB-induced enrichment results. HFD regulated 860 DEGs, highlighting stress responses and translational repression. Lastly, a set of 426 RYGB-specific HFD-induced genes revealed persistent hepatic inflammation, coagulation, and iron dysregulation under HFD despite surgery. Conclusions: RYGB induces robust hepatic transcriptomic changes that attenuate obesity-driven dysregulation, including a coordinated reprogramming of iron-handling pathways. However, high dietary fat partially overrides these benefits, promoting inflammatory, metabolic stress, and iron-related stress. Optimizing post-operative diets and carefully managing micronutrient intake, especially iron, may enhance RYGB’s metabolic efficacy and long-term liver health. Full article