Search Results (2,761)

Carbon nanotube field-effect transistors (CNTFETs) are becoming a strong competitor for the next generation of high-performance, energy-efficient integrated circuits due to their near-ballistic carrier transport characteristics and excellent suppression of short-channel effects. However, CNT FETs with large diameters and small band gaps exhibit obvious bipolarity, and gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) contributes significantly to the off-state leakage current. Although the asymmetric gate strategy and feedback gate (FBG) structures proposed so far have shown the potential to suppress CNT FET leakage currents, the devices still lack scalability. Based on the analysis of the conduction mechanism of existing self-aligned gate structures, this study innovatively proposed a design strategy to extend the length of the source–drain epitaxial region (L_ext) under a vertically stacked architecture. While maintaining a high drive current, this structure effectively suppresses the quantum tunneling effect on the drain side, thereby reducing the off-state leakage current (I_off = 10⁻¹⁰ A), and has good scaling characteristics and leakage current suppression characteristics between gate lengths of 200 nm and 25 nm. For the sidewall gate architecture, this work also uses single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as the channel material and uses metal source and drain electrodes with good work function matching to achieve low-resistance ohmic contact. This solution has significant advantages in structural adjustability and contact quality and can significantly reduce the off-state current (I_off = 10⁻¹⁴ A). At the same time, it can solve the problem of off-state current suppression failure when the gate length of the vertical stacking structure is 10 nm (the total channel length is 30 nm) and has good scalability. Full article

Lacrimal cysts (dacryops), which involve lacrimal tissue, are uncommon in dogs with an obscure/unclear pathogenesis. Compared to the current available literature, this report describes the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical features of two cases of unusual dacryops in brachycephalic dogs. A three-year-old male Cane Corso was referred with a 1-month history of swelling ventromedial to the left eye associated with blepharospasm and epiphora. Furthermore, a severe lower and upper eyelid entropion and a deep corneal ulcer were present. B-mode ultrasonography and a CT scan revealed a subcutaneous cyst, closely adherent to the maxillary bone. Surgical removal and the correction of entropion were performed. No recurrence and/or complication was detected by seven-year follow-up. Histopathology revealed a cystic structure with single- to double-cell-layered, nonciliated, cuboidal epithelia. Alcian blue stain revealed rare, disseminated goblet cells admixed with epithelial cells. The epithelium was strongly Cytokeratin-positive by immunohistochemistry and appeared lined by several layers of smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive myoepithelial cells. A 1-year-old male French Bulldog with a 3-month lesion of the third eyelid of the right eye. The lesion (15 mm × 7 mm) beneath the conjunctiva appeared pale-pink, smooth, and multilobulated. Excision was performed by blunt dissection through the conjunctiva on the palpebral surface of the third eyelid. Recovery was uncomplicated, and no recurrence has been noted at three-year follow-up. Cytology of the cystic fluid and histopathology and immunohistochemistry of the cyst wall revealed findings for case 1. To further characterize the SMA-positive spindle cells located directly beneath the cyst-lining epithelium, double-color immunofluorescence for SMA and p63 (a myoepithelial cell marker) was performed on the sample from case 2. The analysis revealed that the SMA-positive cells lacked p63 expression, indicating a non-myoepithelial phenotype. The histological findings in our cases are consistent with previous reports of canine dacryops. The positivity of immunohistochemical staining for SMA in cells directly beneath the epithelium of dacryops in the cases here described in two brachycephalic dogs is consistent with previous reports in dogs and horses but in contrast with a retrospective study about a human dacryops. These results support the conclusion that the pathogenesis of dacryops in dogs should exclude failure of ductular “neuromuscular” contractility. Full article

The growing number of daylighting metrics—often overlapping in scope or terminology—combined with the need for prior familiarization to interpret and apply them effectively, has created a barrier to their adoption beyond academic settings. Consequently, this study analyzes a representative set of established and emerging daylighting metrics to evaluate applicability, synergies, and limitations. Particular attention is given to their implications for occupant health, well-being, performance, and energy use, especially within the context of sensorless smart control systems. A virtual room model was simulated using DaySim 3.1 in two contrasting climates—Seville and London—with varying window-to-wall ratios, orientations, and occupancy schedules. The results show that no single metric provides a comprehensive daylighting assessment, highlighting the need for combined approaches. Daylighting Autonomy (DA) proved useful for task illumination, while Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) helped identify areas prone to excessive solar exposure. Spatial metrics such as Spatial Daylight Autonomy (sDA) and Annual Sunlight Exposure (ASE) offer an overview but lack necessary granularity. Circadian Stimulus Autonomy (CSA) appears promising for evaluating circadian entrainment, though its underlying models remain under refinement. Continuous Overcast Daylight Autonomy (DAo.con) shows the potential for sensorless lighting control when adjusted for orientation. A nuanced, multi-metric approach is therefore recommended. Full article

Microalgae proteins are increasingly recognized in the food and nutraceutical industries for their functional versatility and high nutritional value. Mild alkaline treatment is commonly used for cell wall degradation and intracellular protein solubilization, consequently enhancing the protein extraction yield. The findings of this study reveal that alkaline treatment alone, even at higher NaOH concentration (up to 0.3 M) and treatment time (up to 90 min), was ineffective (max. 2.4% yield) for the extraction of protein from Auxenochlorella protothecoides biomass. This challenge was significantly reduced through synergistic application of mechanical cell disruption using high-pressure homogenization (HPH) and alkaline solubilization. Single-pass HPH (35 k psi) alone without alkaline treatment led to 52.3% protein solubilization from wet biomass directly harvested from culture broth, while it was only 18.5% for spray-dried biomass. The combined effect of HPH and alkaline (0.1 M NaOH) treatment significantly increased protein extraction yield to 68.0% for a spray-dried biomass loading of 50 g L⁻¹. Through replacing spray-dried biomass with wet biomass, the requirement of NaOH was reduced by 5-fold to 0.02 M to achieve a similar yield of 68.1%. The process integration of HPH with the mild alkaline solubilization and utilization of wet biomass from culture broth showed high potential for industrialization of microalgae protein extraction. This method achieves high extraction yield while reducing alkaline waste and eliminating the need for energy-consuming drying of biomass, thereby minimizing the environmental impact. Full article

As global demand for rare earth elements (REEs) increases, maintaining the production and supply chain is critical. Technologies capable of being used in the field and in situ in the subsurface for rapid REE detection and quantification facilitates the efficient mining of known resources and exploration of new and unconventional resources. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a promising technique for rapid elemental analysis both in the laboratory and in the field. Multiple articles have been published evaluating LIBS for detection and quantification of REEs; however, REEs in their natural deposits have not been adequately studied. In this work, detection and quantification of two REEs, La and Nd, have been studied in both synthetic and natural mineral matrices at concentrations relevant to REE extraction. Measurements were performed on REE-containing rock and coal samples (natural and synthetic) utilizing different LIBS instruments and techniques, specifically a commercial benchtop instrument, a custom benchtop instrument (single- and double-pulse modes), and a custom LIBS probe currently being developed for in situ, subsurface, borehole wall detection and quantification of REEs. Plasma expansion, emission intensity, detection limits, and double-pulse signal enhancement were studied. The limits of detection (LOD) were found to be 10/14 ppm for La and 15/25 ppm for Nd in simulated coal/rock matrices in single-pulse mode. Signal enhancement of 3.5 to 6-fold was obtained with double-pulse mode as compared to single-pulse operation. Full article

Indium-based oxide semiconductors have been commercialized because of their excellent electrical properties, but the high cost, limited availability, and environmental toxicity of indium necessitate the development of alternative materials. Among the most promising candidates, zinc–tin oxide (ZTO) is an indium-free oxide semiconductor with considerable potential, but its relatively low carrier mobility and inherent limitations in thin-film quality demand further performance enhancements. This paper proposes a new approach to overcome these challenges by incorporating single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) as conductive fillers into the ZTO matrix and using a layer-by-layer multiple coating process to construct nanocomposite thin films. As a result, ZTO/SWNTs (0.07 wt.%) thin-film transistors (TFTs) fabricated with three coating cycles exhibited a high saturation mobility of 18.72 cm²/V·s, a threshold voltage of 0.84 V, and a subthreshold swing of 0.51 V/dec. These values represent an approximately four-fold improvement in mobility compared to ZTO TFT, showing that the multiple-coating-based nanocomposite strategy can effectively overcome the fundamental limitations. This study confirms the feasibility of achieving high-performance oxide semiconductor transistors without indium, providing a sustainable pathway for next-generation flexible electronics and display technologies. Full article

This study investigates the hydrodynamic performance of ships entering a ship lift compartment that is under the influence of upstream channel geometry and proposes a mechanical traction scheme to enhance operational safety and efficiency. Utilizing a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS)-based computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach with overlapping grid technology, numerical simulations were conducted for both single and grouped ships navigating through varying water depths, speeds, and shore distances. The results revealed significant transverse force oscillations near the floating navigation wall due to unilateral shore effects, posing risks of deviation. The cargo ship experienced drastic resistance fluctuations in shallow-to-very-shallow-water transitions, while tugboats were notably affected by hydrodynamic interactions during group entry. A mechanical traction system with a four-link robotic arm was designed and analyzed kinematically and statically, demonstrating structural feasibility under converted real-ship traction forces (55.1 kN). The key findings emphasize the need for collision avoidance measures in wall sections and validate the proposed traction scheme for safe and efficient ship entry/exit. This research provides critical insights for optimizing ship lift operations in restricted waters. Full article

During the operation of structures, the components and materials from which they are made are exposed to various environmental, technological, and operational impacts. In this context, the use of a modified water-dispersion composition containing finely dispersed fillers with enhanced protective and performance characteristics proves to be effective. This article examines the development of a paint-and-coating composition using hollow glass microspheres and modified diatomite as finely dispersed fillers. The influence of technological factors on the properties of coating materials based on a synthesized acrylic dispersion and fillers—such as modified diatomite and hollow glass microspheres ranging from 20 to 100 μm in size with a bulk density of 0.107–0.252 g/cm³—is analyzed. The optimal formulation of the coating materials was determined to ensure the required coating quality. Experimental results demonstrate the improved strength and hardness of the coating due to the use of acrylic dispersion obtained through an emulsifier-free method and modifiers in the form of finely dispersed fillers. It has been established that the resulting samples also exhibit high adhesion to mineral and metallic substrates, along with excellent corrosion resistance. Moreover, the incorporation of acrylic dispersion contributes to increased elasticity of the coating, resulting in improved resistance to washing and abrasion. The developed protective material can be applied to a variety of surfaces, including walls, ceilings, and roofs of buildings and structures, pipelines, and many other applications. Thus, modified water-dispersion compositions based on synthesized acrylic dispersion showed the following results: resistance to sticking—5, which is the best; chemical resistance and gloss level with standard single-phase acrylic dispersion—no destruction or change in gloss. The adhesion of coatings cured under natural conditions and under the influence of UV radiation was 1 point. The developed formulations for obtaining water-dispersion paint and varnish compositions based on synthesized polymer dispersions, activated diatomite, and hollow glass microspheres, meet all the regulatory requirements for paint and varnish materials in terms of performance, and in terms of economic indicators, the cost of 1 kg of paint is 30% lower than the standard. Full article

In this paper, cultivable actinobacteria were isolated, cultured, and identified from the heavily algal-bloomed waters of Taihu Lake using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Among the isolates, a single strain exhibiting vigorous cyanocidal activity against Microcystis aeruginosa FACHB-905 was selected for further investigation. The cyanocidal efficacy and underlying mechanisms of this strain, designated TH05, were assessed through using chlorophyll content, cyanobacterial inhibition rate, and cyanobacterial cell morphology measurements. In addition, oxidative stress responses, expression of key functional genes in FACHB-905, and variations in microcystin concentrations were comprehensively evaluated. Cyanobacterial blooms caused by Microcystis aeruginosa pose serious ecological and public health threats due to the release of microcystins (MCs). In this study, we evaluated the cyanocidal activity and mechanism of a novel actinomycete strain, Streptomyces sp. TH05. Optimization experiments revealed that a light–dark cycle of 12 h/12 h, temperature of 25 °C, and pH 7 significantly enhanced cyanocidal efficacy. Under these conditions, TH05 achieved an 84.31% inhibition rate after seven days of co-cultivation with M. aeruginosa. Scanning electron microscopy revealed two distinct cyanocidal modes: direct physical attachment of TH05 mycelia to cyanobacterial cells, causing cell wall disruption, and indirect membrane damage via extracellular bioactive compounds. Biochemical analyses showed increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) during the first five days, peaking at 2.47-, 2.12-, and 1.91-fold higher than control levels, respectively, indicating elevated oxidative stress. Gene expression analysis using elf-p as a reference showed that TH05 modulated key genes associated with photosynthesis (PsaB, PstD1, PstD2, RbcL), DNA repair and stress response (RecA, FtsH), and microcystin biosynthesis (McyA, McyD). All genes were upregulated except for RbcL, which was downregulated. In parallel, microcystin content peaked at 32.25 ng/L on day 1 and decreased to 16.16 ng/L by day 9, which was significantly lower than that of the control group on day 9 (29.03 ng/L). These findings suggest that strain TH05 exhibits potent and multifaceted cyanocidal activity, underscoring its potential for application in the biological control of cyanobacterial blooms. Full article

A novel single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), silver (Ag) nanoparticle, and zinc benzene carboxylate (ZnBDC) metal–organic framework (MOF) composite was synthesised and systematically characterised to develop an efficient platform for mercury ion (Hg²⁺) detection. X-ray diffraction confirmed the successful incorporation of Ag nanoparticles and SWNTs without disrupting the crystalline structure of ZnBDC. Meanwhile, field-emission scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy mapping revealed a uniform elemental distribution. Thermogravimetric analysis indicated enhanced thermal stability. Electrochemical measurements (cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) demonstrated improved charge transfer properties. Electrochemical sensing investigations using differential pulse voltammetry revealed that the SWNTs/Ag@ZnBDC-modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited high selectivity toward Hg²⁺ ions over other metal ions (Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cr³⁺, Fe³⁺, and Zn²⁺), with optimal performance at pH 4. The sensor displayed a linear response in the concentration range of 0.1–1.0 nM (R² = 0.9908), with a calculated limit of detection of 0.102 nM, slightly close to the lowest tested point, confirming its high sensitivity for ultra-trace Hg²⁺ detection. The outstanding sensitivity, selectivity, and reproducibility underscore the potential of SWNTs/Ag@ZnBDC as a promising electrochemical platform for detecting trace levels of Hg2+ in environmental monitoring. Full article

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) inks were prepared by mixing SWCNTs with ethanol and varying the amplitude of ultrasonic dispersion. When the SWCNT inks were prepared by dispersion amplitudes at 60% (nominal value of 200 W), the SWCNT inks had low viscosity and a small variation of the particle size. The SWCNT films fabricated under this dispersion condition had well-distributed SWCNT bundles and exhibited the highest power factor. However, when the dispersion amplitude was excessive, the viscosity of the SWCNT ink increased due to the reduced contact between the SWCNTs owing to over-dispersion, and the crystallinity of the SWCNT films decreased, exhibiting a lower power factor. When the optimized SWCNT films at 60% were applied to heat-source-free water-floating SWCNT-TEGs, an output voltage of 2.0 mV could be generated under sunlight irradiation. These findings are useful for preparing various electronic devices with SWCNT films to improve the film quality using ultrasonic dispersion. Full article

This study employs a deep learning-based object detection model, GoogleNet, to identify cracks in cultural heritage images. Subsequently, a semantic segmentation model, SegNet, is utilized to determine the location and extent of the cracks. To establish a scale ratio between image pixels and real-world dimensions, a parallel laser-based measurement approach is applied, enabling precise crack length calculations. The results indicate that the percentage error between crack lengths estimated using deep learning and those measured with a caliper is approximately 3%, demonstrating the feasibility and reliability of the proposed method. Additionally, the study examines the impact of iteration count, image quantity, and image category on the performance of GoogleNet and SegNet. While increasing the number of iterations significantly improves the models’ learning performance in the early stages, excessive iterations lead to overfitting. The optimal performance for GoogleNet was achieved at 75 iterations, whereas SegNet reached its best performance after 45,000 iterations. Similarly, while expanding the training dataset enhances model generalization, an excessive number of images may also contribute to overfitting. GoogleNet exhibited optimal performance with a training set of 66 images, while SegNet achieved the best segmentation accuracy when trained with 300 images. Furthermore, the study investigates the effect of different crack image categories by classifying datasets into four groups: general cracks, plain wall cracks, mottled wall cracks, and brick wall cracks. The findings reveal that training GoogleNet and SegNet with general crack images yielded the highest model performance, whereas training with a single crack category substantially reduced generalization capability. Full article

Water and salt stresses reduce net CO₂ assimilation (A_N) primarily by restricting stomatal conductance (g_s) and mesophyll conductance (g_m), while altering leaf structure, anatomy, and cell wall composition. Although some reports observed relationships between these modifications and g_m, in others they remain less clear. Here, we compiled data on studies in which major cell wall components (cellulose; C, hemicellulose; H; pectins; P) were determined with photosynthetic, structural and anatomical features, obtaining a dataset presenting distinct species subjected to both stresses. Among parameters previously reported to affect g_m (leaf mass per area: LMA; chloroplast surface area exposed to intercellular air spaces per unit of leaf surface area: S_c/S; fraction of intercellular air spaces: f_ias; cell wall thickness: T_cw), pectins and the P/(C + H) ratio were the unique consistently varying in salt- and water-stressed plants. Despite no single trait correlated with g_m, it was positively linked with [P/(C + H) × S_c/S × f_ias]/[T_cw × Lignin × LMA] in studies in which all parameters were tested, suggesting that distinct traits may exert antagonistic influences on g_m. Although further experiments are needed to reinforce our findings, we hypothesize that increases in pectins under stress could limit larger g_m declines, improving g_m/g_s ratio and water use efficiency (WUE). Full article

In this paper, we discuss the prediction of the delivery efficiency of magnetic carriers based on their properties and field parameters. We developed a theory describing the behavior of magnetic capsules in the capillaries of living systems. A partial differential equation for the spatial distribution of magnetic capsules has been obtained. We propose to characterize the interaction between the magnetic field and the capsules using a single vector, which we call “specific magnetic force”. To test our theory, we performed experiments on a model of a capillary bed and on a living organism with two types of magnetic capsules that differ in size and amount of magnetic material. The experimental results show that the distribution of the capsules in the field correlated with the theory, but there were fewer actually accumulated capsules than predicted by the theory. In the weaker fields, the difference was more significant than in stronger ones. We proposed an explanation for this phenomenon based on the assumption that a certain level of magnetic force is needed to keep the capsules close to the capillary wall. We also suggested a formula for the relationship between the probability of capsule precipitation and the magnetic force. We found the effective value of a specific magnetic force at which all the capsules attracted by the magnet reach the capillary wall. This value can be considered as the minimum level for the field at which it is, in principle, possible to achieve a significant magnetic control effect. We demonstrated that for each type of capsule, there is a specific radius of magnet for which the effective magnetic force is achieved at the largest possible distance from the magnet’s surface. For the capsules examined in this study, the maximum distance where the effective field can be achieved does not exceed 1.5 cm. The results of the study contribute to our understanding of the behavior of magnetic particles in the capillaries of living organisms when exposed to a magnetic field. Full article

Purpose/Objective(s): Peritoneal carcinosis can occur in several gastrointestinal or gynecological malignancies and its prognosis is usually poor. With the advent of more effective systemic agents, the overall survival of metastatic patients has been revolutionized and isolated peritoneal or abdominal wall metastases might benefit from local treatments; Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) might be considered in selected patients with oligometastatic presentation. Materials/Methods: Oligometastases were defined according to recent ESTRO/EORTC consensus. Inclusion criteria were as follows: ECOG PS ≤ 2, written informed consent, up to five lesions to be treated at the same time, patients treated with radiotherapy schedules applying minimum 6 Gy per fraction. The primary endpoint of the study was local control (LC); acute and late toxicity, distant progression-free survival (DPFS), time-to-next systemic treatment (TNST), polymetastatic-free survival (PMFS) and overall survival (OS) were secondary endpoints. Toxicity was assessed according to CTCAE criteria v5.0. Statistical associations between clinical variables and outcomes were assessed using Fisher’s exact test, and Kruskal–Wallis test, as appropriate. Survival outcomes were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Results: Between April 2020 and September 2024 a total of 26 oligometastatic lesions located in the peritoneum or in the abdominal wall detected in 20 patients received SBRT with Helical Tomotherapy. All cases have been assessed by a multidisciplinary team. Only in three patients out of twenty did more than one lesion receive SBRT: two lesions in two patients, and five lesions in a single case of colorectal cancer with ongoing third-line systemic treatment. Median total dose was 30 Gy (27–35 Gy) in five fractions (3–5). The most frequent primary neoplasm was ovarian cancer in 14/20, endometrial in 2/20, while the remaining were colorectal, vaginal, pancreatic and non-small cell lung cancer. Four lesions were located in the abdominal wall, while the remaining twenty-two were located in the peritoneum. Concurrent systemic therapy was administered in 18/20 patients. With a median follow-up of 15 months (range, 6–59), our 1-year LC was 100%, while 1-year DPFS, PMFS, TNTS and OS rates were 54%, 69%, 61% and 83%, respectively. Abdominal wall location and treatment of a subsequent oligometastatic recurrence with a second course of SBRT were both significantly associated with improved OS (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively). No G ≥ 3 adverse events occurred. Conclusion: Our preliminary data support the use of SBRT in selected cases of oligometastatic disease located in the peritoneum or in the abdominal wall with excellent results in terms of tolerability and promising clinical outcomes. Full article