Search Results (1,277)

This paper presents a case study in which the airborne sound insulation performance of vertical partitions is experimentally assessed and model-predicted by incorporating the indoor environment’s geometric configuration and material characteristics into the analysis. An experimental campaign was carried out to verify whether the partition actually installed in situ complies with the minimum acoustic requirements and to validate the results obtained from the predictive model, subsequently used to evaluate the acoustic performance of alternative configurations. Specifically, a case study was conducted on an existing wall separating two indoor environments at the University of Calabria (Italy), where experimental measurements revealed that the current structure fails to meet the minimum acoustic insulation requirement set by Italian regulation. To evaluate the potential improvement in acoustic performance resulting from the use of alternative structures, predictive modeling based on UNI EN ISO 12354-1 was carried out. In the simulations, the rooms were modeled according to their actual geometry, and different types of vertical partitions between the two spaces were assessed, including heavyweight masonry walls, lightweight gypsum-based systems, and drywall linings, all built using commercially available acoustic insulation materials. In addition, four other cost-effective insulated walls were evaluated, which were insulated, at most, using standard thermal insulation. In addition to acoustic performance, implementation costs were also considered. Among the acoustically insulated partitions, the highest-performing construction achieved a $R_w^{\prime }$ of 58.0 dB for €168.9/m², while a cost-effective construction based on double gypsum boards reached a $R_w^{\prime }$ equal to 51.4 dB with a cost of €65.9/m². Full article

Background: Gingival recession (GR) is defined as the exposure of the root surface due to the gingival margin shifting apically from the cemento-enamel junction. Current effective management of defects related to GR relies on root coverage periodontal plastic surgery (RCPPS), using the Modified Coronally Advanced Flap (mCAF) with an envelope design. Recent literature also reported the association of different biomaterials to the mCAF procedure. In light of these considerations, a systematic review (SR) was conducted to determine and compare the efficacy of all mCAF adjunctive techniques for the treatment of multiple adjacent GR-type (MAGR) defects. Methods: An electronic search was conducted in 2025 on studies published between 2013 and 2025, using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cinahl Complete, to address the focused question: “which is the efficacy of different mCAF adjunctive techniques for the treatment of multiple adjacent GR-type defects, in terms of root coverage (RC), esthetic outcomes, and keratinized tissue (KT) augmentation?”. Randomized controlled trials with a minimum follow-up of 6 months with ≥ 5 patients treated for coverage of MAGR were included. Risk of bias was assessed with RoB 2 Tool. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.4 software and the level of evidence of included studies was analyzed with GRADEPro GDT. Results: A total of 17 studies were included in the SR, 9 of which evaluating mCAF + sCTG (subepithelial connective tissue graft) vs. mCAF adjunctive techniques [Collagen Matrix (CM), xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix (XADM), Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF), Enamel Matrix Derivatives (EMD), sCTG harvested double blade scalpel] were then included in the meta-analysis. The primary outcomes of complete root coverage (CRC) and keratinized tissue width variation (ΔKTW) were statistically significant ([CRC: Odds Ratio (OR) 1.70; 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.18, 2.44; p = 0.004]; [ΔKTW: SMD (standardized mean difference) 0.37; 95% CI 0.11, 0.63; p = 0.005]) in favor of mCAF + CTG. Meanwhile, no statistically significant difference was observed in terms of RES. The certainty assessment highlighted relevant results: despite the lack of evidence in the long-term, a high level of evidence showed that sCTG was more effective than XADM in terms of CRC (p = 0.002) and ΔKTW (p = 0.0001). A low level of evidence revealed that sCTG achieved a greater ΔKTW compared to CM (p = 0.0006). Although no significant differences were observed, a low level of evidence suggested that mCAF + EMD and mCAF + sCTG (DBS) may provide good results. To date, only one RCT showed long-term stable results of CTG in terms of RC. Conclusions: The association of sCTG to mCAF demonstrated better results in terms of RC and KTW augmentation in short- and medium-term follow-ups. Long-term studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of the other mCAF adjunctive techniques, considering limitations due to heterogeneity in follow-ups, distribution of techniques analyzed, and different study designs. Registration in PROSPERO (International prospective register of systematic reviews) was performed with ID CRD420251085823. Full article

This study numerically investigates and designs, through electromagnetic and ray-tracing simulations, two types of double-sided metasurface thermal insulation glazing to maintain visible light (VIS) transmittance while effectively suppressing near-infrared (NIR) transmission, with a partial reduction in deep-blue (DB) transmission, thus reducing air-conditioning load and lighting energy consumption and contributing to overall building energy efficiency. Both designs were optimized and analyzed entirely through simulations, using structural parameter sweeps and AM 1.5 solar spectrum weighting. Design I is composed of two all-dielectric metasurfaces, aiming to maximize VIS transmittance while partially suppressing DB and reducing NIR transmission. Design II integrates a metallic layer with dielectric structures on the front side and employs an all-dielectric metasurface on the back side to enhance NIR blocking and maintain low transmittance under oblique incidence. Simulation results show that Design II outperforms Design I in NIR suppression, exhibiting lower and more stable transmittance across incident angles, while Design I achieves higher VIS transmittance. These findings present a promising pathway for developing high-performance, lightweight glazing for sustainable buildings, improving energy efficiency by balancing solar heat control and daylight utilization. Full article

In the context of increasing urban night lighting, the phenomenon of light trespass in residential areas is becoming increasingly serious, affecting the night comfort and circadian rhythm of residents. Aiming at this problem, this paper takes the night lighting of activity places in old multi-story residential areas of Shijingshan, Beijing, as the research object, and proposes a research framework integrating parametric modeling, multi-objective optimization, correlation analysis, and scheme decision-making, aiming to trade off the two objectives of maximizing the night lighting of the activity places and minimizing indoor light intrusiveness. The study first establishes a parametric model based on Rhino and Grasshopper, combines the NSGA-II algorithm with multi-objective optimization simulation to obtain the Pareto optimal solution, analyzes the correlation between the design variables and the objective function by the Spearman method, and finally assists in the scheme decision-making by K-means clustering. The results showed that the streetlight heights (SH), distance between buildings and streetlights (DBS), and streetlight matrix types (SMT) were the key factors affecting lighting performance, which should be emphasized in the actual lighting design. Secondly, the Cluster2 solution set optimally performs the two objective functions. The 18th individual of Generation 15 (Gen. 15 Ind. 18) and Gen. 31 Ind. 42 are recommended, providing practical guidance for night lighting design in residential areas. The innovation of this study lies in applying multi-objective optimization and K-means clustering to optimize the night lighting environment in micro-spaces within old multi-story residential areas in cities, offering new insights for lighting design in similar scenarios. Full article

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major cardiovascular risk factor that induces monocyte dysfunction and contributes to their accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions. Monocyte recruitment and accumulation in the tissues contribute to chronic inflammation and are essential to the pathobiology of diabetes-induced atherosclerosis. However, the mechanisms that drive the accumulation of monocytes in the diabetic environment are not clearly understood. Methods: Primary monocytes from type 2 (T2) DM and non-T2DM individuals were isolated using magnet-assisted cell sorting. To examine the influence of a diabetic milieu on monocyte function, monocytes from T2DM patients, db/db mice, or human monocytes subjected to hyperglycaemia were analysed for their responses to pro-atherogenic cytokines using Boyden chamber assays. Furthermore, the interactions of non-diabetic and diabetic monocytes with TNFα-inflamed endothelium were studied using live-cell imaging under physiological flow conditions. RT-qPCR and FACS were used to study the expression of relevant molecules involved in monocyte-endothelium interaction. Results: CD14⁺CD16⁻ monocytes isolated from T2DM patients or monocytes exposed to hyperglycaemic conditions showed reduced chemotactic responses towards atherosclerosis-promoting cytokines, CCL2 and CX3CL1, indicating monocyte dysfunction. Under flow conditions, the transendothelial migration (TEM) capacity of T2DM monocytes was significantly reduced. Even though these monocytes adhered to the endothelial monolayer, only a few transmigrated. Interestingly, the T2DM monocytes and monocytes exposed to hyperglycaemic conditions accumulated in the ablumen following transendothelial migration. The time period in the ablumen of T2DM cells was prolonged, as there was a significant impairment of the reverse transendothelial migration (rTEM). Mechanistically, the T2DM milieu specifically induced the activation of monocyte integrins, Macrophage-1 antigen (Mac-1; integrin αMβ2 consisting of CD11b and CD18), and Lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1; αLβ2 consisting of CD11a and CD18). Furthermore, elevated levels of CD18 transcripts were detected in T2DM monocytes. Junctional Adhesion Molecule 3 (JAM-3)–MAC-1 interactions are known to impede rTEM and T2DM milieu-potentiated JAM-3 expression in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC). Finally, the overexpression of JAM-3 on HCAEC was sufficient to completely recapitulate the impaired rTEM phenotype. Conclusions: Our results revealed for the first time that the enhanced T2DM monocyte accumulation in the ablumen is not secondary to the elevated transmigration through the endothelium. Instead, the accumulation of monocytes is due to the direct consequence of a dysfunctional rTEM, potentially due to enhanced JAM3-MAC1 engagement. Our results highlight the importance of restoring the rTEM capacity of monocytes to reduce monocyte accumulation-dependent inflammation induction and atherogenesis in the T2DM environment. Full article

The growing demand for traceable, high-precision attenuation measurements in electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing and low-frequency wireless communication systems has driven the development of a primary attenuation standard covering 1 kHz to 10 MHz. The system employs a dual channel null-detection method using an inductive voltage divider (IVD) as a reference, ensuring the highest accuracy and traceability while eliminating sensitivity to detector nonlinearity. Attenuation at 1 kHz, 9 kHz, and 10 kHz is measured directly against the IVD ratio, while higher-frequency measurements (100 kHz–10 MHz) are performed via heterodyne detection, down-converting signals to 1 kHz for comparison. To ensure comparable accuracy at higher attenuation levels, a double-step method is applied at 9 kHz and 10 kHz to mitigate the increased IVD uncertainty above 1 kHz. Linearity is ensured by suppressing common-mode currents with toroidal ferrite chokes and minimizing inter-channel coupling. Type B (non-statistical) measurement uncertainties are evaluated, with major contributions from the IVD reference, system errors, and mismatch. The expanded uncertainties are 2.2 × 10⁻³ dB at 20 dB, 3.0 × 10⁻³ dB at 40 dB, and 4.0 × 10⁻³ dB at 60 dB attenuation. To facilitate wider dissemination and extend the calibration range, a resistive step attenuator with 10 dB pads is evaluated as a practical transfer standard, providing a simple and robust solution for traceable attenuation calibration in this frequency range. Full article

We demonstrate a dual-wavelength broad-area diode laser system with narrow linewidth and wide spectral tunability using a composite external cavity comprising a volume Bragg grating and a Littrow-type transmission grating. One wavelength is stabilized at 780.25 nm with a linewidth of ~0.13 nm, while the other achieves a continuous tuning range of 772.24–786.43 nm with a linewidth of ~0.17 nm. The system exhibits a side-mode suppression ratio exceeding 20 dB across the entire tuning range. At a dual-wavelength separation of 4.29 nm, the total output power reaches 2.62 W. Additionally, we successfully validate the system’s potential for nonlinear optical applications. Full article

Genomic studies have provided key insights into the molecular pathogenesis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC), including the role of genes involved in the homologous recombination (HR) related to DNA repair and genomic stability. This research aimed to investigate the genetic landscape of HR genes in thyroid pathology, associated with recurrence risk and clinical prognosis. The study involved six individuals with thyroid conditions, including two patients diagnosed with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and four individuals with benign thyroid disease. The research material consisted of tumor samples collected during surgical procedures. Protein interactions were analyzed using the STRING database (string-db.org). Homologous recombination genes were sequenced using the HRR Panel vr1.0 on the MiSeq™ Sequencing System. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a relationship between BRAF mutations and HR gene defects in PTC. Mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, and FANCA genes, typically associated with thyroid tumors, were identified in the tissue of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). A statistically significant correlation was found between the FANCA gene mutation (rs7195066) and the recurrent course of the PTC. The preliminary findings suggest a potential role for non-pathogenic BARD1 mutations in follicular adenoma. No significant association was found between genes involved in homologous recombination repair and the incidence of papillary thyroid carcinoma, suggesting that these genes may not play a major role in the development of this type of thyroid cancer. Full article

This study presents detailed microstructural observations of the mouthparts and sensory organs of adult cicadomorphan species, obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Despite microstructural variation, the overall morphology of the mouthparts, comprising a three-segmented labium and a bundle of interlocking stylets (maxillae and mandibles), is highly conserved across species, supporting its evolutionary significance in sap feeding from floem, xylem, or epidermis cells. Variations in the number and shape of mandibular stylet barbs likely reflect adaptations to different host plant tissues. The presence of an identical dual interlocking system between the maxillary stylets, which is found consistently across taxa, enhances functional stability during feeding and indicates a conserved mechanism among cicadomorphans. The species studied exhibit two distinct types of salivary canal closure: hooked and T-shaped. The latter potentially represents a state linked to specialised feeding strategies, such as sap xylem feeding. On the labial tip, there are different shapes of the anterior sensory fields. This area hosts a complex array of sensilla of different numbers, including gustatory (sensilla peg, PS1 and PS2, basiconica, BS3, double basiconica, DB), olfactory (finger–like, FLS) and thermo-hygroreceptive (sensillum dome-shaped, DS, and coeloconicum, CS) types, which facilitate host detection and feeding site selection. In the posterior sensory field, sensilla contact-chemosensory (sensilla basiconica, BS1 and BS2, and sensillum trichoideum, TS) are present. Mechanosensilla chaetica (CH1–CH3) are widely distributed on the last labial segment and may contribute to labium positioning. These findings emphasise the presence of both conserved and specialised morphological traits reflecting evolutionary and ecological diversification within Cicadomorpha. Full article

We report the simultaneous generation of conventional solitons (CSs) and dissipative solitons (DSs) in an erbium-doped mode-locked fiber laser with a dual-branch cavity configuration based on the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) technique. By incorporating fibers with different dispersion properties in two propagation branches, the laser can establish simultaneous operation in the normal and anomalous dispersion regimes within the respective loops, enabling the generation of two distinct soliton types. The CSs exhibit a 3 dB spectral bandwidth of 9.7750 nm and a pulse duration of 273 fs, while the DSs have a quasi-rectangular spectrum spanning 18.7074 nm and a pulse duration of 2.2 ps, which can be externally compressed to 384 fs. The fundamental repetition rate is approximately 21 MHz, with a repetition rate difference of 216 Hz for the two pulse trains. Stable second-order, third-order, and fourth-order harmonic mode-locking (HML) can be achieved through optimization of pump power and intracavity polarization states. The laser we build in this work has significant potential for applications in high-precision spectroscopy and asynchronous optical sampling. Full article

Low-emissivity (Low-E) glass, crucial for thermal insulation, significantly attenuates wireless signals, hindering 5G communication. Metasurface technology offers a solution, but the existing designs often neglect the etching ratio constraint and lack physical interpretability. In this work, we propose a physically constrained search method that incorporates prior knowledge of the capacitive equivalent circuit to guide the design of metasurfaces on Low-E glass. First, the equivalent circuit type of the metasurface is determined as a capacitive structure through transmission line model analysis. Then, a random walk-based search is conducted within the solution space of topological patterns corresponding to capacitive structures, ensuring etching ratio constraints and maintaining structural continuity. Using this method, we design a metasurface pattern optimized for 5G communication, which demonstrates over 30 dB improvement in signal transmission compared with full-coating Low-E glass. A fabricated 300 mm × 300 mm prototype, etched with a ratio of 19.5%, demonstrates a minimum transmission loss of 2.509 dB across the 24–30 GHz band with a 3 dB bandwidth of 4.28 GHz, fully covering the 5G n258 band (24.25–27.5 GHz). Additionally, the prototype maintains a transmission coefficient reduction of no more than 3 dB under oblique incidence angles from 0° to 50°, enabling robust 5G connectivity. Full article

As a core functional device in microwave systems, attenuators play a crucial role in key aspects such as signal power regulation, amplitude attenuation, and impedance matching. Addressing the pressing technical issues currently exposed by attenuators in practical applications, such as excessive insertion loss, low attenuation accuracy, large physical dimensions, and insufficient process reliability, this paper proposes a design scheme for an RF three-bit reconfigurable stepped attenuator based on radio frequency micro-electromechanical systems (RF MEMS) switches. The attenuator employs planar integration of the T-type attenuation network, Coplanar Waveguide (CPW), Y-shaped power divider, and RF MEMS switches. While ensuring rational power distribution and stable attenuation performance over the full bandwidth, it reduces the number of switches to suppress parasitic parameters, thereby enhancing process feasibility. Test results confirm that this device demonstrates significant advancements in attenuation accuracy, achieving a precision of 1.18 dB across the 0–25 dB operational range from DC to 20 GHz, with insertion loss kept below 1.65 dB and return loss exceeding 12.15 dB. Additionally, the device boasts a compact size of merely 0.66 mm × 1.38 mm × 0.32 mm, significantly smaller than analogous products documented in existing literature. Meanwhile, its service life approaches 5 × 10⁷ cycles. Together, these two attributes validate the device’s performance reliability and miniaturization advantages. Full article

Background: High-temperature stress is one of the major abiotic stresses limiting cotton production. Identifying genetic loci and genes for heat tolerance is crucial for breeding heat-tolerant varieties. Methods: Given the complexity of heat tolerance phenotypes in cotton, this study, which focused on resource materials, identified an A/C SNP mutation at position 5486185 on chromosome D06 within the heat tolerance interval through genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of natural Gossypium hirsutum populations. Results: A total of 308 resource materials were identified and evaluated for their heat tolerance phenotypes over two years of field research. Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) molecular markers were developed on the basis of the D06-5486185 SNP to characterize the heat tolerance phenotypes of these 308 resource materials. Genotyping for heat tolerance-related traits and agronomic traits was also performed. Materials with the C/C haplotype at position D06-5486185 presented increased heat tolerance (higher pollen viability (PV), leaf area (LA), chlorophyll (Chl) and number of bolls on the third fruit branch (FB3) and a lower number of dry buds (DBs) and drop rate (DR)) without negatively impacting key yield traits. This locus is located in the intergenic region of two adjacent bZIP transcription factor genes (GH_D06G0408 and GH_D06G0409). Expression analysis revealed that the expression levels of these two genes were significantly greater in heat-tolerant accessions (C/C type) than in sensitive accessions and that their expression levels were significantly correlated with multiple heat-tolerant phenotypes. Conclusions: In summary, this study developed a Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) marker associated with heat tolerance in G. hirsutum and identified two key heat tolerance candidate genes. These results provide an efficient marker selection tool and important genetic resources for the molecular breeding of heat-tolerant G. hirsutum, laying an important foundation for further establishing a molecular marker-assisted breeding system for heat tolerance in G. hirsutum. Full article

Three-dimensional bulk fin-type field-effect transistors (FinFETs) have been the dominant devices since the sub-22 nm technology node. Electrical characteristics of scaled devices suffer from different process variation effects. Owing to the trapping and de-trapping of charge carriers, random interface traps (RITs) degrade device characteristics, and, to study this effect, this work investigates the impact of RITs on the DC/AC/RF characteristic fluctuations of FinFETs. Under high gate bias, the device screening effect suppresses large fluctuations induced by RITs. In relation to different densities of interface traps (D_it), fluctuations of short-channel effects, including potential barriers and current densities, are analyzed. Bulk FinFETs exhibit entirely different variability, despite having the same number of RITs. Potential barriers are significantly altered when devices with RITs are located near the source end. An analysis and a discussion of RIT-fluctuated gate capacitances, transconductances, cut-off, and 3-dB frequencies are provided. Under high D_it conditions, we observe ~146% variation in off-state current, ~26% in threshold voltage, and large fluctuations of ~107% and ~131% in gain and cut-off frequency, respectively. The effects of the random position of RITs on both AC and RF characteristic fluctuations are also discussed and designed in three different scenarios. Across all densities of interface traps, the device with RITs near the drain end exhibits relatively minimal fluctuations in gate capacitance, voltage gain, cut-off, and 3-dB frequencies. Full article

Background: The ESR2 gene encodes Estrogen Receptor-β1 (ERβ1), a putative tumor suppressor in hormone-dependent malignancies. Although ERβ biology has been studied extensively at the expression level, the functional impact of nonsynonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) and untranslated-region (UTR) variants in ESR2 remains underexplored. Methods: We retrieved variants from Ensembl and performed an integrative in silico assessment using PredictSNP, I-Mutant, MUpro, HOPE, MutPred2, and CScape for pathogenicity, oncogenicity and structural stability; STRING/KEGG/GO for pathway context; RegulomeDB and polymiRTS for regulatory effects; and cBioPortal for pan-cancer clinical outcomes (breast (BRCA), endometrial (UCEC), and ovarian (OV)). We evaluated effects of nsSNPs on ERβ1 stability, ligand-binding/DNA-binding domains, co-factor recruitment, and post-transcriptional regulation. Results: Across tools, 93 missense nsSNPs were consistently predicted to be deleterious. Notably, several variants were found to destabilize ERβ1, particularly within the ligand-binding domains (LBD) and DNA-binding domains (DBD). Putative oncogenic drivers R198P and D154N showed high CScape scores and very low population frequencies, consistent with pathogenicity. Several substitutions were predicted to impair coactivator binding and disrupt interactions with key transcriptional partners, including JUN, NCOA1, and SP1. At the post-transcriptional level, rs139004885 was predicted to disrupt miRNA binding, while 3′UTR rs4986938 showed strong regulatory potential and comparatively high population frequency; by contrast, most other identified SNPs were rare. Clinically, pan-cancer survival analyses indicated worse overall survival (OS) in BRCA for ESR2-Altered cases (HR ≈ 2.25; q < 0.001), but better OS in UCEC (HR ≈ 0.24; q ≈ 0.014) and OV (HR ≈ 0.29; q < 0.001), highlighting a tumor-type-specific association. Conclusions: This integrative analysis prioritizes high-impact ESR2 variants that likely impair ERβ1 structure and shows context-dependent clinical effects. Despite their generally low frequency (except for rs4986938), prospective validation linking variant class to ERβ expression and survival outcomes is needed to support biomarker development and therapeutic applications. Full article