Silicon Etching Using Copper-Metal-Assisted Chemical Etching: Unveiling the Role of CuO in Microscale Structure Fabrication.

Achieving precise and cost-effective etching in the field of silicon three-dimensional (3D) structure fabrication remains a significant challenge. Here, we present the successful fabrication of microscale anisotropic Si structures with an etching anisotropy of 0.73 using Cu-metal-assisted chemical etching (Cu-MACE) and propose a mechanism to elucidate the chemical behavior of Cu within the MACE solution.

Ultralow Voltage High-Performance Nanocellulose-Based Electro-Ionic Actuators for Soft Robots.

High-performance eco-friendly soft actuators showing large displacement, fast response, and long-term operational capability require further development for next-generation bioinspired soft robots. Herein, we report an electro-ionic soft actuator based on carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals (CCNC) and carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (CCNF), graphene nanoplatelets (GN), and ionic liquid (IL). The actuator exhibited exceptional actuation performances, achieving large displacements ranging from 1.

Sub-Terahertz Imaging-Based Real-Time Non-Destructive Inspection System for Estimating Water Activity and Foreign Matter Depth in Seaweed.

As the importance of hygiene and safety management in food manufacturing has been increasingly emphasized, research on non-destructive and non-contact inspection technologies has become more active. This study proposes a real-time and non-destructive food inspection system with sub-terahertz waves which penetrates non-conducting materials by using a frequency of 0.1 THz.

SAM: Semi-Active Mechanism for Extensible Continuum Manipulator and Real-Time Hysteresis Compensation Control Algorithm.

Background: Cable-driven continuum manipulators (CDCMs) enable scar-free procedures but face limitations in workspace and control accuracy due to hysteresis.

Methods: We introduce an extensible CDCM with a semi-active mechanism (SAM) and develop a real-time hysteresis compensation control algorithm using a temporal convolution network (TCN) based on data collected from fiducial markers and RGBD sensing.

Results: Performance validation shows the proposed controller significantly reduces hysteresis by up to 69.

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p18 regulates lineage transitions of excitatory neurons, astrocytes, and interneurons in the mouse cortex.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) can give rise to both neurons and glia, but the regulatory mechanisms governing their differentiation transitions remain incompletely understood. Here, we address the role of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDKIs) in the later stages of dorsal cortical development. We find that the CDKIs p18 and p27 are upregulated at the onset of astrocyte generation.

Advancements in framework materials for enhanced energy harvesting.

Energy harvesting, the process of capturing ambient energy from various sources and converting it into usable electrical power, has attracted a lot of attention due to its potential to provide long-term and self-sufficient energy solutions. This comprehensive review thoroughly explores the use of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) for energy harvesting by piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators (PENGs and TENGs). It begins by classifying and outlining the structural diversity of MOFs and COFs, which is key to understanding their importance in energy applications.

Crosstalk between lipocalin-2 and IL-6 in traumatic brain injury: Closely related biomarkers.

Clinical biomarkers are crucial for diagnosing and predicting outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study, we performed an unbiased analysis of plasma proteins in acute TBI patients using bead-based multiplex assays and identified a strong positive correlation between LCN2 and IL-6 levels. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that LCN2 and IL-6 are closely related circulating biomarkers for TBI.

Curvature-Specific Coupling Electrode Design for a Stretchable Three-Dimensional Inorganic Piezoelectric Nanogenerator.

Structures such as 3D buckling have been widely used to impart stretchability to devices. However, these structures have limitations when applied to piezoelectric devices due to the uneven distribution of internal strain during deformation. When strains with opposite directions simultaneously affect piezoelectric materials, the electric output can decrease due to cancellation.

Ultrafast acousto-optic modulation at the near-infrared spectral range by interlayer vibrations.

The acousto-optic modulation over a broad near-infrared (NIR) spectrum with high speed, excellent integrability, and relatively simple scheme is crucial for the application of next-generation opto-electronic and photonic devices. This study aims to experimentally demonstrate ultrafast acousto-optic phenomena in the broad NIR spectral range of 0.77-1.

Mechanical shutdown of battery separators: Silicon anode failure.

The pulverization of silicon (Si) anode materials is recognized as a major cause of their poor cycling performance, yet a mechanistic understanding of this degradation from a full cell perspective remains elusive. Here, we identify an overlooked contributor to Si anode failure: mechanical shutdown of separators. Through mechano-structural characterization of Si full cells, combined with digital-twin simulation, we demonstrate that the volume expansion of Si exerts localized compressive stress on commercial polyethylene separators, leading to pore collapse.

The Impact of Odor Category Similarity on Multimedia Experience.

Although we have multiple senses, multimedia mainly targets vision and olfaction. To expand the senses impacted by multimedia, olfactory stimulation has been used to enhance the sense of reality. Odors are primarily matched with objects in scenes.

Bidirectional Control of Emotional Behaviors by Excitatory and Inhibitory Neurons in the Orbitofrontal Cortex.

The orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) plays a crucial role in mood disorders; however, its specific role in the emotional behaviors of mice remains unclear. This study investigates the bidirectional control of emotional behaviors using population calcium dynamics and optogenetic manipulation of OFC neurons. Fiber photometry of OFC neurons revealed that OFC excitatory neurons consistently responded to the onset and offset of aversive conditions, showing decreased activation in response to anxiogenic and stressful stimuli, including tail suspension, restraint stress, and exposure to the center of the open field.

Identification and comparison of protein composition of biofilms in response to EGCG from and , which showed opposite patterns in biofilm-forming abilities.

Bacterial biofilm is resistant to conventional antibiotic treatments, leading to complications associated with many infection-related human diseases. Epigallocatechin Gallate (EGCG), a phenolic catechin enriched in green tea, is recognized for its anti-bacterial and anti-biofilm activities. In this study, we examined the protein components of the biofilms formed in the absence or presence of EGCG using and which had shown opposing patterns in biofilm formation.

Phytochrome-interacting factors PIF4 and PIF5 directly regulate autophagy during leaf senescence in Arabidopsis.

During leaf senescence, autophagy plays a critical role by removing damaged cellular components and participating in nutrient remobilization to sink organs. However, how AUTOPHGAY (ATG) genes are regulated during natural leaf senescence remains largely unknown. In this study, we attempted to identify upstream transcriptional regulator(s) of ATGs and their molecular basis during leaf senescence in Arabidopsis through the combined analyses of promoter binding, autophagy flux, and genetic interactions.

Conserved pattern-based classification of human odorant receptor multigene family.

Conserved protein-coding sequences are critical for maintaining protein function across species. Odorant receptors (ORs), a large poorly understood multigene family responsible for odor detection, lack comprehensive classification methods that reflect their functional diversity. In this study, we propose a new approach called conserved motif-based classification (CMC) for classifying ORs based on amino acid sequence similarities within conserved motifs.

Niclosamide attenuates calcification in human heart valvular interstitial cells through inhibition of the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is a considerable health burden with a lack of effective therapeutic options. There is an urgent need to develop interventions that inhibit the osteogenic transformation of valvular interstitial cells (VICs) and delay the calcification process. Niclosamide, an FDA-approved anti-helminthic drug, has emerged as a promising candidate that demonstrates a negative regulatory effect on porcine VICs calcification.

Tailoring-Orientated Deposition of LiS for Extreme Fast-Charging Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Precipitation/dissolution of insulating LiS has long been recognized as the rate-determining step in lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, which dramatically undermines sulfur utilization at elevated charging rates. Herein, we present an orientated LiS deposition strategy to achieve extreme fast charging (XFC, ≤15 min) through synergistic control of porosity, electronic conductivity, and anchoring sites of electrode substrate. Via magnesiothermic reduction of a zeolitic imidazolate framework, a nitrogen-doped and hierarchical porous carbon with highly graphitic phase was developed.

Effect of incorporated transition metals on the adsorption mechanisms of radioactive cesium in Prussian blue analogs.

Extensive efforts were made to remove radioactive cesium (Cs) from the environment, with Prussian blue analogs (PBAs) emerging as highly selective and efficient materials for Cs removal. However, limited studies systematically compared Cs adsorption across different transition metals in PBA. This study investigates the influence of the choice of transition metal ion (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn) on Cs adsorption mechanisms and efficiency.

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Grading in Multiple Level Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks.

Study Design: Retrospective magnetic resonance imaging grading with comparison between experts and deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs).

Objective: The application of deep learning to clinical diagnosis has gained popularity. This approach can accelerate image interpretation and serve as a screening tool to help doctors.

Cobalt Nitride-Implanted PtCo Intermetallic Nanocatalysts for Ultrahigh Fuel Cell Cathode Performance.

Stable and active oxygen reduction electrocatalysts are essential for practical fuel cells. Herein, we report a novel class of highly ordered platinum-cobalt (Pt-Co) alloys embedded with cobalt nitride. The intermetallic core-shell catalyst demonstrates an initial mass activity of 0.