The orientational structure of a model patchy particle fluid: Simulations, integral equations, density functional theory, and machine learning.

We investigate the orientational properties of a homogeneous and inhomogeneous tetrahedral four-patch fluid (Bol-Kern-Frenkel model). Using integral equations, either (i) HNC or (ii) a modified HNC scheme with a simulation input, the full orientational dependence of pair and direct correlation functions is determined. Density functionals for the inhomogeneous problem are constructed via two different methods.

Quantitative analysis on the optical kerr impact and third harmonic generation in beltrami-shaped curved graphene.

We present a comprehensive analysis of the optical attributes of graphene sheets with charge carriers residing on a curved substrate. In particular, we focus on the fascinating case of Beltrami geometry and provide an explicit parametrization for this curved two-dimensional surface. By employing the massless Dirac description that is characteristic of graphene, we investigate the impact of the curved geometry on the optical properties within the sample.

Layer-dependent Schottky contact at TaX-BY (X = S, Se, Te; Y = P, As, Sb) van der Waals interfaces.

The mechanical, thermal and dynamical stabilities, electronic structure, contact type, and height of the barrier at the interface of TaX (X = S, Se, Te) and BY (Y = P, As, Sb) metal-semiconductor (MS) contact are investigated first principles calculations. Binding energies, mechanical properties, phonon spectra and molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations confirm the stabilities of these systems. TaX-BY (X = S, Se, Te; Y = P, As, Sb) MS van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) are found to be metal with a Schottky contact at the interface.

Pioneering non-thermal plasma as a defect passivator: a new Frontier in ambient metal halide perovskite synthesis.

Growing energy demands make cost-effective, high-performance perovskite solar cells (PSCs) desirable. However, their commercial applications are limited due to defect formation and instability. Passivation technologies help enhance their favorable traits.

Leaftronics: Natural lignocellulose scaffolds for sustainable electronics.

The global rise in electronic waste is alarming, driven by the persistent use of glass, epoxy, and plastic substrates owing to their cost, stability, flexibility, and transparency. This underscores the need for biodegradable alternatives with similar properties. This study shows that leaf-derived lignocellulose scaffolds can stabilize bio-sourced, solution-processed polymers by acting as natural sequestering media.

CO capturing by self-assembled belt[14]pyridine encapsulated ionic liquid complexes: a DFT study.

In the current study, CO capturing ability of encapsulated ionic liquids (ENILs) , tetramethylammonium chloride (TMACl), 1,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride (MIMCl), and methylpyridinium hexafluorophosphate (MPHP) encapsulated in self assembled belt[14]pyridine (BP) has been studied. The results show that strong van der Waals forces are involved in capturing of CO by these encapsulated ionic liquids. Strong attractive forces arise from synergistic effect of ionic liquid (encapsulated) and atoms of belt.

Avalanche Terahertz Photon Detection in a Rydberg Tweezer Array.

We propose a protocol for the amplified detection of low-intensity terahertz radiation using Rydberg tweezer arrays. The protocol offers single photon sensitivity together with a low dark count rate. It is split into two phases: during a sensing phase, it harnesses strong terahertz-range transitions between highly excited Rydberg states to capture individual terahertz photons.

Orientational ordering and correlation in quasi-one-dimensional hard-body fluids due to close-packing degeneracy.

We study the orientational ordering properties of some quasi-one-dimensional hard-body fluids, where the anisotropic particles are confined to a straight line, while they are free to rotate in a plane. We examine a class of models where the close-packing structure is degenerate, i.e.

Targeting Cyclophilin A in the Cardiac Microenvironment Preserves Heart Function and Structure in Failing Hearts.

Background: Cardiac hypertrophy is characterized by remodeling of the myocardium, which involves alterations in the ECM (extracellular matrix) and cardiomyocyte structure. These alterations critically contribute to impaired contractility and relaxation, ultimately leading to heart failure. Emerging evidence implicates that extracellular signaling molecules are critically involved in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling.

Modification in electrical conductivity correlated with surface, structural & optical characteristics of graphite ions implanted CR-39.

Ion implantation of laser induced graphite plasma has been performed for modifications in surface, optical, electrical and structural properties of CR-39. KrF Excimer laser (248 nm, 18 ns, 120 mJ), at an irradiance of 2.5 × 10 W cm is utilized for the production of graphite plasma.

Bistable organic electrochemical transistors: enthalpy vs. entropy.

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) underpin a range of emerging technologies, from bioelectronics to neuromorphic computing, owing to their unique coupling of electronic and ionic charge carriers. In this context, various OECT systems exhibit significant hysteresis in their transfer curve, which is frequently leveraged to achieve non-volatility. Meanwhile, a general understanding of its physical origin is missing.

Significant Enhancement of Negative Thermal Expansion Under Low Pressure in CuPO.

Much effort is made to achieve the negative thermal expansion (NTE) control, but rare methods reached the improvement of intrinsic NTE. In the present work, a significantly enhanced NTE is realized in CuPO by applying low pressure. Especially, the volumetric coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of CuPO reached to -50.

Development of Polyphosphate/Nanokaolin-Modified Alginate Sponge by Gas-Foaming and Plasma Glow Discharge Methods for Ultrarapid Hemostasis in Noncompressible Bleeding.

Effective bleeding management strategies in uncontrollable and noncompressible massive hemorrhage are becoming important in both clinical and combat situations. Here, a novel approach was developed to create a superporous and highly absorbable hemostatic sponge through a facile chemical gas-foaming method by cross-linking long-chain polyphosphate along with nanokaolin and Ca in an alginate structure to synergistically activate the coagulation pathway. Natural kaolin obtained from the Marand mine in East Azarbaijan was converted into pseudohexagonal-shaped kaolin nanoparticles (30 to 150 nm) using ball milling followed by a newly developed glow discharge plasma treatment method.

Performance and optimization study of selected 4-terminal tandem solar cells.

Tandem solar cells owing to their layered structure in which each sub-cell utilizes a certain part of the solar spectrum with reduced thermal losses, are promising applicants to promote the power conversion efficiency beyond the Shockley-Queisser limit of single-junction solar cells. This study delves into the performance and optimization of 4-terminal organic/silicon tandem solar cells through numerical simulations using SCAPS-1D software. The tandem architecture combining organic, perovskite, and silicon materials, shows potential in enhancing light absorption across the solar spectrum with complementary absorption spectra.

Coherent Spin-Phonon Scattering in Facilitated Rydberg Lattices.

We investigate the dynamics of a one-dimensional spin system with facilitation constraint that can be studied using Rydberg atoms in arrays of optical tweezer traps. The elementary degrees of freedom of the system are domains of Rydberg excitations that expand ballistically through the lattice. Because of mechanical forces, Rydberg excited atoms are coupled to vibrations within their traps.

Dynamical order and many-body correlations in zebrafish show that three is a crowd.

Zebrafish constitute a convenient laboratory-based biological system for studying collective behavior. It is possible to interpret a group of zebrafish as a system of interacting agents and to apply methods developed for the analysis of systems of active and even passive particles. Here, we consider the effect of group size.

High-Resolution Microscopic Characterization of Tunneling Nanotubes in Living U87 MG and LN229 Glioblastoma Cells.

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are fine, nanometer-sized membrane connections between distant cells that provide an efficient communication tool for cellular organization. TNTs are thought to play a critical role in cellular behavior, particularly in cancer cells. The treatment of aggressive cancers such as glioblastoma remains challenging due to their high potential for developing therapy resistance, high infiltration rates, uncontrolled cell growth, and other aggressive features.

Tuning methods for multigap drift tube linacs.

Multigap cavities are used extensively in linear accelerators to achieve velocities up to a few percent of the speed of light, driving nuclear physics research around the world. Unlike for single-gap structures, there is no closed-form expression to calculate the output beam parameters from the cavity voltage and phase. To overcome this, we propose to use a method based on the integration of the first and second moments of the beam distribution through the axially symmetric time-dependent fields of the cavity.

Impact of semolina-barley mixture on the volatolomic profile of dough and pasta: characterization by a multivariate chemometric approach.

Background: Barley flour, known to be rich in various phytochemicals, has been demonstrated to improve the technological and nutritional properties of pasta; however, its volatile profile, on which its aromatic properties depend, also plays an important role in the acceptance of barley-enriched pasta. In the present work, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of semolina doughs enriched with different percentages of barley and of the related pasta were characterized by solid phase micro-extraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and evaluated using a multivariate statistical approach, including principal component analysis (PCA), cluster heatmaps, Pearson's and Spearman's correlations, and partial least squares correlation (PLSC).

Results: The effects of single raw materials, and their interactions, were studied to establish their importance in the volatile profile of the samples, and the correlation between the dough VOCs and the processed product VOCs was assessed.

Nano-antennas with decoupled transparent leads for optoelectronic studies.

Performing electrical measurements on single plasmonic nanostructures presents a challenging task due to the limitations in contacting the structure without disturbing its optical properties. In this work, we show two ways to overcome this problem by fabricating bow-tie nano-antennas with indium tin oxide leads. Indium tin oxide is transparent in the visible range and electrically conducting, but non-conducting at optical frequencies.

Tunable positions of Weyl nodes via magnetism and pressure in the ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal CeAlSi.

The noncentrosymmetric ferromagnetic Weyl semimetal CeAlSi with simultaneous space-inversion and time-reversal symmetry breaking provides a unique platform for exploring novel topological states. Here, by employing multiple experimental techniques, we demonstrate that ferromagnetism and pressure can serve as efficient parameters to tune the positions of Weyl nodes in CeAlSi. At ambient pressure, a magnetism-facilitated anomalous Hall/Nernst effect (AHE/ANE) is uncovered.