Novel Magnetic-Field-Free Switching Behavior in vdW-Magnet/Oxide Heterostructure.

Magnetization switching by charge current without a magnetic field is essential for device applications and information technology. It generally requires a current-induced out-of-plane spin polarization beyond the capability of conventional ferromagnet/heavy-metal systems, where the current-induced spin polarization aligns in-plane orthogonal to the in-plane charge current and out-of-plane spin current. Here, a new approach is demonstrated for magnetic-field-free switching by fabricating a van-der-Waals magnet and oxide FeGeTe/SrTiO heterostructure.

3D active-matrix multimodal sensor arrays for independent detection of pressure and temperature.

Pressure and temperature sensing simultaneously and independently is crucial for creating electronic skin that replicates complex sensory functions of human skin. Thin-film transistor (TFT) arrays with sensors have enabled cross-talk-free spatial sensing. However, the thermal dependence of charge transport in semiconductors has resulted in interference between thermal and pressure stimuli.

GX-188E DNA vaccine plus pembrolizumab in HPV 16- and/or 18-positive recurrent or advance cervical cancer: a phase 2 trial.

Background: In an interim analysis of this phase 2 trial, adding the GX-188E vaccine to pembrolizumab resulted in manageable toxicity with antitumor activities in patients with recurrent or advanced cervical cancer. Here, we report the final safety and efficacy results after a long-term follow-up at the study's completion.

Methods: This open-label, single-arm, phase II trial was conducted in nine hospitals in South Korea (ClinicalTrials.

Bivalves as a Mercury Bioindicator: A National Isotopic Survey along the Coast of South Korea.

Mercury (Hg) is a contaminant that poses health risks for human populations relying on seafood consumption. To mitigate its impact, identifying and monitoring Hg sources have become priorities, notably under the Minamata Convention. Bivalves are commonly used as sentinels in contaminant biomonitoring but can accumulate Hg from diverse environmental media.

NIR-Reflective Black Photonic Films Designed for Effective LiDAR Recognition.

Conventional dark-tone paints absorb both visible light and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, posing a challenge for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) recognition in autonomous driving. To overcome this issue, various chemical and structural coating materials have been explored to selectively reflect NIR. In this study, we newly propose colloidal photonic crystals with a stopband in the NIR range, fabricated through the spontaneous formation of crystalline arrays of silica particles dispersed in a photocurable resin, as a potential solution.

Isotopic fractionation of gaseous mercury in a large industrial city: Spatio-temporal variations and source apportionment.

The source-receptor relationship of atmospheric mercury is a critical environmental concern. However, comprehensive evaluations of mercury pollution based on spatially resolved and time-averaged data have not yet been conducted in Korea. In this study, the spatio-temporal variations of total gaseous mercury (TGM) and mercury isotopes were examined using passive air samplers at 30 sites in Ulsan over one year.

Bernoulli trial under subsystem restarts: Two competing searchers looking for a target.

We study a pair of independent searchers competing for a target under restarts and find that introduction of restarts tends to enhance the search efficiency of an already efficient searcher. As a result, the difference between the search probabilities of the individual searchers increases when the system is subject to restarts. This result holds true independent of the identity of individual searchers or the specific details of the distribution of restart times.

Super-photostable organic dye for long-term live-cell single-protein imaging.

Organic dyes play a crucial role in live-cell imaging because of their advantageous properties, such as photostability and high brightness. Here we introduce a super-photostable and bright organic dye, Phoenix Fluor 555 (PF555), which exhibits an order-of-magnitude longer photobleaching lifetime than conventional organic dyes without the requirement of any anti-photobleaching additives. PF555 is an asymmetric cyanine structure in which, on one side, the indole in the conventional Cyanine-3 is substituted with 3-oxo-quinoline.

Fabrication of high-performance tin halide perovskite thin-film transistors via chemical solution-based composition engineering.

Metal halide perovskite semiconductors have attracted considerable attention because they enable the development of devices with exceptional optoelectronic and electronic properties via cost-effective and high-throughput chemical solution processes. However, challenges persist in the solution processing of perovskite films, including limited control over crystallization and the formation of defective deposits, leading to suboptimal device performance and reproducibility. Tin (Sn) halide perovskite holds promise for achieving high-performance thin-film transistors (TFTs) due to its intrinsic high hole mobility.

Modifiable risk factors for early- and late-onset dementia using the Korean national health insurance service database.

Background: Early-onset dementia (EOD) and late-onset dementia (LOD) may have distinct modifiable risk-factor profiles.

Objective: To identify and compare factors associated with EOD and LOD using a nationwide cohort database.

Design: Nationwide two nested case-control studies.

Axially multifocal metalens for 3D volumetric photoacoustic imaging of neuromelanin in live brain organoid.

Optical resolution photoacoustic imaging of uneven samples without z-scanning is transformative for the fast analysis and diagnosis of diseases. However, current approaches to elongate the depth of field (DOF) typically imply cumbersome postprocessing procedures, bulky optical element ensembles, or substantial excitation beam side lobes. Metasurface technology allows for the phase modulation of light and the miniaturization of imaging systems to wavelength-size thickness.

The Road to Commercializing Optical Metasurfaces: Current Challenges and Future Directions.

Optical metasurfaces, components composed of artificial nanostructures, are recognized for pushing boundaries of wavefront manipulation while maintaining a lightweight, compact design that surpasses conventional optics. Such advantages align with the current trends in optical systems, which demand compact communication devices and immersive holographic projectors, driving significant investment from the industry. Although interest in commercialization of optical metasurfaces has steadily grown since the initial breakthrough with diffraction-limited focusing, their practical applications have remained limited by challenges such as, massive-production yield, absence of standardized evaluation methods, and constrained design methodology.

Flat-Band Electronic Bipolarity in a Janus and Kagome van der Waals Semiconductor NbTeI.

Janus materials, a novel class of materials with two faces of different chemical compositions and electronic polarities, offer significant potential for various applications with catalytic reactions, chemical sensing, and optical or electronic responses. A key aspect for such functionalities is face-dependent electronic bipolarity, which is usually limited by the chemical distinction of terminated surfaces and has not been exploited in the semiconducting regime. Here, it is showed that a Janus and Kagome van der Waals (vdW) material NbTeI has ferroelectric-like coherent stacking of the Janus layers and hosts strong electronic bipolar states in the semiconducting regime.

Optical Metasurfaces for Biomedical Imaging and Sensing.

Optical metasurfaces, arrays of nanostructures engineered to manipulate light, have emerged as a transformative technology in both research and industry due to their compact design and exceptional light control capabilities. Their strong light-matter interactions enable precise wavefront modulation, polarization control, and significant near-field enhancements. These unique properties have recently driven their application in biomedical fields.

Spatiotemporal generation of alternating disparate pH domains audible sound controlled opposing enzymatic reactions.

Intracellular spatiotemporal chemical heterogeneities with controlled properties are essential for life. However, creating these heterogeneities artificially is challenging. In this study, we used both acid- and base-producing enzymatic reactions simultaneously and demonstrated that the execution of these reactions in the presence of audible sound can effectively create spatiotemporally ordered pH domains in a solution.

A human skin-on-a-chip platform for microneedling-driven skin cancer treatment.

Skin-on-a-chip models provide physiologically relevant platforms for studying diseases and drug evaluation, replicating the native skin structures and functions more accurately than traditional 2D or simple 3D cultures. However, challenges remain in creating models suitable for microneedling applications and monitoring, as well as developing skin cancer models for analysis and targeted therapy. Here, we developed a human skin/skin cancer-on-a-chip platform within a microfluidic device using bioprinting/bioengineering techniques.

A Gate-Opening Control Strategy via Nitrate-Chloride Anion Exchange for Enhanced Hydrogen Isotope Separation in Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Efficient separation of hydrogen isotopes, especially deuterium (D), is pivotal for advancing industries such as nuclear fusion, semiconductor processing, and metabolic imaging. Current technologies, including cryogenic distillation and Girdler sulfide processes, suffer from significant limitations in selectivity and cost-effectiveness. Herein, we introduce a novel approach utilizing an imidazolium-based Metal-Organic Framework (MOF), JCM-1, designed to enhance D/H separation through temperature-dependent gate-opening controlled by ion exchange.

Attacking biological problems through single-molecule approaches.

In the last few decades, single-molecule techniques have emerged as transformative tools for exploring biological problems. By observing and analyzing individual molecules, these methods make it possible to investigate fundamental dynamics of biomolecular processes deeper. Unlike traditional ensemble methods that average the behavior of populations, single-molecule approaches provide a unique window to observe molecular heterogeneity, transient interactions, and dynamic processes that are otherwise hidden.

Formation and Surface Structures of Long-Range Ordered Self-Assembled Monolayers of 2-Mercaptopyrazine on Au(111).

The effect of solution pH on the formation and surface structure of 2-pyrazinethiolate (2-PyzS) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) formed by the adsorption of 2-mercaptopyrazine (2-PyzSH) on Au(111) was investigated using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS). Molecular-scale STM observations clearly revealed that 2-PyzS SAMs at pH 2 had a short-range ordered phase of (2√3 × √21)R30° structure with a standing-up adsorption structure. However, 2-PyzS SAMs at pH 8 had a very unique long-range ordered phase, showing a "ladder-like molecular arrangement" with bright repeating rows.

Phase Transformation Behavior, Mechanical Properties Under Thermal Stress, and Slag-Induced Erosion of 2-4 mol% CeO-Doped CaO-Stabilized Zirconia.

We investigated the phase transitions, mechanical properties, and chemical durability of a composition of 9 mol% CaO-stabilized zirconia (9CSZ) doped with 2-4 mol% CeO under thermal stress against molten slag. The monoclinic phase fraction of 9CSZ was 7.14% at room temperature, and CSZ doped with 2-4 mol% CeO showed a slightly lower value of 5.

Salt stress-accelerated proteasomal degradation of LBD11 suppresses ROS-mediated meristem development and root growth in Arabidopsis.

Roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil, support the plant's aboveground organs, and detect environmental changes, making them crucial targets for improving crop productivity. Roots are particularly sensitive to soil salinity, a major abiotic stress that poses a serious threat to global agriculture. In response to salt stress, plants suppress root meristem size, thus reducing root growth; however, the mechanisms underlying this growth restriction remain unclear.

CO Cryo-sorption as a Surface-sensitive Spectroscopic Probe of the Active Site Density of Single-atom Catalysts.

Quantifying the number of active sites is a crucial aspect in the performance evaluation of single metal-atom electrocatalysts. A possible realization is using adsorbing gas molecules that selectively bind to the single-atom transition metal and then probing their surface density using spectroscopic tools. Herein, using in situ X-ray photoelectron (XPS) and near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy, we detect adsorbed CO gas molecules on a FeNC oxygen reduction single atom catalyst.

Tape-Assisted Residual Layer-Free One-Step Nanoimprinting of High-Index Hybrid Polymer for Optical Loss-Suppressed Metasurfaces.

The commercialization of metasurfaces is crucial for real-world applications such as wearable sensors, pigment-free color pixels, and augmented and virtual reality devices. Nanoparticle-embedded resin-based nanoimprint lithography (PER-NIL) has shown itself to be a low-cost, high-throughput manufacturing method enabling the replication of high-index nanostructures. It has been extensively integrated into the fabrication of hologram metasurfaces, metalenses, and sensors due to its procedural simplicity.

Direct Observation of Anisotropic Coulomb Interaction in a Topological Nodal Line Semimetal.

The fundamental characteristics of collective interactions in topological band structures can be revealed by the exploration of charge screening in topological materials. In particular, distinct anisotropic screening behaviors are predicted to occur in Dirac nodal line semimetals (DNLSMs) due to their peculiar anisotropic low-energy dispersion. Despite the recent extensive theoretical research, experimental observations of exotic charge screening in DNLSMs remain elusive, which is partly attributed to the coexisting trivial bands near the Fermi energy.