Multimodal deep ensemble classification system with wearable vibration sensor for detecting throat-related events.

Dysphagia, a swallowing disorder, requires continuous monitoring of throat-related events to obtain comprehensive insights into the patient's pharyngeal and laryngeal functions. However, conventional assessments were performed by medical professionals in clinical settings, limiting persistent monitoring. We demonstrate feasibility of a ubiquitous monitoring system for autonomously detecting throat-related events utilizing a soft skin-attachable throat vibration sensor (STVS).

An organic electrochemical neuron for a neuromorphic perception system.

Human perception systems are highly refined, relying on an adaptive, plastic, and event-driven network of sensory neurons. Drawing inspiration from Nature, neuromorphic perception systems hold tremendous potential for efficient multisensory signal processing in the physical world; however, the development of an efficient artificial neuron with a widely calibratable spiking range and reduced footprint remains challenging. Here, we report an efficient organic electrochemical neuron (OECN) with reduced footprint (<37 mm) based on high-performance vertical OECT (vOECT) complementary circuitry enabled by an advanced n-type polymer for balanced p-/n-type vOECT performance.

Air and Thermally Stable Cyclic (Alkyl)(amino)carbene Ruthenium Complexes for Efficient Ring Expansion Metathesis Polymerization.

Ring expansion metathesis polymerization (REMP) has emerged as a potent strategy for obtaining cyclic polymers over the past two decades. The scope of monomers, however, remains limited due to the poor functional group tolerance and stability of the catalyst, necessitating a rational catalyst design to address this constraint. Here, we present ruthenium complexes featuring tethered cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene ligands for REMP, aiming to deepen our understanding of the structure-property relationship in newly designed catalysts.

Designing a Multivariate Belt Conveyor Idler Stall Detection and Identification System with Scalability Analysis.

Belt conveyor idlers are freely rotating idlers supporting the belt of a conveyor, and can induce severe frictional damage to the belt as they fail. Therefore, fast and accurate detection of idler faults is crucial for the effective maintenance of belt conveyor systems. In this article, we implement and evaluate the performance of an idler stall detection system based on a multivariate deep learning model using accelerometers and microphone sensor data.

Stem Cells Within Three-Dimensional-Printed Scaffolds Facilitate Airway Mucosa and Bone Regeneration and Reconstruction of Maxillary Defects in Rabbits.

: Current craniofacial reconstruction surgical methods have limitations because they involve facial deformation. The craniofacial region includes many areas where the mucosa, exposed to air, is closely adjacent to bone, with the maxilla being a prominent example of this structure. Therefore, this study explored whether human neural-crest-derived stem cells (hNTSCs) aid bone and airway mucosal regeneration during craniofacial reconstruction using a rabbit model.

Enabling immune checkpoint blockade efficacy in T-lymphopenia by restoring CD8 T cell dynamics with IL-7 cytokine therapy.

Introduction: T-lymphopenia (TLP) is a frequently observed condition in cancer patients, often exacerbated by conventional chemo/radiotherapy, which impairs the efficacy of subsequent immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. This study aimed to understand the impact of TLP on ICB responsiveness and explore potential therapeutic strategies to enhance antitumor immunity.

Methods: To investigate ICB responsiveness depending on the severity of TLP, first, we established TLP mouse models that mimic clinically observed mild and severe TLP through thymectomy and anti-Thy1-induced peripheral T cell depletion.

Junctional Role of Anionic Domain of Mussel Foot Protein Type 4 in Underwater Mussel Adhesion.

Mussel byssi form a robust underwater adhesive system, anchoring to various surfaces in harsh marine environments. Central to byssus is foot protein type 4 (fp-4), a junction protein connecting collagenous threads to proteinaceous plaque. This study investigated an anionic plaque-binding domain of fp-4 (fp-4a) and its interactions with cationic foot proteins (fp-1, fp-5, and fp-151 as model substitutes for fp-2) and metal ions (Ca, Fe, and V).

Anti-aliased metasurfaces beyond the Nyquist limit.

Sampling is a pivotal element in the design of metasurfaces, enabling a broad spectrum of applications. Despite its flexibility, sampling can result in reduced efficiency and unintended diffractions, which are more pronounced at high numerical aperture or shorter wavelengths, e.g.

Bound-States-in-the-Continuum-Induced Directional Photoluminescence with Polarization Singularity in WS Monolayers.

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides are promising materials that not only are atomically thin but also have direct bandgaps, making them highly regarded in optics and optoelectronics. However, their photoluminescence exhibits almost random polarization at room temperature. The emission is also omnidirectional and weak due to the low quantum yield.

Synergistic enhancement of spinal fusion in preclinical models using low-dose rhBMP-2 and stromal vascular fraction in an injectable hydrogel composite.

Spinal fusion surgery remains a significant challenge due to limitations in current bone graft materials, particularly in terms of bioactivity, integration, and safety. This study presents an innovative approach using an injectable hydroxyapatite/β-tricalcium phosphate (HA/β-TCP) hydrogel combined with stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and low-dose recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) to enhance osteodifferentiation and angiogenesis. Through a series of in vitro studies and preclinical models involving rats and minipigs, we demonstrated that the hydrogel system enables the sustained release of rhBMP-2, resulting in significantly improved bone density and integration, alongside reduced inflammatory responses.

Improvement of the weight update and retention characteristics of PrCaMnO ECRAM elevated temperature training.

To achieve both excellent analog switching for training and retention for inference simultaneously, we investigated elevated-temperature (ET) training of PrCaMnO (PCMO) electrochemical random access memory (ECRAM). Improved weight update characteristics can be obtained by thermally reduced ionic resistivity of the HfO electrolyte at ET (413 K). Furthermore, excellent retention characteristics (10 s) were observed at room temperature, which can be explained by enhanced ion storage within the reservoir (or channel) layer ET training.

12″ Wafer-Scale Mass-Manufactured Metal-Insulator-Metal Reflective Metaholograms by Nanotransfer Printing.

The unique characteristics of metasurfaces to precisely control the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light within a thin, flat footprint make them a promising replacement for bulky optical components. However, fabrication methods of conventional metasurfaces have suffered from low throughput and high costs, limiting scalability and practical application. To address these challenges, an advanced fabrication technique is developed by combining deep-ultraviolet argon fluoride photolithography with wafer-scale nanotransfer printing to facilitate the scalable fabrication of metal-insulator-metal structures.

Block Copolymer Electrolytes with Double Primitive Cubic Structures: Enhancing Solid-State Lithium Conduction via Lithium Salt Localization.

We present a strategy for enhancing Li conduction in block copolymer electrolytes by introducing trace amounts of Li salts into polystyrene--poly(ethylene oxide) (PS--PEO), wherein Li ions preferentially coordinate with the -OH end groups of the PEO chains, resulting in the formation of double primitive cubic (3̅) structures. Compared with TFSI anions in Li salts, smaller anions (PF and BF) could facilitate ion localization more effectively, expanding the salt concentration range for developing stable 3̅ structures. The 3̅ structures formed in PS--PEOs doped with LiBF at = 0.

Understanding mechanical failure behaviours and protocol optimization for fast charging applications in Co-free Ni-based cathodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Currently, it is a significant challenge to achieve long-term cyclability and fast chargeability in lithium-ion batteries, especially for the Ni-based oxide cathode, due to severe chemo-mechanical degradation. Despite its importance, the fast charging long-term cycling behaviour is not well understood. Therefore, we comprehensively evaluate the feasibility of fast charging applications for Co-free layered oxide cathodes, with a focus on the extractable capacity and cyclability.

Rewritable wavelength-selective hydrogel actuators grafted with fluorophores.

Recent efforts have focused on developing stimuli-responsive soft actuators that mimic the adaptive, complex, and reversible movements found in natural species. However, most hydrogel actuators are limited by their inability to combine wavelength-selectivity with reprogrammable shape changes, thereby reducing their degree of freedom in motion. To address this challenge, we present a novel strategy that integrates these capabilities by grafting fluorophores onto temperature-responsive hydrogels.

Enhancing Mechanical Resilience in Li-Ion Battery Cathodes with Nanoscale Elastic Framework Coatings.

Lattice volume changes in Li-ion batteries active materials are unavoidable during electrochemical cycling, posing significant engineering challenges from the particle to the electrode level. In this study, we present an elastic framework coating designed to absorb and reversibly release strain energy associated with particle volume changes, thereby enhancing mechanical resilience at both the particle and electrode levels. This framework, composed of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), is applied to nickel-rich LiNiCoMnO (NCM9055) cathodes at a low loading of 0.

Prediction of Patient Drug Response via 3D Bioprinted Gastric Cancer Model Utilized Patient-Derived Tissue Laden Tissue-Specific Bioink.

Despite significant research progress, tumor heterogeneity remains elusive, and its complexity poses a barrier to anticancer drug discovery and cancer treatment. Response to the same drug varies across patients, and the timing of treatment is an important factor in determining prognosis. Therefore, development of patient-specific preclinical models that can predict a patient's drug response within a short period is imperative.

Controlled Synthesis of Perovskite Nanocrystals at Room Temperature by Liquid Crystalline Templates.

Perovskite nanocrystals (PNCs) are promising active materials because of their outstanding optoelectronic properties, which are finely tunable via size and shape. However, previous synthetic methods such as hot-injection and ligand-assisted reprecipitation require a high synthesis temperature or provide limited access to homogeneous PNCs, leading to the present lack of commercial value and real-world applications of PNCs. Here, we report a room-temperature approach to synthesize PNCs within a liquid crystalline antisolvent, enabling access to PNCs with a precisely defined size and shape and with reduced surface defects.

Observation of 1/3 fractional quantum Hall physics in balanced large angle twisted bilayer graphene.

Magnetotransport of conventional semiconductor based double layer systems with barrier suppressed interlayer tunneling has been a rewarding subject due to the emergence of an interlayer coherent state that behaves as an excitonic superfluid. Large angle twisted bilayer graphene offers unprecedented strong interlayer Coulomb interaction, since both layer thickness and layer spacing are of atomic scale and a barrier is no more needed as the twist induced momentum mismatch suppresses tunneling. The extra valley degree of freedom also adds richness.

Sticky organisms create underwater biological adhesives driven by interactions between EGF- and GlcNAc- containing polysaccharides.

Marine and terrestrial organisms often utilise EGF/EGF-like domains in wet adhesives, yet their roles in adhesion remain unclear. Here, we investigate the Barbatia virescense byssal system and uncover an oxidation-independent, reversible, and robust adhesion mechanism where EGF/EGF-like domain tandem repetitions in adhesive proteins bind robustly to GlcNAc-based biopolymer. EGF/EGF-like-domain-containing proteins demonstrate over three-fold superior underwater adhesion to chitosan compared to the well-known strongest wet-adhesive proteins, mefp-5, and suckerin, when adhering to mica in an surface forces apparatus-based measurement.

Northern Hemisphere sea ice variability in a transient CGCM simulation of the past 2.6 Ma.

The recent sea ice changes in the Northern Hemisphere (NH), necessitate elucidating the sea ice variability over the past 2.6 million years (Ma), when the Earth's glacial cycles transitioned from ∼41 to ∼100 kyr periodicity, following the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT) period (0.7-1.

Discriminating circular polarization of light: Left or right?

Achiral dielectric nanostructures provide an efficient method for discriminating left- and right-circularly polarized photons, leveraging the photothermoelectric effect.

Laser-Induced Phase Control of Morphotropic Phase Boundary Hafnium-Zirconium Oxide.

A novel approach to delicately control the phase of a ferroelectric has been developed using a continuous-wave laser scanning annealing (CW-LSA) process. After proper process optimization, the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of 3.5 Å with a dielectric constant (κ) of 68 Å is achieved from HZO in a metal-ferroelectric-metal (MFM) capacitor structure.