Preparation of Permeable Porous Alumina Ceramics by Gel Casting Combined with Particle Stacking and Sintering Method.

Porous ceramics have been widely used in various fields. In this paper, porous ceramics with through-hole structures were prepared using a novel and eco-friendly gel casting method with carrageenan as the gelling agent. Especially, the idea of large size particle stacking is introduced into the gel casting process.

Two-photon absorption induced photocurrent of a -GaO film photodetector.

The ultra-wide bandgap and diverse material systems of gallium oxide (GaO) make it an attractive candidate for cutting-edge semiconductor research. In this work, two-photon absorption induced photocurrent generation in a -GaO film photodetector was investigated using femtosecond laser pulses over a wide range of average incident powers and input laser wavelengths. The occurrence of two-photon absorption (TPA) in nonlinear photocurrent generation was confirmed by analyzing the power-dependent response in which the photocurrent of the -GaO film photodetectors shows a quadratic dependence on incident power.

Deterministic Memristive Polarization Switching in Relaxor Ferroelectrics.

The burgeoning field of neuromorphic computing demands ferroelectric materials exhibiting memristive multilevel polarization to enable high-density memory storage and brain-inspired devices. Here, it is demonstrated deterministic multilevel polarization in a relaxor ferroelectric-rhombohedral PMN-PT through domain engineering, achieving precise control over stepwise domain switching. Using reciprocal space mapping (RSM) and in situ second-harmonic generation (SHG), it is shown that optimized electric pulses guide multi-domain switching to a 4R engineered domain state, stabilizing memristive behavior.

Discrete Element Method (DEM) Studies on Correcting the Particle Size Effect on the Shear Behaviors of Gravelly Soils.

The presence of overlarge gravel particles poses significant challenges for laboratory testing on prototype gravelly soils due to sample size limitations. To address this issue, replacement techniques, such as substituting overlarge particles with finer materials, offer practical solutions. However, the impact of these techniques on the mechanical behavior of gravelly soils, particularly shear strength and stiffness, remains poorly understood.

Ultrasensitive Deep-Ultraviolet Photodetectors Based On Band Engineering and Ferroelectric Modulation.

Wide bandgap semiconductors have emerged as a class of deep-ultraviolet sensitive materials, showing great potentials for next-generation integrated devices. Yet, to achieve a high photoresponse of deep-ultraviolet detector without complicated designs at low supply voltage and weak light intensity is challenging. Herein, a new way is designed to fabricate an ultrasensitive vertical-structured photodetector with epitaxial 7 nm BaTiO interlayer and 10 nm GaO photosensitive layer, realizing the detection to a rare weak deep UV light intensity (0.

Defect Engineering in β-GaO/4H-SiC Heterojunctions via Kr Ion Irradiation for Enhanced Solar-Blind Photodetector Performance.

This study investigates the impact of 1302 MeV krypton ion irradiation on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of β-GaO/4H-SiC heterostructures. Through a combination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), and current-voltage (I-V) measurements, we systematically analyzed irradiation-induced defect formation and its effects on device performance. The results reveal that irradiation introduces a significant density of gallium vacancies (), oxygen vacancies (), and Ga-O vacancy pairs (-), which considerably alter the material's optoelectronic properties.

Low expression of CD39 on monocytes predicts poor survival in sepsis patients.

Background: Sepsis is a critical condition associated with high morbidity and mortality, emphasizing the need for reliable biomarkers for its diagnosis and prognosis. This study uses advanced immunological techniques to evaluate monocytic CD39 (mCD39) expression as a potential marker in sepsis.

Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 206 participants from the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine between April 2022 and September 2023.

Impact of CT-Relevant Skeletal Muscle Parameters on Post-Chemotherapy Survival in Patients with Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: The study aimed to investigate the association of CT-relevant skeletal muscle parameters, such as sarcopenia and myosteatosis, with survival outcomes in patients receiving chemotherapy for unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, patients who began chemotherapy for unresectable PDAC were included. Sarcopenia and myosteatosis were assessed on pretreatment CT at the L3 level by skeletal muscle index and mean muscle attenuation with predefined cutoff values.

Topochemical Synthesis and Electronic Structure of High-Crystallinity Infinite-Layer Nickelates on an Orthorhombic Substrate.

Superconductivity in infinite-layer nickelates has stirred much research interest, to which questions regarding the nature of superconductivity remain elusive. A critical leap forward to address these intricate questions is through the growth of high-crystallinity infinite-layer nickelates, including the "parent" phase. Here, we report the synthesis of a high-quality thin-film nickelate, NdNiO.

Ferroelectric Optical Memristors Enabled by Non-Volatile Electro-Optic Effect.

Memristors enable non-volatile memory and neuromorphic computing. Optical memristors are the fundamental element for programmable photonic integrated circuits due to their high-bandwidth computing, low crosstalk, and minimal power consumption. Here, an optical memristor enabled by a non-volatile electro-optic (EO) effect, where refractive index modulation under zero field is realized by deliberate control of domain alignment in the ferroelectric material Pb(MgNb)O-PbTiO(PMN-PT) is proposed.

Reduced gut microbiota diversity in ulcerative colitis patients with latent tuberculosis infection during vedolizumab therapy: insights on prophylactic anti-tuberculosis effects.

Background: The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in ulcerative colitis (UC) development. This study explores the impact of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) on the gut microbiota in UC and assesses changes during vedolizumab treatment, investigating prophylactic anti-tuberculosis therapy.

Results: This cohort study included adult patients with UC receiving vedolizumab treatment at Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University from April 2021 to December 2022.

Omadacycline in the Treatment of Pneumonia: A Retrospective Study on Efficacy and Safety.

is an obligate intracellular bacterium that primarily infects birds, but can cause respiratory infections in humans. Clinical evidence supporting the use of omadacycline for the treatment of pneumonia remains limited; therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the potential of omadacycline in treating pneumonia by analyzing the patients' clinical outcomes and the drug safety profile. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 15 patients with pneumonia treated at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine between January and December 2023.

Room-temperature ferroelectric, piezoelectric and resistive switching behaviors of single-element Te nanowires.

Ferroelectrics are essential in memory devices for multi-bit storage and high-density integration. Ferroelectricity mainly exists in compounds but rare in single-element materials due to their lack of spontaneous polarization in the latter. However, we report a room-temperature ferroelectricity in quasi-one-dimensional Te nanowires.

Unveiling the Mechanism of Spontaneous Nanoscroll Formation from Janus Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Nanoribbons.

Due to the atomic asymmetry, Janus transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers possess spontaneous curling and can even form one-dimensional nanoscrolls. Unveiling this spontaneous formation mechanism of nanoscrolls is of great importance for precise structural control. In this paper, we successfully simulate the process of Janus MoSSe nanoscroll formation from flat nanoribbons, based on molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with hybrid potentials.

Multi-Mode Luminescence in Smart Near-Infrared Cr/Pr Codoped SrGaO Phosphors Induced by Three Distinct Excitation Mechanisms.

Near-infrared (NIR) phosphors have emerged as novel luminescent materials across various fields due to their unique advantages of high penetration and invisibility. However, there is currently a lack of intelligent NIR phosphors that can achieve multimode stimuli responsive for sensing applications. In this study, we employed a high-temperature solid-phase reaction to incorporate Pr into Cr-doped gallate magnetite SrGaO phosphor, yielding a multimode luminescent intelligent NIR phosphor.

Sensitive and rapid identification of pathogens by droplet digital PCR in a cohort of septic patients: a prospective diagnostic study.

Background: There is a critical need for a rapid and sensitive pathogen detection method for septic patients. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of Digital droplet polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) in identifying pathogens among suspected septic patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective pilot diagnostic study to clinically validate the multiplex ddPCR panel in diagnosing suspected septic patients.

Over 5 × 10-Fold Enhancement of Responsivity in GaO-Based Solar Blind Photodetector via Acousto-Photoelectric Coupling.

The emergence of the wide-band-gap semiconductor GaO has propelled it to the forefront of solar blind detection activity owing to its key features. Although various architectures and designs of GaO-based solar blind photodetectors have been proposed, their performance still falls short of commercial standards. In this study, we demonstrate a method to enhance the performance of a simple metal-semiconductor-metal-structured GaO-based solar blind photodetector by exciting acoustic surface waves.

Comparison of the clinical efficacy and toxicity of nebulized polymyxin monotherapy and combined intravenous and nebulized polymyxin for the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria: a retrospective cohort study.

To investigate the clinical efficacy and toxicity of nebulized polymyxin monotherapy and combined intravenous and nebulized polymyxin for the treatment of VAP caused by CR-GNB. Additionally, among patients treated with nebulized polymyxin monotherapy, we compared the clinical efficacy and toxicity of polymyxin B and polymyxin E. This study was a single-center, retrospective study.

Si-integrated lanthanide-doped ferroelectrics for a photomemory based on a photochromic reaction.

We describe a Si-integrated photochromic photomemory based on lanthanide-doped ferroelectric NaBiNbO:Er (NBN:Er) thin films. We show that upconversion emission can be effectively modulated by up to 78% through the photochromic reaction. The coupling between lanthanide upconversion emission and the photochromic effect ensures rewritable and nondestructive readout characteristics.

Enhanced gain and detectivity of unipolar barrier solar blind avalanche photodetector via lattice and band engineering.

GaO-based solar blind avalanche photodetectors exhibit low voltage operation, optical filter-free and monolithic integration of photodetector arrays, and therefore they are promising to be an alternative to the bulky and fragile photomultiplier tubes for weak signal detection in deep-ultraviolet region. Here, by deliberate lattice and band engineering, we construct an n-Barrier-n unipolar barrier avalanche photodetector consisting of β-GaO/MgO/Nb:SrTiO heterostructure, in which the enlarged conduction band offsets fortify the reverse breakdown and suppress the dark current while the negligible valance band offsets faciliate minority carrier flow across the heterojunction. The developed devices exhibit record-high avalanche gain up to 5.

Unrevealing Temporal Mechanoluminescence Behaviors at High Frequency via Piezoelectric Actuation.

Mechanoluminescence (ML) materials present widespread applications. Empirically, modulation for a given ML material is achieved by application of programmed mechanical actuation with different amplitude, repetition velocity and frequency. However, to date modulation on the ML is very limited within several to a few hundred hertz low-frequency actuation range, due to the paucity of high-frequency mechanical excitation apparatus.

Observation of Moiré Patterns in Twisted Stacks of Bilayer Perovskite Oxide Nanomembranes with Various Lattice Symmetries.

The design and fabrication of novel quantum devices in which exotic phenomena arise from moiré physics have sparked a new race of conceptualization and creation of artificial lattice structures. This interest is further extended to the research on thin-film transition metal oxides, with the goal of synthesizing twisted layers of perovskite oxides concurrently revealing moiré landscapes. By utilizing a sacrificial-layer-based approach, we show that such high-quality twisted bilayer oxide nanomembrane structures can be achieved.

Recent Progress in Strain Engineering on Van der Waals 2D Materials: Tunable Electrical, Electrochemical, Magnetic, and Optical Properties.

Strain engineering is a promising way to tune the electrical, electrochemical, magnetic, and optical properties of 2D materials, with the potential to achieve high-performance 2D-material-based devices ultimately. This review discusses the experimental and theoretical results from recent advances in the strain engineering of 2D materials. Some novel methods to induce strain are summarized and then the tunable electrical and optical/optoelectronic properties of 2D materials via strain engineering are highlighted, including particularly the previously less-discussed strain tuning of superconducting, magnetic, and electrochemical properties.

Control of upconversion luminescence by tailoring energy migration in doped perovskite superlattices.

We describe an experimental investigation of photon upconversion (UC) in a series of perovskite BaTiO/SrTiO superlattices doped with different lanthanide compositions. We show that UC emission can be effectively enhanced by precisely incorporating a set of lanthanide ions into separated layers rather than homogeneously distributing the dopant ions in the host lattice. The use of an inert layer in the superlattice can suppress deleterious energy cross-relaxation.