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Polymer dielectrics with excellent capacitive performance are urgently needed in advanced electrical and electronic systems. However, due to the dramatic increase in the conduction loss, the energy density and efficiency of polymers degrade severely at elevated temperatures, limiting their application in harsh environments up to 150 °C. Herein, an all-organic polyurea (PU)/polyetherimide (PEI) blend film is designed to prepare high-temperature polymer dielectric. It is found that carrier traps can be introduced by blending, and the hydrogen bond between PU and PEI increases the trap depth, leading to suppressed leakage current and enhanced breakdown strength, thus improving the energy storage performance. PU/30%PEI exhibits a high discharged energy density of ∼3.74 J/cm3 with an efficiency higher than 90% at 150 °C, which is 78% and 70% higher than pristine PU and PEI, respectively. This work provides a facile strategy to improve the energy storage performance of polymer dielectrics by introducing deep traps through blending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to a community prediction challenge, we simulate the nonadiabatic dynamics of cyclobutanone using the mapping approach to surface hopping (MASH). We consider the first 500 fs of relaxation following photoexcitation to the S2 state and predict the corresponding time-resolved electron-diffraction signal that will be measured by the planned experiment. 397 ab initio trajectories were obtained on the fly with state-averaged complete active space self-consistent field using a (12,11) active space. To obtain an estimate of the potential systematic error, 198 of the trajectories were calculated using an aug-cc-pVDZ basis set and 199 with a 6-31+G* basis set. MASH is a recently proposed independent trajectory method for simulating nonadiabatic dynamics, originally derived for two-state problems. As there are three relevant electronic states in this system, we used a newly developed multi-state generalization of MASH for the simulation: the uncoupled spheres multi-state MASH method (unSMASH). This study, therefore, serves both as an investigation of the photodissociation dynamics of cyclobutanone, and also as a demonstration of the applicability of unSMASH to ab initio simulations. In line with previous experimental studies, we observe that the simulated dynamics is dominated by three sets of dissociation products, C3H6 + CO, C2H4 + C2H2O, and C2H4 + CH2 + CO, and we interpret our predicted electron-diffraction signal in terms of the key features of the associated dissociation pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard approximations for the exchange–correlation functional in Kohn–Sham density functional theory (KS-DFT) typically lead to unacceptably large errors when applied to strongly correlated electronic systems. Partition-DFT (PDFT) is a formally exact reformulation of KS-DFT in which the ground-state density and energy of a system are obtained through self-consistent calculations on isolated fragments, with a partition energy representing inter-fragment interactions. Here, we show how typical errors of the local density approximation (LDA) in KS-DFT can be largely suppressed through a simple approximation, the multi-fragment overlap approximation (MFOA), for the partition energy in PDFT. Our method is illustrated on simple models of one-dimensional strongly correlated linear hydrogen chains. The MFOA, when used in combination with the LDA for the fragments, improves LDA dissociation curves of hydrogen chains and produces results that are comparable to those of spin-unrestricted LDA, but without breaking the spin symmetry. MFOA also induces a correction to the LDA electron density that partially captures the correct density dimerization in strongly correlated hydrogen chains. Moreover, with an additional correction to the partition energy that is specific to the one-dimensional LDA, the approximation is shown to produce dissociation energies in quantitative agreement with calculations based on the density matrix renormalization group method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been postulated that within density-functional theory (DFT), the total energy of a finite electronic system is convex with respect to electron count so that 2Ev[N0] ≤ Ev[N0 − 1] + Ev[N0 + 1]. Using the infinite-separation-limit technique, this Communication proves the convexity condition for any formulation of DFT that is (1) exact for all v-representable densities, (2) size-consistent, and (3) translationally invariant. An analogous result is also proven for one-body reduced density matrix functional theory. While there are known DFT formulations in which the ground state is not always accessible, indicating that convexity does not hold in such cases, this proof, nonetheless, confirms a stringent constraint on the exact exchange–correlation functional. We also provide sufficient conditions for convexity in approximate DFT, which could aid in the development of density-functional approximations. This result lifts a standing assumption in the proof of the piecewise linearity condition with respect to electron count, which has proven central to understanding the Kohn–Sham bandgap and the exchange–correlation derivative discontinuity of DFT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For an electronic system, given a mean field method and a distribution of orbital occupation numbers that are close to the natural occupations of the correlated system, we provide formal evidence and computational support to the hypothesis that the entropy (or more precisely −σS, where σ is a parameter and S is the entropy) of such a distribution is a good approximation to the correlation energy. Underpinning the formal evidence are mild assumptions: the correlation energy is strictly a functional of the occupation numbers, and the occupation numbers derive from an invertible distribution. Computational support centers around employing different mean field methods and occupation number distributions (Fermi–Dirac, Gaussian, and linear), for which our claims are verified for a series of pilot calculations involving bond breaking and chemical reactions. This work establishes a formal footing for those methods employing entropy as a measure of electronic correlation energy (e.g., i-DMFT [Wang and Baerends, Phys. Rev. Lett. 128, 013001 (2022)] and TAO-DFT [J.-D. Chai, J. Chem. Phys. 136, 154104 (2012)]) and sets the stage for the widespread use of entropy functionals for approximating the (static) electronic correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuum solvation models are becoming increasingly relevant in condensed matter simulations, allowing to characterize materials interfaces in the presence of wet electrified environments at a reduced computational cost with respect to all atomistic simulations. However, some challenges with the implementation of these models in plane-wave simulation packages still persists, especially when the goal is to simulate complex and heterogeneous environments. Among these challenges is the computational cost associated with large heterogeneous environments, which in plane-wave simulations has a direct effect on the basis-set size and, as a result, on the cost of the electronic structure calculation. Moreover, the use of periodic simulation cells is not well-suited for modeling systems embedded in semi-infinite media, which is often the case in continuum solvation models. To address these challenges, we present the implementation of a double-cell formalism, in which the simulation cell used for the continuum environment is uncoupled from the one used for the electronic-structure simulation of the quantum-mechanical system. This allows for a larger simulation cell to be used for the environment, without significantly increasing computational time. In this work, we show how the double-cell formalism can be used as an effective periodic boundary conditions correction scheme for nonperiodic and partially periodic systems. The accuracy of the double-cell formalism is tested using representative examples with different dimensionalities, both in vacuum and in a homogeneous continuum dielectric environment. Fast convergence and good speedups are observed for all the simulation setups, provided the quantum-mechanical simulation cell is chosen to completely fit the electronic density of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic structure calculations have the potential to predict key matter transformations for applications of strategic technological importance, from drug discovery to material science and catalysis. However, a predictive physicochemical characterization of these processes often requires accurate quantum chemical modeling of complex molecular systems with hundreds to thousands of atoms. Due to the computationally demanding nature of electronic structure calculations and the complexity of modern high-performance computing hardware, quantum chemistry software has historically failed to operate at such large molecular scales with accuracy and speed that are useful in practice. In this paper, novel algorithms and software are presented that enable extreme-scale quantum chemistry capabilities with particular emphasis on exascale calculations. This includes the development and application of the multi-Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) library LibCChem 2.0 as part of the General Atomic and Molecular Electronic Structure System package and of the standalone Extreme-scale Electronic Structure System (EXESS), designed from the ground up for scaling on thousands of GPUs to perform high-performance accurate quantum chemistry calculations at unprecedented speed and molecular scales. Among various results, we report that the EXESS implementation enables Hartree–Fock/cc-pVDZ plus RI-MP2/cc-pVDZ/cc-pVDZ-RIFIT calculations on an ionic liquid system with 623 016 electrons and 146 592 atoms in less than 45 min using 27 600 GPUs on the Summit supercomputer with a 94.6% parallel efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic transitions are observed for the O 2 + –Ar and O 2 + –N2 complexes over the 225–350 nm range. The transitions are not associated with recognized electronic band systems of the respective atomic and diatomic constituents (Ar+, Ar, O 2 + , O2, N 2 + , and N2) but rather are due to charge transfer transitions. Onsets of the O 2 + –Ar and O 2 + –N2 band systems occur at 3.68 and 3.62 eV, respectively, corresponding to the difference in the ionization potentials of Ar and O2 (3.69 eV), and N2 and of O2 (3.51 eV), suggesting the band systems arise from intramolecular charge transfer transitions to states correlating with O2 (X 3 Σ g − ) + Ar+ (2Pu) and O2 (X 3 Σ g − ) + N 2 + (X 2 Σ g + ) limits, respectively. The dominant vibronic progressions have ωe values of 1565 cm−1 for O 2 + –Ar and 1532 cm−1 for O 2 + –N2, reasonably close to the value for the neutral O2 molecule in its X 3 Σ g − state (1580 cm−1). Higher energy band systems for O 2 + –Ar and O 2 + –N2 are assigned to transitions to states correlating with the O2 (a1Δg) + Ar+ (2Pu) and O2 (a1Δg) + N 2 + (X 2 Σ g + ) limits, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an extended dissipaton equation of motion for studying the dynamics of electronic impurity systems. Compared with the original theoretical formalism, the quadratic couplings are introduced into the Hamiltonian accounting for the interaction between the impurity and its surrounding environment. By exploiting the quadratic fermionic dissipaton algebra, the proposed extended dissipaton equation of motion offers a powerful tool for studying the dynamical behaviors of electronic impurity systems, particularly in situations where nonequilibrium and strongly correlated effects play significant roles. Numerical demonstrations are carried out to investigate the temperature dependence of the Kondo resonance in the Kondo impurity model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic spectroscopic study of the dicarbon molecule C2 has important applications in various research fields, such as astrochemistry and combustion. In the short vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) wavelength region, recent theoretical calculations have predicted many absorption band systems of C2, but only few of them have been verified experimentally yet. In this work, we employed a tunable VUV laser radiation source based on the two-photon resonance-enhanced four-wave mixing method and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer to investigate the absorption bands of C2 in the VUV range of 64 000–66 000 cm−1. The electronic transition 23Σg−(v′)–a3Πu(v″) of C2 has been observed and identified experimentally for the first time. The term value Te for the 23Σg− state is determined to be 66 389.9 ± 0.5 cm−1 above the ground state X1Σg+, and the vibrational and rotational constants are also determined. The experimentally measured spectroscopic parameters in this study are in excellent agreement with the theoretical results based on high-level ab initio calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal management of electronic components is becoming popular due to the extensive applications of electronic components in modern machines and automobiles. Natural convection heat transfer is preferred for electronic cooling in the unavailability of power supply or where high energy efficiency is desirable. Pin fin heat sinks offer effective cooling of such electronic devices even with the natural convection mode. Center-cleared pin-fin heat sinks offer better thermal management of a heated surface compared to conventional pin-fin heat sinks. The present work numerically investigates the thermal characteristics of center cleared solid cylinder, solid tapered, hollow tapered, and perforated hollow tapered pin fin heat sinks under natural convection. The numerical results are discussed in the form of steady state base temperature, heat transfer coefficient, mass-multiplied thermal resistance, volumetric heat dissipation rate, and effectiveness of different pin fin heat sink designs under varying power input from 2.15 to 10.75 W. The minimum mass-multiplied thermal resistance (RThM) is found to be 0.11 K.kg/W and the maximum volumetric heat dissipation rate is 1750.3 KW/m3 corresponding to the perforated hollow tapered pin fin heat sink design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modified atmosphere storage containers with gas-permeable membranes are effective in reducing post-harvest losses, mainly at low temperatures but become ineffective in controlling O 2 and CO 2 at temperatures above 3 °C. This study aimed to develop a method to control O 2 in a storage box. This method uses a diffusion tube, that blocks air from entering the box but allows for air exchange when an air blower is activated. The blower ON frequency (BOF) was modelled as a function of temperature, considering the type and amount of produce, blower properties, tube dimension, and the O 2 setpoint. The effects of temperature and gas composition on respiration rate kinetics were analysed with Michaelis-Menten and Arrhenius equations. The model was used to program the microcontroller to control the blower. Validation was performed using a 190 L box containing 25 kg of broccoli. The developed model maintained the desired O 2 concentration under fluctuating temperatures. The BOF values ranged from 25.6 to 549.2 s h−1, for temperature fluctuations between 4 and 23 °C. The time required to reach the 3% O 2 in the box differed depending on the blower's state. With the blower turned ON from the beginning, it took 24.9 h. However, when the blower was initially turned OFF, it took 11.1 h. Despite temperature changes, the system maintained O 2 at 3.8 ± 0.29% and CO 2 at 14.4 ± 0.66%. The system is promising for commercial use and best suited for CO 2 tolerant produce because it requires a separate mathematical model and control mechanism. • Simple method to control gas concentrations under fluctuating temperature. • Real-time O 2 control in storage based on temperature sensor and predictive model. • Mathematical model guides real-time air-blower activation for maintaining O 2. • Suitable for CO 2 -tolerant produce or when combined with CO 2 removal tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current bleep communication system between nurses and interns on-call in most Irish hospitals has been linked with interruption in patient care, disruption to workflow, inefficiency, increased burden and stress to the on-call health staff. A new electronic system was introduced in a University Hospital to replace and eliminate bleep usage during on-call hours. An Intern on-call task electronic template was generated using Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet. This electronic system enabled users to review and respond to requests placed by nursing healthcare staff. This project initially underwent a trial process in three wards for a period of two weeks in June 2023. Interns and nurses were asked to fill a survey before and after introduction of the system. The project was implemented across all wards in August 2023 and a secondary survey was obtained. In addition, the spreadsheets were analysed retrospectively. During the trial, twenty-six interns and twenty nurses were surveyed before and after implementation of the electronic system. Interns satisfaction rate was 73% and stress was reported to be reduced by 65%. Notably, 57% of interns reported a reduction in workload and the number of bleeps was reported to be as <10 by 42%. Nurses reported a decrease in the number of bleeps they needed to send overall by 65% and by 55% for repeated jobs. Workload was reported to be increased by 15% by nurses. However, exactly half of the nurses were unhappy with the new system and stress levels were unchanged. This project has shown promising results, efficient and clear communication was noted with an overall positive feedback and satisfaction rate by doctors. However, as evident, from a nursing perspective further work is needed to further progress into a system that can benefit both parties involved. • Using an electronic system to replace bleeps showed promising results. • Positive feedback and satisfaction rate were reflected by on-call doctors. • Moderate reduction in workload and stress was reported by on-call doctors. • The electronic system is simple, cost-effect and sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi‐dimensional modulation of electromagnetic (EM) waves is critical in various fields such as electronic and photonic systems. Space‐time‐coding (STC) digital metasurfaces, an innovative platform for programmable metasurfaces, offer a straightforward and robust solution for spatio‐temporal modulation, thereby enabling EM‐wave manipulations in both space and frequency. Conventional STC schemes rely on periodic temporal modulations that are uniform in space (i.e., with same modulation frequency in all metasurface elements), and therefore do not take advantage of spatio‐temporal coupling effects that can be induced by non‐uniform periodic modulations (i.e., with different modulation frequencies across the metasurface elements). Here, a novel approach involving non‐uniform spatio‐temporal modulation, alongside co‐prime modulation, is introduced. This approach enhances the fundamental principles of STC digital metasurfaces and facilitates the synthesis of angular scattering responses across different frequencies, guided by harmonic coupling conditions. The proposed strategy results in a more even distribution of the scattered intensity in both space and frequency. For validation, an experimental proof‐of‐principle for spatial‐spectral diffuse scattering is presented. The experimental outcomes align closely with theoretical predictions, underscoring the effectiveness of co‐prime modulation in achieving ultralow‐scattering characteristics in STC digital metasurfaces. Moreover, this technique holds promise for applications in secure wireless communications, radar jamming, and complex beamforming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) has drawn significant attention due to its intriguing properties. Recent advances have encouraged the use of one-dimensional electron gas for high-performance functional devices. Here, we develop a universal method of atomic force microscope tip etching to construct a quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) channel on the STO surface. Ar+ ion beam is used to bombard the SrTiO3 surface for inducing the Q1D electron gas (Q1DEG). Compared with 2DEG, Q1DEG exhibits a significant enhancement in terms of photoconductivity. At room temperature, it exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity to ambient light with increase in photocurrent by over five orders of magnitude. A slow response to the ON/OFF light indicates persistent photoconductivity (PPC), originating from the defect levels. Furthermore, we investigate the wavelength dependence of PPC in Q1DEG. It is found that decreasing wavelength favors photoresponsivity and prolongs the response time. Based on the electron diffusion process in the oxygen-deficient region, a mechanism has been proposed to explain the advantages of Q1DEG over 2DEG in regard to photoelectric response. This work paves a path for the development of high-performance photoelectric devices based on Q1D electronic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of bioelectronics with the aim to contact cells, cell clusters, biological tissues and organoids has become a vast enterprise. Currently, it is mainly relying on classical micro‐ and nanofabrication methods to build devices and systems. Very recently the field is highly pushed by the development of novel printable organic, inorganic and biomaterials as well as advanced digital printing technologies such as laser and inkjet printing employed in this endeavor. Recent advantages in alternative additive manufacturing and 3D printing methods enable interesting new routes, in particular for applications requiring the incorporation of delicate biomaterials or creation of 3D scaffold structures that show a high potential for bioelectronics and building of hybrid bio‐/inorganic devices. Here the current state of printed 2D and 3D electronic structures and related lithography techniques for the interfacing of electronic devices with biological systems are reviewed. The focus lies on in vitro applications for interfacing single cell, cell clusters, and organoids. Challenges and future prospects are discussed for all‐printed hybrid bio/electronic systems targeting biomedical research, diagnostics, and health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early identification of rotten potatoes is one of the most important challenges in a storage facility because of the inconspicuous symptoms of rot, the high density of storage, and environmental factors (such as temperature, humidity, and ambient gases). An electronic nose system based on an ensemble convolutional neural network (ECNN, a powerful feature extraction method) was developed to detect potatoes with different degrees of rot. Three types of potatoes were detected: normal samples, slightly rotten samples, and totally rotten samples. A feature discretization method was proposed to optimize the impact of ambient gases on electronic nose signals by eliminating redundant information from the features. The ECNN based on original features presented good results for the prediction of rotten potatoes in both laboratory and storage environments, and the accuracy of the prediction results was 94.70% and 90.76%, respectively. Moreover, the application of the feature discretization method significantly improved the prediction results, and the accuracy of prediction results improved by 1.59% and 3.73%, respectively. Above all, the electronic nose system performed well in the identification of three types of potatoes by using the ECNN, and the proposed feature discretization method was helpful in reducing the interference of ambient gases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the sensing properties of resistive sensors holds pivotal importance as a non-invasive technology for identifying lung cancer biomarkers. This study focused on the development of a robust sensing platform to effectively detect low-concentration biomarkers with low concentration. Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene was prepared by HF etching and ZnO was successfully grown on the MXene nano-multilayers via hydrothermal method subsequently. TiO 2 –ZnO samples were obtained after the calcination step. Various characterization methods were applied to validate the structural integrity and formation of the TiO 2 –ZnO n-n heterojunction. The TiO 2 –ZnO sensor with a Ti:Zn atom ratio of 1:1 (TZ1) exhibited special sensing characteristics, which can be attributed to the higher activation energy (89.2 kJ/mol) and the more substantial interfacial contact areas between the two metal oxides. This architectural arrangement gives rise to the creation of numerous energy barriers, effectively hindering electron migration. Despite exhibiting the acceptable response, TZ1 can be applied in electronic nose systems to effectively detect lung cancer indicators with low concentrations (i.e., acetone, formaldehyde, NH 3) in light of its high stability and steady signal-to-noise ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability and accuracy of the clock signal are crucial for the proper operation of various electronic devices and systems, as they directly impact system performance. In high-speed electronic systems, the clock signal is susceptible to interference by crosstalk. Therefore, evaluating the performance of the clock signal under crosstalk disturbance is important. Jitter, commonly used as an indicator to assess the degree of this interference, plays a significant role in this evaluation. In this paper, a method is proposed for assessing crosstalk-induced jitter (CIJ) based on scattering parameters. To verify the effectiveness of the method, CIJ was measured for clock signals with frequencies of 25, 100, and 156.25 MHz. In addition, the experimental results are well in agreement with the theoretical model. Thus, the potential application of this method is to assess the performance of circuits or electronic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to enhance crop harvesting efficiency, an automatic-driving tracked grain vehicle system was designed. Based on the harvester chassis, we designed the mechanical structure of a tracked grain vehicle with a loading capacity of 4.5 m3 and a grain unloading hydraulic system. Using the BODAS hydraulic controller, we implemented the design of an electronic control system that combines the manual and automatic operation of the chassis walking mechanism and grain unloading mechanism. We utilized a hybrid A* algorithm to plan the traveling path of the tracked grain vehicle, and the path-tracking controller of the tracked grain vehicle was designed by combining fuzzy control and pure pursuit algorithms. Leveraging binocular vision technology and semantic segmentation technology, we designed an automatic grain unloading control system with functions of grain tank recognition and grain unloading regulation control. Finally, we conducted experiments on automatic grain unloading control and automatic navigation control in the field. The results showed that both the precision of the path-tracking control and the automatic unloading system meet the requirements for practical unoccupied operations of the tracked grain vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering patient room shortages and prevalence of other communicable diseases, reassessing the isolation of patients with Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is imperative. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the secondary CDI transmission rate in a hospital in South Korea, where patients with CDI were not isolated. Using data from a real-time locating system and electronic medical records, we investigated patients who had both direct and indirect contact with CDI index patients. The primary outcome was secondary CDI transmission, identified by whole-genome sequencing. Among 909 direct and 2,711 indirect contact cases, 2 instances of secondary transmission were observed (2 [0.05%] of 3,620 cases), 1 transmission via direct contact and 1 via environmental sources. A low level of direct contact (113 minutes) was required for secondary CDI transmission. Our findings support the adoption of exhaustive standard preventive measures, including environmental decontamination, rather than contact isolation of CDI patients in nonoutbreak settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the main problem under investigation is the detection and diagnosis of short-circuit faults in power transmission lines. The proposed fault detection (FDD) approach is mainly based on principal component analysis (PCA). The proposed fault diagnosis/identification (FAI) approach is mainly based on sliding-window versions of the discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and discrete Hilbert transform (DHT). The main contributions of this article are (a) a fault detection approach based on principal component analysis in the two-dimensional scores space; and (b) a rule-based fault identification approach based on human expert knowledge, combined with a probabilistic decision system, which detects variations in the amplitudes and frequencies of current and voltage signals, using DFT and DHT, respectively. Simulation results of power transmission lines in Portugal are presented in order to show the robust and high performance of the proposed FDD approach for different signal-to-noise ratios. The proposed FDD approach, implemented in Python, that can be executed online or offline, can be used to evaluate the stress to which circuit breakers (CBs) are subjected, providing information to supervision- and condition-based monitoring systems in order to improve predictive and preventive maintenance strategies, and it can be applied to high-/medium-voltage power transmission lines as well as to low-voltage electronic transmission systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) has garnered significant attention due to its unconditional security based on the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. While QKD has been demonstrated by various groups and commercial QKD products are available, the development of a fully chip-based QKD system, aimed at reducing costs, size, and power consumption, remains a significant technological challenge. Most researchers focus on the optical aspects, leaving the integration of the electronic components largely unexplored. In this paper, we present the design of a fully integrated electrical control chip for QKD applications. The chip, fabricated using 28 nm CMOS technology, comprises five main modules: an ARM processor for digital signal processing, delay cells for timing synchronization, ADC for sampling analog signals from monitors, OPAMP for signal amplification, and DAC for generating the required voltage for phase or intensity modulators. According to the simulations, the minimum delay is 11ps, the open-loop gain of the operational amplifier is 86.2 dB, the sampling rate of the ADC reaches 50 MHz, and the DAC achieves a high rate of 100 MHz. To the best of our knowledge, this marks the first design and evaluation of a fully integrated driver chip for QKD, holding the potential to significantly enhance QKD system performance. Thus, we believe our work could inspire future investigations toward the development of more efficient and reliable QKD systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electronic system control of analytical instrumentation remains a critical aspect of modern measurement science. Within the field of liquid chromatography (LC), this is especially relevant for automation, module operation, detection, data acquisition, and data analysis. Increasingly, home‐built analytical tools used for liquid‐phase separations rely upon open‐source microcontrollers and single‐board computers to aid in simplifying these operations. In this review, we detail literature reported within the past 5 years in which these types of devices were used to advance various aspects of the LC research field, including sample preparation, instrument control, and data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular electronics exploits the distinctive features stemming from noncovalent interactions, guiding the self‐assembly of molecules to craft materials endowed with customized electronic functionalities. Hydrogen‐bonded materials, characterized by their capacity to establish dynamic and stable networks, introduce an extra dimension to the development of supramolecular electronic systems. This study presents a comparative analysis of two remarkably small semiconductors utilizing diketopyrrolopyrrole functionalized with urea units as hydrogen‐bonding motifs, strategically positioned at opposing ends of the conjugated core. We show how the subtle distinction in functionalization not only influences morphology and self‐assembly dynamics via hydrogen‐bonding and π‐π stacking formation, but also holds significant consequences for ultimate charge transport properties. Our observations into the interplay of noncovalent interactions provide valuable insights and strategic pathways for the design of novel materials with enhanced electronic characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-volatile memory based on thin-film transistor is crucial for system-on-panel and flexible electronic systems. Achieving high-performance and reliable thin-film transistor (TFT) memory still remains challenging. Here, for the first time, we present a ZnO TFT memory utilizing self-assembled Au nanocrystals with a low thermal budget, exhibiting excellent memory performance, including a program/erase window of 9.8 V, 29% charge loss extrapolated to 10 years, and remarkable endurance characteristics. Moreover, the memory exhibits favorable on-state characteristics with mobility, subthreshold swing, and current on–off ratio of 17.6 cm2V−1s−1, 0.71 V/dec, and 107, respectively. Our study shows that the fabricated TFT memory has great potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topological boundary modes in electronic and classical-wave systems exhibit fascinating properties. In photonics, topological nature of boundary modes can make them robust and endows them with an additional internal structure--pseudo-spins. Here, we introduce heterogeneous boundary modes, which are based on mixing two of the most widely used topological photonics platforms--the pseudo-spin-Hall-like and valley-Hall photonic topological insulators. We predict and confirm experimentally that transformation between the two, realized by altering the lattice geometry, enables a continuum of boundary states carrying both pseudo-spin and valley degrees of freedom (DoFs). When applied adiabatically, this leads to conversion between pseudo-spin and valley polarization. We show that such evolution gives rise to a geometrical phase associated with the synthetic gauge fields, which is confirmed via an Aharonov-Bohm type experiment on a silicon chip. Our results unveil a versatile approach to manipulating properties of topological photonic states and envision topological photonics as a powerful platform for devices based on synthetic DoFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrahigh–power-density multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) are critical components in electrical and electronic systems. However, the realization of a high energy density combined with a high efficiency is a major challenge for practical applications. We propose a high-entropy design in barium titanate (BaTiO3)–based lead-free MLCCs with polymorphic relaxor phase. This strategy effectively minimizes hysteresis loss by lowering the domain-switching barriers and enhances the breakdown strength by the high atomic disorder with lattice distortion and grain refining. Benefiting from the synergistic effects, we achieved a high energy density of 20.8 joules per cubic centimeter with an ultrahigh efficiency of 97.5% in the MLCCs. This approach should be universally applicable to designing high-performance dielectrics for energy storage and other related functionalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent textiles provide an ideal platform for merging technology into daily routines. However, current textile electronic systems often rely on rigid silicon components, which limits seamless integration, energy efficiency, and comfort. Chipless electronic systems still face digital logic challenges owing to the lack of dynamic energy-switching carriers. We propose a chipless body-coupled energy interaction mechanism for ambient electromagnetic energy harvesting and wireless signal transmission through a single fiber. The fiber itself enables wireless visual-digital interactions without the need for extra chips or batteries on textiles. Because all of the electronic assemblies are merged in a miniature fiber, this facilitates scalable fabrication and compatibility with modern weaving techniques, thereby enabling versatile and intelligent clothing. We propose a strategy that may address the problems of silicon-based textile systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we introduce a novel definition for the electrophilic descriptor. Following the proposal of other researchers, the foundation of our approach lies in expanding the change in the energy of an electronic system using a third‐order Taylor series, leading to the integration of hyperhardness into the formulation of the electrophilic descriptor. To validate our results, we conducted a comparative analysis of reactivity sequences among 35 electrophilic systems with known reactivities, as reported in external experimental studies. The electrophilic descriptor demonstrated a remarkable ability to accurately replicate the relative reactivities of the compounds under consideration, surpassing predictions based solely on the electrophilicity index. These findings underscore the significance of incorporating hyperhardness as a crucial reactivity descriptor. Additionally, our study provides interesting insights into the interpretation of this concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conjugated fused ring system of chalcone with D-A-π-A and A-A-π-D framing has been the subject of a detailed study on intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The strong donors (Anthracene and Pyrene), strong acceptors (cyano), and large extended conjugation are in charge for the higher third order susceptibility in order of (10−6 esu) and show good optical limiting behavior with a lower optical limiting threshold which is determined by Z-scan analysis. Computational studies reveal that the higher values of dipole moments, polarizability and second hyperpolarizability values provided evidence that the proposed compounds are suitable as an efficient NLO material. The band gap energy generated from the FMOs was shown to be decreasing while μ increased, which is an indication of ICT occurring within molecules. Natural bond orbital (NBO) studies the different ICT interactions occurring and demonstrated a significant push-pull action for both compounds, with donor (pyrene and anthracene) and negative values for acceptors. The study of single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows the packing arrangements positioned side by side enhance the intermolecular charge transfer between the donor and the acceptor group of the molecules. Based on our experimental and theoretical findings, we can conclude that the studied compounds exhibit potential in NLO applications such as optical limiting devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Decolonization treatment of MRSA carriers is recommended in Denmark, except in households with MRSA-positive children <2 years old (wait-and-see approach). Objectives To investigate a wait-and-see approach in children 2–5 years old, and the effect of decolonization treatment of MRSA carriage in all children <6 years old. Patients and methods In this retrospective follow-up study, we included MRSA carriers <6 years old in the Capital Region of Denmark from 2007 to 2021. Data were collected from laboratory information systems and electronic patient records. We divided children into age groups of <2 years or 2–5 years and decolonization treatment versus no treatment. Treatment was chlorhexidine body washes and nasal mupirocin, sometimes supplemented with systemic antibiotics. Children were followed until becoming MRSA free, or censoring. The probability of becoming MRSA free was investigated with Cox regression (higher HRs indicate faster decolonization). Results Of 348 included children, 226 were <2 years old [56/226 (25%) received treatment] and 122 were 2–5 years old [90/122 (74%) received treatment]. Multivariable analyses did not show a larger effect of decolonization treatment versus no treatment in <2-year-olds (HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.52–1.65) or 2–5-year-olds (HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.26–1.12). Without treatment, 2–5-year-olds tended to clear MRSA faster than <2-year-olds (HR 1.81, 95% CI 0.98–3.37). Conclusions We did not find a larger effect of decolonization treatment versus no treatment in children <6 years old, and 2–5-year-olds tended to become MRSA free faster than <2-year-olds. These results support a wait-and-see approach for all children <6 years old, but further studies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to describe incidence and all-cause mortality of hematological pediatric malignancies (leukemia and lymphomas) in Kazakhstan based on nationwide large-scale healthcare data from the Unified National Electronic Healthcare System (UNEHS) for the 2014–2021 year period. The cohort included data of patients less than 18 years old with the diagnosis of hematological malignancies registered in the UNEHS (inpatient and outpatient registries) for the year period 2014–2021. Descriptive statistics were conducted to indicate socio-demographic characteristics of the cohort. Incidence and all-cause mortality were calculated per 100,000 population. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between determinants with the all-cause mortality. The total cohort consisted of 3357 children with leukemia and 1474 children with lymphomas. The mean age at diagnosis of leukemia and lymphomas was 7.3 ± 4.7 and 9.9 ± 4.9 years, respectively. The incidence rate of hematological malignancies was 6.8 per 100,000 in 2021. Patients with ALL had a higher incidence rate than patients with AML (3.4 and 1.2 per 100,000 in 2021, respectively). The incidence rate of HL and NHL was relatively similar which varied from 0.6 to 2.6 per 100,000 in 2014–2021. All-cause mortality of pediatric hematological malignancies varied from 1.1 to 1.5 per 100,000 in 2014–2021, with the peak in 2016 (1.7 per 100,000). Younger age is significantly associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality in children with AML. Concusion: Patients with ALL had a higher incidence rate than patients with AML. The incidence rate of HL and NHL was relatively similar. All-cause mortality rates for leukemia and lymphomas were quite stable during the study period. Younger age is significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality among AML patients. However, there is no significant association of age with all-cause mortality among ALL, HL and NHL. In order to obtain more reliable data and analysis on pediatric (hematological) malignancies, specific registries for childhood tumors (including detailed information on relapses, treatments, short and long-term side effects, and specific death causes) should be implemented. What is Known: • Leukemias and lymphomas together account for around 45% of all pediatric malignancies. • Lymphoma accounts for 12% of all childhood malignancies; non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) are more frequent than Hodgkin's lymphomas (HL). What is New: • The incidence rate of ALL was higher than the incidence rate of AML throughout the whole study period, whereas all-cause mortality of ALL and AML was quite stable. • According to Cox PH analysis, younger age (0–5 years old) was associated with a higher risk of death among AML children compared to older children, and no significant association of age was observed with all-cause mortality among ALL and lymphomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The possibility to perform standard X-rays is mandatory for all French Emergency Department (ED). Initial interpretation is under the prescriber emergency physician—who continually works under extreme conditions, but a radiologist needs to describe a report as soon as possible. We decided to assess the rate of discordance between emergency physicians and radiologists among discharged patients. Methods: We performed a monocentric study on an adult ED among discharged patients who had at least one X-ray during their consult. We used an automatic electronic system that classified interpretation as concordant or discordant. We review all discordant interpretation, which were classified as false negative, false positive, or more exam needed. Results: For 1 year, 8988 patients had 12,666 X-rays. We found a total of 742 (5.9%) discordant X-rays, but only 277 (2.2%) discordance had a consequence (new consult or exam not initially scheduled). We found some factors associated with discordance such as male sex, or ankle, foot, knee, finger, wrist, ribs, and elbow locations. Conclusions: On discharged patients, using a systematic second interpretation of X-ray by a radiologist, we found a total of 2.2% discordance that had an impact on the initial care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radio Detection and Ranging (RADAR) equipment is a significant information and navigational system onboard vessels and a critical part of a ship's cyber space. It is an electronic system used not only for detecting surrounding objects, to indicate their positions, and tracking targets using radio waves, but also providing safe navigation by receiving and displaying data from other navigational devices. Therefore, it is concerning to see that marine RADAR systems have various cyber vulnerabilities, including data deletion and data relocation. These systems can be manipulated and penetrated via malicious software, unauthorised remote access, human error, or sabotage by internal and external attackers. This is critical to the cyber hygiene of the ship, which affects its reliability and safety. This study performs a cyber risk assessment using the CORAS framework for RADAR cyber security by developing case-based RADAR cyber scenarios in terms of both its specific information technology subsystems and the cyber security control measures. The output of this study includes a holistic and visual assessment of RADAR's cyber security for both its cyber vulnerabilities and cyber hygiene to better protect shipboard RADAR in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transfer of all severe TBI patients to a neurosurgical unit (NSU) has been advocated irrespective of levels of complexity and prognostic factors. Previous publications have suggested that only 50% of severe TBI patients in Ireland were managed in NSUs. This study aims to audit severe TBI referrals to the National Neurosurgical Centre, to evaluate reasons for nonacceptance, assess for differences in the transferred and not transferred cohorts and to analyse observed and expected mortality rates. Data on all patients with TBI referred in 2021 were prospectively collected using an electronic referral system. Patients with severe TBI (GCS ≤ 8 and AIS ≥ 3) were included and dichotomised into transferred and not transferred cohorts. Of 118 patients referred with severe TBI, 45 patients (38.1%) were transferred to the neurosurgical centre. Patients in the transferred cohort were significantly younger (p < 0.001), had a higher GCS score (p < 0.001) and a lower proportion of bilaterally unreactive pupils (p < 0.001) compared to the not transferred cohort. 93% (68/73) of those not transferred were either >65 years old, or had bilaterally unreactive pupils, or both. Based on the IMPACT model, the observed to expected mortality ratios in the transferred and not transferred cohorts were 0.65 (95% CI 0.25–1.05) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.65–1.11) respectively. The observed mortality rate for severe TBI in Ireland was similar to or better than expected mortality rates when adjusted for important prognostic factors. 93% of severe TBI patients not transferred to a neurosurgical centre were either elderly or had bilaterally unreactive pupils or both. These patients have an extremely poor prognosis and recommendation for transfer cannot be made based on current available evidence. • Transfer of severe TBI patients to a neurosurgical unit (NSU) is advocated. • The majority who were not transferred were elderly +/− have bilaterally unreactive pupils. • Insufficient evidence to recommend transfer of patients in this cohort to an NSU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medication in an electronic prescribing system (EPS) does not always match the patient's actual medication. This prospective study analyzes the discrepancies (any inconsistency) between medication prescribed using an EPS and the medication revised by the clinical pharmacist upon admission to the observation area of the emergency department (ED). Adult patients with multimorbidity and/or polypharmacy were included. The pharmacist used multiple sources to obtain the revised medication list, including patient/carer interviews. A total of 1654 discrepancies were identified among 1131 patients. Of these patients, 64.5% had ≥1 discrepancy. The most common types of discrepancy were differences in posology (43.6%), commission (34.7%), and omission (20.9%). Analgesics (11.1%), psycholeptics (10.0%), and diuretics (8.9%) were the most affected. Furthermore, 52.5% of discrepancies affected medication that was high-alert for patients with chronic illnesses and 42.0% of medication involved withdrawal syndromes. Discrepancies increased with the number of drugs (ρ = 0.44, p < 0.01) and there was a difference between non-polypharmacy patients, polypharmacy ones and those with extreme polypharmacy (p < 0.01). Those aged over 75 years had a higher number of prescribed medications and discrepancies occurred more frequently compared with younger patients. The number of discrepancies was larger in women than in men. The EPS medication record requires verification from additional sources, including patient and/or carer interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NaNbO 3 ceramics have broad application prospects in ultra-high power electronic systems, electromagnetic pulses, and other applications. In this study, (1- y)[(1- x)NaNbO 3 - x SmMg 0.5 Zr 0.5 O 3 ]- y (Bi 0.5 Na 0.5) 0.7 Sr 0.3 TiO 3 (x = 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10)(y = 0.30, 0.35, 0.40 and 0.45) ceramics were fabricated. The effects of the incorporation of SmMg 0.5 Zr 0.5 O 3 (SMZ) and (Bi 0.5 Na 0.5) 0.7 Sr 0.3 TiO 3 (BNST) on the energy storage performance, impedance, actual charge and discharge capacity, phase structure and microstructure of the ceramic samples were analyzed. Finally, when x = 0.08, and y = 0.35, the recoverable energy storage density of the sample was 5.8 J/cm3 and a high energy storage efficiency of 88 % was obtained at 545 kV/cm. In addition, the ceramic maintains a stable actual charge and discharge capacity and an extremely fast discharge time (16.1 ns) in a wide temperature range (20–160 °C). These excellent energy-storage performances may be due to the fine grain size and large relaxation and activation energies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ni‐CeO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are promising nanocatalysts for water splitting and water gas shift reactions due to the ability of ceria to temporarily donate oxygen to the catalytic reaction and accept oxygen after the reaction is completed. Therefore, elucidating how different properties of the Ni‐Ceria NPs relate to the activity and selectivity of the catalytic reaction, is of crucial importance for the development of novel catalysts. In this work the active learning (AL) method based on machine learning regression and its uncertainty is used for the global optimization of Ce(4‐x)NixO(8‐x) (x = 1, 2, 3) nanoparticles, employing density functional theory calculations. Additionally, further investigation of the NPs by mass‐scaled parallel‐tempering Born‐Oppenheimer molecular dynamics resulted in the same putative global minimum structures found by AL, demonstrating the robustness of our AL search to learn from small datasets and assist in the global optimization of complex electronic structure systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of pulse compression capability in hybrid and gyromagnetic non-linear transmission lines (NLTLs). The corresponding theoretical analysis in the hybrid NLTLs is derived and discussed in detail with the generation and sharpening aspects of leading and trailing pulse edges. The parameters responsible for pulse sharpening are examined and their corresponding pulse compression capability is modelled by providing the output waveform while varying these parameters. A holistic overview and mathematical development of gyromagnetic NLTLs are also conducted, which are modeled and validated through an equivalent lumped element model. Important parameters such as saturation magnetization, gyromagnetic NLTL sections, and damping parameter are elaborated and their influences on pulse sharpening and compression capability are studied. Validation of the theoretical and parametric analysis is performed by an experimental demonstration. The results achieved from hybrid and gyromagnetic NLTLs are briefly summarized, and their corresponding advantages and disadvantages are highlighted. This research is set to provide a fresh and successful debut for investigating gyromagnetic and hybrid NLTLs and their inherent effects on pulse compression for future ultrafast electronic systems and interconnects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron optics introducing the optical concepts into the electronic system unifies the propagation and interference behaviors of different waves and promises nontrivial electronic applications. Due to the high mobility of massless Dirac fermions (MDFs), Dirac materials are suitable for the exploration of optics-like phenomena, in which the Goos–Hänchen shift is an outstanding example. The Goos–Hänchen shift has been studied very well for isotropic MDFs, e.g., in graphene, the relevant generalization to anisotropic MDFs is interesting but lacking. Here, we study the Goos–Hänchen shift of the reflected MDFs by n p junctions based on 8-Pmmn borophene, in which MDFs are tilted. The Goos–Hänchen shift of tilted MDFs has a strong dependence on the junction direction, providing an additional tunability. Accounting for two valleys coupled by the time-reversal symmetry, the valley-contrasting Goos–Hänchen shift is demonstrated, this feature favors the use of 8-Pmmn borophene n p junctions in valleytronics. This study is helpful to understand the anomalous shift of tilted MDFs along the longitudinal interface of np junctions, and implies the potential applications in valleytronics of 8-Pmmn borophene junctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quenching of NO A 2Σ+ with O2 as a collisional partner is important for combustion and atmospheric processes. There is still a lack of theoretical understanding of this event, especially concerning the nature of the different quenching pathways. In this work, we provide potential energy surfaces (PESs) of 20 electronic states of this system. We computed the spin-doublet and spin-quartet PESs using SA-CASSCF and XMS-CASPT2. We find two potential quenching pathways. The first one (Q1) is a two-step orientation-specific process. The system first undergoes an electron transfer (NO+ X 1Σ+ + O 2 − X 2 Π g ) at short distances, before crossing to lower neutral states, such as NO X 2Π + O 2 a 1 Δ g , O 2 b 1 Σ g + , O 2 X 3 Σ g − , or even 2 O(3P). The second quenching pathway (Q2) is less orientation-dependent and should be sudden without requiring the proximity conditioning Q1. The Q2 cross section will be enhanced with increasing initial vibrational level in both O2 and NO. It is responsible for the production of NO X 2Π with higher O2 excited states, such as O 2 c 1 Σ u − , A′3Δu, or A 3 Σ u + . Overall, this work provides a first detailed theoretical investigation of the quenching of NO A 2Σ+ by O 2 X 3 Σ g − as well as introduces a weighting scheme generally applicable to multireference, open-shell bimolecular systems. The effect of spin-multiplicity on the different quenching pathways is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chiral analog of transient absorption spectroscopy, transient circular dichroism (TCD) spectroscopy is an emerging time-resolved method. Both spectroscopic methods can probe the electronic transitions of a sample, and TCD is additionally sensitive to the dynamic aspects of chirality, such as those induced by molecular excitons. Here, we develop a theoretical description of TCD for electronic multi-level models in which the pump pulse is linearly polarized and probe pulse is alternately left- and right-circularly polarized. We derive effective response functions analogous to those often used to describe other four-wave mixing methods and then simulate and analyze TCD spectra for three representative multi-level electronic model systems. We elaborate on the presence and detection of the spectral signatures of electronic coherences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low birthweight (LBW; <2500 g) is an important predictor of health outcomes throughout the life course. We aimed to update country, regional, and global estimates of LBW prevalence for 2020, with trends from 2000, to assess progress towards global targets to reduce LBW by 30% by 2030. For this systematic analysis, we searched population-based, nationally representative data on LBW from Jan 1, 2000, to Dec 31, 2020. Using 2042 administrative and survey datapoints from 158 countries and areas, we developed a Bayesian hierarchical regression model incorporating country-specific intercepts, time-varying covariates, non-linear time trends, and bias adjustments based on data quality. We also provided novel estimates by birthweight subgroups. An estimated 19·8 million (95% credible interval 18·4–21·7 million) or 14·7% (13·7–16·1) of liveborn newborns were LBW worldwide in 2020, compared with 22·1 million (20·7–23·9 million) and 16·6% (15·5–17·9) in 2000—an absolute reduction of 1·9 percentage points between 2000 and 2020. Using 2012 as the baseline, as this is when the Global Nutrition Target began, the estimated average annual rate of reduction from 2012 to 2020 was 0·3% worldwide, 0·85% in southern Asia, and 0·59% in sub-Saharan Africa. Nearly three-quarters of LBW births in 2020 occurred in these two regions: of 19 833 900 estimated LBW births worldwide, 8 817 000 (44·5%) were in southern Asia and 5 381 300 (27·1%) were in sub-Saharan Africa. Of 945 300 estimated LBW births in northern America, Australia and New Zealand, central Asia, and Europe, approximately 35·0% (323 700) weighed less than 2000 g: 5·8% (95% CI 5·2–6·4; 54 800 [95% CI 49 400–60 800]) weighed less than 1000 g, 9·0% (8·7–9·4; 85 400 [82 000–88 900]) weighed between 1000 g and 1499 g, and 19·4% (19·0–19·8; 183 500 [180 000–187 000]) weighed between 1500 g and 1999 g. Insufficient progress has occurred over the past two decades to meet the Global Nutrition Target of a 30% reduction in LBW between 2012 and 2030. Accelerating progress requires investments throughout the lifecycle focused on primary prevention, especially for adolescent girls and women living in the most affected countries. With increasing numbers of births in facilities and advancing electronic information systems, improvements in the quality and availability of administrative LBW data are also achievable. The Children's Investment Fund Foundation; the UNDP-UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction; and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional nano/microstructures have garnered significant attention as the fundamental building blocks for the high-performance integrated systems. Among them, CdS microwires, due to their intriguing optoelectronic properties, hold great promise as candidates for the next generation of high-performance photodetectors. In this study, CdS microwires with wurtzite structure are synthesized using a common chemical vapor deposition method. Optical characterizations revealed that the synthesized microwires exhibited a distinct near band edge emission peak at 515 nm and a broad defect-related emission peak at approximately 650 nm. It is well-known that the intrinsic defects and impurities can significantly degrade the photoresponse properties of the CdS microwire-based photodetectors. To address this issue and enhance the device's photoresponse performance, indium (In) ion implantation is employed to heal the intrinsic defects. Compared to the pristine CdS microwires, the CdS microwire-based photodetectors with In ion implantation demonstrated a remarkable improvement in photoresponse properties. Specifically, they exhibited a higher responsivity of 390 mA W−1 and external quantum efficiency of 119% (a 94.6-fold increase). The specific detectivity also increased to 3.82 × 107 Jones (a 13-fold increase), while the decay time improved to 652 ms (compared to 3.82 s for pristine devices). Overall, our findings highlight the effectiveness of ion implantation as a strategy to enhance the performance of CdS microwires-based photodetectors. This advancement renders them potentially applicable in integrated photonic, electronic and photoelectric systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • By incorporating MXene nanosheets and Fe3+ into the hydrogel network, rapid gelation (within 10 s) was achieved. • This dual-network conductive hydrogel composite exhibited outstanding stretchability, extremely low energy dissipation. • This work provides a feasible platform for developing integrated wearable health-monitoring electronic systems. Hydrogel-based functional materials had attracted great attention in the fields of artificial intelligence, soft robotics, and motion monitoring. However, the gelation of hydrogels induced by free radical polymerization typically required heating, light exposure, and other conditions, limiting their practical applications and development in real-life scenarios. In this study, a simple and direct method was proposed to achieve rapid gelation at room temperature by incorporating reductive MXene sheets in conjunction with metal ions into the chitosan network and inducing the formation of a polyacrylamide network in an extremely short time (10 s). This resulted in a dual-network MXene-crosslinked conductive hydrogel composite that exhibited exceptional stretchability (1350 %), remarkably low dissipated energy (0.40 kJ m−3 at 100 % strain), high sensitivity (GF = 2.86 at 300–500 % strain), and strong adhesion to various substrate surfaces. The study demonstrated potential applications in the reliable detection of various motions, including repetitive fine movements and large-scale human body motions. This work provided a feasible platform for developing integrated wearable health-monitoring electronic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared with the traditional grid-following photovoltaic grid-connected converter (GFL-PGC), the grid-forming photovoltaic grid-connected converter (GFM-PGC) can provide voltage and frequency support for power systems, which can effectively enhance the stability of power electronic power systems. Consequently, GFM-PGCs have attracted great attention in recent years. When an asymmetrical short-circuit fault occurs in the power grid, GFM-PGC systems may experience transient instability, which has been less studied so far. In this paper, a GFM-PGC system is investigated under asymmetrical short-circuit fault conditions. A novel Q-V droop control structure is proposed by improving the traditional droop control. The proposed control structure enables the system to accurately control the positive- and negative-sequence reactive current without switching the control strategy during the low-voltage ride-through (LVRT) period so that it can meet the requirements of the renewable energy grid code. In addition, a dual-loop control structure model of positive- and negative-sequence voltage and current is established for the GFM-PGC system under asymmetrical short-circuit fault conditions. Based on the symmetrical component method, the composite sequence network of the system is obtained under asymmetrical short-circuit fault conditions, and positive- and negative-sequence power-angle characteristic curves are analyzed. The influence law of system parameters on the transient synchronous stability of positive- and negative-sequence systems is quantitatively analyzed through the equal area criterion. Finally, the correctness of the theoretical analysis is verified by simulation and hardware-in-the-loop experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: An interactive electronic system inspired by the temperature self-regulation of human skin. Heat stimulation therapy and temperature monitoring during dynamic wound healing. Mechanism of temperature self-regulation during dynamic wound healing. The thermoregulating function of skin that is capable of maintaining body temperature within a thermostatic state is critical. However, patients suffering from skin damage are struggling with the surrounding scene and situational awareness. Here, we report an interactive self-regulation electronic system by mimicking the human thermos-reception system. The skin-inspired self-adaptive system is composed of two highly sensitive thermistors (thermal-response composite materials), and a low-power temperature control unit (Laser-induced graphene array). The biomimetic skin can realize self-adjusting in the range of 35–42 °C, which is around physiological temperature. This thermoregulation system also contributed to skin barrier formation and wound healing. Across wound models, the treatment group healed ~ 10% more rapidly compared with the control group, and showed reduced inflammation, thus enhancing skin tissue regeneration. The skin-inspired self-adaptive system holds substantial promise for next-generation robotic and medical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective thermal management is necessary for electronic devices to prevent overheating and guarantee optimal performance. The development of cutting-edge cooling methods may be aided by research into Triple Component Magneto-Convection (TCMC) in a superposed porous and fluid system with heat source/sink effects. It is feasible to improve the thermal management of electronic parts and systems by managing convective heat transfer via the optimization of heat source/sink spot and design. An investigation into the issue of TCMC in a horizontally infinite composite layer is presented in this work. The investigation takes into account of a consistent heat source or sinks in both layers as well as a uniform vertical magnetic field. The upper enclosure of the fluid layer is either free and adiabatic or isothermal, while the bottom enclosure of the porous layer is rigid and adiabatic. By employing normal mode analysis, the resulting system of ordinary differential equations is solved in closed form to obtain the eigenvalue, specifically the thermal Marangoni number (tMn). The investigation focuses on two different combinations of thermal boundaries: (i) adiabatic–adiabatic and (ii) adiabatic–isothermal. During the inquiry, the influence of major elements on TCMC in connection to the depth ratio is fully investigated. This work aims at understanding the stability of the superposed porous-fluid system using adiabatic and isothermal boundaries in the presence of a heat source or sink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mechanically transformative electronic systems (TESs) built using gallium have emerged as an innovative class of electronics due to their ability to switch between rigid and flexible states, thus expanding the versatility of electronics. However, the challenges posed by gallium's high surface tension and low viscosity have substantially hindered manufacturability, limiting high-resolution patterning of TESs. To address this challenge, we introduce a stiffness-tunable gallium-copper composite ink capable of direct ink write printing of intricate TES circuits, offering high-resolution (~50 micrometers) patterning, high conductivity, and bidirectional soft-rigid convertibility. These features enable transformative bioelectronics with design complexity akin to traditional printed circuit boards. These TESs maintain rigidity at room temperature for easy handling but soften and conform to curvilinear tissue surfaces at body temperature, adapting to dynamic tissue deformations. The proposed ink with direct ink write printing makes TES manufacturing simple and versatile, opening possibilities in wearables, implantables, consumer electronics, and robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]