Detecting low concentrations of biomarkers is essential in clinical laboratories. To improve analytical sensitivity, especially in identifying fluorescently labeled molecules, typical optical detection systems, consisting of a photodetector or camera, utilize time-resolved measurements. Taking a different approach, magnetic modulation biosensing (MMB) is a novel technology that combines fluorescently labeled probes and magnetic particles to create a sandwich assay with the target molecules. By concentrating the target molecules and then using time-resolved measurements, MMB provides the rapid and highly sensitive detection of various biomarkers. Here, we propose a novel signal-processing algorithm that enhances the detection and estimation of target molecules at low concentrations. By incorporating both temporally and spatially resolved measurements using human interleukin-8 as a target molecule, we show that the new algorithm provides a 2–4-fold improvement in the limit of detection and an ~25% gain in quantitative resolution. Full article

Aim: To assess the medium and long-term performance of the Endurant stent graft in a cohort of consecutive patients treated with this device for an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) both inside and outside of the instructions for use (IFU) and to find factors influencing the outcomes. Methods: Our observational, retrospective, single-center study included all patients who consecutively underwent endovascular aneurysm repair with the Endurant stent graft from February 2009 to January 2023. Patients with an AAA to treat according to current guidelines were included. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 inside of the IFUs and Group 2 outside of the IFUs for the proximal aortic neck. Patients were followed up after the procedure with computed angiography tomography, ultrasound examination, and interviews. Aneurysm-related mortality, procedure-related reinterventions, and type IA and III endoleaks were considered primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints included aneurysmal sac variations and graft thrombosis. Results: A total of 795 patients were included, 650 in Group 1 and 145 in Group 2; 732 were males, and the mean age was 74 ± 8. Anamnestic baseline did not differ between the two groups. Neck length, width, and angulation were different between the two groups (all p < 0.001). A total of 40 patients had a ruptured AAA, while 56 were symptomatic. At a mean follow-up of 43 ± 39 months, aneurysm-related mortality was less than 1%, and 82 endoleak (10.5%) were observed. Overall endoleak rate and type 1A endoleak, as well as procedure-related reintervention, were significantly more frequent in Group 2. Sac regression of at least 5 mm was observed in 65.9% of cases. AAAs larger than 60.5 mm carried a higher risk of endoleak (HR: 1.025; 95% CI: 1.013–1.37; p < 0.001) and proximal necks shorter than 13.5 mm carried a higher type 1A risk (HR: 0.890; 95% CI: 0.836–0.948; p < 0.001). Patients without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and taking lipid-lowering drugs had an overall more consistent sac-shrinking rate. Conclusions: The Endurant stent graft proves safe and reliable. Out-of-IFU treatment has poorer medium and long-term outcomes. Some conditions influence medium and long-term reintervention risk and sac behavior. Patients with bigger aneurysms, proximal necks shorter than 13.5 mm, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should be more carefully evaluated during follow-up. Consistent follow-up is in keeping low aneurysm-related mortality. Personalized risk profiles and peri and postoperative management strategies are needed. Full article

Nitraria roborowskii Kom. seeds have deep dormancy characteristics. Under natural conditions, the germination rate of the seeds is low, and the germination time is long. Therefore, exploring the reasons for seed dormancy is highly important. The results showed that the extracts of the methanol phase, ethyl acetate phase, petroleum ether phase and water phase of N. roborowskii seeds all had a significant inhibitory effect on the germination rate and germination index of Brassica rapa seeds, among which the extract of the methanol phase had the strongest inhibitory effect, and the inhibitory effect decreased in the following order from the strongest to the weakest: methanol phase > ethyl acetate phase > petroleum ether phase > water phase. The components of the methanol phase, ethyl acetate phase and petroleum ether phase ether extracts of N. roborowskii seeds were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The experimental results showed that the organic phase extracts of N. roborowskii seeds contained a variety of inhibitory compounds, which included 4H-pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-dibutyl phthalate; 4-((1E)-3-hydroxy-1-propenyl)-2-methoxyphenol; 13-docosenamide, (Z)-; 3-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid; vanillin; 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol; and cyclohexane, ethyl-. The seeds of N. roborowskii contain a variety of endogenous inhibitors, which are the main reason for its seed dormancy. Full article

Stones are one of the primary objects that impede the normal activity of underground pipelines. As human intervention is difficult inside a narrow underground pipe, a robot with a machine vision system is required. In order to remove the stones during regular robotic inspections, precise stone detection, segmentation, and measurement of their distance from the robot are needed. We applied Mask R-CNN to perform an instant segmentation of stones. The distance between the robot and the segmented stones was calculated using spatial information obtained from a lidar camera. Artificial light was used for both image acquisition and testing, as natural light is not available inside the underground pipe. ResNet101 was chosen as the foundation of the Mask R-CNN, and transfer learning was utilized to shorten the training time. The experimental results of our model showed that the average detection precision rate reached 92.0; the recall rate was 90.0%; and the F1 score rate reached 91.0%. The distance values were calculated efficiently with an error margin of 11.36 mm. Moreover, the Mask R-CNN-based stone detection model can detect asymmetrically shaped stones in complex background and lighting conditions. Full article

The most common manifestation of endometriosis, a condition characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterus, is the endometrioma, a cystic ovarian lesion. It is a commonly occurring condition associated with chronic pelvic pain exacerbated prior to and during menstruation, as well as infertility. The exact pathomechanisms of the endometrioma are still not fully understood. Emerging evidence suggests a pivotal role of immune dysregulation in the pathogenesis of endometriomas, primarily influencing both local and systemic inflammatory processes. Among the factors implicated in the creation of the inflammatory milieu associated with endometriomas, alterations in both serum and local levels of several cytokines stand out, including IL-6, IL-8, and IL-1β, along with abnormalities in the innate immune system. While numerous signaling pathways have been suggested to play a role in the inflammatory process linked to endometriomas, only NF-κB has been conclusively demonstrated to be involved. Additionally, increased oxidative stress, both resulting from and contributing to endometriomas, has been identified as a primary driver of both systemic and local inflammation associated with the condition. This article reviews the current understanding of immune dysfunctions in the endometrioma and their implications for inflammation. Full article

Atmospheric motion vectors, which can be used to infer wind speed and direction based on the trajectory of cloud movement, are instrumental in enhancing atmospheric wind-field insights, contributing notably to wind-field optimization and forecasting. However, a widespread problem with vector data is their inaccuracy, which, when coupled with the mediocre effectiveness of existing correction methods, limits their practical utility in forecasting, often falling short of expectations. Deep-learning techniques are used to refine atmospheric motion vector data from the FY-4A satellite, notably enhancing data quality. Post-training data undergoes a thorough analysis using a quality evaluation function, followed by its integration into a numerical weather prediction system in order to conduct forecasting experiments. Results indicate a marked improvement in data quality post-error correction by the model, characterized by a significant reduction in root mean square error and a notable increase in correlation coefficients. Furthermore, refined data demonstrate a considerable enhancement in the accuracy of meteorological element forecasts, particularly for Asian and Western Pacific regions. Full article

The occurrence of short-circuit faults in AC/DC microgrids gives rise to exceptionally high currents with rapid escalation, particularly in DC feeders where current zero-crossing is absent. This study introduces a comprehensive design procedure for a solid-state breaker tailored to address this challenge. A key innovation of the proposed solid-state circuit breaker lies in the incorporation of a current limiter reactor, which effectively constrains the current flow in both the load commutation switch and main breakers. Additionally, the inclusion of a resistive branch diminishes energy dissipation in the main breakers, safeguarding them against voltage stress. Consequently, the operational efficiency of the breaker is significantly enhanced, ensuring swift and efficient fault current interruption in vulnerable AC/DC microgrid scenarios. The efficacy of the proposed solid-state breaker was rigorously examined through analytical studies, and the results were validated using MATLAB/Simulink simulations. This breakthrough design represents a promising advancement in the realm of microgrid protection, offering a robust solution for mitigating the impact of short-circuit faults in AC/DC systems. Full article

This research explores Indigenous land-based perspectives on environmental sustainability, centering on the Khasis Indigenous community in Bangladesh. With a critical connection to their land-based cultural heritage and environment, the Khasis community offers a distinctive perspective for examining environmental challenges. Emphasizing the traditional land-based knowledge and practices of the Khasis, as well as their insights on environmental challenges, this study employs a land-based theoretical framework. It sheds light on the adaptive strategies of Khasis Indigenous communities amidst shifting environmental conditions, illustrating how they integrate sustainable practices into daily life by drawing upon Indigenous land-based knowledge and practices to mitigate environmental risks. Additionally, the research scrutinizes the challenges faced by the Khasis in preserving their land-based knowledge, practices, and identity in the face of a global environmental crisis. The findings contribute to broader discussions on Indigenous land-based knowledge and practices and their significance in contemporary climate discourse. By amplifying the voices of the Khasis Indigenous community’s land-based knowledge and practices, this study advocates for the incorporation of Indigenous perspectives into climate policies and interventions. It underscores the necessity for a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to environmental sustainability, one that acknowledges and respects the resilience of Indigenous communities like the Khasis in Bangladesh. Full article

The Web of Data has been fueled significantly by geospatial data over the last few years. In the current link discovery frameworks, there is still a lack of robust support for finding geospatial-aware links between geospatial data sources in the Web of Data. They are also limited in efficient association capabilities for large-scale datasets. This paper extends the data integration capability based on the spatial metrics in the open geospatial engine OGE. These metrics include topological relationships and spatial matching between geospatial entities within multiple geospatial data sources. Thus, the tool can be employed by data publishers to set geospatial-aware links to facilitate geospatial data and knowledge discovery in the Web of Data. Several geospatial data sources are used to demonstrate the usability and effectiveness of the approach and tool implementation. Full article

This article delves into the intricacies of human defences in various domains, including the biological and psychological responses to protect oneself, and the abstract concept of sacrificing one’s life to uphold ethical, moral, religious, and spiritual values. While physical, psychological, and moral values have been attended to in counselling, regard for the religious and spiritual aspects is still developing. As the author writes from a Christian perspective, Christian faith and values are considered. It is posited that a study of human nature, as presented in the Christian Bible, can facilitate a profound comprehension of human defences. The paper scrutinizes the correlation between “human defences” and “Christian spirituality” through a Christian lens on human nature. Furthermore, it introduces the idea of “spiritual defence” and how it is related to a spiritual awakening. Full article

Multivalent pneumococcal vaccines have been developed successfully to combat invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPD) and reduce the associated healthcare burden. These vaccines employ pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides (PnPs), either conjugated or unconjugated, as antigens to provide serotype-specific protection. Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides used for vaccine often contain residual levels of cell wall polysaccharides (C-Ps), which can generate a non-serotype specific immune response and complicate the desired serotype-specific immunity. Therefore, the C-P level in a pneumococcal vaccine needs to be controlled in the vaccine process and the anti C-P responses need to be dialed out in clinical assays. Currently, two types of cell-wall polysaccharide structures have been identified: a mono-phosphocholine substituted cell-wall polysaccharide C-Ps1 and a di-phosphocholine substituted C-Ps2 structure. In our effort to develop a next-generation novel pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), we have generated a monoclonal antibody (mAb) specific to cell-wall polysaccharide C-Ps2 structure. An antibody-enhanced HPLC assay (AE-HPLC) has been established for serotype-specific quantification of pneumococcal polysaccharides in our lab. With the new anti C-Ps2 mAb, we herein extend the AE-HPLC assay to the quantification and identification of C-Ps2 species in pneumococcal polysaccharides used for vaccines. Full article

New Mexico is located along the U.S.–Mexico border, and as such, Spanish, English, and language mixing form an integral part of the New Mexican identity. New Mexico is often divided into a northern and a southern region with the north known for Spanish archaisms due to historic isolation, and the south associated with ties to a Mexican identity due to the location of the U.S.–Mexico border. The current study uses perceptual dialectology to capture the way in which speakers in the south of New Mexico perceive this north/south divide and communicate their identity. Overall, there is evidence of the north/south divide, but speakers in southern New Mexico focus much more on language use such as Spanglish, English, and Spanish than on their northern counterparts. Participants reference language mixing over language “purity” and borders over an explicit rural/urban divide. Like previous accounts, we see reference to the “correctness” of both English and Spanish, examples of specific terminology used in different parts of the state, and descriptions of accents throughout the state. Full article

Background/Aims: The massive transfusion protocol (MTP) can improve the outcomes of trauma patients with hemorrhagic shock and some patients with non-traumatic hemorrhagic shock. However, no information is available regarding whether MTP can improve the outcomes of acute variceal bleeding (AVB). This study aimed to determine the effects of MTP on the outcomes of patients with AVB. Methods: Consecutive patients (n = 218) with AVB who did not have current malignancy and visited the emergency room between July 2014 and June 2022 were analyzed. 42-day mortality and failure to control the bleeding were compared between patients with and without MTP activation. Additionally, propensity-score matching was conducted. Results: The amount of blood product transfused was higher in the MTP group. The 42-day mortality rate (42.1% vs. 1.5%, p < 0.001) and the rate of failure to control bleeding (36.8% vs. 0.5%, p < 0.001) were significantly higher in those who received blood transfusions by MTP. MTP was an independent factor associated with 42-day mortality in the multivariable-adjusted analysis (HR 21.05; 95% CI 3.07–144.21, p = 0.002, HR 24.04; 95% CI 3.41–169.31, p = 0.001). The MTP group showed consistently higher 42-day mortality and failure to control bleeding in all subgroup analyses, stratified by systolic blood pressure, hemoglobin level, and the model for end-stage liver disease score. The MTP group also showed higher 42-day mortality (42.9% vs. 0%, p = 0.001) and failure to control bleeding (42.9% vs. 0%, p = 0.001) in a propensity score-matched analysis (n = 52). Conclusions: MTP was associated with poor outcomes in patients with AVB. Further studies are needed to see whether MTP can be an option for patients with massive AVB. Full article

Background: An umbilical venous catheter (UVC) is the preferred route of epinephrine administration during neonatal resuscitation but requires specialized equipment, expertise, and time. Hypothesis: Direct injection of epinephrine into the umbilical vein (UV) followed by milking a ~20 cm segment of cut umbilical cord to flush the epinephrine (DUV + UCM) will lead to a quicker administration and earlier return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) compared with epinephrine given through a UVC. Design: Eighteen near-term asphyxiated lambs were randomized to receive a low-UVC or DUV + UCM of epinephrine at 0.02 or 0.03 mg/kg doses. Outcome measures: A total of 16/18 lambs achieved ROSC with a similar mean (±SEM) time to ROSC [DUV + UCM vs. low-UVC (4.67 ± 0.67 vs. 3.99 ± 0.58 min); p = 0.46]. Two out of ten lambs in the DUV + UCM group required UVC placement for additional epinephrine. The administration of the first dose of epinephrine was similar (DUV + UCM—2.97 ± 0.48 vs. UVC—4.23 ± 0.58 min; p = 0.12). Both methods yielded similar epinephrine concentrations (peak concentrations of 253 ± 63 and 328 ± 80 ng/mL for DUV + UCM and UVC EPI, respectively). Conclusions: DUV + UCM resulted in a ROSC success of 78% following the first epinephrine dose and showed similar epinephrine concentrations to UVC. Clinical studies evaluating DUV + UCM as an alternate route for epinephrine while intravenous access is being established are warranted. Full article

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the immunogenicity and safety of an additional heterologous (viral vector) versus homologous (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine dose among non-seroconverted immunocompromised patients after a two-dose primary series of mRNA vaccine. We searched studies published up to 21 June 2023 in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. The meta-analysis was conducted to compare the seropositivity rates based on anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein IgG (anti-S IgG) and SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell immune response rates, assessed by interferon-γ release assay at 4 weeks, and the incidences of serious adverse events (SAEs) within 28 days between the two vaccine regimens. In four included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), there were no statistically significant differences in the seropositive rate of anti-S IgG (risk ratio [RR]: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.48–1.29) and the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 interferon-γ (RR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.96–1.48) between heterologous and homologous regimens. The heterologous regimen exhibited a significantly lower incidence of injection pain (RR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.45–0.69), but a higher incidence of headache (RR: 1.44, 95% CI: 1.02–2.02) compared with the homologous regimen. No vaccine-related SAEs were reported within 28 days following vaccination. An additional heterologous or homologous COVID-19 vaccine dose was well tolerated and demonstrated a comparable vaccine immunogenicity among non-seroconverted immunocompromised patients who were initially vaccinated with a two-dose COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. This finding supports the recommendations of an extended primary series of COVID-19 vaccination in immunocompromised persons. Full article

Maryland is actively working towards doubling its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) target, aiming to increase the share of renewable energy from 25% by 2020 to 50% by 2030. Furthermore, Maryland stands out as a state that strongly supports solar initiatives, offering incentives and specialized programs to assist residents in adopting solar energy solutions. The paper presents a multi-stage approach: Stage 1—Location Selection Process, Stage 2—Technical Feasibility Study, and Stage 3—Economical Feasibility Study. In Stage 1, the study focuses on three potential solar farm locations in Maryland: Westover, Princess Anne, and Eden. Stages 2 and 3 involve a feasibility assessment with detailed technical analysis using the NREL System Advisor Model (SAM) and PVWatts to determine monthly power to the grid and Energy Yield. Subsequently, economic feasibility is assessed using the NREL Clean Renewable Energy Estimation Simulation Tool (CREST), focusing on competitive levelized costs of energy (LCOE), payback time, and cumulative cash flows. Results indicate that all three locations exhibit promising solar irradiance levels, system outputs, and potential energy yields. Due to high solar irradiation, the Westover area has the highest energy yield at 1583.13 kWh/kW, while Princess Anne boasts the highest system output at 333.59 GWh. The economic evaluation suggests that all three locations become profitable within a two-year payback time, with competitive levelized costs of energy (LCOE). Westover emerges as the most cost-effective option at 5.99 cents/kWh, attributed to its higher solar irradiation values and energy yield compared to Princess Anne and Eden. Cumulative cash flows provide insights into long-term profitability, with Princess Anne, MD, having the highest Cumulative Cash Flow over 25 years at $183,383,304. By evaluating technical and economic aspects, this feasibility study offers quantitative insights to guide decision-making for the installation of Solar PV, considering both technological and economic feasibility. Full article

In this systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA-compliant), we tried to investigate diagnostic and prognostic values of ¹⁸F-FDG PET in uveal melanoma. A systematic search was conducted on the main medical literature databases to include studies that evaluated ¹⁸F-FDG PET as the imaging modality to evaluate patients with uveal melanoma. Overall, 27 studies were included. Twelve had data about the detection rate of ¹⁸F-FDG PET in primary intra-ocular tumours. The pooled sensitivity was 45% (95%CI: 41–50%). Furthermore, studies showed that the larger the primary tumour, the higher its uptake. Among the included studies, 13 assessed ¹⁸F-FDG PET in detecting metastasis. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 96% (95%CI: 81–99%) and 100% (95%CI: 94–100%), respectively. Regarding liver metastasis, they were 95% (95%CI: 79–99%) and 100% (95%CI: 91–100%), respectively. Noteworthy, the level of ¹⁸F-FDG uptake was a strong predictor of patient survival. Lastly, ¹⁸F-FDG PET could characterise lesions from the histopathology perspective, distinguishing high-risk from low-risk diseases. Overall, although not reliable in detecting primary intra-ocular tumours, ¹⁸F-FDG PET is highly accurate for diagnosing metastatic uveal melanomas. It can also be a highly valuable modality in terms of patient prognostication. Thus, ¹⁸F-FDG PET can be recommended in patients diagnosed with uveal melanoma to enhance decision-making and patient management. Full article

Background: Cholesteatoma is a lesion capable of destroying surrounding tissues, which may result in significant complications. Surgical resection is the only effective treatment; however, the presence of cholesteatoma recidivism is common. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the Attic Exposure-Antrum Exclusion (AE-AE) surgical technique in treating cholesteatomas and identifying factors associated with recidivism. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the utility of non-echo-planar diffusion MRI (non-EPI-DWI MRI) in detecting cholesteatoma recidivism in patients undergoing AE-AE surgery. Methods: The study involved 63 patients who underwent AE-AE surgery for primary acquired cholesteatoma and were followed up clinically and radiologically for at least five years. The radiological follow-up included a non-EPI-DWI MRI. Results: Results showed that the AE-AE technique successfully treated cholesteatomas, with a recidivism rate of 5.2%. The study also found that non-EPI-DWI MRI was a useful diagnostic tool for detecting cholesteatoma recidivism, although false positives could occur due to the technique’s high sensitivity. As Preoperative Pure-tone average (PTA) increases, there is a higher probability of cholesteatoma recidivism in imaging tests (p = 0.003). Conclusion: Overall, the study highlights the importance of the AE-AE surgical technique and non-EPI-DWI MRI in managing cholesteatoma recidivism in patients, providing valuable insights into associated risk factors and how to manage recidivism. Non-EPI-DWI MRI can assist in patient selection for revision surgery, reducing unnecessary interventions and associated risks while improving treatment outcomes and patient care. Full article

Accurate three-dimensional (3D) cloud structure measurements are critical for assessing the influence of clouds on the Earth’s atmospheric system. This study extended the MODIS (Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) cloud vertical profile (64 × 64 scene, about 70 km in width × 15 km in height) retrieval technique based on conditional generative adversarial networks (CGAN) to construct seamless 3D cloud fields for the MODIS granules. Firstly, the accuracy and spatial continuity of the retrievals (of 7180 samples from the validation set) were statistically evaluated. Then, according to the characteristics of the retrieval error, a spatially overlapping-scene ensemble generation method and a bidirectional ensemble binning probability fusion (CGAN-BEBPF) technique were developed, which improved the CGAN retrieval accuracy and support to construct seamless 3D clouds for the MODIS granules. The CGAN-BEBPF technique involved three steps: cloud masking, intensity scaling, and optimal value selection. It ensured adequate coverage of the low reflectivity areas while preserving the high-reflectivity cloud cores. The technique was applied to retrieve the 3D cloud fields of Typhoon Chaba and a multi-cell convective system and the results were compared with ground-based radar measurements. The cloud structures of the CGAN-BEBPF results were highly consistent with the ground-based radar observations. The CGAN-EBEPF technique retrieved weak ice clouds at the top levels that were missed by ground-based radars and filled the gaps of the ground-based radars in the lower levels. The CGAN-BEBPF was automated to retrieve 3D cloud radar reflectivity along the MODIS track over the seas to the east and south of mainland China, providing valuable cloud information to support maritime and near-shore typhoons and convection prediction for the cloud-sensitive applications in the regions. Full article

Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disorder with a multifactorial etiology that has not yet been fully elucidated. What is known, however, are the pathological tissue dynamics that lead to the complex symptoms that women suffer from. The known symptoms are mainly fertility problems and pain. Both dimensions have an impact that varies from case to case, but that is certainly decisive concerning a woman’s health, specifically by affecting the overall quality of life (QoL). In this publication, we will deal with the descriptive aspects of endometriosis’s pathology and then present a review of the aspects impacting QoL and their psycho-social consequences. Finally, the experience of pain in the context of the mind–brain–body relationship will be discussed, describing the complexity of this dimension and emphasizing the importance of a multi-professional approach that considers the relevance of the contribution that a psychotherapy intervention based on up-to-date neurobiological models can make for women with endometriosis. A review of the literature and current knowledge on the neural and psychological aspects of pain lead to the conclusion that it is of the utmost importance to provide informed psychological support, alongside medical treatments and sexual counseling, to patients with endometriosis. Full article

A SiC fin-channel MOSFET structure (Fin-MOS) is proposed for an enhanced gate shielding effect. The gates are placed on each side of the narrow fin-channel region, while grounded p-shield regions below the gates provide a strong shielding effect. The device is investigated using Sentaurus TCAD. For a narrow fin-channel region, there is difficulty in forming an Ohmic contact to the p-base; a floating p-base might potentially store negative charges upon high drain voltage, and, thus, causes threshold voltage instabilities. The simulation reveals that, for a fin-width of 0.2 μm, the p-shield regions provide a stringent shielding effect against high drain voltage, and the dynamic threshold voltage shift (∆V_th) is negligible. Compared to conventional trench MOSFET (Trench-MOS) and asymmetric trench MOSFET (Asym-MOS), the proposed Fin-MOS boasts the lowest OFF-state oxide field and reverse transfer capacitance (C_rss), while maintaining a similar low ON-resistance. Full article

To enhance the resistant starch (RS) content of corn starch, in this work, carboxymethyl chitosan/corn starch/sodium alginate microcapsules (CMCS/CS/SA) with varying concentrations of SA in a citric acid (CA) solution were designed. As the SA concentration increased from 0.5% to 2%, the swelling of the CMCS/CS/SA microcapsule decreased from 15.28 ± 0.21 g/g to 3.76 ± 0.66 g/g at 95 °C. Comparatively, the onset, peak, and conclusion temperatures (T_o, T_p, and T_c) of CMCS/CS/SA microcapsules were higher than those of unencapsulated CS, indicating that the dense network structure of microcapsules reduced the contact area between starch granules and water, thereby improving thermal stability. With increasing SA concentration, the intact and dense network of CMCS/CS/SA microcapsules remained less damaged after 120 min of digestion, suggesting that the microcapsules with a high SA concentration provided better protection to starch, thereby reducing amylase digestibility. Moreover, as the SA concentration increased from 0.5% to 2%, the RS content of the microcapsules during in vitro digestion rose from 42.37 ± 0.07% to 57.65 ± 0.45%, attributed to the blocking effect of the microcapsule shell on amylase activity. This study offers innovative insights and strategies to develop functional starch with glycemic control properties, holding significant scientific and practical value in preventing diseases associated with abnormal glucose metabolism. Full article