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Ultrastrong and tough paper structure from densified hybrids of multiscale cellulose fibers
Abstract Replacing petrochemical plastics with sustainable materials requires strategies that combine high mechanical performance with low environmental impact. Here, we report an ultrastrong and tough cellulose paper created by integrating multiscale cellulose materials to overcome the weak fiber-to-fiber adhesion found in conventional paper. Bacterial cellulose microgels fill microscale voids between pulp fibers, while bacterial cellulose nanofibers reinforce nanoscale gaps, forming densely bonded interfaces through capillary-driven assembly during dehydration. This hybrid structure significantly enhances interfacial interactions and hydrogen bonding, producing cellulose paper with isotropic tensile strength of 811 MPa and robust wet-state performance. The process is highly energy-efficient due to rapid dewatering, consuming far less energy than nanocellulose-paper manufacturing. The resulting material also exhibits strong adhesion to hydrophilic substrates, expanding its application potential. By bridging the performance gap between natural cellulose fibers and traditional paper, this work provides a biodegradable, energy-efficient alternative to plastics for sustainable structural and packaging applications.
Uncertainty-aware feature-weighted ensemble framework for heart disease prediction
A corticothalamic circuit modulates pain sensitivity and mediates innate fear-induced analgesia in male mice
Implementing substance use services into acute care settings for pregnant and birthing people: A systematic scoping review of implementation and quality improvement strategies
Pregnant and birthing people with untreated substance use disorders (SUDs) face multiple risks of mortality and morbidity. Acute care settings (i.e., hospital inpatient, labor/delivery and emergency departments) are one opportunity to provide substance use services, but have had limited implementation. This scoping review synthesized studies that used an implementation science or quality improvement (QI) strategy to implement substance use services into acute care settings for pregnant or birthing people. Our aim was to 1) characterize the implemented strategies; 2) assess the inclusion of racial equity in study design and implementation; 3) summarize measures and outcomes used to evaluate implementation; and 4) identify reported barriers and facilitators to implementation. We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL Complete (EBSCO), Scopus (Elsevier), and APA PsycINFO (Ovid) for published studies using keywords and structured vocabulary, and supplemented database searches with a grey literature search of conference proceedings. Two authors independently screened then extracted studies that met eligibility criteria. After removing 661 duplicates, we screened 1101 studies by title and abstract and excluded 1037. Thirty-six were excluded after full text review yielding 28 studies for extraction. Studies were observational (n = 20, 71%), QI (n = 7, 25%), and experimental (n = 1, 4%). Twenty (71%) focused on SUDs broadly; 8 (29%) targeted OUD. Five strategy types were identified: 1) education and learning collaboratives (n = 11, 39%); 2) clinical workflows and pathways (n = 7, 25%); 3) brief interventions (n = 2, 7%); 4) peer support (n = 4, 14%); and 5) structural changes (n = 4, 14%). Five studies (18%) considered racial and ethnic equity in design or implementation. Overall, studies highlight promising strategies to implement substance use services for pregnant and birthing people in acute care settings. However, many strategies were not rigorously evaluated and few considered racial and ethnic equity in design or implementation. Future research should focus on more rigorous evaluations of implementation strategies, measure downstream outcomes such as adoption and sustained use of substance use services, and apply a racial equity lens more explicitly.
Analyzing the effect of reasoning-based supervision on face anti-spoofing
Machine learning assisted single-molecule sensing towards standard-free quantification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids
Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs) are of global concern for their ubiquitous presence in the environment. However, precise quantification of PFCAs remains challenging due to the shortage of standards. Herein, with the aid of machine learning, a probe-directed nanopore based single-molecule electrochemical sensor is developed towards standard-free digital quantification of PFCAs. To correctly predict the signal without standards, a strict linear relationship (R 2 > 0.9998) is established between current blockades and molecular volumes of PFCAs up to C14. Leveraging high-resolution multi-feature classification, identification accuracy reaches 100% for a broad range of PFCAs including isomers. Reliable, multiplexed quantification of PFCAs is verified in various environmental matrices, with a state-of-the-art detection limit of 0.1 nM for trifluoroacetic acid (an ultrashort-chain PFCA). The double-barriers of probe-pore interaction suggest that capture rates can be independently tuned, without comprising identification. As a proof-of-concept, a universal probe-determined calibration curve is realized experimentally for short- and medium-chain PFCAs, which is theoretically extendable to all PFCAs for standard-free quantification via nanopore engineering.
Examining the longevity of trade partnerships: A duration analysis of Ethiopia’s international trade flows
This study examines the longevity of Ethiopia’s trade partnerships duration and its determinants using a survival analysis. While the existing literature extensively studies the determinants of trade volume, this study uniquely investigates how long bilateral trade ties persist and what determines their duration, with particular emphasis on Ethiopia. Employing bilateral export data from 1997 to 2023, combined with gravity-based variables and rich institutional and macroeconomic indicators, the analysis applies random effect parametric survival estimates to capture the timing and risk of trade relationship dissolution. We find that initial export volumes and institutional quality significantly enhance trade longevity, Geographic proximity exhibits significant effects: shared borders are associated with longer trade durations, whereas longer distance shortens the duration. While Ethiopia’s own-economic size correlates with shorter trade survival, larger partner economies tend to sustain longer trade relationships. Moreover, regional dynamics reveal that Sub-Saharan African partners demonstrate greater persistence in trade links. The findings carry important policy implications for fostering sustainable trade growth and economic resilience in Ethiopia and comparable economies, underscoring the importance of strengthening institutions, upgrading infrastructure, and cultivating cooperative regional arrangements to reinforce durable trade partnerships.
Validated comprehensive RP HPLC approach for separation and quantification of solifenacin and mirabegron in the presence of their degradation products
Abstract A rapid and efficient High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method was developed and optimized for the separation and quantification of solifenacin succinate (SOL), mirabegron (MIR), solifenacin impurities A (SOL IMP A), I (SOL IMP I) and mirabegron metabolite (MIR MET) using a C 18 column. Solifenacin succinate is a muscarinic receptor antagonist used in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) by reducing bladder muscle contractions, while mirabegron, a β3-adrenergic agonist, works by relaxing the bladder smooth muscle to improve storage capacity and reduce symptoms of OAB. However, the presence of impurities and metabolites, such as solifenacin impurities A, I, and E, can negatively impact the safety and efficacy of these drugs, potentially causing adverse effects such as increased toxicity, altered pharmacodynamics, or diminished therapeutic effectiveness. The method employed an isocratic elution system with a mobile phase of water containing 0.1% formic acid (solvent A) and acetonitrile with 0.1% formic acid (solvent B), using a C 18 column (4.6 mm × 100 mm, 3 μm) at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min and a column temperature of 30 °C. UV detection at 220 nm allowed for the efficient separation of all analytes within 10.5 min, with excellent resolution between solifenacin succinate, mirabegron, their metabolites, and impurities. The linearity range for solifenacin succinate and mirabegron was 1–100 µg/mL, and solifenacin impurities A, I, and E, and mirabegron metabolite exhibited linearity ranges of 0.1–10 and 0.1–50 µg/mL, respectively. Validation studies confirmed good precision (RSD < 2%) and accuracy, making this method suitable for routine quality control and pharmacokinetic studies. This validated HPLC method offers a reliable tool for monitoring the purity of solifenacin succinate and mirabegron, ensuring their therapeutic efficacy and safety by quantifying both the active compounds and potentially harmful impurities or metabolites.
Insights into the activation patterns of 1,2-dithiolane unit in biofunctional molecules
Study protocol for a mixed methods convergent investigation of family domestic and sexual violence in multiple sclerosis and broader neurology in Australia
Background People with disabilities experience disproportionately high rates of family, domestic, and sexual violence (FDSV), yet recognition and response in neurological healthcare, including multiple sclerosis (MS), remain underexplored. The study is informed by evidence-based frameworks for healthcare responses to family, domestic, and sexual violence, including the World Health Organization’s Listen, Inquire, Validate, Enhance safety, Support access (LIVES) approach and Victoria, Australia’s Multi-Agency Risk Assessment and Management (MARAM) framework. These models share core principles of trauma-informed practice, structured risk assessment, and coordinated response, providing a foundation for investigating how such approaches can be applied and adapted within neurological care. Objectives This study aims to estimate the prevalence and describe the forms of FDSV experienced by people with MS, identify associated social, clinical, and contextual factors, and document current neurology practices for recognising and responding to FDSV. Comparative qualitative analysis across MS, epilepsy, and headache will assess whether findings are condition-specific or shared across neurology to inform future strategies. Methods and analysis A convergent mixed-methods design will be applied across six study arms. Quantitative components include screening approximately 1,000 people with MS, registry linkage, and surveys with at least 100 participants assessing trauma exposure, wellbeing, and disability-related violence. Qualitative interviews with people with MS, epilepsy, and headache, and clinicians (n ≈ 64 total) will explore experiences, clinical practice, and barriers and enablers to implementing evidence-based frameworks. Data will be integrated through triangulation to identify convergent and divergent patterns. Discussion Findings will provide foundational evidence on how MS and other neurological conditions intersect with experiences of FDSV, guiding trauma-informed training, policy, and practice across neurology. Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), ACTRN390279.
Soil chemical and biological responses to a sparse, early-stage black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) colony in the Arctic mining settlement Pyramiden (Svalbard)
Mechanical gating of tendon fibrogenic transcription in systemic sclerosis
Abstract Fibrosis arises from aberrant tissue repair in systemic sclerosis and is characterized by progressive stiffening across multiple tissues, including tendons. How altered tissue mechanics sustain fibrotic remodeling remains poorly understood, in part because of limited experimental models that capture key biophysical features of fibrosis. Here we develop a modular cantilever-based mechano-culture platform that enables tendon-like constructs to be maintained under controlled static tension. We show that elevated matrix tension induces fibroblast-to-myofibroblast activation and scar-like phenotypes in vitro. Analysis of preclinical and clinical models of systemic sclerosis reveals that increased three-dimensional matrix stiffness inversely correlates with transcription of major profibrotic collagens, while positively regulating genes associated with stromal–immune interactions. Co-culture with bone marrow–derived macrophages overrides tension-dependent suppression of matrix gene expression, suggesting that immune cues can supersede mechanical checkpoints. These findings demonstrate how tissue mechanics orchestrates reciprocal interactions between stromal and immune compartments to drive progressive fibrosis, and establish a reductionist platform for dissecting mechano-regulatory pathways in fibrotic diseases.
Correction: Evaluation of the initial timing of infection control pharmacist-driven audit and monitoring of vancomycin therapy in patients with infectious diseases: A retrospective observational study
Prevalence, multidrug resistance patterns, virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes of emerging MDR Aeromonas hydrophila strains retrieved from subclinical bovine mastitis
Extended valley lifetime and giant energy splitting induced by chiral plasmon-valley exciton selective coupling
From genes to diagnosis: The impact of UNC5B and DOK5 in intracranial aneurysm detection and pathogenesis
Objective Intracranial aneurysms exhibit a notable prevalence within the general population, characterized by an incidence rate ranging from 1% to 2% and an annual rupture rate of approximately 16.4 per 100,000 individuals.Genes that are diagnostic and therapeutic are being investigated in this study linked to intracranial aneurysms by integrating machine learning, immune infiltration analysis, and single-gene sequencing. Methods Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified based on microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database between individuals with intracranial aneurysms and healthy controls.The DEGs were functionally analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO),Disease Ontology (DO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways.Diagnostic biomarkers were identified and validated using machine learning algorithms and confirmed with external validation datasets.Subsequently, circulating biomarkers were assessed, and immune cell infiltration analysis along with single-cell sequencing were employed to elucidate the functional roles of the selected diagnostic biomarkers. Results It was found that intracranial aneurysm patients and healthy controls shared 13,101 DEGs, with 1,108 genes upregulated and 969 downregulated.Aneurysms containing intracranial aneurysms showed significant immunoresponse-related enrichment in GO,DO,and KEGG pathway analyses.Technologies based on machine learning, such as LASSO, Random Forest, and SVM-RFE(Support Vector Machine-Recursive Feature Elimination), identified UNC5B and DOK5 as potential diagnostic biomarkers with high efficacy. Immune cell infiltration analysis indicated an elevated presence of various immune cells in intracranial aneurysms, particularly M1 macrophages.The UNC5B gene expression in fibroblasts is linked to intracranial aneurysm pathogenesis. Conclusion In conclusion, the UNC5B and DOK5 genes emerge as potential diagnostic biomarkers for intracranial aneurysms.There is a positive correlation between UNC5B expression and M1 macrophages and it is primarily found in fibroblasts, suggesting that increased M1 macrophages and UNC5B expression in fibroblasts may contribute to intracranial aneurysm pathogenesis.
Femoral finite element analysis of a novel cementless revision total knee arthroplasty system
Spatiotemporal visualization of long-range anisotropic plasmon polaritons in hyperbolic MoOCl2
Obstructive sleep apnea and outcomes in acute pulmonary embolism: A large-scale database study
Study objectives To evaluate the impact of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on outcomes of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The primary objective was to compare 30-day mortality and incidence of cardiac arrest in patients with known OSA who developed acute PE versus those with acute PE without OSA. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the TriNetX global health research network. Two cohorts were defined: adult patients with OSA and acute PE, and adult patients with PE without OSA. Propensity score matching was used to address demographic and comorbidity differences. Data from January 1, 2013, to December 1, 2024, were analyzed, with a one-month follow-up for secondary outcomes. Results The OSA group (n = 3,547,220) had higher PE incidence proportion (3.48% vs 0.639%) and prevalence (3.794% vs 0.708%) than the control group (n = 103,659,571). Following propensity score matching, 76,636 individuals per group were identified. Patients with OSA with PE demonstrated lower risks of cardiac arrest (RD −0.175%, RR 0.636 [CI, 0.539–0.751]; P < 0.0001) and all-cause mortality (RD −3.511%, RR 0.555 [CI, 0.533–0.579]; P < 0.0001) within one-month post-PE diagnosis compared to non-OSA patients with PE. Conclusions In the OSA population, the risk of PE is increased, while the probability of short-term mortality or cardiac arrest post diagnosis of PE is significantly low. These data suggest a complex relationship between OSA and the risk of PE and necessitate further evaluation of the potential mechanisms and clinical significance.