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Author Correction: Stretchable all-gel organic electrochemical transistors
Tribological optimization of bio‑based microcrystalline cellulose and hybrid natural fiber reinforced epoxy composites using response surface methodology
Abstract This work explores the use of hybrid natural fibers and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to improve the tribological performance of epoxy composites. Response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with a Box–Behnken design was employed to systematically evaluate the effects of MCC content (0–6 wt%), applied load (20–60 N), and sliding velocity (1–3 m/s) on wear loss and CoF. The results demonstrated that increasing the MCC concentration significantly reduced wear loss and CoF due to improved interfacial bonding and stable tribofilm formation. The significance of the created quadratic models with good prediction accuracy (R² = 98.43%) was validated by ANOVA. Although load and sliding velocity interaction effects were also important, filler content was found to be the primary factor affecting tribological performance. MCC filler enhanced the tribological performance of the hybrid composites, decreased surface damage, and encouraged stable tribo-film development, using SEM examination. Multi‑response optimization indicated that a filler content of 6 wt% combined with low load and moderate sliding velocity minimizes wear and friction. Overall, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of MCC-based hybrid natural fiber epoxy composites as high-performance, environmentally friendly materials for wear-resistant tribological applications such as automotive brake pads, sliding panels, and bearings.
Paramagnets as a platform for Dicke physics
Site response analyses of a multi-layered liquefiable soil with 3D nonlinear numerical modeling
Reduced N2 fixation in the tropical Atlantic Ocean during the warm late Pliocene
Abstract Water column denitrification, a major oceanic nitrogen (N) sink, decreased under past warmer-than-present climates, but the response of N 2 fixation, the main oceanic N source, remains unresolved. Here we address this gap using foraminifera-bound N isotope records from the tropical Atlantic spanning the warm late Pliocene, a geological analog for projected 21 st century warming. Our records show that tropical North Atlantic N 2 fixation was reduced during the late Pliocene and had increased markedly by the late Pleistocene, likely due to an increase in water column denitrification, a process that globally engenders N-poor, phosphorus (P)-bearing surface waters. After ~ 2.8 million years ago, as glaciations intensified, our records show that obliquity-paced variations in the intensity of N 2 fixation emerged, likely reflecting sea-level controlled changes in continental shelf area and benthic denitrification in the western tropical Atlantic, again through the generation of N-poor, P-bearing surface waters. These findings show that N 2 fixation responds to the ocean’s N loss processes both over millions of years and on orbital timescales, suggesting that the global marine fixed N budget may rebalance under warmer climates by reducing both water column denitrification and N 2 fixation.
SFEDet: edge-guided spatial-frequency fusion network for steel surface defect detection
Computation embodied in population geometry
Understanding pedestrian crash patterns using bayesian probabilistic structural equation modeling
Native yeast kinetochore structures identify an essential inner kinetochore interaction
Abstract Kinetochores must accurately assemble on centromeres for faithful chromosome segregation. Although a conserved centromeric nucleosome is essential for kinetochore assembly, budding yeast centromeric DNA is a poor template for nucleosome formation in vitro, perhaps due to its intrinsic rigidity. To better understand yeast inner kinetochore assembly, we develop a one-step protocol to purify native inner kinetochore subcomplexes for structural studies. We perform cryoelectron microscopy on the purifications and generate density maps of four separate inner kinetochore complexes, two of which have not been previously visualized and may represent intermediate assemblage states. We identify an Ndc10 trimerization domain that engages centromeric DNA and a pair of CBF3 complexes and is associated with substantial bending of centromeric DNA. Ndc10 trimerization is essential for kinetochore assembly and chromosome segregation. We propose that Ndc10 trimerization facilitates centromeric DNA bending to stabilize the centromeric nucleosome and inner kinetochore.
A randomized noninferiority trial comparing tegoprazan triple therapy and bismuth quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication
Abstract Rising antibiotic resistance has compromised the efficacy of standard Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) eradication regimens. This multicenter trial aimed to evaluate whether a simplified tegoprazan-based triple therapy (TAD) is non-inferior to tegoprazan-based bismuth quadruple therapy (TADB) in a high-resistance setting. In this randomized, open-label, non-inferiority trial conducted across nine centers in China, 274 treatment-naïve patients were randomized (1:1) to receive either Group TAD (tegoprazan 50 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, doxycycline 100 mg) or Group TADB (TAD plus bismuth potassium citrate 600 mg) twice daily for 14 days. In the per-protocol (PP) analysis, eradication rates were 91.7% (111/121) for Group TAD and 96.0% (120/125) for Group TADB. Using the Newcombe score method against a pre-specified non-inferiority margin of -10%, the difference in per-protocol eradication rates was − 4.3% (95% CI: -9.8% to 2.0%), successfully establishing statistical non-inferiority. Intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis yielded consistent results (83.5% vs. 85.1%, P = 0.835). Group TAD demonstrated a significantly superior safety profile (22.6% vs. 46.1% AEs, P < 0.001). A simplified tegoprazan-based triple therapy is non-inferior to its bismuth-containing counterpart, offering high efficacy with a significantly improved safety profile and reduced pill burden. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2500102215. Registered 2025-05-12 (Retrospectively registered).
Hierarchical multi-stage complementary network for medical image denoising
Frictional behaviour of steel–steel and steel–concrete contact surfaces for offshore slip joint applications
Abstract As the energy sector is the main source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and energy demand is constantly rising, expanding renewable energy sources is imperative. Offshore wind energy is key to this expansion. In the future, more powerful offshore wind farms will be installed in deeper waters. However, this presents new technical and logistical challenges with regard to large-scale substructures. Modular jacket substructures are one possible solution for scalable offshore infrastructure. These require connection systems that are both structurally and technically efficient. Slip joints fulfil these requirements particularly by transferring loads through controlled friction at contacting surfaces rather than through permanent mechanical connectors. This study aims to develop an innovative modular jacket substructure incorporating steel–steel and steel–concrete slip joints. The article focuses on characterising interface behaviour, friction mechanisms, and load-bearing performance across four slip joint material combinations: rolled steel–rolled steel, ground steel–ground steel, rolled steel–concrete, and ground steel–concrete. Surface roughness was quantified using both tactile profilometry and high-resolution 3D scanning, while joint fitting accuracy was assessed exclusively through 3D scan-based geometric analysis. Experimental push-out tests were conducted to determine friction coefficients and load-bearing capacities for each configuration. Additionally, a finite element model was developed to simulate the push-out test and predict the load-bearing capacity. The results revealed that the rolled steel surface exhibited pronounced height fluctuations, irregularity, and distinct macro-waviness. These features promoted mechanical interlocking at the rolled steel–rolled steel interfaces, which in turn led to increasing load resistance and friction coefficients with progressing displacement. In contrast, the other surface combinations exhibited the typical transition from static to kinetic friction. However, the statistical evaluation did not identify significant differences in load-bearing capacity between the material combinations under identical normal stress, and only the rolled steel–rolled steel interface showed a friction coefficient dependent on the applied normal stress. The numerical model captured the observed shear-lag behaviour and reproduced the experimental response with good accuracy. The overall predictive performance of the FE model was demonstrated by a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) of 0.87, a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 16.57%, and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 17.02. Overall, the ground steel–concrete interface proved the most favourable configuration for slip joint applications, as it provided a balanced combination of frictional resistance, stable sliding behaviour, moderate installation forces, and uniform wear characteristics. These features may facilitate assembly and disassembly while maintaining reliable load transfer, making this configuration a promising option for offshore slip joint connections.
Pharyngeal packing effects in elective nasal surgeries: a randomized controlled double-blinded trial
Quercetin nanoparticles exhibit a potential therapeutic effect against the neurochemical changes and motor deficits in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease
Abstract The present study investigated the therapeutic potential of quercetin nanoparticles (QNPs), administered alone or in combination with levodopa/carbidopa (L/C), against reserpine-induced neurochemical alterations and motor dysfunction in a rat model of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Animals were randomly assigned to five experimental groups: a control group, a reserpine-induced PD group, and PD groups treated with QNPs, L/C, or their combination. Motor performance was assessed using the open-field and grid traction tests. Reserpine administration induced marked motor impairments accompanied by significant reductions in dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT), and norepinephrine (NE) levels in both the striatum and midbrain. These neurochemical deficits were associated with elevated monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, increased lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA), enhanced acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and increased nitric oxide (NO) levels in both brain regions. Additionally, reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were decreased in the midbrain but elevated in the striatum. Treatment with QNPs significantly restored monoamine levels and normalized MAO and AChE activities. Moreover, QNPs markedly attenuated oxidative stress and improved motor performance in reserpine-treated rats. Similarly, L/C administration effectively reversed monoamine depletion, normalized enzymatic activities, and mitigated oxidative stress. Notably, combined treatment with QNPs and L/C produced effects comparable to those observed with either treatment alone, suggesting a lack of additive or synergistic interaction. These findings demonstrate that QNPs exert a significant neuroprotective effect against reserpine-induced motor dysfunction and neurochemical disturbances, supporting their potential as a therapeutic strategy for Parkinsonian pathology.
Prevalence of depression and gender differences in associated factors among empty-nest older adults in rural China
Clinical-guided deep learning framework for diabetic retinopathy: integrating lesion-aware attention, adversarial augmentation, and uncertainty quantification
Clinical-radiomic model development for local recurrence prediction in stereotactic body radiation therapy-treated lung cancer: comparative analysis with radiobiological models
Automated AI-based detection of MRI disease activity in multiple sclerosis: comparison with an expert-adjudicated AI-assisted workflow
Abstract Automated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis is increasingly used in multiple sclerosis (MS) for cross-sectional quantification of lesion burden and brain structures, as well as for longitudinal detection of new or enlarging lesions; however, its performance in real-world workflows remains incompletely understood. We evaluated agreement between fully automated artificial intelligence (AI)-based detection of MRI disease activity and neuroradiologist-adjudicated AI-assisted assessment in patients with relapsing-remitting MS. In this prospective single-center study, standardized 3T brain MRI was performed at 6-month intervals. Overall, 474 MRI examinations, including 343 follow-up scans from 131 patients, were analyzed. AI-only assessment flagged MRI disease activity more frequently than AI-assisted assessment (11.95% vs. 6.12%; OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.40–2.89), with high overall agreement (Gwet’s AC1 0.90, 95% CI 0.86–0.94). Positive agreement was 54.84% (95% CI 38.42–71.26), whereas negative agreement was 95.51% (95% CI 93.67–97.36). AI-only assessment flagged more new lesions per scan (IRR 2.39, 95% CI 1.36–4.19). Among the evaluated AI-derived lesion volume measures, none was associated with discordance. The reported agreement metrics reflect concordance within an AI-assisted workflow rather than independent validation of AI accuracy. Expert interpretation remains essential for borderline or potentially false-positive AI-flagged findings.