Browse Articles

Effect-site concentration of alfentanil combined with propofol for nociceptive and hemodynamic control during skull pin fixation

Abstract Skull pin fixation during neurosurgery induces intense nociceptive and hemodynamic responses. Alfentanil, a short-acting opioid with rapid blood–brain equilibration, may provide effective attenuation of these responses during total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA); however, the effective effect-site concentration (Ce) of alfentanil during skull pin fixation remains undefined. This prospective study enrolled 27 patients undergoing elective intracranial surgery to determine the 50% and 95% effective concentration (EC 50 and EC 95 ) of alfentanil for skull pin fixation using the surgical pleth index (SPI) and hemodynamic parameters. General anesthesia was maintained with propofol-based TIVA using target-controlled infusion (TCI), and alfentanil was administered according to the Scott pharmacokinetic model. The initial alfentanil Ce was set at 100.0 ng/mL and adjusted in 25.0 ng/mL increments using Dixon’s up-and-down sequential allocation method. Analgesic success was defined as SPI < 60 with mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) remaining within 20% of baseline values during skull pin fixation. Probit regression analysis revealed EC 50 and EC 95 values of alfentanil at 92.4 ng/mL and 125.7 ng/mL, respectively, for achieving adequate analgesia and hemodynamic stability during skull pin fixation. Patients in the successful analgesia group demonstrated significantly lower MAP, smaller increases in MAP and SPI, and lower intra-fixation SPI values compared with those in the failed analgesia group. Higher alfentanil Ce were significantly associated with improved suppression of nociceptive and sympathetic responses. These findings suggest a concentration-dependent association between alfentanil Ce and attenuation of nociceptive and hemodynamic responses during skull pin fixation. The estimated EC 95 of 125.7 ng/mL may inform future dose-validation studies but should not be regarded as a definitive clinical target. In addition, SPI-guided monitoring may facilitate individualized opioid titration and improve perioperative stability during neurosurgical anesthesia.

Reply to Szöllősi and Williams: The observation threshold mitigates the bias of transient genes on ancestral reconstruction

Enhancing seismic imaging via 5D regularization and interpolation: case study from Bazuzi Field, Sirte Basin, Libya

Selection of optimum high-performance polymer composite for the PCB in modern electronic systems using a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making technique

Abstract Selecting the most suitable high-performance polymer for a printed circuit board (PCB) substrate with low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), superior thermal stability, dielectric properties, and cost-effectiveness is challenging. In the present work, a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making technique was used to select optimal PCB substrate materials for modern electronic systems. Polyether ketone (PEK) reinforced with fly ash particles (PEK/FA) composites were prepared and evaluated for their physical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. In addition to prepared PEK-FA composites, other high-performance polymer composites reported in the literature and conventional material (FR 4) were evaluated using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to rank the alternative materials. Seven decision-making criteria, such as coefficient of thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, dielectric constant, dissipation factors, thermal degradation temperature, density, hardness, and cost, were considered for the study. The relative weights of criteria were calculated using the Criteria Importance Through Inter-Criteria Correlation (CRITIC) method. The results indicated that cost (23%) and electrical properties (18%) are the most influential criteria, followed by thermal properties and density. The TOPSIS method suggests that the PEK/FA composite reinforced with 30 wt.% FA is the most suitable material, with a performance score of 0.811, while the PEEK/AlN composite is the least suitable, with a performance score of 0.401, for modern PCB applications. The sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the consistency of the ranking order. It is observed that the ranking order of materials is quite similar, especially among the top three in each case.

Sprint-like cardiac dynamics support repeated acrobatic lunges in foraging rorqual whales

The dive response decreases heart rate, regulates blood flow distribution, conserves oxygen, and extends dive duration. In diving animals, dive heart rate can be modulated to meet increased demands of exercise during foraging. However, lunge-feeding rorquals represent an extreme example of exercise under breath-hold conditions: Though most of their dive time is spent gliding and filtering, lunges require high-power, acrobatic sprints to engulf massive volumes of prey-laden water. Our biologging data show that heart rate repeatedly increases with lunging but only gradually declines during filtering, dissimilar from the heart rate-activity coupling observed in other divers. We suggest that the unique nature of rorqual exercise likely requires glycolytic metabolic substrates, rather than aerobic substrates, during short, powerful lunges. During slow filtering, high heart rates may help partially renew these energy sources via oxygen-dependent pathways. By temporarily buffering oxygen demand from supply, the flexible dive response appears to optimize oxygen use in lunging rorquals and support aerobically “cheap” foraging. The data also show that dive cycle heart rate scope increases with rorqual size. We propose that cardiovascular plasticity during high and low power phases of foraging dives underpins rorquals’ ability to achieve high foraging efficiencies and combine explosive predation with grazing-like efficiency in a single lineage.

Altitude-associated variation in growth, essential oil composition and antioxidant traits of Eryngium caucasicum populations

Reciprocating Charge Circulation‐Driven Superlinear Output Scaling of Triboelectric Nanogenerator Arrays

ABSTRACT Stacking and arraying triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) represents an essential pathway toward practical, large‐scale mechanical energy harvesting. However, standard parallel arrays yield a mere linear summation at best, which in practice frequently degrades into sub‐linear outputs (1+1≤2) due to intrinsic power losses and phase mismatches. Here, we report a synergistic phase‐reconfigurable switching strategy that breaks this bottleneck through cyclic charge circulation. Synchronizing dynamic network topology with intrinsic capacitance variations induces a cyclic charge compounding effect. This reciprocal flow enhances localized electrostatic induction, forming a feedback loop that boosts transferred charge and short‐circuit current by 471% and 246%, respectively, yielding a 976% power enhancement over parallel arrays, thereby demonstrating “1+1>2” performance enhancement. Crucially, this robust growth accommodates variable phase differences and asynchronous cycles across diverse modes, yielding 3.2‐ and 7.9‐fold enhancements in charge and current for a hybrid contact‐separation/sliding system. Furthermore, the strategy swiftly recovers from air breakdown, clearing reversed charges in just 27.34 s, far superior to conventional parallel arrays. Demonstrating this capability, a boat‐shaped wave energy harvester delivers 2.4 µC and 0.35 mA for wireless multi‐parameter environmental monitoring. This work overcomes a critical barrier in interconnected TENG networks, establishing a robust framework for high‐performance, large‐scale energy harvesting systems.

AI-supported cognitive load detection: experimental insights using wearable workload and stress data for enhanced well-being interventions

Bridging In‐Plane Order to Macroscopic Isotropic Ultralight MXene–Graphene Aerogels

ABSTRACT Precise nanosheet organization across length scales remains a challenge in translating the intrinsic properties of two‐dimensional (2D) materials into macroscopic porous architectures. Extending in‐plane nanosheet order to long‐range, three‐dimensional (3D) frameworks without structural collapse has been elusive. Here, we report an ultralight MXene–graphene aerogel that exhibits isotropic nanosheet organization spanning from the nanoscale to macroscopic porous networks. This architecture is realized through alginate‐induced liquid‐crystalline assembly coupled with rapid ice‐nucleation‐driven compaction. The isotropic framework homogenizes capillary stresses during drying, enabling ambient‐pressure fabrication of aerogels with an ultralow density of 9.0 mg cm − 3 . Continuous long‐range, in‐plane isotropic stacking of nanosheets enables efficient electron transport along the pore walls, resulting in enhanced electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance. This work establishes a general strategy for constructing porous multiscale isotropic nanosheet architectures.

Methionine oxidation alters both helical assembly and disordered contacts in human TDP-43 C-terminal domain phase separation

TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43), a key protein linked to ALS pathology, undergoes phase separation and forms functional assemblies via condensation within cells. The conserved region (CR) within its C-terminal domain (CTD) mediates self-assembly through helix–helix interactions, while the flanking intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) contribute to phase separation through transient interactions involving aromatic and hydrophobic residues. The CTD contains ten methionine residues distributed equally between these regions, making it particularly susceptible to oxidative modifications. While methionine oxidation is known to impair TDP-43 phase separation, neither the precise mechanism nor the specific contribution of methionines in the CR compared to the IDRs has been determined. Here, we combine NMR spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to reveal if and how methionine oxidation in each region differentially affects CTD structure and phase separation. To assess the change of secondary structure caused by oxidation, we measured NMR random coil chemical shift values for methionine sulfoxide. Oxidation of CR methionines disrupts helical structure and directly impairs intermolecular helical association, while oxidation of IDR methionines disrupts long-range contacts. Hence, oxidation of methionines in both regions contributes to impaired phase separation, albeit through different mechanisms. These findings establish methionines as critical redox-sensitive modulators in TDP-43 phase behavior and provide molecular insights into how oxidative stress may contribute to TDP-43 dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases.

A multimedia encryption scheme based on a lightweight predator-prey simulation and chaotic dynamics

Phosphonate‐Pillared High‐Entropy MXene Separator Enabling Ion‐Sieving, Flame‐Retardant, and Energy/Power‐Dense Lithium Metal Pouch Cells

ABSTRACT Coupling Ni‐rich cathodes with lithium metal anodes offers a compelling route to high‐energy‐density batteries, yet cation crosstalk from cathode dissolution destabilizes the anode interface, accelerates dendritic protrusion, and can trigger thermal runaway. Herein, we report an ion‐sieving, flame‐retardant separator based on a phosphonate‐pillared high‐entropy (HE) MXene (TiVNbMoC 3 /Tppm) functional layer that addresses these coupled failure modes. Through topological exfoliation, tetraphosphonate (TppmH 8 ) ligands act as molecular pillars to expand the TiVNbMoC 3 interlamellar spacing to 18.5 Å, enabling a 95% yield of few‐layer (< 5 layers) nanosheets. The HE architecture constructs rapid and homogeneous Li + conduction pathways with a diffusion barrier of 0.179 eV while sequestering 82% of dissolved transition metals. The composite separator delivers an Li + transference number of 0.77, tensile strength of 95.17 MPa, and thermal stability at 180°C. The regulated nanochannels also facilitate stable interfacial chemistry at the Li‐metal anode. In 1.0 Ah NCM811||Li pouch cells under lean‐electrolyte conditions, it achieves 87.1% capacity retention after 200 cycles, gravimetric/volumetric energy densities of 411.8 Wh kg −1 /838.2 Wh L −1 , and a power density of 1127.0 W kg −1 . Phosphonate‐derived PO· radicals and MXene‐derived ceramic char synergistically suppress thermal propagation, enabling stable operation during thermal chamber testing.

Going in reverse to get it right in RNA replication

Interpretable hybrid CNN–ViT framework with neuro-symbolic clinical decision support for early cervical cancer diagnosis

Abstract Accurate classification of cervical cytology images remains challenging because of subtle morphological differences, staining variability, and visual similarity among cell categories. Although deep learning methods have achieved strong classification performance, many existing approaches provide limited transparency regarding the image regions and morphological features that influence their predictions. This study presents an interpretable hybrid classification framework that combines GoogLeNet and MobileNet with a Vision Transformer (ViT) to extract multi-scale local morphology, fine-grained texture, and global contextual information from cervical cytology images. The framework incorporates a biomarker-guided Grad-CAM module, a neuro-symbolic inference component, and an ontology-aware semantic consistency module. The proposed Cervical Cytology Biomarker Ontology (CCBO) was constructed by adapting established principles of biomedical semantic representation and published cervical cytomorphological descriptions. The ontology represents hierarchical cell categories, biomarker associations, semantic compatibility constraints, and exclusion relationships to support structured verification of model outputs. Fuzzy IF–THEN rules were used to assess neural predictions according to predefined combinations of morphology-related biomarkers. In addition, an IoU-based Grad-CAM localization framework was introduced to quantify the spatial agreement between activation regions and morphology-guided biomarker reference masks. This multi-stage design extends the framework beyond conventional black-box classification by linking visual attribution, fuzzy rule evaluation, and ontology-based consistency assessment. Experimental results showed that the proposed hybrid model achieved an average AUC of 99.23%, sensitivity of 98.86%, and accuracy of 98.80% on the SIPaKMeD dataset. Illustrative case analyses further demonstrated the framework’s ability to produce structured explanations. For dyskeratotic samples, the Grad-CAM maps emphasized keratinization-related cytoplasmic regions and hyperchromatic nuclear areas, while the neuro-symbolic component identified agreement with the predefined dyskeratotic biomarker rules.

Cascade Solvation Refinement for High‐Voltage Lithium Metal Batteries

ABSTRACT Unstable interfacial chemistry in Li metal batteries originates from the limited accessibility of anions at electrified interfaces, even in the electrolytes designed with anion‐coordinated solvation structures. Here we report a cascade solvation refinement (CSR) strategy that enables molecular‐level control over the size and dynamics of anion‐coordinated Li + clusters. This design principle is governed by the synergy between anion‐anion repulsion and average polarizability, which together dictate cluster miniaturization and anion‐exchange dynamics. By sequentially incorporating, bis(oxalate)borate (BOB − ) and bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide (TFSI − ) into a bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (FSI − ) saturated electrolyte, the solvation environment evolves toward compact, highly dynamic Li + ‐anion clusters with accelerated anion‐exchange kinetics. The BOB − and TFSI − co‐refined electrolyte sustains continuous anion availability at electrode interfaces, facilitates the formation of robust inorganic‐rich interphases, and suppresses solvent‐dominated side reactions. Notably, the refined solvation structure also compresses the electric double layer, enabling anion‐coordinated solvation structures to approach the electrode surface more closely and construct inorganic interphases. Consequently, 4.4 V Li‐metal pouch cells with practical Ah‐level capacities (>4 Ah), as well as the large‐format 20 Ah cells, exhibit markedly extended cycling stability and high gravimetric energy density (>540 Wh kg −1 ). These results highlight the CSR approach as a powerful platform for advancing practical, high‐energy batteries.

Correction for Zhang et al., Programmable DNA hydrogels for dual-mode PD-L1 suppression via polyvalent LYTAC mimics and transcriptional silencing

Effects of home exercise program on endurance, disability and daily participation in non-specific neck pain

Record Selectivity of SO ₂ by Molecularly Gated Sieving Membranes Having Cross‐Scale Mechanically Interlocked Nanofibers

ABSTRACT Achieving selective molecular sieving, efficient particulate filtration, and passive signal acquisition into an integrated flexible membrane signifies a pivotal advancement toward interactive sensing‐protective application. Herein, we unravel cross‐scale mechanically interlocked poly(lactic acid) (CSMI‐PLA) nanofibrous membranes fabricated via primary hydrogen bonding through polydopamine adhesion and secondary coordinate bonding via heterogeneous metal‐organic frameworks entanglement. This hierarchically interlocked interface design establishes robust connectivity across dimensional scales, endowing CSMI‐PLA with exceptional mechanical resilience and long‐term sensing‐protective durability. Remarkably, the CSMI‐PLA membranes simultaneously achieve >99.45% removal of PM 0.3 with an ultralow pressure drop of 120 Pa, a record sulfur dioxide/nitrogen (SO 2 /N 2 ) selectivity of 37000, and a substantial SO 2 uptake of 10.6 mmol·g − 1 . Moreover, the CSMI‐PLA membranes retain high functional integrity under multicomponent conditions while offering intrisical electroactivity that enables passive intelligent sensing. This work establishes a generalizable platform for engendering sensing‐protective nanofibers, with promising implications for molecularly gated sieving and biodegradable self‐adaptive wearables.

Multi-objective optimization for predicting and enhancing machining performance in nanofluid- assisted turning using meta heuristic algorithms

Abstract This study evaluates the performance of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-based nanofluid as an alternative cutting fluid in the turning of EN31 steel. Experiments were conducted under dry, conventional coolant, and nanofluid-assisted conditions using a gravity-feed lubrication system with a flow rate of 1 L/h. The results indicate that the nanofluid improves machining performance, with reductions of 5–20% in cutting force, 11–37% in thrust force, 4–33% in feed force, and 2–34% in surface roughness compared to conventional cooling. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Central Composite Design was applied to develop predictive models for surface roughness and resultant cutting force. The models showed good statistical significance and prediction accuracy. Multi-objective optimization was performed to minimize surface roughness and cutting force while maximizing material removal rate. The optimal parameters were identified as 1500 rpm cutting speed, 0.10 mm/rev feed rate, and 1 mm depth of cut, resulting in surface roughness of approximately 0.47 μm, cutting force of 165 N, and material removal rate of 7.54 mm³/min. Comparative analysis of optimization algorithms showed that NSGA-II provided superior convergence and stability, achieving better performance than other methods. The findings confirm the effectiveness of nanofluid-assisted machining combined with intelligent optimization for improved machining outcomes.

Photocatalytic CO ₂ Reduction to Acetone by Chiral HgS/CuO Heterojunctions

ABSTRACT The efficient conversion of CO 2 into value‐added C 3 chemicals is highly desirable yet remains challenging due to the complex multi‐electron transfer and C‐C coupling processes involved. In particular, acetone is an industrially important solvent and chemical feedstock, and its direct synthesis from CO 2 via photocatalysis represents a sustainable alternative to fossil‐based routes. Herein, we report chiral CuO/HgS heterojunction photocatalysts for additive‐free photocatalytic CO 2 reduction to acetone. Chiral CuO and HgS were synthesized using chiral molecules as symmetry‐directing agents and subsequently assembled into heterojunctions with controlled handedness combinations. Structural and spectroscopic analyses confirm the successful construction of chiral interfaces. Photocatalytic tests reveal that the heterojunction catalysts exhibit significantly enhanced CO 2 conversion efficiency and acetone selectivity compared to single components. The optimized system delivers improved charge separation efficiency, increased photocurrent response, and prolonged carrier lifetimes. This work demonstrates an effective heterojunction design strategy for promoting C 3 product formation from CO 2 and provides a sustainable approach for green acetone synthesis.