Sensitive Response Research Articles

Development of a High-Sensitivity Acoustic Sensor Based on Grating Interferometer Combined with Glass Diaphragm.

In this study, based on the principle of grating interferometer-based acoustic sensors, design guidelines for the grating interferometric module were obtained and analyzed considering various factors in order to obtain high sensitivity, and a glass-based grating interference component and its acoustic sensor device were developed. The key parameters of the grating interference structure were extracted, and their effects on the acoustic response sensitivity were quantified for multiple mechanisms. For the development of the acoustic sensor, the grating-on-convex-platform structure and the micromachining processes of the glass-based components were designed and developed. The developed acoustic sensor samples achieved high sensitivity. In particular, the sample suitable for low-frequency application obtained a sensitivity of 0.776 V/Pa @ 1 kHz, and the spectrum of its sensitivity was flat from 50 Hz to 8 Hz with a deviation less than 1.5 dB and a sensitivity of 0.408 V/Pa @ 20 Hz.

Feasibility and acceptability of a caregiver-mediated early support program, delivered online, for infants at elevated familial likelihood for autism: A feasibility randomized controlled trial.

Preliminary evidence indicates potential benefit of providing caregiver-mediated intervention, prior to diagnosis, for infants at elevated familial likelihood for autism and related developmental delays including language delay (EL-A). However, delivering such interventions online and in low-resource settings like India has not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a novel manualized caregiver-mediated early support program, the "LiL' STEPS," online in India, for EL-A infants. LiL' STEPS stands for Language development & Intervention Lab's (LiL') Supporting Early social-communication and language by Promoting caregiver Sensitive responsiveness (STEPS). The program comprised 14 sessions with a focus on social-communication and language, conducted over 12-weeks using demonstration and video feedback. Families of 36 EL-A infants aged 9 to 15-months participated in this feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT). Families were randomized in a 2:1 ratio (n = 24 LiL' STEPS and n = 12 care as usual groups). Information on feasibility and acceptability was collated following a mixed methods approach from caregiver interviews, fidelity forms, session notes, and study register. Findings indicated the LiL' STEPS study trial as feasible and acceptable with recruitment rate of 4 per month, 100% willingness for randomization, 8.3% attrition, and 3.03% loss of blinding. Interventionist and caregiver fidelity was maintained above 80%. Despite challenges like interruptions during sessions, 100% families found the program acceptable and satisfactory, 86% said they would recommend the program to others, and 71% preferred online modality. Caregivers' perspectives on beneficial components and experience attending the program have been described. Accordingly, recommendations for future definitive RCTs have been presented.

Police Responses to Rape in Metropolitan India

Much of the published research on police responses to rape is located in the West. This study conducted in-depth interviews with three adult victim-survivors and 15 police personnel to explore police responses to rape in the metropolitan city of Kolkata, India. Using an intersectional feminist framework, a reflexive thematic analysis indicated both sensitive and insensitive responses and showed that police responses were often based on discretion rather than being guided by the law. Police responses were also shaped by occupational culture, the socio-political environment, the police–criminal nexus and media coverage. The research sheds light on the unique cultural context of policing rape in metropolitan India. It adds to discussions regarding women’s police stations and changes in policing to address sexual violence.

Construction of a sequence activated fluorescence probe for simultaneous detection of γ-glutamyl transpeptidase and peroxynitrite in acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) can result in a sudden decline in kidney function and, if not promptly diagnosed and treated, can lead to a high mortality rate. Therefore, there is a critical need for the development of a non-invasive and dependable early diagnostic method for AKI to prevent its progression and deterioration. To address the risk of misdiagnosis or overlooked diagnosis due to reliance on a single biomarker, we developed a novel molecular fluorescent probe (HX-GP) to simultaneously detect and image two biomarkers, γ-Glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT) and Peroxynitrite (ONOO−), in the AKI process. HX-GP can specifically detect γ-GGT in the red fluorescence channel (λem = 613 nm) and ONOO− in the green fluorescence channel (λem = 518 nm). HX-GP demonstrated high sensitivity, selectivity, and rapid response, showing excellent biocompatibility and detection performance. In addition, HX-GP was successful in imaging experiments in a cell model of cisplatin-induced AKI, a result that highlights its potential application value in early diagnosis of AKI.

Fabrication of chitosan-encapsulated microcapsules containing wood wax oil for antibacterial self-healing wood coatings

Wood multifunctional smart coating is a new functional coating that combines smart material technology with traditional wood. In this study, wood wax oil based on thistle oil and flaxseed oil was used as the core material, and chitosan was used as the wall material to prepare self-repairing antibacterial microcapsules. The optimal preparation conditions were found to be an oil-water ratio (OWR) of 2:1, a core-to-wall ratio of 3:1, using OP-10 as the emulsifier at a concentration of 10.0 %, and a crosslinker concentration of 0.18 g/mL. The encapsulation efficiency of microcapsules was 73.7 % by spray drying, and the thermal stability was improved. The chitosan microcapsules exhibit the characteristics of water sensitivity and acid selective response, with rapid release at pH 7.0. Blending microcapsules at concentrations of 2.0 %, 5.0 %, and 8.0 % with UV topcoat and applying them to walnut plywood resulted in a multifunctional wood coating. Artificially simulated daily scratch damage was effectively repaired within 7 d. Furthermore, the 10.0 % microcapsules demonstrated antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Escherichia coli (E. coli), with an antibacterial E. coli and S. aureus rate of up to 75.82 % and 42.96 %. The IC50 of the wood coatings against E. coli was 5.667, while against S. aureus it was 15.45. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the microcapsules against both E. coli and S. aureus was 10.0 %. The coating film containing 2.0 % microcapsules demonstrated superior overall performance. This research established a foundation for the development of self-healing antibacterial coatings for wood and addressed the gap in dual-functional self-healing antibacterial paint films for wood.

Ultra-thin DLC diaphragm-based optical fiber sensor achieving a highly sensitive and broadband acoustic response.

In the design of an extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) acoustic sensor, broadband response and high-sensitivity sensing are usually conflicting and need to be carefully balanced. Here, we present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, optical fiber acoustic sensor based on an ultra-thin diamond-like carbon (DLC) film, fabricated using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition method, and transferred by a surface-energy-assisted method. The sensor exhibits a broadband response ranging from 200 Hz to 100 kHz, maintains an average sensitivity of 457.3 mV/Pa within the range of 6 to 30 kHz, and can detect weak acoustic signals down to 3.23 µPa/Hz1/2@16.19 kHz. The combination of an ultra-thin DLC film with a relatively high Young's modulus and internal stresses results in a trade-off between high sensitivity and a broadband response. This performance demonstrates that our sensor is among the most advanced in the EFPI acoustic sensor family, with significant potential for applications such as photoacoustic spectroscopy, defect diagnosis, and bio-imaging.

Amperometric Highly Sensitive Phosphate Ion Sensor Based on the Electrochemically Modified Ni Electrode.

We present a study of high-performance electrochemical phosphate sensors, which are exquisitely designed and easy to operate. We innovatively utilized the insolubility of nickel phosphate and developed a new type of sensor through electrochemical methods. The experiment first used cyclic voltammetry to determine -0.4 V as the optimal electrochemical modification potential and used constant potential electrodeposition technology to form a nickel oxide layer on the surface of the nickel electrode, which serves as the active layer in response to phosphate ions. The changes in the surface structure and chemical composition of the electrode before and after modification were thoroughly characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy scattering spectroscopy analysis. The performance evaluation of the sensor shows that the modified nickel electrode has excellent responsiveness to phosphate ions in the concentration range of 10-7 to 10-10 mol/L, with a detection lower limit of 10-10 mol/L. As the concentration decreases, a shoulder peak appears at ∼0.63 V and the current change shows a regular increase. Compared with traditional detection methods, this sensor exhibits higher stability and practicality and is suitable for the rapid identification of phosphates in real samples. In summary, this study successfully developed a fast, sensitive, and wide response range current type electrochemical phosphate sensor, which has broad application prospects in environmental monitoring, water quality analysis, and biomedical fields.

Enhanced self-driven flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator sensor based on NaNbO3/P(VDF-TrFE) films for security applications

The self-driven flexible piezoelectric sensor has wide application prospects in areas such as health monitoring, human-machine interaction, and warning detection due to its advantages of non-toxicity and high sensitivity. In this study, a composite film of poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] doped with NaNbO3 (NN) was prepared by electrospinning. The highly oriented NN particles promote the formation of P(VDF-TrFE) β phase, reaching a maximum β phase content of 91%. Under mechanical motion at a frequency of approximately 3 Hz, the piezoelectric nanogenerator (PENG) fabricated from the nanofiber membrane achieved a maximum piezoelectric output of 17.3 V and 12 V in the transverse and longitudinal piezoelectric responses, respectively. With an external load of 100 MΩ, the PENG obtained a maximum power density of 0.67 μW/cm². Additionally, the PENG sensor exhibited sensitivity to various human activities and demonstrated high sensitivity and rapid response in monitoring the status of the proposed door lock opening/closing, highlighting its enormous potential in security monitoring applications.

An enhanced electrochemical sensor using ZnO nanoparticles to measure mycophenolate mofetil: A cyclic voltammetric investigation

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO Nps) were prepared in the current work utilizing a chemical co-precipitation technique with the aim of electrochemically detecting mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). The synthesized nanoparticles showed increased crystallinity with particle diameters of roughly 25.26 nm when analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and EDAX tests. Throughout the research, the physiological pH of 7.4 was kept constant. ZnO Nps-incorporated carbon paste electrode exhibits a significant electroactive surface area (0.0378 cm2), better sensitivity, and consistent current responses as compared to the bare carbon paste electrode (0.0285 cm2). Furthermore, a multitude of additional experiments were carried out, such as sweep rate, concentration, and pH studies, which demonstrated decreased LOD and LOQ, or 0.6 and 1.99 µM, respectively. The modified electrode showed superior stability at 94 % by maintaining its activity. The designed electrode showed a greater recovery of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the 96–98.5 % range, when tested further for an actual sample analysis of MMF in a human urine research.

Inflammatory injury induces pain sensitization that is expressed beyond the site of injury in male (and not in female) mice

Pain is a crucial protective mechanism for the body. It alerts us to potential tissue damage or injury and promotes the avoidance of harmful stimuli. Injury-induced inflammation and tissue damage lead to pain sensitization, which amplifies responses to subsequent noxious stimuli even after an initial primary injury has recovered. This phenomenon, commonly referred to as hyperalgesic priming, was investigated in male and female mice to determine whether it is specific to the site of previous injury. We used 10μl of 50 % Freund's complete adjuvant (CFA) administered to the left hind paw as a model of peripheral injury. Both male and female mice exhibited robust site-specific mechanical hypersensitivity after CFA, which resolved within one-week post-injection. After injury resolution, only male CFA-primed mice showed enhanced and prolonged mechanical sensitivity in response to a chemical challenge or a single 0.5 mA electric footshock. Among CFA-primed male mice, shock-induced mechanical hypersensitivity was expressed in both the left (previously injured) and the right (uninjured) hind paws, suggesting a pivotal role for altered centralized processes in the expression of pain sensitization. These findings indicate that pain history regulates sensory responses to subsequent mechanical and chemical pain stimuli in a sex-specific manner—foot-shock-induced hyperalgesic priming expression among male mice generalized beyond the initial injury site.

The immunological landscape and silico analysis of key paraptosis regulator LPAR1 in gastric cancer patients

This study aims to identify key regulators of paraptosis in gastric cancer (GC) and explore their potential in guiding therapeutic strategies, especially in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD). Genes associated with paraptosis were identified from the references and subjected to Cox regression analysis in the TCGA-STAD cohort. Using machine learning models, LPAR1 consistently ranked highest in feature importance. Multiple sequencing data showed that LPAR1 was significantly overexpressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). LPAR1 expression was significantly higher in normal tissues, and ROC analysis demonstrated its discriminative ability. Copy number alterations and microsatellite instability were significantly associated with LPAR1 expression. High LPAR1 expression correlated with advanced tumor grades and specific cancer immune subtypes, and multivariate analysis confirmed LPAR1 as an independent predictor of poor prognosis. LPAR1 expression was associated with different immune response metrics, including immune effector activation and upregulated chemokine secretion. High LPAR1 expression also correlated with increased sensitivity to compounds, such as BET bromodomain inhibitors I-BET151 and RITA, suggesting LPAR1 as a biomarker for predicting drug activity. FOXP2 showed a strong positive correlation with LPAR1 transcriptional regulation, while increased methylation of LPAR1 promoter regions was negatively correlated with gene expression. Knockdown of LPAR1 affected cell growth in most tumor cell lines, and in vitro experiments demonstrated that LPAR1 influenced extracellular matrix (ECM) contraction and cell viability in the paraptosis of CAFs. These findings suggest that LPAR1 is a critical regulator of paraptosis in GC and a potential biomarker for drug sensitivity and immunotherapy response. This underscores the role of CAFs in mediating tumorigenic effects and suggests that targeting LPAR1 could be a promising strategy for precision medicine in GC.

Multifunctional intelligent indication labels featuring antibacterial properties based on pectin/carboxymethyl chitosan incorporated with porous microspheres loaded with anthocyanins: A new approach for salmon preservation and freshness detection

Multifunctional intelligent indication labels tend to prolong the quality guarantee period and monitor the freshness of food. In this study, indication labels were prepared with carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) and pectin as substrate, and porous microspheres loaded with anthocyanins (ACN@PGMs) as indicators and antioxidant as well as clove essential oil as an antibacterial agent. The interaction between pectin and CMCS and the addition of ACN@PGMs improved the physical properties and structural density of indication labels due to electrostatic complexing and hydrogen-bonding interactions, which exhibited optimal performance when the added anthocyanins equivalent was 0.25 mg/mL. Meanwhile, the water contact angle and antibacterial activity reached maximum values of 78.8 ± 2.3°, 11.8 ± 0.88 cm (E.coli), and 17.00 ± 0.71 cm (S.aureus), respectively. In addition, indication labels displayed sensitive color responses to different pH and ammonia environments. In application, labels could extend the shelf life of refrigerated salmon from 4 days to 9 days and showed significant color changes when salmon spoiled. Overall, indication labels played a positive role in extending shelf life and visual freshness detection, which could be employed in food quality evaluation and food preservation.

Prognostic and immunological implications of heterogeneous cell death patterns in prostate cancer

BackgroundProstate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men with a significant proportion of patients developing biochemical recurrence (BCR) after treatment. Programmed cell death (PCD) mechanisms are known to play critical roles in tumor progression and can potentially serve as prognostic and therapeutic biomarkers in PCa. This study aimed to develop a prognostic signature for BCR in PCa using PCD-related genes.Materials and methodsWe conducted an analysis of 19 different modes of PCD to develop a comprehensive model. Bulk transcriptomic, single-cell transcriptomic, genomic, and clinical data were collected from multiple cohorts, including TCGA-PRAD, GSE58812, METABRIC, GSE21653, and GSE193337. We analyzed the expression and mutations of the 19 PCD modes and constructed, evaluated, and validated the model.ResultsTen PCD modes were found to be associated with BCR in PCa, with specific PCD patterns exhibited by various cell components within the tumor microenvironment. Through Lasso Cox regression analysis, we established a Programmed Cell Death Index (PCDI) utilizing an 11-gene signature. High PCDI values were validated in five independent datasets and were found to be associated with an increased risk of BCR in PCa patients. Notably, older age and advanced T and N staging were associated with higher PCDI values. By combining PCDI with T staging, we constructed a nomogram with enhanced predictive performance. Additionally, high PCDI values were significantly correlated with decreased drug sensitivity, including drugs such as Docetaxel and Methotrexate. Patients with lower PCDI values demonstrated higher immunophenoscores (IPS), suggesting a potentially higher response rate to immune therapy. Furthermore, PCDI was associated with immune checkpoint genes and key components of the tumor microenvironment, including macrophages, T cells, and NK cells. Finally, clinical specimens validated the differential expression of PCDI-related PCDRGs at both the gene and protein levels.ConclusionIn conclusion, we developed a novel PCD-based prognostic feature that successfully predicted BCR in PCa patients and provided insights into drug sensitivity and potential response to immune therapy. These findings have significant clinical implications for the treatment of PCa.

A Sensitive Fluorescence Analysis Method of Pathogenic Microorganisms Based on Silicon Photomultiplier.

The monitoring of pathogenic microorganisms in water is important for public health and disease outbreaks prediction. Recently, optical detection techniques have drawn much attention due to the advantages of rapid response, security and high sensitivity. In this paper, a fluorescence spectrometer based on 375nm exciting laser and the microchannel liquid sample flow technology is proposed. The 4 × 4 narrowband filter array was coupled to a Silicon Photomultiplier (SiPM) array with single-photon sensitivity. B500 fluorescent microspheres and Escherichia coli were used for performance evaluation of the spectrometer. As a result, it is feasible to use random particle counting method to detect the bacteria concentration level in water even low to several CFU/mL. In addition, based on Python tools and neural network algorithm models, the fluorescence spectra of different kinds of substances (biotic and abiotic) can be classified with an accuracy of more than 97%. The method was successfully applied to tap water samples. The results suggest that the proposed method is applicable for on-site bacteria detection.

Designing double-layer smart packaging with sustained-release antibacterial and antioxidant activities for efficient preservation and high-contrast monitoring

In this study, a double-layer intelligent packaging, which is designed by a layer-by-layer casting strategy, is employed for efficient food preservation and high contrast monitoring. Specifically, novel zein/tannic acid (TA) composite colloidal particles (ZTs) were prepared by manipulating the non-covalent interaction between zein and TA using an easy antisolvent method. The stable oregano essential oil (OEO) Pickering emulsion (ZTOEO) with varying concentrations of ZTs (0.1%–1.0%) was successfully prepared. The optimized ZTOEO, containing 0.8% ZTs, was then integrated into the emulsified hydrophobic layer of the konjac glucomannan (Kgm) matrix. Finally, the carrageenan (Car) matrix containing alizarine (Al) as an indicator was added to construct the bilayer structure. The outer Car/Al layer serves as an acid/base responsive indicator layer, while the inner Kgm/ZTOEO layer functions as a high-barrier bacteriostatic layer. The double-layer Kgm/ZTOEO-Car/Al is integrated through intermolecular hydrogen bonding and dehydration condensation. Kgm/ZTOEO-Car/Al exhibits excellent slow-release antibacterial and antioxidant activity, with a sensitive, repeatable and accurate visual response to pH/NH3. The composite film demonstrates good mechanical strength, thermal stability, light blocking, and water vapor and oxygen permeability. The individual inner Kgm/ZTOEO film effectively prolonged the shelf-life and quality of fruits, which the double-layer Kgm/ZTOEO-Car/Al film showed minimal changes in TVB-N (16.65 mg/100 g) even after monitoring and maintaining the shrimp freshness for 48 h. It can be easily processed on a large scale into packaging bags and indicator labels. This packaging is expected to be an eco-friendly, low-cost, bacteriostatic, suitable for applications requiring real-time monitoring and maintenance of fruit/seafood freshness.

Construction of a dual “off-on” near-infrared fluorescent probe for bioimaging of HClO in rheumatoid arthritis

Hypochlorous acid (HClO) serves as a critical biomarker in inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and its real-time imaging is essential for understanding its biological functions. In this study, we designed and synthesized a novel probe, RHMB, which ingeniously integrates rhodamine B and methylene blue fluorophores with HClO-specific responsive moieties into a single molecular framework. Upon exposure to HClO, RHMB exhibited significant dual-channel fluorescence enhancement characterized by high sensitivity (LODs of 2.55 nM and 14.08 nM), excellent selectivity, and rapid response time (within 5 s). Notably, RHMB enabled reliable imaging of both exogenous and endogenous HClO in living cells and in zebrafish, employing a unique duplex-imaging turn-on approach that highlighted its adaptability across various biological contexts. Furthermore, RHMB effectively monitored HClO fluctuations in an RA mouse model and assessed the therapeutic efficacy of diclofenac (Dic) in alleviating RA symptoms. These findings underscore the potential of RHMB as an invaluable tool for elucidating the biological roles of HClO in various diseases.

Cellulose-based multi-responsive soft robots for programmable smart devices

In the realm of advanced smart manufacturing, the development of fast, sensitive, stable soft robots that can be driven by multiple stimuli remains a significant challenge. In this study, we developed a cellulose-based soft robot featuring a dual-layer structure. The top layer is a hydrophilic composite membrane made from cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), MXene nanosheets, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), henceforth referred to as the CNF@MXene-CNT (CMN) composite membrane, while the bottom layer consists of a hydrophobic Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) membrane. The soft robot exhibits highly sensitive and fast response towards humidity-, natural light and electrothermal stimuli, which can be attributed to the high humidity expansion (0.0005 (%RH)-1), photothermal conversion, and electrical thermal conversion of CMN composite membrane, also the distinctive expansion characteristics of CMN (−0.000757 °C−1) and BOPP (0.000137 (°C)-1). Remarkably, the soft robot can be actuated with merely 67 mW cm−2 of natural light or a power supply of 2.8 V, achieving a bending range of 360° with a corresponding bending curvature of 2.67 cm−1. The soft robot’s motion state and speed can be meticulously controlled, further emphasizing their vast applicability in various fields, including medical, industrial, aerospace, and beyond. The soft robot has been applied as a smart curtain, intelligent optical switch, and electrically controlled robot, demonstrating its exceptional multifunctionality and wide ranges of applications.

Adsorption and sensing properties of TiO2-modified MoSe2 monolayer for SF6 decomposition components based on the first-principles

As crucial components in power systems, SF6 gas-insulated equipment inevitably develops insulation defects and faults over long-term operation, leading to the decomposition of SF6 gas. Therefore, detecting SF6 decomposition components is essential for assessing the operational status of SF6 gas-insulated equipment and ensuring the safe and stable operation of power systems. Based on first principles, the modification mechanism of TiO2 on MoSe2 was explored, and optimal adsorption models for gases SO2, H2S, SOF2, and SO2F2 on this composite material were established. The adsorption characteristics of each system were analyzed through parameters such as adsorption energy, adsorption distance, charge transfer, electron density difference, and density of states, and the sensing properties of the systems were discussed using parameters including changes in frontier molecular orbitals, desorption time, and sensitivity. The results indicate that TiO2–MoSe2 has difficulty capturing SO2F2, but exhibits chemisorption for SO2, H2S, and SOF2 with adsorption energies of −1.25 eV, −0.99 eV, and −3.40 eV, respectively. Upon adsorption of SO2, TiO2–MoSe2 shows a significant change in electrical conductivity, a desorption time of 4.51 s (at 498 K), and a strong sensitivity response. However, the response to H2S is relatively weak, with lower sensitivity. Therefore, this material is suitable for detecting SO2 but not H2S. TiO2–MoSe2 demonstrates a significant response and excellent sensitivity to SOF2; however, the adsorption process lacks repeatability. Therefore, it can be used as a disposable gas sensor or solid adsorbent for SOF2 detection. The results of this study provide theoretical support for the application of MoSe2-based sensors in the monitoring and fault diagnosis of SF6 gas-insulated equipment.

Development of MXene-based flexible piezoresistive sensors

Abstract The flexibility and sensitivity of traditional sensors is hard to achieve unless wearable technology develops. Flexible piezoresistive sensor (FPS) is one of the solutions in the nondestructive health monitoring of living body. In the application of sensing devices for physiological or biochemical signals, fast feedback speed and accurate signal feedback are essential requirements for obtaining sensitive response signals. Additionally, the development of FPS has promoted the research of conductive materials that could be used in wearable devices. However, improving the performance of functional materials is an important way of effort for researchers. Recently, MXene as a new kind of 2D materials and their composites have made a tremendous impact in the field of sensors for wearable health sensors. Numerous conductive materials based 2D MXene could expedite their practical application in FPS by overcoming the present limitations of FPS such as poor responsivity, signal accuracy, and the narrower corresponding range. There has been plenty of breakthrough in the MXene-based FPS in the past several years. The main purpose of this paper is reviewing the recent development of MXene-based FPS and providing an outlook on the future development of it.

The effects of setup parameters on the measured kinetic output of cervical disc prostheses

Mechanical testing machines are used to evaluate kinematics, kinetics, wear, and efficacy of spinal implants. The simulation of "physiological" spinal loading conditions necessitates the simultaneous use of multiple actuators. The challenge in achieving a desired loading profile lies in achieving close synchronization of these actuators. Errors in load application can be attributed to both the control system and the intrinsic sample response. Moreover, the presence of friction in the setup can have an impact on the measured outcome. The optimization of setup parameters can substantially improve the ability to simulate spinal loading conditions and obtain reliable data on implant performance. In this study, a reproducible kinematic test protocol was developed to evaluate the sensitivity of the kinetic response (i.e., measured loads, moments, and stiffnesses) of a cervical disc prosthesis to several testing parameters. In this context, five ceramic ball and socket sample implants were mounted in a 6 DOF material testing machine and tested with a constant axial compressive force of 100 N in two motion modes: 1) flexion-extension (±7.5°) and 2) lateral bending (±6°). Parameters including rotation rate, slider friction, friction between the samples' articulating surfaces, and moment arm were considered to determine their effects on measured kinetic parameters. The sensitivity analysis indicated that all setup parameters except friction between the samples' articulating surfaces had a substantial effect on the results. The findings were then compared to predictions from a free body diagram to determine the optimal setup parameters. Consequently, the setup with the lowest rotation rate and employing passive sliders yielded results that were consistent with the free body diagram. This study demonstrated the significance of a comprehensive setup evaluation for reliable and reproducible testing of spinal implants, also for comparison between labs.