Cicada rib-inspired tough films through nanoconfined crystallization for use in acoustic transducers.

Acoustic transducers require films that demonstrate both toughness and fatigue resistance, presenting notable challenges when achieved through conventional nanoscale reinforcing strategies. Here, we found that the rib structure of a cicada's tymbal exhibits exceptional toughness and fatigue resistance, attributed to its unique architecture composed of alternating soft and stiff polymer layers. Inspired by this rib structure, we developed a robust artificial rib film (ARF) using a nanoconfined crystallization strategy that involves the deposition of soft polyethylene oxide and stiff phenol formaldehyde.

A compact cassette tape for DNA-based data storage.

DNA with high storage density can serve as an alternative storage medium to respond to the global explosion of data growth and become a powerful personal storage memory if an integrated compact device can store and handle large-scale data. Here, we incorporate a DNA cassette tape with 5.5 × 10 addressable data partitions (addressing rate up to 1570 partitions per second), a DNA loading capacity of 28.

Interferon-induced senescent CD8 T cells reduce anti-PD1 immunotherapy efficacy in early triple-negative breast cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) lack predictive biomarkers to guide immunotherapy, especially during early-stage disease. To address this issue, we used single-cell RNA sequencing, bulk transcriptomics, and pathology assays on samples from 171 patients with early-stage TNBC receiving chemotherapy with or without immunotherapy. Our investigation identified an enriched subset of interferon (IFN)-induced CD8 T cells in early TNBC samples, which predict immunotherapy nonresponsiveness.

Personalizing chemotherapy drug selection using a novel transcriptomic chemogram.

Gene signatures predictive of chemotherapeutic response have the potential to extend the reach of precision medicine by allowing oncologists to optimize treatment for individuals. Most published predictive signatures are only capable of predicting response for individual drugs, but most chemotherapy regimens utilize combinations of different agents. We propose a unified framework, called the chemogram, that uses predictive signatures to rank the relative predicted sensitivity of different drugs for individual tumors.

Proposed Five-Electron Charge Quadrupole Qubit.

A charge qubit couples to environmental electric field fluctuations through its dipole moment, resulting in fast decoherence. We propose the p-orbital (pO) qubit, formed by the single-electron, p-like valence states of a five-electron Si quantum dot, which couples to charge noise through the quadrupole moment. We demonstrate that the pO qubit offers distinct advantages in quality factor, gate speed, readout, and size.

Low-Energy Constants of Chiral Perturbation Theory from Pion Scalar Form Factors in N_{f}=2+1-Flavor Lattice QCD with Controlled Errors.

We determine the low-energy constants f_{0}, L_{4}^{r} and L_{5}^{r} of SU(3) chiral perturbation theory from a lattice QCD calculation of the scalar form factors of the pion with fully controlled systematics. Lattice results are computed on a large set of N_{f}=2+1 gauge ensembles covering four lattice spacings a∈[0.049,0.

Model-Independent Test of Prerecombination New Physics: Measuring the Sound Horizon with Gravitational Wave Standard Sirens and the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation Angular Scale.

In a broad class of cosmological models where spacetime is described by a pseudo-Riemannian manifold, photons propagate along null geodesics, and their number is conserved, upcoming gravitational wave (GW) observations can be combined with measurements of the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) angular scale to provide model-independent estimates of the sound horizon at the baryon drag epoch. By focusing on the accuracy expected from forthcoming surveys such as the Laser Interferometer Space Antenna GW standard sirens and dark energy spectroscopic instrument (DESI) or Euclid angular BAO measurements, we forecast a relative precision of σ_{r_{d}}/r_{d}∼1.5% within the redshift range z≲1.

Hypoxia-induced impairments in fasting glucose are associated with acute mountain sickness severity during four days of residence at 4,300 m.

Unlabelled: Insulin resistance has been associated with acute mountain sickness (AMS) risk, but the influence of active ascent is unclear.

Methods: Thirty-two unacclimatized Soldiers (23±4yr; 80±14 kg) were tested at baseline residence (BLR), hiked ~5 km (n=16) or were driven (n=16) to 4,300 m, and stayed for 4 days (~66 h). Venous blood was taken each morning at BLR and during high altitude (HA) exposure days 2-4 (HA2-4) and the evening on day 1 at HA (HA1).

The Short-Form Memory Impact Questionnaire: Development and Validation Among Community-Dwelling Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

Background And Objectives: As they age, many people experience memory changes that can impact their everyday functioning. The Memory Impact Questionnaire (MIQ) is a 51-item measure that assesses the negative impact of memory changes on one's lifestyle activities, negative appraisals of the self due to memory changes, perceived negative appraisals from others due to memory changes, and coping approaches intended to compensate for memory changes. To improve the utility of this tool, we developed a short form version of the MIQ and investigated its psychometric properties.

Characterization of strontium-rich groundwater in a typical alpine basin on Tibetan Plateau: Implications for sustainable exploitation and development.

This study focuses on mineral groundwater in alpine regions and its sustainable exploitation. The Tongde basin on Tibetan Plateau was investigated to reveal the hydrochemistry and formation of mineral groundwater in alpine basins and its sustainable development under anthropogenic disturbances. The results show that groundwater there is characterized by enriched strontium, with concentrations in the range of 0.

acmgscaler: An R package and Colab for standardised gene-level variant effect score calibration within the ACMG/AMP framework.

Motivation: A genome-wide variant effect calibration method was recently developed under the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology (ACMG/AMP), following ClinGen recommendations for variant classification. While genome-wide approaches offer clinical utility, emerging evidence highlights the need for gene- and context-specific calibration to improve accuracy. Building on previous work, we have developed an algorithm tailored to converting functional scores from both multiplexed assays of variant effects (MAVEs) and computational variant effect predictors (VEPs) into ACMG/AMP evidence strengths.

From Didactic classrooms to Computer-assisted-Simulated Teaching Learning Strategy: Impact on Knowledge outcomes in Medical and Para medical students in India.

The amphibian dissection for medical students was halted by the restrictions imposed by the National regulatory guidelines, prompting medical curricula to revise and innovate instructional methods. Hence there is a critical need for potential innovative solutions to enhance students' understanding of physiological concepts. Therefore, this study aimed (a) to evaluate the gain in knowledge and retention with computer assisted simulation (CAS) vs traditional (TT) teaching learning strategies in first year medical and paramedical students, and (b) to obtain students' and faculty feedback about strengths and limitations of both strategies.

HLX and SLC25A20: Immunologic regulators bridging ankylosing spondylitis and uveitis via multi-omics integration and machine learning.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting axial joints, is frequently complicated by uveitis. However, the molecular mechanisms linking AS to secondary uveitis remain poorly understood.

Methods: We integrated transcriptomic datasets from AS (GSE73754) and uveitis (GSE194060) cohorts to identify shared molecular pathways.

Shocked quartz at the Younger Dryas onset (12.8 ka) supports cosmic airbursts/impacts contributing to North American megafaunal extinctions and collapse of the Clovis technocomplex.

Shocked quartz grains are an accepted indicator of crater-forming cosmic impact events, which also typically produce amorphous silica along the fractures. Furthermore, previous research has shown that shocked quartz can form when nuclear detonations, asteroids, and comets produce near-surface or "touch-down" airbursts. When cosmic airbursts detonate with enough energy and at sufficiently low altitude, the resultant relatively small, high-velocity fragments may strike Earth's surface with high enough pressures to generate thermal and mechanical shock that can fracture quartz grains and introduce molten silica into the fractures.

Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 deficiency alleviates hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte injury.

Background: Cardiac ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury is a serious consequence of reperfusion therapy for myocardial infarction (MI). Peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) is a calcium-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the citrullination of proteins. In previous studies, PAD4 inhibition protected distinct organs from I/R injury by preventing the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and attenuating inflammatory responses.

From Sensitisation to Tolerance: A Retrospective Study of Tree Nut and Peanut Allergy in Pediatric Patients.

Background: Tree nut/Peanut (TN/PN) allergies are among the most common pediatric food allergies, often persisting into later life and posing significant clinical risks. The likelihood of tolerance acquisition varies, and predictive factors remain inadequately defined in clinical practice.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical and laboratory features associated with anaphylaxis risk and tolerance development in pediatric patients with TN/PN allergy, and to determine the role of aeroallergen sensitization, comorbid atopic diseases, and skin test reactivity.

Identification and Molecular Characterization of Two Novel Picorna-Like Viruses in Mosquitoes in Yunnan, China.

: Mosquitoes harbor diverse insect-specific viruses (ISVs) frequently overlooked in arbovirus surveillance. Comprehensive characterization of ISVs is crucial for understanding their impact on host ecology and potential roles in arbovirus transmission. : Using metagenomic sequencing on Armigeres subalbatus from Yunnan, China, we identified two novel picorna-like viruses, assembled their genomes, and conducted phylogenetic analysis.

Bioinspired Multifunctional Eutectogels for Skin-Like Flexible Strain Sensors with Potential Application in Deep-Learning Handwriting Recognition.

Polymerizable deep eutectic solvents (PDES) have recently emerged as a class of solvent-free ionically conductive elastomers and are considered among the most feasible candidates for next-generation ionotronic devices. However, the fundamental challenge persists in synergistically combining high mechanical strength, robust adhesion, reliable self-healing capacity, and effective antimicrobial performance within a unified material system capable of fulfilling the rigorous operational demands of next-generation ionotronic devices across multifunctional applications. Inspired by the hierarchical structure of spider silk, HCAG eutectogels composed of acrylic acid (AA), 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA), and choline chloride (ChCl) were successfully synthesized via a one-step photopolymerization method.

Peptide-Programmable DNAzyme Converter for Artificial Autocatalytic Gene Regulation.

The in-depth integration of gene regulation with protein modulation can enhance cellular information processing, yet it is significantly constrained by ineffective and complex protein-to-gene transduction strategies. Herein, we developed a simple protease-guided autocatalytic gene silencing platform named iPAD (intelligent peptide-programmed deoxyribonuclease) that converts the protease recognition events into versatile DNA readout signals by rationally designing a native protease-responsive cationic peptide (PP) to efficiently modulate the DNAzyme (Dz) activity. Without requiring additional chemical modifications, the multifunctional PP regulator consists simply of one cell-specific targeting peptide segment and two cationic peptide segments isolated by one protease-specific peptide substrate.

Doping and Polar Interface-Induced High-Position Sensing in the PEDOT:PSS/Si Heterojunction and Its Multifunctional Optical Imaging.

A highly sensitive, self-powered position-sensitive detector (PSD) based on a PEDOT:PSS/Si heterojunction is prepared. Band structure optimization via FS-300 additive doping significantly enhances the built-in electric field, achieving a maximum open-circuit voltage of 0.45 V (0.

Dynamic regulation of the oxidative stress response by the E3 ligase TRIP12.

Centered on the transcription factor NRF2 and its E3 ligase CUL3, the oxidative stress response protects cells from damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increasing ROS inhibits CUL3 to stabilize NRF2 and elicit antioxidant gene expression, while cells recovering from stress rapidly turn over NRF2 again to prevent reductive stress and oxeiptosis-dependent death. How cells reinitiate NRF2 degradation after ROS have been cleared remains poorly understood.

Contrastive Learning Model for Wearable-based Ataxia Assessment.

Objective: Frequent and objective assessment of ataxia severity is essential for tracking disease progression and evaluating the effectiveness of potential treatments. Wearable-based assessments have emerged as a promising solution. However, existing methods rely on inertial data features directly correlated with subjective and coarse clinician-evaluated rating scales, which serve as imperfect gold standards.

Quantifying tumour microvasculature with optical coherence angiography and intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion MRI.

Intravoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM) MRI is a contrast-agent-free microvascular imaging method finding increasing use in biomedicine. However, there is uncertainty in the ability of IVIM-MRI to quantify tissue microvasculature given MRI's limited spatial resolution (mm scale). Nine NRG mice were subcutaneously inoculated with human pancreatic cancer BxPC-3 cells transfected with DsRed, and MR-compatible plastic window chambers were surgically installed in the dorsal skinfold.

The effect of caffeine use in the relationship between gaming and sleep in adolescents: A mediation analysis.

Background And Aims: Caffeine is the most commonly used substance during gaming sessions. Despite health guidelines to avoid caffeine before adulthood, many adolescents use caffeine to compensate for lost sleep or prolong wakefulness to enhance gaming performance. The relationship between gaming and sleep is well-established, but the role of caffeine has been under-explored.

Thioesterification of Polyfluoroarenes via Copper-Catalyzed Radical Cross-Coupling with KS and Aldehydes in Water.

A novel copper-catalyzed radical cross-coupling reaction for the thioesterification of polyfluoroarenes is developed using KS and aldehydes in water. This protocol employs a readily available KS as a sulfur source, eliminating the need for hazardous thiols and organic solvents. The mild reaction conditions are compatible with a wide range of functional groups, providing access to diverse polyfluoroaryl thioesters.