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Two-dimensional (2D) materials that combine valley-dependent electronic behaviour with piezoelectric functionality present exciting prospects for multifunctional nanoelectronics and energy-harvesting devices. In this study, we perform a high-throughput screening of the Computational 2D Materials Database (C2DB) to identify non-magnetic 2D semiconductors with minimal atomic complexity (2-3 atoms per unit cell) and high crystal symmetry (space groups P3m1 and P6̄m2), focusing specifically on materials with band extrema (VBM/CBM) at the K and K' valleys. A total of 48 monolayers is found to satisfy these criteria. For each candidate, the band structures with spin-orbit coupling (SOC), Berry curvature distributions, and piezoelectric coefficients are computed. The results reveal several monolayers exhibiting strong valley-contrasting properties alongside significant electromechanical responses. Therefore, our research offers a collection of valley-piezotronic materials with great promise for experimental implementation in next-generation devices.

Multimode fibers (MMFs) are poised to transform minimally invasive endoscopy by providing hair-thin probes capable of high-resolution imaging deep within biological tissues. Still, their dynamic instability and the limited transmission capacity of the ultra-thin core hinder their clinical use. We propose a method that overcomes both their dynamic instability and their performance limitations, enabling stable, high-fidelity real-time imaging through a flexible, ultra-thin MMF. During operation, a real-time rapid calibration routine identifies the fiber's current bending state in approximately 75 milliseconds by sequentially projecting focusing wavefronts as a state probe. This swift state recognition enables the synchronous retrieval of a corresponding singular vector from a pre-calculated database. The retrieved singular vector is then projected onto the input beam to perform mode modulation, thereby selectively exciting the fiber's internal intrinsic modes and injecting the beam into the eigenchannels for transmission. This synergy of stabilization and enhancement improves the imaging performance of flexible MMFs without introducing additional time loss, effectively overcoming the MMF's susceptibility to disturbances and successfully resolving the long-standing performance trade-off between the miniaturization of ultra-thin fibers and image quality. We validated our method by dynamically flexing 40-µm and 105-µm-core MMFs, achieving substantial improvements in image fidelity. For handwritten digits, the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM) were enhanced by an average of 7.75 dB and 0.069, respectively. For complex natural scenes, the PSNR and SSIM were enhanced by 0.90 dB and 0.063. In the imaging of a biological specimen, the edge preservation index was enhanced by an average of 12.10%. By providing a robust, fast, and simple solution, our work removes a critical roadblock for MMF-based imaging and establishes a practical pathway toward the clinical deployment of flexible, high-resolution, hair-thin fiber endoscopes in dynamic environments.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the most prevalent type. While surgical resection followed by adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy has been the standard for curative-intent therapy for clinical stage II NSCLC since 2005, disappointing 5-year survival prompted the exploration of newer systemic therapies. In recent years, several landmark trials increasingly support the use of immunotherapy and molecular targeted treatments. The evidence for neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy is exciting, but the transition from a surgery-first approach to a new standard of care carries important challenges, including increased surgical attrition, intraoperative technical difficulty, and delays in care. This article provides a comprehensive review of the optimal treatments and emerging therapies for resectable stage II NSCLC. By systematically analyzing recent advances and challenges in NSCLC treatment strategies, we aim to highlight a paradigm shift toward a more molecularly guided, individualized treatment sequence in stage II NSCLC care, with the goal of maximizing each patient's curative potential.

The recently synthesized monolayer MoSi2N4 (Y.-L. Hong, Z. Liu, L. Wang, T. Zhou, W. Ma, C. Xu, S. Feng, L. Chen, M.-L. Chen and D.-M. Sun, Chemical vapor deposition of layered two-dimensional MoSi2N4 materials, Science, 2020, 369(6504), 670-674.) boasts extraordinary environmental stability and superior comprehensive performance, offering exciting opportunities for the exploration of two-dimensional MX2Z4 materials. However, the low carrier mobility of α-MoSi2N4 significantly limits its practical applications in field-effect transistor (FET) devices. In this study, first-principles calculations were utilized to systematically investigate the structural stability, photoelectronic properties, tensile mechanical behavior, and carrier mobility of a novel family of β-SnA2N4 (A = Si, Ge) monolayers. Our findings reveal that these β-SnA2N4 monolayers demonstrate remarkable dynamic and thermal stability. Specifically, calculations based on the HSE06 functional reveal that the SnSi2N4 and SnGe2N4 monolayers are semiconductors with band gaps of 3.36 eV and 2.13 eV, respectively. Additionally, the SnA2N4 monolayers exhibit distinct mechanical anisotropy, characterized by high ideal tensile strengths and critical tensile strains exceeding 27%, indicating outstanding ductility. Importantly, the SnA2N4 monolayers display exceptional anisotropic in-plane charge transport, achieving electron mobility levels of up to 103 cm2 V-1 s-1, surpassing those of the α-phase MA2N4 (M = Mo, W; A = Si, Ge) monolayers. These novel ternary monolayer structures are expected to enrich the 2D MA2Z4 material family and emerge as promising candidates for FET applications.

The recovery of non-target organism reads, especially when whole organisms are sampled, constitutes a great opportunity for studying microbial communities. The increase in whole genome sequencing feasibility and the development of new marker-based pipelines enable the use of short reads to study bacterial communities associated with organisms. We utilized population genomic data of the liverwort Calasterella californica obtained through the California Conservation Genomics Project to characterize the composition of its associated bacterial communities and explore its variation across the geographic space. The bacterial communities associated with C. californica were dominated by the methanotroph Methylobacterium and other Hyphomicrobiales, a group that includes well-known plant symbionts. While diversity metrics of bacteria composition were similar across localities, we found significant differences in the relative abundance of a few taxa across California regions, likely driven by differences in precipitation and temperature seasonality. Our results support previous observations that liverwort bacterial communities are not randomly assembled, suggesting a potential role of the plant in determining community composition, an emerging pattern that deserves more attention. The novel off-target metagenomics approach can be applied to any population-level resequencing where whole organisms are sequenced, opening the door to exciting avenues of microbiome research using repurposed data from landscape genomics.

Pediatric Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-driven (ALK+) Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) offers an exciting opportunity for targeted therapy. Standard frontline chemotherapy for ALK+ ALCL is associated with severe toxicities; ALK inhibition may provide an opportunity to decrease this toxicity and improve relapse outcomes. We present a patient with both a systemic and CNS relapse of her ALK+ ALCL who achieved complete remission with ALK inhibitor monotherapy. This case supports studying the inclusion of newer ALK inhibitors in upfront therapy for pediatric ALK+ ALCL and supports the use of Lorlatinib to treat CNS relapse of ALK+ ALCL.

Over 80% of animal species rely on exoskeletal cuticle for body stabilization and protection from the environment, including predators, conspecifics, and pathogens. Therefore, the exoskeleton should be thick and robust; insects with thin cuticles are likely to be more vulnerable to injuries, desiccation, pathogens, and insecticides, and are less likely to survive attacks by predators. Aside from internal processes that influence cuticle deposition, environmental factors can have large effects on the rate and quantity of cuticle deposited during juvenile and adult stages. However, we currently lack a comprehensive understanding of the various environmental factors that shape cuticle development. We therefore provide an overview of the existing literature on key environmental factors including temperature, diet, and insecticides, that shape insect cuticle deposition and overall robustness. By synthesizing empirical evidence examining the relationship between these environmental factors and cuticle thickness, we identify broad, generalizable patterns across taxa and identify exciting, clear paths for future research.

Lithium-nitrogen (Li-N2) batteries offer a unique electrochemical paradigm that combines intrinsically safe energy storage with sustainable N2 conversion to value-added chemicals. About ten years after the first ground-breaking report, the practical development of Li-N2 batteries is still restricted by poor reversibility and limited cycling stability. Here, we first introduce this highly innovative and promising Li-N2 battery technology and then specify the key challenges ahead for the poor reversibility of Li-N2 batteries from reaction mechanisms, characterization technologies, and the battery configurations. We further highlight a flow field-assisted "flow-type" cell configuration that presents exciting future opportunities to realize reversible Li-N2 batteries. Besides, we discuss that the diversity in terms of electrolytes, electrode materials, and separators is key to establishing long-term Li-N2 batteries. The possible mechanistic pathways of N2 reduction and lithiation over heterogeneous electrocatalysts are also discussed. We recommend a rigorous experimental protocol for evaluating Li-N2 batteries to ensure reproducibility and reliable performance comparison across studies. Overall, this perspective aims to inspire future generations of researchers to advance both fundamental understanding and practical breakthroughs, thereby engineering a paradigm shift in Li-N2 chemistry research.

Root hairs are specialized extensions of root epidermal cells that allow plants to explore and attach to the soil. They exhibit polar growth under the influence of isotropic turgor pressure thanks to the anisotropic nature of their cell walls. This unidirectional growth is regulated by myriad subcellular factors such as microtubule and actin dynamics, a tip-focused calcium gradient, and the interplays between gradients of apoplastic and cytosolic pH and reactive oxygen species. All these players also influence cell wall dynamics by forming feedback loops that modulate cell wall assembly and modification, which are essential processes for root hair morphogenesis. In this review we discuss the functions of cell wall polysaccharides and proteins and their impacts on the biomechanics of root hair growth at each developmental stage. We also discuss important open questions and technical advancements in studying root hair mechanobiology. Despite significant progress, many of the spatiotemporal changes that occur in the cell walls of root hairs remain undiscovered. Therefore, we highlight ongoing research and exciting future avenues that will shed light on cell wall dynamics, biomechanics, and mechanobiology of root hair morphogenesis.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is increasingly recognised as a dynamic regulator of tissue function beyond its traditional structural role. In the skin, the ECM supports tissue integrity while also controlling processes such as stem cell maintenance, wound healing and disease progression. This review focuses on laminin-332, a key component of the epidermal-dermal junction. Its essential role in maintaining epidermal cohesion is illustrated by junctional epidermolysis bullosa, a severe inherited blistering disorder and recent advances in laminin-332-targeted genetic therapies are discussed. Beyond structural support, laminin-332 also mediates signalling through integrins and syndecans, thereby influencing epidermal homeostasis, migration, repair and the development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Its role in epidermal stem cell maintenance further links laminin-332 to skin ageing. The review also examines its functions in hair follicle biology, melanocyte behaviour, skin immunity and emerging evidence implicating laminin-332 in epidermal metabolism-an exciting area for future investigation. Finally, the structure and functions of other cutaneous laminins are compared with laminin-332 to help explain its specialised roles.

Descending pain regulation has been widely studied in animals and recent studies in humans have offered new insights into this complex mechanism. This review paper aims to investigate this process in humans to better understand how pain is modulated in the body. This review included primary articles from PubMed related to pain modulation in the human brain or spinal cord. Book chapters, sources using animal models, and review papers were excluded from the paper. Findings consistently noted the periaqueductal grey and rostral medulla as central hubs of descending pain modulation, while cortical regions including the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, insula, and amygdala exhibited variable and context-dependent contributions. Cognitive and emotional processes, including distraction, imagery, music, catastrophizing, and anxiety, were found to modulate descending pain pathways via altered connectivity between cortical and brainstem regions. Studies also identified therapeutic applications, with transcranial direct current stimulation and spinal cord stimulation demonstrating effects on descending modulatory circuits. These studies identify exciting new progress in our understanding of pain modulation whilst also highlighting a need for further study in human populations to clarify certain inferences.

This systematic review investigated the impact of conjugated estrogens/bazedoxifene (CE/BZA) for treating perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms in patients with a history of endometriosis. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024617174). Without randomized controlled trials (RCTs), the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Case Reports and Case Series assessed methodology and risk of bias. An information specialist completed the search in June 2025 using Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, Ovid EMBASE, and Web of Science, combining controlled vocabularies and keywords for dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, endometriosis, perimenopausal, postmenopausal, menopause hormone therapy, Duavive, and CE/BZA. Eligible studies included RCTs, cohort studies, case reports, and case-control studies evaluating CE/BZA for vasomotor symptoms in premenopausal and menopausal endometriosis patients. Of 1540 retrieved studies, two coauthors (J.C.M.-G., E.S.) independently screened titles and abstracts, selecting 20 for full-text review. Only two publications met inclusion criteria, one case report and one case series, representing nine patients (four detailed, five additional). No RCTs, cohort, or case-control studies directly addressed CE/BZA in endometriosis. Preliminary narrative evidence suggests pain and vasomotor symptom relief, though findings carry high risk of bias. Because bazedoxifene antagonizes estrogen receptors and endometriosis is estrogen-dependent, CE/BZA may alter systemic inflammation or endothelial function. Although preclinical models show reduced lesion size, human evidence remains extremely limited and biased, insufficient to assess lesion recurrence or vascular safety. CE/BZA is currently indicated only for postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms; preliminary anecdotal evidence suggests symptom improvement, but large-scale comparative trials are urgently needed to establish safety and efficacy in endometriosis. Our systematic review investigated the potential use of conjugated estrogens and bazedoxifene (CE/BZA) to manage hot flashes in premenopausal and menopausal patients with a history of endometriosis. Endometriosis is a common condition where uterine-like tissue grows outside the uterus, causing pain and other symptoms. Managing menopausal symptoms in these patients is challenging because standard hormone therapies can sometimes worsen endometriosis symptoms.CE/BZA is a progesterone-free hormone therapy that combines estrogen with bazedoxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). While bazedoxifene blocks estrogen’s effects in the uterus and breast, its effect on endometriosis lesions is not yet proven in humans. Our review found that there is a significant lack of strong clinical data. We found only one case report and one small case series (nine patients in total). These case-based publications were small, lacked control groups, and did not use objective measures, meaning their findings are very preliminary and carry a high risk of bias.While these few reports suggested that some patients experienced relief from pain and hot flashes, the findings are very preliminary and cannot be generalized. Currently, the medication is strictly indicated for postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms, not specifically for endometriosis. Well-designed, large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the efficacy, safety and long-term impacts of CE/BZA for endometriosis patients experiencing vasomotor symptoms. We conclude that while this is an exciting possible treatment, more research is needed to ensure it does not cause endometriosis to return.

Fertilization in mammals depends on a finely tuned dialogue between spermatozoa and the female reproductive tract, particularly within the utero-tubal junction and oviduct. These regions serve as sites for sperm storage, selection, and final preparation for fertilization, and as such, are crucial for insemination success and fertility outcomes. This review summarizes current knowledge on sperm-oviduct interactions, focusing on four key aspects. First, recent advances in in vitro models used to investigate sperm-oviduct dynamics are provided, from traditional cell monolayers to advanced three-dimensional models that more closely reproduce the oviduct lumen. Second, molecular insights into the oviductal sperm reservoir are presented, emphasizing adhesion molecules involved in sperm binding and lifespan. Third, evidence indicating that oviduct epithelial cells and ligands could select high-quality sperm based on morphology, viability, capacitation level and fertilizing capacity, thereby contributing to reproductive efficiency is provided. Finally, this review examines the influence of insemination timing on the functional role of the sperm reservoir, along with the potential use of sperm binding assays to predict boar fertility under field conditions. Overall, the oviduct emerges as a dynamic and selective environment that plays multiple roles in fertilization. Despite major progress in identifying molecular players and developing relevant in vitro models, the mechanisms by which sperm-interactions shape reproductive success in pigs remains an exciting partly unknown topic for future research.

The secondary metabolites produced under the extreme and competitive conditions in the ocean represent a rich and varied source of structurally diverse and biologically active compounds, which have tremendous therapeutic potential. Among others, marine invertebrates continue to yield numerous MNPs with notable anticancer properties. Most of these compounds remain an underexplored reservoir for novel drug discovery. This study covers indepth literature study (2015-2025) on Marine-Derived Dual BTK-FGFR Inhibitors. Relevant studies were retrieved from databases including ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. Closely related 110 studies on Marine-Derived Dual BTK-FGFR Inhibitors were included, while unrelated works were excluded. Marine-derived compounds with functional groups, including peptides, terpenoids, alkaloids, and polyketides, have also been shown to inhibit the BTK/FGFR pathway. Several compounds are currently in the preclinical or early-phase of clinical development and show cytotoxicity against multiple cancer cell lines. Computational simulations have predicted bioactivity, refined the model of molecular interactions, and assisted in identifying scaffolds for use in the development of targeted therapies. The marine-derived metabolites display unusual chemical scaffold structures that modify BTK and FGFR activity in a very effective manner and decrease the growth of cancer cells. They were selected as potential lead candidates for precision oncology therapies based on computational analyses and newly developing evidence supporting their efficacy as kinase inhibitors. Marine invertebrates may provide an exciting source for developing anticancer therapies, as their metabolites are selective modifiers of the BTK and FGFR pathways. Furthermore, when coupled with computational approaches, the integration of marine pharmacology can expedite the identification of strong marinebased therapeutic agents.

Conventional geometric symmetry breaking for exciting quasi-bound states in the continuum (BICs) often induces spectral drift. Here, we propose an all-dielectric dimer metasurface that achieves orthogonal, decoupled control of quasi-BIC and electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) effects via spatial displacement. By utilizing horizontal and vertical offsets as independent degrees of freedom, we demonstrate that the radiation leakage of a toroidal-dipole-dominated first Brillouin zone (FBZ) induced quasi-BIC and the EIT bandwidth can be independently tuned while strictly maintaining resonant frequency stability. This spatial-coupling paradigm offers a robust platform for advanced multifunctional nanophotonics, including frequency-stable multi-channel sensing and slow-light devices.

Emerging literature indicates the promise of incorporating qualitative inquiry with traditional behavior-analytic work. Specifically, the potential for mixed methods research in behavior analysis could move the field in an exciting and innovative direction. In this paper, I describe my research training experiences in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods approaches. I then summarize four contemporary mixed methods paradigms. Finally, I describe how integrating mixed methods frameworks can generate novel insights in behavior analysis and suggest recommendations for interested behavior analysts to develop their mixed methods research repertoires.

Development of theranostic nanoplatforms capable of the controlled and targeted delivery of anticancer agents and simultaneous bioimaging has attracted great attention as an exciting and frontier research field. Here, the sorafenib loaded magnetoliposomes (S-MLPs) were synthesized and targeted individually, with a specific aptamer (AS-MLPs) and the ramucirumab antibody (RS-MLPs) against the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). The physicochemical characterization revealed the synthesis of high colloidal and monodisperse S-MLPs with an average hydrodynamic size of 147 nm and a zeta potential value of -26.4 mV. The in vitro release study showed a linear release profile for sorafenib with 66.47% cumulative release during 96 h. The anticancer activity of S-MLPs was studied in vitro using the MTT assay, flow cytometry study of apoptosis and necrosis, and the gene expression analysis using real-time PCR and ELISA. The theranostic potential of S-MLPs was also confirmed by the MRI and CAM assay, in vivo. The results demonstrated the lowest cell viabilities of 69.54 and 54.19% after exposure of HepG2 cells to 100 μg mL-1 of AS-MLPs and RS-MLPs, respectively. Moreover, treatment of HepG2 cells with S-MLPs led to a 12.99-fold increase in the activity of apoptotic proteins and decreased production of angiogenic proteins from 331.57 to 83.34 pg mL-1. The R2 relaxation value of 57.262 mM-1 s-1 obtained for the MLPs, indicating their high potential for clinical cancer management.

Protein homeostasis depends on the 26S proteasome, the most complex ATP-dependent protease in eukaryotic cells. The proteasome base subcomplex is responsible for mechanical substrate unfolding and translocation into an internal degradation chamber. It contains three non-ATPase subunits, Rpn1, Rpn2, and Rpn13, and a heterohexameric AAA+ motor with six distinct ATPases, Rpt1 - Rpt6. Correct base assembly requires four dedicated chaperones that initially form the Hsm3 module (Hsm3-Rpt1-Rpt2-Rpn1), the Rpn14/Nas6 module (Rpn14-Rpt6-Nas6-Rpt3-Rpn2-Rpn13), and the Nas2 module (Nas2-Rpt5-Rpt4). However, the mechanisms underlying module assembly and formation of the mature base remain unknown. Here, we in vitro reconstitute the base subcomplex of the S. cerevisiae 26S proteasome from recombinant modules. Using biochemical assays, mass photometry, single-molecule fluorescence measurements, and single-particle cryo-EM, we reveal how the chaperones direct the conformational transitions through several intermediates toward the ATP-hydrolysis-active base. The Nas2 and Rpn14/Nas6 modules associate first, and binding of the Hsm3 module creates a state in which the chaperones stabilize an open ATPase ring that lacks hydrolysis activity. Sequential chaperone release then leads to a gradual ATPase-ring closure, whereby Hsm3's unstructured C-terminal tail mimics a substrate polypeptide in the central channel and induces a processing motor state with a spiral-staircase arrangement of Rpt subunits and a closed ATPase site at Rpt4. Inaugural ATP hydrolysis in Rpt4 is subsequently required to eject Hsm3 and transition to the Nas6-bound base that is ATPase active and competent for 26S-proteasome incorporation. Our studies thus provide exciting insights into how chaperones assure correct assembly, guide the complex through an intricate conformational landscape, and thereby prevent premature ATP-hydrolysis activation or incorporation of faulty assemblies into holoenzymes.