A research team from Shenzhen University, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed an innovative, bioinspired hydrogel patch with controllable adhesion properties to enhance soft tissue repair and prevent adhesions. Inspired by octopus suction cups and the eyeball surfaces, this patch features a dual-sided design: one side offers adjustable, revocable adhesion, while the other provides anti-adhesive functions. In vivo experiments demonstrate its effectiveness in reducing inflammation, promoting tissue healing, and allowing repositioning during surgical procedures, marking a significant advancement in biomedical materials. 

In this regard, Zohour Ibrahim Rashwan et al. from the University of Bahrain, Zarak Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain, published an article entitled "Effect of empowerment-based interventions on self-efficacy" in the International Journal of Nursing Sciences. interventions on self-efficacy and self care capacity among patients with sickle cell disease: a randomized controlled trial" in the International Journal of Nursing Sciences. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to systematically investigate the effectiveness of empowerment-based interventions in this population and to provide new ideas and rationale for nursing practice for patients with SCD.

This study investigated the efficacy of a novel oral formulation combining golden tomato extract, niacinamide, yeast extract (glutathione), and astaxanthin in improving skin hydration, pigmentation, and overall appearance. A randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled trial was conducted with 62 healthy female participants over eight weeks. The treatment group consumed the WONDERLAB® Tomato Niacinamide Beverage, while the placebo group received no active ingredients. After eight weeks, significant improvements were observed in the treatment group. Stratum corneum hydration increased by 35.63%, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) decreased by 29.39%, reflecting enhanced skin barrier function. Skin gloss improved by 18.59%, color uniformity by 15.03%, and overall skin tone lightened, as shown by a 6.36% increase in ITA value. Moreover, systemic antioxidant markers demonstrated positive changes, with elevated levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), alongside reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating lower oxidative stress. The findings confirm that continuous intake of this tomato extract formulation not only visibly improves skin hydration and whitening but also enhances internal antioxidant defense, providing dual protection against skin aging and pigmentation.

A recent study published in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing by researchers from Beijing University of Technology and international collaborators investigates atomic-scale electrochemical deposition as a method for precise control of material properties. The research highlights the potential of this technique to support future developments in areas such as semiconductors, quantum computing, and nanomedicine.

Lithium-based batteries (LiBs) are integral components in operating electric vehicles to renewable energy systems and portable electronic devices, thanks to their unparalleled energy density, minimal self-discharge rates, and favorable cycle life. However, the inherent safety risks and performance degradation of LiB over time impose continuous monitoring facilitated by sophisticated battery management systems (BMS). This review comprehensively analyzes the current state of sensor technologies for smart LiBs, focusing on their advancements, opportunities, and potential challenges. Sensors are classified into two primary groups based on their application: safety monitoring and performance optimization. Safety monitoring sensors, including temperature, pressure, strain, gas, acoustic, and magnetic sensors, focus on detecting conditions that could lead to hazardous situations. Performance optimization sensors, such as optical-based and electrochemical-based, monitor factors such as state of charge and state of health, emphasizing operational efficiency and lifespan. The review also highlights the importance of integrating these sensors with advanced algorithms and control approaches to optimize charging and discharge cycles. Potential advancements driven by nanotechnology, wireless sensor networks, miniaturization, and machine learning algorithms are also discussed. However, challenges related to sensor miniaturization, power consumption, cost efficiency, and compatibility with existing BMS need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of LiB sensor technologies. This comprehensive review provides valuable insights into the current landscape and future directions of sensor innovations in smart LiBs, guiding further research and development efforts to enhance battery performance, reliability, and safety.

Disrupting the symmetric electron distribution of porphyrin-like Fe single-atom catalysts has been considered as an effective way to harvest high intrinsic activity. Understanding the catalytic performance governed by geometric microstrains is highly desirable for further optimization of such efficient sites. Here, we decipher the crucial role of local microstrain in boosting intrinsic activity and durability of asymmetric Fe single-atom catalysts (Fe–N₃S₁) by replacing one N atom with S atom. The high-curvature hollow carbon nanosphere substrate introduces 1.3% local compressive strain to Fe–N bonds and 1.5% tensile strain to Fe–S bonds, downshifting the d-band center and accelerating the kinetics of *OH reduction. Consequently, highly curved Fe–N₃S₁ sites anchored on hollow carbon nanosphere (FeNS-HNS-20) exhibit negligible current loss, a high half-wave potential of 0.922 V vs. RHE and turnover frequency of 6.2 e⁻¹ s⁻¹ site⁻¹, which are 53 mV more positive and 1.7 times that of flat Fe–N–S counterpart, respectively. More importantly, multiple operando spectroscopies monitored the dynamic optimization of strained Fe–N₃S₁ sites into Fe–N₃ sites, further mitigating the overadsorption of *OH intermediates. This work not only sheds new light on local microstrain-induced catalytic enhancement, but also provides a plausible direction for optimizing efficient asymmetric sites via geometric configurations.

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) is framed as a systemic bone disease driven by estrogen withdrawal, but emerging evidence positions gut dysbiosis and its fermentation products—short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)—as equally influential regulators of skeletal fate. Estrogen loss elevates gut permeability, allowing lipopolysaccharide and pro-inflammatory T cells to traffic from intestine to bone marrow, tipping the Th17/Treg balance toward osteoclast-promoting cytokines such as IL-17, TNF-α and RANKL. Germ-free or T-cell–depleted mice do not lose bone after ovariectomy, underscoring the microbiota-immune axis as a mechanistic core.

Lactic acid (LA) has transitioned from being perceived as a mere glycolytic waste product to a pivotal regulator of tumor–immune crosstalk. Historical milestones—from Scheele’s 1780 isolation from sour milk to Zhao’s 2019 discovery of histone lactylation—reveal an expanding biochemical repertoire that now encompasses pH control, G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR81/132) signaling, post-translational modification via lysine lactylation, and multi-directional metabolic shuttling between cytoplasm, mitochondria, and neighboring cells. Within the tumor microenvironment (TME), high glycolytic flux exports lactate and protons through monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), acidifying the extracellular milieu to ~6.5–6.8. This acidity degrades extracellular matrix, blunts drug uptake, and, via protonation, neutralizes weak-base chemotherapeutics. Cancer cells exploit the same molecule as fuel: MCT1-mediated uptake drives tricarboxylic acid cycle oxidation, NADPH generation via IDH1, and lactylation of DNA-repair proteins NBS1 and MRE11, enhancing genomic stability and chemoresistance. Concurrently, GPR81-cAMP-PKA-TAZ/TEAD signaling elevates PD-L1 expression, facilitating immune escape.

HOXB13, a B-class homeobox transcription factor, sits at the hub of developmental gene networks yet has emerged as a double-edged sword in human cancer. While indispensable for embryonic patterning and androgen-dependent organogenesis, its expression is frequently hijacked or extinguished by epigenetic, mutational and post-translational events that drive tumour initiation, progression and therapy resistance. Across more than twenty malignancies, the protein acts as either oncogene or tumour suppressor, depending on tissue context, interacting partners and mutational status.

A landmark study published in the Journal of Palaeogeography (Chinese Edition) uncovers how plume-driven tectonics shattered a Permian carbonate ramp into a complex platform system, creating a 400-kilometer-long dolostone hydrocarbon reservoir belt now pivotal to China’s energy exploration. Led by Prof. Yuan Haifeng (Chengdu University of Technology) and Dr. Zhang Benjian (PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gas Field Company), the research resolves decades of debate by precisely dating the tectonic-sedimentary pattern transition to 263–262 Ma using conodont biostratigraphy, while also revealing novel exploration targets.