Ning Qi

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This prospective study of 974 emergency department patients tested whether a portable, low-field (0.23 Tesla) MRI machine could detect acute strokes in patients with minor strokes or transient ischemic attacks, and found it identified new brain infarctions in 37% of patients — far more than the 40% detection rate of CT scans, which only caught about 40% of the lesions the MRI found. Higher stroke severity scores, longer time from symptom onset, and focal symptoms like paralysis or aphasia were the strongest predictors of a positive MRI finding. Mobile low-field MRI offers a practical way to improve stroke detection in emergency rooms that lack standard high-field MRI access.

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This bibliometric study analyzed 1,722 publications on transoral robotic surgery (TORS) from 2005 to 2024 and found consistent growth in the field, led by North American and European institutions. Research focus has shifted over time from describing the surgical technique itself toward studying human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers, functional outcomes after surgery, and quality of life. The analysis maps the field's evolution and identifies HPV, swallowing difficulties, and patient outcomes as the current hot topics shaping future research directions.

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Researchers developed two machine-learning frameworks to estimate metabolic activity directly in human brain tumor patients — one analyzing bulk tumor samples and one working at the level of individual cells using RNA sequencing data combined with carbon isotope tracing. Applying these tools to glioma patients revealed that cancer cells consistently ramp up purine synthesis and take up more serine compared to healthy brain cells, and that this metabolic profile varies between patients in ways that predict their response to metabolic-targeting drugs. The frameworks make it possible to study tumor metabolism in living patients rather than only in laboratory models.

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This study tracked how the active compounds in Bufei Formula, a nine-herb traditional Chinese medicine blend used for lung and respiratory conditions, are absorbed, distributed, and broken down in rats. After oral dosing, 63 compounds were detected in the body including 17 unchanged parent compounds and 46 metabolites, with the highest concentrations accumulating in the lung and colon — the formula's presumed target organs. These findings provide a scientific basis for understanding how the formula works and which compounds are most likely responsible for its therapeutic effects.

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A case report described a 38-year-old man with acute inflammation of the bile ducts who showed no uptake on standard FDG PET imaging but strong uptake on a newer FAPI-04 PET scan. This contrast highlights that FAPI PET detects fibroblast activation occurring in inflammatory and malignant bile duct conditions even when standard metabolic imaging is negative. The finding is relevant for clinicians trying to distinguish bile duct inflammation from cancer when conventional imaging gives ambiguous results.

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Researchers identified three patients in China with mutations in the SMARCC2 gene and characterized their clinical features, finding that the disorder presents with a broader range of symptoms than the classic Coffin-Siris syndrome definition, including mild intellectual disability, speech delay, low muscle tone, feeding difficulties, and behavioral features like ADHD and autism. Two of the three mutations were previously described and one was newly discovered. This work expands the known clinical and genetic range of SMARCC2-related conditions and supports refining how the disorder is diagnosed.

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This study evaluated how much of the shale gas reservoir in the Weiyuan block in China is actually being tapped by existing horizontal wells and found that on average only about 30% of the reservoir thickness is being utilized, leaving large volumes of gas untouched. The researchers mapped the distribution of remaining reserves and identified high-value untapped zones covering 116.7 square kilometers with an estimated 700 billion cubic meters of additional recoverable gas. The findings provide a roadmap for deploying new wells to significantly increase gas production from this field.

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Researchers created a living collection of 46 mini-tumors (organoids) grown from oral cancer patient biopsies that faithfully reproduce the genetic and cellular features of the original tumors. Using these models, they discovered that a protein called CDCP1 drives resistance to the chemotherapy drug cisplatin by activating a stem cell-promoting pathway, and they reversed this resistance in mice using a nanoparticle that silences the CDCP1 gene. This biobank provides a powerful platform for testing new treatments and understanding why oral cancers stop responding to standard therapy.

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Engineers built a four-channel silicon photonic receiver that uses microring filters and combines the optical and electronic components in a compact flip-chip assembly, achieving a total data rate of 640 gigabits per second at an energy cost of only 0.83 picojoules per bit. The receiver successfully processed 160 gigabit-per-second PAM-4 signals per channel and showed a clear eye diagram even at 200 gigabits per second per channel. This design advances the case for dense, energy-efficient optical links inside next-generation AI and high-performance computing packages.

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Researchers characterized a Bacillus subtilis bacterial strain called BS-Q as a potential probiotic and found that its secreted compounds potently inhibit Clostridium perfringens, the bacterium responsible for necrotic enteritis in poultry. The inhibitory activity remained stable under high heat, extreme pH, and high salt conditions, and was shown to come from proteins in the range of 25–35 kilodaltons. This strain could serve as an antibiotic-free alternative to prevent a costly and common poultry disease.

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This study examined tissue factor (TF), a protein involved in blood clotting, in tumors from 229 endometrial cancer patients and found that high levels of TF on the cell surface independently predicted worse survival, particularly in aggressive tumor types. High TF levels correlated with fewer cancer-killing immune cells in the tumor and more immune-suppressing regulatory T cells, suggesting TF helps tumors evade the immune system. These findings position TF as both a prognostic marker and a potential drug target for hard-to-treat endometrial cancers.

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Researchers built a ten-gene signature based on DNA damage response genes that accurately predicts survival outcomes and treatment responses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. One of the genes in the signature, PLK1, was validated experimentally — blocking it killed cancer cells by disrupting their ability to repair DNA damage. The signature also links to immune cell infiltration patterns, making it useful for predicting which patients are likely to benefit from immunotherapy or chemotherapy.

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Researchers developed a systematic process for machining the complex curved mirror surfaces used in vehicle head-up displays to very high precision using diamond turning. They optimized tool paths, tool geometry, and cutting parameters, and showed how vibrations affect surface quality, ultimately fabricating a high-quality mold core. This work provides practical manufacturing guidance for producing the optical components that make compact, high-quality HUD systems possible.

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This study found that two FDA-approved drugs that block the enzyme IMPDH — mycophenolate mofetil and mycophenolic acid — dramatically boost the effectiveness of ribavirin against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by depleting the cell's supply of GTP, a building block the virus needs. The combination worked against both RSV strains and a related virus, human metapneumovirus, and reduced viral load and lung damage in mice. This offers a practical treatment strategy using already-approved drugs to overcome ribavirin's limited effectiveness against RSV.

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Researchers designed a new driver circuit paired with a segmented silicon ring modulator to push optical data transmission to 200 gigabits per second while keeping energy use low. By splitting the incoming signal into slow and fast components and routing them to different sections of the modulator, the system achieves a wider operating bandwidth and better signal contrast than conventional designs. This approach helps meet the growing demand for faster, more energy-efficient optical links between chips in AI computing systems.

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Researchers built a wearable moisture-powered electrical generator using crosslinked nanofiber membranes made from polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate embedded with silver nanoparticles, which simultaneously generate electricity from ambient humidity, kill bacteria, and adhere to skin. The bilayer membrane retained 93% of its power output after 25 humidity cycles and inhibited over 99% of common skin bacteria, demonstrating durability in humid conditions. This multifunctional membrane enables self-powered wearable devices capable of real-time health monitoring without batteries.

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A survey of 406 pig fecal samples from farms in two Chinese provinces found that 35% were infected with Pentatrichomonas hominis, a gut parasite that can also infect humans, with suckling piglets showing the highest infection rates at 40%. Genetic analysis revealed the dominant strain in pigs was nearly identical to strains found in humans and cats, indicating the potential for the parasite to spread between animal species and people. These findings highlight a gap in parasite surveillance on pig farms and suggest P. hominis in swine could be an underappreciated source of human infection.

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Researchers developed a water-sensitive, self-thickening emulsion designed to temporarily block high-flow zones in heterogeneous oil and gas reservoirs so that treatment fluids can reach lower-permeability zones that would otherwise be bypassed. The emulsion thickens on contact with water through salt-induced droplet merging, maintained stable viscosity above the required threshold even at 150°C and high salinity, and produced a 40% higher pressure differential in high-permeability rock than conventional systems in laboratory core tests. This provides a more effective and environmentally stable diverting agent for enhanced oil recovery in challenging reservoir conditions.

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A case report described a 65-year-old man with a colon polyp (tubular adenoma) that showed high uptake on standard FDG PET scanning — normally a sign of cancer — but no uptake on the newer FAPI-04 PET scan, which targets cancer-associated fibroblast activity. This contrast between the two scans correctly indicated the lesion was benign before any surgery or biopsy was performed. The case illustrates how FAPI PET can complement standard imaging to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures in patients with ambiguous colorectal lesions.

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This study used survey data from 4,000 elderly urban Chinese adults to identify which factors most strongly predict whether older people use smart devices, finding that prior internet experience was by far the most consistent predictor across all statistical models. Other positive predictors included being male, older age, being married, poorer health status, higher education, and fewer children, while higher income was surprisingly associated with lower usage. The findings suggest that designing digital tools and support systems around building internet familiarity — rather than simply making devices simpler — is the most effective way to promote digital inclusion among the elderly.

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This review covers ankylosing spondylitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that fuses the spine's joints, focusing on why current anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs provide only limited long-term benefit. Emerging cell-based therapies — particularly mesenchymal stem cells and CAR-T cell therapy — show promise in clinical trials for reducing inflammation and potentially repairing joint damage through their immune-modifying and regenerative properties. The review outlines the disease's underlying biology, maps the shortcomings of existing treatments, and assesses where cell therapy stands in terms of clinical evidence.

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This review covers recent progress in designing nanoparticles that deliver RNA-based cancer therapies in a controlled, targeted way by responding to specific biological or physical signals — including the acidic environment inside tumors, enzyme activity, redox state, light, magnetic fields, and ultrasound. These stimuli-responsive systems aim to protect RNA from degradation, improve its uptake by cancer cells, and release it precisely where needed to minimize side effects. The review identifies key design principles and highlights remaining challenges for moving these systems from laboratory research into clinical cancer treatment.

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Researchers developed a flexible nanofiber membrane for wearable sweat sensors by coating polymer fibers with a molecule inspired by mussel adhesive chemistry (catechol-PEG), which simultaneously made the surface instantly water-absorbing, strongly adhesive to skin even during sweating, and antibacterial. The membrane maintained over 93% of its electrical output after 25 moisture cycling tests and effectively killed over 98% of common bacteria. Human athlete trials confirmed the sensor accurately and continuously measured pH and electrolytes in sweat during intense exercise.

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Researchers improved the thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline tin selenide by alloying it with a copper-silver-selenium compound, which increased electrical conductivity by filling tin vacancies with silver and copper atoms while slightly reducing heat conductivity. Careful control of the tin content was critical — too much CuAgSe addition actually reduced performance by creating electron donors that offset the intended effect. The optimized composition achieved a thermoelectric figure of merit of 0.97, a meaningful improvement that offers practical guidance for making more efficient heat-to-electricity conversion materials.

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Researchers identified DLK (dual leucine zipper kinase) as a previously unrecognized regulator of insulin sensitivity by studying mice with reduced or absent DLK — all of which showed improved insulin sensitivity and better blood glucose control regardless of body weight or obesity status. DLK acts within individual muscle, fat, and liver cells to dampen insulin signaling by activating JNK, which suppresses key steps in the insulin response pathway. Targeting DLK pharmacologically could offer a new approach to improving insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes independent of weight loss.

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By infusing carbon-labeled glucose directly into patients and mice with glioblastoma, researchers mapped in detail how glucose is used differently in tumors versus healthy brain cortex. Tumor cells downregulate normal brain energy and neurotransmitter production pathways and instead scavenge amino acids from the environment, repurposing glucose carbons for building new cell components needed for growth and invasion. Manipulating dietary amino acid intake in mice selectively disrupted this tumor metabolic strategy, slowed tumor growth, and enhanced the effectiveness of standard chemoradiation treatment.

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This review examines how nerve fibers find their correct connection targets during the development of sensory systems, focusing on recent insights from studies in fruit flies and drawing comparisons to vertebrate systems. New imaging, connectomics, and genomics tools have revealed novel molecular cues and mechanisms controlling where axons and dendrites go, which partners they select, and how connections are refined. The review highlights these advances as a foundation for understanding how sensory brain circuits are assembled and maintained.

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Researchers discovered that when cells are infected with influenza virus, elevated levels of a metabolite called oxaloacetate activate an antiviral signaling chain: the enzyme malate dehydrogenase 1 senses oxaloacetate, recruits a transcription factor, and ultimately boosts production of TBK1, a protein essential for triggering interferon-based antiviral responses. Supplementing cells and mice with oxaloacetate enhanced antiviral immunity and reduced susceptibility to lethal influenza, while mice genetically engineered to have low oxaloacetate were more vulnerable. This identifies a direct metabolic trigger of innate antiviral immunity and suggests oxaloacetate supplementation as a potential broad-spectrum antiviral strategy.

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This consensus guide addresses widespread inconsistencies in how researchers measure and report whole-body energy expenditure in laboratory animals using indirect calorimetry, proposing standardized units, data normalization methods, and analysis protocols. Adopting these standards is intended to make results comparable across different labs and datasets, and to enable the creation of a shared, machine-readable data repository. Better standardization will accelerate understanding of obesity, metabolic disease, and body weight regulation by making it easier to reproduce and build on published findings.

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This study identified and characterized ten heptahelical transmembrane protein (HHP) genes in soybean — a class of proteins involved in hormone signaling and stress responses — finding that most are activated by the stress hormones abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate, while several are suppressed during soybean cyst nematode infection. Predicted protein interactions and regulatory microRNA connections suggest these genes link hormone signaling to water balance, stress adaptation, and defense responses. The results point to specific HHP genes as candidates for improving soybean resilience to both drought and pest attack.

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Researchers investigated how the soybean gene GmPUB22, which negatively regulates resistance to soybean cyst nematode, controls susceptibility by identifying downstream genes it regulates — two of which, when silenced, reduced nematode counts by 19–33%. These genes were linked to defense responses, oxidative stress management, and cell signaling pathways, and their activity correlated with reactive oxygen species levels at infection sites. The findings reveal specific molecular players in the GmPUB22-mediated susceptibility pathway that could be targeted to breed nematode-resistant soybeans.

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Analysis of Global Burden of Disease data found that type 2 diabetes in young adults aged 15–39 in Asia increased steadily from 1990 to 2021, with incidence rising at an average of 2.4% per year, and that high body mass index accounts for more than half of all disease burden. The increase was sharpest among females under 20 years, and by 2021 there were an estimated 4.55 million new cases per year in this age group across Asia. The findings underscore the need to prioritize obesity prevention in young Asians to curb what is becoming a major early-onset chronic disease burden.

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This review comprehensively summarizes the nutritional content and health-relevant compounds found in custard apple fruit, including phenols, flavonoids, and acetogenins, which have shown antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-tumor, and blood sugar-lowering effects in laboratory studies. The review follows standardized reporting guidelines and covers studies published between 2000 and 2025, noting that clinical and toxicological data remain limited. The authors call for more rigorous safety evaluation and standardized extraction methods to support the fruit's broader use in food and pharmaceutical applications.

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This study found that a host cell protein called eEF1A1, normally used for protein synthesis, is hijacked by Coxsackievirus B to help replicate itself — the virus activates the protein through the NF-κB signaling pathway and then uses it to bind to viral RNA and interact with a key viral replication protein. Blocking eEF1A1 reduced viral replication, identifying it as a potential drug target. Since Coxsackievirus B is a leading cause of viral heart disease, these findings open a new direction for developing treatments against this infection.

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Researchers improved the thermoelectric performance of a silver-tin-selenium compound by adding small amounts of tin iodide, which simultaneously increased the number of charge carriers and further reduced the material's ability to conduct heat by weakening chemical bonds and creating greater lattice disorder. The combined effect raised the thermoelectric figure of merit by 39% compared to the undoped material, reaching a peak value of 1.36 at 748 Kelvin. This demonstrates a practical chemical engineering strategy for making better thermoelectric materials that convert waste heat into electricity.

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Glioblastoma brain tumors resist radiation therapy in part by rapidly increasing production of GTP, a molecular signal that helps repair radiation-induced DNA damage, through nuclear relocation of the enzyme IMPDH1 driven by the DNA damage sensor DNA-PK. Treating tumor-bearing mice with the FDA-approved drug mycophenolate mofetil, which blocks IMPDH, slowed DNA repair and extended survival when combined with standard chemoradiation. A small human clinical trial confirmed the drug reaches the brain at active concentrations, making IMPDH inhibition a feasible and promising addition to glioblastoma treatment.

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Researchers identified ten cellulose synthase genes in the sugarcane genome and determined which ones are most active during stem maturation — the stage when plants build the rigid cell walls that prevent stalks from falling over. Two genes in particular, expressed primarily in mature stems, were shown to directly increase cellulose content when tested in rice. This work lays the foundation for breeding sturdier sugarcane varieties that are less prone to lodging, which is a significant cause of yield loss.

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The PandaX-4T detector in China conducted an analysis of 259 days of data to search for light dark matter particles with masses between roughly 1 and 10 billion electron volts interacting with atomic electrons and nucleons. No dark matter signal was detected, but the experiment set the world's most stringent limits on several types of dark matter interactions in this mass range, improving previous best constraints by up to a factor of 9.3 for some interaction types. These results push the boundaries of what dark matter properties can be ruled out and guide the design of future experiments.

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Researchers used stem cell-derived heart muscle cells to study how the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin damages the heart and found that it triggers excessive self-digestion of cell components (autophagy) by blocking the mTOR signaling pathway, ultimately leading to cell death. Blocking autophagy partially protected heart cells, while activating it further worsened cell death, confirming autophagy as a key driver of the damage. These findings point to autophagy regulation as a potential strategy for protecting cancer patients' hearts during doxorubicin treatment.

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Researchers performed a genome-wide association study on 338 soybean varieties grown at two planting densities to find genetic variants linked to pod yield traits, identifying 47–56 significant markers and narrowing in on eight that were consistently associated with seed number per plant, seed weight per plant, and 100-seed weight. Two specific genes were identified as key regulators of these traits, and a DNA marker test was developed and validated in 97 additional soybean lines. These tools enable breeders to select for higher-yielding soybeans using genetic markers rather than relying solely on field measurements.

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This qualitative study interviewed 17 spinal cord injury patients about their experiences managing rehabilitation at home and identified three distinct patient types: those who are self-directed and proactive, those who are passive and dependent on others, and those who are motivated but struggle with conflict and uncertainty. Six key dimensions shaped these profiles, including cognitive style, behavior patterns, psychological state, and access to social support. Understanding these personas allows healthcare providers to tailor rehabilitation programs to individual patients' actual needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

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Engineers built a silicon photonic transceiver where all the optical and electronic components — light modulator, driver, photodetector, and amplifier — are fabricated together on a single 45-nanometer CMOS chip, eliminating the signal-degrading connections between separately bonded components. The chip transmitted and received 128 gigabits per second per channel using PAM-4 signaling while consuming only 3.07 picojoules per bit. Removing bonding interfaces improves signal quality and opens a path toward scalable, energy-efficient optical interconnects for AI data center infrastructure.