Mole-rats are subterranean rodents with sensory and physiological adaptations to life in underground tunnels, yet their neurobiology remains largely unexplored. We present methods for in vivo electrophysiological recordings in awake, head-fixed, and freely moving African mole-rats (Fukomys anselli and Fukomys micklemi), addressing their unique anatomy and physiology. We report anesthesia, analgesia, and surgical procedures and find that elevated carbon dioxide concentrations are beneficial for recovery, likely due to a mutation in the potassium-chloride symporter KCC2. We also present a stereotaxic mole-rat brain atlas to guide electrode placement. Using tetrodes and silicon probes, we recorded single-unit activity and local field potentials in the cortex, hippocampus, and superior colliculus. Lastly, we present combined tissue clearing, light-sheet imaging, rehydration, and vibratome sectioning to enable 3D and 2D probe-track analyses within the same brain. The methodology will facilitate comparative studies among subterranean rodents, including the naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), to elucidate neurobiological adaptations to dark subterranean environments.

Materials capable of delivering giant and rapid piezoelectric responses at kilohertz frequencies are pivotal for advanced electromechanical technologies. However, their development has been constrained by a long-standing magnitude-speed trade-off: Ferroelectrics with intrinsic electric dipoles offer fast response but limited polarization, whereas ionic defect motion generates highly polarizable defect dipoles but responds slowly, limiting kilohertz-rate applications. We overcame this fundamental limitation by devising 8 mole % K-doped AgNbO3 (Ag0.92K0.08NbO3) thin films engineered to host dynamically reconfigurable polaron-defect complexes through electro-elastic interactions between small electron polarons and lattice defects. Field-driven multi-unit-cell polaron hopping reconfigures these complexes, producing giant defect polarization, and orders-of-magnitude faster kinetics of polaron hopping (versus ionic migration) enables their rapid response. This synergy leads to an unprecedented field-induced effective piezoelectric coefficient of ~7170 picometers per volt with ~6.2% strain at kilohertz frequencies in engineered silver niobate-based films.

This study proposed an integration strategy basing on combination of multidimensional assessment, bioactivities and chemometrics to study the effect of different drying methods on Trichosanthis Fructus polysaccharides (TFPs). Polysaccharides content and molecular weight (Mw), monosaccharide composition, polysaccharides hydrolysates profiles and bioactivities (antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity) for TFPs treated with different drying methods were determined by phenol‑sulfuric acid method, high performance gel permeation chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (HPGPC-ELSD), high-performance anion-exchange chromatography-pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD), hydrophilic interaction chromatography-charged aerosol detection (HILIC-CAD-ESI-TOF/MS) and in vitro assays, respectively. Chemometrics analysis was employed for the classification and structure-activity relationship study of TFPs treated with different drying methods. The results indicated that the chemical characteristics and bioactivities of TFPs varied markedly after been treated with different drying methods. Freeze drying (FD) had the highest polysaccharide content (22.84 ± 0.120%) and the lowest Mw (Mw1: 8.31 ± 0.37 kDa, Mw2: 5.23 ± 0.004 kDa). The mole ratio of the monosaccharide composition for different drying methods varied obviously. Microwave drying (MD) (400 W) showed obvious Hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenging activity, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. TFPs hydrolysates profile basing HILIC-CAD combining with partial least squares discriminant analysis achieved the accurately distinguishing of Trichosanthis Fructus samples treated with different drying methods. Correlation analysis revealed the positive or negative correlation (P < 0.05) between some of the chemical composition and bioactivities of TFPs. Hierarchical clustering analysis preliminarily reflected the interactive variations and associations of different drying methods. This study provides methods and data to comprehensively assess drying effects on Trichosanthis Fructus, facilitating its industrial application.

Melanoma early detection has been widely promoted on the assumption that diagnosing early tumors improves outcomes, but epidemiologic data increasingly challenge this assumption. In fair-skinned populations subjected to intensified surveillance, diagnoses of thin invasive and in situ melanomas have risen sharply without corresponding declines in advanced disease or melanoma-related mortality, a pattern consistent with cancer overdiagnosis. Heightened scrutiny preferentially detects biologically indolent melanocytic proliferations that often share clinical and histologic features with genuinely aggressive tumors, revealing the limitations of the traditional benign-malignant binary when applied to subtle melanocytic lesions. Drawing on historical anatomic pathology, particularly Virchow's concept of tumors as quantitative deviations along a continuum rather than discrete entities, we argue that many early "melanomas" are better understood as risk states than as fully realized malignant disease. The MPATH-Dx framework operationalizes this perspective by mapping melanocytic lesions into probabilistic risk classes linked to recommended management, rather than forcing a categorical melanoma versus nevus distinction. Its updated Version 2.0 simplifies classification and grading of atypia, introduces reproducible cytomorphologic thresholds, and defines a low-risk subset of thin invasive melanomas that may ultimately be reclassified as melanocytic neoplasms with high-grade atypia (low malignant potential). Transitioning from a binary to a risk-based diagnostic paradigm could reduce overdiagnosis and overtreatment, improve communication of uncertainty, and better align clinical, administrative, and legal practices with underlying tumor biology. Such a shift, however, will require reeducation of clinicians, patients, payers, and policymakers, as well as adaptation of coding, registry, and malpractice frameworks to a more nuanced understanding of melanoma risk.

Melanoma incidence has increased approximately 6-fold over the past 40 years, driven primarily by melanoma in situ and thin invasive melanomas, which are among the most subjective lesions to diagnose on histopathology. This review examines whether genomics clarifies the "gray zone" between benign and malignant pigmented lesions, or instead recasts existing histopathologic ambiguity in molecular terms, while also considering whether genomic classification shifts overdiagnosis upstream instead of resolving underlying diagnostic uncertainty. Across cytogenetic, mutation-based, and gene-expression platforms, current assays perform best in unequivocal melanoma-versus-nevus comparisons and lose accuracy in diagnostically ambiguous lesions where clarification is most needed. Gene expression profile (GEP) tests can be useful diagnostic aids in tissue-rich equivocal lesions, including atypical Spitz tumors, MELTUMPs, and cellular blue nevus/blue nevus-like melanocytoma differentials. One clinicopathologic-genomic model, the Merlin CP-GEP test, has been prospectively validated for predicting sentinel lymph node status and is now recognized as supporting sentinel lymph node biopsy decisions in T1b/T2a melanomas. Importantly, a low-risk prognostic GEP class assignment should not displace the standard sentinel lymph node biopsy discussion. GEP tests are least useful for small, thin, equivocal junctional proliferations, precisely the lesions that are most difficult to diagnose. Pre-biopsy non-invasive assays carry the additional risk of lowering, rather than raising, the biopsy threshold. Overall, current genomic tools should be viewed as an adjunct to, rather than a replacement for, histopathology and clinical context.

Pediatric melanoma is rare and often poses diagnostic challenges because benign and malignant melanocytic tumors in children can share overlapping clinicopathologic features. Epidemiologic and genomic studies have provided important insights into the etiology of pediatric melanocytic tumors and the genetic alterations associated with malignant transformation. This review summarizes environmental, host, and genetic factors associated with the development of the major pediatric melanoma subtypes, including Spitz melanoma, low-cumulative solar damage (superficial spreading) melanoma, melanoma arising in congenital melanocytic nevi, and melanoma arising in blue nevi. It also highlights key molecular biomarkers associated with pediatric melanoma and presents a diagnostic approach to atypical pediatric melanocytic tumors that illustrates how molecular data can be integrated into tumor classification.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among women diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) who were undergoing outpatient follow-up at a university hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 73 women aged ≥ 18 yr. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire addressing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, in addition to the Sexual Quotient - Female Version (SQ-F) to assess sexual function. Most participants were aged 18-30 yr (58.9%), married (74.0%), and reported using oral contraceptives (52.1%). Based on the total SQ-F score, 63.0% (n = 46) of participantsdemonstrated adequate sexual satisfaction. However, 15.0% reported experiencing dyspareunia, and 45.2% reported difficulty maintaining concentration during sexual activity. Sexual dysfunction was significantly associated with smoking (Prevalence ratios (PR) = 2.88; p = 0.015) and residence in rural areas (PR = 3.47; p = 0.003). Although the overall prevalence of sexual dysfunction was not higher than national estimates, the findings identify specific vulnerabilities that may adversely affect sexual health. These factors should be considered in the comprehensive clinical management of women with GTD.

This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and CO2 capture efficacy of eight structurally varied polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) across four cationic head-group families-ammonium, phosphonium, imidazolium, and pyridinium-each comprised of distinctive functional groups to investigate structure-property correlations in CO2 capture. The synthesized PILs are: poly(allyl tris(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium chloride) [P[AyTHEA][Cl]], poly(4-vinylbenzyl trimethylammonium chloride) [P[4-VBTMA][Cl]], poly(4-vinylbenzyl triethylammonium chloride). [P[4-VBTEA]]Poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl trimethylammonium chloride] [P[MOETMA][Cl]], poly(4-vinylbenzyl)bis(dimethylamino)phosphino-trimethylammonium chloride [P[4-VBPDMA-TMA][Cl]], poly[(4-methylbenzyl)tris(dimethylamino)phosphonium chloride] [P[4-MBP(DMA)3][Cl]], poly(1-allyl-3-propanenitrile imidazolium chloride) [P[AyPrCNIm][Cl]], and poly(allyl pyridinium chloride) [P[AyPyr][Cl]]. Structural verification was achieved using [1]H NMR spectroscopy and elemental (CHNS) analysis, while water content was determined via coulometric Karl Fischer titration. CO2 solubility was investigated gravimetrically using magnetic suspension balance (MSB) at temperatures ranging from 298.15 to 358.15 K and at pressures of 1 to 20 bar. The time-dependent uptake was analyzed using a first-order saturation model, resulting in equilibrium mole fractions (x eq), first-order rate constants (k), and half-saturation periods (t½) for each PIL. The CO2 sorption isotherms exhibited nonlinearity and were characterized by the effective Henry's Law constants (K [eff] H) which were obtained from the dual-mode sorption (DMS) model, with the Henry dissolving coefficient (k D) fit to zero for all PILs, hence confirming mostly glassy-state, Langmuir-controlled sorption. The bifunctional PIL P[4-VBPDMA-TMA][Cl] exhibited the maximum CO2 uptake (x CO2 = 0.6156 at 20 bar, 298.15 K), while P[AyPyr][Cl] had the lowest performance. The calculated enthalpy values for the prepared PILs indicated predominantly physical sorption and advantageous regeneration economics. K [eff] H was used to estimate the standard thermodynamic solvation functions-Gibbs free energy (ΔG [0] sol), enthalpy (ΔH [0] sol), and entropy (ΔS [0] sol)-over the whole temperature range. The findings highlight distinct structure-activity relationships linking cation architecture, functional-group identity, and polymer backbone flexibility to CO2 capture capacity and kinetics in chloride-based PIL systems, offering rational design principles for next-generation PIL sorbents with enhanced performance for CO2 capture applications.

Porokeratotic Adnexal Ostial Nevus (PAON) is an uncommon disorder characterized by abnormal keratinization affecting eccrine and follicular adnexa. Initially described separately as porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus and porokeratotic eccrine and hair follicle nevus, the term PAON was introduced in 2009 to encompass these conditions. PAON presents with diverse clinical manifestations, ranging from asymptomatic keratotic papules and plaques to verrucous lesions. Typically appearing at birth, PAON can rarely manifest in adulthood. We report a case of a porokeratosis-spectrum lesion with features overlapping with PAON in a male patient in his 30s presenting with longitudinal splitting of the left thumbnail associated with an erythematous linear lesion extending from the nail matrix, alongside a scaly plaque on the proximal nail fold and dorsal thumb. This case highlights the importance of considering porokeratosis-spectrum disorders, including lesions with PAON-like features, in the differential diagnosis of monodactylous erythronychia and onychodystrophy, particularly due to its potential for subtle cutaneous involvement as was present in this case. This instance represents a rare presentation of a porokeratosis-spectrum lesion involving the nail unit epithelium and contributes to the expanding clinical spectrum of porokeratosis with PAON-like features.

Vocalizations are an integral way that rodents and many other mammals communicate. Historically, research on rodent vocalizations focused on laboratory-derived strains of two species, house mice (Mus musculus), and brown rats (Rattus norvegicus). However, with over 2,000 species, Rodentia is one of the largest vertebrate orders with many other species available for communication research. In this review, we synthesize recent findings on lesser-studied species spanning five Rodentia families: Muridae, Caviidae, Cricetidae, Bathyergidae (includes Heterocephalidae), and Sciuridae. First, we take an evolutionary perspective to compare adult vocalizations within and across these five Rodentia families. Then, we take a developmental perspective to characterize immature vocalizations and how they transition to mature vocalizations. Next, we survey the potential functions of rodent by examining the behavioural contexts in which they occur. Finally, we summarize findings on the physiological mechanisms that underpin rodent vocalizations, from biomechanics to neuromodulator systems and neural circuits. Together, this research shows that Rodentia is an excellent taxonomic group for exploring the diversity and evolution of vertebrate acoustic communication.