Megakaryocytes (MKs), which are traditionally known for their role in platelet production, are now emerging as unique immune cells with diverse capabilities. They express immune receptors, participate in pathogen recognition and response, phagocytose pathogens, contribute to antigen presentation, and interact with various immune cell types. When encountering inflammatory challenges, MKs exhibit intricate immune functions that can either promote or inhibit inflammation. These responses are mediated through mechanisms, such as the secretion of either anti-inflammatory or pro-inflammatory cytokines and release of immunomodulatory platelets according to specific conditions. This intricate array of responses necessitates a detailed exploration to determine whether the immune functions of MKs are carried out by the entire MK population or by a specific subpopulation. Breakthroughs in single-cell RNA sequencing have uncovered a unique “immune MK” subpopulation, revealing its distinct characteristics and immunoregulatory functions. This review provides latest insights into MKs’ immune attributes and their roles in physiological and pathological contexts and emphasizes the discovery and functions of “immune MKs”.

The team proposes a performance optimization framework of GVDS including the multitask-oriented data migration method and the request access-aware IO proxy resource allocation strategy.

Researchers from the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK, collected acorns from 20 Fagaceae specie. They simulated the effects of animal feeding by carefully removing up to 96% of the acorns' reserves without damaging the embryo, and the leftover seeds were then planted. The researchers found that partial feeding by animals did not significantly affect seed germination.

A study has revealed the molecular mechanisms regulating caffeine biosynthesis in tea plants, identifying crucial genes and microRNAs that control its production.

In a major advancement for energy storage, researchers have developed an innovative in situ polymerized quasi-solid polymer electrolyte (DS-QSPE) that addresses critical challenges in room-temperature sodium-sulfur (Na-S) batteries. This breakthrough technology effectively mitigates common issues such as void-filled interfaces and the polysulfide shuttle effect, which have long hindered the practical application of Na-S batteries. By significantly enhancing ionic conductivity and sodium-ion transference, the DS-QSPE extends the lifespan and boosts the electrochemical performance of these batteries, offering a promising solution for large-scale energy storage and paving the way for more reliable and efficient energy systems.

A comprehensive review paper has brought new insights into the derivation of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) for cancer research, focusing on a comparative analysis of mechanical dissociation and enzymatic digestion techniques. It delves into how these methods influence key organoid properties such as stemness, heterogeneity, and their ability to be cultured long-term. The findings are instrumental in informing the selection of dissociation techniques based on tissue type and research objectives, with far-reaching implications for drug screening, cancer modeling, and the optimization of organoid production for more effective cancer research.

The launch of AlliumDB, a state-of-the-art genomic database for Allium species, marks a turning point in agricultural science.

In a paper published in National Science Review, an international team of scientists propose a machine-learned protocol to efficiently and accurately monitor the chemical evolution processes using infrared spectroscopy descriptor. Illustrated with the example of C–C coupling in catalytic reactions, this introduces an intuitive strategy for fingerprinting chemical configurations to using them for assigning dynamic structural information via machine learning approach.