A study in Chinese Medical Journal reports that SLC38A7, a lysosomal glutamine transporter, is overexpressed in gastric cancer and associated with poor prognosis. Using patient tissues, cell models, mutational analyses, and mouse xenografts, the researchers show that SLC38A7 binds MYH9, promotes GSK-3β ubiquitination and degradation, and activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The findings identify a metabolically linked oncogenic pathway, clarify a previously unrecognized disease mechanism, and suggest a potential therapeutic target for gastric cancer.

Osaka Metropolitan University researchers examined the relationship between herbivory and protection against Chl phototoxicity in leaf beetle larvae. 

For dogs with heart disease, a fraction of a centimeter can make a life-changing difference.

Veterinarians often rely on chest radiographs to monitor subtle changes in heart size that help determine when treatment should begin. But those measurements can vary from one doctor to the next, making it difficult to know whether a dog’s condition is truly changing or whether the difference is simply the result of human interpretation.

Now, researchers at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have shown that an artificial intelligence-powered tool can measure canine heart size on radiographs with accuracy comparable to trained clinicians, potentially helping veterinarians identify disease progression with greater consistency and confidence.

The study, recently published in PLOS ONE, evaluated RadAnalyzer, a web- and smartphone-based application that automatically measures vertebral heart size (VHS) and vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) — two metrics veterinarians use to assess heart enlargement and monitor disease progression.

A new flat fiber fabrication technique produces a high fidelity sensor for a wide range of applications, from batteries to bridges, according to a recently-published study.

Researchers from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and the University of Southampton in the UK have developed a new type of flat silica optical fiber that performs differently from conventional round fiber. The work, published in Nature Communications, introduces a high-aspect-ratio platform that can be engineered to respond strongly to pressure, temperature and other physical changes.

Long-term diabetes management requires continuous blood glucose monitoring to detect abnormalities early and intervene in time. However, conventional fingertip blood sampling is both painful and inconvenient, while most continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) products currently available on the market rely on biological enzymes — requiring regular replacement, incurring higher costs, and demanding stringent storage conditions. A research team at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed an enzyme-free, wearable, acoustically readable microneedle patch “ARMPatch”. Once applied to the skin, it can be read by a standard ultrasound probe to continuously reflect changes in blood glucose levels.

This collection features articles on Nanomaterials published in Smart Materials in Manufacturing. All articles are free to read and download.

This collection features articles on Functional Materials published in Smart Materials in Manufacturing. All articles are free to read and download.