Technological Breakthroughs Research Articles

Designer Organs: Ethical Genetic Modifications in the Era of Machine Perfusion.

Gene therapy is a rapidly developing field, finally yielding clinical benefits. Genetic engineering of organs for transplantation may soon be an option, thanks to convergence with another breakthrough technology, ex vivo machine perfusion (EVMP). EVMP allows access to the functioning organ for genetic manipulation prior to transplant. EVMP has the potential to enhance genetic engineering efficiency, improve graft survival, and reduce posttransplant complications. This will enable genetic modifications with a vast variety of applications, while raising questions on the ethics and regulation of this emerging technology. This review provides an in-depth discussion of current methodologies for delivering genetic vectors to transplantable organs, particularly focusing on the enabling role of EVMP. Organ-by-organ analysis and key characteristics of various vector and treatment options are assessed. We offer a road map for research and clinical translation, arguing that achieving scientific benchmarks while creating anticipatory governance is necessary to secure societal benefit from this technology.

The Impact of Mobile Technology on English Writing Teaching: The Relationship between Interactive Feedback and Autonomous Learning Abilities

With the rapid development of information technology (IT), mobile technology has been widely applied in the field of education, particularly in language learning. English writing, as one of the core skills in language acquisition, faces numerous challenges within traditional teaching models, such as limited learner autonomy and the difficulty of meeting individualized needs. In recent years, mobile technology-assisted English writing teaching has become a new research focus, with interactive feedback mechanisms and the enhancement of autonomous learning abilities being identified as key factors influencing instructional effectiveness. This study aims to explore mobile network-based English writing teaching, specifically analyzing how locationaware features and interactive feedback can enhance students’ autonomous learning abilities. In particular, the study investigates the forms and challenges of mobile network-assisted English writing teaching, examining mobile network discovery technologies, similarity calculation, and evolutionary computation methods relevant to English writing teaching, and proposes strategies for enhancing autonomous learning through interactive feedback.

Woven Cement Slurry.

Weaving, a pivotal technique in human construction activities since the Neolithic era, remains unattainable in modern concrete construction. Here, a novel particle-polymer coalescence strategy is proposed, which involves electrostatic, bridging, coordinating, and hydrogen bonding interactions, to establish balanced particle cohesion, enabling the fabrication of stretchable cement slurry. The bending, knotting, coiling, winding, and interlacing of cement filaments for structural textiles is successfully realized beyond traditional formwork casting, grouting, and 3D-printing, and fabricate the first-ever Chinese knot woven with cement. Weaving construction builds a triaxially cross-penetrating structure that greatly promotes interlayer strength and toughness by ≈208.5% and 676.5% compared to the state-of-the-art layer-by-layer 3D printed structure. These findings not only make a breakthrough in concrete construction technology but also provide solutions for fabricating multi-directional woven structures with great engineering-application potentials.

Genomic and Transcriptomic Approaches Advance the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), represent a growing societal challenge due to their irreversible progression and significant impact on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. Despite advances in clinical and imaging-based diagnostics, these diseases are often detected at advanced stages, limiting the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. Recent breakthroughs in genomic and transcriptomic technologies, including whole-genome sequencing, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and CRISPR-based screens, have revolutionized the field, offering new avenues for early diagnosis and personalized prognosis. Genomic approaches have elucidated disease-specific genetic risk factors and molecular pathways, while transcriptomic studies have identified stage-specific biomarkers that correlate with disease progression and severity. Furthermore, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), polygenic risk scores (PRS), and spatial transcriptomics are enabling the stratification of patients based on their risk profiles and prognostic trajectories. Advances in functional genomics have uncovered actionable targets, such as ATXN2 in ALS and TREM2 in AD, paving the way for tailored therapeutic strategies. Despite these achievements, challenges remain in translating genomic discoveries into clinical practice due to disease heterogeneity and the complexity of neurodegenerative pathophysiology. Future integration of genetic technologies holds promise for transforming diagnostic and prognostic paradigms, offering hope for improved patient outcomes and precision medicine approaches.

STEM application in education: Implication of STEM computational paradigm on employment prospects

The rapidly advancing fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) have contributed to the largely automated diversities in educational technologies. This has impacted several industries and fundamentally changed how academic businesses are conducted. Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have completely changed how services are distributed across the digital ecosystem. Base on the STEM-related technologies, the global digital economy and the educational sector are becoming increasingly computerized. Computers are extensively used as educational pedagogy tools to improve learning quality and student participation. Teachers can use computer-based audio, video, and visual aids to build lesson plans. Using Microsoft Power Point to produce and deliver electronic presentations to audiences is a great example of interactive education. These electronic presentations will be displayed on the screen with multimedia projectors in the classrooms where all students will be engaged in the modern teaching methodology. Video effects make lectures more impactful, and multimedia presentations are entertaining to watch and listen to. The use of computers in classrooms will also have an impact on teaching and learning methodologies and technological breakthroughs. Since computer technology now integrates all forms of media for interactive interaction, it has seen advances in all aspects of human managing responsibility. By employing ChatGPT as a writing coach, students can improve their written communication abilities. With ChatGPT, students can write essays, reports, or creative works by creating outlines, receiving feedback on their drafts, and refining their language and style. For example, when composing a persuasive essay, a student may consult ChatGPT for guidance on how to strengthen their argument or clarify their understandings. This paper provided STEM computational view on the academic business in the ongoing educational technology extreme automation.

СУЧАСНІ КОНЦЕПЦІЇ ТА ІНСТРУМЕНТИ АДАПТАЦІЇ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНИХ МОДЕЛЕЙ УПРАВЛІННЯ ЗОВНІШНЬОЕКОНОМІЧНОЮ ДІЯЛЬНІСТЮ

Introduction. In conditions of market destabilization, there is a growing need to define effective concepts and tools for adapting organizational models of foreign economic activity management in the context of increasing digitalization and increasing instability of the world economy. Changing regulatory conditions, rapid technological breakthroughs and increased competition require enterprises to be flexible and innovative. This is of particular importance for Ukrainian enterprises that are integrating into global markets. All this determines the relevance of defining effective approaches to increasing their competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability. The purpose of the article. The purpose of the study is identification of effective concepts and tools for adapting organizational models of foreign economic activity management to changes in the external environment, which ensure flexibility, competitiveness and sustainable development of the enterprise Methods. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive approach, including the analysis of scientific sources, economic data and modern approaches to the adaptation of foreign economic activity management. Comparative analysis methods were used to assess the effectiveness of organizational models, a systems approach to identify key adaptation tools, as well as modeling methods to develop recommendations. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of innovative technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and big data, to improve management efficiency. Results. The article examines modern concepts and tools for adapting organizational management models to the challenges of foreign economic activity. The impact of globalization, digitalization, and geopolitical instability on the efficiency of enterprises operating in international markets is examined. Key approaches to adapting foreign economic activity management models are analyzed, including decentralization, customer orientation, and integration of innovative technologies. Practical tools for increasing organizational flexibility and improving the decision-making process are identified. The problems faced by Ukrainian enterprises in the process of integration into global value chains are investigated. The need to develop adaptive organizational models that meet the principles of sustainable development is proven. The need to support the competitiveness and efficiency of Ukrainian enterprises in a dynamic global economic environment is identified. Conclusions. The importance of adapting organizational models of foreign economic activity management to ensure the competitiveness of enterprises in a globalized environment has been proven. It has been determined that the introduction of innovative technologies and flexible management structures will contribute to increasing the efficiency and integration of Ukrainian enterprises into world markets.

Expression and purification of E140 protein antigen fragments of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium berghei for serological assays.

Malaria, a life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, continues to pose a significant global health threat, with nearly 250 million infections and over 600 000 deaths reported annually by the WHO. Fighting malaria is particularly challenging partly due to the complex life cycle of the parasite. However, technological breakthroughs such as the development of the nucleoside-modified mRNA lipid nanoparticle (mRNA-LNP) vaccine platform, along with the discovery of novel conserved Plasmodium antigens such as the E140 protein, present new opportunities in malaria prevention. Importantly, production of recombinant proteins for malaria vaccine evaluation by serological assays often represents an additional hurdle because many Plasmodium proteins are complex and often contain transmembrane domains that make production and purification particularly difficult. This research protocol provides a step-by-step guide for the production and purification of P. berghei and P. vivax E140 protein fragments that can be used to test humoral immune responses against this novel malaria vaccine target. We demonstrate that the purified proteins can be successfully used in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to evaluate antigen-specific binding antibody responses in sera obtained from E140 mRNA-LNP-vaccinated mice. Therefore, these proteins can contribute to the development and evaluation of E140-based malaria vaccines.

From Lesions to Lessons: Two Decades of Filamentous Plant Pathogen Genomics.

Filamentous plant pathogens pose a severe threat to food security. Current estimates suggest up to 23% yield losses to pre- and post-harvest diseases and these losses are projected to increase due to climate change (Singh et al. 2023; Chaloner et al. 2021; Stukenbrock and Gurr 2023; Fisher et al. 2012; Steinberg and Gurr 2020). Understanding how filamentous plant pathogens emerge, spread and adapt to their hosts and new environmental niches is crucial to address their devastating impact on global agriculture. Over the past two decades, genomics has emerged as a central technology to advance our understanding of the population dynamics and coevolution of filamentous plant pathogens. The first genome of a filamentous plant pathogen, the blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, was sequenced 20 years ago. Since then, plant pathogen genomics has not only provided a deep understanding of the genomic makeup of plant pathogen populations, but has emerged as a fundamental technology for gene discovery, disease diagnostics, and has accelerated molecular biology. In merely two decades, we have witnessed several revolutions in the field, including the first reference genomes of many filamentous plant pathogens, population scale genomics of thousands of individuals, long-read and chromosome conformation sequencing for highly continuous assemblies and recent intersections of genomics and structural biology. Here, we commemorate the 20th anniversary by presenting important technological advances (Fig. 1) and lessons we learned from the past two decades of filamentous plant pathogen genomics, with a focus on cereal diseases.

Multi-dimensional Analysis and Strategy of the Development of New Energy Vehicles

With the global emphasis on environmental protection and sustainable development, new energy vehicles have become crucial in addressing issues such as the over-exploitation of non-renewable resources, climate change, and reducing dependence on traditional fossil fuels. Currently, new energy vehicle technologies are being innovated and the market scale is expanding. However, there are also problems such as limited driving range, insufficient charging facilities, and the lack of unified standards for vehicle performance and safety. This paper focuses on the current situation of the development of new energy vehicles and puts forward suggestions for future development. This research is structured around three key areas: new energy technologies, infrastructure, and market promotion. Using a combination of qualitative analysis, case analysis, and comparative analysis, this paper explores technological breakthroughs, with a focus on improving battery performance and developing new battery technologies; infrastructure development, emphasizing the layout and expansion of charging facilities; and market promotion, which addresses consumer demands and marketing strategies.

Gate-tunable photodetectors based on MoTe2/MoS2heterostructures anti-ambipolar transistors.

Anti-ambipolar transistors (AAT) are considered as a breakthrough technology in the field of electronics and optoelectronics, which is not only widely used in diverse logic circuits, but also crucial for the realization of high-performance photodetectors. The anti-ambipolar characteristics arising from the gate-tunable energy band structure can produce high-performance photodetection at different gate voltages. As a result, this places higher demands on the parametric driving range (ΔVg) and peak-to-valley ratio (PVR) of the AAT. Here, we demonstrate a high-performance photodetector with anti-ambipolar properties based on a van der Waals heterojunction of MoTe2/MoS2. Flexible modulation of carrier concentration and transport by gate voltage achieves a driving voltage range ΔVg as high as 38.4 V and a peak-to-valley ratio PVR of 1.6 × 102. Most importantly, MoTe2/MoS2 exhibits a pronounced gate-tunable photoresponse, which is attributed to the modulation of photogenerated carrier transport by gate voltage. The MoTe2/MoS2 heterojunction photodetector exhibits excellent performance, including an impressive responsivity of 17 A/W, a high detectivity of 4.2 × 1011 cm Hz1/2 W-1, an elevated external quantum efficiency of 4 × 103 %, and a fast response time of 21 ms. Gate-tunable photodetectors based on MoTe2/MoS2 heterostructures AAT have potential to realize optoelectronic devices with high performance, providing a novel strategy to achieve high-performance photodetection.

Optical Metasurfaces for Biomedical Imaging and Sensing.

Optical metasurfaces, arrays of nanostructures engineered to manipulate light, have emerged as a transformative technology in both research and industry due to their compact design and exceptional light control capabilities. Their strong light-matter interactions enable precise wavefront modulation, polarization control, and significant near-field enhancements. These unique properties have recently driven their application in biomedical fields. In particular, metasurfaces have led to breakthroughs in biomedical imaging technologies, such as achromatic imaging, phase imaging, and extended depth-of-focus imaging. They have also advanced cutting-edge biosensing technologies, featuring high-quality factor resonators and near-field enhancements. As the demand for device miniaturization and system integration increases, metasurfaces are expected to play a pivotal role in the development of next-generation biomedical devices. In this review, we explore the latest advancements in the use of metasurfaces for biomedical applications, with a particular focus on imaging and sensing. Additionally, we discuss future directions aimed at transforming the biomedical field by leveraging the full potential of metasurfaces to provide compact, high-performance solutions for a wide range of applications.

MMFuncPhos: A Multi-Modal Learning Framework for Identifying Functional Phosphorylation Sites and Their Regulatory Types.

Protein phosphorylation plays a crucial role in regulating a wide range of biological processes, and its dysregulation is strongly linked to various diseases. While many phosphorylation sites have been identified so far, their functionality and regulatory effects are largely unknown. Here, a deep learning model MMFuncPhos, based on a multi-modal deep learning framework, is developed to predict functional phosphorylation sites. MMFuncPhos outperforms existing functional phosphorylation site prediction approaches. EFuncType is further developed based on transfer learning to predict whether phosphorylation of a residue upregulates or downregulates enzyme activity for the first time. The functional phosphorylation sites predicted by MMFuncPhos and the regulatory types predicted by EFuncType align with experimental findings from several newly reported protein phosphorylation studies. The study contributes to the understanding of the functional regulatory mechanism of phosphorylation and provides valuable tools for precision medicine, enzyme engineering, and drug discovery. For user convenience, these two prediction models are integrated into a web server which can be accessed at http://pkumdl.cn:8000/mmfuncphos.

Optimized Design and Applications of Arithmetic Logic Units: Addressing Power Efficiency and Performance in Diverse Computing Applications

In modern computer systems, the Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU) is the core component of the central processing Unit (CPU) and performs basic tasks such as arithmetic operations, logic operations, and data transmission. With the development of information technology, the demand for computing is growing, the requirements for computing accuracy, speed and energy consumption are becoming more stringent. The design and optimization of ALU is directly related to the overall performance and energy efficiency of the system, so it becomes the focus of research and the key to technological breakthroughs. This paper focuses on summarizing and exploring the application scenarios, development, and optimization prospects of ALUs. This study reviews various application contexts, including embedded systems, quantum computing, and high-performance processors, highlighting how tailored ALU designs can meet the demands of each. In the field of optimization strategies, Gate Diffusion Input (GDI) technology, reversible logic, and Single Electron Transistor (SET) technology were discussed as a way to reducing power consumption and improving processing speeds.

Advances in Microfluidic Bioprinting for Multi-material Multi-cellular Tissue Constructs

3D bioprinting enables fabrication of cell-laden bioinks into complex, biomimetic tissues. However, achieving the spatial and functional heterogeneity of native tissues still poses significant challenges. Microfluidics has emerged as a complementary technology, offering precise control over material flow, mixing, and deposition at the microscale. This review highlights the integration of microfluidics with 3D bioprinting, with a particular focus on the development of advanced “printhead-on-a-chip” systems that enable real-time material switching, gradient formation, and enhanced resolution among other functionalities. Innovations across extrusion, coaxial, droplet-based, light-based, and voxel-based bioprinting modalities are explored, showcasing the transformative potential of microfluidics in creating multifunctional and heterogeneous tissue architectures. Applications in tissue heterogeneity, vascularization, tumor microenvironments, microfiber cellular technology, and organ-on-a-chip systems are discussed, underscoring microfluidics’ role in advancing tissue engineering, disease modeling, and drug discovery. Future directions outline the need for scalability, standardization, and simplified workflows that enhance accessibility for broader adoption of microfluidic bioprinting.

Highly Self-Adhesive and Biodegradable Silk Bioelectronics for All-In-One Imperceptible Long-Term Electrophysiological Biosignals Monitoring.

Skin-like bioelectronics offer a transformative technological frontier, catering to continuous and real-time yet highly imperceptible and socially discreet digital healthcare. The key technological breakthrough enabling these innovations stems from advancements in novel material synthesis, with unparalleled possibilities such as conformability, miniature footprint, and elasticity. However, existing solutions still lack desirable properties like self-adhesivity, breathability, biodegradability, transparency, and fail to offer a streamlined and scalable fabrication process. By addressing these challenges, inkjet-patterned protein-based skin-like silk bioelectronics (Silk-BioE) are presented, that integrate all the desirable material features that have been individually present in existing devices but never combined into a single embodiment. The all-in-one solution possesses excellent self-adhesiveness (300 N m-1) without synthetic adhesives, high breathability (1263g h-1 m-2) as well as swift biodegradability in soil within a mere 2 days. In addition, with an elastic modulus of ≈5kPa and a stretchability surpassing 600%, the soft electronics seamlessly replicate the mechanics of epidermis and form a conformal skin/electrode interface even on hairy regions of the body under severe perspiration. Therefore, coupled with a flexible readout circuitry, Silk-BioE can non-invasively monitor biosignals (i.e., ECG, EEG, EOG) in real-time for up to 12 h with benchmarking results against Ag/AgCl electrodes.

Epigenetics in the modern era of crop improvements.

Epigenetic mechanisms are integral to plant growth, development, and adaptation to environmental stimuli. Over the past two decades, our comprehension of these complex regulatory processes has expanded remarkably, producing a substantial body of knowledge on both locus-specific mechanisms and genome-wide regulatory patterns. Studies initially grounded in the model plant Arabidopsis have been broadened to encompass a diverse array of crop species, revealing the multifaceted roles of epigenetics in physiological and agronomic traits. With recent technological advancements, epigenetic regulations at the single-cell level and at the large-scale population level are emerging as new focuses. This review offers an in-depth synthesis of the diverse epigenetic regulations, detailing the catalytic machinery and regulatory functions. It delves into the intricate interplay among various epigenetic elements and their collective influence on the modulation of crop traits. Furthermore, it examines recent breakthroughs in technologies for epigenetic modifications and their integration into strategies for crop improvement. The review underscores the transformative potential of epigenetic strategies in bolstering crop performance, advocating for the development of efficient tools to fully exploit the agricultural benefits of epigenetic insights.

One-dimensional Cu-Ni Core-shell Composites as Liquid Epoxy Molding Compound Fillers for Enhanced Heat Dissipation and Electromagnetic Interference Shielding in High-bandwidth Memory

Fueled by the ever-growing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, high-bandwidth memory (HBM) has emerged as a technological breakthrough, taking advantage of its exceptional data transfer speed and high bandwidth via through-silicon...

Recent Advances in Phase Change Energy Storage Materials: Developments and Applications

Phase change energy storage (PCES) materials have attracted considerable interest because of their capacity to store and release thermal energy by undergoing phase changes. This paper offers a thorough examination of the latest developments in PCES materials (PCESMs) and their wide‐ranging applications in several industries. The text focuses primarily on the most recent advances in the design and creation of PCESMs. It emphasizes the investigation of new phase change materials (PCMs) that possess specific features, such as high latent heat, thermal conductivity, and cycling stability. The study investigates advanced methods such as nano structuring, hybridization, and encapsulation to improve the efficiency and dependability of PCESMs. PCESMs are employed in the construction industry for passive solar heating, thermal regulation, and energy‐efficient building designs. They facilitate effective thermal dissipation in electronics, hence, improving the efficiency and durability of electronic devices. Moreover, PCESMs are essential in enabling the incorporation of intermittent energy sources like solar and wind power into the grid, hence, supporting renewable energy storage. Furthermore, the research examines upcoming patterns and potential outcomes in the domain of PCESMs, including the progress of versatile PCES composites, integration with intelligent materials, and breakthroughs in thermal energy conversion technologies. These advancements have enormous promise to tackle worldwide energy concerns, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and promote sustainable development. Recent advancements in PCESMs have opened up opportunities for their extensive use in many industries, providing inventive solutions for effective energy storage, thermal regulation, and ecological sustainability. Ongoing research and technological breakthroughs in this field are anticipated to propel further advancements and facilitate the achievement of a more environmentally friendly and energy‐efficient future.

Sensor-combined organ-on-a-chip for pharmaceutical and medical sciences: from design and materials to typical biomedical applications.

Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) is a breakthrough technology in biomedicine. As microphysiological systems constructed in vitro, OoCs can simulate the main structures and functions of human organs, thereby providing a powerful tool for drug screening and disease model construction. Furthermore, the coupling of OoCs and sensors has been an innovative discovery in the field of biomedical and electronic engineering in recent years. The integration of sensors into OoCs allows the real-time monitoring of the changes in the microenvironmental parameters within the chip, reflecting the physiological responses of cells or tissues in the OoC and providing more accurate data support for drug development and disease treatment. In this work, we briefly outline the design ideas of OoCs, summarize the commonly used materials for OoCs and their advantages and disadvantages, and provide the most recent practical examples of the combination of OoCs and sensors in pharmaceutical and medical sciences. Furthermore, perspectives, challenges and their solutions in the future development of this technology are provided, with the aim to inspire the researchers to work toward the subsequent development of OoCs having improved reliability.

Wave dissipation performance of breakwater

This paper conducts a comprehensive review of the wave dissipation performance of various types of breakwaters in marine engineering. Over time, breakwaters have undergone significant evolution, and modern ones are constructed using advanced materials to enhance the efficiency of wave energy dissipation. They can be categorized into vertical, sloped, floating, and permeable types, each possessing distinct wave dissipation characteristics, physical principles, advantages, and disadvantages. Vertical breakwaters primarily reflect wave energy but can potentially cause strong reflections, which may have adverse effects in certain areas. Sloped breakwaters utilize the principles of kinetic energy conversion and wave breaking to dissipate energy, making them suitable for a wide range of coastal conditions. Floating breakwaters offer flexibility and adjustability to different wave conditions, while permeable breakwaters allow for water exchange while still reducing wave energy, which is beneficial for maintaining the ecological balance of the coastal area. The choice of breakwater type depends on factors such as wave conditions, topography, and environmental impact. In the future, breakthroughs in materials, design, and technology are anticipated to improve the performance of breakwaters. The selection and combination of breakwater types should take into account local conditions and requirements to ensure the effective protection of coastlines and marine facilities.