A research team led by Dr. Xuewei Chen from Sichuan Agricultural University has developed a genetic strategy to enhance broad-spectrum disease resistance in rice without compromising plant growth and yield, a major challenge in crop breeding. The findings are published in The Crop Journal.

Scientists at the AI and Digital Science Institute of the HSE Faculty of Computer Science have developed a model capable of predicting protein–protein interactions with 95% accuracy. GSMFormer-PPI integrates three types of protein data (including information about protein surface properties) to analyse relationships between proteins, rather than simply combining datasets as in previous models. The solution could accelerate the discovery of disease molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets. The paper has been published in Scientific Reports.

A new study develops and validates a nomogram to predict the need for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) after lung transplantation. By integrating perioperative and early postoperative variables, this tool supports timely, individualized intervention, helping clinicians potentially reduce CRRT needs and improve patient outcomes in the complex post-lung transplant setting.

Why do cats often leave food unfinished? Many cat owners have experienced this puzzling behavior. Domestic cats are well known for eating multiple small meals throughout the day, a pattern thought to reflect their evolutionary origin from the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), a solitary hunter that repeatedly captures small prey. It has also often been assumed that cats leave food unfinished simply because they have a small appetite or a capricious nature. However, the mechanism underlying this characteristic feeding pattern has remained unclear. A research group led by Professor Masao Miyazaki at Iwate University, Japan, has now shown that domestic cats may stop eating not only because they are full, but also because smell plays an important role in regulating feeding motivation. The study suggests that feeding behavior in cats is dynamically influenced by olfactory habituation and dishabituation. The study was published in Physiology & Behavior.

A 4‑month‑old male infant who presented with left cryptorchidism and was ultimately diagnosed with persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) with transverse testicular ectopia. Two novel mutations in the AMHR2 gene were identified.