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Routine eye exams reveal stage 2 hypertension in half of diabetes patients

Diabetes opens people to other noncommunicable diseases like obesity, retinopathy and cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and hypertension. A recent study by researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine sought to understand how common high blood pressure (BP) was among people with diabetes. They measured the BP of 172 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and asked for their opinions on being screened during their eye exams.

Uncontrolled blood pressure was a common finding among the patients. Of the entire cohort, only about one in 12 had a normal blood pressure reading. Roughly half of the patients had stage 2 hypertension. They also found that about 10.5% had BP levels in the hypertensive crisis range—a level at which BP becomes a medical emergency because, if left untreated, it can lead to serious events such as a heart attack or stroke.

Having their blood pressure checked at the eye doctor was considered reasonable and acceptable by 93% of patients, as many were unaware they had a medical condition that needed attention, and some were under the impression that their BP was under control.

Trisomic rescue via allele-specific multiple chromosome cleavage using CRISPR-Cas9 in trisomy 21 cells

Human trisomy 21, responsible for Down syndrome, is the most prevalent genetic cause of cognitive impairment and remains a key focus for prenatal and preimplantation diagnosis. However, research directed toward eliminating supernumerary chromosomes from trisomic cells is limited. The present study demonstrates that allele-specific multiple chromosome cleavage by clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats Cas9 can achieve trisomy rescue by eliminating the target chromosome from human trisomy 21 induced pluripotent stem cells and fibroblasts. Unlike previously reported allele-nonspecific strategies, we have developed a comprehensive allele-specific (AS) Cas9 target sequence extraction method that efficiently removes the target chromosome. The temporary knockdown of DNA damage response genes increases the chromosome loss rate, while chromosomal rescue reversibly restores gene signatures and ameliorates cellular phenotypes. Additionally, this strategy proves effective in differentiated, nondividing cells. We anticipate that an AS approach will lay the groundwork for more sophisticated medical interventions targeting trisomy 21.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas; Down syndrome; allele specificity; chromosome cut; chromosome loss; human trisomy 21.

© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of National Academy of Sciences.

DNA-based nanoswitch can flip in milliseconds and stay in one state for days without continuous forcing

Scientists have engineered a nanoscale switch using DNA “origami.” Inspired by macroscale mechanical switches, the device achieves long-term functionality without the continuous forcing mechanism that past versions required while remaining capable of fast switching. The paper is published in the journal Science Robotics.

This is not the first time scientists have used DNA as a building material. DNA origami—a technique that folds a single-stranded DNA scaffold into precise 2D or 3D shapes using short DNA strands—offers a way to build custom nanomachines. It has been used in everything from drug delivery to electrically actuated devices. However, in electrically actuated devices, many prior designs faced a trade-off between speed, stability and durability.

In particular, researchers have been interested in creating nanoscale switches that act like their macroscopic counterparts. So far, attempts at DNA-based nanoswitches have lacked either long-term stability without continuous forcing, millisecond switching or high cycle endurance. Many earlier devices relied on DNA “latches,” but these were slow or prone to spontaneous dissociation from natural nanoscale thermal movements.

Tandem solar cell sets 25.5% efficiency record with CIGS-perovskite design

A Berlin-based team from HZB and Center for the Science of Materials Berlin (CSMB) at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has set a new record for a tandem solar cell. Using a combination of a CIGS semiconductor layer and perovskite, along with several optimized intermediate layers, the team converted 25.5% of sunlight into electrical energy. The previous record for this combination of materials and this size cell had stood at 24.6%.

The new record has been certified and is visible in the Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (the “Green Tables”) published in the journal Joule, which serve as the definitive ledger for the global photovoltaic community. To be included in this special “record table,” not only is high efficiency required, but also an area of more than 1 cm2. The well-known NLR table (formerly NREL), by contrast, lists only the maximum efficiency per technology, even if the cell has an area of 0.001 cm2.

Beyond 3D: Data scientists introduce novel AI tool to interpret complex biological data

As humans, our eyes take in two-dimensional images that our brains convert to three-dimensional experiences. This ability enables us to be aware of our position in space, judge distances, possess depth perception, and visually examine and enjoy all manner of objects and happenings.

But trying to envision subvisible structures and high-dimensional processes that our human-engineered scopes can’t capture is a challenge for data scientists and visualization experts, who turn to machine learning and AI tools to amplify visual exploration.

“Biological processes are an example of complex, high-dimensional data,” says Kevin Moon, director of USU’s Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) Center and associate professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

Microsoft Accelerates Post-Quantum Cryptography Shift to 2029

“Advances in quantum research and development have shifted the risk horizon,” Mark Russinovich, chief technology officer of Microsoft Azure, said. “We believe cryptographically relevant quantum computers could arrive sooner than previously expected – and the work required to prepare is significant, so organizations need to start now.”

To that end, the Windows maker is speeding up the Microsoft Quantum Safe Program (QSP) timeline with the goal of transitioning critical products and services to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) by 2029. The company is also planning to incorporate PQC requirements into its Secure Future Initiative (SFI).

Some key focus areas include upgrading network cryptography by adopting TLS 1.3, building crypto-agility for stored data to facilitate the ability to change cryptography without having to redesign the underlying systems, and transitioning to PQC algorithms to secure trust chains, such as code signing, certificate issuance, key protection, and update pipelines.

Ousaban Banking Trojan Targets Iberian Bank Users with Fake PDF Lures

The current version moves that screening to the operator’s server, so the exact rules are hidden. Either way, visitors outside Spain or Portugal get a Spanish “access denied” notice instead of malware.

Clear the check, and the download starts. A script downloads an image that looks like a PDF icon but hides a ZIP file inside, a trick called steganography. The script unpacks Ousaban from that ZIP, runs it, then deletes the image, the ZIP, and itself to leave less behind. Once running, Ousaban adds a registry entry named Financeiro (Portuguese for “finance”) so it starts up with Windows.

Ousaban’s command server, the machine that controls it, is deliberately hard to find. It carries a Pastebin link that points to one server address, but Fortinet says that address is a decoy.

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