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  • PUMA SIGNS DOUBLE OLYMPIC CHAMPION MILTIADIS TENTOGLOU

    PUMA SIGNS DOUBLE OLYMPIC CHAMPION MILTIADIS TENTOGLOU

    Last summer, at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Tentoglou captivated the world by successfully defending his Olympic title—a feat previously accomplished only by the legendary Carl Lewis—with a jump of 8.48 m

    “We’re incredibly proud to welcome Miltiadis to the PUMA family. Signing him is a great moment for PUMA as we keep growing our presence in athletics and establishing PUMA as a dominant brand,” said Pascal Rolling, Director of Sports Marketing Running at PUMA. “Watching his performance in Paris was a thrill, and we’re excited to support him both on and off the track as he continues to push boundaries and inspire a new generation of athletes.” 

    On top of his Olympic achievements, Miltiadis is a six-time European champion, winning a record three consecutive outdoor titles in 2018, 2022 and 2024 and a record three successive men’s indoor titles between 2019 and 2023. 

    PUMA is all about backing track and field athletes—those who bring passion, personality, and bold energy to the sport. In collaboration with athletes like Miltiadis, PUMA continues to push the boundaries of performance innovation, developing cutting-edge products that empower them to perform at their peak.

    Tentoglou will compete as a PUMA athlete during the Novuna London Athletics Meet on July 19. 

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  • Senate Polls: Barrister Saif threatens to resign as nominations spark Infighting in PTI – ARY News

    1. Senate Polls: Barrister Saif threatens to resign as nominations spark Infighting in PTI  ARY News
    2. ECP urges K-P oath ahead of Senate vote  The Express Tribune
    3. PPP tries to woo Fazl ahead of KP Senate elections  Dawn
    4. PTI faces internal revolt in KP over Senate ticket denial to Irfan Saleem  nation.com.pk
    5. ECP issues women list for Senate election in KP  Ptv.com.pk

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  • This flat chip uses twisted light to reveal hidden images

    This flat chip uses twisted light to reveal hidden images

    Imagine trying to wear a left-handed glove on your right hand: it doesn’t fit because left and right hands are mirror images that can’t be superimposed on each other. This ‘handedness’ is what scientists call chirality, and it plays a fundamental role in biology, chemistry, and materials science. Most DNA molecules and sugars are right-handed, while most amino acids are left-handed. Reversing a molecule’s handedness can render a nutrient useless or a drug inactive and even harmful.

    Light can also be left or right ‘handed’. When a light beam is circularly polarized, its electric field corkscrews through space in either a left-handed or right-handed spiral. Because chiral structures interact differently with these two types of twisted light beams, shining a circularly polarized light on a sample – and comparing how much of each twist is absorbed, reflected, or delayed – lets scientists read out the sample’s own handedness. However, this effect is extremely weak, which makes precise control of chirality an essential but challenging task.

    Now, scientists from the Bionanophotonic Systems Laboratory in EPFL’s School of Engineering have collaborated with those in Australia to create artificial optical structures called metasurfaces: 2D lattices composed of tiny elements (meta-atoms) that can easily tune their chiral properties. By varying the orientation of meta-atoms within a lattice, scientists can control the resulting metasurface’s interaction with polarized light.

    “Our ‘chiral design toolkit’ is elegantly simple, and yet more powerful than previous approaches, which tried to control light through very complex meta-atom geometries. Instead, we leverage the interplay between the shape of the meta-atom and the symmetry of the metasurface lattice,” explains Bionanophotonics Lab head Hatice Altug.

    The innovation, which has potential applications in data encryption, biosensing, and quantum technologies, has been published in Nature Communications.

    An invisible, dual layer watermark

    The team’s metasurface, made of germanium and calcium difloride, presents a gradient of meta-atoms with orientations that vary continuously along a chip. The shape and angles of these meta-atoms, as well as the lattice symmetry, all work together to tune the response of the metasurface to polarized light.

    In a proof-of-concept experiment, the scientists encoded two different images simultaneously on a metasurface optimized for the invisible mid-infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. For the first image of an Australian cockatoo, the image data were encoded in the size of the meta-atoms – which represented pixels – and decoded with unpolarized light. The second image was encoded using the orientation of the meta-atoms so that, when exposed to circularly polarized light, the metasurface revealed a picture of the iconic Swiss Matterhorn.

    “This experiment showcased our technique’s ability to produce a dual layer ‘watermark’ invisible to the human eye, paving the way for advanced anticounterfeiting, camouflage and security applications,” says Bionanophotonics Systems Lab researcher Ivan Sinev.

    Beyond encryption, the team’s approach has potential applications for quantum technologies, many of which rely on polarized light to perform computations. The ability to map chiral responses across large surfaces could also streamline biosensing.

    “We can use chiral metastructures like ours to sense, for example, drug composition or purity from small-volume samples. Nature is chiral, and the ability to distinguish between left- and right-handed molecules is essential, as it could make the difference between a medicine and a toxin,” says Bionanophotonic Systems Lab researcher Felix Richter.

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  • 2025 British Open: Lee Westwood turns back the clock for a day at Royal Portrush

    2025 British Open: Lee Westwood turns back the clock for a day at Royal Portrush

    Lee Westwood is golf’s most famous bridesmaid, an affable bloke who’s never quite managed to get across the finish line in majors. He was the last man in the field out before two of the most memorable playoffs of this century: the famous Tiger Woods-Rocco Mediate battle in the 2008 U.S. Open and the legendary Tom Watson-Stewart Cink tilt in the 2009 British Open. During one stretch from 2009 to 2010, he finished T3 or better in four of the five majors … but didn’t win any of them.

    So it came as a bit of a jolt for American audiences who woke up Thursday morning to see Westwood near the top of the leaderboard at the British Open. (Also up there: Phil Mickelson, who outdueled Westwood in 2010 at the Masters. Fifteen years ago.)

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    Westwood rode three early birdies to a front-nine 33. Only a couple late bogeys marred his round, but he nonetheless finished the day at -2, two strokes behind clubhouse leaders Jacob Skov Olesen and Haotong Li. Pretty impressive for a guy who is 52 and hasn’t played in any major since 2022. With his wife Helen Storey caddying for him, he qualified his way into the Open earlier this month, and, well, here we are.

    The key fact about Westwood’s run of majors is that it came back in the 2000s and early 2010s — a lifetime ago in golf terms. All told, he had three runner-up finishes and 12 top-5s, a crushing run of near-misses.

    Late in his career, he opted to jump to LIV Golf, and effectively vanished from the golf scene just as he was poised to become a key figure in the European Ryder Cup firmament. At least he earned one more day in the spotlight … and maybe a few more.

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  • Cricket Betting Tips and Predictions: MAX60 Caribbean 2025 – Matches 1 – 4

    Cricket Betting Tips and Predictions: MAX60 Caribbean 2025 – Matches 1 – 4

    Here are the Fantasy Cricket Predictions and Betting Tips for MAX60 Caribbean 2025, Match 1 – Miami Blaze vs Boca Raton Trailblazers; Match 2 – Grand Cayman Falcons vs Cayman Bay Stingrays; Match 3 – Florida Lions vs Miami Blaze and Match 4 – Vegas Vikings vs Caribbean Tigers on the 17th of July at the Jimmy Powell Oval, Cayman Islands.

    LIVE SCORES: Match 1 – Miami Blaze vs Boca Raton Trailblazers (Jimmy Powell Oval, Cayman Islands)

    Current Form Boca Raton Trailblazers:

    Boca Raton Trailblazers performed moderately in the previous edition of MAX60 Caribbean. They managed to win only 2 games and failed to qualify for the Finals.

    The top run scorer for Boca Raton Trailblazers in the previous edition of MAX60 Caribbean was David Warner with 297 runs to his name.

    The top wicket taker for Boca Raton Trailblazers in the previous edition of MAX60 Caribbean was Peter Hatzoglou with 9 scalps under his belt.

    Boca Raton Trailblazers have a very strong squad including the likes of David Warner, George Munsey, Carlos Brathwaite and Benjamin Manenti.

    Boca Raton Trailblazers have a decent chance to make it to the Playoffs.

    Players to look out for:

    1. George Munsey – He has been in the form of his life for the past 1 year. Munsey can hit sixes for fun and this Scottish player is expected to be amongst runs in the upcoming matches.

    2. Benjamin Manenti – He is an intelligent right arm off break bowler, who can provide breakthroughs in the important middle overs period of a T10 game.

    Current Form Miami Blaze:

    Miami Blaze Franchise did not take part in the previous edition of MAX60 Caribbean.

    They are one of the weakest sides taking part in the competition. Despite having talented players like Shreevats Goswami, Angelo Perera and Mark Deyal, Miami Blaze don’t possess the firepower in their batting like the other teams.

    Their chances of qualifying for the Playoffs are very slim.

    Players to look out for:

    1. Angelo Perera – He is an accumulator in short format of the game. Perera is expected to take the bowlers on in the T10 format right from the word go.

    2. Zahoor Khan – He is the yorker master who is super effective at the death. Khan can keep to consistent lines throughout his spell in the short formats, troubling the batter’s plans.

    Let’s have a look at the squads:

    Miami Blaze

    Angelo Perera, Anubhav Dhar, Mark Deyal, Shehan Jayasuriya, Aarnav Iyer, Sachin Diwangana, Shakib Al Hasan, Romaine Foster, Shreevats Goswami, Christopher Balraj, Harikrishnan Nair, Kesrick Williams, Kristopher Ramsaran, Tom O’Connell, Troy Taylor, Zahoor Khan

    Boca Raton Trailblazers

    Cameron Hemp, David Warner, George Munsey, Kevin Wickham, Nick Hobson, Omar Willis, Sajid Ahmed, Benjamin Manenti, Carlos Brathwaite, Lachlan Bangs, Rushil Ugarkar, Josh Kann, Patrick Dooley, Rahul Garg, Romario Edwards

    Batting Stats T10

    Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* – PrePlay

    Who will win the toss? – Miami Blaze

    Who will win?– Bacon Raton Trailblazers

    Top Batter (Runs Scored) – George Munsey (Bacon Raton Trailblazers), Angelo Perera (Miami Blaze)

    Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Benjamin Manenti (Bacon Raton Trailblazers), Zahoor Khan (Miami Blaze)

    Most Sixes – George Munsey (Bacon Raton Trailblazers), Angelo Perera (Miami Blaze)

    Player of the Match– George Munsey (Bacon Raton Trailblazers)

    Team Scores Batting first – Bacon Raton Trailblazers 125+, Miami Blaze 115+

    Match Handicap : Bacon Raton Trailblazers

    LIVE SCORES: Match 2 – Grand Cayman Falcons vs Cayman Bay Stingrays (Jimmy Powell Oval, Cayman Islands)

    Current Form Grand Cayman Falcons:

    Grand Cayman Falcons didn’t take part in the previous edition of MAX60 Caribbean.

    Falcons are one of the weakest sides taking part in the tournament. It will be a big surprise if they make it to the Playoffs.

    Players to look out for:

    1. Chandrapaul Hemraj – He is a capable top order batter who can architect his innings well in a T20 format.

    2. Rishi Dhawan – He is a highly skilled all rounder, who has a knack of picking up wickets at crucial junctures of a match.

    Current Form Cayman Bay Stingrays:

    Cayman Bay Stingrays didn’t take part in the previous edition of MAX60 Caribbean.

    They have supremely talented players in their squad like Dawid Malan, Jordan Silk, Peter Hatzoglou and Adrian Wright, who can change the course of the game in a matter of few overs.

    Cayman Bay Stingrays are expected to go a long way in the MAX60 Caribbean 2025.

    Players to look out for:

    1. Dawid Malan – He is quite an experienced T20 batter and he will hold the key with the bat for Cayman Bay Stingrays in the upcoming matches.

    2. Peter Hatzoglou – He is an intelligent leg spinner who doesn’t give away freebies and also picks up wickets when it matters the most.

    Let’s have a look at the squads:

    Grand Cayman Falcons

    Cameron Delport, Chandrapaul Hemraj, Jack Taylor, Alistair Ifill, Deno McInnis, Jahmeal Buchanan, Kevon Bazil, Malinda Pushpakumara, Mohammad Nabi, Rishi Dhawan, Adam Rossington, JP Kotze, Jack Jarvis, Ramaal Lewis, Romeo Dunka, Ronaldo Alimohamed

    Cayman Bay Stingrays

    Akshay Naidoo, Dawid Malan, Jordan Silk, Kobe Herft, Matthew Spoors, Bradley Hope, Mohan Manivannan, Jermaine Baker, Keyan Gace, Vriitya Aravind, Adrian Wright, Ibrar Ahmed, Matthew Tromp, Peter Hatzoglou, Ramon Simmonds

    Wicket Takers T10

    Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* – PrePlay

    Who will win the toss? – Cayman Bay Stingrays

    Who will win?– Cayman Bay Stingrays

    Top Batter (Runs Scored) – Dawid Malan (Cayman Bay Stingrays), Chandrapaul Hemraj (Grand Cayman Falcons)

    Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Peter Hatzoglou (Cayman Bay Stingrays), Rishi Dhawan (Grand Cayman Falcons)

    Most Sixes – Peter Hatzoglou (Cayman Bay Stingrays), Chandrapaul Hemraj (Grand Cayman Falcons)

    Player of the Match – Peter Hatzoglou (Cayman Bay Stingrays)

    Team Scores Batting first – Cayman Islands Stingrays 120+, Grand Cayman Falcons 110+

    Match Handicap : Cayman Islands Stingrays

    LIVE SCORES: Match 3 – Florida Lions vs Miami Blaze (Jimmy Powell Oval, Cayman Islands)

    Current Form Florida Lions:

    Florida Lions didn’t take part in the previous edition of MAX60 Caribbean competition.

    They are one of the strongest sides with players like Aaron Johnson, Gajanand Singh, Tion Webster and Rakheem Cornwall, all of whom have been in superb form lately.

    Players to look out for:

    1. Aaron Johnson – He is a fine striker of the cricket ball. Johnson will play a key role with the bat for Florida Lions in the upcoming matches.

    2. Rakheem Cornwall – He is in superb form with the ball in domestic circuit. Cornwall is expected to be amongst the wickets in the MAX60 Caribbean 2025.

    Current Form Miami Blaze:

    Miami Blaze Franchise did not take part in the previous edition of MAX60 Caribbean.

    They are one of the weakest sides taking part in the competition. Despite having talented players like Shreevats Goswami, Angelo Perera and Mark Deyal, Miami Blaze don’t possess the firepower in their batting like the other teams.

    Their chances of qualifying for the Playoffs are very slim.

    Players to look out for:

    1. Shreevats Goswami – He is an experienced batter who can take the bowlers on in the Powerplay overs and take his team off to flying starts.

    2. Mark Deyal – He is an impactful spinner, who has the knack of picking up wickets in the middle over.

    Let’s have a look at the squads:

    Florida Lions

    Aaron Johnson, Gajanand Singh, Joe Burns, Patrick Heron, Rickel Walker, Tion Webster, Antwan Ifill, Demar Johnson, Mehran Khan, Rahkeem Cornwall, Thisara Perera, Matthew Cross, Imran Khan, Lahiru Gamage, Sam Greer

    Miami Blaze

    Angelo Perera, Anubhav Dhar, Mark Deyal, Shehan Jayasuriya, Aarnav Iyer, Sachin Diwangana, Shakib Al Hasan, Romaine Foster, Shreevats Goswami, Christopher Balraj, Harikrishnan Nair, Kesrick Williams, Kristopher Ramsaran, Tom O’Connell, Troy Taylor, Zahoor Khan

    Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* – PrePlay

    Who will win the toss? – Miami Blaze

    Who will win?– Miami Blaze

    Top Batter (Runs Scored) – Shreevats Goswami (Miami Blaze), Aaron Johnson (Florida Lions)

    Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Mark Deyal (Miami Blaze), Rakheem Cornwall (Florida Lions)

    Most Sixes – Shakib Al Hasan (Miami Blaze), Aaron Johnson (Florida Lions)

    Player of the Match – Rakheem Cornwall (Florida Lions)

    Team Scores Batting first – Florida Lions 105+, Miami Blaze 95+

    Match Handicap : Florida Lions

    LIVE SCORES: Match 4 – Vegas Vikings vs Caribbean Tigers (Jimmy Powell Oval, Cayman Islands)

    Current Form Caribbean Tigers:

    Caribbean Tigers are the defending champions of the MAX60 Caribbean competition.

    The top run scorer for Caribbean Tigers in the previous edition was Josh Brown with 269 runs to his name.

    The top wicket taker for Caribbean Tigers in the previous edition was Bradley Currie with 9 scalps under his belt.

    They have a strong squad including players like Dilpreet Bajwa, Gerhard Erasmus, JJ Smit and Andrew Tye.

    Caribbean Tigers have good chances to make it to the Playoffs.

    Players to look out for:

    1. Gerhard Erasmus – He has plenty of experience under his belt in T20 cricket. Erasmus can make a difference with both bat and the ball for his team.

    2. Andrew Tye – He is an experienced bowler who has plenty of variations in his bowling arsenal. Tye is expected to be amongst the wickets in the upcoming matches.

    Current Form Vegas Vikings:

    Vegas Vikings didn’t take part in the previous edition of MAX60 Caribbean competition.

    They have match winners in their squad like Alex Hales, Sadrack Descartes and Kennar Lewis.

    It won’t be a surprise if Vegas Vikings make it to the Playoffs with ease.

    Players to look out for:

    1. Alex Hales – He is one of the T20 best batters in franchise cricket. If Hales gets going in the tournament, Vegas Vikings will be in with decent chances to win the MAX60 Caribbean 2025.

    2. Ankit Rajpoot – He is the strike bowler for Vegas Vikings, who can move the ball both ways in the early part of an opposition’s innings. He will play a key role for Vegas Vikings in the MAX60 Caribbean.

    Let’s have a look at the squads:

    Vegas Vikings

    Alex Hales, Sam Heazlett, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ronald Ebanks, Shadrack Descarte, Sheldon Crawford, Wyatt Jalim, Kennar Lewis, Leonardo Julien, Ramon Sealy, Unmukt Chand, Ali Murtaza, Ankit Rajpoot, Conroy Wright, Shahbaz Nadeem, Suboth Bhati

    Caribbean Tigers

    Aryaman Suri, Brian Corbin, Davion Codner, Dilpreet Bajwa, Josh Brown, Gerhard Erasmus, Isuru Udana, JJ Smit, Naveen Singh, Lahiru Milantha, Aayan Khan, Andrew Tye, Jack Wood, Junaid Siddique

    Most 6’s T10

    Cricket Betting Tips and Match Predictions* – PrePlay

    Who will win the toss? – Vegas Vikings

    Who will win?– Vegas Vikings

    Top Batter (Runs Scored) – Alex Hales (Vegas Vikings), Gerhard Erasmus (Caribbean Tigers)

    Top Bowler (Wickets taken) – Ankit Rajpoot (Vegas Vikings), Andrew Tye (Caribbean Tigers)

    Most Sixes – Alex Hales (Vegas Vikings), Gerhard Erasmus (Caribbean Tigers)

    Player of the Match – Alex Hales (Vegas Vikings)

    Team Scores Batting first – Vegas Vikings 130+, Caribbean Tigers 125+

    Match Handicap : Vegas Vikings

    Live Cricket Streaming MAX60 Caribbean 2025: The live cricket streaming page which enables you to watch live cricket – Geo-restrictions apply

    *NB these predictions may be changed nearer the start of the match once the final starting teams have been announced and we will be running ‘In-Play’ features, so stay tuned.

    © Cricket World 2025

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  • Mirdametinib Represents Long-Awaited Approved Treatment Option for Adult NF1-Associated PNs

    Mirdametinib Represents Long-Awaited Approved Treatment Option for Adult NF1-Associated PNs

    Justin T. Jordan, MD, MPH, FAAN

    The FDA approval of mirdametinib (Gomekli) marked a key milestone for adult patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)–associated plexiform neurofibromas (PNs), with an agent now indicated for the treatment of this population for the first time, according to Justin T. Jordan, MD, MPH, FAAN.

    In February 2025, the FDA approved mirdametinib for adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with NF1 who have symptomatic PNs not amenable to complete resection. This approval was supported by data from the phase 2 ReNeu trial (NCT03962543), where the MEK inhibitor generated an overall response rate of 41% (95% CI, 29%-55%) in adult patients (n = 58) and 52% (95% CI, 38%-65%) in pediatric patients (n = 56).

    This agent represents another tool to add to the comprehensive support network available for this patient population, Jordan added.

    “NF1 is a genetic disorder, and there are entire families [who] have NF1. There are large communities affected by NF1. When a patient is diagnosed, plugging into those communities is important,” Jordan said during an interview with OncLive®. “I can’t say enough how important those organizations are in terms of providing support to patients and families, and in helping spur on research, which is important for our patients.”

    During the interview, Jordan expanded on past treatment challenges for adult patients with NF1-associated PNs, delved into the implications of the FDA approval of mirdametinib, and highlighted key management strategies when utilizing MEK inhibitors in this setting.

    Jordan is an associate professor of neurology, head of the Neuro-Oncology Section, and an associate professor at the O’Donnell Brain Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

    OncLive: For adult patients with NF1-associated PNs, what have been some of the challenges with treatment and drug development for that population?

    Jordan: NF1 is associated with PNs in approximately 50% of patients. Those tumors generally involve multiple nerves and nerve fascicles, so [they] are frequently adjacent to or involving large vessels, organs, and deep tissues. Therefore, the long-standing treatment paradigm has primarily been surgical debulking. However, because of those challenges with the tumor, surgical debulking has been limited.

    One of the challenges in developing drugs in this space is that, although these are neoplastic [tumors], they’re incredibly slow growing, and that’s frequently a challenge in the oncology world. [We need to] make sure we can create a therapy that can be tolerated for long periods of time with minimal toxicity and controls the growth rate of a tumor. Thankfully, we’re now in an era where we can take advantage of the vulnerabilities of this particular tumor and the pathway alterations related to the NF1 mutation.

    What has been the rationale behind exploring MEK inhibition within this space?

    This goes back probably over a decade, maybe 2. You have to go back and look at papers from Nancy Ratner, PhD, [of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio]. NF1 is a RAS GAP protein, so when NF1 function is lost, RAS is upregulated, [along with] all the downstream pathways, which include MEK.

    After looking at a variety of different vulnerabilities in [the MAPK pathway], MEK came to the surface in basic science labs, and [inhibiting MEK] slowly came into in vivo [testing] and then into human practice over the years.

    With mirdametinib indicated for both pediatric and adult populations, what are the implications of the FDA approval for the adult population?

    Selumetinib [Koselugo] was the first drug FDA approved for NF1-associated PNs, and that’s approved for children 2 years of age and older with inoperable, symptomatic PNs. It’s been on the market for that indication since 2020, and over that period of time, we’ve seen some off-label use [in the adult population] as people have had it available in the armamentarium of therapies.

    With mirdametinib receiving an approval that includes adults as well [as pediatric patients], this is really the first time that we have an on-label therapy available for PNs in adults, and it’s tremendous. We have an enormous population of untreated or undertreated individuals whose lives are altered due to disability, dysfunction, and disfigurement related to these tumors. This is an elevating moment in the entire community of NF1-associated PNs, to have therapies [available] and to see hope on the horizon. These are also effective therapies, but now we can build on this with additional opportunities down the line.

    Regarding MEK inhibition in general, what should colleagues know about these types of agents and their safety profile within this patient population?

    Generally, the safety profile [of MEK inhibitors] is pretty tolerable. As I mentioned before, these drugs were developed with the idea of long-term treatment in mind, potentially for these non-cancerous neoplasms. The most common things that we see are often some gastrointestinal toxicity, some fatigue, and maybe some rash in adults and children.

    The more serious [adverse effects (AEs)] that you may want to keep a lookout for would include cardiac toxicity. Cardiomyopathy is a risk. It is often recoverable with drug hold or discontinuation, but we do have to monitor patients closely with echocardiograms. There are also some risks of subretinal fluid [accumulation] that could ultimately lead to retinal detachment. We work very closely with ophthalmologists as well to [monitor] the back of the eyes [for patients]. Those are the two biggest risks [with MEK inhibition].

    Given that a treatment such as mirdametinib is meant to be given as a long-term therapy, what are some of the challenges with compliance and strategies to help keep patients on treatment?

    My approach is to have an up-front discussion to set expectations for patients. Depending on the literature you look at, success in these trials [of MEK inhibition] was called 20% [tumor] shrinkage. How does the risk:benefit [profile] balance out for [a patient] and their life with the tumor? In my mind, it’s important to set expectations.

    It’s important to be very proactive, especially in terms of rash management. Patients with NF1-associated PNs very often, or most commonly, also have cutaneous neurofibromas, which can be painful and disfiguring. When you add acneiform rash and other rash types on top of that, it can sometimes be a bridge too far for some patients. You want to make sure that they are aware that’s going to happen. You want to be very proactive in terms of rash control, and you want to have a very good management plan in place for those safety monitoring tests. It is often the case that patients with NF1-associated PNs have to travel long distances to get expert care, and you want to make sure that you’re not breaking their bank with all of the travel back and forth to get the necessary monitoring and tests.

    Following the approval of mirdametinib, what ongoing research could address some other lingering unmet needs for patients with NF1-associated PNs?

    In the world of PNs, there is still a population of individuals who don’t respond to MEK inhibition, either with mirdametinib or selumetinib. Therefore, looking for additional lines of therapy—whether it be a new generation of MEK inhibition [or] a combination therapy—still remains a very big question on our minds. From patient surveys, we understand that cutaneous neurofibroma therapy is a huge unmet need that patients care about, and there is a lot of work happening on some device-based interventions for cutaneous neurofibromas, as well as some early work in systemic therapeutics and topical therapeutics.

    There are also multiple malignancies associated with NF1. The greatest cause of premature death in NF1 is malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors [MPNSTs], which are really the malignant transformation of PNs. We have identified that MEK inhibition is not all that effective in MPNSTs, so there is an enormous opportunity for additional therapy. Brain tumors, including high-grade gliomas, are increased in frequency in this population, and there are studies ongoing looking at that. There are a variety of additional [associated] tumors as well that leave a lot of questions to be answered. However, now that we’ve identified an opportunity to take advantage of MEK inhibition and that inherent vulnerability within NF1 loss, we’re steps ahead in terms of looking at how to address those malignancies, as well as other manifestations of the disease.

    For patients diagnosed with NF1-associated PNs, what are the key steps for treatment and care planning?

    NF1 is certainly a rare disease, but not all that rare. Approximately 1 in 2300 patients have NF1, and PNs happen in approximately half of them. We know that we don’t have enough specialty centers across the country for everyone with NF1 to go to one. There are well-written care recommendations for patients, or [recommendations for] what they should receive at their annual visits, and that can be done in a primary care office, just as in an NF1 clinic. [You need to] make sure that an annual blood pressure check is done because of the risk of pheochromocytoma and renal artery stenosis. Make sure you’re looking for scoliosis, and PNs, and [you should] educate patients on the signs and symptoms of MPNST. I would be remiss if I overlooked the need for early breast cancer screening. It’s recommended in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network [Guidelines] for women with NF1 to begin annual breast cancer screening at age 30 because of the increased risk [associated with] NF1.

    All of those things are achievable in a primary care office. Certainly, patients with NF1 get spectacular care when they come to an NF1 center of excellence. However, [clinicians in] any oncology office and any primary care office [should] realize that they can do a great job caring for these patients. We need to come to a care paradigm where the [patients with] the most complicated cases have access to NF1 centers of excellence, and we [needed to] increase the availability of that across the country. [However, we] also need to empower local physicians to be able to provide good screening and recognize when complicated cases arise.

    Reference

    FDA approves mirdametinib for adult and pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 who have symptomatic plexiform neurofibromas not amenable to complete resection. FDA. February 11, 2025. Accessed July 16, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-mirdametinib-adult-and-pediatric-patients-neurofibromatosis-type-1-who-have-symptomatic

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  • WSU Regents Professor James Krueger’s sleep research recognized in special journal supplement | WSU Insider

    WSU Regents Professor James Krueger’s sleep research recognized in special journal supplement | WSU Insider

    A special supplement to the journal Neurobiology of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms recognizes Washington State University Regents Professor James M. Krueger’s groundbreaking contributions to the field of sleep research.

    Titled “Festschrift in Honor of JM Krueger’s Research,” the supplement features 10 peer-reviewed articles authored by Krueger’s colleagues and former trainees, including several faculty members from the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

    The supplement, available online and free to access, reflects the far-reaching impact of Krueger’s decades-long career investigating the mechanisms and functions of sleep. His work has fundamentally shaped the understanding of how sleep is regulated at the molecular and cellular levels, and how it contributes to overall health and brain function.

    “In a career spanning five decades, Prof. James M. Krueger has made—and continues to make—pivotal discoveries regarding the organization and regulation of sleep in health and disease,” wrote WSU College of Medicine Professor Hans Van Dongen with fellow editors in a foreword.

    Krueger joined the WSU faculty in 1997 and currently holds appointments in the College of Medicine and the College of Veterinary Medicine. He was named a WSU Regents Professor in 2007 and Eminent Professor, the highest award given to WSU faculty, in 2010.

    Over the course of his career, Krueger has authored more than 300 scientific publications and received numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Scientist Award from the Sleep Research Society and the Senator Jacob Javits Award in the Neurosciences from the National Institutes of Health.

    Krueger’s research has led to key discoveries regarding the sleep regulatory role of cytokines, small proteins also involved in cell signaling and inflammation. He was the first to assert that sleep is not just a property of the whole brain, but rather a local, use-dependent process regulated at the level of small groups of neurons. His lab’s discoveries have helped establish the now widely accepted view that sleep is not merely a passive state but an active, regulated process essential for brain plasticity, immune function, and overall health.

    The special supplement includes contributions from researchers across the globe who have built upon Krueger’s foundational work. Two of the articles, along with the foreword, were authored by College of Medicine faculty, underscoring the continued influence of his mentorship within the WSU community.

    “Jim’s legacy is not only in the science he has produced but also in the many scientists he has inspired and trained,” said Van Dongen. “This Festschrift is a fitting tribute to a career that has profoundly shaped our understanding of sleep.”

    Department of Translational Medicine and Physiology Professor Dr. Éva Szentirmai and Associate Professor Dr. Levente Kapás, both core faculty members of the WSU Sleep and Performance Research Center (SPRC), contributed a paper about the role of metabolic signals in sleep regulation.

    Van Dongen, also a core faculty member of the SPRC, authored an article examining the local, use-dependent aspect of sleep regulation and what it means for our understanding of the functions of sleep.

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  • Fiio’s new DAC uses the same material as an F1 car – and promises to put your music in pole position

    Fiio’s new DAC uses the same material as an F1 car – and promises to put your music in pole position

    Fiio has unveiled its latest portable DAC/headphone amplifier, the QX13. Constructed using a carbon-fibre body, the same material used for Formula 1 cars, the new DAC is designed to combine a lightweight yet durable design with a performance that will “supercharge your headphones” and audio gear.

    To achieve said supercharging, the QX13 harnesses an ESS Sabre Pro ES9027PRO DAC chip featuring a fully differential audio architecture design wherein eight audio channels are set up in parallel.

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  • Honor to make 7,000 mAh batteries standard on future flagships, 8,000 mAh for mid-rangers

    Honor to make 7,000 mAh batteries standard on future flagships, 8,000 mAh for mid-rangers

    Honor’s latest device in China – the Honor X70 features a huge 8,300mAh silicon-carbon battery and the brand has been releasing devices with 7,000+ mAh capacities for a while now. According to tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS), Honor will continue to prioritize large battery capacities for its midrange and flagship phones this year.



    Honor X70 features a 8,300mAh silicon-carbon battery

    Honor X70 features an 8,300mAh silicon-carbon battery

    As per the new DCS post, Honor’s 2025 flagships will offer at least 7,000mAh cells while its midrangers are set to pack cells in the 8,000mAh range and above. That’s a notable increase for Honor’s midrangers as last year’s Honor X60 shipped with a 5,880mAh cell while the X60 Pro featured a 6,600mAh capacity.


    Honor Magic7 Pro

    Honor Magic7 Pro

    Honor’s flagship Magic7 series ranged between 5,650 and 5,850mAh cells, so 7,000+mAh on the upcoming Magic8 series would be a solid improvement. DCS also suggests that future Honor flagships will offer a maximum of 100W wired charging speeds. It remains to be seen if Honor phones outside of China will also receive the added battery capacity boost.

    Source (in Chinese)

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  • General Meeting 2025 – Glencore

    1. General Meeting 2025  Glencore
    2. Glencore to seek shareholder approval for off-market share buybacks  Investing.com
    3. Glencore Advances Share Buy-Back Program with 900,000 Share Purchase  TipRanks
    4. Glencore Seeks Shareholder Approval for New Buy-Back Structure  TipRanks
    5. Glencore Advances Share Buy-Back Program with Recent Repurchase  TipRanks

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