Browse Articles

Formation of topologically associated chromatin domains using quantum annealing

Abstract Topologically Associating Chromatin Domains are spatially distinct chromatin regions that regulate transcription by segregating active and inactive genomic elements. Empirical studies show that their formation correlates with local patterns of epigenetic markers, yet the precise mechanisms linking 1D epigenetic landscapes to 3D chromatin folding remain unclear. Recent models represent chromatin as a spin system, where nucleosomes are treated as discrete-state variables coupled by interaction strengths derived from genomic and epigenetic data. Classical samplers struggle with these models due to high frustration and dense couplings. Here, we present a quantum annealing (QA) approach to efficiently sample chromatin states, embedding an epigenetic Ising model into the topology of D-Wave quantum processors. Rather than reconstructing exact TAD size distributions or insulation scores, our method reproduces statistical features, such as mean marker incidences and intra-/inter-nucleosome correlations, while generating configurations that exhibit TAD-like structural motifs. These results demonstrate QA as an alternative to explore the chromatin architecture and provide a foundation in epigenetic modeling.

Multifactorial sheltering in peristromal niches shapes in vivo responses of lung cancers to targeted therapies

Incidence and preoperative risk factors for failed back surgery syndrome: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Bioluminescent sentinel plants enable autonomous diagnostics of viral infections

Effectiveness of a home-based physical exercise intervention in patients with hip fragility fractures: a randomized controlled trial

Grayscale projection two-photon lithography using sub-diffraction motifs for ultrafast and precise nanoscale 3D printing

Abstract Rapid and high-fidelity nanoscale 3D printing is highly desirable, but it is difficult due to the tradeoff between speed and accuracy. Although optical projection techniques can massively scale up printing, fidelity is compromised due to the difficulty in precisely controlling the light dosage over the entire field. This challenge is typically addressed by using multiple projections, but it slows down printing. Here, we present grayscale projection two-photon lithography to overcome this tradeoff. Despite using a binary mask, it enables projecting more than 15,000 focal spots, each with independently tunable intensity. It advantageously leverages constraints imposed by optical diffraction to achieve grayscale tuning over the entire field at once. By directly tuning the focal spot intensities, we demonstrate suppression of proximity effects, compensation of non-uniform illumination, compensation of stitching artefacts, and rapid 3D printing with a single femtosecond pulse per layer. We demonstrate printing of nanowires as thin as 55 nm and achieve rates of 1.7 billion voxels/s and 215 mm 3 /hr.

Variability of cassava (Manihot esculenta [Cranz]) genotypes for nutritional composition in Southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract The study utilized a total of 100 cassava genotypes sourced from IITA, Nigeria (biofortified genotypes) and locally collected landraces of Ethiopia, conserved at Jimma Agricultural Research Center. So, understanding variability in nutritional composition can guide future genetic improvement and support the development of nutritionally enhanced cassava varieties. The objective of the study was to assess variability of cassava genotypes-based their nutritional compositions analysis. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed highly significant differences among the studied genotypes for all traits. The mean separation analysis revealed largest values of Beta carotene was recorded with genotypes G79 (18.91) and G106 (17.82%) whereas maximum starch content of 77.79 and 77.22% were recorded with genotype G33 and G29respectively. The maximum dry mater content was recorded with G100 (75.93%) and G128 (71.63%). Correlation analyses revealed highly significant and positive associations between organic matter and dry matter contents (0.98***). Ash content positively correlated with beta-carotene (0.28**) but negatively correlated with OM (-0.33***). However, starch positively correlated with OM (0.135) and DMC (0.124) and poor but negative correlated with protein. These association indicated that traits influence one another which might be due to physiological trade-off or the increment of one trait cause to the increment of another trait. PCA further revealed substantial variation among genotypes, where the first three PC with Eigen values > 1 explained 68.00% of the total variation. Dry matter, moisture content and organic matter were major contributors to Dim-1, while protein and nitrogen contributed to Dim-2, whereas tannin showed a slight negative association with dimension 2. Cluster analysis grouped the studied genotypes into six distinct clusters, each characterized by specific trait combinations. Generally, the results of the study provided concrete information for future cassava breeding program in Ethiopia.

R-loop homeostasis at transposable elements safeguards transcriptional silencing in replication-quiescent oocytes

HMGB1 drives pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration via the MAP2K3/p38 pathway in pulmonary vascular remodeling

Coupled ferroelectricity and phonon chirality

Current status and future challenges in the use of Earth Observation data for Civil Protection activities: the Italian case study

Glycine-modulating Slc6a20a-ASO restores NMDA receptor function in SHANK2 and SHANK3-mutant mice and cortical organoids

Simulated and natural changes in intraocular transparency selectively affect photoreceptor-specific pupil responses

Abstract The pupillary light reflex (PLR) is modulated by retinal photoreceptors and influenced by light transmission through the intraocular media (IOM). Variations in IOM transparency, due to scattering, transmittance, or yellowing, can affect visual and non-visual functions; however, their impact on photoreceptor-specific PLR remains unclear. In this study, we measured PLR responses selectively driven by Melanopsin, S-cones, and L+M cones in young adults using silent substitution and chromatic pupillometry. These pupillary measurements were correlated with individual IOM properties. Additionally, we simulated changes with external filters. Our findings indicate that the degree of scattering or transmittance impacts the cone-driven responses. Notably, increased scattering consistently slowed S-cone-driven responses across both experiments. Melanopsin-driven PLR and yellowing showed no significant effects. These results suggest that normal variations in IOM transparency modulate cone-mediated PLR dynamics but do not affect melanopsin responses, thereby contributing to individual differences in pupil behavior and potentially influencing ophthalmic and neurological assessments that rely on optical stimuli.

Anthropogenic climate change accelerates the onset of global flood timing

From Single Motif to Active Ensembles: Phase‐Controlled Co ₈ Cluster Catalysis on MoS ₂ for Nitrogen Electroreduction

ABSTRACT Atomic‐scale metal clusters, which bridge the gap between nanoparticles and single‐atom catalysts, show pronounced structure‐sensitive reactivity that is strongly governed by the support. Here, we reveal that the crystal phase of a two‐dimensional support—metallic 1T versus semiconducting 2H MoS 2 —directs the structure and electrochemical nitrogen reduction (eNRR) performance of supported Co 8 clusters via machine‐learning‐potential‐accelerated multiscale simulations. On 1T‐MoS 2 , strong metal–support interactions act as a structural converger, locking Co 8 into a single dominant operando active motif. In contrast, 2H‐MoS 2 behaves as a structural diverger, stabilizing a thermodynamically broad ensemble of active motifs under reaction conditions. This phase‐controlled structural diversity translates directly into a function: Co 8 N 7 H 12 /2H‐MoS 2 hosts a larger population of intrinsically active motifs and delivers an ammonia production rate significantly higher than that of Co 8 N 7 H 14 /1T‐MoS 2 while concurrently suppressing hydrogen evolution. Electronic structure analysis identified the total Bader charge of the cluster across different exposed active sites as a key descriptor that was exponentially correlated with the N 2 H 2 hydrogenation barrier and turnover frequency. These findings establish a crystal phase–structure–charge–function causal chain and highlight support phase engineering—specifically, the deliberate promotion of structural diversity—as a general strategy that can be extended to other catalytic reactions to increase activity.

Robust rigid registration via maximum correntropy criterion: a novel approach

In situ ptychographic x-ray nanotomography of temperature-controlled crystallization processes

Abstract Dynamic processes such as crystallization, sintering and phase separation play pivotal roles in defining the structure and performance of engineered and natural materials. Yet, these phenomena are often challenging to study because they are transient, spatially heterogeneous, and span multiple length and time scales. Visualizing them in three dimensions under realistic conditions therefore requires imaging techniques capable of probing representative sample volumes with nanoscale resolution and minute-scale temporal resolution, sustained over extended observation times and across a wide range of environmental conditions, capabilities that current in situ methods rarely combine. Here, we present an integrated platform for in situ time- and temperature-resolved ptychographic X-ray nanotomography that meets these demands, and demonstrate its capability by tracking the crystallization of amorphous calcium carbonate from room temperature to 500°C. Quantitative tomograms are acquired at five-minute intervals, producing a 4D dataset that reveals multiple simultaneous crystallization pathways, and rare and transient events. Among these is the formation and recrystallization of a metastable polymorph, calcium carbonate hemihydrate, which has previously only been observed in additive-stabilized systems. We also demonstrate how volume defect evolution and structural rearrangements within individual crystals contribute to the mechanisms underlying Ostwald ripening. This platform offers a general method for in situ visualization of material transformations, providing insights into the processes that govern material structure and functionality.

Prevalence of hearing loss and other ear disorders among patients with hepatitis B infection: a nationwide retrospective Polish cohort study

Anaerobic metabolic evolution for homotypic L-valine fermentation

Abstract L-valine is an essential amino acid for animal nutrition. Ideally, it can be produced from D-glucose through homotypic L-valine fermentation in a growth-coupled manner. To date, no known microorganism, native or engineered, can grow on D-glucose and ammonia anaerobically with L-valine as the sole product. Here, we direct the metabolic flux through a reinforced L-valine synthetic pathway by blocking mixed-acid fermentation and L-alanine synthesis reactions to create an NADH driving force in Escherichia coli . We further evolve the engineered strain to debottleneck growth constraints by anaerobic growth rescue. The resulting evolved hyper-valine producer converts D-glucose in a 320 m 3 reactor to 83.6 g/L L-valine within 60 h, reaching a yield of 0.55 g/g glucose (85% of the theoretical maximum). Through reverse engineering, we identify that more than a 10-fold improvement in anaerobic growth and L-valine production rate arises from the amplified L-valine synthetic pathway, the additional electron sinks and reprogramming of global regulation. Together, we changed the way of L-valine production into homotypic L-valine fermentation and demonstrate how E. coli variants adapted their metabolic activities and transcriptional regulation to boost fitness in an anoxic condition, with L-valine synthesis serving as the primary NADH-consuming pathway.

A degraded cantilever model for post insulators under cyclic loading