Browse Articles

Cryogenic transmission electron microscopy reveals assembly and nanostructure of PEDOT:PSS

HQA2LFS-handwriting quality assessment using an active learning framework in smartphones

Author Correction: Multi-scale classification decodes the complexity of the human E3 ligome

Ex vivo effects of oclacitinib and cyclosporin A on canine immune response to Leishmania infantum

Diets, dominance hierarchies, and kleptoparasitism drive asymmetrical interactions between wolves and cougars

After widespread extirpation, conservation efforts have restored large carnivores to portions of their former range. Substantial research has since focused on their ability to alter ecological communities through effects on herbivores and mesocarnivores, but the principles governing competition among multiple apex carnivores remain unclear. While mesocarnivore scavenging of apex carnivore kills drive “enemies with benefits” dynamics, subordinate apex carnivores seldom rely on scavenging. Instead, they proficiently hunt prey themselves that dominant apex carnivores can steal, fundamentally altering the dynamics of their interactions. We used 9 y of contemporaneous GPS telemetry and 3,929 potential kill site investigations from a reconstituted community of sympatric wolves and cougars in Yellowstone National Park to test whether such apex–apex dynamics instead follow an “enemies without benefits” framework. Wolf movement and resource selection were strongly linked to cougar kills, resulting in carcass theft (i.e., kleptoparasitism) that drove their interactions and led to cougar mortalities. In contrast, cougars avoided wolf kills, were tied to escape terrain, and did not kill wolves, producing an asymmetric dynamic that persisted across distinct seasonal contexts. However, as elk (the shared primary prey) declined longitudinally, cougars shifted their diets to smaller-bodied deer that were kleptoparasitized by wolves at one-sixth the rate of elk kills. Our findings demonstrate that prey diversity and landscape structure are critical for subordinate apex carnivores who experience severe interference competition from their dominant counterparts. This dynamic extends trophic theory and provides a framework for predicting the coexistence outcomes of carnivore restoration and the ongoing recolonization of wolves.

An equivariant pretrained transformer for unified 3D molecular representation learning

Abstract Pretraining on a large number of unlabeled 3D molecules has showcased superiority in various scientific applications. However, prior efforts typically focus on pretraining models in a specific domain, missing the opportunity to leverage cross-domain knowledge. To mitigate this gap, we introduce Equivariant Pretrained Transformer, an all-atom foundation model that can be pretrained from multiple domain 3D molecules. Built upon an E(3)-equivariant transformer, the model learns both atom-level interactions and graph-level structural features ( e.g . residuals in proteins), allowing it to generalize across diverse tasks. The model achieves strong gains in ligand binding affinity prediction, while also performing competitively in predicting properties of proteins and small molecules. We further show that the model can help identify potential antiviral compounds against the main protease of the COVID-19 virus, and validate promising candidates through computational and experimental studies.

DMSCA: dynamic multi-scale channel-spatial attention for enhanced feature representation in convolutional neural networks

TANGO: Analysis and curation of particles in cryo-electron tomography

Abstract Cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET) enables the visualization of cellular structures in near-native environments, but its potential for spatial analysis has been underutilized due to a lack of versatile tools accommodating biological sample diversity. Available solutions often rely on case-specific or hypothesis-driven approaches, while holistic analyses remain challenging. In this work, we introduce TANGO (Twist-Aware Neighborhoods for Geometric Organization), a framework leveraging point cloud descriptors to analyze spatial arrangements of particles, such as macromolecular complexes, in cryo-ET. By encoding relative positions and orientations of particles as twist vectors, TANGO enables rotationally invariant feature extraction, including structured neighborhood occupancy, lattice topology, or angular deviations. Its modular design and user-friendly interface allow for customization of features, facilitating exploratory analyses of spatial patterns in diverse experimental datasets. With its open-source Python implementation, TANGO advances the ability to decode complex cellular architectures and their functional relationships, offering a particle data analysis tool for the cryo-ET community.

Development of robust dual functioning PPy-based photothermal membranes for simultaneous freshwater and salt harvesting

Abstract Photothermal membranes driven by solar energy represent a promising approach for sustainable and cost-effective desalination and wastewater treatment. Solar energy’s renewability and low environmental impact drive its adoption in desalination technologies. In this work, chemical vapor deposition polymerization (CVDP) is used to deposit high-performance polypyrrole (PPy) coatings on two different fabric types: woven and nonwoven, enabling broad-spectrum solar light absorption and efficient thermal conversion for enhanced water evaporation. This study investigated the efficacy of different oxidizing agents in initiating the CVDP process and in depositing PPy layer on the substrate surface, for use as a photothermal membrane to harvest freshwater and salt from different saline wastewater samples. The goal is to achieve efficient polymerization, targeting pyrrole usage as low as 15 μL for perfect PPy deposition. Among the investigated oxidizing agents, copper chloride and ammonium persulfate yielded the most effective performance in producing PPy-coated photothermal membranes. These membranes demonstrated superior light absorption and achieved surface temperatures of 63 °C and 60 °C under simulated 1 sun illumination (1 kW m − 2 ), showing facilitated enhanced water evaporation rates of 0.95 and 0.93 kg m − 2 h − 1 , respectively. Meanwhile, a a water evaporation rate of 2.91 kg m − 2 h − 1 under 3 sun illumination was obtained. Furthermore, the developed robust photothermal membranes tested against different saline solutions, including NaCl, CuSO 4 .5H 2 O, and FeCl 3 for simultaneous water evaporation and salt harvesting under solar simulator. A developed A4-size photothermal membrane from non-woven fabric was tested using actual brine water sample under natural sunlight for one week. The used photothermal membranes showed the recyclability and durability during the tests.

Ancestral and local adaptation contribute to dispersal out of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in a bumblebee

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) region is the greatest hotspot of social bumblebee diversity worldwide. However, how the high diversity of bumblebees in the QTP evolved and contributed to their diversification in adjacent and far-reaching regions remains unclear. Here, we explored this question using a widespread bumblebee species, Bombus pyrosoma . Phylogenomic analysis revealed a history of dispersal out of the QTP and distinct lineage divergence along elevations within the species. Four major chromosomal inversion variants were identified, and shifts in their frequency with altitude were consistent with patterns of lineage divergence. The highland bumblebees showed stronger metabolic robustness and better flight performance under cold environments, whereas lowland ones excelled under warm conditions. Forty-one percent of the positively selected genes were located in the inversion regions and were mostly associated with fatty acid metabolism and information processing. Mutation with a strong candidate gene, elovl6 , possibly modulated long-chain fatty acid elongation, which facilitated bumblebee flight under thermal stress. Finally, genomic inversion analyses across 22 bumblebee species–17 native to the QTP–corroborate the widespread involvement of inversions in the elevational diversification of bumblebees. Overall, our findings revealed that chromosomal inversions play a pivotal role in facilitating local adaptation and dispersal out of the QTP in a bumblebee, providing insights into the genomic underpinnings of bumblebees’ diversification.

Positive cooperativity between RAS-binding and cysteine-rich domains regulates RAF membrane binding kinetics via lateral rebinding

The single-cell transcriptional landscape of the pediatric cystic fibrosis lung from minimally invasive respiratory specimens

Spin-exciton coupling modified by interfacial magnetic interactions in a van der Waals heterostructure

Abstract Excitons are primary elementary excitations in solids that present both fundamental interest and technological importance, showing great potential for photospintronic and quantum transduction applications. The emerging coherent collective excitations in two-dimensional antiferromagnetic semiconductors raise prospects for spin-exciton interactions and multifield control schemes. However, realizing the arbitrary manipulation of excitonic quantum states, while preserving the inherent dynamic and response advantages of antiferromagnetic nature remains challenging. Here we achieve bidirectional modulation of the CrSBr exciton energy via interfacial interaction-modified spin-exciton coupling in a CrSBr/Fe 3 GaTe 2 heterostructure. Compared with pristine CrSBr, the photoluminescence peaks in the heterostructure can exhibit blueshift and redshift corresponding to 6.1% and 8.6% of the total bandwidth, respectively. We reveal that the interfacial charge-transfer-driven magnetic coupling in the heterostructure effectively enhances the magnetic anisotropy and the exchange interaction of CrSBr, thereby stabilizing its antiferromagnetic spin configuration, suppressing interlayer electron-hole recombination, and ultimately leading to an anomalous blueshift of the exciton emission. Our findings demonstrate an approach for bidirectionally modulating exciton energy in two-dimensional antiferromagnetic semiconductors, which provides substantial flexibility in device design and offers an avenue for potential wavelength control in quantum information and optoelectronic technologies.

Comparative analysis of microRNA expression in serum-derived extracellular vesicles from sudden infant death syndrome cases

Dispersive detection of a charge qubit with a broadband high-impedance quantum-Hall plasmon resonator

Association between eating speed, body composition, and physical activity: a cross-sectional study in Gujarat, India

Polyphasic characterization of Nocardioides aquaegermanicae sp. nov., a novel water-derived actinobacterium

Strain DSM 117947 T was isolated from a Micromonospora matsumotoense co-culture originating from a water sample collected in Germany. The strain was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. It exhibited 99.3% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Nocardioides aurantiacus DSM 12652 T . Digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between the strain and its close phylogenetic neighbour were below the threshold of 70% and 95−96% for prokaryotic species demarcation, respectively. The strain had a polar lipid profile composed of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylmethylethanolamine (PME), phosphatidylinositol (PI), glycophospholipid (GPL), and phospholipids (PLs). The predominant menaquinone (>20%) was MK-8(H 4 ). The major fatty acids (>5%) were C 16.0 , C 16:1 ω7c, and C 18:1 ω9c. The genomic G + C content of the strain is 73%. The chemotaxonomic, biochemical, enzymatic, and genomic features distinguished the strain from its close relative, and justify its assignment to a novel species, for which the name Nocardioides aquaegermanicae sp. nov., is proposed, with strain DSM 117947 T (WG_orange T  = KCTC 59414 T ) as the type strain.

NAPRT-mediated deamidated NAD biosynthesis enhances colon tissue resiliency and suppresses tumorigenesis

Abstract Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is synthesized through both amidated salvage and deamidated pathways. Although NAD-producing enzymes are often overexpressed in cancer cells to meet the high metabolic demands of rapid proliferation and are considered oncogenic, we report that physiological levels of nicotinic acid phosphoribosyl transferase (NAPRT), the first enzyme in the Preiss-Handler arm of the deamidated pathways, suppress tumorigenesis. We show that NAPRT is enriched in gut epithelial cells, where it sustains the NAD pool for an efficient response to stress-induced acute NAD depletion. Consequently, NAPRT deficiency impairs the activity of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerases and DNA repair, sensitizes mice to chemical-induced colitis and tumorigenesis, as well as to age-associated spontaneous tumor development. Moreover, low NAPRT expression correlates with poor prognosis in several human cancer types. Thus, homeostatic levels of deamidated NAD biosynthesis contribute to tumor suppression, and boosting this pathway may offer a strategy for cancer prevention.

Age related alteration in EEG evoked responses to balance perturbations on an inclined surface

Evidence for the earliest hominin use of wooden handheld tools found at Marathousa 1 (Greece)

The Middle Pleistocene (MP; ca. 774 to 129 ka) marks a critical period of human evolution, characterized by increasing behavioral complexity and the first unambiguous evidence of plant-based technologies. Despite this, direct evidence for early wooden tool use remains exceptionally rare. Here, we present the earliest handheld wooden tools, identified from secure contexts at the site of Marathousa 1, Greece, dated to ca. 430 ka (MIS12). Through a systematic morphological, microscopic, taphonomic, and taxonomic analysis of the sampled wood macroremains, two specimens were securely identified as modified by hominins: one small alder ( Alnus sp.) trunk fragment bears clear working and use-wear traces consistent with a multifunctional stick likely used in digging at the paleolakeshore; and one very small willow/poplar ( Salix sp./ Populus sp.) artifact exhibits signs of shaping and potential use-wear. A third specimen, a large alder trunk segment, shows deep, nonanthropogenic striations interpreted here as claw marks from a large carnivoran. The wooden tools were excavated together with butchered elephant remains, small lithic artifacts and debitage, and worked bone, underscoring the diversity of engagement with a variety of different raw materials for technological purposes at Marathousa 1. These finds extend the temporal range of early wooden tools. They represent both the use of expedient larger handheld tools as well as a much smaller, likely finger-held wooden tool, which is uniquely small for the Pleistocene, expanding known functional purposes of early wood technologies. Moreover, they highlight the Megalopolis Basin’s exceptional preservation conditions and its role in understanding the evolution of hominin behavior.