Browse Articles

Adaptive diffusion models for overcoming data scarcity in long-distance face recognition

Molecular architecture and diversity of StopGo/2A translational recoding

Viral 2A sequences trigger a cotranslational peptide bond formation “skipping” event, termed “StopGo,” to generate two separate proteins from a single open reading frame without classical termination. To investigate the mechanism of StopGo, we determined the cryo-EM structure of a mammalian ribosome positioned at the foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A (F2A) site. The structure shows how interactions between the F2A nascent chain (NC) and the ribosomal exit tunnel induce a conformational change in the peptidyl transferase center that precludes further translation elongation but instead pre-exposes the P-tRNA:F2A-NC ester bond for hydrolysis and NC release. Additionally, we bioinformatically characterized variation and host association across nearly 10,000 StopGo sequences identified in virus genomes. We expanded the canonical core motif to (D/G/C/N)(V/I)ExNPGP and identified additional rare but functional variants. We also revealed several distinct upstream motifs that we showed biochemically to be important for StopGo activity. Interestingly, although StopGo is known to be functionally active in plants, we found no evidence for natural utilization of StopGo by plant viruses. Overall, these findings provide valuable insights into a unique translation recoding mechanism, and lay foundations for further optimization of multigene expression in biotechnology.

Correction: SSNdesign—An R package for pseudo-Bayesian optimal and adaptive sampling designs on stream networks

Ion diffusion overestimates figures of merit in polymeric mixed conductors

Possible favored great oxidation event scenario on exoplanets around M-stars with the example of TRAPPIST-1e

Cytoplasmic crowding acts as a porous medium reducing macromolecule diffusion

Intracellular transport of macromolecules is crucial for the proper functioning of most cellular processes. Although intracellular crowding is known to strongly alter macromolecule mobility, how cytoplasmic structures physically modulate diffusion remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which cytoplasmic crowding controls diffusivity using live-cell experiments and porous media modeling approaches. Confocal microscopy combined with fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy measurements revealed an anticorrelation between free-green fluorescent protein diffusivity and the heterogeneous cytoplasmic structure abundance in live mammalian cells. This motivated the development of a multiscale model, where the cytoplasm is treated as a hierarchical porous medium with nanometric and micrometric obstacles. Numerically solving the model allowed us to predict the effective cytoplasmic diffusion coefficient for various obstacle volume fractions, and to identify tortuous and porous hydrodynamic hindrances as key diffusion reduction mechanisms. Comparison with our experimental results highlighted the importance of hydrodynamic interactions between diffusing molecules and nanometric obstacles. Importantly, we found that the effective cytoplasmic diffusivity was not dependent on specific intracellular regions but rather on the local intracellular obstacle volume fraction. Finally, the model was extended to predict the diffusivity of larger macromolecules, showing excellent agreement with literature data for several macromolecules and cell lines. This study provides insights into the physical mechanisms impeding intracellular diffusion, demonstrating the potential of porous media modeling approaches to predict transport mechanisms in dynamic or heterogeneous intracellular structures, as in cell motility, blebbing, and apoptosis.

Predicting entrepreneur fundraising success from focus group EEG data

We examined how electroencephalographic (EEG) brain activity responded to entrepreneurial pitches for venture funding and whether EEG signals from a small laboratory focus group (N = 28) could be used to predict subsequent investment outcomes. Specifically, we tested whether EEG signals of frontal alpha asymmetry and correlated EEG activity across evaluators (i.e., neural similarity) were associated with investment interest expressed by a larger population group (N = 497), as well as with the likelihood that a pitch secured a deal and, if so, the size of the investment. We found that alpha asymmetry in the first 10 seconds of a pitch predicted population-level investment interest and investment amounts, above and beyond standard self-report and textual measures. Furthermore, correlated neural activity among viewers—a measure of communication effectiveness—ramped up over time during the pitch presentation and predicted deal outcomes. These findings suggest that EEG signals in evaluators viewing entrepreneurial pitches provide early indicators of aggregate investment interest and fundraising outcomes. Together, our findings illuminate a future roadmap for reverse engineering entrepreneurs’ pitches using brain signals to enhance funding success.

Operationally classical simulation of quantum states

Abstract A classical state-preparation device cannot generate states in relative superposition. We introduce classical models in which devices that are individually unable to generate states with relative superposition can be stochastically coordinated to simulate sets of quantum states. These models have natural operational interpretation in prepare-and-measure scenarios and they can account for many non-commuting quantum state sets. We develop systematic methods both for classically simulating quantum sets and for showing that no such simulation exists, thereby certifying quantum coherence. In particular, we determine the exact noise rates required to classically simulate the entire state space of quantum theory. We also reveal connections between the operational classicality of sets and the well-known fundamental concepts of joint measurability and Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering. Here, we present an avenue to understand how and to what extent quantum states defy generic models based on classical devices, which also has relevant implications for quantum information applications.

Deep residual networks with convolutional feature extraction for short-term load forecasting

Nitrate-induced NLP1 SUMOylation regulates nitrate signaling and root nodulation

Nitrate serves both as an essential nutrient and a key signaling molecule that shapes plant growth. In legumes, high nitrate concentrations suppress symbiotic nitrogen fixation, a process mediated by MtNLP1 (NIN-like protein1). Although nitrate minimally affects NLP transcript levels, it strongly controls their nuclear localization. How posttranslational modifications regulate MtNLP1 function, however, has remained unclear. Here, we show that nitrate induces SUMOylation of MtNLP1 at lysine 589 and 795 and that this modification is essential for its biological activity. Loss of these SUMO sites compromises nitrate-mediated inhibition of nodulation and weakens MtNLP1 interactions with MtNIN and itself. Components of the SUMOylation machinery in Medicago truncatula physically interact and are essential for both nodulation and nitrate responsiveness, indicating broader roles for SUMOylation in symbiosis. A SUMO-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana AtNLP7 3KR mutant fails to complement the Atnlp7-1 phenotype, demonstrating that SUMOylation is a conserved regulatory mechanism among NLPs. Together, our findings reveal SUMOylation as a previously unrecognized layer of regulation that integrates nutrient signaling with root nodule symbiosis.

Retraction: Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behavioural intention to purchase green products

Mechanism and evolutionary divergence of a novel oxidized polyvinyl alcohol hydrolase in Stenotrophomonas rhizophila QL-P4

A <i>Period1</i> inducer specifically advances circadian clock in mice

West-to-east transmeridian flights are more disruptive than east-to-west ones due to challenges in advancing the human circadian clock. Transient mammalian Period1 ( Per1 ) induction was predicted to predominantly advance the clock phase in our previous work. Here, we unravel a specific Per1 inducer, Mic-628, enabling abrupt phase advance in mouse behavioral rhythms, regardless of the timing of oral administration. Mic-628-treated mice re-entrain to phase-advanced light–dark cycles significantly faster. The direct interaction between Mic-628 and CRYPTOCHROME1 (CRY1) does not simply inhibit CRY1 repressor activity. Instead, the interaction facilitates the CLOCK-BMAL1 assembly, ensuring highly specific induction via a tandem E-box motif upstream of the Per1 promoter. Importantly, Mic-628-driven Per1 induction is repressed by PER1 itself. Mathematical modeling indicates that both the CRY1- and PER1-mediated transcriptional regulation fix the phase of Per1 induction irrespective of intake time, thereby predominantly advancing the clock phase. These findings underscore the potential of selective Per expression as a therapeutic approach for human circadian rhythm disorders.

Differences between Scaly-sided Merganser (Mergus squamatus) and Common Merganser (M. merganser) feather microstructure

The microstructural characteristics of feathers are useful for species identification. In this study, scanning electron microscopy was employed to examine the microstructures of contour feathers, rectrices, and down feathers from both the Scaly-sided Merganser ( Mergus squamatus ) and Common Merganser ( Mergus merganser ). The primary objective was to assess inter-species differences and evaluate the potential of these microstructural characteristics as reliable indicators for distinguishing species. Several microstructural characteristics of feathers exhibited significant variations between the two species. In rectrices, significant variations were observed in the prong length, base length, hooklet number, and prong number of distal barbules. Similarly, down feathers exhibited marked differences in the node number, distance between nodes, internode width, and barbule length of downy barbules. Stepwise discriminant analysis, combined with the leave-one-out cross-validation test, further validated the discriminatory power of all microstructural characteristics. For contour feathers, incorporating the base length into the model achieved a 56.9% correct classification rate. In rectrices, the hooklet number and prong length emerged as key discriminators, with a correct classification rate of 91.3%. Most notably, the barbule length, node number, and distance between nodes of down feathers demonstrated exceptional discriminative capabilities, attaining a perfect 100% correct classification rate. Consequently, the barbule length, node number, and distance between nodes of down feathers, may serve as potentially useful morphological markers for differentiating the Scaly-sided Merganser from the Common Merganser.

High prevalence of polypharmacy and nervous system medications in people with HIV: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract Polypharmacy is increasingly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH), especially as they age and manage multiple comorbidities. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 268 PLWH in Vigo, Spain (2020–2023), revealing an aging cohort (mean age 49.8 years) and a 51.9% prevalence of multimorbidity. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Polypharmacy, defined as the chronic use of ≥ 5 non-antiretroviral drugs, was observed in 35.7% of participants, increasing among older adults (≥ 50 years, 50.7%; p  &lt; 0.001) and those living with HIV for &gt; 10 years (43.0%; p  = 0.004). Nervous system medications (47.0%), alimentary tract/metabolism drugs (36.2%), and cardiovascular drugs (34.3%) were the most common. Psychotropic drugs were frequent, particularly anxiolytics (24.8%) and antidepressants (22.9%). In multivariable analysis, anxiolytic use was associated with older age (OR = 1.03; p  = 0.038), female sex (OR = 1.97; p  = 0.042), current smoking (OR = 3.74; p  = 0.002), and past cocaine use (OR = 2.52; p  = 0.008); antidepressant use with past (OR = 3.46; p  = 0.015) and current smoking (OR = 4.46; p  = 0.001). These findings highlight the complexity of managing polypharmacy in aging PLWH and underscore the need for strategies to optimize medication use.

STING single amino acid polymorphisms modulate iridovirus immune evasion and pathogenicity spectrum

The evolutionary arms race between viruses and hosts shapes host antiviral defenses and viral immune evasion, yet the mechanisms driving divergence in viral cross-species pathogenicity remain unclear. Here, we investigated the role of single amino acid polymorphisms (SAPs) in stimulator of interferon genes (STING) in modulating immune evasion and pathogenicity spectrum of infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV). The ISKNV-encoded protein VP012R targets mandarin fish STING ( sc STING) for ubiquitination at residues C196 and K315, promoting its degradation to suppress interferon responses. Importantly, the K315/R315 polymorphism acts as a molecular switch: Susceptible species with the K315 residue exhibit STING degradation and viral immune evasion, whereas resistant species with the R315 residue maintain STING stability and antiviral defenses. Phylogenetic analysis linked K315 to high-mortality hosts (≥50% lethality) vs. R315 in resistant species (≤25% lethality). These findings suggest that the molecular mechanisms underlying the viral pathogenicity spectrum may be modulated by host protein SAPs, thereby enhancing our understanding of host–virus coevolution in terms of biological diversity.

Correction: Insulin-self administration among individuals with diabetes: Implications for improved practices

Entomological survey of sand fly vectors and molecular screening for Leishmania parasite in refugee camps in Ethiopia

Pharmacological chaperones mitigate noise-induced hearing loss by attenuating sustained PERK activation

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) can be either temporary or permanent, depending on the intensity and duration of noise exposure. Excessive noise exposure activates various cellular mechanisms in the cochlea, including oxidative stress, immune responses, and apoptosis. Still, the mechanisms underlying hearing recovery after transient threshold shift (TTS) and lack of recovery after permanent threshold shift (PTS), as well as their therapeutic implications for NIHL, remain unknown. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of longitudinal changes in the cochlear transcriptome of TTS and PTS mouse models. Our analysis revealed that noise-induced ER stress activates the unfolded protein response (UPR). Notably, the protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) branch of the UPR returned to baseline levels following TTS but showed sustained activation following PTS. In addition, the proapoptotic factor C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) was selectively induced in hair cells following PTS. Administering a PERK inhibitor prior to and following noise exposure hindered hearing restoration after TTS, indicating a requirement for PERK activation in hearing recovery. Inhibition of sustained PERK activation via a PERK inhibitor or reduction of CHOP expression via pharmacological chaperones facilitated partial hearing recovery following PTS. Together, these findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying NIHL and its prevention, highlighting UPR modulation as a promising therapeutic strategy.

Childhood cancer burden and health inequality: A systematic analysis from the global burden of diseases study 2021

Objective To estimate the burden, trends, and inequalities of childhood cancers (aged 0–14 years) at global, regional, and national levels from 1990 to 2021. Methods We analyzed Global Burden of Diseases Study (GBD) 2021 data, using age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates (ASDR) to assess childhood cancer burden across 204 countries and territories, grouped into 21 GBD regions by the socio-demographic index (SDI). Temporal trends were assessed using Joinpoint regression. The slope index of inequality and concentration index were calculated to quantify absolute and relative inequalities in the disease burden. Results In 2021, childhood cancer caused 70.45 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 57.7–82.79) DALYs globally, with 98.6% attributed to years of life lost. Global ASDR declined from 664.31 (95% UI: 552.99–785.90) in 1990 to 354.06 (95% UI: 289.08–417.49) per 100,000 in 2021. Low-SDI countries had the highest ASDR (467.41, 95% UI: 342.00–589.20), reflecting challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare access. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia dominated the burden in children under 5, while brain cancers were more common in the 10−14 age group. Boys exhibited higher ASDR (395.55, 95% UI: 307.57–477.68) versus girls (309.80, 95% UI: 253.75–364.91). Socioeconomic inequalities widened, with DALYs concentration index shifting from −0.03 (95% CI: −0.06–0.01) in 1990 to −0.13 (95% CI: −0.16 - −0.11) in 2021, reflecting disproportionate burdens in low-SDI countries. Conclusions Persistent disparities in childhood cancer outcomes highlight systemic inequities in healthcare access. High-SDI countries achieved significant mortality reductions, while low-SDI countries face escalating burdens due to delayed diagnoses and fragmented care. Prioritizing cost-effective innovations, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, and implementing gender-sensitive policies are critical to achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3.4 targets. Global collaboration to expand cancer registries and equitable resource allocation is urgently needed to mitigate disparities.