Browse Articles

Ferroelectricity-modulated asymmetric van der Waals heterostructure for ultralow-power neuromorphic synapse and logic-in-memory operations

MFF budding from mitochondria regulates melanosome size and maturation

Vacuum-induced interfacial compaction for scalable fabrication of high-performance organic solar cells

Control of lysosome function by the GTPase-activating protein TBC1D9B and its binding partner TMEM55B

Abstract Lysosomes are highly dynamic organelles that serve antagonistic functions as terminal catabolic stations for the degradation of macromolecules and as central metabolic decision centers for anabolic growth signaling. Lysosome dysfunction is implicated in various human diseases. The physiological roles of lysosomes are linked to the control of lysosome position and dynamics via the activity of the kinesin-activating small GTPase ARL8. How the activity of ARL8 is regulated remains poorly understood. Here, we identify the GTPase-activating Tre-2/Bub2/Cdc16 (TBC) domain protein TBC1D9B as a critical negative regulator of ARL8B function. We demonstrate that TBC1D9B is associated with the lysosomal membrane protein TMEM55B, directly binds to ARL8B-GTP, and stimulates its GTPase activity. Knockout of TBC1D9B or its binding partner TMEM55B causes lysosome dispersion, defective autophagic flux, and impairs the adaptive degradative response of cells to limiting nutrient supply. These lysosomal phenotypes of TBC1D9B loss are occluded by concomitant depletion of ARL8 in cells. Collectively, our data unravel a key role for TBC1D9B in controlling lysosome function by serving as a negative regulator of ARL8 activity.

Global literature review and survey of implementation constraints on natural climate solutions

Abstract Natural Climate Solutions – protection, restoration, and improved management of lands and waters that reduce greenhouse gasses – have large climate change mitigation potential. However, lack of comprehensive information on implementation challenges hinders the adoption of Natural Climate Solutions and the delivery of near-term mitigation. Using a global survey of Natural Climate Solutions projects and a systematic review of recent studies, we map 46 constraints in eight categories, yielding 15,572 geo-referenced pathway-constraint observations from 501 studies and projects in 137 countries covering 20 of 22 United Nations subregions. Social-behavioral, Knowledge, and Government-Organizational are the most-reported constraint categories, and lack of policy coordination or implementation capacity the most-observed constraint and most frequently top-ranking constraint for pathways and subregions. Despite broad congruence, top constraint and category rankings vary among subregions and pathways, respectively. We find that projects generally encounter diverse sets of challenges. Without enabling efforts, near-term mitigation from Natural Climate Solutions may remain well below its biophysical potential.

DIS3 mutations enhance AID-driven translocations during B-cell activation, promoting transformation to multiple myeloma

Abstract DIS3, a key nuclear RNA-degrading enzyme, is essential for immunoglobulin class switch recombination (CSR), promoting activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) activity on both DNA strands to induce double-strand DNA breaks. During somatic hypermutation, AID-dependent lesions predominantly occur on the non-template DNA strand. Dominant mutations impairing DIS3 exoribonucleolytic activity are common in multiple myeloma (MM), but their role in carcinogenesis remains unclear. Here we show, using a knock-in mouse model, that the clinically relevant DIS3 G766R variant causes chromosomal translocations in B-cells, characterized by aberrant AID activity signatures. The mice develop pristane-induced plasmacytomas, modeling early-stage MM. In clinical MM samples, DIS3 mutations correlate with IGH translocations and AID-driven lesions in driver genes. Mechanistically, mutated DIS3 accumulates on chromatin-bound RNA, particularly at aberrant AID target sites, promoting mutations on both DNA strands. This results in increased AID-dependent double-strand DNA breaks, fostering microhomology-mediated oncogenic rearrangements. Translocations occur specifically during CSR, which remains functionally intact. The DIS3 G766R mutation does not disrupt chromatin architecture in activated B cells but exploits spatial proximity to permanently juxtapose enhancers and proto-oncogenes, facilitating transformation. Thus, gain-of-function DIS3 mutations enhance AID promiscuity, driving IGH translocations and MM development without broadly affecting B-cell physiology.

Synergistic surface modification of Cu with schiff-base networks for high selectivity and durability in CO2-to-C2H4 electroreduction

Chlorine radical-mediated electrochemical propylene epoxidation from seawater

Ultraflexible photoelectrical impedance tomography-based imager for 3-axis robotic tactile sensing

Frazzled/DCC directs spatial progenitor integration ensuring steady-state intestinal turnover

Abstract Adult epithelial organs undergo continual steady-state turnover that is achieved by tight coupling of stem cell production with replacement of worn-out epithelial cells by local intercellular signalling 1,2 . Like many eukaryotic epithelia, absorptive enterocytes (EC) of the adult Drosophila midgut are arranged in a hexagonal, honeycomb-like pattern. On tricellular nexuses of EC, intestinal stem cells (ISC) are scattered in a way so that around two thirds of EC can be renewed directly by adjacent ISC. However, the mechanism for replacement of the remaining third of remotely located EC is unknown. Here, we show that a conserved axonal guidance cue directs enteroblasts (EB), the immediate ISC daughters, to selectively replace worn-out adjacent and remote EC with identical frequency. Worn-out EC express Netrin-B ligands that attract Frazzled/DCC-receptor dependent EB protrusions and subsequent EB migration towards the Netrin-B expressing EC. Our newly developed ‘Hamelin’ assay confirms Frazzled-dependent EB migration towards Netrin-B sources and hints to invasive progenitor behaviour as midgut progenitors cross the organ boundary into the hindgut. Together, we establish spatially directed EB migration and integration as essential for intestinal homeostasis and provide first mechanistic support for recent findings resuscitating conserved Netrins and Frazzled/DCC-signalling as therapeutic target in metastasis.

Cortical representation of multidimensional handwriting movement and implications for neuroprostheses

Comparison of state-of-the-art error-correction coding for sequence-based DNA data storage

Abstract Many codecs with different error-correction approaches have been implemented for DNA data storage to date. However, no studies have systematically benchmarked codec implementations to establish their current state-of-the-art. Here, we use in silico and in vitro experiments to compare the performance of six representative codecs from literature. In isolation, these codecs can tolerate error rates up to 14% and a sequence loss of 65%. Under realistic conditions, we further establish that storage densities as high as 117 EB g −1 are feasible using existing codecs and current synthesis and sequencing technologies. Verifying our results experimentally, we demonstrate data storage at 43 EB g −1 using synthesis by material deposition and 13 EB g −1 using electrochemical synthesis, employing existing codecs from literature. Besides closing in on the physical limits of DNA data storage, this study thus demonstrates the maturity of error-correction coding, defines its current state-of-the-art, and establishes best practices for codec benchmarking.

Unpacking sources of transmission in HIV prevention trials with deep-sequence pathogen data

Abstract To develop effective HIV prevention strategies to guide public health policy the main sources of infection in HIV prevention studies must be identified. Accordingly, we devised a statistical approach that estimates the relative contribution of different sources of infection in community-randomized trials of infectious disease prevention using deep- (or next generation) sequenced pathogen data. We applied this approach to the Botswana Combination Prevention Project (BCPP) and estimated that 90% [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 80–94] of new infections in communities that received combination prevention (including universal HIV test-and-treat) originated from individuals residing in communities outside the trial area. We estimate from our model that the relative benefit of providing the BCPP intervention to all communities nationwide would be a 59% [3–87] reduction in transmissions to recipients in trial communities, exceeding the 30% reduction observed when providing the BCPP intervention to trial communities only. Our results suggest that the impact of the BCPP trial intervention was curtailed by sources of transmission outside the trial area and could be considerably larger if applied nationally. We recommend that the impact of sources of transmission beyond the reach of the intervention be considered when designing and evaluating interventions to inform public health programs.

Differences in hip, knee, and ankle joint moments during squats across load intensities, gender classes, and performance level in elite powerlifters

Enzymatic colorimetric encoding-based digital medicine for pancreatic cancer diagnosis

Correction: SPAG6 hypermethylation silences a novel tumor suppressor and inhibits renal cell carcinoma progression via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway

End-to-end deep attention-based multitask pipeline for predicting uncertainty-quantified peptide properties from mass spectrometry data

Bulk polarization fields and interfacial electron sink in MXene-modified iodine-doped Bi4Ti3O12 enhance piezocatalytic H2O2 generation

Navigating COVID-19: Association between public perceptions of preventive measures and delayed or foregone care among young and middle-aged Korean adults in the early phase of the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on healthcare systems worldwide, leading to significant disruptions in healthcare services and an increase in delayed or foregone care. South Korea has been no exception. While the importance of public perceptions of COVID-19 and healthcare use has been recognized, how such perceptions shape healthcare-seeking behaviour remains underexplored in the Korean context. The aim of this study was to examine the association between public perceptions of preventive measures and instances of delayed or foregone care during the early phase of the pandemic in 2020. This study utilized data from the 2020 Koreans’ Happiness Survey (KHS), a nationally representative cross-sectional dataset. The analysis included a total of 11,307 respondents, aged 19–64, who completed both the general and COVID-19 modules of the survey. To assess delayed or foregone care, self-reported responses were used. Public perceptions of COVID-19 preventive measures were categorised into four groups based on reported trust and understanding. The association between public perceptions of the preventive measures and delayed or foregone care was assessed using logistic regression analyses, which were adjusted for sociodemographic, health status, and COVID-19-related characteristics. The results of this study revealed that Korean adults, who both understood and trusted COVID-19 preventive measures, had significantly lower odds of delayed or foregone care (OR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.36–0.65) as compared with those who lacked both. Chronic conditions, worsened health status, and lower income were associated with a higher likelihood of delayed or foregone care. These findings highlight that both cognitive and affective dimensions of public perceptions may have shaped the use of healthcare services during the public health crisis. During future public health emergencies, strengthening public trust and risk communication may be important to mitigate barriers to timely access to healthcare.

A machine learning framework for personalized exercise prescription based on BMI and physical fitness assessment

Abstract This study proposes a hybrid machine learning framework that integrates one-dimensional convolutional neural networks (1D-CNN) with multi-head attention and Light Gradient Boosting Machines (LightGBM) to model the relationship between physical fitness and body mass index (BMI), thereby generating personalized exercise prescriptions. The dataset consists of 6,698 male students aged 18–20 years, including BMI measurements alongside four standardized fitness indicators: 3,000-meter run (aerobic capacity), pull-up test(muscular strength), sit-up test (muscular endurance), and 30 × 2 shuttle run (anaerobic capacity). The 1D-CNN + Attention module effectively captures both local and global temporal patterns, while LightGBM significantly enhances classification accuracy through gradient-boosted decision trees. The proposed hybrid architecture achieved state-of-the-art performance in BMI classification, with an accuracy of 94.5% (Cohen’s κ  = 0.91) and an F1 score of 0.93, outperforming traditional classifiers by 12.3% to 19.1%. Model interpretability is ensured through SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), which supports dynamic prescription adjustments aimed at improving muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, speed, agility, and flexibility. A 12-week randomized trial demonstrated the clinical efficacy of this framework, yielding a 23.5% reduction in overweight and obesity prevalence, a 15.2% increase in pull-up test performance, and a 9.8% improvement in 30 × 2 shuttle run results. With an inference time of less than 0.8 milliseconds per sample and robust clinical outcomes, this framework provides a scalable real-time solution for data-driven health optimization. It’s well-suited for both clinical and mobile healthcare applications, addressing the growing demand for personalized exercise interventions among young adults.