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Identifying the coupling coordination relationship and driving forces between urbanization and the supply–demand of ecosystem service: a case study of the Gansu Province
Ancient DNA and spatial modeling reveal a pre-Inca trans-Andean parrot trade
Postmenstrual age-adjusted brain volumes and their association with early neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants
A large-scale genome-wide association meta-analysis for nevus count provides direct insights into the genetics of melanoma
Abstract A greater understanding of the biology of nevi will provide insights into the etiology of melanoma. Our large-scale meta-analysis of 14 nevus genome-wide association studies (GWAS) includes 85,965 individuals of European ancestry. We identify 29 nevus-associated loci ( p < 5 × 10 -8 ), of which 24 have not been previously reported in a GWAS conducted for nevus count alone. We further identify 255 candidate genes for nevus loci, including SIKE1 which is involved in immune response regulation. This is of interest because immune response regulation influences the formation of nevi and melanoma susceptibility. Gene-set enrichment analyses prioritise immune response-related pathways and cancers that do not have a pigmentation component (e.g. breast, prostate, and glioma). This suggests that the biology underlying nevus count captures risk pathways beyond pigmentation that are relevant to melanoma. In sex-specific analyses, we observe higher total-body nevus count in females than in males, however the genetic architecture is largely shared (genetic correlation = 0.863, 95% CI = 0.453 – 1.273), indicating the difference may be influenced by environmental and behavioural factors rather than genetics. A nevus polygenic risk score explains 5% of the variance in nevus count, indicating its potential to enhance melanoma risk prediction.
A micro-CT–integrated 3D simulation framework reveals fluid transport mechanisms and void dynamics in root canal fillings
Reconstitution of woody biomass framework via dual-functional lignin engineering toward efficient and salt-resistant solar desalination
Evaluating the detection capabilities of nanopore sequencing for Borrelia burgdorferi detection in blacklegged ticks
Sororin locks the DNA-exit gate of cohesin to preserve sister-chromatid cohesion
Abstract The cohesin complex mediates sister-chromatid cohesion by topologically entrapping DNA within an SMC1-SMC3-RAD21 ring, yet how Sororin preserves cohesion beyond its known role of antagonizing Pds5 binding to the release factor Wapl has remained unclear. Here, we show that the extreme C-terminal region (CTR) of Sororin functions as a direct structural lock for cohesin’s DNA-exit gate by engaging the RAD21-SMC3 interface. Centromere-tethered Sororin-CTR fully restores cohesion after Sororin depletion, whereas constitutive chromatin tethering prevents cohesin removal, recapitulating Wapl-loss phenotypes, including impaired mitotic chromosome condensation, decatenation and segregation. Through biochemical reconstitution, AlphaFold3-guided modeling, and targeted mutagenesis, we define conserved hydrophobic and electrostatic contacts between Sororin-CTR and the RAD21-SMC3 gate, the disruption of which abolishes cohesion in a Wapl-dependent manner. Furthermore, mitotic phosphorylation of Sororin selectively disrupts Pds5 binding while leaving gate engagement intact, providing a regulated molecular switch for cohesin release. Together, these findings redefine Sororin as a dual-function regulator that both antagonizes Wapl-Pds5 and directly locks the RAD21-SMC3 exit gate to stabilize sister-chromatid cohesion while permitting its timely dissolution.
Harnessing a bispecific αGD2 × αCD3 protein engager to target GD2-overexpressing lung tumors
Phytochromes facilitate social behaviour in marine diatoms
Abstract The phytochrome superfamily comprises photosensory proteins that enable organisms to perceive changes in light intensity and quality and is widespread across plants, fungi, algae, and microbes. In terrestrial plants, phytochromes sense red and far-red light to regulate key developmental and physiological processes. In marine environments, however, where red and far-red wavelengths penetrate only the upper few meters of water, the function of phytochromes has remained unclear. Recent work shows that diatom phytochromes exhibit photoreversible responses across a broad spectral range, extending beyond red and far-red, suggesting a role in underwater light sensing. Here, we examine the role of phytochromes in light perception and collective behavior in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum . Comparing wild-type and phytochrome knockout strains under different light wavelengths reveals that activation of phytochromes by blue or far-red light synchronizes cell movements into a coordinated “wobbling dance.” This behavior is absent in phytochrome-deficient mutants, demonstrating the essential role of phytochromes. Our results further suggest that this collective motion involves intercellular communication, potentially mediated by variable red and far-red autofluorescence. Together, these findings uncover a previously unrecognized light-driven social behavior in marine diatoms and highlight the ecological significance of phytochrome-mediated communication in microbial communities.
Optimization of a hybrid solar still–HDH system via parametric study for lightweight desalination in remote areas
Acinetobacter baumannii’s lifestyle includes soil-dwelling colonization of decaying plant material and airborne spread
Abstract Acinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative nosocomial pathogen that is notorious for its rapid development of antibiotic resistance. However, its ecology and evolution outside hospital settings remain poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that the natural lifestyle of A. baumannii includes soil-dwelling and airborne dissemination, which helps explaining its adaptability and tolerance to desiccation, radiation and antibiotics, and thus its predisposition to establish within hospitals. Starting from white stork nestlings previously discovered as a reservoir, we studied food chains and associated environments and identified soil and decaying plants as habitats. We demonstrate that sterilized plant material is rapidly colonized by airborne A. baumannii . A set of 401 genomes were sequenced and compared to publicly available genomes, revealing numerous links between wildlife isolates and hospital strains, and disclosing intercontinental dispersal. Our pan-genome estimate of the species (~51,000 gene families) more than doubles that of previous studies. Our data further suggest massive radiation of the species early after its emergence, possibly fostered by human activity since the Neolithic. Now, it is possible to study the ecology and evolution of A. baumannii in nature at an unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution and to elucidate the adaptive evolution of environmental bacteria towards multidrug-resistant opportunistic pathogens.
Alizarin induces a multidirectional mechanism of anti-cancer action in cervical cancer and prostate cancer cells
Cerium driven active site relocation in spinel Co3O4 enables stable chlorine evolution in acidic media
Genetically engineered Streptomyces viridosporus ATCC 14672 strains for the discovery of novel moenomycins
Abstract Streptomyces viridosporus (formerly ghanaensis ) ATCC14672 is the best-studied producer of moenomycins, a family of phosphoglycolipid natural products directly inhibiting peptidoglycan glycosyltransferases. The uniqueness of moenomycins, in terms of structure and mode of action, and their extreme potency against several Gram-positive pathogens (including vancomycin- and methicillin-resistant cocci), are their advantages as a drug candidate. However, they are not orally bioavailable; in the bloodstream, moenomycins are characterized by an exceedingly long half-life. These shortcomings are thought to be caused by the long C25 lipid chain (moenocinol) of moenomycins. Here we report the generation and initial studies of two ATCC 14672 mutants to access a greater diversity of moenomycins around its lipid chain. The dO5 mutant cannot produce any moenomycins due to the deletion of the moeO5 gene for the first step in moenomycin assembly. The M12 mutant of ATCC 14672 (knockout of the prenyltransferase gene moeN5 ) accumulates moenomycins with a C15 lipid chain instead of moenocinol. We demonstrate and discuss the potential applications of the dO5 and M12 mutants for the discovery of novel moenomycins and their genetic determinants.
Simulating the Photochemical Birth of the Hydrated Electron in Liquid Water
Abstract The photochemistry of UV-irradiated liquid water underlies many physical, chemical, and biological processes, with the formation of the hydrated electron as a central event. Despite extensive experimental and theoretical efforts, its microscopic origin remains incompletely understood. Using excited state molecular dynamics simulations of photoexcited liquid water, we resolve the sequence of chemical events leading to hydrated electron formation on the excited state. The excitation localizes on specific hydrogen-bond network defects, followed by two competing pathways. The first produces a hydrogen atom and undergoes ultrafast non-radiative decay to the ground state within 100 femtoseconds. The other proceeds via proton-coupled electron transfer, generating hydronium ions, hydroxyl radicals, and an excited state hydrated electron. This mechanism is driven by ultrafast coupled rotational and translational motions of water molecules, forming water-mediated ion-radical pairs that persist on picosecond timescales and influence visible emission. These results provide a unified framework for interpreting time-resolved spectroscopic observations and guide future experimental and theoretical investigations.
Accurate water quality assessment using IoNT-enabled deep learning frameworks
Abstract This work proposes a novel Internet of Nano-Things (IoNT)-driven real-time system architecture of water quality (WQ) observation and classification through a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) framework, comprising WQI-CNN. The proposed system will be organized into four stages, namely, the data acquisition, coordination, data processing, and prediction and classification of the WQ Index (WQI). State-of-the-art nanosensors, such as Luminescent TOP, Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), and graphene-based sensors are used in the sensing phase to measure important WQ parameters. The data processing step uses Deep Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) to fill in the gap between missing information and normalize data and improve the quality of predictions. WQI-CNN model incorporates these pre-processed inputs and uses CNN to create accurate WQI classification. The system was compared with the already existing systems such as the IoT-ML, WQI-ML, GTV-STP, which showed better performance in terms of computation time, RMSE, accuracy and MCC. The WQI-CNN model can be accurately used to determine the value of a real-time WQ monitor (98.91) which is essential in the management of the proactive water under the condition of the set of the safe drinking water standards.