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Cerebellar activity is triggered by reach endpoint during learning of a complex locomotor task

Nature Communications Andry Andrianarivelo, Heike Stein, Jeremy Gabillet et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-74823-1

Chlamydia trachomatis serovar D replicates in uroepithelial T24/83 cells in the absence of overt inflammation

Scientific Reports Simone Albrecht, Svetlana Kuhn, Lina Kellner et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-62091-4

Abstract The human uroepithelial bladder cancer cell line T24/83 replicates C. trachomatis serovar D efficiently. We show here that the infection with the pathogen induces significant transcription of cytokine genes such as il1β , il6 and tnf but not their secretion. Infected HeLa cells also do not release these cytokines with the exception of IL-6. In contrast, endotoxin, transfected polyI: C or infection with the uropathogenic E. coli strain CFT073 induce a robust pro-inflammatory response in T24/83 cells. These findings indicate that the cells recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns including the TLR4 and TLR3 ligands endotoxin and dsRNA, respectively, also present in C. trachomatis serovar D. We, therefore, generated tlr4- deficient T24/83 cells to study its influence on replication of C. trachomatis serovar D. In contrast to our expectation, C. trachomatis serovar D replication in T24/83 cells did not benefit from tlr4- deficiency. TLR3 was reported to recognize C. trachomatis serovar D in the human oviduct cell line OE-E6/E7. However, tlr3- deficiency also did not improve the replication of the pathogen in T24/83 cells. Interestingly, C. trachomatis serovar D did not modulate an endotoxin-induced cytokine release but impaired significantly a polyI: C-induced and TLR3-dependent release of IFN-β. We conclude that C. trachomatis serovar D avoids an inflammatory reaction and circumvents recognition by TLR4 and TLR3 in infected uroepithelial T24/83 cells.

Discrete Microdomain‐Bonded Binder Enables Mechanically Robust Micron‐Silicon Anodes in Lithium‐Ion Batteries

Advanced Materials Jinwei Zhou, Siyao Wu, Yang Li et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.74188

ABSTRACT Micron‐silicon (µSi) is a promising anode material for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) due to its low production cost, high tap density, and exceptional theoretical specific capacity. However, its practical application is severely limited by over 300% volume expansion during cycling. Developing advanced functional binders is therefore crucial to overcoming this bottleneck, where nearly all strategies rely on constructing continuous internal bonding networks via polymers or in‐situ crosslinked/polymerized binders. Herein, a novel bonding paradigm, discrete microdomain bonding (DMB), was proposed to tackle the huge volume expansion of µSi anodes. In this system, discretely distributed short‐chain binder molecules enable precise anchoring of µSi particles at the microdomain level through interfacial hydrogen bonds. By exploiting microdomain‐mediated dynamic adaptation mechanisms to accommodate substantial volume changes, µSi particles maintain excellent electrical contact throughout cycling, ensuring robust mechanical tolerance and extended lifespan. Consequently, µSi anodes integrated with the DMB binder exhibit a strikingly high initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 92.5% and a remarkable capacity of 2517.4 mAh g −1 with 98.2% retention after 100 cycles at 0.5 A g −1 . This work establishes the DMB paradigm as an effective strategy for stabilizing high‐capacity µSi anodes, providing a pathway for the development of durable and high‐performance LIB technologies.

Wireless light-gated photoelectrochemical microneedle wearables for zero-bias longitudinal monitoring in interstitial fluid

Nature Communications Huichuang Wang, Zepeng Huang, Xue Zhou et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75940-7

A quantitative framework for translating architectural heritage into cultural product design through ancient theatrical stages in Shanxi

Scientific Reports Fanrui Sun, Xiao Zhang, Lingsheng Zhang Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-57445-x

Charge‐Encoded Sidechains Enable Deterministic Ion Ingress and Memory Retention in Organic Electrochemical Synaptic Transistors

Advanced Materials Haim Kwon, Jihyeon You, Chaeyeon Park et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.74192

ABSTRACT Organic electrochemical synaptic transistors (OESTs) are promising building blocks for neuromorphic computing because they leverage volumetric ion–electron coupling to emulate synaptic plasticity. Here, we design sidechain‐engineered conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPE‐K, CPE‐Br, and CPE‐Zw) based on a cyclopenta‐[2,1‐b;3,4‐b]‐dithiophene‐alt‐4,7‐(2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole) (CPDT‐BT) donor–acceptor backbone and use them as channel materials in solid‐electrolyte‐gated OESTs. Spectroelectrochemical measurements demonstrate that cationic CPE‐Br achieves a higher and denser doping level than anionic CPE‐K and zwitterionic CPE‐Zw, enabled by efficient electrolyte ion diffusion throughout the polymer bulk. Temporal polaron transients monitored at 1200 nm reveal that cationic sidechains facilitate volumetric penetration of electrolyte anions to charge‐neutralize the positively doped backbone during electrochemical doping. In contrast, anionic sidechains favor rapid local self‐compensation through sidechain reorganization, accompanied by limited uptake of external anions. As a consequence, CPE‐Br‐based OESTs exhibit the highest transconductance, a superior µC * figure of merit, pronounced hysteresis, and long‐term synaptic retention with extended long‐term potentiation decay times. Collectively, these results establish ionic sidechain engineering as an effective strategy for programming ion ingress, polaron memory, and retention characteristics in OESTs, providing a versatile platform for tailoring synaptic operation in neuromorphic devices.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy contribute to developmental and metabolic multimorbidity in preterm infants

Nature Communications Cuihong Yang, Ranran Shi, Jiao Yuan et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75869-x

Enhanced colloidal stability and biocompatibility of PVA-coated Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for potential magnetic resonance imaging applications

Scientific Reports Amani Alhifthi, Abeer A. Ageeli Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-55999-4

Upcycling Spent LiCoO <sub>2</sub> with O2–O3 Intergrowth for Enhanced High‐Voltage Stability and Cycling Performance

Advanced Materials Hai Lei, Zihao Zeng, Jiexiang Li et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.74208

ABSTRACT Direct regeneration is regarded as a next‐generation recycling strategy for spent lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) owing to high element recovery and low energy consumption. However, limited by pristine design from 5–8 years ago, the simple recovery for spent LiCoO 2 (LCO) hardly induced the suitable electrochemical abilities for modern energy‐storage systems. Moreover, commercial LCO with conventional O3 phase inherently suffers from poor high‑voltage stability. Herein, using the fading traits of spent LCO as upcycling springboards, they are successfully regenerated toward fresh LCO with O2–O3 intergrown architecture through lattice reconstruction and ion‑exchange‑induced phase transformation. The O2‑phase content is precisely controlled by tailoring Li‑deficiency level of SLCO. Assisted by intertwined lattice dislocations, O2 and O3 phases are coherently interlocked, effectively alleviating lattice expansion and oxygen release. Meanwhile, the lowered energy band (1.359 eV) and diffusion energy barrier (0.375 eV) play important roles for energy‐storage abilities. The optimized material delivers a capacity of 223.3 mAh g −1 at 0.1 C and retains 90.6% after 100 cycles at 1.0 C, outperforming commercial LCO. With a modified electrolyte, a capacity retention of 73.6% is achieved after 500 cycles at 5C. This work highlights the advantages of O2–O3 intergrown LCO and provides a promising upcycling route toward high‑performance cathodes.

Incorporating AI-optimized zinc finger proteins enhances the efficiencies and targeting ranges of miniature base editors

Nature Communications Qianyue Huang, Dian Yang, Xibin Zhou et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75912-x

Identifying potential biomarkers for mild COVID-19 in saliva by miRNA profiling using NGS and ddPCR

Scientific Reports Malena Gajate-Arenas, Candela Sirvent-Blanco, Omar García-Pérez et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-62840-5

A Metamaterial Buckling‐Assisted Surface‐Acoustic‐Wave Enabled Sensor (mBASES) for Versatile and Ultrasensitive Biomarker Detection

Advanced Materials Xin Li, Xiaofei Ju, Wenxi Zhou et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.74198

ABSTRACT Hydrogel metamaterials with programmable microarchitectures offer a promising route for converting molecular recognition into mechanical responses. However, efficiently transducing weak biomolecular perturbations into detectable signals without relying on molecular amplification remains a fundamental challenge. Here, we report a metamaterial Buckling‐Assisted Surface‐acoustic‐wave Enabled Sensor (mBASES), which introduces a structure‐triggered physical amplification mechanism by integrating bio‐crosslinked hydrogel metamaterials with a surface acoustic wave (SAW) device. Through competitive biomolecular recognition, target binding induces hydrogel swelling that is engineered to match the critical buckling threshold of the metamaterial. This instability‐enabled pattern transformation acts as an intrinsic mechanical gain element, converting weak molecular perturbations into amplified acoustic responses through coupled modulation of phononic transmission and hydrogel–SAW interactions. As a result, mBASES establishes a transduction pathway that links molecular recognition, hydrogel deformation, structural amplification, and ultimately acoustic readout. The platform enables rapid, label‐free detection across multiple biomolecular classes, including proteins, nucleic acids, and metabolites. Clinical validation further demonstrates femtomolar‐level detection of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) IgG and unamplified DNA in human serum within 5–15 min using a one‐step assay. By amplifying the transduction process rather than the target molecules, mBASES establishes a versatile biosensing strategy, providing a promising platform for point‐of‐care diagnostics.

Synthesis of poly(4HB-co-PhLA) and poly(3HB-co-4HB-co-PhLA) as sustainable hot-melt adhesives using engineered Escherichia coli

Nature Communications Minju Kang, Youngjoon Lee, Gi Bae Kim et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75809-9

Drilling performance and hole quality optimization of h-BNNS-reinforced Al-nanocomposites using NSGA-II and TLBO algorithm

Scientific Reports Mithilesh K. Dikshit, Halakarnimath Prasanna Totayya, Pihu Saharan et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-61514-6

940 Nm Near‐Infrared Photosynapses Based on Sn─Pb Perovskite for Efficient Face Recognition

Advanced Materials Wanqi Duan, Yanyan Gong, Hao Wang et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.74226

ABSTRACT Tin–lead perovskites offer great potentials for neuromorphic optoelectronics owing to their narrow bandgap and robust near‐infrared (NIR) absorption. However, high‐performance three‐terminal artificial synapses based on these materials remain scarce due to challenges in forming high‐quality semiconductor films. Here, we demonstrate a perovskite synaptic field‐effect transistor (FET) capable of efficient 940 nm sensing and neuromorphic modulation, enabled by uniform, high‐crystallinity FASn 0.8 Pb 0.2 I 3 thin films. A molecular additive, 1‐bromo‐4‐(methylsulfinyl)benzene (BMSB), precisely regulates crystallization, enlarges grains, and suppresses trap formation, thereby reducing ion migration and enhancing charge transport. The optimized devices achieve high hole mobility and an exceptional responsivity of 231 A W −1 at 940 nm, marking the first demonstration of efficient 940 nm infrared photoresponse in three‐terminal perovskite artificial synapses. Benefiting from balanced ion‐electron coupling, the devices exhibit reliable synaptic behaviors, including excitatory postsynaptic currents, paired‐pulse facilitation, and learning–forgetting cycles. Integrated into a reservoir–computing framework, the synaptic FETs enable accurate NIR facial recognition, underscoring their potential for in‐sensor computing. This work establishes a molecular‐level strategy to harmonize ionic and electronic processes in Sn─Pb perovskites, advancing light‐programmable neuromorphic transistors for next‐generation intelligent NIR vision systems.

Global variation of plant nitrogen acquisition strategies and their responses to decreasing nitrogen availability

Nature Communications Jiaqiang Liao, Jinhua Mao, Jinlong Peng et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75889-7

Perceived beliefs and challenges to traditional medicine use among residents in Gozamen Woreda, North West Ethiopia 2023

Scientific Reports Addisu Simachew Asgai, Dereje Awoke, Abiot Aschale et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-61610-7

Bridging Large‐Scale Manufacturability and Nanoscale Interfacial Chemistry in Lithium Metal Solid‐State Batteries

Advanced Materials Sang‐Jin Jeon, Sang Hoon Kwag, Kyung Mo Kang et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1002/adma.74194

ABSTRACT To address interfacial instability in Li metal all‐solid‐state batteries, protective interlayers have been adopted, yet most rely on coatings or noble metal additives incompatible with scalable manufacturing. Here, we report a nanosized red phosphorus–based interfacial design that enables autogenous chemo‐wetting upon contact with Li, spontaneously forming a Li 3 P‐rich interphase, referred to as the autogenous chemo‐wet interlayer. This reactive layer self‐regulates ionic transport and interfacial adhesion through in situ chemical conversion, producing uniform Li‐ion flux and well‐distributed interfacial current, thereby enabling stable plating and stripping at high current densities and reliable high‐rate solid‐state cycling. The chemo‐wetting mechanism is inherently compatible with roll‐to‐roll transfer printing and enables defect‐free lamination across large‐area electrodes. This coupled mechanical–electrochemical regulation underpins scalable fabrication of solid‐state electrodes, as demonstrated in 6 Ah‐class pouch cells. These discoveries bridge nanoscale interfacial reactivity with macroscale processability and present a step toward practical implementation toward high‐energy, large‐format solid‐state Li metal batteries.

Spinal cord regeneration deploys cell-type specific developmental and non-developmental strategies to restore neuron diversity

Nature Communications Avery Angell Swearer, Samuel B. Perkowski, Iba Husain et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75273-5

Fertility protection needs, experiences, and decision-making of women with unintended pregnancies: a qualitative study

Scientific Reports Yanchi Wang, Qiuhua Cai, Xujuan Xu et al. Jul 20, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-62724-8