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A first look at rocky exoplanets with JWST
Rocky exoplanet characterization has been a top priority for early James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) science operations. Several milestones have been achieved, including the most precise rocky planet transmission spectra measured to date, and the first detection of thermal emission for rocky worlds below 800 K. Despite these advances, no atmospheres have been definitively detected. Several transmission spectra show tentative evidence for molecular absorption features, but these hints are marginally significant and the spectra may be affected by stellar contamination. Features from many plausible atmospheres, including those dominated by oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, are below the current noise level. Meanwhile, the emerging picture from thermal emission spectra is that the planets have hot daysides, consistent with either a bare rock composition or low surface pressure atmospheres ( < 10 bar). Higher surface pressures and high carbon dioxide abundances are generally ruled out, assuming cloud-free atmosphere models. The absence of strong CO 2 features hints at a limited initial volatile inventory or rapid atmospheric escape during the planets’ early lifetimes. Taken together, these results motivate a push toward higher precision data, as well as observations of cooler planets that may be more likely to retain atmospheres. As a goal for future transmission spectroscopy, we suggest a “five scale height challenge,” to achieve the precision necessary to detect CO 2 features in nitrogen-rich atmospheres. Detecting rocky planet atmospheres remains challenging, but with JWST’s excellent performance and a continuing investment of telescope time, we are optimistic these uncharted atmospheres will be detected in coming years.
Efficient algorithm on exponential Wiener index and QSPR analysis of alkanes and benzenoid hydrocarbons
Software-Enhanced Drugs™: The third platform reshaping drug development
A data-driven high-accuracy modelling of acidity behavior in heavily contaminated mining environments
Abstract Accurate estimation of water acidity is essential for characterizing acid mine drainage (AMD) and designing effective remediation strategies. However, conventional approaches, including titration and empirical estimation methods based on iron speciation, often fail to account for site-specific geochemical complexity. This study introduces a high-accuracy, site-specific empirical model for predicting acidity in AMD-impacted waters, developed from field data collected at the Trimpancho mining complex in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (Spain). Using multiple linear regression (MLR), a robust predictive relationship was established based on Cu, Al, Mn, Zn, and pH, achieving a coefficient of determination (R²) of 99.2%. The model significantly outperforms the standard Hedin method, with a lower mean absolute percentage error (13% vs. 29%). Results also reveal strong spatial and seasonal hydrochemical variability, underscoring the limitations of generalized acidity models in such environments. This work demonstrates the applicability of site-calibrated multivariate models as practical tools for enhancing acidity prediction in complex AMD systems.
Strategic planning of prevention and surveillance for emerging diseases and invasive species
Emerging infectious diseases and biological invasions pose increasing threats to public and ecosystems health. Proactive measures—such as prevention and surveillance taken before initial detection of the pathogen or species—are essential to ensure minimal spread prior to first detection. We developed an optimization model to determine where, when, and how much effort should be allocated to prevention versus surveillance. The model accounts for imperfect detection, system dynamics, spatial heterogeneity in risk and costs and is scalable to large landscapes. We found that the most cost-effective strategy is to maintain the prevention and surveillance efforts at stable equilibrium for the majority of the time, with deviations occurring only initially to steer the system toward the equilibrium. The equilibrium effort is jointly determined by the introduction risk, management costs, and total budget. Application of this model to chronic wasting disease in New York State suggests that the optimal strategy could reduce the cumulative disease cases before initial detection by an average of 22% compared to current practice. The optimal surveillance strategy could detect the disease on average over 8 mo earlier than the current strategy.
Uncovering Cercospora species affecting sugar beet in Iran with rapid and accurate detection of C. beticola using LAMP assay
Incentivizing teamwork to promote sustainability
There are a variety of contexts in which “pitching in” to address environmental or resource management problems could benefit from individuals or firms working not just on their own but also working together collaboratively as a group. Examples include working together on promoting conservation or habitat protection, the sharing of information, or the development of less polluting products or production processes. However, to date, the literature on environmental policy has considered only the incentives for individual parties (e.g., firms, landowners, or individuals) to take steps (i.e., exert “effort”) to reduce pollution or meet resource management goals where those steps impact that party’s own environmental footprint or performance. Missing from the literature is any consideration of the ability of one party to undertake activities that instead help another improve the latter’s performance. Such help could be either a substitute for or a complement to one’s own effort. This paper presents an analysis showing that traditional policy approaches based on individual performance cannot generally efficiently incentivize both effort and help, but a (properly designed) collective approach where rewards or punishments are based on group performance can. This suggests an additional rationale for the use of collective approaches as a potentially important tool for promoting sustainability that has not been recognized in the literature.
Design of shared steering control system with enhanced overall stability
Reply to Fleming: Not a gossamer web
Computer-aided screening of marine fungal metabolites as potential inhibitors of new Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1
Counterfactual history
Decoding the beef cattle genome through whole-genome sequencing reveals the genetic basis of carcass and meat quality traits
The potential impacts of human genetics on virus emergence
Human monogenic traits can confer resistance to viral infection in exposed individuals or predisposition to severe disease in infected individuals. Enhanced susceptibility can be driven directly by mutations in genes essential for control of the virus or indirectly via the production of autoantibodies against components of host defense. While the impact of viruses on individuals carrying these genotypes permitted their identification and has been amply studied, little is known about the impact of these human genotypes on the natural history of viruses, including not only persisting but also emerging viruses. We envisage several scenarios, including the possibility that genetically susceptible individuals serve as patient zeros, superspreaders, or mutation incubators, or that genetically resistant individuals even permit the selection of new viral mutants. Viruses are continually shared between individuals and even host species, where they can benefit from adaption to new environments. Current human viruses, as well as novel viruses from animal reservoirs, will continue to threaten the human population. Improvements in the scale of human genomic sequencing and analysis will permit testing hypotheses about the impact of human genetics on the origin and trajectory of viral infections, including future pandemics, which may ultimately help to prevent or curtail impending outbreaks.
Analysis of land use land cover changes and population dynamics in Awash River Basin (ARB), Ethiopia using GIS and remote sensing
Nature of antireflux barrier formed by Nissen fundoplication surgery
Abstract Nissen fundoplication is an effective surgical treatment for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease but the exact mechanism by which it works remains debatable. We determined the effects of Nissen (360° wrap) and Toupet (270° wrap) fundoplication on the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) pressure in response to distension of the stomach in an ex-vivo preparation of the porcine esophagus and stomach. The duodenal opening was sealed, and stomach cannulated for gas insufflation using a barostat device. The effect of gastric distension on the EGJ was measured, before and after fundoplication, using high-resolution esophageal manometry impedance (HRMZ) catheter as well as with the functional luminal imaging probe (FLIP). Prior to fundoplication, insufflation of the stomach resulted in an immediate leakage of gas through the esophageal orifice with minimal gastric distension. Following fundoplication, the stomach distended like a balloon without leakage of air through the esophagus. The HRMZ recordings show an increase in the EGJ pressure with gastric distension that was 2–3 times higher than the increase in gastric pressure. The FLIP detected a graded decrease in the EGJ distensibility with gastric distension following fundoplication. We propose a novel mechanism by which fundoplication builds a mechanical barrier at the EGJ “sphincter like valve” to strengthen the anti-reflux barrier function.
Reply to Lakhan and Wicks: Placement of drug–software combinations within VISTA’s platform taxonomy
Zooplankton mortality and distribution around a seismic survey
Abstract Anthropogenic underwater noise from seismic airguns is increasing, posing a potential threat to marine life. Despite their ecological importance, knowledge of the impacts of seismic surveys on zooplankton remains limited. In the North Sea, we utilized various methods to assess potential effects on zooplankton around an ongoing seismic survey. A seismic airgun array (3060 inch3) performed a survey along parallel lines, while we sampled from a research vessel positioned at the end of three of these lines. The airgun-generated noise reached a maximum broadband sound exposure level of 182 dB re 1µPa2s at the closest proximity (~50 m). Zooplankton biomass exhibited a consistent distribution in line with hydrography and chlorophyll distribution, before and after airgun exposure. Immediate mortality in Calanus spp. was uniform across sound levels, never exceeding 35.9%. Cultured Calanus finmarchicus were exposed while submerged in bags. These displayed low immediate mortality (<10%), with an increasing trend (<30%) up to 7 days post-exposure. These findings highlight the interplay between sound exposure, environmental conditions, and the impact on zooplankton in areas of seismic activity, indicating that immediate impacts of seismic surveys on zooplankton may be limited. However, delayed impacts that could lead to population effects require further investigation.