Browse Articles

High-throughput micro-scale bandgap mapping for perovskite-inspired materials with complex composition space

Abstract To realize the full promise of high-throughput experimental workflows, the rate of sample synthesis must be matched by that of characterization. Of growing interest are contactless optical techniques that can rapidly measure material homogeneity and properties. Here, we present a hyperspectral imaging method to measure local optical bandgap distributions within samples, utilizing spatially-resolved reflectance spectra coupled with automated data analysis. We collect approximately one million optical bandgap data across the compositional space of Cs3(Bi x Sb1-x )2(Br y I1-y )9 perovskite-inspired materials. Our results show non-monotonic bandgap variations (i.e., bandgap bowing) along six composition gradient sequences, in addition to identifying samples with multiple bandgaps in statistics. High-throughput transient absorption spectroscopy reveals that within these compositions, the depletion of the ground state carriers to excited states occurred at discrete energy levels with independent carrier dynamics, consistent with the bandgap observation and indicative of phase separation. This work demonstrates the potential for rapid optical measurements to assess material quality and homogeneity in a high-throughput experimental setting, supporting screening and recipe optimization of optoelectronic material candidates with desired carrier dynamics and optical properties.

Impact of carbohydrate sources on the longevity and physiological traits of the European honey bee workers

Conceptual framework of applying CoI-based blended learning approach to enhance students’ vocabulary and vocabulary learning motivation

In China, secondary school students enrolled in vocational stream frequently have difficulties in mastering the English language. The mechanical traditional way of teaching and their lack of vocabulary toward the target language often demotivate them in learning. This quasi-experimental study aims to investigate the use of CoI-based blended learning approach to enhance students’ Vocabulary Test Scores (VTS) and Vocabulary Learning Motivation (VLM) in Chinese secondary vocational English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. Explanatory sequential mixed methods approach was applied by this study. Using purposive sampling method, a total of 86 first-year students at a Technician College in Chongqing, China was allocated to an experimental group (n = 44) and a control group (n = 42). Instruments involving a researcher-developed vocabulary test and VLM questionnaire were used to gather quantitative data, whilst a semi-structured interview was used to gather qualitative data. Both the quantitative and qualitative findings revealed that CoI-based blended learning approach had the potential of enhancing students’ VTS and VLM. Consequently, this research may provide other EFL practitioners with a CoI-based Blended Learning Conceptual Framework for enhancing students’ VTS, VLM and insights into the potential of blended teaching supplements through the lens of the CoI framework.

25 nm-Feature, 104-aspect-ratio, 10 mm2-area single-pulsed laser nanolithography

Modification and validation of cracked zone range under coupled in-situ stress and blasting load

Effects of non-pharmacological interventions on cognitive function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and mild cognitive impairment: A network meta-analysis

Objective Non-pharmacological intervention represents a significant therapeutic modality for the cognitive function intervention management of patients with type 2 diabetes accompanied by mild cognitive impairment. However, it remains unclear which intervention measure is the most effective. The objective of this study is to compare and rank the influences of various non-pharmacological interventions on the cognitive function of patients with type 2 diabetes and mild cognitive impairment. Methods Eight databases from the establishment of the database to November 2024 were retrieved. The quality of the literature was evaluated using the RoB2.0 tool. Paired Meta-analysis was conducted using Stata/SE 15.1 software, and Network Meta-analysis was performed using R 4.3.1 software. Results A total of 25 literatures were incorporated, encompassing 5 intervention measures, with a sample size of 2,446 cases. The results indicated that in the pairwise meta-analysis, when the MoCA score was used as the outcome indicator, cognitive training [MD = 2.3, 95% CI (1.64, 2.96), P < 0.01], exercise therapy [MD = 2.11, 95% CI (1.30, 2.92), P < 0.01], TCM therapy [MD = 2.28, 95% CI (0.76, 3.81), P < 0.01], and comprehensive intervention [MD = 1.98, 95% CI (1.53, 2.48), P < 0.01] were more effective in improving the cognitive status of patients than the control group; when the MMSE was used as the outcome indicator, cognitive training [MD = 2.03 95% CI (1.57, 2.49), P < 0.01], exercise therapy [MD = 2.78, 95% CI (1.48, 4.08), P < 0.01], and TCM therapy [MD = 2.09, 95% CI (1.46, 2.73), P < 0.01] were more effective in improving the cognitive status of patients than the control group. The SUCRA ranking revealed that in terms of improving the MoCA scores, the comprehensive intervention (SUCRA 76.9%), cognitive training (SUCRA 63.3%), and TCM therapy (SUCRA 57.9%) were the top 3 preferred treatment measures; for improving the MMSE scores, exercise therapy (SUCRA 78.0%) and cognitive training (SUCRA 73.8%) were the preferred treatment measures. Conclusion The current evidence indicates that cognitive training, exercise therapy, and TCM therapy might be relatively effective intervention approaches for improving the cognitive function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accompanied by mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and cognitive training could potentially be the most efficacious non-pharmacological treatment method. Constrained by the quantity and quality of the studies, more high-quality research is still required in the future to further validate this conclusion.

Pelota-mediated ribosome-associated quality control counteracts aging and age-associated pathologies across species

Ribosome-associated quality control (RQC) is a pivotal biological process that governs the fidelity of messenger RNA (mRNA) homeostasis and protein synthesis. Defects in RQC are implicated in cellular dysfunction and proteotoxicity, but their impact on aging remains elusive. Here, we show that Pelota, the ribosome rescue factor, promotes longevity and protects against age-related pathological phenotypes in multiple metazoan species. By performing a targeted genetic screen, we find that Pelota is indispensable for longevity in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans . We show that Pelota mitigates premature senescence in cultured human cells, muscle aging in mice, and neuropathology in cellular and organoid models of Alzheimer’s disease. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that Pelota maintains autophagy-mediated proteostasis, by preventing the hyperactivation of mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling. Overall, our work highlights the conserved functional significance of RQC, regulated by Pelota, in extending lifespan and protecting diverse species against age-associated disease phenotypes.

Structure guided functional analysis of the S. cerevisiae Mre11 complex

Association between placental epigenetic age acceleration and early postnatal growth patterns

Abstract Placental gestational age acceleration (GAA) is the difference between the actual gestational age (GA) at birth and their estimated epigenetic gestational age (EGA), which is calculated from placental DNA methylation. Understanding the role of placental GAA in postnatal growth trajectories is crucial for early identification of infants at risk of altered growth patterns and associated long-term health outcomes. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between placental GAA and longitudinal growth trajectories specifically weight, height, fat mass, and lean mass gain in early childhood. This study uses placental DNA methylation at birth to calculate epigenetic GAA and longitudinal measures of weight, height, fat mass, and lean mass to generate growth trajectory characteristics. Higher placental GAA was significantly associated with slower weight gain (95% CI [− 0.03, − 0.001]) and fat mass (95% CI [− 0.08, − 0.02]) gain, as well as reduced average fat mass (95% CI [add this]) over the follow-up period. However, no significant associations were found between GAA and height or lean mass gain. Placental GAA can give early insights into altered postnatal growth trajectories, particularly for weight and fat mass where an increase in GAA is associated with decreased weight and fatmass gain over time while we observed no effect on height and lean mass. Understanding these associations offers insights into early developmental patterns and long-term health outcomes in children, highlighting the importance of perinatal factors in shaping growth trajectories in early childhood.

The role of professional socialisation in confidence in vaccines and vaccination decision-makers: Insights from a large multi-wave survey in France

The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly expanded research on social determinants of health inequalities. Yet one crucial dimension remains underexplored: the influence of professional socialisation (i.e., the process through which individuals acquire not only knowledge and skills, but also a worldview and a culture associated with the profession they practice). This gap is striking given the extensive sociological evidence that professional identities profoundly shape individuals’ life paths, perceptions, and health experiences. In this article, we take advantage of a very large multi-wave survey conducted in France during the Covid-19 pandemic (n > 100,000) to explore in greater depth the relationship between occupation and attitudes to vaccination and to stakeholders involved in vaccination policymaking. We show that, controlling for various socio-demographic factors, major disparities emerge, not only between broad professional groups at different places in the social hierarchy, but also between professions with comparable situations in this hierarchy. For instance, we show that public sector employees are more in favour of vaccinations but less confident in the government than their private sector counterparts. To understand these differences, we draw on the sociology of the relationship between professional socialisations and ordinary relationships to politics and the State.

Immune-responsive gene 1: The mitochondrial key to Th17 cell pathogenicity in CNS autoimmunity

Pathogenic Th17 cells play crucial roles in CNS autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), but their regulation by endogenous mechanisms remains unknown. Through RNA-seq analysis of primary brain glial cells, we identified immune-responsive gene 1 ( Irg1 ) as one of the highly upregulated genes under inflammatory conditions. Validation in the spinal cords of animals with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a preclinical MS model, confirmed elevated Irg1 levels in myeloid, CD4, and B cells in the EAE group, raising concerns as to whether Irg1 is detrimental or protective. Irg1 knockout (KO) mice exhibited severe EAE disease, increased mononuclear cell infiltration, and increased levels of triple-positive CD4+ T cells expressing IL17a, GM-CSF, and IFNγ. Adoptive transfer in Rag-1 KO and single-cell RNA sequencing highlighted the crucial role of Irg1 in shaping pathogenic Th17 cells. A lack of Irg1 in macrophages elevates Class II expression, promoting the polarization of myelin-primed CD4+ T cells into pathogenic Th17 cells via the NLRP3/IL-1β axis. Moreover, bone marrow chimeras revealed that immune cells lacking Irg1 maintained pathogenic and inflammatory phenotypes, suggesting its protective role in autoimmune diseases, including MS.

COUP-TFII-mediated reprogramming of the vascular endothelium counteracts tumor immune evasion

Abstract T cell scarcity in tumor tissues poses a critical challenge to cancer immunotherapy. Here we manipulate the tumor vasculature, an essential regulator of immune cell trafficking, to reinvigorate anti-tumor T cell responses in “cold” tumors. We show that ectopic pan-endothelial expression of COUP-TFII, a master transcription factor for venous development, induces molecular programs of post-capillary venules in tumor endothelium. Venular reprogramming selectively promotes T cell recruitment into tumors, inhibits tumor growth in mouse models of breast and pancreatic cancers, and sensitizes tumors to immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T cell transfer therapies. Mechanistic studies show that enhanced recruitment of anti-tumor T cells and tumor inhibition are mediated by COUP-TFII-induced vascular adhesion receptors. Our study supports a pivotal role of vascular endothelial cells in governing tumor immune evasion, and proposes venular reprogramming as a therapeutic strategy to bolster anti-tumor immunity and immunotherapy.

Neural operator for observer gains and output-feedback control of coupled PDE–ODE systems

Screening for Parkinson’s disease using “computer vision”

Background Identifying bradykinesia is crucial for diagnosing Parkinson’s disease (PD). Traditionally, the finger-tapping test has been used, relying on subjective assessments by physicians. Computer vision offers a non-contact and cost-effective alternative for assessing Parkinson’s disease. Objective This study aimed to detect Parkinson’s disease by identifying bradykinesia using computer vision in the finger-tapping test and applying machine learning techniques for both hands. Methods We recruited 100 patients with PD and healthy controls. Four neurologists assessed bradykinesia, and 10-second smartphone-recorded finger-tapping movements were analyzed using Google MediaPipe Hands software. Six machine learning models were trained using a nested cross-validation framework. Results The differences in tapping scores between the left and right hands were significantly greater in the PD group (2.8 (5.0) vs 0.4 (0.7), p = 0.001) than in the healthy controls. Moreover, the tapping amplitude variation and all amplitude decremental parameters in the PD group differed significantly from those of the standard controls. The PD group had significantly lower tapping scores than the normal subjects (right: 17.9 (7.8)/ left: 17.9 (5.6) vs. right: 24.6 (7.3)/ left: 24.6 (7.2), p < 0.001). The support vector machine outperformed the other models. The most influential features were the tapping difference, followed by the tapping score (right hand) and tapping amplitude mean (right hand). Conclusions A computer vision method can accurately detect bradykinesia using the tapping feature from the finger-tapping method, which involves the simultaneous tapping of both hands.

Retraction for Martinez et al., Microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha (LC3)-associated phagocytosis is required for the efficient clearance of dead cells

Dengue virus susceptibility in Aedes aegypti linked to natural cytochrome P450 promoter variants

Abstract The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the primary vector for dengue virus (DENV), which infects millions of people annually. Variability in DENV susceptibility among wild Ae. aegypti populations is governed by genetic factors, but specific causal variants are unknown. Here, we identify a cytochrome P450-encoding gene (CYP4G15) whose genetic variants drive differences in DENV susceptibility in a natural Ae. aegypti population. CYP4G15 is transiently upregulated in DENV-resistant midguts, while knockdown increases susceptibility, and transgenic overexpression enhances resistance. A naturally occurring 18-base-pair promoter deletion reduces CYP4G15 expression and confers higher DENV susceptibility. The unexpected role of a cytochrome P450 in DENV susceptibility challenges the long-standing focus on canonical immune pathways and opens new avenues for understanding antiviral defense and DENV transmission in mosquitoes.

Genomic and phenotypic characterization of six multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter pittii isolates

Association between homocysteine levels and hypertension prevalence as well as all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality among hypertensive patients: A population-based study

Background Currently, some studies have investigated the relationship between homocysteine (Hcy) levels and hypertension. However, within the population of individuals with hypertension, there is still a lack of relevant research data. Therefore, we utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to explore the associations between Hcy levels and hypertension prevalence, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular mortality, in order to understand the role of Hcy levels in the control, assessment, and treatment of hypertension. Methods In this study, the data utilized were derived from NHANES, which collected data from 1999 to 2006. A total of 7680 eligible participants were ultimately included. To explore the associations between Hcy levels and hypertension prevalence as well as blood pressure, a weighted multivariate linear regression model and restricted cubic splines were employed to adjust for confounding factors. Additionally, we conducted subgroup analyses to observe the associations between Hcy levels and hypertension prevalence, systolic blood pressure(SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in different subgroups. Lastly, we employed Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox proportional hazards regression models for survival analysis, elucidating the relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and the risks of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality among hypertensive patients. Results The average age of all participants was 44.82 years, with 51.8% being female. After adjusting for relevant covariates, a positive correlation between Hcy and the risk of hypertension was identified (OR=1.04, 95% CI: 1.02–1.07, P < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression results indicated a positive correlation between HHcy and blood pressure levels (SBP: β = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.10–0.30, P < 0.001; DBP: β = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.01–0.17, P < 0.05). Furthermore, restricted cubic spline(RCS) curve analysis revealed a nonlinear positive correlation between SBP and DBP with Hcy levels. Survival analysis results demonstrated that when blood Hcy concentrations exceeded 10 μmol/L, patients with hypertension experienced significantly increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates (P < 0.001). Conclusion Our research validates Hcy as an independent risk factor for hypertension, further confirming a nonlinear positive correlation between blood pressure and Hcy levels. HHcy was associated with small increases SBP and DBP proportional to the degree of homocysteine elevation. Additionally, HHcy was a high-risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in hypertensive patients. This may provide new insights into the management and treatment of hypertension.

Eliminating hunger in a world serious about climate mitigation

What will it take to eliminate hunger in a world that is increasingly serious about climate change mitigation? For the past two decades, climate activism and mitigation efforts have largely focused on energy, industry, and transportation as the main contributors to anthropogenic warming. Although there is a long way to go to eliminate emissions from these sources, increasing international ambition means that attention is now turning to other hard-to-decarbonize sectors. Net zero food systems in particular pose unique challenges for humanity, given the moral dimensions of food security and the strong potential for vicious cycles: Globally hunger is back on the rise, the changing climate is already making food production for a growing population more difficult, and food shocks could lead to more land use change emissions that accelerate warming and feed back to negatively impact agricultural productivity and hunger. The dynamics of food production and consumption differ from other sectors and reveal several dimensions in which it will be critical to get policy right. Recent science suggests that two coordinated efforts will be needed to meet this challenge—a revamped focus on smallholder adaptation and productivity, and new “safety valve” institutions that sit at the intersection of food production and climate mitigation efforts and can operate at the relevant spatial and temporal scales to avoid negative tradeoffs in the quest to eliminate hunger and stabilize earth’s climate.

Recent community warming of moths in Finland is driven by extinction in the north and colonisation in the south

Abstract As the climate warms, species are shifting their ranges to match their climatic niches, leading to the warming of ecological communities (thermophilisation). We currently have little understanding of the population-level processes driving this community-level warming, particularly at rapidly warming high latitudes. Using 30 years of high-resolution moth monitoring data across a 1200 km latitudinal gradient in Finland, we find that higher latitude communities are experiencing more rapid thermophilisation. We attribute this spatial variation to colonisation-extinction dynamics, both for the full community and for thermal affinity groups. Our findings reveal that latitudinal variation in the pathways underpinning thermophilisation is the net outcome of opposite forces: in the north, community warming is driven by the extinction of cold-affiliated species, while in the south it is driven by high colonisation rates of warm-affiliated species. Thus, we show how species’ thermal affinities influence community reorganisation and highlight the elevated extinction risk among cold-affiliated species.