Browse Articles
Discover research articles across all indexed journals
Hyperbranched dielectric polymer networks exhibiting giant energy storage density at 250 °C
The role of supraoptic hypothalamic arginine vasopressin neurons in aging-associated water balance and thermoregulatory deficits in male mice
The functional neurobiology of dispositions towards negative emotions
Abstract People differ in their tendency to experience negative emotions. This variability is largely captured by broad psychological constructs like neuroticism, whose facets include anxiety, depression, and stress vulnerability, among others. The amygdala and salience network have been assumed to underlie such dispositions, despite inconsistent evidence. We preregistered a comprehensive test of these and other competing hypotheses—accompanied by theory-agnostic machine learning prediction—using neural responses in the two most common emotional neuroimaging tasks (scenes and faces; N = 338/424). Evidence including Bayes factors indicated that neuroticism is not associated with any region, network, affective signature, or machine learning pattern, including the amygdala. Still, a brain-wide machine learning pattern robustly predicted the neuroticism facet stress vulnerability (r = .21), replicated in an independent dataset (r = .19). Predictive performance most strongly depended on somatomotor and visual networks, rather than salience network regions, relating stress vulnerability to cortical perception–action systems. Together with a multiverse analysis spanning 14 trait constructs and 1,176 models, our findings demonstrate the highly selective predictability of emotional dispositions from brain responses to common affective tasks. Therein, they highlight the importance of construct and task selection, while challenging the role of the most commonly used neural markers, including responses of the amygdala and salience network.
Probing mixed-state phases on a quantum computer via Renyi correlators and variational decoding
Abstract Recent advances have defined nontrivial phases of matter in open quantum systems such as many-body quantum states subject to environmental noise. In this work, we experimentally probe and characterize mixed-state phases on Quantinuum’s H1 quantum computer using two measures: Renyi correlators and the coding performance of a quantum error-correcting code associated with the phase. As a concrete example, we probe the low-energy states of the critical transverse field Ising model under different dephasing noise channels. First, we employ shadow tomography to extract a newly proposed Renyi correlator in two distinct phases obtained by applying two different channels, observing one with faster decay and the other with slower decay. Second, we investigate the decoding fidelity of the associated quantum error-correcting code using a variational quantum circuit. We find that a shallow circuit of depth-3 is sufficient to distinguish the above-mentioned two mixed-state phases, up to L = 24. Experimentally, we observe this distinction for system sizes up to L = 8 with a depth-1 decoder. Our work is a proof of concept for the quantum simulation and characterization of mixed-state phases.
Lithosphere as a bottom-up modulator of mountain vegetation resilience
Prediction error correlates in the striosome-dopamine circuit emerge from information gain
Multilayered control of mRNA delivery to cell protrusions drives localized mini-cytoplasm establishment for stress-induced cell activation
Intranasal boosting induces variant-specific responses in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-imprinted mice
Brain-inspired spatial intelligence for embodied agents
Confined ionic order in atomic nanowires of rare-earth chlorides unveiled via symmetry-guided structural screening
In-scanner thoughts contribute to resting-state functional connectivity
Abstract Resting-state fMRI (rsfMRI) scans—acquired in the absence of experimentally controlled stimuli or task demands—are widely used to identify aberrant patterns of functional connectivity (FC) in clinical populations. To minimize interpretational uncertainty, researchers routinely control for across-cohort disparities in age, gender, comorbidities, and head motion. Yet, studies rarely consider the possibility that systematic differences in inner experience (i.e., how subjects think and feel during the scan) directly affect FC measures. Here, using an rsfMRI dataset comprising 469 scans with retrospective experiential annotations, we show that summary descriptors of in-scanner experience are reproducible across visits and subject-specific, consistent with trait-like characteristics. We further show that widespread significant differences in FC are observed between scans that are associated with different reported experiential profiles, and that FC can predict specific experiential dimensions with performance comparable to that reported for demographic, cognitive, and clinical variables. Together, these findings highlight the key role that in-scanner experience should play when interpreting FC in the context of rsfMRI. Given that the available experiential measures are retrospective summaries, these results speak to stable experiential tendencies rather than potential moment-to-moment, state-dependent relationships between ongoing experience and concurrent brain activity.
Active-learning-guided optimization of cell-free systems for genome-wide transcriptomic profiling reveals progressive layers of regulation
Abstract Understanding genome regulation is limited by the complexity of molecular interactions in living cells. Cell-free systems provide a simplified platform for studying gene expression, but low mRNA levels have prevented RNA-seq. To address this, we develop an active learning workflow combining Bayesian optimization with automated high-throughput experimentation to systematically explore over 1.6 million buffer compositions, experimentally testing 653. We identify a “mRNA-optimized” buffer (20-fold increase in mRNA yield) and a “trade-off” buffer (13-fold increase while maintaining protein production). Using direct RNA-seq, we profile the T7 phage transcriptome in cell-free systems and compare it with a purified T7-RNAP transcription system and phage-infected bacteria. This comparative analysis reveals distinct regulatory layers: the T7-RNAP system captures promoter-strength hierarchies but lacks RNA degradation, whereas cell-free systems provide an accurate estimation of in vivo expression and reveal mRNA maturation sites. This work establishes cell-free transcriptomics as a controlled approach to study genome regulation.
Negative temperature coefficient metamaterial absorber for uniform microwave heating
A primordial synaptotagmin-independent function of complexin in regulated exocytosis
Abstract In Ca²⁺-triggered exocytosis such as synaptic neurotransmitter release, vesicle fusion is tightly regulated by synaptotagmin (Syt) and complexin (Cpx), which together clamp partially assembled SNARE complexes to prevent premature fusion. However, Cpx is evolutionarily more ancient than Syt, suggesting that it may also regulate exocytosis independently of Syt. To test this possibility, we sought to identify an extant exocytic pathway that requires Cpx but naturally lacks Syt. Here, we uncovered such a pathway – hormone-triggered exocytosis of glucose transporters in adipocytes. In this pathway, Cpx acts exclusively as a positive regulator, accelerating the evoked phase of exocytosis without affecting basal fusion. Mechanistically, this Syt-independent activity depends on the central helix of Cpx for SNARE binding and on its C-terminal membrane-binding peptide, which remodels the lipid bilayer to promote exocytosis. Our findings support a model in which Cpx originally evolved to accelerate exocytosis independently of Ca²⁺, enabling rapid mobilization of exocytic cargoes in response to environmental cues. With the later emergence of Syt, Cpx acquired an additional role – acting in concert with Syt to regulate Ca²⁺-triggered exocytosis.
Breaking dependence on melanisation imparts diversity to a dogmatic invasion strategy of phytopathogenic fungi
Abstract Colletotrichum and Pyricularia are destructive fungal phytopathogens that typically invade plants by forming a heavily melanised, unicellular infection structure known as an appressorium, enabling melanised appressorium-mediated entry (MAE). Appressorial melanisation is essential for invasion by these phytopathogens. Here, we report Colletotrichum fungi that can invade plants via nonmelanised appressorium-mediated entry (NMAE). Multifaceted analyses revealed interspecific variation in the degree of melanisation dependence across appressorial functions. NMAE-type appressoria accomplished these functions regardless of melanisation, thus being capable of early invasion. Comprehensive screening identified a monophyletic NMAE-type Colletotrichum group with rapid expansion. Critically, we identified an eccentric NMAE-type strain with erratic appressorial melanisation. We also rediscovered appressorium-independent hyphal tip-based entry (HTE)-type strains. Collectively, these findings establish a key paradigm for the plant infection strategy of Colletotrichum fungi. In contrast to the widely accepted view based on the MAE of Colletotrichum , this study suggests that appressorial melanisation is not universally required, underscoring the need to consider the emergence of NMAE- and HTE-type pathogens.
Covalent pan-TEAD inhibitors block YAP activity and demonstrate brain penetrance in a Hippo-dependent cancer model
Production of aromatics from high density polyethylene over a hierarchical zeolite synthesised from steam-assisted crystallisation
Abrupt permafrost thaw drives exceptional carbon release across the Tibetan Plateau
Abstract Climate warming is accelerating abrupt permafrost thaw, driving substantial carbon emissions. Retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) represent the most severe instance of abrupt permafrost thaw, yet their carbon emissions remain poorly quantified due to limited observations. Here, by synthesizing 4728 RTS incidents and 1862 in-situ CO 2 and CH 4 measurements from RTS-affected zones across the Tibetan Plateau, we estimate that the area of RTS susceptibility will expand by 17–19% by 2100 relative to 2022, driven primarily by precipitation changes. Compared to control areas, the ecosystem respiration rate in collapsed areas decreases by 14.4%, while CH 4 release rate increases by 20.0%. The combined CO 2 and CH 4 release associated with RTS expansion increased 1.1-fold between 2016 and 2022. Under the intermediate Shared Socioeconomic Pathways scenario, carbon emissions from RTS-susceptible areas are projected to surge 2.7-fold by 2100. These findings highlight that abrupt thaw strengthens permafrost carbon-climate feedback in high-altitude regions, underscoring the urgent need for targeted permafrost protection strategies to achieve carbon neutrality goals.