Contents
April 2021
Vol 7, Issue 17
Vol 7, Issue 17
Editorial
Physical and Materials Science
- Laser-based temperature control to study the roles of entropy and enthalpy in polymer-nanopore interactions
Laser-based heating offers insight into the thermodynamic processes in a nanopore sensor.
- Validation of microscopic magnetochiral dichroism theory
The union between magnetism and chirality is finally validated.
- Structure motif–centric learning framework for inorganic crystalline systems
A structure motif–centric, graph-based deep learning framework for inorganic crystalline materials is proposed.
- Ultrafast dynamical Lifshitz transition
We demonstate a non-equilibrium route for ultrafast modification of Fermi surface topology in quantum materials.
- Exploring order parameters and dynamic processes in disordered systems via variational autoencoders
The local order parameter in a disordered system is explored with convolutional neural networks and variational autoencoder.
- Ultrathin micromolded 3D scaffolds for high-density photoreceptor layer reconstruction
Scaffold microfabrication strategies for high-density, layered, and organized photoreceptor cell replacement are presented.
- Development of ferroelectric nematic fluids with giant-ε dielectricity and nonlinear optical properties
Pearl-shaped polar molecules with high enough dipole moment enable the creation of the giant-ε ferroelectric nematics.
- Plastic waste to fuels by hydrocracking at mild conditions
Bifunctional catalyst blend is active in hydrocracking of plastic waste to valuable fuels and lubricants with high yields.
- Experimental measurement of the intrinsic excitonic wave function
We visualize the distribution of the electron around the hole in an exciton and observe its elusive anomalous dispersion.
- Cooperative evolution of polar distortion and nonpolar rotation of oxygen octahedra in oxide heterostructures
Oxide interface orientation tunes ferroelectric distortion and antiferrodistortive rotation into competition or cooperation.
Biomedicine and Life Sciences
- Comment on “Evidence that the ProPerDP method is inadequate for protein persulfidation detection due to lack of specificity”
The article by Fan et al. inaccurately states that ProPerDP is inadequate for protein persulfide detection.
- Deformable microparticles for shuttling nanoparticles to the vascular wall
Hydrogel microparticle carriers delivered more nanoparticles to the vascular wall in vivo than ones freely injected.
- XYZeq: Spatially resolved single-cell RNA sequencing reveals expression heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment
XYZeq is a novel scalable platform that directly encodes spatial location from tissue into single-cell RNA sequencing libraries.
- Nuclear receptors FXR and SHP regulate protein N-glycan modifications in the liver
Loss of two hepatic nuclear receptors muddles the Golgi and the sugarcoat on proteins.
Neurosciences
- Mechanisms of neuro-robotic prosthesis operation in leg amputees
Restoring neural sensory feedback to amputees improves the exploitation of leg prosthesis during motor tasks.
Earth, Environmental, Ecological and Space Sciences
- Glucocorticoid exposure predicts survival in female baboons
In wild female baboons, high fecal glucocorticoid concentrations measured repeatedly across adulthood predict shorter life spans.
- Climate-informed hydrologic modeling and policy typology to guide managed aquifer recharge
We develop a novel climate-informed, policy-relevant framework to guide future managed aquifer recharge under deep uncertainties.
- Groundwater residence time estimates obscured by anthropogenic carbonate
In central California, irrigation seepage perturbs groundwater inorganic carbon chemistry and complicates radiocarbon dating.
- Discovery of primitive CO2-bearing fluid in an aqueously altered carbonaceous chondrite
Discovery of CO2-bearing aqueous fluid in primitive meteorite gives the direct evidence of dynamic evolution of the solar system.
About The Cover
ONLINE COVER Even when using the most advanced available prostheses, people with above-knee leg amputations suffer from a lack of sensory feedback. Recently, Valle et al. developed a nerve-machine system that delivers electrical stimulation to an amputee's residual tibial nerve, enabling the translation of prosthetic sensor readouts for the nervous system in real time. However, it was not understood how restoring this artificial feedback influences users' sensorimotor strategies. To better understand the mechanisms behind this technology, Valle and colleagues measured gait markers in two leg amputees equipped with sensorized neuroprostheses as they performed various motor tasks. They observed that the amputees used novel sensorimotor strategies with the prostheses that allowed them to walk at higher speeds. Additionally, the prostheses allowed for finer pressure estimation when pushing a gas pedal during a possible conventional car-driving scenario. The findings provided clear evidence that restoring sensory feedback to lower limb amputees through direct nerve stimulation offers gait benefits. Additionally, the study suggests that simple sensors may work well for future robotic prostheses. [CREDIT: PIETRO COMASCHI]
