Contents
August 2017
Vol 3, Issue 8
Vol 3, Issue 8
Contents
Research Articles
- A conformational checkpoint between DNA binding and cleavage by CRISPR-Cas9
A conformational checkpoint of Cas9 enables on-target cleavage while blocking access to the active state at off-target sites.
- Effects of silver nanoparticles on nitrification and associated nitrous oxide production in aquatic environments
Silver nanoparticles inhibit nitrification but enhance nitrous oxide production by nitrifying organisms.
- Fairy circle landscapes under the sea
We derive a model explaining the formation of fairy circles and patterns in seagrasses along the Mediterranean coast.
- Deadly heat waves projected in the densely populated agricultural regions of South Asia
Climate change poses a deadly heat wave risk to South Asia due to population density, poverty, and outdoor working conditions.
- Heat conduction tuning by wave nature of phonons
Perfectly periodic structures modify the transport properties of heat carriers by interference effect and hinder heat transport.
- Chemotactic synthetic vesicles: Design and applications in blood-brain barrier crossing
Brain homing nanoswimmers: Glucose-fueled propulsion combined with blood-brain barrier crossing enhances brain delivery.
- Holographic deep learning for rapid optical screening of anthrax spores
A synergistic application of holography and deep learning enables rapid optical screening of anthrax spores and other pathogens.
- Biofunctionalized conductive polymers enable efficient CO2 electroreduction
Conductive polydopamines represent bioinspired paradigm catalysts for efficiently recycling greenhouse gas CO2 to synthetic fuel.
- Confining metal-halide perovskites in nanoporous thin films
In situ perovskite nanocrystal formation within nanoporous thin films allows emission color tuning in optoelectronic devices.
- The size effect in corrosion greatly influences the predicted life span of concrete infrastructures
Size significantly affects the ability of reinforced concrete specimens to withstand corrosion under chloride exposure.
- Control of nacre biomineralization by Pif80 in pearl oyster
Pif80 is a key protein for the formation and organization of mineral precursor in pearl oyster nacre biomineralization.
- Stress drops of induced and tectonic earthquakes in the central United States are indistinguishable
Induced earthquakes have comparable stress drop and ground motion to natural earthquakes given similar depths and faulting styles.
- A bimodal activation mechanism underlies scorpion toxin–induced pain
A scorpion toxin uses protons in the venom as coactivators to target nociceptive ion channel TRPV1 and cause pain.
- Polycomb repressive complex 1 modifies transcription of active genes
The PRC1 complex keeps genes silent during development, and these studies show that it also controls genes that are active.
- Sequence-encoded colloidal origami and microbot assemblies from patchy magnetic cubes
Sequence-encoded assembly of patchy magnetic microcubes enables making self-reconfiguring colloidal origami and “microbots.”
- Leaking privacy and shadow profiles in online social networks
A data-driven audit shows how the data of the users of an online social network predict personal information of nonusers.
- Structural pathway of regulated substrate transfer and threading through an Hsp100 disaggregase
Cryo-EM structures of ClpB complexes reveal a pathway for substrate transfer and translocation during protein disaggregation.
- HfSe2 and ZrSe2: Two-dimensional semiconductors with native high-κ oxides
Atomically thin two-dimensional semiconductors feature silicon-like band gaps and native high-κ metal oxides.
- Constraining the rate of oceanic deoxygenation leading up to a Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE-2: ~94 Ma)
A Tl isotope excursion preserved in shales leading up to OAE-2 provides evidence for progressive bottom water deoxygenation.
- In search of multipath interference using large molecules
Matter waves pass multipath interference test.
- Slow dynamics of electrons at a metal–Mott insulator boundary in an organic system with disorder
NMR captures unusual slow dynamics of electrons on Mott transition with disorder, suggesting an electronic Griffiths phase.
- A molecular quantum spin network controlled by a single qubit
Control of molecular spins and their readout with a solid-state qubit are described as a unit cell in a quantum spin network.
- Effects of population dispersal on regional signaling networks: An example from northern Iroquoia
Social network analyses show St. Lawrence Iroquoians as brokers between nascent Iroquois and Huron confederacies before A.D. 1500.
- Large polarons in lead halide perovskites
Charge carriers in both hybrid and all-inorganic lead halide perovskites form large polarons.
- Interest in STEM is contagious for students in biology, chemistry, and physics classes
Students who perceive a high level of interest among classmates in science classes are more likely to intend pursuing STEM.
- Early formation of planetary building blocks inferred from Pb isotopic ages of chondrules
Age dating of meteorite inclusions suggests rapid formation of the building blocks of terrestrial planets within 1 My of the Sun.
- From the generalized reflection law to the realization of perfect anomalous reflectors
Nonlocal metasurface for perfect anomalous reflection demonstrates a new possibility for controlling electromagnetic energy flow.
- In situ generation of N-unsubstituted imines from alkyl azides and their applications for imine transfer via copper catalysis
Multisubstituted pyridines or indoles were synthesized using N-unsubstituted imines in situ–generated from alkyl azides.
- 3D imaging of optically cleared tissue using a simplified CLARITY method and on-chip microscopy
Using lens-free holographic microscopy, we demonstrated 3D imaging in optically cleared tissue over a thickness of 0.2 mm.
- Membrane localization of acetylated CNK1 mediates a positive feedback on RAF/ERK signaling
Acetylated scaffold protein CNK1 promotes ERK-dependent cell proliferation and migration in normal cells and in tumor cells.
- A two-billion-year history for the lunar dynamo
Paleomagnetic evidence suggests the lunar dynamo persisted beyond 2.5 Ga, requiring an exceptionally long-lived power source.
- Structure of a 1.5-MDa adhesin that binds its Antarctic bacterium to diatoms and ice
Structure of a bacterial adhesin reveals its role in forming a mixed-species symbiotic community with diatoms on sea ice.
- Crystallization-induced emission enhancement: A novel fluorescent Au-Ag bimetallic nanocluster with precise atomic structure
Crystallization-induced emission enhancement was achieved in metal nanoclusters for the first time.
- Multiple-wavelength neutron holography with pulsed neutrons
Multiple-wavelength neutron holography demonstrated a reconstruction of highly precise 3D atomic images around dopants.
- Liquid crystalline cellulose-based nematogels
An ordered network of cellulose nanofibers infiltrated with a liquid crystal forms an electrically tunable nematogel.
- Identifying time scales for violation/preservation of Stokes-Einstein relation in supercooled water
Various time scales characterizing transport coefficients reveal the origin of Stokes-Einstein violation in supercooled water.
- Probing topology by “heating”: Quantized circular dichroism in ultracold atoms
Physicists demonstrate how heating a quantum system can be used as a universal probe for exotic states of matter.
- High-density array of ferroelectric nanodots with robust and reversibly switchable topological domain states
Robust and reversible polar topological center domains were found in BiFeO3 nanodots, which are individually controllable.
- Adult-onset obesity is triggered by impaired mitochondrial gene expression
Reduction in an RNA binding protein impairs mitochondrial biogenesis and alters cell signaling, resulting in obesity.
- Impaired DNA replication derepresses chromatin and generates a transgenerationally inherited epigenetic memory
Inhibiting DNA replication in C. elegans embryos causes loss of repressive histone modifications and generates epialleles.
- The evolutionary basis of premature migration in Pacific salmon highlights the utility of genomics for informing conservation
Accounting for specific alleles can be necessary to prevent the loss of significant biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- Mach-Zehnder interferometry using spin- and valley-polarized quantum Hall edge states in graphene
We realize an electronic Mach-Zehnder interferometer with quantum Hall edge channels along a pn junction in graphene.
- Seismic evidence for complex sedimentary control of Greenland Ice Sheet flow
Seismic data show that subglacial sediment slip causes a complex flow response of the Greenland Ice Sheet to climate warming.
- Tunable chiral metal organic frameworks toward visible light–driven asymmetric catalysis
A general way to prepare chiral MOFs as adjustable catalysts for efficient asymmetric catalysis under visible light.
- Vomocytosis of live pathogens from macrophages is regulated by the atypical MAP kinase ERK5
ERK5 regulates nonlytic expulsion of live pathogens from phagocytes to limit dissemination of infections.
- Correlation-induced superconductivity dynamically stabilized and enhanced by laser irradiation
Laser irradiation stabilizes strong-coupling superconductivity without charge inhomogeneities that is inaccessible in equilibrium.
- Carryover effects of larval exposure to different environmental bacteria drive adult trait variation in a mosquito vector
The adult phenotype of mosquitoes depends on the types of bacteria encountered environmentally during development.
- The role of floridoside in osmoadaptation of coral-associated algal endosymbionts to high-salinity conditions
In response to high salinity, algal endosymbionts of corals produce floridoside, an osmolyte with antioxidant potential.
- From the surface to the seafloor: How giant larvaceans transport microplastics into the deep sea
Larvaceans can filter microplastics from the water and package them into their fecal pellets, transporting them into the deep sea.
- Oriented assembly of anisotropic nanoparticles into frame-like superstructures
Cubic frame–like superstructures are constructed via the assembly of nanocuboids on the edges of preformed nanocubes.
- Observation of prethermalization in long-range interacting spin chains
Many-body interactions could lead to quantum thermalization, but long-range interactions provide an alternative.
- On/off switchable electronic conduction in intercalated metal-organic frameworks
On/off switchable electronic conduction occurs in intercalated metal-organic framework formed by chemical lithiation and heating.
- Photoinduced nanobubble-driven superfast diffusion of nanoparticles imaged by 4D electron microscopy
Direct visualization of superfast ballistic and diffusive gold nanoparticles driven by photoinduced nanobubbles.
- Dynamic conservation for migratory species
Citizen science, big data, and a habitat marketplace enable dynamic habitat for migratory birds in California’s Central Valley.
- Visualizing redox orbitals and their potentials in advanced lithium-ion battery materials using high-resolution x-ray Compton scattering
A spectroscopic descriptor of the link between lattice distortion and voltage in Li battery materials.
- Identifying key intermediates generated in situ from Cu(II) salt–catalyzed C–H functionalization of aromatic amines under illumination
Cu(II) salts can activate C–H bonds of aromatic amines or imines to construct C–C bonds in air without external photosensitizer.
- Nucleation speed limit on remote fluid-induced earthquakes
Larger earthquakes unlocked by fluids are seen globally to take a predictably longer time to begin.
- Polymer-modified halide perovskite films for efficient and stable planar heterojunction solar cells
The UCLA team has successfully passivated perovskite film by controlling the film growth with functional polymers as additive.
- Crystal structures of a ZIP zinc transporter reveal a binuclear metal center in the transport pathway
Structures of a ZIP zinc transporter reveal an inward-open conformation with a binuclear metal center in the transport pathway.
- Extensive arsenic contamination in high-pH unconfined aquifers in the Indus Valley
Fifty million to 60 million people potentially exposed to high levels of groundwater arsenic, which is coincident with areas of irrigation.
- Antiferroic electronic structure in the nonmagnetic superconducting state of the iron-based superconductors
Antiferroic electronic instability in Ba,KFe2As2 persists in the nonmagnetic phase covering the superconducting dome.
- A polyaromatic nanocapsule as a sucrose receptor in water
A supramolecular capsule with a polyaromatic shell binds d-sucrose from natural saccharide mixtures with perfect selectivity.
- When immiscible becomes miscible—Methane in water at high pressures
At low pressure, methane dissolves poorly in water, but between 1 and 2 GPa, the solubility increases to almost 50 mol %.
- Tunable electroresistance and electro-optic effects of transparent molecular ferroelectrics
A water-based approach grows molecular ferroelectric thin film with tunable electroresistance and electro-optic effect.
- Improved base excision repair inhibition and bacteriophage Mu Gam protein yields C:G-to-T:A base editors with higher efficiency and product purity
Probing base editing outcomes leads to new C:G to T:A base editors with greater efficiency and product purity, and fewer indels.
- Functional vascularized lung grafts for lung bioengineering
We propose a new approach to lung regeneration by replacement of damaged epithelium with full preservation of lung vasculature.
- Ceftazidime-avibactam has potent sterilizing activity against highly drug-resistant tuberculosis
Ceftazidime-avibactam is highly efficacious against extensive- and multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Enhanced photovoltaic performance and stability with a new type of hollow 3D perovskite {en}FASnI3
High-performance and good-stability hollow Sn-based perovskite solar cells using ethylenediammonium and formamidinium cations.
- Increasing drought in Jordan: Climate change and cascading Syrian land-use impacts on reducing transboundary flow
Water-poor Jordan faces extreme droughts and lower river flows due to climate and land-use change after the Syrian crisis.
- Perovskite nanocomposites as effective CO2-splitting agents in a cyclic redox scheme
A methane-to-syngas selectivity of 96% and a CO yield of nearly 100% in CO2 splitting were achieved over perovskite nanocomposites in a cyclic redox scheme.
- Design of ultrathin Pt-Mo-Ni nanowire catalysts for ethanol electrooxidation
Researchers design ultrathin Pt-Mo-Ni NWs as cost-effective, active, and durable electrocatalysts.
- The biodiversity cost of carbon sequestration in tropical savanna
Forest expansion into Brazilian savanna due to fire suppression causes precipitous species loss.
Technical Comments
- Response to Comment on “How will induced seismicity in Oklahoma respond to decreased saltwater injection rates?”
Earthquake rates in Oklahoma confirm our forecasted response of induced seismicity to reduced saltwater injection rates.
- Comment on “How will induced seismicity in Oklahoma respond to decreased saltwater injection rates?” by C. Langenbruch and M. D. Zoback
Estimates of seismic response to injection rate reduction in Oklahoma are model-dependent and remain uncertain in 2017 and beyond.
About The Cover
August Online Cover of Science Advances shows a laborer working at a brickyard kiln in Noida, India, suffering the effects of a blistering heat wave that hovered above 45 degree Celsius (113F). This issue features a research article detailing advances in accurately calculating and understanding local and regional impacts of climate change. The research presents models that project risks from new types of extreme heat waves that are likely to hit regional hotspots , particularly across South Asia, towards the end of the 21st century. The authors identify areas where climate change, in absence of significant mitigation, is likely to severely impact human health and habitability in one of the most heavily populated regions on Earth. [Photo credit: Burhaan Kinu/Hindustan Times via Getty Images]