Contents
February 2019
Vol 5, Issue 2
Vol 5, Issue 2
Contents
Research Articles
- X-ray Fourier ptychography
A new image acquisition scheme increases resolution and sensitivity of x-ray microscopes.
- Imaging of local structures affecting electrical transport properties of large graphene sheets by lock-in thermography
A novel technique for fast and precise quality evaluations of graphene devices.
- Conjoined-network rendered stiff and tough hydrogels from biogenic molecules
By constructing a conjoined-network, we tackled the challenge in developing stiff and tough hydrogels of biogenic molecules.
- High-speed imaging of ice nucleation in water proves the existence of active sites
High-speed video of freezing water proves ice formation starts at specific and very rare sites where there are surface defects.
- Renewable lubricants with tailored molecular architecture
Three classes of renewable lubricant base oils with tunable properties were synthesized from biomass or natural oils.
- Fully rubbery integrated electronics from high effective mobility intrinsically stretchable semiconductors
Rubbery stretchable semiconductor with high effective mobility and its rubbery integrated electronics are demonstrated.
- Block copolymer–based porous carbon fibers
The use of block copolymers as precursors revolutionizes the synthesis of porous carbon fibers with highly uniform pores.
- Programmable transparent organic luminescent tags
Simple and cheap organic thin films turn into high-quality programmable tags through writing and erasing with light only.
- Hole pocket–driven superconductivity and its universal features in the electron-doped cuprates
Charge transport measurements reveal hole superconductivity in electron-doped high-temperature superconductors.
- Transient exciton-polariton dynamics in WSe2 by ultrafast near-field imaging
We image the ultraslow exciton-polariton propagation in a WSe2 nanoslab with extreme spatiotemporal resolution (50 nm, <45 fs).
- Multiple macroevolutionary routes to becoming a biodiversity hotspot
Global hotspots of biodiversity arise from faster species generation in the tropics and higher migration in temperate realms.
- Cold acclimation via the KQT-2 potassium channel is modulated by oxygen in Caenorhabditis elegans
Environmental oxygen concentration affects cold acclimation via KQT potassium channel in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
- Emergent magnetic monopole dynamics in macroscopically degenerate artificial spin ice
We present direct, real-time observations of emergent magnetic monopole dynamics in highly frustrated artificial spin ice.
- Experimental observation of dual magnetic states in topological insulators
The dual magnetic states in topological insulators reveal the interplay between two ordering phenomena: magnetism and topology.
- Metal-organic frameworks tailor the properties of aluminum nanocrystals
Growing a metal organic framework on the surface of an aluminum nanocrystal enables one to controllably modify its properties.
- Imaging quantum spin Hall edges in monolayer WTe2
Real-space imaging reveals rich microscopic details of the quantum spin Hall edge conduction in monolayer WTe2.
- Biomimetic potassium-selective nanopores
A nanopore decorated with crown ether and DNA is selective to potassium ions over sodium ions at concentrations up to 1 M.
- Restriction of hepatitis B virus replication by c-Abl–induced proteasomal degradation of the viral polymerase
c-Abl inhibits replication of hepatitis B virus by promoting CRL4Cdt2-mediated destruction of the viral polymerase.
- A plasma protein classifier for predicting amyloid burden for preclinical Alzheimer’s disease
The untargeted discovery and replication of a blood protein panel shows promise for predicting preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.
- Novel reprogramming of neutrophils modulates inflammation resolution during atherosclerosis
Dynamically reprogrammed neutrophils serve as critical initiators for the pathogenesis and treatment of atherosclerosis.
- Human consciousness is supported by dynamic complex patterns of brain signal coordination
Dynamic patterns of brain activity at rest distinguish conscious and unconscious states in humans.
- Getting closer to the goal by being less capable
A decentralized system of heterogeneous components is more efficient when they are less sophisticated.
- Superadiabatic population transfer in a three-level superconducting circuit
We experimentally demonstrate robust superadiabatic population transfer close to the quantum speed limit.
- The gut microbiome from patients with schizophrenia modulates the glutamate-glutamine-GABA cycle and schizophrenia-relevant behaviors in mice
New findings suggest that schizophrenia may be linked to gut bacteria.
- Multimaterial 3D laser microprinting using an integrated microfluidic system
An instrument brings 3D laser printing to a new level, exemplified by 3D fluorescent microstructures composed of five materials.
- NDR2 promotes the antiviral immune response via facilitating TRIM25-mediated RIG-I activation in macrophages
NDR2 functions as an antiviral molecule via regulating TRIM25-mediated RIG-I activation.
- New tolerance factor to predict the stability of perovskite oxides and halides
Simple and interpretable data-driven descriptor accurately predicts the synthesizability of single and double perovskites.
- Inhibition of histone methyltransferase DOT1L silences ERα gene and blocks proliferation of antiestrogen-resistant breast cancer cells
Pharmacological inhibition of DOT1L blocks estrogen receptor signaling in breast cancer.
- Recording interfacial currents on the subnanometer length and femtosecond time scale by terahertz emission
Electromagnetic radiation emitted by electrons allows their ultrafast motion to be probed on the atomic length scale.
- Numerical cognition in honeybees enables addition and subtraction
Honeybees learn to add or subtract one item from a set using color cues and can interpolate operations to a novel number.
- Highly crystalline Ni-doped FeP/carbon hollow nanorods as all-pH efficient and durable hydrogen evolving electrocatalysts
Ni-doped FeP/carbon hollow nanorods exhibit excellent electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance over the full pH range.
- High-tide flooding disrupts local economic activity
High-tide flooding reduces customer access to businesses, and impacts are projected to increase sharply with sea level rise.
- Theoretical guidelines to create and tune electric skyrmion bubbles
Our second-principles results illustrate a strategy for obtaining topological electric textures akin to magnetic skyrmions.
- In-memory computing on a photonic platform
Nonvolatile multilevel phase-change memories on integrated photonic devices enable all-optical direct in-memory multiplications.
- Sculpting stable structures in pure liquids
Orientational phase domains in nonequilibrium nematic fluids are sculpted by microfluidic flows and laser pulses.
- Rapid depletion of ESCRT protein Vps4 underlies injury-induced autophagic impediment and Wallerian degeneration
The ESCRT complex protein Vps4 is rapidly depleted upon nerve injury, causing autophagic impediment and axonal degeneration.
- Hydraulic traits are coordinated with maximum plant height at the global scale
Coordination between plant height and xylem traits is aligned with habitat aridity across the Earth’s terrestrial biomes.
- Strictures of a microchannel impose fierce competition to select for highly motile sperm
Motility-based competition dynamics at microfluidic strictures suggests a sperm-selection mechanism in the reproductive tract.
- Lithiophilicity chemistry of heteroatom-doped carbon to guide uniform lithium nucleation in lithium metal anodes
The lithiophilicity of carbon materials is explained by the electronegativity, local dipole, charge transfer, and Li bond theory.
- Influenza binds phosphorylated glycans from human lung
A novel array of human lung glycans reveals influenza A virus binding to phosphorylated as well as sialylated N-glycans.
- No-touch measurements of vital signs in small conscious animals
Vital signs of small conscious animals are acquired in a civilized way without touching or interfering.
- Power flow–conformal metamirrors for engineering wave reflections
Power flow–conformal metasurfaces allow perfect manipulations of reflected waves without excitation of auxiliary fields.
- Extraordinary tensile strength and ductility of scalable nanoporous graphene
Excellent tensile strength and ductility of porous graphene can be realized by 3D bicontinuous nanoarchitecture.
- A new painkiller nanomedicine to bypass the blood-brain barrier and the use of morphine
A novel painkiller nanomedicine triggers the specific delivery of enkephalin neuropeptide into inflamed tissues.
- Slow slip events in the roots of the San Andreas fault
By analyzing GPS time series, we have detected an averaged Mw 4.9 slow slip event in the roots of the San Andreas fault.
- Charge extraction via graded doping of hole transport layers gives highly luminescent and stable metal halide perovskite devices
Charge extraction via graded hole transport layers boosts luminescence, lifetime, and efficiency of perovskite solar cells.
- Source apportionment of circum-Arctic atmospheric black carbon from isotopes and modeling
Isotopes pinpoint strong seasonal variations in black carbon sources with consistent patterns at sites around the Arctic.
- Honeybees forage more successfully without the “dance language” in challenging environments
Honeybees forage more successfully by reducing their reliance on social information from the dance language.
- Tie2 activation promotes choriocapillary regeneration for alleviating neovascular age-related macular degeneration
Angpt-Tie2 is essential for choriocapillary maintenance, and Tie2 activation could be a therapeutic avenue for fundamental treatment of NV-AMD.
- STEM faculty who believe ability is fixed have larger racial achievement gaps and inspire less student motivation in their classes
Racial achievement gaps are twice as large, and all students are less motivated, when STEM faculty believe ability is fixed.
- Bottlebrush-architectured poly(ethylene glycol) as an efficient vector for RNA interference in vivo
Bottlebrush-structured PEG substantially enhances the pharmacokinetics of conjugated siRNA and RNAi activity in vivo.
- A nanofluidic ion regulation membrane with aligned cellulose nanofibers
A nanofluidic membrane for ion regulation with aligned cellulose nanofibers was directly obtained from wood.
- Routine allomaternal nursing in a free-ranging Old World monkey
We found that most infant golden snub-nosed monkeys were nursed by females other than their mothers during the first 3 months.
- Ultrafast photoactivation of C─H bonds inside water-soluble nanocages
Catalytic oxidation of nanoconfined benzylic C─H bonds by light, water, and O2.
- Seed predation increases from the Arctic to the Equator and from high to low elevations
Alaska to Ecuador mega-experiment shows seeds are more likely to be munched toward the tropics and lowlands, as Darwin predicted.
- Targeting DDR2 enhances tumor response to anti–PD-1 immunotherapy
In vivo–based functional genomic screen identifies DDR2 as an important determinant of efficacy of anti–PD-1 immunotherapy.
- Supramolecular architectures of molecularly thin yet robust free-standing layers
Synergistically acting weak molecular interactions create robust free-standing monolayers via self-assembly.
- Toughening stretchable fibers via serial fracturing of a metallic core
Stretchable fibers dissipate energy via the sequential fracturing of a metallic core held together by an elastomeric shell.
- Microbial dormancy in the marine subsurface: Global endospore abundance and response to burial
Bacterial endospores are dominant members of the marine deep biosphere.
- Cochlear outer hair cell horizontal top connectors mediate mature stereocilia bundle mechanics
Noncontact AFM follows the development of OHC bundle stiffness and damping in mice having or lacking horizontal top connectors.
- Best reply structure and equilibrium convergence in generic games
We offer a new approach to understanding convergence to equilibrium in game theory, inspired by ecology and statistical mechanics.
- Most sleep does not serve a vital function: Evidence from Drosophila melanogaster
Sleepless fruit flies live, an unexpected finding that provides a new perspective on sleep for this and perhaps other species.
- Nano-bio-computing lipid nanotablet
A supported lipid bilayer is used as a chemical circuit board to carry out molecular computation with a network of nanoparticles.
- Observation of enhanced thermopower due to spin fluctuation in weak itinerant ferromagnet
Thermopower, which generates electricity from heat, can be greatly enhanced in weak ferromagnets even above room temperature.
- Crucial role of feedback signals from prelimbic cortex to basolateral amygdala in the retrieval of morphine withdrawal memory
The interaction of the basolateral amygdala and prelimbic cortex plays a crucial role in the reactivation of addiction memory.
- Copepods drive large-scale trait-mediated effects in marine plankton
Alarm signals from marine zooplankton structure phytoplankton communities.
- Probing vacancy behavior across complex oxide heterointerfaces
Real-time probes profile changes in vacancy distributions within substrate-supported oxide films induced by deposition processes.
- Telecom-band lasing in single InP/InAs heterostructure nanowires at room temperature
We demonstrate optically pumped telecom-band lasing in single InAs/InP nanowires at room temperature.
- Transcriptional profiling at the DLK1/MEG3 domain explains clinical overlap between imprinting disorders
Temple or Silver-Russell syndrome? We reveal the molecular reasons for the clinical resemblance between these two syndromes.
- Lower-crustal rheology and thermal gradient in the Taiwan orogenic belt illuminated by the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake
Rapid shortening reveals transient creep and the temperature conditions of dislocation creep in the Taiwan lower crust.
- Home ground advantage: Local Atlantic salmon have higher reproductive fitness than dispersers in the wild
Salmon spawning in their local habitat have a clear reproductive advantage over dispersers from nearby populations.
- Internal ion-gated organic electrochemical transistor: A building block for integrated bioelectronics
Internal ions enable high transconductance, fast speed, and independently controllable transistors for bioelectronics.
- Benefits of the Paris Agreement to ocean life, economies, and people
The Paris Agreement is good for fish, fishers, seafood workers, and consumers.
- Sodium rutin ameliorates Alzheimer’s disease–like pathology by enhancing microglial amyloid-β clearance
Saltified rutin enhances microglial Aβ clearance, providing a potential therapeutic avenue for Alzheimer’s disease treatment.
- Cryo-EM structure of phosphodiesterase 6 reveals insights into the allosteric regulation of type I phosphodiesterases
We report the cryo-EM structure of rod photoreceptor phosphodiesterase 6.
- Direct evidence of nonstationary collisionless shocks in space plasmas
Collisionless shocks are ubiquitous throughout the universe, and we present the first direct observation of their nonstationarity.
- Nonspecific effects of oral vaccination with live-attenuated Salmonella Typhi strain Ty21a
Vaccination with weakened strains of Salmonella may protect against other infections.
- A neuronal molecular switch through cell-cell contact that regulates quiescent neural stem cells
Excitatory hippocampal granule cells regulate activation and transition of quiescent neural stem cells during voluntary exercise.
- A year in the life of a giant ground sloth during the Last Glacial Maximum in Belize
The geochemical analysis of an extinct giant sloth tooth from Belize reveals past climate, seasonality, diet, and adaptation.
- Increased glymphatic influx is correlated with high EEG delta power and low heart rate in mice under anesthesia
We show that glymphatic influx into the brain occurs in direct proportion to slow cortical activity and inversely to heart rate.
- Maternal immunity and antibodies to dengue virus promote infection and Zika virus–induced microcephaly in fetuses
Infection of fetuses with Zika virus during pregnancy and congenital defects are enhanced by maternal immunity to dengue virus.
About The Cover
ONLINE COVER Phosphorescence—which, unlike fluorescence, involves reemission of light on a slower timescale—is used in glow-in-the-dark products, including illuminating emergency signs. It is also used for information storage purposes such as stamp detection. Easier and less expensive fabrication methods for phosphorescence systems have been created via organic emitters but achieving visible organic phosphorescence under ambient conditions remains challenging. In a new study, Gmelch et al. report a "new milestone" in organic luminescent labeling. They used a simple device structure made of highly available materials, through which ultrathin, flexible and transparent luminescent coatings could be generated. Their labeling device is fast and capable of printing more than 40 cycles of information onto any substrate of any size at high resolution (more than 700 dpi). Using light alone, any luminescent image can be printed and erased without the need of ink, via their approach. This concept say Gmelch et al., represents a way to produce luminescent on-demand tags and is a promising replacement for conventional labeling techniques. [CREDIT: MAX GMELCH AND HEIDI THOMAS/TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITÄT DRESDEN (TUD)]