Contents
Vol 5, Issue 4
Contents
Research Articles
- High-frequency cavity optomechanics using bulk acoustic phonons
Researchers demonstrate optical control of macroscopic, high-frequency acoustic waves for classical and quantum applications.
- Optimal network topology for responsive collective behavior
Collectives must tune their interaction network to adapt and respond to external perturbations at different time scales.
- Identifying global centers of unsustainable commercial harvesting of species
High-risk areas contain 82% of all species and >80% of the ranges of Critically Endangered species threatened by overexploitation.
- Evaluating the impacts of protected areas on human well-being across the developing world
Protected areas positively affect several aspects of human well-being across the developing world.
- Targeting RalGAPα1 in skeletal muscle to simultaneously improve postprandial glucose and lipid control
The RalGAPα1/β complex links insulin signaling to glucose and lipid metabolism in skeletal muscle through RalA activation.
- Urban heat island: Aerodynamics or imperviousness?
Vegetation and moisture play the most important roles in controlling daytime urban heat islands and their spatial variability.
- In silico construction of a flexibility-based DNA Brownian ratchet for directional nanoparticle delivery
A Brownian ratchet device based on DNA with periodic flexibility variation is proposed for directional nanoparticle delivery.
- Optoelectronic control of single cells using organic photocapacitors
Organic electronic materials enable a simple optoelectronic device for wireless electrical stimulation of single cells.
- Eastern equatorial Pacific cold tongue evolution since the late Miocene linked to extratropical climate
The eastern equatorial Pacific cold tongue was only weakly developed to nonexistent before ~4.3 million years ago.
- A constant current triboelectric nanogenerator arising from electrostatic breakdown
A constant current triboelectric nanogenerator is designed for mechanical energy harvesting and self-powered systems.
- Helicobacter pylori–induced matrix metallopeptidase-10 promotes gastric bacterial colonization and gastritis
Matrix metallopeptidase-10 fosters Helicobacter pylori gastric bacterial colonization and Helicobacter pylori–induced gastritis.
- Optics-less focusing of XUV high-order harmonics
Controlling generation of XUV high-order harmonic beams provides focusing of attosecond pulses without any XUV optics.
- Near-infrared upconversion–activated CRISPR-Cas9 system: A remote-controlled gene editing platform
Remote-controlled manipulation of gene editing was achieved in vivo.
- Mid-Pleistocene transition in glacial cycles explained by declining CO2 and regolith removal
Model simulations reveal the importance of atmospheric CO2 and glacial erosion of regolith for Quaternary climate dynamics.
- Earthquakes track subduction fluids from slab source to mantle wedge sink
Fluids trigger earthquakes as they flow upward along the subducted slab and escape into the overlying rocks.
- How crystals form: A theory of nucleation pathways
A theory of nucleation that is able to predict nonclassical pathways and intermediates for crystallization is formulated.
- Frictional weakening of slip interfaces
The mechanism involved in stick-slip phenomena, such as earthquakes, is controlled by the interfacial shear stress.
- Navigating the complexities of coordinated conservation along the river Nile
Basin-wide cooperation is crucial for cost-effective conservation of river Nile biodiversity.
- Ultra-multiplexed analysis of single-cell dynamics reveals logic rules in differentiation
An ultra-multiplexed microfluidic system uncovers signaling logic rules in neural stem cell differentiation and self-renewal.
- Cognitive chimera states in human brain networks
Researchers describe human brain organization using a framework that measures patterns of synchrony across cognitive systems.
- Giant intrinsic spin Hall effect in W3Ta and other A15 superconductors
We identify electronic structure descriptors for the spin Hall effect and propose a design strategy and several new SHE materials.
- Hypergolic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) as next-generation solid fuels: Unlocking the latent energetic behavior of ZIFs
Metal-organic frameworks offer a design for new, clean, and tunable hypergolic fuels with ultrashort ignition delays.
- Electrically assisted 3D printing of nacre-inspired structures with self-sensing capability
Electrically assisted 3D printing fabricates nacre-inspired graphene nanoplatelet alignment with self-sensing capability.
- Crowdsourcing triggers rapid, reliable earthquake locations
Detection of earthquakes by seismic networks has been accelerated on a global scale using crowdsourced data.
- Modulation of mtDNA copy number ameliorates the pathological consequences of a heteroplasmic mtDNA mutation in the mouse
The severity of mitochondrial disease caused by mutations of mtDNA does depend on the absolute amount of wild-type mtDNA.
- Fully soluble self-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) with an electrical conductivity greater than 1000 S cm−1
Fully soluble and highly conductive self-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) was successfully synthesized.
- Structure and mechanisms of sodium-pumping KR2 rhodopsin
High resolution structures reveal the mechanisms of sodium, potassium, and proton pumping by a light-driven microbial rhodopsin.
- Transient activation of the UPRER is an essential step in the acquisition of pluripotency during reprogramming
A transient activation of the unfolded protein response of the ER is a key factor of cellular reprogramming success.
- Homogeneous guiding deposition of sodium through main group II metals toward dendrite-free sodium anodes
Controllable nucleation and growth of metallic sodium are achieved via main group II metals.
- Shifts in dominant tree mycorrhizal associations in response to anthropogenic impacts
Anthropogenic influences alter tree mycorrhizal associations inducing nutrient acceleration in the U.S. forests.
- Targeting dePARylation selectively suppresses DNA repair–defective and PARP inhibitor–resistant malignancies
A novel PARG inhibitor traps DNA repair factors at DNA lesions and selectively kills tumor cells with DNA repair defects.
- Prepatterning of Papilio xuthus caterpillar camouflage is controlled by three homeobox genes: clawless, abdominal-A, and Abdominal-B
Three homeobox genes regulate prepatterning of caterpillar camouflage design in the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus.
- Heterogeneous ice nucleation correlates with bulk-like interfacial water
Bulk-like interfacial water, a sub-ensemble of interfacial water, can be a predictor for heterogeneous ice nucleation.
- Nanoscale magnetic imaging of ferritins in a single cell
A nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond is used for magnetic imaging of intracellular proteins in a single cell at 10-nm scale.
- Super-elasticity of three-dimensionally cross-linked graphene materials all the way to deep cryogenic temperatures
For the first time, invariant super-elasticity from cryogenic 4 to 1273 K was observed for a bulk 3D cross-linked graphene foam.
- VPS4 triggers constriction and cleavage of ESCRT-III helical filaments
VPS4 constricts ESCRT-III CHMP2A-CHMP3.
- Folding a focalized acoustical vortex on a flat holographic transducer: Miniaturized selective acoustical tweezers
Selective manipulation of micrometric objects in a standard microscopy environment is possible with miniaturized acoustical tweezers.
- Relativistic independence bounds nonlocality
Locality of uncertainty relations can explain why quantum nonlocality is the way it is.
- Quantum localization bounds Trotter errors in digital quantum simulation
A many-body localization phenomenon boosts the accuracy of digital quantum simulation on quantum computers.
- How heteroepitaxy occurs on strontium titanate
In situ surface x-ray diffraction during deposition of LaTiO3 on SrTiO3 (001) shows that a TiO2 adlayer participates in growth.
- A pan-coronavirus fusion inhibitor targeting the HR1 domain of human coronavirus spike
EK1 is a broad-spectrum human coronavirus fusion inhibitor for combating infection of current and emerging coronaviruses.
- Engineering phonon polaritons in van der Waals heterostructures to enhance in-plane optical anisotropy
Anisotropic phonon polaritons in boron nitride on black phosphorus heterostructures are studied with near-field microscopy.
- Liquid crystal elastomer shell actuators with negative order parameter
A theoretically predicted case of anti-ordered liquid crystal rubber is realized in the form of spherical artificial muscles.
- Water vapor capturing using an array of traveling liquid beads for desalination and water treatment
We develop a compact, light-weight, and highly efficient device to capture water vapor for desalination and water harvesting.
- Mechanistic insights into the SNARE complex disassembly
Near-atomic resolution structure of the 20S complex reveals the mechanism of α-SNAP mediated disassembly of the SNARE complex.
- Context-specific modulation of intrinsic coupling modes shapes multisensory processing
Audiovisual integration is facilitated by the context-specific dynamical reconfiguration of cortical intrinsic coupling.
- GABARAPs dysfunction by autophagy deficiency in adolescent brain impairs GABAA receptor trafficking and social behavior
Autophagy regulates social behaviors by affecting the ability of brain cells to receive inhibitory signaling.
- Calcium-looping reforming of methane realizes in situ CO2 utilization with improved energy efficiency
Calcium-looping reforming of methane helps close the anthropogenic carbon cycle directly at large CO2 stationary sources.
- Room temperature polariton lasing in quantum heterostructure nanocavities
A room temperature polariton nanolaser is demonstrated using quantum heterostructure nanocavities to boost exciton properties.
- Dual-gradient enabled ultrafast biomimetic snapping of hydrogel materials
We present a new paradigm for designing responsive hydrogel sheets that can exhibit ultrafast snapping deformation.
- The Suv420h histone methyltransferases regulate PPAR-γ and energy expenditure in response to environmental stimuli
Suv420h proteins regulate PPAR-γ and the pathways controlling metabolism and weight balance in response to environmental stimuli.
- Direct observation of valley-coupled topological current in MoS2
Electrical generation and detection of valley currents in MoS2 is demonstrated as a robust phenomenon even at room temperature.
- Heat flowing from cold to hot without external intervention by using a “thermal inductor”
We show that heat can flow from cold to hot using a thermal inductor, without violating the second law of thermodynamics.
- Energy renormalization for coarse-graining polymers having different segmental structures
We provide a computational test of the energy renormalization method to coarse-grain polymers with different segmental structures.
- Critical role of spectrin in hearing development and deafness
Super-resolution fluorescence imaging reveals a previously unknown novel structure of spectrin in inner ear hair cells.
- Urine salts elucidate Early Neolithic animal management at Aşıklı Höyük, Turkey
Soluble salts in archaeological sediments reveal an increasing scale of caprine management at Aşıklı Höyük, Turkey.
- Predicting the variable ocean carbon sink
The oceanic uptake of CO2 varies substantially in time; here, we show that we can predict this uptake 2 years into the future.
- Comparative analyses of plasma amyloid-β levels in heterogeneous and monomerized states by interdigitated microelectrode sensor system
We compared levels of Aβ by self-standard in plasma using an interdigitated microelectrode sensor to detect Alzheimer disease.
- Secondary nucleation and elongation occur at different sites on Alzheimer’s amyloid-β aggregates
Chaperone regulation of individual microscopic events in Aβ42 aggregation reveals the nature of active sites on amyloid fibrils.
- Origin of giant negative piezoelectricity in a layered van der Waals ferroelectric
Lattice topology and anisotropic chemical bonds underpin unusual negative longitudinal piezoelectricity in van der Waals solids.
- Imaging localized neuronal activity at fast time scales through biomechanics
Noninvasive measurement of fast neuronal activity, based on tissue stiffness maps from MRI elastography, is presented.
- Media exposure to mass violence events can fuel a cycle of distress
A 3-year longitudinal study of a U.S. national sample shows that media exposure to mass violence can fuel a cycle of distress.
- A 192-heme electron transfer network in the hydrazine dehydrogenase complex
A protein complex key to the global nitrogen cycle has an unprecedented electron transport network of 192 heme groups.
- Olanzapine: A potent agonist at the hM4D(Gi) DREADD amenable to clinical translation of chemogenetics
The atypical antipsychotic olanzapine is a potent activator of a mutated muscarinic receptor used for chemogenetic inhibition.
- In vivo genome editing rescues photoreceptor degeneration via a Cas9/RecA-mediated homology-directed repair pathway
An HDR-based Cas9/RecA system was developed to precisely correct the Pde6b mutation in rods of rd1 mice to restore their vision.
- Autonomous microfluidic actuators for periodic sequential flow generation
We report a microfluidic system that generates sequential periodic multiflows only with a constant water head pressure.
- Combinatorial optimization by simulating adiabatic bifurcations in nonlinear Hamiltonian systems
Nonlinear Hamiltonian systems search optimal solutions exploiting their adiabatic and chaotic evolutions.
- A polyaromatic receptor with high androgen affinity
A synthetic model of androgen bioreceptors strictly discriminates male hormones from female ones in its polyaromatic cavity.
- Individual solutions to shared problems create a modern tragedy of the commons
Introducing individual solutions to shared problems can lead to costly coordination failure and a “modern tragedy of the commons.”
- Precipitation and temperature drive continental-scale patterns in stream invertebrate production
Precipitation and temperature drive continental-scale patterns in stream invertebrate production.
- Physical and geometric determinants of transport in fetoplacental microvascular networks
Key geometric factors that determine nutrient transport in the functional exchange unit of the human placenta are identified.
- Climbing-inspired twining electrodes using shape memory for peripheral nerve stimulation and recording
Proposed 3D neural electrode can self-climb onto peripheral nerve driven by body temperature and form flexible neural interface.
- Conical intersection–regulated intermediates in bimolecular reactions: Insights from C(1D) + HD dynamics
Unusual metastable-state intermediates are revealed, invoking bond-selective activation via unique reaction mechanisms.
- Who hit the ball out? An egocentric temporal order bias
Self-generated action events are perceived to occur before external events, leading to differences in subjective temporal order.
- A brain-plausible neuromorphic on-the-fly learning system implemented with magnetic domain wall analog memristors
Magnetic analog memristor boosts new circuit design for a neuromorphic on-the-fly learning system.
- When males live longer: Resource-driven territorial behavior drives sex-specific survival in snakes
Egg-defending females die earlier than males, demonstrating the cost of territoriality.
- Exceptional preservation of mid-Cretaceous marine arthropods and the evolution of novel forms via heterochrony
A “beautiful chimera” from the mid-Cretaceous sheds light on the evolution of novel forms and forces a rethink of what a crab is.
- 3D strain-induced superconductivity in La2CuO4+δ using a simple vertically aligned nanocomposite approach
We demonstrate a new way to increase the superconducting TC of cuprates using 3-D strain control in nanocomposite thin films.
- Persistent Early to Middle Holocene tropical foraging in southwestern Amazonia
Archaeological research indicates that hunter-gatherers altered landscapes in southwestern Amazonia as early as 10,000 years ago.
- Ice-stream demise dynamically conditioned by trough shape and bed strength
We show how the shape and strength of an ice stream’s bed can drive step changes in retreat rate and hasten ice loss to the ocean.
- Focal infrared neural stimulation with high-field functional MRI: A rapid way to map mesoscale brain connectomes
We have developed INS-fMRI as a rapid and high-resolution method for mapping functional brain networks in vivo.
- The protein kinase activity of fructokinase A specifies the antioxidant responses of tumor cells by phosphorylating p62
KHK-A, a metabolic enzyme in fructose metabolism, acts as a protein kinase to phosphorylate p62 for tumor antioxidant responses.
- RUNX represses Pmp22 to drive neurofibromagenesis
RUNX 1 and RUNX3 drive Nf1 neurofibromagenesis by mediating the promoter usage and inducing levels of protein expression of PMP22.
- An aerobic eukaryotic parasite with functional mitochondria that likely lacks a mitochondrial genome
The parasitic marine dinoflagellate Amoebophrya is the first known eukaryote with aerobic mitochondria without a genome.
- Enhancing superconductivity in SrTiO3 films with strain
A doubling of the superconducting transition temperature occurs in strained SrTiO3 films, which are known to become ferroelectric.
- Synthetic and living micropropellers for convection-enhanced nanoparticle transport
Magnetically controlled synthetic and living micropropellers stir up nanoparticles for enhanced drug transport.
- WindSTORM: Robust online image processing for high-throughput nanoscopy
A non-iterative method enables real-time and artifact-minimized high-density super-resolution localization microscopy.
- Optical fiber bundles: Ultra-slim light field imaging probes
Light field microscopy through bare optical fiber bundles paves the way for depth-resolved fluorescence microendoscopy.
- PRC2 recruitment and H3K27me3 deposition at FLC require FCA binding of COOLAIR
H3K27me3 deposition at FLC requires FCA-COOLAIR binding; SSU72 antagonizes this binding, thus reducing H3K27me3 deposition at FLC.
- All-optical detection of interfacial spin transparency from spin pumping in β-Ta/CoFeB thin films
An all-optical method identifies the spin transparency for pure spin current transport through heavy metal/ferromagnet interface.
- Room temperature nanocavity laser with interlayer excitons in 2D heterostructures
We have reported the first room temperature nanocavity laser with interlayer excitons in 2D heterostructures.
- Evolution of metabolic novelty: A trichome-expressed invertase creates specialized metabolic diversity in wild tomato
Evolution of a cell specific invertase enzyme creates phenotypic diversity in wild tomato insecticidal metabolite production.
- Quantifying landslide frequency and sediment residence time in the Nepal Himalaya
The record of landslide erosion in river sand reveals that sediment resides in steep mountains for no more than tens of years.
- Machine learning in a data-limited regime: Augmenting experiments with synthetic data uncovers order in crumpled sheets
Machine learning reveals order in crumpled sheets using simulated flat-folding patterns as data surrogate in a data-limited regime.
- Clean air for some: Unintended spillover effects of regional air pollution policies
Improving air quality can come at the cost of increasing emissions and environmental deterioration elsewhere.
- Rehearsal initiates systems memory consolidation, sleep makes it last
Rehearsal shifts mnemonic processing from the hippocampus to the posterior parietal cortex, sleep stabilizes the transition.
Reviews
- Principles of genome folding into topologically associating domains
This review discusses the features of TADs across species, and their role in chromosome organization, genome function, and evolution.
- A Global Deal For Nature: Guiding principles, milestones, and targets
The Global Deal for Nature sets an ambitious agenda to protect our biosphere through ecosystem conservation and land restoration.
Editorial
About The Cover

ONLINE COVER Though the River Nile supports millions of human livelihoods and holds globally important fish biodiversity, it remains under-protected. No basin-wide spatial conservation planning has been attempted to date. Here, Allan et al. put forward a basin-wide conservation prioritization approach. They compare different cross-boundary collaboration scenarios for achieving biodiversity conservation targets, finding that collaborative conservation efforts are crucial for reducing conservation costs—resulting in a 34% savings compared to uncoordinated, business-as-usual scenarios. The researchers also identify priority areas for conservation action. Conservation priority "hotspots" that were consistently selected across all the collaboration scenarios include the Nile Delta in Egypt, Northern Sudan and Southern Egypt, and the East African Great Lakes. The researchers' approach represents a framework for improving conservation at large and complex river systems globally. [CREDIT: J.D. DALLET/AGE FOTOSTOCK/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO]