Articles in 2015

The drug amlexanox is known to improve obesity-related metabolic dysfunction in mice. Here the authors show that this effect is mediated by interleukin-6 secreted from subcutaneous adipocytes, which then inhibits gluconeogenesis in the liver by phosphorylating the hepatic transcription factor Stat3.

The synthesis of single-layer transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs) is desirable, but challenging. Here, the authors propose a new exfoliation method, wherein single-layer TMCs are produced via a one-pot tandem molecular intercalation approach.

BiFeO₃is one of the most widely studied multiferroic materials, as it offers a strong coupling between magnetism and electric polarization up to room temperature. Here, studying monodomain crystals, the authors find an additional electric polarization component orthogonal to the widely studied one.

The myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogeneous group of chronic blood cancers. Here, the authors analyse genomic and gene expression data from MDS patients to investigate how driver mutations alter gene expression, diagnostic clinical variables and survival.

Blindness due to retinal degeneration affects millions of people worldwide, but many disease-causing mutations remain unknown. Here the authors link mutations in the gene PNPLA6 with childhood blindness in seven families with retinal degeneration and show that the gene plays a role in photoreceptor survival in Drosophila.

The integration of single-photon detectors, as superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors, in photonic-integrated circuits is a goal of quantum information science. Here, Najafi et al.introduce a micrometer-scale flip-chip process enabling such a integration in a scalable way.

Cationic polyelectrolytes have a broad range of applications, including membranes for fuel cells. Here, the authors report a family of cationic polyelectrolytes based on the highly modular cyclopropenium ion building block, which show high ionic conductivity and tunable physical properties.

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) tend to have poor prognosis; however, the mechanisms underlying TNBC pathology are not well understood. Here the authors utilize epidemiologic data and animal models to demonstrate an important role for BCL11A in the genesis and propagation of TNBCs.

Spatially separate populations may exhibit synchronised dynamics as a result of correlated environmental influences. Here, Massie et al. show that this phenomenon, known as the Moran effect, can be enhanced if the environmental signals experienced by two populations differ in their noise colour.

Innate lymphoid cells have an important role in mucosal immunity and present peptide:MHCII to CD4 T cells. Here the authors show that innate lymphoid cell subsets migrate from the gut mucosa to the draining lymph nodes via different mechanisms, where they form distinct microenvironments.

The little elongation complex (LEC) has been implicated in the regulation of Pol II-transcribed snRNA genes. Here, the authors show that MED26 recruits the LEC to a subset of Pol II-transcribed snRNAgenes through its N terminus, entailing a TAF7 to LEC switch that facilitates the transition from initiation to elongation.

Insulin-stimulated GLUT4-storage vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane depends on activity of Akt2 and its downstream effectors. Here Lim et al.identify the actin-capping protein tropomodulin 3 as a novel Akt2 effector that remodels cortical actin to help facilitate GLUT4 membrane insertion.

Increased levels of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in the blood have been linked to some forms of organ failure. Here, the authors show that the hormone angiotensin II increases mobilization of haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells by inducing cytoskeletal changes in bone marrow cells.

Avian strains of the influenza virus sometimes infect human hosts with severe consequences. Here, Wang et al.report that the H10N8 avian influenza virus, for which two lethal human infections have been reported, possesses restricted affinity towards the human receptor and suggest a structural basis for H10N8’s limited virulence.

The effects of forests on water yield are uncertain, with some studies indicating that increased evapotranspiration reduces water yield and other showing that forests increase it. Here, the authors analyse published data to settle this debate, finding that afforestation has a positive effect on water yield.

Inflammation and wounding can promote cancer development, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here Hoste et al.show that leukocytes sensing flagellin, a component of bacteria, play a key role in inducing skin cancer in the context of wounding and chronic inflammation.

Hydrogen oxidation and evolution are two of the key reactions in renewable energy conversion and storage devices. Here, the authors report the correlation between reaction rate and measured hydrogen binding energy for polycrystalline platinum in buffer solutions ranging from pH 0 to 13.

Cellular imaging studies can generate large volumes of complex phenotypic data; however, presenting this information in a form that quickly conveys trends in the data set remains a challenge. Sailem et al.present a tool which translates such data into easily interpretable cell-like glyphs.

Understanding the transport of ions, electrons and heat in magnetized plasmas is important to the development of fusion power as well as our understanding of the behaviour of astrophysical objects. Ida et al.find that stochastization of magnetic field lines in a plasma damps plasma flow more strongly than expected.