Search

uiPSF (universal inverse modeling of point spread functions) offers a versatile solution for inferring accurate PSF models from images of beads and blinking fluorophores, enabling improved imaging and image processing in localization microscopy.

Oestrogen negative breast cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. In this study, the authors perform a meta-analysis of 11 breast cancer genome-wide association studies and identify four new loci associated with oestrogen negative breast cancer risk. These findings may aid in stratifying patients in the clinic.

Single molecule fluorescence microscopy is a powerful technique to study protein dynamics in cells, but it has not been applied to adult animals. The authors use complementation-activated light microscopy in C. elegansto discover that dystrophin regulates the diffusion properties of voltage-dependent calcium ion channels at the surface of body-wall muscle cells.

The Hong Kong–Shanghai, Korean, Taiwan, US and International Kawasaki Disease Genetics Consortia report a genome-wide association study in Kawasaki disease. They identify a novel locus in the FCGR2A gene that confers elevated risk of disease.

There is an urgent need for biomarkers for type 2 diabetes progression that provide a deeper understanding of the disease process. Here, the authors identify biomarkers in three molecular classes, replicate them in other cohorts and explore top protein biomarkers in detail in functional studies.

A catalogue of predicted loss-of-function variants in 125,748 whole-exome and 15,708 whole-genome sequencing datasets from the Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD) reveals the spectrum of mutational constraints that affect these human protein-coding genes.

Analysis of the spread of the 20E (EU1) variant of SARS-CoV-2 through Europe suggests that international travel and insufficient containment, rather than increased transmissibility, led to a resurgence of infections.

An analysis of GPS pedestrian traces shows that (1) people increasingly deviate from the shortest path when the distance between origin and destination increases and that (2) chosen paths are statistically different when origin and destination are swapped. Ultimately, this can explain the observed human attitude in selecting different paths upon return trips.

The goals, resources and design of the NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) programme are described, and analyses of rare variants detected in the first 53,831 samples provide insights into mutational processes and recent human evolutionary history.

Roger Milne and colleagues conduct a genome-wide association study for estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer combined with BRCA1 mutation carriers in a large cohort. They identify ten new risk variants and find high genetic correlation between breast cancer risk for BRCA1 mutation carriers and risk of ER-negative breast cancer in the general population.

A diverse, multidisciplinary panel of 386 experts in COVID-19 response from 112 countries provides health and social policy actions to address inadequacies in the pandemic response and help to bring this public health threat to an end.

Brain-inspired neuromorphic algorithms and systems have shown essential advance in efficiency and capabilities of AI applications. In this Perspective, the authors introduce NeuroBench, a benchmark framework for neuromorphic approaches, collaboratively designed by researchers across industry and academia.

Multi-parameter metrology requires collective measurements on more than one copy of the same quantum state. Now, an optimal scheme for the estimation of qubit rotations has been demonstrated on superconducting and trapped-ion platforms.

A natural pathway in rice and in seven other major crop species degrades 57–89% of accumulated methylmercury and releases Hg into the air. The MeHg demethylation within rice mitigates Hg flux into human food webs, diminishing human cognitive damage and generating global economic benefits of US$30.7–84.2 billion.

Monomeric N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) can act as molecular modifiers of metal surfaces and thus affect heterogeneous catalytic behaviour. Now NHC polymers have been formed on gold surfaces, consisting of ballbot-type repeating units bound to single gold adatoms. Conformational, electronic and charge transport properties explain the high surface mobility of the incommensurate NHC polymers.

Most of the more than 200 known genetic risk loci for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) reside in regulatory regions. Here, the authors provide eQTL datasets for six circulating immune cell types and ileal, colonic and rectal biopsies to map regulatory modules and identify potential causative genes for IBD.

Rinse Weersma, Carl Anderson and colleagues report the results of a trans-ancestry association study of inflammatory bowel disease. They implicate 38 new susceptibility loci, and show that the variance explained by each IBD risk locus is consistent across diverse ancestries, with a few notable exceptions.

Chinese coastal populations are concentrated in subsiding locations, and also subject to sea-level rise. Here the authors find that more areas, population and assets are exposed to coastal flooding by 2050 but realistic subsidence control measures can avoid additional risks.

Prostate stromal cells can contribute to prostate tumorigenesis. Here the authors show that the loss of androgen receptor signalling in Gli1-lineage stromal cells diminishes prostate epithelial oncogenic transformation and tumor growth in mouse models and this is due to insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3-mediated inhibiting IGF1 and Wnt/β-catenin signalling activation.

A photon-number Bell state is generated from a quantum dot by controlling the light–matter entanglement during spontaneous emission. This excitation protocol can be scaled up by using N consecutive π-pulses to deliver multimode photonic entanglement.

Glioma tumours are known to be heterogenous in mutation and gene expression patterns, but sampling limitations can lead to inaccurate detection of evolutionary events. Here, the authors carry out multi-omics analysis of multi-regional biopsies from 68 patients and show differential mutations in non-enhancing regions.

This study presents the assembly and analysis of the genome sequence of a female domestic Duroc pig and a comparison with the genomes of wild and domestic pigs from Europe and Asia; the results shed light on the evolutionary relationship between European and Asian wild boars.

Virus-induced senescence is a central pathogenic feature in COVID-19, and senolytics, which promote apoptosis of senescent cells, can reduce disease severity in hamsters,mice, as well as humans infected with SARS-CoV-2.

High efficiency, coherence and indistinguishability are key requirements for the application of single-photon sources for quantum technologies, but hard to achieve concurrently. A gated quantum dot in an open, tunable microcavity now can create single photons on-demand with an end-to-end efficiency of 57%, preserving coherence over microsecond-long trains of single photons.

Multi-ancestry genome-wide association analyses for birth weight in 153,781 individuals identified 60 genomic loci in which birth weight and fetal genotype were associated and found an inverse genetic correlation between birth weight and cardiometabolic risk.

Circadian clocks control daily rhythms of molecular and physiological activities. Here, the authors show that the interaction between proteins FRQ and CK1, rather than FRQ stability, is a major rate-limiting step in circadian period determination in the model fungus Neurospora.

The authors introduce an analytical approach for quantitative analysis of 3D atom dynamics during electron microscopy. They image a Co-Mo-S nanocrystal with 1.5 Å resolution, and observe chemical transformations caused by beam-stimulated vibrations.

A disordered metal–organic framework converts into a more porous, crystalline phase within 40 s following solvent exchange and desolvation. The rapid domino rearrangement of the whole lattice, which involves carboxylate migration on coordinatively unsaturated metal sites, is accompanied by a substantial increase in surface area.

CTLA-4 is an important co-inhibitory receptor for T cells. Here, the authors show that CTLA-4 also has a function on B-1a cells, as conditional deletion results in activation of these cells and knockout mice develop an autoimmune profile.

Hugh Watkins, Sekar Kathiresan, Ruth McPherson, Martin Farrall and colleagues report the results of a large genome-wide association meta-analysis of coronary artery disease based on 1000 Genomes imputation. They identify ten new risk loci and show that susceptibility to this disease is largely determined by common SNPs with small effect sizes.

In an inter-laboratory study, the authors compare the accuracy and performance of three optical density calibration protocols (colloidal silica, serial dilution of silica microspheres, and colony-forming unit (CFU) assay). They demonstrate that serial dilution of silica microspheres is the best of these tested protocols, allowing precise and robust calibration that is easily assessed for quality control and can also evaluate the effective linear range of an instrument.

The photoelectrochemical performance of carbon nitride is still insufficient for organic transformations. Here, the authors introduce a spin coating strategy for the synthesis of carbon nitride photoelectrodes, enabling high yields in C-H functionalization.

Analysis of HbA1c and FPG levels across 117 population-based studies demonstrates regional variation in prevalence of previously undiagnosed screen-detected diabetes using one or both measures and suggests that use of elevated FPG alone could underestimate diabetes prevalence in low- and middle-income countries.

Constructing a reference genome for quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) allows for genetic diversity during the evolution of sub-genomes in quinoa to be characterized and markers that may be used to develop sweet commercial varieties are identified.

Xu et al. develop a model that predicts the disclosure of self-harm and suicide ideation based on data from text-based counselling services. This model could potentially improve the preparedness of crisis workers.

The genomic profile and early transmission dynamics of the Omicron strain of SARS-CoV-2.

Drosophila neural stem cells (NSCs) are quiescent at early larval stages but how this is regulated is unclear. Here, Ding et al. show that quiescence of NSCs is mediated by cell-contact inhibition via the Hippo pathway transmembrane proteins Crumbs and Echinoid, which in turn are regulated by nutrient levels.

Unlike Amazonian forests, African forests have maintained their carbon sink until recently but by 2030 the African carbon sink will have shrunk by 14 per cent and the Amazonian sink will reach almost zero.

Developing efficient and reusable artificial catalysts for peptide bond hydrolysis is challenging. This work presents the catalytic properties of a Zr-MOF, MIP-201, which features excellent catalytic activity and selectivity, good condition tolerance, and exceptional recycling ability.

The HOPS complex mediates membrane tethering and autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Here, the authors biochemically reconstitute the mammalian HOPS in protoliposomes and propose a model of complex assembly that depends on Rab2 and Rab39A.

Amoedo-Leite et al. report that, in ischemic tissue, a subset of macrophages adopts mural cell-like morphology, gene expression and function, which is crucial for injury healing.