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Giardini et al. present an imaging method that combines quantitative measurements of cardiac electrophysiology with high-resolution three-dimensional structural reconstructions, enabling the detection of arrhythmogenic electrical coupling between cardiomyocytes and non-myocytes in murine hearts.

Understanding collective behaviour is an important aspect of managing the pandemic response. Here the authors show in a large global study that participants that reported identifying more strongly with their nation reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies in the context of the pandemic.

Chronic care manages long-term, progressive conditions, while acute care handles short-term ones. Here, authors show chronic conditions account for most of the global health burden, with 68% of DALYs and 93% of YLDs attributed to chronic care needs.

In this Stage 2 Registered Report, Buchanan et al. show evidence confirming the phenomenon of semantic priming across speakers of 19 diverse languages.

Extending quantum photonics’ capabilities from simple linear-optics-based schemes to universal quantum computing presents several challenges, but intermediate regimes with some degree of adaptivity might already bring practical advantages. Here, the authors experimentally emulate an adaptive Boson Sampling scheme using post-selection, and apply it to a data classification task.

Integrated photonic circuits with arbitrary control over the light polarization state are important in quantum information applications. Corrielli et al. realize compact quantum state tomography of polarization-entangled photons using waveguide-integrated waveplates fabricated by femtosecond laser inscription.

As quantum information processing continues to develop apace, the need for integrated photonic devices becomes ever greater for both fundamental measurements and technological applications. To this end, Crespiet al.demonstrate a high-fidelity photonic controlled-NOT gate on a glass chip.

It has been previously shown theoretically that the average path length of random walks inside a closed domain is invariant. Here the authors demonstrate that this invariance property can be used to predict the mean residence time of swimming bacteria exploring structured micro-environments.

For the development and application of quantum technologies, devices capable of implementing more than two-photon processes are vital. Towards this aim, Spagnolo et al.build a three-port beam splitter and demonstrate mutual interference between the three photons.

The direct conversion of light into work allows the control of micromotors, but typically with low efficiencies and high power density requirements. Here, Maggiet al. demonstrate efficient thermocapillary propulsion of microgears on a liquid–air interface with wide-field, incoherent illumination.

Moreno-Loaiza et al. found that interleukin-1β, acting upon cardiac resident macrophages, promotes atrial fibrillation in mice, and this mechanism may represent a common pathway connecting various risk factors to this arrhythmia.

Bloch oscillations are oscillatory motions of particles in a periodic potential. The observation of fractional Bloch oscillations in a photonic model system by Corrielli and colleagues offers alternative means to study this quantum phenomenon in systems other than natural crystals.

Transferring quantum information is a fundamental task, but doing so with high fidelity is a challenging task. Here, the authors implement the perfect state transfer protocol to a photonic qubit, entangled with a second one in a different location, across eleven coupled waveguides.

Light can be used to rotate micrometric turbines that usually rely on scattering to redistribute optical momentum and generate a mechanical torque. Here, 3D microfabricated light guiding structures can reroute an incoming flow of optical energy to generate a strong, uniform and controllable torque.

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

Systematic analysis from the Global Burden of Disease study reported that, despite global improvements from 1990 to 2021, dietary iron deficiency-associated disease burden remains high in women, children and residents in low socio-demographic index countries.

Transport of colloidal cargoes to target sites can be done by controlling active carriers, like self-propelled bacteria, under external stimuli. Koumakis et al.show that bacteria can autonomously achieve the same goal when moving over pre-designed asymmetric microstructures.

Lupin crops provide nutritious seeds as an excellent source of dietary protein. Here, the authors report the genome assemblies of Lupinus cosentinii and its pan-Saharan wild relative L. digitatus, their genome constitution, the evolutionary process within the rough-seeded lupins, and rediploidization events.

Colloidal solids have provided insights into complex condensed matter phenomena like 2D melting transitions and glass dynamics. Here, the authors explore active solids, revealing that a magnetic colloidal crystal activated by light-driven bacteria exhibits multiple effective temperatures and a new active melting route.

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori, often found in the human stomach, can be classified into distinct subpopulations associated with the geographic origin of the host. Here, the authors provide insights into H. pylori population structure by collecting over 1,000 clinical strains from 50 countries and generating and analyzing high-quality bacterial genome sequences.

The complete maximisation of the entanglement between two complementary blocks of spins due to the dynamics of spin chains remains to be observed. Here, Pitsios et al. simulate such dynamics by propagating single photons in an integrated photonic circuit.

Kinesin-1 utilizes ATP-driven conformational changes to transport vital intracellular cargoes along microtubules. The authors use cryo-EM to reveal a missing structural transition state of the kinesin-1 motor domain during ADP release that is unaffected by its autoinhibitory tail.

Studying quantum transport in biological systems is difficult so developing an artificial platform that can be used to understand quantum transport is desirable. Here, Caruso, et al. demonstrate how a quantum walker can quickly reach the output of a maze by partially suppressing the presence of interference.

Common bean is an evolutionary model for studying adaptive diversity in legumes. Here, the authors present the common bean pangenome based on five high-quality genomes and whole-genome reads of 339 wild and domesticated genotypes, and reveal adaptive gene loss during expansion and domestication.

A global multi-taxon extinction risk assessment of freshwater fauna for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species finds one-quarter of species to be at high risk of extinction.

Researchers observe Anderson localization for pairs of polarization-entangled photons in a discrete quantum walk affected by position-dependent disorder. By exploiting polarization entanglement of photons to simulate different quantum statistics, they experimentally investigate the interplay between the Anderson localization mechanism and the bosonic/fermionic symmetry of the wave function.

Computational speedup in photonic quantum devices depends on multi-particle interference, which must be certified through known benchmark algorithms. Here, to this end, the authors develop a scalable approach for the implementation of the fast Fourier transform algorithm in 3D photonic integrated interferometers.

 Light can be used to precisely modulate the speed of active particles in space and time. Here, the authors rectify and confine bacteria using an optical feedback loop that couples bacteria topast configurations.

To address the controversy regarding the validation of an experiment that is hard to simulate, boson-sampling experiments are implemented with three photons in randomly designed integrated chips with up to 13 modes. It is experimentally demonstrated that the Aaronson–Arkhipov test allows boson-sampling experiments to be distinguished from uniformly drawn samples.

The mechanical forces exerted by active fluids may provide an effective way of transporting microscopic objects, but the details remain elusive. Using space modulated activity, Pellicciotta et al. generate active pressure gradients capable of transporting passive particles in controlled directions.

Self-propelled Janus particles with externally regulated anisotropic interactions can be made to swarm, cluster and form slithering chains.

Bacteria are able to propel themselves and thus drive systems out of equilibrium. Here the authors aim to control this motion and exploit it in microengineered motors which are powered by genetically modified bacteria and driven by light.

The boson-sampling problem was demonstrated by studying three-photon interference in a five-mode integrated interferometer containing three-dimensional S-bent waveguides. Three single photons were input into the interferometer and the probability ratios of all events were measured. The results agree with quantum mechanical predictions for three-photon interference.

Tissue fluidification in invasive breast carcinoma is accompanied by mechanical stresses that compromise nuclear integrity and liberate DNA, resulting in the activation of a pro-inflammatory response that shape tumour evolution and progression.

This study uncovers the role of epigenetic H2A monoubiquitination in the mouse brain’s response to chronic cocaine use. It also identifies genetic variations in humans linked to H2A monoubiquitination, modifying susceptibility to cocaine addiction and aggression, and paving the way for tailored treatments.

Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) shows potential for cancer therapies, but response rates vary. Here, the authors use single-cell analyses to show that, in a 28 patient cohort, patients stratified by mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) percentages show different response rates, and ICI responders have more MAIT cells expressing CXCR4 and granzyme B.

Abatacept is an FDA-approved drug used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Here the authors show that abatacept reduces cardiomyocyte death in a mouse model of heart failure by inhibiting activation and heart infiltration of T cells and macrophages, an effect mediated by IL-10, suggesting a potential therapy for heart failure.

Analyses of the proportions of individuals who have completed key levels of schooling across all low- and middle-income countries from 2000 to 2017 reveal inequalities across countries as well as within populations.

High-resolution subnational mapping of child growth failure indicators for 105 low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017 shows that, despite considerable progress, substantial geographical inequalities still exist in some countries.

Most biological and artificial self-propelled particles tend to be attracted by solid walls on their swimming pathways. Vizsnyiczai et al. show that, unexpectedly, confining E. coli cells inside a channel triggers stable locomotion along the channel axis once the channel is narrower than a critical value.

COVID-19 is a serious pandemic threat to public health, but insights on the pathophysiological and immunological conditions are only emerging. Here the authors use multi-color flow cytometry to characterize CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral blood from 39 COVID-19 patients in Italy to report altered T cell activation, function and polarization.

Fine-scale geospatial mapping of overweight and wasting (two components of the double burden of malnutrition) in 105 LMICs shows that overweight has increased from 5.2% in 2000 to 6.0% in children under 5 in 2017. Although overall wasting decreased over the same period, most countries are not on track to meet the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target of <5% in over half of LMICs by 2025.