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Skilled reaching movements are critical for survival. Here, the authors show in mice that the parafascicular (Pf) and ventroanterior/ventrolaber (VAL) nuclei of the thalamus govern distinct circuits related to reaching direction and speed, respectively.

Composites of carbon nanotubes and superconductors provide technologically important new, or improved, functionalities. Here, with a chemical solution approach, well-aligned carbon nanotube forests embedded in a superconducting NbC matrix are shown to effectively enhance the superconducting properties of NbC.

In situ synchrotron X-ray tools are used to perform microstrain screening during solid-state synthesis of battery materials, leading to fewer structural defects and improved performance.

This study aims to address a critical knowledge gap concerning the unique microstructure in 3D-printed metals by quantitatively characterizing the phase and dislocation density during the printing process using operando synchrotron X-ray diffraction.

Li-In alloys are widely used as reference materials in the research field of solid-state lithium-based batteries. Here, the authors report and discuss the instability of Li-In electrodes towards sulfide solid electrolytes in all-solid-state batteries.

Self-assembled multidomain supramolecular peptide hydrogels that engage in dynamic covalent bonding with small-molecule drugs and biologics are shown to offer sustained release, extend the activity, and maintain safe and potent drug levels in vivo.

Designing electrode architectures for Li-ion batteries that can be reversibly accessible for ion storage can be challenging. Using operando techniques the mechanistic origin of lithiation-induced phase transformations in a V₂O₅ model cathode is now clarified.

The bactericidal action of some antibiotics is associated with increased ATP consumption, cellular respiration, and reactive oxygen species formation. Here, Li et al. show that constitutive hydrolysis of ATP and NADH (or ‘bioenergetic stress’) potentiates the evolution of antibiotic resistance and persistence in E. coli.

Although IL-31 has been implicated in asthma, the exact contribution of the IL-31 receptor (IL-31RA) signalling to airway hyperresponsiveness remains unexplored. Here, the authors demonstrate that IL31RA promotes muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 3 expression and calcium signalling, as well as smooth muscle cell contraction.

Earth-abundant Ni-X (X= Zn, Ga, In) bimetallic nanocrystals are achieved via colloidal synthesis and studied as alkyne semihydrogenation catalysts, for which the Ni₃Zn composition is found to offer an optimal balance between selectivity and activity.

The repair of soft tissues with anisotropic structures, such as spinal dura mater, requires the use of biomaterials to guide tissue directional growth while minimizing epidural fibrotic adhesion. Here, the authors report a Janus SIS via silk-based hydrogel coatings, which provides extracellular matrix-mimicking features and anti-adhesion performance for spinal dural defect repair.

Genomic structural invariance, an extension of genomic structural equation modeling, identifies similarities and differences between males and females in the genetic architectures of eight psychiatric disorders spanning three broad factors.

The authors predict the Pockels effect of ScAlN with varying Sc concentration, realizing a ScAlN-on-insulator-on-silicon material platform, which allows the formation of low-loss, electrically-tunable microring resonators for accurate measurement of ScAlN’s Pockels coefficients.

X-ray Fourier-transform holography has been restricted by a limited choice of reference waves. Here, Martin et al.demonstrate X-ray Fourier-transform holography with an almost unrestricted choice for the reference wave, allowing greater flexibility in the design of holographic experiments.

Electrolytic water splitting requires high electrical energy consumption. Here, the authors report a new type of electrolyser that thanks to palladium-doped titania nanotubes oxidizes bio-alcohols, resulting in energy-convenient hydrogen generation as well as valuable chemical production.

Nanoparticle-based ‘microgauges’ are developed for in vivo force sensing and deployed in C. elegans to investigate how mechanical force correlates with electrical signalling in neuromuscular organs.

DNA transactions promote torsional constraints that pose inherent risks to genome integrity. Here the authors identify the macro-histone splice variant macroH2A1.1 as an epigenetic modulator of topoisomerase 1-associated genome maintenance. MacroH2A1.1 expression determines sensitivity to TOP1 poisons and may present a cancer vulnerability.

Metabolic, immune and endocrine systems undergo seasonal changes in animals. Here the authors report the seasonal transcriptome of 80 tissues collected over 1 year from male and female rhesus macaques as well as sex differences in seasonally oscillating genes.

Battery cathodes tend to degrade severely during high-voltage operations. Here the authors present a cathode design with a structurally coherent architecture, ranging from ordered to disordered frameworks, that addresses this issue.

Single photon devices are needed for many future technologies, but resolving the color of single photons in a compact architecture is still a challenge. The authors present a broadband, chip-scale spectrometer for measuring single photon wavelengths from 600 to 2000 nm with no moving parts.

Lee et al. use three-dimensional cell reconstruction of focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy data and multi-omics to show that ether-lipid metabolism regulates inter-organelle biogenesis and dynamics.

Here authors investigate the effects of different metals incorporated in the structures and possible additional phases have on the CO₂ uptake of pyrene-based MOFs. Results show that when additional phases are present, the pore volume is reduced and CO₂ binding sites in the structure are different, leading to different adsorption properties.

Zeolites are porous aluminosilicate molecular sieves with uniform pores of molecular dimensions that have a wide range of applications. Here authors use machine learning to guide zeolite synthesis and predict the structure and properties of faujasite zeolites from synthesis conditions.

To date, brain gene therapies require high vector doses. Here, authors devised an AAV capsid screen and found variants with unprecedented potency for transduction of deep brain and cortical neurons and human iPSC-neurons with cell tropism relevant for Huntington’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Rechargeable Na/Cl₂ and Li/Cl₂ batteries are produced with a microporous carbon positive electrode, aluminium chloride in thionyl chloride as the electrolyte, and either sodium or lithium as the negative electrode.

Nickel hydroxide is a promising material for capacitor electrodes and most research has focussed on the crystalline form. Here, the authors report that amorphous nickel hydroxide nanospheres, which may be synthesized relatively easily, also exhibit excellent integrated electrochemical performance.

Silver nanoparticles are useful antimicrobial agents in water purification systems. Here the fabrication of silver nanoparticles that include a magnetic layer could lead to improved purification systems as it allows the recovery of the nanoparticles by magnetic fields.

It remains unclear why some decisions take longer than others even when the sensory inputs are similar. Here, the authors show that both initial neural state and sensory input combine in the premotor cortex to influence the speed and geometry of neural population activity during decisions.

In situ tests show that all-inorganic lead halide perovskite micropillars can morph into distinct shapes without affecting their optoelectronic properties and bandgap, which provides insights into the plastic deformation of semiconductors and also shows their potential for manufacturing relevant devices.

Intestinal aging is associated with declines in structure and absorption of nutrients. Here, the authors show that aging related intestinal decline is mediated by activation of the mTORC1-p38MAPK-p53 pathway in intestinal stem cells and can be ameliorated by abrogating mTORC1 or p38MAPK activity.

The soils of urban greenspaces are strikingly rich. This study finds that the variety of microbial life there is linked to acidic conditions and that this diversity is more homogenous than found in farmland soils.

Eukaryotic DNA replication is regulated to ensure copying of the genome (only) once per cell cycle. Here the authors, using optical trapping and confocal microscopy, demonstrate the dynamics of the origin recognition complex and subsequent intermediates that lead up to the loading of an MCM helicase onto DNA.

Crystallization of noble metal atoms usually leads to the thermodynamically stable face-centred cubic phase. Sunet al. show that internal strain in silver nanoparticles leads to lattice distortion and a stable body-centred tetragonal phase.

Elevated levels of Dickkopf-1 (DKK1), a soluble inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, are associated with poor prognosis in patients with breast cancer. Here the authors show that bone- and cancer-associated fibroblast-derived DKK1 contribute to breast cancer progression by suppressing NK cell cytotoxicity

Wide use of graphene nanosheets has raised concerns about the potential for environmental toxicity. Here, the authors explore the use of humic acid, traditionally considered to reduce graphene nanosheet toxicity, and show the coating has increased toxicity to model bacteria.

Fibers derived from non-silk proteins hold potential for various biomedical applications, but mechanically-balanced and highly-biocompatible regenerated protein fibers are elusive. Here, the authors report an entanglement-reinforced strategy to fabricate keratin/albumin bio-fibers that show high strength and toughness, along with favorable biocompatibility, degradability and immunocompatibility.

Allele-preferential transcription factor binding can influence pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma risk loci function. Here, the authors show allele-specific JunB and JunD binding at chr1p36.33 and propose a role for KLHL17 in protein homeostasis by mitigating inflammation.

The authors proposed to cascade N polarization-multiplexed metasurfaces for 2^N electrically switchable channels without intrinsic loss or cross-talk. A 3-layer setup with 8 channels for beam steering and orbital angular momentum (OAM) generation is demonstrated.

The underlying mechanism of lithium dendrite penetration through ceramic electrolytes is debated. Here, authors employ MD simulations to enable atomic-scale investigation in the process of dendrite penetration and the concurrent development of cracks during solid state lithium battery operation.

Spin–orbit torque switching in a two-terminal magnetoresistive random access memory cell can reduce critical write current by more than 70% compared with an equivalent spin-transfer torque device.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells facilitate anti-microbial responses, but their functions in cancer protection is unclear. Here the authors show that activated MAIT cells induce an IFN-γ transcriptome in natural killer (NK) cells and enhance NK-dependent anti-cancer immunity in mice, thereby hinting a new avenue for cancer therapy.

Adenosine is an immunosuppressive metabolite known to limit anti-tumor immune responses. Here the authors report the characterization of an adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) eGFP reporter mouse, providing immunological insights into the biology of A2AR expression in the context of anti-tumor immunity.

Exploring low-cost, efficient catalysts to replace platinum is crucial for electrocatalytic hydrogen generation. Here, the authors report a termination-acidity strategy that boosts the activity of molybdenum carbides, achieving a low overpotential and sustaining hydrogen generation for over 200 h.

DNA-mediated assembly of hollow nanoparticles can be used in an edge-bonding approach to design and synthesize nanoscale open-channel superlattices, with control of symmetry, geometry and topology.

It is unclear whether microbes can efficiently degrade biodegradable plastics in the extreme environmental conditions of the seafloor. Here, Omura et al. show that biodegradable plastics can be degraded by the action of microorganisms on the deep-sea floor, although with much less efficiency than in coastal settings.

The ultrathin oxide nanosheets obtained through previous approaches usually exhibit amorphism or polycrystallinity, which limit their properties towards electronic devices. Here, the authors synthesize ultrathin antimony oxide single crystals with high dielectric constant (~100) and large breakdown voltage (~5.7 GV m⁻¹).

Chronic wounds significantly diminish quality of life. Here, the authors developed a wearable LED device and sprayable fibrin gel for safe home use. The LED device and fibrin gel effectively eradicated microbes and improved wound healing, as validated in infected diabetic wounds in mice and minipigs