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This manuscript evaluates forecasts of laboratory-confirmed influenza hospital admissions, a new target for influenza forecasting in the United States. Across two influenza seasons, the FluSight ensemble is robust compared to submitted models.

Common genetic variants associated with plasma lipids have been extensively studied for a better understanding of common diseases. Here, the authors use whole-genome sequencing of 16,324 individuals to analyze rare variant associations and to determine their monogenic and polygenic contribution to lipid traits.

Circulating lipoprotein(a) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease and shows variability between different ethnic groups. Here, Zekavat et al. perform whole-genome sequencing in individuals of European and African ancestries and find ancestry-specific genetic determinants for lipoprotein(a) levels.

Immunoglobulin (Ig) rearrangement and translocation information are usually obtained by targeted sequencing of the respective loci. Here, the authors present the IgCaller algorithm, which extracts Ig heavy and light chain genetic properties from short-read whole-genome sequencing results to provide a feasible alternative to direct sequencing.

Several genomic features have been found for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) but targeted clinical genetic testing fails to predict prognosis. Here, the authors generate an AML prognostic score from RNA-seq data of patients, which successfully stratifies AML patients and which may provide guidance for therapeutic strategies.

A possible kilonova associated with a nearby, long-duration gamma-ray burst suggests that gamma-ray bursts with long and complex light curves can be spawned from the merger of two compact objects, contrary to the established gamma-ray burst paradigm.

Liu et al. developed a platform to identify transcription factors (TFs) that turn stem cells into desired cell types. They discovered six key TFs that produce microglia efficiently, enhancing cell differentiation methods.

Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UCAR) is associated with various clinical outcomes such as kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Here, the authors report genome-wide meta-analysis in over 500,000 individuals and find 68 UACR loci, followed by statistical fine-mapping, gene prioritization and experimental validation in flies.

Stephanie London, Martin Tobin and colleagues report meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies for forced vital capacity (FVC), a spirometric measure of pulmonary function that reflects lung volume. They identify six regions newly associated with FVC and demonstrate that candidate genes at these loci are expressed in lung tissue and primary lung cells.

What agents of selection shape creatures in the wild? The answer for the brown anole lizard seems to be competition with its fellows, rather than predation from without. Bird or snake predators were included or excluded across six Caribbean islands that ranged from low to high population densities of lizards. Although the presence of predators altered lizard behaviour, it was increases in lizard population density that altered the lizard's phenotype, favouring larger size, longer legs and increased stamina for running.

Exploratory post hoc analysis of molecular residual disease from the ADAURA trial of adjuvant osimertinib in patients with resected EGFR-mutated stage IB–IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer shows that molecular residual disease detection predicts disease recurrence with long-term adjuvant osimertinib treatment.

Mesenchymal-epithelial crosstalk plays a key role in gut development and stem cell homeostasis, though underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Here, the authors demonstrate that mesenchymal Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 controls niche signals for gut epithelial fate and growth.

This study supports neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) in both cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood as an early marker of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease but suggests that NfL in CSF may be better suited than blood for monitoring clinical trial outcomes in symptomatic patients.

Trans-ancestry meta-analysis of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from 1,046,070 individuals identifies 264 associated loci, providing a resource of molecular targets for translational research of chronic kidney disease.

Low-pressure wind tunnel experiments suggest that the aerodynamic roughness length on Mars, over rippled beds and under active saltation, may be dominated by form drag, reaching values up to two orders of magnitude larger than typically assumed.

The non-coding RNA RNU4-2, which is highly expressed in the developing human brain, is identified as a syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder gene, and, using RNA sequencing, 5′ splice-site use is shown to be systematically disrupted in individuals with RNU4-2 variants.

The authors assess the growing field of climate change health impact attribution. They show literature bias towards direct heat effects and extreme weather in high-income countries, highlighting the lack of global representation in current efforts.

Combination of epidemiology, preclinical models and ultradeep DNA profiling of clinical cohorts unpicks the inflammatory mechanism by which air pollution promotes lung cancer

Here the authors evaluate single cell gene expression from mouse and human Huntington’s disease brains, finding incomplete oligodendrocyte maturation and pathways involved. Treating mice with thiamine/biotin ameliorates molecular pathology.

Post-international travel quarantine has been widely implemented to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission, but the impacts of such policies are unclear. Here, the authors used linked genomic and contact tracing data to assess the impacts of a 14-day quarantine on return to England in summer 2020.

Past genome-wide associate studies have identified hundreds of genetic loci that influence body size and shape when examined one trait at a time. Here, Jeff and colleagues develop an aggregate score of various body traits, and use meta-analysis to find new loci linked to body shape.

In this study, Aggarwal and colleagues perform prospective sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 isolates derived from asymptomatic student screening and symptomatic testing of students and staff at the University of Cambridge. They identify important factors that contributed to within university transmission and onward spread into the wider community.

Genome-wide association analysis of an improved telomere length score, calculated from quantitative PCR and whole-genome sequencing measurements in 462,666 individuals in the UK Biobank, identifies novel genes and variants underlying this trait.

On the electrocardiogram, the PR interval reflects conduction from the atria to ventricles and also serves as risk indicator of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Here, the authors perform genome-wide meta-analyses for PR interval in multiple ancestries and identify 141 previously unreported genetic loci.

Ruth Loos and colleagues report results of a large genome-wide association study for body mass index. They identify 18 new loci associated with this trait, some of which map near key hypothalamic regulators of energy balance.

In the context of succinate uptake to promote adipose tissue browning, Reddy, Winther et al. show how the directionality of succinate transport across membranes is coupled with metabolic flux-derived changes in pH gradients.

Siew et al. using multi-omic, physiological & imaging approaches have demonstrated that spaceflight causes kidney remodelling, suggesting a contribution to kidney stone formation, & that space radiation causes kidney damage & early signs of dysfunction.

This paper compares the frequency and genetic basis of clonal hematopoiesis in 136,401 admixed American participants from the Mexico City Prospective Cohort with 416,118 largely European ancestry individuals from the UK Biobank cohort.

Safely opening university campuses has been a major challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, the authors describe a program of public health measures employed at a university in the United States which, combined with other non-pharmaceutical interventions, allowed the university to stay open in fall 2020 with limited evidence of transmission.

In the scramble to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, many nations are examining their agriculture and land-use sectors. In Ireland, while net-zero emissions by 2050 are feasible through a reduction in meat and dairy production and smart land management, carbon neutrality beyond 2050 may prove fleeting.

Two side-by-side papers report that H3K27me3 deposited by polycomb repressive complex 2 represents an epigenetic barrier that restricts naive human pluripotent cell differentiation into alternative lineages including trophoblasts.

The molecular characteristics of myocarditis associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors are described and potential biomarkers of onset and severity are identified.

A high-resolution reference panel based on whole-genome sequencing data enables accurate imputation of HLA alleles across diverse populations and fine-mapping of HLA association signals for HIV-1 host response.

Post-stroke walking impairment is a significant public health concern. Here, the authors perform an interventional, randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of InTandem™, an autonomous neurorehabilitation system utilizing auditory-motor entrainment to improve walking after stroke.

Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is a common subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Here the authors carry out a two-stage genome-wide association study in over 8,000 Europeans and identify two new MZL risk loci at chromosome 6p, implicating the major histocompatibility complex in the disease for the first time.

An international consortium reports the genomic sequence for ten Drosophila species, and compares them to two other previously published Drosophila species. These data are invaluable for drawing evolutionary conclusions across an entire phylogeny of species at once.

A multi-omic analysis of pancreatic cancer identifies spatially resolved, heterogeneous cell populations including transitional cell types. Analysis of primary samples identifies treatment-related changes in cross-talk between tumor and stromal cells.

An integrated analysis of de novo and inherited coding variants in 42,607 individuals with autism spectrum disorder identifies 60 risk genes of which five have not previously been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Aerobic oxidation of isolable organonickel complexes enables reliable cross-coupling of aryl electrophiles with oxygen-, nitrogen-, sulfur- and phosphorus-based nucleophiles. Organonickel complexes are electroreductively prepared from simple aryl electrophiles and inexpensive metal complexes, and the chemistry can be applied in high-throughput coupling reactions of medicinally relevant substrates.