Identifying dehydration-induced shear velocity anomaly in the Earth's core-mantle boundary.

The steep temperature gradient near the bottom of the mantle is known to generate a negative correlation between the shear wave velocity ( ) and the depth in most regions of the D″ layer, as detected by seismological observations. However, increasing with depth is observed at the D″ layer beneath Central America, where the Farallon slab sinks, and the origin of this anomaly has not been well constrained. Here, we calculate the thermoelastic constants and obtain the elastic wave velocities of hydrous phase H with various Al contents and cation configurations, which may act as a water carrier to the D″ layer.

Boosting the oxygen reduction activity on metal surfaces by fine-tuning interfacial water with midinfrared stimulation.

Heterogeneous catalysis at the metal surface generally involves the transport of molecules through the interfacial water layer to access the surface, which is a rate-determining step at the nanoscale. In this study, taking the oxygen reduction reaction on a metal electrode in aqueous solution as an example, using accurate molecular dynamic simulations, we propose a novel long-range regulation strategy in which midinfrared stimulation (MIRS) with a frequency of approximately 1,000 cm is applied to nonthermally induce the structural transition of interfacial water from an ordered to disordered state, facilitating the access of oxygen molecules to metal surfaces at room temperature and increasing the oxygen reduction activity 50-fold. Impressively, the theoretical prediction is confirmed by the experimental observation of a significant discharge voltage increase in zinc-air batteries under MIRS.

Distinct evolution patterns of influenza viruses and implications for vaccine development.

In conclusion, the distinct evolution patterns of panzootic influenza A(H5Nx) compared to A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) complicate vaccine development. Effective strategies must consider these unique patterns and the impact of pre-existing immunity. Leveraging AI-based methods for optimized antigen design is essential to mitigate the potential impact of emerging antigenically variable strains and will provide valuable insights for developing more effective vaccines to prepare for future pandemics.

Photopyroelectric tweezers for versatile manipulation.

Optical tweezers and related techniques offer extraordinary opportunities for research and applications in physical, biological, and medical fields. However, certain critical requirements, such as high-intensity laser beams, sophisticated electrode designs, additional electric sources, or low-conductive media, significantly impede their flexibility and adaptability, thus hindering their practical applications. Here, we report innovative photopyroelectric tweezers (PPT) that combine the advantages of light and electric field by utilizing a rationally designed photopyroelectric substrate with efficient and durable photo-induced surface charge-generation capability, enabling diverse manipulation in various working scenarios.

Urban sensing in the era of large language models.

Urban sensing has become increasingly important as cities evolve into the centers of human activities. Large language models (LLMs) offer new opportunities for urban sensing based on commonsense and worldview that emerged through their language-centric framework. This paper illustrates the transformative impact of LLMs, particularly in the potential of advancing next-generation urban sensing for exploring urban mechanisms.

Climate effects of ecosystem change converge according to the ratio of the daytime to daily vapor flux.

Ecosystem changes can simultaneously generate various climate-related effects, such as evapotranspiration (vapor flux) effects, carbon-cycle effects, and surface temperature effects. These effects are coupled with one another because they are generated through the same biophysical and biogeochemical processes. Consequently, given an easily measurable effect, other effects can be predicted from the measured effect.

Examining spatiotemporal dynamics of CO emission at multiscale based on nighttime light data.

Carbon emissions have increasingly been the focus of all governments as countries throughout the world choose carbon neutrality as a national development strategy. The analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of CO emission has emerged as a significant research topic considering the dual-carbon goal. In this research, we explore the spatiotemporal changes of CO emission at different scales based on nighttime light data.

The evolution of ovarian somatic cells characterized by transcriptome and chromatin accessibility across rodents, monkeys, and humans.

The ovary plays a crucial role in the reproductive system of female mammals by producing mature oocytes through folliculogenesis. Non-human model organisms are extensively utilized in research on human ovarian biology, thus necessitating the investigation of conservation and divergence in molecular mechanisms across species. In this study, we employed integrative single-cell analysis of transcriptome and chromatin accessibility to identify the evolutionary conservation and divergence patterns of ovaries among humans, monkeys, mice, rats, and rabbits.

When synthetic biology meets medicine.

In recent years, the world has faced significant challenges with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as other infectious diseases such as Zika and Ebola. Furthermore, the rapid rise of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer has placed tremendous strain on healthcare resources and systems. Unfortunately, advancements in drug development, diagnostics, and therapeutics have struggled to keep pace with the emergence and progression of diseases, necessitating the exploration of new technologies for the discovery and development of biomedicines and biotherapies.

Tracing TMEM106B fibril deposition in aging and Parkinson's disease with dementia brains.

Transmembrane protein 106B (TMEM106B), previously identified as a risk factor in frontotemporal lobar degeneration, has recently been detected to form fibrillar aggregates in the brains of patients with various neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and normal elders. While the specifics of when and where TMEM106B fibrils accumulate in human brains, as well as their connection to aging and disease progression, remain poorly understood. Here, we identified an antibody (NBP1-91311) that directly binds to TMEM106B fibrils extracted from the brain and to Thioflavin S-positive TMEM106B fibrillar aggregates in brain sections.

A biomarker framework for liver aging: the Aging Biomarker Consortium consensus statement.

In human aging, liver aging per se not only increases susceptibility to liver diseases but also increases vulnerability of other organs given its central role in regulating metabolism. Total liver function tends to be well maintained in the healthy elderly, so liver aging is generally difficult to identify early. In response to this critical challenge, the Aging Biomarker Consortium of China has formulated an expert consensus on biomarkers of liver aging by synthesizing the latest scientific literature, comprising insights from both scientists and clinicians.

Corrigendum to "Panax notoginseng saponins promotes angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury"[J Ginseng Res 48(6), November 2024, 592-602].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.

Heating up the roof of the world: tracing the impacts of warming on carbon cycle in alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau.

Climate warming may induce substantial changes in the ecosystem carbon cycle, particularly for those climate-sensitive regions, such as alpine grasslands on the Tibetan Plateau. By synthesizing findings from warming experiments, this review elucidates the mechanisms underlying the impacts of experimental warming on carbon cycle dynamics within these ecosystems. Generally, alterations in vegetation structure and prolonged growing season favor strategies for enhanced ecosystem carbon sequestration under warming conditions.

Abnormal adipose tissue-derived microbes drive metabolic disorder and exacerbate postnatal growth retardation in piglet.

Postnatal growth retardation (PGR) frequently occurs during early postnatal development of piglets and induces high mortality. To date, the mechanism of PGR remains poorly understood. Adipose tissue-derived microbes have been documented to be associated with several disorders of metabolism and body growth.

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase regulates systemic lipid homeostasis via glycosylation-dependent lipoprotein production.

Interorgan lipid transport is crucial for organism development and the maintenance of physiological function. Here, we demonstrate that long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase (dAcsl), which catalyzes the conversion of fatty acids into acyl-coenzyme As (acyl-CoAs), plays a critical role in regulating systemic lipid homeostasis. dAcsl deficiency in the fat body led to the ectopic accumulation of neutral lipids in the gut, along with significantly reduced lipoprotein contents in both the fat body and hemolymph.