Table Of Contents Page, PNAS Volume 122, Number 28

The ciliated epithelium of the human respiratory tract is covered by the airway surface liquid, a protective fluid consisting of two layers: the periciliary layer (PCL), where motile cilia reside and generate fluid flow, and an overlying mucus layer. The ...

The thermal conductivities of crystals and glasses vary strongly and with opposite trends upon heating, decreasing in crystals and increasing in glasses. Here, we show that the dominant conduction mechanisms of crystals (particle-like propagation) and ...

Sliding friction between two dry surfaces is commonly described by the speed-independent Amonton–Coulomb friction force law. However, there are many situations where multiple frictional contact points between two surfaces are “active” and each can move at ...

In superresolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI), molecules spaced closer than the diffraction limit can be separated through spatial and temporal correlation analysis of the fluorescence intensity fluctuations. The resolution and speed of SOFI ...

Photosynthesis, the fundamental process sustaining life on Earth, depends on the photosystem II (PSII) reaction center’s ability to initiate the charge transport process. In this study, we have investigated this charge transport process with a focus on ...

Allosteric modulation of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) is an exciting strategy for developing new therapeutic agents, and it has several advantages over more commonly used orthosteric drugs. Recently determined GPCR structures have revealed ...

Introducing neuromorphic computing paradigms into taste-sensing technology will bring unprecedented opportunities for developing new hardware architectures with perceptual intelligence. Constructing the biomimetic gustatory system, however, remains a ...

The electrocatalytic semihydrogenation of acetylene (C₂H₂), powered by renewable electricity, provides an energy- and cost-efficient alternative to conventional thermocatalytic methods for purifying crude ethylene (C₂H₄) streams. This approach provides a ...

Water splitting for hydrogen production is essential in advancing the hydrogen economy. Multiprincipal element alloys offer promising opportunities for optimizing this process, yet their vast compositional space and the presence of local minima pose ...

In chemotaxis, motile bacteria recognize external molecules and move toward favorable concentrations. Chemoreceptors form complexes that perform transmembrane signaling, control a histidine kinase, and undergo posttranslational adaptational modifications. ...

Over 65 million individuals worldwide are estimated to have Long COVID (LC), a complex multisystemic condition marked by fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and other symptoms resembling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). With no ...

Transformers have a remarkable ability to learn and execute tasks based on examples provided within the input itself, without explicit prior training. It has been argued that this capability, known as in-context learning (ICL), is a cornerstone of ...

Speleothem δ¹⁸O records from central southern China have long been regarded as a key benchmark for Asian summer monsoon intensity. However, the similar δ¹⁸O minima observed among precession minima and their link to seasonal precipitation mixing remains ...

In order to proliferate, bacteria must remodel their cell wall at the division site. The division process is driven by the enzymatic activity of peptidoglycan synthases and hydrolases around the constricting Z-ring. We introduce a morphoelastic model that ...

Let N and p be prime numbers with $p\ge 5$ such that $p\mid \mid (N+1)$. In a previous paper, we showed that there is a cuspform f of weight 2 and level ${\mathrm{\Gamma }}_0(N^2)$ whose ℓ-th Fourier coefficient is congruent to $\ell +1$ modulo a prime above p for all primes ℓ. In this paper, we prove that this form ...${\mathbb{}}_{}$${\mathbb{}}_{}{}_{}{}_{}^{\mathrm{}}$$\mathrm{}$

The friction force typically increases linearly with normal load with a constant of proportionality called the coefficient of friction. Most materials exhibit a positive friction coefficient, so that an increase in the normal load leads to an increase in ...${\mathrm{}}^{\mathrm{}}$$$

Gratitude practice is a popular strategy for promoting happiness worldwide. However, is it equally effective for people from different cultural backgrounds? To answer this question, we conducted a preregistered meta-analysis on the effectiveness of ...

This research investigates the neurophysiological mechanisms of experiential versus monetary choices under risk. While ventral striatum and insula activity are instrumental in predicting monetary choices, we find that hippocampal activity plays a key role ...

Stimulus-driven, multiarea processing in the inferotemporal (IT) cortex is thought to be critical for transforming sensory inputs into useful representations of the world. What are the formats of these neural representations and how are they computed ...

How does social network structure amplify or stifle behavior diffusion? Existing theory suggests that when social reinforcement makes the adoption of behavior more likely, it should spread more—both farther and faster—on clustered networks with redundant ...

Historically, it was widely assumed that males dominate females socially in most mammals. However, recent studies revealed significant variation within and among species, opening new possibilities to explore the extent and drivers of sex biases in ...

The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a species-specific and environmentally friendly method for effectively controlling pest insect populations based on releasing reared, sterile insects into infested areas. Sex sorting in rearing facilities, enabling ...

Aberrant aggregates of the 42-residue form of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ₄₂) are cytotoxic in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Cost-effective and chronically safe disease-modifying therapeutics are needed to address the AD medical emergency worldwide. To increase ...

Peptidoglycan (PG), a defining feature of the bacterial cell envelope, is crucial for cell integrity and morphology. PG is a macromolecular mesh consisting of glycan polymers crosslinked by short peptides encasing the cytoplasmic membrane. PG peptides ...

Excessive degradation of the colonic mucin layer by Bacteroides within the human gut microbiota drives inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice. Bacterial carbohydrate sulfatases are key enzymes in gut colonization, and they are elevated in human IBD and ...

The ciliated epithelium of the human respiratory tract is covered by the airway surface liquid, a protective fluid consisting of two layers: the periciliary layer (PCL), where motile cilia reside and generate fluid flow, and an overlying mucus layer. The ...

In superresolution optical fluctuation imaging (SOFI), molecules spaced closer than the diffraction limit can be separated through spatial and temporal correlation analysis of the fluorescence intensity fluctuations. The resolution and speed of SOFI ...

In chemotaxis, motile bacteria recognize external molecules and move toward favorable concentrations. Chemoreceptors form complexes that perform transmembrane signaling, control a histidine kinase, and undergo posttranslational adaptational modifications. ...

In order to proliferate, bacteria must remodel their cell wall at the division site. The division process is driven by the enzymatic activity of peptidoglycan synthases and hydrolases around the constricting Z-ring. We introduce a morphoelastic model that ...

Photosynthesis, the fundamental process sustaining life on Earth, depends on the photosystem II (PSII) reaction center’s ability to initiate the charge transport process. In this study, we have investigated this charge transport process with a focus on ...

The C-terminal tail of cardiac troponin T (C-cTnT) inhibits thin filament activation and is a hotspot for cardiomyopathic mutations and variants. The mechanism whereby this region limits activation is not well understood. The last 16 C-terminal residues ...

Single-domain antibodies, such as variable heavy domain of heavy chain (VHH) domains from camelids, are an attractive platform for therapeutic purposes. VHHs have a smaller size than traditional antibodies, which harbors certain advantages such as tissue ...

The fidelity of template-dependent mRNA synthesis during transcription elongation is the primary determinant of accurate gene expression and the maintenance of functional RNA transcripts. However, the mechanisms governing transcription fidelity remain ...

Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) regulate gene expression in Escherichia coli bacteria in response to diverse stimuli in the environment and the host. Most sRNAs regulate mRNA expression by directly base pairing with complementary sites in the target mRNA ...

CDK12 primarily functions as a transcription regulatory cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) that controls mRNA elongation, splicing, and polyadenylation. The CDK12 gene is implicated in human cancers since it is frequently mutated and/or deleted in prostate and ...

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common and aggressive malignancy. While significant advances have been made in the management of low-grade cancer, treatment of advanced HNSCC remains challenging. Here, we used a proteomic approach to ...

To uncover substrates mediating the oncogenic activity of WWP1 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), we performed a proteomic analysis that identified the histone demethylase KDM5B/JARID1B as a candidate target. Of note, JARID1B is indispensable for efficient ...

Despite extensive efforts to develop strategies to inhibit cancer metastasis—the leading cause of cancer-related deaths—progress has been limited in recent decades. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) initiates metastasis by enhancing the migratory ...

Mycophenolic acid (MPA) is commonly used in immunosuppressive regimens following solid organ transplantation. We demonstrate that MPA treatment reproducibly inhibits the replication of a range of viruses, including severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus ...

Accumulation of cytosolic DNA has emerged as a hallmark of aging, inducing sterile inflammation. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) protein translates the sensing of cytosolic DNA by cyclic-GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) into an inflammatory response. ...

Mechanical forces are ubiquitous and essential during vertebrate development, yet how these forces are translated into biochemical signals and regulate development during postnatal organogenesis remains poorly understood. While early embryogenesis relies ...

The mammalian auditory system relies on the precise architecture of the hair cell stereociliary bundle for effective sound transduction. Each bundle consists of approximately 100 actin-filled stereocilia arranged in a three-row staircase pattern, forming ...

The mammalian cochlea loses its ability to regenerate hair cells (HCs) after birth. In contrast, in the avian auditory epithelium, the basilar papilla (BP), supporting cells (SCs) retain the capability for HC regeneration throughout life. Our previous ...

Identifying aging-associated biomarkers applicable for multiple tissues is challenging but crucial for assessing tissue aging. Here, we obtained and analyzed 456 transcriptomes on 17 organs from 30 C57BL/6 J mice with different ages, revealing the ...

Quantifying species’ niches across a clade reveals how environmental tolerances evolve, and offers insights into present and future distributions. We use herbarium specimens to explore climate niche evolution across 14 annual species of the Streptanthus (...

Northeastern US temperate forests are currently net carbon (C) sinks and play an important role offsetting anthropogenic C emissions, but projected climatic changes, including increased temperatures and decreased winter snowpack, may influence this C sink ...

Inferring coexistence metrics, such as niche and fitness differences, in changing environments is key for understanding the mechanism behind species coexistence and predicting its likelihood. However, it first requires estimating the per capita ...

Nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) pollution is an environmental problem of global concern because overenrichment of water bodies increases phytoplankton biomass and ecosystem metabolism, depletes oxygen in bottom waters, and increases the frequency and ...

Hovering, the ability to maintain a stationary position in fluid, is essential for many fish species during prey capture, habitat exploration, and mating. While traditionally assumed to be energetically inexpensive for fishes with a swim bladder, the ...

The Norwegian lemming (Lemmus lemmus) is a small rodent distributed across the Fennoscandian mountain tundra and the Kola Peninsula. The Norwegian lemming likely evolved during the Late Pleistocene and inhabited Fennoscandia shortly prior to the Last ...

Over 65 million individuals worldwide are estimated to have Long COVID (LC), a complex multisystemic condition marked by fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and other symptoms resembling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). With no ...

The gut microbiota is highly dynamic during the first year of life and plays a crucial role in immune development. Breastfeeding is known to support infant health, but the contributions of the numerous breastmilk components to gut microbiota and immune ...

Virus-induced excessive inflammatory response is a key contributor to pathology in respiratory viral infections. However, the underlying mechanisms by which viral infection provokes intense inflammatory reaction and how sustained inflammation leads to ...

Lung cancers and melanomas have many somatically mutated self-proteins that would be expected to trigger an immune rejection response, yet therapeutic responses can only be induced in a subset of patients. Here, we investigated the possibility that ...

Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor and preoperative genetic profiling is essential for the management of glioma patients. Our study focused on tumor regions segmentation and predicting the World Health Organization (WHO) grade, ...

The tissue hormone acyl coenzyme A–binding protein (ACBP, encoded by the gene diazepam-binding inhibitor, DBI) has been implicated in various facets of pathological aging. Here, we show that ACBP plasma concentrations are elevated in (close-to-)...

The regulation of metabolism in peripheral tissues is intricately linked to circadian rhythms, with hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF1α) implicated in modulating time-of-day-specific exercise responses. To investigate this relationship, we generated a ...

Cancer immunotherapy has shown tremendous promise in various cancers. However, current strategies, such as immune checkpoint blockade, primarily restore exhausted T cells but provide only transient efficacy, as the rapid clearance of antibodies. Their ...

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID are persistent multisystem illnesses affecting many patients. With no known effective FDA-approved treatments for either condition, patient-reported outcomes of treatments may ...

The mitotic inhibitor docetaxel (DTX) is often used to treat endocrine-refractory metastatic breast cancer, but initial responses are mitigated as patients develop disease progression. Using a cohort of ex vivo cultured circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from ...

Bone regeneration continues to be a challenge due to the complex nature of the tissue. Identifying new materials that stimulate regeneration while providing mechanical properties is an active area of research. One class of promising material in bone ...

Dengue is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease of humans, with over half the world’s population at risk. Infection with any of the four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes is most often self-limiting, but a significant number of cases present with ...

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) pose a significant public health threat, with host factors playing a crucial role in disease severity. We investigated the role of Bcl-2-interacting killer (BIK) in IAV infection using cellular and mouse models, and influenza-...

The human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) is a retrovirus that got assimilated into the human genome in ancient times and has been inherited in our germline ever since. It enters cells using a class-I spike protein (Env) that mediates receptor ...

Stimulus-driven, multiarea processing in the inferotemporal (IT) cortex is thought to be critical for transforming sensory inputs into useful representations of the world. What are the formats of these neural representations and how are they computed ...

Performance typically peaks at moderate arousal levels, consistent with the Yerkes–Dodson law, as confirmed by recent human and mouse pupillometry studies. Arousal states are influenced by neuromodulators like catecholamines (noradrenaline and dopamine) ...

Autophagic dysfunction is a hallmark of neurodegenerative disease, leaving neurons vulnerable to the accumulation of damaged organelles and aggregated proteins. However, the late onset of diseases suggests that compensatory quality control mechanisms may ...

Natural language unfolds over multiple nested timescales: Words form sentences, sentences form paragraphs, and paragraphs build into full narratives. Correspondingly, the brain exhibits a hierarchy of processing timescales, spanning from lower- to higher-...

Pain is both a sensory and emotional experience caused by various harmful stimuli. While numerous studies have explored peripheral and central pain mechanisms, the specific neural circuits linking the spinal cord to the brain remain poorly defined. In ...

The maintenance of excitatory synaptic activity is crucial for cognitive function and genetic mutations are responsible for the pathogenesis of related brain disorders. However, the roles of these pathogenic factors in synaptic dysregulation and cognitive ...

Glycogen is the largest energy reserve in the brain, but the specific role of glycogen in supporting neuronal energy metabolism in vivo is not well understood. We established a system in Caenorhabditis elegans to dynamically probe glycolytic states in ...

Allosteric modulation of G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) is an exciting strategy for developing new therapeutic agents, and it has several advantages over more commonly used orthosteric drugs. Recently determined GPCR structures have revealed ...

The cardiac sodium–calcium exchanger (NCX1) is a critical regulator of intracellular calcium (Ca) in cardiomyocytes. Although strongly regulated by pH, the role of NCX1 pH sensitivity in cardiac function and intracellular Ca regulation is not understood. ...

The intestinal-derived hormone motilin, a peptide belonging to the ghrelin family, induces strong gastric contractions and hunger sensations. However, whether motilin regulates food intake and its association with gastric motility remains unclear. Rodents ...

Progesterone receptor (PR)-mediated progesterone (P4) signaling plays a crucial role in the establishment of uterine receptivity which is the prerequisite for successful embryo implantation in mammals. However, detailed molecular mechanisms underlying PR–...

In Arabidopsis thaliana, the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) gene encodes florigen, a floral stimulus that integrates multiple environmental cues to optimize the timing of flowering, which is crucial for reproductive success. The FT protein is synthesized in the ...

Fusarium crown rot (FCR) is one of the most serious soil-borne diseases in common wheat and has caused major wheat yield losses worldwide. Here, we identified an 18.6 kDa heat shock protein gene (TaHSP18.6) through combining a transcriptome analysis and a ...

How the brain recovers the three-dimensional structure of surfaces and objects from 2D retinal images remains mysterious. Shading patterns provide one of the most powerful—yet least understood—visual depth cues. Most theories assume the brain infers ...