Recent ucd_postprints items

Structure and sequence evolution in the pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) pangenome

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Eukaryotic genomes harbor many forms of variation, including nucleotide diversity and structural polymorphisms, which experience natural selection and contribute to genome evolution and biodiversity. Harnessing this variation for agriculture hinges on our ability to detect, quantify, catalog, and deploy genetic diversity. Here, we explore seven complete genomes of the emerging biofuel crop pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) drawn from across the species' current genetic diversity to catalog variation in genome structure and content. Across this new pangenome resource, we find contrasting evolutionary modes in different genomic zones. Gene-poor, repeat-rich pericentromeric regions experience frequent rearrangements, including repeated centromere repositioning. By contrast, conserved gene-dense chromosome arms maintain large-scale synteny across accessions even in fast-evolving NOD-like receptor immune genes, where microsynteny breaks down across species, but gene cluster positioning...

Single domain spectroscopic signatures of a magnetic kagome metal

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Magnetic kagome metals host complex electronic states and real-space magnetic textures, but their small and temperature-dependent magnetic domains make experimental access difficult. Here we show that micro-focused circular-dichroic photoemission spectroscopy enables spectroscopic access to individual magnetic domains in the kagome metal DyMn6Sn6 at low temperature. By tuning to element-specific electronic states, we image domain contrast associated with Dy 4f levels and detect corresponding signatures from Mn core states. The energy dependence of the dichroic response is consistent with modeling and indicates ferrimagnetic alignment between Dy and Mn local moments. Measurements of Mn 3d-derived valence bands, supported by first-principles calculations, reveal features related to orbital magnetization. These results establish element- and orbital-resolved spectroscopy of single magnetic domains and enable studies of magnetic textures and electronic structure in complex magnetic...

Gals and Pals in Engineering: A First-Year Learning Community’s Impact on Women’s Engineering Identity

Thu, 14 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Women remain underrepresented in engineering, a historical inequity sustained by a "chilly climate" that challenges their professional identity development. This study examines a first-year learning community (FYLC) designed to narrate this history and construct more equitable futures by fostering engineering identity in women students. Grounded in Social Cognitive Career Theory and identity frameworks, the intervention incorporated a seminar, events, and peer mentoring. A pre-post survey with 10 students and paired t-tests assessed changes in identity and belonging. Results show statistically significant increases across measures, with a large effect size for performance/competence identity (d=1.34). These findings offer a promising model for how targeted, affinity-based interventions can help construct new possibilities for the persistence of women in engineering.

Genetic Variation and Stroke Recovery: The STRONG Study

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Genetic association studies can reveal biology and treatment targets but have received limited attention for stroke recovery. STRONG (Stroke, Stress, Rehabilitation, and Genetics) was a prospective, longitudinal (1-year), genetic study in adults with stroke at 28 US stroke centers. The primary aim was to examine the association that candidate genetic variants have with (1) motor/functional outcomes and (2) stress-related outcomes. METHODS: For motor/functional end points, 3 candidate gene variants (ApoE ε4, BDNF [brain-derived neurotrophic factor], and a dopamine polygenic score) were analyzed for associations with change in grip strength (3 months-baseline), function (3-month Stroke Impact Scale-Activities of Daily Living), mood (3-month Patient Health Questionnaire-8), and cognition (12-month telephone-Montreal Cognitive Assessment). For stress-related outcomes, 7 variants (serotonin transporter gene-linked promoter region, ACE [angiotensin-converting enzyme], oxytocin...

North Delta Arc Study 2020 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex water quality, productivity, and fisheries

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

North Delta Arc Study 2020 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex water quality, productivity, and fisheries

North Delta Arc Study 2023 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex Water Quality, Productivity, and Fisheries

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

North Delta Arc Study 2023 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex Water Quality, Productivity, and Fisheries

North Delta Arc Study 2021 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex water quality, productivity, and fisheries

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

North Delta Arc Study 2021 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex water quality, productivity, and fisheries

Degenerative temporomandibular joint disease in a lioness (Panthera leo)

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a synovial joint that consists of two articulating surfaces, the mandibular head on the condylar process ventrally and the mandibular fossa of the squamous temporal bone dorsally, with a thin fibrocartilage disc that separates the joint into two non-communicating compartments. Degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the TMJ has been evaluated in other carnivorous species; however, it has not previously been described in the lion (Panthera leo). This study characterized the histological, biomechanical and biochemical properties of the TMJ in health and disease in a lioness. The components of the articulating surface and general features of the disc of the TMJ were comparable to other carnivorous species described previously. Spontaneous DJD was observed unilaterally, revealing comparable features with other carnivores. Tensile strength and stiffness differed substantially between the diseased and healthy disc, with the diseased disc having altered...

North Delta Arc Study 2024 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex Water Quality, Productivity, and Fisheries.

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

North Delta Arc Study 2024 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex Water Quality, Productivity, and Fisheries.

North Delta Arc Study 2022 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex water quality, productivity, and fisheries

Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

North Delta Arc Study 2022 Annual Report: Cache-Lindsey Slough Complex water quality, productivity, and fisheries

Laboratory Protocols for Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus Transmission Biology and Management Research

Fri, 8 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), the causal agent of Huanglongbing, is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri) in a persistent, propagative manner. Reproducible transmission studies require not only controlled inoculation assays but also standardized propagation of citrus host plants, maintenance of D. citri colonies, and reliable pathogen detection. This study presents a comprehensive set of coordinated protocols that collectively support controlled CLas transmission experimentation. The workflow includes propagation of Citrus macrophylla for colony and assay use; generation and maintenance of CLas-infected citrus and D. citri colonies; synchronization of D. citri populations to enable CLas acquisition; and a controlled single-D. citri transmission assay with defined inoculation access periods, and a Dellaporta-based nucleic acid extraction method compatible with citrus and psyllid tissues. Quantitative PCR detection is integrated throughout to verify...

Feline Creativity on the Eve of Modernity

Fri, 8 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Feline Creativity on the Eve of Modernity

Age-dependent reference intervals for cerebrospinal fluid and urine biomarkers of mucopolysaccharidoses

Thu, 7 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are characterized by deficient activity of lysosomal hydrolase enzymes, leading to progressive accumulation of glycosaminoglycans. These glycosaminoglycans can be assayed in biofluids as potential markers of disease severity and response to disease-modifying therapies. This study sought to calculate control reference intervals in a largely pediatric population for key MPS biomarkers: heparan sulfate (HS) and dermatan sulfate (DS) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and urine, and CSF monosialic gangliosides GM2 and GM3. We also explored the effect of age on biomarker levels. Biomarker levels were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry in CSF and urine samples from pediatric and young adult donors and were compared with baseline CSF and urine biomarker levels from an ongoing Phase 1/2 study of children with MPS II. Age-specific reference intervals were estimated for CSF HS, DS, and GM2, and for urine HS, DS, and the sum of HS and DS,...

Seeds of annual and perennial populations of Mimulus guttatus exhibit differential responses to cold stratification.

Thu, 7 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Life history theory predicts that temporal variation in fitness can select for either persistence in the seed bank or iteroparity, but rarely both simultaneously. However, this prediction has not been explicitly evaluated by testing for a negative relationship between these two life history traits. We conducted a germination experiment to measure the extent of seed persistence in semelparous and iteroparous populations of Mimulus guttatus across a factorial combination of cold stratification and water potential treatments. We performed a tetrazolium assay on all seeds that did not germinate to quantify seed persistence (i.e., viable seeds that did not germinate). Semelparous seeds were more likely to persist than iteroparous seeds only in the absence of cold stratification in two of the three water potential treatments; there was no difference at the lowest water potential treatment because almost all seeds persisted. These differences in seed persistence reversed or disappeared...

Female cortical cellular mosaicism underlies shared MeCP2 and PCB impacted gene pathways

Thu, 7 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rett syndrome (RTT) is an X-linked, dominant neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in MECP2, encoding the epigenetic regulator methyl CpG binding protein. Variability in severity and timing of progression in RTT, influenced by factors including mutation type, genetic background, and X chromosome inactivation patterns, suggests potential interaction with environmental neurotoxicants such as lipophilic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). To understand shared mechanisms, we exposed WT and Mecp2e1 −/+ female mice to a human-relevant PCB mixture and dose, then performed single-nucleus 5′ RNA-seq from cortex. We identified significant overlap in dysregulated genes and 71 shared pathways between the effects of PCB exposure and MeCP2 mutation, and co-mitigation of their transcriptional impacts. PCBs influenced the non-cell-autonomous transcriptional effects of MeCP2 mutations in wild-type-expressing neurons within the mosaic mutant female cortex in both mouse and human, suggesting...

Oil in the Sea IV: Quick Guide for Practitioners and Researchers: Spanish Version (2025)

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This booklet, translated in Spanish here, provides key insights from Oil in the Sea IV: Inputs, Fates, and Effects, published in 2022, which benefited from significant advancements in scientific methods to detect the input and fates of oil in the sea, and from lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in 2010. Going beyond previous reports, Oil in the Sea IV includes analysis of human health impacts of oil in the sea, oil in the Arctic marine environment, and prevention and response efforts that can help to both reduce the amount of oil reaching the sea and minimize its effects. The booklet is meant to serve as a reference guide to all those involved in oil spill research and response.

Rise of Machines in Disease Ecology

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rise of Machines in Disease Ecology

R‑MDDMA is a Safer Analogue of MDMA with Therapeutic Potential

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Recent clinical evidence suggests that racemic 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) might be useful for treating a range of neuropsychiatric diseases including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. However, concerns about its abuse potential stemming from its monoamine releasing properties have hampered its clinical development. Thus, safer analogues of racemic MDMA with comparable therapeutic effects are highly desirable. Here, we compare the pharmacological effects of MDMA enantiomers with those of its methylated analogue 3,4-methylenedioxy-N,N-dimethylamphetamine (MDDMA). We found that R-MDDMA did not directly activate 5-HT2B receptors, induce serotonin efflux, produce a head-twitch response, impact body temperature, or induce hyperlocomotion at therapeutically relevant doses. However, it still promoted structural neuroplasticity in cortical neurons, facilitated fear extinction learning, and produced sustained antidepressant-like effects....

Comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objective: The authors reviewed the pathophysiology, clinical genetics, phenotype, and comprehensive clinical management of Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS), a neurodegenerative disorder affecting FMR1 premutation carriers (55-200 CCG repeats). Participants: A multispecialty and multidisciplinary team of authors with backgrounds in psychiatry, pediatrics, clinical psychology, speech and language pathology, and neurosciences. Evidence: Review of English language sources on the clinical phenomenology, genetics, pathophysiology, and clinical management of FXTAS from 2001 (the original report) through 2025, with emphasis on the general medical, psychiatric, and neurological features of FXTAS and its multispecialty and multidisciplinary clinical management. Consensus process: All authors contributed to the review of the literature. Major components of the manuscript were drafted by clinicians with clinical experience in the specific areas of management. Conclusion:...

Salicylic acid modulates its catabolic enzymes via proteasomal degradation linked to SCF-associated proximity networks

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Salicylic acid (SA) is a central regulator of plant immunity, and precise control of its levels is essential to balance defense and growth. However, the mechanisms controlling the stability and abundance of SA-catabolizing enzymes remain elusive. Here we show that the SA hydroxylases DOWNY MILDEW RESISTANT 6 (DMR6) and DMR6-LIKE OXYGENASE 1 (DLO1) are targeted for ubiquitin–proteasome-dependent degradation. SA promotes DMR6 turnover but stabilizes DLO1, linking catalytic activity and conformational dynamics to protein fate. Structural and biochemical analyses indicate that SA binding induces conformational changes in DMR6, particularly in a conserved C-terminal helix, which may contribute to its susceptibility to degradation. Proximity labeling of DMR6 and DLO1 identified a previously uncharacterized Kelch-type F-box protein, which we designate as DMR6-ASSOCIATED F-BOX 1 (DAF1), that contributes to SCF-type E3 ligase-mediated proteasomal turnover of DMR6 in planta, thereby...

XAP5 CIRCADIAN TIMEKEEPER coordinates circadian rhythms and anthocyanin biosynthesis independently of splicing

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Circadian clocks provide plants with an adaptive advantage by enabling them to anticipate daily environmental changes. The periodicity of circadian clocks is regulated at multiple levels of gene expression, including transcription, mRNA processing, translation, and protein modification. Numerous mRNA splicing factors have been implicated in maintaining circadian period length. However, these factors often play additional roles in transcription, making it difficult to determine whether they affect the clock through splicing-dependent or -independent mechanisms. We and others have shown that XAP5 CIRCADIAN TIMEKEEPER (XCT) and components of the PRE-MRNA-PROCESSING FACTOR 19 (PRP19) complex, including the functionally redundant PRP19A and PRP19B, physically associate and regulate both splicing and circadian rhythms. Here, our transcriptome analyses reveal that the antagonistic regulation of circadian period length by XCT and PRP19 likely occurs through splicing-independent mechanisms....

Cognitive performance and variability in dromedary camels: insights from a comparative psychometric approach

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Contemporary research in animal cognition has expanded our understanding of non-human intelligence, yet behavioural and cognitive traits in dromedary camels remain largely unexplored. This study pioneers the empirical assessment of cognitive performance and variability in dromedaries (Camelus dromedarius) using a comparative psychometric framework adapted from human and animal cognition protocols. A total of 130 Canarian dromedaries were evaluated across thirteen cognitive traits, with individual performance indices calculated through a mental age-based model. Results revealed substantial interindividual variability in cognitive performance, with key modulating factors including group dependence, docility, and concentration. Animals with higher herd affiliation displayed above-average scores, suggesting the presence of a collective intelligence (c-factor), while independent individuals exhibited better memory and perseverance but lower attentional stability. Additional influences...

Materiality as Periphery, Revisited

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This essay revisits the themes of an earlier essay on the peripheralization of materiality in art-historical practice and adds insights to it based upon disciplinary and cultural developments since 2019. Primary among these is the advent of artificial intelligence image-generating applications, which challenge the materiality of artworks in entirely new ways. This essay proposes that such mechanisms mask art’s materiality within and behind seductively sleek illusions that hide the true materiality of art. It also uses the repatriation of art objects to propose that art’s materiality still matters.

Psilocybin during the postpartum period induces long-lasting adverse effects in both mothers and offspring

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Psilocybin increases social connectedness and has strong clinical transdiagnostic efficacy for mental illness, making it a candidate treatment to reduce maternal disconnect, anxiety, and blunted affect seen in peripartum mood disorders. However, the efficacy and safety of psilocybin in peripartum mood disorders has not been investigated. We used a social stress model to examine the effects of psilocybin in parous mice and their offspring. Social stress induced maternal withdrawal and increased stress-related behaviors – none of which were ameliorated by psilocybin. Weeks later, psilocybin-treated dams were more anxious, regardless of stress exposure. In contrast, psilocybin-treated virgin females were unaffected. Though reproductive status did not affect psilocybin pharmacokinetics, serotonin receptor transcription and 5-HT2A receptor-dependent responses were reduced in dams. Offspring exposed to maternal psilocybin during breastfeeding exhibited anhedonia in adulthood. Here,...

Ultra-low thermal conductivity and promising thermoelectric performance in the structurally complex Zintl phase: Eu 14 GaAs 11

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

New Zintl compound Eu 14 GaAs 11 shows ultra-low thermal conductivity and a high Seebeck coefficient due to its complex structure, indicating potential for further optimization to enhance thermoelectric performance. Intermetallic Zintl compounds of the Ca 14 AlSb 11 (14-1-11) structure type are intriguing materials for study due to their small bandgap semiconducting behavior and exceptionally low thermal conductivity. Eu 14 GaAs 11 is a new member of the family, containing zero-dimensional tetrahedral [GaAs 4 ] 9− subunits. This compound crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system ( I 4 1 / acd space group), similar to other 14-1-11 compounds. Eu 14 GaAs 11 has been characterized as a semiconductor with a bandgap of 0.61 eV, as calculated using the Goldsmid-Sharp formula. Electronic transport measurements indicate a high Seebeck coefficient of 232 µV K −1 at 321 K, peaking at 424 µV K −1 at 713 K. The electrical resistivity is particularly high due to low carrier concentrations....

Mood Provoking Visual Stimuli Their Origins and Applications

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Published in 1965 by the University of California Press, this illustrated book describes graduate research on visual perception conducted Richard G. Coss at the University of California, Los Angeles. The theoretical backdrop for his area of study was based predominantly on observations and experimental research on nonhuman species conducted by comparative ethologist and psychologists interested in innate visual perception. Coss argues that human ancestors subjected to ecologically important sources of natural selection involving successful avoidance of dangerous animals might still maintain an ability to recognize them quickly via their salient visual features called “releasers” by early ethologists. A variety of visual patterns derived from these animals were presented to subjects for measuring attitudes and physiological arousal via pupillary dilation. Emphasis was given to studying the provocative effects of pointed shapes and eyespot patterns resembling two facing eyes. Subjects...

One Cation Makes a Difference: Structure–Thermoelectric Interplay in Pseudo–Rock Salt Intermetallic Eu5–x A x Al3Sb6 (A = Sr and Yb)

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Polar intermetallics are an emerging class of thermoelectric materials whose electronic properties can be finely tuned by cation chemistry. Single crystals of Eu5–x Yb x Al3Sb6 and Eu5–x–y Sr x Yb y Al3Sb6 were synthesized by flux methods and their structures determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, confirming monoclinic C2/m symmetry and an electron count near 3.5 e– per atom, consistent with polar intermetallic classification. The Al content in these phases can be increased from 3 to 4. A comparative study of polycrystalline synthesized Eu5Al4Sb6 and its Sr- and Yb-substituted solid solutions, along with the pseudoquinary phase Eu2.5Sr2Yb0.5Al4Sb6, is presented. Substituting Eu2+ with the more ionic Sr2+ enhances mobility and increases the magnitude of the Seebeck coefficient, while the more covalent Yb2+ drives the system metallic, lowering Seebeck values but improving zT to 0.8 at 873 K. The quinary phase further suppresses bipolar conduction, delaying the high-temperature...

Movement Ecology and Disease Exposure in Free-Roaming Donkeys in California, USA

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Feral donkeys (Equus asinus) are well adapted to arid ecosystems and are found in large populations in the deserts of Australia and the Americas. We assessed resource selection and seasonal home range size of female donkeys in southern California between 2020 and 2022 based on telemetry data. We also examined whether dyads with greater encounter rates were more likely to test positive for asinine herpesvirus 5 (AHV-5) and/or Streptococcus equi zooepidemicus (SEZ). Donkey home ranges were non-significantly larger in the cool/wet season (November through March; mean 318.37 ± sd 417.65 km2) than in the hot/dry season (April through October; mean 159.35 ± 212.43 km2). Donkeys selected flatter areas closer to water year-round but selected greater herbaceous cover during the cool/wet season and lower heat loads during the hot/dry season. Individuals testing positive for SEZ selected lower elevations during the wet season and closer distances to water during the dry season; donkeys testing...

Predicting relationship quality with itself? A single general factor captures most of the variance across 34 common relationship measures

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In relationship science, researchers have generated a wide array of constructs and corresponding self-report measures to characterize, explain, and predict relationship quality - the foremost studied outcome in the field. Collectively, however, the boundaries among these variables remain unclear. In the current research, we examined the extent to which measures of relationship quality and other important relationship constructs are empirically separable from one another. Across two studies of US census-matched participants (total N = 3,439), we applied latent variable techniques (e.g., exploratory bifactor analysis) on broad pools of items representing various prominent relationship-specific constructs. Results revealed robust evidence that a single general factor Q (representing global relationship sentiment) accounts for a vast majority of common variance across distinct relationship measures. Thus, respondents appear to draw primarily on their overall global relationship evaluations...

Hematological and Biochemical Profiles in Mule and Horse Neonates from Birth to 30 Days of Age: A Comparative Study with Clinical Perspectives

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

BACKGROUND: Few studies have evaluated hematological and biochemical parameters in mule foals, and neonatal reference data remain limited. AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To compare hematological and biochemical parameters in mule and horse neonates up to 30 days of life. METHODS: Mule (n=15) and horse (n=16) neonates were evaluated at birth, 12 and 24h, and at 7 and 30d of age. RESULTS: Mules had higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (g/dL; 33.85 ± 0.18; P=0.04), platelets (× 10³/µL; 342,179 ± 15,691; P=0.0051), albumin (g/dL; 3.24 ± 0.05; P=0.0039), calcium (mg/dL; 12.27 ± 0.14; P=0.03), chloride (mmol/L; 100.78 ± 0.52; P=0.03), and magnesium (mmol/L; 0.82 ± 0.01; P=0.02). Iron (µg/dL; 35.01 ± 2.48; P=0.04), total leukocytes (× 10³/µL; 6,311 ± 260; P=0.0014), segmented neutrophils (cells/µL; 3,784 ± 193; P=0.0013), lymphocytes (cells/µL; 2,221.88 ± 94.11; P=0.0014), neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (1.74 ± 0.10; P<0.0001), fibrinogen (mg/dL; 152.38 ± 10.81; P=0.01), total/direct/indirect...

Optimizing trap design, lure, and color for monitoring Chrysobothris mali (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in California walnut orchards

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Pacific flatheaded borer, Chrysobothris mali (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), is a reemerging pest of walnuts in California. With the expansion of walnut production acres and increased incidences of severe droughts that stress orchards, C. mali has gained economically important pest status in recent years. In this article, we explored different trap designs, colors, and lures for early detection and monitoring of C. mali in commercial walnut orchards in California. In multi-year studies, ground-installed 4-foot-tall purple triangular traps with adhesives on the outer surface were more attractive than the purple panel sticky traps with or without volatile lures. Furthermore, among multiple colors of triangular traps, yellow and red traps captured more C. mali adults compared to other colors, including purple, in replicated trials conducted in 2 walnut orchards. The yellow triangular trap captured adults in these walnut orchards most consistently and earlier in the season. The utility...

STREAMS guidelines: standards for technical reporting in environmental and host-associated microbiome studies

Wed, 6 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The interdisciplinary nature of microbiome research, coupled with the generation of complex multi-omics data, makes knowledge sharing challenging. The Strengthening the Organization and Reporting of Microbiome Studies (STORMS) guidelines provide a checklist for the reporting of study information, experimental design and analytical methods within a scientific manuscript on human microbiome research. Here, in this Consensus Statement, we present the standards for technical reporting in environmental and host-associated microbiome studies (STREAMS) guidelines. The guidelines expand on STORMS and include 67 items to support the reporting and review of environmental (for example, terrestrial, aquatic, atmospheric and engineered), synthetic and non-human host-associated microbiome studies in a standardized and machine-actionable manner. Based on input from 248 researchers spanning 28 countries, we provide detailed guidance, including comparisons with STORMS, and case studies that demonstrate...

CAMP: a modular metagenomics analysis system for integrated multistep data exploration

Tue, 5 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Computational analysis of large-scale metagenomics sequencing datasets provides valuable isolate-level taxonomic and functional insights from complex microbial communities. However, the ever-expanding ecosystem of metagenomics-specific methods and file formats makes designing scalable workflows and seamlessly exploring output data increasingly challenging. Although one-click bioinformatics pipelines can help organize these tools into workflows, they face compatibility and maintainability challenges that can prevent replication. To address the gap in easily extensible yet robustly distributable metagenomics workflows, we have developed the Core Analysis Modular Pipeline (CAMP), a module-based metagenomics analysis system written in Snakemake, with a standardized module and directory architecture. Each module can run independently or in sequence to produce target data formats (e.g. short-read preprocessing alone or followed by de novo assembly), and provides output summary...

A variant in RESF1 is associated with Addison’s disease and multiple autoimmune syndrome in young Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers

Fri, 1 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Addison’s disease (AD) results in glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiencies and is often immune-mediated. While AD is uncommon in dogs, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers (NSDTRs) exhibit increased incidence, suggesting genetic predisposition. Detailed clinical evaluation of 24 juvenile-onset cases revealed that while all dogs presented with adrenal insufficiency, at least 10 dogs (41.7%) had concurrent autoimmune conditions. This suggests juvenile-onset AD in NSDTRs represents part of a broader multiple autoimmune syndrome (MAS) with variable expressivity. Strikingly, NSDTRs affected by juvenile-onset AD had severely decreased lifespans, with a median survival of 2 years despite appropriate treatment. Genome-wide association identified a significant association on chromosome 27 (chr27:29,724,286, p = 6.96 × 10− 13). Whole-genome, short-read sequencing identified a recessive missense variant in RESF1 (Chr27:29,736,795). The variant exhibited 76% penetrance for early-onset...

Correction: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and typhoid conjugate vaccine introduction on typhoid fever in Nepal.

Fri, 1 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0013242.].

Direct Comparison of Constitutive Rax-Cre Transgenic Drivers That Activate in the Mouse Embryonic Eye Field.

Fri, 1 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Purpose

Multiple mouse lines using constitutive or inducible Cre recombinase expression have taken advantage of the early optic field expression of the Rax/Rx gene and its subsequent, progressive restriction to retinal progenitors, RPE, and the optic stalk. Among these, the constitutive transgenic lines, Rx3-Cre and Rax-Cre BAC Tg, are currently used by vision researchers. Here we directly compare their prenatal ocular and extraocular Cre activities.

Methods

Rx3-Cre or Rax-Cre BAC transgenic male mice were mated to the Cre-dependent lineage tracer Ai9/tdTomato. The resulting live and fixed tissue expression for each line was evaluated at multiple stages of development, from the optic vesicle stage onward. Both whole embryo and immunolabeled cryosectioned material were digitally imaged.

Results

Rx3-Cre recapitulates endogenous RAX protein expression at the optic vesicle and optic cup stages, but there is also unexpected Cre activity in periocular mesenchyme,...

Author Correction: Ocean current patterns drive the worldwide colonization of eelgrass (Zostera marina)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In the version of the article initially published, Yves Van de Peer’s name appeared incorrectly as Yves Van De Peer. In addition, two of Yves Van de Peer’s affiliations were wrongly combined into a single affiliation. These have been separated, and now read: Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium and VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, Gent, Belgium. These errors have been corrected in the HTML and PDF versions of the article.

Author Correction: Roadmap for naming uncultivated Archaea and Bacteria

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Correction for Osvatic et al., Global biogeography of chemosynthetic symbionts reveals both localized and globally distributed symbiont groups

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Correction for “Global biogeography of chemosynthetic symbionts reveals both localized and globally distributed symbiont groups,” by Jay T. Osvatic, Laetitia G. E. Wilkins, Lukas Leibrect, Matthieu Leray, Sarah Zauner, Julia Polzin, Yolanda Camacho, Olivier Gros, Jan A. van Gils, Jonathan A. Eisen, Jillian M. Petersen, and Benedict Yuen, which published July 16, 2021; 10.1073/pnas.2104378118 (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 118, e2104378118). The authors note: “An error was made in Dataset S1. The wrong NCBI ID numbers were linked to the available MAGs. This also affects the data availability portion slightly. This requires a new Dataset S1 and slightly reworded data availability section.” The online version has been corrected and Dataset S1 has been updated.

The perceptual aspects of eye-spot patterns and their relevance to gaze behaviour

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Four human experiments are described documenting the physiological effects, via pupillometry and eyebrow movement, of viewing schematic eye-spots patterns resembling two-facing eyes.

Corrigendum: Teredinibacter haidensis sp. nov., Teredinibacter purpureus sp. nov. and Teredinibacter franksiae sp. nov., marine, cellulolytic endosymbiotic bacteria isolated from the gills of the wood-boring mollusc Bankia setacea (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) and emended description of the genus Teredinibacter.

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Corrigendum: Teredinibacter haidensis sp. nov., Teredinibacter purpureus sp. nov. and Teredinibacter franksiae sp. nov., marine, cellulolytic endosymbiotic bacteria isolated from the gills of the wood-boring mollusc Bankia setacea (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) and emended description of the genus Teredinibacter.

Desert Plant Endophyte Genome Database: a curated repository of endophytic bacterial genomes across arid ecosystems.

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Microbial communities associated with desert plants play a pivotal role in enhancing host survival under extreme environmental stressors, including drought, salinity, and nutrient limitation. The Desert Plant Endophyte Microbial Collection is one of the largest curated repositories of 2500 cultivable endophytic bacteria isolated from 23 native desert plant species across Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Pakistan. Representing a broad spectrum of arid microhabitats from inland deserts and mountain wadis to coastal mangroves and date palm oases, the collection supports integrative studies on microbial ecology and plant-microbe interactions in water-limited ecosystems. A central component of this initiative is the Desert Plant Endophyte Genome Database, which currently hosts whole-genome sequences of 534 endophytic bacterial isolates annotated with extensive ecological metadata, assembly statistics, functional traits, and host associations. The database interface provides tools for genome...

Identifying drug targets for neurological and psychiatric disease via genetics and the brain transcriptome.

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Discovering drugs that efficiently treat brain diseases has been challenging. Genetic variants that modulate the expression of potential drug targets can be utilized to assess the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. We therefore employed Mendelian Randomization (MR) on gene expression measured in brain tissue to identify drug targets involved in neurological and psychiatric diseases. We conducted a two-sample MR using cis-acting brain-derived expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) from the Accelerating Medicines Partnership for Alzheimers Disease consortium (AMP-AD) and the CommonMind Consortium (CMC) meta-analysis study (n = 1,286) as genetic instruments to predict the effects of 7,137 genes on 12 neurological and psychiatric disorders. We conducted Bayesian colocalization analysis on the top MR findings (using P<6x10-7 as evidence threshold, Bonferroni-corrected for 80,557 MR tests) to confirm sharing of the same causal variants between gene expression and trait in...

The effects of temperature on nestling growth in a songbird depend on developmental constraints.

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change can adversely impact animals, especially those that cannot independently thermoregulate or avoid exposure to temperature variation. Altricial bird nestlings may be particularly vulnerable to temperature variation, with cold, hot, and variable temperatures leading to reduced nestling growth. At a broad scale, temperature effects on nestling growth vary across climatic zones, but how temperature effects vary with early-life developmental constraints imposed by the timing of thermoregulatory development, competition with siblings, and the amount of parental care has received less attention. We investigated whether the effects of temperature on the body mass of wild barn swallow (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster) nestlings (n = 113 nestlings, 31 nests) in Boulder County, CO depends on timing of exposure during development, relative size within the brood, or level of parental feeding. Lower minimum temperatures were associated with lower nestling mass in early but not late...

Finding Holes: Pathologist-Level Performance Using AI for Cribriform Morphology Detection in Prostate Cancer.

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background

Cribriform morphology in prostate cancer is a histological feature that indicates poor prognosis and contraindicates active surveillance. However, it remains underreported and subject to significant interobserver variability among pathologists.

Objective

We aimed to develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system to improve cribriform pattern detection.

Design setting and participants

We created a deep learning model using an EfficientNetV2-S encoder with multiple instance learning for end-to-end whole-slide classification. The model was trained on 640 digitised prostate core needle biopsies from 430 patients, collected across three cohorts. It was validated internally (261 slides from 171 patients) and externally (266 slides, 104 patients from three independent cohorts). Internal validation cohorts included laboratories or scanners from the development set, while external cohorts used completely independent instruments and laboratories....

Honey wasps differ from other wasps in possessing large gut communities dominated by host-restricted bacteria

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Honey-feeding social bees, including honey bees, bumble bees, and stingless bees, possess distinctive gut bacterial communities that provide benefits to hosts, such as defense against pathogens and parasites. Members of these communities are transmitted through social interactions within colonies. The Mexican honey wasp (Brachygastra mellifica) represents an independent origin of honey-storing within a group of social Hymenoptera. Honey wasps feed on and store honey, but, unlike bees, they prey on other insects as a protein source and do not consume pollen. We surveyed the gut bacterial communities of Mexican honey wasps across sites within Texas using 16S ribosomal RNA profiling, and we estimated bacterial titer per bee using quantitative PCR. For comparison, we also surveyed non-honey-feeding wasps from six families, collected in the same region. We found that honey wasp communities are dominated by characteristic bacterial species. In contrast, other wasps had lower...

The Extended Dwell Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Is an Alternative Method of NICU Intravenous Access.

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background

Establishing vascular access is a common neonatal intensive care unit procedure. The extended dwell peripheral intravenous (EPIV) catheter is a 6-cm and 8-cm silicone catheter for peripheral vein insertion, which is a newer vascular access device than peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter. Extended dwell peripheral intravenous catheters have been widely used in adults but evidence in neonates is lacking.

Purpose

To explore indwell time, success rate, catheter-associated complications, and cost among EPIV catheters, PICCs, and PIV catheters in neonates.

Methods

We retrospectively compare patient demographics, indwell time, success rate, and catheter-associated complications, and analyze the rate of hyaluronidase-treated intravenous (IV) fluid extravasation on neonates who had an EPIV catheter, a PICC, or a PIV catheter in a level III neonatal intensive care unit. We also estimate the insertion...

Transforming the electronic health record from a documentation application to an automated diet program for personalizing neonatal nutrition and improving feeding administration safety through process improvement.

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Delivering adequate nutrition to preterm and sick neonates is critical for growth. Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) require additional calories to supplement feedings for higher metabolic demands. Traditionally, clinicians enter free-text diet orders for a milk technician to formulate recipes, and dietitians manually calculate nutrition components to monitor growth. This daily process is complex and labor intensive with potential for error. Our goal was to develop an electronic health record (EHR)-integrated solution for entering feeding orders with automated nutrition calculations and mixing instructions. The EHR-integrated automated diet program (ADP) was created and implemented at a 52-bed level III academic NICU. The configuration of the parenteral nutrition orderable item within the EHR was adapted to generate personalized milk mixing recipes. Caloric, macronutrient, and micronutrient constituents were automatically calculated and displayed. To enhance administration...

Unsupervised discovery of extreme weather events using universal representations of emergent organization

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Spontaneous self-organization is ubiquitous in systems far from thermodynamic equilibrium. While organized structures that emerge dominate transport properties, universal representations that identify and describe these key objects remain elusive. Here, we introduce a theoretically grounded framework for describing emergent organization that, via data-driven algorithms, is constructive in practice. Its building blocks are spacetime lightcones that embody how information propagates across a system through local interactions. We show that predictive equivalence classes of lightcones-local causal states-capture organized behaviors in complex spatiotemporal systems. Employing an unsupervised physics-informed machine learning algorithm and a high-performance computing implementation, we demonstrate automatically discovering organized structures in two real-world domain science problems. We show that local causal states identify vortices and track their power-law decay behavior in two-dimensional...

Snapping from the Center: Institutional Absurdity and Equitable Writing Center Administration

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Working in unsustainable pandemic conditions has helped reveal the oppressive institutional absurdity we are often subject to. The authors of this article, tenured and tenure-track writing center directors at public universities, have experienced the buildup of pressure as our respective institutions demand more energy, time, and emotion. These pressures, as Sara Ahmed (2017) argued in Living a Feminist Life, lead to “snap”—a painful breakage that, when recognized, can be generative and useful. In this article, we theorize the significance of snapping—a breaking point when it is clearly understood that something must change—in writing center administrative contexts. After identifying the significance and utility of snapping, we fold this concept into a set of working rhetorical strategies that help us resist oppressive institutional absurdity. These strategies—roadblocking, changing the narrative, and coalitioning—can lead to more sustainable and equitable writing center administration...

Integrated Reanalysis of Global Riverine Fish eDNA Datasets Shows Robustness and Congruence of Biodiversity Conclusions.

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The analysis of environmental DNA (eDNA) has revolutionized biodiversity assessments in aquatic ecosystems, enabling non-invasive monitoring of fish communities across diverse regions. However, the global comparability of these eDNA datasets remains ambiguous due to heterogeneous sampling protocols and bioinformatic workflows across studies, making it difficult to assess how robust and comparable the biodiversity patterns inferred from these datasets actually are. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis of 58 riverine fish eDNA metabarcoding studies, covering 1818 sampling sites worldwide, to evaluate the robustness of eDNA-derived biodiversity patterns. We found that species richness estimates and metrics of community structure derived under a common bioinformatic workflow were overall consistent with those of original analyses, despite the relatively high variability in bioinformatic analyses in the respective original studies. Contrastingly, congruence of species identity varied...

MobilityGPT: Enhanced Human Mobility Modeling With a GPT Model

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Generative models have shown promising results in capturing human mobility characteristics and generating synthetic trajectories. However, it remains challenging to ensure that the generated geospatial mobility data is semantically realistic, including consistent location sequences, and reflects real-world characteristics, such as constraining on geospatial limits. We reformat human mobility modeling as an autoregressive generation task to address these issues, leveraging the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) architecture. To ensure its controllable generation to alleviate the above challenges, we propose a geospatially-aware generative model, MobilityGPT. We propose a gravity-based sampling method to train a transformer for semantic sequence similarity. Then, we constrained the training process via a road connectivity matrix that provides the connectivity of sequences in trajectory generation, thereby keeping generated trajectories in geospatial limits. Lastly, we proposed...

Genetic modifiers of APOE-ε4-associated cognitive decline

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The APOE-ε4 allele is the strongest genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. However, APOE-ε4 is not deterministic, highlighting the need to identify additional genetic and environmental factors. APOE-ε4 has been linked to accelerated cognitive decline, so we sought to investigate genetic factors that modify APOE-ε4–associated cognitive decline. We conduct cross-ancestry APOE-ε4-stratified and interaction GWAS using harmonized cognitive data from 32,778 participants, including 29,354 non-Hispanic White and 3,424 non-Hispanic Black individuals. Our primary outcome is late-life cognition, measured using harmonized composite scores for memory, executive function, and language, modeled as continuous traits reflecting both normative cognitive aging and disease-related decline. We identify two genome-wide significant loci in APOE-ε4 carriers, reaching genome-wide significance for executive function. These loci also demonstrate nominal associations across the other domains,...

Developing an Antiracist, Culturally Responsive Graduate Mentoring Process through Critical Reflection

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Developing an Antiracist, Culturally Responsive Graduate Mentoring Process through Critical Reflection

Cross-disciplinary methodologies for whole-person research – insights from EMPOWER2024

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Modern medicine is shifting towards integrative, whole-person research to understand multi-scale complexities of health and disease. However, disciplinary silos, a lack of shared frameworks, and fragmented data hinder progress. The EMPOWER 2024 workshop concluded that the future of whole-person research requires a cultural and methodological shift. This involves embracing interdisciplinarity, sharing ethical data and analysis tools, and educational innovation to translate fragmented data into actionable, holistic health solutions.

Clinical and pathologic correlations of machine learning quantification of Aβ deposits across 3 brain regions of decedents with Alzheimer disease

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Machine learning enables scalable quantification of neuropathology, offering deeper phenotyping of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this validation study, we quantified amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposits, evaluating multiple brain regions across institutions, and evaluated associations with clinical, demographic, and genetic factors in persons pathologically diagnosed with AD. All linear models were adjusted for sex, age of death, ethnicity, and center. We analyzed densities (#/mm2) of cored plaques, diffuse plaques, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in 273 individuals from 3 Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices were immunostained and digitized, generating 799 whole-slide images (WSIs). Following log transformation, mixed-effects modeling revealed the parietal cortex had the highest cored plaque densities (P < .001); the temporal cortex had the highest diffuse plaque (P < .001); CAA showed no...

Writing Center Reporting Strategies That Subvert Institutional Absurdities

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Writing Center Reporting Strategies That Subvert Institutional Absurdities

Use of Machine Learning to Identify Markers of Risk for Fragile X‐Associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome: A Preliminary Analysis

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine whether machine learning has the capacity to prospectively identify and predict the emergence of Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) among male fragile X premutation carriers (PCs). METHODS: We explored neuropsychological and motor evaluation metrics, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and health metrics in 103 male participants (72 PCs, mean = 60.4 years at enrollment) and 31 healthy controls (HCs; mean = 57.8 years at enrollment) across a total of 299 visits to identify optimal FXTAS risk markers. We compared different machine learning model and feature selection method combinations to identify the best features and models for (a) identifying patients with FXTAS and (b) for predicting which individuals were likely to later develop FXTAS in the study to date. Using an optimal set of features (including age, psychological symptoms, executive function and motor measures, IQ, body mass index (BMI), and structural...

Leveraging Trusted Execution Environments For Data Security in Healthcare Workflows

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Modern biomedical AI pipelines require robust data protection across heterogeneous environments, including edge devices, hospital servers, and cloud resources, each with distinct performance, trust, and regulatory considerations. While recent advancements in hardware-backed confidential computing (e.g., Intel SGX, AMD SEV, ARM TrustZone) offer promising solutions for data security, their differing threat models prevent seamless, end-to-end "capture-to-use" protection. To address this, we propose a novel, hardware-agnostic security monitor that extends the attestation and memory-encryption capabilities of these disparate Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs). This is complemented by a software-defined secure tunnel that enforces data-centric policy, provenance, and compliance. Our proof-of-concept prototype, integrating a TrustZone-enabled Raspberry Pi with an AMD SEV virtual machine in a cloud environment, demonstrates a deployable, data-centric enclave architecture that achieves...

Labile carbon dynamics under initial transition to regenerative agriculture

Sun, 26 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Understanding the dynamics of labile organic carbon (LOC) is critical for evaluating the short-term impacts of regenerative agricultural practices on soil health. We assessed changes in key LOC fractions such as permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC) measured by 0.01 M, 0.02 M, 0.033 M potassium permanganate, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and very labile carbon (CVL) across four long-term conservation agriculture (CA) experiment sites located in contrasting agro-ecological zones of South Asia namely Karnal, Patna, Aduthurai, and Gazipur. At each site, four cropping system scenarios (S) were evaluated: S1, current farmers practice; S2, current farmers cropping system with partial CA; S3, current farmers cropping system with full CA; and S4, diversified crop rotation with full CA. Soil samples were collected from 0–15 and 15–30 cm depth after two cropping cycles. Results showed that POXC, MBC, CVL, oxidizable organic carbon (SOC) and total organic carbon (TOC) increased following...

No-till in rice systems: A global meta-analysis of key agronomic practices impacting yields

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Context While no-till (NT), one of the pillars of conservation agriculture, is widely practiced in upland crops, considerably less research has been conducted in rice systems. While adoption has been limited, numerous field experiments have evaluated NT rice across diverse regions and management contexts yet reported yield responses to key agronomic practices, soil properties, and climatic conditions remain inconsistent and poorly synthesized at a global scale. Objective Our objective was to conduct a global meta-analysis comparing the effects of NT to conventional tillage (CT) on rice yields and to identify the agronomic practices, soil characteristics, and climate factors most strongly associated with yield changes under NT. Methods We performed a global meta-analysis of 115 studies (579 paired observations) comparing rice yields under NT and CT. Yield response ratios (lnRR) were analyzed using mixed-effects meta-analysis to estimate overall effects. Meta-regression and Random...

RiverSTICH: Sewing together 3D rivers from only a few loose threads of transect data

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

With the widespread application of 2D hydrodynamic models, river corridor topo-bathymetric data has become a constraint. Many global landscape settings remain unsuitable for modern topo-bathymetric data acquisition methods or there are insufficient resources to deploy them, leaving only traditional relative river cross-sectional surveys. This study aims to improve representation of variability in channel width and bed elevation in the interpolation of sparse surveys. We introduce RiverSTICH (River Survey Transect Interpolation to reconstruct 3D Channels), a Python-based preprocessing tool designed to assimilate sparse cross-sectional surveys and translate them into inputs suitable for continuous 3D river corridor generation using River Builder. We demonstrate that RiverSTICH-derived river corridor terrains can achieve comparable hydraulic performance to HEC-RAS RAS Mapper given only relative cross-sectional surveys, distance along channel, and minimal feature labelling (thalweg...

3O Anti-tumor activity of gotistobart compared to docetaxel in patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC) progressing on PD-(L)1 inhibitors: Stage 1 PRESERVE-003 phase III trial

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

3O Anti-tumor activity of gotistobart compared to docetaxel in patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sqNSCLC) progressing on PD-(L)1 inhibitors: Stage 1 PRESERVE-003 phase III trial

DAXX directs dual modes of H3.4-to-H3.3 histone replacement in the male germline.

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

During spermatogenesis, extensive chromatin remodeling and histone replacement reshape the male germline epigenome. Although HIRA mediates transcription-coupled incorporation of histone variant H3.3, we identified DAXX as a key histone chaperone directing genome-wide, transcription-coupled replacement of H3.4 (H3T) with H3.3 on autosomes during male meiosis. Simultaneously, DAXX also directs transcription-independent H3.4-to-H3.3 replacement on the sex chromosomes during meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). These distinct, chromosome-specific modes of DAXX-mediated H3.3 deposition are essential for epigenomic integrity in the male germline. Loss of DAXX disrupts this process, resulting in widespread transcriptional dysregulation in haploid round spermatids and impaired male fertility.

Managing the Sundhnúkagígar–Grindavík volcanic emergency in Iceland, 2023–2026

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

After eight centuries of relative quiet, a cycle of episodic volcanic activity began on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula in 2021. In late 2023, the eruption sequence began threatening the Blue Lagoon tourist center, Svartsengi geothermal power plant, and the town of Grindavík. Grindavík’s 3790 residents were evacuated on Nov. 10–11, 2023, and most remain displaced more than 28 months later. Damage to date has resulted from surface deformation, fissuring, and lava flows, but has been limited. Most damage was prevented by construction of lava barriers that today stretch 14 km long and reach up to 25 m high. The most sweeping response to this disaster has been the social safety net provided for the displaced residents of Grindavík, including the buyout of over 950 residences (> 90%) in the town by Þórkatla, a government-chartered corporation. Safeguarding the town and caring for residents have been Iceland’s spotlight political challenge for the past >2 years. Þórkatla’s...

Association Between Observed Climate Change and Cardiovascular Disease in the United States

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Climate change is affecting nearly all social and environmental determinants of health. However, the extent of resulting cumulative impacts on cardiovascular and other noncommunicable diseases is not known. To address this gap and inform future research, we conducted an ecological evaluation of associations between 14 long-term climate anomaly metrics and prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in the United States. We calculated long-term anomaly metrics as the difference between their respective 1970-1979 baseline mean and 2013-2022 modern mean values. With fitted random effects regression analysis, we evaluated associations between each anomaly metric, individually and collectively, and census tract-level 2020-2022 mean prevalence of CHD and stroke. In adjusted models with all noncollinear anomaly metrics, we found a net association of all metrics with 0.59% higher CHD prevalence and 0.88% higher stroke prevalence (9.8% and 27.9% relative prevalence, respectively)....

Beat-locked ATP microdomains in the sinoatrial node map a Ca2+-timed energetic hierarchy and regional pacemaker roles