Digitized microscopy image of human kidney tissue

Deep learning analysis of tissue micrographs for improved diagnostics of kidney diseases

David Hölscher, Nassim Bouteldja et al. present a deep learning method for identification of specific features associated with non-tumor kidney disease in histological images.

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Latest Research articles

Subjects within Physical sciences

  • Elevation-dependent warming trends have been previously identified, but its effect on fire danger is still unclear. Here the authors show that there has been widespread increases in fire danger across the mountainous western US from 1979 to 2020 with most acute trends at high-elevation regions above 3000 m.

    • Mohammad Reza Alizadeh
    • John T. Abatzoglou
    • Mojtaba Sadegh
    Article Open Access
  • Observations are reported of HClO3 and HClO4 in the atmosphere and their widespread occurrence over the pan-Arctic during spring, providing further insights into atmospheric chlorine cycling in the polar environment.

    • Yee Jun Tham
    • Nina Sarnela
    • Alfonso Saiz-Lopez
    Article Open Access
  • The color of environmental noise, or degree of predictability in environmental variation, has important implications for ecosystem conservation and management. This study investigates the patterns and drivers of noise color across the US rivers.

    • Tongbi Tu
    • Lise Comte
    • Albert Ruhi
    Article Open Access

Subjects within Earth and environmental sciences

  • G protein-coupled receptors are a major class of drug targets. Here, the authors develop a method whereby their biophysical and functional properties can be altered through directed evolution in mammalian cells, leading to variants exhibiting features such as high stability and expression, or increased allosteric coupling.

    • Christoph Klenk
    • Maria Scrivens
    • Andreas Plückthun
    Article Open Access
  • People with the rare Bombay-type Oh blood group can only be transfused with Oh blood. Here, the authors characterize a bacterial α−1,2-fucosidase that can convert universal O type into rare Bombay type blood.

    • Itxaso Anso
    • Andreas Naegeli
    • Marcelo E. Guerin
    Article Open Access
  • The germinal centre (GC) response is characterized by regulated production of high affinity, class-switched antibodies in response to T-cell dependent antigens. Here authors show that the GC response is not only regulated at the transcriptional and protein levels, but also by the RNA-binding protein hnRNP F via alternative splicing of the co-stimulatory molecule CD40.

    • Hengjun Huang
    • Yuxing Li
    • Xijun Ou
    Article Open Access
  • The generation of primitive macrophages remains a poorly understood process in humans. Here, the authors identify placental erythro-myeloid progenitors that give rise to foetal macrophages in the early human placenta and demonstrate that epigenetic silencing of the class II transactivator leads to downregulation of HLA-DR in these cells.

    • Jake R. Thomas
    • Anna Appios
    • Naomi McGovern
    Article Open Access
  • In this study, the authors use cryo-focused-ion-beammilling and cryo-electron tomography to image the apical complex of parasites in their native states. They report insights into the parasite invasion machinery in its protruded and retracted states in three dimensions, including all cytoskeletal assemblies, secretory organelles, and membranes intact.

    • Long Gui
    • William J. O’Shaughnessy
    • Daniela Nicastro
    Article Open Access

Subjects within Biological sciences

Subjects within Health sciences

  • Old Masters used paints containing mixtures of oils and proteins, but we lack an understanding on how and why proteins were used. Here, the authors use egg yolk in combination with two pigments to evaluate how different repartition of proteinaceous binder can be used to control the flow behaviour as well as drying kinetics and chemistry of oil paints.

    • Ophélie Ranquet
    • Celia Duce
    • Norbert Willenbacher
    Article Open Access
  • Availability of modern seed varieties in developing countries has had positive effects on households’ well-being. Here, the authors show that without support to maintain soil fertility, access to modern seed varieties increases primary forest clearance in DR Congo.

    • Tanguy Bernard
    • Sylvie Lambert
    • Margaux Vinez
    Article Open Access
  • A more equitable global distribution of vaccines can benefit the world, while a multilateral benefit-sharing instrument needs to be developed to remove some of the disincentives for early equitable vaccines distribution globally.

    • Daoping Wang
    • Ottar N. Bjørnstad
    • Nils C. Stenseth
    Article Open Access
  • Establishing sustainable approaches for human space exploration is key to achieve independency from terrestrial resources, as well as for ethical considerations. Here the authors highlight microbial biotechnologies that will support sustainable processes for space-based in situ resource utilization and loop-closure, and may be translatable to Earth applications.

    • Rosa Santomartino
    • Nils J. H. Averesch
    • Luis Zea
    Perspective Open Access

Subjects within Scientific community and society

  • We address a controversy over use of the term “gene drive” to include both natural and synthetic genetic elements that promote their own transmission within a population, arguing that this broad definition is both practical and has advantages for risk analysis.

    • Stephanie L. James
    • David A. O’Brochta
    • Omar S. Akbari
    Comment Open Access
  • The process of patenting inventions may be complex. Academic researchers whose primary goal is getting their work published in scientific journals often face daunting doubts when it comes to understanding the interplay between publishing and patenting their findings. We asked Prof Frank Tietze questions from the perspective of academic researchers who wish to understand how the patenting process works and—most importantly—the relation between patenting and publishing.

    Q&A Open Access
  • A recent study from Nature Communications reveals that Mycobacterium tuberculosis can hijack epigenetic machinery in host cells and induce host cell ferroptosis, which promotes pathogen pathogenicity and spread. These findings also suggest new therapeutic strategies to treat tuberculosis.

    • Boyi Gan
    Comment Open Access
  • Supramolecular chemistry based on cyclodextrin receptors as second-sphere ligands contribute to developing non-covalent materials with synergistic functionalities. Herein, we comment on a recent investigation of this concept, describing selective gold recovery through a hierarchical host-guest assembly specifically built from β-CD.

    • Anne Ponchel
    • Eric Monflier
    Comment Open Access
  • NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission intentionally impacted the asteroid Dimorphos on September 26, 2022, and this kinetic impact changed Dimorphos’ orbit around its binary companion Didymos. This first planetary defense test explored technological readiness for this method of asteroid deflection.

    • Andrew S. Rivkin
    • Andrew F. Cheng
    Comment Open Access
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Optics and photonics

This page highlights recent engaging work in the areas of optics and photonics, ranging from optical physics, materials, imaging, and communications, to techniques, integration and applications, at all wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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