Articles

Photonic lattices provide a useful platform for simulating quantum dynamics and systems. Keil et al.fabricate coupled waveguides on-chip and use them to simulate the one-dimensional random mass Dirac model, a test-bed for both Dirac fermions and antiferromagnetic spin systems.

Active seafloor spreading has been documented in some of the tectonically active basins of the Gulf of California. This work presents new geophysical and geochemical data as evidence that active seafloor spreading is also occurring in the northernmost Wagner and Consag basins of the Gulf.

During rest, the different regions of the human brain still carry out complex interactions. In this study, a pairwise maximum entropy model is used to quantify the complexity of these interactions during rest, showing that the model is able to capture the structure of the resting-state human brain networks.

The construction of homochiral surfaces may play a significant role in applications including heterogeneous catalysis and bio-sensors. Here, globally homochiral two-dimensional assemblies of achiral molecules are formed via co-assembly with chiral co-adsorbers, demonstrating a ‘majority rules’ effect.

Knowledge of the Hamiltonian of a quantum system is essential for predicting and controlling its behaviour. Li et al.use optical three-dimensional Fourier-transform spectroscopy to separate and study each pathway, gaining quantitative insight into the quantum pathways of an atomic vapour Hamiltonian.

The ribosomal stalk L12 is the only multi-copy protein in the ribosome and is essential for translation. Here Davydov et al.use a bioinformatics and mass spectrometry approach to study the evolution of L12 in bacterial ribosomes and predict its stoichiometry in a wide range of species.

Recent studies have shown that human induced pluripotent stem cells contain point mutations in coding regions, but the functional significance of these mutations is unclear. Here the authors provide evidence that these mutations are unlikely to confer a selective advantage for reprogramming.

Studies in animals have shown that the inferior colliculus of the auditory pathway is tonotopically organized. This fMRI study in humans reveals a low-to-high frequency gradient in the inferior colliculus that is tonotopically oriented, as well as spectral selectivity based on responses to natural sounds.

Superionic materials have rigid crystal structures but liquid-like ionic conductivity above a critical temperature, which may be useful for switching and storage applications. Using ultrafast X-ray probes, Miller et al.show that the superionic transition timescale is determined by the ionic hopping time.

The role of microRNAs in chemotherapy resistance remains to be elucidated. Bockhorn et al.report that microRNA-30c, a human breast tumour prognostic marker, has a key role by targeting the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition promoter twinfilin 1 and downstream interleukin-11 expression.

Inorganic polyphosphates have been identified in the central nervous system. Holmström and colleagues examine neuroglial cultures in vitro and cardiorespiratory responses in vivo, and find that inorganic polyphosphates trigger calcium-dependent activation of astrocytes and increase cardiorespiratory activity.

Understanding the influence of disorder on the properties of two-dimensional materials is of increasing importance, given the interest in these compounds for electronic applications. Using a scanning transmission electron microscope, Dumcencoet al. quantify the atomic mixing in two-dimensional films of Mo_1–xW_xS₂.

In metals, plasmon properties are fixed once the structure is built, but in graphene they can be altered by electric or magnetic fields. Using electrical time-of-flight measurements, Kumada et al. show wide plasmon velocity tunability in graphene with a varying magnetic field.

Plant pathogens encode effector proteins that trigger immunity in plants carrying appropriate resistance genes. Here Qutob et al. show non-Mendelian interactions between naturally occurring Phytophthora sojaealleles that result in transgenerational gene silencing and gain of virulence in soybean plants.

In outwardly rectifying potassium channels, depolarization initiates conformational changes in voltage-sensing domains. Goldschen-Ohmet al. find that movement of three specific domains correlates with conductance levels, and rearrangements of a fourth domain results in preinactivation subconductance states.

Delivery of lysosome-associated membrane proteins (LAMPs), is important for lysosome stability and function. Here, Pols et al. identify a previously uncharacterized pathway for transport of lysosome-associated membrane proteins LAMPs directly from the trans-golgi network to late endosomes.

RNase P is a key enzyme implicated in transfer RNA maturation that removes the 5′-leader sequences from transfer RNA precursors. In this study, a biophysical characterization of a novel protein-only variant of RNase P, known as PRORP (PROteinaceous RNase P), reveals that transfer RNA recognition by PRORP is similar to that by ribonucleoprotein RNase P.

Inspired by neural networks, reservoir computing uses nonlinear transient states to perform computations, offering faster parallel information processing. Brunner et al.show a photonic approach to reservoir computing capable of simultaneous spoken digit and speaker recognition at high data rates.

Cell migration requires motor protein-driven delivery of proteins to the leading edge. This study shows that p68 RNA helicase behaves as a microtubule-based motor upon binding calmodulin, and that blocking this interaction inhibits cancer cell metastasis.

The development of biological tubes is regulated by mutual interactions between cells and luminal extracellular matrix. Donget al. show that retrograde recycling of luminal chitin deacetylase regulates Drosophila tracheal tubule geometry by restricting length independently of diameter.