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Morphogenesis of filaments growing in flexible confinements
Growing polymer chains are often confined within vesicles in biological systems. Here, the authors study how material properties such as friction, flexibility and thickness affect confined polymer filaments when they grow beyond their equilibrium size, identifying four unique morphologies.
- R. Vetter
- , F. K. Wittel
- & H. J. Herrmann
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Construction of RNA nanocages by re-engineering the packaging RNA of Phi29 bacteriophage
The rational design of nanostructures based on RNA is an intriguing task, but the RNA type or the range of structures can be limited. Here, the authors report a method for RNA self-assembly based on packaging RNA, giving a series of differently shaped nanocages.
- Chenhui Hao
- , Xiang Li
- & Chengde Mao
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| Open AccessNon-classicality of the molecular vibrations assisting exciton energy transfer at room temperature
Understanding the possible role of quantum effects in biological systems requires identification of their non-classical features. Here, the authors study prototype dimers in photosynthetic antennae and find that vibration-assisted processes benefit from non-classical fluctuations of their collective motions.
- Edward J. O’Reilly
- & Alexandra Olaya-Castro
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| Open AccessImaging live cell in micro-liquid enclosure by X-ray laser diffraction
Live cell imaging at high resolution is very challenging because cells die upon prolonged radiation exposure. Kimura et al.overcome this problem by using pulsed coherent X-ray diffraction to image live microbacterium in a nanofabricated liquid enclosure at resolution far exceeding optical methods.
- Takashi Kimura
- , Yasumasa Joti
- & Yoshinori Nishino
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An angular fluidic channel for prism-free surface-plasmon-assisted fluorescence capturing
Fluorescence enhancement utilizing surface plasmon excitation is widely used for biomolecular recognition. Here the authors employ a V-shaped trench, incorporating some typical functionalities of a detection system—prism, sensing plate and flow channel—into a single feature.
- Ken-ichi Nomura
- , Subash C.B. Gopinath
- & Makoto Fujimaki
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| Open AccessSubnanoradian X-ray phase-contrast imaging using a far-field interferometer of nanometric phase gratings
Phase-contrast imaging has become popular for medical diagnostic purposes because of the ability to see transparent structures at relatively small radiation energy dosed to samples. Wenet al.further develop this technique using nanometric phase gratings to achieve subnanoradian sensitivity.
- Han Wen
- , Andrew A. Gomella
- & Douglas E. Wolfe
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A correlated nickelate synaptic transistor
Neuromorphic memory devices are modelled on biological design and open up new possibilities in computing. Here, the authors report the use of a nickelate as a channel material in a three-terminal device, controllable by varying stoichiometry in situvia ionic liquid gating.
- Jian Shi
- , Sieu D. Ha
- & Shriram Ramanathan
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DNA-based highly tunable particle focuser
Particle focusing in microfluidic channels can be done in viscoelastic mediums such as synthetic polymer solutions. Kang et al.report that dilute DNA solutions are more efficient elasticity enhancers for this purpose and the same degree of focusing can be achieved at much lower concentrations.
- Kyowon Kang
- , Sung Sik Lee
- & Ju Min Kim
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Griffiths phases and the stretching of criticality in brain networks
Neural interactions taking place in the brain seemingly occur at criticality, but little is known about how this state is achieved. Moretti and Muñoz identify the signatures of so-called Griffiths phases stemming from the hierarchical topology of brain networks, which could point to an explanation.
- Paolo Moretti
- & Miguel A. Muñoz
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Direct measurement of osmotic pressure via adaptive confinement of quasi hard disc colloids
Confinement is encountered in systems varying from simple liquids to biological cells. Williams et al. introduce an adaptive confinement with an elastic wall composed of colloidal particles, whereby the osmotic pressure of the confined system can be directly obtained from the displacement of the wall.
- Ian Williams
- , Erdal C. Oğuz
- & C. Patrick Royall
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In vivo cardiac phase response curve elucidates human respiratory heart rate variability
Many biological processes are oscillatory and their rhythms shift in response to external stimuli. Here Kralemann et al. present a method to describe the sensitivity of an oscillator to external influences based on non-invasive observation of the system, and use it to study cardiac–respiratory interactions in humans.
- Björn Kralemann
- , Matthias Frühwirth
- & Maximilian Moser
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Neurofilament sidearms modulate parallel and crossed-filament orientations inducing nematic to isotropic and re-entrant birefringent hydrogels
Neurofilaments are intermediate filaments that form nematic liquid-crystal hydrogels in axons. Here, the authors show that upon decreasing ionic strength the hydrogels transform to isotropic and re-entrant birefringent hydrogels, with notable mechanical and water retention properties.
- Joanna Deek
- , Peter J. Chung
- & Cyrus R. Safinya
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Real-time electrical detection of nitric oxide in biological systems with sub-nanomolar sensitivity
The real-time monitoring of nitric oxide levels in the human body is critical for understanding the roles it has in biological processes. Jiang et al. report a graphene-based sensor for selective detection of nitric oxide in living cells with direct electrical read-out and sub-nanomole sensitivity.
- Shan Jiang
- , Rui Cheng
- & Xiangfeng Duan
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Single-shot pulse duration monitor for extreme ultraviolet and X-ray free-electron lasers
Free-electron lasers offer exciting new possibilities for X-ray studies on ultrafast timescales, but their shot-to-shot variability requires new diagnostic tools. Using a plasma switch cross-correlator, Riedel et al. present a single-shot online diagnostic to retrieve the duration of extreme ultraviolet pulses.
- R. Riedel
- , A. Al-Shemmary
- & F. Tavella
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Magnetic spin imaging under ambient conditions with sub-cellular resolution
Detecting the magnetic spins of a small number of atoms is important for applications such as magnetic resonance imaging. Here, Steinert et al.demonstrate that nitrogen-vacancy defect centres in diamond allow spin detection at room temperature at length scales smaller than human cells.
- S. Steinert
- , F. Ziem
- & J. Wrachtrup