Open (O) and closed (C) topologies of HORMA-domain proteins are respectively associated with inactive and active states of fundamental cellular pathways. The HORMA protein O-MAD2 converts to C-MAD2 upon binding CDC20. This is rate limiting for assembly of the mitotic checkpoint complex (MCC), the effector of a checkpoint required for mitotic fidelity. A catalyst assembled at kinetochores accelera
Biological membranes can achieve remarkably high permeabilities, while maintaining ideal selectivities, by relying on well-defined internal nanoscale structures in the form of membrane proteins. Here, we apply such design strategies to desalination membranes. A series of polyamide desalination membranes—which were synthesized in an industrial-scale manufacturing line and varied in processing cond
Diamond is not only the hardest material in nature, but is also an extreme electronic material with an ultrawide bandgap, exceptional carrier mobilities, and thermal conductivity. Straining diamond can push such extreme figures of merit for device applications. We microfabricated single-crystalline diamond bridge structures with ~1 micrometer length by ~100 nanometer width and achieved sample-wid
The spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Africa is poorly described. The first case of SARS-CoV-2 in Kenya was reported on 12 March 2020, and an overwhelming number of cases and deaths were expected, but by 31 July 2020, there were only 20,636 cases and 341 deaths. However, the extent of SARS-CoV-2 exposure in the community remains unknown. We determined the p
Cloud-aerosol interactions remain a major obstacle to understanding climate and severe weather. Observations suggest that aerosols enhance tropical thunderstorm activity; past research, motivated by the importance of understanding aerosol impacts on clouds, has proposed several mechanisms that could explain that observed link. We find that high-resolution atmospheric simulations can reproduce the
Metamorphic proteins switch between different folds, defying the protein folding paradigm. It is unclear how fold switching arises during evolution. With ancestral reconstruction and nuclear magnetic resonance, we studied the evolution of the metamorphic human protein XCL1, which has two distinct folds with different functions, making it an unusual member of the chemokine family, whose members ge
Self-organization is frequently observed in active collectives as varied as ant rafts and molecular motor assemblies. General principles describing self-organization away from equilibrium have been challenging to identify. We offer a unifying framework that models the behavior of complex systems as largely random while capturing their configuration-dependent response to external forcing. This all
The circadian clock coordinates daily rhythmicity of biochemical, physiologic, and behavioral functions in humans. Gene expression, cell division, and DNA repair are modulated by the clock, which gives rise to the hypothesis that clock dysfunction may predispose individuals to cancer. Although the results of many epidemiologic and animal studies are consistent with there being a role for the cloc
Factor-dependent transcription termination mechanisms are poorly understood. We determined a series of cryo–electron microscopy structures portraying the hexameric adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) on a pathway to terminating NusA/NusG-modified elongation complexes. An open ring contacts NusA, NusG, and multiple regions of RNA polymerase, trapping and locally unwinding proximal upstream DNA. NusA
Vitamin K antagonists are widely used anticoagulants that target vitamin K epoxide reductases (VKOR), a family of integral membrane enzymes. To elucidate their catalytic cycle and inhibitory mechanism, we report 11 x-ray crystal structures of human VKOR and pufferfish VKOR-like, with substrates and antagonists in different redox states. Substrates entering the active site in a partially oxidized
Tissue homeostasis is perturbed in a diversity of inflammatory pathologies. These changes can elicit endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, protein misfolding, and cell death. ER stress triggers the unfolded protein response (UPR), which can promote recovery of ER proteostasis and cell survival or trigger programmed cell death. Here, we leveraged single-cell RNA sequencing to define dynamic transcrip
Scientists should follow the example of the Chinese professor whose selfless decision to share his breakthrough led to the medical miracle of a vaccine There are many people deserving of praise for selfless acts during the past 12 months. But one person whose act of scientific generosity ought to be remembered is Zhang Yongzhen . The scientist, who works out of the Shanghai Public Health Clinical
The volcano on Hawaii's Big Island began erupting more than a week ago and lava continues to flow, creating a huge new lake that's taken the place of a water lake it vaporized. (Image credit: D. Downs/USGS)
The UK should take the lead from Nicaragua, where early strict measures have kept the coronavirus death rate one of the lowest in the world, writes John Perry . Plus Harry Galbraith on the approach taken by the Isle of Man In learning lessons about how to handle Covid-19, another country could be added to the list ( The UK and the US need to learn from countries that better handled Covid-19 , 29
Editor's Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here . A new variant of the coronavirus is spreading across the globe. It was first identified in the United Kingdom, where it is rapidly spreading, and has been found in multiple countries. Viruses mutate all the time, often with no impact, but this one appears to be more transmi
NMDA receptors are excitatory channels with critical functions in the physiology of central synapses. Their activation reaction proceeds as a series of kinetically distinguishable, reversible steps, whose structural bases are currently under investigation. Very likely, the earliest steps include glutamate binding to glycine-bound receptors and subsequent constriction of the ligand-binding…
Previous studies have shown that the conceptual representation of food involves brain regions associated with taste perception. The specificity of this response, however, is unknown. Does viewing pictures of food produce a general, nonspecific response in taste-sensitive regions of the brain? Or is the response specific for how a particular…
Thrombopoietin (TPO) and the TPO-receptor (TPO-R, or c-MPL) are essential for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance and megakaryocyte differentiation. Agents that can modulate TPO-R signaling are highly desirable for both basic research and clinical utility. We developed a series of surrogate protein ligands for TPO-R, in the form of diabodies…
Reduction of N2 gas to ammonia in legume root nodules is a key component of sustainable agricultural systems. Root nodules are the result of a symbiosis between leguminous plants and bacteria called rhizobia. Both symbiotic partners play active roles in establishing successful symbiosis and nitrogen fixation: while root nodule development…
Exosomes are emerging as ideal drug delivery vehicles due to their biological origin and ability to transfer cargo between cells. However, rapid clearance of exogenous exosomes from the circulation as well as aggregation of exosomes and shedding of surface proteins during storage limit their clinical translation. Here, we demonstrate highly…
A chemiresistive sensor is described for the detection of methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas that also poses an explosion hazard in air. The chemiresistor allows for the low-power, low-cost, and distributed sensing of CH4 at room temperature in air with environmental implications for gas leak detection in homes, production…
Human adenovirus species D (HAdV-D) types are currently being explored as vaccine vectors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and other severe infectious diseases. The efficacy of such vector-based vaccines depends on functional interactions with receptors on host cells. Adenoviruses of different species are assumed to enter host cells mainly by…
Hospital staff express frustration as they tell of reckless behaviour by some members of the public Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage "If people clapped for us now, excuse my language but I would probably just tell them to fuck off," said the exhausted junior doctor facing January in Britain on an overcrowded intensive care unit. "The majority of people, even people I
When using social media to nudge people toward safe and healthy behaviors, it's critical to make sure the words match the pictures, according to a new study. After looking at social media posts, parents of young children were better able to recall safety messages such as how to put a baby safely to sleep when the images in the posts aligned with the messages in the text.
Researchers report that adding a small molecule to a chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy can help immune system T cells to effectively attack solid tumors, such as breast cancers. The boost helps recruit more immune cells into battle at the tumor site, according to the new study.
When fat cells in the body are stuffed with excess fat, the surrounding tissue becomes inflamed. That chronic, low-level inflammation is one of the driving factors behind many of the diseases associated with obesity. Now, scientists have discovered a type of cell responsible, at least in mice, for triggering this inflammation in fat tissue. Their findings could eventually lead to new ways to treat
Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram could help us become more creative if they steered us to people with ideas and interests different from our own, researchers report. The algorithms that social media platforms use to recommend who we should "follow" are currently designed to steer us to people who likely share the same ideas and interests. In a new paper in the Journal of the Royal
With restaurants and supply chains disrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic, two-fifths of commercial fishers from Maine to North Carolina did not go fishing earlier this year, a new study shows. Of those who kept fishing, nearly all reported a decline in income compared with previous years, according to the study in PLOS ONE . The study, which covers March to June and included 258 fishers, also
A randomized clinical trial is the largest study to-date to compare thresholds for blood transfusions in premature babies, offers guidance for health care providers.
Appealing to people's concerns for their loved ones could overcome resistance to wearing a mask and following social distancing guidelines to limit the spread of COVID-19, according to new research. The findings may also have implications for encouraging people to get the new vaccine. In a recent survey, people who said social distancing and COVID-safety guidelines violated their personal freedom
Even as vaccines are being rolled out to battle the coronavirus, wordsmiths at Lake Superior State University in Michigan's Upper Peninsula say they want to kick any trace of it from the English language.
A one-sided relationship between the bacteria Veillonella parvula and a pathogen in the mouth may lead to gum disease, a new study shows. Friendly bacteria fills the human body. However, some of these microorganisms, such as Veillonella parvula , may be too nice. When these peaceful bacteria engage with the pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis , it helps the germ multiply and cause gum disease, the
Health officials and hospitals are struggling with a lack of resources. Holiday staffing and saving doses for nursing homes are also contributing to delays.
Those hoping for a quick snapback to sanity for the Republican Party once Donald Trump is no longer president should temper those hopes. The latest piece of evidence to suggest the enduring power of Trumpian unreality is yesterday's announcement by Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri that he will object next week when Congress convenes to certify the Electoral College vote. Hawley knows this effort w
Reports of possible allergic reactions to COVID-19 vaccines have raised public concern; however, allergists note that allergic reactions to vaccines are rare, and COVID-19 vaccine allergic reactions will have a similarly low rate of occurrence. Individuals with a history of anaphylaxis to an injectable drug or vaccine containing polyethylene glycol or polysorbate should speak with an allergist bef
Every weekday evening, our editors guide you through the biggest stories of the day, help you discover new ideas, and surprise you with moments of delight. Subscribe to get this delivered to your inbox . Even when you love to cook, being responsible for feeding yourself—and others, especially children—is never a simple duty. And this year, as many of us spent more time inside our homes than ever
As the pandemic enters its second year, the coronavirus has remade everyday life in the United States. More than 19 million Americans have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since March, and at least 330,000 Americans have died of it, according to the COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic . Yesterday, 3,903 Americans were reported to have died of the virus, the highest death toll since the pandemic be
Sea anemones have a backup strategy when food is difficult to find: their symbiotic relationship with tiny algae living under their skin. New findings describe how anemones control this remarkable interaction. The discovery provides new insights into ways organisms form associations that make them more successful than if they lived by themselves. Sea anemones typically feed on mussels, shrimp, sq
Health officials and hospitals are struggling with a lack of resources. Holiday staffing and saving doses for nursing homes are also contributing to delays.
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers report that adding a small molecule to a chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy can help immune system T cells to effectively attack solid tumors, such as breast cancers. The boost helps recruit more immune cells into battle at the tumor site, according to the study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine .
Activating an immune signaling pathway best known for fighting viral and bacterial infections can boost the ability of genetically engineered T cells to eradicate breast cancer in mice, according to a new study by researchers at the University of North Carolina. The study, to be published December 31 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine ( JEM ), suggests that CAR T cells, which are already used
You know what's even better than sparklers? The spark of hope in their eyes. (Deposit Photos/) For the first time in more than a century, New York City's Times Square will be nearly empty on New Year's Eve. No chorus of cheap noisemakers. No awkward selfies with the Naked Cowboy. No families swapping hot chocolate to stay warm and awake until the ball drops. This year being in crowded places is o
"Where do you see yourself in five years?" It's a classic job interview question, designed to probe your level of ambition and aspiration. And it probes about as far ahead as many of us are likely to think: with so many distractions in the here and now, so many crises and challenges and opportunities that will arise, and so much that seems likely to change, who can meticulously sit and plan for d
With plans for satellite launches and investment in space-based solar, can the UK become a space super power? In 1969, a British engineer was invited to the White House to meet President Nixon. His name was Francis Thomas Bacon and he had developed the fuel cells used on Apollo 11. Known now as Bacon fuel cells, these power sources consume hydrogen and oxygen to produce water, heat and, in theory
Researchers at St Petersburg University, as part of an international team, have discovered in the Tien Shan mountains a specific complex of rocks that formed in the Cambrian ocean about 500 million years ago. The age of the rock assemblage was established thanks to adakites – a group of acid volcanic rocks, described from one of the islands in the Aleutian arc.
When using social media to nudge people toward safe and healthy behaviors, it's critical to make sure the words match the pictures, according to a new study. After looking at social media posts, parents of young children were better able to recall safety messages such as how to put a baby safely to sleep when the images in the posts aligned with the messages in the text.
Scientists evaluated the sea-ice simulations of the Arctic regional ocean-ice coupling configuration of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology general circulation model (MITgcm) and found there were disagreements between the simulations and observations in both March and September.
Chinese researchers from Prof. WEN Liping's team at the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry and Prof. ZHANG Qianfan's team from Beihang University have recently made progress in the preparation and application of a bioinspired material that is capable of achieving controlled ion transport and sieving, especially for lithium-ion extraction.
A preschool enrichment program that helps boost social and emotional skills pays off during middle and high school, according to a new study. Researchers find that students attending Head Start preschools that implemented the Research-based, Developmentally Informed (REDI) program were less likely to experience behavioral problems, trouble with peers, and emotional symptoms like feeling anxious o
DALLAS – Dec. XX, 2020 – When fat cells in the body are stuffed with excess fat, the surrounding tissue becomes inflamed. That chronic, low-level inflammation is one of the driving factors behind many of the diseases associated with obesity. Now, UT Southwestern scientists have discovered a type of cell responsible, at least in mice, for triggering this inflammation in fat tissue. Their findings,
Scientists at DGIST in Korea, and UC Irvine and UC San Diego in the US, have developed a computer architecture that processes unsupervised machine learning algorithms faster, while consuming significantly less energy than state-of-the-art graphics processing units. The key is processing data where it is stored in computer memory and in an all-digital format. The researchers presented the new archi
The investigational vaccine known as mRNA-1273 was 94.1% efficacious in preventing symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to preliminary results from a Phase 3 clinical trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine . The vaccine also demonstrated efficacy in preventing severe COVID-19. Investigators identified no safety concerns and no evidence of vaccine-associated enh
If you're interested in the world of cryptocurrency but don't really know where to begin, good news. CoinSmart is a cryptocurrency platform that's extremely easy to use while also being fast and secure. Basically, it's the superior way to sell, trade, and buy cryptocurrency online, with none of the pitfalls that one can run into on other platforms. Once you set up an account with CoinSmart , it u
National Institutes of Health-funded randomized clinical trial is the largest study to-date to compare thresholds for blood transfusions in premature babies, offers guidance for health care providers.
From the rapid development of vaccines for Covid-19 to the stunning collection of an asteroid sample, these were the biggest science moments of the year
NASA's Perseverance rover will look for biosignatures on Mars and its landing site looks remarkably similar to Earth-based sites that contain ancient fossilized cells.
Like everyone else, it seems, we here at Retraction Watch are more than ready to put 2020 to bed. It was a bittersweet year to celebrate our tenth anniversary and reflect on what we've learned. But the work never stops, so as we've done every year since 2010, we'll take a look at the most … Continue reading
Leaders of the nation's federal vaccine effort, called Operation Warp Speed, said the U.S. has deployed around 14 million vaccine doses as of Wednesday with just 2.1 million Americans vaccinated. (Image credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)
In a year when sharing space and air with people is potentially dangerous, one would think that dating would be particularly dismal, perhaps even put on hold. Recent data suggest that's not quite the case, however, and even point to some positive developments: Many single Americans have been more intentional about whom they date, are having deeper conversations, and are spending more quality time
Olivia Hinerfeld's dog Lincoln and Kate Hilts' cat Potato have something in common: They both like to interrupt Zoom calls as their owners work from home.
Olivia Hinerfeld's dog Lincoln and Kate Hilts' cat Potato have something in common: They both like to interrupt Zoom calls as their owners work from home.
Even amidst stay-at-home orders and restricted mobility, the photographers commissioned for stories this year were able to connect us with events around the world. Inside Singapore's huge bet on vertical farming ZAKARIA ZAINAL Finding homes for the waste that will (probably) outlive humanity SPENCER LOWELL Asia's biggest climate migration SUSHAVAN NANDY How to turn filming the police into the end
From the MIT Technology Review art team, here are some of our very favorite illustrations of the year: Is getting pregnant "medically necessary" right now? INA JANG Zooming DOGBOY 10 Breakthrough Technologies: Hyper-personalized medicine JULIA DUFOSSé Your biggest questions about coronavirus, answered PAIGE VICKERS What the 1930s can teach us about dealing with Big Tech today SOPHY HOLLINGTON Alg
This was a year we needed technology to save us. A pandemic raced over the land, there were wildfires, uneasy political divisions, and we gasped in the miasma of social media. In 2020, the ways in which technology can help or hurt never seemed clearer. In the success column we have covid-19 vaccines. But this article is not about successes. Instead, this is our annual list of the worst technology
Investing can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be hard. (Pexels/) This is part two of our two-part guide to greener finance. Check out part one, all about your bank account, here . Retirement planning is already fraught with anxiety. It involves financial calculations and long-term thinking, and most Americans probably would rather not think about it. But though it's unpleasant to think ab
On May 3, 1963, 15-year-old Walter Gadsden was skipping school when he became the center of national news. Gadsden was walking around Birmingham, Alabama—then the most segregated city in the United States—when his curiosity drew him near the crowds of a protest organized by Martin Luther King Jr. As Gadsden watched the demonstrations, a K-9 lunged at him and the dog's corresponding officer clutch
When the Democratic Senate candidate Reverend Raphael Warnock tweeted that he was a " pro-choice pastor ," backlash arrived within minutes. Conservative commentators including Ben Shapiro and Erick Erickson lined up to mock Warnock. A group of conservative Black ministers recently sent Warnock a letter asking him to reconsider his position . Representative Doug Collins, a Republican and an ordain
" How to Build a Life " is a biweekly column by Arthur Brooks, tackling questions of meaning and happiness. If you are someone who follows a traditional religion, you most likely have a day such as Yom Kippur, Ashura, or Ash Wednesday, dedicated to atoning for your sins and vowing to make improvements to your life. But if you are not religious, you might still practice a day of devotion and ritua
Living organisms have evolved mechanisms of biomineralization to build structurally ordered and environmentally adaptive composite materials. While research teams have significantly improved biomimetic mineralization research in the lab, it is still difficult to engineer mineralized composites with structural features and living components much like their native counterparts. In a new report now p
Living organisms have evolved mechanisms of biomineralization to build structurally ordered and environmentally adaptive composite materials. While research teams have significantly improved biomimetic mineralization research in the lab, it is still difficult to engineer mineralized composites with structural features and living components much like their native counterparts. In a new report now p
A swelling tide of climate lawsuits has inundated the world's court systems. Although most of the cases have floundered, a recent decision by the European Court of Human Rights to fast-track a suit brought by six Portuguese youngsters may signal more favorable winds. By February, 33 countries must respond.
We don't know their names, but these scientists have been working tirelessly to fight the pandemic. It's time to say thank you Vaccine researchers are not showy. If there is a flashy vaccine researcher out there, I've yet to meet them. Most of them talk about their colleagues more than they talk about themselves. In fact if you ask them about the work they are doing, they will invariably tell you
The concerted global response to the pandemic could be replicated for the fight against the climate crisis In a world rife with disputes and divisions, there will be one emotion likely to unite most people at the stroke of midnight on 31 December: sheer relief that 2020 is finally over. There's no risk of overstating it: this past year has pushed our world right to the edge. A single virus leapin
Corona, covid och virus. Så kan en stor del av nyhetsåret 2020 sammanfattas. Bland våra mest lästa artiklar på fof.se handlar mycket om rådande pandemi. Annat som lockat extra mycket till läsning är vikingar och träning.
Volcanoes that have been quiet for decades are rumbling to life in the eastern Caribbean, prompting officials to issue alerts in Martinique and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as scientists rush in to study activity they say hasn't been observed in years.
This year, the Sars-CoV-2 virus has come to dominate both the headlines and our lives. In the second of two episodes reviewing the science of the pandemic so far, the Guardian's health editor, Sarah Boseley , its science editor, Ian Sample , and producer Madeleine Finlay give their thoughts on what has happened over 2020, alongside professors Eleanor Riley, John Drury and Christina Pagel Review o
This year, the Sars-CoV-2 virus has come to dominate both the headlines and our lives. In the second of two episodes reviewing the science of the pandemic so far, the Guardian's health editor, Sarah Boseley, its science editor, Ian Sample, and producer Madeleine Finlay give their thoughts on what has happened over 2020, alongside professors Eleanor Riley, John Drury and Christina Pagel Review of t
Each day, our editors collect the most interesting, striking or delightful facts to appear in articles throughout the paper. Here are 74 from the past year that were the most revealing.
Rollout to begin 'soon' but about a million have already received injection under emergency approvals See all our coronavirus coverage China's health authorities have approved a Covid vaccine from state-owned Sinopharm for general use on the population, the government has announced. At a press conference in Beijing a state taskforce announced the vaccine had exceeded World Health Organization sta
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