Extracellular uncoating of bacteriophage MS2.

In the early stages of infection of its host, Escherichia coli, bacteriophage MS2 sheds its icosahedral protein capsid, after which the single-stranded genomic RNA (gRNA) and maturation protein enter the cell as a complex. Although the steps preceding uncoating, which include the binding of the Mat protein to the extracellular filament F-pilus, have been studied in detail, the uncoating step is not well understood. To study when and where uncoating happens, we image the infection process using fluorescence microscopy, separately labelling the MS2 capsid, its gRNA, and the cells.

Random unitaries in extremely low depth.

Random unitaries are central to quantum technologies and the study of complex quantum many-body physics. However, existing protocols for generating random unitaries require long evolution times and deep circuits. In this work, we prove that local quantum circuits can form random unitaries in extremely low depth on any geometry.

Double symmetry breaking in filamentous colloidal tactoids.

Understanding the dynamics of liquid crystalline tactoids under external forces is of great importance due to their potential applications in optics, medical devices, and displays. However, only recently have tactoids started to be studied systematically under external forces, particularly under extensional flow. Here, we subject tactoids to a shear flow field and study their deformation dynamics under varying conditions of shear and time scales.

Enhancing Los Angeles' resilient energy systems amid wildfires.

Wildfires pose a significant threat to urban regions, with cities like Los Angeles facing increasing challenges due to their vulnerability to frequent and severe wildfire events. This study proposes a novel framework for optimizing fire rescue vehicle scheduling and energy system operations during wildfire disasters. By integrating predictive wildfire modeling with microgrid-based energy systems, the framework dynamically allocates energy resources to critical demands such as emergency shelters, hospitals, and rescue operations when grid supply is disrupted.

AI-enabled drug prediction and gene network analysis reveal therapeutic use of vorinostat for Rett Syndrome in preclinical models.

Background: Many neurodevelopmental genetic disorders, such as Rett syndrome, are caused by a single gene mutation but trigger changes in expression of numerous genes. This impairs functions of multiple organs beyond the central nervous system (CNS), making it difficult to develop broadly effective treatments based on a single drug target. This is further complicated by the lack of sufficiently broad and biologically relevant drug screens, and the inherent complexity in identifying clinically relevant targets responsible for diverse phenotypes that involve multiple organs.

MC-MED, multimodal clinical monitoring in the emergency department.

Emergency Department (ED) patients often present with undiagnosed complaints, and can exhibit rapidly evolving physiology. Therefore, data from continuous physiologic monitoring, in addition to the electronic health record, is essential to understand the acute course of illness and responses to interventions. The complexity of ED care and the large amount of unstructured multimodal data it produces have limited the accessibility of detailed ED data for research.

Research Gaps, Challenges, and Opportunities in Automated Insulin Delivery Systems.

Since the discovery of the life-saving hormone insulin in 1921 by Dr. Frederick Banting in 1921, there have been many critical discoveries and technical breakthroughs that have enabled people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to live longer, healthier lives. The development of insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring systems, and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems has enabled people living with T1D to safely manage their glucose, reduce their HbA1c, and improve their overall health and quality of life.

Early Stages of Automated Insulin Delivery.

The development of automated insulin delivery systems has seen tremendous improvements from individual components to interoperable system combinations of devices and new drugs besides insulin. The components have become progressively smaller, more accurate, and more user friendly. This article summarizes the history of the artificial pancreas from the earliest concepts to fully functional systems to research into further improvements in the future.

Research Gaps, Challenges, and Opportunities in Automated Insulin Delivery Systems.

Background: Since the discovery of the life-saving hormone insulin in 1921 by Dr Frederick Banting in 1921, there have been many critical discoveries and technical breakthroughs that have enabled people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) to live longer, healthier lives. The development of insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems, and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems have enabled people living with T1D to safely manage their glucose, reduce their HbA1c, and improve their overall health and quality of life. Nevertheless, AID systems are not yet designed for all people with T1D, and they perform best during the overnight period when meals and exercise are not occurring.

Early Stages of Automated Insulin Delivery.

The development of automated insulin delivery systems has seen tremendous improvements from individual components to interoperable system combinations of devices and new drugs besides insulin. The components have become progressively smaller, more accurate, and more user friendly. This article summarizes the history of the artificial pancreas from the earliest concepts to fully functional systems to research into further improvements in the future.

Programmable Surface Dimpling of Textile Metamaterials for Aerodynamic Control.

Static aerodynamic surfaces are inherently limited in their ability to adapt to dynamic velocity profiles or environmental changes, restricting their performance under variable operating conditions. This challenge is particularly pronounced in high-speed competitive sports, such as cycling and downhill skiing, where the properties of a static textile surface are mismatched with highly dynamic wind-speed profiles. Here, an textile metamaterial is introduced that is capable of variable aerodynamic profiles through a stretch-induced dimpling mechanism, even when tightly conformed to a body or object.

Managing Smoke Risk from Wildland Fires: Northern California as a Case Study.

Smoke fine particulate matter (PM) from increasing wildfires in the western United States threatens public health. While land managers often prioritize reducing wildfire risk in the wildland-urban interface, the impact on regional air quality from mitigating wildfire spread has been less explored. We developed a framework to quantify wildfire contributions to smoke exposure and assess targeted land management strategies.

Decoding the mechanophysiology for inhaled onset of smallpox with model-based implications for mpox spread.

Orthopoxviruses can transmit via inhalation of virus-laden airborne particulates, with the initial infection triggered along the respiratory pathway. Understanding the flow physics of inhaled aerosols and droplets within the respiratory tract is crucial for improving transmission mitigation strategies and elucidating disease pathology. Here, we introduce an experimentally-validated physiological fluid dynamics model simulating inhaled onset of smallpox caused by the variola virus of Orthopoxvirus genus.

Theory of Cation Solvation in the Helmholtz Layer of Li-Ion Battery Electrolytes.

The solvation environments of Li in conventional nonaqueous battery electrolytes, such as LiPF in mixtures of ethylene carbaronate (EC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC), are often used to rationalize transport properties and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation. Solvation environments in the compact electrical double layer (EDL) next to the electrode, also known as the Helmholtz layer, determine (partially) what species can react to form the SEI, with bulk solvation environments often being used as a proxy. Here, we develop and test a theory of cation solvation in the Helmholtz layer of nonaqueous Li-ion battery electrolytes.

Calcium carbonate amorphous-to-crystalline transition drives complex precipitation patterns in confined fluids.

Calcium carbonate undergoes an amorphous-to-crystalline transition during its precipitation, where the morphology of precipitates changes from amorphous aggregates to individual crystal particles. This transition has been extensively investigated in biomineralization and material synthesis while its relevance to fluid dynamics is less explored. Here we demonstrate through microfluidic experiments that this transition drives complex flow behaviors and precipitation patterns during mixing-induced precipitation in confined fluids.

Fluid dynamics model of the cerebral ventricular system.

Hydrocephalus, a neurological condition characterized by an excessive buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain, affects millions worldwide and leads to severe consequences. Current treatments, such as ventriculoperitoneal shunts, divert excess CSF from the brain but often face complications, mainly due to shunt obstructions caused by biological matter accumulation. While previous shunt designs aimed to improve fluid flow and reduce occlusion, they often lacked the precision needed for real-world applications due to simplified simulation models that did not fully capture the dynamics of the cerebral ventricular system.

Understanding Mechanisms of PFAS Absorption, Distribution, and Elimination Using a Physiologically Based Toxicokinetic Model.

Exposures to some per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), have been associated with diverse adverse health effects. Physicochemical properties of PFAA are known to influence their toxicokinetics in mammals, but mechanistic models capable of identifying the key drivers of absorption, distribution, and elimination are limited. Here, we develop and evaluate a physiologically based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model parameterized to an mouse model using data from studies.

Why are soft collagenous tissues so tough?

Bovine pericardium is the tissue of choice for replacing heart valves of human patients in minimally invasive surgery. The tissue has an extraordinarily high toughness of ~100 kilojoules per square meter. Here, we investigate the origin of the toughness through mechanical tests and microscopic observations.

Soil Mercury Accumulation Delays Fish Recovery from Atmospheric Deposition Declines.

Marked decreases in U.S. mercury emissions over the last 30 years reflect successful air quality management, but data documenting the responses of ecosystems and biota over this same period are limited.

Optimal switching strategies for navigation in stochastic settings.

When navigating complex environments, animals often combine multiple strategies to mitigate the effects of external disturbances. These modalities often correspond to different sources of information, leading to speed - accuracy trade-offs. Inspired by the intermittent reorientation strategy seen in the behaviour of the dung beetle, we consider the problem of the navigation strategy of a correlated random walker moving in two dimensions.

In Vivo Accumulation of Regulatory T Cells Using Eliglustat-Loaded Cryogels.

Regulatory T cells (T) maintain immune homeostasis and their adoptive transfer is being widely explored to mitigate inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Here a biomaterial is developed to accumulate T at a specific anatomic location to bypass the need for ex vivo T isolation and adoptive transfer. It is first shown that eliglustat, an FDA-approved inhibitor of UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase, promotes T from both naïve and activated CD4 T cells in vitro.

Applying Augmented Reality to Convey Medical Knowledge on Osteoclasts to Users of a Serious Game: Vignette Experiment.

Background: Visualization technology is enhancing interactive learning by merging digital content with real-world environments, offering immersive experiences through augmented reality (AR) in fields like medical education. AR is being increasingly used in medicine and dental education to improve student learning, particularly in understanding complex concepts such as bone remodeling. Active learning strategies, supported by AR, boost student autonomy, reduce cognitive load, and improve learning outcomes across various disciplines.

Deep mechanism design: Learning social and economic policies for human benefit.

Human society is coordinated by mechanisms that control how prices are agreed, taxes are set, and electoral votes are tallied. The design of robust and effective mechanisms for human benefit is a core problem in the social, economic, and political sciences. Here, we discuss the recent application of modern tools from AI research, including deep neural networks trained with reinforcement learning (RL), to create more desirable mechanisms for people.

Nuclear biophysics: Spatial coordination of transcriptional dynamics?

A great deal is known about biochemical aspects of transcription, but we still lack an understanding of how transcription is causally regulated in space and time. A major unanswered question is the extent to which transcription at different locations in the nucleus are independent from each other or, instead, are spatially coordinated. We propose two classes of models of coordination: 1) the shared environment model, in which neighboring loci exhibit coordinated transcriptional dynamics due to sharing the same local biochemical environment; 2) the mechanical crosstalk model, in which forces propagate from one actively transcribing locus to affect transcription of another.