Recent ucm_postprints items

Combination of ATLAS and CMS Searches for Higgs Boson Pair Production at s=13 TeV

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This Letter presents a combination of searches for Higgs boson pair ( ) production performed by the ATLAS and CMS Collaborations using proton-proton collision datasets recorded at during the Large Hadron Collider Run 2, corresponding to integrated luminosities ranging between 126 and . The upper limit at the 95% confidence level on the total signal strength, defined as the ratio of the measured cross section to the standard model (SM) prediction, corresponds to 2.5, with an expected value of 1.7 (2.8) assuming the absence (presence) of the SM signal. The strength of the signal is measured to be relative to the SM prediction. The observed significance is found to be 1.1 standard deviations whereas 1.3 are expected for the SM signal. Constraints are set on the Higgs boson trilinear self-coupling and on the couplings of two Higgs bosons to two vector bosons, both normalized to the SM predictions and denoted as and , respectively. The observed individual constraints at the...

Climate Influences on Day and Overnight Use at California State Beaches and Coastal Parks

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

State beaches and parks provide access to coastal environments for recreational activities that rely on access to the ocean, coastal climate, and scenic amenities. Approximately 46 million people visit state beaches in California annually, and another 20 million people visit other types of state park units located in the Coastal Zone, which together constitute 72% of overall visitation to the state parks system. We utilized monthly attendance estimates available between 2001 and 2020 to assess the influence of extreme drought or wet conditions on visitation to state beaches and coastal parks for day use and overnight use. State beaches include direct access to the ocean for water-dependent recreation activities from swimming to scenery, while coastal park types range from coastal forests to historical sites and may include some ocean access but are not directly dependent on water. State park unit climate conditions were analyzed by coastal region according to seasonal variability...

Investigating the feasibility of detecting counterfeit saffron using thermal imaging techniques

Thu, 8 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Saffron, the world’s most valuable spice, faces significant fraud risks; this study investigates thermal imaging as a rapid, non-invasive method for its authentication, revealing key findings on distinct thermal properties differentiating pure from counterfeit saffron, highlighting its practical applications in quality control. Experiments were carried out under controlled conditions using saffron solutions prepared at three chamber temperatures (15, 25, and 35 ℃) and saffron solution concentrations (0.5, 2.5, and 4 g/200 mL). Thermal diffusion rates were calculated and analyzed to distinguish pure saffron from counterfeit solutions. The results showed that increasing saffron concentration from 2 g/200 mL to 4 g/200 mL enhanced the thermal diffusion rate by approximately 33%, while raising the chamber temperature from 15 ℃ to 35 ℃ led to a 48% increase. Counterfeit saffron (Saffron Ink™) consistently exhibited higher thermal diffusion...

Longitudinal associations between cognitive control consistency and academic skills across kindergarten and first grade

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cognitive control fluctuates from moment to moment, even when the sensory and contextual demands of the task remain constant. However, traditional approaches used to measure cognitive control have largely treated such variability as noise and predominantly relied on overall performance metrics, such as accuracy and average response time. Using response time variability as an index of fluctuations in cognitive control, we examined how cognitive control consistency relates to the development of academic skills in children (N = 112) who were followed across kindergarten and first grade, an important period encompassing the transition and acclimation to formal schooling. Cognitive control consistency was assessed via response time variability in a Go/No-Go task, and math and literacy skills were assessed by the Applied Problems and Letter-Word Identification subtests of the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Achievement. More consistent cognitive control (indexed by lower response...

Gender Inclusivity and Exclusivity in US Hospitals’ Online Obstetrics, Labor and Delivery, and Pregnancy-Related Resources: Cross-Sectional Study

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Research on transgender people's health, particularly in reproductive health, has expanded exponentially over the past decades. However, previous studies frequently highlight perceived inaccessibility and gender-exclusivity of reproductive and perinatal care for transgender people. Objective: This observational study used a cross-sectional content analysis to examine online obstetrics, labor and delivery, and pregnancy-related materials from a purposive sample of 178 online hospital resources across the United States to understand the extent to which they use gender-inclusive and gender-exclusive language, imagery, and other inclusive symbolism. Methods: Two hundred US hospitals were purposively selected from the most populous cities in each state; 22 (11%) lacking obstetrics pages were excluded, yielding 178 (89%) hospitals across all 50 states. Four coders assessed obstetrics websites (from October 2025 to December 2025) for transgender-specific resources, inclusive...

Characterizing neural indices of cognitive control in young children: A school-based ERP study with naturalistic stimuli

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A large body of work has advanced our understanding of the neurodevelopment of cognitive control in early childhood. Such work frequently used simplistic visual stimuli, making them well-suited for event-related potentials (ERP) research. However, more naturalistic stimuli may better mirror visually rich environments where cognitive control is engaged. Here, we measured ERPs from 171 kindergartners at public schools with diverse socioeconomic characteristics during a Go/No-Go task using photographs of animals in natural scenes. Instead of the commonly reported N2 in Go/No-Go tasks with simplistic stimuli, the earlier-occurring ERP morphology was dominated by a P2. The later-occurring ERP morphology was consistent with the P3b reported in Go/No-Go tasks with simplistic stimuli. Both the P2 and P3b displayed more positive mean amplitudes for No-Go compared to Go trials. Additionally, P2 amplitudes decreased with age for No-Go stimuli whereas P3b amplitudes decreased for both Go...

Effects of Substrate Material, Surface Preparation, and Operating Conditions on the Surface Characteristics and Tribological Performance of MoS2 Dry Film Lubricants

Wed, 7 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) dry film lubricants (DFLs) are widely used in aerospace mechanisms when conventional liquid lubricants are impractical. While the effects of environment on MoS2 are well established, the influence of substrate characteristics and operating conditions remains less understood. In this work, three commercial MoS2-based DFLs (Lube-Lok 4396, Everlube 620C, and Everlube 9002) were applied to five aerospace-relevant substrate materials and characterized in terms of surface roughness, flatness, coating thickness, friction, wear life, and load-carrying capacity. Vendor surface preparation and DFL deposition increased roughness, reduced flatness, and shifted the surface toward a more peak-dominated morphology, with the magnitude of these changes depending on both the substrate and coating. Tribological performance was evaluated for a subset of the samples which showed that friction was substantially lower in dry nitrogen than in ambient air, increasing contact...

Effects of Drought Stress on the Panicum hallii Microbiome over a Growth Cycle

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Forecasted increases in drought events resulting from climate change pose a serious threat to bioenergy crop yields, and improving the resilience of crops against water stress is essential to bioenergy development. Many plants exhibit a conserved drought response that is partially mediated by their associated microbiomes. Panicum hallii , a close relative of the promising bioenergy crop switchgrass, is a model organism for this grass due to its genetic tractability and short generation time. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the effects of drought on its associated microbiome. A comprehensive analysis of bacterial and archaeal microbiomes of drought-exposed P. hallii combining 16S rRNA amplicon and shotgun metagenomic data supports a drought response similar to that observed in other crops and offers new insights. Over the course of one growth cycle, exposure of P. hallii to drought led to a decrease in bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere-associated microbiome, corresponding...

FADED: FAult DEtection and Diagnostic System for HVAC Sensors in Commercial Buildings

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

FADED: FAult DEtection and Diagnostic System for HVAC Sensors in Commercial Buildings

Impact of California Statute on Naloxone Availability and Opioid Overdose Rates

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Ensuring that people at risk of overdosing on opioids have easy access to naloxone is an essential part of the fight against the opioid crisis. This study evaluates the impact of the 2016 California law (CA AB1535) permitting pharmacies to dispense this life-saving medication without a physician's prescription. Methods: California counties were categorized on the basis of population density (rural, suburban, urban), rate of opioid-related deaths by population density (high, medium, low), and rate of opioid prescriptions by population density (high, medium, low). Ten diverse pharmacies from each category were selected for inclusion. In a brief 1-minute interview conducted between July and August 2021, pharmacists from 146 California pharmacies were surveyed regarding their knowledge of CA AB1535, their practice of dispensing naloxone without a physician's prescription, and whether they normally stock naloxone. Chi-square tests were used to compare responses. Results:...

Preserved topography, lateralization, selectivity, and functional connectivity of the language network in older brains

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Healthy aging is associated with structural and functional brain changes. However, cognitive abilities vary in how they change with age: executive functions decline, while aspects of linguistic processing remain relatively preserved. This heterogeneity predicts differences among brain networks in whether and how they change with age. To evaluate this prediction, we used precision fMRI to examine the language-selective network and the Multiple Demand (MD) network, which supports executive functions, in older adults (N = 64) relative to young controls (N = 483). The MD network of older adults shows weaker, less spatially extensive, and more topographically variable activations during an executive function task and reduced within-network functional connectivity. In contrast, we find remarkable preservation of the language network in older adults: it responds during language comprehension as strongly and selectively as in younger adults, with similar left-hemispheric lateralization...

The Mountains Are Calling: Tourists and the Unmaking of Yosemite National Park

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Mountains Are Calling: Tourists and the Unmaking of Yosemite National Park

Impact of an Interactive Audience Response Platform on Medical Student Learning in Pharmacology (Abstract ID: 271798)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Impact of an Interactive Audience Response Platform on Medical Student Learning in Pharmacology (Abstract ID: 271798)

Low Energy Availability and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

IntroductionLow energy availability (LEA) occurs when energy expenditure from athletic training and bodily functions exceeds caloric intake. This imbalance results in declines in athletic performance and increases the risk of injury. Relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs) is a condition that occurs when the energy deficit is severe enough to cause alterations to metabolic rate, menstrual function, immune function, bone health, protein synthesis, and cardiovascular function. Many athletes, particularly those competing in endurance, aesthetic, or weight-class sports, are adversely impacted by this condition.ObjectivesThis study aims to determine the prevalence of LEA and REDs among athletes and present the first secondary analysis of the impacts of these phenomena on sports performance and risk of injury.MethodsThis systematic review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023469253). Literature searches were performed following PRISMA guidelines using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane...

Beyond a neurotransmitter: The role of serotonin in inflammation and immunity

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Serotonin (5-HT), a well-known neurotransmitter in the brain, also plays an important role in peripheral tissues, including the immune system. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that many different types of immune cells express the machinery to generate, store, respond to and/or transport serotonin, including T cells, macrophages, mast cells, dendritic cells and platelets. In addition, there is emerging evidence of a possible connection between T cells, serotonin and mood disorders. How 5-HT interacts with the peripheral immune system and if this signaling is associated with behavioral phenotypes found in mood disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD) is not well understood. In this review, we summarize the existing literature on what is known about the link between 5-HT and the immune system and the effects of 5-HT signaling on different cells of the peripheral immune system, with a particular focus on T cells. In addition, we review the current evidence that...

Sunlight driven photocatalytic activity of Cu2O–ZnO hetero-photocatalyst for the degradation of methylene blue: A combined experimental and theoretical study

Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

ZnO, Cu2O, and p-type Cu2O/n-type ZnO hetero-photocatalysts were prepared at low cost with high yield by using a one-step hydrothermal method. X-ray diffraction confirmed the successful synthesis of hexagonal wurtzite ZnO and cubic phase Cu2O crystal structures, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy affirmed the coexistence of both oxides in the Cu2O–ZnO heterogeneous photocatalyst. Transmission electron microscopy revealed different sizes of ZnO nanoparticles stuck to spherical Cu2O particles, establishing well-defined heterojunction interfaces. Optical studies showed bandgap energies of 3.12 eV for ZnO and 2.0 eV for Cu2O, whereas the Cu2O–ZnO heterostructure exhibited a reduced bandgap of 2.46 eV with enhanced visible-light absorption. Density functional theory calculations supported a direct-to-indirect bandgap transition with a reduction in the optical bandgap and confirmed efficient charge separation at the heterointerface. Under optimal conditions...

Nanopriming and AI for Sustainable Agriculture: Boosting Seed Germination and Seedling Growth with Engineered Nanomaterials, and Smart Monitoring through Deep Learning

Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sustainable agriculture, essential for global food security, calls for innovative methods to improve crop yields and conserve resources. Nanopriming, utilizing nanoparticles to enhance seed germination and growth, builds preresistance to diseases and reduces dependence on pesticides and fertilizers. Here, we address two major challenges in the field: effects of varying nanoparticle sizes on seed nutrient enhancement and the lack of efficient, automated systems for germination monitoring. Focusing on zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, we synthesize them using hydrothermal and solvothermal methods. Our experiments on bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and red amaranth (Amaranthus gangeticus) show that nanopriming with these particles, especially those smaller than 30 nm, significantly improves seed germination and seedling growth. Specifically, we observe up to a 23% increase in germination and a 40% rise in shoot length for bitter gourd and a 43% increase in germination with a 20%...

Effective adsorption and visible light driven enhanced photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B using ZnO nanoparticles immobilized on graphene oxide nanosheets

Wed, 9 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In this study, graphene oxide (GO), ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and GO based ZnO nanocomposites (GO-ZnO) have been successfully synthesized by modified Hummer’s method, chemical co-precipitation method and ultrasonication method, respectively. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were employed to study the crystallographic structure, phase, surface micro-morphology and different functional groups in the prepared catalysts. The optical band gap of pristine ZnO NPs was found in the UV region (3.2 eV), whereas the ZnO NPs immobilized on GO nanosheets possesses it in the visible wavelength region (2.67 eV). GO-ZnO catalysts demonstrate excellent degradation efficiency (97.7 %) within just 85 min due to its effective adsorption and visible light driven photocatalytic activity in the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) dye. The adsorption capacity of GO-ZnO catalysts was found ∼ 24...

Friction Dependence on Surface Roughness for Castor Oil Lubricated NiTi Alloy Sliding on Steel

Mon, 7 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

NiTi alloys are highly resistant to corrosion with hardness and elasticity properties suitable for bearing applications. However, lubrication of this material is still being explored since many commercial lubricants are designed to function through chemical and physical interactions with steel surfaces. Previous studies suggested castor oil as a natural lubricant for NiTi and reported friction coefficients less than 0.01, i.e. superlubricity, when sliding steel against 60NiTi (60wt.% Ni, 40 wt.% Ti). Here we explore the robustness of those findings by characterizing the change in friction coefficient as a function of contact pressure and surface roughness. It is found that friction is extremely sensitive to surface roughness, such that ultra-low friction could only be achieved with surfaces having roughness less than tens of nanometers, conditions which may not be achievable in some practical bearing applications.

Effect of Molecular-Scale Features on the Polymer Coil Size of Model Viscosity Index Improvers

Mon, 7 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Temperature-induced changes in coil size have been proposed as a mechanism underlying the functionality of viscosity index improving polymers. Here, molecular dynamics simulations are used to characterize the effect of temperature on the coil size of model additive polymers. The simulations reproduce experimental observations, where only some polymers increase in size with increasing temperature. The results also reveal that the presence of oxygen atoms in the polymer structure is a key factor in determining whether the polymer expands or contracts. This new simulation approach provides a general methodology for investigating temperature-induced coil size changes in polymeric lubricant additives.

Pressure dependence of the interfacial structure of potassium chloride films on iron

Mon, 7 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Potassium chloride films on a clean iron surface are used as a model system to explore the interfacial structure of the films and the dependence of that structure on film thickness and pressure. The interfacial structure of one-, two-, three- and four-layer films is measured experimentally using low-energy electron diffraction. Those findings are then complemented by molecular dynamics simulations in which the atomic interaction between the film and substrate is tuned to match film thickness-dependent sublimation activation energy obtained from temperature-programmed desorption measurements. The resultant simulation reliably predicts the structure of thicker films and is then used to study the effect of pressure on the distribution of the lattice constant within and between each layer of the potassium chloride films. Findings indicate that both film thickness and pressure affect the structure within the films as well as the degree of registry between the film and adjacent substrate.

Temperature-Dependent Conformations of Model Viscosity Index Improvers

Mon, 7 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Temperature-Dependent Conformations of Model Viscosity Index Improvers

Northern peatland microbial communities exhibit resistance to warming and acquire electron acceptors from soil organic matter

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The response of microbial communities that regulate belowground carbon turnover to climate change drivers in peatlands is poorly understood. Here, we leverage a whole ecosystem warming experiment to elucidate the key processes of terminal carbon decomposition and community responses to temperature rise. Our dataset of 697 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) represents the microbial community from the surface (10 cm) to 2 m deep into the peat column, with only 3.7% of genomes overlapping with other well-studied peatlands. Community composition has yet to show a significant response to warming after 3 years, suggesting that metabolically diverse soil microbial communities are resistant to climate change. Surprisingly, abundant and active methanogens in the genus Candidatus Methanoflorens, Methanobacterium, and Methanoregula show the potential for both acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Nonetheless, the predominant pathways for anaerobic carbon decomposition include...

“Collaborative Research and Action for Climate Justice in California”

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

How can university scholars and community activists effectively collaborate to produce generative, empowering, and materially impactful knowledge and actions concerning climate change and climate justice? In this paper, we report on a collaborative effort between climate justice non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and university faculty and students to conduct research to produce innovative ideas and insights about just transitions in California and to support social movement campaigns aimed at actually reducing greenhouse gas emissions by keeping fossil fuels in the ground. This collaboration was jointly initiated by faculty and students at a California university alongside leaders of local social movement organizations dedicated to climate justice, as a response to several proposed development projects that would expand oil extraction and fossil fuel use in that state. We argue that these efforts produced a climate justice gestalt that serves to amplify our productivity, power,...

Impacts of land use and fallowing on coccidioidomycosis incidence in California: A population-based longitudinal study

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley fever) is a growing public health concern in the western U.S., with California reporting more than an eightfold rise in cases over the past two decades. As climate change, groundwater regulation, and prolonged drought drive major agricultural land-use shifts in the state, including widespread retirement of cultivated lands (i.e., fallowing), understanding their effects on this soil-borne fungal infection is critical. We linked 65,657 confirmed, geolocated cases (2008-2021) to high-resolution maps distinguishing natural vegetation, crop types, and fallowed fields to quantify how land use and land cover were associated with disease rates. Flexible statistical models showed that natural land covers, shrubland, barren ground, and grassland, were associated with higher incidence. Some agricultural uses (grain/hay, field crops, corn, and cotton) were associated with higher incidence, whereas others (orchards, rice, and truck crops/berries) were associated...

Functional Differentiation of Type II and Type I Collagen Articular Models in Synovial Fluid Film Formation and Recombinant Equine Lubricin Retention

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

ABSTRACT Collagen type II (Col‐II) and collagen type I (Col‐I) are major components of articular cartilage present at different ratios at its surface. Understanding how each of these components mediates the assembly of molecular films derived from synovial fluid (SF), the lubricant of synovial joints, is critical to explain the loss of mechanical performance in pathological conditions, guide the design of biomaterial implants meant to be in contact with SF, and develop molecular therapies to restore SF properties. This work demonstrates that Col‐II articular surface model assists in scaffolding SF‐derived films, while Col‐I model lacks SF film scaffolding capabilities. However, when Col‐II and Col‐I are exposed to recombinant equine lubricin (rEqLub), an analog of the major boundary lubricant in SF, both adsorbed and retained similar amounts. These insights, deduced from quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation, diffuse reflectance circular dichroism, and atomic force microscopy,...

Student empowerment and creative classrooms: Making art when teaching about undocumented migration

Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Student empowerment and creative classrooms: Making art when teaching about undocumented migration

Climate change hotspots in Africa: spatiotemporal trends of rainfall, temperature, and drought using GIS and statistical modelling

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Despite its minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, Africa faces substantial dangers from climate change repercussions. Using the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) TS 4.06 dataset, this study seeks to investigate climate variability in Africa over the last 120 years (1901–2021). This study also employs climate change data from the revised Meteorological Research Institute Earth System Model version 2.0 (MRI-ESM2.0) under the Shared Socio-economic Pathway SSP5–8.5 high-emissions scenario to conduct a spatial and temporal analysis of precipitation, temperature, and drought across Africa. The findings reveal that annual precipitation varies spatially and temporally from region to region. Central Africa receives the highest rainfall, followed by the West, East, and South African areas, with the North receiving the least. This study provides a comprehensive continent-wide analysis based on long-term observational and model data, contributing new insights at the Pan-African scale....

Modeling Large Dust Aerosols in the Community Earth System Model Version 2 (CESM2)

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Dust aerosols have a wide size distribution from less than 0.1 to over 100 μm and dominate Earth's atmospheric aerosol mass. However, most Earth system models (ESMs) inadequately represent dust aerosols larger than 10 μm in diameter, limiting the accuracy of the simulated dust cycle and climate impacts. Here, we introduce a new modeling framework that captures the full observed size distribution of dust aerosols, incorporating recent advances into a mineral‐resolved version of the Community ESM, while addressing known issues in previous versions. Comprehensive evaluation against diverse observations of bulk dust and component minerals demonstrates that the model reproduces the observed dust cycle across particle sizes. Incorporating the previously unrepresented large‐dust fractions substantially alters dust budget estimates, highlighting potential changes in simulated climate impacts and underscoring the importance of comprehensive size‐resolved dust modeling....

Gentrification, White Encroachment, and the Policing of Black Residents in Washington, DC

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

When middle-class and White residents move into working-class and poor Black neighborhoods, are there increases in the frequency of arrests of Black people? There are a handful of published articles that examine quantitatively the relationship between gentrification and policing. These studies focus almost exclusively on Los Angeles and New York City and the focus on racialized policing is limited. The present study considers racialized policing in a city that was, until very recently, majority Black and explores the extent to which gentrification and racial change in Washington, DC are associated with enhanced policing of Black residents. A spatial regression analysis which models the association between gentrification, White encroachment, and the policing of Black residents using arrest data from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and a gentrification score based on American Community Survey data reveals clear racialized and spatial disparities in arrest rates in Washington,...

The Effect of Angler Education Materials on the Practice of Selective Harvest: Evidence From a Survey Experiment

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Effect of Angler Education Materials on the Practice of Selective Harvest: Evidence From a Survey Experiment

Phosphodiesterase 4D acts downstream of Neuropilin to control Hedgehog signal transduction and the growth of medulloblastoma.

Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Alterations in Hedgehog (Hh) signaling lead to birth defects and cancers including medulloblastoma, the most common pediatric brain tumor. Although inhibitors targeting the membrane protein Smoothened suppress Hh signaling, acquired drug resistance and tumor relapse call for additional therapeutic targets. Here we show that phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) acts downstream of Neuropilins to control Hh transduction and medulloblastoma growth. PDE4D interacts directly with Neuropilins, positive regulators of Hh pathway. The Neuropilin ligand Semaphorin3 enhances this interaction, promoting PDE4D translocation to the plasma membrane and cAMP degradation. The consequent inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) enhances Hh transduction. In the developing cerebellum, genetic removal of Neuropilins reduces Hh signaling activity and suppresses proliferation of granule neuron precursors. In mouse medulloblastoma allografts, PDE4D inhibitors suppress Hh transduction and inhibit tumor growth. Our...

Mesoporous peptide frameworks engineered from crystallizable collagen-mimetic peptide amphiphiles

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rational design of porous frameworks with tunable pore dimensions and chemical functionalities is a critical step toward their implementation in diverse applications. While traditional porous materials are typically constructed from abiotic components, there is increasing interest in employing biologically derived building blocks (e.g., peptides and proteins) that offer unmatched structural and functional diversity. Here, we report the construction of crystalline mesoporous frameworks that are self-assembled from amphiphilic collagen-mimetic peptides. Comprehensive structural characterization via microscopy, spectroscopy, and computational techniques provides insights into the assembly packing model, in which hexagonally packed channels are interconnected by antiparallel-aligned collagen triple helices via hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Lastly, we demonstrate the functional potential of aCMP frameworks through the encapsulation of various molecular guests,...

Vicennial metagenomic time series unveils evolutionary dynamics of giant viruses in a freshwater ecosystem

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Giant viruses play crucial ecological roles in aquatic ecosystems, yet their evolutionary dynamics in response to environmental changes, particularly in freshwater environments, are not well understood. We analyzed a 20-year time series (2000-2019) of 471 co-assembled metagenomes from Lake Mendota (USA) to reconstruct 1512 giant virus metagenome-assembled genomes, providing insights into viral genome evolution. Viruses in the order Imitervirales dominate the virome, remaining consistent across seasons and years. Our findings reveal gene duplication (23% of genes) and horizontal gene transfer (29% of genes) as key drivers of genomic innovation. A co-occurrence network analysis indicates increased virus-host interactions following the introduction of an invasive predatory zooplankton in 2009, highlighting potential hosts in Bigyra, Perkinsea, and Euglenozoa. While single nucleotide polymorphism analysis shows predominantly purifying selection in viral genes, there is a significant...

Non-coding structural variants disrupt FOXG1 transcriptional regulation in early neurodevelopment

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The FOXG1 transcription factor is a crucial regulator of embryonic brain development. Pathogenic FOXG1 variants cause FOXG1 syndrome. Although structural variants in the non-coding region downstream of FOXG1 have been reported in 38 individuals with similar characteristics, the regulatory pathomechanisms remain unknown. Here, we identify two non-coding structural variants in individuals with FOXG1 syndrome-like features, allowing us to delineate a ~ 124 kb commonly affected regulatory region. Using epigenomic profiling and in vivo enhancer assays, we characterize and validate regulatory elements within the commonly affected regulatory region and wider FOXG1 TAD. We see strong activation of previously validated forebrain enhancers, and identify an enhancer cluster and progenitor-specific enhancer region that are strongly activated during forebrain-directed neural progenitor cell differentiation, a process in which FOXG1 is an important regulator. Perturbation of these elements...

Assessing the Adverse Events of Roflumilast and Tapinarof Use in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients with Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background and ObjectivesAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by intensely pruritic episodes and eczematous lesions. This disease is prevalent in up to 25% of children, with about half of these cases persisting into adulthood. This systematic review aims to examine two new topical therapies for AD, roflumilast and tapinarof, and investigate the adverse events associated with their use.MethodsA systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251066719). A search was performed in Scopus, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science on 2 June 2025. Randomized controlled trials were included if they reported adverse event outcomes in pediatric patients with AD after either roflumilast or tapinarof treatment; studies with mixed pediatric and adult patients were eligible for inclusion. Studies were excluded if they...

Guaranteed Income: A Policy Landscape Review of 105 Programs in the United States

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Cash assistance programs have been piloted as Basic or Guaranteed Income across the United States. This research asks how programs are being designed and evaluated, with implications for how collective program impacts are understood. To answer this question, we assemble and review 105 programs based in the United States, covering over 40,000 beneficiaries. We compare eligibility criteria, funding sources, distribution amounts, program administration, pilot duration, and evaluation measures. We find that just over half of the programs use income-based qualifications and most (84 %) have some form of place-based eligibility criteria defined by residence. The plurality of programs (28) are based in California (CA) and 16 operate at the county level. We also find that while the development of pilots often uses community development framing, funding and evaluation measures tend to be more aligned with either economic or public health intervention assessments. As multiple...

Dual-Grained Agent Memory and Shapley Context Attribution for Multimodal Agentic Learners

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dual-Grained Agent Memory and Shapley Context Attribution for Multimodal Agentic Learners

Hierarchical Temporal Structure in Carnatic Improvisation: Interaction and Rhythmic Constraint

Thu, 6 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hierarchical Temporal Structure in Carnatic Improvisation: Interaction and Rhythmic Constraint

Cultivating Collaborative Water Leaders: The Power of Experiential Learning

Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

ABSTRACT Water systems in the American West are under mounting stress as climate change accelerates aridification and tensions grow over competing demands for scarce water resources. As socio‐ecological pressures compound, siloed thinking and governance undermine the development of innovative water management approaches. A new generation of water practitioners is rising to meet this challenge. But working within this complexity requires systems understanding, transdisciplinary expertise, cultural competence, and collaborative leadership. As a multidisciplinary group of graduate students and field program leaders working on water in the West, we argue that experiential learning offers a powerful pathway to prepare future water practitioners with the skills they need to address wicked water problems. In this Commentary we present a set of best practices, grounded in our shared experiential learning experience, to guide the design of inclusive and transformative field opportunities...

MAGAZ3NE: Confirming Dust Deficiency and Quiescent Nature of Ultramassive Galaxies at 3 < z < 4 with ALMA Observations

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A major challenge in identifying massive quiescent galaxies at z > 3 is distinguishing truly passive systems from dust-obscured star-forming galaxies, as both populations exhibit similar red ultraviolet-to-near-infrared colors. In this work, we present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Band 7 continuum observations of five ultramassive galaxies (UMGs; log(M⋆/M⊙)>11 ) from the Massive Ancient Galaxies At z > 3 NEar-infrared survey, spectroscopically confirmed at zspec > 3. One UMG is weakly detected at 872 μm while the remaining four UMGs are undetected down to the 3σ depth. By incorporating ALMA constraints and far-infrared-to-radio photometry into the spectral energy distribution (SED) analysis, we demonstrate that all five UMGs are quiescent, lying significantly 1 dex below the star-forming main sequence. We estimate dust masses using both SED modeling and modified blackbody fitting, with consistent results between the two methods. Our results reveal...

Advancing FAIR data towards comparable, organized, predictive AI-ready data for community validation

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The interrogation of data across biological and environmental systems has become increasingly complex. Fortunately, communities are adopting the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles for individual datasets, and continue to develop domain-specific, machine-actionable standards. However, integrating FAIR data for meta-analysis across data resources is still challenging. Understanding how disparate datasets are organized remains a manual, time-consuming process. Updating FAIR databases to reflect changes in knowledge is slow, allowing stale annotations and incorrect relationships to propagate, amplified by Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems that harvest data. Building on FAIR, we argue that data should be iteratively updated and improved. FAIR + COPE (Comparable, Organized, Predictive, Engaged) takes FAIR data and makes it Comparable, rapidly Organized (applying / updating standards) for Predictive models, which can be validated and improved by an...

Collective States of Active Particles With Elastic Dipolar Interactions

Tue, 28 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Many types of animal cells exert active, contractile forces and mechanically deform their elastic substrate, to accomplish biological functions such as migration. These substrate deformations provide a mechanism in principle by which cells may sense other cells, leading to long-range mechanical inter–cell interactions and possible self-organization. Here, inspired by cell mechanobiology, we propose an active matter model comprising self-propelling particles that interact at a distance through their mutual deformations of an elastic substrate. By combining a minimal model for the motility of individual particles with a linear elastic model that accounts for substrate-mediated, inter–particle interactions, we examine emergent collective states that result from the interplay of motility and long-range elastic dipolar interactions. In particular, we show that particles self-assemble into flexible, motile chains which can cluster to form diverse larger-scale compact structures with...

Surface-bound FXIII enhances deposition and straightness of fibrin fibers

Mon, 27 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cross-linked fibrous networks are central to maintaining the structural integrity and functional relevance of many biological and engineered materials. Fibrin networks are the building blocks of blood clots, mediators of tissue injury and repair, and synthetic wound sealants. Cross-linking of fibrin fibers is catalyzed by the activated form of transglutaminase enzyme FXIIIa, which becomes available in plasma but is also readily presented on the surface of activated platelets and macrophages. The contribution of surface-bound FXIIIa to fibrin structure has not been well understood. In this work, we investigated the role of surface-bound FXIIIa on the formation and structure of fibrin fibers from FXIII-deficient plasma by confining the cross-linking reactions to the surface of microspheres. Quantitative microscopy revealed that cross-linking on FXIIIa-coated surfaces facilitates fibrin deposition following a sigmoidal kinetics, and that these fibers were straighter, longer, and...

Observed and projected contribution of cutoff lows to global precipitation

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cutoff lows (COL) are upper-level lows that are displaced from the jet stream and are often associated with a stagnant circulation that facilitates prolonged periods of precipitation and subsequent hydrologic hazards. Here, we quantify the contribution of COL to annual and seasonal precipitation totals, extremes, and hydrologic disasters across the globe, as well as explore how precipitation coincident with COL has changed in observations and is projected to change under future scenarios. Many locations received at least 20% of their annual precipitation coincident to COL across portions of the globe, with notable hotspots along the equatorward flank of the jet stream and in rain shadowed areas of the mid-latitudes. Further, regions—including the Mediterranean, southeastern Australia, the interior western United States (US), South Africa, and Northeast China—had over a third of their three-day annual maximum precipitation events coincident with COL. We also show that an estimated...

Contribution of Tropical Cyclones to Hourly Precipitation Extremes in the Contiguous United States

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract Tropical cyclones (TCs) are major drivers of contiguous United States (CONUS) flooding, yet their contribution to hourly precipitation extremes remains poorly quantified. Here we link observations from 420 gauges (1980–2024) with TC track data to attribute extreme hourly precipitation to both local and remote TCs. Remote TC contributions are identified via atmospheric river (AR) objects using the TempestExtremes framework applied to a global AR database. We identify 254 TCs that contributed to extreme hourly precipitation, affecting 76% of stations. While local contributions from Atlantic TCs are prevalent in eastern CONUS, remote influences from Pacific TCs contribute to precipitation extremes in the rest of CONUS. The number of TCs resulting in extreme hourly precipitation has increased significantly in northeast and southeast CONUS since 1980. These results reveal that TC‐linked moisture represents a contributor to short‐duration precipitation extremes across...

Rapid contemporary shrinking and loss of ice-capped summits in the western United States

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ice-capped summits exist when the highest point of a mountain in late summer comprises ice and snow. For the last century, there have been five ice-capped summits in the contiguous United States, all in Washington State. In this study, we measured the contemporary elevations of these ice-capped summits and compared our findings to historical surveys and photographs to assess whether their elevations have changed and whether their ice caps are still intact. We hypothesized that ongoing impacts of climate change are altering even the highest elevation mountains in the western United States. Indeed, all five of these historically ice-capped summits have shrunk since ~1980, with four of the five shrinking by at least 6 m (20 ft) due to loss of snow and ice. As of 2024, only two of the five summits still had perennial ice as their highest point. Free-air temperatures for the ice-capped summits indicate significant late summer warming of 2.75°C since 1950 and increases in summer melt...

Computational design of low-volatility lubricants for space using interpretable machine learning.

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The function and lifetime of moving mechanical assemblies (MMAs) in space depend on the properties of lubricants. MMAs that experience high speeds or high cycles require liquid-based lubricants due to their ability to reflow to the point of contact. However, only a few liquid-based lubricants have vapor pressures low enough for the vacuum conditions of space, each of which has limitations that add constraints to MMA designs. This work introduces a data-driven machine learning (ML) approach to predicting vapor pressure, enabling virtual screening and discovery of new space-suitable liquid lubricants. The ML models are trained with data from both high-throughput molecular dynamics simulations and experimental databases. The models are designed to prioritize interpretability, enabling the relationships between chemical structure and vapor pressure to be identified. Based on these insights, several candidate molecules are proposed that may have promise for future space lubricant applications...

FUELING TRANSITIONS: CALIFORNIA’S OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY DECLINE, AND ITS IMPLICATIONSFOR EMPLOYMENT, PROPERTY TAXES, AND COUNTY BUDGETS

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

FUELING TRANSITIONS: CALIFORNIA’S OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY DECLINE, AND ITS IMPLICATIONSFOR EMPLOYMENT, PROPERTY TAXES, AND COUNTY BUDGETS

Evolution of quantum geometric tensor of one-dimensional periodic systems after a quench

Mon, 6 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

We investigate the postquench dynamics of the quantum geometric tensor (QGT) of one-dimensional periodic systems with a suddenly changed Hamiltonian and make connections to physical observables. The diagonal component with respect to the crystal momentum gives a metric corresponding to the variance of the time-evolved position, and its coefficient of the quadratic term in time is the group-velocity variance, signaling ballistic wavepacket dispersion. The other diagonal QGT component with respect to time reveals the energy variance. The off-diagonal QGT component features a real part as a covariance and an imaginary part representing a quench-induced curvature. Using the Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model as an example, our numerical results of different quenches confirm that the postquench QGT is governed by physical quantities and local geometric objects from the initial state and postquench bands, such as the Berry connection, group velocities, and energy variance. Furthermore, the...

The public university as a potential just transition hub

Mon, 6 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Abstract: Public universities surrounded by frontline communities create the potential to serve as focal points for just transition strategies to address the climate crisis. University students from environmental justice communities can serve as just transition ambassadors as trusted messengers to facilitate equitable climate solutions and green workforce development. In the context of finite financial resources, state agencies and philanthropic foundations should consider prioritizing investing in units within universities working with disinvested and low-income populations. More specifically, investing in university labor centers offers the greatest likelihood of obtaining desired outcomes. A case study of the University of California, Merced, is presented as a model for designating public universities in regions with high densities of climate-vulnerable groups as hubs for implementing just transition practices.

Intermediate-temperature topological Uhlmann phase on IBM quantum computers

Sun, 5 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A spin-1 system can exhibit an intermediate-temperature topological regime with a quantized Uhlmann phase sandwiched by topologically trivial low- and high-temperature regimes. We present a quantum circuit consisting of system and ancilla qubits plus a probe qubit which prepares an initial state corresponding to the purified state of a spin-1 system at finite temperature, evolves the system according to the Uhlmann process, and measures the Uhlmann phase via expectation values of the probe qubit. Although classical simulations suggest the quantized Uhlmann phase is observable on International Business Machines (IBM’s) noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) computers, an implementation of the circuit without any optimization exceeds the gate count for the error budget and results in unresolved signals. Through a series of optimization with Qiskit and BQSKit, the gate count can be substantially reduced, making the jumps of the Uhlmann phase more visible. A recent hardware upgrade...

Electron thermalization in TDDFT and Ehrenfest molecular dynamics

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

A non-equilibrium electronic state will, in general, thermalize toward an equilibrium state due to electron-electron interactions as well as interactions with ions. The description of such processes has remained unclear and controversial in time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), given that the occupation numbers remain fixed over time and that adiabatic functionals do not include explicit dissipation. Here, we study the explicit time propagation of graphene after ultrafast laser pulses, using the Octopus real-space code, with and without ionic motion in Ehrenfest molecular dynamics. This work has implications for the treatment of statistical mechanics in a TDDFT framework.

Cis-regulatory evolution shapes facial diversity in birds and mammals

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Birds and mammals exhibit extraordinary facial diversity, reflecting adaptations to distinct ecological niches and feeding strategies. While core face-building developmental programs are conserved and orchestrated by interactions between ectodermal organizers and the underlying mesenchyme, mechanisms driving facial shape variation remain poorly understood. Here, we integrate single-cell transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility profiling of mouse and chicken developing face to construct a comparative regulatory map. Although both ectodermal and mesenchymal populations display distinct regulatory features in each species, the mesenchyme exhibits markedly greater divergence, pointing to its central role in shaping facial morphology. We further reveal unexpected molecular complexity in the main face-shaping organizer, including a mouse-specific Shh/Wnt5a expression domain. At key morphogen loci (Bmp4, Fgf8, and Wnt5a), conserved and lineage-specific enhancers...

Climatology and trends of annual maximum subdaily precipitation in the Western United States

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Short-duration precipitation extremes can threaten public safety and infrastructure by generating flash flooding and geophysical mass wasting events including mudslides and debris flows. Using two surface gauge-based precipitation datasets (1980-2024), we characterize the climatology of annual maximum subdaily precipitation and quantify trends across the western United States (WUS) – a topographically complex region with widely varying precipitation regimes prone to flash flooding. We find that 60.7% of WUS stations, including the vast majority of those located in the continental interior, typically experience 1-hr annual maximum precipitation (AMP) during summer and during the afternoon and evening hours (12:00-23:00 local time). Although most stations do not show statistically significant trends in 1-hr AMP intensity over the full period of record (1980-2024), a significant 10.3% domain-median increase in 1-hr AMP intensity was observed during 2000-2024. These changes largely...

Trends in the association between cannabis use disorder and suicidal ideation in the United States, 2014–2023

Wed, 10 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Objective Amid rising cannabis use, declining perceived harm, and policy liberalization over the past 15 years, we examined whether the association between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and past-year suicidal ideation among U.S. adults changed from 2014–2023 and varied by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Method Using data from 415,861 adults in the 2014–2023 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health, we examined temporal association change between past-year suicidal ideation and CUD (≥2 of 9 harmonized DSM-5 criteria). Logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic, social, clinical, and geographic covariates, tested whether survey year moderated the CUD–suicidal ideation association overall and in strata by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Results Adults with cannabis use disorder had 57% higher odds of past-year suicidal ideation than those without (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.44–1.72) across years. Joint Wald tests showed no evidence that the association changed over time overall (p =...

Despite rapid warming, seed production is not leading poleward migration in North American and European forests

Fri, 5 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

To survive climate change, forest trees will have to shift seed production poleward. However, warming will not stimulate tree fecundity in the north if it is limited by other habitat variables. We evaluated the responses of tree fecundity to climate change for 292 tree species in North America and Europe, using response velocity, defined as (climate sensitivity) × (climate-change rate). The sensitivities to climate were estimated for each species and combined with rates of climate change to quantify how temperature, moisture deficits, and late freeze are influencing biogeographic shifts in tree reproduction. The results show that moisture deficit and late freeze, not annual temperature, drive changing seed production. Unlike annual temperature, which is increasing generally, change in these climate variables is not driving poleward shifts in seed production. These findings do not challenge the expectation that forests might eventually shift poleward. Rather, they show why current...

2D Magnetic Materials for Sensor Technologies