Towards a synthetic cell cycle

Nature Communications, Published online: 26 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24772-8A key feature of living cells is the cell cycle. In this Perspective, the authors explore attempts to recreate this process and what is still required for an integrated synthetic cell cycle.

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Irrigated areas drive irrigation water withdrawals

Nature Communications, Published online: 26 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24508-8The global water demands of irrigated agriculture are estimated through country surveys or through hydrological models, but both approaches are taxing. Here, the authors show that they can simply be estimated as a function of irrigated areas.

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Single pixel imaging at megahertz switching rates via cyclic Hadamard masks

Nature Communications, Published online: 26 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24850-xImaging rates in single-pixel imaging has been limited by the dependence on configurable spatial light modulators. Here, the authors use cyclic Hadamard patterns coded onto a spinning mask to demonstrate dynamic imaging with rates up to 72 frames per second and real...

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Generation of non-stabilized alkyl radicals from thianthrenium salts for C–B and C–C bond formation

Nature Communications, Published online: 26 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24716-2The generation of non-stabilized alkyl radicals from sulfonium salts has been a challenge for several decades. Here, the authors show the treatment of S-(alkyl) thianthrenium salts, which can generate non-stabilized alkyl radicals as key intermediates that enable controlled...

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Giving superabsorbent polymers a second life as pressure-sensitive adhesives

Nature Communications, Published online: 26 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24488-9For many polymers, recycling via mechanical processes is not feasible and these materials are destined for landfills or incineration. Here the authors show an open-loop recycling method for superabsorbent polymers that involves decrosslinking via hydrolysis, an optional...

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Rapid ecosystem-scale consequences of acute deoxygenation on a Caribbean coral reef

Nature Communications, Published online: 26 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24777-3How acute deoxygenation events affect tropical marine ecosystems remains poorly understood. This study integrates analyses of coral reef benthic communities with microbial community sequencing to show how a deoxygenation event rapidly altered a shallow tropical coral...

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Thickness-independent scalable high-performance Li-S batteries with high areal sulfur loading via electron-enriched carbon framework

Nature Communications, Published online: 26 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24873-4Improving the energy density of lithium-sulfur batteries is necessary for their practical application. Here, the authors report free-standing and low-tortuosity carbon frameworks as host for sulfur and lithium, enabling scalable thickness independent electrochemical...

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Neutralizing activity of Sputnik V vaccine sera against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Nature Communications, Published online: 26 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24909-9Here, the authors characterize the neutralization capacity of post-Sputnik V vaccination sera against SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern B.1.1.7 (alpha) and B.1.351 (beta), showing the latter to exhibit resistance to neutralization in vitro.

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Development of a quantitative prediction algorithm for target organ-specific similarity of human pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids and cells

Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24746-wQuantitative methods to assess the quality of hPSC-derived organoids have not been developed. Here they present a prediction algorithm to assess the transcriptomic similarity between hPSC-derived organoids and the corresponding human target organs and perform validation...

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A multi-step nucleation process determines the kinetics of prion-like domain phase separation

Nature Communications, Published online: 23 July 2021; doi:10.1038/s41467-021-24727-zThe nucleation mechanisms of biological protein phase separation are poorly understood. Here, the authors perform time-resolved SAXS experiments with the low-complexity domain (LCD) of hnRNPA1 and uncover multiple kinetic regimes on the micro- to millisecond timescale....

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