The Innovation最新文献

In this review, the concept of the aviation and aerospace transition zone (AATZ), that is, the area between the highest altitude of aviation vehicles and the lowest altitude of space vehicles, is introduced. It is 50-150 km away from the Earth's surface, and the coupling between the AATZ and its upper and lower atmosphere causes complex and unique physical and chemical processes. As a transition zone between space weather and Earth weather, the AATZ has great scientific research value and broad application prospects. Focusing on the dynamics, chemistry, and modeling studies of the atmosphere in this region, we comprehensively analyze and discuss the current research status, current challenges, and future prospects of this region. The propagation, dissipation, and momentum deposition of the atmospheric wave force change the surrounding wind field and temperature structure, forming complex dynamical processes. The mutation enhancement and redistribution of metal atoms and metal ions, as well as the occurrence of airglow, directly or indirectly show the changes in composition and energy transfer caused by complex chemical processes. The modeling studies of the above phenomena are conducive to the deepening of understanding, and the defects of the simulation also reflect the lack of observation on understanding. The discussion in this review encourages more research on the AATZ as well as the development and enrichment of existing observational tools and techniques to fill in the knowledge gaps and enhance the ability to apply the region in the aerospace industry.

During cell differentiation, there typically exists a drastic and sudden shift called cell fate decision-making or bifurcation. Revealing such critical phenomena can provide deeper insights into the fundamental mechanisms that govern the complex intricacies of living organisms. However, many conventional statistical methods fail to predict the specific types of critical transitions and accurately infer cell fate dynamics from single-cell RNA sequencing data. To address this challenge, we develop FatePredictor, a novel computational framework grounded in bifurcation theory and optimal transport theory, to predict cell fate bifurcation based on locally observed information of single-cell data. Specifically, the proposed FatePredictor employs a dynamic unbalanced optimal transport method to reconstruct dynamic cell trajectories, based on which an ensemble deep learning model is utilized to predict the type of dynamics involved in a cell fate bifurcation during cellular processes. The applications on both simulated and real single-cell data demonstrate that FatePredictor serves as a user-friendly and powerful tool for predicting bifurcations of complex biological systems and unveiling intricate cellular trajectories, with higher accuracy compared with many existing methods. Additionally, our FatePredictor has the capacity to pinpoint key genes and pathways related to significant cellular processes.

This paper highlights the urgent need to accelerate research and action on ocean carbon sinks through human intervention, known as the Global Ocean Negative Carbon Emissions (Global-ONCE) Programme, as a vital strategy in global efforts to mitigate climate change. Achieving "net zero" by 2050 cannot rely on emission reductions alone, emphasizing the necessity of complementary approaches. Global-ONCE's mission extends beyond scientific exploration. It embodies a profound commitment to protecting and restoring blue carbon ecosystems, as well as implementing ocean-based solutions that are sustainable, equitable, and inclusive. Early career ocean professionals (ECOPs) are at the heart of these efforts, and their innovative approaches, technical expertise, and passion make them indispensable leaders in advancing ONCE initiatives. ECOPs bridge the gap between science and society, playing a relevant role in integrating cutting-edge research, technological advancements, and community-driven action to address climate threats. By bringing together diverse perspectives and leveraging their interdisciplinary expertise, ECOPs ensure that ONCE strategies are grounded in scientific rigor and practical feasibility. Through advocacy, education, and collaboration, ECOPs not only spearhead research and innovation but also inspire collective action to safeguard our oceans. This paper amplifies the critical role of ECOPs as agents of change and calls for a unified global commitment to harness the ocean's potential for a climate-resilient future.

Natural components, evolved to help organisms adapt and defend against threats, are also vital sources for drug discovery due to their diverse and potent bioactivities. In the present work, we proposed the Gene-encoded Natural Diverse Components Repository (GNDC, https://cbcb.cdutcm.edu.cn/gndc/), a primary and most extensive database dedicated to cataloging diverse natural components. GNDC currently catalogs over 234 million natural components that are organized into four specialized sub-databases: HerbalMDB for 2.32 million secondary metabolites, HerbalPDB for 229 million small peptides, HerbalRDB for 2.38 million small RNAs, and HerbalCDB for 0.26 million carbohydrates. By leveraging customized pipelines for high-throughput multi-omics data and AI technologies, the GNDC enables large-scale discovery and annotation of natural products from nuclear and organellar genomes of species listed in eight global pharmacopoeias and multi-resource data. Compared to existing resources, GNDC achieves a 10-fold increase in component yield and introduces over 200 million previously unreported components. To support this unprecedented data volume and complexity, state-of-the-art AI tools are seamlessly integrated to decipher and annotate vast data collections, such as classification and gene expression signature generation of millions of secondary metabolites. We envision that the GNDC will drive the transformation of drug discovery from an "experience-driven" approach to a "big data-driven" paradigm.

Somatic mutations accumulate with age in human tissues. Clonal amplification of some mutations causes cancers and other diseases. However, it is unclear if random mutation accumulation affects cellular function without clonal amplification. We tested this in cell culture, avoiding the limitation that mutation accumulation in vivo leads to cancer. We performed single-cell whole-genome sequencing of fibroblasts from DNA-mismatch-repair-deficient Msh2 ^-/- mice and controls after long-term passaging. While maintaining the same growth rates, in the Msh2 ^-/- fibroblasts, single-nucleotide variants increased up until >50,000 per cell, with small insertions and deletions plateauing at ∼16,000 per cell. We provide evidence for genome-wide negative selection and large-scale mutation-driven population changes, including significant clonal expansion of preexisting mutations and widespread cell-strain-specific hotspots, likely caused by positive selection of mutations in specific genes. Since negative selection to prevent mutations with adverse effects in vivo during aging is difficult to envision, these results suggest a causal role of somatic mutations in age-related cell functional decline.

Global agrifood systems face three interconnected challenges: ensuring food security, promoting environmental sustainability, and restoring soil health in the face of climate change. Conventional practices have prioritized productivity over ecological resilience, leading to soil degradation, increased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and inefficient resource utilization. Here, we introduce a "triple-goal" agrifood framework that enhances food production, soil health, and GHG mitigation simultaneously through integrated innovations. Using a second-order meta-analysis of 104 meta-analyses that cover 39,162 studies and 300,139 global field comparisons, we identified key interventions, including optimized fertigation, diversified cropping systems, organic amendments, and precision N management, that increased productivity by 14%-28% while reducing environmental impacts. Diversified systems boosted yields by 19.6% and reduced land use by 19%. Integrating legumes and cover crops lowered N₂O emissions by 18%-65%, while organic amendments increased soil organic carbon stocks by 7%-13%. Structural equation modeling identified nitrogen use efficiency and microbial activity as central to the food-soil-emissions nexus. However, tradeoffs remain; yield-focused strategies can elevate emissions if not tailored to local conditions. By integrating agronomic, biological, and technological interventions such as conservation tillage, biofertilization, and digital agriculture, this triple-goal framework supports a 15%-30% reduction in anthropogenic CO₂-equivalent emissions. These findings underscore the need for policy reform and multi-stakeholder collaboration to scale up the adaptation of integrated strategies in alignment with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the "One Health" initiative. The triple-goal framework provides a transformative pathway to climate-smart, equitable, and resilient agrifood systems that strike a balance between productivity and planetary health.

Immunotherapy has transformed cancer treatment, but its effectiveness in breast cancer remains suboptimal. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), a key component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), contribute significantly to immune evasion. In this study, we identified gamma-interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductase (IFI30) as a critical regulator of TAM function in breast cancer. IFI30 expression is upregulated in breast cancer via enhanced Histone 3 lysine 27 acetylation (H3K27ac) modification and promotes tumor progression and metastasis in an immune-dependent manner. Mechanistically, IFI30 in breast cancer cells recruits TAMs by activating the ATF3-CCL5 axis. Within macrophages, it promotes M2-like polarization and PD-L1 upregulation, fostering an immunosuppressive TME. Our findings established IFI30 as a promising therapeutic target for disrupting TAM-mediated immune suppression and enhancing breast cancer immunotherapy.

Global ocean acidification driven by atmospheric CO₂ uptake is well recognized; however, coastal zones are subject to additional, localized acidification pressures. Among these, the chronic discharge of low-pH-treated wastewater (often pH 6.0), permitted under many current regulations, represents a significant but often overlooked stressor. This practice introduces highly acidic loads into sensitive nearshore ecosystems that are chemically incompatible with ambient seawater (pH ∼8.1). This perspective argues for reframing effluent pH not only as a pollutant parameter to be bounded but also as a modifiable policy lever. Revising discharge standards to require a minimum effluent pH > 8.0 for marine outfalls offers a novel pathway to mitigate localized coastal acidification. Furthermore, this approach aligns with emerging ocean alkalinity enhancement strategies, potentially enhancing coastal carbon sequestration and offering cobenefits such as reduced metal toxicity. Such a policy shift necessitates technological adaptation but promises significant benefits for coastal resilience and broader ocean sustainability goals.