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An expert-elicitation process identifies current methodological barriers for monitoring terrestrial biodiversity, and how technological and procedural development of robotic and autonomous systems may contribute to overcoming these challenges.

An analysis of 24,202 critical cases of COVID-19 identifies potentially druggable targets in inflammatory signalling (JAK1), monocyte–macrophage activation and endothelial permeability (PDE4A), immunometabolism (SLC2A5 and AK5), and host factors required for viral entry and replication (TMPRSS2 and RAB2A).

A global network of researchers was formed to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity; this paper reports 13 genome-wide significant loci and potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection.

High-dose oral vitamin D₃ supplements have previously been shown to be beneficial in children receiving standard therapy for uncomplicated severe acute malnutrition. This randomised controlled trial shows that the same intervention, given in addition to standard therapy, did not improve anthropometric or neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with complicated severe acute malnutrition in Pakistan.

Whole-genome sequencing, transcriptome-wide association and fine-mapping analyses in over 7,000 individuals with critical COVID-19 are used to identify 16 independent variants that are associated with severe illness in COVID-19.

The formation of blood and lymph vessels after injury requires precise temporal coordination. Here, the authors show that the small GTPase RhoB induces angiogenesis but inhibits lymphangiogenesis in response to dermal wounding by activating different sets of genes in blood vessels and lymphatic endothelial cells.

The comparative genomics of domesticated lineages can yield insights into the signatures of artificial selection. This study sequences 79 water buffalo genomes from 7 breeds and reveals examples of convergent domestication at the genetic level between water buffalo and cattle.

A genome-wide association study of critically ill patients with COVID-19 identifies genetic signals that relate to important host antiviral defence mechanisms and mediators of inflammatory organ damage that may be targeted by repurposing drug treatments.

Genome-wide ancestry profiles of four individuals, dating to 8,000 and 3,000 years before present, from the archaeological site of Shum Laka (Cameroon) shed light on the deep population history of sub-Saharan Africa.

DNA analysis of 6 individuals from eastern and south-central Africa spanning the past approximately 18,000 years, and of 28 previously published ancient individuals, provides genetic evidence supporting hypotheses of increasing regionalization at the end of the Pleistocene.

Lithium ion battery electrodes employing anion redox exhibit high energy densities but suffer from poor cyclability. Here the authors reveal that the voltage of anion redox is strongly affected by structural changes that occur during battery cycling, explaining its unique electrochemical properties.

Analysis of ancient human DNA from the Swahili coast reveals that predominantly African female ancestors and Asian male ancestors formed families after around ad 1000 and lived in elite communities in coastal stone towns.

Designing catalysts with atomically synergistic sites shows great promise as a pathway for advanced catalyst development. Here the authors report Zn-Cr catalyst with atomically binuclear active sites for iso-stoichiometric co-conversion of ethane and CO₂ through proximal atomic synergy.

Alternatives to lithium-ion electrochemistry present challenges due to undesirable phenomena at the electrode-electrolyte interface. Through simulations, the authors find that the performance of a calcium-based electrolyte is driven entirely by molecular-scale processes within approximately 1 nm of the electrode.

The earliest known human burial in Africa, that of a young child, is dated to around 78,000 years ago.

All-trans retinoic acid - ATRA- is known to remodulate the stroma of pancreatic cancer in mice. Here, the authors carried out a Phase Ib trial in pancreatic patients and show that ATRA in combination with chemotherapy is a safe potential treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, and demonstrate a stromal modulatory effect.

Water oxidation on titanate surfaces is thought to occur via an oxyl-radical intermediate (Ti­–O^•), which precedes O–O bond formation, and for which there is indirect evidence. Using ultrafast infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations of photocatalytic water oxidation at the n-SrTiO₃/aqueous interface, the oxyl radical has now been detected through its subsurface vibration.

A cooperative insertion mechanism for CO₂ adsorption is shown to generate highly efficient adsorbents for carbon capture applications.

Reversible high-voltage redox is a key component for electrochemical technologies from electrocatalysts to lithium-ion batteries. A point defect explanation for why anion redox occurs with local structural disordering and voltage hysteresis is proposed.

It is of high interests to develop new catalysts for selective CO2 electroreduction. Here the authors investigate two-dimensional transition metal carbides for CO2 to methane conversion with superior activity, selectivity and low overpotentials.

The unoccupied electronic levels of graphene are modified by corrugation, doping and presence of impurities. Here, the authors map discrete electronic domains within a single graphene sheet using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy and provide insight into the modification of unoccupied levels.

Developing highly efficient and reversible hydrogenation-dehydrogenation catalysts shows great promise for hydrogen storage technologies. Here the authors develop a highly efficient and reversible de/rehydrogenation single-site platinum catalyst which exhibits great promise for hydrogen storage technologies with cyclic alkanes/aromatics as liquid organic hydrogen carriers.

Initial exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces endotoxin tolerance, which reduces immunological reactions to LPS; here it is shown that primary LPS challenge is controlled by AhR, TDO2 and IL-10, whereas sustained effects require AhR, IDO1 and TGF-β, allowing for disease tolerance with reduced immunopathology in infections.

Integration of genome-wide SNP, peripheral blood transcriptome, and GWAS data highlights genes with expression patterns associated with bovine tuberculosis susceptibility in cattle.

The reaction trajectories of photoexcited molecules may involve transitions through conical intersections, which are ubiquitous in nature but challenging to characterize. Here the authors provide a complete mapping of molecular dissociation of two model alkyl halides by ultrafast XUV transient absorption.

A diversity-oriented synthesis approach that yields a library of architecturally broad microporous polymers is used to develop structurally diverse polymer membranes with ion specificity and to screen their properties.