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Discover research articles across all indexed journals

Racialized economic concentration predicts storm-related injuries and deaths in the United States, 2005–2022

Nature Communications Jason T. H. Cheung, Seleeke Flingai, Kate Burrows Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76111-4

Optimizing educational analytics by analyzing student perceptions of ChatGPT in programming education using enhanced feature selection

Scientific Reports Shaymaa E. Sorour, Hosnia. M. M. Ahmed, Mohammed Aljaafari et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-63998-8

Non-invasive characterization of perivascular subarachnoid spaces

Nature Communications Nina E. Fultz, Geir Ringstad, Madda Debiasi et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76306-9

Abstract Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is thought to facilitate brain waste clearance and immune surveillance, yet its compartmentalization remains unclear. Previous work, using invasive dynamic intrathecal MRI contrast imaging, identified a perivascular subarachnoid space (PVSAS) that enhances along the major cerebral arteries with a ‘donut’-like appearance. These findings suggest that the PVSAS may be separated from the surrounding broader subarachnoid space (SAS) by a semipermeable perivascular membrane. To investigate if the PVSAS could be observed non-invasively in healthy controls, we used a magnetic resonance imaging technique, CSF-STREAM (CSF-Selective T 2 -prepared REadout with Acceleration and Mobility-encoding), that assesses CSF-mobility at a high spatial resolution by isolating CSF from blood and tissue signal. Here, we observe high CSF-mobility next to the vasculature, with a steep drop-off into the surrounding SAS around both the middle and anterior cerebral arteries, suggesting the presence of the PVSAS in healthy controls. We find that CSF dynamics may be more spatially distinct than previously thought, providing a possible foundation for understanding brain CSF patterns in health and disease.

The advantage of fine-grained training

Scientific Reports Davide Pirovano, Federico Milanesio, Michele Caselle et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-64362-6

Artificial neural manifolds

Nature Communications Rui Wang, Guolei Liu, Saisai Wang et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75979-6

Sustainable operation of multi-energy microgrids under carbon-restriction with stochastic resource and storage management

Scientific Reports Fazel Rostamzadeh, Fardin Hashemzadeh Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-64994-8

Collective problem decomposition improves the wisdom of deliberative crowds

Nature Communications Federico Barrera-Lemarchand, Victoria Lescano-Charreau, Julieta Ruiz et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76365-y

Abstract Understanding when and why social interaction improves human judgment is a central question in the behavioural sciences. We examine whether collective accuracy improves when groups break complex estimation problems into simpler components and generate approximate intermediate estimates, a reasoning strategy we call Collective Fermi Estimation. Across three studies analysing 1140 online group deliberations in text chatrooms we study its causal effects and linguistic signatures. In Study 1 (N = 500), spontaneous use of problem decomposition predicts lower collective estimation error. Study 2 (N = 240) provides causal evidence: groups instructed to apply problem decomposition outperform groups instructed to combine their initial guesses. Study 3 (N = 160) shows that the benefits are larger when the strategy is applied collectively rather than individually. Altogether, we show that problem decomposition constitutes a key mechanism behind the wisdom of deliberative crowds and we provide tools to detect and promote it.

Knowledge graph-enhanced multi-agent deep reinforcement learning for intelligent teaching decision-making in ideological and political theory practical courses

Scientific Reports Ruijun Yin Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-65359-x

On the relevance of serial cyclone clustering for Arctic sea ice

Nature Communications Lars Aue, Sofie Tiedeck, Peter Finocchio et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76245-5

Abstract Short-term changes in Arctic sea-ice concentration (SIC) are largely driven by weather, and strong ice loss typically occurs during intense Arctic cyclones causing unusually warm and stormy conditions. Such conditions are prolonged when several cyclones follow rapidly on each other. Here, we analyze changes in SIC for such periods of serial cyclone clustering utilizing satellite observations and reanalysis data from 1979-2024. While cyclones generally decrease SIC compared to non-cyclone conditions, cyclone clusters impact the ice approximately 2.5 times longer and cause two times stronger overall SIC-reductions than solitary cyclones. The amount of SIC-loss due to cyclone clusters scales with the intensity and number of clustered cyclones, and intensified SIC-loss occurs from 2004-2024 compared to 1979-1999, even within fixed SIC-categories. These findings highlight the relevance of accumulated impacts of clustered weather events for Arctic sea-ice variability and emphasize the need to understand drivers of serial cyclone clustering in the Arctic.

The effect of intrauterine platelet-rich plasma infusion on pregnancy outcomes in patients with recurrent implantation failure

Scientific Reports Ying Huang, Rui Yang, Shuo Yang et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-65283-0

Abstract Does intrauterine platelet-rich plasma (PRP) infusion improve frozen embryo transfer (FET) outcomes in patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF)? which patient subgroups benefit most significantly? This retrospective study (July 2023-March 2025) analyzed 1,846 frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles from patients under 40 with ≥ 3 previous implantation failures. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between the PRP group (571 cycles) and the control group (1,275 cycles). Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) analysis were employed to assess the independent effect of PRP infusion on live birth rate (LBR) in the overall cohort and prespecified subgroups. The LBR was significantly higher in the PRP group than the control group after adjusting for confounding factors (33.8% vs. 28.5%, adjusted OR 1.317, 95%CI 1.045–1.659). Stratified GEE analyses were conducted according to the maternal age, number of previous embryo transfer failures, whether to perform preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), infertility type and transferred embryo stage. After adjustment, the PRP group demonstrated a significantly higher LBR among patients of advanced-age (31.3% vs. 25.3%, adjusted OR 1.421, 95% CI 1.019–1.983) and those with secondary infertility (31.4% vs. 23.9%, adjusted OR 1.499, 95%CI 1.005–2.237). No significant differences were detected in the remaining subgroups. Among patients receiving PRP infusion, a declining trend in LBR was observed with extended PRP cryopreservation time. In this retrospective study, intrauterine PRP infusion was associated with significantly higher LBR in the overall RIF population. However, this beneficial association was not uniform and was primarily concentrated in women of advanced maternal age and those with secondary infertility.

Structures of LPOR–Chlide complexes reveal the structural basis of membrane remodeling and photocatalysis

Nature Communications Michał Gabruk, Ambroise Desfosses, Leandro Farias Estrozi et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76316-7

Abstract Light-dependent protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase (LPOR) is a light-driven enzyme in flowering plants. It is involved in chlorophyll biosynthesis while also reorganizing membrane lipids into the cubic membrane network that supports chloroplast development. However, the structural basis of these two activities and their relationship have remained unclear. Here, cryo-electron microscopy of chlorophyllide-bound LPOR oligomers reveals nine distinct assembly states, including helical filaments, stacked rings and segmented strings of dimers. We find that strings of LPOR dimers reshape lipid bilayers into a range of membrane architectures through combinations of three inter-string interfaces, providing a structural explanation for the flexibility of these assemblies. The highest-resolution map (2.55 Å), shows the pigment-binding region in sufficient detail to reveal a solvent-accessible channel near the pigment and a conformation of the propionate group may support hydride transfer from NADPH. Together, these findings establish a structural framework linking LPOR oligomerization, membrane remodeling and photocatalysis, and suggest that chlorophyllide-bound LPOR assemblies may have a regulatory function in mature leaves.

Multiparametric MRI radiomics nomogram for binary preoperative stratification of primary versus metastatic lumbar spinal tumors

Scientific Reports Canghai Shen, Shuai Yang, Xi Chen et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-65683-2

Dynamic chloride coordination enables selective pulsed electrocatalytic upcycling of 4-chlorophenol on FeN2O2 single-atom catalyst

Nature Communications Jiachen Wang, Jinxin Li, Mengjiao Xie et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76319-4

High-precision and low-latency object detection with recursive dual-path encoding for event camera

Scientific Reports Caixia Wang, Peng Liu, Shu Li et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-65708-w

Author Correction: Stretchable all-gel organic electrochemical transistors

Nature Communications Linlin Lu, Xu Liu, Puzhong Gu et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75636-y

Tribological optimization of bio‑based microcrystalline cellulose and hybrid natural fiber reinforced epoxy composites using response surface methodology

Scientific Reports H. S. Manjunatha, S. Suresh Kumar, K. Rathan Kumar et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-64852-7

Abstract This work explores the use of hybrid natural fibers and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) to improve the tribological performance of epoxy composites. Response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with a Box–Behnken design was employed to systematically evaluate the effects of MCC content (0–6 wt%), applied load (20–60 N), and sliding velocity (1–3 m/s) on wear loss and CoF. The results demonstrated that increasing the MCC concentration significantly reduced wear loss and CoF due to improved interfacial bonding and stable tribofilm formation. The significance of the created quadratic models with good prediction accuracy (R² = 98.43%) was validated by ANOVA. Although load and sliding velocity interaction effects were also important, filler content was found to be the primary factor affecting tribological performance. MCC filler enhanced the tribological performance of the hybrid composites, decreased surface damage, and encouraged stable tribo-film development, using SEM examination. Multi‑response optimization indicated that a filler content of 6 wt% combined with low load and moderate sliding velocity minimizes wear and friction. Overall, the findings demonstrate the feasibility of MCC-based hybrid natural fiber epoxy composites as high-performance, environmentally friendly materials for wear-resistant tribological applications such as automotive brake pads, sliding panels, and bearings.

Paramagnets as a platform for Dicke physics

Nature Communications T. Elijah Kritzell, Jacques Doumani, Tobias Asano et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-76219-7

Site response analyses of a multi-layered liquefiable soil with 3D nonlinear numerical modeling

Scientific Reports Ali Asgari, Davide Forcellini Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-64998-4

Reduced N2 fixation in the tropical Atlantic Ocean during the warm late Pliocene

Nature Communications Maayan Yehudai, Jesse R. Farmer, Marietta Straub et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-75846-4

Abstract Water column denitrification, a major oceanic nitrogen (N) sink, decreased under past warmer-than-present climates, but the response of N 2 fixation, the main oceanic N source, remains unresolved. Here we address this gap using foraminifera-bound N isotope records from the tropical Atlantic spanning the warm late Pliocene, a geological analog for projected 21 st century warming. Our records show that tropical North Atlantic N 2 fixation was reduced during the late Pliocene and had increased markedly by the late Pleistocene, likely due to an increase in water column denitrification, a process that globally engenders N-poor, phosphorus (P)-bearing surface waters. After ~ 2.8 million years ago, as glaciations intensified, our records show that obliquity-paced variations in the intensity of N 2 fixation emerged, likely reflecting sea-level controlled changes in continental shelf area and benthic denitrification in the western tropical Atlantic, again through the generation of N-poor, P-bearing surface waters. These findings show that N 2 fixation responds to the ocean’s N loss processes both over millions of years and on orbital timescales, suggesting that the global marine fixed N budget may rebalance under warmer climates by reducing both water column denitrification and N 2 fixation.

SFEDet: edge-guided spatial-frequency fusion network for steel surface defect detection

Scientific Reports Weili Chen, Jianjing Wei, Xin Guo et al. Aug 05, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-64588-4