Mechanical Manipulators Research Articles

Non-Hermitian Skin Effect in Many-Body Thermophotonics.

The tight-binding model, foundational in depicting electronic behaviors in solid-state physics, has recently contributed to the understanding of non-Hermitian skin effects in optics, acoustics, and mechanics. However, tight-binding model is primarily built upon scalar nearest couplings, which in turn does not fit to describe the vectorial long-range interactions inherently in thermophotonics. Here, we report a strategy involving many-body radiative interactions in a two-dimensional thermophotonic lattice, and further reveal two types of orthogonal non-Hermitian skin modes in a reciprocal system. For in-plane modes, a pronounced geometry-dependent skin effect manifests at the edges, while for out-of-plane modes, skin effects induced by many-body interactions emerge at the corners instead. Our work provides a pioneering approach for understanding many-body-driven skin effect and unveils a mechanism for unexpected manipulation in thermophotonics.

In Situ Manipulation of Growth Mechanisms in the Vapor–Solid–Solid Growth of GaP Nanowires

In Situ Manipulation of Growth Mechanisms in the Vapor–Solid–Solid Growth of GaP Nanowires

Manipulative Mechanisms in German Economic Discourse: A Study of Publications on Foreign Economic Relations between Germany and China in 2020-2023

This study explores the mechanisms of manipulative influence within German-language economic discourse. The empirical material consists of articles from the Köln Institute for Economic Research, detailing external trade cooperation between Germany and China during the years 2020 to 2023. It has been found that metaphors, borrowings, idiomatic expressions, expressive language, and emotives — comprising combinations of evaluative connotations — exert a covert manipulative effect on communication participants. At the grammatical level, the use of adverbs in the superlative degree and modal verbs in the preterite subjunctive form enables the construction of narratives that downplay the significance of China’s successes as an economic competitor. The analysis reveals that manipulation within economic discourse is intentionally obscured, possessing an implicit nature. It has been determined that portraying the Chinese economy in an unequivocally negative light is impractical; however, there are noticeable trends towards diminishing the significance of its successes, negatively evaluating business activity, and exaggerating the perceived threats posed by China to its business partners. The novelty and relevance of this research lie in addressing the techniques of manipulative influence in shaping the linguistic worldview within economic discourse — a perspective that has not yet been explored, as such texts are often considered objective documents grounded in scientific statistical data.

Joint subarray acoustic tweezers enable controllable cell translation, rotation, and deformation

Contactless microscale tweezers are highly effective tools for manipulating, patterning, and assembling bioparticles. However, current tweezers are limited in their ability to comprehensively manipulate bioparticles, providing only partial control over the six fundamental motions (three translational and three rotational motions). This study presents a joint subarray acoustic tweezers platform that leverages acoustic radiation force and viscous torque to control the six fundamental motions of single bioparticles. This breakthrough is significant as our manipulation mechanism allows for controlling the three translational and three rotational motions of single cells, as well as enabling complex manipulation that combines controlled translational and rotational motions. Moreover, our tweezers can gradually increase the load on an acoustically trapped cell to achieve controllable cell deformation critical for characterizing cell mechanical properties. Furthermore, our platform allows for three-dimensional (3D) imaging of bioparticles without using complex confocal microscopy by rotating bioparticles with acoustic tweezers and taking images of each orientation using a standard microscope. With these capabilities, we anticipate the JSAT platform to play a pivotal role in various applications, including 3D imaging, tissue engineering, disease diagnostics, and drug testing.

A Comparative Analysis of Models for AAV-Mediated Gene Therapy for Inherited Retinal Diseases.

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) represent a diverse group of genetic disorders leading to progressive degeneration of the retina due to mutations in over 280 genes. This review focuses on the various methodologies for the preclinical characterization and evaluation of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy as a potential treatment option for IRDs, particularly focusing on gene therapies targeting mutations, such as those in the RPE65 and FAM161A genes. AAV vectors, such as AAV2 and AAV5, have been utilized to deliver therapeutic genes, showing promise in preserving vision and enhancing photoreceptor function in animal models. Despite their advantages-including high production efficiency, low pathogenicity, and minimal immunogenicity-AAV-mediated therapies face limitations such as immune responses beyond the retina, vector size constraints, and challenges in large-scale manufacturing. This review systematically compares different experimental models used to investigate AAV-mediated therapies, such as mouse models, human retinal explants (HREs), and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived retinal organoids. Mouse models are advantageous for genetic manipulation and detailed investigations of disease mechanisms; however, anatomical differences between mice and humans may limit the translational applicability of results. HREs offer valuable insights into human retinal pathophysiology but face challenges such as tissue degradation and lack of systemic physiological effects. Retinal organoids, on the other hand, provide a robust platform that closely mimics human retinal development, thereby enabling more comprehensive studies on disease mechanisms and therapeutic strategies, including AAV-based interventions. Specific outcomes targeted in these studies include vision preservation and functional improvements of retinas damaged by genetic mutations. This review highlights the strengths and weaknesses of each experimental model and advocates for their combined use in developing targeted gene therapies for IRDs. As research advances, optimizing AAV vector design and delivery methods will be critical for enhancing therapeutic efficacy and improving clinical outcomes for patients with IRDs.

Optimizing phage-based mutant recovery and minimizing heat effect in the construction of transposon libraries in Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), particularly Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), poses a significant global public health threat, necessitating advanced methodologies to enhance our understanding of this organism at the omics levels. This study introduces a refined protocol for constructing and curing high-density transposon mutant (tn-mutant) libraries in S. aureus, addressing the challenges associated with low transductant yields, and the complex genetic manipulation mechanism in Gram-positive bacteria. Our methodology employs a Himar1 transposon based on a two-plasmid system, leveraging Himar1’s high insertional efficiency in AT-rich organisms. Enhanced transduction efficiency was achieved through chloramphenicol pre-treatment and the use of modified enriched media. Complementing this, an optimized plasmid curing procedure ensured a representative and stable tn-mutant library. The protocol was successfully applied to multiple S. aureus strains, demonstrating an increase in mutant recovery and reduced post-curing impact. The method offers a robust approach for Transposon Insertion Sequencing (TIS) applications in S. aureus, enabling deeper insights into survival, resistance, and pathogenicity mechanisms. This protocol holds a significant potential for accelerating the construction of tn-mutant libraries in various S. aureus strains.

Leishmania major-induced alteration of host cellular and systemic copper homeostasis drives the fate of infection

Copper plays a key role in host-pathogen interaction. We find that during Leishmania major infection, the parasite-harboring macrophage regulates its copper homeostasis pathway in a way to facilitate copper-mediated neutralization of the pathogen. Copper-ATPase ATP7A transports copper to amastigote-harboring phagolysosomes to induce stress on parasites. Leishmania in order to evade the copper stress, utilizes a variety of manipulative measures to lower the host-induced copper stress. It induces deglycosylation and degradation of host-ATP7A and downregulation of copper importer, CTR1 by cysteine oxidation. Additionally, Leishmania induces CTR1 endocytosis that arrests copper uptake. In mouse model of infection, we report an increase in systemic bioavailable copper in infected animals. Heart acts as the major organ for diverting its copper reserves to systemic circulation to fight-off infection by downregulating its CTR1. Our study explores reciprocal mechanism of manipulation of host copper homeostasis pathway by macrophage and Leishmania to gain respective advantages in host-pathogen interaction.

Telomere Reprogramming and Cellular Metabolism: Is There a Link?

Telomeres-special DNA-protein structures at the ends of linear eukaryotic chromosomes-define the proliferation potential of cells. Extremely short telomeres promote a DNA damage response and cell death to eliminate cells that may have accumulated mutations after multiple divisions. However, telomere elongation is associated with the increased proliferative potential of specific cell types, such as stem and germ cells. This elongation can be permanent in these cells and is activated temporally during immune response activation and regeneration processes. The activation of telomere lengthening mechanisms is coupled with increased proliferation and the cells' need for energy and building resources. To obtain the necessary nutrients, cells are capable of finely regulating energy production and consumption, switching between catabolic and anabolic processes. In this review, we focused on the interconnection between metabolism programs and telomere lengthening mechanisms during programmed activation of proliferation, such as in germ cell maturation, early embryonic development, neoplastic lesion growth, and immune response activation. It is generally accepted that telomere disturbance influences biological processes and promotes dysfunctionality. Here, we propose that metabolic conditions within proliferating cells should be involved in regulating telomere lengthening mechanisms, and telomere length may serve as a marker of defects in cellular functionality. We propose that it is possible to reprogram metabolism in order to regulate the telomere length and proliferative activity of cells, which may be important for the development of approaches to regeneration, immune response modulation, and cancer therapy. However, further investigations in this area are necessary to improve the understanding and manipulation of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of proliferation, metabolism, and aging.

Unveiling the DHX15–G-patch interplay in retroviral RNA packaging

We explored how a simple retrovirus, Mason-Pfizer monkey virus (M-PMV) to facilitate its replication process, utilizes DHX15, a cellular RNA helicase, typically engaged in RNA processing. Through advanced genetic engineering techniques, we showed that M-PMV recruits DHX15 by mimicking cellular mechanisms, relocating it from the nucleus to the cytoplasm to aid in viral assembly. This interaction is essential for the correct packaging of the viral genome and critical for its infectivity. Our findings offer unique insights into the mechanisms of viral manipulation of host cellular processes, highlighting a sophisticated strategy that viruses employ to leverage cellular machinery for their replication. This study adds valuable knowledge to the understanding of viral-host interactions but also suggests a common evolutionary history between cellular processes and viral mechanisms. This finding opens a unique perspective on the export mechanism of intron-retaining mRNAs in the packaging of viral genetic information and potentially develop ways to stop it.

The influence of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance on management tone manipulation – evidence from China

PurposeThis paper explores the association between directors’ and officers’ liability insurance (D&O insurance) and management tone manipulation.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses data from A-share listed non-financial companies from 2009 to 2021 as its sample for empirical tests. In addition, the study relies on text analysis and the construction of models to investigate the relationship between D&O insurance and management tone manipulation.FindingsThe authors find that the purchase of D&O insurance will lead to management tone manipulation in the “management discussion and analysis” part of companies’ annual reports, and operating risk and agent cost are the two paths for the effect. Further analysis shows that having a male CEO and employing high-quality auditors can weaken the positive impact of D&O insurance on tone manipulation.Originality/valueThis paper provides a new approach for studying the literature related to D&O insurance and management behavior, and the findings enrich our understanding of the influencing factors and the mechanism of management tone manipulation, thus revealing policy implications for further standardization of the terms and system of D&O insurance in China.

High-fidelity transfer of helical phase via hyper-Raman scattering in a monolayer graphene

Graphene is a fascinating two-dimensional optical material with a unique electronic band structure and a giant optical nonlinearity under the action of a strong magnetic field. Here we propose a scheme to transfer helical phase of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) light via hyper-Raman scattering in a monolayer graphene assisted by a magnetic field. Due to the unique electronic properties and selection rules near the Dirac point, it is found that high-fidelity transfer of phase structure and, in particular, of OAM from a pump field to the Raman field generated in a hyper-Raman scattering process occurs under the resonance condition. Interestingly, the obtained results allow us to control the intensity of Raman field with stable phase structure by varying the intensities of two pump fields. Hereby, the mechanism of efficient generation and manipulation of OAM Raman field may have exciting potential applications in the generation of short-wavelength coherent radiation, conversion of frequency as well as nonlinear spectroscopy in graphene materials.

Automatic Frame Analysis for the Evaluation of Text Influence

The research paper focuses on the mechanism of semantic parser for automatic text analysis and represents some results of analyzing news with a total volume of 2.2 million clauses. This mechanism models the processes of text comprehension and in this paper it is applied to the evaluation of the text influence on the reader. The parser constructs a semantic representation of the text and maps the meaning of each clause to a particular frame belonging either to the set of 300 emotional or to the set of 4500 rational frames. Comparing the frames of pro-state (federal) and blocked sources in Russia, the authors show that the most frequent frames in federal news represent an interactive dialog between the media and the speaker (note, add, recall, etc.), while the most frequent frames in blocked news introduce the speaker’s utterance that has become known to the news agencies (report, write, say, etc.). This reflects the remoteness of the editors of blocked news from Russian speakers. The federal media more often report about funny or unexpected purchases, as well as about how federal employees rescue people, and this agenda should make a positive impression. The blocked media, on the other hand, are more likely to mention court sentencing and death, which should have a negative impact. The natural-language inference constructed via frame combinations is shown to enable the recognition of emotional situations in derived meanings that are not explicitly expressed in the text and, thus, it allows to analyze automatically more compound mechanisms of manipulation.

How does leverage manipulation affect corporate default risk?

ABSTRACT We examine the impact and mechanism of corporate leverage manipulation (LEVM) on default risk using a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2007 to 2023. We found that LEVM significantly increases the likelihood of default risk. This conclusion holds even after conducting a series of robustness tests. The analysis of mechanism indicates that leverage manipulation significantly increases financing costs and operational risks for companies, ultimately leading to an increase in default risk.

Thermo-optical tweezers based on photothermal waveguides

Field-controlled micromanipulation represents a pivotal technique for handling microparticles, yet conventional methods often risk physical damage to targets. Here, we discovered a completely new mechanism for true noncontact manipulation through photothermal effects, called thermal-optical tweezers. We employ a laser self-assembly photothermal waveguide (PTW) for dynamic microparticle manipulation. This waveguide demonstrates superior photothermal conversion and precision control, generating a nonisothermal temperature field. The interaction of thermal convection and thermophoresis within this field creates a microfluidic potential well, enabling noncontact and nondestructive particle manipulation. By varying the path of PTWs in lithography and manipulating laser loading modes, diverse manipulation strategies, such as Z-shaped migration, periodic oscillation, and directional transport, are achievable. Our innovative noninvasive micromanipulation technology minimizes not only physical damage to target objects but also enables precise and diverse manipulation of micro entities, opening up new avenues for the photothermal control of cells and biomolecules.

Microsporidia secretory effectors and their roles in pathogenesis.

Microsporidia, a group of unicellular eukaryotic parasites, rely intensely on secretory effectors for successful invasion and proliferation within host cells. This review focuses on the identification, characterization, and functional roles of effectors, including secretory proteins and microRNAs. The adhesion proteins like the Ricin-B-lectin facilitate initial invasion, which binds to the host cell surface. Once inside, microsporidia deploy a range of effectors to modulate host immune responses, such as serpin proteins, and redirect host cell metabolism to meet the parasite's nutritional needs through hexokinase. Some effectors such as microRNAs, alter the host gene expression to create a more favorable intracellular parasitic environment. In conclusion, the secretory effectors of microsporidia play a pivotal role spanning from host cell invasion to intracellular establishment. In the future, more effectors secreted by microsporidia will be studied, which will not only help to elucidate the molecular mechanism of pathogenic manipulation of the host but also help to provide the potential targets for anti-parasitic treatments.

Hybrid Patterns and Solitonic Frequency Combs in Non-Hermitian Kerr Cavities.

We unveil a new scenario for the formation of dissipative localized structures in nonlinear systems. Commonly, the formation of such structures arises from the connection of a homogeneous steady state with either another homogeneous solution or a pattern. Both scenarios, typically found in cavities with normal and anomalous dispersion, respectively, exhibit unique fingerprints and particular features that characterize their behavior. However, we show that the introduction of a periodic non-Hermitian modulation in Kerr cavities hybridizes the two established soliton formation mechanisms, embodying the particular fingerprints of both. In the resulting novel scenario, the stationary states acquire a dual behavior, playing the role that was unambiguously attributed to either homogeneous states or patterns. These fundamental findings have profound practical implications for frequency comb generation, introducing unprecedented reversible mechanisms for real-time manipulation.

Changes and Mechanisms of Social Interaction Models in the Digital Age

In the wave of the digital age, technology is rapidly evolving from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and moving towards the new era of the metaverse. Social media, as a pioneer of this transformation, has deeply permeated peoples daily lives, reshaping our social interaction models. The rise of companion socialization is a typical phenomenon in this transformation, reflecting significant changes in social interaction models in the digital age. This paper aims to systematically review the notable changes in social speed, social subjects, and social methods during the evolution of social media, and to deeply analyze the reasons behind these changes. By exploring the mechanisms of market evolution, platform manipulation, and user addiction, this study seeks to help people better understand the pros and cons of social media, adopt a more rational attitude towards the social challenges of the digital age, and promote the construction of a healthy social ecosystem.

Changes and Mechanisms of Social Interaction Models in the Digital Age

In the wave of the digital age, technology is rapidly evolving from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 and moving towards the new era of the metaverse. Social media, as a pioneer of this transformation, has deeply permeated peoples daily lives, reshaping our social interaction models. The rise of companion socialization is a typical phenomenon in this transformation, reflecting significant changes in social interaction models in the digital age. This paper aims to systematically review the notable changes in social speed, social subjects, and social methods during the evolution of social media, and to deeply analyze the reasons behind these changes. By exploring the mechanisms of market evolution, platform manipulation, and user addiction, this study seeks to help people better understand the pros and cons of social media, adopt a more rational attitude towards the social challenges of the digital age, and promote the construction of a healthy social ecosystem.

How Information Manipulation on Social Media Influences the NFT Investors’ Behavior: A Case Study of Goblintown.Wtf

People favor nonfungible token (NFT) because of the attribute to prove digital assets’ ownership and promote interactions. Investors are keen to buy and use NFT pictures as social media avatars and participate in online communities around NFT collections. However, information manipulation in the NFT market has led to investors significant losses. Our work explored a way to correspond social media accounts with Ethereum addresses and studied the microstructure of NFT market. Taking Goblintown.wtf as an example, we analyzed the participants, mechanism, and impact of Twitter information manipulation in the market. We found five categories of investors in the NFT market under information manipulation: primary investors, amateur investors, fanatic investors, short-term rational investors, and long-term rational investors. We argue that investors will consume their limited attention more likely when joining NFT online communities. This will lead to more complicated for them to make investment decisions rationally.

THE PROBLEM OF MODEL ADEQUACY IN THE APPLICATION OF GAME THEORY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The article considers the use of game theory in international relations and the risks associated with it. An analysis is made of the possibility of reflecting the same real situations using different game models with different connotations. The concept of the adequacy of the model in relation to the situation is considered, as well as the necessary logical stage of proving this adequacy and the risk of manipulative influence in the absence of such proof. Attention is paid to the phenomenon of the model itself and its relation to the real object of modeling.The opinion is argued about the need to prove the similarity before using the analogy as an argument for attempts to persuade on the basis of this similarity. The mechanism of manipulation is considered in which, by skipping the discussion of the adequacy of the model, it is automatically considered adequate, so the author of the model can impose his own forecasts on the consumer of information regarding the development of events, as well as his own subjective vision of the positivity of the results.As an example, two well-known problems in game theory are considered, actively used for modeling international relations: the Prisoner's Dilemma and the Chicken game. An example of modeling the same hypothetical situation using both games and differences in subjective perception of the same results, which are manifested in the choice of which of these games to use, is given. The opinion is given that although both games can be very useful in the field of international relations, when consuming information which incorporates these and other games, it is necessary to carefully check not only the author's forecasts regarding the development of events, but also the assessment of the positivity of the results in the model.