https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/WDr2MKZc65rGpCehjsosPj https://cassyni.com/events/WDr2MKZc65rGpCehjsosPj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/L6ykSU5edJVBUTJYgMjr6i https://cassyni.com/events/WDr2MKZc65rGpCehjsosPj?videoPreview=1 Frustrated Bearingsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/WDr2MKZc65rGpCehjsosPj?videoPreview=12021-09-13T12:00:00+00:003164.96Granular MatterA bearing is a system of spheres (or disks) in contact. If in a bearing every loop is even, one can obtain “bearing states”, in which touching spheres roll on each other without slip. We frustrate a system of touching spheres by imposing two different bearing states on opposite sides and search for the configurations of lowest energy dissipation. For Coulomb friction (with random friction coefficients) in two dimensions, a sharp line separates the two bearing states and we prove that this line corresponds to the minimum cut. Astonishingly however, in three dimensions, intermediate bearing domains, that are not synchronized with either side, are energetically more favourable than the minimum-cut surface. This novel state of minimum dissipation is characterized by a spanning network of slip-less contacts that reaches every sphere. Such a situation becomes possible because in three dimensions bearings of loops of size four have four degrees of freedom. By considering spheres of different size, packings with bearing states can even be made space-filling. The construction and mechanical properties of such space-filling bearings will be discussed. Space-filling bearing states can be viewed as a realization of solid turbulence exhibiting Kolmogorov scaling and anomalous heat conduction. Bearings states can be perceived as physical realizations of networks of oscillators with asymmetrically weighted couplings. These networks can exhibit optimal synchronization properties through tuning of the local interaction strength as a function of node degree or the inertia of their constituting rotor disks through a power-law mass-radius relation. As a consequence, one finds that space filling bearings synchronize fastest, when they are hollow.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/L6ykSU5edJVBUTJYgMjr6i https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/8VKSKF6WmwUs1TNRMnRChK https://cassyni.com/events/8VKSKF6WmwUs1TNRMnRChK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Cm6xHXXSRvTfJKtWijc3pz https://cassyni.com/events/8VKSKF6WmwUs1TNRMnRChK?videoPreview=1 Point Cloud Coding: Time for Learning-based Alternativenohttps://cassyni.com/events/8VKSKF6WmwUs1TNRMnRChK?videoPreview=12021-06-02T12:30:00+00:004934.28Journal on Image and Video ProcessingNo abstracthttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Cm6xHXXSRvTfJKtWijc3pz https://cassyni.com/events/24yT4FEMH54mi3dAbVsgWZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JzKoPVRvkvF6gCvrnTq46J https://cassyni.com/events/6WcXfzSsQfZZjHpXDXKzmK/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/6WcXfzSsQfZZjHpXDXKzmK https://cassyni.com/events/6WcXfzSsQfZZjHpXDXKzmK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2KBAwtXCWaK7iF1taHaASi https://cassyni.com/events/6WcXfzSsQfZZjHpXDXKzmK?videoPreview=1 New Measures of Academic Collocation Knowledge: Wordlist-Based Test Development and Argument-Based Validation, PhD celebration - Erandi Kithulgoda, Intercultural Language Teaching in Vietnamese Tertiary EFL Classes: A Participatory Action Research Studynohttps://cassyni.com/events/6WcXfzSsQfZZjHpXDXKzmK?videoPreview=12023-05-19T04:10:00+00:003102.76Linguistics and Applied Language StudiesThis study addresses the need for an assessment of academic collocation knowledge, which is an essential component of academic vocabulary for second or foreign language learners preparing to study at English-medium universities. Existing tests target knowledge of general academic vocabulary based on single-word lists, but there is a lack of tests for academic collocation knowledge. This study developed and validated two separate measures of recognition and recall knowledge of general academic collocations for diagnostic purposes, using an argument-based approach to collect validity evidence. Results showed that the Academic Collocation List (Ackermann & Chen, 2013) was the best source of items for testing purposes, and the tests were reliable and positively correlated with scores on other tests of similar constructs. The study provides pedagogical implications to support teaching and learning of academic collocation knowledge and advances the field of vocabulary assessment. Abstract: Intercultural competence is seen as vital for 21st century citizens, but research suggests it is not widely addressed in English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) pedagogy in Asian contexts. Thao Tran’s research investigates how EFL teachers at a Vietnamese university address culture in their classrooms, and the impact on their teaching practice of professional learning workshops in which the teachers design intercultural teaching materials and later teach using these materials. Thao’s research provides a principled framework for designing intercultural lessons and a model for teacher-centred professional learning. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2KBAwtXCWaK7iF1taHaASi https://cassyni.com/events/HNxh2vE5GpXb6kqY1aWqrD/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/HNxh2vE5GpXb6kqY1aWqrD https://cassyni.com/events/HNxh2vE5GpXb6kqY1aWqrD/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8yedmSCwe21H3TjfFeXTb4 https://cassyni.com/events/HNxh2vE5GpXb6kqY1aWqrD?videoPreview=1 Physicochemical and biochemical actions in natural systems for refractory pollutants removal and safe water reusenohttps://cassyni.com/events/HNxh2vE5GpXb6kqY1aWqrD?videoPreview=12023-07-17T11:00:00+00:003988.64ElsevierSafety control of effluent quality from a wastewater treatment plant is the long-last topic for the selection of treatment processes and/or designing a comprehensive system to achieve the goal of ecological and human health risk reduction, especially when the treated water is to be reused for various purposes. In order to understand what kind of functions natural systems may perform, studies were conducted targeting trace pollutants removal through a mimic natural water cycle where the secondary effluent is the sole source for water landscaping and multifunctional reuse. Attentions were paid to four categories of trace organics and their associated biotoxicities. The study results revealed that physicochemical actions, such as adsorption by soil particles and sunlight induced photolysis, performed the most important role. Aquatic life, including plants and animals, effectively enhanced the reduction of certain antibiotics, while many organics refractory to biodegradation became biodegradable during longer hydraulic retention. Hybridization of engineered and natural/ecological processes can thus be a direction of system optimization to secure safe water reuse under lower treatment costs.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8yedmSCwe21H3TjfFeXTb4 https://cassyni.com/events/9yEdLfXCgxDoHQ5HxoYqiV/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9yEdLfXCgxDoHQ5HxoYqiV https://cassyni.com/events/9yEdLfXCgxDoHQ5HxoYqiV/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Mu5fPnibhMqKUKr4p4R3kA https://cassyni.com/events/9yEdLfXCgxDoHQ5HxoYqiV?videoPreview=1 When mechanics meets biology: Cell mechanics and mechanobiology in multicellular living systemsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/9yEdLfXCgxDoHQ5HxoYqiV?videoPreview=12023-07-20T14:00:00+00:004491.6Journal of Biological PhysicsSculpting of structure and function of three-dimensional multicellular tissues depend critically on the spatial and temporal coordination of cellular physical properties. Yet the organizational principles that govern these events, and their disruption in disease, remain poorly understood. My lab works on developing new tools to characterize and understand the role of mechanics in biology. In this talk, I will first introduce our recent progress in characterizing cell and ECM mechanics in 3D and in multicellular systems, such as a breast cancer model. Then I will discuss a recent work reporting the crucial role of interfacial curvature on collective cell migration. Finally, I would also like to discuss the impact of cell mechanics on a verity of critical cell biological functions.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Mu5fPnibhMqKUKr4p4R3kA https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/WiVdQ1D8XYQKoyBbLK6ff3 https://cassyni.com/events/WiVdQ1D8XYQKoyBbLK6ff3/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JkLTsP4zj3b4Pt8rnJzAiz https://cassyni.com/events/WiVdQ1D8XYQKoyBbLK6ff3?videoPreview=1 Energy Transparency - More Power to Software Developers!nohttps://cassyni.com/events/WiVdQ1D8XYQKoyBbLK6ff3?videoPreview=12023-09-12T08:30:00+00:001907.6HiPEDS CentreEnergy efficiency is now a major, if not the major, constraint in electronic systems engineering. Significant progress has been made in low power hardware design for several decades. The potential for savings is now far greater at the higher levels of abstraction in the system stack. The greatest savings are expected from energy consumption-aware software. Promoting energy efficiency to a first class software design goal is therefore an urgent research challenge. Designing software for energy efficiency requires visibility of energy consumption from the hardware, where the energy is consumed, all the way through to the programs that ultimately control what the hardware does. This visibility is termed energy transparency. Energy transparency enables a deeper understanding of how algorithms and coding impact on the energy consumption of a computation when executed on hardware. It is a key prerequisite for informed design space exploration and helps system designers to find the optimal trade-off between performance, accuracy, security and energy consumption of a computation. In this seminar I will outline recent research advances that will give "more power" to software developers. We will investigate why software is key to energy efficient computing, what energy transparency is, how to monitor and measure the energy consumed by software, how to model energy consumption at different abstraction levels, how data affects the energy consumption of a computation, and how to statically estimate the energy consumed by software.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JkLTsP4zj3b4Pt8rnJzAiz https://cassyni.com/events/MLCmdeS3bCopmvB5crTGhK/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/MLCmdeS3bCopmvB5crTGhK https://cassyni.com/events/MLCmdeS3bCopmvB5crTGhK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/38YYE5xN5aSX3k3udRK3Vp https://cassyni.com/events/MLCmdeS3bCopmvB5crTGhK?videoPreview=1 The phase-space architecture in extrasolar systems with two planets in orbits of high mutual inclination, Bounds on energy and angular momentum loss in the full n-body problemnohttps://cassyni.com/events/MLCmdeS3bCopmvB5crTGhK?videoPreview=12023-10-27T13:00:00+00:003746.08Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical AstronomyAuthors: Rita Mastroianni, Christos Efthymiopoulos We revisit the secular 3D planetary three-body problem, aiming to provide a unified formalism representing all basic phenomena in the phase space as the mutual inclination between the planetary orbits increases. We propose a 'book-keeping' technique allowing to decompose the Hamiltonian as $\mathcal{H}_{sec}=\mathcal{H}_{planar}+\mathcal{H}_{space}$, with $\mathcal{H}_{space}$ collecting all terms depending on the planets mutual inclination $i_{mut}$. We numerically compare several models obtained by multipole (Legendre) or Laplace-Lagrange expansions of $\mathcal{H}_{sec}$, aiming to define suitable truncation orders for these models. We explore the transition, as $i_{mut}$ increases, from a 'planar-like' to a 'Lidov-Kozai' regime. Using a numerical example far from hierarchical limits, we find that the structure of the phase portraits of the (integrable) planar case is reproduced to a large extent also in the 3D case. A semi-analytical criterion allows to estimate the level of $i_{mut}$ up to which the dynamics remains nearly integrable. We propose a normal form method to compute the basic periodic orbits (apsidal corotation orbits A and B) in this regime. We explore the sequence of saddle-node and pitchfork bifurcations by which the A and B families are connected to the highly inclined periodic orbits of the Lidov-Kozai regime. Finally, we perform a numerical study of phase portraits for different planetary mass and distance ratios, and qualitatively describe the approach to the corresponding hierarchical limits. Authors: D. J. Scheeres, G. M. Brown A new bound on the amended potential in an n-body system is derived and applied to the partitioning of energy and angular momentum in a disrupting gravitational aggregate. This result provides analytic insight into how energy and angular momentum can be lost or partitioned between different collections of bodies as they escape from each other. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/38YYE5xN5aSX3k3udRK3Vp https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QJ1XZrmY1sMH3L2vme1W85 https://cassyni.com/events/QJ1XZrmY1sMH3L2vme1W85/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/65cKyEEtZYuzs21gH9f1GA https://cassyni.com/events/QJ1XZrmY1sMH3L2vme1W85?videoPreview=1 Engaging your Readers and Authorsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/QJ1XZrmY1sMH3L2vme1W85?videoPreview=12023-03-20T09:00:00+00:003010.36Topics at the heart of our communityHow factual is the assumption that publishing less always results in higher impact for journals? Discover how a high volume of content in specific sub-disciplines can lead to an increase in high quality submissions, and why quantity and quality are complementary strategies for journal development.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/65cKyEEtZYuzs21gH9f1GA https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/GtHTsc4fS13mHHr2DUPsg1 https://cassyni.com/events/GtHTsc4fS13mHHr2DUPsg1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Ra8BEjXoHXJr1L4oM2u2u4 https://cassyni.com/events/GtHTsc4fS13mHHr2DUPsg1?videoPreview=1 Sparse Nonlinear Dynamics Models with SINDy, Part 2: Training Data & Disambiguating Modelsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/GtHTsc4fS13mHHr2DUPsg1?videoPreview=12021-09-10T12:00:00+00:001051.6Brunton LabThis video discusses data requirements for the Sparse Identification of Nonlinear Dynamics (SINDy) algorithm. Specifically, we discuss the required sampling rate and duration for clean data and how to compute SINDy for noisy data. The integral SINDy extension is described, which enables the discovery of a hierarchy of fluid and plasma models that are more or less complex than the standard Navier-Stokes and MHD models. Finally, we discuss the condition number of the SINDy regression and how this may be improved to better disambiguate between multiple consistent models. SLB acknowledges support from the National Science Foundation AI Institute in Dynamic Systems (grant number 2112085).https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Ra8BEjXoHXJr1L4oM2u2u4 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SGbwkbMdmha393KA8bsSYd https://cassyni.com/events/SGbwkbMdmha393KA8bsSYd/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/BT6yJztDDR87xzABv64t3Q https://cassyni.com/events/SGbwkbMdmha393KA8bsSYd?videoPreview=1 Lindenbaum-type Logical Structuresnohttps://cassyni.com/events/SGbwkbMdmha393KA8bsSYd?videoPreview=12023-02-15T15:00:00+00:002279.32Logica UniversalisIn this talk, we present some classes of logical structures from the universal logic standpoint, viz., those of the Tarski- and the Lindenbaum-types. The characterization theorems for the Tarski- and two of the four different Lindenbaum-type logical structures will be mentioned as well. The separations between the five classes of logical structures, viz., the four Lindenbaum-types and the Tarski-type have been established via examples. Finally, we study the logical structures that are of both Tarski- and a Lindenbaum-type, show their separations, and end with characterization, adequacy, minimality, and representation theorems for one of the Tarski-Lindenbaum-type logical structures. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/BT6yJztDDR87xzABv64t3Q https://cassyni.com/events/SmFYoH1ADA868or3j3AEow/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SmFYoH1ADA868or3j3AEow https://cassyni.com/events/SmFYoH1ADA868or3j3AEow/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/13iv3syfQeEGdJSEyHVHQA https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/24qLV6evGGS8yMZKCpa98H https://cassyni.com/events/24qLV6evGGS8yMZKCpa98H/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SkN8243tabJx3pm6k196E https://cassyni.com/events/24qLV6evGGS8yMZKCpa98H?videoPreview=1 Marketing + Medicine: Using Marketing Theory to Improve Patient Choices and Outcomesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/24qLV6evGGS8yMZKCpa98H?videoPreview=12023-03-06T23:00:00+00:003231.92Faculty of Business and EconomicsMarketing (as an academic field and as a practice) is often misunderstood by those promoting important innovations in the sciences and healthcare. In this talk, we will discuss how marketing theory is critically useful to the future of healthcare delivery and describe its recent successes in Covid-19 vaccination efforts. How do we encourage patients to adopt healthy new habits or adhere to new treatments? How do we communicate with large, diverse, and changing populations? How do we leverage the benefits of new technologies for patient engagement and avoid the pitfalls of those same technologies? Join us to learn the latest tools to guide healthy choices by understanding key consumer behaviour theories of how people choose and live with the consequences. The presentation will be followed by a workshop on the same topic at 1.30 pm in room 507- G080. This is an initiative supported by the University of Auckland Business School, the University of Auckland School of Population Health and the University of Canterbury Business School.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SkN8243tabJx3pm6k196E https://cassyni.com/events/FQLejZ867dP6rZruN3iTo3/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/FQLejZ867dP6rZruN3iTo3 https://cassyni.com/events/FQLejZ867dP6rZruN3iTo3/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8pYVmSonuvTU5CvH2DXVAN https://cassyni.com/events/FQLejZ867dP6rZruN3iTo3?videoPreview=1 Stopping Parkinson’s disease and Multiple system atrophy. Are 'strains' the solution?nohttps://cassyni.com/events/FQLejZ867dP6rZruN3iTo3?videoPreview=12023-04-04T04:00:00+00:003994.68The Auckland Bioengineering InstituteParkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy are neurological disorders affecting over 10 million people worldwide. The lack of treatments is primarily due to the complexity of these illnesses, the variability of symptomatology and the lack of diagnostic tests. In both conditions, toxic clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein form in the brain. Previous research suggests that the building blocks of these clumps are the same but that the 3D structure can vary, giving rise to distinct alpha-synuclein 'strains' that uniquely affect the patient’s brain. We hypothesise that alpha-Synuclein strains are partly responsible for the varied symptoms in patients. Therefore future treatment must be tailored to the specific strain. My [group](https://www.dierikslab.com) develops techniques to characterise the strain and identify novel druggable targets. Ultimately the goal is to create strain-specific therapeutics that reduce the burden of alpha-synuclein clumps in these illnesses.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8pYVmSonuvTU5CvH2DXVAN https://cassyni.com/events/71QFHpfprvkFTkRGCdvLQu/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/71QFHpfprvkFTkRGCdvLQu https://cassyni.com/events/71QFHpfprvkFTkRGCdvLQu/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Pg34mGPdC3gtTnRLUQJyv6 https://cassyni.com/events/71QFHpfprvkFTkRGCdvLQu?videoPreview=1 Flexible hidden Markov models using hmmTMB and applications in ecologynohttps://cassyni.com/events/71QFHpfprvkFTkRGCdvLQu?videoPreview=12023-11-07T16:00:00+00:003705.44Journal of Statistical Theory and PracticeI will present hidden Markov models, a general class of stochastic processes widely used in many areas (including ecology, financial analysis, medical statistics, etc.). In particular, I will explain how the parameters of interest can be specified as flexible functions of covariates, possibly using non-parametric relationships and random effects, to answer complex scientific questions. I will present the R package hmmTMB, which implements this approach, and I will demonstrate its use for the analysis of animal movement data.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Pg34mGPdC3gtTnRLUQJyv6 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/NKSjVkhKfQ4cVrYt24DqaM https://cassyni.com/events/NKSjVkhKfQ4cVrYt24DqaM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Jv1swvURVz7Qig5gTUFcyc https://cassyni.com/events/NKSjVkhKfQ4cVrYt24DqaM?videoPreview=1 Biophysics of Amyloid β-Protein Oligomer Formation of Relevance to Alzheimer's Diseasenohttps://cassyni.com/events/NKSjVkhKfQ4cVrYt24DqaM?videoPreview=12021-05-18T09:00:00+00:004252.96Journal of Biological PhysicsSubstantial evidence implicates soluble oligomers formed by intrinsically disordered amyloid β-protein (Aβ) as central to Alzheimer's disease pathology, yet their structural characteristics that may be the cause of membrane damage remain poorly understood. I will elucidate different biophysical approaches aimed at unraveling structure-function relationship of Aβ oligomers and provide insights into novel developments that challenge our notion of Aβ self-assembly as an exclusively pathological process.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Jv1swvURVz7Qig5gTUFcyc https://cassyni.com/events/VjAoC1QCFGNSzS5Lyw5ZzM/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/VjAoC1QCFGNSzS5Lyw5ZzM https://cassyni.com/events/VjAoC1QCFGNSzS5Lyw5ZzM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/EfbVXxc6XYaBGgLoiPdjPU https://cassyni.com/events/VjAoC1QCFGNSzS5Lyw5ZzM?videoPreview=1 Robust Model Discovery with SINDy and Ensemble Learningnohttps://cassyni.com/events/VjAoC1QCFGNSzS5Lyw5ZzM?videoPreview=12023-06-06T11:00:00+00:003530.76Department of Chemical EngineeringThe sparse identification of nonlinear dynamics (SINDy) algorithm can identify dynamical system models purely from data. In this talk, I will present recent work on extending the SINDy algorithm using ensemble learning to identify interpretable and generalizable models in the low-data and high-noise limit. We apply the ensemble-SINDy (E-SINDy) algorithm to a range of challenging synthetic and real-world data sets and demonstrate substantial improvements to the accuracy and robustness of model discovery from noisy and limited data. E-SINDy is computationally efficient, with similar scaling as standard SINDy. We show that E-SINDy can perform efficient uncertainty estimation and probabilistic forecasts, compared to expensive Bayesian uncertainty quantification methods via MCMC. Finally, we show that ensemble statistics from E-SINDy can be used for active learning and improved model predictive control.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/EfbVXxc6XYaBGgLoiPdjPU https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QngkjAvwrgqRbLMzyTNaGD https://cassyni.com/events/QngkjAvwrgqRbLMzyTNaGD/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/33KkibqUJwHaUSJ1EXrHAn https://cassyni.com/events/QngkjAvwrgqRbLMzyTNaGD?videoPreview=1 Higher Education Edtech Policy Recommendations and Principles 1.0nohttps://cassyni.com/events/QngkjAvwrgqRbLMzyTNaGD?videoPreview=12023-06-22T13:30:00+00:001172.56Building Digital Education AssetsThis webinar will present the first version of policy recommendations for policymakers, universities, Edtech companies, and investors in Edtech. The recommendations are coming from the ESRC-funded research project on new forms of value in Edtech.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/33KkibqUJwHaUSJ1EXrHAn https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TFvmxbAa3ybuxGqZX9HCz9 https://cassyni.com/events/TFvmxbAa3ybuxGqZX9HCz9/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2UzCBkqicPoc9rA56qFWSJ https://cassyni.com/events/TFvmxbAa3ybuxGqZX9HCz9?videoPreview=1 Session 1 (Part 1) - Making the most of Next Generation Scientists (a panel discussion)nohttps://cassyni.com/events/TFvmxbAa3ybuxGqZX9HCz9?videoPreview=12023-07-02T06:15:00+00:004088.8New Phytologist Foundation This panel session and Q&A will introduce the Next Generation Scientists Symposium, and how you as a delegate can make the most of your time, as well as additional career insights and perspectives. Alistair Hetherington will chair the discussions. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2UzCBkqicPoc9rA56qFWSJ https://cassyni.com/events/Rn4qARmewgir4GPVjB41kh/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Rn4qARmewgir4GPVjB41kh https://cassyni.com/events/Rn4qARmewgir4GPVjB41kh/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KSPCymt76vBNaFfs2MgUZU https://cassyni.com/events/Rn4qARmewgir4GPVjB41kh?videoPreview=1 Development of DEI Milestones for Family Medicine Residencynohttps://cassyni.com/events/Rn4qARmewgir4GPVjB41kh?videoPreview=12024-04-04T20:00:00+00:003515.4Family MedicineLearning Objectives: - Describe the process of developing the five DEI milestones for family medicine residencies - Hear the results of a national survey of FM residencies in which program directors rated their program using the DEI milestones  - Discuss how the DEI milestones can be used by departments/residencies to chart a course to improve their institutions and advance their DEI workhttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KSPCymt76vBNaFfs2MgUZU https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/UFJrPr1H8yVLRCs4GrxeUd https://cassyni.com/events/UFJrPr1H8yVLRCs4GrxeUd/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HaX9AckX3wgMH1PQePNtDt https://cassyni.com/events/UFJrPr1H8yVLRCs4GrxeUd?videoPreview=1 Plug-and-play paradigm for the analysis of scattering by "layer-cake" periodic systemsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/UFJrPr1H8yVLRCs4GrxeUd?videoPreview=12024-03-05T14:00:00+00:003294.04MetaMATWe investigate scattering of scalar plane waves by a heterogeneous layer that is periodic in the direction parallel to its boundary. On describing the layer as a union of periodic sub-laminae, we develop a solution of the scattering problem by combining the concept of propagator matrices and that of Bloch eigenstates featured by the unit cell of each sub-lamina. The Bloch eigenstates are obtained by solving the quadratic eigenvalue problem (QEP) that seeks a complex-valued wavenumber normal to the layer boundary given (i) the excitation frequency, and (ii) real-valued wavenumber parallel to the boundary -- which is preserved throughout the system. Spectral analysis of the QEP reveals sufficient conditions for discreteness of the eigenvalue spectrum and the fact that all eigenvalues come in complex-conjugate pairs. By deploying the factorization afforded by the propagator matrix approach, we demonstrate explicitly that the contribution of individual eigenvalues (and affiliated eigenmodes) to the solution diminishes exponentially with absolute value of their imaginary part, which then forms a rational basis for truncation of the factorized Bloch-wave solution. The proposed developments cater for optimal design of the rainbow traps and metasurfaces, whose potency to manipulate waves is controlled not only by the individual dispersion and impedance characteristics of the component sub-laminae, but also by ordering and generally "fitting" of the latter into the composite layer. By deploying the Bloch propagator approach, evaluation of the trial configurations -- as generated by (a) permutation and (b) window translation/stretching of the component sub-laminae -- can be accelerated by decades. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HaX9AckX3wgMH1PQePNtDt https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/7zeD9vw6w813Bgo4bqguHw https://cassyni.com/events/7zeD9vw6w813Bgo4bqguHw/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/F5gd3zRaFcd47T4TM3S5Ga https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/2ZWZeQpL75uxnpYpzvh7JV https://cassyni.com/events/2ZWZeQpL75uxnpYpzvh7JV/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LQP3uPJhoC9vFoPzwkTSiJ https://cassyni.com/events/2ZWZeQpL75uxnpYpzvh7JV?videoPreview=1 Part One—The Moana and settler colonialism—Rethinking saltwater environments, Part Two—Writing Oceanic carenohttps://cassyni.com/events/2ZWZeQpL75uxnpYpzvh7JV?videoPreview=12023-05-31T12:00:00+00:007181.72Stout Research Centre for New Zealand StudiesIn this seminar, Fiona and Jacs explore the relationship between environmental decline, social inequality and the longue durée of imperialist ideologies in contemporary marine governance in Aotearoa. These linkages will be traced through two case studies: the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011, and the increasing national regulation of toheroa, a keystone Māori species. They aim to answer how ‘the West’, property, capital and finance, alongside Eurocentric kinship and interpretations of nature as external antecedents to society, impedes the development of knowledges better equipped to tackle this era of multiple, overlapping crises. he ways that colonial powers map and describe Pacific Island locations have enormous environmental, social, and political effects on Oceania’s communities. Coming from a literary perspective, Bonnie asks how contemporary writing about the ocean helps us think through issues of colonialism, climate change, and climate futures in the Pacific. Focusing on poems by Marshallese climate activist Kathy Jetñil-Kijiner, this seminar demonstrates how her poems do not only confront colonial depictions of the Marshall Islands and of Oceania, but also posit an Indigenous ethics of oceanic care and activism that is applicable for all of us in Oceania.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LQP3uPJhoC9vFoPzwkTSiJ https://cassyni.com/events/34AAh6TrYYU1nb5ibMyuZo/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/34AAh6TrYYU1nb5ibMyuZo https://cassyni.com/events/34AAh6TrYYU1nb5ibMyuZo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2KH2e8WKWcSMBVREF6Wgdc https://cassyni.com/events/34AAh6TrYYU1nb5ibMyuZo?videoPreview=1 Ultravaluations and their Applications in Classical Propositional Logicnohttps://cassyni.com/events/34AAh6TrYYU1nb5ibMyuZo?videoPreview=12023-06-28T14:00:00+00:003367.32Logica UniversalisThe talk will be devoted to the notion of ultravaluation introduced in our recent paper published in Logica Universalis. We will focus on its applications for CPL which are analogous to the basic results in FOL achieved with the use of the well-known ultraproduct construction. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2KH2e8WKWcSMBVREF6Wgdc https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CSUea5kptEzHeLYrWVTUSR https://cassyni.com/events/CSUea5kptEzHeLYrWVTUSR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7L4B7txKoy9MG94MxVMX8J https://cassyni.com/events/CSUea5kptEzHeLYrWVTUSR?videoPreview=1 Melnikov method for non-conservative perturbations of the restricted three-body problemnohttps://cassyni.com/events/CSUea5kptEzHeLYrWVTUSR?videoPreview=12022-09-06T16:10:00+00:00866.16Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical AstronomyWe consider the planar circular restricted three-body problem (PCRTBP), as a model for the motion of a spacecraft relative to the Earth-Moon system. We focus on the collinear equilibrium points L1 and L2. There are families of Lyapunov periodic orbits around either L1 or L2, forming Lyapunov manifolds. There also exist homoclinic orbits to the Lyapunov manifolds around either L1 or L2, as well as heteroclinic orbits between the Lyapunov manifold around L1 and the one around L2. The motion along the homoclinic/heteroclinic orbits can be described via the scattering map, which gives the future asymptotic of a homoclinic orbit as a function of the past asymptotic. In contrast with the more customary Melnikov theory, we do not need to assume that the asymptotic orbits have a special nature (periodic, quasi-periodic, etc.). We add a non-conservative, time-dependent perturbation, as a model for a thrust applied to the spacecraft for some duration of time, or for some other effect, such as solar radiation pressure. We compute the first order approximation of the perturbed scattering map, in terms of fast convergent integrals of the perturbation along homoclinic/heteroclinic orbits of the unperturbed system. As a possible application, this result can be used to determine the trajectory of the spacecraft upon using the thrust.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7L4B7txKoy9MG94MxVMX8J https://cassyni.com/events/KrELNxyasUDrHhMZimryiD/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/KrELNxyasUDrHhMZimryiD https://cassyni.com/events/KrELNxyasUDrHhMZimryiD/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7kk2AkPeFVixqz5A1HigGN https://cassyni.com/events/KrELNxyasUDrHhMZimryiD?videoPreview=1 Online Bayesian Optimization of Polynomial-Multigrid Cycles for Flux Reconstructionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/KrELNxyasUDrHhMZimryiD?videoPreview=12023-08-24T14:00:00+00:002208.44PyFRWe introduce an innovative approach to optimise polynomial multigrid cycles to enhance convergence acceleration of incompressible flow simulations. To achieve this, we apply the Bayesian Optimisation approach to efficiently sample possible cycles to minimise runtime. To allow the use of traditional optimisation methods, we developed fractional smoothing steps for multigrid cycles to perform optimisation in a continuous domain. Initially we explored a static *offline* optimisation strategy and identified optimal cycles. However the performance of the cycles was not transferable across different simulations. This observation led us to develop a dynamic *online* optimisation strategy where cycles are continuously optimised with simulation progress. The performance of the optimal cycles determined through this approach gave similar speed up to the offline approach, with the added advantage of continuous progression during the simulation. Tests were performed on three case setups of flow past cylinder at Reynolds numbers 200, 500 and 3900 to give speedups of $3.0\times$, $2.1\times$ and $1.9\times$ respectively. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7kk2AkPeFVixqz5A1HigGN https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/625R5prtaeiNeWtrp6WZyP https://cassyni.com/events/625R5prtaeiNeWtrp6WZyP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HmV5tJtEiwtYydfzsoQ5h8 https://cassyni.com/events/625R5prtaeiNeWtrp6WZyP?videoPreview=1 Augmenting research impact with AI summarisation & newsfeeds, Alchemist by Hum: a suite of AI tools for scholarly publishers focused on enhancing marketing, improving engagement, super-charging content strategy, and driving revenues, Originality.AI- Hit Publish with Integrity in the world of Generative AI!nohttps://cassyni.com/events/625R5prtaeiNeWtrp6WZyP?videoPreview=12023-11-07T19:30:00+00:003265.72SCIWRITERThe content consumption habits of knowledge economy professionals are changing. With over 2.5 million scientific papers published each year, it’s no wonder researchers, clinicians, consultants, businesses, policymakers, students and journalists struggle to stay up to date. At [SciencePOD](https://www.sciencepod.net), we specialise in the creation of clear, concise and compelling digital content telling the story of the latest research discoveries. Based on our experience, we have developped AI summarisation solutions designed to enhance scientists' productivity and providing access to the latest research findings without spending too much time getting to the key findings. In this presentation, you will learn about how summaries are proven to draw an audience’s attention to original research. Sharing summarised research yields a much higher impact than sharing the full-text article alone. Data shows a three-fold increase in the number of downloads. Building on our expertise in the creation of summarised content (in text, podcast, infographic and video format) originally delivered by professional science and medical writers, we have now developped a tool producing AI-generated summaries using natural language processing (NLP). This NLP approach is best suited to guarantee the scientific integrity of the extracts (and avoid hallucinations produced by GPT-style technology). Building on the concept of AI summarisation to amplify the impact of published research, you will also earn in this webinar, about our innovative and personalised solution, called [ScioWire](https://www.sciowire.com), which delivers custom newsfeeds, made up of AI-generated summaries of the latest research papers. After a brief demo, you will be invited to test it for free and increase your productivity. Hum has created (and is continuing to add to) Alchemist, a suite of AI tools that allow publishers to quickly and effectively incorporate AI into their offerings. Behind the scenes, Alchemist offers: 1. An open LLM, called Lodestone, developed specifically for understanding longer text sequences. Lodestone is the highest-performing model of its size and sequence length on the MTEB Leaderboard. 2. A tagging engine that uses Lodestone to consistently and completely tag all of a publisher's written content. (Multi-modal coming soon.) 3. The ability to apply embeddings to content, people, and topics. 4. The ability to recognize and apply infinite user affinities. For publishers, this means they can instantaneously search their audiences for people who are likely to be interested in a given textual description of a paper, webinar, or other event; offer highly nuanced content recommendations that are context independent; offer hyper-targeted advertisements; see potential and emerging areas of content need; predict who might be ready to submit a journal article; and more. At Originality.AI we provide an AI based toolset that helps website owners, Content Marketers, Writers, publishers and editorial teams hit publish with integrity in the world of generative AI. We have a few CORE tools- AI Detection, Plagiarism, Fact-Checking and Readability checking. This presentation will equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of Originality.AI's main features, emphasizing the importance of accuracy and transparency in content, and how the tool aids in achieving these goals. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HmV5tJtEiwtYydfzsoQ5h8 https://cassyni.com/events/15bNczPeC5BMFRBWocoaFF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4fFnv8qwbVwaewAfzbBfXk https://cassyni.com/events/Fu3W1VoPMonhW2ttKfGw7K/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7RCVp9f2isFYPW8i2qV9bC https://cassyni.com/events/AxZTYfL8yEFg6wBYKBZwPB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/XJJ5fZwYDYzGSJ1fQhghCA https://cassyni.com/events/HsfYJruNWzwBkDsWyC5KAV/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/NoEPyA1e9zw7ajzT3Aa4dL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/LLuZYH8ziHhg7AM5WsywtR https://cassyni.com/events/LLuZYH8ziHhg7AM5WsywtR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Ed5Uib7YryBoguxYFWmgVU https://cassyni.com/events/LLuZYH8ziHhg7AM5WsywtR?videoPreview=1 Introducing Transformative Plant Biotechnology: Unlocking the Secrets of Grass Stomata: Blue Light Response and the Role of Subsidiary Cells in Guard cell Starch Metabolismnohttps://cassyni.com/events/LLuZYH8ziHhg7AM5WsywtR?videoPreview=12023-09-21T11:30:00+00:001015.64The New Phytologist FoundationStomata are essential for controlling gas exchange and maintaining plant water efficiency. While most angiosperms have kidney-shaped stomata, grasses have unique dumbbell-shaped stomata, which respond faster to environmental changes. It's believed that the presence of two subsidiary cells in grasses enables rapid osmotic adjustments, leading to prompt stomatal closure or opening. This makes investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between subsidiary cells and guard cells crucial for enhancing plant adaptation to water-limited environments. Recent research on Arabidopsis thaliana has revealed that blue light triggers fast stomatal opening kinetics by rapidly degrading starch in guard cell. However, this process hasn't been thoroughly studied in dumbbell-shaped stomata of grasses, and the sugar transportation pathway between guard and subsidiary cells in grass stomata is poorly understood. To bridge these knowledge gaps, our research focuses on examining the metabolic processes of chloroplast starch in C3 grass stomata. Our findings demonstrate that grass stomata respond significantly to blue light independently of leaf photosynthesis, and subsidiary cells in grass stomata play a crucial role in the metabolism of guard cell chloroplast starch in response to blue light. These insights provide new perspectives on the significance of carbohydrates in the superior performance of grass stomata and present exciting research opportunities for exploring the molecular mechanism of guard cell chloroplast starch in dumbbell-shaped stomata. **Co-author**: D. SANTELIAhttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Ed5Uib7YryBoguxYFWmgVU https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TkddEXqsJA1WbjsYUkqgJR https://cassyni.com/events/TkddEXqsJA1WbjsYUkqgJR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PZWz8aL8LyraPqZ9FSjX3L https://cassyni.com/events/TkddEXqsJA1WbjsYUkqgJR?videoPreview=1 Cooling down the world oceans and the earth by enhancing the North Atlantic Ocean currentnohttps://cassyni.com/events/TkddEXqsJA1WbjsYUkqgJR?videoPreview=12021-09-09T12:00:00+00:002642.16Discover Applied SciencesThe world is going through intensive changes due to global warming. It is well known that the reduction in ice cover in the Arctic Ocean further contributes to increasing the atmospheric Arctic temperature due to the reduction of the albedo effect and increase in heat absorbed by the ocean’s surface. The Arctic ice cover also works like an insulation sheet, keeping the heat in the ocean from dissipating into the cold Arctic atmosphere. Increasing the salinity of the Arctic Ocean surface would allow the warmer and less salty North Atlantic Ocean current to flow on the surface of the Arctic Ocean considerably increasing the temperature of the Arctic atmosphere and release the ocean heat trapped under the ice. This paper argues that if the North Atlantic Ocean current could maintain the Arctic Ocean ice-free during the winter, the longwave radiation heat loss into space would be larger than the increase in heat absorption due to the albedo effect. This paper presents details of the fundamentals of the Arctic Ocean circulation and presents three possible approaches for increasing the salinity of the surface water of the Arctic Ocean. It then discusses that increasing the salinity of the Arctic Ocean would warm the atmosphere of the Arctic region, but cool down the oceans and possibly the Earth. However, it might take thousands of years for the effects of cooling the oceans to cool the global average atmospheric temperature.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PZWz8aL8LyraPqZ9FSjX3L https://cassyni.com/events/aGbnJZ42tfB4tB2bivYRT/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/aGbnJZ42tfB4tB2bivYRT https://cassyni.com/events/aGbnJZ42tfB4tB2bivYRT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Us2QBdYf6w4hKsxjMeKaBQ https://cassyni.com/events/aGbnJZ42tfB4tB2bivYRT?videoPreview=1 The colonization of the colour pink: colour names and colour categories in te reo Māorinohttps://cassyni.com/events/aGbnJZ42tfB4tB2bivYRT?videoPreview=12024-03-22T03:10:00+00:002855.04Linguistics and Applied Language StudiesBerlin and Kay's seminal 1969 work, "Basic Color Terms: Their Universality and Evolution", postulated that every language has a distinct set of colour categories described by basic colour terms and that the number of colour categories in a language grows as the language evolves, with categories being introduced in a particular order. We use a range of resources to investigate colour naming in Māori and its predecessor, Proto-Eastern-Polynesian (PEP). The evidence indicates that both PEP and 19th century Māori had five colour categories (in English described as white/light, black/dark, red/brown, green/blue, and yellow). However, the colour names used vary significantly in the two languages, indicating a very strong influence on the language of settling in a new land between Māori settlement of Aotearoa in the 12th century and European colonization in the 19th. We consider also mid-20th century Māori and modern Māori, showing that Māori first adopted loan words for English colour concepts (e.g., purple, orange) that were not present in traditional Māori. The revitalisation of te reo in the last decades has led to replacing loan words with borrowings from nature (e.g., poroporo, karaka) or compounds (e.g., māwhero, parauri). However, the modern teaching tools for te reo Māori appear to borrow heavily from the English understanding of colour categories, so there is a question of whether there is colonisation of the community's collective understanding of what a colour word refers to (e.g., whero could refer to English red, brown, or orange in 19th century Māori, but today's children are taught that whero is red).https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Us2QBdYf6w4hKsxjMeKaBQ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/GPijAoxoCdGXKVtQ7mPuHX https://cassyni.com/events/GPijAoxoCdGXKVtQ7mPuHX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Sby73JCjdYB2Lov9L2omft https://cassyni.com/events/GPijAoxoCdGXKVtQ7mPuHX?videoPreview=1 FuturePub Berlin - Special Editionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/GPijAoxoCdGXKVtQ7mPuHX?videoPreview=12023-11-06T18:00:00+00:004264.68#FuturePub is heading to Berlin for our fourth and final event of 2023 :) We're excited to be here during Berlin Science Week and ahead of the inspiring Fallings Walls Science Summit. We're hosting this special edition FuturePub to encourage conversations on the Future of Global Research; in many ways, the world now feels more divided than ever, despite the advances in technology that connect our daily lives together. We have a lovely venue -- Hotel Palace Berlin -- located in the vibrant heart of the city between the Ku’damm and Zoological Garden, just a few stations away from the Brandenburg Gate, and we hope you'll join us for a thought-provoking evening! Final speaker announcement now out. You can register to attend [here](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/futurepub-berlin-future-of-global-research-tickets-740190799607), and recordings of the lightning talks will be uploaded after the event.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Sby73JCjdYB2Lov9L2omft https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/BTEghyVYp3jVvQB47HguZP https://cassyni.com/events/BTEghyVYp3jVvQB47HguZP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GuJAYdcBidUpUH9Hd84fDg https://cassyni.com/events/BTEghyVYp3jVvQB47HguZP?videoPreview=1 Transport Phenomena for Brain Biomechanics and Related Healthcare Challenges: Computational Modelling Across Scalesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/BTEghyVYp3jVvQB47HguZP?videoPreview=12020-04-29T15:00:00+00:003810.96Leeds Institute for Fluid DynamicsTransport phenomena, of nutrients, oxygen and metabolites, play a central role in life as we know it and, consequently, in a multitude of diseases. In this talk we shall discuss research pertaining to three scales of transport – molecular, tissue and organ level. Using appropriate computational techniques we shall examine ways to describe the interplay between the liquid media and the conduits and passages they travel through, as well as ways to design devices to address healthcare needs emerging from problems in this transport.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GuJAYdcBidUpUH9Hd84fDg https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/PoUQyhBZBrW5xZ7GNDC5L9 https://cassyni.com/events/PoUQyhBZBrW5xZ7GNDC5L9/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UmyabYU31XKMm9NXW3Z7st https://cassyni.com/events/PoUQyhBZBrW5xZ7GNDC5L9?videoPreview=1 Exotic Patterns in Faraday Wavesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/PoUQyhBZBrW5xZ7GNDC5L9?videoPreview=12022-05-05T12:00:00+00:002773.56Leeds Institute for Fluid DynamicsFor the Faraday instability, by which standing waves appear on the free surface of a vertically vibrated fluid layer, the wavelength is controlled by the forcing frequency rather than by the fluid depth, making it easy to destabilize multiple wavelengths everywhere simultaneously. In the 1990s, this technique was used to produce fascinating new phenomena such as quasipatterns by Edwards & Fauve and superlattices by Gollub, Pier & Kudrolli. This in turn sparked a renaissance of interest in Faraday waves, leading to new mathematical theories and numerical simulations. We will discuss some of the exotic patterns found in recent numerical simulations, such as quasi-hexagons alternating with beaded stripes, a supersquare divided into four subsquares with synchronized diagonal blocks, Platonic solids alternating with their duals while drifting, and a twisted sheared secondary instability of square waves.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UmyabYU31XKMm9NXW3Z7st https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/VEc4VDJL1tbV5xh4NqRyHX https://cassyni.com/events/VEc4VDJL1tbV5xh4NqRyHX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JdctiWGQVVrmaahfgbMjRg https://cassyni.com/events/VEc4VDJL1tbV5xh4NqRyHX?videoPreview=1 The stratified inclined duct: what we have learned about stratified turbulence in a maintained shear flownohttps://cassyni.com/events/VEc4VDJL1tbV5xh4NqRyHX?videoPreview=12023-01-20T12:00:00+00:002960.76UK Fluids NetworkThe stratified inclined duct (SID) is a relatively new experimental paradigm that produces a sustained shear flow between two counterflowing layers of fluid supplied by reservoirs at each end of the duct containing fluids of different density. The duct can be tilted at a small angle θ to the horizontal and, for a given fluid, the flow is determined by two nondimensional parameters θ and the reynolds number. We have observed four different flow regimes in SID: Laminar when the interface between the layers remains undisturbed, Holmboe characterised by sharp cusped waves on the interface, Intermittent when the flow has bursts of turbulence followed by relatively calm periods and Turbulent when the turbulence occurs throughout the duct and is sustained in time. The laminar regime occurs at low Re and θ, and transitions to the other regimes occur successively as Re and θ increase, so SID allows a systematic study of the different regimes. One of the most important questions in stratified turbulence is the efficiency with which the fluid is mixed. When the stratification is stable, with density decreasing with height, work needs to be done against gravity to move light fluid downwards and dense fluid upwards so that irreversible mixing can occur. The ‘tax’ that this irreversible mixing imposes on the kinetic energy of the flow, the so-called ‘mixing efficiency’ is important to parameterise mixing in ocean and climate models. In this talk I will discuss the philosophy behind SID and explain why the experiment is relevant to this issue, particularly in the context of the energetics of the flow. We focus first on the self-organisation properties of the flows, wherein more strongly turbulent flows tend to an asymptotic state characterised by a uniform gradient Richardson number of order 0.1-0.2 across the shear layer. We then summarise our results on turbulent energetics and mixing statistics. We derive the kinetic and scalar energy budgets and explain the specificity and scalings of SID turbulence. We assess the relevance of standard mixing parameterisations models, and we compare representative values with the literature. The dependence of these measures of mixing on controllable flow parameters provides asymptotic estimates that may be extrapolated to more strongly turbulent flows. Complementing the experiments we introduce the first accurate 3D DNS for SID. Implementing a suitable forcing method and boundary conditions allow us to maintain steady exchange flow for an arbitrarily long time at a minimal computational cost. With the newly developed numerical model, we explore the diverse transitions in SID from a numerical perspective.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JdctiWGQVVrmaahfgbMjRg https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/52qTDibcWTTavGwDT48fsB https://cassyni.com/events/52qTDibcWTTavGwDT48fsB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8FqhfKFpmG2MZ2svxgCiTp https://cassyni.com/events/52qTDibcWTTavGwDT48fsB?videoPreview=1 The Spatial Landscape of Progression and Immunoediting in Primary Melanoma at Single-Cell Resolutionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/52qTDibcWTTavGwDT48fsB?videoPreview=12023-01-19T14:00:00+00:003362.64Center for Cancer TrainingMelanoma is a type of skin cancer that can be cured if caught early but can be life-threatening if it spreads. In this study, we used a combination of imaging and sequencing technology to study how melanoma interacts with its microenvironment. We found that the organization of cancer cells, immune cells, and other cells in the body changes as melanoma progresses. In early stages, there are signs that the immune system is being suppressed. When melanoma becomes invasive, specific areas form where the immune system is suppressed, and cancer cells can grow and spread. However, a short distance away, there are also areas where the immune system fights cancer. This shows that cancer and the immune system can coexist and evolve together. This type of study helps understand how cancer can avoid being destroyed by the immune system.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8FqhfKFpmG2MZ2svxgCiTp https://cassyni.com/events/7W5UT8qEhkE5HDQmzk3Jb7/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SUNp5brbGX1GBG29DzFoBc https://cassyni.com/events/7W5UT8qEhkE5HDQmzk3Jb7?videoPreview=1 Law, Sanitation and Sustainability: a Comparative Analysis Between Municipalities in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil and the Province of Ontario, Canada in the Light of Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 11nohttps://cassyni.com/events/7W5UT8qEhkE5HDQmzk3Jb7?videoPreview=12024-01-26T19:00:00+00:00942.28Cassyni SeminarsThe relevance of sanitation and sustainability is manifested in the promotion of public health, improvement of quality of life, and ensuring access to basic services as essential human rights. The comparative analysis between the cities of Caçador, Videira, and Concórdia, in Santa Catarina, in Brazil, and Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, North Bay, Chatham-Kent, Woodstock, and Kenora, in Ontário, in Canada, allows for the identification of differences and similarities in sanitation systems, understanding of challenges and opportunities, and consequently, the foundation for effective public policies aimed at improving access to sanitation. The present study aims to analyze the situation of Brazilian municipalities concerning the sustainable development goals (SDGS) 6 and 11, in comparison with Canadian municipalities. The methodology employed in the research encompasses a qualitative and descriptive approach, grounded in literature review, analysis of scientific publications, legal documents, and quantitative data. The comparison focused on access to household sanitation, specifically on the provision of potable water and sewage disposal, due to the availability of information. The work mentions the main challenges faced by both countries in rural and indigenous areas. The study emphasizes the importance for Brazil to invest in infrastructure, implement effective public policies, and promote international cooperation to ensure sustainable development, as well as improving the health and quality of life of its population. Given the current regulatory context, the perpetuation of concessions in the sanitation sector in the country could be an effective strategy to accelerate the expansion and modernization of networks for potable water supply, sewage treatment, urban cleaning, solid waste management, and drainage.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SUNp5brbGX1GBG29DzFoBc https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/ER9w6htar9yrn2QMNBcEjo https://cassyni.com/events/ER9w6htar9yrn2QMNBcEjo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/39eVerTBGu85BaRk6Tktvz https://cassyni.com/events/ER9w6htar9yrn2QMNBcEjo?videoPreview=1 On the Bishop-Phelps propertynohttps://cassyni.com/events/ER9w6htar9yrn2QMNBcEjo?videoPreview=12023-12-28T15:00:00+00:003095.76Journal of Mathematical SciencesA real topological vector space is said to have the Krein–Milman property if every bounded, closed, convex subset has an extreme point. In the case of every bounded, closed, convex subset is the closed convex hull of its extreme points, then we say that the topological vector space satisfies the strong Krein–Milman property. The strong Krein–Milman property trivially implies the Krein–Milman property. We provide a sufficient condition for these two properties to be equivalent in the class of Hausdorff locally convex real topological vector spaces. This sufficient condition is the Bishop–Phelps property, which we introduce for real topological vector spaces by means of uniform convergence linear topologies. We study the inheritance of the Bishop–Phelps property. Nontrivial examples of topological vector spaces failing the Krein–Milman property are also given, providing us with necessary conditions to assure that the Krein–Milman property is satisfied. Finally, a sufficient condition to assure the Krein–Milman property is discussed.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/39eVerTBGu85BaRk6Tktvz https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9UftdsRLTaSqNvh1MhuF1f https://cassyni.com/events/9UftdsRLTaSqNvh1MhuF1f/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LmF1kCUcrGwTyz8v3mcZL https://cassyni.com/events/9UftdsRLTaSqNvh1MhuF1f?videoPreview=1 Immunotherapeutic Targeting and PET Imaging of DLL3 in Small-Cell Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancernohttps://cassyni.com/events/9UftdsRLTaSqNvh1MhuF1f?videoPreview=12024-09-19T18:00:00+00:003494.28Center for Cancer TrainingSurface protein targeting therapies, such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are an exciting emerging class of cancer therapies. In this talk, we will discuss how to harness these surface proteins to build effective therapeutic and imaging agents, and how to modulate their expression in cancer cells to improve targeting efficacy. Using DLL3 as an example target in small-cell/neuroendocrine prostate cancer (SCNC), we will demonstrate how AMG 757 (tarlatamab), a half-life extended BiTE immunotherapy, redirects CD3-positive T cells to kill DLL3-expressing patient-derived xenografts (PDX) models of SCNC and provide long-term, durable tumor control in mouse models. We will explore how heterogeneity of DLL3 expression impacts response to AMG 757 and provide data on how PET imaging agents may help us with patient selection, as these therapies enter into clinical trials. Finally, we will explore methods to prime tumors and enhance surface protein target expression, which can lead to improved tumor control.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LmF1kCUcrGwTyz8v3mcZL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QJ9e91Ly2fyun26nAKK3WM https://cassyni.com/events/QJ9e91Ly2fyun26nAKK3WM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Mc4UyLxMRxXaGFWm2y2Td8 https://cassyni.com/events/QJ9e91Ly2fyun26nAKK3WM?videoPreview=1 Organic Photoredox Catalysisnohttps://cassyni.com/events/QJ9e91Ly2fyun26nAKK3WM?videoPreview=12022-09-28T15:00:00+00:005955.48Thieme GroupOrganic photoredox catalysis is a powerful light-driven synthetic technology enabling the development of a diverse number of organic free radical reactions. It has had a substantial impact on organic synthesis, materials science and pharmaceutical chemistry and will be an essential method for looking at future research developments.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Mc4UyLxMRxXaGFWm2y2Td8 https://cassyni.com/events/GtRaSke6SogQ1yusc9hR4H/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/GtRaSke6SogQ1yusc9hR4H https://cassyni.com/events/GtRaSke6SogQ1yusc9hR4H/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9GZaSGjp8wSLdgrA27wvTQ https://cassyni.com/events/GtRaSke6SogQ1yusc9hR4H?videoPreview=1 Graded Elastic Metamaterials: Rainbow Reflection, Topological Trapping, and Zero Group Velocity Modesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/GtRaSke6SogQ1yusc9hR4H?videoPreview=12024-03-26T14:00:00+00:003453.76MetaMATGraded elastic metamaterials have been identified as attractive candidates for the manipulation of waves on elastic beams and half-spaces with a variety of applications ranging from vibration isolation to energy harvesting. This talk will cover a review of the elastic metawedge (proposed by Colombi et al [Sci Rep, 6, 27717 (2016)]), highlighting several modalities through interpretation of local dispersion curves which underpin the phenomena of rainbow reflection, trapping, and mode conversion. Applications of each of these effects shall be outlined: rainbow trapping and rainbow reflection are delineated, providing a route to enhanced energy harvesting by inspection of zero group velocity modes; topological interfaces are incorporated within a grading structure, motivating robust energy harvesters; and finally designer diffraction for 'focussing' is achieved through mode conversion along a graded structure and at abrupt interfaces. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9GZaSGjp8wSLdgrA27wvTQ https://cassyni.com/events/5XWgP2m2MGwQjjvjFAFe3P/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JckjG69dDk3tf2SfEq4Zee https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/KMfbgAsie6StNvPS9qc3nD https://cassyni.com/events/KMfbgAsie6StNvPS9qc3nD/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FMzXSYab5uEqBewtBG2DkS https://cassyni.com/events/KMfbgAsie6StNvPS9qc3nD?videoPreview=1 Mind the Gap! Gap junctions in the uterus and the mystery of contractionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/KMfbgAsie6StNvPS9qc3nD?videoPreview=12024-08-07T00:00:00+00:002600.68Auckland Bioengineering InstituteCritical to the propagation of the human race, proper function of the uterus hinges on coordinated and spatially organised contractions -- particularly at term. Unlike in cardiac or gastro-intestinal systems. no pacemaking mechanism is known to exist in the uterus and the manner of generating and controlling electrical signals key to contraction is poorly understood. It is known, however, that intercellular coupling via gap junctions dramatically increases at term. We present our two-track effort at characterising this uterine puzzle with theoretical and experimental studies focused on the potential for gap junctions to both generate and organise spatially coordinated contractions.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FMzXSYab5uEqBewtBG2DkS https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SGk4Kjw4nWCfsjP1XHAyvu https://cassyni.com/events/SGk4Kjw4nWCfsjP1XHAyvu/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3GFSzkn8yXEKasb3NpLqFk https://cassyni.com/events/SGk4Kjw4nWCfsjP1XHAyvu?videoPreview=1 An integrated physiology modelling approach for neuro/vascular dynamicsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/SGk4Kjw4nWCfsjP1XHAyvu?videoPreview=12024-02-20T03:00:00+00:002852.64The Auckland Bioengineering InstituteNew treatments and lifestyle interventions have presented important improvements in people affected by dementia when diagnosed early. Nonetheless, early diagnosis biomarkers for different types of dementia still elude us. In the Animus Laboratory, we are working on the hypothesis of an early vascular disruption promoting the development of neurodegeneration. In this presentation, I will present our modelling efforts to understand better the link between neurodegeneration, vascular and neuronal dynamics.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3GFSzkn8yXEKasb3NpLqFk https://cassyni.com/events/4YDUHfTyUMqG4z6j9BnKEV/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/4YDUHfTyUMqG4z6j9BnKEV https://cassyni.com/events/4YDUHfTyUMqG4z6j9BnKEV/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/B8RxztdR96DxLgRwNA1qHG https://cassyni.com/events/4YDUHfTyUMqG4z6j9BnKEV?videoPreview=1 Drop dead! Female mate avoidance in an explosively breeding frognohttps://cassyni.com/events/4YDUHfTyUMqG4z6j9BnKEV?videoPreview=12024-03-14T17:00:00+00:003007.28Royal Society PublishingMales’ and females’ reproductive strategies may differ, potentially leading to sexual conflict. Increased efforts by males (harassment, forced copulation, intimidation) to gain access to females could even negatively affect female survival and thus lead to reproductive failure for both individuals. In anurans, a higher mortality risk of mating females has been reported in explosive breeding species. During these mating events, several males cling to a female, which are mostly unable to get rid of the unwanted males. This can lead to the female's death. From the literature, it seems that females of explosive breeding frogs have no means to reject unwanted males. Here we describe female mate avoidance behaviours in the European common frog. We observed three female avoidance behaviours, namely ‘rotation’, ‘release call(s)’ and tonic immobility (death feigning). These behaviours were significantly associated with smaller female body size, and smaller females were more successful in escaping amplexus. Tonic immobility as a tactic to avoid mating or male harassment has only been observed in a handful of species and only in one other amphibian. Our observations show that females in explosive breeding frogs may not be as passive and helpless as previously thought.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/B8RxztdR96DxLgRwNA1qHG https://cassyni.com/events/CwEk5HTtw9FFEKTCD37NTP/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CwEk5HTtw9FFEKTCD37NTP https://cassyni.com/events/CwEk5HTtw9FFEKTCD37NTP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/XMYH5z7Ki2xmvKudhbwnMt https://cassyni.com/events/CwEk5HTtw9FFEKTCD37NTP?videoPreview=1 ‘You’re a rational guy – sort your shit out’: The mind, the body, and functional neurological disordernohttps://cassyni.com/events/CwEk5HTtw9FFEKTCD37NTP?videoPreview=12024-05-10T04:10:00+00:003469.04Linguistics and Applied Language StudiesFunctional neurological disorder (FND) is a common and disabling disorder that has been batted between neurology and psychiatry for well over a century. It disrupts the physical/psychological divide in ways that shake the foundations of Western medicine, and yet the disorder and those with FND are maligned – blamed, even – for not fitting boxes. First known as hysteria and then conversion disorder, ideologies around femininity, mental illness, and ‘unexplained’ physical symptoms nurture the ongoing normalisation of dualist divisions between mind and body and the attendant hierarchies of care. Today, people with FND (of all ages, genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds) face this medical legacy in stigmatised language, experience ‘discourses of dismissal’ (compounded by membership in other stigmatised categories), and carry the question: Is it ‘real’ or is it ‘all in your head’? This raises the question of how dualism is navigated and understood by those with most at stake in this conversation – those who live with the disorder and its marginalised history. In this presentation, I explore what dualism looks like in practice, offering insights into the often-invisible processes that keep medical divisions and their ‘truths’ in place. I foreground the stories of people with FND in Aotearoa, and draw from a range of supporting data, including written documents, media, medical archives, conversations with neurologists, and my own personal experience in this space. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/XMYH5z7Ki2xmvKudhbwnMt https://cassyni.com/events/FQUmJhhX8S1jbFvkkj21BK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7Cpp5zZntK8MqrXVFdwfNN https://cassyni.com/events/BwwXyvAr4E96ZZdC74e3eV/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/EPbJKEG8uoEkDPFxGXvAqt https://cassyni.com/events/HPYmS93gjPyrAnTy1WE87F/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/HPYmS93gjPyrAnTy1WE87F https://cassyni.com/events/HPYmS93gjPyrAnTy1WE87F/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5Kp7hrmzyxiSHK7b4Gzp8v https://cassyni.com/events/HPYmS93gjPyrAnTy1WE87F?videoPreview=1 Migration and differentiation of muscle stem cells are coupled by RhoA signalling during regenerationnohttps://cassyni.com/events/HPYmS93gjPyrAnTy1WE87F?videoPreview=12024-04-30T14:00:00+00:003303.52Royal Society PublishingSkeletal muscle is highly regenerative and is mediated by a population of migratory adult muscle stem cells (muSCs). Effective muscle regeneration requires a spatio-temporally regulated response of the muSC population to generate sufficient muscle progenitor cells that then differentiate at the appropriate time. The relationship between muSC migration and cell fate is poorly understood and it is not clear how forces experienced by migrating cells affect cell behaviour. We have used zebrafish to understand the relationship between muSC cell adhesion, behaviour and fate in vivo. Imaging of pax7-expressing muSCs as they respond to focal injuries in trunk muscle reveals that they migrate by protrusive-based means. By carefully characterizing their behaviour in response to injury we find that they employ an adhesion-dependent mode of migration that is regulated by the RhoA kinase ROCK. Impaired ROCK activity results in reduced expression of cell cycle genes and increased differentiation in regenerating muscle. This correlates with changes to focal adhesion dynamics and migration, revealing that ROCK inhibition alters the interaction of muSCs to their local environment. We propose that muSC migration and differentiation are coupled processes that respond to changes in force from the environment mediated by RhoA signalling.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5Kp7hrmzyxiSHK7b4Gzp8v https://cassyni.com/events/NL2otyWw7yWsZtBK1yw7qP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QAo8RrVg1aU9uL2JLz5WHU https://cassyni.com/events/VjksbEDohqpi4ThmyrnrFP/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/VjksbEDohqpi4ThmyrnrFP https://cassyni.com/events/VjksbEDohqpi4ThmyrnrFP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PFPQBSty1bfbQkzxnHyrCW https://cassyni.com/events/VjksbEDohqpi4ThmyrnrFP?videoPreview=1 Control of a Blunt Trailing Edge Profiled Body using Unsteady Distributed Forcingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/VjksbEDohqpi4ThmyrnrFP?videoPreview=12024-07-02T14:00:00+00:003499.28Experiments in FluidsBlunt trailing edges are often used to improve the structural characteristics of airfoils in high load situations and/or reduce wave drag on transonic wings. However, the wake generated behind blunt trailing edges can lead to higher-pressure drag, unsteady aerodynamic loading and higher noise emission. This presentation will consider dynamically important features of the blunt trailing edge wake behind a non-lifting body as a precursor for their control. Of particular interest will be the presence of three-dimensionality in the von Karman vortex street generated in the wake – even when the geometry is nominally two-dimensional. This will be followed by the presentation of “distributed forcing”, which is a flow control approach that promotes three-dimensionality to achieve a large change in the blunt trailing edge wake with minimal energy input. Implementations of this flow control system using synthetic jets will be presented. Results from these experiments will highlight the change in the wake dynamics and reduction in pressure drag. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PFPQBSty1bfbQkzxnHyrCW https://cassyni.com/events/QoGq8PkZKGHgfMzRyP5rXF/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QoGq8PkZKGHgfMzRyP5rXF https://cassyni.com/events/QoGq8PkZKGHgfMzRyP5rXF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KwzMyEJ215ydNFPkXsLDwU https://cassyni.com/events/QoGq8PkZKGHgfMzRyP5rXF?videoPreview=1 Beneath the Veneer: The Stealthy Pervasiveness of Anti-Black Racism in a Purportedly Colorblind Societynohttps://cassyni.com/events/QoGq8PkZKGHgfMzRyP5rXF?videoPreview=12024-09-25T16:00:00+00:003256.56Lived Places PublishingThis talk will encompass: 1) What anti-Black racism involves and the contexts in which it is ripe; 2) The assumptions about Blacks in contrast to Whites that undergird these racist practices; 3) Why it is often difficult for people to identify and challenge these practices. Paul Reck is the author of [*How Interpersonal Interactions with Young Black People Forever Altered a White Man’s Understanding of Race*](https://livedplacespublishing.com/book/isbn/9781915734211?utm_source=MB&utm_medium=cassyni&utm_campaign=black-studies&utm_content=Reck), published by Lived Places Publishing. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KwzMyEJ215ydNFPkXsLDwU https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/81EHZ9kiPhTJFiRVbmQBYy https://cassyni.com/events/81EHZ9kiPhTJFiRVbmQBYy/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8Sv8UCjHQEShxBLzfuoXVY https://cassyni.com/events/81EHZ9kiPhTJFiRVbmQBYy?videoPreview=1 Blocking noise using lightweight and flexible metamaterial platesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/81EHZ9kiPhTJFiRVbmQBYy?videoPreview=12024-06-11T13:00:00+00:002859.04MetaMATLow-frequency noise is a growing concern in a world striving for more efficient modes of transportation and more sustainable technologies. A well-known problem in technical acoustics is that many noise protection measures, such as sound barriers, are inefficient at low frequencies because their sound transmission loss is governed by the mass law. The mass law states that doubling the weight of a sound barrier will only increase its sound insulation by 6 dB, which goes against the aim for efficient and lightweight designs in many applications. Acoustic metamaterials offer the opportunity to break through these limitations of the mass law and contribute to a quieter world. Metamaterials consist of a periodic array of unit cells containing resonant scattering elements. The unit cells are typically significantly smaller than the sound wavelength, which can be used to selectively influence the propagation of sound waves within the periodic medium by precisely tuning the unit cells. This makes it possible to create "effective" material properties for sound waves that are not possible with conventional materials (e.g. negative density). This seminar will focus on plate-type acoustic metamaterials (PAM), which have emerged as a potential lightweight and flexible solution for reducing low-frequency noise more strongly than conventional solutions. In principle, PAM can be designed to be as thin and lightweight as a sheet of paper and still block noise at the same level as a concrete wall! There are, however, still a lot of challenges to address in research on PAM for noise control. This seminar will start by summarizing the acoustic properties of PAM and explaining the mechanisms behind their high sound insulation. The presentation will then highlight certain challenges related to PAM (e.g. bandwidth and high-frequency performance) and how these challenges have been addressed in recent research. The seminar will conclude on recently emerging topics aiming to improve the performance of PAM, such as multi-modal designs and actively reconfigurable PAM.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8Sv8UCjHQEShxBLzfuoXVY https://cassyni.com/events/2a6e3ddwZfNDrrBFzrQPZX/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/2a6e3ddwZfNDrrBFzrQPZX https://cassyni.com/events/2a6e3ddwZfNDrrBFzrQPZX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ELevgSstGPUCkFaAb5ivRL https://cassyni.com/events/2a6e3ddwZfNDrrBFzrQPZX?videoPreview=1 Some Open Problems in the Symmetry of Graphsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/2a6e3ddwZfNDrrBFzrQPZX?videoPreview=12024-06-07T15:00:00+00:003758.04The Journal of Algebraic CombinatoricsWhen dealing with symmetry properties of combinatorial objects, such as vertex-transitive (di)graphs, a fundamental question is to determine their full automorphism group. Many of these objects naturally display certain inherently obvious symmetries. It is often the case, however, that additional symmetries, though hidden or difficult to grasp, are present. When this is the case, the goal is to find a reason for their existence and a method for their description. A simple yet non/trivial question along these lines concerns the dichotomy of _even/odd automorphisms_, wherean automorphism of a graph $X$ is said to be _odd_ (resp. _even_) if it acts as an odd (resp. even) permutation on the vertex set of $X$. Deciding in general whether a given (vertex-transitive) graph has odd automorphisms or not is indeed a non-trivial problem. For example, one of the consequences of the classification of finite simple groups (CFSG) is that $A_5$ and $S_5$ are the only simply primitive groups of degree twice a prime number. Therefore, the Petersen graph and its complement are the only examples of connected vertex-transitive graphs of order twice a prime number with a simply primitive automorphism group. Consequently, every such graph has an odd automorphism. I am aware of no CFSG-free proof of this result to exist. This brings us to the second goal of this talk: we will discuss possibile ways of replacing exisisting proofs of certain results in algebraic graph theory, that rely on CFSG, with direct arguments. Most of the results discussed in this talk are joint with my colleagues from the University of Primorska: Ademir Hujdurović, Klavdija Kutnar and Stefko Miklavič.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ELevgSstGPUCkFaAb5ivRL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/34kF6KHU17vGrci9bHhBpq https://cassyni.com/events/34kF6KHU17vGrci9bHhBpq/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3Y47rgmyyRBzSMqrQNHLea https://cassyni.com/events/34kF6KHU17vGrci9bHhBpq?videoPreview=1 Data-Driven Resolvent Analysisnohttps://cassyni.com/events/34kF6KHU17vGrci9bHhBpq?videoPreview=12020-11-17T14:00:00+00:00580.72Brunton LabBenjamin Herrmann describes a data-driven algorithm to perform resolvent analysis from fluid mechanics to obtain the leading forcing and response modes, without recourse to the governing equations, but instead based on snapshots of the transient evolution of linearly stable flows. This approach is based on two established facts: 1) dynamic mode decomposition can approximate eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the underlying operator governing the evolution of a system from measurement data, and 2) a projection of the resolvent operator onto an invariant subspace can be built from this learned eigendecomposition.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3Y47rgmyyRBzSMqrQNHLea https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/DSMw4fsVDjYhP81HcPe5WM https://cassyni.com/events/DSMw4fsVDjYhP81HcPe5WM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7GzKJvMG7gq6HWrrbtPpwg https://cassyni.com/events/DSMw4fsVDjYhP81HcPe5WM?videoPreview=1 The Bézier curve and neural network model of the time-domain transient signalsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/DSMw4fsVDjYhP81HcPe5WM?videoPreview=12024-05-27T06:00:00+00:00598.6Computer Physics CommunicationsThe discussion is for the memory of Oleg Alexandrovich Tretyakov. In the discussion, one characteristic of the signal transfer of Professor Tretyakov's Evolutionary Approach to the Electromagnetics method is presented. Theoretically, the problem of the signal generated by a time-domain signal in a waveguide is addressed. The theoretic propagation is realized-exemplified through the actual TEC (TECU) map estimating by the Bézier curve and neural network. The striking aspect of the segmented prototype established with the Bézier approach is its adaptability. This mechanical curve, which does not need any preliminary preparation, is framed on differential geometric invariants. In the essay, a time-dependent complete set of magnetic waveguide modes is remembered. While the Dirichlet and Neumann eigenvalue problems determine the vector functions of the modes, the behavior of the time-evolving amplitudes is given by the Klein-Gordon equation. Examples of current data are discussed with the TEC map for the 2017 year. While the actual fluctuation of the interpolated CODE TEC atlas is illustrated, the mechanical Bézier curve family (untouched before) and the neural network introduce time-domain estimations to the reader. The parametric curve approach governs the Bézier model. The curve, which is C0 class segmented continuously, models on its way with new hourly components every twelve hours. The network model employs the solar wind parameters for the TEC atlas estimation. The reliability and consistency of the models are exhibited by the R correlation ratio, absolute error, and mean squared error. As a result, the R coefficient of the curve and network models vary around 91.2% and 98.8%, respectively. One can note the error of the network model falls to 1.1308 TECU. The outcomes are compatible with the former discussions.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7GzKJvMG7gq6HWrrbtPpwg https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9yphjtLp9Xg4MRhixjG7yX https://cassyni.com/events/9yphjtLp9Xg4MRhixjG7yX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/S6DdM3RrPvPD5XdhjrpLZC https://cassyni.com/events/9yphjtLp9Xg4MRhixjG7yX?videoPreview=1 Prospects and Challenges of Machine Learning in the Physical Worldnohttps://cassyni.com/events/9yphjtLp9Xg4MRhixjG7yX?videoPreview=12021-12-03T14:00:00+00:004296.52AI Institute in Dynamic SystemsThe last decade has witnessed an experimental revolution in data science, led by the huge empirical success of deep learning methods across many areas of science and engineering. In order to capitalise on these successes, it has become increasingly important to provide a mathematical foundation that gives guiding design principles, and mitigates the current data ‘hunger’ of these DL architectures, to enable further applications within computational science. In this talk, we will describe the crucial role that data structure plays in constructing such foundations. Existing mathematical models are mostly agnostic to data structure, and as a result rely on strong assumptions in order to break the curse of dimensionality. Alternatively, we will present a geometrical perspective that unifies all successful DL architectures (CNNs, RNNs, Transformers, GNNs) from the principles of symmetry and scale separation, providing a viable mathematical picture where the curse of dimensionality is avoided under more realistic assumptions. We will cover theoretical analyses that highlight the role of data structure, as well as applications of these models to computational science, emphasizing the incipient area of ’Scientific Machine Learning’.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/S6DdM3RrPvPD5XdhjrpLZC https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CT4iyJaSLpSYiNBHWRAkhT https://cassyni.com/events/CT4iyJaSLpSYiNBHWRAkhT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ABAQvp8jFnGW4ZuGe4BXHg https://cassyni.com/events/CT4iyJaSLpSYiNBHWRAkhT?videoPreview=1 Elucidation of Biosynthetic pathway for the production of monotropein (potential neutraceutical) compound in blueberrynohttps://cassyni.com/events/CT4iyJaSLpSYiNBHWRAkhT?videoPreview=12024-06-06T14:15:00+00:00932.2New Phytologist Foundation Blueberry is the second most important crop in the US, owing to increased awareness of its health benefits due to the presence of several bioactive compounds. One such plant bioactive compound is monotropein. It has been reported that monotropein is found in only three plant species, namely Monotropa Uniflora, Morinda officinalis (Vaccinium spp). Most work on monotropein has been done in Morinda officinalis where it has been shown to impart several human health benefits. Recent work has also identified monotropein in both wild and cultivated blueberries. However, how monotropein is produced and the type of candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of monotropein in blueberries has yet to be elucidated. Our research group used bioinformatics, comparative genomics and protein engineering techniques to functionally characterize the ISY (Iridoid Synthase) gene. Transcriptome‐based identification and functional characterization of iridoid synthase revealed that it is co-expressed with UDP- glucuronosyltransferase, which is a likely downstream step in the formation of monotropein. Currently, we are focusing on functionally characterizing Geraniol Synthase (GES) gene, as recent work has found the expression of GES is significantly associated with the production of iridoids in other plant families. Our overarching goal is to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of production of monotropein in blueberry to breed blueberries with higher production of monotropein.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ABAQvp8jFnGW4ZuGe4BXHg https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Lr7csZ6FCxnG2BE9rqSFYy https://cassyni.com/events/Lr7csZ6FCxnG2BE9rqSFYy/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/VgmnFpBxbN8N7b4CknrKoL https://cassyni.com/events/Lr7csZ6FCxnG2BE9rqSFYy?videoPreview=1 A universal growth trajectory of a 3D mechano-hydraulic model for plant cellsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Lr7csZ6FCxnG2BE9rqSFYy?videoPreview=12024-06-08T13:30:00+00:00865.08New Phytologist Foundation Growth is fundamental to many biological processes. Recently, we showed that cellular turgor pressure is highly heterogeneous in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) of Arabidopsis thaliana, balanced by mechanical and hydraulic parameters. We developed a 3D physical model of a single plant cell with classical mechanical and hydraulic properties, and recovered a typical, nonlinear growth trajectory. Depending on initial size, cells spontaneously go through consecutive phases of accelerating-then-decelerating growth separated by a critical cell size defined by the mechano-hydraulic balance and cell geometry. To test this model, we tracked long growth trajectories of Arabidopsis SAM cells treated with oryzalin, which blocks cell division but permeates continuous growth, and recovered the predicted growth trajectory using our 3D image analysis pipeline. Our theoretical and experimental analyses suggest that plant cells may follow a universal trajectory to autoregulate growth, which could potentially be applicable to other tissues and organisms.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/VgmnFpBxbN8N7b4CknrKoL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/FudaQiczpPExZkwUMkNt9B https://cassyni.com/events/FudaQiczpPExZkwUMkNt9B/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FS2AoEco9S9CaZdzp2r91g https://cassyni.com/events/FudaQiczpPExZkwUMkNt9B?videoPreview=1 Positive bases and atomic sublatticesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/FudaQiczpPExZkwUMkNt9B?videoPreview=12021-04-15T14:00:00+00:002788.28Positivity Journal, SpringerNatureSuppose that the ordering in a vector lattice $E$ is defined by a countable family ${f_i|i\in\mathbf{N}}$ of positive linear functional of $E$, i.e. $x\in E_+$ iff $f_i(x)\geq 0$, for any $i$. Based on the study of the supports of the vectors of E with respect to this family, we examine the existence of atoms in the positive cone of the lattice-subspaces $X$ of $E$ and we give sufficient conditions in order $X$ to be atomic or to have a positive basis. These results have applications in the theory of options (derivatives) in finance.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FS2AoEco9S9CaZdzp2r91g https://cassyni.com/events/16BT2DDFeedcK9E6qhuXH7/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/16BT2DDFeedcK9E6qhuXH7 https://cassyni.com/events/16BT2DDFeedcK9E6qhuXH7/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/VG6368HWVRUp7afCQAGn6a https://cassyni.com/events/16BT2DDFeedcK9E6qhuXH7?videoPreview=1 Biocultural aspects of extinctionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/16BT2DDFeedcK9E6qhuXH7?videoPreview=12024-07-25T14:00:00+00:001875.04Cambridge PrismsPredicting whether a species is likely to go extinct (or not) is one of the fundamental objectives of conservation biology, and extinction risk classifications have become an essential tool for conservation policy, planning and research. This sort of prediction is feasible because the extinction processes follow a familiar pattern of population decline, range collapse and fragmentation, and, finally, extirpation of sub-populations through a combination of genetic, demographic and environmental stochasticity. Though less well understood and rarely quantified, the way in which science and society respond to population decline, extirpation and species extinction can also have a profound influence, either negative or positive, on whether a species goes extinct. For example, species that are highly sought after by collectors and hobbyists can become more desirable and valuable as they become rarer, leading to increased demand and greater incentives for illegal trade – known as the anthropogenic Allee effect. Conversely, species that are strongly linked to cultural identity are more likely to benefit from sustainable management, high public support for conservation actions and fund-raising, and, by extension, may be partially safeguarded from extinction. More generally, human responses to impending extinctions are extremely complex, are highly dependent on cultural and socioeconomic context, and have typically been far less studied than the ecological and genetic aspects of extinction. In this seminar I identify and discuss biocultural aspects of extinction and outline how recent advances in our ability to measure and monitor cultural trends with big data are, despite their intrinsic limitations and biases, providing new opportunities for incorporating biocultural factors into extinction risk assessment.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/VG6368HWVRUp7afCQAGn6a https://cassyni.com/events/3ZRUFdSsqwQ6g5hfPPpA13/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/3ZRUFdSsqwQ6g5hfPPpA13 https://cassyni.com/events/3ZRUFdSsqwQ6g5hfPPpA13/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2BkgiXCDfwA3H2S2Wz6j3C https://cassyni.com/events/3ZRUFdSsqwQ6g5hfPPpA13?videoPreview=1 Turbulence Modeling supported by Statistical Machine Learning Modelsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/3ZRUFdSsqwQ6g5hfPPpA13?videoPreview=12024-12-16T14:00:00+00:003631.72Sci-Fi-TurboTurbulence modeling is an important area of study within the fluid dynamics community. Recent advances in computational power, particularly with the development of GPUs and TPUs, have led to the emergence of Machine Learning and Deep Learning techniques as valuable tools for modeling turbulence at different stages: (i) enhancing RANS models, (ii) creating new wall models, (iii) contributing to flow control, and (iv) generating instantaneous turbulent flow fields, to cite a few. The presentation will tackle two of these challenges. The first is developing a data-driven wall model in the context of wall-modeled Large Eddy Simulations (wmLES) of turbulent separated flows. To address the instantaneous and non-equilibrium separation phenomenon, the Mixture Density Network (MDN), the neural network implementation of a Gaussian Mixture Model initially used for uncertainty prediction, is employed as the wall shear stress model. The second challenge focuses on enhancing turbulence injection methods. According to Dhamankar et al. (2015), the developed method should be memory-efficient, suitable for various flow problems, and incorporate known information about turbulence without introducing spurious low-frequency oscillations or unrealistic inflow characteristics. The generated turbulence should develop as quickly as possible after the inlet. To address this challenge, diffusion probabilistic models (DDPM) and score-based models, known to be powerful tools for generating high-quality samples while being straightforward to define and efficient to train, are selected to reproduce Decaying Homogeneous Turbulent Turbulence (DHIT) samples. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2BkgiXCDfwA3H2S2Wz6j3C https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/MLnr2sFf3nG5qeDfewZDjB https://cassyni.com/events/MLnr2sFf3nG5qeDfewZDjB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KRMy59decJNqT6xqqNpmUi https://cassyni.com/events/MLnr2sFf3nG5qeDfewZDjB?videoPreview=1 Sustainable Innovation: Intellectual Property and the Sustainable Development Goalsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/MLnr2sFf3nG5qeDfewZDjB?videoPreview=12024-08-28T00:30:00+00:003756.04SACLThis event will consider the implications of intellectual property (IP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for New Zealand and Australian law, policy, and practice. This includes investigating IP’s role in ending poverty and inequality, improving food security, ensuring a sustainable environment, better regulating gene patents, and supporting health and well-being through access to medicines. The event will start with a presentation by Prof. Matthew Rimmer from QUT about Intellectual Property and the Sustainable Development Goals. This will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by Dr Christian Schott, Chair of the UN Principles of Responsible Management Education Steering Committee at Wellington School of Business and Government, featuring VUW Intellectual Property researchers, Prof. Susy Frankel and Prof. Jessica Lai. The event is also the New Zealand book launch of The Elgar Companion to Intellectual Property and the Sustainable Development Goals edited by Bita Amani, Caroline B. Ncube, and Matthew Rimmer. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KRMy59decJNqT6xqqNpmUi https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/HtFci5iyyaPSowv71HBGCM https://cassyni.com/events/HtFci5iyyaPSowv71HBGCM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7iECkPF2cci3tbiXyEWELe https://cassyni.com/events/HtFci5iyyaPSowv71HBGCM?videoPreview=1 The Future of Peer Reviewnohttps://cassyni.com/events/HtFci5iyyaPSowv71HBGCM?videoPreview=12024-09-25T08:00:00+00:003038.0Topics at the heart of our communityAs part of a Peer Review Week special, join Markus Kaindl, Director of Content Innovation, a Springer Nature expert on AI supported solutions, and Stavroula Kousta, Chief Editor of Nature Human Behaviour, in conversation, as they share their expertise and experiences on the vital role of peer review and how AI might shape its future. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7iECkPF2cci3tbiXyEWELe https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/XDkvxYC9pwLQhADhAWKas7 https://cassyni.com/events/XDkvxYC9pwLQhADhAWKas7/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/36ttznN91QDzksHamMgSgn https://cassyni.com/events/XDkvxYC9pwLQhADhAWKas7?videoPreview=1 Supersize me: hypotheses on torpor-assisted prehibernation fattening in a boreal batnohttps://cassyni.com/events/XDkvxYC9pwLQhADhAWKas7?videoPreview=12024-09-12T12:00:00+00:001014.96Royal Society PublishingHibernators face an energetic dilemma in the autumn at northern latitudes; while temperatures and food availability decrease, hibernating species need to build fat deposits to survive the winter. During this critical fattening phase, insectivorous boreal bats use torpor to build and conserve their reserves. However, we still know little about temporal variability in torpor use employed by bats during the prehibernation fattening period and how decreasing temperatures and food availability in combination with increasing individual body mass impact this. Here we present two general hypotheses for explaining temporal torpor patterns observed in a boreal bat (*Eptesicus nilssonii*), in which torpor use I) facilitates rapid mass gain or II) conserves stored body mass. Although temporally separated in our dataset, data on temperature, insect abundance and body mass throughout the prehibernation period indicate that *E. nilssonii* reaches a majority of its overwintering mass before the onset of increasing daytime and nighttime torpor use. In combination with low food availability by this point in time, these observations suggest torpor expression may be intended to conserve gained reserves rather than facilitate mass gain. Our study is intended as a first proof-of-concept for disentangling temporal drivers of torpor in bats during the prehibernation fattening phase.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/36ttznN91QDzksHamMgSgn https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/6XLieMqut3eTXhvxeHjVBT https://cassyni.com/events/6XLieMqut3eTXhvxeHjVBT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PS5FqwjWsRXBF2JQRKEzn2 https://cassyni.com/events/6XLieMqut3eTXhvxeHjVBT?videoPreview=1 Impact of gut decontamination on the intestinal microbiome composition and the risk of bloodstream infection (BSI) in pediatric allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) patientsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/6XLieMqut3eTXhvxeHjVBT?videoPreview=12021-10-14T14:00:00+00:00587.84Microbiome Virtual International Forum Research highlightshttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PS5FqwjWsRXBF2JQRKEzn2 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/8zajsn5Y5LRGdBk5bgtDsK https://cassyni.com/events/8zajsn5Y5LRGdBk5bgtDsK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2uf4FaZNuSXveDfQBXwLRt https://cassyni.com/events/8zajsn5Y5LRGdBk5bgtDsK?videoPreview=1 Model misspecification in microbiome studiesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/8zajsn5Y5LRGdBk5bgtDsK?videoPreview=12022-12-14T12:00:00+00:001632.04Microbiome Virtual International Forum The relative abundances of bacterial species in a microbiome are an important parameter to estimate given the critical role that microbiomes play in human and environmental health. We show that high-throughput sequencing distorts the true composition of microbial communities, and propose a statistical model that reflects this observation. Our model can be leveraged to select experimental protocols, design experiments with appropriate control data, and remove sample-specific contamination.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2uf4FaZNuSXveDfQBXwLRt https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/71zKh3VSKWCWXUTrEj2HSm https://cassyni.com/events/71zKh3VSKWCWXUTrEj2HSm/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Lrz3R3KRgTh1LEBvTdMYnr https://cassyni.com/events/71zKh3VSKWCWXUTrEj2HSm?videoPreview=1 Microbial enrichment and storage for metagenomics of vaginal, skin, and saliva samplesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/71zKh3VSKWCWXUTrEj2HSm?videoPreview=12022-01-11T10:00:00+00:00660.04Microbiome Virtual International Forum Few validated protocols are available for large-scale collection, storage, and analysis of microbiome samples from the vagina, skin, and mouth. To prepare for a large-scale study on the female microbiome by remote self-sampling, we investigated the impact of sample collection, storage, and host DNA depletion on microbiome profiling. Vaginal, skin, and saliva samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene amplicon and metagenomic shotgun sequencing, and qPCR. Of the two tested storage buffers, the eNAT buffer could keep the microbial composition stable during various conditions. All three tested host DNA-depletion approaches showed a bias against Gram-negative taxa. However, using the Host- ZERO Microbial DNA and QIAamp DNA Microbiome kits, samples still clustered according to body site and not by depletion approach. Therefore, our study showed the effectiveness of these methods in depleting host DNA. Yet, a suitable approach is recommended for each habitat studied based on microbial composition.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Lrz3R3KRgTh1LEBvTdMYnr https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/argBXNfVU7S8cDcdp2VTK https://cassyni.com/events/argBXNfVU7S8cDcdp2VTK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FAMVteDuXotYP1AsM1YP6E https://cassyni.com/events/argBXNfVU7S8cDcdp2VTK?videoPreview=1 Identification of Gut Bacteria such as Lactobacillus johnsonii that Disseminate to Systemic Tissues of Wild Type and MyD88–/– Micenohttps://cassyni.com/events/argBXNfVU7S8cDcdp2VTK?videoPreview=12022-02-08T15:00:00+00:0079.92Microbiome Virtual International Forum In healthy hosts the gut microbiota is restricted to gut tissues by several barriers some of which require MyD88-dependent innate immune sensor pathways. Nevertheless, some gut taxa have been reported to disseminate to systemic tissues. However, the extent to which this normally occurs during homeostasis in healthy organisms is still unknown. In this study, we recovered viable gut bacteria from systemic tissues of healthy wild type (WT) and MyD88−/− mice. Shotgun metagenomic-sequencing revealed a marked increase in the relative abundance of L. johnsonii in intestinal tissues of MyD88−/− mice compared to WT mice. Lactobacillus johnsonii was detected most frequently from multiple systemic tissues and at higher levels in MyD88−/− mice compared to WT mice. Viable L. johnsonii strains were recovered from different cell types sorted from intestinal and systemic tissues of WT and MyD88−/− mice. L. johnsonii could persist in dendritic cells and may represent murine immunomodulatory endosymbionts. Link to OA paper: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19490976.2021.2007743https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FAMVteDuXotYP1AsM1YP6E https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Dw4nLcYnTuxJ2HTRcAbDbT https://cassyni.com/events/Dw4nLcYnTuxJ2HTRcAbDbT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YKrd8mSWP7CG1zqsw1u8ri https://cassyni.com/events/Dw4nLcYnTuxJ2HTRcAbDbT?videoPreview=1 Influence of host genetics in shaping the rumen bacterial community in beef cattlenohttps://cassyni.com/events/Dw4nLcYnTuxJ2HTRcAbDbT?videoPreview=12022-06-15T11:00:00+00:00798.0Microbiome Virtual International Forum In light of recent host-microbial association studies, a consensus is evolving that species composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota is a polygenic trait governed by interactions between host genetic factors and the environment. Here, we investigated the effect of host genetic factors in shaping the bacterial species composition in the rumen by performing a genome-wide association study. Using a common set of 61,974 single-nucleotide polymorphisms found in cattle genomes (n = 586) and corresponding rumen bacterial community composition, we identified operational taxonomic units (OTUs), Families and Phyla with high heritability. The top associations (1-Mb windows) were located on 7 chromosomes. These regions were associated with the rumen microbiota in multiple ways; some (chromosome 19; position 3.0–4.0 Mb) are associated with closely related taxa (Prevotellaceae, Paraprevotellaceae, and RF16), some (chromosome 27; position 3.0–4.0 Mb) are associated with distantly related taxa (Prevotellaceae, Fibrobacteraceae, RF16, RFP12, S24-7, Lentisphaerae, and Tenericutes) and others (chromosome 23; position 0.0–1.0) associated with both related and unrelated taxa. The annotated genes associated with identified genomic regions suggest the associations observed are directed toward selective absorption of volatile fatty acids from the rumen to increase energy availability to the host. This study demonstrates that host genetics affects rumen bacterial community composition.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YKrd8mSWP7CG1zqsw1u8ri https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/GQJoa2nQfCinPDvz9rVrKP https://cassyni.com/events/GQJoa2nQfCinPDvz9rVrKP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Tt2BiccnRzDNy7BsMBGPxS https://cassyni.com/events/GQJoa2nQfCinPDvz9rVrKP?videoPreview=1 Surgical Treatment for Colorectal Cancer Partially Restores Gut Microbiome and Metabolome Traitsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/GQJoa2nQfCinPDvz9rVrKP?videoPreview=12022-10-18T11:00:00+00:0058.28Microbiome Virtual International Forum Accumulating evidence indicates that the gut microbiome and metabolites are associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the influence of surgery for CRC treatment on the gut microbiome and metabolites and how it relates to CRC risk in postoperative CRC patients remain partially understood. Here, we collected 170 fecal samples from 85 CRC patients pre- and approximately 1 year postsurgery and performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing and capillary electrophoresis-time of flight mass spectrometry (CE-TOFMS)-based metabolomics analyses to characterize alterations between pre- and postsurgery. We determined that the relative abundance of 114 species was altered postsurgery (P lower than 0.005). CRC-associated species, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, were decreased postsurgery. On the other hand, Clostridium scindens, carcinogenesis-associated deoxycholate (DCA)-producing species, and its biotransformed genes (bai operon) were increased postsurgery. The concentration of 60 fecal metabolites was also altered postsurgery (P lower than 0.005). Two bile acids, cholate and DCA, were increased postsurgery. We developed methods to estimate postoperative CRC risk based on the gut microbiome and metabolomic compositions using a random forest machine-learning algorithm that classifies large adenoma or early-stage CRC and healthy controls from publicly available data sets. We applied methods to preoperative samples and then compared the estimated CRC risk between the two groups according to the presence of large adenoma or tumors 5 years postsurgery (P lower than 0.05). Overall, our results show that the gut microbiome and metabolites dynamically change from pre- to postsurgery. In postoperative CRC patients, potential CRC risk derived from gut microbiome and metabolites still remains, which indicates the importance of follow-up assessments. Link to OA paper: https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/msystems.00018-22https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Tt2BiccnRzDNy7BsMBGPxS https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Pp4VNv1AeRxM2H9rQJJ2N1 https://cassyni.com/events/Pp4VNv1AeRxM2H9rQJJ2N1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PRuXAAeCTFxpMhkEG9hM9Y https://cassyni.com/events/Pp4VNv1AeRxM2H9rQJJ2N1?videoPreview=1 Ethical considerations of research on the microbiome of vulnerable populationsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Pp4VNv1AeRxM2H9rQJJ2N1?videoPreview=12024-05-21T13:00:00+00:001037.0Microbiome Virtual International Forum Today, microbiome knowledge and research is largely restricted to high- and middle-income countries, especially in North America, Europe as well as Asia. As the microbiome varies across geographies and lifestyles, it is of utmost importance to fill these “white gaps” and include also with communities and age groups that did not participate in these efforts to date. Many of these communities are- for different reasons- considered as vulnerable populations and including them in microbiome research thus poses many important ethical questions. In this presentation, I aim to give examples of ethical questions and constraints that arise when working on the microbiome of vulnerable populations. Giving examples from our research on the microbiome of undernourished children and their families from the Global South over the last years, I aim to stimulate discussion and reflection on these questions, to foster even better and more inclusive collaborations across cultures, disciplines and social structures in the future.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PRuXAAeCTFxpMhkEG9hM9Y https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/JNvqsPtPpPsGdQucoPJENZ https://cassyni.com/events/JNvqsPtPpPsGdQucoPJENZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/BPSbBo3NLbY7YNHV3umF4 https://cassyni.com/events/JNvqsPtPpPsGdQucoPJENZ?videoPreview=1 Advances and Challenges in Understanding the Virospherenohttps://cassyni.com/events/JNvqsPtPpPsGdQucoPJENZ?videoPreview=12023-10-17T13:00:00+00:001836.0Microbiome Virtual International Forum The viruses that prey on bacteria sculpt and shape every microbiome. Recent innovations in viral metagenomics are unveiling the roles of viruses in controlling bacterial populations, contributing to disease, and promoting health. Hecatomb is an end-to-end pipeline optimised to extract viral genomes from metagenomic samples. With an emphasis on QC, host-removal, and avoiding using large datasets, we designed hecatomb to use computational resources efficiently. Phables is a new approach we developed to identify complete phage genomes from metagenomes and to allow the reconstruction of strain-level viral genomes. The biggest challenge for viral metagenomics remains the annotation of proteins, and some of the new machine-learning approaches released recently are revolutionising our understanding of the virus world. We will also discuss the problems and challenges in understanding how viruses influence the microbiome.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/BPSbBo3NLbY7YNHV3umF4 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/JsaSv5XvFrRKdBSWPpb2ds https://cassyni.com/events/JsaSv5XvFrRKdBSWPpb2ds/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PGFhixsSVnP7wVCStwRiTx https://cassyni.com/events/JsaSv5XvFrRKdBSWPpb2ds?videoPreview=1 Comparing invasive and noninvasive fecal sampling in wildlife microbiome studies: a case study on wild common cranesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/JsaSv5XvFrRKdBSWPpb2ds?videoPreview=12024-01-09T12:00:00+00:00668.0Microbiome Virtual International Forum In ecological and conservation studies, responsible researchers strive to obtain rich data while minimizing disturbance to wildlife and ecosystems. We assessed if samples collected noninvasively, in this case, from common cranes (Grus grus), can be used for fecal microbiome research, comparing microbiota of noninvasively collected fecal samples to those collected from trapped common cranes at the same sites over the same period. We found significant differences in fecal microbial composition (alpha and beta diversity), which likely did not result from noninvasive samples’ exposure to soil contaminants, as assessed by comparing bacterial oxygen use profiles. Differences might result from trapped birds’ exposure to sedatives or stress. We conclude that if all samples are collected in the same manner, comparative analyses are valid, and noninvasive sampling may better represent host fecal microbiota because there are no trapping effects. To illustrate this point, combining movement data from GPS-tagged cranes with noninvasively sampled fecal microbiota samples of birds spatiotemporally overlapping with the tagged birds, we find evidence that supports the role of diet in structuring bacterial communities. We also show that the wild bird gut microbiota undergoes not only seasonal shifts but is also affected by management schemes and local agricultural practices. Experiments with fresh and delayed sample collection can elucidate effects of environmental exposures on microbiota. Further, controlled tests of stressing or sedation may unravel how trapping affects wildlife microbiota, but our application already shows how valuable this method can be. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PGFhixsSVnP7wVCStwRiTx https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/VFC8tS7wUU3k9gjeQvXvKP https://cassyni.com/events/VFC8tS7wUU3k9gjeQvXvKP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/DJb1bXN441hTLfCr7v27Hp https://cassyni.com/events/VFC8tS7wUU3k9gjeQvXvKP?videoPreview=1 Detailed Social Network Interactions and Gut Microbiome Strain-Sharing Within Isolated Honduras Villagesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/VFC8tS7wUU3k9gjeQvXvKP?videoPreview=12023-05-17T13:00:00+00:00616.04Microbiome Virtual International Forum When humans assemble into face-to-face social networks, they create an extended environment that permits exposure to the microbiome of other members of a population. Social network interactions may thereby also shape the composition and diversity of the microbiome at individual and population levels. Here, we use comprehensive social network and detailed microbiome sequencing data in 1,098 adults across 9 isolated villages in Honduras to investigate the relationship between social network structure and microbiome composition. Using both species-level and strain-level data, we show that microbial sharing occurs between many relationship types, notably including non-familial and non-household connections. Using strain-sharing data alone, we can confidently predict a wide variety of relationship types (AUC ~0.73). This strain-level sharing extends to second-degree social connections in a network, suggesting the importance of the extended network with respect to microbiome composition. We also observe that socially central individuals are more microbially similar to the overall village than those on the social periphery. Finally, we observe that clusters of microbiome species and strains occur within clusters of people in the village social networks, providing the social niches in which microbiome biology and phenotypic impact are manifested. Link to OA paper: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.04.06.535875v1https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/DJb1bXN441hTLfCr7v27Hp https://cassyni.com/events/53RXcwRDy2uqyzyoV9Ecu3/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/53RXcwRDy2uqyzyoV9Ecu3 https://cassyni.com/events/53RXcwRDy2uqyzyoV9Ecu3/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4CPWfxMPJnXBNGSWgzZCVC https://cassyni.com/events/53RXcwRDy2uqyzyoV9Ecu3?videoPreview=1 CSR under the pressure of financial shocksnohttps://cassyni.com/events/53RXcwRDy2uqyzyoV9Ecu3?videoPreview=12024-10-08T22:00:00+00:005042.04SACLThis study examines how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced firms' interactions with customers and suppliers. Customer-supplier relationships are essential because the success of interconnected firms affects the sustainability of the entire supply chain. We use the economic shock of COVID-19 to evaluate if socially responsible firms truly adhere to responsible business practices (i.e. prioritize stakeholders) when faced with financial pressure. Using a difference-in-differences design, we find that socially responsible firms take longer to pay their suppliers though they do not appear to relax payment terms for customers during COVID. These strategies contradict the principles of stakeholder theory, which focuses on understanding and addressing the interests of all stakeholders. Overall, our findings show that socially responsible firms focus more on safeguarding their own liquidity rather than stakeholder priorities during crisis periods.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4CPWfxMPJnXBNGSWgzZCVC https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Xi9vyZChe9Z1j51R22ws1P https://cassyni.com/events/Xi9vyZChe9Z1j51R22ws1P/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JuckpT8YWbQocos1GSkASA https://cassyni.com/events/Xi9vyZChe9Z1j51R22ws1P?videoPreview=1 Fuzzy Optimal Control to Machine Intelligence from Space Discretizationnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Xi9vyZChe9Z1j51R22ws1P?videoPreview=12025-06-24T10:00:00+00:00680.68NODYSThe fuzzy optimal control with free target states is known to be difficult to obtain. This paper proposes a novel algorithm for solving fuzzy optimal control problems with free state terminal conditions and bounded controls. The algorithm makes use of the fuzzy generalized cell mapping (FGCM) method and Bellman’s principal of optimality. The cost function is defined as the expectation of fuzzy variables based on the Choquet integral of fuzzy set theory. A discrete form of fuzzy master equation is derived for the membership of the response. The transition matrix of the FGCM method is obtained as a function of controls and states. This allows to evaluate the transient responses of the controlled system. The proposed algorithm is applied to representative nonlinear systems with fuzzy uncertainties, leading to excellent control performance. It is noted that the optimal control is designed to minimize the fuzzy expected cost function. The results show that the optimal control is quite robust to the variability of fuzzy uncertainties in the system.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JuckpT8YWbQocos1GSkASA https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SH2HU35vp7TwLCmBR7x51w https://cassyni.com/events/SH2HU35vp7TwLCmBR7x51w/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HN4RYBNiCytK7mdXKFD9cJ https://cassyni.com/events/SH2HU35vp7TwLCmBR7x51w?videoPreview=1 Analysis and Experiments of the Dissipative Twistcar - Direction Reversal and Asymptotic Approximationsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/SH2HU35vp7TwLCmBR7x51w?videoPreview=12025-06-24T10:00:00+00:00540.76NODYSUnderactuated wheeled vehicles are commonly studied as nonholonomic systems with periodic actuation. Twistcar is a classical example inspired by a riding toy, which has been analyzed using a planar model of a dynamical system with nonholonomic constraints. In this work, we study a theoretical two-link model of the Twistcar with rolling dissipation, and obtain asymptotic expressions for its small-amplitude steady-state periodic dynamics. The analysis reveals the possibility of reversing the direction of motion upon varying the geometric and mass properties of the vehicle. Next, we design and construct a robotic prototype of the Twistcar whose center-of-mass position can be shifted by adding and removing a massive block. This robot enables experimental demonstration of the Twistcar’s direction reversal phenomenon. We also consider models with wheels’ skidding dissipation, and conduct parameter fitting for the frictional resistances in order to improve agreement with experiments.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HN4RYBNiCytK7mdXKFD9cJ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SmftWijTFa1zKyJ51ZEsHF https://cassyni.com/events/SmftWijTFa1zKyJ51ZEsHF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9QAVnvSaTth1z78EpBj8dk https://cassyni.com/events/SmftWijTFa1zKyJ51ZEsHF?videoPreview=1 Nonlinear Wave Propagation for Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations in an Inhomogeneous Medium: Applications to Coastal Engineeringnohttps://cassyni.com/events/SmftWijTFa1zKyJ51ZEsHF?videoPreview=12025-06-24T10:00:00+00:00730.2NODYSThe evolution of a weakly nonlinear, narrow-banded wave packet in an inhomogeneous medium is studied in the context of coastal engineering. Analytically the model is a variable coefficient nonlinear Schrödinger equation (vcNLS) with a gain/loss term, arising from the waves running up a sloping beach. The competition among dispersion, gain and nonlinearity dictates the amplification process. The presence of modulation instability, breather and Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-Tsingou recurrence (FPUT) further complicates the dynamics. Wave amplification in the focusing regime is then most pronounced on a concave seafloor, followed by a straight-line seafloor, and finally a convex seafloor. The growth rate of modulation instability and the magnitude of eigenvalues obtained from Floquet analysis provide quantitative confirmation for these predictions on the dynamics under different seafloor bathymetries. Compared with growth rates of modulation instability, the eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix in computational analysis provide reasonably accurate predictions of the critical depths. Implications in terms of nonlinear science as well as actual coastal defense mechanisms are discussed.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9QAVnvSaTth1z78EpBj8dk https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/5XnuXKutNtCgCDJu912j8R https://cassyni.com/events/5XnuXKutNtCgCDJu912j8R/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AWd79TeWTAwHRYoTskH3e6 https://cassyni.com/events/5XnuXKutNtCgCDJu912j8R?videoPreview=1 Effects of Strong Friction and Stiffness Nonlinearities on Vibrations and Control of a Cantilever-Based Disc Brake Caliper Modelnohttps://cassyni.com/events/5XnuXKutNtCgCDJu912j8R?videoPreview=12025-06-24T11:00:00+00:00649.88NODYSThis work presents a brake pad assembly modeled as cantilever with tip mass subjected to nonlinear friction and stiffness. Numerical simulations reveal quasiperiodic oscillations at the caliper tip, which cannot be mitigated by a regular delayed feedback controller. A modified controller is proposed to effectively reduce these vibrations.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AWd79TeWTAwHRYoTskH3e6 https://cassyni.com/events/DSCCNtnAoZzLWFpstz1Rid/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Xixe5u4bVqvJnMdSv5qe2J https://cassyni.com/events/DSCCNtnAoZzLWFpstz1Rid?videoPreview=1 Turbulent Transport-Limited Pedestals in Tokamaksnohttps://cassyni.com/events/DSCCNtnAoZzLWFpstz1Rid?videoPreview=12025-07-03T15:00:00+00:001757.52Journal of Plasma PhysicsH-mode operation of tokamak fusion plasmas free of dangerous Type 1 edge-localized-modes (ELMs) requires a non-ELM mechanism for saturating the edge pedestal growth. One possible mechanism is turbulent transport. We introduce a transport threshold model to find pedestal width-height scalings for turbulent transport-limited pedestals. The model is applied to electron heat transport resulting from electron-temperature-gradient (ETG) turbulence. The width-height scalings are highly sensitive to the relative contribution of density and temperature to the pedestal pressure. Pressure that builds up mainly through temperature is more likely to be transport-limited, and hence ELM-free. A relative radial inward shift of the temperature to density pedestal location is also more likely to transport-limit the pedestal. A second constraint such as flow shear is required to saturate pedestal growth. We also calculate width-height transport scalings resulting from particle and heat transport arising from ETG and kinetic-ballooning-mode turbulence. Comparisons are performed for ELMy and ELM-free experiments in MAST-U, NSTX, and DIII-D. This is a first step towards a pedestal width-height scaling for transport-limited ELM-free pedestals. .https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Xixe5u4bVqvJnMdSv5qe2J https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9yey47FVjN7hUZXKFKdUBo https://cassyni.com/events/9yey47FVjN7hUZXKFKdUBo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SY9o6imatY7HDz2mZwS7Je https://cassyni.com/events/9yey47FVjN7hUZXKFKdUBo?videoPreview=1 Stabilization of liquid instabilities with plasmas at the gas-liquid boundarynohttps://cassyni.com/events/9yey47FVjN7hUZXKFKdUBo?videoPreview=12024-05-23T15:00:00+00:002834.76Journal of Plasma PhysicsHistorically, boundary physics has been crucial in understanding a diverse range of phenomena prevalent in nature and in creating highly unusual processes. A good example is the cavity produced by blowing air through a straw directly above a cup of water. One longstanding issue is the hydrodynamic stability of such gas–liquid systems, where some attention has been paid to the formation of gas-blown cavities. However, little attention has been given to the stability of gas-blown cavities, i.e., how the interface is deformed and destabilized remains unknown. In our recent work (Nature 592 (2021), 49), the stabilization of such instabilities by weakly ionized plasma for the case of a gas jet impinging on water is demonstrated. We focus on the interfacial dynamics relevant to electrohydrodynamic (EHD) gas flow, so-called electric wind, occurring inside the plasma which is induced by the momentum transfer from accelerated charged particles to neutral gas under an electric field (Nature Comm. 9 (2018) 371). A weakly ionized plasma consisting of periodic pulsed ionization waves, called plasma bullets, exerts more force via electrohydrodynamic flow on the water surface than a neutral gas jet alone, resulting in cavity expansion without destabilization. Furthermore, both the bidirectional electrohydrodynamic gas flow and electric field parallel to the gas–water interface produced by plasma interacting ‘in the cavity’ render the surface more stable. This case study demonstrates the dynamics of liquids subjected to a plasma-induced force, offering insights into physical processes and revealing an interdependence between weakly ionized plasma and deformable dielectric matter, including plasma–liquid systems.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SY9o6imatY7HDz2mZwS7Je https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CStzHXV7vetBqVzso1Y6uj https://cassyni.com/events/CStzHXV7vetBqVzso1Y6uj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MMLx7YUaHEHqada5yt124W https://cassyni.com/events/CStzHXV7vetBqVzso1Y6uj?videoPreview=1 Measurement and gyrokinetic simulations of zero-frequency fluctuations generated by coupling between Alfvén modes in the JET tokamaknohttps://cassyni.com/events/CStzHXV7vetBqVzso1Y6uj?videoPreview=12024-12-05T16:00:00+00:002798.96Journal of Plasma PhysicsEnergetic particles will be ubiquitous in next-generation burning plasmas, most prominently in the form of 3.5 MeV alpha particles issued from the DT reaction. Understanding how they will impact the overall plasma confinement is therefore of dire importance for predicting fusion performance. For decades we have learned that energetic particles can linearly destabilize certain types of Alfvén modes, which drive large transport of the energetic particles. More recently, theory and numerical simulations have suggested that Alfvén modes could have a beneficial effect on the thermal plasma by generating a stationary zonal perturbation, which could tear apart the turbulent eddies and result in improved confinement. This zero-frequency zonal perturbation, however, has remained without experimental confirmation until now. In this work, we report the first experimental detection of a zero-frequency fluctuation that is generated by Alfvén modes in a magnetically confined plasma. Experiments in the JET tokamak have shown that Alfvén modes destabilized by energetic particles exhibit three-wave coupling interactions with a zero-frequency fluctuation, and its presence is correlated with (otherwise unexplained) increased ion temperature and improved confinement. Nonlinear gyrokinetic simulations confirm the three-wave coupling between zero-frequency zonal modes and Alfvén modes, resulting in reduced turbulence and transport levels. This suggests that the zero-frequency perturbation that we detect is a zonal mode that is responsible for the improvement in confinement observed in the JET experiment. The implications from this work and prospects for next-generation burning plasmas will be discussed.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MMLx7YUaHEHqada5yt124W https://cassyni.com/events/LqwtBmzvnoDu9K3k9RobmF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PMvH8omoGPyFmbyn9UK47Q https://cassyni.com/events/PKBuRCEYz5zPWFXJh7iEVB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QKEaPeMiuycUHn6yxCyucJ https://cassyni.com/events/Kreg6Qhsut7kUZDk3TLGxM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Jt6vt8Ex5wXMDh6XSC6PLa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/WEGN4mHu8VkB14Wt4ZHAds https://cassyni.com/events/WEGN4mHu8VkB14Wt4ZHAds/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LNPSzg2v9BeQf3uxni3cJS https://cassyni.com/events/WEGN4mHu8VkB14Wt4ZHAds?videoPreview=1 Reduced turbulence in optimised maximum-J stellaratorsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/WEGN4mHu8VkB14Wt4ZHAds?videoPreview=12021-06-10T15:00:00+00:003010.16Journal of Plasma PhysicsTurbulence is one of the main obstacles to a working fusion reactor. Especially in stellarators, the large space of available magnetic field shapes allows for optimisation towards low levels of turbulence. A useful nonlinear measure of turbulence is that of available energy. Here I will show that the available energy calculated for trapped-electron-mode turbulence in different magnetic configurations can predict trends in the (simulated) heat flux of trapped-electron mode (TEM) turbulence in these configurations and could thus serve as a valuable proxy in future optimisation routines. Both, the available energy and the nonlinear simulations, support a previous linear prediction: that the class of optimised maximum-J stellarators, amongst them Wendelstein 7-X, particularly benefits from reduced turbulence. Previously, we had analytically shown that in these devices, the electron-driven TEM is absent. Here I will show that the stabilising property of the electrons also extends to ion-temperature gradient (ITG) modes and can thus explain the levels of low turbulence in the record-shots of Wendelstein 7-X at finite density gradient. Finally, I will present evidence that in the absence of TEMs, the universal instability can emerge and actually dominate the turbulence in optimised stellarators.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LNPSzg2v9BeQf3uxni3cJS https://cassyni.com/events/Wiuy7SwRZxJDzq3mezZxuB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/G34rcGbw8bAD4uVeTTptut https://cassyni.com/events/RHnKbvpejvD9bxoY45aAuj/abstract https://cassyni.com/events/62VkoGbBd4cGqNm38mysDX/abstract https://cassyni.com/events/8Vjn2gpopMNmCKEbgTtVwT/abstract https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Awv8vBUkhvwxhXVZ3R783X https://cassyni.com/events/Awv8vBUkhvwxhXVZ3R783X/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3iHDjmGpdDFMYzEeAFSedU https://cassyni.com/events/Awv8vBUkhvwxhXVZ3R783X?videoPreview=1 Evaluating the Impact of a Multidisciplinary Pediatric Hybrid Operating Room on Collaborative IR and Surgical Proceduresnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Awv8vBUkhvwxhXVZ3R783X?videoPreview=12025-10-15T09:45:01+00:00434.04Society for Pediatric Interventional Radiology## Introduction Hybrid operating rooms (HORs) integrate advanced imaging into the surgical environment, but their use has largely remained siloed within individual subspecialties in adult institutions. We hypothesized that a pediatric HOR specifically designed for multidisciplinary use would facilitate collaborative procedures between interventional radiology (IR) and surgical subspecialties, enabling multiple procedures under a single anesthetic. ## Materials and Methods We conducted an IRB-approved retrospective analysis of all procedures performed in a pediatric HOR between February 2018 and May 2025. Procedures were categorized by subspecialty involvement, number of procedures per anesthetic, and presence of collaborative IR-surgical teams. ## Results Among 2,480 patients (5,142 procedures), 980 patients (40%) underwent multidisciplinary procedures involving IR and at least one surgical subspecialty. These collaborative cases accounted for 2,732 procedures (53%), with an average of 2.79 procedures per patient. The most common collaborations were with general surgery (35%), neurosurgery (33%), interventional pulmonology (9%), and urology (7%). ## Discussion This study reveals that more than half (53%) of all procedures performed in the pediatric hybrid operating room involved multidisciplinary collaboration. Among the patients who underwent collaborative procedures, an average of 2.79 procedures were performed per anesthetic event, demonstrating a high degree of procedural consolidation. These findings suggest that a purpose-built pediatric HOR can effectively promote integrated care across specialties and potentially offer a reproducible model for other pediatric institutions.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3iHDjmGpdDFMYzEeAFSedU https://cassyni.com/events/VDetbonCKd6n5JLexpeJ13/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/RQ824kqDymgkizWm6euqHp https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/AxsJoaztQCSfiBqxTRtoL1 https://cassyni.com/events/AxsJoaztQCSfiBqxTRtoL1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/XmS4YFmCuXXAs3kB7ZimB4 https://cassyni.com/events/AxsJoaztQCSfiBqxTRtoL1?videoPreview=1 How to prevent direct and indirect SARS-CoV-2 airborne transmissionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/AxsJoaztQCSfiBqxTRtoL1?videoPreview=12022-01-18T15:00:00+00:002144.68Experiments in FluidsThe SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is presenting humanity with major challenges. Containing the spread of the virus requires enormous financial, technical and social efforts, and it is impossible to predict how well humanity will cope with the problem. Since the infectious disease not only has an acute course, but can also cause long-lasting systemic damage to infected individuals, prevention of infection is most important. It is generally accepted that the transmission of viruses is largely via droplets and aerosol particles. Therefore, the question of how these aerosol particles are generated and released and how they spread through the room and cause infection is particularly important to answer. Next, there is the question of how to best protect against infection. The answer to this question depends on the areas for which protection is to be established, because different protective measures have to be taken in a pedestrian zone than in buses and trains or in offices, schools and restaurants. To address these two problems, the first part of the talk will present the formation of aerosol particles in the body, their ejection by breathing, speaking, singing and coughing, and their dispersion in space. In the second part, the effectiveness of different protective measures is analyzed experimentally using laser based measurement data. In particular, the effectiveness of different masks for individual protection, as well as the usefulness of room air cleaners and protective walls, is demonstrated quantitatively. A deeper understanding of the spread processes and the protection options is imperative to effectively limit the spread of the pandemic and thus the costs for the state, the economy and society. Whether society is finally ready to protect itself effectively depends on the insight of the population, but also on the way the measures are implemented politically. This will also be discussed during the lecture, because this pandemic can only be contained if science, technology, politics and the population pull together.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/XmS4YFmCuXXAs3kB7ZimB4 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/JNCeu2VMM1nNpzoBNctjxR https://cassyni.com/events/JNCeu2VMM1nNpzoBNctjxR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QZ7pytnagkJ5jh5bABHbtA https://cassyni.com/events/JNCeu2VMM1nNpzoBNctjxR?videoPreview=1 On the nature of turbulent motions at small scalenohttps://cassyni.com/events/JNCeu2VMM1nNpzoBNctjxR?videoPreview=12020-05-22T15:00:00+00:002566.68Journal of Fluid MechanicsIn 1949, Batchelor and Townsend speculated about the nature of small-scale turbulent motions on the basis of hot wire velocity measurements in the Cavendish wind tunnel. Their main conclusion was that the energy associated with small scales is intermittent in space and time and organised into strong discrete vortices. Since then, progress in computer power and image velocimetry has made it possible to investigate in more detail the nature and the properties of small scale turbulent motions, at scales of the order of or below the Kolmogorov scale. For example, it is now well established that regions where the vorticity supersedes the strain (the so-called Q criterion) are indeed organised into small scale elongated coherent structures that may interact and reconnect iteratively, following a self-similar vortex reconnection cascade. Whether such process results in a near finite time singularity is currently an active subject of research, as such a quasi singularity may be linked with the observed constancy of the non-dimensional energy dissipation at large Reynolds number. If we take for granted that the small-scale structure of turbulent motions is very irregular, then specific tools must be built to analyse them. In this talk, I introduce and compare two scalar fields that encode the regularity properties of the small-scale motions: i) a pseudo-Holder exponent and ii) a local energy transfer. Finally, I show on numerical simulation and experimental data how these fields can be used to infer interesting information about the small-scale dynamics.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QZ7pytnagkJ5jh5bABHbtA https://cassyni.com/events/QHNCwNv9ka3ZdvLwVsYgnR/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QHNCwNv9ka3ZdvLwVsYgnR https://cassyni.com/events/QHNCwNv9ka3ZdvLwVsYgnR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3ARMQ7HokrwZAtGFGzeTdQ https://cassyni.com/events/QHNCwNv9ka3ZdvLwVsYgnR?videoPreview=1 Cultural Health Expo: with a focus on kidneysnohttps://cassyni.com/events/QHNCwNv9ka3ZdvLwVsYgnR?videoPreview=12025-10-14T10:45:00+00:001132.52North West London Kidney CareThe Cultural Health Expo, held in June in the London Borough of Brent, addressed health inequalities affecting the Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, particularly in relation to kidney health. Motivated by the disproportionate COVID-19 mortality rates and mistrust in conventional healthcare, the event aimed to foster engagement between healthcare professionals and the community while empowering individuals to manage their kidney health. The programme combined cultural elements—such as live music, dance, and food—with embedded healthcare messages delivered through patient experiences focusing on hypertension, diabetes, transplantation, and family history. Local contractors and community groups contributed to the event, which featured health screenings including blood glucose and blood pressure testing, medication reviews, and mental health assessments. Promotion utilized diverse channels including leaflet distribution, dialysis units, GP practices, youth centres, and local radio, achieving attendance from approximately 250 participants. On the day, 80 health checks were completed, with 25–40 visitors per stall, and all attendees reported enjoying the event and receiving useful health information. Interactive components included expert panels addressing community taboos and activities encouraging participation, such as dance and smoothie bike challenges. Evaluation methods incorporated feedback via voice recordings, comment trees, and digital surveys. The initiative demonstrated the effectiveness of culturally tailored, community-based health promotion in enhancing awareness and early detection of chronic kidney disease. Future directions emphasize integrating kidney health checks into ongoing outreach projects, strengthening partnerships with primary care providers, and supporting culturally appropriate health ownership within the BAME community.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3ARMQ7HokrwZAtGFGzeTdQ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/62PGLkXe1cuNFmZGxLqRvD https://cassyni.com/events/62PGLkXe1cuNFmZGxLqRvD/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HPAQ4v2wLj48y6PF8V8veJ https://cassyni.com/events/62PGLkXe1cuNFmZGxLqRvD?videoPreview=1 The physics of heart rhythm disordersnohttps://cassyni.com/events/62PGLkXe1cuNFmZGxLqRvD?videoPreview=12022-10-10T16:00:00+00:002266.24Physics ReportsHeart rhythm disorders, or arrhythmias, are a type of disease that is amenable to quantitative investigation. In this presentation, I review the application of quantitative methodologies, based on physics and mathematics, to explore dynamical questions pertaining to arrhythmias. I will begin by describing single-cell models of cardiac myocytes, from which two and three dimensional models can be constructed. Special focus is placed on results relating to pattern formation across these spatially-distributed systems, especially the formation of spiral waves of activation. Next, I will discuss mechanisms that can lead to the initiation of arrhythmias and outline proposed mechanisms perpetuating arrhythmias such as fibrillation. I will also review experimental and clinical results related to the spatio-temporal mapping of heart rhythm disorders. Finally, I will describe treatment options for heart rhythm disorders and demonstrate how statistical physics tools can provide insights into the dynamics of heart rhythm disorders. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HPAQ4v2wLj48y6PF8V8veJ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TkVWfPGSHMNss3oh65Y8v9 https://cassyni.com/events/TkVWfPGSHMNss3oh65Y8v9/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/hNAe2xnxkcwwndn2GCmyx https://cassyni.com/events/TkVWfPGSHMNss3oh65Y8v9?videoPreview=1 LALS PhD student seminarnohttps://cassyni.com/events/TkVWfPGSHMNss3oh65Y8v9?videoPreview=12023-03-10T03:10:00+00:002067.36Linguistics and Applied Language StudiesCome along and hear about the innovative research being done by LALS PhD students. Each student will speak about a facet of their research for 3 minutes!https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/hNAe2xnxkcwwndn2GCmyx https://cassyni.com/events/ML4f4VrcaQBC3E7EEB9jK3/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6U1tsA5TSoX76bLcq7gYVt https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/HsXRjiKwWCJZ1XofaWmmnD https://cassyni.com/events/HsXRjiKwWCJZ1XofaWmmnD/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/125CQhjnan4fgaGSAw9RFL https://cassyni.com/events/HsXRjiKwWCJZ1XofaWmmnD?videoPreview=1 Python developmentsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/HsXRjiKwWCJZ1XofaWmmnD?videoPreview=12022-09-13T12:55:00+00:001317.64NEKTAR++No abstracthttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/125CQhjnan4fgaGSAw9RFL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/LLmSy8ZZhV53NUHE8CgQW9 https://cassyni.com/events/LLmSy8ZZhV53NUHE8CgQW9/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9YFsTVeb9vciwNhuHGfLPQ https://cassyni.com/events/LLmSy8ZZhV53NUHE8CgQW9?videoPreview=1 Exploring the implementation of the ALE method in Nektar++nohttps://cassyni.com/events/LLmSy8ZZhV53NUHE8CgQW9?videoPreview=12022-09-15T11:00:00+00:002070.76NEKTAR++The arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) method is a finite element formulation where the computational mesh is not fixed in space and is allowed to vary arbitrarily with time. In this talk we examine the ALE method with respect to Nektar++, looking at the formulation of the method itself in high-order schemes using a DG spatial discretisation and the current code implementation. This follows on from previous work focused on non-conformal interfaces which when combined with the ALE method now allows for arbitrary rotating and sliding computational domains in Nektar++.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9YFsTVeb9vciwNhuHGfLPQ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/UjnikkZVAGV2XodhC41Tj3 https://cassyni.com/events/UjnikkZVAGV2XodhC41Tj3/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/S34e7wjA17xkAR4i1by1m8 https://cassyni.com/events/UjnikkZVAGV2XodhC41Tj3?videoPreview=1 Some like it hot, but not icebergsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/UjnikkZVAGV2XodhC41Tj3?videoPreview=12022-05-06T15:00:00+00:003975.28Journal of Fluid MechanicsMass discharge from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets has increased dramatically over the last two decades. Iceberg calving accounts for approximately half of this discharge. Icebergs impact both the regional and large-scale ocean circulation by altering the stratification. They also impact the marine ecosystem by affecting nutrient distribution and carbon cycling. Freshwater input due to iceberg melt has the potential to impact regional sea-ice distribution and the global overturning circulation. Notwithstanding their importance, our understanding of where and how icebergs melt is limited and their representation in ocean and climate models is over-simplistic, in part due to the scarcity of quantitative field data. As a result, model-based predictions of iceberg melt rates, of the fate of the melt water, and of its impact on the ocean are highly uncertain. The focus of this lecture will be on laboratory experiments investigating the influence of the ambient flow, the icebergs’ aspect ratio and the Earth rotation on iceberg melting.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/S34e7wjA17xkAR4i1by1m8 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/71G8ig6Pr87cj4MQoxco2d https://cassyni.com/events/71G8ig6Pr87cj4MQoxco2d/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SCtRUYYBdpx3Ym1hHA9M5Q https://cassyni.com/events/71G8ig6Pr87cj4MQoxco2d?videoPreview=1 Signatures and Functional Expansionsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/71G8ig6Pr87cj4MQoxco2d?videoPreview=12022-11-03T16:00:00+00:003514.72DataSıgEuropean option payoffs can be generated by combinations of hockeystick payoffs or of monomials. Interestingly, path dependent options can be generated by combinations of signatures, which are the building blocks of path dependence. We focus on the case of 1 asset together with time, typically the evolution of the price x as a function of the time t. The signature of a path for a given word with letters in the alphabet {t,x} (sometimes called augmented signature of dimension 1) is an iterated Stratonovich integral with respect to the letters of the word and it plays the role of a monomial in a Taylor expansion. For a given time horizon T the signature elements associated to short words are contained in the linear space generated by the signature elements associated to longer words and we construct an incremental basis of signature elements. It allows writing a smooth path dependent payoff as a converging series of signature elements, a result stronger than the density property of signature elements from the Stone-Weierstrass theorem. We recall the main concepts of the Functional Itô Calculus, a natural framework to model path dependence and draw links between two approximation results, the Taylor expansion and the Wiener chaos decomposition. The Taylor expansion is obtained by iterating the functional Stratonovich formula whilst the Wiener chaos decomposition is obtained by iterating the functional Itô formula applied to a conditional expectation. We also establish the pathwise Intrinsic Expansion and link it to the Functional Taylor Expansion.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SCtRUYYBdpx3Ym1hHA9M5Q https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/a8VD9yd262YLC7BD3d13B https://cassyni.com/events/a8VD9yd262YLC7BD3d13B/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UdU4cXsfJmsFwbs3ggAn7x https://cassyni.com/events/a8VD9yd262YLC7BD3d13B?videoPreview=1 Quantifying mixing in simulations of stratified flowsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/a8VD9yd262YLC7BD3d13B?videoPreview=12021-05-28T15:00:00+00:001938.52Journal of Fluid MechanicsTurbulent mixing exerts a significant influence on many physical processes in the ocean. In a stably stratified Boussinesq fluid, this irreversible mixing describes the conversion of available potential energy (APE) to background potential energy (BPE). In some settings the APE framework is difficult to apply and approximate measures are used to estimate irreversible mixing. For example, numerical simulations of stratified turbulence often use triply periodic domains to increase computational efficiency. In this set-up, however, BPE is not uniquely defined and the method of Winters et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 289, 1995, pp. 115–128) cannot be directly applied to calculate the APE. We propose a new technique to calculate APE in periodic domains with a mean stratification. By defining a control volume bounded by surfaces of constant buoyancy, we can construct an appropriate background buoyancy profile b∗(z,t) and accurately quantify diapycnal mixing in such systems. This technique also permits the accurate calculation of a finite-amplitude local APE density in periodic domains. The evolution of APE is analysed in various turbulent stratified flow simulations. We show that the mean dissipation rate of buoyancy variance χ provides a good approximation to the mean diapycnal mixing rate, even in flows with significant variations in local stratification. We discuss how best to interpret these results in the context of quantifying diapycnal diffusivity in real oceanographic flows.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UdU4cXsfJmsFwbs3ggAn7x https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/DvLbNF9jzXsQDsLzBQBjBK https://cassyni.com/events/DvLbNF9jzXsQDsLzBQBjBK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3HLnmDMwVrpUKENekkr2iz https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/GPacbfPNBpdtaopYj66MuF https://cassyni.com/events/GPacbfPNBpdtaopYj66MuF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8iUSGjUiKtubPKP7GmjYzi https://cassyni.com/events/GPacbfPNBpdtaopYj66MuF?videoPreview=1 The condensed matter physics of MRInohttps://cassyni.com/events/GPacbfPNBpdtaopYj66MuF?videoPreview=12022-07-05T12:00:00+00:002616.04ETOPIMDiffusion of water molecules, ubiquitous in all living organisms, serves as a bridge between the mesoscopic condensed matter physics and biomedical imaging. By measuring water diffusion propagator at a micrometer scale with NMR-based methods, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) becomes sensitive to the cellular-level tissue architecture, and its physiological and pathological changes. Hence, the images produced by MRI scanners can reveal a wealth of information at the scale orders of magnitude below their nominal resolution. Applying the methods developed to describe transport in disordered systems thereby helps quantify human tissue microstructure in vivo and diagnose diseases.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8iUSGjUiKtubPKP7GmjYzi https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/8yrYuQgVbxLNpmdeAvUjTB https://cassyni.com/events/8yrYuQgVbxLNpmdeAvUjTB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SEuK1n8ET57B4XWm86QJsY https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/BT6a8pv7oF6sBi7CicPNB7 https://cassyni.com/events/BT6a8pv7oF6sBi7CicPNB7/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2sWDLGR1EF95dVtKzoU854 https://cassyni.com/events/BT6a8pv7oF6sBi7CicPNB7?videoPreview=1 Sensing the position of a single scatterer in opaque media using Mutual Extinction & Transparencynohttps://cassyni.com/events/BT6a8pv7oF6sBi7CicPNB7?videoPreview=12022-07-08T14:20:00+00:001058.04ETOPIMTraditional scattering experiments are associated with sending a single beam on a target.The detailed structure of the target including the positions of all scatterers are encoded in the characteristics of the scattered waves. However, when a medium becomes opaque, usual single scattering (Fourier) approaches break down and only limited information is available by, e.g., diffusing wave spectroscopy. Recently, the development of multiple-beam techniques, e.g., wavefront shaping, has opened more potential in the research of opaque samples. Different from the case of a single incident wave, the interference of multiple beams gives rise to a new phenomenon called ”Mutual Extinction and Transparency” [1]. Here, we conjecture that Mutual Extinction with 2 incident beams is a promising technique to detect the movement of a dipole in a sample of multiple stable dipoles (see Fig. 1 for more details). The underlying idea is that the cross-interference information of 2 beams is more sensitive to changes of the scatterer located deep within the sample than conventional 1-beam scattering methods. For comparison, we perform exact calculations of the sensitivity of Mutual Extinction (from 2 beams) and the differential cross-section (from 1 beam) in response to the displacement of 1 dipole. Our numerical results confirm that Mutual Extinction is indeed more sensitive (see Fig. 2), thus, a better tool (than traditional 1-beam techniques) to locate a single scatterer inside a multiple scattering sample.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2sWDLGR1EF95dVtKzoU854 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/PoLJQYc8B3sTDs3QyXtXws https://cassyni.com/events/PoLJQYc8B3sTDs3QyXtXws/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/41dWwgrfYPuSaetPvjcjVg https://cassyni.com/events/PoLJQYc8B3sTDs3QyXtXws?videoPreview=1 Fractionated pre-operativew stereotactic radiotherapy for patients with metastases: a multi-institutional analysisnohttps://cassyni.com/events/PoLJQYc8B3sTDs3QyXtXws?videoPreview=12022-08-15T20:00:00+00:001394.76Journal of Neuro-OncologyNo abstracthttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/41dWwgrfYPuSaetPvjcjVg https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/VETwv4iu15xrMGdCzA8RuF https://cassyni.com/events/VETwv4iu15xrMGdCzA8RuF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8HMCUrfbbG8TehGKSWFXyQ https://cassyni.com/events/VETwv4iu15xrMGdCzA8RuF?videoPreview=1 Transverse gust generation in a wind tunnel: a suction-driven approach, Determining surface pressure from skin frictionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/VETwv4iu15xrMGdCzA8RuF?videoPreview=12023-01-10T15:00:00+00:002927.8Experiments in FluidsThe Andrew Fejer Unsteady Wind Tunnel was modified to add a suction duct on top of the test section to generate a vertical velocity component (cross flow). The suction produced on the top was distributed by the individually controlled louvers at the inlet of the suction duct so that the velocity components in the test section vary both temporally and spatially. Steady and traveling-wave transverse flows were generated in the test section. We present theoretical models for the unsteady flow field generated by this configuration and validate these models with experimental measurements. The results indicated that the transverse gusts generated in the test section were essentially irrotational, and a potential flow model makes relatively accurate predictions of the flow field. The suction-driven approach greatly reduced the turbulence level in the flow field relative to jet-driven cross flow approaches, and demonstrated high levels of repeatability. Traveling waves in 1−cos form were generated and showed evident influence on the flow angle of attack. This paper presents a general method to extract a surface pressure field from a skin friction field in complex flows as an inverse problem, focusing on its application to global luminescent oil-film (GLOF) skin friction measurements. The main technical aspects of this method are described, including the basic equation relating surface pressure to skin friction, variational method, numerical algorithm, and approximate method with the constant boundary enstrophy flux (BEF). The proposed method is evaluated through simulations in the Falkner–Skan flow and the flow over a 70°-delta wing to investigate the effects of the Lagrange multiplier, downsampling rate, noise level, and the value of a constant source term in the approximate method. Further, the approximate method is applied to the skin friction fields obtained by GLOF measurements in the flow over a 65°-delta wing and the square junction flow to obtain the normalized surface pressure fields. The proposed method provides a useful tool to obtain the high-resolution fields of both surface pressure and skin friction by GLOF measurements in complex flows (particularly at low speeds)https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8HMCUrfbbG8TehGKSWFXyQ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/UFAjphRr8ArhgWoCtBf76M https://cassyni.com/events/UFAjphRr8ArhgWoCtBf76M/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CkijMtXmBrAWkPip41X3Lz https://cassyni.com/events/UFAjphRr8ArhgWoCtBf76M?videoPreview=1 Particle filters for Data Assimilationnohttps://cassyni.com/events/UFAjphRr8ArhgWoCtBf76M?videoPreview=12022-12-01T16:00:00+00:002631.04DataSıgModern Data Assimilation (DA) can be traced back to the sixties and owes a lot to earlier developments in linear filtering theory. Since then, DA has evolved independently of Filtering Theory. To-date it is a massively important area of research due to its many applications in meteorology, ocean prediction, hydrology, oil reservoir exploration, etc. The field has been largely driven by practitioners, however in recent years an increasing body of theoretical work has been devoted to it. In this talk, In my talk, I will advocate the interpretation of DA through the language of stochastic filtering. This interpretation allows us to make use of advanced particle filters to produce rigorously validated DA methodologies. I will present a particle filter that incorporates three additional add-on procedures: nudging, tempering and jittering. The particle filter is tested on a two-layer quasi-geostrophic model with O(10^6) degrees of freedom out of which only a minute fraction are noisily observed.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CkijMtXmBrAWkPip41X3Lz https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/ER1pXZK9qMME3LLVyWJhMX https://cassyni.com/events/ER1pXZK9qMME3LLVyWJhMX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MPZnGsypMcYgA9XM5Fbejx https://cassyni.com/events/ER1pXZK9qMME3LLVyWJhMX?videoPreview=1 Discrete-time signatures and randomness in reservoir computingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/ER1pXZK9qMME3LLVyWJhMX?videoPreview=12021-02-25T16:00:00+00:003266.8DataSıgA new explanation of geometric nature of the reservoir computing phenomenon is presented. Reservoir computing is understood in the literature as the possibility of approximating input/output systems with randomly chosen recurrent neural systems and a trained linear readout layer. Light is shed on this phenomenon by constructing what is called strongly universal reservoir systems as random projections of a family of state-space systems that generate Volterra series expansions. This procedure yields a state-affine reservoir system with randomly generated coefficients in a dimension that is logarithmically reduced with respect to the original system. This reservoir system is able to approximate any element in the fading memory filters class just by training a different linear readout for each different filter. Explicit expressions for the probability distributions needed in the generation of the projected reservoir system are stated and bounds for the committed approximation error are provided.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MPZnGsypMcYgA9XM5Fbejx https://cassyni.com/events/WES6kYPDYfJXsvhHmxupRb/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/WES6kYPDYfJXsvhHmxupRb https://cassyni.com/events/WES6kYPDYfJXsvhHmxupRb/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QfoynU92C6xrt4fbUN7SLn https://cassyni.com/events/WES6kYPDYfJXsvhHmxupRb?videoPreview=1 The Oppositions of Categorical Propositions In Avicenna’s Framenohttps://cassyni.com/events/WES6kYPDYfJXsvhHmxupRb?videoPreview=12024-06-19T14:00:00+00:003588.04Logica UniversalisThe aim of this paper is to analyse categorical propositions and their oppositional relations in Avicenna’s frame. For Avicenna’s expression and conception of categorical propositions is different from those of the authors who preceded him, due to the various conditions he adds to these categorical propositions. These additions make the oppositional relations richer and give rise to many more figures than a simple square. Our analysis exhibits some of these figures by relating all kinds of quantified propositions in various ways. We thus find many squares of oppositions, several octagons, two hexagons and many complex figures which are different from each other and have specific and original structures, due to the propositions they contain. The hexagons are of Blanché’s kind, but one of them is asymmetric. Some octagons are of Buridan’s kind, but one of them is very unusual and seems to be a reversal of Buridan’s octagon. These octagons can also be replaced by cubes, which are three dimensional figures having the same number of vertices.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QfoynU92C6xrt4fbUN7SLn https://cassyni.com/events/LMVdwVxcAs9wAtPfYy5tvH/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/LMVdwVxcAs9wAtPfYy5tvH https://cassyni.com/events/LMVdwVxcAs9wAtPfYy5tvH/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JA2zb1FBt4yai2Ak9vYjUr https://cassyni.com/events/LMVdwVxcAs9wAtPfYy5tvH?videoPreview=1 NWL ICB update 2024nohttps://cassyni.com/events/LMVdwVxcAs9wAtPfYy5tvH?videoPreview=12024-10-08T08:00:00+00:00511.12North West London Kidney CareNo abstracthttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JA2zb1FBt4yai2Ak9vYjUr https://cassyni.com/events/SmyjmeQCgYCywXYL7eB4TF/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SmyjmeQCgYCywXYL7eB4TF https://cassyni.com/events/SmyjmeQCgYCywXYL7eB4TF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PtDePvhq43AJJN66XJCwk2 https://cassyni.com/events/QoQwhYKzL4vKQ44HN4PPuX/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QoQwhYKzL4vKQ44HN4PPuX https://cassyni.com/events/QoQwhYKzL4vKQ44HN4PPuX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/J7oY2iPKqkdpwefD5DA5nv https://cassyni.com/events/QoQwhYKzL4vKQ44HN4PPuX?videoPreview=1 MAIN EVENT: AI for Health in Africa Workshop nohttps://cassyni.com/events/QoQwhYKzL4vKQ44HN4PPuX?videoPreview=12024-12-03T12:00:00+00:003743.16NoneIn recent years, the landscape of healthcare has undergone significant transformations, primarily driven by advancements in advanced data analytics techniques and artificial intelligence. However, these innovations have yet to fully permeate the healthcare sector in Africa due to various challenges unique to the region. Recognizing the urgent need to bridge this gap and empower stakeholders in Africa's healthcare ecosystem, we propose a workshop aimed at convening researchers, practitioners, and healthcare professionals to explore the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning in enhancing healthcare outcomes across the continent. This interdisciplinary workshop will serve as a platform for experts and communities engaged in healthcare-related research, leveraging artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, deep learning, bioinformatics, and other relevant fields. Through a series of presentations, panel discussions, and interactive sessions, participants will delve into the challenges and opportunities associated with AI/ML/DS in the African healthcare context, including issues related to impact of data on the performance of models/algorithms, algorithm bias, data privacy, and resource accessibility. By fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration, the workshop endeavors to deepen participants' understanding of the capabilities and constraints of ML and AI in healthcare, Impact of data on the performance of AI/ML models in health research, paving the way for collaborative initiatives and future research endeavors with the potential to drive meaningful impact in African healthcare delivery.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/J7oY2iPKqkdpwefD5DA5nv https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9VFy36Ewv9u6SejbPo1C3X https://cassyni.com/events/9VFy36Ewv9u6SejbPo1C3X/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/BkiMrSbxWMHyJwbM2DtZSW https://cassyni.com/events/9VFy36Ewv9u6SejbPo1C3X?videoPreview=1 The Politics of Innovation: Why Some Countries Are Better Than Others at Science and Technologynohttps://cassyni.com/events/9VFy36Ewv9u6SejbPo1C3X?videoPreview=12019-06-21T10:00:00+00:004873.84 School of Public PolicyPerhaps one of the most interesting and least well understood questions in technology and innovation policy is why some countries are good at innovation and others are not. In his book The Politics of Innovation, Georgia Tech professor Mark Zachary Taylor synthesizes more than 50 years of theory and research on national innovation rates, bringing together the current political and economic wisdom and the latest findings about how nations become science and technology leaders. The book draws on statistical analysis and comparative case studies from the United States, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, Israel, Russia and a dozen other countries across Western Europe.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/BkiMrSbxWMHyJwbM2DtZSW https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/KNFg5PhL6fu9Sx1s9mKL3F https://cassyni.com/events/KNFg5PhL6fu9Sx1s9mKL3F/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YEoDiz3tr5qJTpBkmmRXH8 https://cassyni.com/events/KNFg5PhL6fu9Sx1s9mKL3F?videoPreview=1 Programmable metasurfaces: from reconfigurable wavefront to quantum algorithmsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/KNFg5PhL6fu9Sx1s9mKL3F?videoPreview=12024-11-22T14:00:00+00:003017.04UK Metamaterials NetworkProgrammability in materials science enables complex functions to be achieved in a controllable manner, either dynamically or statically. In metamaterials research, we are witnessing a surge in this area, particularly in reconfigurability and the dynamic or time-varying tunability of constitutive parameters. This has opened the door to new physics, with applications in holography, imaging, and information processing. In this talk, I will demonstrate two approaches to achieve programmable metasurfaces in the microwave and optical regimes. First, I will present a programmable microwave metasurface that generates electromagnetic fields with time-varying wavefronts. These fields are observed using a two-probe field mapping method, and we introduce a twisting degree of freedom within the time-varying orbital angular momentum. In the second approach, we combine a spatial light modulator with a lens-array metasurface to implement unitary matrix operations, showcasing quantum algorithms with both classical and quantum light. We will also discuss how quantum holograms can be generated from polarization entangled photon pairs using the same approach.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YEoDiz3tr5qJTpBkmmRXH8 https://cassyni.com/events/SHL8ixkgF5evwm1SXCtGBw/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SHL8ixkgF5evwm1SXCtGBw https://cassyni.com/events/SHL8ixkgF5evwm1SXCtGBw/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/XevDsq6GcUXchjVYhfTHrN https://cassyni.com/events/SHL8ixkgF5evwm1SXCtGBw?videoPreview=1 Hybrid AutoEncoder/Galerkin approach for nonlinear parametric reduced order modellingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/SHL8ixkgF5evwm1SXCtGBw?videoPreview=12024-11-08T14:00:00+00:003436.0Department of AeronauticsThis presentation introduces a novel hybrid Reduced Order Model (ROM) technique that combines Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD)-Galerkin models with data-driven approaches. By incorporating deep learning techniques both in the modeling of the orthogonal subspace and in the time integration phase, it corrects errors within and beyond the POD subspace. The hybrid ROM is trained using a neural Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) framework, improving both accuracy and stability. Testing on the viscous Burgers equation and parametric Navier-Stokes equations demonstrates that this method outperforms traditional ROMs, autoencoder-based models, and advanced hybrid approaches, delivering better interpretability, accuracy and low computational cost.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/XevDsq6GcUXchjVYhfTHrN https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/4YoYgtHavwHX91jA97VbVX https://cassyni.com/events/4YoYgtHavwHX91jA97VbVX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4pRXN8v6fPc9CgjQLcTnG6 https://cassyni.com/events/4YoYgtHavwHX91jA97VbVX?videoPreview=1 Redefining Retail Catchment Areas by Mobile Data Analyticsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/4YoYgtHavwHX91jA97VbVX?videoPreview=12024-11-05T03:00:00+00:001064.32Business SchoolThis study pioneers a transformative approach to defining and measuring retail catchment areas, moving from traditional isochrone-based models to a behavioural, evidence-based framework that capitalises on mobile location data. Departing from conventional methods that rely on static geographic boundaries or potential travel times, we employ geofencing and geohash techniques to map the actual movements and behaviours of shoppers. This refined approach enables us to deepen our comprehension of consumer travel patterns and shopping motivations, empowering retail managers to craft more targeted marketing and operational strategies. Our findings reveal marked deviations from traditionally assumed catchment boundaries, providing fresh insights into consumer behaviour and market dynamics.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4pRXN8v6fPc9CgjQLcTnG6 https://cassyni.com/events/2aEkcnDNaTzrbYF7PXhvwo/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/2aEkcnDNaTzrbYF7PXhvwo https://cassyni.com/events/2aEkcnDNaTzrbYF7PXhvwo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KZAsFqaS5EhmAxpmwei8HC https://cassyni.com/events/2aEkcnDNaTzrbYF7PXhvwo?videoPreview=1 Taming Waves through Non-Hermiticity: From Invisible Tunneling to Unidirectional Nonlinear Pulsesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/2aEkcnDNaTzrbYF7PXhvwo?videoPreview=12025-02-25T14:00:00+00:003654.32MetaMATNon-Hermitian wave dynamics challenge conventional understanding of wave propagation, revealing novel transport behaviors absent in Hermitian systems. In this seminar, I will present two intriguing effects that arise from these dynamics. First, I will demonstrate a unique tunneling effect at the interface of a non-Hermitian system sandwiched between two Hermitian systems. This configuration generates barriers arising from the non-Hermitian skin effect at the boundary. I will explore how a traveling wave interacts with this interface and, under certain conditions, tunnels through it despite the presence of non-Hermitian barriers. This causes the interface to remain dark, as if the wave passes through invisibly. The phenomenon will be examined from both quantum and classical perspectives, with experimental demonstrations using an active topoelectric circuit platform. The second effect focuses on generating unidirectional, narrow pulses that propagate without distortion in active systems with nonreciprocal couplings. By harnessing nonlinearity to balance nonreciprocity, dispersion, and dissipation, I will show how stable solitonic pulse propagation can be achieved across a broad range of parameters. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KZAsFqaS5EhmAxpmwei8HC https://cassyni.com/events/CwppUWHWPihWJM5dCxpeiR/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CwppUWHWPihWJM5dCxpeiR https://cassyni.com/events/CwppUWHWPihWJM5dCxpeiR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/WcMBt6PkCF2Ro42GWUGmY2 https://cassyni.com/events/CwppUWHWPihWJM5dCxpeiR?videoPreview=1 From Dandelions to Dandidronesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/CwppUWHWPihWJM5dCxpeiR?videoPreview=12024-12-04T14:00:00+00:003429.04Leeds Institute for Fluid DynamicsWe are developing swarms of dandelion-inspired drones, dandidrones, that are passively transported and distributed by the wind and scavenge energy from the wind to remain afloat. They will autonomously undertake complex coordinated tasks such as following concentrations of chemical agents, ensuring ad-hoc resolution and coverage. Each dandidrone will bioresorb, removing the need to be retrieved. In this talk, I will present our progress in developing this technology, and I will discuss the underpinning aerodynamics. We will start from the aerodynamics underlying the flights of the dandelion seed and move to the physical, numerical and theoretical models that describe its flight. We will show that dandelions and dandidrones can be described by permeable disks whose aerodynamics is governed by the Reynolds, Galilei and Darcy numbers. We will further simplify the model to two-dimensional plates, for which numerical simulations of the Navier-Stokes equations can be performed at a moderate computational cost. The simulations will reveal the energy harvesting mechanisms and how horizontal gusts can uplift free-falling bodies. Finally, we will provide an overview of current and future work and of the research questions that still remain to be addressed to enable this technology. This research received funds from the ERC Consolidator Grant H2020 ERC-2020-COG 101001499; ARIA Scoping Our Planet; and the Leverhulme Trust grant RPG-2015-255. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/WcMBt6PkCF2Ro42GWUGmY2 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/HPgt1Hd7kCcUuUXpQBXfVX https://cassyni.com/events/HPgt1Hd7kCcUuUXpQBXfVX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SkrsnZPoojQ4AnofsSeQFY https://cassyni.com/events/HPgt1Hd7kCcUuUXpQBXfVX?videoPreview=1 The technical and financial challenges and solutions for net zero aviationnohttps://cassyni.com/events/HPgt1Hd7kCcUuUXpQBXfVX?videoPreview=12024-12-04T15:00:00+00:003452.04Brahmal Vasudevan Institute for Sustainable AviationWhat are the solutions for decarbonization in aviation and how does the industry plan to reach net zero carbon by 2050? What are the technical and financial challenges in getting there and what action is being taken now to accelerate the transition? Hemant Mistry has over 30 years’ experience in aviation, including technology application, commercial strategy and regulatory reform. He leads IATA’s Net Zero Transition activities to support decarbonization of the industry, working across airlines, governments and the supply-chain. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hemant has been responsible for IATA’s work on securing financial support for airlines and supply chain partners. Prior to this Hemant was IATA’s Director of Infrastructure and Fuel where he worked with governments, airports, ANSPs and jet fuel suppliers to build opportunities for partnership, pricing & efficiency improvement, as well as effective capacity development. Before joining IATA, Hemant worked as a Senior Associate for Booz Allen Hamilton, a global management consultancy, where he led competition and regulatory assessments for the European Commission and performed safety audits for national aviation authorities. Hemant’s first employment was with UK National Air Traffic Services where he helped develop ICAO standards and recommended practices for new aviation technologies and operational concepts. He was sponsored by the UK Civil Aviation Authority and is a graduate of the University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SkrsnZPoojQ4AnofsSeQFY https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/VjtzANoEieTLo9mdNY6Pdf https://cassyni.com/events/VjtzANoEieTLo9mdNY6Pdf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/T49AeVTNPJhqKn8xEHyzBx https://cassyni.com/events/VjtzANoEieTLo9mdNY6Pdf?videoPreview=1 Sugar Signaling Regulates Light Induced Stomatal Openingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/VjtzANoEieTLo9mdNY6Pdf?videoPreview=12024-10-23T13:00:00+00:00792.08The New Phytologist FoundationRecent advances showed that carbohydrate metabolism is essential for light induced stomatal opening. Starch in guard cells degrades quickly upon light exposure. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed that ß-amylase 1 (BAM1), which is specifically expressed in guard cells and responsible for starch degradation, is potential target of Target of Rapamycin (TOR). TOR kinase stabilizes BAM1 by directly phosphorylating Serine 31, thereby promoting guard cell starch degradation and stomatal opening. Meanwhile, stomata is high energy demanded organ and possesses higher ability of respiration, leading to guard cell specific accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) under unstressed condition. Guard cell specific accumulated H2O2 is required for light induced starch degradation and stomatal opening. This phenomenon is conserved among plant species with different stomata types and basal vascular plants. H2O2 promotes guard cell starch degradation and stomatal opening through KIN10, the catalytic subunit of SnRK1. KIN10 prefers nuclear localization caused by H2O2 accumulation in guard cells and phosphorylates bZIP30 transcription factor promoting the expression of BAM1. bZIP30 forms transcriptional complex with BZR1, the core transcription factor of Brassinosteroid signaling, through the KIN10 dependent phosphorylation of bZIP30 and BZR1 oxidation. And the molecular mechanism of KIN10-bZIP30-BZR1 module also exists in Selaginella doederleinii. Our study unveils that metabolic statues regulates light induce stomatal opening through TOR and SnRK1 signaling.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/T49AeVTNPJhqKn8xEHyzBx https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/YD91Po2ruwDqA6FBvE12Mb https://cassyni.com/events/YD91Po2ruwDqA6FBvE12Mb/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7vDYCSvWHcczjig9eT6Jn2 https://cassyni.com/events/YD91Po2ruwDqA6FBvE12Mb?videoPreview=1 The unique gastric anatomy of monotremes – insights from the pseudogenization of NK3 homeobox 2nohttps://cassyni.com/events/YD91Po2ruwDqA6FBvE12Mb?videoPreview=12025-01-14T09:00:00+00:003963.76Royal Society PublishingThe enzymatic breakdown and regulation of food passage through the vertebrate antral stomach and pyloric sphincter (antropyloric region) is a trait conserved over 450 million years. Development of the structures involved is underpinned by a highly conserved signalling pathway involving the hedgehog, bone morphogenetic protein and Wingless/Int-1 (Wnt) protein families. Monotremes are one of the few vertebrate lineages where acid-based digestion has been lost, and this is consistent with the lack of genes for hydrochloric acid secretion and gastric enzymes in the genomes of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) . Furthermore, these species feature unique gastric phenotypes, both with truncated and aglandular antral stomachs and the platypus with no pylorus. Here, we explore the genetic underpinning of monotreme gastric phenotypes, investigating genes important in antropyloric development using the newest monotreme genomes (mOrnAna1.pri.v4 and mTacAcu1) together with RNA-seq data. We found that the pathway constituents are generally conserved, but surprisingly, NK3 homeobox 2 (Nkx3.2) was pseudogenized in both platypus and echidna. We speculate that the unique sequence evolution of Grem1 and Bmp4 sequences in the echidna lineage may correlate with their pyloric-like restriction and that the convergent loss of gastric acid and stomach size genotypes and phenotypes in teleost and monotreme lineages may be a result of eco-evolutionary dynamics. These findings reflect the effects of gene loss on phenotypic evolution and further elucidate the genetic control of monotreme stomach anatomy and physiology.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7vDYCSvWHcczjig9eT6Jn2 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TGexvxZcXMgokzXqukJ2dT https://cassyni.com/events/TGexvxZcXMgokzXqukJ2dT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Tz8Dv2pnbvTMiAjbaDDx62 https://cassyni.com/events/TGexvxZcXMgokzXqukJ2dT?videoPreview=1 Real-time multicompartment Hodgkin-Huxley neuron emulation on SoC FPGAnohttps://cassyni.com/events/TGexvxZcXMgokzXqukJ2dT?videoPreview=12025-01-21T08:00:00+00:001777.56Frontiers in NeuroscienceAdvanced computational models and simulations to unravel the complexities of brain function have known a growing interest in recent years in the field of neurosciences, driven by significant technological progress in computing platforms. Multicompartment models, which capture the detailed morphological and functional properties of neural circuits, represent a significant advancement in this area providing more biological coherence than single compartment modeling. These models serve as a cornerstone for exploring the neural basis of sensory processing, learning paradigms, adaptive behaviors, and neurological disorders. Yet, the high complexity of these models presents a challenge for their real-time implementation, which is essential for exploring alternative therapies for neurological disorders such as electroceutics that rely on biohybrid interaction. Here, we present an accessible, user-friendly, and real-time emulator for multicompartment Hodgkin-Huxley neurons on SoC FPGA. Our system enables real-time emulation of multicompartment neurons while emphasizing cost-efficiency, flexibility, and ease of use. We showcase an implementation utilizing a technology that remains underrepresented in the current literature for this specific application. We anticipate that our system will contribute to the enhancement of computation platforms by presenting an alternative architecture for multicompartment computation. Additionally, it constitutes a step toward developing neuromorphic-based neuroprostheses for bioelectrical therapeutics through an embedded real-time platform running at a similar timescale to biological networks.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Tz8Dv2pnbvTMiAjbaDDx62 https://cassyni.com/events/KrxXMLNdLrJk67U19YGU8M/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/KrxXMLNdLrJk67U19YGU8M https://cassyni.com/events/KrxXMLNdLrJk67U19YGU8M/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LZoNH5rRYufkTV1eAnot7x https://cassyni.com/events/KrxXMLNdLrJk67U19YGU8M?videoPreview=1 Intergenerational Family and Community Resilience in Segregated Black Urban Space: A Black History Month Tributenohttps://cassyni.com/events/KrxXMLNdLrJk67U19YGU8M?videoPreview=12025-02-20T17:00:00+00:003249.04Lived Places PublishingA look at the rich complexities and harsh realities of life for Black families living in a segregated working-class community. In this conversation between **Chris McAuley** and **Valandra**, they cover themes of intergenerational mutual aid and caregiving, entrepreneurship, spirituality, and the impacts of the legacy of race and economic inequities.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LZoNH5rRYufkTV1eAnot7x https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/RJ6ArrVQAtQ9DX3oAAWN5j https://cassyni.com/events/RJ6ArrVQAtQ9DX3oAAWN5j/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JkunXC7uJD3GQ1FFhgsFT4 https://cassyni.com/events/RJ6ArrVQAtQ9DX3oAAWN5j?videoPreview=1 Savanna grass carbon dynamics under a changing climatenohttps://cassyni.com/events/RJ6ArrVQAtQ9DX3oAAWN5j?videoPreview=12024-08-12T12:00:00+00:001322.24The New Phytologist FoundationRising atmospheric CO2 concentrations are significantly impacting the global terrestrial biosphere through indirect climate effects and direct effects on plant performance. In tree-dominated ecosystems, long-term monitoring suggests CO2 fertilization enhances tree productivity. However, in tropical savannas, which cover ~20% of the Earth’s land surface and contribute to ~30% of terrestrial net primary production, equivalent long-term analyses of CO2 responses in C4 savanna grasses are lacking, leaving net outcomes for tree-grass dynamics, fire regimes and carbon storage unclear. By combining a meta-analysis of CO2-addition experiments, 32 years of in situ field observations from Kruger National Park, South Africa, and vegetation simulations via the Community Land Model, we show a clear and consistent result: CO2-fertilization of wild C4 grasses is widespread, especially in dry conditions. The implications of C4 grass CO2 fertilization for future carbon storage and savanna ecosystem function will be discussed.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JkunXC7uJD3GQ1FFhgsFT4 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/16KZbMngfTGF3qHxEPD4fP https://cassyni.com/events/16KZbMngfTGF3qHxEPD4fP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2en2Jwf3F65q6Dq5rv4XP4 https://cassyni.com/events/16KZbMngfTGF3qHxEPD4fP?videoPreview=1 Adaptive Model Order Reduction for Shock-dominated Problemsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/16KZbMngfTGF3qHxEPD4fP?videoPreview=12024-12-06T17:00:00+00:001773.12JKW Symposium TeamPhysical problems featuring strong shock advection often present significant challenges and are well-recognized to be not amendable for conventional model-order reduction (MOR) methods. This can be attributed to the slow decay of Kolmogorov N-width. In literature. To address this challenge, we present an adaptive MOR methodology to construct reduced-order models (ROMs) for shock-dominated problems, which seek to update the subspace in the online stage to satisfy an optimal representation of the evaluated dynamics in the target problems. One crucial factor in adaptive MOR is the sampling points selection for dynamics evaluations to minimize the posterior errors in representing the target physics. We develop a feature-driven sampling strategy to identify and select points near the shock wave fronts in adaptive MOR to improve the predictive capabilities of the resulting ROMs. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using a suite of shock-dominated flow problems.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2en2Jwf3F65q6Dq5rv4XP4 https://cassyni.com/events/3ZZapn2Jrk2jQmmWn57hPK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/X5ftRb2PSrxtw2fEnengia https://cassyni.com/events/HtPjHEJQzP25YdyxPxUoad/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7r3xCKmaf5UP2tb3hXqohx https://cassyni.com/events/XDu3Xgmaqjy3RrHYZBd8FP/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/XDu3Xgmaqjy3RrHYZBd8FP https://cassyni.com/events/XDu3Xgmaqjy3RrHYZBd8FP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Rb6kNULfmZNnw9jjk2xfKk https://cassyni.com/events/XDu3Xgmaqjy3RrHYZBd8FP?videoPreview=1 Digital Twins for Underground Infrastructurenohttps://cassyni.com/events/XDu3Xgmaqjy3RrHYZBd8FP?videoPreview=12025-04-10T14:00:00+00:003687.32Data-Centric Engineering JournalTo advance sustainable underground development, current practices must evolve to the next level: the Digital Twin (DT). As a real-time single source of truth, a DT consolidates timely and accurate information about infrastructure conditions, enabling optimised design and proactive maintenance of underground structures. Yet, confusion around what DTs actually are, and how they should be implemented, has impeded their adoption. In the first part of this talk, we will clarify DT-related terminology from a built environment perspective and outline the key features and maturity levels of DTs for underground space. By drawing connections between DTs and the well-established observational method in geotechnical engineering, we will identify research gaps and propose a shift toward a prescriptive, knowledge-based DT framework. We will then focus on a key technological enabler for automating DT-driven asset monitoring, namely segmentation of LiDAR data using deep learning. In particular, we will explore the use of synthetic data simulators to pre-train large models towards alleviating onerous real-world data requirements. In the second part, we will demonstrate a new framework for the reconstruction of DTs of tunnel linings, focusing on automation in component detection, digital model implementation, condition mapping, quantification, and numerical analysis to estimate structural bearing capacity. The Large Vision Model, Segment Anything Model (SAM), is deployed for effective zero-shot segmentation, outperforming supervised learning models. Geometric parameters are then extracted for reconstructing DTs, as well as for deformation and displacement monitoring. The fine-tuned SAM was also used for defect detection, with defects recorded in the digital model, providing automated assessments of defect severity. Finally, we demonstrate how the seamless integration of digital and high-fidelity numerical models, updated with detected conditions, can be used for robust and efficient evaluation of tunnel conditions and remaining capacity. The proposed approach is efficient, accurate, and robust, and as such, has the potential to transform geotechnical project planning through computationally enhanced decision-making.. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Rb6kNULfmZNnw9jjk2xfKk https://cassyni.com/events/LMdkWeY3BfnZuaTWwePSJZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2Y5hwyZgwQXNjVRp972sdg https://cassyni.com/events/Ukf2JGXxeTCZ4uoz1ViVXT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Uqc8fNmPK2zuWdj6fhC26a https://cassyni.com/events/TmMpCuEumY6QQ9yyuXFAiZ/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TmMpCuEumY6QQ9yyuXFAiZ https://cassyni.com/events/TmMpCuEumY6QQ9yyuXFAiZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LvqmRbMzb5f4xPbWhwxvgW https://cassyni.com/events/TmMpCuEumY6QQ9yyuXFAiZ?videoPreview=1 Attracting SDG Research to your Journalnohttps://cassyni.com/events/TmMpCuEumY6QQ9yyuXFAiZ?videoPreview=12025-06-19T08:00:00+00:002931.0Topics at the heart of our communityThe 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out a blueprint for a sustainable future on earth, covering the social, health, economic and environmental issues that we urgently need to address to allow future generations to thrive. The SDGs represent rapidly growing areas of high impact research, and the Goals are relevant to almost all subject disciplines. Nicola Jones, Director, Springer Nature SDG Programme, will lead a discussion about why publishing SDG-related research is beneficial for traditional measures of journal success, and why this research is so important in helping to ensure a sustainable future. Join us and find out what steps editors can take to attract SDG-related research to their journal. Marco Cordani, Associate Editor for Cell Communication and Signaling, and Joshua Bayliss, Senior Publisher for Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, will also present case studies on their approaches to welcoming more SDG research to their journals.  https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LvqmRbMzb5f4xPbWhwxvgW https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/8zirSvey693uMsovzNBmFb https://cassyni.com/events/8zirSvey693uMsovzNBmFb/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8PF9ERf6zgNZytysn4VCJA https://cassyni.com/events/8zirSvey693uMsovzNBmFb?videoPreview=1 Precision Microbiome Health Carenohttps://cassyni.com/events/8zirSvey693uMsovzNBmFb?videoPreview=12025-09-11T02:00:00+00:00611.92Microbiome Virtual International ForumThe human microbiome is a high dimensional and dynamic part of our physiology that plays a key role in managing health and individualized responses to diet and medicine. The immune system controls our interaction with the microbial world, and the microbial communities in our bodies are central to modulating the immune response. Changes in the human microbiome and their metabolism have substantial influence on atopy, neurological disorders, metabolic disorders, and a range of complex conditions and disease states. Diet is incredibly important in shaping human health and the microbiome, altering both composition and metabolic activity, resulting in changes in immune, endocrine, and neurological systems. Measuring diet through surveys, apps, or photographs has become indispensable to our efforts to associate microbiome composition with physiological response to specific dietary components. Microbiome-Wide Association Studies (MWAS) combined with novel quantitative multi-omic approaches and automated at-home sampling devices are enabling us to use AI techniques to determine personalized responses to nutrition that drive diseases states and treatment efficacy. Through these innovations we are finally realizing the paradigm of precision medicine for facilitating patient care. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8PF9ERf6zgNZytysn4VCJA https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/JNczcUDePRgH2AFCf8yNRj https://cassyni.com/events/JNczcUDePRgH2AFCf8yNRj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/WjfRzXmYcvp4mAGzyuarer https://cassyni.com/events/JNczcUDePRgH2AFCf8yNRj?videoPreview=1 Parker Solar Probe in the inner heliosphere: insights and problemsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/JNczcUDePRgH2AFCf8yNRj?videoPreview=12025-04-10T14:00:00+00:003468.92Journal of Plasma PhysicsThe solar magnetic field plays a dual role in the generation of the Heliosphere. On the one hand it creates the corona by storing and transmitting, via a Poynting flux crossing the photosphere and transition region, the energy provided by the dynamo and convective motions; on the other hand, it provides the confinement, or magnetic cage, through which the heated coronal plasma must break through - everywhere except solar polar regions around solar minimum - to produce the supersonic solar wind. Solar wind streams are characterized by different plasma properties, from overall speed, to temperature and temperature anisotropies, composition, as well as different properties for the embedded turbulence. While it has been established that the source of fast solar wind streams at solar minimum are the polar coronal holes, slower solar wind streams have contributions from different sources. The larger than expected filling factor of slow solar wind has been attributed to flows coming from coronal hole boundaries, i.e., regions with large expansion factors, or from the complex mapping of the magnetic field from the photosphere into the heliosphere. The observation by Parker Solar Probe that much of the solar wind, independently of speed, is dominated by Alfvénic fluctuations, and the frequent observation of slow Alfvénic solar wind, previously observed relatively rarely in Helios and Wind data, provide evidence for a modified picture of solar wind origins. I will discuss the properties, origin and acceleration of different types of solar wind streams as observed by Parker Solar Probe in the inner heliosphere. Image credit: [Jongsun Lee (Unsplash)](https://unsplash.com/photos/moon-eclipse-F-pSZO_jeE8).https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/WjfRzXmYcvp4mAGzyuarer https://cassyni.com/events/VEtHdWTC3VrkYS5EGgD4NZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GjbC2gtv14zgKbM4WhPHVx https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/UFb5Y9A9AakbsgFEAhjjZf https://cassyni.com/events/UFb5Y9A9AakbsgFEAhjjZf/abstract https://cassyni.com/events/537gN1kUY4irNkKPLtukxD/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/DAPL8nzpVHSngbk959DvkE https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/7WMhbRz6jMVLjgnwtapPg9 https://cassyni.com/events/7WMhbRz6jMVLjgnwtapPg9/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5Ui9A2oF17mnS5kREcekm4 https://cassyni.com/events/7WMhbRz6jMVLjgnwtapPg9?videoPreview=1 Shortcut Learning for Medical AI: Opportunity or Threatnohttps://cassyni.com/events/7WMhbRz6jMVLjgnwtapPg9?videoPreview=12025-07-23T11:00:00+00:003972.56NoneMedical artificial intelligence has shown remarkable progress in diagnostic and clinical applications, yet concern grows over AI systems relying on "shortcut learning"—exploiting statistical patterns that correlate with outcomes without capturing genuine causal relationships. We will examine the dual nature of shortcut learning in medical AI, analyzing both its potential benefits and significant risks. While shortcuts can improve computational efficiency and enable rapid deployment in resource-constrained settings, they simultaneously present substantial threats to generalization, fairness, and reliability when deployed in heterogeneous clinical environments. We will review recent examples of shortcut learning in medical imaging, electronic health record analysis, and clinical decision support systems, presenting a framework for distinguishing between benign shortcuts that enhance performance and harmful shortcuts that undermine clinical utility. We will discuss proposed methodological solutions for detecting and mitigating problematic shortcuts, including causality-informed architectures, diverse training datasets, and human-AI collaborative validation. Shortcut learning represents both opportunity and threat—with the balance determined by how effectively the medical AI community addresses this fundamental challenge through rigorous development practices, transparent evaluation, and ongoing clinical oversight. This seminar is run in conjunction with the Data Science for Social Impact Lab at the University of Pretoria. Image credit: [Markus Winkler (Unsplash)](https://unsplash.com/photos/a-close-up-of-a-typewriter-with-a-paper-on-it-D4hbNgcvcrw).https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5Ui9A2oF17mnS5kREcekm4 https://cassyni.com/events/ERSAF13SsmF8EVnXG2PKpq/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/ERSAF13SsmF8EVnXG2PKpq https://cassyni.com/events/ERSAF13SsmF8EVnXG2PKpq/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QhWde66GATgqT87qVUmCgn https://cassyni.com/events/ERSAF13SsmF8EVnXG2PKpq?videoPreview=1 The Power of a Name: Identity, Culture, and Resistance in a Changing Worldnohttps://cassyni.com/events/ERSAF13SsmF8EVnXG2PKpq?videoPreview=12025-12-04T17:00:00+00:003055.48Lived Places PublishingNames are more than just identifiers; they carry the weight of identity, culture, and resilience. This seminar will explore the profound ways in which names shape personal and collective realities while navigating cultural and systemic power dynamics. Anchored in cultural anthropology and intersectionality, the discussion will uncover how names foster belonging, preserve heritage, and resist systemic exclusion. We will draw on key insights from “[My Name Is](https://livedplacespublishing.com/book/isbn/9781915734235)” to examine naming practices as a means of asserting identity, challenging oppression, and connecting with our shared humanity.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QhWde66GATgqT87qVUmCgn https://cassyni.com/events/Ev5mHggyKDoBEGKQrTg869/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Ev5mHggyKDoBEGKQrTg869 https://cassyni.com/events/Ev5mHggyKDoBEGKQrTg869/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/NnZCX8pCeNsQSKPSKzibwc https://cassyni.com/events/Ev5mHggyKDoBEGKQrTg869?videoPreview=1 Nature Water Talks: Water pollution and advanced treatment processesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Ev5mHggyKDoBEGKQrTg869?videoPreview=12025-06-26T12:00:00+00:004540.04Springer Nature Sustainable Development Goals ProgrammeWe recently launched a Collection on water pollution and advance treatment processes (https://www.nature.com/collections/hehhggfbge), a collaboration between a number of journals within the Nature Portfolio. To highlight the collection, in this webinar, we will talk to Denise Mitrano (Nestle Research Switzerland), Yang Yang (Clarkson University) and Denis O' Carroll (UNSW) about the fate of emerging pollutants in the environment and their remediation technologies. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/NnZCX8pCeNsQSKPSKzibwc https://cassyni.com/events/9Ux7nAaCVBi6qQ5BFYgL6h/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9Ux7nAaCVBi6qQ5BFYgL6h https://cassyni.com/events/9Ux7nAaCVBi6qQ5BFYgL6h/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/RiG9deFYsvWs2cpjnX9XEv https://cassyni.com/events/9Ux7nAaCVBi6qQ5BFYgL6h?videoPreview=1 Real-time digital twins: unifying bias-aware data assimilation and machine learningnohttps://cassyni.com/events/9Ux7nAaCVBi6qQ5BFYgL6h?videoPreview=12025-07-28T14:00:00+00:003390.48Data-Centric Engineering JournalAccurate forecasting and effective control of high-dimensional, nonlinear systems remain key challenges across science and engineering. This seminar explores a new paradigm in real-time digital twins. The digital twin framework unifies data assimilation with machine learning, enabling robust, real-time solutions for modelling, prediction, and control under (i) aleatoric and epistemic uncertainties and (ii) partial observability. This talk covers three key ingredients for real-time twinning: model-error inference, partial observations, and physical control strategies. First, we propose a bias-aware data assimilation framework that combines low-order models with real data while accounting for modelling errors. Second, we demonstrate how data assimilation can be leveraged to integrate partial and noisy observations into machine-learned reduced-order models for time-accurate and numerically stable data-driven models. Third, we explore the integration of partial observations and reduced-order models in reinforcement learning via data assimilation for adaptive decision-making. These approaches overcome limitations of traditional methods—such as the need for full-state measurements and extensive a priori training—while ensuring stability and scalability even in chaotic and turbulent regimes. The presented strategies open new opportunities for advancing digital twins, autonomous systems, and real-time feedback control in complex environments. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/RiG9deFYsvWs2cpjnX9XEv https://cassyni.com/events/MqBr3tGCrzUgsZ1PWUBVsT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ReYEv4uccpspYAR1Bjntj8 https://cassyni.com/events/FQkzSzrPA3H13jJveZo6GM/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/FQkzSzrPA3H13jJveZo6GM https://cassyni.com/events/FQkzSzrPA3H13jJveZo6GM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/XedHZPDLDmjbQydKJLT1Kk https://cassyni.com/events/FQkzSzrPA3H13jJveZo6GM?videoPreview=1 Extremely Tunable Meta-Systems: Design Considerations and Universal Model-Based Wave-Control Frameworknohttps://cassyni.com/events/FQkzSzrPA3H13jJveZo6GM?videoPreview=12025-09-12T10:00:00+00:003273.48UK Metamaterials NetworkDesigning and optimizing a reconfigurable wave system (e.g., a reconfigurable intelligent surface, a dynamic metasurface antenna, a wave-domain physical neural network) for a desired functionality is generally challenging because the effects of the tunable degrees of freedom are intertwined. First, I will argue that stronger coupling between the tunable entities boosts the control over the reconfigurable wave systems's transfer function. Intuitively, the longer a wave bounces around between the tunable entities within the system, the more sensitivity it accumulates to their configuration. I will present analytical, numerical, and experimental results to substantiate this observation, considering for concreteness a dynamic metasurface antenna as reconfigurable wave system. Second, I will discuss our recent efforts to formulate and calibrate physics-based models of reconfigurable wave systems that faithfully capture the inter-element coupling, irrespective of the complexity of the system. I will present closed-form and gradient-descent-based methods to calibrate the parameters of such models so that they can serve as digital twins for a priori unknown experimental reconfigurable wave systems, including a calibration method compatible with intensity-only detection. I will carefully explore the role of ambiguities in these physics-based digital twins, clarifying in what scenarios ambiguities need to be lifted and how that can be achieved. By comparison with physics-agnostic digital twins, I will highlight the favorable inductive bias of physics-based models. Once calibrated, these physics-based digital twins enable efficient in-software optimization of the reconfigurable wave system’s configuration for a desired functionality without further access to the experimental system. I will share insights into efficient optimization algorithms, notably for systems with few-bit programmable degrees of freedom. Third, I will apply this technique to characterize reconfigurable wave systems in the realm of wireless sensing. Specifically, I will report experimental results on remotely estimating the full scattering matrix of a multi-port device under test without any ambiguity. In this scheme, the wireless propagation environment is interpreted as an "over-the-air fixture" that can be treated as reconfigurable wave system. Hence, it is amenable to being characterized based on the aforementioned technique. Subsequently, the over-the-air fixture can be de-embedded to obtain the scattering properties of the device under test. The concept is relevant to RFID and wireless bioelectronics.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/XedHZPDLDmjbQydKJLT1Kk https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QJRsHJVq4HFBEVUx4A68bP https://cassyni.com/events/QJRsHJVq4HFBEVUx4A68bP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7WMYRCXRHot17W7EqnXnj8 https://cassyni.com/events/QJRsHJVq4HFBEVUx4A68bP?videoPreview=1 Charleston In Between: Closing Summarynohttps://cassyni.com/events/QJRsHJVq4HFBEVUx4A68bP?videoPreview=12025-07-09T15:30:00+00:00979.24Part of the nonprofit Annual Reviews organization Image credit: [Florian Wehde (Unsplash)](https://unsplash.com/photos/city-buildings-near-body-of-water-during-daytime-1uWanmgkd5g).https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7WMYRCXRHot17W7EqnXnj8 https://cassyni.com/events/YCqA8sN7Uy2qYXzvp94qBb/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/YCqA8sN7Uy2qYXzvp94qBb https://cassyni.com/events/YCqA8sN7Uy2qYXzvp94qBb/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HuCT8Dbv92NtQ4Ze8Y4EpW https://cassyni.com/events/YCqA8sN7Uy2qYXzvp94qBb?videoPreview=1 Thieme Cheminar Dedicated to Professor Erick Carreiranohttps://cassyni.com/events/YCqA8sN7Uy2qYXzvp94qBb?videoPreview=12025-08-14T13:00:00+00:007451.0Thieme GroupJoin us for the Thieme Cheminar dedicated to Professor Erick Carreira Thursday, August 14, 2025 3:00 PM (CET) This special online event celebrates the impactful career and scientific legacy of Prof. Erick Carreira, through outstanding talks by leading researchers in the field: 🔹Prof. Tobias Ritter (Max-Planck-Institut Kohlenforschung, Germany) 🔹Prof. Song Lin (Cornell University, USA) 🔹Prof. Sarah Reisman (California Institute of Technology (Caltech), USA) Chaired by Prof. Mark Lautens, Editor-in-Chief of Synthesis Do not miss this unique and inspiring opportunity to explore groundbreaking chemistry and honor one of the field’s leading voices!https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HuCT8Dbv92NtQ4Ze8Y4EpW https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/4YVhRxcqVy6XXTUu32ZQKX https://cassyni.com/events/4YVhRxcqVy6XXTUu32ZQKX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ECpQkT923ZiJmYya5CZfg2 https://cassyni.com/events/4YVhRxcqVy6XXTUu32ZQKX?videoPreview=1 Manufacturing Metamaterials - The ultimate engineering challenge?nohttps://cassyni.com/events/4YVhRxcqVy6XXTUu32ZQKX?videoPreview=12021-12-16T13:00:00+00:003471.96UK Metamaterials NetworkThe manufacturing of metamaterials presents a complex engineering challenge due to the interplay of material properties, microstructure, processing methods, and the additional structural design elements unique to metamaterials. This analysis emphasizes that metamaterial properties do not arise solely from their engineered structural elements but also fundamentally depend on atomic composition, bonding types, microstructural features, and processing routes. Examples from ceramic materials illustrate how variations in microstructure and processing conditions—such as porosity, crystallographic texture, and residual stresses—significantly influence mechanical and electromagnetic properties. Manufacturing approaches span additive, subtractive, and formative techniques, each with distinct advantages and limitations in achieving the precise spatial property gradients required for metamaterial functionality. Key challenges include the difficulty of accurately measuring material properties, limitations in co-processing dissimilar materials, managing residual stresses, and fabricating continuous property gradients versus discrete layers. Moreover, manufacturing imperfections and variability raise critical questions about acceptable tolerances and their impact on metamaterial performance, underscoring the necessity for integrated design–manufacture–test cycles. Proposed solutions advocate for expanded materials databases incorporating microstructural and processing data, enhanced collaboration between materials engineers and metamaterial designers, and early consideration of scalable manufacturing methods. Progress in this field requires mutual awareness of manufacturing constraints and design flexibility to realize metamaterials with novel properties that fill gaps in conventional material performance spaces.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ECpQkT923ZiJmYya5CZfg2 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CwWyDackxkWWgnqN6stTYR https://cassyni.com/events/CwWyDackxkWWgnqN6stTYR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MCR3qq7H1kUVdih64ZJKwL https://cassyni.com/events/CwWyDackxkWWgnqN6stTYR?videoPreview=1 Robotics-as-a-Service: A Novel and Cost-Effective Business Modelnohttps://cassyni.com/events/CwWyDackxkWWgnqN6stTYR?videoPreview=12023-11-06T00:00:00+00:003391.72Business SchoolRobotic Process Automation (RPA) offers substantial benefits by automating repetitive desktop tasks, yet its adoption by Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) is often hindered by high licensing costs (e.g., 20-30K annually per license), complex implementation, and significant upfront investment. Traditional system integration via vendor APIs also presents cost and time challenges. This work introduces a novel Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) model designed to overcome these barriers. The RaaS approach utilizes open-source libraries and cloud-based control systems to develop virtual robots capable of mimicking human interactions, such as mouse clicks, keystrokes, and data extraction from various interfaces. It integrates Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for processing unstructured data, including PDF invoices, by identifying text blocks and coordinates. This enables rapid deployment, with a 7-step process like logging into a website and downloading a report achievable in approximately 5 minutes. Beyond basic automation, robots can perform binary decision-making, send custom email notifications, and integrate with backend systems. One application involving automated customer order notifications led to a 70% reduction in call center inquiry volumes. The RaaS model shifts from capital expenditure to ongoing monthly payments, eliminating large upfront costs and incentivizing RPA providers to ensure the long-term viability and value of implemented automations. This approach allows businesses to free employees from manual, repetitive work, enabling them to focus on higher-value, analytical tasks. Furthermore, the model extends to integrating advanced AI, such as ChatGPT, for intelligent data analysis and interactive policy document querying, making sophisticated automation accessible and sustainable for SMEs.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MCR3qq7H1kUVdih64ZJKwL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/BxDm8DKi5qQN231MzuR8jX https://cassyni.com/events/BxDm8DKi5qQN231MzuR8jX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UFmpKkgxNxRNQV3BumvjS6 https://cassyni.com/events/BxDm8DKi5qQN231MzuR8jX?videoPreview=1 Digital Sustainabilitynohttps://cassyni.com/events/BxDm8DKi5qQN231MzuR8jX?videoPreview=12020-11-13T00:00:00+00:003662.56Business SchoolDigitalization and sustainability represent two powerful, yet underexplored, influences in the contemporary corporate landscape, with their convergence presenting both significant opportunities and challenges. Organizations face increasing pressure from consumers, shareholders, and regulators to demonstrate sustainability, underscoring the need for technology to enable a balance between profitability and societal good within the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution. A "TCS Code Asia Pacific Digital Sustainability Index" is being launched to survey leading enterprises in the region, defining criteria and measuring domains to assess practices. Practitioners from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and KPMG New Zealand outlined varied approaches, including data-driven strategies for waste reduction and sustainable transport, and the application of digital tools like digital twins, advanced analytics, and blockchain for supply chain optimization, carbon footprint reduction, and enhanced product freshness. While digital technologies enable precise environmental measurement and offer societal benefits, they also contribute to substantial environmental costs, including significant energy consumption by ICT networks (~10% global electricity, ~4% CO2 emissions) and massive e-waste generation (~50 million tons annually). Furthermore, societal risks such as cybercrime ($6 trillion projected cost by 2021) and the persistent digital divide (50% of the world lacks internet access) demand careful consideration. Effective digital sustainability requires responsible technology governance, a purpose-driven organizational culture, and robust change and adoption programs to ensure long-term organizational viability and broad societal benefit.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UFmpKkgxNxRNQV3BumvjS6 https://cassyni.com/events/NKs5DCRchoxWh1zuJaJU3f/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/33S5z3sumXbZnRbi25irYn https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/HPP2kMxNKERVHvHZJ6bUKX https://cassyni.com/events/HPP2kMxNKERVHvHZJ6bUKX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/F9ZjwZ35JXfbqnP8aR9Kup https://cassyni.com/events/HPP2kMxNKERVHvHZJ6bUKX?videoPreview=1 Bound states in the continuum for acoustic and elastic wavesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/HPP2kMxNKERVHvHZJ6bUKX?videoPreview=12025-06-16T07:00:00+00:001972.2ETOPIMIn this talk, we present an overview of our recent findings on bound states in the continuum (BICs) for both acoustic and elastic waves. We demonstrate that circular clusters of scatterers can be designed to trap elastic waves, effectively canceling radiation losses and forming BICs. Extending this concept, we show that acoustic waves can also be trapped on a rigid surface, but this phenomenon requires the presence of a covering rigid surface. We further illustrate that by periodically repeating the unit cell atop the rigid surface, it is possible to achieve wave trapping without the necessity of forming a waveguide. Additionally, we discuss the potential application of these structures for Rayleigh waves and provide insights into their experimental characterization. This talk highlights the innovative strategies and practical implementations of BICs, showing their significant impact on the manipulation and control of wave propagation.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/F9ZjwZ35JXfbqnP8aR9Kup https://cassyni.com/events/Vjb8uT8VHgGMBbXNGTACTf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/gd29vjJvnfnai2fLjFj18 https://cassyni.com/events/Vjb8uT8VHgGMBbXNGTACTf?videoPreview=1 Quantum tunneling and its absence in deep wells and strong magnetic fieldsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Vjb8uT8VHgGMBbXNGTACTf?videoPreview=12025-06-18T03:00:00+00:001970.48ETOPIMWe present new results on quantum tunneling between deep potential wells, in the presence of a strong constant magnetic field. We construct a family of double well potentials containing examples for which the lowenergy eigenvalue splitting vanishes, and hence quantum tunneling is eliminated. Further, by deforming within this family, the magnetic ground state can be made to transition from symmetric to anti-symmetric. However, for typical double wells in a certain regime, tunneling is not suppressed, and we provide a lower bound for the eigenvalue splitting. This is joint work with C.L. Fefferman and J. Shapirohttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/gd29vjJvnfnai2fLjFj18 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/AULCDRQuaBbXJ2Wq3RkSN1 https://cassyni.com/events/AULCDRQuaBbXJ2Wq3RkSN1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7iwHPGWL232WisNYaBmLjG https://cassyni.com/events/AULCDRQuaBbXJ2Wq3RkSN1?videoPreview=1 LAMPP: A benchmark for continuous evaluation of host phenotype prediction from shotgun metagenomic datanohttps://cassyni.com/events/AULCDRQuaBbXJ2Wq3RkSN1?videoPreview=12026-05-12T12:30:00+00:00341.32Microbiome Virtual International ForumPredicting host phenotypes from gut microbiome data is central to developing microbiome-based diagnostics and monitoring tools. Although many computational methods have been proposed, researchers frequently rely on traditional models such as Random Forest or Logistic Regression. This hesitancy to adopt newer methods stems from their complexity as well as the lack of standardized evaluations, as most tools are assessed on different datasets and compared against a limited set of methods. To address these challenges, we developed LAMPP — Live Assessment of Metagenomics-based tools for host Phenotype Prediction. LAMPP consists of multiple tasks covering five diverse phenotypes: inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, schizophrenia, delivery mode, and general health status. These tasks were designed to reflect real-world variation in dataset characteristics, including cohort size, class balance, technical heterogeneity, and train-test similarity (from within-cohort to cross-cohort scenarios). We evaluated a range of traditional and deep learning models, including Random Forest, XGBoost, Logistic Regression, SIAMCAT, DeepMicro, DEBIAS-M, TabPFN and fully connected neural networks. These models differ in their approaches to feature selection, normalization, and representation. Performance was measured using ROC AUC, and we additionally assessed runtime, resource usage, and usability. Our results show that prediction difficulty varies across tasks. Importantly, deep learning methods did not outperform traditional models. SIAMCAT, Random Forest, and XGBoost performed comparably, highlighting that accessible, established tools remain effective across diverse microbiome prediction scenarios. LAMPP and its leaderboard are available at https://lampp.yassourlab.com, providing a transparent platform for benchmarking emerging methods. By enabling consistent and reproducible comparisons, LAMPP fosters progress in microbiome-based phenotype prediction and supports the broader adoption of robust, accessible computational tools in microbiome research. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7iwHPGWL232WisNYaBmLjG https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Qo76ScfEu6jKnVp2FyTCjX https://cassyni.com/events/Qo76ScfEu6jKnVp2FyTCjX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6zbGQGwCeTcqZKx7pFxPMg https://cassyni.com/events/Qo76ScfEu6jKnVp2FyTCjX?videoPreview=1 Loading and firing optical pulses in diffusive medianohttps://cassyni.com/events/Qo76ScfEu6jKnVp2FyTCjX?videoPreview=12025-06-18T23:00:00+00:00614.88ETOPIMThe study addresses the challenge of delivering and controlling optical pulses within strongly scattering media, such as biological tissue or disordered metamaterials, where multiple scattering distorts both spatial and temporal wavefronts. By employing spatial-spectral wavefront shaping, the approach simultaneously modulates spatial and spectral components of an input pulse to maximize peak power transmission through a disordered planar waveguide containing randomly distributed scatterers. This is achieved via the spatial-spectral transmission matrix, a concatenation of frequency-resolved transmission matrices, whose dominant singular vector corresponds to the input wavefront that optimizes peak power at the output. Extending this concept, a spatial-spectral deposition matrix is introduced to map input wavefronts to fields inside the medium, enabling targeted energy delivery to embedded regions. Experimental implementation utilizes a tunable laser and imaging of out-of-plane scattered light to reconstruct spatiotemporal dynamics within the medium. Results demonstrate significant enhancement of peak power delivered to single targets and reveal the temporal evolution of energy deposition. Further, by combining deposition operators with a scaling parameter, multi-target, multi-time control is achieved, allowing simultaneous delivery of peak power to multiple embedded targets at distinct times. This composite control enables wave transport between targets, evidenced by bidirectional wave propagation within the medium. The findings establish a framework for precise spatiotemporal manipulation of light in diffusive environments, with potential applications in biomedical imaging, optical communication, and photonic device engineering.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6zbGQGwCeTcqZKx7pFxPMg https://cassyni.com/events/42koviskMSR67RMNgdtzLM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Q3tCqtogbykXzHh69e2SLN https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/814YsNfPyXtwNrF5tMmXmF https://cassyni.com/events/814YsNfPyXtwNrF5tMmXmF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Mf2aEbfZAqfCCskCxqDFUA https://cassyni.com/events/814YsNfPyXtwNrF5tMmXmF?videoPreview=1 Carbon flow from plants to soilnohttps://cassyni.com/events/814YsNfPyXtwNrF5tMmXmF?videoPreview=12025-07-09T12:00:00+00:002024.04NoneSoil processes are sustained by plant-derived assimilates that enter the soil as detritus or low-molecular leachates and exudates. Recent evidence suggests that the transfer of the latter is largely passive, and (semi-)independent of the resources plants receive from rhizosymbionts. However, quantifying carbon allocation in intact ecosystems on a continuous basis has not been done, until now. Here we present ecosystem scale estimates of the flux of non-structural compounds (FNSC), their belowground allocation (fBG), root and fungal exudation (FE) and consumption in a shortleaf pine forest in east Texas. We estimate the FE to soil as the difference of FNSC and tissue NSC accumulation (142 – 25 = 117 g C m-2  yr-1), and the consumption of old soil C as the difference of Rh and FE (560 – 117 = 447 g C m-2 yr-1). Consistent with the “surplus carbon hypothesis”, we further demonstrate that while both Ra and Rh have a strong diurnal cycle, substrate availability is a limiting factor for Rh, whereas Ra may be sustained by internal diurnal starch hydrolysis, in addition to photosynthetic C supply. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Mf2aEbfZAqfCCskCxqDFUA https://cassyni.com/events/Xh6Gddd2LSMQ8VsQTkQRCR/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Xh6Gddd2LSMQ8VsQTkQRCR https://cassyni.com/events/Xh6Gddd2LSMQ8VsQTkQRCR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GVHPxfg2WiYxBmsa8keik6 https://cassyni.com/events/Xh6Gddd2LSMQ8VsQTkQRCR?videoPreview=1 Mechanics of Structure Genome: A New Paradigm for Multiscale Modelingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Xh6Gddd2LSMQ8VsQTkQRCR?videoPreview=12025-09-04T13:00:00+00:002813.6Department of AeronauticsThe Mechanics of Structure Genome (MSG) offers a powerful new way to connect microstructural details directly to structural behavior—without the a priori assumptions that limit traditional methods. Using the principle of minimum information loss, MSG applies all approximations only at the constitutive modeling stage, making it applicable to solids, plates/shells, and beams alike. Its companion software, SwiftComp, functions as a universal constitutive modeling tool—usable on its own for virtual testing or as a plugin in standard FEA packages. MSG works for a wide range of advanced materials, from composites and 3D-printed materials to metamaterials, biomaterials, and smart materials. This presentation will highlight recent advancements, including machine-learning-assisted multiscale modeling, thin-walled and deployable structures, heterogeneous solids, MSG-based design, and virtual allowables prediction.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GVHPxfg2WiYxBmsa8keik6 https://cassyni.com/events/34aWQYC9axMuykXjst4Y37/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/34aWQYC9axMuykXjst4Y37 https://cassyni.com/events/34aWQYC9axMuykXjst4Y37/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JBQ7PqokZMdGdy3DHxwLAA https://cassyni.com/events/34aWQYC9axMuykXjst4Y37?videoPreview=1 Modelling turbulence at extreme Reynolds numbers: advances and applications in wind energy, hydrogen, and healthnohttps://cassyni.com/events/34aWQYC9axMuykXjst4Y37?videoPreview=12025-09-17T13:00:00+00:003686.72Department of AeronauticsTurbulence is a defining feature of the fluid flows that occur in our energy sector, transportation systems, in and through our buildings, and also in our health. Most of these applications involve very large Reynolds numbers, where flow inertia massively dwarfs viscous diffusion. As computational power grows, numerical simulations are increasingly able to resolve the minute features of turbulence in these settings. This includes the rich spectrum of energy-containing fluctuations or “eddies” that are responsible for transferring mass, heat, and momentum across the extremely broad ranges of length and time scales found in such flows. So-called “eddy resolving” simulations are shedding new light on how turbulent flows behave and the ways that turbulence affects the performance of critical infrastructure across a broad range of sectors. This talk will explore the development and application of eddy resolving numerical simulations of turbulent flows undertaken in the UBC Okanagan Computational Fluid Dynamics Lab. In particular, it will explore how eddy-resolving turbulence simulations are contributing to innovations in wind energy, airborne disease transmission, and hydrogen safety. The talk will aim to describe recent advances in solution methodologies, novel applications, and recent fundamental insights into the physics of turbulent flows.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JBQ7PqokZMdGdy3DHxwLAA https://cassyni.com/events/NoT1uxVTqZJx6WydJZf9jB/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/NoT1uxVTqZJx6WydJZf9jB https://cassyni.com/events/NoT1uxVTqZJx6WydJZf9jB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/M4NUJbkwFnCWhb5hyZ8dR8 https://cassyni.com/events/NoT1uxVTqZJx6WydJZf9jB?videoPreview=1 Applications of Machine Learning in SHMnohttps://cassyni.com/events/NoT1uxVTqZJx6WydJZf9jB?videoPreview=12025-10-29T14:00:00+00:005483.2ArtIStE - Artificial Intelligence in Structural EngineeringThis talk explores how machine learning has transformed the field of structural health monitoring (SHM) over the past decades. It will introduce key ML tasks—classification, regression, and density estimation—and demonstrate their use in diagnosing and predicting structural behavior. Through real-world case studies, the talk will highlight the strengths and limitations of these approaches. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/M4NUJbkwFnCWhb5hyZ8dR8 https://cassyni.com/events/Qn3S6h5ZbPXiCEFrfXX69j/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Qn3S6h5ZbPXiCEFrfXX69j https://cassyni.com/events/Qn3S6h5ZbPXiCEFrfXX69j/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/NxrFSJM5pWpDmc4GHoTF7U https://cassyni.com/events/Qn3S6h5ZbPXiCEFrfXX69j?videoPreview=1 Modelling Metamaterials: From Bio-Inspired Concepts to AI-Driven Designnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Qn3S6h5ZbPXiCEFrfXX69j?videoPreview=12026-01-20T14:00:00+00:003320.04MetaMATMetamaterials have opened up exciting possibilities for controlling mechanical, electromagnetic, and acoustic properties. Their potential applications range from healthcare innovations and aerospace advancements to energy solutions and robotics. However, the challenge lies in accurately modelling these complex materials. Their intricate designs require high-resolution simulations. Additionally, interactions between different physical phenomena can create significant computational demands. In this webinar, we’ll delve into new strategies to address these challenges. We’ll explore how techniques such as finite element methods, reduced-order modelling, and AI-enhanced simulations can efficiently and accurately predict the performance of metamaterials. By discussing recent computational advancements and design principles, we aim to show how inspiration from nature, solid physics-based modelling, and cutting-edge AI strategies are driving the next generation of metamaterial innovation.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/NxrFSJM5pWpDmc4GHoTF7U https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/PJ8F5GesgNnmuyy96fn7uP https://cassyni.com/events/PJ8F5GesgNnmuyy96fn7uP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/32NGT4H8Jy12wau8ECXHmg https://cassyni.com/events/PJ8F5GesgNnmuyy96fn7uP?videoPreview=1 Beyond the DNA: an epigenetic mechanism for self incompatibility in Arabidopsis thaliananohttps://cassyni.com/events/PJ8F5GesgNnmuyy96fn7uP?videoPreview=12025-08-06T08:45:00+00:001012.2NoneDNA hypomethylation in plants is associated with enhanced stress responses, making it a desirable trait. However, methylation mutants often experience a transgenerational decline in fitness, limiting their potential for crop improvement. We studied Arabidopsis epigenetic recombinant inbred lines (epiRILs), created by crossing met1-3, which lacks CG methylation, with Col-0, resulting in a 'mosaic pattern' of DNA methylation. A specific region on chromosome 3, inherited solely from Col-0, drew our attention. This region contains the gene IBM1, known to be linked to transgenerational fitness decline due to reduced intronic methylation, causing alternative splicing of the IBM1 transcript and extensive gene body hypermethylation. Additionally, we identified VHA in the same region, sharing a similar methylation profile to IBM1 and complementary floral tissue expression. We hypothesized that the interaction between IBM1 and VHA contributes to the reduced fitness in met1-3 plants. To explore this, we performed RNA-seq on pollen and carpels, revealing interactions that may impair fertility. Genetic approaches, including crossing IBM1 and VHA knockout mutants and using CRISPR-Cas9 to generate double mutants, were also employed. Our findings indicate an incompatibility between pollen and carpels in methylation mutants, resulting in reduced fitness and providing new insights into the role of DNA methylation in plant reproduction.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/32NGT4H8Jy12wau8ECXHmg https://cassyni.com/events/Kqb1kV8CcAv8tHfaT1QANZ/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Kqb1kV8CcAv8tHfaT1QANZ https://cassyni.com/events/Kqb1kV8CcAv8tHfaT1QANZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/RUt8a1yrwYVK8CkWzouhtJ https://cassyni.com/events/Kqb1kV8CcAv8tHfaT1QANZ?videoPreview=1 Exploring the potential of neural networks in early detection of potentially hazardous near-earth objects , A universal approach for solving the multi-revolution Lambert’s problemnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Kqb1kV8CcAv8tHfaT1QANZ?videoPreview=12025-11-14T14:00:00+00:004177.12Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical AstronomyTwo distinct advances in celestial mechanics and astrodynamics are presented, addressing critical challenges in near-Earth object (NEO) hazard assessment and orbital trajectory design. The first study explores the application of machine learning, specifically neural networks, to predict the Minimum Orbit Intersection Distance (MOID) between Earth and NEOs from orbital elements. Utilizing a synthetic dataset of approximately 800,000 simulated NEOs generated via the NEOPOP software and a test set of 38,000 known NEOs, various algorithms—including decision trees, random forests, gradient boosting, and neural networks—were trained and evaluated. The neural network model, with a deliberately small architecture to prevent overfitting, achieved superior performance, yielding a mean absolute error on the order of 10^-3 and demonstrating strong generalization to real data. However, all models exhibited a tendency to underestimate the number of objects with small MOID values, which are most critical for planetary defense. Model interpretability analyses using LIME revealed that while key orbital features such as eccentricity and semi-major axis influenced predictions, some learned local correlations contradicted true dynamical behavior, highlighting limitations in data coverage and model extrapolation. By converting the regression output into a binary classification of potentially hazardous asteroids, the neural network attained an accuracy of 96.7% and precision of 97.1%, with suggestions to adjust classification thresholds to reduce false negatives. Future directions include extending training datasets to encompass dynamically extreme objects and integrating machine learning into earlier orbit determination phases for faster hazard prioritization. The second study introduces a novel universal method for solving the multi-revolution Lambert’s problem, fundamental for trajectory design under time-of-flight constraints in mission planning. The approach employs an intuitive universal variable defined as \( x = \sqrt{\alpha} \chi \), corresponding to the change in eccentric or hyperbolic anomaly, and formulates the transfer time equation using universal functions derived via the Sundman transform. This formulation eliminates the need for switching between trigonometric and hyperbolic functions and removes inverse trigonometric calculations, relying instead on efficient matrix-exponential evaluations. A key innovation is the removal of the explicit multi-revolution term from the transfer time equation by shifting the universal variable by multiples of \( 2\pi N \), enhancing numerical stability and simplifying initial guess schemes. Benchmark comparisons against Gooding’s method—an industry standard—demonstrate that the proposed solver achieves comparable or superior convergence rates (1.5–2 iterations on average) and higher numerical stability, especially at large revolution counts, while solving Earth-to-Mars transfer problems approximately 25% faster. Although computational times are longer in the hyperbolic regime due to handling imaginary components, the method’s accuracy reaches velocity errors on the order of \(10^{-13}\) km/s across regimes. This universal, robust, and computationally efficient solver offers a streamlined alternative for multi-revolution orbit transfer problems, with potential applications in satellite rendezvous, interplanetary mission design, and constellation deployment.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/RUt8a1yrwYVK8CkWzouhtJ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/161iLS7wEV5FSH3h8JGsVP https://cassyni.com/events/161iLS7wEV5FSH3h8JGsVP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AfdNMEu8EosGWvbC3CEczJ https://cassyni.com/events/161iLS7wEV5FSH3h8JGsVP?videoPreview=1 Molecular Imaging Of Neurodegeneration And Its Applications In Defining Drug Efficacy Through Biomarkersnohttps://cassyni.com/events/161iLS7wEV5FSH3h8JGsVP?videoPreview=12025-06-18T06:00:00+00:004044.6The Pharmacological Research family of journalsNeurodegeneration is a complex multifactorial process that causes neuronal death in brain and spinal cord, resulting in a series of dementia and movement disorders. Neurodegeneration is accompanied by abnormal protein aggregation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, axonal transport deficits, calcium deregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and abnormal neuron-glial interactions. The demand for in vivo technologies to identify neurodegenerative biomarkers is at the leading edge for pathogenic study, diagnostic development, and therapeutic intervention of these devastating disorders. This webinar provides a comprehensive review of the role of molecular imaging in neurodegeneration and current applications of neuroimaging in neurodegenerative disorders as well as quantification and semi-quantification methods for neuroimaging. Imaging methods such as nuclear medicine (PET, SPECT) in clinical practice and preclinical optical imaging approaches are also covered, as well as an update on novel molecular probes.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AfdNMEu8EosGWvbC3CEczJ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/EQNVu5Tma43WdveWhjqt1s https://cassyni.com/events/EQNVu5Tma43WdveWhjqt1s/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CzveGNtK6GVwAz8daG2bf4 https://cassyni.com/events/EQNVu5Tma43WdveWhjqt1s?videoPreview=1 Equity for Women in Science at the University of Montrealnohttps://cassyni.com/events/EQNVu5Tma43WdveWhjqt1s?videoPreview=12023-03-03T09:00:00+00:002399.88 School of Public PolicyThis analysis examines gender equity in scientific research production, collaboration, contributorship, funding, mobility, and impact, highlighting persistent disparities affecting women in science globally. Using bibliometric and survey data, the study reveals that men dominate authorship across most countries and disciplines, with women’s representation higher primarily in care-related fields and in countries where men’s scientific participation is reduced due to external factors. Collaboration patterns show that women are more likely to be involved in domestic rather than international collaborations, limiting their access to high-impact networks. Authorship disputes disproportionately affect women, who also tend to occupy experimental roles valued less in authorship recognition, while men more frequently hold leadership roles associated with funding and supervision. Funding analyses indicate women receive smaller grants and face greater challenges in early career stages, despite producing more papers per grant. Mobility studies demonstrate women are less likely to migrate internationally, with gendered patterns in destination countries. Citation impact analyses reveal women’s work is cited less than men’s, even when published in higher-impact journals, suggesting systemic biases in reception. Parenting responsibilities impose a greater burden on women, correlating with reduced productivity and citation impact despite reported shared parenting roles. Importantly, the presence of women scientists influences research topics and inclusion of sex as a biological variable, affecting scientific knowledge production and societal outcomes. These findings underscore the epistemic and social consequences of gender inequities in science and call for structural changes to promote equitable participation, recognition, and resource allocation.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CzveGNtK6GVwAz8daG2bf4 https://cassyni.com/events/9TtTSEzXBUWVEpwAhG8tHj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YC35T9yh1pJ9Po5n1u3oZQ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/KLtAUYSuMzWYEpdbVPqh4H https://cassyni.com/events/KLtAUYSuMzWYEpdbVPqh4H/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CeLg9pxSJx2EwZK8x9me54 https://cassyni.com/events/KLtAUYSuMzWYEpdbVPqh4H?videoPreview=1 Voter Research and Technologynohttps://cassyni.com/events/KLtAUYSuMzWYEpdbVPqh4H?videoPreview=12020-10-14T08:00:00+00:004111.72 School of Public PolicyThis seminar explores the multifaceted challenges and innovations in voter research and technology, emphasizing the voting process rather than political content. The discussion highlights community-driven efforts in Columbus, Georgia, where targeted programs such as “See How They Run” and “Your Voice Your Vote” engage younger voters through education, issue awareness, and verification of information to foster lifelong voting habits and address skepticism about vote efficacy. Technological approaches to election logistics are examined through the Safe and Secure Election Project at Georgia Tech, which integrates computer science, cybersecurity, and operations research to optimize polling place layouts and reduce wait times while ensuring COVID-19 safety and voter privacy. This project employs 3D modeling and simulations to inform election officials’ decisions, addressing bottlenecks and operational constraints inherent in current voting infrastructure. Additionally, the role of public policy and socio-technical systems is analyzed, underscoring that voting technology must satisfy diverse criteria including scientific validity, legal compliance, ethical norms, cognitive accessibility, and political culture. The complexity of voter registration systems, the variability of polling places, and legal ambiguities such as double voting laws are discussed as factors complicating technological solutions. The seminar concludes by framing voting technology as an evolving domain requiring interdisciplinary collaboration to balance security, accessibility, legitimacy, and efficiency, with implications for future electoral reforms and civic engagement strategies.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CeLg9pxSJx2EwZK8x9me54 https://cassyni.com/events/MKZT1AafKuW7NWV6M5zTMf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UQgWNpPeEtYB8gxvUWLKpA https://cassyni.com/events/TjzJc3zV2rhoCLBZCzNrxm/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TjzJc3zV2rhoCLBZCzNrxm https://cassyni.com/events/TjzJc3zV2rhoCLBZCzNrxm/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/71sHzvixW58rrSTFqL1rES https://cassyni.com/events/TjzJc3zV2rhoCLBZCzNrxm?videoPreview=1 From Multiple Scattering to Effective Properties: Engineering Bandgaps in Random Medianohttps://cassyni.com/events/TjzJc3zV2rhoCLBZCzNrxm?videoPreview=12026-03-10T14:00:00+00:003387.52MetaMATMetamaterials have traditionally relied on strict spatial periodicity, such as in phononic or photonic crystals, to control wave propagation and design bandgaps. However, this reliance on precise geometric arrangement makes devices sensitive to manufacturing defects and geometrically limits their design flexibility, particularly for multi-frequency or broadband applications. What if, instead of avoiding disorder, we could make use of it as a powerful design tool? We begin by introducing the concept of ensemble average for acoustic waves. This statistical approach allows us to extract coherent waves from the complex scattering by disordered particles. The equivalent of a bandgap in disordered media can then be defined by frequency regimes with strong exponential attenuation, rather than a zero density of states. Building on this foundation, we ask: what if the particles were sub-wavelength Helmholtz resonators? To include resonance effects while still yielding simple formulae, we use an asymptotic long-wavelength expansion, and derive closed-form expressions for the macroscopic effective properties of the medium (e.g., effective bulk modulus and density). Crucially, these formulas bypass the need for computationally expensive inverse design, or Monte Carlo simulations. Finally, we demonstrate the engineering utility of this theory. Because these random bandgaps depend purely on the concentration and local resonances of the inclusions rather than their spatial positions, we can create broadband or multiple bandgaps simply by mixing different types of resonators together. We showcase our formulas for effective properties by presenting a passive, completely disordered acoustic frequency demultiplexer (also known as a frequency splitter), illustrating how random media can offer a flexible and robust alternative to traditional periodic wave-control devices. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/71sHzvixW58rrSTFqL1rES https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SFxd87WFWQGKjddArqQdCy https://cassyni.com/events/SFxd87WFWQGKjddArqQdCy/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MroUkhvuqCJASySnYUwoXU https://cassyni.com/events/SFxd87WFWQGKjddArqQdCy?videoPreview=1 Making Sense of Extreme Heat and Solar Geoengineeringnohttps://cassyni.com/events/SFxd87WFWQGKjddArqQdCy?videoPreview=12025-07-29T08:00:00+00:004143.92 School of Public PolicyThis seminar addresses the escalating global challenge of extreme heat in the context of ongoing climate change and explores the potential role and limitations of solar geoengineering, specifically stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI), as a mitigation strategy. Recent heatwaves worldwide have underscored the severe human health risks, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations such as outdoor workers and low-income communities lacking access to cooling infrastructure. Statistical analyses estimate approximately 200,000 annual heat-attributable deaths globally, with projections indicating a net increase in temperature-related mortality despite reductions in cold-related deaths. Economic impacts are substantial, with climate change-driven productivity losses potentially reaching 8–25% of GDP by century’s end, alongside detrimental effects on cognition and education. In Africa, urban heat island effects and rural agricultural stress exacerbate food insecurity and livelihoods. SAI aims to mimic volcanic sulfate aerosol effects by injecting reflective particles into the stratosphere to reduce solar radiation and surface temperatures, thereby decreasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events. Climate model simulations suggest SAI could effectively offset about 1 °C of warming and reduce heat-related mortality by a factor of ten relative to its direct aerosol-related health risks. However, SAI’s impacts on regional rainfall patterns are complex and may disrupt critical monsoon systems. Deployment would require sustained, long-term commitment with significant political and governance challenges, including concerns about international regulation, equity, and potential weaponization. While international legal frameworks are evolving, enforcement and trust remain uncertain. Complementary adaptation measures, such as urban greening and social interventions, remain essential. The seminar highlights the need for continued research, transparent dialogue, and integrated policy approaches to address extreme heat amid climate change.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MroUkhvuqCJASySnYUwoXU https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/5WjFBQLD5B14beAtaiVHKT https://cassyni.com/events/5WjFBQLD5B14beAtaiVHKT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5TRsDnu7x1vFRW6Aws2pnA https://cassyni.com/events/5WjFBQLD5B14beAtaiVHKT?videoPreview=1 Bryan Norton on Wicked Problemsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/5WjFBQLD5B14beAtaiVHKT?videoPreview=12013-10-26T08:00:00+00:00866.32 School of Public PolicyThe concept of wicked problems is critically examined through a philosophical lens, emphasizing the absence of a precise definition and highlighting the multiplicity and redundancy of their characteristic features. A key addition proposed is the recognition that wicked problems arise when stakeholders hold divergent values and perspectives, which shape distinct problem formulations. This divergence complicates consensus but also suggests that transcending individual viewpoints requires the development of new mental models, analogies, and metaphors, with language playing a central role in facilitating shared understanding. The analysis underscores the value of multiple metaphors coexisting, as they enable communication across differing perspectives without the direct conflict typical of scientific theories. Two illustrative examples are presented: first, a public opinion study on biodiversity revealed that technical scientific terminology failed to resonate with the public, whereas framing the issue as protecting the “web of life” garnered broad support; second, Aldo Leopold’s ecological insights demonstrate how adopting metaphoric thinking—“thinking like a mountain”—enabled a shift from a narrow productivity focus to recognizing ecological limits and sustainability. The discussion critiques prevailing market-based metaphors in environmental policy, such as ecosystem services, for constraining discourse to short-term productivity and economic valuation. It advocates for embracing broader temporal frames and metaphors emphasizing resilience, sustainability, and shared values to foster long-term ecological health and more inclusive environmental governance. This approach suggests that creative metaphorical reframing can mitigate the impacts of wicked problems by promoting more integrative and adaptive deliberation.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5TRsDnu7x1vFRW6Aws2pnA https://cassyni.com/events/24C1rcoXzy8RZwsKw47Knd/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7uh4ytDWTnHH6k4hUKRmPt https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CvTJsf35f3Ju6DhMYbM1jT https://cassyni.com/events/CvTJsf35f3Ju6DhMYbM1jT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YQ5Ghnit5cpLVkTNq6AAe2 https://cassyni.com/events/CvTJsf35f3Ju6DhMYbM1jT?videoPreview=1 Turbulent heating of the solar corona and acceleration of the solar wind: Insights, theory, and modeling from NASA Parker Solar Probe and ESA Solar Orbiter missionsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/CvTJsf35f3Ju6DhMYbM1jT?videoPreview=12024-03-14T06:00:00+00:003318.64Journal of Plasma PhysicsThe problem is easily stated and yet has endured for longer than the space age: the surface temperature of the Sun is a mere 6,500 degrees Kelvin yet the temperature of the solar corona exceeds 1 million degrees, hot enough to create a supersonically expanding wind that fills interplanetary space. What heats the solar corona? Sixty five years after the discovery of the solar wind, this remains one of the most outstanding unanswered question in space physics. The launches of ESA’s Solar Orbiter and NASA’s Parker Solar Probe spacecraft were designed to answer this question, venturing closer to the surface of the Sun than any previous missions. Parker Solar Probe has now made multiple excursions below the Alfven surface, during encounters 8 – 14, which for the first time has allowed us to observe the properties of the sub-Alfvenic solar wind that in principle is in direct contact with the surface of the Sun. The Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter missions have motivated considerable development in theory and modeling to explain the heating of the solar corona. An emerging consensus is that the solar corona is heated via the transport and dissipation of low-frequency magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. Recent measurements from Parker Solar Probe and observations by the Metis instrument on the Solar Orbiter spacecraft suggest that interchange reconnection of magnetic field lines in the lower solar corona generates turbulence that can yield sufficient energy, likely in the form of advected nonlinear magnetic structures, to heat the solar corona and thus drive the solar wind. Current solar turbulence theory and modeling will be presented in the context of relevant Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter observations to suggest that we may have a solution to the 65-year-old question of the origin of the supersonic solar wind. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YQ5Ghnit5cpLVkTNq6AAe2 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/FPhL75GhrL5PTAAv6HFeTP https://cassyni.com/events/FPhL75GhrL5PTAAv6HFeTP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4nsdab4KcC5zGnBYRQexNi https://cassyni.com/events/FPhL75GhrL5PTAAv6HFeTP?videoPreview=1 Geometric numerical methodsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/FPhL75GhrL5PTAAv6HFeTP?videoPreview=12023-09-21T06:00:00+00:003443.4Journal of Plasma PhysicsNeglecting collisions and other dissipative effects, many models of plasma physics including kinetic, fluid, MHD and hybrid models have been shown to possess a noncanonical hamiltonian structure. This comes with some important properties in particular conservation of energy and some Casimir invariants, typically div B = 0 and also Gauss’ law for the Vlasov-Maxwell equations. Adequate conservation of these quantities has been proven to be essential for well behaving numerical solutions. Many numerical methods have been devised to this aim. Geometric numerical methods achieve this by discretizing the Hamiltonian structure, i.e. Poisson bracket and Hamiltonian, rather than the resulting PDEs. This approach approximates the infinite dimensional original hamiltonian system by a Finite Dimensional hamiltonian system and in this way guarantees the conservation of the appropriate discretized invariants. After introducing the concept of Geometric discretization, we will illustrate it on a hamiltonian formulation of the Vlasov-Maxwell model and hybrid fluid-kinetic models. We will also extend geometric numerical methods to dissipative physical systems by adding to the hamiltonian part of the model a dissipative part as for example the Landau collision operator to the Vlasov-Maxwell model in the form of a dissipative symmetric bracket yielding altogether a so-called metriplectic formulation.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4nsdab4KcC5zGnBYRQexNi https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/BwA6nHk2n8CkRTsMScsgvZ https://cassyni.com/events/BwA6nHk2n8CkRTsMScsgvZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/g7iDRvVLi4bi92Z8UCngn https://cassyni.com/events/BwA6nHk2n8CkRTsMScsgvZ?videoPreview=1 Biophysics in Africa: SYNAPSE: a borderless scientific effort connecting global synchrotron resources to map animal brainsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/BwA6nHk2n8CkRTsMScsgvZ?videoPreview=12024-10-30T06:00:00+00:003011.44Springer Nature Physics CommunityIn response to the growing global demand for comprehensive connectome mapping, the SYNAPSE consortium was inaugurated in Singapore on January 15, 2020. It has since expanded beyond the Asia-Pacific region, with new members from Thailand, Jordan, and Poland sharing access to calibrated synchrotron microtomography beamlines across more than 10 synchrotron facilities. This approach is rooted in the unique scientific culture that has evolved over a century within large research infrastructures with proven history of advancing scientific frontiers. It has also enabled us to collaboratively define and pursue scientific objectives of global significance. In our case, the mission is to create a sub-micrometer resolution, 3D connectome of the human brain, mapping all major and stable neural connections. A single human brain dataset at (0.3 μm)³ resolution exceeds 1 exabyte, and hundreds of such datasets are needed to complete the connectome. This database will eventually include other animal brains, whole-body neural circuits, and data from additional 3D imaging techniques making the whole task even more challenging. I will introduce the consortium, the technical roadmap in imaging and computation, and achievements to demonstrate the success of our borderless, collaborative approach. With the power of synchrotron resources and our determination, we believe mapping the connectome is not only feasible but achievable within the next decade.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/g7iDRvVLi4bi92Z8UCngn https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/ViXUZXYoyy4jbKyCg1E5ss https://cassyni.com/events/ViXUZXYoyy4jbKyCg1E5ss/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/VkHX7ffkLFpQph9ECx76Bg https://cassyni.com/events/ViXUZXYoyy4jbKyCg1E5ss?videoPreview=1 Data-driven modelling of collisional kinetic plasma dynamicsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/ViXUZXYoyy4jbKyCg1E5ss?videoPreview=12025-09-18T15:00:00+00:003485.04Journal of Plasma PhysicsComputational plasma physics has seen significant advances in the ability to model nonlinear plasma dynamics from first-principles. However, capturing the complex multi-scale dynamics of plasmas, especially in non-equilibrium and strongly coupled regimes, remains challenging. This talk will highlight recent work that explores the potential of combining machine learning algorithms, differentiable simulators, and traditional plasma kinetic simulation frameworks to address these challenges. In particular, how electromagnetic Particle in Cell (PIC) simulations that resolve the inter particle fields that mediate collisional interactions can guide the development of data-driven collision operators. The first part of the talk will highlight how to efficiently learn collision operators from self-consistent PIC data. As a test case, we will focus on extracting an interpretable collision operator for an electromagnetic PIC code and compare the retrieved operator against existing theory. In the second part, we will motivate the usage of Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) as surrogate models for kinetic plasma simulators. More specifically, we wiill show that GNNs can accurately replicate the dynamics of a one-dimensional plasma and learn a computationally efficient collisional operator.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/VkHX7ffkLFpQph9ECx76Bg https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/YBmVnwnSBFqDxGSmDh8ibo https://cassyni.com/events/YBmVnwnSBFqDxGSmDh8ibo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SL896XHkk2jQsfRmuNpakN https://cassyni.com/events/YBmVnwnSBFqDxGSmDh8ibo?videoPreview=1 Bridging the gap: unravelling plant centromeres in the telomere-to-telomere eranohttps://cassyni.com/events/YBmVnwnSBFqDxGSmDh8ibo?videoPreview=12025-09-30T13:00:00+00:002808.76New PhytologistCentromeres are specific regions of the chromosomes that play a pivotal role in the segregation of chromosomes, by facilitating the loading of the kinetochore, which forms the link between the chromosomes to the spindle fibres during cell division. In plants and animals, these regions often form megabase-scale loci of tandemly repeated DNA sequences, which have presented a challenge to genomic studies even in model species. The functional designation of centromeres is determined epigenetically by the incorporation of a centromere-specific variant of histone H3. Recent developments in long-read sequencing technology have allowed the assembly of these regions for the first time and have prompted a reassessment of fidelity of centromere function and the evolutionary dynamics of these regions.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SL896XHkk2jQsfRmuNpakN https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TFHTL7KBngJCZAjRDDRisf https://cassyni.com/events/TFHTL7KBngJCZAjRDDRisf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6Ptw4fKVJXdq2VxTcRmLHL https://cassyni.com/events/TFHTL7KBngJCZAjRDDRisf?videoPreview=1 Beyond COP27: Who will pay for climate solutions?nohttps://cassyni.com/events/TFHTL7KBngJCZAjRDDRisf?videoPreview=12022-12-07T06:00:00+00:003782.04Part of the nonprofit Annual Reviews organizationEconomic issues were front and center at the most recent global climate summit. In this conversation, Tobias Adrian of the International Monetary Fund and Shuang Liu of the World Resources Institute take stock of the investments needed to prevent future climate disasters. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6Ptw4fKVJXdq2VxTcRmLHL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/7yztXT5ifphKnagvHuqRBT https://cassyni.com/events/7yztXT5ifphKnagvHuqRBT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/DjCDY7CfYXM8c6Z5UFm71g https://cassyni.com/events/7yztXT5ifphKnagvHuqRBT?videoPreview=1 Covid-19 and the Immune System: The Good, the Bad, and the Uglynohttps://cassyni.com/events/7yztXT5ifphKnagvHuqRBT?videoPreview=12020-11-18T06:00:00+00:003523.2Part of the nonprofit Annual Reviews organizationThe outcome of infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, is determined by a person’s immune response. That outcome may be good, when the immune system halts the virus with barely an obvious symptom; bad, when the immune response causes symptoms of disease; or ugly, when an over-cooked response triggers severe or life-threatening reaction. During this event, two leading immunologists will describe how our immune defenses recognize and respond to viral threats, tease out the roles that the different components of the immune system play in protection and damage, and discuss the characteristics of vaccines that could generate protective immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in a large fraction of the population.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/DjCDY7CfYXM8c6Z5UFm71g https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/2YsF1vxwqncFPiSggzqdC1 https://cassyni.com/events/2YsF1vxwqncFPiSggzqdC1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GJHmpSYBd5xDKPLU4UvQdc https://cassyni.com/events/2YsF1vxwqncFPiSggzqdC1?videoPreview=1 Continuum Modelling of Particulate Suspensionsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/2YsF1vxwqncFPiSggzqdC1?videoPreview=12025-06-12T06:00:00+00:002946.04Leeds Institute for Fluid DynamicsWet granular and particulate suspensions can exhibit rich behaviour: in some limits they can flow like a Newtonian fluid; in others they can behave like a rigid porous solid, through which the host fluid can move. More generally, their rheological behaviour is complex and difficult to fully capture in a continuum description. Here we explore simplified continuum models of suspensions that capture their ability to jam-up like a viscoplastic material when the applied stress is too small. In particular, suspensions can clog and jam up in confined geometries: it is widely observed in industrial processing that geometric constrictions result in clogging, for example, while clogging caused by stiffening of deoxygenated red blood cells is a key signature of sickle cell disease. We consider a two-phase continuum model of the particulate suspension to capture the key rheological behaviour of the suspension (based on ideas from granular friction and the so-called mu(J) model) and the differential seepage of fluid through the particulate phase (based on Darcy’s law). The crucial role of the latter in modulating particle flux can lead to dramatic emergent clogging in a channel: this phenomenon and related flow behaviour will be explored and discussed. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GJHmpSYBd5xDKPLU4UvQdc https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/33Wr4ccUHFAJPUyaHS8RTK https://cassyni.com/events/33Wr4ccUHFAJPUyaHS8RTK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CMidxphUyMuRBf1YZnUEv2 https://cassyni.com/events/33Wr4ccUHFAJPUyaHS8RTK?videoPreview=1 The fluid mechanics of STAMP collecting: what SID tells usnohttps://cassyni.com/events/33Wr4ccUHFAJPUyaHS8RTK?videoPreview=12023-04-26T06:00:00+00:002818.08Leeds Institute for Fluid DynamicsThe stratified inclined duct (SID) is a relatively new experimental paradigm that produces a sustained shear flow between two counterflowing layers of fluid supplied by reservoirs at each end of the duct containing fluids of different density. The duct can be tilted at a small angle θ to the horizontal and, for a given fluid, the flow is determined by two nondimensional parameters θ and the Reynolds number. We have observed four different flow regimes in SID: Laminar when the inter-face between the layers remains undisturbed, Holmboe characterised by sharp cusped waves on the interface, Intermittent when the flow has bursts of turbulence followed by relatively calm periods and Turbulent when the turbulence occurs throughout the duct and is sustained in time. The laminar regime occurs at low Re and θ, and transitions to the other regimes occur successively as Re and θ increase, so SID allows a systematic study of the different regimes. One of the most important questions in stratified turbulence is the efficiency with which the fluid is mixed. When the stratification is stable, with density decreasing with height, work needs to be done against gravity to move light fluid downwards and dense fluid upwards so that irreversible mixing can occur. The ‘tax’ that this irreversible mixing imposes on the kinetic energy of the flow, the so-called ‘mixing efficiency’ is important to parameterise mixing in ocean and climate models. In this talk I will discuss the philosophy behind SID and explain why the experiment is relevant to this issue, particularly in the context of the energetics of the flow. We summarise our results on turbulent energetics and mixing statistics. We derive the kinetic and scalar energy budgets and explain the specificity and scalings of SID turbulence. We focus on the self-organisation properties of the flows, wherein more strongly turbulent flows tend to an asymptotic state characterised by a uniform gradient Richardson number of order 0.1-0.2 across the shear layer. We assess the relevance of standard mixing parameterisations models, and we compare representative values with the literature. Complementing the experiments we introduce the first accurate 3D DNS for SID. Implementing a suitable forcing method and boundary conditions allow us to maintain steady exchange flow for an arbitrarily long time at a minimal computational cost. With the newly developed numerical model, we explore the diverse transitions in SID from a numerical perspective.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CMidxphUyMuRBf1YZnUEv2 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CRqKwbuScwgaFESiCZbzKw https://cassyni.com/events/CRqKwbuScwgaFESiCZbzKw/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PLePzaZYGgrdyMQ9FQKyFL https://cassyni.com/events/CRqKwbuScwgaFESiCZbzKw?videoPreview=1 Microbes as hidden or prominent players in plant life- post event webinarnohttps://cassyni.com/events/CRqKwbuScwgaFESiCZbzKw?videoPreview=12025-11-04T13:30:00+00:003411.76NoneThis seminar explores the multifaceted roles of microbes in plant life, focusing on plant–microbe interactions under abiotic stress and microbial colonization strategies. The first study investigates how drought stress influences the plant holobiont, emphasizing the differential effects of water withholding versus polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) treatments on plant physiology and microbiome composition. Using soil inocula from diverse environments, metabolic assays, isotope analyses, and microbial isolation, the study demonstrates that drought simulation methods distinctly alter nutrient allocation, root biomass, and microbial community structure. Notably, drought-selected microbes exhibited plant growth-promoting traits and clustered into ecological groups including nitrogen fixers and stress-resilient biocontrol strains. Metabolite profiling revealed treatment-specific shifts in microbial carbon source utilization, highlighting the role of metabolites in mediating host–microbiome communication and suggesting avenues for engineering microbiomes for sustainable agriculture. The second study focuses on the genus Sphingomonas, a widespread, non-pathogenic bacterial group beneficial to plants. Employing forward genetics via random barcode transposon sequencing (RB-TnSeq) and reverse genetics using a CRISPR RNA-guided integrase system, the research identifies genes essential for plant colonization and stress adaptation. The generation of mutant libraries and targeted gene disruptions, such as in carotenoid biosynthesis, enables functional characterization across diverse strains and environmental conditions. Together, these investigations advance understanding of microbial contributions to plant stress resilience and colonization, offering frameworks for developing synthetic microbial communities and enhancing sustainable crop productivity through targeted manipulation of plant-associated microbiomes.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PLePzaZYGgrdyMQ9FQKyFL https://cassyni.com/events/RGifG1EySD1Y1hFNTde4Kw/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/RGifG1EySD1Y1hFNTde4Kw https://cassyni.com/events/RGifG1EySD1Y1hFNTde4Kw/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/45SexYq6qbakdt3uEHSDT4 https://cassyni.com/events/RGifG1EySD1Y1hFNTde4Kw?videoPreview=1 Atomic Spectroelectrochemistry to Deconvolute Elementary Electrochemical Processesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/RGifG1EySD1Y1hFNTde4Kw?videoPreview=12025-12-03T23:15:00+00:003078.28The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and NanotechnologyUnderstanding the elementary electrochemical processes that govern passivity, dissolution, and interfacial charge transfer requires simultaneous insight into both electronic and ionic dynamics at the electrode–electrolyte interface. Atomic spectroelectrochemistry provides a unique route to this understanding by directly coupling electrochemical control with element-resolved detection of dissolution and reaction products in real time. This talk will discuss how atomic spectroelectrochemistry—using techniques such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) integrated with electrochemical flow cells—can quantitatively deconvolute complex electrochemical signals into their fundamental steps. Case studies will illustrate how this approach enables identification of active, passive, and transpassive regimes, determination of rate-determining steps, and resolution of competing dissolution pathways in multi-element alloys.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/45SexYq6qbakdt3uEHSDT4 https://cassyni.com/events/3YC5Dvmt84e8Cwy65YFPdX/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/3YC5Dvmt84e8Cwy65YFPdX https://cassyni.com/events/3YC5Dvmt84e8Cwy65YFPdX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7JQXtbN6jnvpyGJ36RivKG https://cassyni.com/events/3YC5Dvmt84e8Cwy65YFPdX?videoPreview=1 Formation and fragmentation of nylon fibre aggregatesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/3YC5Dvmt84e8Cwy65YFPdX?videoPreview=12025-11-27T14:00:00+00:003170.36Royal Society PublishingThe aggregation process of fibres suspended in a fluid remains an open question, despite its critical role in numerous natural and industrial processes. This paper presents an experimental set-up designed to create fibre aggregates in a turbulent flow. The phase diagram for the aggregation states is established as a function of the experimental parameters, and the statistical properties of the resulting aggregates are characterized. In addition, the fragmentation process is investigated, and a model is proposed to describe the fragmentation time of the aggregates, which are subsequently validated through comparison with experimental results.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7JQXtbN6jnvpyGJ36RivKG https://cassyni.com/events/FtQBP1x16WUz6dCu3tp7mf/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/FtQBP1x16WUz6dCu3tp7mf https://cassyni.com/events/FtQBP1x16WUz6dCu3tp7mf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/L4nym2pnXzNHY6Wr5vjPe6 https://cassyni.com/events/FtQBP1x16WUz6dCu3tp7mf?videoPreview=1 Suppression of pair beam instabilities in a laboratory analogue of blazar pair cascadesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/FtQBP1x16WUz6dCu3tp7mf?videoPreview=12025-12-04T16:00:00+00:002943.24Journal of Plasma PhysicsThe generation of dense electron–positron pair beams in the laboratory can enable direct tests of theoretical models of γ-ray bursts and active galactic nuclei. In this talk, I will discuss how this has been achieved at CERN using ultrarelativistic protons to produce a dense, high-yield pair beam. In the first experiments, the stability of the pair beam has been studied as it propagates through a meter-length plasma, analogous to TeV γ-ray-induced pair cascades in the intergalactic medium. It has long been suggested that disruption due to kinetic pair beam instabilities can account for the observed lack of reprocessed GeV emission from TeV blazars. If true, this would remove the need for a moderate strength intergalactic magnetic field to explain the observations. We find that the pair beam instability is strongly suppressed when non-idealized distribution functions are considered (if the beam is not perfectly collimated or monochromatic). From this, we apply dynamical scaling of the growth rate and saturated magnetic field strength to infer that it is unlikely pair beam instabilities can significantly disrupt blazar-induced pair cascades, and hence the lower limit to the intergalactic magnetic field inferred from γ-ray observations of blazars appears to be robust. This prompts many further questions surrounding the origin of intergalactic magnetic fields and early-universe mechanisms have been proposed.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/L4nym2pnXzNHY6Wr5vjPe6 https://cassyni.com/events/XCXXvqXA74aSE2V7rekpVb/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7FJ6pa8Wj3KLD4gmEMbmYz https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/FPPUr9bxRMtPquWVx2vnWZ https://cassyni.com/events/FPPUr9bxRMtPquWVx2vnWZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Je7KZ8tSGgYmciEdtvKwxJ https://cassyni.com/events/FPPUr9bxRMtPquWVx2vnWZ?videoPreview=1 Session 1A: Large Scale Electrolysersnohttps://cassyni.com/events/FPPUr9bxRMtPquWVx2vnWZ?videoPreview=12025-10-20T22:00:00+00:005533.92Centre for Energy TechnologyThis seminar session addressed critical challenges and advancements in large-scale electrolyzer technology and its integration with renewable energy systems for green hydrogen production and downstream applications. Electric Hydrogen’s approach emphasizes increasing electrolyzer power density to reduce total plant footprint and installation costs, exemplified by their development of a 100-megawatt HyperPlant system. Key infrastructure challenges include efficient power delivery from medium-voltage grids to high-current, low-voltage DC electrolyzers, with significant losses and material use in transformers, switchgear, and rectifiers. The necessity for electrolyzers to meet stringent grid support requirements, such as low-voltage ride-through and frequency regulation, was highlighted, alongside the importance of advanced power electronics to enhance efficiency and reduce system complexity. Infinium’s work focuses on converting green hydrogen into electrofuels, particularly sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), addressing the market demand gap for scalable, drop-in renewable fuels. Their commercial-scale facilities integrate large electrolyzers with CO2 feedstocks to produce ultra-low carbon fuels, supported by long-term offtake agreements and policy frameworks that underpin investor confidence. A techno-economic analysis of power delivery options for electrolyzers demonstrated that co-location with solar arrays and direct DC coupling can minimize energy losses and system costs, while integrating multiple renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro, nuclear) can improve capacity factors without reliance on costly energy storage. The session underscored the intertwined technical, commercial, and policy dimensions essential for scaling green hydrogen production and utilization, emphasizing the need for innovation in power system components, integrated project development, and stable regulatory environments to achieve cost-effective, large-scale deployment.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Je7KZ8tSGgYmciEdtvKwxJ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/BvrFXN5HMA1kpDCwJNYpyj https://cassyni.com/events/BvrFXN5HMA1kpDCwJNYpyj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FEpJ26FMLS9g24dMBkeuaW https://cassyni.com/events/BvrFXN5HMA1kpDCwJNYpyj?videoPreview=1 Session 3A: Emerging Electrolyses Technologynohttps://cassyni.com/events/BvrFXN5HMA1kpDCwJNYpyj?videoPreview=12025-10-21T22:00:00+00:004379.52Centre for Energy TechnologyThis seminar session explored emerging electrolysis technologies with a focus on advancing hydrogen and synthetic fuel production through innovative system designs and applications. The first presentation introduced a novel electrolyzer system developed by E9 Hydrogen, designed specifically for operation on intermittent, low-cost renewable energy sources with capacity factors between 20% and 50%. This system employs a proprietary, non-corrosive electrolyte mixed with city water and a membrane-free coaxial stainless steel electrode assembly, enabling low capital expenditure (CAPEX) and flexible, behind-the-meter deployment without grid connection. The modular design allows scalability by stacking standardized 20 kW units within standard containers, achieving hydrogen production efficiencies comparable to conventional alkaline electrolyzers while tolerating variable power inputs and operating at ambient temperature without active cooling. Economic analyses demonstrated that leveraging curtailed or negative-priced renewable electricity can yield hydrogen production costs around $0.50/kg and attractive payback periods of 3.5 to 5 years for small- to medium-scale installations. The second presentation focused on OxEon Energy’s solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) technology, capable of reversible operation for electrolysis and fuel cell modes, and demonstrated in terrestrial and extraterrestrial contexts, including NASA’s MOXIE project on Mars. The SOEC systems electrolyze steam, CO2, or their mixtures to produce hydrogen, oxygen, carbon monoxide, and syngas with tunable H2:CO ratios for downstream fuel synthesis. Advances in materials have improved carbon formation resistance and redox tolerance, enabling long-term operation and scale-up to mission-relevant sizes. Demonstrations include lunar and Mars in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) for propellant production under relevant environmental conditions, achieving oxygen purities exceeding 99.6% and integrated methane synthesis. Terrestrially, OxEon integrates electrolysis with plasma reforming and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis to convert biogas into liquid hydrocarbons, with ongoing scale-up efforts. Panel discussions addressed system degradation and maintenance strategies, with E9 Hydrogen adopting a low-cost, modular, and partly disposable approach, and OxEon pursuing materials development and stack replacement cycles informed by long-term testing. Supply chain considerations emphasize redundancy and domestic sourcing for proprietary electrolytes and materials. Regulatory and policy challenges were highlighted, including permitting complexities and the impact of renewable energy credits on market dynamics. Both technologies underscore the importance of flexible, scalable electrolyzers tailored to variable renewable energy integration and diverse applications ranging from green hydrogen production to space exploration propellant generation.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FEpJ26FMLS9g24dMBkeuaW https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/NJVZcMBBy8ZuVCCUc3SAHs https://cassyni.com/events/NJVZcMBBy8ZuVCCUc3SAHs/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YJDivEBNuPzH3Ehn6Yn6CN https://cassyni.com/events/NJVZcMBBy8ZuVCCUc3SAHs?videoPreview=1 Synchrotron radiation from runaway electrons in tokamaksnohttps://cassyni.com/events/NJVZcMBBy8ZuVCCUc3SAHs?videoPreview=12026-04-09T15:00:00+00:003299.72Journal of Plasma PhysicsA powerful technique for diagnosing runaway electrons in experiments is to measure the synchrotron radiation that they emit. Synchrotron radiation from relativistic electrons is focused in the direction of motion of the electrons, and its intensity depends on the electron energy. As such, synchrotron radiation provides information about both the spatial localization of the electrons, as well as their momentum vectors, allowing parts of the distribution function to be explored. Furthermore, polarization and spectral information can be used to additionally constrain the momentum distribution of the electrons. In the past decade, significant progress has been made in employing synchrotron radiation to validate runaway electron models. New numerical tools have been developed and numerous studies offering quantitative comparisons of runaway electron distribution functions against experimental data have been published. In this colloquium, I will give some examples of how synchrotron radiation is used today to diagnose runaway electrons in tokamaks, and point towards some open questions which should be addressed in order to help design the tokamak reactors of tomorrow.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YJDivEBNuPzH3Ehn6Yn6CN https://cassyni.com/events/No9Af2piQb7xUxjNCUixZB/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/No9Af2piQb7xUxjNCUixZB https://cassyni.com/events/No9Af2piQb7xUxjNCUixZB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Xk11RycCzqyYYHRxF2JmKc https://cassyni.com/events/No9Af2piQb7xUxjNCUixZB?videoPreview=1 Asian perspectives on global risks - the UN Global Risk Report through a regional lensnohttps://cassyni.com/events/No9Af2piQb7xUxjNCUixZB?videoPreview=12026-02-10T08:00:00+00:004960.04Risk SciencesAsia is at the forefront of intertwined climate, digital, and societal transitions. Stress-testing the UN Global Risk Report’s perceptions against Asian realities can sharpen regional priorities, improve preparedness where it lags, and catalyse the joint actions the report identifies as most effective. This webinar brings together experts and practitioners to interpret the latest UN findings for the region and examines whether the report meaningfully captures the lived realities and strategic priorities of Southeast Asia, Asia more broadly, and the world. Drawing on the report’s perception survey across 1,100+ stakeholders in 136 countries, the panel will discuss the alignment and gaps between key global “vulnerabilities” such as mis- and disinformation, environmental risks, societal risks, and technological risks, and Asia’s on-the-ground risk landscape. Whether you work in government, industry, academia, or the civic sector, gain actionable insights to inform decision-making and collaboration. The webinar is jointly organised by the [***LRF Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk***](https://ipur.nus.edu.sg/) at the National University of Singapore, [***Risk Sciences***](https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/risk-sciences) and [***World Salon***](https://www.world-salon.com/). https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Xk11RycCzqyYYHRxF2JmKc https://cassyni.com/events/YBTeY27gkHeELiCW7cCXRo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/RSjZ6G7GQFvFYUA3qKMKbc https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QmjaqmQpARLiag1bZSatyj https://cassyni.com/events/QmjaqmQpARLiag1bZSatyj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/X8L6Dyk1svvywqaZ2AC2Tp https://cassyni.com/events/QmjaqmQpARLiag1bZSatyj?videoPreview=1 SSP Innovation Showcase (Winter2025)nohttps://cassyni.com/events/QmjaqmQpARLiag1bZSatyj?videoPreview=12025-02-13T06:00:00+00:003716.2SSP Society for Scholarly PublishingA webinar showcasing new developments and innovations shaping our industry. Engage with expert speakers as they deliver brief presentations and answer your questions live. Don’t miss this chance to learn about the latest trends and solutions in Scholarly Publishing! Learn from Wiley Partner Solutions, Digital Science, Prophy, Cadmore Media, Supaduhttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/X8L6Dyk1svvywqaZ2AC2Tp https://cassyni.com/events/2YZPm1JCQpRFnACRauuS21/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/2YZPm1JCQpRFnACRauuS21 https://cassyni.com/events/2YZPm1JCQpRFnACRauuS21/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PjNu1dKP4ySBu9V8bDk2P8 https://cassyni.com/events/2YZPm1JCQpRFnACRauuS21?videoPreview=1 Wave turbulence, energy transfer and application in passive vibration mitigationnohttps://cassyni.com/events/2YZPm1JCQpRFnACRauuS21?videoPreview=12026-04-21T13:00:00+00:002492.44Nonlinear Dynamics, an International Journal of Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in Engineering SystemsWave turbulence is first introduced and applied to geometrically nonlinear vibrations of plates, showing that it provides a relevant framework for understanding the energy cascade characterizing a turbulent behaviour in a solid. This energy cascade is then exploited as a means of efficiently transferring vibrational energy toward higher frequencies, where passive vibration isolation devices are generally more effective. The concept is illustrated using an Acoustic Black Hole (ABH), a vibration isolation device characterized by an anechoic termination that enables energy trapping and dissipation. Results show that the energy conversion induced by the cascade enhances the device efficiency, although the associated timescale remains too long for practical applications. To overcome this limitation, the approach is complemented by the introduction of a non-smooth contact nonlinearity, which promotes rapid frequency-up conversion and leads to effective broadband vibration mitigation. **Key Learning Objectives** - Review and understand the wave turbulence and its application to mechanical vibrations - Illustrate how the energy cascade can be used to improve a passive vibration isolator - Understand the functioning of an Acoustic Black Hole (ABH) and see how the presence of nonlinearity can be levergared to improve its efficacy **Who Should Attend** - Mechanical and aerospace engineers - Researchers/scientists in mechanical sciences and nonlinear dynamicshttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PjNu1dKP4ySBu9V8bDk2P8 https://cassyni.com/events/DQpgn3Xk4tbjJS2TCT97xq/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/DQpgn3Xk4tbjJS2TCT97xq https://cassyni.com/events/DQpgn3Xk4tbjJS2TCT97xq/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/S3fokgX6bEhAWD6UisZmo4 https://cassyni.com/events/DQpgn3Xk4tbjJS2TCT97xq?videoPreview=1 Security and Teams in Power BInohttps://cassyni.com/events/DQpgn3Xk4tbjJS2TCT97xq?videoPreview=12026-03-19T14:00:00+00:003436.32Research Evaluation and Analytics Capacity Hub**2. Security and Teams** **Level:** Intermediate **Description:** How to enforce security, governance, and scalable access management without manually sharing reports one-by-one. - **Reporting Groups** - Scalable report distribution - Access levels - Difference between workspace, app, and dataset sharing - **Row-Level Security (RLS)** - Concepts - Setup - Implementation - **Version Control** - Using OneDrive or Google Drive - Introduction to PBIP (Power BI Project) - What PBIP enables for version control and documentationhttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/S3fokgX6bEhAWD6UisZmo4 https://cassyni.com/events/9xHTTG14zgj6GjitYnmAS1/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9xHTTG14zgj6GjitYnmAS1 https://cassyni.com/events/9xHTTG14zgj6GjitYnmAS1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QrgAh5pVCezG71tjt9irqL https://cassyni.com/events/9xHTTG14zgj6GjitYnmAS1?videoPreview=1 Human health evidence in the global treaty to end plastic pollution: a survey of policy perspectivesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/9xHTTG14zgj6GjitYnmAS1?videoPreview=12026-06-10T14:00:00+00:001796.44Cambridge PrismsScience shows mounting global health risks associated with plastics life cycle pollution. Leveraging evidence and streamlining research to inform policy is critical to safeguarding people and planet. We conducted an electronic survey questionnaire, between 16th April and 16th August 2024, amongst United Nations government delegates developing the Global Plastics Treaty. We explored (1) perceptions and prioritisation of human health evidence, (2) preferred plastic pollution mitigation strategies, and (3) priorities for health research. Responses were collected in Qualtrics and analysed using summary statistics, the Fisher’s Exact Test, and thematically mapped to the Policy Cycle Framework. We received 27 survey responses, balanced by gender and career stage, including 23 countries and all World Bank country income classifications and regions, but greater representation from high-income and European countries. Human health was the highest-ranking concern related to plastics risks (Sum of rank scores (SRS) = 54). Most delegates expressed strong conviction in evidence of risks associated with plastics chemicals, polymers, products, microplastics and broader life cycle emissions. Reducing plastics production (SRS = 53) and eliminating chemicals, polymers and products of concern (SRS = 53) were prioritised, even amongst those affiliated with waste management departments or less convinced of health risks. We found the least regard for recycling as a strategy to protect health (SRS = 4–5) and eliminating open burning was the most prioritised downstream measure (SRS = 15). Generating quantitative, causal data on risks across plastics life cycles, identifying emerging health hazards, defining criteria, safe lists and substitutes for chemicals, polymers and products were government delegate priorities for research, alongside tools to track policy impacts on health and greater bilateral communication between scientists and delegations. Health risks of all forms of plastic pollution were a concern for most delegates responding to our survey. We identified key priorities for policy-driven research to strengthen the science-policy interface and support evidence-based plastics policy that protects human health.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QrgAh5pVCezG71tjt9irqL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TEyc5BeSMi7CwcVA78VXhf https://cassyni.com/events/TEyc5BeSMi7CwcVA78VXhf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AieXBPjn3fUPx4Ymnh5P8r https://cassyni.com/events/TEyc5BeSMi7CwcVA78VXhf?videoPreview=1 Geographical Sciences Committee, NASEM, Vulnerability of the U.S. Energy Infrastructure to Coastal Floodingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/TEyc5BeSMi7CwcVA78VXhf?videoPreview=12018-12-06T06:00:00+00:0011024.32 School of Public PolicyThe vulnerability of U.S. energy infrastructure to coastal flooding poses significant economic and national security risks, with potential for cascading impacts across critical sectors. Threat sources include sea level rise, storm surges, and tsunamis, particularly in regions like the Cascadia Subduction Zone, where 2100 projections indicate a likely sea level rise between 0.28 and 0.98 meters. Studies identify 287 coastal energy facilities in the lower 48 states within four feet of ordinary high tide, with a 0.9-meter rise potentially impacting over 4.2 million U.S. coastal residents. Analysis of the U.S. electricity grid, a complex system of physics, economics, and policy, highlights its centrality to other critical infrastructure. Post-disaster assessments reveal that energy outages often result not only from direct flooding but also from electricity loss, road damage, and supply-chain disruptions. Resilience planning for Oregon's energy sector against a Cascadia earthquake projects 3-6 months of electricity downtime and significant liquid fuel shortages due to aged facilities and infrastructure on liquefiable dredge spoil. GIS-based risk assessments of port and water infrastructure in areas like Norfolk and Charleston demonstrate increasing exposure to sea level rise-exacerbated storm surges and tidal flooding, with challenges from subsurface infiltration and inadequate drainage. An integrated approach is essential, spanning engineering, economics, policy, and business models. This necessitates enhanced data and quantitative models for low-probability, high-consequence event assessment, severe weather prediction, and understanding new energy technologies' climate interactions. Distributed electric grids and strategic 'retreat' from coastal areas are considered pathways to resilience, recognizing ongoing policy and data standardization challenges.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AieXBPjn3fUPx4Ymnh5P8r https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/ASxgcaAUqWCv6CiQLtt8cD https://cassyni.com/events/ASxgcaAUqWCv6CiQLtt8cD/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/869DpYmHSgCpqAFLNkmfHx https://cassyni.com/events/ASxgcaAUqWCv6CiQLtt8cD?videoPreview=1 Computational and analytical methods for subwavelength metamaterialsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/ASxgcaAUqWCv6CiQLtt8cD?videoPreview=12026-05-26T14:00:00+00:002741.8MetaMATSubwavelength metamaterials exhibit rich resonance phenomena driven by geometry and material contrast at scales far below the wavelength. In this presentation, we develop analytical and computational frameworks combining asymptotic analysis, boundary integral formulations, and Fourier–Galerkin discretizations. In particular, I introduce a Fourier–Galerkin approach for two-dimensional scattering problems, reducing the boundary integral operator to a finite-dimensional effective matrix whose singularity characterizes resonances. In the subwavelength regime, I derive asymptotic expansions of this matrix, revealing the leading-order operators and enabling a low-dimensional nonlinear eigenvalue formulation. This framework yields efficient, FFT-accelerated algorithms that avoid large-scale discretizations and provide robust tools for computing resonances in general geometries.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/869DpYmHSgCpqAFLNkmfHx https://cassyni.com/events/BSHWpZyR7nEnuSEojSHu3j/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/BSHWpZyR7nEnuSEojSHu3j https://cassyni.com/events/BSHWpZyR7nEnuSEojSHu3j/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AHXTgZ7BQJaTAkJbric7r6 https://cassyni.com/events/BSHWpZyR7nEnuSEojSHu3j?videoPreview=1 An interview with Dr. Bertalan Meskonohttps://cassyni.com/events/BSHWpZyR7nEnuSEojSHu3j?videoPreview=12026-06-16T12:00:00+00:002547.04npj Digital Medicine Hear from a leading thought leader on medical innovation. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AHXTgZ7BQJaTAkJbric7r6 https://cassyni.com/events/7yh3GXQyErWLB2SfBpuE1T/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/7yh3GXQyErWLB2SfBpuE1T https://cassyni.com/events/7yh3GXQyErWLB2SfBpuE1T/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PhnzKSFrZ2FLthzQM3r2E2 https://cassyni.com/events/7yh3GXQyErWLB2SfBpuE1T?videoPreview=1 Rethinking Self-Supervised Learning in Computer Vision: Challenges, Tasks, and Methodsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/7yh3GXQyErWLB2SfBpuE1T?videoPreview=12026-02-20T19:00:00+00:002773.12School of Data Science Self-supervised learning has become a cornerstone of modern computer vision and multimodal foundation models, enabling scalable training on massive unlabeled data and driving recent advances in perception for autonomous agents. However, despite impressive performance on high-level semantic recognition, these models remain brittle in dynamic, open-world physical environments that demand robust spatial and temporal reasoning. A key limitation is that spatiotemporal understanding is typically learned only indirectly from objectives targeting semantic recognition, rather than being treated as a foundational visual capability. In this talk, I will present our recent efforts to rethink self-supervised representation learning for vision including: (1) a comprehensive benchmarking of self-supervised learning methods across diverse non-semantic, mid-level vision tasks (2) a scalable framework that directly learn 3D geometry and scene dynamics from large-scale, in-the-wild video data (3) a method for learning 3D point cloud representations without any human-created 3D shapeshttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PhnzKSFrZ2FLthzQM3r2E2 https://cassyni.com/events/33CzogwirGyJmvjKBMCEHK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KA3uLtSMUrzMYdepPurPCa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CRXUggEhByVadgCT6Ufo9w https://cassyni.com/events/CRXUggEhByVadgCT6Ufo9w/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GxayoMT83uDs4Zsf9ua5ve https://cassyni.com/events/CRXUggEhByVadgCT6Ufo9w?videoPreview=1 The REF’s Real-World Challenge (Lightning Talk)nohttps://cassyni.com/events/CRXUggEhByVadgCT6Ufo9w?videoPreview=12026-02-24T11:30:00+00:00369.36Researcher to ReaderThe UK government now demands research drives economic growth. But how can universities prove this when their primary output is the journal article? This talk argues that only Real-World Knowledge—born-digital reports from industry and NGOs—can provide the crucial data trail linking academic research to the real economy.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GxayoMT83uDs4Zsf9ua5ve https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/PHpPpLz8FQbnJRiszaqvjP https://cassyni.com/events/PHpPpLz8FQbnJRiszaqvjP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YDofyYFAs3QpHoPNZdLasp https://cassyni.com/events/PHpPpLz8FQbnJRiszaqvjP?videoPreview=1 B6 – Lightning Talks: (1) Practical Analytics for Research Administration: Dashboards That Drive Decisions (2) Building an AI – Powered Connectome Tool: Harmonizing Siloed Data to Guide Research Strategynohttps://cassyni.com/events/PHpPpLz8FQbnJRiszaqvjP?videoPreview=12026-04-20T10:05:00+00:001842.0Research Analytics Summit(1) This lightning session showcases two practical, low – cost analytics solutions designed to strengthen data – informed decision – making in research administration. In the first project, Stacey Croomes (USC) demonstrates how Excel can automate PI – facing financial dashboards, integrating hit – rate visualizations directly into monthly reconciliation workflows. The tool provides faculty with an intuitive snapshot of spending pace, remaining balances, and discretionary cap usage, reducing manual labor while improving financial clarity. In the second project, Alex Howard (Pepperdine) presents a six – month institutional initiative to migrate historical proposals and award data from legacy systems into a unified Cayuse dataset. Using this standardized data, the team built a Google Sheets dashboard that provides senior leadership with immediate insight into key metrics—including Requested vs. Awarded funding, Public/Private funding mix, and total Grants Under Management. The approach offers a scalable, low – cost framework for developing trustworthy analytics that support strategic planning and emerging presidential KPIs. (2) Upon joining OSU's Chronic Brain Injury Program (CBI), I tasked with building a “connectome” to inform strategic decisions to grow our research footprint and impact. There was no spec, no clear definition or deadline—just a strategic itch. Responding to that single request has exposed several familiar roadblocks: from finding, accessing, and harmonizing reliable data across sources to organizing collaboration among multiple units with unique capabilities, needs, and goals. This tool seeks to help professionals across the university overcome these challenges and answer a common forward – looking question: “What should we do next?” I’ll share the design of an AI – powered Connectome Tool being developed for use across the university and as my RAMP capstone project. The tool aims to harmonize siloed datasets—external bibliometrics (e.g., OpenAlex, Semantic Scholar, etc), funder datasets (e.g., NIH RePORTER, NSF awards, SBIR/STTR, etc.), and internal proposal, awards, and expenditures data—into a unified framework that supports forward – looking strategy, not just current – state description. Participants will: • See how I scoped an undefined “build a connectome” request into concrete use cases and user stories. • Walk through the evolving data model and AI components. • Take away design patterns, tradeoffs, and pitfalls of developing this product. No advanced technical or AI background is required, just an interest in leveraging AI to guide research strategy.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YDofyYFAs3QpHoPNZdLasp https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/KqHAVZTTBCj9GjRKLvTyCZ https://cassyni.com/events/KqHAVZTTBCj9GjRKLvTyCZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5BLTok65Eb2moHiLU4DTyQ https://cassyni.com/events/KqHAVZTTBCj9GjRKLvTyCZ?videoPreview=1 E5 – Building a Crosswalk: A Practical Framework for Standardizing Messy Research Datanohttps://cassyni.com/events/KqHAVZTTBCj9GjRKLvTyCZ?videoPreview=12026-04-20T14:45:00+00:001822.04Research Analytics SummitPublic data sources frequently list universities and funders under inconsistent, incomplete, or outdated names. Analysts working with grants, awards, rankings, or institutional comparison data often spend significant time resolving variations like “U Missouri” vs. “University of Missouri, Columbia,” or “NIH,” “National Institutes of Health,” and individual institute names. This session offers a practical, repeatable workflow for building reliable name crosswalks using tools available to every analyst: Excel and Power Query. Participants will learn how to identify name variants, apply controlled vocabularies, and use Excel and Power Query features, such as fuzzy matching, transformation rules, deduplication, and lookup – based standardization, to reconcile university and funder names across multiple datasets. The session also covers best practices for documenting decisions, reducing manual cleanup, and maintaining crosswalks over time. Hands – on and tool – focused, this session equips attendees with methods and templates they can immediately apply to award, proposal, or institutional datasets. Objectives 1.Identify and structure name variations for universities and funders across public datasets. 2.Use Excel functions (XLOOKUP, text functions, conditional formatting) to support matching and review. 3.Apply Power Query for cleaning, deduplication, fuzzy matching, and merging lists. 4.Create a standardized master list for institutions and sponsors. 5. Validate and maintain crosswalkshttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5BLTok65Eb2moHiLU4DTyQ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/WCtrTv3UPpMZoEiTN2Qrt5 https://cassyni.com/events/WCtrTv3UPpMZoEiTN2Qrt5/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Svu5hnu9ocAaJsbgYuiGfY https://cassyni.com/events/WCtrTv3UPpMZoEiTN2Qrt5?videoPreview=1 G5 – Beyond Compliance: Ethical and Epistemic Foundations of Research Analytics & Evaluationnohttps://cassyni.com/events/WCtrTv3UPpMZoEiTN2Qrt5?videoPreview=12026-04-21T10:15:00+00:002858.72Research Analytics SummitResearch analytics and evaluation are in many ways technical and compliance – driven activities, yet the justification for these activities often rests on assumptions about values and knowledge. Participants in this session will explore why ethical responsibility extends beyond regulatory compliance. By distinguishing ethics from compliance, the session invites critical reflection on how analytic and evaluation systems influence research cultures. Participants will: 1. Distinguish ethical reasoning from compliance in research analytics and evaluation. 2. Recognize epistemic framing and value assumptions embedded in metrics, indicators, and analytic models. 3. Evaluate analytic practices using normative criteria, including privacy, autonomy, and institutional responsibility.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Svu5hnu9ocAaJsbgYuiGfY https://cassyni.com/events/8UNGRqaP5fz9zVSAyw2CBf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KYmQeG2vqij3sx13FDWFr6 https://cassyni.com/events/8UNGRqaP5fz9zVSAyw2CBf?videoPreview=1 Being Human Speakers: What can we do to protect the humanities?nohttps://cassyni.com/events/8UNGRqaP5fz9zVSAyw2CBf?videoPreview=12018-10-05T06:00:00+00:00104.88NoneIn 2017 we teamed up with Being Human, a national festival dedicated to demonstrating the breadth, diversity and vitality of the humanities, led by the School of Advanced Study, University of London in partnership with the Arts & Humanities Research Council and the British Academy. We hosted a lively panel discussion which examined the evolution of gay, lesbian and queer representation across history, literature and media. Our panellists delved into what it has meant to be a ‘lost’, marginalised and even criminalised voice, and examined to what degree historically marginalised voices have been ‘found’ since this momentous Act of Parliament was passed.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KYmQeG2vqij3sx13FDWFr6 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/PnXF6HfRVb1NwtkrxCQQ3f https://cassyni.com/events/PnXF6HfRVb1NwtkrxCQQ3f/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3ZijhhN4Ybm3w1ph29st5U https://cassyni.com/events/PnXF6HfRVb1NwtkrxCQQ3f?videoPreview=1 “Aria” Interview: A Song of Airnohttps://cassyni.com/events/PnXF6HfRVb1NwtkrxCQQ3f?videoPreview=12021-02-11T06:00:00+00:00196.0Hong Kong Baptist UniversityJust as musicians cherish their instruments, singers have to take the best care of their voices. Poor air quality is a huge hazard to the singing voice. How would Theatre of Voices and Hong Kong Children’s Choir deliver this song of air to show the effects of air pollution?https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3ZijhhN4Ybm3w1ph29st5U https://cassyni.com/events/3XtDy178h6T8bPipyTKCTX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AvE9Jy3aeBaGW9XHAEsAhC https://cassyni.com/events/3XtDy178h6T8bPipyTKCTX?videoPreview=1 Closing Remarksnohttps://cassyni.com/events/3XtDy178h6T8bPipyTKCTX?videoPreview=12026-05-20T14:45:00+00:00270.68Connecting Science, Publishing, and InnovationAbstract not yet added.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AvE9Jy3aeBaGW9XHAEsAhC https://cassyni.com/events/UiyfSVcnUocxFXmJCsuzbf/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/UiyfSVcnUocxFXmJCsuzbf https://cassyni.com/events/UiyfSVcnUocxFXmJCsuzbf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4A2AQp9EsFuH4GjqUCMDAv https://cassyni.com/events/UiyfSVcnUocxFXmJCsuzbf?videoPreview=1 eDNA in ecology and determining provenance of biosecurity pests using new genomic technologiesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/UiyfSVcnUocxFXmJCsuzbf?videoPreview=12026-04-10T02:15:00+00:002659.68Institute for Applied EcologyAt CSIRO, Rachel Tulloch developed and applied airborne eDNA approaches to detect and monitor wildlife, demonstrating how trace genetic material can be used for sensitive, non-invasive biodiversity surveillance. This work involved optimising molecular assays, working with low-abundance DNA, and translating complex genomic data into actionable ecological insights. Building on this, her current postdoctoral research at the University of Canberra applies similar genomic principles to plant biosecurity, focusing on tracing the provenance of invasive pests. Using the green vegetable bug as a proof-of-concept species, she is adapting high-throughput sequencing approaches to inform surveillance strategies and support evidence-based biosecurity responses.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4A2AQp9EsFuH4GjqUCMDAv https://cassyni.com/events/XCDgfurQg6PScUErkZpdKb/abstract https://cassyni.com/events/JMPbamYefYvJZ2WdMHQc4D/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/JMPbamYefYvJZ2WdMHQc4D https://cassyni.com/events/JMPbamYefYvJZ2WdMHQc4D/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HJUSN4z5aU1FJcNDFofjWN https://cassyni.com/events/JMPbamYefYvJZ2WdMHQc4D?videoPreview=1 Talk session 4: Solver developmentsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/JMPbamYefYvJZ2WdMHQc4D?videoPreview=12026-06-09T12:45:00+00:003871.28Nektar++ Development TeamThis session presents advancements in solver capabilities within the Nektar++ spectral/hp element platform for complex fluid dynamics and high-performance computing. A conservative level set method has been developed for immiscible two-phase flows, featuring an operator-split approach for advection and reinitialisation, and coupling with modified Navier-Stokes equations. This solver achieved stable simulations with density ratios up to 1000 for cases such as air bubbles rising through water, demonstrating robust handling of surface tension effects. For combustion, a tabulated chemistry approach using Flamelet-Generated Manifolds (FGM) was implemented. A 1D tabulation scheme for the Sandia Lab piloted methane jet flame D, coupled with modified Navier-Stokes equations, yielded good agreement with experimental data, especially at higher polynomial orders (P4), highlighting the potential for efficient combustion modelling. Furthermore, efforts to accelerate Nektar++ solvers on diverse hardware led to a redesigned operator-based architecture. For the incompressible Navier-Stokes solver, GPU acceleration on an AMD MI210 achieved a 4.6x speed-up with one GPU and 8.9x with two GPUs compared to 56 CPU cores for a Taylor-Green vortex at Reynolds 1600. A new `LinearSolverOp` base class for iterative solvers incorporates GPU-specific optimisations. These include collective reductions to minimise device-to-host data transfers, kernel fusing for efficient memory access, and static workspace allocation to avoid repeated memory allocation overhead. Such optimisations resulted in a 20-30% throughput gain for core Conjugate Gradient operations, demonstrating competitive performance for compute-intensive operators like the Helmholtz solver. Future work involves integrating automatic mesh refinement, extending combustion models, implementing advanced preconditioners, and enhancing multi-GPU scalability.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HJUSN4z5aU1FJcNDFofjWN https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/6VoUMjWAjChVT1x8EMEXdw https://cassyni.com/events/6VoUMjWAjChVT1x8EMEXdw/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UqXp89xppRF2LWyjo67nn https://cassyni.com/events/6VoUMjWAjChVT1x8EMEXdw?videoPreview=1 Meet the EiC of Brain and Behavior - Join the conversationnohttps://cassyni.com/events/6VoUMjWAjChVT1x8EMEXdw?videoPreview=12026-05-01T19:00:00+00:00964.28Brain and Behavior JournalNo abstracthttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UqXp89xppRF2LWyjo67nn https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/6zT5QR9hAfFYSnV1pnXKuF https://cassyni.com/events/6zT5QR9hAfFYSnV1pnXKuF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/TPokuyqiKX12UEVkdh48G6 https://cassyni.com/events/6zT5QR9hAfFYSnV1pnXKuF?videoPreview=1 Identity & Cofounder Selection: An Inductive Exploration of Race and Gendernohttps://cassyni.com/events/6zT5QR9hAfFYSnV1pnXKuF?videoPreview=12025-11-19T14:30:00+00:00899.2Center for Black Entrepreneurship, Spelman CollegeThis inductive qualitative study explores how identity, specifically race and gender, influences co-founder selection in technology entrepreneurship. While co-founded ventures are often more successful and critical for investment and accelerator acceptance, team dynamics are also a primary reason for venture failure, underscoring existing disparities in participation by race and gender in venture-funded entrepreneurship. An inductive approach was employed, involving 93 semi-structured interviews (45-90 minutes each) with technology founders, focusing on white and Black individuals, both male and female. Data analysis utilized constant comparison to develop theoretical insights. Preliminary findings reveal that women and Black founders frequently choose to be solo founders due to "conditioned mistrust," born from experiences of being overlooked or taken advantage of. Black women specifically adopt solo-founding as a self-defense mechanism to retain control and avoid marginalization. Conversely, Black founders seeking co-founders encounter a limited pool of high-quality candidates, perpetuating a vicious cycle where investment often favors co-founded ventures, typically led by white or Asian males. In contrast, white male founders approach co-founder selection as a resource acquisition process prioritizing complementary skills, without considering race or gender. This research aims to build theory on the strategic and systemic factors influencing co-founder decisions among diverse founder groups, with future directions including the examination of product or service influence and a more granular distinction between conditioned and trauma-based responses.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/TPokuyqiKX12UEVkdh48G6 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/ZKRtu2vLdAU3vEnDsXXuo https://cassyni.com/events/ZKRtu2vLdAU3vEnDsXXuo/abstract https://cassyni.com/events/ZKRtu2vLdAU3vEnDsXXuo?videoPreview=1 Advancing Multi-Hazard Robustness and Risk Assessment of Existing Bridges through Multi-Scale Computational Simulations and Experimental Testingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/ZKRtu2vLdAU3vEnDsXXuo?videoPreview=12025-06-10T07:00:00+00:004394.76NoneRational management of aging bridge infrastructure under natural and anthropogenic hazards requires advanced methodologies that address structural robustness, risk, and resilience—from individual bridges to entire networks. This talk presents recent research developments from the University of Naples Federico II (Italy) on the multi-hazard assessment of existing bridges, combining multi-scale computational simulations with targeted experimental testing. Various approaches to nonlinear modelling (continuous vs. discontinuous, 1D vs. 2D/3D) and response analysis (static vs. dynamic) of bridge structures are explored to capture damage evolution and collapse mechanisms under extreme events such as traffic overloading, pier scour, and localised damage. Results from an extensive experimental programme on bridge girders are discussed, emphasising their role in calibrating and validating numerical models. Case studies on real bridges and portfolios illustrate practical applications and highlight critical challenges in the quantitative assessment of robustness and risk. Outputs from complementary approaches to vulnerability and risk assessment are presented to support the prioritisation of inspections, monitoring, detailed safety evaluations, and retrofit interventions for infrastructure systems exposed to multi-hazard environments. https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/DuXY3zD3K51KwbUbCE6G3w https://cassyni.com/events/DuXY3zD3K51KwbUbCE6G3w/abstract https://cassyni.com/events/DuXY3zD3K51KwbUbCE6G3w?videoPreview=1 Reinsurance design with heterogeneous beliefs under MV frameworknohttps://cassyni.com/events/DuXY3zD3K51KwbUbCE6G3w?videoPreview=12026-05-11T01:00:00+00:001559.2Risk SciencesDr. Xia Han 's research interests mainly lie in Stochastic control (dynamic optimization) problems in insurance and finance; Quantitative risk management for insurance and finance This speech record is an excerpt from Dr. Han's keynote speech for the Risk Sciences Colloquium – [2025 International Workshop on Risk Sharing (IWRS)](https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/risk-sciences/event/2025-international-workshop-on-risk-sharing-iwrs/) , which was held on July 6-7, 2025, in Beijing, China. [Risk sciences](https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/risk-sciences/) aims to foster diverse, multidisciplinary insights in risk sciences, bridging theory and practice through a series of academic activities. https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/EtrNFz1ybM3Cm8aqYc7Mid https://cassyni.com/events/EtrNFz1ybM3Cm8aqYc7Mid/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7eBfvWJE6iPjj8sWf1VHqY https://cassyni.com/events/EtrNFz1ybM3Cm8aqYc7Mid?videoPreview=1 Targeting Zika: VLP Vaccines with Authentic Quaternary Epitopes for Enhanced Protectionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/EtrNFz1ybM3Cm8aqYc7Mid?videoPreview=12025-05-22T11:00:00+00:003587.24Journal of VirologyJoin us for the third webinar in the Journal of Virology Seminar Series, where we hear from the authors who developed a vaccine against Zika virus. The authors talk about their research journey that began with a simple vaccine design resulting in virus-like particles that failed to elicit protective immunity. Undeterred, they continued with their research to better understand the characteristics of a good Zika virus antigen. Finally, they produced a working Zika virus-like particle vaccine that generates an immune response strong enough to protect against viremia and testicular damage in an animal model. Learning Objectives: • Learn about Zika virus-like particles comprising prME proteins that can be efficiently produced in insect cells. • Find out about A264C, an envelope protein substitution that stabilizes E dimer formation. • Discover why E dimer formation combined with vaccine production in a novel Sf9 insect cell line adapted to grow in suspension at pH 7 is essential for immunogenicity. • Learn about how effective flavivirus vaccines present the immunogen in an authentic quaternary structure with a pre-fusion conformation.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7eBfvWJE6iPjj8sWf1VHqY https://cassyni.com/events/MoxT2BbD97iiQRGpCccjVw/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/MoxT2BbD97iiQRGpCccjVw https://cassyni.com/events/MoxT2BbD97iiQRGpCccjVw/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/N5Ldj5qgx19vSyXKPr34t6 https://cassyni.com/events/MoxT2BbD97iiQRGpCccjVw?videoPreview=1 The Road to 2030 and Beyond - UN SDGs and AInohttps://cassyni.com/events/MoxT2BbD97iiQRGpCccjVw?videoPreview=12026-07-08T13:30:00+00:003525.2Springer Nature Sustainable Development Goals ProgrammeExplore the powerful intersection of Artificial Intelligence and the Sustainable Development Goals and how AI-driven innovations can accelerate progress across sectors ranging from health and education to climate action and infrastructure. This session will highlight practical pathways for leveraging AI to advance multiple SDGs. The conversation will be led by two distinguished researchers: Florence Hudson, Executive Director of the Northeast Big Data Innovation Hub at Columbia University and Prof. Dr. Eng. Arthur G.O. Mutambara, Director at the University of Johannesburg’s Institute for the Future of Knowledge. Together, they will share insights, applications, and forward-looking perspectives past 2030 on how AI can guide us to a more sustainable and equitable future.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/N5Ldj5qgx19vSyXKPr34t6 https://cassyni.com/events/5WZWVdEtf1Shj5aKq9Txku/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ULb9xJhxD2b7PJorHE9VQi https://cassyni.com/events/242HAqiDaoa4hPGmBV61E5/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/242HAqiDaoa4hPGmBV61E5 https://cassyni.com/events/242HAqiDaoa4hPGmBV61E5/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/RyXjchdPP13TUQorRSyxiA https://cassyni.com/events/242HAqiDaoa4hPGmBV61E5?videoPreview=1 Proper elements of resonant systems, Marchal’s family of periodic orbits I: Stability of inclined co-orbital planetary systemsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/242HAqiDaoa4hPGmBV61E5?videoPreview=12026-07-13T13:00:00+00:003592.76Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical AstronomyThis seminar explored two distinct topics in celestial mechanics, focusing on the computation of proper elements in resonant systems and the stability of inclined co-orbital planetary systems. In the first part, a methodology was presented to compute proper elements—quasi-integrals vital for clustering celestial bodies and constructing analytical solutions—even within resonant domains where traditional perturbation theory fails. For bodies near resonances with rotating angles, proper elements were derived as the mean of action bounds from a quasi-conserved resonant normal form. For librating resonances, a canonical transformation was employed to convert librational tori into rotation-like tori, allowing standard perturbation theory to generate stable quasi-integrals. This approach successfully preserved quasi-integrals for space debris in secular, isolated, thin, and multi-resonant contexts, considering geopotential and luni-solar perturbations. The second part investigated Marchal’s vertical family (VFL) of inclined co-orbital quasi-periodic orbits, originating from the Lagrange equilateral equilibrium in the full three-body problem. Analytical and numerical analyses confirmed the VFL's persistence. Linear and long-term stability assessments revealed initial stability, which typically ceases around 60 degrees inclination for planetary masses. A “stability remnant” was identified beyond Gascheau’s limit, with stability briefly recovering before full loss for mass parameters (ε) exceeding 0.06, thereby delineating co-orbital region stability boundaries. Future work includes linking VFL to the equal-mass P12 family and exploring bifurcations.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/RyXjchdPP13TUQorRSyxiA https://cassyni.com/events/QmshQuzFBDyMKN5Sx7tSN1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HKYTJ4vo4iyEmq6SUWWuFk https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/8UWNzz9p6UcnjBW2NcKjZw https://cassyni.com/events/8UWNzz9p6UcnjBW2NcKjZw/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/BuR6BSE3Aipr1xT3fj2rte https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/UEMgWSV9ShzdQYWerrAyC9 https://cassyni.com/events/UEMgWSV9ShzdQYWerrAyC9/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/44ZxzLtZwVd4k4gQmshsBt https://cassyni.com/events/UEMgWSV9ShzdQYWerrAyC9?videoPreview=1 Mitochondrial CircRNA CircMT‐RNR2 Safeguards Antioxidant Defense to Support Fibroblast Functions in Wound Repairnohttps://cassyni.com/events/UEMgWSV9ShzdQYWerrAyC9?videoPreview=12026-06-08T14:00:00+00:002011.12Advanced ScienceDiabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a debilitating diabetes complication in which mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are prominent but mechanistically unresolved features. Here, we identify the mitochondria-encoded circular RNA (mecciRNA) circMT-RNR2 as a novel modulator of mitochondrial redox homeostasis in human skin wound healing. CircMT-RNR2 is reduced in DFU patient tissue and diabetic mouse wounds, enriched in dermal fibroblasts, and localized to mitochondria. Its loss impairs fibroblast proliferation, migration, extracellular matrix production, and contraction by destabilizing the mitochondrial antioxidant protein PRDX3, leading to elevated oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and mitophagy. In murine and human ex vivo wound models, circMT-RNR2 knockdown delays healing, whereas overexpression accelerates repair and boosts antioxidant defenses. These findings position circMT-RNR2 as a mitochondrial guardian of skin healing and a promising therapeutic target for DFU.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/44ZxzLtZwVd4k4gQmshsBt https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/7V8JZjK71UjNGZ4NajFdJd https://cassyni.com/events/7V8JZjK71UjNGZ4NajFdJd/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4oYNZNMrbgTDFYd5YBUf1G https://cassyni.com/events/7V8JZjK71UjNGZ4NajFdJd?videoPreview=1 Pathogenicity of Mediator Complex Subunit 27 ( MED27 ) in a Neurodevelopmental Disorder with Cerebellar Atrophynohttps://cassyni.com/events/7V8JZjK71UjNGZ4NajFdJd?videoPreview=12026-05-27T12:00:00+00:001366.4Advanced ScienceNeurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) affect brain function and development, with 90% lacking approved treatments. Understanding their pathogenic mechanisms is critical for developing precision gene therapies. An autosomal recessive NDD associated with variants in the Mediator complex subunit 27 (MED27) gene is previously identified. The Mediator complex is essential for transcription initiation by bridging transcription factors (TFs) at enhancers to RNA polymerase II at promoters. All patients with MED27 variants exhibit cerebellar hypoplasia or atrophy, underscoring the cerebellum's heightened vulnerability to MED27 dysfunction. To investigate the disease mechanisms, in vitro stem cells carrying patient-specific MED27 variants and in vivo mouse models with Med27 loss-of-function (LoF) are generated. These preclinical models recapitulate key patient phenotypes, including progressive cerebellar atrophy and motor deficits. Molecular analyses reveal that mutant MED27 destabilizes the Mediator complex, impairing its chromatin occupancy and altering chromatin interactions. Comprehensive transcriptomic profiling, including single-cell resolution spatial transcriptomics, identifies dysregulation of downstream targets regulated by MED27, such as critical master regulatory TFs involved in neurogenesis and cerebellar development. This study elucidates a partial LoF mechanism underlying MED27-associated NDDs and establishes a prototype for investigating NDDs caused by pathogenic variants in Mediator subunits.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4oYNZNMrbgTDFYd5YBUf1G https://cassyni.com/events/42b5EwnRwGrjErkow4sfmo/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/events/42b5EwnRwGrjErkow4sfmo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/EzPJgixeX1y3NTdM9HZUHt https://cassyni.com/events/9TiikTuCmJx8NGLbwh7ZjB/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9TiikTuCmJx8NGLbwh7ZjB https://cassyni.com/events/9TiikTuCmJx8NGLbwh7ZjB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/C1f1iP4X6PrDQxWpLyfn8e https://cassyni.com/events/9TiikTuCmJx8NGLbwh7ZjB?videoPreview=1 Designing stiff and tough biocomposites by hybridization of flax and silk fibresnohttps://cassyni.com/events/9TiikTuCmJx8NGLbwh7ZjB?videoPreview=12026-06-17T14:30:00+00:001243.28NoneThe development of stiff and tough biocomposites is crucial for sustainable structural applications, addressing the environmental impact of traditional materials. While flax fibres offer high specific stiffness and a low environmental footprint, their inherent brittleness, with a failure strain of approximately 1.4%, limits their use. Conversely, *Bombyx mori* silkworm silk exhibits outstanding ductility and toughness but possesses moderate stiffness. This study explores the hybridization of flax and silk fibres to combine these advantageous properties. Interlayer hybrid composites were manufactured with a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix, selected for its high strain-to-failure and modified with maleic anhydride (MA) grafting for improved adhesion. Composites were fabricated with a constant total fibre volume fraction of 40%, varying flax-to-silk ratios and lay-up configurations, including alternating and sandwich arrangements. Tensile tests revealed that a sandwich configuration with flax layers on the outside consistently achieved pseudo-ductile behaviour, resulting in an approximately five-fold increase in strain at failure compared to pure flax composites. This was attributed to progressive fragmentation of the flax layers accompanied by delamination, observed through computed tomography. Initial stiffness was also significantly improved compared to pure silk composites. Drop tower impact tests on the flax-on-outside sandwich configuration showed an increase in impact energy by approximately 130% compared to pure flax composites. This hybridization strategy enables the design of biocomposites with a superior balance of high stiffness and significantly enhanced toughness.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/C1f1iP4X6PrDQxWpLyfn8e https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QHCUFbpqLQVCmMkNkJXNDs https://cassyni.com/events/QHCUFbpqLQVCmMkNkJXNDs/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/17EUz1zjhjXtKBxk2sSu2n https://cassyni.com/events/QHCUFbpqLQVCmMkNkJXNDs?videoPreview=1 Beyond the sphere: Accuracy and efficiency in nanoparticle drag predictionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/QHCUFbpqLQVCmMkNkJXNDs?videoPreview=12026-05-07T07:00:00+00:003415.04The Edinburgh Fluid Dynamics Group (EFDG)Air quality regulations commonly classify particulate pollutants using the aerodynamic diameter, comparing their behaviour to that of a reference sphere. Yet many sub-micron particles are far from spherical: soot forms chain-like aggregates, tyre-wear particles are typically irregular, and other particulates may be fibrous or plate-like. While such non-sphericity is often handled through empirical shape factors, these corrections become unreliable at the nanoscale, where the assumptions behind the classical Stokes-flow model and its boundary conditions begin to fail. This talk presents two complementary approaches for predicting particle resistance in this regime: one that makes detailed simulations much more computationally affordable, and another that provides a simple practical model for rapid estimates. Together, they improve drag prediction for complex nanoparticles beyond the classical spherical idealisation.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/17EUz1zjhjXtKBxk2sSu2n https://cassyni.com/events/MKqg9TjXMWmNpysGEvmYSh/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SE5aMz4UdtC8U7ciwfvg9k https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/XgvXwrXhvGo3FwGqiBP6ds https://cassyni.com/events/XgvXwrXhvGo3FwGqiBP6ds/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/21Gyon4QPtm8qRAyzfJyW6 https://cassyni.com/events/XgvXwrXhvGo3FwGqiBP6ds?videoPreview=1 Flower bud cooling: sepal specific enhancement of transpiration protects pollen development and improves fertility during heatwavesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/XgvXwrXhvGo3FwGqiBP6ds?videoPreview=12026-06-03T12:35:00+00:00606.48Early pollen development is a bottleneck for plant fertility in heatwave conditions and has been shown to be sensitive to the microclimate surrounding the inflorescence. Mechanisms that protect this process and explain variation in tolerance levels between genotypes are poorly understood. Here, we use direct measurement and manipulation of the flower bud core temperature, transpiration and pollen viability to describe flower bud cooling, a novel mechanism for heat adaptation. Sepal transpiration in young, still closed, flower buds reduces the temperature inside the flower bud and thereby the impact of heat on developing tomato pollen. This process depends on heat-induced opening of sepal stomata. The major pollen thermotolerance QTL, qPV11, is shown to specifically enhance sepal transpiration, as opposed to leaf transpiration, and thereby protect pollen development. Manipulation of stomatal regulation in near-isogenic lines for qPV11 shows that the effect of qPV11 depends on functional stomatal regulation. Large-scale evaluation in both a production field and greenhouse showed that qPV11 improves pollen viability and fruit set in heatwave-affected complex cultivation environments. These findings highlight enhanced flower bud cooling as a naturally evolved adaptation against heatwaves and qPV11 as genetic component in the differential regulation of transpiration between reproductive and vegetative tissues.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/21Gyon4QPtm8qRAyzfJyW6 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SFntSLQw6Ehxs52c7GPJeR https://cassyni.com/events/SFntSLQw6Ehxs52c7GPJeR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3N4Pgf66buHMkuyKUnfhDg https://cassyni.com/events/SFntSLQw6Ehxs52c7GPJeR?videoPreview=1 Extreme cooling enables extreme heat survival in plantsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/SFntSLQw6Ehxs52c7GPJeR?videoPreview=12026-06-04T12:50:00+00:00724.56The livelihoods of an estimated ~1.2 billion people are at risk from extreme heat impacts on agrifood systems, highlighting the need for science-based approaches to improve resilience and sustainability. We are investigating mechanisms of extreme heat adaptation in Tidestromia oblongifolia, a desert plant that thrives in Death Valley where air temperatures can reach 55°C. Using natural populations, we identified individuals that survive repeated daily exposure to 60 °C air temperatures for 6–8 hours over at least 20 days. High-throughput infrared thermal imaging data indicates that extreme heat adaptation is enabled through extreme physiological cooling, as individuals who survive our heat regimen record significantly lower leaf temperatures than those that do not survive. Energy-budget modelling indicates that this extreme cooling phenotype is primarily mediated by stomatal conductance. Using whole-genome sequencing of survivors and nonsurvivors, we aim to map extreme-heat adaptation loci in T. oblongifolia. Our studies provide insights into mechanisms of extreme heat adaptation in complex organisms that could be leveraged to engineer heat-resilient crops.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/3N4Pgf66buHMkuyKUnfhDg https://cassyni.com/events/SkSVV24TXhG1rqZVhhg6uj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/EdmNc7bTSjnksDRfJiuXRg https://cassyni.com/events/BSsbDno2aMh3yTsEjN1BJm/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FCvERUvUNkyZHdVB5ftzAz https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/4XGJQFwqn6LZ4KkKjAzdx1 https://cassyni.com/events/4XGJQFwqn6LZ4KkKjAzdx1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/RNLUmHAuruhL3Dw6aqdA9C https://cassyni.com/events/14nKJjSwWcKGy9K7pSi77s/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AFzFbs6G8Jc2VJhGDhaAo8 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/AwkQEQPSHmPbpfK9L1UUFo https://cassyni.com/events/AwkQEQPSHmPbpfK9L1UUFo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8teMy6sdHBZpxzydw5Bvop https://cassyni.com/events/AwkQEQPSHmPbpfK9L1UUFo?videoPreview=1 Advancing Precision Oncology Through Scientific Communicationnohttps://cassyni.com/events/AwkQEQPSHmPbpfK9L1UUFo?videoPreview=12026-09-21T08:00:00+00:003814.92Advanced OncologyPrecision oncology is transforming cancer care, but realizing its full potential requires more than scientific breakthroughs. It demands meaningful communication and collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and patients. In this webinar, we bring together clinical and patient perspectives to explore how research publishing serves as a critical bridge between discovery and practice, helping to translate emerging evidence into informed clinical decisions, patient empowerment, and improved outcomes. Together, we will examine how high-quality research publishing can foster understanding, build trust, and accelerate the translation of innovation into impact for patients.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8teMy6sdHBZpxzydw5Bvop https://cassyni.com/events/LLYU46SUUbfEAE3G8xJDdo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GnQNmSw9xtX5Aeb6uz4JVU https://cassyni.com/events/LLYU46SUUbfEAE3G8xJDdo?videoPreview=1 Supporting Gender Equality Through Research and Actionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/LLYU46SUUbfEAE3G8xJDdo?videoPreview=12026-08-25T08:00:00+00:0059.0Marieke Cambeen, Executive Vice President for the Springer Journals portfolio and Executive Sponsor for Springer Nature Women, shares her endorsement of the Breaking Barriers conference, reflecting on the importance of advancing gender equality at a time when progress cannot be taken for granted.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GnQNmSw9xtX5Aeb6uz4JVU https://cassyni.com/events/Dv7cTD2emeTb1d72C9oYJy/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/X2sLpRnNjvWw6cEborF18A https://cassyni.com/events/VEEy12bonCZ392PEzukF2u/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6n2FM17yaGzeDmHwdhxUMt https://cassyni.com/events/EufRaExgGouH36sPZwbVcq/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/EufRaExgGouH36sPZwbVcq https://cassyni.com/events/EufRaExgGouH36sPZwbVcq/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HU9B75GTDgUfzFenFmdSra https://cassyni.com/events/EufRaExgGouH36sPZwbVcq?videoPreview=1 12 Labours Seminar Series (Aotearoa Fellowship): Digi mini me - a digital twin for childrennohttps://cassyni.com/events/EufRaExgGouH36sPZwbVcq?videoPreview=12023-09-06T00:00:00+00:003150.16Auckland Bioengineering InstituteThe 12 Labours project’s goal is to establish a clinically oriented framework for modelling the physiological systems of the adult human body (male and female); however, children are not small adult and cannot be represented using adult models. About 20% of Aotearoa New Zealand population are children aged 15 years and under, this population is not yet represented in the 12 Labours objective. I propose to leverage the framework created around the three technology platforms to build digital children (male and female) using the following exemplar project: Personalised models for the diagnosis and treatment of children with musculoskeletal disorders. My project has 3 main objectives; 1) Making the World’s first 3Dimensional lower limbs bones measurement growth chart, 2) Develop bioengineering tools for early diagnosis assessment and rehabilitation monitoring in the community using wearable sensors and 3) Preventing bone and joint disease for future New Zealanders.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HU9B75GTDgUfzFenFmdSra https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/XD2jzAo7MZFWtk7Fjjv6Sy https://cassyni.com/events/XD2jzAo7MZFWtk7Fjjv6Sy/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/M5aNwT3w9FSeiRVCPv9d7c https://cassyni.com/events/XD2jzAo7MZFWtk7Fjjv6Sy?videoPreview=1 Active control of compressible supersonic wall-bounded flow using direct numerical simulations with spanwise velocity modulation at the walls using PyFRnohttps://cassyni.com/events/XD2jzAo7MZFWtk7Fjjv6Sy?videoPreview=12023-03-09T15:00:00+00:003184.16PyFRActive turbulence control has been pursued continuously for quite some time already. In this talk, our focus is on a promising method inducing a spanwise wall movement in order to reduce turbulence intensity and hence friction drag, investigated by means of direct numerical simulation. Most procedures related to turbulence control including the present one have been overwhelmingly applied to incompressible flow. This work is different and novel to the effect, that this control method is applied to compressible, supersonic channel flow up to a bulk Mach number of Ma = 3. Due to substantial variations of viscosity, density, and temperature within the near-wall region in supersonic flow, the impact of the control method is altered compared to solenoidal flow conditions. By creating a data set of different Mach-/Reynolds numbers and control parameters, knowledge is gained in which way the effectiveness of oscillatory techniques and physical mechanisms can change under the influence of compressibility. It is shown that the control method is able to effectively reduce turbulence levels and lead to large drag reduction levels in compressible supersonic flow. Variable property effects even enhance this behaviour for the whole set of investigated parameters. Overall, the higher Mach number cases show a larger net power saving compared to the incompressible ones. Furthermore, we observe an increase of the optimum wavelength with increasing Mach number, which helps in guiding optimal implementations of such a control method.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/M5aNwT3w9FSeiRVCPv9d7c https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9xbJiBfpRev5tHy9eshMc1 https://cassyni.com/events/9xbJiBfpRev5tHy9eshMc1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MthzTERtfXg1TNXU5ye2gW https://cassyni.com/events/9xbJiBfpRev5tHy9eshMc1?videoPreview=1 From Externally Tuned to Internally Adaptive: Brain-Inspired Mechanisms for Robust Reservoir Computingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/9xbJiBfpRev5tHy9eshMc1?videoPreview=12025-11-20T20:00:00+00:003416.52AI Institute in Dynamic SystemsModern AI systems often depend on extensive external tuning to achieve strong performance, while biological networks rely on internal mechanisms that promote stability and adaptability. In this talk, I’ll describe how introducing such adaptive mechanisms into reservoir computing—a lightweight recurrent neural network framework—can improve both performance and robustness. Reservoir computers use fixed, randomly connected recurrent networks and train only their output weights, offering an efficient alternative to deep learning. However, their performance is often sensitive to hyperparameters that must be optimized externally. Drawing inspiration from the brain’s balance between excitatory and inhibitory (E–I) activity, we introduce a local adaptation rule that allows each neuron to regulate its firing rate toward a target value. This internally adaptive mechanism automatically steers the network toward balanced or slightly over-inhibited regimes, leading to performance improvements of up to 130% in memory and forecasting tasks relative to globally tuned models. More broadly, these results point toward a shift in how we think about network optimization—from externally tuned systems that rely on fixed parameters to internally adaptivesystems that achieve stability and generalization through ongoing self-regulation.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MthzTERtfXg1TNXU5ye2gW https://cassyni.com/events/JNLmUB4nMpR1Zgs2mJCHLh/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/JNLmUB4nMpR1Zgs2mJCHLh https://cassyni.com/events/JNLmUB4nMpR1Zgs2mJCHLh/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Ng4LqjrvVojC3gGmLMoGMk https://cassyni.com/events/JNLmUB4nMpR1Zgs2mJCHLh?videoPreview=1 Social Environment of Patients and Dialysis Units, Patient Activation and Behaviour nohttps://cassyni.com/events/JNLmUB4nMpR1Zgs2mJCHLh?videoPreview=12024-03-15T09:15:00+00:007629.04Imperial College Renal and Transplant CentreHow does a patient's social living environment affect their health behaviours? Similarly how does our organisational environment of in our dialysis centres affect their performance? How do we develop partnerships in care to improve patient activation about their dialysis treatment? Schedule: 1. 09:15-10:00 Living on Dialysis in Poverty and Food Choice 2. 10:00-10:30 What Characterised a High Performing Home Therapies Unit? Findings from Inter-CEPt 3. 10:30-11:00 "Passenger or Participant?" ShareHDhttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Ng4LqjrvVojC3gGmLMoGMk https://cassyni.com/events/43YF8MJZdYMSFX7DM5fM4H/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/43YF8MJZdYMSFX7DM5fM4H https://cassyni.com/events/43YF8MJZdYMSFX7DM5fM4H/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4CBczSCdDSPXWubh9R4wze https://cassyni.com/events/43YF8MJZdYMSFX7DM5fM4H?videoPreview=1 Schrödinger’s mammoth – ecological assembly in the age of humansnohttps://cassyni.com/events/43YF8MJZdYMSFX7DM5fM4H?videoPreview=12024-04-18T14:00:00+00:002209.44Cambridge PrismsEcologists have long been interested in how species assemble into communities. In particular, they are interested in how species traits, environmental factors, and biotic interactions affect species distributions, and membership and persistence in ecological communities. Determining whether assembly rules exist and what they are is particularly important in the face of ongoing climate change. However, despite decades of study, no clear consensus has emerged. In part because modern studies are limited by the short time scales over which they are able to collect data and by the fact that humans are incredibly successful ecosystem engineers who have affected almost every part of the planet. In contrast, paleontologists have been interested in the interplay between species traits and the environment, and how these relationships change over time in response to global forcing factors such as climate change. Increased knowledge of taphonomic processes has led to an understanding that fossil assemblages preserve reliable information about ecological communities and species interactions. By comparing the structure of these fossil assemblages with modern assemblages, we can begin to identify aspects of community structure that are similar across many taxonomic groups and across long time scales. We can also determine whether and how these patterns have changed with the increasing dominance of humans on the globe. Using a macroecological lens, I examine mammalian community structure over long and short time scales including metrics such as co-occurrence structure, body size distributions, and functional traits. I evaluate how these patterns change over time and with changes in global climate. Finally, I examine how some traits associated with extinction risk have changed over time and the consequences for ecological communities. I find that in paleoecological communities, there are consistent patterns over time in terms of co-occurrence structure, body size distributions, and extinction risk, but that many of these patterns change as human impacts increase including the role that functional traits play in mediating co-occurrence structure. These changes suggest that humans are fundamentally altering ecological communities and resetting ecological assembly rules. Paleontology has a key role to play in identifying the disruptions to assembly rules by humans and what that means for predicting how species are likely to respond to future climate change, habitat fragmentation and the loss of biotic interactions because of extinctions.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4CBczSCdDSPXWubh9R4wze https://cassyni.com/events/PKMe6yKsQFYkP7hiQXLtGu/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/PKMe6yKsQFYkP7hiQXLtGu https://cassyni.com/events/PKMe6yKsQFYkP7hiQXLtGu/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AS6w4yTQGsQomsu7emzC4W https://cassyni.com/events/PKMe6yKsQFYkP7hiQXLtGu?videoPreview=1 7th BWs: Cu enzyme and trace metals in medicinenohttps://cassyni.com/events/PKMe6yKsQFYkP7hiQXLtGu?videoPreview=12024-09-03T13:00:00+00:006181.36BioMetalsWelcome to the 7th international Biometals webinars series For those who don't already know, these webinars have been set up by the international Biometals society and the journal Biometals with the help of Cassyni platform. The aim is to promote research in the field of metal interactions in biology and to encourage the interdisciplinary exchange of information at international level. Copper and trace metals are in the spotlight today - Firstly, copper, an essential metal that can play a role in redox chemistry, for electron transfer, as in plastocyanin... with an exposed saturated metal binding site... the first structurally characterised blue copper protein; or for catalysis, with the well-known copper superoxide dismutase working so fast, just limited by diffusion (kcat/KM (an approximation of catalytic efficiency) (~7 x 109 M-1s-1)). But today, Karrera Djoko, our first speaker, is going to tell us about a copper nitrate reductase which, if I'm not mistaken, contains copper transfer and catalysis sites for nitrite reduction. Karrera, who has worked in Australia for a long time, is a young associate professor at Durham University in the UK who is interested in metals in microbes and antimicrobial resistance. - Our second speaker will be talking about metals in medicine. From a physiological point of view, several metal ions are essential in large quantities or only in trace amounts, unknown for a long time..... Others are not essential but could be of interest in pharmacology (I'm thinking of lithium, platinum)... Metals in medicine are therefore a vast area of interest. But I'm sure that today we'll be concentrating on the metal ions of vanadium. Indeed, everyone knows that our second speaker, Debbie Crans, will always be associated with vanadium stories. But Debbie also likes to point out, quite rightly, the importance of speciation in metal homeostasis and reactivity. Cu-dependent nitrite reductases (CuNiR or NirK) catalyse the reduction of nitrite to nitric oxide and allow many microorganisms to respire when O2 is limiting. The best characterised CuNiRs are functional homotrimers. Each monomer contains a type-1 Cu centre, which is the site of electron input from cellular electron donors, and a type-2 Cu centre, which is the site of nitrite reduction. Decades of literature have described the structure and activity of holo-CuNiR in great molecular details. What does apo-CuNiR look like and how does it acquire Cu? This talk will outline our group’s progress so far and describe the major ongoing challenges in addressing this question. Our ultimate goal is to exploit the knowledge to block CuNiR enzyme assembly as a way to combat serious bacterial infections, including those caused by pathogenic Neisseria species. Of the nine first row transition metal ions five are essential elements for human beings, three are known to impact biological processes, and one is relatively innocuous. Considering the prevalence of metals the biological activities of these elements are important. Indeed, some of them can be used with great success for therapeutic uses against illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. We illustrate that not only the fundamental roles of essential elements but also their speciation chemistry and the interaction of metal complexes with both protein, membrane, and nucleic acid targets can be very impactful. For example, a metal such as platinum can change the regulation of cellular metabolism and combat cancer. In this presentation, we will describe our studies with ions of nonessential elements such as found in vanadium complexes and the diverse modes of action that they have. Specifically, we will describe the proteins that naturally contain vanadium, vanadium haloperoxidases, and vanabins, as well as describe phosphatases for which vanadate is a potent transition state inhibitor. We will also describe the effects that vanadium compounds have on signal transduction as well as our recent work developing vanadium-containing potential drugs for intertumoral administration.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AS6w4yTQGsQomsu7emzC4W https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Gu1eqyThuP8f61YJc5QhKK https://cassyni.com/events/Gu1eqyThuP8f61YJc5QhKK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/BB4k5fB6CVdmqLMHQW5VXL https://cassyni.com/events/Gu1eqyThuP8f61YJc5QhKK?videoPreview=1 Fecal microbiome predicts treatment response after the initiation of semaglutide or empagliflozin uptakenohttps://cassyni.com/events/Gu1eqyThuP8f61YJc5QhKK?videoPreview=12024-09-17T00:30:00+00:00330.2Microbiome Virtual International ForumThe gut microbiome has been shown to be affected by the use of many human-targeted medications, and the interaction can be bidirectional. This has been clearly demonstrated for type 2 diabetes medications that have been in clinical use for several decades. However, the bidirectional effects of novel type 2 diabetes drugs semaglutide, empagliflozin, and the gut microbiome have yet to be clearly described. Considering this, we investigate the effect of semaglutide and empagliflozin initiation on the gut microbiome of type 2 diabetes patients. In addition, we analyze whether the pre-treatment gut microbiome can predict the treatment efficacy. In the study, patients with type 2 diabetes donated gut microbiome fecal samples at four timepoints (Baseline, Month 1, Month 3; Month 12) that were studied using 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and analysis. Subjects additionally donated plasma and urine samples for quantitative measurement of clinical markers before treatment initiation and at Months 3 and 12. Repeated measures ANOVA paired with paired t-tests were used to analyze the effects of drug initiation on the gut microbiome. Pearson correlation was used to identify microbial features associated with the change in clinical parameters. First, semaglutide and empagliflozin use is associated with changes in the gut microbiome after treatment initiation, but changes in microbial diversity were not detected. Moreover, the baseline gut microbiome predicted changes in glycohemoglobin for semaglutide and empagliflozin users. Based on the results, our findings suggest that semaglutide and empagliflozin impact the gut microbial community during treatment. In addition, the baseline gut microbiome can predict semaglutide treatment effects.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/BB4k5fB6CVdmqLMHQW5VXL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/EQWcUE3Carg9NciN6R9RQ9 https://cassyni.com/events/EQWcUE3Carg9NciN6R9RQ9/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GHsc2iGc2USkD8iKzcspFx https://cassyni.com/events/EQWcUE3Carg9NciN6R9RQ9?videoPreview=1 Philosopher Analyses 'Ghost in the Shell'nohttps://cassyni.com/events/EQWcUE3Carg9NciN6R9RQ9?videoPreview=12022-08-17T12:00:00+00:00406.88Hong Kong Baptist UniversityThe Japanese cyberpunk manga "Ghost in the Shell" not only has an exciting plot, but also provides a lot of fascinating philosophical concepts. In this video, Dr. Andrew Brenner will introduce how philosophers analyze "Ghost in the Shell" and issues about personal identity!https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GHsc2iGc2USkD8iKzcspFx https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9U2a1PZxCH97yX125wSRg1 https://cassyni.com/events/9U2a1PZxCH97yX125wSRg1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/EeC6kFHou4vpSbz73Q48Vc https://cassyni.com/events/9U2a1PZxCH97yX125wSRg1?videoPreview=1 I brand therefore I am — The Art of Personal Brandingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/9U2a1PZxCH97yX125wSRg1?videoPreview=12024-09-10T12:00:00+00:00162.64Hong Kong Baptist UniversityNo abstracthttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/EeC6kFHou4vpSbz73Q48Vc https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QH4MgTFQKbra2fgXMdDpqb https://cassyni.com/events/QH4MgTFQKbra2fgXMdDpqb/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AsPHtKSpkgetwwrjfg95xi https://cassyni.com/events/QH4MgTFQKbra2fgXMdDpqb?videoPreview=1 The blending of Art and Cartography in Japanese imaginaries of Asianohttps://cassyni.com/events/QH4MgTFQKbra2fgXMdDpqb?videoPreview=12023-09-26T12:00:00+00:001509.04Hong Kong Baptist UniversityCartography has long been recognised as art and science. This conference explores how art affects cartography’s process, products, and personnel. Ranging over all types of map, all areas of the world, and all time periods, the conference considers the relationship between art and cartography.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AsPHtKSpkgetwwrjfg95xi https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/7VS9peyrSSvMsoiniyaVFT https://cassyni.com/events/7VS9peyrSSvMsoiniyaVFT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d15kQLyJG5eH7h8G2GMnN https://cassyni.com/events/7VS9peyrSSvMsoiniyaVFT?videoPreview=1 Opening Conversation: "Writing and Well-being"nohttps://cassyni.com/events/7VS9peyrSSvMsoiniyaVFT?videoPreview=12022-03-14T12:00:00+00:006988.72Hong Kong Baptist UniversityThe seminar explores the multifaceted relationship between writing and well-being amid contemporary global crises, including climate change, pandemics, and war. Featuring six international writers-in-residence alongside Hong Kong Baptist University authors, the event foregrounds writing as a vehicle for personal growth, mindfulness, and emotional resilience. The discourse encompasses diverse literary forms—poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and hybrid genres—and interdisciplinary collaborations with visual and sound arts. Contributions reveal writing’s capacity to engage with trauma, political history, and embodied experience, as well as its role in fostering community and dialogue despite physical distancing during the pandemic. For instance, poetic works interrogate the commodification of the body and the negotiation of trauma, while nonfiction and reportage address the ethical challenges of documenting conflict and social injustice. The seminar also highlights the significance of place and language in shaping narrative voice and political consciousness, particularly in postcolonial contexts. Pedagogical reflections emphasize the reciprocal inspiration between teaching and creative practice, underscoring the communal nature of artistic production. The symbolic and sensory presence of trees and gardens recurs as a motif linking memory, identity, and ecological awareness. Overall, the seminar demonstrates writing’s reparative potential and its complex interplay with well-being, suggesting avenues for future inquiry into how literary and artistic practices can respond to and reflect collective and individual crises.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/d15kQLyJG5eH7h8G2GMnN https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/42tvVsTBNF3ir7RE5KCXid https://cassyni.com/events/42tvVsTBNF3ir7RE5KCXid/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/H67rc5JnAQ9jpyvNp62wQz https://cassyni.com/events/42tvVsTBNF3ir7RE5KCXid?videoPreview=1 Grasshopper in art – A new way of approaching classic norms of makingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/42tvVsTBNF3ir7RE5KCXid?videoPreview=12023-10-16T12:00:00+00:004787.6Hong Kong Baptist UniversityIn this Webinar, Ekkehard Altenburger will show his versatile approach to using Grasshopper as an artist. His portfolio spans various aspects of parametric design, encompassing everything from creating initial drafts for traditional lacquer studios in Hanoi to his ongoing methodologies at the Academy of Visual Arts in Hong Kong, where he uses Grasshopper as the main software to program a range of large and small robots in a digital fabrication studio. The webinar will centre on the utilization of various plug-ins like Weaverbird and Kangaroo2, alongside the HAL robotics framework, demonstrating their applicability in both smaller and larger robotic systems, including ABB, UFactory, and Universal Robots.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/H67rc5JnAQ9jpyvNp62wQz https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/EuADWugj2KECNPFFgrSDfT https://cassyni.com/events/EuADWugj2KECNPFFgrSDfT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9JQPod2vHtm152dQmpxWfg https://cassyni.com/events/EuADWugj2KECNPFFgrSDfT?videoPreview=1 Toward an Ecofemminism- On Ma Jian’s The Dark Roadnohttps://cassyni.com/events/EuADWugj2KECNPFFgrSDfT?videoPreview=12020-12-03T12:00:00+00:001444.36Hong Kong Baptist UniversityThis analysis explores Ma Jian’s 2012 novel *The Dark Road* through the lens of ecofeminism, emphasizing the interconnected oppression of women and environmental degradation under China’s one-child policy (1979–2016). The novel portrays the brutal enforcement of birth control measures, including forced abortions and sterilizations, alongside vivid depictions of ecological harm such as pollution of the Yangtze River, toxic e-waste accumulation, and the near extinction of the Chinese sturgeon. The protagonist Meili’s body is conceptualized as a contested site where state power, patriarchal control, and environmental toxicity converge, reflecting a “fractured border” between the human and natural worlds. The narrative incorporates a “fourth-person” perspective through the infant spirit Yingling, highlighting the medicalization and biopolitical regulation of female reproductive bodies. The novel also critiques the commodification of birth and death within a “birth economy” marked by corruption, child trafficking, and exploitation. Through symbolic motifs—such as the polluted river as a feminine life-giving force and the transformation of Meili into an independent woman—the work challenges traditional Confucian patriarchal values and state authoritarianism. This ecofeminist reading underscores the novel’s significance in revealing the entanglement of gendered oppression and ecological crisis in contemporary China, offering a critical framework for understanding the socio-environmental impacts of population control policies and advocating for resistance to systemic violence against women and nature.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9JQPod2vHtm152dQmpxWfg https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/MopLT31n8K65fjCxowKC7f https://cassyni.com/events/MopLT31n8K65fjCxowKC7f/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/32z2Gp6rzAqqCxnKrsrU7G https://cassyni.com/events/MopLT31n8K65fjCxowKC7f?videoPreview=1 Episode 2nohttps://cassyni.com/events/MopLT31n8K65fjCxowKC7f?videoPreview=12025-05-08T12:00:00+00:001588.24Hong Kong Baptist UniversityThe emergence of mobile communication technology in the late 1990s marked a transformative shift in social interaction and communication practices. Initially met with ambivalence and resistance, early devices such as pagers and primitive mobile phones rapidly gained widespread adoption, fundamentally altering the immediacy and accessibility of interpersonal contact. This transition from landline telephony to mobile telephony provided a unique opportunity for comparative social research, highlighting changes in communication behaviors and societal organization. Early studies predominantly focused on diffusion patterns and impact assessments across different societies, often reiterating similar findings. Subsequently, research expanded to explore the broader societal meanings of mobile communication, emphasizing its role in overcoming spatial and temporal barriers and fostering new modes of human interaction. The integration of mobile telephony with internet technologies further transformed the mobile phone into a multifunctional device, prompting shifts in terminology and conceptual frameworks within the field. Contemporary mobile communication research faces the dual challenge of addressing its ubiquity—where mobility is no longer exceptional—and maintaining conceptual rigor by linking mobility to broader themes of modernity and globalization. Revisiting foundational sociological theories on modernization underscores the continuing relevance of mobile communication as a driver of social transformation. The field is thus positioned for expansive, interdisciplinary inquiry that transcends narrow specialization, reflecting the pervasive and evolving nature of mobile communication in modern life.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/32z2Gp6rzAqqCxnKrsrU7G https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/GsLHzCYXjjZ4GdVcoTcCPX https://cassyni.com/events/GsLHzCYXjjZ4GdVcoTcCPX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8QZc12DgxLHBVrioGfM2ez https://cassyni.com/events/GsLHzCYXjjZ4GdVcoTcCPX?videoPreview=1 Calculating Mean and SD Using R - 50nohttps://cassyni.com/events/GsLHzCYXjjZ4GdVcoTcCPX?videoPreview=12022-07-06T12:00:00+00:00112.52Hong Kong Baptist UniversityThis seminar addresses the calculation of mean values and standard deviations using the R programming environment, focusing on group-wise statistical summaries. The approach utilizes the plyr package, specifically the ddply function, to compute these descriptive statistics for subsets of data categorized by a grouping variable, exemplified by gender-based test scores. The procedure involves installing and loading the plyr package, applying ddply to a dataset (data1) with the grouping variable ("Gender"), and summarizing the target variable ("Test") to obtain mean and standard deviation values. The resulting summary can be assigned to an object for further manipulation or exported as a CSV file using the write.csv function, facilitating data sharing and reporting. This method streamlines the process of generating group-specific descriptive statistics in R, supporting efficient data analysis workflows in research contexts where subgroup comparisons are essential.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8QZc12DgxLHBVrioGfM2ez https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/KLaKDcn9w2KYdZyBM9Wq7T https://cassyni.com/events/KLaKDcn9w2KYdZyBM9Wq7T/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6rN8kdWo8ApvT7TL7mJxXp https://cassyni.com/events/KLaKDcn9w2KYdZyBM9Wq7T?videoPreview=1 Sponsorship Disclosure in Virtual Influencer Marketing—How Do Users Really Respond?nohttps://cassyni.com/events/KLaKDcn9w2KYdZyBM9Wq7T?videoPreview=12025-09-13T12:00:00+00:001195.12Hong Kong Baptist UniversityWhat happens when a virtual influencer reveals a sponsorship? In this episode, Dr. Jiemin Looi (Hong Kong Baptist University) joins us to discuss her Journal of Advertising Research article, “Sponsorship Disclosure in Virtual Influencer Marketing: Assessing Users’ Sentiment and Engagement Toward Virtual Influencer Endorsements,” coauthored with Anna Kim and Zihang Yi. Dr. Looi explains how the team combined computational analysis and an online experiment to uncover the complexities of sponsorship disclosure in virtual influencer marketing. In Study 1, they analyzed 48,147 Instagram comments on Lil Miquela’s posts, using topic modeling, sentiment and emoji analysis, and engagement metrics. Results revealed a paradox: users showed more positive sentiment toward sponsored posts, but engagement was stronger for non-sponsored content. In Study 2, a controlled experiment with 159 U.S. Instagram users replicated these effects—non-sponsored posts drove higher parasocial interaction and engagement. Interestingly, the findings also challenged the Persuasion Knowledge Model, showing that sponsorship disclosures did not activate defensive skepticism in the way theory predicts. The conversation touches on users’ ongoing confusion about whether virtual influencers are human or machine, how “uncanny valley” effects create both admiration and discomfort, and why brands need to interpret engagement metrics more cautiously when working with AI-powered personas. Dr. Looi also shares practical advice for advertisers on balancing transparency, authenticity, and trust in this emerging space.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6rN8kdWo8ApvT7TL7mJxXp https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/XgnRNhxGuUAQXFCzKW5ZFb https://cassyni.com/events/XgnRNhxGuUAQXFCzKW5ZFb/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LQo8BGmDhhE339oKBuEesG https://cassyni.com/events/XgnRNhxGuUAQXFCzKW5ZFb?videoPreview=1 T09 Text Clusteringnohttps://cassyni.com/events/XgnRNhxGuUAQXFCzKW5ZFb?videoPreview=12023-08-07T12:00:00+00:00509.0Hong Kong Baptist UniversityThis study explores the application of unsupervised learning for extracting information from textual data, focusing on hierarchical clustering. The approach involves converting text into numerical representations, comparing two distinct methods: Bag of Words (BoW) and document embeddings. The Bag of Words method quantifies word frequency, employing L2 (Euclidean) regularization and cosine distance for document comparison. The document embedding approach uses machine learning models trained on a corpus to represent words as vectors, where semantically similar words are positioned closely. Document vectors are derived as an average of their constituent word vectors, with comparisons made using cosine distance. A selected subset of 63 articles from The Guardian COVID dataset, specifically from the "business" section, underwent preprocessing including lowercasing, accent removal, regular expression tokenization, filtering of stop words, numbers, and punctuation, and removal of words outside the 10-90% relative document frequency range. Hierarchical clustering was then applied, configuring the linkage to "average" and annotations to "Section" for interpretability. Using the Bag of Words approach, adjusting the dendrogram's height ratio to 75% yielded three clusters, identified as "UK economic news" and "effect of COVID on global growth." With document embeddings, an initial 75% height ratio revealed two main clusters, categorised as "UK news" and "economic side," with further adjustment to a 41.5% height ratio producing three clusters and offering an alternative perspective on the dataset. These methodologies provide a framework for interpreting textual data and uncovering hidden connections within document corpora.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/LQo8BGmDhhE339oKBuEesG https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SFemsBqW5S5L8Nxkib5mG9 https://cassyni.com/events/SFemsBqW5S5L8Nxkib5mG9/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PaQeMAYi6cg3eArsErgkKx https://cassyni.com/events/SFemsBqW5S5L8Nxkib5mG9?videoPreview=1 Finding Freedom and Joy in a World of Artificial Intelligencenohttps://cassyni.com/events/SFemsBqW5S5L8Nxkib5mG9?videoPreview=12023-04-13T12:00:00+00:001898.0Hong Kong Baptist UniversityThis presentation explores the multifaceted impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on individuals and religious communities, particularly within the context of church leadership. It initiates a conceptual exploration by examining how AI systems, defined as algorithms mimicking human cognitive tasks for prediction, raise significant theological and practical questions. The analysis develops a dual perspective, acknowledging both the "hopeful" and "fearful" dimensions of AI integration. On the one hand, AI-driven digital platforms (e.g., Zoom, WhatsApp, Facebook) proved instrumental during the COVID-19 pandemic, fostering connection, reducing social isolation, and extending ministry reach to geographically distant and vulnerable populations, alongside accessibility tools like speech-to-text. On the other hand, critical concerns arise regarding the "technological halo effect," which can misrepresent AI as an objective source of truth, and the potential for AI to cultivate addictive tendencies and shallow interactions. The discussion highlights the human quest for AI "domination" driven by desires for power and control, leading to potential misuses such as digital surveillance and policies threatening human dignity. It also warns against the abdication of spiritual responsibility and the neglect of those experiencing digital poverty. The presentation concludes by advocating for a balanced, theologically informed engagement with AI, drawing on biblical principles and patterns of work and rest to resist reductive views of humanity and foster deeper, more vulnerable relationships, emphasizing the need for intellectual humility and diligent research among church leaders.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PaQeMAYi6cg3eArsErgkKx https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SkJNusV2WtdP89VeK2NZXT https://cassyni.com/events/SkJNusV2WtdP89VeK2NZXT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/P8YqAENVUgZrkVbTNxFyxA https://cassyni.com/events/SkJNusV2WtdP89VeK2NZXT?videoPreview=1 Holy-man pharmacist? Tantra and alchemical medicinenohttps://cassyni.com/events/SkJNusV2WtdP89VeK2NZXT?videoPreview=12022-04-27T12:00:00+00:003811.0Hong Kong Baptist UniversityRasaśāstra (alchemical) literature begins to appear in India around the 10th century as works written by alchemists for alchemists. These works include medicinal recipes and remedies as well as philosophical notions of gender, pediatrics, and mythological accounts of deities and medicinal ingredients. But who are the alchemists themselves? In this talk I will explore what the corpus itself says about the alchemist and his (female) assistant, their knowledge, bodies, working quarters, and how their divine manifestations play a vital role in alchemical outcomes. Each of these spaces -- mind, body, and world -- are imbued with tantric references, such as mantras and yantras. In addition to complex descriptions of ritual elements, we also find much of the corpus imitating the tantric dialogue between Śiva and Śakti and overt references to kaula and kaulikā practice. I will also trace references to alchemy in the pre-rasaśāstra literature of tantra, demonstrating that alchemical knowledge developed within the tantric milieu prior to the creation of practical alchemical manuals, which in turn used tantric notions such as the six acts (saṭkarman) to further alchemical practice.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/P8YqAENVUgZrkVbTNxFyxA https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/5WRPvUfTeCp4zPWUSUARNd https://cassyni.com/events/5WRPvUfTeCp4zPWUSUARNd/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/TEosmZqMJKpSrEXLC64ev2 https://cassyni.com/events/5WRPvUfTeCp4zPWUSUARNd?videoPreview=1 The People Factor: Unveiling the Power of Internal Stakeholdersnohttps://cassyni.com/events/5WRPvUfTeCp4zPWUSUARNd?videoPreview=12024-09-10T12:00:00+00:00144.84Hong Kong Baptist UniversityOrganizations recognize that effective communication with their workforce is crucial for sustaining success, reputation, and profitability. Communication professionals are confronted with challenges to managing relationships and building engagement among various internal stakeholders. This course covers a wide range of issues related to internal communication and employee engagement. Students will learn strategies, tactics, and skills for effective planning for internal communication.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/TEosmZqMJKpSrEXLC64ev2 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/23tAbh8nZzwRxhCunonTqo https://cassyni.com/events/23tAbh8nZzwRxhCunonTqo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JgdXQC17KUoqwARaddk9Wv https://cassyni.com/events/23tAbh8nZzwRxhCunonTqo?videoPreview=1 Data Visualization: Getting Started with Tableaunohttps://cassyni.com/events/23tAbh8nZzwRxhCunonTqo?videoPreview=12024-03-15T12:00:00+00:007511.52Hong Kong Baptist UniversityTableau is a data visualization tool that allows you to analyse your data with ease and agility. In this workshop, you will learn how to easily create a variety of charts. You can also explore your data with its interactive dashboards.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/JgdXQC17KUoqwARaddk9Wv https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/4X8Bq7NQmHhvKdgULVh6Zj https://cassyni.com/events/4X8Bq7NQmHhvKdgULVh6Zj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9vSNfBzcR8NE8DmQ5x8R7U https://cassyni.com/events/4X8Bq7NQmHhvKdgULVh6Zj?videoPreview=1 Do calculus and modularity in causal Markov categorynohttps://cassyni.com/events/4X8Bq7NQmHhvKdgULVh6Zj?videoPreview=12021-11-09T12:00:00+00:002043.08Hong Kong Baptist UniversityCausal reasoning often intertwines causal and probabilistic concepts, hindering conceptual clarity and limiting applicability beyond probabilistic settings. This work develops a more abstract and purely causal framework for reasoning about interventions, building on a category-theoretic abstraction of causal Bayesian networks. The approach employs the language of causal Markov categories and string diagrams to represent causal mechanisms and processes, including basic parent-to-child mechanisms, exogenous factors, duplications, and discards. Within this framework, a "generic do-calculus" is formulated for causal effect morphisms, which abstract post-intervention probabilities. Key notions such as decomposability, causal screen-off, and causal independence are formally defined and shown to correspond to graphical criteria (backward-t-separation, forward-t-separation, and t-separation, respectively). This abstract do-calculus provides insights into the standard probabilistic do-calculus by teasing out its purely causal component. When specialized to probabilistic models, it yields a simpler yet equally powerful version of Pearl's do-calculus applicable to all DAG-based causal models. Furthermore, the framework offers a novel formal definition and graphical characterization of modularity in terms of causal mechanism composition, which holds potential for advancements in causal discovery algorithms.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9vSNfBzcR8NE8DmQ5x8R7U https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/531BuVgvvd1wo97dATmKeu https://cassyni.com/events/531BuVgvvd1wo97dATmKeu/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5CDPNthN3ELTfbwseTYWsY https://cassyni.com/events/531BuVgvvd1wo97dATmKeu?videoPreview=1 Constant (nonlocal) Mean curvature surfacesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/531BuVgvvd1wo97dATmKeu?videoPreview=12021-03-25T15:00:00+00:004224.08Partial Differential Equations and ApplicationsThe notion of Nonlocal Mean Curvature (NMC) appears recently in the mathematics literature. Alike their local counterpart, it is an extrinsic geometric quantity that is invariant under global reparameterization of a surface and provide a natural extension of the classical mean curvature. We describe some properties of the NMC and the quasilinear differential operators that are involved when it acts on graphs. We also survey recent results on surfaces having constant NMC and describe their intimate link with some problems arising in dibock-copolymer and the study of overdetermined boundary value problems.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5CDPNthN3ELTfbwseTYWsY https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/GtbK8XjQryEktr6HKZL4r1 https://cassyni.com/events/GtbK8XjQryEktr6HKZL4r1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HG2aiSK7kssJMGDgoDa1hg https://cassyni.com/events/GtbK8XjQryEktr6HKZL4r1?videoPreview=1 Ultrasound self-assembly of small particle patterns in a fluidnohttps://cassyni.com/events/GtbK8XjQryEktr6HKZL4r1?videoPreview=12021-07-13T14:00:00+00:004641.72MetaMATStanding ultrasound waves can be used to steer small particles suspended in a fluid into user defined patterns. If the fluid is e.g. a resin that can be cured, this technique can be used to fabricate materials with a custom microstructure. We start with the idealized case of infinitely many ultrasound transducers in the far-field to establish that the particle patterns are expected to be diffraction-limited. Then we move on to the patterns that can be obtained by $N$ parallel pairs of transducers in the far-field. If $N$ is equal to the dimension, the particles arrange in periodic patterns, with the caveat that only a subset of the possible crystallographic symmetries are achievable with this method. If N is larger than the dimension, the particles arrange in quasiperiodic patterns that can be rotated, translated, etc. by adjusting the amplitudes and phases of the ultrasound transducers.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HG2aiSK7kssJMGDgoDa1hg https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/KMqLMwy34G1FFnZqsFEhZw https://cassyni.com/events/KMqLMwy34G1FFnZqsFEhZw/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KMnQALp6d5DiTTiuxkbFWv https://cassyni.com/events/KMqLMwy34G1FFnZqsFEhZw?videoPreview=1 Flexural Wave Localization in Structured and Disordered Thin Platesnohttps://cassyni.com/events/KMqLMwy34G1FFnZqsFEhZw?videoPreview=12021-02-23T14:00:00+00:004701.84MetaMATPredicting the spatial pattern of vibrational modes in complex systems remains a key scientific and engineering challenge with strong repercussions in various domains such as Anderson localization prediction, laser cavity design or musical instrument architecture. A recent theoretical breakthrough brought a new tool, called the “localization landscape”, for retrieving crucial information on the spatial and frequency properties of localized waves [1]. In this talk, we first investigate the predictive power of the “localization landscape” function for wave localization of elastic waves in a structured thin plate and show how regions of wave confinement can be predicted from the knowledge of the static deformation of the plate [2]. We then report the first observations of disorder-induced Anderson localization of flexural waves in thin plates. In a first system, we measure modes of a randomly-pinned plate. Strongly confined modes at low frequencies progressively couple and extend over the disordered structure, as predicted by the landscape theory. A radically different behavior is found for surface acoustic waves propagating at the surface of a silicon wafer with randomly-distributed resonant blind holes. The localized modes are found at frequencies around the hybridization gap opened at the resonance frequency of the scatterers. In this regime, an adequate landscape theory is still to be developed for predicting the regions of localization.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/KMnQALp6d5DiTTiuxkbFWv https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/UFUb5d6bZ93hJ53TzGbJGM https://cassyni.com/events/UFUb5d6bZ93hJ53TzGbJGM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8xKcH7VnBAyKD7stokjWWz https://cassyni.com/events/UFUb5d6bZ93hJ53TzGbJGM?videoPreview=1 Travelling-wave behaviour in problems with degenerate diffusionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/UFUb5d6bZ93hJ53TzGbJGM?videoPreview=12021-09-30T13:00:00+00:003119.0Partial Differential Equations and ApplicationsWe review some recent results on the large-time behaviour of solutions to certain reaction-diffusion equations involving a diffusion operator that degenerates at the level 0. Nonnegative solutions with compactly supported initial data have a compact support for any later time, so that the problem has a free boundary whose asymptotic location one would like to determine. Problems in this family have a unique (up to translations) travelling wave solution with a finite front. When the initial datum is bounded, radially symmetric and compactly supported, we prove that solutions converging to 1 (which exist for all the reaction terms under consideration) do so by approaching a translation of this unique traveling wave in the radial direction, but with a logarithmic correction in the position of the front when the dimension is bigger than one. As a corollary we obtain the asymptotic location of the free boundary and level sets in the non-radial case up to an error term of size $O(1)$. A main technical tool of independent interest is an estimate for the flux. This is a collaboration with Y. Du, A. Gárriz and M. Zhou. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/8xKcH7VnBAyKD7stokjWWz https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/EuyGqAdRhn6Gef7eg2Xgnq https://cassyni.com/events/EuyGqAdRhn6Gef7eg2Xgnq/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6RqPzbpB8sikXHwsqQPZWn https://cassyni.com/events/EuyGqAdRhn6Gef7eg2Xgnq?videoPreview=1 Overcoming the curse of dimensionality: from nonlinear Monte Carlo to deep artificial neural networksnohttps://cassyni.com/events/EuyGqAdRhn6Gef7eg2Xgnq?videoPreview=12020-08-24T15:00:00+00:003205.52Partial Differential Equations and ApplicationsPartial differential equations (PDEs) are among the most universal tools used in modelling problems in nature and man-made complex systems. For example, stochastic PDEs are a fundamental ingredient in models for nonlinear filtering problems in chemical engineering and weather forecasting, deterministic Schroedinger PDEs describe the wave function in a quantum physical system, deterministic Hamiltonian-Jacobi-Bellman PDEs are employed in operations research to describe optimal control problems where companys aim to minimise their costs, and deterministic Black-Scholes-type PDEs are highly employed in portfolio optimization models as well as in state-of-the-art pricing and hedging models for financial derivatives. The PDEs appearing in such models are often high-dimensional as the number of dimensions, roughly speaking, corresponds to the number of all involved interacting substances, particles, resources, agents, or assets in the model. For instance, in the case of the above mentioned financial engineering models the dimensionality of the PDE often corresponds to the number of financial assets in the involved hedging portfolio. Such PDEs can typically not be solved explicitly and it is one of the most challenging tasks in applied mathematics to develop approximation algorithms which are able to approximatively compute solutions of high-dimensional PDEs. Nearly all approximation algorithms for PDEs in the literature suffer from the so-called "curse of dimensionality" in the sense that the number of required computational operations of the approximation algorithm to achieve a given approximation accuracy grows exponentially in the dimension of the considered PDE. With such algorithms it is impossible to approximatively compute solutions of high-dimensional PDEs even when the fastest currently available computers are used. In the case of linear parabolic PDEs and approximations at a fixed space-time point, the curse of dimensionality can be overcome by means of Monte Carlo approximation algorithms and the Feynman-Kac formula. In this talk we prove that suitable deep neural network approximations do indeed overcome the curse of dimensionality in the case of a general class of semilinear parabolic PDEs and we thereby prove, for the first time, that a general semilinear parabolic PDE with a nonlinearity depending on the PDE solution can be solved approximatively without the curse of dimensionality.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/6RqPzbpB8sikXHwsqQPZWn https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Xi3SX39A2hr79ToeqboRi5 https://cassyni.com/events/Xi3SX39A2hr79ToeqboRi5/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ERDVMcoC2QuyNuMi2i2inJ https://cassyni.com/events/Xi3SX39A2hr79ToeqboRi5?videoPreview=1 Theoretical thermotics and thermal metamaterials: A brief reviewnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Xi3SX39A2hr79ToeqboRi5?videoPreview=12020-09-22T14:00:00+00:005141.04MetaMATTransformation thermotics [1-5] is a kind of theoretical method which is based on the coordinate transformation between two different spaces, which can precisely couple geometric structure parameters into physical quantities such as thermal conductivity. This method makes it possible to artificially tailor the geometric structure to accurately control the flow of heat. Free control of heat flux is always a dream of human beings. For this purpose, thermal metamaterials come to appear [6,7], which just originate from the theory of transformation thermotics. Here, I review the crucial theoretical and experimental research progresses in this field after the birth of transformation thermotics for steady-state thermal conduction in 2008 [1,2]. They mainly include the following novel thermal phenomena or functional metamaterial devices: thermal cloak, thermal concentrator, thermal rotator, macroscopic thermal diode, thermal camouflage, thermal transparency, thermal imitator, thermal golden touch, ultra-low thermal conductivity, thermocrystal, zero-energy consumption and negative-energy consumption in ambient temperature difference, thermal anti-parity-time symmetry, thermal convection cloak/concentrator/camouflage, and daily radiation cooling. I will present the relevant microscopic or macroscopic heat-transfer mechanisms and make some prospects for the future.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/ERDVMcoC2QuyNuMi2i2inJ https://cassyni.com/events/ERKfnUyuGKYDetam5bEtXX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/C9vKq4RasmCVmdm4nQdsan https://cassyni.com/events/Poe9fUGsc24SqRHg5cpj7s/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Poe9fUGsc24SqRHg5cpj7s https://cassyni.com/events/Poe9fUGsc24SqRHg5cpj7s/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2WL1G6vcC2KQVhrV2TA8Vc https://cassyni.com/events/Poe9fUGsc24SqRHg5cpj7s?videoPreview=1 Low-temperature unconventional transport properties in GdN-based Josephson junctions: towards applications in superconducting electronicsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Poe9fUGsc24SqRHg5cpj7s?videoPreview=12022-02-02T18:00:00+00:004001.2School of Chemical and Physical SciencesThe Josephson effect is a powerful tool to investigate macroscopic quantum phenomena and unconventional physical properties that occur in a wide range of materials, including: topological insulators, Van der Walls materials and systems with specific spin-ordering, such as ferrimagnets, antiferromagnets and ferromagnets [Tafuri 2019]. In this seminar the latter will be the leading actors, since our main focus is on the transport properties investigated at low-temperature of Josephson junctions that use a ferromagnetic insulating GdN barrier. These are the very first Josephson devices in which a Rare-Earth nitride has ever been integrated, and for which very special effects have been observed. Experimental evidences of macroscopic quantum tunneling phenomena in these systems suggest that these devices can be integrated in highly quantum-coherent devices for quantum computation, such as qubits [Massarotti 2015, Ahmad 2020]. Moreover, the coexistence of tunneling transport mechanisms and ferromagnetism in the GdN, which is one of the very few insulating ferromagnets available, also induces spin-polarization effects [Senapati 2011, Pal 2014] and strongly contributes to the occurrence of spin-triplet superconductivity [Caruso 2019, Ahmad 2021], highly-welcomed in dissipationless spintronics applications. Once reviewed the basic concepts of superconductivity and Josephson effect, and given an overview of real-world applications of Josephson junctions, we will give a description of the exotic phenomena that one can find in ferromagnetic Josephson junctions reported in the literature [Tafuri 2019], thus to outline not only their possible engineering applications but also the rich fundamental physics that attracted the scientific community in the last years. Finally, we will report our results on GdN-based Josephson devices to highlight the motivations for which it is a hot-topic research field, and to outline future research activities, which also may involve other types of Rare-Earth Nitrides barriers, both from the fundamental and materials physics and for superconducting electronics applications. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2WL1G6vcC2KQVhrV2TA8Vc https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/259Bk2KfhEd8auoaJuWLJH https://cassyni.com/events/259Bk2KfhEd8auoaJuWLJH/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/rqZKH5a5PboNwCsD5ZxhL https://cassyni.com/events/259Bk2KfhEd8auoaJuWLJH?videoPreview=1 ELSA-d and Astroscale’s Mission of Sustainable Space Developmentnohttps://cassyni.com/events/259Bk2KfhEd8auoaJuWLJH?videoPreview=12021-11-03T14:00:00+00:003736.08Department of AeronauticsThe seminar will provide an overview of the space debris environment, an update on the ELSA-d mission currently in orbit, and discuss upcoming technology plans for furthering sustainable development across all orbits.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/rqZKH5a5PboNwCsD5ZxhL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/2ZpQuLV5Y46xQNo671dJUV https://cassyni.com/events/2ZpQuLV5Y46xQNo671dJUV/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/492cfNLWtDUntFwTG4GGmc https://cassyni.com/events/2ZpQuLV5Y46xQNo671dJUV?videoPreview=1 Nonlinear Helmholtz equations with sign-changing diffusion coefficientnohttps://cassyni.com/events/2ZpQuLV5Y46xQNo671dJUV?videoPreview=12022-05-24T13:00:00+00:003352.0MetaMATIn this talk, we are interested in the combine effect of metamaterial and Kerr non-linearity. More precisely, we study nonlinear Helmholtz equations with sign-changing diffusion coefficients on bounded domains of the form $-\mathrm{div} (\sigma(x) \, \nabla u) - \lambda \, u = u^3$. Using weak $\mathtt{T}$-coercivity theory, we can establish the existence of an orthonormal basis of eigenfunctions of the linear part $-\mathrm{div} (\sigma(x) \, \nabla u)$. Then, all eigenvalues are proved to be bifurcation points, and we investigate the bifurcating branches both theoretically and numerically. As a fundamental example, we look at some one-dimensional model, we obtain the existence of infinitely many bifurcating branches that are mutually disjoint, unbounded, and consist of solutions with a fixed nodal pattern.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/492cfNLWtDUntFwTG4GGmc https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/KrYBdteLJSQqtx1ys2Bqf3 https://cassyni.com/events/KrYBdteLJSQqtx1ys2Bqf3/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9V9p5WwTG9FskrxuDctaDU https://cassyni.com/events/KrYBdteLJSQqtx1ys2Bqf3?videoPreview=1 Words with Marjorienohttps://cassyni.com/events/KrYBdteLJSQqtx1ys2Bqf3?videoPreview=12021-02-27T20:00:00+00:00889.04Mathematical IntelligencerNo abstracthttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9V9p5WwTG9FskrxuDctaDU https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/QJKNpnSHSqYGetHBsiwhJ5 https://cassyni.com/events/QJKNpnSHSqYGetHBsiwhJ5/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GgMaRy37xCdnq1H4pafapv https://cassyni.com/events/QJKNpnSHSqYGetHBsiwhJ5?videoPreview=1 Advanced Sliding Mode Controlnohttps://cassyni.com/events/QJKNpnSHSqYGetHBsiwhJ5?videoPreview=12022-02-16T16:00:00+00:003615.4Department of AeronauticsSliding Mode Control is a valuable control methodology capable of controlling nonlinear systems affected by relevant classes of uncertainty. Sliding Mode control has been applied in numerous areas, such as automotive control, traffic control, aeronautics, power systems control and robotics, to name just a few of them. One of the limitations of Sliding Mode Control in its original formulation is the impossibility of explicitly considering in the design of the controller the presence of state and input constraints. In this talk, an overview of the basic concepts of Sliding Mode Control theory and of the so-called first order and higher order Sliding Mode strategies, will be provided. Then, advanced Sliding Mode Control approaches will be presented which enable to deal with constrained nonlinear systems.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GgMaRy37xCdnq1H4pafapv https://cassyni.com/events/4YPCySZHtXPcwrH8rbQy2D/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/4YPCySZHtXPcwrH8rbQy2D https://cassyni.com/events/4YPCySZHtXPcwrH8rbQy2D/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Aj5sMA4wpTCcpbLnRV1bLA https://cassyni.com/events/4YPCySZHtXPcwrH8rbQy2D?videoPreview=1 A Review of Level-Set Methods and some Recent Applicationsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/4YPCySZHtXPcwrH8rbQy2D?videoPreview=12022-01-24T15:00:00+00:003733.36Journal of Computational PhysicsWe review some of the recent advances in level-set methods and their applications. In particular, we discuss how to impose boundary conditions at irregular domains and free boundaries, as well as the extension of level-set methods to adaptive Cartesian grids and parallel architectures. Parallel Fast Sweeping methods are briefly discussed as well as recent machine learning algorithms for computing curvatures. Illustrative applications are taken from the physical and life sciences.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Aj5sMA4wpTCcpbLnRV1bLA https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/NpQBoN1bXpof7BL2iaSq1f https://cassyni.com/events/NpQBoN1bXpof7BL2iaSq1f/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/TYtRd62H9dWwuX9ypzf6cW https://cassyni.com/events/NpQBoN1bXpof7BL2iaSq1f?videoPreview=1 Heat shield system design and performance for the Orion Spacecraftnohttps://cassyni.com/events/NpQBoN1bXpof7BL2iaSq1f?videoPreview=12022-03-16T17:00:00+00:003255.08Department of AeronauticsThe Orion Heat Shield is the largest ablative Heat Shield ever built. While there are no moving parts, the Heat Shield is one of the most complex design problems on Orion and provides numerous opportunities to learn about the design and certification of complex systems by large, distributed teams. Technical challenges such as cracking, mass reduction, complex manufacturing, and the inability to test at scale interact with programmatic challenges of budget, schedule, and team dynamics. Several specific experiences are presented, including cracks in the EFT-1 Heat Shield, post-flight analysis of the only recovered ablative system publicly available, and the evolution of a new design for future missions.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/TYtRd62H9dWwuX9ypzf6cW https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/RHfq9Qm78UWF2MbmseRjcR https://cassyni.com/events/RHfq9Qm78UWF2MbmseRjcR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Gpny5rQw3LJt4qTtVgh8SA https://cassyni.com/events/RHfq9Qm78UWF2MbmseRjcR?videoPreview=1 A Life as a Reader: Honouring Lydia Wevers legacy at Victoria Universitynohttps://cassyni.com/events/RHfq9Qm78UWF2MbmseRjcR?videoPreview=12022-06-08T04:30:00+00:005906.48Stout Research Centre for New Zealand StudiesThis festive afternoon event will have Lydia’s life-long friend and fellow Oxford graduate Professor Witi Ihimaera as a guest speaker. He will speak about his life as a reader and writer and share memories of Lydia and their life as students, later as university teachers, researchers, and writers. Other speakers will offer short contributions remembering Lydia’s legacy on our campus: as a lecturer of students, as a fellow teacher and researcher, a colleague, and a public academic.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Gpny5rQw3LJt4qTtVgh8SA https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/HPGYHqtphniaiK5o7fT32D https://cassyni.com/events/HPGYHqtphniaiK5o7fT32D/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5N1GSfH7qiajh56GYMN54z https://cassyni.com/events/HPGYHqtphniaiK5o7fT32D?videoPreview=1 Anatomical Scaffolds and Mapping Toolsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/HPGYHqtphniaiK5o7fT32D?videoPreview=12022-03-29T03:00:00+00:003933.72The Auckland Bioengineering InstituteAnatomical Scaffolds are standardised, annotated geometric models of organs and other anatomical features. We start with a simple, idealised definition of the feature’s topology and geometry and build a structured finite element mesh and coordinate field to represent it, taking care to follow boundaries of important anatomical subregions. We annotate volume, surface, edge and point subregions of the scaffold with standard anatomical terms. This allows a scaffold to be automatically fitted to digitised data annotated with equivalent terms, and for computational models built from it to have material properties and boundary conditions applied to these regions at a high level. Furthermore, we use the idealised topology and shape to define standardised material coordinates for all locations in the scaffold, allowing embedding of data and substructures within it, independently of the mesh structure and resolution. This talk will give a detailed and visual explanation of Anatomical Scaffolds, and demonstrate the ABI-developed Mapping Tools software, including creating, fitting, data embedding, and visualising various scaffolds and datasets. We are looking for greater uptake in use of these tools both within the ABI and elsewhere (e.g. SPARC researchers), and also for contributions, so I’ll cover some details of what it takes to get started, and some pointers if you want to be involved e.g. creating new anatomical scaffolds. We acknowledge funding from the NIH SPARC program https://commonfund.nih.gov/sparc which has brought about development of the anatomical scaffolds and mapping tools described here.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/5N1GSfH7qiajh56GYMN54z https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/YCifgMJZsXKvxvoAdhvPtH https://cassyni.com/events/YCifgMJZsXKvxvoAdhvPtH/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2aU1ircGwX1YccGsHzBAFG https://cassyni.com/events/YCifgMJZsXKvxvoAdhvPtH?videoPreview=1 Research Ideas Worth Funding Inohttps://cassyni.com/events/YCifgMJZsXKvxvoAdhvPtH?videoPreview=12021-10-28T02:00:00+00:006830.16Faculty of Business and EconomicsThe event consisted of four-minute presentations by leading researchers across disciplines of the University of Auckland Faculties of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS), Business and Economics, and the Faculty of Arts COMPASS Research Centre. **John Parsons** (FMHS Nursing): _Past and present collaborations with the Business School and potential future opportunities_ **Amy Chan** (FMHS, Pharmacy): _Digital health, behaviour change and working with big data_ **Barry Milne** (Arts COMPASS): _Impact of chronic health conditions on families across the life-course_ **Claris Chung** (FMHS Population Health) & **David Sundaram** (Business School Information Systems & Operations Management): _SHARP approach towards developing health and wellness systems_ **Cynthia Wensley** (FMHS, Nursing): _Development of a multi-dimensional instrument for measuring patient comfort in acute care settings_ **Hakkan Lai** (FMHS Population Health): _Research opportunities with the largest contemporary cohort study in Aotearoa_ **Jennifer Weller** (FMHS Medicine): _NetworkZ: a national, simulation-based multidisciplinary in-situ team training programme for healthcare teams in Aotearoa)_ **Jo Barnes** (FMHS, Pharmacy): _Consumer use, access and behaviour relating to herbal and traditional medicines and other 'natural health products'/'complementary medicines'/dietary_ **Julie Harrison** (Business School, Accounting and Finance): _The development of casemix in HBSS (home-based support services)_ **Karen Day** (FMHS, Population Health): _Workplace wellbeing 'It's your channel': An exploratory action resesarch study in the emergency department setting_ **Laszlo Sajtos** (Business School, Marketing): _Overcoming barriers to technology use in health care_ **Natalie Walker** (FMHS, Population Health): _Dangerous consumptions - a dollar each way: A perfect partnership between public health, business and marketing_ **Nataly Martini** (FMHS, Pharmacy): _The use of technology in medication management and how it affects the way patients and health professionals engage with healthcare_ **Paul Rouse** (Business School Accounting & Finance): _A multi-level performance framework application to hospitals_ **Robert MacCulloch** (Business School, Economics): _Well-being economics_ **Rosemary Frey** (FMHS Nursing): _Lecturers' and students' reflections on the use of Zoom VCT in the wake of Covid-19_ **Shane Scahill** (FMHS, Pharmacy): _Organisational/management theory applied to the pharmacy practice context_ **Tava Olsen** (Business School, Information Systems and Operations Management): _Emergency Department models, metrics, and incentives_ **Vanessa Burholt** (FMHS, Nursing): _Ideas for collaboration that fit under the umbrella of a Centre for Co-created Ageing Research_https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2aU1ircGwX1YccGsHzBAFG https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TGEdDWqKUwnuZq5pdEDQA9 https://cassyni.com/events/TGEdDWqKUwnuZq5pdEDQA9/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CAm3qCvoUuTbPdiNVffGTG https://cassyni.com/events/TGEdDWqKUwnuZq5pdEDQA9?videoPreview=1 Unsteady 2D Flow Reconstruction around Arbitrary Shapes via Conformal Mapping aided Deep Neural Networksnohttps://cassyni.com/events/TGEdDWqKUwnuZq5pdEDQA9?videoPreview=12022-06-16T14:00:00+00:002791.04PyFRIn many practical fluid dynamics experiments, measuring variables such as velocity and pressure is possible only at a limited number of sensor locations. However, knowledge of the full fields is necessary to understand the dynamics of many flows. Flow reconstruction (FR) involves the estimation of the full fields given sensor locations. Deep learning based FR has recently garnered significant research interest. We extend existing deep learning based FR models by enabling such models to make predictions on flows around arbitrary 2D geometries without the need for re-training. This geometry flexibility is achieved through an innovative mapping approach, whereby multiple fluid domains are mapped to an annulus. Using this mapping approach, we explore the performance of several widely used neural network architectures in FR tasks, trained on a dataset consisting of unsteady flows around 80 geometries generated using PyFR. We demonstrate that the model trained using the mapping approach reconstructs the flow fields well even on geometries not present in the training data.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CAm3qCvoUuTbPdiNVffGTG https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/7zx4QrbrN6C2oF3Khvd6Tw https://cassyni.com/events/7zx4QrbrN6C2oF3Khvd6Tw/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/61cAGk953UXxADvEYk3rxe https://cassyni.com/events/7zx4QrbrN6C2oF3Khvd6Tw?videoPreview=1 A vertically-Lagrangian, non-hydrostatic, multilayer model for multiscale free-surface flowsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/7zx4QrbrN6C2oF3Khvd6Tw?videoPreview=12022-04-12T10:40:00+00:001574.04Water WavesI will present a semi-discrete, multilayer set of equations describing the three-dimensional motion of an incompressible fluid bounded below by topography and above by a moving free-surface. This system is a consistent discretisation of the incompressible Euler equations, valid without assumptions on the slopes of the interfaces. Expressed as a set of conservation laws for each layer, the formulation has a clear physical interpretation and makes a seamless link between the hydrostatic Saint-Venant equations, dispersive Boussinesq-style models and the incompressible Euler equations. The associated numerical scheme, based on an approximate vertical projection and multigrid-accelerated column relaxations, provides accurate and efficient solutions for all regimes. The same model can thus be applied to study metre-scale waves, even beyond breaking, with results closely matching those obtained using small-scale Euler/Navier-Stokes models, and coastal or global scale dispersive waves, with an accuracy and efficiency comparable to extended Boussinesq wave models. The implementation is adaptive, parallel and open source as part of the Basilisk framework (basilisk.fr).https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/61cAGk953UXxADvEYk3rxe https://cassyni.com/events/34U1x28byWf1Q9KyhSv6jo/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/34U1x28byWf1Q9KyhSv6jo https://cassyni.com/events/34U1x28byWf1Q9KyhSv6jo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7zdcykTjZLgEwbugRyADhx https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9yYUbbBx7vQntxKZ4tV2tV https://cassyni.com/events/9yYUbbBx7vQntxKZ4tV2tV/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HPJZaeNoXKepqNzC6dyVQS https://cassyni.com/events/9yYUbbBx7vQntxKZ4tV2tV?videoPreview=1 Correspondence Analysis for Some Fragments of Classical Propositional Logicnohttps://cassyni.com/events/9yYUbbBx7vQntxKZ4tV2tV?videoPreview=12021-11-17T11:40:00+00:004170.2Logica UniversalisIn the paper, we apply Kooi and Tamminga’s correspondence analysis (that has been previously applied to some notable three- and four-valued logics) to some conventional and functionally incomplete fragments of classical propositional logic. In particular, the paper deals with the implication, disjunction, and negation fragments. Additionally, we consider an application of correspondence analysis to some connectiveless fragment with certain basic properties of the logical consequence relation only. As a result of the application, one obtains a sound and complete natural deduction system for any binary extension of each fragment in question. With the focus on exclusive disjunction we comparatively study the proposed systems. Finally, we discuss Segerberg’s systems for connectiveless and negation fragments and compare them with our systems.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HPJZaeNoXKepqNzC6dyVQS https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CSnVq1RaKDBHFto7caPfcR https://cassyni.com/events/CSnVq1RaKDBHFto7caPfcR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2beDqCjjfwNsndLZkWTBXk https://cassyni.com/events/CSnVq1RaKDBHFto7caPfcR?videoPreview=1 Water Scarcity and Gendernohttps://cassyni.com/events/CSnVq1RaKDBHFto7caPfcR?videoPreview=12022-07-05T14:00:00+00:003684.76Nature WaterInadequate access to a safe and sufficient water supply places a disproportionate burden on women and girls across low income countries. Join us for a conversation with Amy Pickering (UC Berkeley), Nitya Rao (University of East Anglia) and Bethany Caruso (Emory University) about the impacts of water scarcity and women’s central role in water provision. We will discuss challenges, opportunities and needs on the road towards gender equality. Global Session Times: 7am PDT, 10am EDT, 3pm BST, 7:30pm IST, 10pm CST, (and on July 6, 3am AEST). The session will also be recorded and available on demand. Invite interested colleagues to join the series at [cassyni.com/s/naturewater](www.cassyni.com/s/naturewater). Follow us on Twitter [@NatureWaterJnl](https://twitter.com/NatureWaterJnl).https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2beDqCjjfwNsndLZkWTBXk https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/DS5hvNidC8HRved7iYrzRK https://cassyni.com/events/DS5hvNidC8HRved7iYrzRK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HDyRvyQxHPi1drmRdmL6HL https://cassyni.com/events/DS5hvNidC8HRved7iYrzRK?videoPreview=1 Asymptotic thermal modeling of droplet assembly in nanoscale molten metal filmsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/DS5hvNidC8HRved7iYrzRK?videoPreview=12022-07-18T16:00:00+00:003210.04Journal of Engineering MathematicsWe consider a thin metal film on a thermally conductive substrate exposed to an external heat source in a setup where the heat absorption depends on the local film thickness. Our focus is on modeling film evolution while the film is molten. The film geometry modifies local heat flow, which in turn may influence the film surface evolution through thermal variation of material properties. We use asymptotic analysis to develop a thermal model that is accurate, computationally efficient, and that accounts for the heat flow in both the in-plane and out-of-plane directions. We apply this model to describe metal films of nanoscale thickness exposed to heating and melting by laser pulses, a setup commonly used for self and directed assembly of various metal geometries via dewetting while the films are in the liquid phase. We find that thermal effects play an important role, and in particular that the inclusion of temperature dependence in the metal viscosity modifies the time scale of the evolution significantly. The thickness, thermal conductivity, and rate of heat loss of the underlying substrate are shown to be crucial in accurately modeling film temperatures and subsequent phase changes in the film. Since in many cases the substrate cools the film, modifications to the substrate temperature may induce different dewetting speeds via temperature dependent viscosity of the film. We show via 3D GPU simulations that this may result in various frozen film patterns since full dewetting may not occur while the film is in the liquid phase. This research was supported by NSF CBET-1604351, NSF-DMS-1815613 and by CNMS2020-A-00110.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HDyRvyQxHPi1drmRdmL6HL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/PK5QxgB1NeHUveKYWgZoBs https://cassyni.com/events/PK5QxgB1NeHUveKYWgZoBs/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9c33scuWoe6CcUWEMBKUhL https://cassyni.com/events/PK5QxgB1NeHUveKYWgZoBs?videoPreview=1 The Place and Value of Logic in Louis Couturat’s Philosophical Thinkingnohttps://cassyni.com/events/PK5QxgB1NeHUveKYWgZoBs?videoPreview=12022-06-15T13:00:00+00:005167.8Logica UniversalisLouis Couturat is known for affirming and defending the works of logic available during his lifetime, especially those of Russell and the Italian school. His work of conceptual analysis is exceptional and unique in its ability to put in relation the mathematicians of his time, for which his reputation is well deserved. Taking a closer look at his work at large, the place and value of logic are not simple problems for Couturat. On one hand, the new logic differs from the Greek methods of Aristotelian logic, and yet it has no place in mathematics unlike the algebraic school Couturat frequently addresses. On the other hand, he discovers the logic of Russell as a novelty and invention, to which he gives, in agreement with Lalande and Itelson, the old name of Logistics. He complicates things further in his unpublished Manuel de Logistique (written in 1905), where he presents it as an ancient science to which symbols have been added (however, we know he does not like the use of symbols as Peano instituted). Couturat is therefore in a complex relationship with the logic of his time. The following is an attempt to unfold the consequences. Our main source for this lecture on Louis Couturat will be the correspondences with Bertrand Russell between 1897 and 1913, edited and annotated by us. It is all the more valuable because we have letters from both contributors and it is the most important scientific correspondence of Russell.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9c33scuWoe6CcUWEMBKUhL https://cassyni.com/events/WE9scFEMX43GRTK7t88jLZ/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HRzGsrdqjDd1xKiZFi3Pnv https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/3Z9F7LJ1pL8qDcKVVZ34v1 https://cassyni.com/events/3Z9F7LJ1pL8qDcKVVZ34v1/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FBMz3rhf91h2T5gS5JS5uG https://cassyni.com/events/3Z9F7LJ1pL8qDcKVVZ34v1?videoPreview=1 Symbolic Quantum Field Theory calculations with FeynCalcnohttps://cassyni.com/events/3Z9F7LJ1pL8qDcKVVZ34v1?videoPreview=12022-12-13T16:00:00+00:003717.36Computer Physics CommunicationsFeynCalc is a time-proven toolbox for symbolic manipulations of expressions that typically arise in Quantum Field Theoretical calculations. This includes not only the well known Feynman diagrams but also smaller building blocks such as single integrals or products of matrices. In my talk I will provide an overview of the main features of the code and discuss some recent developments that are particularly useful for higher-order calculations.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/FBMz3rhf91h2T5gS5JS5uG https://cassyni.com/events/RmvibHCDvt6DKaKeLVkUNR/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/RmvibHCDvt6DKaKeLVkUNR https://cassyni.com/events/RmvibHCDvt6DKaKeLVkUNR/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Xpw1p5sGXdjP4ccsvCUA6r https://cassyni.com/events/RmvibHCDvt6DKaKeLVkUNR?videoPreview=1 THE IMPORTANCE OF LOGIC FOR HUMANITY - LUA Celebration of the 5th edition of the World Logic Daynohttps://cassyni.com/events/RmvibHCDvt6DKaKeLVkUNR?videoPreview=12023-01-14T15:00:00+00:005784.16Logica UniversalisHuman beings were characterized in Greek antiquity as "logical animals" ("rational animals", in Latin). "Logos" in Greek has four main meanings: language, science, reasoning, relation. Logic is not one science among others. It is a very special science and it is not only a science, it is an extraordinary capacity that human beings have, called in Latin "reasoning". Logic is the art of thinking that allows us to understand, master and transform reality. Logic is not one field among others because it is universal, it encompasses everything: reasoning is fundamental for the development of any science. In this webinar we will discuss these questions with the above participants.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Xpw1p5sGXdjP4ccsvCUA6r https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/XiTnEUsT57k1LdFg87t4BP https://cassyni.com/events/XiTnEUsT57k1LdFg87t4BP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Gn2XAXk8CJypJhCufKV3W6 https://cassyni.com/events/XiTnEUsT57k1LdFg87t4BP?videoPreview=1 Financial Literacy and Wellbeing among Medical Students, Residents, and Attending Physicians in Lebanon: Results from A Nationwide Multi-Centered Surveynohttps://cassyni.com/events/XiTnEUsT57k1LdFg87t4BP?videoPreview=12024-11-18T17:30:00+00:001828.36Sage PublishingBackground: Financial wellbeing and financial literacy are crucial aspects of personal and professional lives, particularly in graduate medical education. Low financial literacy among healthcare professionals, including physicians, has been identified as a concern, impacting job satisfaction, productivity, and burnout. Few studies have used validated methods, assessed financial wellbeing, or compared financial outcomes across the continuum of medical education and practice. Objective. This study aims to measure the financial wellbeing of healthcare professionals and trainees and its predictors using validated instruments on a nationwide scale in Lebanon. Methods. This is a multi-institutional cross-sectional study using an online survey using validated instruments, including the CFPB Financial Well-Being Scale and Lusardi and Mitchell's "Big Five" financial literacy questions. The data was collected in April and May 2020. The population includes medical students, residents, and practicing physicians in all six private medical schools and their affiliated medical centers in Lebanon. Results. A total of 330 responded, with a response rate of 20.7%. The financial wellbeing score (out of 10 was 57.2±9.7 before the financial crisis and dropped to 45.2±10.1 during the country's financial crisis. With a passing grade of 60%, 75.3% (195/259) failed the financial knowledge questions. Attending physicians outperformed students and residents/fellows regarding knowledge scores. Financial wellbeing was positively associated with age, family socioeconomic status, and household income. It was negatively associated with the crowding index and agreement with the attitude of living for today and letting tomorrow take care of itself. Conclusion. Medical students, residents, and physicians in Lebanon had low financial literacy. Attending physicians have high financial wellbeing despite low financial literacy and lack of formal education. The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, adversely affected the financial wellbeing of all three groups. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Gn2XAXk8CJypJhCufKV3W6 https://cassyni.com/events/NLAvU86N8n9WJaFAQfEfDf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/2uF4ktUKQ6ueSrD8nZisrv https://cassyni.com/events/DSW3dpSvEYBL7p5914wctd/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/DSW3dpSvEYBL7p5914wctd https://cassyni.com/events/DSW3dpSvEYBL7p5914wctd/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/EcHjW9NKvdxNw56rrTv2F8 https://cassyni.com/events/DSW3dpSvEYBL7p5914wctd?videoPreview=1 Xpert Breast Cancer STRAT4 Assay using fine-needle aspiration biopsy samples in a resource-constrained setting: a prospective diagnostic accuracy study.nohttps://cassyni.com/events/DSW3dpSvEYBL7p5914wctd?videoPreview=12026-03-05T19:00:00+00:003524.48Center for Cancer TrainingUse of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens on Xpert Breast Cancer STRAT4 Assay, a CE-marked in-vitro diagnostic medical device, could potentially increase access to breast cancer biomarker testing in resource-constrained settings. We aimed to assess the performance of a research use-only version of STRAT4 using FNAB specimens in Tanzania. Patients aged 18 years or older with palpable breast masses presenting to the FNAB Clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania were recruited consecutively. Patients who were pregnant, lactating, or had a previous diagnosis of breast cancer were excluded. STRAT4 testing was performed on off-label FNAB samples using four protocols: the 1x protocol on FNAB smears (1x FNAB), quick lysis and Maui protocols (both on FNAB smears), and the 1x protocol on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded cell block material (1x cell block). The primary outcomes were overall concordance, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of STRAT4 as compared with immunohistochemistry or immunohistochemistry plus fluorescence in-situ hybridization. Between Nov 29, 2017, and Dec 17, 2020, 208 patients were enrolled. Of 208 cases, 51 (25%) were excluded from analysis because of insufficient tissue in the cell block or absent cell blocks, leaving 157 participants (all female) for analysis. For estrogen receptor, 1 × FNAB had the best performance, with an overall concordance of 95% (95% CI 90–100). For HER2, Maui had the highest agreement, with an overall concordance of 93% (95% CI 89–98. Processing FNAB samples with STRAT4 is feasible in Tanzania, and performance for the estrogen receptor is robust. Further optimization of STRAT4 for FNAB has the potential to improve timely access to breast cancer diagnostics in resource-constrained settings. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/EcHjW9NKvdxNw56rrTv2F8 https://cassyni.com/events/NppXWojtaEhZJLn416XTUy/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/NppXWojtaEhZJLn416XTUy https://cassyni.com/events/NppXWojtaEhZJLn416XTUy/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/M3LF3d51yD3vYrKRFjjABg https://cassyni.com/events/NppXWojtaEhZJLn416XTUy?videoPreview=1 A Catalogue of Nonlinear Phenomena in Electrostatic MEMSnohttps://cassyni.com/events/NppXWojtaEhZJLn416XTUy?videoPreview=12025-07-07T12:30:00+00:002660.04Physics ReportsWe exploit a comprehensive experimental study of electrostatic micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) resonators under large excitations to present a catalogue of nonlinear phenomena at micro-scale. We encountered large oscillations, and thus nonlinearity, in three frequency ranges: a non-resonant region and two resonant regions. In those regions, we found a plethora of nonlinear phenomena including cascades of period-doubling bifurcations, bubble structures, homoclinic and cyclic-fold bifurcations, hysteresis, intermittencies, quasiperiodicity, chaotic attractors, odd-periodic windows within those attractors, Shilnikov orbits, and Shilnikov chaos. The fact we encountered those complex phenomena under relatively high dissipation levels suggests that under lower dissipation they would be prevalent even at relatively low excitation levels. This calls for a new paradigm in the design of MEMS that seeks to manage dynamic phenomena rather than attempt to avoid them and, thereby, overly restrict the design space. We believe this is feasible given the repeatability and predictability of those phenomena.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/M3LF3d51yD3vYrKRFjjABg https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/81NQ8JL9QW5vzQVLzShiwF https://cassyni.com/events/81NQ8JL9QW5vzQVLzShiwF/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UfSv9A6YiqsRhkQRSjxXca https://cassyni.com/events/81NQ8JL9QW5vzQVLzShiwF?videoPreview=1 Cold waves in the Amazon rainforest and their ecological impactnohttps://cassyni.com/events/81NQ8JL9QW5vzQVLzShiwF?videoPreview=12024-12-27T12:00:00+00:001331.04Royal Society PublishingCold waves crossing the Amazon rainforest are an extraordinary phenomenon likely to be affected by climate change. We here described an extensive cold wave occurring in June 2023 in Amazonian-Andean forests, compared environmental temperatures to experimentally measured thermal tolerances and its impact on lowland animal communities (insects and wild mammals). While we found strong reductions in activity abundance of all animal groups under the cold wave, tropical lowland animals showed thermal tolerance limits below the lowest environmental temperatures measured during the cold wave. While mammal activity and the biomass of most insects recovered over the next season, dung beetle biomass remained low. A quarter of all insects showed very small thermal safety margins (0.62 °C) with respect to the recorded minimum temperature of 10.5 °C, suggesting that an increased intensity of cold waves in the future could imperil cold-sensitive taxa of Amazonian animal communities. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UfSv9A6YiqsRhkQRSjxXca https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/9yxpK2vFALJh67maMQZfMo https://cassyni.com/events/9yxpK2vFALJh67maMQZfMo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CXguaccPjqmztTXZUG87J6 https://cassyni.com/events/9yxpK2vFALJh67maMQZfMo?videoPreview=1 FAIR Data In The Life Sciences: Beyond Theorynohttps://cassyni.com/events/9yxpK2vFALJh67maMQZfMo?videoPreview=12022-10-19T03:00:00+00:006149.28UKRNSince 2016, with the publication of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles (Wilkinson, M., et al.), FAIR data management and stewardship in the life sciences have been at the forefront of numerous publications, talks, research projects and policies at public institutions. Yet, for researchers working with data, applying the FAIR principles to their projects has been a hurdle. A skill gap in the life sciences workforce also hinders the progress toward FAIR data and its benefits in sharing, reusing and safeguarding life sciences data. This workshop will offer attendees the opportunity to learn about the existing tools to implement FAIR principles tailored to a life sciences user, with toolkits and step-by-step guides. In addition, participants will also discover different training opportunities for personal use and further implementation in their organisations.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CXguaccPjqmztTXZUG87J6 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/WEaDKgxeZTwAccm9AeDMos https://cassyni.com/events/WEaDKgxeZTwAccm9AeDMos/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SAYFxm7S1x3erJTF5knLAr https://cassyni.com/events/WEaDKgxeZTwAccm9AeDMos?videoPreview=1 Black Strings and String Clouds Embedded in Anisotropic Quintessence: Solutions for Scalar Particles and Implicationsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/WEaDKgxeZTwAccm9AeDMos?videoPreview=12025-03-13T13:00:00+00:001430.28Annals of PhysicsWe analyze the spacetime metric associated with a black string surrounded by a cloud of strings and an anisotropic fluid of quintessence in cylindrically symmetric AdS spacetime. We solve Einstein’s equation to obtain the explicit form of the metric, investigate typical values for its parameters, and determine their role in the event horizon formation. Within our findings, we show that the intensity of the cloud of strings regulates the size of the event horizon and, when the cloud is absent, the horizon increases drastically for larger values of the quintessence’s state parameter $\alpha_Q$. Additionally, the metric shows that, unless $\alpha_Q$ is close to its lower bound, the contribution from the quintessence fluid is only significant at large distances from the black string. Finally, to explore the quantum implications of this dark energy candidate, we use the confluent Heun function to solve the Klein–Gordon equation for a spin-0 particle near the event horizon. Our results indicate that the presence of quintessence alters the particle’s radial wave function. This modification, in principle, could give rise to an observable that we termed as “dark phase”.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SAYFxm7S1x3erJTF5knLAr https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/FumgysCRqBsbJT1KkRgRXT https://cassyni.com/events/FumgysCRqBsbJT1KkRgRXT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/49hdpMMSJZfK5PZdq1A8dL https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/62oc4CFw42oGSw1JErv4PX https://cassyni.com/events/62oc4CFw42oGSw1JErv4PX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Fby8gY42pFstetWgfryJ7G https://cassyni.com/events/62oc4CFw42oGSw1JErv4PX?videoPreview=1 Improving Cervical Cancer Health Literacy in Arabic-Speaking Immigrant Women in the U.S. Through an Online Patient Education Toolnohttps://cassyni.com/events/62oc4CFw42oGSw1JErv4PX?videoPreview=12025-02-14T22:00:00+00:00631.2Women's Health Low health literacy rates especially among the medically underserved have called for more understandable and actionable resources to involve patients in their health. The online audio-visual ReproNet cervical cancer tool was shown to improve cervical cancer health literacy among marginalized English and Spanish-speaking populations and Arab and Afghan immigrants in a group setting. This study aimed to determine whether or not the cervical cancer tool positively impacts health literacy for Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern or North African first- and second- generation immigrant women in the United States when self-administered. In this single group pre-post interventional study, a convenience sample of 95 Arabic-speaking immigrant women in the U.S., ages 18 and over, reviewed an online cervical cancer patient education tool and completed pre- and post-tests. Participants received links to the tool and to pre- and post- tests, using the Cervical Cancer Literacy Assessment Tool (C-CLAT). We conducted McNemar tests and paired t-tests to compare pre- and post-test results in health literacy per participants. A multivariate regression model was fitted to test the association between demographic variables and the change of cervical cancer literacy content domains, controlling for the baseline scores before administering the tool. Out of 118 participants, 95 participants had complete pre- and post-tests. Health literacy increased overall after self-administration of the tool, specifically in terms of cervical cancer prevention and control (p<0.01). There were no significant differences in knowledge in U.S.-born versus foreign-born Arabic-speaking women (p=0.6660). Conclusion The self-administration of the ReproNet cervical cancer tool most significantly increases awareness and knowledge of cervical cancer prevention in Arabic-speaking first- and second- generation immigrant women, thus pointing to increased quality of the provider-patient relationship. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Fby8gY42pFstetWgfryJ7G https://cassyni.com/events/8W3dHcVZFKZkosUrnYph7T/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/VmuXVhJUi87h9C5eWJWScv https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/BTxsgLtbHRpPipHVY46PyX https://cassyni.com/events/BTxsgLtbHRpPipHVY46PyX/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YQeHLnTNzYyTsVNhTGP78J https://cassyni.com/events/BTxsgLtbHRpPipHVY46PyX?videoPreview=1 Citizen science as an instrument for women’s health researchnohttps://cassyni.com/events/BTxsgLtbHRpPipHVY46PyX?videoPreview=12025-04-15T16:00:00+00:00856.6Microbiome Virtual International ForumWomen’s health research is receiving increasing attention globally, but considerable knowledge gaps remain. Across many fields of research, active involvement of citizens in science has emerged as a promising strategy to help align scientific research with societal needs. Citizen science offers researchers the opportunity for large-scale sampling and data acquisition while engaging the public in a co-creative approach that solicits their input on study aims, research design, data gathering and analysis. Here, we argue that citizen science has the potential to generate new data and insights that advance women’s health. Based on our experience with the international Isala project, which used a citizen-science approach to study the female microbiome and its influence on health, we address key challenges and lessons for generating a holistic, community-centered approach to women’s health research. We advocate for interdisciplinary collaborations to fully leverage citizen science in women’s health toward a more inclusive research landscape that amplifies underrepresented voices, challenges taboos around intimate health topics and prioritizes women’s involvement in shaping health research agendas.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YQeHLnTNzYyTsVNhTGP78J https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/6XUqDWRLtrH6GPzp2y32Zj https://cassyni.com/events/6XUqDWRLtrH6GPzp2y32Zj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AbsrFgUusJJ4LWrMkvLmyQ https://cassyni.com/events/6XUqDWRLtrH6GPzp2y32Zj?videoPreview=1 Germline BRCA1 and BRCA2 Variants Among Nigerian Breast Cancer Patientsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/6XUqDWRLtrH6GPzp2y32Zj?videoPreview=12025-04-21T11:00:00+00:00752.08Sage PublishingBackground: Breast cancer remains a leading cause of mortality among Nigerian women, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) being particularly prevalent. Variations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes remain key risk factors for this disease. However, there are gaps in the frequency and spectrum of these variants in Nigerian populations, as well as a dearth in the local capacity to characterize these variations. Objective: This study aimed at identifying and characterizing the germline variations in BRCA1/2 in Nigerian breast cancer patients and healthy age-matched controls to understand the genetic risk profile of breast cancer in this population. Methods: A prospective case-control study was conducted involving 45 breast cancer patients and 51 controls recruited from four major hospitals. DNA was extracted from blood samples, followed by targeted sequencing of BRCA1/2 exonic and intronic regions using the Ampliseq BRCA panel and Illumina MiSeq platform. Variant calling was performed, clinical significance was evaluated on ClinVar and BRCA Exchange databases, and haplotype analysis was performed using NIH LDlink and Haploview 4.2 software. Results: Pathogenic BRCA1/2 variants were identified in 6.7% of breast cancer patients, all with TNBC and a family history of cancer. Two pathogenic BRCA1 variants were detected: a frameshift deletion BRCA1 c.133_134delAA (p.Lys45fs) (rs397508857) and a missense variant BRCA1 c.5324T>A (p.Met1775Arg) (rs41293463). A BRCA2 frameshift deletion BRCA2 c.8817_8820del (p.Lys2939fs) (rs397508010) was also identified. These variants were absent in controls. Haplotype analysis revealed distinct BRCA1 and BRCA2 haplotypes in the breast cancer group. Conclusion: This study identifies key BRCA1/2 pathogenic variants and unique haplotypes in Nigerian breast cancer patients, highlighting the need for population-specific genetic screening. Integrating genetic testing into breast cancer management strategies could facilitate early detection, personalized treatment planning, and genetic counseling in Nigeria https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/AbsrFgUusJJ4LWrMkvLmyQ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Poke7zLRDTmMR2VSG3yARB https://cassyni.com/events/Poke7zLRDTmMR2VSG3yARB/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HRAhnTJziMbeXrnqUtL9E6 https://cassyni.com/events/Poke7zLRDTmMR2VSG3yARB?videoPreview=1 Rational Engineering of Live Bacterial Therapeutics from a Human Microbiome Biobanknohttps://cassyni.com/events/Poke7zLRDTmMR2VSG3yARB?videoPreview=12025-09-11T03:15:00+00:00613.88Microbiome Virtual International ForumMultidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) frequently colonise the gut, limiting treatment options. Here, we present the Centre for Pathogen Genomics Microbiome Culture Collection (CMC), a >2,000-isolate, genomically characterised biobank of human gut commensals supporting the rational design of live bacterial therapeutics (LBTs). Leveraging genome-level resolution to assess safety and functional potential, we assemble small, complementary consortia intended to restore colonisation resistance and disrupt MDRO niches, with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRE-Kp) as a priority target. Using *in vitro* and *in vivo* assays, we show that rationally designed consortia reproducibly suppress CRE-Kp growth, with several combinations driving rapid decline of pathogen abundance and preventing rebound. These findings illustrate how genomically-resolved culture resources can be translated into mechanism-informed, precision LBT candidatesm with the CMC serving as a valuable resource for accelerating MDRO decolonisation strategies by linking isolate-level genomics with consortium design and functional testing against high-priority threats.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HRAhnTJziMbeXrnqUtL9E6 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/TGM7g2ts6PVp9SHaofMqTT https://cassyni.com/events/TGM7g2ts6PVp9SHaofMqTT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YWnnYm3EVu5pHr3LsjTUEr https://cassyni.com/events/TGM7g2ts6PVp9SHaofMqTT?videoPreview=1 PINTO: Physics-informed transformer neural operator for learning generalized solutions of partial differential equations for any initial and boundary conditionnohttps://cassyni.com/events/TGM7g2ts6PVp9SHaofMqTT?videoPreview=12025-08-24T11:00:00+00:001815.08Computer Physics CommunicationsApplications in physics, engineering, mechanics, and fluid dynamics necessitate solving nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) with different initial and boundary conditions. Operator learning, an emerging field, solves these PDEs by employing neural networks to map the infinite-dimensional input and output function spaces. These neural operators are trained using data (observations or simulations) and PDE residuals (physics loss). A key limitation of current neural methods is the need to retrain for new initial/boundary conditions and the substantial simulation data required for training. We introduce a physics-informed transformer neural operator (named PINTO) that generalizes efficiently to new conditions, trained solely with physics loss in a simulation-free setting. Our core innovation is the development of iterative kernel integral operator units that use cross-attention to transform domain points of PDE solutions into initial/boundary condition-aware representation vectors, supporting efficient and generalizable learning. The working of PINTO is demonstrated by simulating important 1D and 2D equations used in fluid mechanics, physics and engineering applications: advection, Burgers, and steady and unsteady Navier-Stokes equations (three flow scenarios). We show that under challenging unseen conditions, the relative errors compared to analytical or numerical (finite difference and volume) solutions are low, merely 20% to 33% of those obtained by other leading physics-informed neural operator methods. Furthermore, PINTO accurately solves advection and Burgers equations at time steps not present in the training points, an ability absent for other neural operators. The code is accessible at https://github.com/quest-lab-iisc/PINTO.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/YWnnYm3EVu5pHr3LsjTUEr https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/LptDqrRFV62HZ3VaYysVBT https://cassyni.com/events/LptDqrRFV62HZ3VaYysVBT/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4fHmzASfpt8SbpTx2i3jGJ https://cassyni.com/events/LptDqrRFV62HZ3VaYysVBT?videoPreview=1 Integrative genomic reconstruction reveals heterogeneity in carbohydrate utilization across human gut bifidobacterianohttps://cassyni.com/events/LptDqrRFV62HZ3VaYysVBT?videoPreview=12025-10-15T02:00:00+00:00635.4Microbiome Virtual International ForumBifidobacteria are beneficial saccharolytic microbes that are widely used as probiotics or in synbiotic formulations, yet individual responses to supplementation can vary with strain type, microbiota composition, diet and lifestyle, underscoring the need for strain-level insights into glycan metabolism. Here we reconstructed 68 pathways for the utilization of mono-, di-, oligo- and polysaccharides by analysing the distribution of 589 curated metabolic gene functions (catabolic enzymes, transporters and transcriptional regulators) across 3,083 non-redundant Bifidobacterium genomes of human origin. Thirty-eight predicted phenotypes were validated in vitro for 30 geographically diverse strains, supporting genomics-based predictions. Our analysis uncovered extensive inter- and intraspecies functional heterogeneity, including a distinct clade within Bifidobacterium longum that metabolizes α-glucans and Bangladeshi isolates carrying unique gene clusters for xyloglucan and human milk oligosaccharide utilization. This large-scale genomic compendium advances our understanding of bifidobacterial carbohydrate metabolism and can inform the rational design of probiotic and synbiotic formulations tailored to strain-specific nutrient preferences.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/4fHmzASfpt8SbpTx2i3jGJ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/SkcEAo9mwrpNjQA4TGhRUH https://cassyni.com/events/SkcEAo9mwrpNjQA4TGhRUH/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/TPvPpvUkns7LWt7xA6cxD4 https://cassyni.com/events/SkcEAo9mwrpNjQA4TGhRUH?videoPreview=1 Innovative payloads for ADCs in cancer treatment: moving beyond the selective delivery of chemotherapynohttps://cassyni.com/events/SkcEAo9mwrpNjQA4TGhRUH?videoPreview=12025-09-30T12:34:18+00:001307.88Sage PublishingAntibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a transformative approach in cancer therapy by enhancing tumor targeting and minimizing systemic toxicity compared to traditional chemotherapy. Initially developed with chemotherapy agents as payloads, ADCs have now incorporated alternative payloads, such as immune-stimulating agents, natural toxins, and radionuclides, to improve therapeutic efficacy and specificity. A significant advancement in ADC technology is the integration of Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs), which enable the precise degradation of cellular targets involved in tumorigenesis. This strategy enhances the specificity and precision of cancer therapies, addressing key mechanisms in cancer cell survival. Moreover, incorporating radioactive isotopes into ADCs is an emerging strategy aimed at further improving therapeutic outcomes. By delivering localized radiation, this approach offers the potential to enhance the efficacy of treatment and expand the therapeutic arsenal. Despite these innovations, challenges remain, including dysregulated immune activation, severe adverse effects, and intrinsic immunogenicity of some agents. These emerging issues highlight the ongoing need for optimization in ADC therapy. This seminar will update the viewers on the latest developments in ADC technology, focusing on novel payloads, PROTAC integration, and the potential for combining ADCs with other therapeutic modalities to refine cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/TPvPpvUkns7LWt7xA6cxD4 https://cassyni.com/events/WDChiqiDpnYZQnxiU7M445/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/WDChiqiDpnYZQnxiU7M445 https://cassyni.com/events/WDChiqiDpnYZQnxiU7M445/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PxB1bkEAzaPs8meomVoqZp https://cassyni.com/events/WDChiqiDpnYZQnxiU7M445?videoPreview=1 Fish friction: new insights from Pacific sculpinsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/WDChiqiDpnYZQnxiU7M445?videoPreview=12025-11-14T20:00:00+00:001625.92Royal Society PublishingPacific intertidal sculpins live in the chaotic and unpredictable flows caused by breaking waves. Unlike other fishes that use suction cups to stay in place in this environment, sculpins rely on their pectoral fins to combat drag forces. Other fishes in high-flow riverine environments possess ‘unculi’, or microscopic keratinized structures that enhance friction with substrates. However, similar structures have not been described outside of this known taxon. Using scanning electron microscopy, we confirmed the presence of epidermal modifications on sculpin fins and hypothesize that they too serve to enhance friction. These structures appear more distinct on intertidal species compared to subtidal species with likely reduced flow demands. We also hypothesize that these structures develop as modifications to the more typical microridge morphology. Based on this work, we conclude that friction enhancing epidermal mechanisms may be present in fishes more broadly than previously assumed, and that new species models can add insights into bioinspired designs for reversible attachment.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/PxB1bkEAzaPs8meomVoqZp https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/61S6TM1WKMQfF7CsYL3kdj https://cassyni.com/events/61S6TM1WKMQfF7CsYL3kdj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SPa24opm1DUbqmF4A9dL2z https://cassyni.com/events/61S6TM1WKMQfF7CsYL3kdj?videoPreview=1 Investigating the Yanomami malaria outbreak: gold mining and malarianohttps://cassyni.com/events/61S6TM1WKMQfF7CsYL3kdj?videoPreview=12025-12-02T12:08:25+00:001044.48Royal Society PublishingThe Yanomami, an Indigenous group from the Amazon, confront multifaceted challenges endangering their health and cultural integrity. Of immediate concern is the humanitarian crisis caused by surges in malaria amid increasing illegal gold mining in their territory. Leveraging satellite imagery and panel regression analyses, we quantified the effect of land use changes on malaria incidence on their land (2016-2023). We observed a ~300% increase in malaria cases during this period, associated with increases in illegal gold mining. An increase of one standard deviation in gold mining is associated with a 20-46% rise in malaria incidence one to two years later. We found that changes in forest areas significantly affect malaria rates: for every one standard deviation increase in the perimeter of forest edges, malaria cases rise by 55%. Our findings highlight the major impact of illegal gold mining and the resulting fragmentation of forests on the high malaria burden experienced by the Yanomami. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SPa24opm1DUbqmF4A9dL2z https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/8Ug7gmF8WeB9c3gS61xPMf https://cassyni.com/events/8Ug7gmF8WeB9c3gS61xPMf/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CVDNsmf7M6kGcckigVA1ZQ https://cassyni.com/events/8Ug7gmF8WeB9c3gS61xPMf?videoPreview=1 Reading the Almagest in the sixteenth century: The Hohendorff Almagest as a case studynohttps://cassyni.com/events/8Ug7gmF8WeB9c3gS61xPMf?videoPreview=12025-12-26T00:00:00+00:001206.8Royal Society PublishingIn this video, I present the results of a recent article on a heavily annotated 1515 edition of Ptolemy’s Almagest, held in the Austrian National Library and once owned by Georg Wilhelm von Hohendorff (1670–1719). The annotations—including diagrams and illustrations—can be traced to sixteenth-century editions, translations, and commentaries on the Almagest. The presentation focuses on two main aspects: the comparative use of different Latin versions to construct what may be described as a “synoptic” Almagest, and the reformulation of Ptolemy’s geometrical chord calculations into verbally expressed arithmetical rules. Likely produced in the late sixteenth century, these annotations offer rare insight into how readers in the early post-Copernican period engaged with Ptolemy’s Almagest and adapted its mathematical content to new intellectual contextshttps://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/CVDNsmf7M6kGcckigVA1ZQ https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/LLGEuoHcSzPxhkf6F7X8Ym https://cassyni.com/events/LLGEuoHcSzPxhkf6F7X8Ym/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UN7C2HP5xKqYEcEn9FAtLW https://cassyni.com/events/LLGEuoHcSzPxhkf6F7X8Ym?videoPreview=1 Multiple Environmental Conditions Precede Ebola Spillovers in Central Africanohttps://cassyni.com/events/LLGEuoHcSzPxhkf6F7X8Ym?videoPreview=12026-01-28T15:00:00+00:001535.6Royal Society PublishingMany emerging viruses of public health concern originate in animals and have the potential to transmit to humans or cause spillover. Orthoebolavirus zairense (EBOV) is one example, circulating in wildlife in Central and West Africa, with high mortality in humans and animals. Previous studies have linked Ebola outbreaks to transitions in rainfall seasonality, proximity to deforestation, and areas with high human population density. However, a universal driver or mechanism has not been described, and spillovers remain unpredictable. To assess potential environmental determinants of EBOV spillovers, we analyzed time series of vegetation health, rainfall, temperature, forest loss, and human population size surrounding Central African spillover locations from 1990-2022. We evaluated whether environmental conditions before spillover were atypical for each location by quantifying the similarities in environmental time series between spillover years and non-spillover years. Contrary to past work, we found no single environmental trigger that universally prompts spillover. While some outbreaks were preceded by atypical environmental conditions, others occurred when conditions were strongly similar to non-spillover years. We also modeled the relationship between anthropogenic factors and the occurrence of spillover and found no association. We find EBOV spillovers occur following various environmental conditions and no consistent anthropogenic associations. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/UN7C2HP5xKqYEcEn9FAtLW https://cassyni.com/events/Cv9TcjNLE57uUy2wQM29nd/seminar/qa https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/Cv9TcjNLE57uUy2wQM29nd https://cassyni.com/events/Cv9TcjNLE57uUy2wQM29nd/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SNCS45vgWr8uxoakAaSLcn https://cassyni.com/events/Cv9TcjNLE57uUy2wQM29nd?videoPreview=1 GPU-Parallelized MATLAB Software for Atom-Ion Dynamicsnohttps://cassyni.com/events/Cv9TcjNLE57uUy2wQM29nd?videoPreview=12026-02-04T12:00:00+00:001535.88Computer Physics CommunicationsWe present a MATLAB script, atomiongpu.m, which can use GPU parallelization to run several million independent simulations per day of a trapped ion interacting with a low-density cloud of atoms, calculating classical trajectories of a trapped ion and an atom starting far away. The script uses ode45gpu, which is our optimized and specialized implementation of the Runge-Kutta algorithm used in MATLAB's ODE solver ode45. We first discuss the physical system and show how ode45gpu can, on a CPU, solve it about 7x faster than MATLAB's ode45, leading to a 600x-3500x speedup when running a million trajectories using ode45gpu in parallel on a GPU compared to ode45 on a CPU. Then, we show how to easily modify the inputs to atomiongpu.m to account for different kinds of atoms, ions, atom-ion interactions, trap potentials, simulation parameters, initial conditions, and computational hardware, so that atomiongpu.m automatically finds the probability of complex formation, the distribution of observables such as the scattering angle and complex lifetime, and plots of specific trajectories. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/SNCS45vgWr8uxoakAaSLcn https://cassyni.com/events/JMyfyzNG88NZckZDPNWZ65/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HJuCu3mC4LWSZ86YzvPGi https://cassyni.com/events/JMyfyzNG88NZckZDPNWZ65?videoPreview=1 Targeting the microbiome to promote health and end cancernohttps://cassyni.com/events/JMyfyzNG88NZckZDPNWZ65?videoPreview=12026-09-16T23:05:00+00:001562.72Microbiome Virtual International ForumCancer immunotherapy has transformed oncology by reactivating the immune system’s ability to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. However, many patients still do not respond, and treatment-related toxicity remains a major challenge. In this talk, Dr. Jennifer Wargo will discuss how the human microbiome shapes immunity, cancer biology, and response to therapy. Drawing on foundational concepts in immune activation and checkpoint blockade, the presentation will highlight emerging evidence that microbes within tumors, the gut, and other body sites can influence carcinogenesis, treatment response, and overall physiology. Dr. Wargo will review studies showing that the gut microbiome differs between patients who respond and do not respond to immunotherapy, and that microbiome-targeted approaches may help improve outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on diet and dietary fiber, including evidence that fiber-fermenting gut bacteria and sufficient dietary fiber intake are associated with improved response to immune checkpoint blockade. The talk will also explore the broader potential of microbiome monitoring and modulation as a new pillar of cancer care, that may support treatment, interception, prevention, toxicity and long-term health. As part of the presentation, Dr. Wargo will share a preview of early findings from ongoing, unpublished clinical trials, offering a glimpse into how microbiome-directed strategies may be translated into future cancer care. By connecting cancer immunology, microbiome science, diet, lifestyle, and prevention, Dr. Wargo will outline a vision for targeting the microbiome to promote health and help end cancer. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/HJuCu3mC4LWSZ86YzvPGi https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/GsUQZM7xkYBh1KZUC8ujmo https://cassyni.com/events/GsUQZM7xkYBh1KZUC8ujmo/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/H5tbtAC7A8RPKt1r8WUEKG https://cassyni.com/events/GsUQZM7xkYBh1KZUC8ujmo?videoPreview=1 Symmetries in Montane Species Abundance Profiles Elucidate the Link between Environment and Abundancenohttps://cassyni.com/events/GsUQZM7xkYBh1KZUC8ujmo?videoPreview=12026-07-12T09:00:00+00:002034.44Royal Society PublishingUnderstanding how species abundance varies across landscapes is central to ecology, yet robust empirical tests of theoretical abundance–range size frameworks have remained elusive, largely due to the complexity of real-world landscapes. In this talk, I present findings from a systematically sampled bird community along a steep elevational gradient (200–2800 m) in the eastern Himalayas — one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots — in which the multidimensional complexity of ecological space is effectively collapsed into a single, tractable spatial axis. Using replicated line transect surveys, we quantified abundance profiles for species and characterised their asymmetry using three complementary metrics: one capturing local asymmetry near the abundance peak ($A_P$) and two capturing asymmetry across the full half-ranges ($A_S$ and $A_N$). We find that $A_S$ is negatively correlated with elevation — with low-elevation ranges broader toward higher elevations, mid-elevation ranges approximately symmetric, and high-elevation ranges broader toward lower elevations — while $A_P$ shows no such correlation. Critically, community-averaged asymmetry is consistent with zero for all metrics, a pattern incompatible with the stress tolerance hypothesis or Stevens' rule, but aligned with the Abundant-Centre Hypothesis. We propose that this community-averaged symmetry emerges from the structure of the environmental gradient itself, with hard elevational limits at both ends of the mountain — mediated by interspecific competition — generating the observed elevation–asymmetry relationship. More broadly, our findings suggest that montane elevational gradients offer a uniquely tractable system for bridging mechanistic theory and empirical abundance data, opening new avenues for testing predictions that have so far remained difficult to evaluate in two-dimensional landscapes.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/H5tbtAC7A8RPKt1r8WUEKG https://cassyni.com/events/KLiRnmMawpxBNG32jppNVj/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/M6BYaBqsjNB54Eci3RfLiz https://cassyni.com/events/FPXbRJBPSAX2abaMLiEKtq/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/7z2E7PiqiA6aWxZTsUtkd4 https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/CRfbFpp8Cn8DNNGJV9yLYD https://cassyni.com/events/CRfbFpp8Cn8DNNGJV9yLYD/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/NstgcnnBM76DyA3vHN3Xee https://cassyni.com/events/CRfbFpp8Cn8DNNGJV9yLYD?videoPreview=1 Microneedling-Assisted Panax Ginseng Exosome Protocol for Vulvovaginal Symptoms and Vulvar Skin Tone Changes: A Preliminary Pilot Observational Studynohttps://cassyni.com/events/CRfbFpp8Cn8DNNGJV9yLYD?videoPreview=12026-08-12T09:00:00+00:001022.52Women's HealthVulvovaginal symptoms may affect daily comfort, emotional well-being, and sexual health. Some women also report concerns about uneven vulvar skin tone or post-inflammatory pigmentation. This preliminary pilot observational study evaluated short-term changes after a combined microneedling-assisted topical Panax ginseng exosome protocol with adjunctive home-care inner gel. Fourteen women received three treatment sessions at 2-week intervals, with final assessment 2 weeks after the third session. Outcomes included the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire, the Day-to-day Impact of Vaginal Aging questionnaire, procedure-related pain, safety observations, and qualitative clinical photographic assessment. After treatment, total VSQ and DIVA scores decreased, and the DIVA daily activities domain showed significant exploratory improvement. Procedure-related pain was transient, and no serious adverse events were observed during short-term follow-up. These findings are preliminary and hypothesis-generating, and further controlled studies with larger samples, longer follow-up, and objective assessments are needed.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/NstgcnnBM76DyA3vHN3Xee https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/PHxWPVZZGDER37njPG9U7f https://cassyni.com/events/PHxWPVZZGDER37njPG9U7f/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GqY4G4ABG2oET9zGm66f7L https://cassyni.com/events/PHxWPVZZGDER37njPG9U7f?videoPreview=1 Abatacept plus intermediate dose posttransplant cyclophosphamide for GVHD prophylaxisnohttps://cassyni.com/events/PHxWPVZZGDER37njPG9U7f?videoPreview=12026-07-31T19:00:00+00:001149.44Bone Marrow TransplantationPTCy and abatacept have both facilitated the performance of allogeneic stem cell transplant from HLA-mismatched donors. Two recent clinical studies in patients who received bone marrow transplants suggest that intermediate dose (ID) PTCy may be as effective as standard dose for preventing GVHD. As peripheral blood (PB) is the more common stem cell source used today, we tested ID PTCy in combination with standard dose abatacept in consecutively transplanted hematologic malignancy patients. This study was performed in a single institution in which more than 70% of the patients were minorities and received partially mismatched stem cells. There was no 100-day non-relapse mortality and severe acute GVHD was less than 5%. However, due to an excess occurrence of cGVHD approaching 50%, we stopped the use of ID PTCy. We conclude that abatacept plus ID PTCy is inadequate for preventing cGVHD after transplantation with PB stem cells. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/GqY4G4ABG2oET9zGm66f7L https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/WD2y34cuQczCXvnJkhiQGM https://cassyni.com/events/WD2y34cuQczCXvnJkhiQGM/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9AvnhT6Fa1fc84JhW2z2Dk https://cassyni.com/events/WD2y34cuQczCXvnJkhiQGM?videoPreview=1 Growing Resilient Food Systems: The SEEDS Framework for Community-Led Transformationnohttps://cassyni.com/events/WD2y34cuQczCXvnJkhiQGM?videoPreview=12026-08-14T02:00:00+00:001094.16The Nutrition SocietyFood and nutrition insecurity in high‑income countries is increasingly persistent, driven by intersecting economic, social and environmental disruptions. Acute shocks such as the COVID‑19 pandemic, floods, fires, alongside chronic pressures including rising food prices, housing stress and concentrated corporate power, have exposed structural weaknesses in food access, governance and system resilience. This review examines how community‑led responses to food and nutrition insecurity function during disruption, whether they buffer short term hardship or contribute to adaptive capacity and redistribution of agency. Guided by the six‑pillar food security framework and a socio-ecological model, responses are examined across household, community, organisational and governance levels. A continuum of responses is identified, ranging from downstream emergency food relief that buffers immediate hardship through to community and organisational food infrastructure that strengthens local resilience and governance‑level responses with greater transformative potential. Drawing on this synthesis, we propose the SEEDS (Socio-Ecological Enablers of Dietary Security) Model, which conceptualises how food system responses across socio-ecological levels and over time can progress from buffering (acute) to adaptation (medium‑term) and ultimately transformation (long‑term). Central to this framework is a shift in decision‑making power, accountability and participation. While many initiatives improve food access and short‑term stability during crises, the greatest potential for transformation lies where responses are embedded within governance structures, enable meaningful community participation and influence policy, procurement and resource allocation. Implications for public health nutrition practice include expanded roles in systems leadership, cross‑sector governance and advocacy for upstream policy reform.https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9AvnhT6Fa1fc84JhW2z2Dk https://cassyni.com/events/JrdH2g1nZavccX66yooMMP/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/9QSVhbeVES73NnjREEyAxv https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/3ZFjZrMZRmqjoDXFfzBWDK https://cassyni.com/events/3ZFjZrMZRmqjoDXFfzBWDK/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QubZLqV5hauWSGa2tRu26S https://cassyni.com/events/3ZFjZrMZRmqjoDXFfzBWDK?videoPreview=1 Evaluating urine volume and host depletion methods to enable genome-resolved metagenomics of the urobiomenohttps://cassyni.com/events/3ZFjZrMZRmqjoDXFfzBWDK?videoPreview=12025-12-10T00:30:00+00:00461.72Microbiome Virtual International Forum"Background The gut microbiome has emerged as a clear player in health and disease, in part by mediating host response to environment and lifestyle. The urobiome (microbiota of the urinary tract) likely functions similarly. However, efforts to characterize the urobiome and assess its functional potential have been limited due to technical challenges including low microbial biomass and high host cell shedding in urine. Here, to begin addressing these challenges, we evaluate urine sample volume (100 ml–5 mL) and host DNA depletion methods and their effects on urobiome profiles in healthy dogs, which are a robust large animal model for the human urobiome. We collected urine from seven dogs and fractionated samples into aliquots. One set of samples was spiked with host (canine) cells to model a biologically relevant host cell burden in urine. Samples then underwent DNA extraction followed by 16S rRNA gene and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. We then assembled metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) and compared microbial composition and diversity across groups. We tested six methods of DNA extraction: QIAamp BiOstic Bacteremia (no host depletion), QIAamp DNA Microbiome, Molzym MolYsis, NEBNext Microbiome DNA Enrichment, Zymo HostZERO, and propidium monoazide. Results In relation to urine sample volume, ≥ 3.0 mL resulted in the most consistent urobiome profiling. In relation to host depletion, individual (dog) but not extraction method drove overall differences in microbial composition. DNA Microbiome yielded the greatest microbial diversity in 16S rRNA sequencing data and shotgun metagenomic sequencing data and maximized MAG recovery while effectively depleting host DNA in host-spiked urine samples. As proof-of-principle, we then mined MAGs for select metabolic functions including central metabolism pathways and environmental chemical degradation. Conclusions Our findings provide guidelines for studying the urobiome in relation to sample volume and host depletion and lay the foundation for future evaluation of urobiome function in relation to health and disease."https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QubZLqV5hauWSGa2tRu26S https://cassyni.com/slides/outline/WjDpNNcAzvVDcPJ2m5WA5B https://cassyni.com/events/WjDpNNcAzvVDcPJ2m5WA5B/abstract https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QkbR8BvkBxPuGxYEeLBDQS https://cassyni.com/events/WjDpNNcAzvVDcPJ2m5WA5B?videoPreview=1 Leveling Up Citizen Science for (meta)genomic researchnohttps://cassyni.com/events/WjDpNNcAzvVDcPJ2m5WA5B?videoPreview=12025-04-15T01:00:00+00:00924.44Microbiome Virtual International ForumOver the past decade, citizen science computer games have become a popular practice for engaging the public in research activities. This methodology had a noticeable impact in molecular and cell biology, where millions of online volunteers contributed to the classification and annotation of scientific data, but also to solve advanced optimization problems requiring human supervision. Yet, despite promising results, the deployment of citizen science initiatives through academic/professional web pages faces serious limitations. Indeed, the volume of human attention needed to process massive data sets and make state-of-the-art scientific contributions rapidly outpaces the participation and availability of online volunteers. To overcome this challenge, citizen science must transcend its “natural habitat” and reach out to the entire gaming communities. To address this challenge, we propose to build partnerships with commercial video game companies that already assembled large communities of gamers. In this talk, we describe how this approach can transform the impact of citizen science in (meta)genomics. We discuss our experience from Phylo, an online puzzle for gene alignment, to Borderlands Science, a massively multiplayer online game for microbiome data analysis. We show how to embeds citizen science tasks into a virtual universe to engage new user bases. These principles have profound implications for future citizen science initiatives seeking to meet the growing demands of biology. https://cassyni-user-files-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/QkbR8BvkBxPuGxYEeLBDQS