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Tumour necrosis is associated with poor prognosis in cancer and is thought to occur passively when tumour growth outpaces nutrient supply. We found, however, that neutrophils actively induce tumour necrosis. In multiple cancer mouse models, we found a tumour-elicited Ly6GHigh Ly6CLow neutrophil population that was unable to extravasate in response to inflammatory challenges but formed neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) more efficiently than classical Ly6GHigh Ly6CHigh neutrophils. The presence of these “vascular restricted” neutrophils correlated with the appearance of a “pleomorphic” necrotic architecture in mice. In tumours with pleomorphic necrosis, we found intravascular aggregates of neutrophils and NETs that caused occlusion of the tumour vasculature, driving hypoxia and necrosis of downstream vascular beds. Furthermore, we found that cancer cells adjacent to these necrotic regions (i.e., in “peri-necrotic” areas) underwent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, explaining the paradoxical metastasis-enhancing effect of tumour necrosis. Blocking NET formation genetically or pharmacologically reduced the extent of tumour necrosis and lung metastasis. Thus, by showing that NETs drive vascular occlusion, pleomorphic necrosis, and metastasis, we critically demonstrate that tumour necrosis is not necessarily a passive byproduct of tumour growth and that it can be blocked to reduce metastatic spread.

The seminar series is a collaboration between the Cambridge Immunology Network and supported by the Cambridge Institute of Translational Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID).

Seminars take place weekly on Thursdays at 4pm and feature a leading speaker from the immunology field.

The weekly seminars are held in the Ground Floor Lecture Theatre, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre (JCBC), Puddicombe Way, Cambridge.

Refreshments are provided following the seminar for attendees.

For more information please contact: enquiries@immunology.ac.uk

• Speaker: Jose M. Adrover, Francis Crick Institute
• Thursday 20 February 2025, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: Lecture Theatre, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
• Series: Cambridge Immunology Network Seminar Series; organiser: Ruth Paton.

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Diffusion models have revolutionized generative modeling. Conceptually, these methods define a transport mechanism from a noise distribution to a data distribution. Recent advancements have extended this framework to define transport maps between arbitrary distributions, significantly expanding the potential for unpaired data translation. However, existing methods often fail to approximate optimal transport maps, which are theoretically known to possess advantageous properties. In this talk, we will show how one can modify current methodologies to compute Schrödinger bridges—an entropy-regularized variant of dynamic optimal transport. We will demonstrate this methodology on a variety of unpaired data translation tasks.

• Speaker: Professor Arnaud Doucet, University of Oxford
• Thursday 20 March 2025, 13:00-14:00
• Venue: Department of Engineering - LT1.
• Series: Information Engineering Distinguished Lecture Series; organiser: Kimberly Cole.

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In this talk, I examine the use of psychological microtargeting, which uses inferred personality traits from online behavior to customize manipulative messages. I begin by highlighting the opaque nature of such targeting and my approach to reverse-engineer these algorithms to detect and potentially alert users to targeted ads (Simchon et al., 2023). Next, I show that microtargeted political ads, even those generated by AI, are markedly more effective than non-microtargeted ones. This underscores both the persuasive power of AI-driven microtargeting and the ethical issues it raises due to its potential for large-scale use (Simchon et al., 2024). Finally, I explore the effectiveness of warning signals against these targeted ads and find that despite the implementation of such interventions, the persuasive power of targeted messages persists, raising urgent needs for robust regulatory responses (Carrella, Simchon, et al., 2025).

• Speaker: Almog Simchon (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev)
• Wednesday 19 February 2025, 15:00-16:00
• Venue: Online.
• Series: Social Psychology Seminar Series (SPSS); organiser: Yara Kyrychenko.

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In Navier-Stokes (NS) turbulence, large-scale turbulent flows determine small-scale flows; in other words, small-scale flows are synchronized to large-scale flows. In 3D turbulence, previous numerical studies suggest that the critical length separating these two scales is determined by the Kolmogorov length. In this talk, I will introduce our theoretical framework for characterizing synchronization phenomena [1]. Specifically, it provides a computational method for the exponential rate of convergence to the synchronized state, and identifies the critical length based on the NS equations via the “transverse” Lyapunov exponent. I will also discuss the synchronization property of 2D NS turbulence and how it differs from the 3D case [2]. These insights into synchronization and critical length scales are essential for developing machine-learning closure models for turbulence, in particular their stable reproducibility [3]. Finally, I will illustrate how “generalized” synchronization is crucial for predicting chaotic dynamics [4].

[1] M. Inubushi, Y. Saiki, M. U. Kobayashi, and S. Goto, Characterizing small-scale dynamics of Navier-Stokes turbulence with transverse Lyapunov exponents: A data assimilation approach, Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 254001 (2023).

[2] M. Inubushi and C. P. Caulfield (in preparation).

[3] S. Matsumoto, M. Inubushi, and S. Goto, Stable reproducibility of turbulence dynamics by machine learning, Phys. Rev. Fluids 9, 104601 (2024).

[4] A. Ohkubo and M. Inubushi, Reservoir computing with generalized readout based on generalized synchronization, Sci. Rep. 14, 30918 (2024).

• Speaker: Professor Masanobu Inubushi, Tokyo University of Science
• Friday 14 February 2025, 16:00-17:00
• Venue: MR2.
• Series: Fluid Mechanics (DAMTP); organiser: Professor Grae Worster.

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Aerosols are unique microcompartments central to areas as diverse as climate and air pollution, disease transmission, and chemical synthesis. Resolving their roles in each of these areas is challenging. For instance, the surface composition of aerosol droplets is key to predicting cloud droplet number concentrations, understanding atmospheric pollutant transformation, and interpreting observations of accelerated droplet chemistry. However, direct measurement of the surface properties of aerosol droplets is challenging, even though such measurements are necessary, as surface-bulk partitioning is strongly affected by the droplet’s surface area-to-volume ratio. In this presentation, we will discuss new advances to characterise the equilibrium and dynamic surface properties of picolitre volume droplets, gaining important insights that bear directly on our understanding of how cloud droplets form in the atmosphere and how chemical reactions may proceed in finite-volume systems. We will also describe a new mass spectrometry approach enabling sensitive, high throughput chemical analysis of picolitre droplets, facilitating more robust studies of the factors governing chemical reactivity in microcompartments.

Bio: Bryan Bzdek is Proleptic Associate Professor in the School of Chemistry, University of Bristol. He earned a B.S. degree in Chemistry at Bucknell University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Delaware. He performed postdoctoral studies with Jonathan P. Reid, and then began his independent career at the University of Bristol in 2017 as a NERC Independent Research Fellow. His research on the physical and analytical chemistry of aerosols spans applications in atmospheric science and health. He is a recipient of the Kenneth T. Whitby (2024) Award from the American Association for Aerosol Research, the Marlow Prize (2023) from the Royal Society of Chemistry, and the Philip Leverhulme Prize (2022) from the Leverhulme Trust. During the COVID -19 pandemic, his research altered UK government guidance in the performing arts and the NHS infection prevention and control manual. He also gave many print and radio interviews about aerosols and COVID -19 to organisations including US public radio, BBC , CBS, and CNN .

RSC 2023 Faraday Early Career Prize: Marlow Prize Winner

• Speaker: Dr Bryan Bzdek, University of Bristol
• Tuesday 25 February 2025, 14:00-15:00
• Venue: Pfizer Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry.
• Series: Physical Chemistry Research Interest Group; organiser: David Madden.

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Due to its importance in the construction of ships, wood was one of the first substances to have the velocity dependence of its resistance to impact quantified. This was achieved in England and France early in the 19th century. Techniques for measuring the high-rate mechanical properties of wood were developed around the start of the 20th century. These studies involved drop-weight and pendulum machines to quantify the dynamic fracture toughness of timbers and were mostly performed by the US Forestry Service. It was not until 1977 that the first high-rate compression stress-strain curves of wood were obtained using the Kolsky bar, despite this device having been developed in Britain in the 1940s. It took until the mid-1990s and the desire to use wood to cushion the drop-impact of vessels used to transport dangerous waste that Kolsky bar studies of wood began in earnest in Britain, the Czech Republic and Russia. Even so, to date fewer than 100 such studies have been published compared to nearly 5,000 for metals. The seminar will summarize the effects of anisotropy, stress state, multiple repeat loading, moisture content, temperature, and density on the high-rate properties of a wide range of woods. The seminar will finish with suggestions for what needs doing in the future. A review paper on this topic has recently been accepted for publication in ‘Journal of Dynamic Behavior of Materials’.

• Speaker: Stephen Walley, PCS Group, Cavendish Laboratory
• Thursday 01 May 2025, 15:00-16:00
• Venue: Mott Seminar Room, Cavendish Laboratory.
• Series: Physics and Chemistry of Solids Group; organiser: Stephen Walley.

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Better understanding of the origin and behaviour of fatigue cracks should lead to improved engineering design and alloying strategies for structural metals. The surface stresses caused by persistent slip bands, including a zone of infinite tensile stress at the edge of each band, seem an inevitable consequence of elastic non-linearity and hard to combat, except perhaps by the present expensive methods of shot-peening or surface removal. But the underlying process of jog movement to eliminate screw dislocation dipoles should be susceptible to control. It is important to understand better the main engineering problem: is design against persistent slip the metallurgist’s answer to crack-proof rotating machinery?

• Speaker: Mick Brown, Cavendish Laboratory
• Thursday 08 May 2025, 15:00-16:00
• Venue: Mott Seminar Room, Cavendish Laboratory.
• Series: Physics and Chemistry of Solids Group; organiser: Stephen Walley.

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Alan Turing is best remembered as one of the leading code breakers of Bletchley Park during World War II. It was Turing’s brilliant insights and mathematical mind that helped to break Enigma, the apparently unbreakable code used by the German military. We present a history of both Alan Turing and the Enigma machine, leading to this triumph of mathematical ingenuity.

• Speaker: James Grime, Institute of Continuing Education
• Monday 03 March 2025, 19:15-21:00
• Venue: Lightfoot Room, Divinity School, St John's College, Cambridge, CB2 1TP.
• Series: Cambridge Statistics Discussion Group (CSDG); organiser: Peter Watson.

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An ultrathin (≈84 nm) and robust protective layer is constructed by reactive molecular brushes (GO-g-PSSAg). Benefiting from the in situ reaction between PSSAg side-chains and Li metal, the modified Li anode integrates abundant Li-ion conducting PSSLi chains, robust GO backbones, and Li–Ag solid solution, thereby enabling molecular-level homogeneous and fast Li-ion diffusion, remarkable mechanical strength and homogeneous Li deposition.

Mechanically stable and structurally homogeneous lithium–electrolyte interfacial layers are crucial in stabilizing lithium (Li) anodes for practical Li metal batteries. Herein, an ultrathin (≈84 nm) and robust artificial protective layer is constructed with reactive two-dimensional (2D) molecular brushes as building blocks. The artificial protective layer can in situ react with underlying Li metal to produce a nanoscale poly(lithium styrenesulfonate)-grafted graphene oxide (GO-g-PSSLi) layer on the outermost surface and an infinite Li–Ag solid solution in the anode. The nanoscale GO-g-PSSLi layer well integrates a large number of single Li-ion conducting PSSLi chains and 2D robust GO backbones, thereby enabling molecular-level homogeneous and fast Li-ion diffusion as well as remarkable mechanical strength. Meanwhile, the simultaneously formed Li–Ag solid solution is beneficial for rapid Li transport in the anode to reduce the Li nucleation barrier and facilitate homogeneous deposition of Li. With such artificial protective layers, a prototype pouch cell with a thin Li metal anode (50 µm) and a high-loading cathode (21.6 mg cm−2) delivers an impressive cycle life of over 350 cycles with 69% capacity retention under harsh conditions. Remarkably, ultrahigh charging power density of 456 W kg−1 and energy density of 325 Wh kg−1 can be simultaneously achieved in an Ah-level pouch cell.

High-performance ultralong biomass room temperature phosphorescence (RTP) doped systems with phosphorescence quantum up to 32.8%, lifetime up to 4.65 s, and multi-stimulus response through multiple interactions between host biomass macrocycle and guest is reported. The RTP performance of biomass macrocycle doped systems far exceeds biomass systems ever reported and compares favorably with highly effective polymer systems.

The pursuit of sustainable, high-performance organic ultralong room temperature phosphorescence (OURTP) materials with stimulus-responsive properties presents a significant and enticing yet formidable challenge. Herein, an efficient strategy to confining boric acid-based compounds into biomass macrocycle γ-cyclodextrin through multiple interactions is developed, enabling the construction of high-performance and multicolor OURTP doped systems. The synergistic effects of strong hydrogen bonding, C─O─B covalent cross-linking, and host–guest encapsulation significantly suppress non-radiative transition, culminating in an extraordinary lifetime and excellent phosphorescence quantum yield of 4.65 s and 32.8%, respectively, which are far superior to reported biomass RTP materials. Additionally, merging biomass macrocycle with phosphors contributes to multiple stimulus responses, overcoming the inherent limitations of degradation and recycling of organic RTP compounds, and dynamically modulating RTP signals through multiple-stimulus responses, achieving the integration of multifunctional dynamic data processing techniques. This work will provide a direction for new environmentally friendly and potentially commercially available stimulus-responsive OURTP materials.

This study demonstrates the use of reactive plasma deposition (RPD) to fabricate indium tin oxide (ITO) buffer layers for wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells. The RPD-ITO devices exhibit enhanced thermal stability, reduced recombination losses, and improved efficiency. A four-terminal tandem cell achieves a high power conversion efficiency of 29.03%, showcasing the potential of RPD for advanced photovoltaics.

In this study, the potential of reactive plasma deposition (RPD) is demonstrated for fabricating indium tin oxide (ITO) as an efficient buffer layer in inverted wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This method results in a certified efficiency of 21.33% for wide-bandgap PSCs, demonstrating superior thermal stability and operational stability. The optimized devices achieve an impressive open-circuit voltage (VOC ) of 1.252 V with a bandgap of 1.67 eV, resulting in a remarkably low voltage deficit of 0.418 V, attributed to improved electron extraction, reduced interface defects, and suppressed surface recombination. The cells maintain over 90% of their initial efficiency after 1023 h of thermal aging at 88 °C. Furthermore, by integrating a highly efficient semi-transparent PSC with a CIGS bottom cell, a four-terminal tandem configuration is achieved with a total efficiency of 29.03%, representing one of the most efficient perovskite/CIGS tandem solar cells reported to date. This study provides valuable insights into the potential of RPD for improving the performance and scalability of inverted wide-bandgap PSCs.

The superconducting magnetization diode effect in stacking superconductors with ferromagnetic materials heterostructures, enabling robust magnetization readout through superconductivity with an ideally infinite on/off ratio, is demonstrated. Combining spin–orbit torque for current-driven magnetization switching, this work bridges superconductivity and spintronics, offering scalable, energy-efficient memory solutions with simplified design and improved performance.

Stacking superconductors (SC) with ferromagnetic materials (FM) significantly impact superconductivity, enabling the emergence of spin-triplet states and topological superconductivity. The tuning of superconductivity in SC-FM heterostructure is also reflected in the recently discovered superconducting diode effect, characterized by nonreciprocal electric transport when time and inversion symmetries are broken. Notably, in SC-FM systems, a time reversal operation reverses both current and magnetization, leading to the conceptualization of superconducting magnetization diode effect (SMDE). In this variant, while the current direction remains fixed, the critical currents shall be different when reversing the magnetization. Here, the existence of SMDE in SC-FM heterostructures is demonstrated. SMDE uniquely maps magnetization states onto superconductivity by setting the read current between two critical currents for the positive and negative magnetization directions, respectively. Thus, the magnetization states can be read by measuring the superconductivity, while the writing process is accomplished by manipulating magnetization states through current-driven spin–orbit torque to switch the superconductivity. The proposed superconducting diode magnetoresistance in SC-FM heterostructures with an ideally infinite on/off ratio resolves the limitations of tunneling magnetoresistance in the magnetic tunneling junctions, thereby contributing to the advancement of superconducting spintronics.

High-speed and inexpensive deposition techniques are crucial for the practical application of 2D materials. Rapid drying principle deriving hot dipping and air knife sweeping deposition protocols achieves film uniformity, scalability, and tunable thickness simultaneously by suppressing time for secondary flows. The large-area extendibility, pinhole-less feature, and m2 min−1-level deposition speed offer unprecedented processes for 2D materials-based nanodevices more cheaply.

Inexpensive, high-speed deposition techniques that ensure uniformity, scalability, wide applicability, and tunable thickness are crucial for the practical application of 2D materials. In this work, rapid drying is identified as a key mechanism for pioneering two high-speed wet deposition methods: hot dipping and air knife sweeping (AKS). Both techniques allow thickness control proportional to flake concentration, achieving tiled monolayers and pinhole-free coverage across the entire substrate, as long as evaporation outpaces flake diffusion. AKS prevents non-uniformity along substrate edges by eliminating contact line pinning. The achieved deposition speed of 0.21 m2 min−1 with AKS significantly surpasses traditional methods, enabling the equipment for large substrates > 1 m2. Combined with the ultralow debonding force for mechanically susceptible flexible display production and short-circuit-proof nanometer-thin capacitors with capacitance comparable to commercial multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs), these new protocols showcase simple and swift solutions for manufacturing 2D materials-based nanodevices.

Inspired by the layered architecture of natural nacre and with the guidance of phase-filed simulations, a strategy of controlling the morphology and ordering of Al2O3 fillers in Pb-based AFE composite ceramics is proposed, aiming to improve its breakdown strength. Significantly improved E b of 570 kV cm−1 and ultrahigh W rec of 13.2 J cm−3 are achieved in composite ceramics with parallel-aligned Al2O3 plates.

Dielectric capacitors possessing high power density and ultrashort discharge time are valuable for high-power energy storage applications. However, achieving high energy storage density remains challenging due to the limited breakdown strength of dielectric ceramics. In this study, inspired by the layered architecture of natural nacre and with the guidance of phase-field simulations, a strategy of constructing a nacre-like layered structure is proposed to improve the breakdown strength and energy storage density of the ceramics. This unique structure is formed by controlling the morphology and ordering of high-voltage-resistant fillers in a ceramic matrix. The (Pb0.98La0.02)(Zr0.7Sn0.3)0.995O3-Al2O3 antiferroelectric composite ceramics, containing 5vol% parallel-aligned Al2O3 plates, demonstrate a remarkable enhancement in breakdown strength from 390 to 570 kV cm−1. Of particular importance is that an ultrahigh recoverable energy storage density of up to 13.2 J cm−3 is achieved, representing a 50% enhancement compared to the pure ceramic (8.7 J cm−3). The parallel-aligned Al2O3 plates are strongly bound together with the ceramic matrix, effectively blocking charge migration and controlling the breakdown path, thus greatly enhancing the voltage endurance of the composite ceramics. This work provides an innovative approach to designing high-performance composite ceramics for next-generation energy storage applications.

A fully conjugated 2D hexaimino-substituted triphenylene-based metal-organic framework (2D-HATP-cMOF) based composite membrane is reported for nanofluidic photoelectric conversion. Owing to the intrinsic advantage of multiple charge transport pathways, and open framework with nano-spaced, high-density pores, the 2D-HATP-cMOF-based composite membrane possesses fast photoelectric response, successful ion pump phenomenon, and efficient photoelectric energy conversion.

Nanofluidic photoelectric conversion system based on photo-excitable 2D materials can directly transduce light stimuli into an ion-transport-mediated electric signal, showing potential for mimicking the retina's function with a more favorable human–robot interactions. However, the current membranes suffer from low generation efficiency of charge carriers due to the mixed microstructure and limited charge transport ability caused by the large interlayer spacing and monotonous pathway. Here, a fully conjugated 2D hexaimino-substituted triphenylene-based metal–organic framework (2D-HATP-cMOF) based composite membrane with high conductivity for photoelectric conversion is presented. The extended π-d conjugation within the ab plane and the favorable transport pathway through π–π stacking of the c-MOF maximize the generation and transfer of charge carrier and greatly accelerate the ion transport. As a result, the 2D-HATP-cMOF-based composite membrane possesses ultrafast photoelectric response, superior to other reported 2D systems like graphene oxide (GO), transition metal carbides, carbonitrides and nitrides (MXene), and MoS2, which require at least 10 s. A successful ion pump phenomenon, that is active transport from low concentration to high concentration as an important way of information transmission in organisms, is realized based on the efficient photoelectric conversion capability. This work demonstrates the great promise of 2D c-MOF in ionic photoelectric conversion.