A research paper just published in Science China Life Sciences used cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) from the Tobamovirus genus as a model and discovered that small open reading frames (sORFs) on its negative strand can encode proteins. This study unveils a novel protein-coding strategy in tobamoviruses and supports the notion that the negative strand of positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) viruses can encode functional proteins.

In a paper published in National Science Review, the team of Pro. Liu present an innovative computational framework, the sample-perturbed Gaussian graphical model (sPGGM), designed to analyse disease progression and identify pre-disease stages at the specific sample/cell level based on optimal transport theory and Gaussian graphical models. The proposed sPGGM provides a new single-sample way to identify the pre-disease state and discover signaling molecules leading to potential disease, which showcases exceptional effectiveness and robustness for both bulk and single-cell data analyses, offering a novel perspective for personalized disease prediction.

This collection of four pioneering studies showcases the transformative capabilities of the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO), whose unmatched sensitivity (>100 TeV) and hybrid detector system (KM2A/WCDA) are redefining ultra-high-energy (UHE) gamma-ray astronomy. Key breakthroughs include: (1) Identifying young star-forming region W43 as a Galactic cosmic-ray accelerator (up to hundreds of TeV), evidenced by extended emission coinciding with dense gas and OB stars; (2) Resolving particle acceleration to 300 TeV within the pulsar wind nebula (PWN) of composite SNR CTA1, revealing advection-dominated transport under ≈4.5 μG magnetic fields; (3) Detecting extended VHE emissions around pulsar J0248+6021, providing critical insights into PWN-to-halo evolutionary transitions; and (4) Unraveling the mysterious UHE source J0056+6346u, potentially powered by hidden pulsars or SNR candidate. These results leverage LHAASO's ​​exceptional detector performance​​ to constrain both particle transport dynamics and extreme acceleration mechanisms across the 1 TeV–1 PeV energy range. LHAASO is ushering in a new era of UHE astrophysics, bringing us closer than ever to solving century-old cosmic-ray mysteries.

Brain aneurysm is the leading cause of brain hemorrhages. To combat the growing cases of brain aneurysms in China, researchers are conducting a large-scale, national clinical study to evaluate the best surgical and endovascular treatments for unruptured brain aneurysms. The China Treatment Trial for Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm (ChTUIA) has enrolled up to 25,000 patients across 83 hospitals and is all set to refine the treatment guidelines for brain aneurysms in Chinese patients.

Abstract

Purpose – This study explores the contagion of greenwashing strategies among ESG mutual funds. It investigates how the greenwashing behaviors of peer funds within the same family influence a fund’s decision to engage in greenwashing. The research also examines the impact of greenwashing on genuine ESG funds and explores the mechanisms through which greenwashing strategies spread across ESG mutual funds.

Design/methodology/approach – This paper employs a two-stage least squares regression model with cross-fund returns standard deviation as an instrumental variable to disentangle the peer effects of greenwashing from family-level characteristics. The analysis incorporates various fund characteristics and introduces four contagion channels through which greenwashing may influence genuine ESG funds.

Findings – The study finds greenwashing behavior in ESG funds is positively influenced by similar practices within their fund family. Larger assets under management and older funds with higher management fees show resilience against greenwashing influences, while team-managed funds are more susceptible. Additionally, socially responsible investors struggle to distinguish between genuine and greenwashing ESG funds, which may contribute to the persistence of greenwashing practices.

Originality/value – This paper contributes to the literature by delineating the mechanisms of greenwashing contagion within ESG mutual funds. It also examines the demand-side incentives for adopting greenwashing strategies, offering insights into the implications for fund flows and investor behavior. This study is among the first to analyze the contagion effects of greenwashing strategies across an extensive network of ESG funds, enriching our understanding of the broader impacts of greenwashing in the context of socially responsible investing.

To overcome quenching and spatial localization in conventional plasmonic antenna–2D semiconductor hybrids, a plasmonic metasurface was developed. By applying Babinet’s principle to design hollow nano-antennas and inducing surface lattice resonances (SLRs), the research team minimized non-radiative losses and achieved large-area emission enhancement. This work presents a scalable approach for realizing low-power, high-brightness light emission in flexible optoelectronic devices.

New research uncovers the potential of fucoxanthin, a natural compound from brown algae, as a promising ingredient in cosmeceutical formulations. The study highlights its significant anti-aging and skin-protective properties.