Contextualizing four-stage legal transitions in convergent evolution

Summary This article posits that both Roman and early Chinese states underwent four stages in their multiple-step transformations from local states to major empires during the classical period. For both states, at stage 2, one dominant state formed alliance with a group of smaller autonomous polities, and at stage 3 that dominant state deepened its regulation of the smaller polities whose autonomy was curtailed. There existed striking similarities between Rome and China (early Han Empire) at stages 2 and 3 regarding the constitutional rules enforced by the two central governments to control the newly-acquired subordinate territories, which were the Macedonian/Greek states for Rome and the vassal kingdoms in eastern territories for Han Empire. In particular, this article discusses: (i) why Macedonian/Greek states have been chosen for comparative studies; (ii) similar constitutional rules at stage 2 governing the two empires’ relationships with their subordinate polities; (iii) similar legal rules at stage 3 aiming at dividing up the territories of the subordinate polities and restraining their self-rule; (iv) similar stage-3 constitutional rules that preserved some autonomy for the subordinate polities; and (v) similar stage-3 legal rules that regulated certain economic activities of the subordinate polities. After analyzing Roman governance of Macedonia/Greece within the broader context of Roman institutions for territorial integration, the article explores the underlying trends and deeper mechanism that led to such convergent evolution of legal rules.

ReSe2-Based RRAM and Circuit-Level Model for Neuromorphic Computing

Resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices have drawn increasing interest for the simplicity of its structure, low power consumption and applicability to neuromorphic computing. By combining analog computing and data storage at the device level, neuromorphic computing system has the potential to meet the demand of computing power in applications such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and Internet of Things (IoT). Monolayer rhenium diselenide (ReSe2), as a two-dimensional (2D) material, has been reported to exhibit non-volatile resistive switching (NVRS) behavior in RRAM devices with sub-nanometer active layer thickness. In this paper, we demonstrate stable multiple-step RESET in ReSe2 RRAM devices by applying different levels of DC electrical bias. Pulse measurement has been conducted to study the neuromorphic characteristics. Under different height of stimuli, the ReSe2 RRAM devices have been found to switch to different resistance states, which shows the potentiation of synaptic applications. Long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD) have been demonstrated with the gradual resistance switching behaviors observed in long-term plasticity programming. A Verilog-A model is proposed based on the multiple-step resistive switching behavior. By implementing the LTP/LTD parameters, an artificial neural network (ANN) is constructed for the demonstration of handwriting classification using Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology (MNIST) dataset.

Metagenomic Sequencing for Identification of Xylella fastidiosa from Leaf Samples

Destructive Xylella fastidiosa ( Xf ) outbreaks in Europe highlight this pathogen’s capacity to expand its host range and geographical distribution. The current disease diagnostic approaches are limited by a multiple-step process, biases to known sequences, and detection limits.

Clinical and genetic features of retinoschisis in 120 families with RS1 mutations

Background/aimsX-linked retinoschisis (XLRS), associated with RS1, is the most common type of X-linked retinopathy in children. This study aimed to identify clinical and genetic features of retinoschisis in 120 families with RS1 variants in China.MethodsRS1 variants were collected from our in-house exome data and were predicted by multiple-step bioinformatics analysis. Clinical data of 122 patients from 120 families with potential pathogenic RS1 variants were analysed and summarised, respectively.ResultTotally, 79 hemizygous variants (53 missense, 25 truncation and 1 indel), were detected. All except one (78/79, 98.7%), including 22 novels, were classified as potential pathogenic and detected exclusively in 120 families with retinoschisis. Clinical data demonstrated an average age of presentation at 5 years (1 month–41 years). Macular changes were classified as macular schisis (87.5%), macular atrophy (10.7%), normal (0.9%) and unclassified (0.9%). Patients with macular atrophy had older age but similar visual acuity compared with macular schisis. Peripheral retinal changes included flat retinoschisis (52.4%), bullous retinoschisis (BRS) (10.7%) and normal-like (36.9%) patients. Spontaneous regression was observed in two patients with BRS on follow-up examination. Visual acuity in the peripheral retinoschisis group was worse than that without peripheral retinoschisis.ConclusionAlmost all rare RS1 variants were potential pathogenic. All patients with RS1 pathogenic variants showed detectable characteristics in the macula and/or peripheral retina. Our data on RS1 variants and associated clinical phenotypes may be of value for clinical diagnosis and genetic test of retinoschisis.