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In photoacoustic imaging, the second near-infrared (NIR-II) window is where tissue generates the least background signal. However, the large size of the few available contrast agents in this spectral range impedes their pharmacokinetics and decreases their thermal stability, leading to unreliable photoacoustic imaging. Here, we report the synthesis of miniaturized gold nanorods absorbing in the NIR-II that are 5–11 times smaller than regular-sized gold nanorods with a similar aspect ratio. Under nanosecond pulsed laser illumination, small nanorods are about 3 times more thermally stable and generate 3.5 times stronger photoacoustic signal than their absorption-matched larger counterparts. These unexpected findings are confirmed using theoretical and numerical analysis, showing that photoacoustic signal is not only proportional to the optical absorption of the nanoparticle solution but also to the surface-to-volume ratio of the nanoparticles. In living tumour-bearing mice, these small targeted nanorods display a 30% improvement in efficiency of agent delivery to tumours and generate 4.5 times greater photoacoustic contrast.Miniaturized gold nanorods are reliable NIR-II photoacoustic agents, showing higher photothermal stability, enhanced photoacoustic signal and more efficient agent-to-tumour delivery compared with their larger counterparts.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2 virus) has been sustained in China since December 2019, and has become a pandemic. The mental health of frontline medical staff is a concern. In this study, we aimed to identify the factors influencing medical worker anxiety in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. We conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate the prevalence of anxiety among medical staff in China from 10 February 2020 to 20 February 2020 using the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) to assess anxiety, with the criteria of normal (⩽49), mild (50–59), moderate (60–70) and severe anxiety (⩾70). We used multivariable linear regression to determine the factors (e.g. having direct contact when treating infected patients, being a medical staff worker from Hubei province, being a suspect case) for anxiety. We also used adjusted models to confirm independent factors for anxiety after adjusting for gender, age, education and marital status. Of 512 medical staff in China, 164 (32.03%) had had direct contact treating infected patients. The prevalence of anxiety was 12.5%, with 53 workers suffering from mild (10.35%), seven workers suffering from moderate (1.36%) and four workers suffering from severe anxiety (0.78%). After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics (gender, age, education and marital status), medical staff who had had direct contact treating infected patients experienced higher anxiety scores than those who had not had direct contact (𝛽 value = 2.33, confidence interval (CI) 0.65–4.00; 𝑃 = 0.0068). A similar trend was observed in medical staff from Hubei province, compared with those from other parts of China (𝛽 value = 3.67, CI 1.44–5.89; 𝑃 = 0.0013). The most important variable was suspect cases with high anxiety scores, compared to non-suspect cases (𝛽 value = 4.44, CI 1.55–7.33; 𝑃 = 0.0028). In this survey of hospital medical workers during the COVID-19 outbreak in China, we found that study participants experienced anxiety symptoms, especially those who had direct clinical contact with infected patients; as did those in the worst affected areas, including Hubei province; and those who were suspect cases. Governments and healthcare authorities should proactively implement appropriate psychological intervention programmes, to prevent, alleviate or treat increased anxiety.

The Hengduan Mountains (HDM) biodiversity hotspot exhibits exceptional alpine plant diversity. Here, we investigate factors driving intraspecific divergence within a HDM alpine species Salix brachista (Cushion willow), a common component of subnival assemblages. We produce a high - quality genome assembly for this species and characterize its genetic diversity, population structure and pattern of evolution by resequencing individuals collected across its distribution. We detect population divergence that has been shaped by a landscape of isolated sky island-like habitats displaying strong environmental heterogeneity across elevational gradients, combined with population size fluctuations that have occurred since approximately the late Miocene. These factors are likely important drivers of intraspecific divergence within Cushion willow and possibly other alpine plants with a similar distribution. Since intraspecific divergence is often the first step toward speciation, the same factors can be important contributors to the high alpine species diversity in the HDM. Exceptional alpine plant diversity exists in the Hengduan Mountains. Here, through genome assembly and population genomics studies, the authors find notable intraspecific divergence among Cushion willow populations isolated by the sky island-like habitats and consider it contributes to speciation and biodiversity.

Glycoconjugate vaccines based on bacterial capsular polysaccharides (CPS) have been extremely successful in preventing bacterial infections. The glycan antigens for the preparation of CPS based glycoconjugate vaccines are mainly obtained from bacterial fermentation, the quality and length of glycans are always inconsistent. Such kind of situation make the CMC of glycoconjugate vaccines are difficult to well control. Thanks to the advantage of synthetic methods for carbohydrates syntheses. The well controlled glycan antigens are more easily to obtain, and them are conjugated to carrier protein to from the so-call homogeneous fully synthetic glycoconjugate vaccines. Several fully glycoconjugate vaccines are in different phases of clinical trial for bacteria or cancers. The review will introduce the recent development of fully synthetic glycoconjugate vaccine.

We perform a unified description of the experimental data of the π + π - invariant mass spectra of B s 0 → ψ ( 2 S ) π + π - , the π + π - and K + K - invariant mass spectra of B s 0 → X ( 3872 ) π + π - ( K + K - ) , and the ratio of branch fractions B [ B s 0 → X ( 3872 ) ( K + K - ) non - ϕ ] / B [ B s 0 → X ( 3872 ) π + π - ] . The strong final state interactions between the two pseudoscalars are taken into account using a parametrization fulfilling unitarity and analyticity. We find that there is universality in the coupling constants for B s 0 → ψ ( 2 S ) π + π - and B s 0 → J / ψ π + π - processes. While the couplings of B s 0 → X ( 3872 ) π + π - are about half of magnitude smaller than the couplings of B s 0 → ψ ( 2 S ) π + π - , which indicates that the X (3872) is different from a pure charmonium state. Furthermore, we find that the f 0 ( 1500 ) plays an important role in the B s 0 → ψ ( 2 S ) π + π - and the B s 0 → X ( 3872 ) π + π - ( K + K - ) processes, though the phase space of B s 0 → X ( 3872 ) f 0 ( 1500 ) is small. Also we predict the ratio of branch fractions B [ B s 0 → ψ ( 2 S ) ( K + K - ) non - ϕ ] / B [ B s 0 → ψ ( 2 S ) π + π - ] and the K + K - invariant mass distribution of B s 0 → ψ ( 2 S ) K + K - .

Quantum key distribution (QKD)1,2 offers a long-term solution to secure key exchange. Due to photon loss in transmission, it was believed that the repeaterless key rate is bounded by a linear function of the transmittance, O(η) (refs. 3,4), limiting the maximal secure transmission distance5,6. Recently, a novel type of QKD scheme has been shown to beat the linear bound and achieve a key rate performance of O(η) (refs. 7–9). Here, by employing the laser injection technique and the phase post-compensation method, we match the modes of two independent lasers and overcome the phase fluctuation. As a result, the key rate surpasses the linear bound via 302 km and 402 km commercial-fibre channels, over four orders of magnitude higher than existing results5. Furthermore, our system yields a secret key rate of 0.118 bps with a 502 km ultralow-loss fibre. This new type of QKD pushes forward long-distance quantum communication for the future quantum internet.Phase-matching quantum key distribution is implemented with a 502 km ultralow-loss optical fibre. The fluctuations of the laser initial phases and frequencies are suppressed by the laser injection technique and the phase post-compensation method.

This study discusses convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for vibration signals analysis, including applications in machining surface roughness estimation, bearing faults diagnosis, and tool wear detection. The one-dimensional CNNs (1DCNN) and two-dimensional CNNs (2DCNN) are applied for regression and classification applications using different types of inputs, e.g., raw signals, and time-frequency spectra images by short time Fourier transform. In the application of regression and the estimation of machining surface roughness, the 1DCNN is utilized and the corresponding CNN structure (hyper parameters) optimization is proposed by using uniform experimental design (UED), neural network, multiple regression, and particle swarm optimization. It demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach to obtain a structure with better performance. In applications of classification, bearing faults and tool wear classification are carried out by vibration signals analysis and CNN. Finally, the experimental results are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness and performance of our approach.

Phylogenetic relationships in Rosaceae have long been problematic because of frequent hybridisation, apomixis and presumed rapid radiation, and their historical diversification has not been clarified. With 87 genera representing all subfamilies and tribes of Rosaceae and six of the other eight families of Rosales (outgroups), we analysed 130 newly sequenced plastomes together with 12 from GenBank in an attempt to reconstruct deep relationships and reveal temporal diversification of this family. Our results highlight the importance of improving sequence alignment and the use of appropriate substitution models in plastid phylogenomics. Three subfamilies and 16 tribes (as previously delimited) were strongly supported as monophyletic, and their relationships were fully resolved and strongly supported at most nodes. Rosaceae were estimated to have originated during the Late Cretaceous with evidence for rapid diversification events during several geological periods. The major lineages rapidly diversified in warm and wet habits during the Late Cretaceous, and the rapid diversification of genera from the early Oligocene onwards occurred in colder and drier environments. Plastid phylogenomics offers new and important insights into deep phylogenetic relationships and the diversification history of Rosaceae. The robust phylogenetic backbone and time estimates we provide establish a framework for future comparative studies on rosaceous evolution.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorder. The pathogenesis of IBD is not yet clear. Studies have shown that the imbalance between T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells, which differentiate from CD4+ T cells, contributes to IBD. Th17 cells promote tissue inflammation, and Treg cells suppress autoimmunity in IBD. Therefore, Th17/Treg cell balance is crucial. Some regulatory factors affecting the production and maintenance of these cells are also important for the proper regulation of the Th17/Treg balance; these factors include T cell receptor (TCR) signaling, costimulatory signals, cytokine signaling, bile acid metabolites, and the intestinal microbiota. This article focuses on our understanding of the function and role of the balance between Th17/Treg cells in IBD and these regulatory factors and their clinical significance in IBD.