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Correlation and frustration play essential roles in physics, giving rise to novel quantum phases 1 – 6 . A typical frustrated system is correlated bosons on moat bands, which could host topological orders with long-range quantum entanglement 4 . However, the realization of moat-band physics is still challenging. Here, we explore moat-band phenomena in shallowly inverted InAs/GaSb quantum wells, where we observe an unconventional time-reversal-symmetry breaking excitonic ground state under imbalanced electron and hole densities. We find that a large bulk gap exists, encompassing a broad range of density imbalances at zero magnetic field ( B ), accompanied by edge channels that resemble helical transport. Under an increasing perpendicular B , the bulk gap persists, and an anomalous plateau of Hall signals appears, which demonstrates an evolution from helical-like to chiral-like edge transport with a Hall conductance approximately equal to e 2 / h at 35 tesla, where e is the elementary charge and h is Planck’s constant. Theoretically, we show that strong frustration from density imbalance leads to a moat band for excitons, resulting in a time-reversal-symmetry breaking excitonic topological order, which explains all our experimental observations. Our work opens up a new direction for research on topological and correlated bosonic systems in solid states beyond the framework of symmetry-protected topological phases, including but not limited to the bosonic fractional quantum Hall effect. This study reports an excitonic topological order emerging in imbalanced electron–hole bilayers.

Electron–hole pairing can occur in a dilute semimetal, transforming the system into an excitonic insulator state in which a gap spontaneously appears at the Fermi surface, analogous to a Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) superconductor. Here, we report optical spectroscopic and electronic transport evidence for the formation of an excitonic insulator gap in an inverted InAs/GaSb quantum-well system at low temperatures and low electron–hole densities. Terahertz transmission spectra exhibit two absorption lines that are quantitatively consistent with predictions from the pair-breaking excitation dispersion calculated based on the BCS gap equation. Low-temperature electronic transport measurements reveal a gap of ~2 meV (or ~25 K) with a critical temperature of ~10 K in the bulk, together with quantized edge conductance, suggesting the occurrence of a topological excitonic insulator phase. Weakly bound electron–hole pairs may condensate in two-dimensional systems, but experimental evidence has been lacking. Here, Du et al. report optical spectroscopic and electronic transport evidences for the formation of an excitonic insulator gap in topological InAs/GaSb quantum wells.

The properties of anyons — two-dimensional particles that are neither fermions nor bosons — have been directly measured in a quantum Hall interferometer.

The magnetism of Kitaev materials has been widely studied, but their charge properties and the coupling to other degrees of freedom are less known. Here we investigate the charge states of α -RuCl 3 , a promising Kitaev quantum spin liquid candidate, in proximity to graphite. We discover that few-layered α -RuCl 3 experiences a clear modulation of charge states, where a Mott-insulator to weak charge-transfer-insulator transition in the 2D limit occurs by means of heterointerfacial polarization. More notably, distinct signals of incommensurate charge and lattice super-modulations, regarded as an unconventional charge order, accompanied in the insulator. Our theoretical calculations have reproduced the incommensurate charge order by taking into account the antiferroelectricity of α -RuCl 3 that is driven by dipole order in the internal electric fields. The findings imply that there is strong coupling between the charge, spin, and lattice degrees of freedom in layered α -RuCl 3 in the heterostructure, which offers an opportunity to electrically access and tune its magnetic interactions inside the Kitaev compounds. Exotic charge-spin coupling is expected in the Kitaev spin liquid. Here, the authors report unconventional charge order and Mott-Hubbard to charge transfer insulator transition in layered α -RuCl 3 in proximity to graphite, indicating the internal coupling between charge, spin and orbital degrees of freedom.

Background Pediatric drug clinical trials are essential for ensuring the accessibility and safety of medications intended for children. In recent years, the Chinese government has implemented various measures to foster the development of pediatric drug clinical trials, and these efforts have yielded noticeable results. This study analyzed pediatric drug trial data from ClinicalTrials.gov and the Drug Clinical Trial Registration and Information Publication Platform. Its primary purpose was to discuss the issues and challenges faced by pediatric drug clinical trials in China and propose potential solutions. Methods This study conducted a cross-sectional analysis of concluded pediatric drug clinical trials (completed or discontinued) in mainland China from 2003 to 2023. Descriptive statistics were performed on the included data, and both univariate subgroup analysis and binary logistic regression were utilized to analyze the factors influencing completion duration and trial discontinuation. Results A total of 722 concluded pediatric drug clinical trials were extracted, with the overall number increasing annually at an average annual growth rate of 21.5%. We found that there existed imbalance in various aspects such as drug type, diseases, age, and the types and distribution of trial institutions. The analysis of trial durations indicated a progressive reduction in the completion cycles of pediatric drug clinical trials conducted in China, with notable variations across different subgroups. Four variables—trial size, the establishment of Data Monitoring Committees (DMCs), control type, and disease—exerted significant influence on the discontinuation of pediatric drug clinical trials. The primary reasons for trial discontinuation are issues related to safety or efficacy as reflected in trial outcomes (27.2%), as well as adjustments in commercial strategies or trial plans (24.6%). Conclusions Despite the ongoing increase in the number of pediatric drug clinical trials in China, significant challenges and imbalances persist across various dimensions. To enhance the quality and efficiency of these trials and collectively advance pediatric drug research and development, it is imperative to refine the existing legal and regulatory frameworks, promote the professionalization and standardization of pediatric drug clinical trials, bolster the application of emerging methods and technologies, such as seamless design and artificial intelligence.

This article will briefly describe a Majorana platform made of InAs/GaSb (including InAs/(In)GaSb) semiconductor-superconductor heterostructures. A unique advantage of this platform is that the quantum spin Hall edge state realized in inverted InAs/GaSb is a topologically protected spinless single mode, and can be tuned by front-back dual gates. Similar to a number of other platforms the proximity effect of a conventional s-wave superconductor on the helical edge has been proposed to realize Majorana bound state. We will present an introduction to this platform with a focus on the materials and devices aspects and those points that are particularly illustrative.

In this study, the microbial community structure was assessed in an anaerobic ammonium oxidation–upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (ANAMMOX-UASB) reactor treating high-strength wastewater (approximately 700 mg N L −1 in total nitrogen) by employing Illumina high-throughput sequencing analysis. The reactor was started up and reached a steady state in 26 days by seeding mature ANAMMOX granules, and a high nitrogen removal rate (NRR) of 2.96 kg N m −3  day −1 was obtained at 13.2∼17.6 °C. Results revealed that the abundance of ANAMMOX bacteria increased during the operation, though it occupied a low proportion in the system. The phylum Planctomycetes was only 8.39 % on day 148 and Candidatus Brocadia was identified as the dominant ANAMMOX species with a percentage of 2.70 %. The phylum of Chloroflexi , Bacteroidetes , and Proteobacteria constituted a percentage up to 70 % in the community, of which the Chloroflexi and Bacteroidetes were likely to be related to the sludge granulation. In addition, it was found that heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria of Denitratisoma belonging to Proteobacteria phylum occupied a large proportion (22.1∼23.58 %), which was likely caused by the bacteria lysis and decay with the internal carbon source production. The SEM images also showed that plenty of other microorganisms existed in the ANAMMOX-UASB reactor.

Background Klotho is a hormone considered to be an anti-aging biomarker. The relationships between daily alcohol consumption and serum klotho are mainly unknown. The purpose of this study is to assess the relationship between alcohol consumption and serum alpha klotho (α−klotho) levels in the U.S. Methods The data came from 11,558 participants aged ≥ 40 in the 2007−2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adults with reliable α−klotho plasma results were the target population. The self-report method was used to assess alcohol consumption. The relationship between daily alcohol intake and serum α−klotho levels was estimated using multivariable linear regression models. We also performed a stratified analysis of clinically important variables. Results The mean serum α−klotho level among the 11,558 participants was 843.82 pg/mL. After full adjustment, participants with current moderate and heavy alcohol intake had lower serum α−klotho levels than those who never alcohol intake ( β  =  − 62.64; 95% CI: − 88.86, − 36.43; P  < 0.001; β  =  − 81.54; 95% CI: − 111.54, − 51.54; P  < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, the stratified analysis indicated that the association was insignificant in individuals with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or cancer. Conclusion Daily alcohol consumption was inversely associated with serum α−klotho levels among U.S. adults over 40 years old. However, individuals with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or cancer found no such relationship.

Neuroinflammation is associated with poor outcomes in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). Recent studies have demonstrated that stimulator of interferon genes (Sting) plays a key role in inflammatory diseases. However, the role of Sting in SCI remains unclear. In the present study, it is found that increased Sting expression is mainly derived from activated microglia after SCI. Interestingly, knockout of Sting in microglia can improve the recovery of neurological function after SCI. Microglial Sting knockout restrains the polarization of microglia toward the M1 phenotype and alleviates neuronal death. Furthermore, it is found that the downregulation of mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) expression in microglial cells leads to an imbalance in mitochondrial fusion and division, inducing the release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), which mediates the activation of the cGas‐Sting signaling pathway and aggravates inflammatory response damage after SCI. A biomimetic microglial nanoparticle strategy to deliver MASM7 (named MSNs‐MASM7@MI) is established. In vitro, MSNs‐MASM7@MI showed no biological toxicity and effectively delivered MASM7. In vivo, MSNs‐MASM7@MI improves nerve function after SCI. The study provides evidence that cGas‐Sting signaling senses Mfn2‐dependent mtDNA release and that its activation may play a key role in SCI. These findings provide new perspectives and potential therapeutic targets for SCI treatment. Downregulation of mitofusin (Mfn2) expression in microglial cells induces the release of mtDNA, which in turn mediates the activation of stimulator of interferon genes (Sting) and aggravates the inflammatory response damage after spinal cord injury (SCI). A biomimetic nano‐delivery platform alleviates activation of the cGas‐Sting pathway by delivering Mfn2 agonists to mitochondria, thereby rescuing neuroinflammation and SCI outcomes.

Diabetes mellitus is prevalent among women of reproductive age, and many women are left undiagnosed or untreated 1 . Gestational diabetes has profound and enduring effects on the long-term health of the offspring 2 , 3 . However, the link between pregestational diabetes and disease risk into adulthood in the next generation has not been sufficiently investigated. Here we show that pregestational hyperglycaemia renders the offspring more vulnerable to glucose intolerance. The expression of TET3 dioxygenase, responsible for 5-methylcytosine oxidation and DNA demethylation in the zygote 4 , is reduced in oocytes from a mouse model of hyperglycaemia (HG mice) and humans with diabetes. Insufficient demethylation by oocyte TET3 contributes to hypermethylation at the paternal alleles of several insulin secretion genes, including the glucokinase gene ( Gck ), that persists from zygote to adult, promoting impaired glucose homeostasis largely owing to the defect in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Consistent with these findings, mouse progenies derived from the oocytes of maternal heterozygous and homozygous Tet3 deletion display glucose intolerance and epigenetic abnormalities similar to those from the oocytes of HG mice. Moreover, the expression of exogenous Tet3 mRNA in oocytes from HG mice ameliorates the maternal effect in offspring. Thus, our observations suggest an environment-sensitive window in oocyte development that confers predisposition to glucose intolerance in the next generation through TET3 insufficiency rather than through a direct perturbation of the oocyte epigenome. This finding suggests a potential benefit of pre-conception interventions in mothers to protect the health of offspring. Pregestational hyperglycaemia in mothers increases the probability of glucose intolerance in the offspring, an effect controlled by TET3-dependent DNA demethylation of genes involved in insulin secretion.