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Manipulating the polarization of light on the microscale or nanoscale is essential for integrated photonics and quantum optical devices. Nowadays, the metasurface allows one to build on-chip devices that efficiently manipulate the polarization states. However, it remains challenging to generate different types of polarization states simultaneously, which is required to encode information for quantum computing and quantum cryptography applications. By introducing geometrical-scaling-induced (GSI) phase modulations, we demonstrate that an assembly of circularly polarized (CP) and linearly polarized (LP) states can be simultaneously generated by a single metasurface made ofL-shaped resonators with different geometrical features. Upon illumination, each resonator diffracts theCPstate with a certain GSI phase. The interaction of these diffractions leads to the desired output beams, where the polarization state and the propagation direction can be accurately tuned by selecting the geometrical shape, size, and spatial sequence of each resonator in the unit cell. As an example of potential applications, we show that an image can be encoded with different polarization profiles at different diffraction orders and decoded with a polarization analyzer. This approach resolves a challenging problem in integrated optics and is inspiring for on-chip quantum information processing.

This article overviews the scientific results of the microstructural features observed in 316 L stainless steel manufactured by the laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) method obtained by the authors, and discusses the results with respect to the recently published literature. Microscopic features of the LPBF microstructure, i.e., epitaxial nucleation, cellular structure, microsegregation, porosity, competitive colony growth, and solidification texture, were experimentally studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, diffraction methods, and atom probe tomography. The influence of laser power and laser scanning speed on the microstructure was discussed in the perspective of governing the microstructure by controlling the process parameters. It was shown that the three-dimensional (3D) zig-zag solidification texture observed in the LPBF 316 L was related to the laser scanning strategy. The thermal stability of the microstructure was investigated under isothermal annealing conditions. It was shown that the cells formed at solidification started to disappear at about 800 °C, and that this process leads to a substantial decrease in hardness. Colony boundaries, nevertheless, were quite stable, and no significant grain growth was observed after heat treatment at 1050 °C. The observed experimental results are discussed with respect to the fundamental knowledge of the solidification processes, and compared with the existing literature data.

By combining the advantages of both a metallic metamaterial and a dielectric interlayer, we demonstrate the general mechanism to construct the dispersion-free metastructure, in which the intrinsic dispersion of the metallic structures is perfectly cancelled out by the thickness-dependent dispersion of the dielectric spacing layer. As examples to apply this concept, a broadband quarter-wave plate and a half-wave plate are demonstrated. By selecting the structural parameters, the polarization state of light can be freely tuned across a broad frequency range, and all of the polarization states on the Poincaré sphere can be realized dispersion free.

Band structure of transition metal oxides plays a critical role in many applications such as photo-catalysis, photovoltaics and electroluminescent devices. In this work we report findings that the band structure of MoO 3 can be significantly altered by a distortion in the octahedral coordination structure. We discovered that, in addition to epitaxial type of structural strain, chemical force such as hydrogen inclusion can also cause extended lattice distortion. The lattice distortion in hydrogenated MoO 3 led to a significant reduction of the energy gap, overshadowing the Moss-Burstein effect of band filling. Charge doping simulations revealed that filling of conduction band drives the lattice distortion. This suggests that any charge transfer or n-type electron doping could lead to lattice distortion and consequentially a reduction in energy gap.

Integrin subunit alpha V (ITGAV), a subunit of the integrin receptor, is involved in many types of cancers. In order to explore the potential mechanisms of ITGAV in cancers, we carried out a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis using public database. In this study, ITGAV expression in different cancers and the relationship between ITGAV and clinic-pathological features, prognosis, genetic alteration, epigenetic modification, and tumor immune microenvironment were systemically analyzed. Gene enrichment analysis was performed to explore potential functions of ITGAV in gastric cancer (GC). GC tissue microarrays and in vitro cell experiments were used to verify the prediction results in GC. The results revealed that ITGAV was variably expression in different cancers, and ITGAV had a certain prognostic and diagnostic value in most cancers, including GC. ITGAV expression was found to be related to genetic alteration, DNA methylation, immune checkpoint gene, and immune cell infiltration in multiple cancers. Functional analyses revealed that ITGAV was involved in the regulation of EMC remodeling, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis in GC. In vitro experiments verified that ITGAV was correlated with GC cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. Our study demonstrated that ITGAV can be used as an effective prognostic and immunological biomarker for multiple cancers. ITGAV can promote GC malignant progression and could serve as a potential therapeutic target for GC treatment.

The root of Royle ex Wight, known as Baishouwu, has been widely used for a tonic supplement since ancient times. The current study was performed to explore the effect of Baishouwu extract on the development of experimental hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the potential mechanism involved. Rats were injected diethylnitrosamine (DEN) to initiate the multistep hepatocarcinogenesis. Animals were treated concurrently with Baishouwu extract given daily by oral gavage for 20 weeks to evaluate its protective effects. Time series sera and organ samples from each group were collected to evaluate the effect of Baishouwu extract on hepatic carcinogenesis. It was found that Baishouwu extract pretreatment successfully attenuated liver injury induced by DEN, as shown by decreased levels of serum biochemical indicators (AST, ALT, ALP, TP, and T-BIL). Administration of Baishouwu extract inhibited the fibrosis-related index in serum and live tissue, respectively from inflammation stage to HCC stage after DEN treatment. It significantly reduced the incidence and multiplicity of DEN-induced HCC development in a dose-dependent manner. Macroscopic and microscopic features suggested that pretreatment with Baishouwu extract for 20 weeks was effective in inhibiting DEN-induced inflammation, liver fibrosis, and HCC. Furthermore, TLR4 overexpression induced by DEN was decreased by Baishouwu extract, leading to the markedly down-regulated levels of MyD88, TRAF6, NF-κB p65, TGF-β1 and α-SMA in hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocarcinoma. In conclusion, Baishouwu extract exhibited potent effect on the development of HCC by altering TLR4/MyD88/ NF-κB signaling pathway in the sequence of hepatic inflammation-fibrosis-cancer, which provided novel insights into the mechanism of Baishouwu extract as a candidate for the pretreatment of HCC in the future.

Purpose: Developing the ideal drug or dressing is a serious challenge to controlling the occurrence of antibacterial infection during wound healing. Thus, it is important to prepare novel nanofibers for a wound dressing that can control bacterial infections. In our study, the novel self-assembled nanofibers of benzalkonium bromide with bioactive peptide materials of IKVAV and RGD were designed and fabricated. Methods: Different drug concentration effects of encapsulation efficacy, swelling ratio and strength were determined. Its release profile in simulated wound fluid and its cytotoxicity were studied in vitro. Importantly, the antibacterial efficacy, inhibition of biofilm formation effect and wound healing against MRSA infections in vitro and in vivo were performed after observing the tissue toxicity in vivo. Results: It was found that the optimized drug load (0.8%) was affected by the encapsulation efficacy, swelling ratio, and strength. In addition, the novel nanofibers with average diameter (222.0 nm) and stabile zeta potential (-11.2 mV) have good morphology and characteristics. It has a delayed released profile in the simulated wound fluid and good biocompatibility with L929 cells and most tissues. Importantly, the nanofibers were shown to improve antibacterial efficacy, inhibit biofilm formation, and lead to accelerated wound healing following infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusion: These data suggest that novel nanofibers could effectively shorten the wound-healing time by inhibiting biofilm formation, which make it promising candidates for treatment of MRSA-induced wound infections. Keywords: nanofibers, wound enclosure, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, biofilm, antibacterial effect

An experimental printable γ′-strengthened nickel-based superalloy, MAD542, is proposed. By process optimization, a crack-free component with less than 0.06% defect was achieved by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). After post-processing by solution heat treatment, a recrystallized structure was revealed, which was also associated with the formation of annealing twins. After the aging treatment, 60–65% γ′ precipitates were obtained with a cuboidal morphology. The success of printing and post-processing the new MAD542 superalloy may give new insights into alloy design approaches for additive manufacturing.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in countless infections and caused millions of deaths since its emergence in 2019. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated mortality is caused by uncontrolled inflammation, aberrant immune response, cytokine storm, and an imbalanced hyperactive immune system. The cytokine storm further results in multiple organ failure and lung immunopathology. Therefore, any potential treatments should focus on the direct elimination of viral particles, prevention strategies, and mitigation of the imbalanced (hyperactive) immune system. This review focuses on cytokine secretions of innate and adaptive immune responses against COVID-19, including interleukins, interferons, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and other chemokines. In addition to the review focus, we discuss potential immunotherapeutic approaches based on relevant pathophysiological features, the systemic immune response against SARS-CoV-2, and data from recent clinical trials and experiments on the COVID-19-associated cytokine storm. Prompt use of these cytokines as diagnostic markers and aggressive prevention and management of the cytokine storm can help determine COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality. The prophylaxis and rapid management of the cytokine storm appear to significantly improve disease outcomes. For these reasons, this study aims to provide advanced information to facilitate innovative strategies to survive in the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study focuses on the dwell-fatigue crack propagation behavior of IN718 manufactured via selective laser melting (SLM). The dwell-fatigue test condition is 823 K (550 \\[^{\\circ }\\]C) with a long 2160-s dwell-holding period. Effects of heat treatment and loading direction on dwell-fatigue crack propagation rates are studied. A grain boundary \\[\\delta \\] precipitate seems to be slightly beneficial to the dwell-fatigue cracking resistance of SLM IN718. A comparison has been made between SLM IN718 and forged counterparts at different temperatures, indicating that a creep damage mechanism is likely dominant for SLM IN718 under the present test condition. A general discussion of the inferior creep resistance of SLM IN718 is also included. The anisotropic dwell-fatigue cracking resistance has also been studied and rationalized with the effective stress intensity factor calculated from finite element modeling.