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Directional emission of photoluminescence despite its incoherence is an attractive technique for light-emitting fields and nanophotonics. Optical metasurfaces provide a promising route for wavefront engineering at the subwavelength scale, enabling the feasibility of unidirectional emission. However, current directional emission strategies are mostly based on static metasurfaces, and it remains a challenge to achieve unidirectional emissions tuning with high performance. Here, we demonstrate quantum dots-hydrogel integrated gratings for actively switchable unidirectional emission with simultaneously a narrow divergence angle less than 1.5° and a large diffraction angle greater than 45°. We further demonstrate that the grating efficiency alteration leads to a more than 7-fold tuning of emission intensity at diffraction order due to the variation of hydrogel morphology subject to change in ambient humidity. Our proposed switchable emission strategy can promote technologies of active light-emitting devices for radiation control and optical imaging. Directional emission of photoluminescence is an emerging technique for light-emitting fields and nanophotonics. Here, the authors demonstrate a hydrogel grating with integrated quantum dots for switchable unidirectional emission tuning.

In this paper, we introduce a reaction–diffusion malaria model which incorporates vector-bias, spatial heterogeneity, sensitive and resistant strains. The main question that we study is the threshold dynamics of the model, in particular, whether the existence of spatial structure would allow two strains to coexist. In order to achieve this goal, we define the basic reproduction number Ri and introduce the invasion reproduction number R^i for strain i(i=1,2). A quantitative analysis shows that if Ri<1, then disease-free steady state is globally asymptotically stable, while competitive exclusion, where strain i persists and strain j dies out, is a possible outcome when Ri>1>Rj(i≠j,i,j=1,2), and a unique solution with two strains coexist to the model is globally asymptotically stable if Ri>1, R^i>1. Numerical simulations reinforce these analytical results and demonstrate epidemiological interaction between two strains, discuss the influence of resistant strains and study the effects of vector-bias on the transmission of malaria.

Background and objectives Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a leading cause of chronic low back pain, characterized by extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, excessive inflammation activation, and increased cell apoptosis. LGR6, a receptor known for its role in tissue regeneration, has recently been implicated in modulating macrophage efferocytosis, a process critical for clearing apoptotic cells and maintaining tissue homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate the role of LGR6 in regulating IVDD progression and to focus on its impact on macrophage efferocytosis, ECM regulation, and apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). Methods A comprehensive bioinformatic analysis was performed using datasets GSE56081 and GSE70362 to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and gene modules associated with IVDD. Principal component analysis (PCA), volcano plots, and hierarchical clustering were utilized to assess gene expression patterns. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was employed to identify gene modules correlated with IVDD, and integrative analysis pinpointed key genes and pathways. In vitro, LGR6 expression in macrophages was manipulated through shRNA interference and overexpression assay. The effects of LGR6 on macrophage efferocytosis, ECM synthesis, and apoptosis were assessed. An in vivo IVDD model was established in mice via disc puncture to evaluate the impact of LGR6 modulation on disc degeneration. Results Bioinformatic analysis revealed distinct gene expression profiles between control and IVDD samples, with key gene modules identified by WGCNA showing strong correlations with IVDD. Integrative analysis highlighted critical pathways, including ECM-receptor interaction and efferocytosis, that are potentially regulated by several key genes including SERPINA1, THBS4, ELMO1, LGR6, and ITGB8. Of those genes, LGR6 appeared to be the gene most closely related to IVDD severity. In addition, the mRNA level and protein level of LGR6 in macrophages co-cultured with IL-1β-treated NPCs were raised significantly, compared to the control group. In vitro, LGR6 overexpression enhanced macrophage efferocytosis. Meanwhile, under co-culturing with IL-1β-treated NPCs, LGR6 overexpression in macrophages led to increased expression of ECM components such as COL2A1 and decreased expression of matrix-degrading enzymes like MMP13, indicating a protective effect against matrix degradation. Additionally, LGR6 overexpression inhibited IL-1β-induced apoptosis in NPCs by upregulating anti-apoptotic proteins (BCL2) and downregulating pro-apoptotic markers (cleaved caspase 3 and BAX). Conversely, LGR6 knockdown impaired macrophage efferocytosis and exacerbated NPCs apoptosis. In the mouse IVDD model, promoting efferocytosis resulted in improved ECM integrity and reduced apoptosis; and suppressing efferocytosis caused opposite effect, further supporting the protective role of LGR6-related efferocytosis in IVDD. Conclusions LGR6 significantly contributes to the protective effects on IVDD by modulating macrophage efferocytosis, enhancing ECM synthesis, and reducing apoptosis in NPCs. These findings highlight that LGR6 could be a promising therapeutic target for IVDD, with its dual role in regulating immune responses and preserving tissue integrity. Future studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical potential of LGR6-based therapies in treating degenerative disc diseases.

Metasurfaces integrated onto guided-wave photonic systems have been investigated for enabling advanced functionalities such as point-by-point optical extraction and manipulation of amplitude, phase, and polarization. However, achieving full control over the spectrum (i.e., wavelength/frequency) of on-chip light remains a challenge, limiting their widespread application in integrated photonics. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an on-chip metasurface color router by leveraging symmetry-broken quasi-bound states in the continuum (q-BICs) mode. By precisely engineering the on-chip meta-diatom pairs with controlled scaling and asymmetry, we simultaneously achieve modulation of both extraction intensity and narrowband spectral extraction of the out-coupled lightwave. As a proof of concept, we realize several on-chip multiplexed color routers through spatial mapping and cascading of distinct q-BIC-assisted meta-diatom pixels, capable of selectively guiding and routing primary wavelengths into free space from different spatial positions along the waveguide. Crucially, due to the on-chip optical propagation scheme, these color routers, enabled by nonlocal metasurfaces, exhibit spatial multiplexing but with a significant improvement in the energy utilization efficiency (EUE) compared with conventional designs. We envision that such on-chip q-BIC-assisted metasurface color routers, with their potential for miniaturized integration, could open new avenues for advanced applications in multiplexed information routing, intelligent integrated photonic systems, and next-generation wearable display technologies.

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is a degenerative disease accompanied by the loss of nucleus pulposus cells and the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), which tends to be associated with lower back pain. The ECM and various types of cell death in IVDD are regulated by multiple factors, such as inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. The glutathione (GSH) redox system is the most important antioxidant defense system in cells. GSH is one of the most abundant thiol antioxidants in mammalian cells, which functions directly and indirectly by scavenging peroxides through the GSH redox system. In these reactions, GSH is oxidized by electrophilic substances, such as reactive oxygen species and free radicals, to form glutathione disulfide to exert antioxidative effects. It has been reported that GSH can protect cells against the damage of oxidative stress and various pathophysiological stimulus that can lead to different types of cell death. In addition, it was reported that the level of GSH widely participates in apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis, and oxidative stress in many diseases including osteoarthritis and IVDD. Therefore, we summarized the effects of GSH on ECM metabolism and cells’ functions during IVDD. In addition, we summarized the regulatory effects of small molecule compounds on GSH to explore potential ways to regulate the level of GSH. Better understanding the underlying role of GSH in regulating IVDD will facilitate the goal of preventing and retarding the progress of IVDD in the future.

To promote the industrial applications of graphene, it is crucial to develop a low-cost, green, and efficient production method. A practical and eco-friendly deep eutectic solvent-assisted ball milling technique was developed to prepare multi-layer graphene in this study. The expanded graphite was used as raw material, and the deep eutectic solvent was prepared by mixing urea and choline chloride. The obtained graphene was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. After ball milling for 48 h, most of the graphite particles could be exfoliated into graphene sheets, and no new covalent bond or interaction was formed. Multi-layer graphene in N-methylpyrrolidone had better dispersibility and larger layers than that in N,N-dimethylformamide. The obtained multi-layer graphene exhibited few defects, high crystal integrity, 11–12 layers, 2–5 μm size at the lateral dimension, and superior thermal stability. This technique of low-energy ball milling in the nontoxic deep eutectic solvents provides a new idea for the efficient exfoliation of multi-layer graphene and also a certain reference value for the exfoliation of other two-dimensional nanosheets.

Genome editing technology has progressed rapidly in recent years. Although traditional gene-editing methods, including homologous recombination, zinc finger endonucleases, and transcription activator-like effector nucleases, have substantial implications for research in genetics and molecular biology, but they have remarkable limitations, including their low efficiency, high error rate, and complex design. A new gene-editing technology, the CRISPR/Cas system, was developed based on studies of archaeal and bacterial immune responses to viruses. Owing to its high target efficiency, simple primer design, and wide applications, the CRISPR/Cas system, whose developers were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020, has become the dominant genomic editing technology in academia and the pharmaceutical industry. Here, we briefly introduce the CRISPR/Cas system and its main applications for genome engineering, metabolic engineering, and transcriptional regulation in yeast, filamentous fungi, and macrofungi. The polygene and polyploid editing, construction of yeast chromosomes, yeast library creation, regulation of metabolic pathways, and CRISPR activation/CRISPR interference systems are mainly summarized and discussed. The potential applications for the treatment of fungal infections and the further transformation and application of the CRISPR/Cas system in fungi are also proposed and discussed.

Investigating the inpatient disease spectrum, prevalence rates, and clinical characteristics of PAG surgical disorders is of significant clinical importance, yet no previous research has addressed this in China or other countries. [...]the study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 512 PAG inpatients aged 0–18 years who received surgical treatment at Peking University First Hospital (PKUFH) from January 2010 to May 2022, so as to comprehensively outline the inpatient disease spectrum and clinical characteristics of surgical disorders in PAG, with the aim of offering management recommendations and evidential support for future clinical work. The mechanism could be the activation of WNT/CTNNB1 (wingless-related mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) integration site gene family/beta-catenin 1) signal pathway, which awaits further studies. [...]to adnexal mass, the proportion of unwanted pregnancy was 36.72% (188/512). The study’s three AUB cases, treated with either hysteroscopy, curettage, or a levonorgestrel intrauterine device, highlight that adolescent AUB seldom necessitates surgery. [...]medical treatment is preferred for adolescent AUB, reserving surgery for critical situations.

In the cotton fields in Xinjiang, residual film is present in the soil for a long period of time, leading to a decrease in the tensile strength of the residual film and increasing the difficulty of recycling. Existing technologies for residual film recovery focus on mechanical properties and ignore the dragging and tearing of residual film by cotton stubble. The effect of cotton straw–root stubble on residual film recovery can only be better determined by appropriate machine operating parameters, which are essential to improving residual film recovery. Through analyses of the pickup device, key parameters were identified, and a model was built by combining the FEM and SPH algorithms to simulate the interaction of nail teeth, residual film, soil and root stubble. The simulation revealed the force change law of residual film in root stubble-containing soil and the influence of root stubble. By simulating the changes in the characteristics of the residual film during the process, the optimum operating parameters for the nail teeth were determined: a forward speed of 1849.57 mm/s, a rotational speed of 5.5 r/s and a soil penetration angle of 30°. Under these optimized conditions, the maximum shear strain, pickup height (maximum deformation) and average peak stress of the residual film were 1293, 363.81 mm and 3.42 MPa, respectively. Subsequently, field trials were conducted to verify the change in the impact of the nail teeth at the optimized speed on the recovery of residual film in plots containing root stubble. The results demonstrated that when the root stubble height was 5–8 cm, the residual film averaged a recovery rate of 89.59%, with a dragging rate of only 4.10% at crossings. In contrast, 8–14 cm stubble plots showed an 82.86% average recovery and an 11.91% dragging rate. In plots with a root stubble height of 5–8 cm, compared with plots with a root stubble height of 8–14 cm, the recovery rate increased by 6.73%, and the dragging rate of residual film on root stubble decreased by 7.81%. The percentage of entangled residual film out of the total unrecovered film was 30.10% lower in the 5–8 cm stubble plots than in the 8–14 cm stubble plots. It was confirmed that the effect of cotton root stubble on residual film recovery could be reduced under appropriate machine operating parameters. This provides strong support and a theoretical and practical basis for future research on the correlation between root stubble and residual film and how to improve the residual film recovery rate.

Classified as a non-Hermitian system, topological metasurface is one of the ideal platforms for exploring a striking property, that is, the exceptional point (EP). Recently, creating and encircling EP in metasurfaces has triggered various progressive functionalities, including polarization control and optical holographic encoding. However, existing topological metasurfaces mostly rely on plasmonic materials, which introduce inevitable ohmic losses and limit their compatibility with mainstream all-dielectric meta-devices. Additionally, conventional free-space configurations also hinder the integration of multiple meta-devices in compact platforms. Here, an on-chip topological metasurface is experimentally demonstrated to create and engineer the topological phase encircling the EP in all-dielectric architecture. By massively screening the Si meta-atom geometry on the Si 3 N 4 waveguide, a 2π-topological phase shift is obtained by encircling the EP. Through combining with the Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase, we decouple the orthogonal circular polarization channels and unfold the independent encoding freedom for different holographic generations. As a proof of concept, the proposed on-chip topological metasurface enables floating holographic visualizations in real-world scenarios, functioning as practical augmented reality (AR) functionalities. Such the all-dielectric on-chip scheme eliminates ohmic losses and enables compatible integration with other on-chip meta-devices, thus suggesting promising applications in next-generation AR devices, multiplexing information storage, and advanced optical displays.