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Double neutron star (DNS) merger events are promising candidates of short gamma-ray burst (sGRB) progenitors as well as high-frequency gravitational wave (GW) emitters. On August 17, 2017, such a coinciding event was detected by both the LIGO-Virgo gravitational wave detector network as GW170817 and Gamma-Ray Monitor on board NASA’s Fermi Space Telescope as GRB 170817A. Here, we show that the fluence and spectral peak energy of this sGRB fall into the lower portion of the distributions of known sGRBs. Its peak isotropic luminosity is abnormally low. The estimated event rate density above this luminosity is at least 19 0 - 160 + 440  Gpc −3  yr −1 , which is close to but still below the DNS merger event rate density. This event likely originates from a structured jet viewed from a large viewing angle. There are similar faint soft GRBs in the Fermi archival data, a small fraction of which might belong to this new population of nearby, low-luminosity sGRBs. A short-duration gamma-ray burst was detected along with a double neutron start merger gravitational wave by LIGO-Virgo on August 17th 2017. Here, the authors show that the fluence and spectral peak energy of this event fall into the lower portion of the distribution of known short-duration gamma-ray bursts.

Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) steering is a quantum effect based on quantum entanglement and it is the key resource for building quantum networks because of its useful properties. Based on the criterion for genuine multipartite EPR steering, the genuine quadripartite EPR steering is confirmed and it can be generated by a spontaneous parametric down-conversion cascaded process with two sum-frequency generations in an optical superlattice. This occurs either below the oscillation threshold and without oscillation threshold. The influence of the parameters of cascaded nonlinear process on the quadripartite EPR steering among signal, idler, and two sum-frequency beams are also discussed. Choosing appropriate nonlinear parameters can achieve good quadripartite quantum steering. This scheme of the generation of genuine quadripartite EPR steering has potential applications in quantum communication and computing.

With the rapid advancements in fields such as quantum entanglement distillation and quantum metrology, the limitations of Gaussian states in certain applications within quantum computing and information processing have come to the forefront. This has necessitated the development of methods to prepare non-Gaussian states, which exhibit negative Wigner values and are indispensable for enhancing the capabilities of quantum systems in these tasks. Wigner negativity, a renowned indicator of nonclassicality, is integral to quantum computing and the simulation of continuous-variable systems. It is also employed to discern non-Gaussian characteristics in optical fields. We demonstrate Gaussian Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) steering between second and third harmonic generations prior to performing non-Gaussian operations. Inducing non-Gaussian attributes in the second harmonic is achieved by coupling the third harmonic with a vacuum state and subtracting photons via a beamsplitter. The Wigner stochastic trajectory approach is utilized to investigate the non-Gaussian properties of both the second and third harmonics. By varying the coupling parameter lambda λ and the ratio of nonlinear coupling constants κ 2 / κ 1 , symmetric and asymmetric non-Gaussian EPR steering can be observed. This proposed scheme for non-Gaussian EPR steering holds promise for applications in quantum computing and quantum information processing.

Einstein–Podolsky–Rosen (EPR) steering is different from quantum entanglement because of its unique asymmetry. Multipartite asymmetric EPR steering can break through one-to-one monogamy steering and achieve one to many one-way steering. That is to say, the state of one part can steer the other rest parts simultaneously, while the other parts cannot steer this part. Here, a scheme is proposed to generate one to many one-way steering by optical parametric amplification cascaded with a sum-frequency generation process. One to many non-monogamy EPR steering, such as one to two and one to three one-way steering are demonstrated based on the criterion for asymmetric EPR steering. It is also find that different kinds of asymmetric EPR steering can be obtained by choosing different nonlinear parameters. This non-monogamous one to many quantum control has potential application in constructing quantum networks and realizing one-way quantum computing.

Human pluripotent and trophoblast stem cells have been essential alternatives to blastocysts for understanding early human development 1 – 4 . However, these simple culture systems lack the complexity to adequately model the spatiotemporal cellular and molecular dynamics that occur during early embryonic development. Here we describe the reprogramming of fibroblasts into in vitro three-dimensional models of the human blastocyst, termed iBlastoids. Characterization of iBlastoids shows that they model the overall architecture of blastocysts, presenting an inner cell mass-like structure, with epiblast- and primitive endoderm-like cells, a blastocoel-like cavity and a trophectoderm-like outer layer of cells. Single-cell transcriptomics further confirmed the presence of epiblast-, primitive endoderm-, and trophectoderm-like cells. Moreover, iBlastoids can give rise to pluripotent and trophoblast stem cells and are capable of modelling, in vitro, several aspects of the early stage of implantation. In summary, we have developed a scalable and tractable system to model human blastocyst biology; we envision that this will facilitate the study of early human development and the effects of gene mutations and toxins during early embryogenesis, as well as aiding in the development of new therapies associated with in vitro fertilization. Human fibroblasts are reprogrammed to generate blastocyst-like structures called iBlastoids, which recapitulate aspects of embryo implantation.

The impact of aging on intestinal stem cells (ISCs) has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified widespread epigenetic and transcriptional alterations in old ISCs. Using a reprogramming algorithm, we identified a set of key transcription factors (Egr1, Irf1, FosB) that drives molecular and functional differences between old and young states. Overall, by dissecting the molecular signature of aged ISCs, our study identified transcription factors that enhance the regenerative capacity of ISCs.

The approach of combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for continuum fluid and the discrete element method (DEM) for discrete particles has been increasingly used to study the fundamentals of coupled particle–fluid flows. Different CFD–DEM models have been used. However, the origin and the applicability of these models are not clearly understood. In this paper, the origin of different model formulations is discussed first. It shows that, in connection with the continuum approach, three sets of formulations exist in the CFD–DEM approach: an original format set I, and subsequent derivations of set II and set III, respectively, corresponding to the so-called model A and model B in the literature. A comparison and the applicability of the three models are assessed theoretically and then verified from the study of three representative particle–fluid flow systems: fluidization, pneumatic conveying and hydrocyclones. It is demonstrated that sets I and II are essentially the same, with small differences resulting from different mathematical or numerical treatments of a few terms in the original equation. Set III is however a simplified version of set I. The testing cases show that all the three models are applicable to gas fluidization and, to a large extent, pneumatic conveying. However, the application of set III is conditional, as demonstrated in the case of hydrocyclones. Strictly speaking, set III is only valid when fluid flow is steady and uniform. Set II and, in particular, set I, which is somehow forgotten in the literature, are recommended for the future CFD–DEM modelling of complex particle–fluid flow.

The mechanism underlying curcumin (diferuloylmethane) resistance is still largely unknown. Here we employed proteomic approach to identify the Siah-interacting protein (SIP) as a candidate for detailed study, because the spot intensity of SIP on a two-dimensional gel displayed 70–90% reduction in curcumin-sensitive cells, but remained unchanged in curcumin-resistant sublines, after curcumin treatment. Both gain- and loss-of-function studies revealed that SIP promoted curcumin-induced apoptosis. Moreover, SIP underwent phosphorylation and nuclear translocation in curcumin-sensitive but not resistant cells, upon curcumin exposure. The nuclear translocation of SIP was remarkably impaired when a putative nuclear localization sequence (NLS, amino acid (aa) 143–159) was deleted or the serine 141 was mutated into alanine, whereas truncation of the N-terminal region (aa 1–43) obviously increased the nuclear import of SIP. In accordance with their nuclear localization, N-terminal truncation significantly enhanced the proapoptotic effect of SIP, whereas NLS deletion or Ser141Ala mutation attenuated the apoptosis-promoting activity of both wild-type- and N-terminal truncated-SIP. These data suggest that SIP plays a role in apoptosis and curcumin resistance, and the function of SIP may be regulated by different motifs, such as the NLS, N-terminal region and serine 141. Our findings provide new insights into the biological significance of SIP and the mechanisms of drug resistance.

We report a rare case of concurrent myeloid sarcoma and acute fulminant invasive fungal sinusitis in a patient with relapsed acute myeloid leukaemia. A 73-year-old man was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia and developed relapse one year later. After two courses of azacytidine, he began suffering from a dull pain in the left temporal and orbital regions. Sinus computed tomography showed a localised lesion in the left ethmoid sinus, which rapidly progressed to an extensive intracranial mass within one month. Surgical debridement was performed, and histopathological analysis revealed the coexistence of myeloid sarcoma and acute fulminant invasive fungal sinusitis. The patient responded well to prompt surgical debridement, antifungal medication and radiotherapy. Coexistence of sinonasal myeloid sarcoma and acute fulminant invasive fungal sinusitis poses an urgent diagnostic and management challenge to clinicians. Timely recognition of this rare comorbid condition is warranted as application of appropriate treatment can save lives.

Signaling by TGF-β/Smad3 plays a key role in renal fibrosis. As obesity is one of the major risk factors of chronic and end-stage renal disease, we studied the role of Smad3 signaling in the pathogenesis of obesity-related renal disease. After switching to a high fat diet, the onset of Smad3 C-terminal phosphorylation, increase in albuminuria, and the early stages of peripheral and renal insulin resistance occurred at 1 day, and 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, in C57BL/6 mice. The loss of synaptopodin, a functional marker of podocytes, and phosphorylation of the Smad3 linker region (T179 and S213) appeared after 4 weeks of the high fat diet. This suggests a temporal pattern of Smad3 signaling activation leading to kidney injury and subsequent insulin resistance in the development of obesity-related renal disease. In vivo, Smad3 knockout attenuated the high fat diet–induced proteinuria, renal fibrosis, overall podocyte injury, and mitochondrial dysfunction in podocytes. In vitro palmitate caused a rapid activation of Smad3 in 30 min, loss of synaptopodin in 2 days, and impaired insulin signaling in 3 days in isolated mouse podocytes. Blockade of either Smad3 phosphorylation by SIS3 (a Smad3 inhibitor) or T179 phosphorylation by flavopiridol (a CDK9 inhibitor) prevented the palmitate-induced loss of synaptopodin and mitochondrial function in podocytes. Thus, Smad3 signaling plays essential roles in obesity-related renal disease and may be a novel therapeutic target.