Nonreciprocal Metasurface with Space-Time Phase Modulation

Creating materials with time-variant properties is critical for breaking reciprocity that imposes fundamental limitations to wave propagation. However, it is challenging to realize efficient and ultrafast temporal modulation in a photonic system. Here, leveraging both spatial and temporal phase manipulation offered by an ultrathin nonlinear metasurface, we experimentally demonstrated nonreciprocal light reflection at wavelengths around 860 nm. The metasurface, with traveling-wave modulation upon nonlinear Kerr building blocks, creates spatial phase gradient and multi-terahertz temporal phase wobbling, which leads to unidirectional photonic transitions in both momentum and energy spaces. We observed completely asymmetric reflections in forward and backward light propagations within a sub-wavelength interaction length of 150 nm. Our approach pointed out a potential means for creating miniaturized and integratable nonreciprocal optical components

Single-Cavity Bi-Color Laser Enabled by Optical Anti-Parity-Time Symmetry

The exploration of quantum-inspired symmetries in optical systems has spawned promising physics and provided fertile ground for developing devices exhibiting exotic functionalities. Founded on the anti-parity-time (APT) symmetry that is enabled by both spatial and temporal interplay between gain and loss, we demonstrate theoretically and numerically bi-color lasing in a single micro-ring resonator with spatiotemporal modulation along its azimuthal direction. In contrast to conventional multi-mode lasers that have mixed-frequency output, our laser exhibits stable, demultiplexed, tunable bi-color emission at different output ports. Our APT-symmetry-based laser may point out a new route for realizing compact on-chip coherent multi-color light sources

Molding Free-Space Light with Guided-Wave-Driven Metasurfaces

Metasurfaces with unparalleled controllability of light have shown great potential to revolutionize conventional optics. However, they mainly work with free-space light input, which makes it difficult for full on-chip integration. On the other hand, integrated photonics enables densely packed devices but has limited free-space light controllability. Here, we show that judiciously designed guided-wave-driven metasurfaces can mold guided waves into arbitrary free-space modes to achieve complex free-space functions, such as beam steering and focusing, with ultrasmall footprints and potentially no diffraction loss. Based on the same concept together with broken inversion symmetry induced by metasurfaces, we also realized direct orbital angular momentum (OAM) lasing from a micro-ring resonator. Our study works towards complete control of light across integrated photonics and free-space platforms, and paves new exciting ways for creating multifunctional photonic integrated devices with agile access to free space which could enable a plethora of applications in communications, remote sensing, displays, and etc

Palladium-Catalyzed Decarbonylative Sonogashira Alkynylation of Carboxylic–Phosphoric Anhydrides

We report the first palladium-catalyzed decarbonylative alkynylation of carboxylic–phosphoric anhydrides via highly selective C(O)–O bond cleavage. Carboxylic–phosphoric anhydrides are highly active carboxylic acid derivatives, which are generated through activating carboxylic acids using phosphates by esterification or direct dehydrogenative coupling with phosphites. Highly valuable internal alkynes have been generated by the present method, and the efficiency of this approach has been demonstrated through a wide substrate scope and excellent functional group tolerance

Additional file 1 of Fibroblast-like synoviocytes-derived exosomal circFTO deteriorates rheumatoid arthritis by enhancing N6-methyladenosine modification of SOX9 in chondrocytes

Supplementary Material

Design, Synthesis, and Bioactivities of N‑Heterocyclic Ureas as Strigolactone Response Antagonists against Parasitic-Weed Seed Germination

The pernicious parasitism exhibited by root parasitic weeds such as Orobanche and Striga poses substantial peril to agricultural productivity and global food security. This deleterious phenomenon hinges upon the targeted induction of the signaling molecule strigolactones (SLs). Consequently, the identification of prospective SL antagonists holds significant promise in the realm of mitigating the infection of these pernicious weeds. In this study, we synthesized and characterized D12 based on a potent SL antagonist KK094. In vivo assay results demonstrated that D12 remarkably impedes the germination of Phelipanche aegyptiaca and Striga asiatica seeds, while also alleviating the inhibitory consequence of the SL analogue GR24 on hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis thaliana. The docking study and ITC assay indicated that D12 can interact strongly with the SL receptor protein, which may interfere with the binding of SL to the receptor protein as a result. In addition, the results of crop safety assessment tests showed that D12 had no adverse effects on rice seed germination and seedling growth and development. The outcomes obtained from the present study suggested that D12 exhibited promise as a prospective antagonist of SL receptors, thereby displaying substantial efficacy in impeding the seed germination process of root parasitic weeds, providing a promising basis for rational design and development of further Striga-specific herbicides

Statistical downscaling of reference evapotranspiration in Haihe River Basin: applicability assessment and application to future projection

<p>Future changes in reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) are of increasing importance in assessing the potential impacts on hydrology and water resources systems of more pronounced climate change. This study assesses the applicability of the Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM) in projecting ET₀, and investigates the seasonal and spatial patterns of future ET₀ based on general circulation models (GCMs) across the Haihe River Basin. The results indicate that SDSM can downscale ET₀ well in term of different basin-averaged measures for the HadCM3 and CGCM3 GCMs. HadCM3 has a much superior capability in capturing inter-annual variability compared to CGCM3 and thus is chosen as the sole model to assess the changes in future ET₀. There are three homogeneous sub-regions of the Haihe River Basin: Northwest, Northeast and Southeast. Change points are detected at around 2050 and 2080 under the A2 and B2 scenarios, respectively. The Northwest is revealed to have a slight to strong increase in ET₀, while the Northeast and the Southeast tend to experience a pattern change from decrease to increase in ET₀.</p><p><b>EDITOR</b> M.C. Acreman</p><p><b>ASSOCIATE EDITOR</b> J. Thompson</p><p></p> <p><b>EDITOR</b> M.C. Acreman</p> <p><b>ASSOCIATE EDITOR</b> J. Thompson</p

Additional file 3 of Post-translational modification of CDK1–STAT3 signaling by fisetin suppresses pancreatic cancer stem cell properties

Additional file 3: Table S2. Protein kinase like domain associated genes

Metasurface-Dressed Two-Dimensional on-Chip Waveguide for Free-Space Light Field Manipulation

We show that a metasurface-coated two-dimensional (2D) slab waveguide enables the generation of arbitrary complex light fields by combining the extreme versatility and freedom on the wavefront control of optical metasurfaces with the compactness of photonic integrated circuits. We demonstrated off-chip 2D focusing and holographic projection with our metasurface-dressed photonic integrated devices. This technology holds the potential for many other optical applications requiring 2D light field manipulation with full on-chip integration, such as solid-state LiDAR and near-eye AR/VR displays

Additional file 1 of Post-translational modification of CDK1–STAT3 signaling by fisetin suppresses pancreatic cancer stem cell properties

Additional file 1: Figure S1. a Representative flow cytometry plots for CD44 and CD24 expression in human pancreatic cancer HPC-Y5 cells with DMSO or fisetin treatment. Cells were treated with fisetin (100 µM) for 48 h. b Statistical plot of ratio of CD44 + /CD24 + positive and CD44-/CD24- negative cells in control or fisetin treatment HPC-Y5 cells. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 3); *P  1.5). d Heat map of Biological Process in GO enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins in each Q subset according to P value of Fisher's exact test. Figure S2. Heat map of Cellular Component in GO enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins in each Q subset according to P value of Fisher's exact test. Figure S3. Heat map of Molecular Function in GO enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins in each Q subset according to P value of Fisher's exact test. Figure S4. a Heat map of KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins in each Q subset according to P value of Fisher's exact test. Enrichment pathways of Q1 and Q2 indicated proteins in important pathways including PI3K–Akt signaling, pathways in cancer, metabolism pathways and ECM-receptor interaction were declined in PANC-1 cells with fisetin treatment. b Heat map of protein domain enrichment analysis of differentially expressed proteins in each Q subset. Enrichment protein domain of Q1 and Q2 indicated proteins with EGF-like domain and Laminin EGF domain were reduced by fisetin treatment. c Protein domain enrichment analysis of whole differentially expressed proteins quantified by proteomics analysis. Figure S5. a Summary of acetylated sites and proteins quantified by acetyl-proteomics analysis. b Summary of differentially expressed acetylated sites and proteins quantified by acetyl-proteomics analysis. 368 sites were changed over 1.2-folds (P < 0.05) including 307 up-regulated and 61 down-regulated in 264 proteins. c Go enrichment analysis of differentially expressed acetylated proteins. d Immunoprecipitation and western blot determined that EP300 was acetyl-transferase of CDK1. Figure S6. Protein motif analysis was performed by statistical analysis of the patterns of amino acid sequences before and after all acetylated sites in samples. 19 types of conserved motifs were identified by motif analysis. Figure S7. a Western blot analysis was used to determine expression of CDK1, STAT3, CD44 and Sox2 in adherent PANC-1 cells or spheres generated from PANC-1 cells. Adhe, adherent cells. b Inhibition of CD44 and Sox2 by CDK1 silencing can be rescued by over-expressing STAT3. Expression of CD44, Sox2, CDK1, STAT3, p-CDK1 and p-STAT3 were examined by western blot analysis. c Inhibition of CDK1-STAT3 signaling by fisetin in purified pancreatic cancer stem cell spheres. Expression of CD44, Sox2, CDK1, STAT3, p-CDK1 and p-STAT3 were performed by western blot analysis. d-e Direct suppression of purified pancreatic oncospheres by fisetin. Second generation of PANC-1 and HPC-Y5 cells from oncospheres were subjected to the tumor sphere-formation assay in ultra-low cluster plates. After the cultivation process to initial point, these tumor spheres were treated with or without fisetin (100 μM) for 48 h. Scale bars, 100 μm. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 3),*P < 0.05; ns, no significance. Figure S8. a HDAC3 silencing reduced levels of p-CDK1, p-STAT3, CD44 and Sox2. Western blot analysis was used to determine expression of CDK1, STAT3, CD44 and Sox2 in HDAC3 silencing PANC-1 cells. b-c Lack of HDAC3 weakened tumor sphere formatting capacity in PDAC cells. Scale bars, 100 μm. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 4); *P < 0.05. d HDAC3 over-expression increased levels of p-CDK1, p-STAT3, CD44 and Sox2. Western blot analysis was used to determine expression of CDK1, STAT3, CD44 and Sox2 in HDAC3 over-expression PANC-1 cells. e–f Over-expressing HDAC3 enhanced the sphere formatting capacity both in PANC-1 and HPC-Y5 cells. Scale bars, 100 μm. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 4); *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. g Fisetin reduced expression of HDAC3 both in PANC-1 and HPC-Y5 cells. Figure S9. a Fraction-affected (Fa) and CI are explored after 48-h incubation with fisetin and gemcitabine combination, CI < 1 represents synergy. b Representative section of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for spontaneous pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in KPC mice. Figure S10. a Western blot analysis was used to determine expression of CDK1 in stable CDK1 knockout PANC-1 cells. CDK1-KO: CDK1-knockout. b Quantification of relative phosphorylation of CDK1 was performed by analyzing western blot results with image J software. The relative phosphorylation of CDK1 was significant reduced in PANC-1 and HPC-Y5 cells with fisetin (100 μM) treatment. Fis, fisetin; *P < 0.05; ns, no significance. c qRT-PCR showed that mRNA expression of CDK1 was not influenced by fisetin treatment in pancreatic cancer cells. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 3). ns, no significance. d Proteasome inhibitor MG132 restore the expression of CDK1 in PDAC cells with fisetin treatment. PANC-1 and HPC-Y5 ells were cultured with or without fisetin (100 μM) treatment for 48 h. Before the collection of cells, MG132 (10 μM) were added to culture medium for 0, 6 and 12 h. h, hours. e Immunoprecipitation and western blot determined that fisetin induced prominent ubiquitination of CDK1 in pancreatic cancer cells. IP, immunoprecipitation. Ub, ubiquitin. Figure S11. a Western blot analysis was used to determine phosphorylation of CDK1 at Thr14 and Thr161 residues in pancreatic cancer PANC-1 and HPC-Y5 cells. p-CDK1(T161): phosphorylation of CDK1 at Thr161; p-CDK1(T14): phosphorylation of CDK1 at Thr14