On-chip arrayed waveguide grating fabricated on thin film lithium niobate

We design an on-chip 8-channel TFLN AWG and fabricate the device using photolithography assisted chemo-mechanical etching (PLACE) technique. We experimentally measure the transmission of the fabricated TFLN AWG near the central wavelength of 1550 nm. We obtain an on-chip loss as low as 3.32 dB, a single-channel bandwidth of 1.6 nm and a total-channel bandwidth of 12.8 nm. The crosstalk between adjacent channels was measured to be below -7.01 dB within the wavelength range from 1543 nm to 1558 nm, and the crosstalk between non-adjacent channels was below -15 dB

Gigahertz-rate-switchable wavefront shaping through integration of metasurfaces with photonic integrated circuit

Achieving spatiotemporal control of light at high-speeds presents immense possibilities for various applications in communication, computation, metrology, and sensing. The integration of subwavelength metasurfaces and optical waveguides offers a promising approach to manipulate light across multiple degrees of freedom at high-speed in compact photonic integrated circuit (PICs) devices. Here, we demonstrate a gigahertz-rate-switchable wavefront shaping by integrating metasurface, lithium niobite on insulator (LNOI) photonic waveguide and electrodes within a PIC device. As proofs of concept, we showcase the generation of a focus beam with reconfigurable arbitrary polarizations, switchable focusing with lateral focal positions and focal length, orbital angular momentum light beams (OAMs) as well as Bessel beams. Our measurements indicate modulation speeds of up to gigahertz rate. This integrated platform offers a versatile and efficient means of controlling light field at high-speed within a compact system, paving the way for potential applications in optical communication, computation, sensing, and imaging

Preventive Effect of Lactobacillus paracasei FZU103 on Alcoholic Liver Injury in Mice

Objective: To explore the preventive effect of Lactobacillus paracasei FZU103 (LP-FZU103) on alcoholic liver injury (ALI). Methods: Altogether 36 specific pathogen free- (SPF-) grade ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups: control, model and experimental (LP-FZU103 intervention). After the six-week experiment, body mass, organ coefficients, serum and liver biochemical indexes, liver histopathology and inflammatory cytokines, the transcription of liver function-related genes and intestinal flora composition were measured. Results: Compared with the model group, intervention of LP-FZU103 improved the organ coefficients and pathological liver damage in ALI mice, significantly reduced the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as well as the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum, increased the serum concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), significantly increased the activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the content of glutathione (GSH) in the liver, and decreased MDA content and interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels in the liver. Moreover, LP-FZU103 intervention significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression level of the lipid metabolism-related gene Ldlr and down-regulated the mRNA expression level of Acc1, Hmgcr and Cd36 as well as increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus johnsonii, Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus paracasei in the gut of mice. Conclusion: LP-FZU103 intervention can prevent and control the occurrence of alcoholic liver injury in mice, which is closely related to the improved intestinal flora and liver metabolic function

The Somatic Genomic Landscape of Glioblastoma

We describe the landscape of somatic genomic alterations based on multi-dimensional and comprehensive characterization of more than 500 glioblastoma tumors (GBMs). We identify several novel mutated genes as well as complex rearrangements of signature receptors including EGFR and PDGFRA. TERT promoter mutations are shown to correlate with elevated mRNA expression, supporting a role in telomerase reactivation. Correlative analyses confirm that the survival advantage of the proneural subtype is conferred by the G-CIMP phenotype, and MGMT DNA methylation may be a predictive biomarker for treatment response only in classical subtype GBM. Integrative analysis of genomic and proteomic profiles challenges the notion of therapeutic inhibition of a pathway as an alternative to inhibition of the target itself. These data will facilitate the discovery of therapeutic and diagnostic target candidates, the validation of research and clinical observations and the generation of unanticipated hypotheses that can advance our molecular understanding of this lethal cancer

Effects of Bacterial Motility on Dynamic Succession of Biofilms and Settlement of the Mussel Mytilus coruscus

To study the regulatory role of marine bacterial motility on biofilm formation and settlement of marine bivalves, this study used the economically important marine mussel Mytilus coruscus as the research target, and investigated the wild-type strain and ΔcheW strain of Pseudoalteromonas marina. These bacteria have different motility; thus, the motility analysis of these strains was carried out at various time points, and the differences in the biofilm thickness and composition and bacterial density were also analyzed at different time points. Finally, their effects on dynamic biofilm succession and settlement of M. coruscus were evaluated. This study found that the motility of the wild-type strain and the ΔcheW strain at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h was significantly different (P < 0.05). It was found that both bacterial circle radii increased with time and reached their maximum at 96 h. Overall, the wild-type strain formed a larger bacterial circle than the ΔcheW strain. The two strains' bacterial density and biofilm thickness increased with time and reached their maximum at 48 h, begging to spread after 72 h. At all time points, the mussel settlement rates on the wild-type strain biofilm were higher than on the ΔcheW biofilm. Initially, the mussel settlement rates increased, but after 72 h a decreasing tendency was observed, reaching the highest value at 48 h. These settlement results were consistent with the changes in the biofilm composition under different time points. Therefore, this study concluded that bacterial motility affects biofilm formation, mainly biofilms thickness, bacterial density, and extracellular compounds during the dynamic succession of biofilms, thereby regulating the settlement of the mussel M. coruscus. This study provides novel insights into the interaction between bacterial motility, biofilm formation, and the settlement of M. coruscus, which may help optimize the production and breeding of economically important marine animals

AMPK Promotes Larval Metamorphosis of Mytilus coruscus

Metamorphosis is a critical process in the transition from planktonic life to benthic life for marine invertebrates, which is accompanied by a large amount of energy consumption. Previous studies have proved that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), as a vital energy regulator, plays a prominent role in mediating the growth and development of terrestrial animals. However, its function in the growth and development of marine invertebrates, especially in metamorphosis, remains elusive. This study explored the function of AMPK in the larval metamorphosis of Mytilus coruscus. The full-length cDNA of AMPK genes in M. coruscus was cloned and characterized, which is composed of three subunits, McAMPK&alpha;, McAMPK&beta;, and McAMPK&gamma;. Pharmacological tests demonstrated that through the application of an AMPK activator, AMP substantially enhanced the larval metamorphosis rate (p &lt; 0.05). By contrast, the larval metamorphosis rate decreased significantly after being treated with the AMPK inhibitor Compound C (p &lt; 0.05). McAMPK gene knock-down resulted in a reduction in McAMPK gene expression (p &lt; 0.05), and the larval metamorphosis of M. coruscus was significantly restrained (p &lt; 0.05). These results indicated that AMPK signaling is vital in the larval metamorphosis of M. coruscus, which advances further understanding in exploring the molecular mechanisms in the metamorphosis of marine invertebrate larvae

Lineweaver-Burk plots for activation of α-arbutin on mushroom tyrosinase for the catalysis of L-Dopa at 30°C, pH 6.8.

<p>The reaction media (3.0 mL) contained 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), different concentrations of L-Dopa assubstrate,different concentrations of α-arbutin and mushroom tyrosinase (6.67 µg/mL). Concentrations of α-arbutin for curves 1∼3 were 0, 5, 10 mmol·L⁻¹, respectively.</p

Progress curves for the activation of diphenolase of mushroom tyrosinase by α-arbutin

<p>. The reaction media (3.0 mL) contained 0.5 mM L-Dopa in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), the indicated concentration of α-arbutin, and mushroom tyrosinase (6.67 µg/mL). The concentrations of α-arbutin for curves 1∼3 were 0, 5, 10 mmol·L⁻¹.</p

Kinetic parametes of diphenolase by α-arbutin.

<p>Kinetic parametes of diphenolase by α-arbutin.</p