Measurement of the Cosmic Ray Helium Energy Spectrum from 70 GeV to 80 TeV with the DAMPE Space Mission.

The measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic ray helium nuclei from 70 GeV to 80 TeV using 4.5 years of data recorded by the Dark Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE) is reported in this work. A hardening of the spectrum is observed at an energy of about 1.3 TeV, similar to previous observations. In addition, a spectral softening at about 34 TeV is revealed for the first time with large statistics and well controlled systematic uncertainties, with an overall significance of 4.3σ. The DAMPE spectral measurements of both cosmic protons and helium nuclei suggest a particle charge dependent softening energy, although with current uncertainties a dependence on the number of nucleons cannot be ruled out.

[Regional distribution and clinicopathological characteristics of Epstein-Barr virus associated gastric cancer].

Objective: To investigate regional distribution and clinicopathological features of Epstein-Barr virus associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC). Methods: Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER)was detected in 4 081 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences by using in situ hybridization. EBVaGCs were identified and their proportions in different provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities were compared. The correlation between EBVaGC and clinicopathological features was also analyzed. Results: A total of 3.0% (123/4 081) patients with gastric adenocarcinoma are EBVaGCs. Among the areas with cases more than 90, the highest proportion of EBVaGC was found in Jilin province, accounting for 7.6%, and then followed by 5.4% in Liaoning province, 4.1% in Anhui province, 3.9% in Beijing, 3.7% in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 3.4% in Shanxi province, 3.0% in Heilongjiang province, 2.1% in Shandong province, 1.6% in Hebei province, and no EBVaGC was found in Henan province. EBVaGC proportions are significantly different in these provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis of logistic regression revealed that gender (OR=2.231, 95%CI: 1.290~3.858), WHO classification (OR=2.338, 95%CI: 2.051~2.664) and N stage (OR=0.420, 95%CI: 0.284~0.621) were independent impact factors for EBVaGC. The proportion of EBVaGC was higher in males, gastric carcinomas accompanied with lymphoid stroma and patients without lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: The proportion of EBVaGC in gastric adenocarcinoma displays area distribution disparity in China. The gender, WHO classification and N stage are closely associated with EBVaGC.

Measurement of the cosmic ray proton spectrum from 40 GeV to 100 TeV with the DAMPE satellite.

The precise measurement of the spectrum of protons, the most abundant component of the cosmic radiation, is necessary to understand the source and acceleration of cosmic rays in the Milky Way. This work reports the measurement of the cosmic ray proton fluxes with kinetic energies from 40 GeV to 100 TeV, with 2 1/2 years of data recorded by the DArk Matter Particle Explorer (DAMPE). This is the first time that an experiment directly measures the cosmic ray protons up to ~100 TeV with high statistics. The measured spectrum confirms the spectral hardening at ~300 GeV found by previous experiments and reveals a softening at ~13.6 TeV, with the spectral index changing from ~2.60 to ~2.85. Our result suggests the existence of a new spectral feature of cosmic rays at energies lower than the so-called knee and sheds new light on the origin of Galactic cosmic rays.

Sperm cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator expression level is relevant to fecundity of healthy couples.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is relevant to sperm quality, sperm capacitation and male fertility. However, it is still unknown whether CFTR can be a potential parameter for fecundity prediction in healthy couples. In this study, 135 healthy couples were divided into groups according to their fertility. We demonstrated that the sperm CFTR expression level of healthy males who never impregnated their partners (49 cases, 38.68 ± 2.71%) was significantly lower than that of fertile men (86 cases, 46.35 ± 2.32%). Sperm CFTR expression level accurately corresponded with fertility through the logistic regression model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the cut-off value of sperm CFTR expression level for fecundity prediction was 43.75%. Furthermore, cumulative pregnancy rates (CPRs) of CFTR > 43.75% group and CFTR ≤ 43.75% group during the follow-up periods were 80.6% and 49.3% respectively. Meanwhile, the mean time to pregnancy (TTP) of CFTR ≤ 43.75% group (26.79 ± 2.35) was significantly longer than that of CFTR > 43.75% group (16.46 ± 2.42). Therefore, sperm CFTR expression level is relevant to fecundity of healthy couples and shows potential predictive capacity of fecundity.

Low voltage polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal reflective display by doping ferroelectric nanoparticles.

Low driving voltage is achieved in full color reflective display based on polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal (PS-PBLC), by doping a small amount of ferroelectric nanoparticles. Both reflectance spectra of PS-PBLC with and without BaTiO3 ferroelectric nanoparticles are studied under different applied external voltages. Superior to PS-PBLC without ferroelectric nanoparticles, the vertical driving electric fields of PS-PBLC with 0.4 wt.% BaTiO3 ferroelectric nanoparticles are dramatically reduced by more than 70% for red, green and blue cells. The proposed approach would accelerate the practical application of full color PS-BPLC reflective display.

Split ring aperture for optical magnetic field enhancement by radially polarized beam.

Inspired by Babinet's principle, we proposed a new plasmonic structure for enhancing the optical magnetic field, i.e. split ring aperture, whose complement is the well-known split ring. The split ring aperture exhibits a much better performance under radially polarized excitation than linearly polarized excitation. We attribute the ultra-high intensity enhancement in magnetic field to the symmetric matching between the aperture geometry and the direction of the electric field vector in each direction of radially excitation. The impact of the design parameters on the intensity enhancement and resonant wavelength is also investigated in details.

Polarization-independent electrically tunable/switchable Airy beam based on polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal.

Because of their non-diffraction and freely acceleration during propagation, finite energy Airy beams are interesting for application such as optical manipulation, plasma channel generation and optical vortex generation. Especially interesting are tunable/switchable Airy beams, in which the Airy beam tuning by electric field, temperature or optical intensity can be realized. Here we experimentally demonstrate polarization-independent, electrically tunable/switchable Airy beam based on polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystals with wide working temperature range and fast response time through a structure called vertical field driven mode.

Strongly linearly polarized low threshold lasing of all organic photonic quasicrystals.

Lasing is obtained from a two-dimensional (2D) Penrose photonic quasicrystal made of a low index contrast material of holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals (H-PDLCs) that enables a substantial reduction in the optical pumping threshold. This lasing architecture further allows for excellent linear polarization characteristics as well as wide directional dependence. The pumping threshold is fivefold lower than that obtained from the 2D defect-free photonic crystals fabricated under similar conditions. These properties make H-PDLC photonic quasicrystal promising for a new type of all organic miniature lasers.

Spatial angle dependent lasing from a dye-doped two-dimensional hexagonal photonic crystal made of holographic polymer-dispersed liquid crystals.

The observation of spatial angle dependent lasing from a dye-doped two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D PC) holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystals made of hexagonal lattice structure is reported. With the increasing output angle of the laser beam in the plane perpendicular to the 2D PC, the lasing wavelength is red-shifted. By analyzing the lasing oscillation trace, we found that the effective lattice constant changes with the output angle, causing the spatial angle dependent lasing.

Propagation properties of an optical vortex carried by an Airy beam: experimental implementation.

In this Letter, we experimentally studied the propagation dynamics of Airy beams (AiBs) carrying phase singularity or an optical vortex (OV). A 3/2 phase mask encoded with phase singularity was used to generate AiBs and OVs enjoying precise position alignment and compact optical configuration simultaneously. Experimental results showed that the OV deflection velocity was faster than that of the main lobe of the AiB, agreeing with the analytical prediction. Numerical simulation results are also in agreement with the experimental results. Furthermore, OVs with larger topological charges were also studied experimentally with the same approach.

Propagation dynamics of an optical vortex imposed on an Airy beam.

In this Letter, we demonstrate the general propagation dynamics of an Airy beam (AiB) carrying unit phase singularity, i.e., optical vortices (OVs). For the OV with a unit charge, theoretical analysis indicates that the OV carried by the AiB will propagate along the parabolic trajectory with an acceleration velocity twice as fast as conventional AiBs before a critical position. Thereafter, the AiB main lobe destroyed by OV will be reconstructed and the phase singularity will reappear in the middle of the AiB profile.

Airy beams generated by a binary phase element made of polymer-dispersed liquid crystals.

Using polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs), an electrically switchable binary phase pattern was fabricated to generate Airy beams through a programmable lithographic system. The right main lobe of the reconstructed Airy beam experienced 1.3 mm transverse deflection within 24 cm propagation distance. With a suitable voltage applied, the binary PDLC pattern can be erased due to the index match between polymers and liquid crystals. This versatile approach can be also used to generate other special beams with electrically tunable capability.

Electrically switchable computer-generated hologram using a liquid crystal cell with a proton beam patterned polymethylmethacrylate substrate.

An electrically switchable computer-generated hologram (CGH) was fabricated using a liquid crystal (LC) cell. A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) film, which was spin-coated on one glass substrate of the LC cell, was patterned by a focused 2 MeV proton beam with a CGH phase pattern (2 microm resolution). With an applied voltage on the LC cell CGH sample, an index modulation was produced between the regions with and without PMMA because of the reorientation of LC molecules under the external electric field. The maximum diffraction efficiency measured was about 28.7%. The operating voltage was below 15 V(rms).

A negative-positive tunable liquid-crystal microlens array by printing.

A tunable microlens array by printing was demonstrated. An UV-curable adhesive, NOA65, was printed and cured to form a lens array profile on an ITO glass. Then this microlens array ITO glass was assembled with a normal ITO glass to form a cell, which was later filled with a liquid crystal. The focal length of the lens array can be tuned by an electric field, which changes the index difference between liquid crystals and NOA65 due to the reorientation of the LC molecules. In our experiment, the focal length varied from -2.29 cm to 3.12 cm when the applied voltage was increased from 0 V to 13.26 V.