[Single-cell transcriptome characterization of oral mucosal fibroblasts].

PURPOSE: To elucidate the disparities and similarities in the composition and function of fibroblast subtypes between normal oral mucosa and cutaneous tissue, to establish a unified classification of fibroblast subtypes between these two tissue types, comprehend the differences and similarities in their functionalities, and provide a foundational basis for future applications in the fields of tissue repair and regeneration. METHODS: Four single-cell databases from both oral mucosa and cutaneous tissue were integrated and fibroblast subpopulations were extracted. Batch effects were eliminated using Harmony, and fibroblast subpopulations were subsequently classified via UMAP (Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection) clustering. The functional analysis of these subpopulations was conducted through gene set enrichment results. Statistical analysis was performed with R 4.2.0 software package. RESULTS: Eight distinct functional fibroblast subpopulations were defined, and their functions were found to be associated with the composition of the extracellular matrix, immunity, and contraction. Statistical analysis revealed differences in the composition ratios of these subpopulations between oral mucosa and skin tissue. CONCLUSIONS: To evaluate the role of fibroblasts in tissue homeostasis and wound healing accomplished by integrating and analyzing fibroblasts from normal skin and oral mucosal tissue from various sites, this study identifies the differences in fibroblast subpopulation composition and function between these two tissue types in healthy conditions, and provides an understanding of oral mucosa and skin homeostasis and cellular function at the transcriptomic level. The findings of this study may serve as a basis for future research in this area.

Feasibility of simultaneous TMJ arthroscopy in ADDwoR patients undergoing orthognathic surgery for jaw deformity.

This study evaluated the feasibility of simultaneous temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopy and orthognathic surgery as a new treatment strategy for anterior disc displacement without reduction (ADDwoR) patients with severe jaw deformities. Twelve ADDwoR patients with facial deformities who underwent arthroscopy and orthognathic surgery between September 2015 and December 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Pre- and postoperative maximum incisal opening (MIO) and joint pain were recorded. Computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional cephalometric analysis were performed at 3 (T1) and ≥6 (T2) months postoperatively. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the TMJ was performed before, ≤7 days after and ≥6 months after surgery. The lateral profile radiological findings, the symmetry of the maxilla and mandible, and the MRI measurements were compared. Anterior disc displacement did not recur, and the maximum incisal opening (MIO) increased from 27.4 mm to 32.7 mm after surgery (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the lateral profile, symmetry indices or condylar height via MRI between T1 and T2. Joint morphology and the position of both the maxilla and mandible remained stable during postoperative follow-up, while joint symptoms were markedly relieved and facial appearance was noticeably improved. Combined arthroscopy and orthognathic surgery is effective and recommended for ADDwoR patients with jaw deformities.

Schwann cell derived pleiotrophin stimulates fibroblast for proliferation and excessive collagen deposition in plexiform neurofibroma.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 associated plexiform neurofibroma (pNF) is characterized by abundant fibroblasts and dense collagen, yet the intricate interactions between tumor-origin cells (Schwann cells) and neurofibroma-associated fibroblasts (NFAFs) remain elusive. Employing single-cell RNA sequencing on human pNF samples, we generated a comprehensive transcriptomics dataset and conducted cell-cell communication analysis to unravel the molecular dynamics between Schwann cells and NFAFs. Our focus centered on the pleiotrophin (PTN)/nucleolin (NCL) axis as a pivotal ligand-receptor pair orchestrating this interaction. Validation of PTN involvement was affirmed through coculture models and recombinant protein experiments. Functional and mechanistic investigations, employing assays such as CCK8, EdU, Western Blot, ELISA, Hydroxyproline Assay, and Human phospho-kinase array, provided critical insights. We employed siRNA or inhibitors to intercept the PTN/NCL/proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kDa (PRAS40) axis, validating the associated molecular mechanism. Our analysis highlighted a subset of Schwann cells closely linked to collagen deposition, underscoring their significance in pNF development. The PTN/NCL axis emerged as a key mediator of the Schwann cell-NFAF interaction. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that elevated PTN levels enhanced NFAF proliferation and collagen synthesis, either independently or synergistically with TGF-ß1 in vitro. Activation of the downstream molecule PRAS40 was noted in NFAFs upon PTN treatment. Crucially, by targeting NCL and PRAS40, we successfully reversed collagen synthesis within NFAFs. In conclusion, our findings unveil the pivotal role of the PTN/NCL/PRAS40 axis in driving pNF development by promoting NFAFs proliferation and function. Targeting this pathway emerges as a potential therapeutic strategy for pNF. This study contributes novel insights into the molecular mechanisms governing pNF pathogenesis.

[LC-MS fingerprint and multi-indicator components analysis of classical formula Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction].

This study developed an optimal pre-processing technique for the reference substance of the classic formula Gualou Xiebai Banxia Decoction(GXBD) and established a comprehensive quality control method for GXBD reference substance to provide a reference for its overall quality evaluation. The authors prepared 15 batches of GXBD samples and innovatively used the extracted ion chromatogram under the base peak chromatogram mode to establish a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry(LC-MS) fingerprint, identify characteristic peaks, and perform quantitative analysis of indicator components. The yield of the 15 batches of GXBD samples ranged from 50.28% to 76.20%. In the positive ion mode, 12 common characteristic peaks were detected in the LC-MS fingerprint, and the structures of five common peaks were identified by comparison with reference standards. The similarity between the fingerprint profiles of different batches of samples and the reference fingerprint profile ranged from 0.920 to 0.984. Finally, liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(LC-QQQ/MS) in multiple reaction monitoring(MRM) mode was used to determine the content of eight indicator components in GXBD, including loliolide, chrysoeriol, rutin, cucurbitacin D, macrostemonoside Ⅰ, 25S-timosaponin B Ⅱ, 25R-timosaponin B Ⅱ, and peptide proline-tryptophan-valine-proline-glycine(PWVPG). The method established in this study can reduce matrix interference in the compound, and it has good accuracy, stability, and practical value. It effectively reflects the quality attributes of GXBD samples and can be used for the comprehensive quality control of GXBD.

MiR-1a-3p Inhibits Apoptosis in Fluoride-exposed LS8 Cells by Targeting Map3k1.

Dental fluorosis is a common chemical disease. It is currently unclear how fluorosis occurs at the molecular level. We used miRNA-seq to look at the differences between miRNAs in the cell line of ameloblasts LS8 that had been treated with 3.2 mmol/L NaF. We also performed gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. miR-1a-3p levels were significantly lower in mouse LS8 cells treated with 3.2 mmol/L NaF, and miR-1a-3p-targeted genes were significantly enriched in the MAPK pathway. LS8 cells were divided into four groups: control, NaF, NaF+miR-1a-3p mimics, and NaF+miR-1a-3p mimics normal control groups. Cellular morphology was observed by an inverted microscope, and the proliferation activity of LS8 cells was assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). Using the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), transcription levels of miR-1a-3p and Map3k1 were detected. The expressions of Bax, Bcl-2, Map3k1, p38MAPK, ERK1/2, p-p38MAPK, and p-ERK1/2 were measured by Western blot. After bioinformatics analysis, we used a luciferase reporter assay (LRA) to validate the target of miR-1a-3p, showing that miR-1a-3p could inhibit apoptosis while increasing proliferation in fluoride-exposed LS8 cells. Generally, miR-1a-3p might directly inhibit Map3k1, reduce MAPK signal pathway activation, and promote phosphorylation. Thus, our findings revealed that the interaction of miR-1a-3p with its target gene Map3k1 and MAPK signal pathway might decrease the apoptosis of LS8 cells treated with 3.2 mmol/L NaF.

Effects of epigallocatechin-3-gallate on oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone loss in a rat periodontitis model.

Background/purpose: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is playing an increasingly important role in the treatment of oral diseases. However, its mechanisms remain to be clarified. This study aimed to investigate the effect of EGCG on oxidative and inflammatory stress and bone loss in experimental periodontitis. Materials and methods: Periodontitis was induced in rats, followed by gavage using different concentrations of EGCG for 5 weeks. The levels of interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-18 (IL-18), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in rats were measured. The degree of alveolar bone loss and the number of inflammatory cells were detected. The integrated optical density of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NLR pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) and nuclear factor-kappaB p65 (NF-κB p65) was measured. Results: EGCG (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced alveolar bone loss in the ligated maxillary molars and the number of inflammatory cells in the EGCG-200 group compared with the periodontitis, EGCG-100 and EGCG-400 groups. 200 mg/kg was the optimal dose of EGCG and was used in subsequent experiments. The expression levels of IL-1ß, IL-18, TNF-α and MDA were significantly lower and the expression level of SOD was significantly higher in the EGCG-200 group compared with the periodontitis group. The expression of NLRP3 and NF-κB p65 was significantly decreased, while the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was significantly increased in the EGCG-200 group compared with the periodontitis group. Conclusion: These results suggest that EGCG inhibits oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in the periodontitis model by modulating the Nrf2/HO-1/NLRP3/NF-κB p65 signaling pathway, thereby decreasing alveolar bone loss.

Efficacy of Arthroscopic Discopexy on Condylar Growth in Temporomandibular Joint Anterior Disc Displacement: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) anterior disc displacement (ADD) frequently develop dentofacial deformities. It is unknown if adjunctive arthroscopic discopexy compared to orthodontic treatment alone increases condylar growth and then improves dentofacial deformity. This study aimed to determine whether arthroscopic discopexy before functional appliance (joint-occlusal treatment) or single functional appliance (occlusal treatment) increases condylar growth and improves dentofacial deformity among adolescents with TMJ ADD. METHODS: A multicenter, randomized, parallel controlled trial was conducted in three centers in China. Adolescents diagnosed with TMJ ADD and dentofacial deformity were enrolled. Eligible participants were randomly assigned to a joint-occlusal group or occlusal group at a ratio of 2:1. MRI, cephalometric radiographs were evaluated at baseline, 8 months and 14 months. The primary outcome was changes in condylar height from 14 months to baseline. Secondary outcomes were changes in skeletal position. RESULTS: A total of 240 patients (14.65±1.88 years of age) were randomized (joint-occlusal group: 160; occlusal group: 80). The overall difference in condylar height between groups was 3.65 mm (95% CI, 3.10 to 4.19; p < 0.001). The between-group differences in condylar height on the left and right sides were 3.60 mm (95% CI, 2.92 to 4.28; p < 0.001) and 3.69 mm (95% CI, 3.06 to 4.32; p < 0.001), respectively. Significant between-group differences were noted in skeletal position (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Joint-occlusal treatment can promote condylar growth and improve dentofacial deformity in adolescents after 14 months when compared with single occlusal treatment.

Highly resilient and fatigue-resistant poly(4-methyl-ε-caprolactone) porous scaffold fabricated via thiol-yne photo-crosslinking/salt-templating for soft tissue regeneration.

Elastomeric scaffolds, individually customized to mimic the structural and mechanical properties of natural tissues have been used for tissue regeneration. In this regard, polyester elastic scaffolds with tunable mechanical properties and exceptional biological properties have been reported to provide mechanical support and structural integrity for tissue repair. Herein, poly(4-methyl-ε-caprolactone) (PMCL) was first double-terminated by alkynylation (PMCL-DY) as a liquid precursor at room temperature. Subsequently, three-dimensional porous scaffolds with custom shapes were fabricated from PMCL-DY via thiol-yne photocrosslinking using a practical salt template method. By manipulating the Mn of the precursor, the modulus of compression of the scaffold was easily adjusted. As evidenced by the complete recovery from 90% compression, the rapid recovery rate of >500 mm min-1, the extremely low energy loss coefficient of <0.1, and the superior fatigue resistance, the PMCL20-DY porous scaffold was confirmed to harbor excellent elastic properties. In addition, the high resilience of the scaffold was confirmed to endow it with a minimally invasive application potential. In vitro testing revealed that the 3D porous scaffold was biocompatible with rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), inducing BMSCs to differentiate into chondrogenic cells. In addition, the elastic porous scaffold demonstrated good regenerative efficiency in a 12-week rabbit cartilage defect model. Thus, the novel polyester scaffold with adaptable mechanical properties may have extensive applications in soft tissue regeneration.

An integrated bioinformatics analysis of the S100 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: This study aims to evaluate the expression profile and clinical value of the S100 family in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods: The expression patterns, clinicopathological features, prognostic significance and underlying correlations of S100 family genes in HNSCC were determined by bioinformatics analysis with the application of several databases, including the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Oncomine for differential expression gene (DEG) analysis, and a series of analysis tools, including Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), cBioPortal, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) and R software packages. Results: The results from the study demonstrated that S100A4, S100A10, and S100A13 may act as prognostic markers through overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and tumor infiltrating immune cell enrichment and a prognostic S100 family gene model comprising S100A1-A4, S100A8, S100A10, S100A12, and S100A13 was identified. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of S100A1, S100A9, S100A14, and S100A7A was significantly different in HNSCC patients, together with a high mutation rate of the S100 family was found. Evaluation of clinicopathological value demonstrated the heterogeneity of S100 family functions. S100A1, S100A7, S100A8, S100A9, S100A13, S100A14, and S100A16 were observed to significantly correlate with multiple biological processes (BPs) of HNSCC, including initiation, lymph node metastasis, and lymphovascular invasion. In addition, the S100 family were significantly associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes. Conclusions: This present study demonstrated that S100 family members are implicated in the initiation, progression, metastasis and survival of HNSCC.

Construction of an enhanced computed tomography radiomics model for non-invasively predicting granzyme A in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by machine learning.

PURPOSE: Classical prognostic indicators of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) can no longer meet the clinical needs of precision medicine. This study aimed to establish a radiomics model to predict Granzyme A (GZMA) expression in patients with HNSCC. METHODS: We downloaded transcriptomic data of HNSCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas for prognosis analysis and then used corresponding enhanced computed tomography (CT) images from The Cancer Imaging Archive for feature extraction and model construction. We explored the influence of differences in GZMA expression on signaling pathways and analyzed the potential molecular mechanism and its relationship with immune cell infiltration. Subsequently, non-invasive CT radiomics models were established to predict the expression of GZMA mRNA and evaluate the correlation with the radiomics-score (Rad-score), related genes, and prognosis. RESULTS: We found that GZMA was highly expressed in tumor tissues, and high GZMA expression was a protective factor for overall survival. The degree of B and T lymphocyte and natural killer cell infiltration was significantly correlated with GZMA expression. The receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the Relief GBM and RFE_GBM radiomics models had good predictive ability, and there were significant differences in the Rad-score distribution between the high- and low-GZMA-expression groups. CONCLUSIONS: GZMA expression can significantly affect the prognosis of patients with HNSCC. Enhanced CT radiomics models can effectively predict the expression of GZMA mRNA.

ATP9A deficiency causes ADHD and aberrant endosomal recycling via modulating RAB5 and RAB11 activity.

ATP9A, a lipid flippase of the class II P4-ATPases, is involved in cellular vesicle trafficking. Its homozygous variants are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders in humans. However, its physiological function, the underlying mechanism as well as its pathophysiological relevance in humans and animals are still largely unknown. Here, we report two independent families in which the nonsense mutations c.433C>T/c.658C>T/c.983G>A (p. Arg145*/p. Arg220*/p. Trp328*) in ATP9A (NM_006045.3) cause autosomal recessive hypotonia, intellectual disability (ID) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Atp9a null mice show decreased muscle strength, memory deficits and hyperkinetic movement disorder, recapitulating the symptoms observed in patients. Abnormal neurite morphology and impaired synaptic transmission are found in the primary motor cortex and hippocampus of the Atp9a null mice. ATP9A is also required for maintaining neuronal neurite morphology and the viability of neural cells in vitro. It mainly localizes to endosomes and plays a pivotal role in endosomal recycling pathway by modulating small GTPase RAB5 and RAB11 activation. However, ATP9A pathogenic mutants have aberrant subcellular localization and cause abnormal endosomal recycling. These findings provide strong evidence that ATP9A deficiency leads to neurodevelopmental disorders and synaptic dysfunctions in both humans and mice, and establishes novel regulatory roles for ATP9A in RAB5 and RAB11 activity-dependent endosomal recycling pathway and neurological diseases.

Surgical Management for Chronic Destructive Septic Hip Arthritis: Debridement, Antibiotics, and Single-Stage Replacement is as Effective as Two-Stage Arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the surgical outcomes of debridement, antibiotics, and single-stage total hip replacement (DASR) vs two-stage arthroplasty (two-stage arthroplasty) for chronic destructive septic hip arthritis (SHA). METHODS: Cases of chronic destructive SHA treated by DASR or two-stage arthroplasty in our department from January 2008 to October 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographic information, perioperative inflammation markers, intraoperative blood loss, microbial culture, and metagenomic new generation sequencing results were recorded. The perioperative complications, hospital stay, hospitalization cost, infection recurrence rate, and Harris Hip Score (HHS) at the last follow-up were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients were included in the study, including 11 patients who received DASR and 17 patients who received two-stage arthroplasty. There was no significant difference in demographic information, preoperative serum inflammatory markers, synovial fluid white blood cell count, or percentage of polymorphonuclear leukocytes between the two groups. The DASR group demonstrated significantly lower intraoperative blood loss [(368.2 ± 253.3) mL vs (638.2 ± 170.0) mL, p = 0.002], hospital stay [(22.6 ± 8.1) days vs (43.5 ± 13.2) days, p < 0.0001], and hospitalization expenses [(81,269 ± 11,496) RMB vs (137,524 ± 25,516) RMB, p < 0.0001] than the two-stage arthroplasty group. In the DASR group, one patient had dislocation as a complication. There were no cases with recurrence of infection. In the two-stage arthroplasty group, there was one case complicated with spacer fracture, one case with spacer dislocation, and one case with deep vein thrombosis of the lower limbs. There were no cases with recurrence of infection. There were no significant differences in the readmission rate, complication rate, or HHS at the last follow-up between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both DASR and two-stage arthroplasty achieved a satisfactory infection cure rate and functional recovery for chronic destructive SHA, and DASR demonstrated significantly lower intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, and hospitalization costs than two-stage arthroplasty. For appropriately indicated patients, if microbial data are available and a standardized debridement protocol is strictly followed, DASR can be a treatment option.

3D GelMA ICC Scaffolds Combined with SW033291 for Bone Regeneration by Modulating Macrophage Polarization.

Despite the interaction between bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and macrophages has been found to play a critical role in repairing bone defects, it remains a challenge to develop a desirable tissue engineering scaffold for synchronous regulation of osteogenic differentiation and macrophage polarization. Herein, this study proposed a novel strategy to treat bone defects based on three-dimensional Gelatin Methacryloyl Inverted Colloidal Crystal (3D GelMA ICC) scaffold and an active 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) inhibitor SW033291. Specifically, the 3D GelMA ICC scaffolds were firstly prepared by colloidal templating method, which displayed good cell attachment and promoted intercellular interaction among macrophage and BMSCs due to its uniform pore interconnectivity. By combined use of SW033291, the release of Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) from BMSCs on the GelMA ICC scaffold was significantly upregulated and macrophages M2 polarization was markedly increased. In turn, BMSCs proliferation and osteogenic differentiation was further enhanced by paracrine regulation of M2 macrophage, and thus finally caused more in vivo new bone formation by shaping up a pro-regenerative local immune microenvironment surrounding GelMA ICC scaffold. Our findings demonstrate the potential of 3D GelMA ICC scaffolds combined with SW033291 to become an effective tissue engineering strategy for bone regeneration.

Reconfigurable Parametric Amplifications of Spoof Surface Plasmons.

Next-generation inter-chip communication requires ultrafast ultra-compact interconnects. Designer plasmonics offers a possible route towards this goal. Further development of the plasmonic technique to circuit applications requires the direct amplification of plasmonic signals on a compact platform. However, significant signal distortions and limited operational speeds prevent the application of traditional MOS-based amplifiers to plasmonics. Up to day, the amplification of surface plasmons without phase distortion has remained a scientific challenge. In this work, the concept of parametric amplification (PA) is transplanted to the plasmonics and is realized experimentally an ultrathin reconfigurable PA using a spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) waveguide integrated with tunable and nonlinear varactors. The measured parametric gain in the experiment can reach up to 9.14 dB within a short nonlinear propagation length, for example, six SSPP wavelengths, in excellent agreement with the theoretical prediction. By tuning the bias voltage of varactors, the phase-matching condition can be precisely controlled over a broad frequency band, enabling the authors to realize the multi-frequency PA of plasmonic signals. Measured phase responses confirm that the plasmonic parametric amplifier can significantly suppress the signal distortions as compared with the traditional MOS-based amplifier, which is a property highly desired for ultrafast wireless communication systems and integrated circuits.

Injectable hydrogel with MSNs/microRNA-21-5p delivery enables both immunomodification and enhanced angiogenesis for myocardial infarction therapy in pigs.

Current therapeutic strategies such as angiogenic therapy and anti-inflammatory therapy for treating myocardial infarction have limited success. An effective approach may benefit from resolution of excessive inflammation combined with enhancement of angiogenesis. Here, we developed a microRNA-21-5p delivery system using functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) with additional intrinsic therapeutic effects. These nanocarriers were encapsulated into an injectable hydrogel matrix (Gel@MSN/miR-21-5p) to enable controlled on-demand microRNA-21 delivery triggered by the local acidic microenvironment. In a porcine model of myocardial infarction, we demonstrated that the released MSN complexes notably inhibited the inflammatory response by inhibiting the polarization of M1 macrophage within the infarcted myocardium, while further microRNA-21-5p delivery by MSNs to endothelial cells markedly promoted local neovascularization and rescued at-risk cardiomyocytes. The synergy of anti-inflammatory and proangiogenic effects effectively reduced infarct size in a porcine model of myocardial infarction.

Harmonic information transitions of spatiotemporal metasurfaces.

Facilitated by ultrafast dynamic modulations, spatiotemporal metasurfaces have been identified as a pivotal platform for manipulating electromagnetic waves and creating exotic physical phenomena, such as dispersion cancellation, Lorentz reciprocity breakage, and Doppler illusions. Motivated by emerging information-oriented technologies, we hereby probe the information transition mechanisms induced by spatiotemporal variations and present a general model to characterize the information processing capabilities of the spatiotemporal metasurface. Group theory and abstract number theory are adopted through this investigation, by which the group extension and independent controls of multiple harmonics are proposed and demonstrated as two major tools for information transitions from the spatiotemporal domain to the spectra-wavevector domain. By incorporating Shannon's entropy theory into the proposed model, we further discover the corresponding information transition efficiencies and the upper bound of the channel capacity of the spatiotemporal metasurface. The results of harmonic information transitions show great potential in achieving high-capacity versatile information processing systems with spatiotemporal metasurfaces.

Representing Quantum Information with Digital Coding Metasurfaces.

With the development of science and technology, the way to represent information becomes more powerful and diversified. Recent research on digital coding metasurfaces has built an alternative bridge between wave-behaviors and information science. Different from the logic information in traditional circuits, the digital bit in coding metasurfaces is based on wave-structure interaction, which is capable of exploiting multiple degrees of freedom (DoFs). However, to what extent the digital coding metasurface can expand the information representation has not been discussed. In this work, it is shown that classical metasurfaces have the ability to mimic qubit and quantum information. An approach for simulating a two-level spin system with meta-atoms is proposed, from which the superposition for two optical spin states is constructed. It is further proposed that using geometric-phase elements with nonseparable coding states can induce the classical entanglement between polarization and spatial modes, and give the condition to achieve the maximal entanglement. This study expands the information representing range of coding metasurfaces and provides an ultrathin platform to mimic quantum information.

Framework Phylogeny, Evolution and Complex Diversification of Chinese Oaks.

Oaks (Quercus L.) are ideal models to assess patterns of plant diversity. We integrated the sequence data of five chloroplast and two nuclear loci from 50 Chinese oaks to explore the phylogenetic framework, evolution and diversification patterns of the Chinese oak's lineage. The framework phylogeny strongly supports two subgenera Quercus and Cerris comprising four infrageneric sections Quercus, Cerris, Ilex and Cyclobalanopsis for the Chinese oaks. An evolutionary analysis suggests that the two subgenera probably split during the mid-Eocene, followed by intergroup divergence within the subgenus Cerris around the late Eocene. The initial diversification of sections in the subgenus Cerris was dated between the mid-Oligocene and the Oligocene-Miocene boundary, while a rapid species radiation in section Quercus started in the late Miocene. Diversification simulations indicate a potential evolutionary shift on section Quercus, while several phenotypic shifts likely occur among all sections. We found significant negative correlations between rates of the lineage diversification and phenotypic turnover, suggesting a complex interaction between the species evolution and morphological divergence in Chinese oaks. Our infrageneric phylogeny of Chinese oaks accords with the recently proposed classification of the genus Quercus. The results point to tectonic activity and climatic change during the Tertiary as possible drivers of evolution and diversification in the Chinese oak's lineage.