Measuring the Optical Concurrence of Vector Beams with an Atomic-State Interferometer.

We investigate the transmission of vector beams, correlated in their polarization and spatial degrees of freedom, through cold atoms in the presence of a transverse magnetic coupling field. The resulting phase-dependent dynamics allow us to imprint the spatially varying polarization of a vector beam onto atomic spin polarizations, thereby establishing a direct link between optical space-polarization correlations and atomic-state interference. We find that the resulting absorption profiles show interference fringes whose modulation strength is given by the squared concurrence of the vector beam, letting us identify optical concurrence from a single absorption image. We expect impact across a diverse range of applications, including spintronics, quantum memories, metrology, and clocks.

Persistent bacteremia caused by Ralstonia pickettii and Microbacterium: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ralstonia pickettii is a low virulent, gram-negative bacillus that is rarely associated with human infections and may cause bacteremia. Microbacterium species are gram-positive coryneforms that are generally considered as a contaminant in Gram staining of blood cultures, especially when the time to positivity is longer than 48 h. Both these bacterial species are emerging opportunistic pathogens that may occasionally cause serious infections and even life-threatening health conditions. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report the case of a patient with bacteremia caused by both R. pickettii and Microbacterium. We advocate for providers to order rapid antibiotic susceptibility testing, since our patient's suffered two kinds of rare pathogens with the opposite of drug sensitivity results to imipenem. CONCLUSIONS: Our case present a patient suffered septic shock caused by R. pickettii and Microbacterium. Improving the antibiotic management based on the result of antimicrobial susceptibility tests is the key of successful treatment.

Sex Difference in Characteristics and Predictors of In-Hospital Mortality among Patients with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: With a surge in the prevalence of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in Beijing starting in October 2022, hospitalisation rates increased markedly. This study aimed to evaluate factors associated with in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19. METHODS: Using data from hospitalised patients, sex-based differences in clinical characteristics, in-hospital management, and in-hospital mortality among patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were evaluated. Predictive factors associated with mortality in 1,091 patients admitted to the Beijing Anzhen Hospital (Beijing, China) for COVID-19 between October 2022 and January 2023 were also evaluated. RESULTS: Data from 1,091 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 were included in the analysis. In-hospital mortality rates for male and female patients were 14.9% and 10.4%, respectively. Multifactorial logistic analysis indicated that lymphocyte percentage (LYM%) (odds ratio [OR] 0.863, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.805-0.925; p < 0.001), uric acid (OR 1.004, 95% CI: 1.002-1.006; p = 0.001), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (OR 1.094, 95% CI: 1.012-1.183; p = 0.024) levels were independently associated with COVID-19-related in-hospital mortality. Among female patients, multifactorial analysis revealed that LYM% (OR 0.856, 95% CI: 0.796-0.920; p < 0.001), older age (OR 1.061, 95% CI: 1.020-1.103; p = 0.003), obesity (OR 2.590, 95% CI: 1.131-5.931; p = 0.024), and a high high-sensitivity troponin I level (OR 2.602, 95% CI: 1.157-5.853; p = 0.021) were risk factors for in-hospital mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, including area under the ROC curve, showed that the efficacy of LYM% in predicting in-hospital death was 0.800 (sensitivity, 63.2%; specificity, 83.2%) in male patients and 0.815 (sensitivity, 87.5%; specificity, 64.4%) in female patients. CONCLUSION: LYM% is a consistent predictor of in-hospital mortality for both sexes. Older age and markers of systemic inflammation, myocardial injury, and metabolic dysregulation are also associated with a high mortality risk. These findings may help identify patients who require closer monitoring and tailored interventions to improve outcomes.

An Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus-encoded microRNA, AcMNPV-miR-4, downregulates the expression of host gene alg-2.

Autographa california multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV)-encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) that regulate viral genes to achieve infection have been reported previously. Here, we report another AcMNPV encoded miRNA, AcMNPV-miR-4 (Ac-miR-4), which downregulated the host gene, apoptosis-linked gene (alg-2). This regulation was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assays. The effects of Ac-miR-4 on virus infection were assessed. The results showed that the production of infectious budded virions (BV) was decreased and the occlusion-derived virion (ODV) embedding into polyhedra was delayed when Sf9 cells were administered an overdose of Ac-miR-4. All these findings suggest that Ac-miR-4 prolongs cell lifespan and reduces virus virulence at a relatively early stage but increases ODV at a very late stage. This finding may be attributed to the downregulation effects of alg-2, which lead to weakened ALG-2 related functions, such as cell apoptosis, vesicle budding and protein transport.

Transfer and evolution of structured polarization in a double-V atomic system.

We numerically investigate the transfer of optical information from a vector-vortex control beam to an unstructured probe beam, as mediated by an atomic vapour. The right and left circular components of these beams drive the atomic transitions of a double-V system, with the atoms acting as a spatially varying circular birefringent medium. Modeling the propagation of the light fields, we find that, for short distances, the vectorial light structure is transferred from the control field to the probe. However, for larger propagation lengths, diffraction causes the circular components of the probe field to spatially separate. We model this system for the D1 line of cold rubidium atoms and demonstrate that four wave mixing can lead to correlations between the optical polarization structure and the diffraction of light, generating coupled dynamics of the internal and external degrees of freedom.

Exploring the ellipticity dependency on vector helical Ince-Gaussian beams and their focusing properties.

We present a numerical study of the intensity and polarization structure of vector helical Ince-Gaussian (VHIG) modes, which present a distinct subclass of vector Ince-Gaussian modes with defined parameter settings. The intensity profile of VHIG beams has an elliptic hollow structure, while the polarization distribution shows multiple single-charge polarization vortices arranged along a line. By selecting the mode order, phase factor and ellipticity of the VHIG beams, we can control the number of elliptic rings, the number of polarization vortices, and the topology of the vector singularity. Furthermore, we simulate the focusing properties of VHIG beams based on vector diffraction theory. Our results indicate that the ellipticity parameter of VHIG beams could be a valuable degree of freedom to generate attractive transverse profiles and longitudinal distributions under focusing, which may have implications for lithography, material processing, optical communication, and even optical trapping and manipulation.

Impact of BMI on Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Aim: Obesity paradox remains a point of debate in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and clinical outcomes in STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Methods: Outcomes were assessed in 1429 STEMI patients undergoing PPCI between January 2009 and January 2010 in Beijing. Patients were classified into 6 groups according to age (the younger and elderly groups consisting of patients ≤65 and > 65 years old) and baseline BMI (normal weight, BMI < 24 kg/m2; overweight, 24 kg/m2 ≤BMI < 28 kg/m2; obese, BMI ≥ 28 kg/m2). The primary outcome was death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or revascularization. Results: On long-term follow-up (mean follow-up of 59 months), 13.9% of patients experienced the adverse event. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that low BMI was a significant predictor of the primary outcome only in the younger group. The odds ratio for overweight in comparison with normal weight was 0.741 (95% CI: 0.413-0.979; p = 0.038), the odds radio for obesity in comparison with normal-weight patients was 0.508 (95% CI: 0.344-0.750; p = 0.016) in the younger group. In the elderly group, diabetes, hypertension, triple disease, regular exercise, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) use after discharge, and bleeding complication were associated with primary outcome. Conclusion: The obesity paradox was recognized only in the younger age group in STEMI patients undergoing PPCI.

Identification of miRNAs encoded by Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus.

Two Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV) encoded miRNAs, AcMNPV-miR-1 and AcMNPV-miR-3, have been reported by us in 2013 and 2019, respectively. Here, we present an integrated investigation of AcMNPV-encoded miRNAs, which include the above two miRNAs and three additional newly identified miRNAs. Six candidate miRNAs were predicted through small RNA deep sequencing and bioinformatics, of which, five were validated. Three miRNAs are located opposite the coding sequences, the other two are located in the coding sequences of viral genes. Targets in both virus and host were predicted and subsequently tested using dual-luciferase reporter assays. The validated targets were found mainly in AcMNPV, except for the targets of AcMNPV-miR-4, which are all host genes. Based on reporter assays, the five miRNAs predominantly function by down-regulating their targets. The transcription start sites of these miRNAs were bioinformatic screened based on known baculovirus promoter motifs. Our study reveals that AcMNPV-encoded miRNAs function as fine modulators of the interactions between host and virus by regulating viral and/or host genes.

Phase gradient protection of stored spatially multimode perfect optical vortex beams in a diffused rubidium vapor.

We experimentally investigate the optical storage of perfect optical vortex (POV) and spatially multimode perfect optical vortex (MPOV) beams via electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in a hot vapor cell. In particular, we study the role that phase gradients and phase singularities play in reducing the blurring of the retrieved images due to atomic diffusion. Three kinds of manifestations are enumerated to demonstrate such effect. Firstly, the suppression of the ring width broadening is more prominent for POVs with larger orbital angular momentum (OAM). Secondly, the retrieved double-ring MPOV beams' profiles present regular dark singularity distributions that are related to their vortex charge difference. Thirdly, the storage fidelities of the triple-ring MPOVs are substantially improved by designing line phase singularities between multi-ring MPOVs with the same OAM number but π offset phases between adjacent rings. Our experimental demonstration of MPOV storage opens new opportunities for increasing data capacity in quantum memories by spatial multiplexing, as well as the generation and manipulation of complex optical vortex arrays.

Experimentally measuring the mode indices of Laguerre-Gaussian beams by weak measurement.

As a special experimental technique, weak measurements extract very little information from the measured system and does not cause the measured state to collapse. When coupling the Laguerre-Gaussian (LG) state with a well-defined pre- and post-selected system of a weak measurement process, there will be an indirect interconnection between the expected value of coordinate operators of the final state and the mode indices of the measured LG state. The mode of the light is impacted very slightly after the weak measurement. Based on this we propose an experiment scheme and have managed to experimentally measure the mode indices of LG beams spanning from l = -6 to l = +6, p = 0 to p = +8 accurately with the final intensity distributions approximatly at their origin.

Optical storage of Ince-Gaussian modes in warm atomic vapor.

We report on the optical storage of Ince-Gaussian modes in a warm rubidium vapor cell based on electromagnetically induced transparency protocol, and we also qualitatively analyze how atomic diffusion affects the retrieved beams after storage. Ince-Gaussian modes possess very complex and abundant spatial structures and form a complete infinite-dimensional Hilbert space. Successfully storing such modes could open up possibilities for fundamental high-dimensional optical communication experiments.

Trans-spectral vector beam nonlinear conversion via parametric four-wave mixing in alkali vapor.

Coherent frequency conversion of vector beams (VBs) without distorting their intensity profile or spatial polarization distribution is important for novel applications in quantum and classical regimes. Here, we experimentally and theoretically investigate VB transfer from near-infrared to blue light using a Sagnac interferometer, combining the parametric four-wave mixing process in atomic vapor. The vector probe beam is converted into a completely different wavelength, and the vector mode of the generated blue beam is highly similar to the incident probe beam. These results may provide a feasible solution for communication interfaces in classical and quantum science fields based on atomic ensembles.

Atomic Compass: Detecting 3D Magnetic Field Alignment with Vector Vortex Light.

We describe and demonstrate how 3D magnetic field alignment can be inferred from single absorption images of an atomic cloud. While optically pumped magnetometers conventionally rely on temporal measurement of the Larmor precession of atomic dipoles, here a cold atomic vapor provides a spatial interface between vector light and external magnetic fields. Using a vector vortex beam, we inscribe structured atomic spin polarization in a cloud of cold rubidium atoms and record images of the resulting absorption patterns. The polar angle of an external magnetic field can then be deduced with spatial Fourier analysis. This effect presents an alternative concept for detecting magnetic vector fields and demonstrates, more generally, how introducing spatial phases between atomic energy levels can translate transient effects to the spatial domain.

Tailoring multi-singularity structure induced by a focused radially polarized beam.

A structured optical field with controllable three-dimensional intensity and multiple polarization singularities is demonstrated by utilizing a combination of a radially polarized (RP) beam, a designed phase mask, and a high numerical aperture lens. Owing to the tight focusing property of RP beams as well as the interference of multiple linearly polarized non-coplanar plane waves, various lattice-like optical structures can emerge at the focal plane with multiple structured singularities in the transverse plane and optical needle array along with propagation. Compared with recently proposed phase and polarization engineering methods with spatial light modulators, the method presented here is convenient and flexible, and can easily realize the generation of V-point and C-point lattices. More importantly, a structured longitudinal field, namely, an optical needle array, with steerable positive and reverse energy flows may be extensively applied in multi-particle acceleration and trapping, optical microscopes, and second-harmonic generation.

Ultra-sensitive phase measurement based on an SU(1,1) interferometer employing external resources and substract intensity detection.

A new scheme has been proposed to realize the enhancement of phase sensitivity based on an SU(1,1) interferometer. Compared with the classical Mach-Zehnder interferometer, the SU(1,1) interferometer is splitted and recombined by an optical parametric amplifier and the phase sensitivity can beat shot noise limit by adjusting the parametric strength. In this model, the inputs of the SU(1,1) interferometer are bright entangled twin beams generated from four wave mixing and the detection method is substract intensity difference with one of the twin beams entering into the interferometer. The detection efficiency of the detector is taken into consideration. This scheme also proves that when one of the inputs of an SU(1,1) interferometer is an vacuum beam, the phase sensitivity can beat shot noise limit by employing substract intensity detection and external resources.

Assessing the routine-practice gap for home blood pressure monitoring among Chinese adults with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is recommended for diagnosis, treatment adjustment and management of most hypertension cases in hypertension guidelines from multiple countries. This study aimed to evaluate HBPM behaviour and explore the routine-practice gap in HBPM among Chinese adults with hypertension. METHODS: Data were collected from 20 communities across three cities and six townships in three provinces (Beijing, Shandong and Jiangsu) in China between October 2014 and November 2014. In total, 2272 patients with hypertension aged ≥35 years that were registered with a primary health station in their local communities were selected by simple random sampling. RESULTS: Among the 2272 participants, 45.3% owned a home blood pressure (BP) monitor. In addition, 27.5% (625/2272) engaged in HBPM weekly or more frequently. Healthcare providers' advice was the strongest factor contributing to home BP monitor ownership and weekly HBPM behaviour, with odds ratios of 13.50 and 8.97, respectively. Approximately 4.4% of participants had achieved optimal HBPM regimens (duplicate measurements in the morning and evening for 7 days). Patients with uncontrolled office-measured BP were more likely to conduct HBPM regularly in the morning and evening, measure their BP two or three times in each session and maintain 7 consecutive days of HBPM than patients with controlled office BP (8.8% vs. 5.8%, P = 0.042; 14.3% vs. 8.1%, P = 0.002; and 19.9% vs. 12.4%, P = 0.005, respectively). Only 16.0% (165/1030) of participants actively reported their HBPM readings to doctors. CONCLUSION: The HBPM strategies specified in hypertension guidelines are seldom achieved in actual practice in China. Only a small proportion of patients actively participate in using HBPM to enhance their hypertension care. HBPM may be improved by healthcare providers offering specific advice and training.

A method for establishing the electrophysiological model of alcoholic cardiomyopathy. / ä¸€ç§å»ºç«‹é ’ç²¾æ€§å¿ƒè‚Œç— ç”µç”Ÿç†ç ”ç©¶æ¨¡åž‹çš„æ–¹æ³•.

OBJECTIVES: To establish an electrophysiological model of alcoholic cardiomyopathy by inducing pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to differentiate into cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CM) in vitro. METHODS: The human iPSC were expanded in vitro and differentiated into iPSC-CM. The iPSC-CM were divided into a blank control group, an alcoholic experiment group (according to the concentration of alcoholic, the alcoholic experiment was also divided into many subgroups), and a KN93 treatment group. Then the efficiency of iPSC differentiated to iPSC-CM was detected by immunofluorescence, the function of iPSC-CM was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assay kit. The electrophysiological activity of iPSC-CM was monitored by real time cellular analysis (RTCA), the injury of iPSC-CM caused by alcohol was further verified by the mitochondrial membrane potential fluorescence probe JC-1 staining combined with RTCA analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the blank control group, the different doses (25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 mmol/L) of alcohol could significantly inhibit the proliferation of iPSC-CM in a dose-dependent manner (all P<0.05). Compared with the blank control group, the activity of iPSC-CM was significantly reduced by 100 mmol/L alcohol, resulting in the increase of LDH release, the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential, the amplitude and beating rate (all P<0.05). Compared with the 100 mg/mL alcoholic experiment group, the KN93 treatment group significantly alleviated the damage of alcohol to iPSC-CM by blocking the necrotic apoptotic pathway, resulting in the decrease of LDH release, the increase of mitochondrial membrane potential, the amplitude and beating rate (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The electrophysiological model of alcoholic cardiomyopathy based on the differentiation of cardiomyocytes are successfully established, which can be used to study the electrophysiological activity and the molecular mechanism for relevant diseases, and it may provide a more reasonable and effective research tool for drug screening and clinical study.

Breathable Nanowood Biofilms as Guiding Layer for Green On-Skin Electronics.

Thin-film electronics are urged to be directly laminated onto human skin for reliable, sensitive biosensing together with feedback transdermal therapy, their self-power supply using the thermoelectric and moisture-induced-electric effects also has gained great attention (skin and on-skin electronics (On-skinE) themselves are energy storehouses). However, "thin-film" On-skinE 1) cannot install "bulky" heatsinks or sweat transport channels, but the output power of thermoelectric generator and moisture-induced-electric generator relies on the temperature difference (∆T ) across generator and the ambient humidity (AH), respectively; 2) lack a routing and accumulation of sweat for biosensing, lack targeted delivery of drugs for precise transdermal therapy; and 3) need insulation between the heat-generating unit and heat-sensitive unit. Here, two breathable nanowood biofilms are demonstrated, which can help insulate between units and guide the heat and sweat to another in-plane direction. The transparent biofilms achieve record-high transport// /transport⊥ (//: along cellulose nanofiber alignment direction, ⊥: perpendicular direction) of heat (925%) and sweat (338%), winning applications emphasizing on ∆T/AH-dependent output power and "reliable" biosensing. The porous biofilms are competent in applications where "sensitive" biosensing (transporting// sweat up to 11.25 mm s-1 at the 1st second), "insulating" between units, and "targeted" delivery of saline-soluble drugs are of uppermost priority.

Super-sensitive measurement of angular rotation displacement based on the hybrid interferometers.

We theoretically study the angular rotation displacement based on the hybrid interferometers, which contain a beam splitter (BS) and an optical parameter amplication (OPA) for beam splitting and recombination. Two schemes with different orders of an OPA and a BS are discussed and both of them can realize the super resolving and sensitive angular rotation displacement. The sensitivity of angular rotation displacement can surpass the shot noise limit 12l N with the orbital angular momentum input beams. The squeezing strength of an OPA and the reflectivity of the BS play a decisive role on the resolutions and sensitivities while the losses play a negative effect on the sensitivity.

Manipulating the transmission of vector beam with spatially polarized atomic ensemble.

Vector beams (VBs) with potential applications are successfully utilized in many fields as light sources with a spatially-varying polarization profile in recent years. Here, we study the transmission of a VB by manipulating atomic polarization via the optical pumping effect. By using hybridly and radially polarized beams as pump and probe beams in a counter-propagating configuration, we observe a four-petal pattern intensity distribution of probe beam, and the four-petal pattern rotates with the polarization state orientation of the pump beam. The results show a polarization dependent absorption in the atomic media. We experimentally demonstrate the absorption characteristics under different polarization combinations of pump and probe beams. The Jones matrix method is used to explain this phenomenon and the simulations are consistent with the experimental observation. Our results may provide a sound foundation for applications in optical manipulation and quantum information in atomic ensembles.