Underwater entanglement propagation of auto-focusing Airy beams.

In underwater wireless optical communication, orbital angular momentum (OAM) states suffer from turbulence distortions. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of auto-focusing and OAM entanglement of the beams in reducing the turbulence effects. We implement the single-phase approximation and the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle to derive the detection probability of the entangled Airy beams under unstable oceanic turbulence. The results show that auto-focusing can protect the signal OAM mode and suppress modal crosstalks, while entangled OAM states can further enhance the resistance against oceanic turbulence around the focus position. The numerical analysis demonstrates that after the auto-focusing position, the beams evolve in completely opposite directions, indicating that the focal length should be modulated according to the length of a practical link to enhance received signals. These findings suggest that entangled auto-focusing vortex beams may be a desirable light source in underwater communication systems.

Propagation of auto-focusing hypergeometric Gaussian beams along a slant path in oceanic turbulence.

Compared to horizontal transmission, the oceanic dissipation rate and temperature-salinity distribution ratio are no longer constant but vary with depth, imposing greater complexity on oceanic turbulence when beams propagate through a slant path and resulting in more limitations on the performance of underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) links. This study focuses on investigating the performance, especially the auto-focusing characteristic, of auto-focusing hypergeometric Gaussian (AHGG) beams propagating along slant paths in oceanic turbulence. We theoretically derive the spatial coherence radius and the relative probability of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode for AHGG beams passing through such links. Numerical simulations reveal that AHGG beams exhibit superior propagation performance compared to hypergeometric Gaussian beams. Lower beam orders and OAM numbers contribute to improved performance, while careful selection of auto-focusing length can tangibly enhance detection performance as well. Additionally, tidal velocities and wind speeds have nonnegligible effects on OAM signal probability. Our results further demonstrate that surface buoyancy flux, temperature gradients, and waterside friction velocity significantly affect beam transmission under varying wind conditions. These findings, particularly controlling the auto-focusing length of AHGG beams to match the transmission distance, provide valuable insights for enhancing the quality of UWOC links.

A General Strategy Based on Hetero-Charge Coupling Effect for Constructing Single-Atom Sites.

Single-atom catalysts have emerged as cutting-edge hotspots in the field of material science owing to their excellent catalytic performance brought about by well-defined metal single-atom sites (M SASs). However, huge challenges still lie in achieving the rational design and precise synthesis of M SASs. Herein, we report a novel synthesis strategy based on the hetero-charge coupling effect (HCCE) to prepare M SASs loaded on N and S co-doped porous carbon (M1/NSC). The proposed strategy was widely applied to prepare 17 types of M1/NSC composed of single or multi-metal with the integrated regulation of the coordination environment and electronic structure, exhibiting good universality and flexible adjustability. Furthermore, this strategy provided a low-cost method of efficiently synthesizing M1/NSC with high yields, that can produce more than 50 g catalyst at one time, which is key to large-scale production. Among various as-prepared unary M1/NSC (M can be Fe, Co, Ni, V, Cr, Mn, Mo, Pd, W, Re, Ir, Pt, or Bi) catalysts, Fe1/NSC delivered excellent performance for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction to NH3 with high NH3 Faradaic efficiency of 86.6 % and high NH3 yield rate of 1.50 mg h-1 mgcat. -1 at -0.6 V vs. RHE. Even using Fe1/NSC as a cathode in a Zn-nitrate battery, it exhibited a high open circuit voltage of 1.756 V and high energy density of 4.42 mW cm-2 with good cycling stability.

Exploring the Immune Landscape of Cirrhosis through Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis.

Cirrhosis is a persistent hepatic ailment that emerges from a range of causes, including viral infections, alcoholic liver disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. It is distinguished by the replacement of normal liver parenchyma with fibrous scar tissue, culminating in the development of hepatic insufficiency, portal hypertension, and eventual liver collapse. Several molecular and cellular mechanisms contribute to cirrhosis' pathogenesis, including activation of immune cells and dysregulation of immune-related pathways. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) is a powerful data mining application used to identify gene modules and hub genes that are closely associated with specific phenotypes or conditions of interest. In this study, we performed WGCNA on publicly available gene expression datasets and subsequently assessed the roles of immune-related genes in the etiology and progression of cirrhosis, intending to explore potential therapeutic targets for this disease. GSE36411 gene expression profiling was extracted from the Gene Expression Omnibus repository (GEO). The transcriptomic data were submitted to Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to screen for the presence of key genes, and immune-related genes were filtered by comparison to the InateDB database. Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was included in the study to validate the significant modules generated from WGCNA. The key gene interaction network was constructed using GeneMANIA and Metascape. Kaplan-Meier method and Spearman correlation were used to evaluate the correlation of immune-related genes with prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and immune cell infiltration. Finally, we explored a possible mechanism using gene set enrichment (GSEA) analyses. In total, 2,102 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the gene expression profile dataset. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed, resulting in the classification of genes into 3 modules. Among these modules, the turquoise module was found to be most closely associated with cirrhosis. By comparing the turquoise module genes with an InateDB immune-related gene set, we identified 157 immune-associated genes. In addition, our study found that many hub genes are strongly associated with the number of immune-related genes in liver cirrhosis, in addition to a few modules associated with immune infiltration. It turns out that these hub genes were engaged in migration, activation, and immune cell regulation, as well as in the signaling pathways that drive the immune response to infection. Our research offered a deeper understanding of the underlying processes of immune infiltration in cirrhosis and also suggested potential treatment options for this troublesome condition. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of WGCNA in uncovering new knowledge regarding the biology of cirrhosis and the function of the immune system in this disease. More studies ought to focus on the validation of the identified hub genes and the determination of their clinical relevance. These results could serve as the basis for the creation of more potent therapies for those with liver cancer linked to cirrhosis.

Separation and colorimetric detection of Escherichia coli by phage tail fiber protein combined with nano-magnetic beads.

A colorimetric detection method for Escherichia coli (E. coli) in water was established based on a T7 phage tail fiber protein-magnetic separation. Firstly, the tail fiber protein (TFP) was expressed and purified to specifically recognize E. coli, which was verified by using fusion protein GFP-tagged TFP (GFP-TFP) and fluorescence microscopy. Then TFP conjugated with magnetic beads were applied to capture and separate E. coli. The TFP was covalently immobilized on the surface of magnetic beads and captured E. coli as verified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Finally, polymyxin B was used to lyse E. coli in solution and the released intracellular ß-galactosidase (ß-gal) could hydrolyze the colorimetric substrate chlorophenol red-ß-D-galactopyranoside (CPRG), causing color change from yellow to purple. The high capture efficiencies of E. coli ranged from 88.70% to 95.65% and E. coli could be detected at a concentration of 102 CFU/mL by naked eyes. The specificity of the chromogenic substrate was evaluated using five different pathogen strains as competitors and tests with four kinds of real water samples showed recoveries of 86.00% to 92.25%. The colorimetric changes determined by visual inspection can be developed as an efficient platform for point-of-care detection of E. coli in resource-limited regions.

A turn-on-type fluorescence resonance energy transfer aptasensor for vibrio detection using aptamer-modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-perovskite quantum dots/Ti3C2 MXenes composite probes.

A pair of composite probes based on aptamer modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane-perovskite quantum dots (POSS-PQDs-Apt) as signal probe and titanium carbide (Ti3C2) MXenes as quencher were prepared for the first time. They were employed to fabricate one turn-on-type aptasensor relying on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) for Vibrio parahaemolyticus (VP) determination. The POSS-PQDs-Apt can be adsorbed on the MXenes nanosheets, and its fluorescence was quenched due to the FRET. After the composite probes were incubated with VP for 50 min, the POSS-PQDs-Apt binding with VP can be released from the surface of MXenes, and the signal recovered due to its higher affinity to the VP than MXenes. The fluorescence intensity from 519 nm emission of the system was measured at 480 nm excitation. Under In optimized conditions, the assay can determine VP in the concentration range 102 - 106 cfu/mL, and the detection limit (LOD) was 30 cfu/mL using fluorescence detection. The LOD is still 100 cfu/mL by naked eye detection which is proper for on-line monitoring VP in aquaculture water. This method was also used to detect VP in actual samples of seawater, the recovery of spiked samples was between 93% and 106%, and relative standard deviation (RSD) was between 2.7% and 6.7%. The result is consistent with the plate count. Therefore, this assay could provide a candidate platform for screening VP in aquaculture industry.

Comparison between different infiltration models to describe the infiltration of permeable brick pavement system via a laboratory-scale experiment.

The permeable brick pavement system (PBPs) is one of a widely used low impact development (LID) measures to alleviate runoff volume and pollution caused by urbanization. The performance of PBPs on decreasing runoff volume is decided by its permeability, and it was general described by hydraulic conductivity based on Darcy's law. But there is large error when using hydraulic conductivity to describe the infiltration of PBPs, and which infiltration process is not following Darcy's law, so it is important to find more accurate infiltration models to describe the infiltration of PBPs. The Horton, Philip, Green-Ampt, and Kostiakov infiltration models were selected to find an optimal model to investigate infiltration performance of PBPs via a laboratory-scale experiment, and the maximum absolute error (MAE), Bias, and coefficient of determination (R2) were selected to evaluate the models' errors via fitting with experiment data. The results showed that the fitting accuracy of Kostiakov, Philip, and Green-Ampt models was significantly affected by the monitoring area and hydraulic gradients. Meanwhile, Horton model fitted well (MAE = 0.25-0.32 cm/h, Bias = 0.07-0.11 cm/h, and R2 = 0.98-0.99) with the experiment data, and the parameters of the Horton model often can be achieved by monitoring, such as the maximum infiltration rate and the stable infiltration rate. Therefore, the Horton model is an optimal model to describe the infiltration performance of PBPs, which can also be adopted to evaluate hydrological characterization of PBPs.

Simultaneously responsive microfluidic chip aptasensor for determination of kanamycin, aflatoxin M1, and 17ß-estradiol based on magnetic tripartite DNA assembly nanostructure probes.

The authors describe a microfluidic chip-based aptasensor platform combined with magnetic tripartite DNA structure-functionalized nanocomposites to achieve simultaneous determination of kanamycin (KANA), aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), and 17ß-estradiol (E2) in milk. The two-duplex tripartite DNA nanostructure was first assembled on the surface of magnetic beads. When the aptamer on the probes recognized the specific target, the aptamer-target would be released into the supernatant. The pre-primer@circular DNA template structure initiates rolling circle amplification (RCA) by phi29 polymerase. After magnetic separation, the magnetic nanocomposites were added into a solution containing three different lengths of complementary strands to the RCA products. The number of complementary strands significantly decrease, and this can be quantitated by the microfluidic chip. Further, the employment of magnetic nanocomposites and microfluidic chip not only resolve the complex matrix interference, but also dramatically enhances the determination selectivity and sensitivity. This aptasensor allows for determination of KANA, AFM1, and E2 with limits of detection as low as 0.32 pg mL-1, 0.95 pg mL-1, and 6.8 pg mL-1, respectively. This novel method exhibits the advantages of excellent stability and fast response time (< 3 min on microfluidic chip platform) for simultaneous determination of KANA, AFM1, and E2 in milk samples and ensures food safety. Graphical abstract.

Assessment of prevalence and risk factors of helicobacter pylori infection in an oilfield Community in Hebei, China.

BACKGROUND: Only a paucity of large-scale perspective and cross-sectional studies on H. pylori infection in China have been published. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for H. pylori infection among residents of Jidong community located in Hebei Province of China. METHODS: A perspective, cross-sectional study was conducted in Jidong community. Questionnaires and 13C-urea breath test were performed, and 10-ml blood samples were obtained for laboratory tests. RESULTS: Four thousand seven hundred ninety-six subjects were enrolled in this study, and 2506 (52.25%) were H. pylori positive. There was no difference in prevalence between both sexes (P = 0.5974). Age (P = 0.004) and education level (P = 0.0128) were significantly associated with H. pylori infection, and there were statistical trends in the prevalence across five age subgroups (χ2 test for trend = 23.5; P < 0.001) and education levels (χ2 test for trend = 19.50; P < 0.001). H. pylori infection was also associated with marital status (P = 0.0243), source of drinking water (P = 0.0433), frequency of eating raw garlic (P = 0.0310), alcohol drinking (P = 0.0207), knowledge about H. pylori transmission route (P = 0.0125) and related diseases (P = 0.0257). Age, alcohol drinking and knowledge about transmission route were found to be independent predictors of H. pylori infection. CONCLUSIONS: More than half of the population was infected with H. pylori in Jidong community. The socio-demographic profiles, socio-economic factors and lifestyle are worthy taking into consideration to prevent diseases associated with H. pylori infection. Understanding the prevalence and risk patterns for H. pylori infection in China will help in prioritizing public health efforts to better manage the H. pylori infection.

Value of preoperative ultrasound in evaluating the peritoneal cancer index of pseudomyxoma peritonei.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the value of preoperative ultrasonography (US) in evaluating the peritoneal cancer index (PCI) of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). METHODS: An ultrasound examination was performed on 59 patients with PMP before surgery, and the ultrasound PCI was evaluated. The accuracy of ultrasound PCI score was evaluated with the surgical PCI score as the gold standard. RESULTS: The preoperative ultrasound PCI was compared with the surgical PCI. The Spearman correlation coefficient of the total PCI score was 0.608 (P < 0.05). The difference in the Spearman correlation coefficient between the preoperative ultrasound PCI and the surgical PCI in areas 0-7 was statistically significant. (1) Among them, the total score and the correlation between 0-3 and 6 were higher. (2) Compared with the surgical PCI, overestimation (> 20%) was concentrated mainly in areas 2 and 4-8 for 2 points, and underestimation (< 20%) was concentrated mainly in areas 1, 3, 4, and 8 for 3 points. (3) The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative ultrasound for predicting the presence or absence of lesions were 85.7% and 50.0%, respectively. The sensitivity of LS 1, LS 2, and LS 3 was 31.7%, 48.2%, and 71.0%, respectively, and the specificity was 44.8%, 55.3%, and 58.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ultrasound examination can be used to score the preoperative PCI, judge the severity, and predict the prognosis in patients with PMP.