Coexisting Magnetism, Ferroelectric, and Ferrovalley Multiferroic in Stacking-Dependent Two-Dimensional Materials.

Two-dimensional (2D) multiferroic materials have widespread application prospects in facilitating the integration and miniaturization of nanodevices. However, the magnetic, ferroelectric, and ferrovalley properties in one 2D material are rarely coupled. Here, we propose a mechanism for manipulating magnetism, ferroelectric, and valley polarization by interlayer sliding in a 2D bilayer material. Monolayer GdI2 is a ferromagnetic semiconductor with a valley polarization of up to 155.5 meV. More interestingly, the magnetism and valley polarization of bilayer GdI2 can be strongly coupled by sliding ferroelectricity, making these tunable and reversible. In addition, we uncover the microscopic mechanism of the magnetic phase transition by a spin Hamiltonian and electron hopping between layers. Our findings offer a new direction for investigating 2D multiferroic devices with implications for next-generation electronic, valleytronic, and spintronic devices.

Chiral photon blockade in the spinning Kerr resonator.

We propose how to achieve chiral photon blockade by spinning a nonlinear optical resonator. We show that by driving such a device at a fixed direction, completely different quantum effects can emerge for the counter-propagating optical modes, due to the spinning-induced breaking of time-reversal symmetry, which otherwise is unattainable for the same device in the static regime. Also, we find that in comparison with the static case, robust non-classical correlations against random backscattering losses can be achieved for such a quantum chiral system. Our work, extending previous works on the spontaneous breaking of optical chiral symmetry from the classical to purely quantum regimes, can stimulate more efforts towards making and utilizing various chiral quantum effects, including applications for chiral quantum networks or noise-tolerant quantum sensors.

Multiple-photon bundle emission in the n-photon Jaynes-Cummings model.

We study the multiple-photon bundle emission in the n-photon Jaynes-Cummings model composed of a two-level system coupled to a single-mode optical field via the n-photon exciting process. Here, the two-level system is strongly driven by a near-resonant monochromatic field, and hence the system can work in the Mollow regime, in which a super-Rabi oscillation between the zero-photon state and the n-photon state can take place under proper resonant conditions. We calculate the photon number populations and the standard equal-time high-order correlation functions, and find that the multiple-photon bundle emission can occur in this system. The multiple-photon bundle emission is also confirmed by investigating the quantum trajectories of the state populations and both the standard and generalized time-delay second-order correlation functions for multiple-photon bundle. Our work paves the way towards the study of multiple-photon quantum coherent devices, with potential application in quantum information sciences and technologies.

Real-world applications of PARPi maintenance therapy for recurrent ovarian cancer: A single-center study in China.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the actual clinical application of poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) maintenance therapy in Chinese patients with recurrent ovarian cancer, and to explore prognostic factors associated with progression-free survival (PFS). METHODS: We retrospectively assessed real-world clinical data from our hospital using the inclusion and exclusion criteria of representative randomized controlled trials, analyzed the prognosis, and performed univariate and multivariate analyses of prognostic factors. RESULTS: Between 2019 and 2022, the proportion of platinum-sensitive recurrence ovarian cancer patients who received PARPi maintenance therapy increased to 29.6%, 53.3%, 43.8% and 62.2%, respectively, each year. A total of 48 patients were included in the prognostic analysis, of which 32 and 16 received olaparib and niraparib, respectively. Using the criteria of the Study19 and SOLO2 studies, the olaparib group in our patients had coincidence rates of 56.3% and 18.8%, respectively. Using the criteria of the NOVA and NORA studies, the niraparib group had coincidence rates of 31.3% and 37.5%, respectively. Median PFS was 26.1 months (95% CI 20.2-32.1). Response to primary therapy was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (relative risk, 3.248; 95% CI 1.081-9.757, P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: PARPi maintenance therapy was also effective in real world applications. Complete response (CR) to primary therapy was an independent factor favorably affecting PFS. Therefore, primary treatment choices aimed at optimal cytoreduction during primary surgery and improving the CR rate should still be considered, which positively affects the long-term prognosis of patients in the new treatment mode.

Percutaneous vertebral augmentation using drill rotation for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with intravertebral vacuum cleft.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of a new technique of percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA): drill rotation-cement injected under vacuum aspiration (DR-CIVAS) for vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs) with intravertebral vacuum cleft (IVC) sign. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 46 consecutive patients with OVCFs and IVC signs, who underwent PVA using DR-CIVAS (n = 22, DR-CIVAS group) or traditional technique without DR-CIVAS (n = 24, control group). The pre- and postoperative vertebral height and wedge angle change and visual analog scale (VAS), the volume of cement injected, incidences of cement leakage, and subsequent new vertebral compression fractures were evaluated between the two groups. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in cement leakage incidences, pre- and postoperative VAS scores, vertebral height, and wedge angle change between the two groups. The mean cement volume was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in DR-CIVAS group (4.87 mL) than in the control group (3.58 mL). Of the 22 patients in DR-CIVAS group, the subsequent fractures occurred in 2 cases (9.1%) located in the nonadjacent levels. In the control group, the subsequent fractures occurred in 6 cases (25.0%) located in the adjacent level (n = 1) and the augmented levels (n = 5). Although DR-CIVAS group did not demonstrate a statistical reduction of the incidence of subsequent fractures (P = 0.25), the subgroup analysis revealed that subsequent fractures frequently involved the augmented level in the control group (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: PVA with DR-CIVAS technique is effective for OVCFs with IVC sign, with lower incidences of subsequent new vertebral compression fractures in the augmented vertebra.

[Development of resources, technologies and services at the China Zebrafish Resource Center].

With the rapid growth of the Chinese zebrafish community, there is an increasing demand for various types of zebrafish-related resources and technologies. The China Zebrafish Resource Center (CZRC, web: http://zfish.cn) was established at the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) in 2012. Till now, CZRC has built the largest zebrafish aquaculture unit in China, organized a resource bank containing more than 1200 zebrafish lines and more than 10 000 frozen sperm samples, among which over 200 mutant and transgenic lines were generated by CZRC. CZRC has established several technical supporting platforms, such as the zebrafish husbandry and health control program of international standard, a high-efficient gene manipulation technology platform, and a stable and efficient sperm cryopreservation technology platform. The main task of CZRC is to provide different types of services to zebrafish investigators in China and worldwide, such as resource services (e.g. zebrafish lines), technical services (e.g. gene knockout) and transgenic services, consultancy services (e.g. zebrafish husbandry and health consultation), and conference services [e.g. holding regular technical training courses and biennale Chinese Zebrafish Principal Investigator Meeting (CZPM)]. After five years' development, CZRC is now recognized as one of the three major resource centers in the global zebrafish community.

Comparison of percutaneous long bone cementoplasty with or without embedding a cement-filled catheter for painful long bone metastases with impending fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of percutaneous long bone cementoplasty (PLBC) with and without embedding a cement-filled catheter in the medullary canal (ECFC) for painful long bone metastases with impending fracture. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in 36 consecutive patients undergoing PLBC and ECFC combination (n = 17, group A) or PLBC alone (n = 19, group B). All patients had a high risk of impending fracture in the long bone based on Mirels' scoring system. Clinical effects were evaluated using both a pre- and a postoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) and Karnofsky performance scale (KPS). RESULTS: Overall pain relief rate with excellent (VAS 0-2) and good (VAS 2.5-4.5) results during follow-up was significantly higher in group A than in group B (88.2 % vs. 57.9 %, P<0.05). The average VAS and KPS changes in group A were significantly higher than those in group B at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively (P<0.05). Also, the rate of fractures of the treated long bone in group A was significantly lower than that in group B (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Combined PLBC and ECFC is a safe and effective procedure for long bone metastases with impending fracture. KEY POINTS: • Metastases in long bones may cause pain and subsequent pathological fractures. • Cementoplasty resulted in significant pain relief in patients with long bone metastases. • Combination of PLBC and ECFC may reduce the incidence of fractures.

An Alkaline-Stable, Metal Hydroxide Mimicking Metal-Organic Framework for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution.

Postsynthetic ion exchange of [Co2(µ-Cl)2(btta)] (MAF-X27-Cl, H2bbta =1H,5H-benzo(1,2-d:4,5-d')bistriazole) possessing open metal sites on its pore surface yields a material [Co2(µ-OH)2(bbta)] (MAF-X27-OH) functionalized by both open metal sites and hydroxide ligands, giving drastically improved electrocatalytic activities for the oxygen evolution reaction (an overpotential of 292 mV at 10.0 mA cm(-2) in 1.0 M KOH solution). Isotope tracing experiments further confirm that the hydroxide ligands are involved in the OER process to provide a low-energy intraframework coupling pathway.

[Anti-inflammatory effect of recombinant human kallistatin in ulcerative colitis of mice].

This study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of recombinant human kallistatin (Kal) on ulcerative colitis (UC) in the mouse model. Acute colitis was induced by administration of 4% dextran sodium suffate (DSS) to KM mice for 7 days. The mice were then randomized into 5 groups: model control, Kal 0.2 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), 1.0 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1) and 2.0 mg·kg-1·d(-1) group, salazosulfapyridine (SASP) group. Ten age-matched normal KM mouse were administered with saline in the normal control. The weight, colon length, inflammation factor (MPO/SOD/MDA) and TNF-α/IL-10 levels among the five groups of mice were determined. The results showed that histological index score and MPO/MDA/TNF-α levels of high-dose Kal treatment group and SASP group were significantly lower compared with the model group (P < 0.01), but the weight, colon length, IL-10 level and SOD activity were significant higher than the model group (P < 0.01), approaching the normal group. These parameters showed that Kal can significantly relieve the UC state in a dose-dependent manner. This study demonstrates that Kal significantly remits UC in mice, and participates in the regulation of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α/IL-10 levels and has some antioxidant activity.