Achieving a Noise Limit with a Few-layer WSe2 Avalanche Photodetector at Room Temperature.

We engineered a two-dimensional Pt/WSe2/Ni avalanche photodetector (APD) optimized for ultraweak signal detection at room temperature. By fine-tuning the work functions, we achieved an ultralow dark current of 10-14 A under small bias, with a noise equivalent power (NEP) of 8.09 fW/Hz1/2. This performance is driven by effective dark barrier blocking and a record-long electron mean free path (123 nm) in intrinsic WSe2, minimizing dark carrier replenishment and suppressing noise under an ultralow electric field. Our APD exhibits a high gain of 5 × 105 at a modulation frequency of 20 kHz, effectively balancing gain and bandwidth, a common challenge in traditional photovoltaic-based APDs. By addressing the typical challenges of high noise and low gain and minimizing dependence on high electric fields, this work highlights the potential of 2D materials in developing efficient, low-power, and ultrasensitive photodetections.

Non-linear associations between cardiovascular metabolic indices and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease: A cross-sectional study in the US population (2017-2020).

The cardiometabolic index (CMI) is an emerging and effective indicator for predicting the presence of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). This study aims to investigate the relationship between CMI and MAFLD using data from NHANES 2017-2020. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 3,749 subjects were included. The study conducted a thorough analysis of CMI with three multivariate logistic regression models, subgroup analyses, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were utilized. Using multifactorial logistic regression as the primary method of analysis, we found that a higher CMI was also significantly associated with an increased risk of MAFLD (OR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.05-2.01)). This result was further visualized by the RCS curve: There was a non-linear positive correlation between CMI and MAFLD incidence (the turning point is CMI = 0.4554). These findings were strongly reinforced by subsequent subgroup and sensitivity analyses. There is a robust positive relationship between the CMI and the risk of MAFLD, providing valuable clinical benefits for early detection and screening of MAFLD. It is important to highlight the presence of a non-linear association between CMI and MAFLD, with an inflection point identified at CMI = 0.4554.

Diaph1 knockout inhibits mouse primordial germ cell proliferation and affects gonadal development.

BACKGROUND: Exploring the molecular mechanisms of primordial germ cell (PGC) migration and the involvement of gonadal somatic cells in gonad development is valuable for comprehending the origins and potential treatments of reproductive-related diseases. METHODS: Diaphanous related formin 1 (Diaph1, also known as mDia1) was screened by analyzing publicly available datasets (ATAC-seq, DNase-seq, and RNA-seq). Subsequently, the CRISPR-Cas9 technology was used to construct Diaph1 knockout mice to investigate the role of Diaph1 in gonad development. RESULTS: Based on data from public databases, a differentially expressed gene Diaph1, was identified in the migration of mouse PGC. Additionally, the number of PGCs was significantly reduced in Diaph1 knockout mice compared to wild type mice, and the expression levels of genes related to proliferation (Dicer1, Mcm9), adhesion (E-cadherin, Cdh1), and migration (Cxcr4, Hmgcr, Dazl) were significantly decreased. Diaph1 knockout also inhibited Leydig cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in the testis, as well as granulosa cell apoptosis in the ovary. Moreover, the sperm count in the epididymal region and the count of ovarian follicles were significantly reduced in Diaph1 knockout mice, resulting in decreased fertility, concomitant with lowered levels of serum testosterone and estradiol. Further research found that in Diaph1 knockout mice, the key enzymes involved in testosterone synthesis (CYP11A1, 3ß-HSD) were decreased in Leydig cells, and the estradiol-associated factor (FSH receptor, AMH) in granulosa cells were also downregulated. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our findings indicate that the knockout of Diaph1 can disrupt the expression of factors that regulate sex hormone production, leading to impaired secretion of sex hormones, ultimately resulting in damage to reproductive function. These results provide a new perspective on the molecular mechanisms underlying PGC migration and gonadal development, and offer valuable insights for further research on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of related diseases.

Unlocking ultra-high holographic information capacity through nonorthogonal polarization multiplexing.

Contemporary studies in polarization multiplexing are hindered by the intrinsic orthogonality constraints of polarization states, which restrict the scope of multiplexing channels and their practical applications. This research transcends these barriers by introducing an innovative nonorthogonal polarization-basis multiplexing approach. Utilizing spatially varied eigen-polarization states within metaatoms, we successfully reconstruct globally nonorthogonal channels that exhibit minimal crosstalk. This method not only facilitates the generation of free-vector holograms, achieving complete degrees-of-freedom in three nonorthogonal channels with ultra-low energy leakage, but it also significantly enhances the dimensions of the Jones matrix, expanding it to a groundbreaking 10 × 10 scale. The fusion of a controllable eigen-polarization engineering mechanism with a vectorial diffraction neural network culminates in the experimental creation of 55 intricate holographic patterns across these expanded channels. This advancement represents a profound shift in the field of polarization multiplexing, unlocking opportunities in advanced holography and quantum encryption, among other applications.

Hybridization of bimetallic cobalt-molybdenum oxide multihole nanosheets with selenium adulteration as advanced bifunctional electrocatalysts for boosting overall water splitting.

Electrocatalytic water splitting produces green and pollution-free hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, which can effectively alleviate energy crisis. In this paper, bimetallic and selenium doped cobalt molybdate (Se-CoMoO4) nanosheets with rough surface are resoundingly prepared. The multihole Se-CoMoO4 nanosheets display ultrathin and rectangular architecture with the dimensions of âˆ¼ 3.5 µm and 700 nm for length and width, respectively. The Se-CoMoO4 electrocatalyst shows remarkable water electrolysis activity and stability. The overpotentials of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are 270 and 63.3 mV at 10 mA cm-2, along with low Tafel slopes of 51.6 and 62.0 mV dec-1. Furthermore, the Se-CoMoO4 couple electrolyzer merely requires a cell voltage of 1.48 V to achieve 10 mA cm-2 current density and presents no apparent attenuation for 30 h. This investigation declares that the hybridization of transition bimetallic oxide with nonmetallic adulteration can afford a tactic for the preparation of bifunctional non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts.

Room-Temperature Band-Aligned Infrared Heterostructures for Integrable Sensing and Communication.

The demand for miniaturized and integrated multifunctional devices drives the progression of high-performance infrared photodetectors for diverse applications, including remote sensing, air defense, and communications, among others. Nonetheless, infrared photodetectors that rely solely on single low-dimensional materials often face challenges due to the limited absorption cross-section and suboptimal carrier mobility, which can impair sensitivity and prolong response times. Here, through experimental validation is demonstrated, precise control over energy band alignment in a type-II van der Waals heterojunction, comprising vertically stacked 2D Ta2NiSe5 and the topological insulator Bi2Se3, where the configuration enables polarization-sensitive, wide-spectral-range photodetection. Experimental evaluations at room temperature reveal that the device exhibits a self-powered responsivity of 0.48 A·W-1, a specific directivity of 3.8 × 1011 cm·Hz1/2·W-1, a response time of 151 µs, and a polarization ratio of 2.83. The stable and rapid photoresponse of the device underpins the utility in infrared-coded communication and dual-channel imaging, showing the substantial potential of the detector. These findings articulate a systematic approach to developing miniaturized, multifunctional room-temperature infrared detectors with superior performance metrics and enhanced capabilities for multi-information acquisition.

A bicarboxaminoquinoline-based ratiometric fluorescent sensor for the sequential detection of Zn2+ and PPi.

A new ratiometric fluorescent sensor (LP) based on bicarboxaminoquinoline was designed and synthesized for sequentially recognizing Zn2+ and PPi. In aqueous solution, LP exhibited the ratiometric fluorescence response towards Zn2+, along with the about 4-folds enhancement of fluorescence quantum yield. Subsequently, the LP-Zn2+ complex displayed the fluorescence recovery upon adding PPi through the displacement strategy. And the LODs of LP and its Zn2+ complex for sensing Zn2+ and PPi were found to be 15 nM and 5.5 nM, respectively. Notably, the reversibility of LP for sequentially sensing Zn2+ and PPi had been employed to construct the INHIBIT logic gate. Moreover, LP and its Zn2+ complex had been successfully utilized for the detection of Zn2+ and PPi in two real water samples and cells imaging.

A Nomogram Based on Conventional Ultrasound Radiomics for Differentiating Between Radial Scar and Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast.

ABSTRACT: We aimed to develop and validate a nomogram based on conventional ultrasound (CUS) radiomics model to differentiate radial scar (RS) from invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. In total, 208 patients with histopathologically diagnosed RS or IDC of the breast were enrolled. They were randomly divided in a 7:3 ratio into a training cohort (n = 145) and a validation cohort (n = 63). Overall, 1316 radiomics features were extracted from CUS images. Then a radiomics score was constructed by filtering unstable features and using the maximum relevance minimum redundancy algorithm and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression algorithm. Two models were developed using data from the training cohort: one using clinical and CUS characteristics (Clin + CUS model) and one using clinical information, CUS characteristics, and the radiomics score (radiomics model). The usefulness of nomogram was assessed based on their differentiating ability and clinical utility. Nine features from CUS images were used to build the radiomics score. The radiomics nomogram showed a favorable predictive value for differentiating RS from IDC, with areas under the curve of 0.953 and 0.922 for the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Decision curve analysis indicated that this model outperformed the Clin + CUS model and the radiomics score in terms of clinical usefulness. The results of this study may provide a novel method for noninvasively distinguish RS from IDC.

A case report of onycholemmal carcinoma in a 61-year-old Chinese male.

Onycholemmal carcinoma is characterized as a slowly progressing malignant tumor originating from the epithelium of the nail bed. A limited number of cases have been documented in the English literature. The majority of the patients included in the reports underwent amputation of the affected phalanx, and no instances of recurrence were noted during the follow-up period. A 61-year-old Chinese male presented with a persistent ulceration on the nail bed of the right great toe. Microscopic analysis indicated the presence of an epithelial tumor consisting of small keratocysts with sudden central keratinization and atypical keratinocyte nests that were devoid of a granular layer. The tumor exhibited infiltrative growth within the dermis, displaying a multilobulated pattern, but did not extend into the distal phalangeal bone. Based on these findings, the diagnosis of onycholemmal carcinoma was made for this case. All documented cases indicate that onycholemmal carcinoma is a rare malignant tumor originating from the nail bed epithelium, and its clinical progression is typically slow and non-aggressive. This case is presented to provide an analysis of the clinical and pathological features of onycholemmal carcinoma, aiming to assist in the clinical selection of treatment options.

Curcumin alleviates zearalenone-induced liver injury in mice by scavenging reactive oxygen species and inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Curcumin (CUR) is a compound extracted from turmeric that has a variety of functions including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. As an estrogen-like mycotoxin, zearalenone (ZEN) not only attacks the reproductive system, but also has toxic effects on the liver. However, whether CUR can alleviate ZEN-induced liver injury remains unclear. This paper aims to investigate the protective effect of CUR against ZEN-induced liver injury in mice and explore the molecular mechanism involved. BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control (CON) group, CUR group (200 mg/kg b. w. CUR), ZEN group (40 mg/kg b. w. ZEN) and CUR+ZEN group (200 mg/kg b. w. CUR+40 mg/kg b. w. ZEN). 28 d after ZEN exposure and CUR treatment, blood and liver samples were collected for subsequent testing. The results showed that CUR reversed ZEN-induced hepatocyte swelling and necrosis in mice. It significantly reduced the serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in mice (p < 0.05). In addition, CUR significantly reduced hepatic ROS, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and apoptosis levels in mice (p < 0.05). Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot results showed that CUR significantly reduced the expression of Bax and Caspase3, and reversed the increase of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 expression in the liver of mice induced by ZEN (p < 0.05). In conclusion, CUR alleviated ZEN-induced liver injury in mice by scavenging ROS and inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Dynamically Reconfigurable on-Chip Polarimeters Based on Nanoantenna Enabled Polarization Dependent Optoelectronic Computing.

On-chip polarization detectors have attracted extensive research interest due to their filterless and ultracompact architecture. However, their polarization-dependent photoresponses cannot be dynamically adjusted, hindering the development toward intelligence. Here, we propose dynamically reconfigurable polarimetry based on in-sensor differentiation of two self-powered photoresponses with orthogonal polarization dependences and tunable responsivities. Such a device can be electrostatically configured in an ultrahigh polarization extinction ratio (PER) mode, where the PER tends to infinity, a Stokes parameter direct sensing mode, where the photoresponse is proportional to S1 or S2 with high accuracy (RMSES1 = 1.5%, RMSES2 = 2.0%), or a background suppressing mode, where the target-background polarization contrast is singularly enhanced. Moreover, the device achieves a polarization angle sensitivity of 0.51 mA·W-1·degree-1 and a specific polarization angle detectivity of 2.8 × 105 cm·Hz1/2·W·degree-1. This scheme is demonstrated throughout the near-to-long-wavelength infrared range, and it will bring a leap for next-generation on-chip polarimeters.

Domain nucleation kinetics and polarization-texture-dependent electronic properties in two-dimensional α-In2Se3 ferroelectrics.

Two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectric semiconductors, such as α-In2Se3 with switchable spontaneous polarization and superior optoelectronic properties, exhibit large potential for functional device applications. The electric transport properties and device performance of 2D α-In2Se3 are strongly sensitive to the ferroelectric domain structures and polarization textures, but they are rarely explored at the atomic scale. Herein, by a combination of first-principles calculations and a developed domain switching theory, we report the domain nucleation kinetics and polarization-texture dependent electronic properties in α-In2Se3 ferroelectrics. Our calculated results reveal that the reversed domains characterized by armchair boundaries tend to form triangular or stripped shape. The energy barrier for propagating domain boundaries is ∼1.42 eV and can be reduced by loading external electric field, which is responsible for driving the evolution of domain structures. Moreover, the domain switching leads to notable changes in the band gap and carrier spatial distribution of α-In2Se3 monolayer, resulting in higher electric resistance of multi-polarization domain structures than that of single-polarization state. The domain structures of multilayer α-In2Se3 follow a layer-by-layer switching mechanism, which causes the transition of electronic structures from self-doped p-n junctions to type-II semiconductor homojunctions. This study not only provides an in-depth insight into the domain switching mechanisms of α-In2Se3 but also opens up the possibility to tailor their electronic and transport properties.

Requirement of WDR70 for POLE3-mediated DNA double-strand breaks repair.

H2BK120ub1 triggers several prominent downstream histone modification pathways and changes in chromatin structure, therefore involving it into multiple critical cellular processes including DNA transcription and DNA damage repair. Although it has been reported that H2BK120ub1 is mediated by RNF20/40 and CRL4WDR70, less is known about the underlying regulation mechanism for H2BK120ub1 by WDR70. By using a series of biochemical and cell-based studies, we find that WDR70 promotes H2BK120ub1 by interacting with RNF20/40 complex, and deposition of H2BK120ub1 and H3K79me2 in POLE3 loci is highly sensitive to POLE3 transcription. Moreover, we demonstrate that POLE3 interacts CHRAC1 to promote DNA repair by regulation on the expression of homology-directed repair proteins and KU80 recruitment and identify CHRAC1 D121Y mutation in colorectal cancer, which leads to the defect in DNA repair due to attenuated the interaction with POLE3. These findings highlight a previously unknown role for WDR70 in maintenance of genomic stability and imply POLE3 and CHRAC1 as potential therapeutic targets in cancer.

Toroidal Dipole BIC-Driven Highly Robust Perfect Absorption with a Graphene-Loaded Metasurface.

Achieving perfect absorption in few-layer two-dimensional (2D) materials plays a crucial role in applications such as optoelectronics and sensing. However, the underlying mechanisms of all reported works imply a strongly inherent dependence of the central wavelength on the structural parameters. Here, we propose a structure-parameter-deviation immune method for achieving perfect absorption at any desired wavelength by harnessing the toroidal dipole-bound state in the continuum (TD BIC). We experimentally demonstrate the versatile design with a monolayer-graphene-loaded compound grating structure. Such a TD BIC built upon the TE31 mode allows for the transition from BIC to quasi-BIC without breaking the structural symmetry, enabling the stable resonance wavelength while tailoring the quality factors via variation of the gap distance. Comparison with traditional literature further reveals the superiority of our method in realizing highly robust perfect absorption, with a wavelength stability ratio of >15. Remarkably, this approach can be straightforwardly applied to other 2D materials.

Continuous-Spectrum-Polarization Recombinant Optical Encryption with a Dielectric Metasurface.

The Jones matrix, with eight degrees of freedom (DoFs), provides a general mathematical framework for the multifunctional design of metasurfaces. Theoretically, the maximum eight DoFs can be further extended in the spectrum dimension to endow unique encryption capabilities. However, the topology and intrinsic spectral responses of meta-atoms constrains the continuous engineering of polarization evolution over wavelength dimension. In this work, a forward evolution strategy to quickly establish the mapping relationships between the solutions of the dispersion Jones matrix and the spectral responses of meta-atoms is reported. Based on the eigenvector transformation method, arbitrary conjugate polarization channels over the continuous-spectrum dimension are successfully reconstructed. As a proof-of-concept, a silicon metadevice is demonstrated for optical information encryption transmission. Remarkably, the arbitrary combination forms of polarization and wavelength dimension increase the information capacity (210 ), and the measured polarization contrasts of the conjugate polarization conversion are >94% in the entire wavelength range (3-4 µm). It is believed that the proposed approach will benefit secure optical and quantum information technologies.

The Microscopic Mechanisms of Nonlinear Rectification on Si-MOSFETs Terahertz Detector.

Studying the nonlinear photoresponse of different materials, including III-V semiconductors, two-dimensional materials and many others, is attracting burgeoning interest in the terahertz (THz) field. Especially, developing field-effect transistor (FET)-based THz detectors with preferred nonlinear plasma-wave mechanisms in terms of high sensitivity, compactness and low cost is a high priority for advancing performance imaging or communication systems in daily life. However, as THz detectors continue to shrink in size, the impact of the hot-electron effect on device performance is impossible to ignore, and the physical process of THz conversion remains elusive. To reveal the underlying microscopic mechanisms, we have implemented drift-diffusion/hydrodynamic models via a self-consistent finite-element solution to understand the dynamics of carriers at the channel and the device structure dependence. By considering the hot-electron effect and doping dependence in our model, the competitive behavior between the nonlinear rectification and hot electron-induced photothermoelectric effect is clearly presented, and it is found that the optimized source doping concentrations can be utilized to reduce the hot-electron effect on the devices. Our results not only provide guidance for further device optimization but can also be extended to other novel electronic systems for studying THz nonlinear rectification.

Configurable circular-polarization-dependent optoelectronic silent state for ultrahigh light ellipticity discrimination.

Filterless light-ellipticity-sensitive optoelectronic response generally has low discrimination, thus severely hindering the development of monolithic polarization detectors. Here, we achieve a breakthrough based on a configurable circular-polarization-dependent optoelectronic silent state created by the superposition of two photoresponses with enantiomerically opposite ellipticity dependences. The zero photocurrent and the significantly suppressed noise of the optoelectronic silent state singularly enhance the circular polarization extinction ratio (CPER) and the sensitivity to light ellipticity perturbation. The CPER of our device approaches infinity by the traditional definition. The newly established CPER taking noise into account is 3-4 orders of magnitude higher than those of ordinary integrated circular polarization detectors, and it remains high in an expanded wavelength range. The noise equivalent light ellipticity difference goes below 0.009° Hz-1/2 at modulation frequencies above 1000 Hz by a light power of 281 µW. This scheme brings a leap in developing monolithic ultracompact circular polarization detectors.

Vertical and porous MoS2-CoS2heterojunction nanosheet arrays as highly efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for oxygen and hydrogen evolutions.

Highly efficient water electrolytic agents are restricted by the lack of cheap and Earth-abundant catalysts that can manipulate at unharsh conditions and be prepared with a simple procedure. Here, hierarchically vertical and porous MoS2-CoS2heterojunction nanosheet arrays are designed and fabricated. The MoS2-CoS2nanosheets are composed of ultrasmall nanocrytallites with the dimension of ∼62 nm. This special and novel architecture presents synergistic properties to create excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), where high density active sites generated by ultrasmall nanocrytallites with heterostructures, and the vertical and porous structure accelerates electrolyte transport with luxuriant channels while this hierarchically collaborative framework guarantees completely exposed active sites to electrolytes. This electrode shows low overpotentials of 295 and 103 mV at 10 mA cm-2, small Tafel slopes of 70 and 78 mV dec-1, and long stability for OER and HER, respectively. This work indicates that vertical and porous heterojunction nanosheet arrays with hierarchically ultrasmall secondary nanostructures are a promising catalyst for widespread application.

High-Throughput Computational Screening of All-MXene Metal-Semiconductor Junctions for Schottky-Barrier-Free Contacts with Weak Fermi-Level Pinning.

Van der Waals (vdW) metal-semiconductor junctions (MSJs) exhibit huge potential to reduce the contact resistance and suppress the Fermi-level pinning (FLP) for improving the device performance, but they are limited by optional (2D) metals with a wide range of work functions. Here a new class of vdW MSJs entirely composed of atomically thin MXenes is reported. Using high-throughput first-principles calculations, highly stable 80 metals and 13 semiconductors are screened from 2256 MXene structures. The selected MXenes cover a broad range of work functions (1.8-7.4 eV) and bandgaps (0.8-3 eV), providing a versatile material platform for constructing all-MXene vdW MSJs. The contact type of 1040 all-MXene vdW MSJs based on Schottky barrier heights (SBHs) is identified. Unlike conventional 2D vdW MSJs, the formation of all-MXene vdW MSJs leads to interfacial polarization, which is responsible for the FLP and deviation of SBHs from the prediction of Schottky-Mott rule. Based on a set of screening criteria, six Schottky-barrier-free MSJs with weak FLP and high carrier tunneling probability (>50%) are identified. This work offers a new way to realize vdW contacts for the development of high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices.

A novel diagnostic signature of circulating tsRNAs and miRNAs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma detected with a microfluidic platform.

Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) consisting of tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) and miRNAs can be released by cancer cells and detected in blood, offering great potential for diagnosis of malignant tumors such as squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (ESCC). One of the major challenges for the clinical application of blood-based sncRNAs biomarkers is the difficulty of detection because of their small sncRNA size and low abundance. The deferentially expressed tsRNAs and miRNAs in plasma were studied with high-throughput sequencing and polymerase chain reaction in ESCC cohorts. A novel signature containing tRF-55:74-chrM.Phe-GAA, tRF-56:75-Ala-CGC-1-M4 and miR-4488 was identified with diagnostic potential. The signature was further confirmed by an attomolar-level ultrasensitive and rapid microfluidic biochip, which can achieve a multiplex, simple and low-cost detection. Our results indicated that a combination of tsRNAs and miRNAs has high diagnostic efficiency and tremendous potential to act as specific biomarkers through a reliable, highly sensitive, fast, and economic microfluidic biochip for ESCC diagnosis.