Global trends and projections of colorectal, esophageal and stomach cancer burden among youth associated with diet: A analysis of 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019 and until 2040.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy diets significantly contribute to stomach, colorectal and esophageal cancer burden globally. Western diets high in processed and red meats promote carcinogenesis in these gastrointestinal cancers. However, adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients' unique needs regarding these cancers have been neglected. METHODS: Data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease study was used to quantify stomach, colorectal and esophageal cancer burden among AYAs from 1990 to 2040 across 204 countries. Correlations between the burden of these cancers and the Socio-demographic Index were examined. RESULTS: High SDI locations experienced the largest reduction in cancer DALY rate change from 1990 to 2019 (-22% [-12 to -33]), compared to a small increase in low-middle SDI regions. Middle SDI areas saw the largest reduction in DALY rate change from 1990 to 2019 (-62% [-32 to -75]), compared to a small decrease in low-middle SDI locations (-9% [-27 to 10]) in esophageal cancer. From 1990-2019, stomach cancer deaths and DALYs declined across all SDI regions, with the largest reductions in high SDI locations (-61% [-57 to -69]) and smallest in low-middle SDI areas (-25% [-13 to -34]). Colorectal cancer deaths and DALYs rose across all SDI regions except high SDI locations, which showed a slight decrease. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the evolving global burden of stomach, colorectal and esophageal cancers among AYAs. The highest burden was in high-middle and high SDI regions, underscoring the need to prioritize initiatives targeting these gastrointestinal malignancies in youth.

Rupatadine inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation through the PIP5K1A/Akt/CDK2 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase type 1 alpha (PIP5K1A) acts upstream of the Akt regulatory pathway and is abnormally expressed in many types of malignancies. However, the role and mechanism of PIP5K1A in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not yet been reported. In this study, we aimed to determine the association between PIP5K1A and progression of CRC and assess the efficacy and mechanism by which rupatadine targets PIP5K1A. METHODS: Firstly, expression and function of PIP5K1A in CRC were investigated by human colon cancer tissue chip analysis and cell proliferation assay. Next, rupatadine was screened by computational screening and cytotoxicity assay and interactions between PIP5K1A and rupatadine assessed by kinase activity detection assay and bio-layer interferometry analysis. Next, rupatadine's anti-tumor effect was evaluated by in vivo and in vitro pharmacodynamic assays. Finally, rupatadine's anti-tumor mechanism was explored by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: We found that PIP5K1A exerts tumor-promoting effects as a proto-oncogene in CRC and aberrant PIP5K1A expression correlates with CRC malignancy. We also found that rupatadine down-regulates cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and cyclin D1 protein expression by inhibiting the PIP5K1A/Akt/GSK-3ß pathway, induces cell cycle arrest, and inhibits CRC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: PIP5K1A is a potential drug target for treating CRC. Rupatadine, which targets PIP5K1A, could serve as a new option for treating CRC, its therapeutic mechanism being related to regulation of the Akt/GSK-3ß signaling pathway.

Comparison between computer recognition and manual measurement methods for the estimation of leaf area.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Leaf area (A) is a crucial indicator of the photosynthetic capacity of plants. The Montgomery equation (ME), which hypothesizes that A is proportional to the product of leaf length (L) and width (W), is a valid tool for nondestructively measuring A for many broad-leaved plants. At present, the methods used to compute L and W for ME can be broadly divided into two kinds: using computer recognition, and measuring manually. However, the potential difference in the prediction accuracy using either method has not been thoroughly examined in prior studies. METHODS: In the present study, we measured 540 Alangium chinense leaves, 489 Liquidambar formosana leaves, and 215 Liriodendron × sinoamericanum leaves, utilizing computer recognition and manual measurement methods to determine L and W. ME was used to fit the data determined by the two methods, and the goodness of fits were compared. The prediction errors of A were analyzed by examining the correlations with two leaf symmetry indices (areal ratio of the left side to the right side, and standardized index for bilateral asymmetry), as well as the leaf shape complexity index (the leaf dissection index). KEY RESULTS: The results indicate that there is a neglectable difference in the estimation of A between both methods. This further validates that ME is an effective method for estimating A in broad-leaved tree species, including those with lobes. Additionally, leaf shape complexity significantly influenced the estimation of A. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the use of computer recognition and manual measurement in the field are both effective and feasible, although the influence of leaf shape complexity should be considered when applying ME to estimate A in the future.

Anaerobic biodegradation of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and microbial community composition in soil amended with a dechlorinating culture and chlorinated solvents.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), one of the most frequently detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) occurring in soil, surface water, and groundwater near sites contaminated with aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), has proven to be recalcitrant to many destructive remedies, including chemical oxidation. We investigated the potential to utilize microbially mediated reduction (bioreduction) to degrade PFOS and other PFAS through addition of a known dehalogenating culture, WBC-2, to soil obtained from an AFFF-contaminated site. A substantial decrease in total mass of PFOS (soil and water) was observed in microcosms amended with WBC-2 and chlorinated volatile organic compound (cVOC) co-contaminants - 46.4 ± 11.0 % removal of PFOS over the 45-day experiment. In contrast, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) concentrations did not decrease in the same microcosms. The low or non-detectable concentrations of potential metabolites in full PFAS analyses, including after application of the total oxidizable precursor assay, indicated that defluorination occurred to non-fluorinated compounds or ultrashort-chain PFAS. Nevertheless, additional research on the metabolites and degradation pathways is needed. Population abundances of known dehalorespirers did not change with PFOS removal during the experiment, making their association with PFOS removal unclear. An increased abundance of sulfate reducers in the genus Desulfosporosinus (Firmicutes) and Sulfurospirillum (Campilobacterota) was observed with PFOS removal, most likely linked to initiation of biodegradation by desulfonation. These results have important implications for development of in situ bioremediation methods for PFAS and advancing knowledge of natural attenuation processes.

Integrating spatial and single-cell transcriptomics reveals tumor heterogeneity and intercellular networks in colorectal cancer.

Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), a powerful tool for studying the tumor microenvironment (TME), does not preserve/provide spatial information on tissue morphology and cellular interactions. To understand the crosstalk between diverse cellular components in proximity in the TME, we performed scRNA-seq coupled with spatial transcriptomic (ST) assay to profile 41,700 cells from three colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor-normal-blood pairs. Standalone scRNA-seq analyses revealed eight major cell populations, including B cells, T cells, Monocytes, NK cells, Epithelial cells, Fibroblasts, Mast cells, Endothelial cells. After the identification of malignant cells from epithelial cells, we observed seven subtypes of malignant cells that reflect heterogeneous status in tumor, including tumor_CAV1, tumor_ATF3_JUN | FOS, tumor_ZEB2, tumor_VIM, tumor_WSB1, tumor_LXN, and tumor_PGM1. By transferring the cellular annotations obtained by scRNA-seq to ST spots, we annotated four regions in a cryosection from CRC patients, including tumor, stroma, immune infiltration, and colon epithelium regions. Furthermore, we observed intensive intercellular interactions between stroma and tumor regions which were extremely proximal in the cryosection. In particular, one pair of ligands and receptors (C5AR1 and RPS19) was inferred to play key roles in the crosstalk of stroma and tumor regions. For the tumor region, a typical feature of TMSB4X-high expression was identified, which could be a potential marker of CRC. The stroma region was found to be characterized by VIM-high expression, suggesting it fostered a stromal niche in the TME. Collectively, single cell and spatial analysis in our study reveal the tumor heterogeneity and molecular interactions in CRC TME, which provides insights into the mechanisms underlying CRC progression and may contribute to the development of anticancer therapies targeting on non-tumor components, such as the extracellular matrix (ECM) in CRC. The typical genes we identified may facilitate to new molecular subtypes of CRC.

Local chicken breeds exhibit abundant TCR-V segments but similar repertoire diversity.

The thymus-derived lymphocytes of jawed vertebrates have four T-cell receptor (TCR) chains that play a significant role in immunity. As chickens have commercial value, their immune systems require a great deal of attention. Local chicken breeds are an essential part of poultry genetic resources in China. Here, we used high-throughput sequencing to analyze the TCRα and TCRß repertoires and their relative expression levels in the native chicken breeds Baier Buff, Longyou Partridge, Xiaoshan, and Xianju. We found that TCR Vα and TCR Vß were expressed and included 17, 19, 17, and six segments of the Vα2, Vα3, Vß1, and Vß2 subgroups, respectively. V-J pairing was biased; Jα11 was utilized by nearly all Vα segments and was the most commonly used. Breed-specific V segments and V-J pairings were detected as well. The results of the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) as well as the V-J pairing and CDR3 diversity analyses suggested that the four local chicken breeds did not significantly differ in terms of TCR diversity. Hence, they expressed not significant differentiation, and they are rich genetic resources for the development and utilization of immune-related poultry breeding.

Electronic inhomogeneity and phase fluctuation in one-unit-cell FeSe films.

One-unit-cell FeSe films on SrTiO3 substrates are of great interest owing to significantly enlarged pairing gaps characterized by two coherence peaks at ±10 meV and ±20 meV. In-situ transport measurement is desired to reveal novel properties. Here, we performed in-situ microscale electrical transport and combined scanning tunneling microscopy measurements on continuous one-unit-cell FeSe films with twin boundaries. We observed two spatially coexisting superconducting phases in domains and on boundaries, characterized by distinct superconducting gaps ( Δ 1 ~15 meV vs. Δ 2 ~10 meV) and pairing temperatures (Tp1~52.0 K vs. Tp2~37.3 K), and correspondingly two-step nonlinear V ~ I α behavior but a concurrent Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless (BKT)-like transition occurring at T BKT ~28.7 K. Moreover, the onset transition temperature T c onset ~54 K and zero-resistivity temperature T c zero ~31 K are consistent with Tp1 and T BKT , respectively. Our results indicate the broadened superconducting transition in FeSe/SrTiO3 is related to intrinsic electronic inhomogeneity due to distinct two-gap features and phase fluctuations of two-dimensional superconductivity.

Selective-Area-Grown PbTe-Pb Planar Josephson Junctions for Quantum Devices.

Planar Josephson junctions are predicted to host Majorana zero modes. The material platforms in previous studies are two-dimensional electron gases (InAs, InSb, InAsSb, and HgTe) coupled to a superconductor such as Al or Nb. Here, we introduce a new material platform for planar JJs, the PbTe-Pb hybrid. The semiconductor, PbTe, was grown as a thin film via selective area epitaxy. The Josephson junction was defined by a shadow wall during the deposition of superconductor Pb. Scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals a sharp semiconductor-superconductor interface. Gate-tunable supercurrents and multiple Andreev reflections are observed. A perpendicular magnetic field causes interference patterns of the switching current, exhibiting Fraunhofer-like and SQUID-like behaviors. We further demonstrate a prototype device for Majorana detection wherein phase bias and tunneling spectroscopy are applicable.

Significant correlation between leaf vein length per unit area and stomatal density: evidence from Red Tip and Chinese photinias.

The vascular veins in photosynthetic leaves play an important role in transporting water and sugars throughout the plant body, and their venation pattern and vein density determine the hydraulic efficiency of the leaf. Likewise, stomatal density (SD) can influence photosynthetic gas exchange. However, the correlation between leaf vein density and SD is seldom reported. Herein, we examined 16 leaves from the hybrid Photinia × fraseri and 16 leaves from one of its parents, P. serratifolia, to explore the correlation between leaf vein density and SD. For each leaf, equidistant lamina quadrats were excised along two longitudinal transects (one along the midrib and another along the leaf margin). For each quadrat, micrographs of 1.2 mm × 0.9 mm stomatal imprints, and 2.51 mm × 1.88 mm micrographs of leaf veins were used to measure total vein area per leaf unit area (VAA) and total vein length per unit area (VLA), as indicators of leaf vein density, to determine the correlation between SD and leaf vein density. For each taxon, there was no significant correlation between SD and VAA, but there was a significant correlation between SD and VLA. The data indicate that SD is not positively correlated with VAA but positively correlated with VLA for both the hybrid and the parent species. This study indicates that future work should focus on the relationships between SD and total vein length per unit area rather than on total leaf vein area per unit area within and across species.

Association between Soil Physicochemical Properties and Bacterial Community Structure in Diverse Forest Ecosystems.

Although the importance of the soil bacterial community for ecosystem functions has long been recognized, there is still a limited understanding of the associations between its community composition, structure, co-occurrence patterns, and soil physicochemical properties. The objectives of the present study were to explore the association between soil physicochemical properties and the composition, diversity, co-occurrence network topological features, and assembly mechanisms of the soil bacterial community. Four typical forest types from Liziping Nature Reserve, representing evergreen coniferous forest, deciduous coniferous forest, mixed conifer-broadleaf forest, and its secondary forest, were selected for this study. The soil bacterial community was analyzed using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling was used to illustrate the clustering of different samples based on Bray-Curtis distances. The associations between soil physicochemical properties and bacterial community structure were analyzed using the Mantel test. The interactions among bacterial taxa were visualized with a co-occurrence network, and the community assembly processes were quantified using the Beta Nearest Taxon Index (Beta-NTI). The dominant bacterial phyla across all forest soils were Proteobacteria (45.17%), Acidobacteria (21.73%), Actinobacteria (8.75%), and Chloroflexi (5.06%). Chao1 estimator of richness, observed ASVs, faith-phylogenetic diversity (faith-PD) index, and community composition were distinguishing features of the examined four forest types. The first two principal components of redundancy analysis explained 41.33% of the variation in the soil bacterial community, with total soil organic carbon, soil moisture, pH, total nitrogen, carbon/nitrogen (C/N), carbon/phosphorous (C/P), and nitrogen/phosphorous (N/P) being the main soil physicochemical properties shaping soil bacterial communities. The co-occurrence network structure in the mixed forest was more complex compared to that in pure forests. The Beta-NTI indicated that the bacterial community assembly of the four examined forest types was collaboratively influenced by deterministic and stochastic ecological processes.

Exploring the Effect of Xiao-Chai-Hu Decoction on Treating Psoriasis Based on Network Pharmacology and Experiment Validation.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory and recurrent skin disease. Xiao-Chai-Hu Decoction (XCHD) has shown good effects against some inflammatory diseases and cancers. However, the pharmacological effect and mechanisms of XCHD on psoriasis are not yet clear. OBJECTIVE: To uncover the effect and mechanisms of XCHD on psoriasis by integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments. METHODS: The active ingredients and corresponding targets of XCHD were screened through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis (TCMSP) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Integrated Database (TCMID). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of psoriasis were obtained from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. The XCHD-psoriasis intersection targets were obtained by intersecting XCHD targets, and DEGs were used to establish the "herb-active ingredient-target" network and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) Network. The hub targets were identified based on the PPI network by Cytoscape software. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed next. Molecular docking was executed via AutoDockTools-1.5.6. Finally, in vivo experiments were carried out further to validate the therapeutic effects of XCHD on psoriasis. RESULTS: 58 active components and 219 targets of XCHD were screened. 4 top-active components (quercetin, baicalein, wogonin and kaempferol) and 7 hub targets (IL1B, CXCL8, CCND1, FOS, MMP9, STAT1 and CCL2) were identified. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway and several pathways were involved. Molecular docking results indicated that hub genes had a good affinity to the corresponding key compounds. In imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis mouse models, XCHD could significantly improve psoriasis-like skin lesions, downregulate KRT17 and Ki67, and inhibit inflammation cytokines and VEGF. CONCLUSION: XCHD showed the therapeutic effect on psoriasis by regulating keratinocyte differentiation, and suppressing inflammation and angiogenesis, which provided a theoretical basis for further experiments and clinical research.

The effect and mechanism of volatile oil emulsion from leaves of Clausena lansium (Lour.) Skeels on Staphylococcus aureus in vitro.

This study aimed to develop a suitable dosage form of volatile oil from wampee leaves and to explore its antibacterial mechanism in vitro. The chemical composition of the volatile oil from wampee leaves was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Different microemulsion ratios were tested and their stabilities were investigated to determine the optimal ratio. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the wampee leaves volatile oil emulsion (WVOE) against Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were determined using double-dilution and plate-counting methods, respectively. Morphological changes in these two bacteria were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Death, ultrastructural morphology, and biofilm formation were also assessed for S. aureus. Finally, we established an S. aureus-infected Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cell model to evaluate the protective effects of the volatile oil emulsion and the associated mechanisms. The volatile oil extracted from wampee leaves contained 37 compounds, of which 96.49% were aromatic hydrocarbons, terpenoids, and their oxygen-containing derivatives. The emulsion was most stable at 1:1 in the oil phase and 1:9 in the water phase. WVOE had poor antibacterial activity against S. typhimurium, but the MIC and MBC against S. aureus were 312.5 and 2,500 µg/mL, respectively. S. aureus survival rates were 84.6%, 14.5%, and 12.8% in the 1/2, 1, and 4 × MIC groups, respectively, compared with 97.2% in the control group. S. typhimurium survival was not affected by WVOE treatment. WVOE administration induced cavity formation and abnormal binary fission, and significantly inhibited biofilm formation in S. aureus cells. The WVOE notably reduced the number of S. aureus and inhibited TLR4, NLRP3, NF-κB, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α gene expression in S. aureus-infected LLC cells. The WVOE had a significant inhibitory effect on S. aureus and altered its cell membrane permeability. Moreover, it alleviated inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB-NLRP3 pathway in S. aureus-infected LLC cells.

THZ2 Ameliorates Mouse Colitis and Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a global malignancy with a high incidence and mortality rate. THZ2, a small inhibitor targeted CDK7, could inhibit multiple human tumor growths including small cell lung cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer. However, the effect of THZ2 on inflammation, especially on colitis-associated colorectal cancer, is still unknown. In this study, we assessed the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effect of THZ2 in the mouse models of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis and azoxymethane (AOM)/DSS-induced colitis-associated colorectal cancer. We found that THZ2 ameliorated inflammatory symptoms, including bleeding and diarrhea, in mouse models of DSS-induced acute colitis and AOM/DSS-induced colorectal cancer. The results of Western blot and immunohistochemistry showed that THZ2 rescued the up-regulated expression of COX2, IL-6, ß-catenin, and snail in the mouse models. Moreover, THZ2 inhibits the development of colorectal cancer in the mouse model of AOM/DSS-induced colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Generally, THZ2 not only can inhibit DSS-induced colitis, but also can hinder AOM/DSS-induced colorectal cancer.

Comparison of four performance models in quantifying the inequality of leaf and fruit size distribution.

The inequality in leaf and fruit size distribution per plant can be quantified using the Gini index, which is linked to the Lorenz curve depicting the cumulative proportion of leaf (or fruit) size against the cumulative proportion of the number of leaves (or fruits). Prior researches have predominantly employed empirical models-specifically the original performance equation (PE-1) and its generalized counterpart (GPE-1)-to fit rotated and right-shifted Lorenz curves. Notably, another potential performance equation (PE-2), capable of generating similar curves to PE-1, has been overlooked and not systematically compared with PE-1 and GPE-1. Furthermore, PE-2 has been extended into a generalized version (GPE-2). In the present study, we conducted a comparative analysis of these four performance equations, evaluating their applicability in describing Lorenz curves related to plant organ (leaf and fruit) size. Leaf area was measured on 240 culms of dwarf bamboo (Shibataea chinensis Nakai), and fruit volume was measured on 31 field muskmelon plants (Cucumis melo L. var. agrestis Naud.). Across both datasets, the root-mean-square errors of all four performance models were consistently smaller than 0.05. Paired t-tests indicated that GPE-1 exhibited the lowest root-mean-square error and Akaike information criterion value among the four performance equations. However, PE-2 gave the best close-to-linear behavior based on relative curvature measures. This study presents a valuable tool for assessing the inequality of plant organ size distribution.

Unveiling the Anomalous Hall Response of the Magnetic Structure Changes in the Epitaxial MnBi2Te4 Films.

Recently discovered as an intrinsic antiferromagnetic topological insulator, MnBi2Te4 has attracted tremendous research interest, as it provides an ideal platform to explore the interplay between topological and magnetic orders. MnBi2Te4 displays distinct exotic topological phases that are inextricably linked to the different magnetic structures of the material. In this study, we conducted electrical transport measurements and systematically investigated the anomalous Hall response of epitaxial MnBi2Te4 films when subjected to an external magnetic field sweep, revealing the different magnetic structures stemming from the interplay of applied fields and the material's intrinsic antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering. Our results demonstrate that the nonsquare anomalous Hall loop is a consequence of the distinct reversal processes within individual septuple layers. These findings shed light on the intricate magnetic structures in MnBi2Te4 and related materials, offering insights into understanding their transport properties and facilitating the implementation of AFM topological electronics.

Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of asthma in women across life.

Background: The epidemiology and severity of asthma vary by sex and age. The diagnosis, treatment, and management of asthma in female patients are quite challenging. However, there is hitherto no comprehensive and standardized guidance for female patients with asthma. Methods: Corresponding search strategies were determined based on clinical concerns regarding female asthma. Search terms included "sex hormones and lung development", "sex hormone changes and asthma", "hormones and asthma immune response", "women, asthma", "children, asthma", "puberty, asthma", "menstruation, asthma", "pregnancy, asthma", "lactation, asthma", "menopause, asthma", "obesity, asthma", and "women, refractory, severe asthma". Literature was retrieved from PubMed/Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, China Biology Medicine disc, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data with the search date of July 30, 2022 as the last day. This consensus used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation to evaluate the strength of recommendation and quality of evidence. Results: We collected basic research results and clinical evidence-based medical data and reviewed the effects of sex hormones, classical genetics, and epigenetics on the clinical presentation and treatment response of female patients with asthma under different environmental effects. Based on that, we formulated this expert consensus on the management of female asthma throughout the life cycle. Conclusions: This expert consensus on the management of asthma in women throughout the life cycle provides diagnosis, treatment, and research reference for clinical and basic medical practitioners.

Response of Harbin aerosol to latest clean air actions in China.

Cities in Northeast China, e.g., Harbin, were brought to the forefront of air pollution control by a national-level policy promulgated in 2021, i.e., the Circular on Further Promoting the Pollution Prevention and Control Battle (the FP3CB Circular) which aimed at eliminating heavy or severe air pollution events. In this study, we explored the response of Harbin aerosol to the FP3CB Circular, based on observational results from two campaigns conducted during 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. A clear decreasing trend was identified for the impact of domestic biomass burning between the two winters, presumably driven by the clean heating actions. The 2021-2022 winter was also characterized by reduced formation of secondary organic aerosol but enhanced production of nitrate, which could be attributed to the less humid conditions but higher temperatures, respectively, compared to the 2020-2021 winter. The overall effect of these changes was a decrease in the contribution of organic species to wintertime aerosol in Harbin. In addition, the number of heavy or severe pollution days rebounded in the 2021-2022 winter compared to 2020-2021 (5 vs. 3), indicating that the emissions of primary particles and gaseous precursors must be further reduced to achieve the ambitious goals of the FP3CB Circular.

Skin-Inspired Multi-Modal Mechanoreceptors for Dynamic Haptic Exploration.

Active sensing is a fundamental aspect of human and animal interactions with the environment, providing essential information about the hardness, texture, and tackiness of objects. This ability stems from the presence of diverse mechanoreceptors in the skin, capable of detecting a wide range of stimuli and from the sensorimotor control of biological mechanisms. In contrast, existing tactile sensors for robotic applications typically excel in identifying only limited types of information, lacking the versatility of biological mechanoreceptors and the requisite sensing strategies to extract tactile information proactively. Here, inspired by human haptic perception, a skin-inspired artificial 3D mechanoreceptor (SENS) capable of detecting multiple mechanical stimuli is developed to bridge sensing and action in a closed-loop sensorimotor system for dynamic haptic exploration. A tensor-based non-linear theoretical model is established to characterize the 3D deformation (e.g., tensile, compressive, and shear deformation) of SENS, providing guidance for the design and optimization of multimode sensing properties with high fidelity. Based on SENS, a closed-loop robotic system capable of recognizing objects with improved accuracy (≈96%) is further demonstrated. This dynamic haptic exploration approach shows promise for a wide range of applications such as autonomous learning, healthcare, and space and deep-sea exploration.

Multi-Interfacial Confined Assembly of Colloidal Quantum Dots Quasisuperlattice Microcavities for High-Resolution Full-Color Microlaser Arrays.

Colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) are considered a promising material for the next generation of integrated display devices due to their designable optical bandgap and low energy consumption. Owing to their dispersibility in solvents, CQD micro/nanostructures are generally fabricated by solution-processing methods. However, the random mass transfer in liquid restricts the programmable construction in macroscopy and ordered assembly in microscopy for the integration of CQD optical structures. Herein, a multi-interfacial confined assembly strategy is developed to fabricate CQDs programmable microstructure arrays with a quasisuperlattice configuration through controlling the dynamics of three-phase contact lines (TPCLs). The motion of TPCLs dominates the division of liquid film for precise positioning of CQD microstructures, while pinned TPCLs control the solvent evaporation and concentration gradient to directionally drive the mass transfer and packing of CQDs. Owing to their long-range order and adjustable structural dimensions, CQD microring arrays function as high-quality-factor (high-Q) lasing resonant cavities with low thresholds and tunable lasing emission modes. Through the further surface treatment and liquid dynamics control, the on-chip integration of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) multicomponent CQD microlaser arrays are demonstrated. The technique establishes a new route to fabricate large-area, ultrahigh-definition, and full-color CQD laser displays.