High average power (105†W) Fe:ZnSe laser pumped by radiation of laser diode side-pumped Er:YAG lasers.

A high average power re-frequency operation Fe:ZnSe laser using laser diode side-pumped free-running Er:YAG lasers as activating sources is presented. Two pieces of subsurface layer doped Fe:ZnSe polycrystal are adoptive in a reflective resonator configuration and face-cooled by liquid nitrogen. A maximal Fe:ZnSe laser power of 105 W at a wavelength of 4.1 µm is achieved upon pumping by ten home-made Er:YAG lasers with fiber coupled output working at a frequency of 250 Hz and a pulse duration of ∼420 µs. Corresponding to the maximum Fe:ZnSe laser power, the optical-optical efficiency and slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power are 43% and 44% respectively. The beam quality factor M2 is measured to be 3.4. To the best of our knowledge, it is the highest output average power of an Fe:ZnSe laser reported.

Human lip vermilion: Physiology and age-related changes.

BACKGROUND: The human lip vermilion, also known as the red lip, is important to the quality of life and has long attracted the attention of cosmetic researchers. However, there is limited existing literature on the physiological characteristics and age-related alterations in the human vermilion. OBJECTIVE: We aim to provide an overview of the physiological characteristics and age-related alterations in the human vermilion. METHODS: This article is a result of previous research. We conducted a literature search using various academic databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, and PubMed. Our findings provided a comprehensive understanding of the physiological characteristics and age-related changes of the human lip vermilion. RESULTS: The human lip vermilion has a unique structure and physiological characteristics, and during the aging process, a few changes may occur in the human lip vermilion. CONCLUSION: Understanding the human lip vermilion's physiological characteristics and age-related changes can provide key information for the future innovation of lip vermilion care products. Further investigations are necessary to reach a consensus on the physiological characteristics and age-related alterations in the human vermilion.

Lactic Acid Chemical Peeling in Skin Disorders.

Lactic acid is the most widely occurring natural organic acid in nature. It not only exhibits mild and safe properties but also possesses multiple physiological activities, such as antibacterial effects, immune regulation, and promotion of wound healing, making it one of the most popular chemical peeling agents. Chemical peels are commonly used in the field of aesthetic dermatology as a non-invasive therapeutic approach. This research aims to provide valuable references for clinical dermatologists by summarizing the characteristics of lactic acid, elucidating its mechanism of action in peeling, and investigating the clinical applications of this compound. Furthermore, it anticipates the potential for lactic acid to be the most suitable chemical peeling agent for Chinese skin.

Potential role of inflammaging mediated by the complement system in enlarged facial pores.

BACKGROUND: Enlarged facial pores are a common cosmetic concern of the skin, rather than a disease, and have not received much attention from dermatologists in recent years. Consequently, progress in understanding their pathogenesis has been limited, and current cosmetic solutions have limitations. Given that the complement system has regained interest as a key player in chronic inflammatory skin conditions, various mechanisms involving this system are being investigated. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to shed light on the mechanism underlying enlarged facial pores by examining the role of the complement system in skin. METHODS: We conducted a comprehensive literature search utilizing various academic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Employing keywords such as "complement system," "inflammation," "facial pores," "enlarged," and "mechanisms," we compiled a selection of relevant studies. These studies provided a comprehensive understanding of the intricate mechanisms underlying the relationship between the "complement system" and "inflammation" within the context of facial pore enlargement. RESULTS: Our findings suggest that inflammaging mediated by complement activation may be a critical player in the formation of enlarged facial pores. Specifically, overactivation of the complement system leading to the accumulation of complement fragments could be a major contributor to this process. Notably, the complement system in skin may be involved in a range of skin issues, including aging. CONCLUSION: Modulating the complement system presents a promising avenue for future research in improving skin health. Further basic and clinical research is necessary to validate these findings, but we hope that this study can serve as a theoretical foundation for the development of targeted cosmetics.

80-W single-frequency Innoslab µs-amplifier at 1319†nm with high efficiency.

A single-frequency quasi-continuous-wave partially end-pumped slab (Innoslab) laser amplifier at 1319 nm was demonstrated. The 3-W single-frequency all-fiber seed laser was amplified to a maximum average power of 80.1 W and the power stability was 0.52% in 10 minutes. The corresponding optical-optical efficiency was 16.1% under absorbed pump power of 478 W. The output pulse width was 131 µs at the repetition of 500 Hz. The beam quality factors of M2 were 1.3 in both the vertical and horizontal directions. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on single-frequency Nd:YAG Innoslab amplifier at 1319 nm with such high output power and efficiency.

Identification of the egusi seed trait locus (eg) and its suppressor gene associated with the thin seed coat trait in watermelon.

Egusi watermelon has a unique egusi seed type, which could be useful for breeding both edible seeds and edible flesh in watermelon. However, the genetic basis of the unique egusi seed type is not clear. In the present study, we first reported that at least two genes with inhibitory epistasis were responsible for the thin seed coat (unique egusi seed type) in watermelon. Inheritance analysis of five populations, including F2, BC, and BCF2, suggested that the thin seed coat trait was controlled by a suppressor gene together with the egusi seed locus (eg) in egusi watermelon. Based on high-throughput sequencing technology, two quantitative trait loci located on chromosome 1 and chromosome 6 were identified for the thin seed coat trait in watermelon. One of the loci, the eg locus on chromosome 6, was finely mapped to a genomic region of 15.7 kb, which contained only one candidate gene. Comparative transcriptome analysis highlighted differentially expressed genes involved in cellulose and lignin synthesis between watermelon genotypes varying in the thickness of the seed coat and provided several potential candidate genes for the thin seed coat trait. Taken together, our data suggest that at least two genes are complementarily involved in the thin seed coat trait and will be useful for cloning novel genes. The results presented here provide a new reference for uncovering egusi seed genetic mechanisms and valuable information for marker-assisted selection in seed coat breeding.

Watermelon domestication was shaped by stepwise selection and regulation of the metabolome.

Although crop domestication has greatly aided human civilization, the sequential domestication and regulation of most quality traits remain poorly understood. Here, we report the stepwise selection and regulation of major fruit quality traits that occurred during watermelon evolution. The levels of fruit cucurbitacins and flavonoids were negatively selected during speciation, whereas sugar and carotenoid contents were positively selected during domestication. Interestingly, fruit malic acid and citric acid showed the opposite selection trends during the improvement. We identified a novel gene cluster (CGC1, cucurbitacin gene cluster on chromosome 1) containing both regulatory and structural genes involved in cucurbitacin biosynthesis, which revealed a cascade of transcriptional regulation operating mechanisms. In the CGC1, an allele caused a single nucleotide change in ClERF1 binding sites (GCC-box) in the promoter of ClBh1, which resulted in reduced expression of ClBh1 and inhibition of cucurbitacin synthesis in cultivated watermelon. Functional analysis revealed that a rare insertion of 244 amino acids, which arose in C. amarus and became fixed in sweet watermelon, in ClOSC (oxidosqualene cyclase) was critical for the negative selection of cucurbitacins during watermelon evolution. This research provides an important resource for metabolomics-assisted breeding in watermelon and for exploring metabolic pathway regulation mechanisms.

An innovative protein expression system using RNA polymerase I for large-scale screening of high-nucleic-acid content Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the preferred source of RNA derivatives, which are widely used as supplements for foods and pharmaceuticals. As the most abundant RNAs, the ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) transcribed by RNA polymerase I (Pol I) have no 5' caps, thus cannot be translated to proteins. To screen high-nucleic-acid content yeasts more efficiently, a cap-independent protein expression system mediated by Pol I has been designed and established to monitor the regulatory changes of rRNA synthesis by observing the variation in the reporter genes expression. The elements including Pol I-recognized rDNA promoter, the internal ribosome entry site from cricket paralytic virus which can recruit ribosomes internally, reporter genes (URA3 and yEGFP3), oligo-dT and an rDNA terminator were ligated to a yeast episomal plasmid. This system based on the URA3 gene worked well by observing the growth phenotype and did not require the disruption of cap-dependent initiation factors. The fluorescence intensity of strains expressing the yEGFP3 gene increased and drifted after mutagenesis. Combined with flow cytometry, cells with higher GFP level were sorted out. A strain showed 58% improvement in RNA content and exhibited no sequence alteration in the whole expression cassette introduced. This study provides a novel strategy for breeding high-nucleic-acid content yeasts.

Discovery of the Genomic Region and Candidate Genes of the Scarlet Red Flesh Color (Yscr ) Locus in Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus L.).

The flesh color of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an important fruit quality trait that helps to determine fruit attractiveness and is potentially beneficial to human health. Previous inheritance analyses determined that a single dominant gene, Yscr , produces the scarlet red flesh color rather than the coral red flesh color in watermelon. However, no genomic region or gene-based molecular markers for the locus Yscr have been reported thus far. In the present study, two high-density genetic maps and whole-genome variation detection aided by genome resequencing were first map the flesh color locus Yscr to a small region on chromosome 6 based on two independent populations derived from two scarlet red-fleshed lines and two coral red-fleshed lines. Two major quantitative trait loci located in the same genomic regions were identified in the F2 and BC1P2 populations and explained 90.36% and 75.1% of the phenotypic variation in flesh color, respectively. Based on the genetic variation in the two parental lines, newly developed PCR-based markers narrowed the Yscr region to 40 Kb. Of the five putative genes in this region, four encoded glycine-rich cell wall structural proteins, which implied that a new regulatory mechanism might occur between scarlet red- and coral red-fleshed in watermelon. Moreover, the genotypes of two newly developed InDel markers (InDel27_fc6 and InDel28_fc6) were completely consistent with the phenotypes in the F2 and BC1P2 populations and all 56 scarlet red-fleshed watermelon accessions. The results presented here provide valuable information for marker-assisted selection of flesh color breeding and the functional validation of candidate genes in watermelon.

Resequencing of 414 cultivated and wild watermelon accessions identifies selection for fruit quality traits.

Fruit characteristics of sweet watermelon are largely the result of human selection. Here we report an improved watermelon reference genome and whole-genome resequencing of 414 accessions representing all extant species in the Citrullus genus. Population genomic analyses reveal the evolutionary history of Citrullus, suggesting independent evolutions in Citrullus amarus and the lineage containing Citrullus lanatus and Citrullus mucosospermus. Our findings indicate that different loci affecting watermelon fruit size have been under selection during speciation, domestication and improvement. A non-bitter allele, arising in the progenitor of sweet watermelon, is largely fixed in C. lanatus. Selection for flesh sweetness started in the progenitor of C. lanatus and continues through modern breeding on loci controlling raffinose catabolism and sugar transport. Fruit flesh coloration and sugar accumulation might have co-evolved through shared genetic components including a sugar transporter gene. This study provides valuable genomic resources and sheds light on watermelon speciation and breeding history.

A comprehensive genome variation map of melon identifies multiple domestication events and loci influencing agronomic traits.

Melon is an economically important fruit crop that has been cultivated for thousands of years; however, the genetic basis and history of its domestication still remain largely unknown. Here we report a comprehensive map of the genomic variation in melon derived from the resequencing of 1,175 accessions, which represent the global diversity of the species. Our results suggest that three independent domestication events occurred in melon, two in India and one in Africa. We detected two independent sets of domestication sweeps, resulting in diverse characteristics of the two subspecies melo and agrestis during melon breeding. Genome-wide association studies for 16 agronomic traits identified 208 loci significantly associated with fruit mass, quality and morphological characters. This study sheds light on the domestication history of melon and provides a valuable resource for genomics-assisted breeding of this important crop.

Fine mapping and discovery of candidate genes for seed size in watermelon by genome survey sequencing.

Fine mapping and discovery of candidate genes underlying seed size are important for modern watermelon breeding. Here, by using a high-resolution genetic map and whole-genome genetic variation detection aided by genome survey sequencing, we fine mapped and discovered candidate genes for seed size in watermelon. QTL (quantitative trait locus) mapping identified two pleiotropic QTLs for seed size, namely, qSS4 and qSS6, using a high-density genetic map constructed by specific length amplified fragment sequencing. qSS6 explained 93.00%, 94.11% and 95.26% of the phenotypic variation in thousand-seed weight, seed length and seed width, respectively, and was defined as a major QTL. Then, high-coverage re-sequencing of two parental lines detected a total of 193,395 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and 45,065 indels (insertions/deletions), which corresponded to a frequency of 534 SNPs/Mb and 124 indels/Mb. Based on the genetic variation in the two parental lines, newly developed PCR-based markers allowed the region of qSS6 to be narrowed to 55.5 kb. Three potential candidates were identified, including a known seed size regulator in rice, SRS3. Taken together, our results reveal successful rapid fine mapping and discovery of candidate genes for seed size in watermelon, which could be applied to many traits of interest in plants.

9 kilowatt-level direct-liquid-cooled Nd:YAG multi-module QCW laser.

An average 9 kilowatt-level direct-D2O-cooled side-pumped Nd:YAG multi-disk laser resonator at QCW mode with a pulse width of 250µs is presented, in which the straight-through geometry is adopted the oscillating laser propagates through 40 Nd:YAG thin disks and multiple cooling D2O flow layers in the Brewster angle. Much attention has been paid on the design of the gain module, including an analysis of the loss of the laser resonator and the design of the Nd:YAG thin disk. Experimentally, laser output with the highest pulse energy of more than 20 J is obtained at a repetition frequency of 10 Hz. At high repetition frequency, the average output power 9.8 kW with ηo-o = 26% and 9.1 kW with ηo-o = 21.8% are achieved in the stable resonator and unstable resonator, respectively, and in the corresponding beam quality factor ßstable= 14.7 and ßunstable= 9.5 respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a 9 kilowatt-level direct-liquid-cooled Nd:YAG thin disk laser resonator.

High brightness laser based on Yb:YAG MOPA chain and adaptive optics system at room temperature.

We demonstrate a master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) architecture based on Yb:YAG amplifiers and adaptive optics (AO) systems with a high power and high beam quality laser output. With two conduction cooled, dual-end-pumped Yb:YAG zigzag-slab amplifiers at room temperature, the fiber laser of 300 W was scaled to 11.9 kW. Moreover, AO system positioned downstream was utilized to correct wavefront of amplified laser. The beam quality ß at maximum output power was 2.8 times diffraction limited with closed-loop AO system.

7kW direct-liquid-cooled side-pumped Nd:YAG multi-disk laser resonator.

A direct-liquid-cooled side-pumped Nd:YAG multi-disk QCW laser resonator is presented, in which the oscillating laser propagates through multiple thin disks and cooling flow layers in Brewster angle. Twenty Nd:YAG thin disks side-pumped by LD arrays are directly cooled by flowing deuteroxide at the end surfaces. A laser output with the highest pulse energy of 17.04 J is obtained at the pulse width of 250 µs and repetition rate of 25 Hz, corresponding to an optical-optical efficiency of 34.1% and a slope efficiency of 44.5%. The maximum average output power of 7.48 kW is achieved at the repetition rate of 500 Hz. Due to thermal effects, the corresponding optical-optical efficiency decreases to 30%. Under the 12.5 kW pumping condition while not oscillating, the wavefront of a He-Ne probe passing through the gain module is as low as 0.256 µm (RMS) with the defocus and tetrafoil subtracted.

[Study on Preparation Mechanism of Decanoic Acid-Palmitic Acid/SiO2 Phase Change and Humidity Storage Composite Materials by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum].

According to the research achievements of phase change and humidity storage composite materials preparation in early stage, SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials were made by sol-gel method with SiO2 as the carrier and decanoic acid-palmitic acid as a phase change material in this paper. Synthetic materials in every stage of preparation process of decanoic acid-palmitic acid/SiO2 phase change and humidity storage composite materials were measured by Fourier transform infrared spectrum，such as phase change material preparation stage, SiO2 carrier material preparation stage and decanoic acid-palmitic acid/SiO2 phase change and humidity storage composite materials preparation stage. In the process of decanoic acid-palmitic acid/SiO2 phase change and humidity storage composite materials preparation, SiO2 network structure forming mechanism, decanoic acid-palmitic acid embed mode, chimeric mechanism of SiO2 and decanoic acid-palmitic acid were researched, respectively, in order to explain the mechanism of how to prepare decanoic acid-palmitic acid/SiO2 phase change and humidity storage composite materials by sol-gel method. Meanwhile, material composition and micro topography of decanoic acid-palmitic acid/SiO2 phase change and humidity storage composite materials were tested by X-ray diffracmeter and scanning electron microscope, so as to provide evidence about preparation mechanism of decanoic acid-palmitic acid/SiO2 phase change and humidity storage composite materials. The results showed that decanoic acid-palmitic acid is packed in a large number of closed pores or cages which were formed through breaking and restructuring of Si­O­Si groups; then, decanoic acid-palmitic acid/SiO2 phase change and humidity storage composite materials can be prepared based on those mentioned above. Decanoic acid-palmitic acid and SiO2 are only physical chimeric to each other, without any chemical reaction in the preparation process of decanoic acid-palmitic acid/SiO2 phase change and humidity storage composite materials. A large number of closed pores or cages are formed by SiO2 in acid-palmitic acid/SiO2 phase change and humidity storage composite materials, of which one part is used for coating decanoic acid-palmitic acid with phase change thermal control performance, and the other part is used for network space structure with humidity storage humidity control performance, in order to achieve the purpose of adjusting indoor temperature and humidity at the same time.

[Structural Analysis and Optimization Performance Forecast of SiO2-Based Phase Change and Humidity Storage Composite Materials with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum].

SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials with phase change thermal control performance and humidity storage humidity control performance were made with SiO2 as the carrier and fatty acid as a phase change material. Phase change thermal control performance and humidity storage humidity control performance of SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials with different fatty acid content were tested with isothermal sorption method and cooling curve method. Composition structure of SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials were tested by Fourier transform infrared spectrum to analyze chimeric mechanism of SiO2 and fatty acid. Characteristic FTIR absorption peaks of SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials were considered as input layer; different fatty acid content of SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials, average values of absorption equilibrium moisture content and desorption equilibrium moisture content of SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials with relative humidity as 52.89%, and cooling time from 30 to 15 ℃ of SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials were seen as output layer respectively; S activation function was treated as hidden layer; then, optimization performance forecast model of SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials with structural parameters and phase change and humidity storage comprehensive performance was established by back-propagation neural network. The results showed that SiO2 and fatty acid are only physical chimeric to each other, while there is no chemical reaction between them. SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials by adding in 0.079 mol fatty acid has the best phase change and humidity storage comprehensive performance, that is, absorption equilibrium moisture content is 0.132 3 g·g-1, desorption equilibrium moisture content is 0.147 5 g·g-1, average value of equilibrium moisture content is 0.139 9 g·g-1 when relative humidity is 52.89%, cooling time from 30 to 15 ℃ is 1 305 s. Optimization performance forecast model of SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials are proved well with good accuracy, and the relative error of predicted data and experimental data are -2.07% and 2.45%, respectively; forecast model can be used for optimizing forecast phase change thermal control performance and humidity storage humidity control performance of SiO2-based phase change and humidity storage composite materials.

Waveguide random laser based on a disordered ZnSe-nanosheets arrangement.

A waveguide scheme is constructed by coating the matrix of randomly distributed ZnSe nanosheet structures with a layer of dye-doped polymer, which provides strong feedback or gain channels for the emission from the dye molecules and enables successful running of a random laser with FWHM of ~0.65 nm. The strong scattering by the nanostructures and the strong confinement provided by the active waveguide layer are the key essentials for the narrow-band and low-threshold operation of this random laser. The random laser scheme reveals an obvious two-threshold behavior, which is corresponding to the thresholds of TM and TE modes. The feedback mechanisms for laser action are investigated by power Fourier transforming of the spectra. This kind of active waveguide not only provides high quality confinement of the radiation for efficient amplification, but also enables possible directional output of this kind of random laser.

A multi-pass pumping scheme for thin disk lasers with good anti-disturbance ability.

A multi-pass pumping scheme for thin disk lasers consisting of dual parabolic mirrors with conjugated relationship is presented. The anti-disturbance ability of pumping is analyzed by ray tracing method under different kinds of disturbances. Both theoretical and experiment results show that disturbances in this system won't lead to a misalignment of each pumping spot, but only the position of superposed pumping spot on disk crystal will be changed. Compared with the multi-pass pumping scheme consisting of parabolic mirror and folding prisms, this pumping scheme has a better anti-disturbance ability.

Synthesis and evaluation of novel sulfenamides as novel anti Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus agents.

A total of 29 novel sulfenamide compounds were synthesized, spectroscopically characterized and evaluated in vitro for antimicrobial activity against various infectious pathogens. Compounds 1b and 2c exhibited potent inhibition against clinical Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 1.56 µg/mL.