Telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of the goose Anser cygnoides.

Our study presents the assembly of a high-quality Taihu goose genome at the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) level. By employing advanced sequencing technologies, including Pacific Biosciences HiFi reads, Oxford Nanopore long reads, Illumina short reads, and chromatin conformation capture (Hi-C), we achieved an exceptional assembly. The T2T assembly encompasses a total length of 1,197,991,206 bp, with contigs N50 reaching 33,928,929 bp and scaffold N50 attaining 81,007,908 bp. It consists of 73 scaffolds, including 38 autosomes and one pair of Z/W sex chromosomes. Importantly, 33 autosomes were assembled without any gap, resulting in a contiguous representation. Furthermore, gene annotation efforts identified 34,898 genes, including 436,162 RNA transcripts, encompassing 806,158 exons, 743,910 introns, 651,148 coding sequences (CDS), and 135,622 untranslated regions (UTR). The T2T-level chromosome-scale goose genome assembly provides a vital foundation for future genetic improvement and understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying important traits in geese.

Synergistic effects of the KDM4C inhibitor SD70 and the menin inhibitor MI-503 against MLL::AF9-driven acute myeloid leukaemia.

MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) leukaemia is observed in approximately 10% of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and is associated with a relatively poor prognosis, highlighting the need for new treatment regimens. MLL fusion proteins produced by MLL rearrangements recruit KDM4C to mediate epigenetic reprogramming, which is required for the maintenance of MLL-r leukaemia. In this study, we used a combinatorial drug screen to selectively identify synergistic treatment partners for the KDM4C inhibitor SD70. The results showed that the drug combination of SD70 and MI-503, a potent menin-MLL inhibitor, induced synergistically enhanced apoptosis in MLL::AF9 leukaemia cells without affecting normal CD34+ cells. In vivo treatment with SD70 and MI-503 significantly prolonged survival in AML xenograft models. Differential gene expression analysis by RNA-seq following combined pharmacological inhibition of SD70 and MI-503 revealed changes in numerous genes, with MYC target genes being the most significantly downregulated. Taken together, these data provide preclinical evidence that the combination of SD70 and MI-503 is a potential dual-targeted therapy for MLL::AF9 AML.

Evolution of Naturally Dried MXene-Based Composite Aerogels with Flash Joule Annealing for Large-Scale Production of Highly Sensitive Customized Sensors.

MXene aerogels, known for good electrical properties, offer immense potential for the development of high-sensitivity pressure sensors. However, the intrinsic challenges stemming from the poor self-assembly capability and high hydrophilicity of MXene impedes the natural drying process of MXene-based hydrogels, thereby constraining their application on a large-sacle in sensor technology. Herein, we propose a graphene-assisted approach aimed at modulating the hydrophobicity and enhancing framework strength of MXene through a well-designed prefreezing technique incorporating three-dimensional (3D) spherical macro-porous structures. This synergistic strategy enables the fabrication of naturally dried MXene aerogels across various size scales. Moreover, the integration of 3D spherical macro-porous structures improves elasticity and electrical responsiveness of aerogels. Consequently, the aerogel sensor exhibits great performances, including high sensitivity (1250 KPa-1), low detection limit (0.4 Pa), wide frequency response range (0.1-8 Hz), and excellent stability (1000 cycles). This sensor proves adept at monitoring pressure signals ranging from lightweight paper to human motion. Additionally, the application of customized laser engraving endows aerogels with unique functionalities, such as compressibility and immunity to strain, stretchability and resistance to compression, as well as wind detection. Thus, our proposed approach holds significant promise as a scalable method for the mass production of aerogels with versatile applications. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Microelement strontium and human health: comprehensive analysis of the role in inflammation and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Strontium (Sr), a trace element with a long history and a significant presence in the Earth's crust, plays a critical yet often overlooked role in various biological processes affecting human health. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted implications of Sr, especially in the context of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Sr is predominantly acquired through diet and water and has shown promise as a clinical marker for calcium absorption studies. It contributes to the mitigation of several NCDs by inhibiting oxidative stress, showcasing antioxidant properties, and suppressing inflammatory cytokines. The review delves deep into the mechanisms through which Sr interacts with human physiology, emphasizing its uptake, metabolism, and potential to prevent chronic conditions. Despite its apparent benefits in managing bone fractures, hypertension, and diabetes, current research on Sr's role in human health is not exhaustive. The review underscores the need for more comprehensive studies to solidify Sr's beneficial associations and address the gaps in understanding Sr intake and its optimal levels for human health.

Observation of spatiotemporal optical vortices enabled by symmetry-breaking slanted nanograting.

Providing additional degrees of freedom to manipulate light, spatiotemporal optical vortex (STOV) beams carrying transverse orbital angular momentum are of fundamental importance for spatiotemporal control of light-matter interactions. Unfortunately, existing methods to generate STOV are plagued by various limitations such as inefficiency, bulkiness, and complexity. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate a microscale singlet platform composed of a slanted nanograting to generate STOV. Leveraging the intrinsic topological singularity induced by C2 symmetry and z-mirror symmetry breaking of the slanted nanograting, STOV is generated through the Fourier transform of the spiral phase in the momentum-frequency space to the spatiotemporal domain. In experiments, we observe the space-time evolution of STOV carried by femtosecond pulses using a time-resolved interferometry technique and achieve a generation efficiency exceeding 40%. Our work sheds light on a compact and versatile platform for light pulse shaping, and paves the way towards a fully integrated system for spatiotemporal light manipulation.

Gadd45g insufficiency drives the pathogenesis of myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Despite the identification of driver mutations leading to the initiation of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), the molecular pathogenesis of MPNs remains incompletely understood. Here, we demonstrate that growth arrest and DNA damage inducible gamma (GADD45g) is expressed at significantly lower levels in patients with MPNs, and JAK2V617F mutation and histone deacetylation contribute to its reduced expression. Downregulation of GADD45g plays a tumor-promoting role in human MPN cells. Gadd45g insufficiency in the murine hematopoietic system alone leads to significantly enhanced growth and self-renewal capacity of myeloid-biased hematopoietic stem cells, and the development of phenotypes resembling MPNs. Mechanistically, the pathogenic role of GADD45g insufficiency is mediated through a cascade of activations of RAC2, PAK1 and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways. These data characterize GADD45g deficiency as a novel pathogenic factor in MPNs.

De novo Phased Genome Assembly, Annotation and Population Genotyping of Alectoris Chukar.

The Alectoris Chukar (chukar) is the most geographically widespread partridge species in the world, demonstrating exceptional adaptability to diverse ecological environments. However, the scarcity of genetic resources for chukar has hindered research into its adaptive evolution and molecular breeding. In this study, we have sequenced and assembled a high-quality, phased chukar genome that consists of 31 pairs of relatively complete diploid chromosomes. Our BUSCO analysis reported a high completeness score of 96.8% and 96.5%, with respect to universal single-copy orthologs and a low duplication rate (0.3% and 0.5%) for two assemblies. Through resequencing and population genomic analyses of six subspecies, we have curated invaluable genotype data that underscores the adaptive evolution of chukar in response to both arid and high-altitude environments. These data will significantly contribute to research on how chukars adaptively evolve to cope with desertification and alpine climates.

Tantalum pentoxide: a new material platform for high-performance dielectric metasurface optics in the ultraviolet and visible region.

Dielectric metasurfaces, composed of planar arrays of subwavelength dielectric structures that collectively mimic the operation of conventional bulk optical elements, have revolutionized the field of optics by their potential in constructing high-efficiency and multi-functional optoelectronic systems on chip. The performance of a dielectric metasurface is largely determined by its constituent material, which is highly desired to have a high refractive index, low optical loss and wide bandgap, and at the same time, be fabrication friendly. Here, we present a new material platform based on tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) for implementing high-performance dielectric metasurface optics over the ultraviolet and visible spectral region. This wide-bandgap dielectric, exhibiting a high refractive index exceeding 2.1 and negligible extinction coefficient across a broad spectrum, can be easily deposited over large areas with good quality using straightforward physical vapor deposition, and patterned into high-aspect-ratio subwavelength nanostructures through commonly-available fluorine-gas-based reactive ion etching. We implement a series of high-efficiency ultraviolet and visible metasurfaces with representative light-field modulation functionalities including polarization-independent high-numerical-aperture lensing, spin-selective hologram projection, and vivid structural color generation, and the devices exhibit operational efficiencies up to 80%. Our work overcomes limitations faced by scalability of commonly-employed metasurface dielectrics and their operation into the visible and ultraviolet spectral range, and provides a novel route towards realization of high-performance, robust and foundry-manufacturable metasurface optics.

Twist family BHLH transcription factor 1 is required for the maintenance of leukemia stem cell in MLL-AF9+ acute myeloid leukemia.

Leukemia stem cells (LSC) are a rare population capable of limitless self-renewal and are responsible for the initiation, maintenance, and relapse of leukemia. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the regulation of LSC function could provide novel treatment strategies. Here, we show that TWIST1 is extremely highly expressed in the LSC of MLL-AF9+ acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and its upregulation is positively regulated by KDM4C in a H3K9me3 demethylation-dependent manner. We further demonstrate that TWIST1 is essential for the viability, dormancy, and self-renewal capacities of LSC, and that it promotes the initiation and maintenance of MLL-AF9-mediated AML. In addition, TWIST1 directly interacts and collaborates with HOXA9 in inducing AML in mice. Mechanistically, TWIST1 exerts its oncogenic function by activating the WNT5a/RAC1 axis. Collectively, our study uncovers a critical role of TWIST1 in LSC function and provides new mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of MLL-AF9+ AML.

Precise Phase Measurement for Fringe Reflection Technique through Optimized Camera Response.

The Fringe Reflection is a robust and non-contact technique for optical measurement and specular surface characterization. The periodic alternation between dark and light cycles of the fringe patterns encodes the geometric information and provides a non-contact method of spatial measurement through phase extraction. Precisely expressing the positions of the points of the fringe pattern is a fundamental requirement for an accurate fringe reflection measurement. However, the nonlinear processes, both in generating the fringe pattern on a screen and capturing it using pixel values, cause inevitable errors in the phase measurement and eventually reduce the system's precision. Aiming at reducing these nonlinear errors, we focus on constructing a new quantity from the pixel values of the photos of the fringe patterns that could linearly respond to the ideal fringe pattern. To this end, we hypothesize that the process of displaying the fringe pattern on a screen using a control function is similar to the process of capturing the pattern and converting the illuminating information into pixel values, which can be described using the camera's response function. This similarity allows us to build a scaled energy quantity that could have a better linear relation with the control function. We optimize the extracted camera response function using an objective to increase the precision and reduce the quoted error. Experiments designed to determine the positions of points along the quartile lines verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in improving fringe reflection measurement precision.

Dielectric Metasurface Enabled Compact, Single-Shot Digital Holography for Quantitative Phase Imaging.

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI) enables nondestructive, real-time, label-free imaging of transparent specimens and can reveal information about their fundamental properties such as cell size and morphology, mass density, particle dynamics, and cellular fluctuations. Development of high-performance and low-cost quantitative phase imaging systems is thus required in many fields, including on-site biomedical imaging and industrial inspection. Here, we propose an ultracompact, highly stable interferometer based on a single-layer dielectric metasurface for common path off-axis digital holography and experimentally demonstrate quantitative phase imaging. The interferometric imaging system leveraging an ultrathin multifunctional metasurface captures image plane holograms in a single shot and provides quantitative phase information on the test samples for extraction of its physical properties. With the benefits of planar engineering and high integrability, the proposed metasurface-based method establishes a stable miniaturized QPI system for reliable and cost-effective point-of-care devices, live cell imaging, 3D topography, and edge detection for optical computing.

Disordered metasurface enabled single-shot full-Stokes polarization imaging leveraging weak dichroism.

Polarization, one of the fundamental properties of light, is critical for certain imaging applications because it captures information from the scene that cannot directly be recorded by traditional intensity cameras. Currently, mainstream approaches for polarization imaging rely on strong dichroism of birefringent crystals or artificially fabricated structures that exhibit a high diattenuation typically exceeding 99%, which corresponds to a polarization extinction ratio (PER) >~100. This not only limits the transmission efficiency of light, but also makes them either offer narrow operational bandwidth or be non-responsive to the circular polarization. Here, we demonstrate a single-shot full-Stokes polarization camera incorporating a disordered metasurface array with weak dichroism. The diattenuation of the metasurface array is ~65%, which corresponds to a PER of ~2. Within the framework of compressed sensing, the proposed disordered metasurface array serves as an efficient sensing matrix. By incorporating a mask-aware reconstruction algorithm, the signal can be accurately recovered with a high probability. In our experiments, the proposed approach exhibits high-accuracy full-Stokes polarimetry and high-resolution real-time polarization imaging. Our demonstration highlights the potential of combining meta-optics with reconstruction algorithms as a promising approach for advanced imaging applications.

Gene Expression Profiling Reveals Potential Players of Sex Determination and Asymmetrical Development in Chicken Embryo Gonads.

Despite the notable progress made in recent years, the understanding of the genetic control of gonadal sex differentiation and asymmetrical ovariogenesis in chicken during embryonic development remains incomplete. This study aimed to identify potential key genes and speculate about the mechanisms associated with ovary and testis development via an analysis of the results of PacBio and Illumina transcriptome sequencing of embryonic chicken gonads at the initiation of sexual differentiation (E4.5, E5.5, and E6.5). PacBio sequencing detected 328 and 233 significantly up-regulated transcript isoforms in females and males at E4.5, respectively. Illumina sequencing detected 95, 296 and 445 DEGs at E4.5, E5.5, and E6.5, respectively. Moreover, both sexes showed asymmetrical expression in gonads, and more DEGs were detected on the left side. There were 12 DEGs involved in cell proliferation shared between males and females in the left gonads. GO analysis suggested that coagulation pathways may be involved in the degradation of the right gonad in females and that blood oxygen transport pathways may be involved in preventing the degradation of the right gonad in males. These results provide a comprehensive expression profile of chicken embryo gonads at the initiation of sexual differentiation, which can serve as a theoretical basis for further understanding the mechanism of bird sex determination and its evolutionary process.

Characterization and the comprehensive expression analysis of tobacco valine-glutamine genes in response to trichomes development and stress tolerance.

Valine-glutamine genes (VQ) acted as transcription regulators and played the important roles in plant growth and development, and stress tolerance through interacting with transcription factors and other co-regulators. In this study, sixty-one VQ genes containing the FxxxVQxxTG motif were identified and updated in the Nicotiana tobacum genome. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that NtVQ genes were divided into seven groups and genes of each group had highly conserved exon-intron structure. Expression patterns analysis firstly showed that NtVQ genes expressed individually in different tobacco tissues including mixed-trichome (mT), glandular-trichome (gT), and nonglandular-trichome (nT), and the expression levels were also distinguishing in response to methyl jasmonate (MeJA), salicylic acid (SA), gibberellic acid (GA), ethylene (ETH), high salinity and PEG stresses. Besides, only NtVQ17 of its gene family was verified to have acquired autoactivating activity. This work will not only lead a foundation on revealing the functions of NtVQ genes in tobacco trichomes but also provided references to VQ genes related stress tolerance research in more crops.

Integrating planar photonics for multi-beam generation and atomic clock packaging on chip.

The commercialization of atomic technologies requires replacing laboratory-scale laser setups with compact and manufacturable optical platforms. Complex arrangements of free-space beams can be generated on chip through a combination of integrated photonics and metasurface optics. In this work, we combine these two technologies using flip-chip bonding and demonstrate an integrated optical architecture for realizing a compact strontium atomic clock. Our planar design includes twelve beams in two co-aligned magneto-optical traps. These beams are directed above the chip to intersect at a central location with diameters as large as 1 cm. Our design also includes two co-propagating beams at lattice and clock wavelengths. These beams emit collinearly and vertically to probe the center of the magneto-optical trap, where they will have diameters of ≈100 µm. With these devices we demonstrate that our integrated photonic platform is scalable to an arbitrary number of beams, each with different wavelengths, geometries, and polarizations.

Highly-twisted states of light from a high quality factor photonic crystal ring.

Twisted light with orbital angular momentum (OAM) has been extensively studied for applications in quantum and classical communications, microscopy, and optical micromanipulation. Ejecting high angular momentum states of a whispering gallery mode (WGM) microresonator through a grating-assisted mechanism provides a scalable, chip-integrated solution for OAM generation. However, demonstrated OAM microresonators have exhibited a much lower quality factor (Q) than conventional WGM resonators (by >100×), and an understanding of the limits on Q has been lacking. This is crucial given the importance of Q in enhancing light-matter interactions. Moreover, though high-OAM states are often desirable, the limits on what is achievable in a microresonator are not well understood. Here, we provide insight on these two questions, through understanding OAM from the perspective of mode coupling in a photonic crystal ring and linking it to coherent backscattering between counter-propagating WGMs. In addition to demonstrating high-Q (105 to 106), a high estimated upper bound on OAM ejection efficiency (up to 90%), and high-OAM number (up to l = 60), our empirical model is supported by experiments and provides a quantitative explanation for the behavior of Q and the upper bound of OAM ejection efficiency with l. The state-of-the-art performance and understanding of microresonator OAM generation opens opportunities for OAM applications using chip-integrated technologies.

Generation of Perfect Electron Vortex Beam with a Customized Beam Size Independent of Orbital Angular Momentum.

The electron vortex beam (EVB)-carrying quantized orbital angular momentum (OAM) plays an essential role in a series of fundamental research. However, the radius of the transverse intensity profile of a doughnut-shaped EVB strongly depends on the topological charge of the OAM, impeding its wide applications in electron microscopy. Inspired by the perfect vortex in optics, herein, we demonstrate a perfect electron vortex beam (PEVB), which completely unlocks the constraint between the beam size and the beam's OAM. We design nanoscale holograms to generate PEVBs carrying different quanta of OAM but exhibiting almost the same beam size. Furthermore, we show that the beam size of the PEVB can be readily controlled by only modifying the design parameters of the hologram. The generation of PEVB with a customized beam size independent of the OAM can promote various in situ applications of free electrons carrying OAM in electron microscopy.

Feeling unloved is the most robust sign of adolescent depression linking to family communication patterns.

Using network analysis, this study investigated how family communication patterns (Conversation and Conformity) were related to and predictive of adolescent overall depression severity and specific symptoms. A community sample of adolescents (10-17 years, n = 1327) completed the Children's Depression Inventory and the Revised Family Communication Pattern Instrument. Depressive symptoms were also re-assessed 6 months later. Results showed that Conversation orientation protected against, whereas Conformity orientation increased the risk of adolescent depression. Family communication particularly influenced the child's feeling of being unloved, and feeling unloved was the only symptom prospectively predicted by two communication orientations at baseline. These findings revealed the path linking family factors to adolescent depression and may have implications for future family-based interventions.

Nonlinear rotation of spin-orbit coupled states in hollow ring-core fibers.

We experimentally demonstrate that when two spin-orbit coupled orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes of opposite topological charge co-propagate in the Kerr nonlinear regime in a hollow ring-core optical fiber, the vectorial mode superposition exhibits a unique power-dependent rotation effect. This effect is analogous to nonlinear polarization rotation in single-mode fibers, however, the added spatial dimension produces a visually observable rotation of the spatial pattern emerging from the fiber when imaged through a linear polarizer. A dielectric metasurface q-plate was designed and fabricated to excite the desired mode combination in a hollow ring-core fiber that supports stable propagation of OAM modes. The observed spatial patterns show strong agreement with numerical simulations of the vector coupled nonlinear Schrödinger equations. These results constitute the first measurements of what can be described as the spin-orbit coupled generalization of the nonlinear polarization rotation effect.

Synthesizing ultrafast optical pulses with arbitrary spatiotemporal control.

The ability to control the instantaneous state of light, from high-energy pulses down to the single-photon level, is an indispensable requirement in photonics. This has, for example, facilitated spatiotemporal probing and coherent control of ultrafast light-matter interactions, and enabled capabilities such as generation of exotic states of light with complexity, or at wavelengths, that are not easily accessible. Here, by leveraging the multifunctional control of light at the nanoscale offered by metasurfaces embedded in a Fourier transform setup, we present a versatile approach to synthesize ultrafast optical transients with arbitrary control over its complete spatiotemporal evolution. Our approach, supporting an ultrawide bandwidth with simultaneously high spectral and spatial resolution, enables ready synthesis of complex states of structured space-time wave packets. We expect our results to offer unique capabilities in coherent ultrafast light-matter interactions and facilitate applications in microscopy, communications, and nonlinear optics.