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We report on the spin and occupation noise of a single, positively charged (InGa)As quantum dot emitting photons in the telecommunication C-band. The spin noise spectroscopy measurements are carried out at a temperature of 4.2 K in dependence on intensity and detuning in the regime beyond thermal equilibrium. The spin noise spectra yield in combination with an elaborate theoretical model the hole-spin relaxation time of the positively charged quantum dot and the Auger recombination and the electron-spin relaxation time of the trion state. The extracted Auger recombination time of this quantum dot emitting at 1.55 μ m is comparable to the typical Auger recombination times on the order of a few μ s measured in traditionally grown InAs/GaAs quantum dots emitting at around 900 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional artificial skin gels often only focuses on a single perspective and overlooks the necessity of multidimensional synergistic design for sensitivity enhancement. To address these problems, the innovative introduction of dual solvents on the surface of polyacrylamide/sodium alginate gel induces to the transformation of supramolecular interactions including ion coordination, crystalline alcohol, and phase separation, synergistically achieving adjustable wrinkle wavelengths (304.2 ± 19.9 to 2393.5 ± 95.9 µm) and modulated chemical compositions with tunable moduli (87.5 ± 3.3 to 157.6 ± 3.7 kPa). This flexible strategy allows the construction of long‐range ordered wrinkled microstructures of three‐dimensional surfaces and complex morphologies. Meanwhile, the bridge effect induced by crystalline alcohols directs the insertion of ethanol molecules into the polymer chains, effectively reducing intramolecular friction. Benefiting from the small wavelength and low modulus dominated by crystalline alcohol, the wrinkled gel exhibits extremely high sensitivity of 164 kPa−1 (<0.5 kPa) and wide detection range (44.3 kPa). The wrinkled gel remains stable high sensitive to detect micro‐ and large stress, tactile perception, and human motion behaviors. This work proposes a new strategy for constructing highly sensitive bioinspired skin from multiple dimensions, showing broad application prospects in the fields of bioengineering and behavioral cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the effect of icariin plus curcumol on prostate cancer cells PC3 and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: We employed the Cell Counting Kit 8 assay and colony formation assay to assess cell viability and proliferation. Autophagy expression was analyzed using monodansylcadaverine staining. Immunofluorescence and Western blot analyses were used to evaluate protein expressions related to autophagy, pyroptosis, and the mTOR pathway. Cellular damage was examined using the lactate dehydrogenase assay. Moreover, cathepsin B and NLRP3 were detected by co-immunoprecipitation. Results: Icariin plus curcumol led to a decrease in PC3 cell proliferation and an enhancement of autophagy. The levels of LC3-II/LC3-I and beclin-1 were increased, while the levels of p62 and mTOR were decreased after treatment with icariin plus curcumol. These changes were reversed upon overexpression of mTOR. Furthermore, 3-methyladenine resulted in a decrease in inflammatory cytokines, pyroptosis-related protein levels, and lactate dehydrogenase concentration, compared to the icariin plus curcumol group. Inhibiting cathepsin B reversed the regulatory effects of icariin plus curcumol. Conclusions: Icariin plus curcumol demonstrates great potential as a therapeutic agent for castration-resistant prostate cancer by enhancing autophagy via the mTOR pathway and promoting pyroptosis mediated by cathepsin B. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of icariin and curcumol for prostate cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the construction of reservoir, the uplift of the water level leads to changes in flow rate, water depth and sediment movement, which may also affect the habitat of fish and other organisms. In order to demonstrate the influences of reservoir construction on the siltation and hydrodynamic conditions of the spawning site area and by taking a power station in LC Basin as an example, this paper establishes 1D and planar 2D nested water and sand mathematical model to study the form and position of siltation in the spawning ground, the changes of the reservoir backwater, and the hydrodynamic conditions based on the recommended normal storage level and the operating water levels during the flood season. The results show that the distribution of sediment in the spawning area under the recommended scheme is basically the same as in nature, there is no mutation area in the sediment content, and the construction of reservoir has little effect on siltation in the area. After construction, the area of spawning ground with "flow rate meeting 1.0-2.0 m/s, water depth meeting 0.5-1.0 m" increases in each month from April to July, and the change rate ranges from 8.74% to 317.36%. Under the recommended scheme, the construction of the reservoir has little impact on the habitat and hydrodynamic conditions of the spawning site area at the end of the reservoir, and can still meet the demand of fish. The research results can provide a technical reference for similar engineering planning and design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives We explored the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates in China, and their mechanisms of azole resistance. Methods Azole susceptibilities of 2318 non-duplicate isolates were determined using CLSI broth microdilution. Isolates were genotyped by a microsatellite typing method. Molecular resistance mechanisms were also studied and functionally validated by CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic alterations. Results Fluconazole resistance occurred in 2.4% (n = 56) of isolates, and these isolates showed a higher frequency of distribution in ICU inpatients compared with susceptible isolates (48.2%, n = 27/56 versus 27.8%, 613/2208; P = 0.019). Microsatellite-genotyping analysis yielded 29 genotypes among 56 fluconazole-resistant isolates, of which 10 genotypes, including 37 isolates, belonged to clusters, persisting and transmitting in Chinese hospitals for 1–29 months. Clusters harbouring Erg11Y132F (5/10; 50%) were predominant in China. Among these, the second most dominant cluster MT07, including seven isolates, characteristically harbouring Erg11Y132F and Mrr1Q625K, lent its carriage to being one of the strongest associations with cross-resistance and high MICs of fluconazole (>256 mg/L) and voriconazole (2–8 mg/L), causing transmission across two hospitals. Among mutations tested, Mrr1Q625K led to the highest-level increase of fluconazole MIC (32-fold), while mutations located within or near the predicted transcription factor domain of Tac1 (D440Y, T492M and L518F) conferred cross-resistance to azoles. Conclusions This study is the first Chinese report of persistence and transmissions of multiple fluconazole-resistant C. parapsilosis sensu stricto clones harbouring Erg11Y132F, and the first demonstration of the mutations Erg11G307A, Mrr1Q625K, Tac1L263S, Tac1D440Y and Tac1T492M as conferring resistance to azoles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of machine vision demands accurate image capture under different lighting conditions, which is crucial for perceiving the environment correctly. In this paper, we present a human-eye-inspired sensor based on quasi-two-dimensional perovskite and indium gallium zinc oxide phototransistor array. The sensor exhibits a light detection limit as low as 6.1 nW/cm2 with a responsivity of 5 × 105 A/W, capable of perceiving light in visible spectrum range. It demonstrates light adaptation under both dim and illuminated conditions, enhancing the contrast between images and ambient light, while achieving a dynamic range of 162 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]