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Terahertz sensing is one of the most promising methods for label-free and noninvasive detection of refractive index changes. However, the figure of merit (FOM) of terahertz sensors in practical applications has been low. In this paper, a metamaterial sensor based on simple stacking of gold and silicon dioxide is proposed, through whose structure not only narrow-band absorption with five absorption peaks is realized, but FOM is also improved to 1792. The excellent sensing performance and the mature manufacturing technology of this kind of structure provide a platform for the design of multi-band photodetectors and high-sensitivity sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormalities in glucose and lipid metabolism contribute to the progression and exacerbation of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Fish oil and probiotics are dietary supplements that have the potential to improve glucose and lipid metabolism. However, their efficacy remains unclear in T2DM patients. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were retrieved to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of fish oil or probiotic supplementation in T2DM patients from the database inception to December 13, 2023. Primary outcome indicators encompassed glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and blood lipid profile (triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC). Secondary outcome indicators included inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor -α (TNF-α) and adipocytokine (including leptin and adiponectin). The R software was used for statistical analysis, and GraphPad Prism was used for figure rendering. Results: A total of 60 RCTs involving 3845 T2DM patients were included in the analysis. The results showed that the probiotics (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Propionibacterium, etc.) were more effective in reducing HOMA-IR than fish oil (Surca = 0.935). Bifidobacterium demonstrated the highest efficacy in reducing HbA1c levels (Surca = 0.963). Regarding lipid metabolism, fish oil was superior to probiotics in lowering TG and TC levels (Surca values of 0.978 and 0.902, respectively). Furthermore, fish oil outperformed probiotics in reducing TNF-α (Surca = 0.839) and leptin (Surca = 0.712), and increasing adiponectin levels (Surca = 0.742). Node-splitting analysis showed good consistency (P > 0.05 for direct, indirect, and network comparison across various interventions). Conclusions: In T2DM patients, fish oil was more effective than probiotics in regulating lipid metabolism. Probiotics outperformed fish oil in regulating glucose metabolism particularly; specifically, Bifidobacterium showed higher efficacy in reducing blood glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a composite metasurface composed of InSb strips and SiO2 substrate, which can achieve multi-band coherent perfect absorption in the terahertz frequency range. It is demonstrated that InSb strips of different sizes support independent plasmon resonances at different frequencies, which is a linear superposition of each subunit. The absorption at each resonance frequency can be independently and continuously modulated with the modulation depth is up to 1.332 × 104 via controlling the relative phase or relative intensity of two beams. Meanwhile, the absorber has the sensitivity of the refractive index to the surrounding environment, thereby facilitating the design of sensing devices. Moreover, it has excellent thermal tunability: we flexibly modulate absorption via controlling the temperature without restructuring. Our design contributes a feasible way of manipulating the interaction between light and matter, which can be applied to the field of micro–nano photonic devices in the terahertz band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a modification of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF) and reports the effects of culture on the sustainable livelihoods of households in a typical rural tourist site in Wuyuan county, Jiangxi province, China. Different from the previous studies, this paper highlights the role of cultural factors in households' sustainable livelihoods. The modified SLF can be used as a possible theoretical model to comprehensively characterise the sustainable livelihoods of households in tourism destinations with rich cultural resources. Results show that traditional culture significantly impacts locals' thoughts and behaviours and is an indispensable livelihood asset for households. The commercial value of traditional culture has gained prominence in response to shifts in modern tourists' preferences. Most households draw on their past to generate intangible and tangible cultural products to attract tourists and achieve their livelihood goals. The utilisation of tangible cultural resources and intangible cultural heritage to develop rural tourism promotes changes in the livelihood strategies of households. It can enhance locals' financial, human, and social capital. However, rural tourism development has made cultural preservation a potential source of livelihood vulnerability for households in the study area. Regulations may help reduce the adverse livelihood outcomes of rapid tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]