High-efficiency ultra-fast all-optical photonic crystal diode based on the lateral-coupled nonlinear elliptical defect

An all-optical Fano-like diode featuring a nonlinear lateral elliptical micro-cavity and a reflecting column in the photonic crystal waveguide is proposed.The asymmetric micro-cavity is constructed by removing one rod and changing the shape of the lateral rod from a circle to an ellipse.A reflecting pillar is also introduced into the waveguide to construct an F-P cavity with the elliptical defect and enhance the asymmetric transmission for the incident light wave transmitting rightwards and leftwards,respectively.By designing the size of the ellipse and optimizing a reflecting rod at a suitable position,a maximum forward light transmittance of-1.14 dB and a minimum backward transmittance of-57.66 dB are achieved at the working wavelength of 1550.47 nm.The corresponding response time is about 10 ps when the intensity of the pump light beam resonant at 637 nm is 3.97 W/μm2.

The maize late embryogenesis abundant protein Zm DHN13 positively regulates copper tolerance in transgenic yeast and tobacco

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins accumulate in the late stage of plant seed development, and are upregulated in most plants during drought, cold, heat, or salinity stress. LEA proteins can be classified by amino-acid sequence into seven groups. Dehydrins belong to LEA protein group Ⅱ. In previous studies, the maize KS type dehydrin ZmDHN13 increased the tolerance of transgenic tobacco to oxidative stress. In the present study, ZmDHN13 was identified under copper stress conditions, and the protein was then characterized using transgenic yeast and tobacco plants to investigate its functions. ZmDHN13 bound Cu2+. Its overexpression in transgenic tobacco conferred tolerance to copper stress by binding metals and reducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Three conserved domains displayed a cooperative effect under copper stress conditions.

Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) Contents in Middle and Lower Reaches of Lancang River: Related to Water Environments and Dams

Carbon cycle is one of the focuses of climate change, river carbon is an important part, while dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) has a high proportion of river carbon flux. In this study, we did the research on the Lancang River, an important international river in the southwest of China. Water samples were obtained from 16 sections of the middle and lower reaches of the Lancang River in 2016 (11 months), then we monitored some water quality indicators and DIC content, finally analyzed the temporal-spatial distribution characteristics of DIC and the relationship between DIC content and water environment factors. The results showed that: (1) DIC contents in the middle and lower reaches of the Lancang River varied from 1.1840 mmol/L to 3.1440 mmol/L, with a mean value of about 2.2155 mmol/L. (2) At a time scale, DIC contents of dry season (spring, autumn and winter) were higher than rainy season (summer). At a space scale, DIC contents of the middle and lower reaches of the Lancang River gradually decreased from north to south, and each reservoir had the same characteristics, that is, DIC contents at upstream of the dam was lower than those at downstream of the dam. Compared to other rivers with cascade dams around the world, DIC contents within studied river were at similar level. And the reservoir’s effect of the Lancang River were not obvious, however, DIC contents in the water sampled upstream the dams had a slight stratification. (3) Water temperature, conductivity, turbidity were important factors affecting DIC content of water, and the effect of oxidation and reduction potential (ORP) and pH on DIC was relatively small.

Engagement of N^(6)-methyladenisine methylation of Gng4 mRNA in astrocyte dysfunction regulated by CircHECW2

The N^(6)-methyladenosine(m^(6)A)modification is the most prevalent modification of eukaryotic mRNAs and plays a crucial role in various physiological processes by regulating the stability or function of target mRNAs.Accumulating evidence has suggested that m6A methylation may be involved in the pathological process of major depressive disorder(MDD),a common neuropsychiatric disorder with an unclear aetiology.Here,we found that the levels of the circular RNA HECW2(circHECW2)were significantly increased in the plasma of both MDD patients and the chronic unpredictable stress(CUS)mouse model.Notably,the downregulation of circHECW2 attenuated astrocyte dysfunction and depression-like behaviors induced by CUS.Furthermore,we demonstrated that the downregulation of circHECW2 increased the expression of the methylase WTAP,leading to an increase in Gng4 expression via m^(6)A modifications.Our findings provide functional insight into the correlation between circHECW2 and m^(6)A methylation,suggesting that circHECW2 may represent a potential target for MDD treatment.