A High-Performance Silicon Electro-Optic Phase Modulator with a Triple MOS Capacitor

We propose and analyze a novel Si-based electro-optic modulator with an improved metal-oxide-semiconductor （MOS） capacitor configuration integrated into silicon-on-insulator （SOl）. Three gate-oxide layers embedded in the silicon waveguide constitute a triple MOS capacitor structure, which boosts the modulation efficiency compared with a single MOS capacitor. The simulation results demonstrate that the Vπ Lπ product is 2. 4V · cm. The rise time and fall time of the proposed device are calculated to be 80 and 40ps from the transient response curve, respectively,indicating a bandwidth of 8GHz. The phase shift efficiency and bandwidth can be enhanced by rib width scaling.

Ridge Waveguide Electro-Optic Polymer Modulator with a New Kind of Corona Poled Crosslinkable Polyurethane

A polymer electro optic modulator has been fabricated with the functional layer acting as a kind of corona poled crosslinkable polyurethane. The three optical layers, namely waveguide, photolithography and oxygen are fabricated by spin coating. With the Reactive Ion Etching method, the ridge of the waveguide is constructed. With light at 1 31μm being fiber coupled to waveguide, the mode and the modulation properties of these devices are demonstrated in a micron control system.

Influence of substrate effect on near-field radiative modulator based on biaxial hyperbolic materials

Relative rotation between the emitter and receiver could effectively modulate the near-field radiative heat transfer(NFRHT)in anisotropic media.Due to the strong in-plane anisotropy,natural hyperbolic materials can be used to construct near-field radiative modulators with excellent modulation effects.However,in practical applications,natural hyperbolic materials need to be deposited on the substrate,and the influence of substrate on modulation effect has not been studied yet.In this work,we investigate the influence of substrate effect on near-field radiative modulator based onα-MoO_(3).The results show that compared to the situation without a substrate,the presence of both lossless and lossy substrate will reduce the modulation contrast(MC)for different film thicknesses.When the real or imaginary component of the substrate permittivity increases,the mismatch of hyperbolic phonon polaritons(HPPs)weakens,resulting in a reduction in MC.By reducing the real and imaginary components of substrate permittivity,the MC can be significantly improved,reaching 4.64 forε_(s)=3 at t=10 nm.This work indicates that choosing a substrate with a smaller permittivity helps to achieve a better modulation effect,and provides guidance for the application of natural hyperbolic materials in the near-field radiative modulator.

Calcium-sensitive protein MLC1 as a possible modulator of the astrocyte functional state

Astrocytes,the main population of glial cells in the central nervous system(CNS),exert essential tasks for the control of brain tissue homeostasis,supporting neuron and other glial cell activity from the developmental stage to adult life.To maintain the optimal functionality of the brain,astroglial cells are particularly committed to reacting to every change in tissue homeostatic conditions,from mild modifications of the physiological environment,a process called astrocyte activation,to the more severe alterations occurring in pathological situations causing astrocyte reactivity or reactive astrogliosis(Escartin et al.,2021).During these reactive states,astrocytes mount an active,progressive response encompassing morphological,molecular,and interactional remodeling,leading to the acquisition of new functions and the loss of others,whose intensity,duration,and reversibility are dependent on the nature of the stimulus and regulated in a context-specific manner.

Neuropeptide cholecystokinin:a key neuromodulator for hippocampal functions

Spatial memory is crucial for survival within external surroundings and wild environments.The hippocampus,a critical hub for spatial learning and memory formation,has received extensive investigations on how neuromodulators shape its functions(Teixeira et al.,2018;Zhang et al.,2024).However,the landscape of neuromodulations in the hippocampal system remains poorly understood because most studies focus on classical monoamine neuromodulators,such as acetylcholine,serotonin,dopamine,and noradrenaline.The neuropeptides,comprising the most abundant neuromodulators in the central nervous system,play a pivotal role in neural information processing in the hippocampal system.Cholecystokinin(CCK),one of the most abundant neuropeptides,has been implicated in regulating various physiological and neurobiological statuses(Chen et al.,2019).CCK-A receptor(CCK-AR)and CCK-B receptors(CCK-BR)are two key receptors mediating the biological functions of CCK,both of which belong to class-A sevenfold transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors(Nishimura et al.,2015).CCK-AR preferentially reacts to sulfated CCK,whereas CCK-BR binds both CCK and gastrin with similar affinities(Ding et al.,2022).The expression patterns of CCK-AR and CCK-BR are distinct,implying that CCK has various functions in target regions.For instance,CCK-AR is widely expressed in the GI and brain subregions and is hence implicated in the control of digestive function and satiety regulation.Conversely,CCK-BR is abundantly and widely distributed in the central nervous system,which majorly regulates anxiety,learning,and memory(Ding et al.,2022).However,the roles of endogenous CCK and CCK receptors in regulating hippocampal function at electrophysiological and behavioral levels have received less attention.

Exploring the modulatory role of bovine lactoferrin on the microbiome and the immune response in healthy and Shiga toxin‑producing E.coli challenged weaned piglets

Background Post-weaned piglets suffer from F18+Escherichia coli(E.coli)infections resulting in post-weaning diar-rhoea or oedema disease.Frequently used management strategies,including colistin and zinc oxide,have contrib-uted to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.Novel antimicrobials capable of directly interacting with pathogens and modulating the host immune responses are being investigated.Lactoferrin has shown promising results against porcine enterotoxigenic E.coli strains,both in vitro and in vivo.Results We investigated the influence of bovine lactoferrin(bLF)on the microbiome of healthy and infected weaned piglets.Additionally,we assessed whether bLF influenced the immune responses upon Shiga toxin-producing E.coli(STEC)infection.Therefore,2 in vivo trials were conducted:a microbiome trial and a challenge infection trial,using an F18+STEC strain.BLF did not affect theα-andβ-diversity.However,bLF groups showed a higher relative abundance(RA)for the Actinobacteria phylum and the Bifidobacterium genus in the ileal mucosa.When analysing the immune response upon infection,the STEC group exhibited a significant increase in F18-specific IgG serum levels,whereas this response was absent in the bLF group.Conclusion Taken together,the oral administration of bLF did not have a notable impact on theα-andβ-diversity of the gut microbiome in weaned piglets.Nevertheless,it did increase the RA of the Actinobacteria phylum and Bifi-dobacterium genus,which have previously been shown to play an important role in maintaining gut homeostasis.Furthermore,bLF administration during STEC infection resulted in the absence of F18-specific serum IgG responses.

Light-field modulation and optimization near metal nanostructures utilizing spatial light modulators

Plasmonic modes within metal nanostructures play a pivotal role in various nanophotonic applications.However,a significant challenge arises from the fixed shapes of nanostructures post-fabrication,resulting in limited modes under ordinary illumination.A promising solution lies in far-field control facilitated by spatial light modulators(SLMs),which enable on-site,real-time,and non-destructive manipulation of plasmon excitation.Through the robust modulation of the incident light using SLMs,this approach enables the generation,optimization,and dynamic control of surface plasmon polariton(SPP)and localized surface plasmon(LSP)modes.The versatility of this technique introduces a rich array of tunable degrees of freedom to plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy,offering novel approaches for signal optimization and functional expansion in this field.This paper provides a comprehensive review of the generation and modulation of SPP and LSP modes through far-field control with SLMs and highlights the diverse applications of this optical technology in plasmon-enhanced spectroscopy.

Identification of FDA-Approved Drugs as Modulators of Multidrug Resistance Protein 2 (MRP2/ABCC2) Expression Levels in MRP2-Overexpressing Cells: Preliminary Data

Multidrug Resistance Protein 2 (MRP2) is an ATP-dependent transmembrane protein that plays a pivotal role in the efflux of a wide variety of physiological substrates across the plasma membrane. Several studies have shown that MRP2 can significantly affect the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) profiles of many therapeutic drugs and chemicals found in the environment and diet. This transporter can also efflux newly developed anticancer agents that target specific signaling pathways and are major clinical markers associated with multidrug resistance (MDR) of several types of cancers. MDR remains a major limitation to the advancement of the combinatorial chemotherapy regimen in cancer treatment. In addition to anticancer agents, MRP2 reduces the efficacy of various drug classes such as antivirals, antimalarials, and antibiotics. The unique role of MRP2 and its contribution to MDR makes it essential to profile drug-transporter interactions for all new and promising drugs. Thus, this current research seeks to identify modulators of MRP2 protein expression levels using cell-based assays. A unique recently approved FDA library (372 drugs) was screened using a high-throughput In-Cell ELISA assay to determine the effect of these therapeutic agents on protein expression levels of MRP2. A total of 49 FDA drugs altered MRP2 protein expression levels by more than 50% representing 13.17% of the compounds screened. Among the identified hits, thirty-nine (39) drugs increased protein expression levels whereas 10 drugs lowered protein expression levels of MRP2 after drug treatment. Our findings from this initial drug screening showed that modulators of MRP2 peregrinate multiple drug families and signify the importance of profiling drug interactions with this transporter. Data from this study provides essential information to improve combinatorial drug therapy and precision medicine as well as reduce the drug toxicity of various cancer chemotherapies.

A high-contrast imaging coronagraph for segmented-mirror large aperture telescopes using a spatial light modulator

The primary mirrors of current and future large telescopes always employ a segmented mirror configuration.The small but non-negligible gaps between neighboring segments cause additional diffraction,which restricts the performance of high-contrast coronagraph.To solve this problem,we propose a coronagraph system based on a single liquid crystal spatial light modulator(SLM).This spatial light modulator is used for amplitude apodization,and its feasibility and potential performance are demonstrated using a laboratory setup using the stochastic parallel gradient descent(SPGD)algorithm to control the spatial light modulator,which is based on point spread function(PSF)sensing and evaluation and optimized for maximum contrast in the discovery working area as a merit function.The system delivers a contrast in the order of 10−6,and shows excellent potential to be used in current and future large aperture telescopes,both on the ground and in space.

Mach-Zehnder Electro-Optic Polymer Modulator with C orona Poled Core Layer

A Mach-Zehnder(MZ) electro-optic(EO) modulator are real iz ed,with three optical layers as polymer materials.The functional layer is the co rona poled crosslinkable polyurethane.The ridge waveguide is fabricated by using the spin-coating,poling,photolithography and oxygen reactive ion etching(RIE) techniques.The mode and the modulation properties of these devices are demonstra ted in a micron control system,while the light source works at the wavelength of 1 31 or 1 55 micron.

Harnessing immunity:Immunomodulatory therapies in COVID-19

An overly exuberant immune response,characterized by a cytokine storm and uncontrolled inflammation,has been identified as a significant driver of severe coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)cases.Consequently,deciphering the intricacies of immune dysregulation in COVID-19 is imperative to identify specific targets for intervention and modulation.With these delicate dynamics in mind,immunomodulatory therapies have emerged as a promising avenue for miti-gating the challenges posed by COVID-19.Precision in manipulating immune pathways presents an opportunity to alter the host response,optimizing antiviral defenses while curbing deleterious inflammation.This review article compre-hensively analyzes immunomodulatory interventions in managing COVID-19.We explore diverse approaches to mitigating the hyperactive immune response and its impact,from corticosteroids and non-steroidal drugs to targeted biologics,including anti-viral drugs,cytokine inhibitors,JAK inhibitors,convalescent plasma,monoclonal antibodies(mAbs)to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,cell-based therapies(i.e.,CAR T,etc.).By summarizing the current evidence,we aim to provide a clear roadmap for clinicians and researchers navigating the complex landscape of immunomodulation in COVID-19 treatment.CS Glucocorticoids are among the most widely prescribed drugs with their immune-suppressive and anti-inflammatory effect[84].The current guidelines for the treatment of COVID-19 recommend against the use of dexamethasone or other systemic CS in non-hospitalized patients in the absence of another indication[70].The RECOVERY trial demonstrates the reduced 28-d mortality among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 using dexamethasone compared to the usual standard of care,along with other investigators,such as Ahmed and Hassan[85].The benefit of dexamethasone was seen only among participants receiving either oxygen alone or invasive mechanical ventilation at randomization but not among those receiving no respiratory support at enrollment[85].In a systematic review and meta-analysis,Albuquerque et al[86]showed that in comparison to tocilizumab,baricitinib,and sarilumab are associated with high probabilities of similar mortality reductions among hospitalized COVID-19 concurrently treated with CS.As a result of the absence of SARS-CoV-2-specific antiviral medications,the effectiveness of COVID-19 treatments is reduced.Several COVID-19 therapies are now under investigation.However,the majority of them lack specificity,efficacy,and safety[87].Immunotherapy is a ground-breaking medical treatment that manipulates the immune system to fight diseases.Translational research is rapidly progressing,recognized as a significant breakthrough in 2013[88].Among the immunotherapeutic options for treating COVID-19 are Immunoglobulin,CP,antibodies,mAbs(mAbs),NK cells,T cells,TLR,cytokine therapies and immune modulators.

Organic electro-optic polymer materials and organic-based hybrid electro-optic modulators

High performance electro-optic modulator,as the key device of integrated ultra-wideband optical systems,have be-come the focus of research.Meanwhile,the organic-based hybrid electro-optic modulators,which make full use of the advant-ages of organic electro-optic(OEO)materials(e.g.high electro-optic coefficient,fast response speed,high bandwidth,easy pro-cessing/integration and low cost)have attracted considerable attention.In this paper,we introduce a series of high-perform-ance OEO materials that exhibit good properties in electro-optic activity and thermal stability.In addition,the recent progress of organic-based hybrid electro-optic devices is reviewed,including photonic crystal-organic hybrid(PCOH),silicon-organic hy-brid(SOH)and plasmonic-organic hybrid(POH)modulators.A high-performance integrated optical platform based on OEO ma-terials is a promising solution for growing high speeds and low power consumption in compact sizes.

Ultra-low V_(pp)and high-modulation-depth InP-based electro-optic microring modulator

A modulator is an essential building block in the integrated photonics,connecting the electrical with optical signals.The microring modulator gains much attention because of the small footprint,low drive voltage and high extinction ratio.An ultra-low V_(pp)and high-modulation-depth indium phosphide-based racetrack microring modulator is demonstrated in this paper.The proposed device mainly comprises one racetrack microring,incorporating a semiconductor amplifier,and coupling with a bus waveguide through a multimode interference coupler.Traveling wave electrodes are employed to supply bidirectional bias ports,terminating with a 50-Ω impedance.The on/off extinction ratio of the microring reaches 43.3 dB due to the delicately tuning of the gain.An 11 mV V_(pp),a maximum 42.5 dB modulation depth and a 6.6 GHz bandwidth are realized,respectively.This proposed microring modulator could enrich the functionalities and designability of the fundamental integrated devices.

Polymer Electro-optic Modulator Linear Bias Using the Thermo-optic Effect

A quasi-rectangular waveguide polymer MacH^(-)Zehnder (M-Z) electro-optic (EO) modulator based on an organic/inorganic hybrid material with thermal bias control is fabricated and demonstrated.Linear bias for the modulator is obtained through thermo-optic effect.The optical output is adjusted by changing phase difference between the two arms of the M-Z interferometer.A power consumption of 16.1 m W for π phase change is observed owing to the application of silica cladding.This approach is proved to be effective to suppress direct current drift in polymer EO modulators.

Novel Electro-Optical Modulator Utilizing GeO_2-Doped Silica Waveguide

In order to achieve a modulator with broad bandwidth and perfect impedance match,a novel electro-optical modulator based on GeO2-doped silica waveguides on silicon substrate is designed.The finite element model of the whole electro-optical modulator is established by means of ANSYS.With the finite element method analysis,the performance of the novel modulator is predicted.The simulation reveals that the designed modulator operates with a product of 3 dB optical bandwidth and modulating length of 226.59 GHz·cm,and a characteristic impedance of 51.6 Ω at 1 550 nm wavelength.Moreover,the calculated electrical reflected power of coplanar waveguide electrode is below-20 dB in the frequency ranging from 45 MHz to 65 GHz.Therefore,the designed modulator has wide modulation bandwidth and perfect impedance match.

Measurement of Frequency Shift Characteristics Based on LiNbO_3 Waveguide Electro-Optic Intensity Modulator

High-speed and wide-band LiNbO3 waveguide electro-optic intensity modulator has drawn great attention in the field of optical fiber communication and sensor. This paper reports the research results on the measurement of frequency shift characteristics of Mach-Zehnder electro-optic intensity modulator. Two measurement methods of frequency shift characteristics for high and low frequency modulations are studied in theory and experiment and demonstrate different results. The realization of a multi-wavelength optical source based on Mach-Zehnder electro-optic intensity modulator has been introduced. The technique to reach the maximum intensity for interesting shift frequency, particularly for heterodyne detection of Brillouin distributed optical fiber sensing, has been given.

Analysis of electro-optical intensity modulator for bunch arrival-time monitor at SXFEL

A bunch arrival-time monitor(BAM) based on an electro-optical intensity modulation scheme is currently under development at Shanghai Soft X-ray Free-Electron Laser to meet the high-resolution requirements for bunch stability. The BAM uses a radio frequency signal generated by a pickup cavity to modulate the reference laser pulses in an electro-optical intensity modulator(EOM), and the bunch arrival-time information is derived from the amplitude change of the laser pulse after laser pulse modulation.EOM is a key optical component in the BAM system.Through the basic principle analysis of BAM, many parameters of the EOM are observed to affect the measurement resolution of the BAM system. Therefore, a systematic analysis of the EOM is crucial. In this paper, we present two schemes to compare and analyze an EOM and provide a reference for selecting a new version of the EOM.

Low-power electro-optic phase modulator based on multilayer graphene/silicon nitride waveguide

Electro-optic modulator is a key component for on-chip optical signal processing.An electro-optic phase modulator based on multilayer graphene embedded in silicon nitride waveguide is demonstrated to fulfill low-power operation.Finite element method is adopted to investigate the interaction enhancement between the graphene flake and the optical mode.The impact of multilayer graphene on the performance of phase modulator is studied comprehensively.Simulation results show that the modulation efficiency improves with the increment of graphene layer number,as well as the modulation length.The 3-dB bandwidth of around 48 GHz is independent of graphene layer number and length.Compared to modulator with two-or four-layer graphene,the six-layer graphene/silicon nitride waveguide modulator can realizeπphase shift at a low-power consumption of 14 fJ/bit when the modulation length is 240μm.

Modulation Depth Based on Frequency-shift Characteristic of LiNbO3 Waveguide Electro-optic Intensity Modulator

The modulation depth, defined according to practical modulation results, which changes with the microwave power and its frequency, is significant for systems utilizing the frequency-shift characteristic of the LiNbO3 waveguide Electro-Optic Intensity Modulator （EOIM）. By analyzing the impedance mismatch between the microwave source and the EOIM, the effective voltage applied to the RF port of the EOIM is deprived from the microwave power and its frequency. Associating with analyses of the phase velocity mismatch between the microwave and the optical wave, the theoretical modulation depth has been obtained, which is verified by experimental results. We provide a method to choose the appropriate modulation depth to optimize the desired sideband through proper transmission bias for the system based on the frequency-shift characteristic of the EOIM.

Magneto and Electro-Optic Intensity Modulator Based on Liquid Crystal and Magnetic Fluid Filled Photonic Crystal Fiber

We propose a novel light intensity modulator based on magnetic fluid and liquid crystal（LC） filled photonic crystal fibers（PCFs）. The influences of electric and magnetic fields on the transmission intensity are theoretically and experimentally analyzed and investigated. Both the electric and magnetic fields can manipulate the molecular arrangement of LC to array a certain angle without changing the refractive index of the LC. Therefore, light loss in the PCF varies with the electric and magnetic fields whereas the peak wavelengths remain constant. The experimental results show that the transmission intensity decreases with the increase of the electric and magnetic fields. The cut-off electric field is 0.899 V/um at 20 Hz and the cut-off magnetic field is 195 m T. This simple and compacted optical modulator will have a great prospect in sensing applications.