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Abstract Optical skyrmions are an emerging class of structured light with sophisticated particle-like topologies with great potential for revolutionizing modern informatics. However, the current generation of optical skyrmions involves complex or bulky systems, hindering the development of practical applications. Here, exploiting the emergent “lab-on-fiber” technology, we demonstrate the design of a metafiber-integrated photonic skyrmion generator. We not only successfully generate high-quality optical skyrmions from metafibers, but also verify their remarkable properties, such as topology switchability and topology stability with subwavelength polarization features beyond the diffraction limits. Our flexible fiber-integrated optical skyrmions platform paves the avenue for future applications of topologically-enhanced remote super-resolution microscopy and robust information transfer.

Abstract Cancer incidence escalates exponentially with advancing age; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we build a chronological molecular clock at single-cell transcription level with a mammary stem cell-enriched population to depict physiological aging dynamics in female mice. We find that the mammary aging process is asynchronous and progressive, initiated by an early senescence program, succeeded by an entropic late senescence program with elevated cancer associated pathways, vulnerable to cancer predisposition. The transition towards senescence program is governed by a stem cell factor Bcl11b, loss of which accelerates mammary ageing with enhanced DMBA-induced tumor formation. We have identified a drug TPCA-1 that can rejuvenate mammary cells and significantly reduce aging-related cancer incidence. Our findings establish a molecular portrait of progressive mammary cell aging and elucidate the transcriptional regulatory network bridging mammary aging and cancer predisposition, which has potential implications for the management of cancer prevalence in the aged.

Here, the authors demonstrate high-speed imaging through multimode optical fibers by using the high intermodal dispersion to transform 2D spatial information into 1D temporal pulsed signal streams. Deep learning is used to reconstruct the images of micron-scale objects at high frame rates.

The combination of intermittent fasting and chemotherapy can improve the response to treatment. Here, the authors show that SIRT7 activation is required to inactivate Akt during intermittent fasting and that the combination of intermittent fasting and inhibitors that block the Erk pathway can improve efficacy of treatment.

Abstract Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)-based thermoelectric materials, valued for their flexibility, lightweight, and cost-effectiveness, show promise for wearable thermoelectric devices. However, their thermoelectric performance requires significant enhancement for practical applications. To achieve this goal, in this work, we introduce rational “triple treatments” to improve the overall performance of flexible SWCNT-based films, achieving a high power factor of 20.29 µW cm−1 K−2 at room temperature. Ultrasonic dispersion enhances the conductivity, NaBH4 treatment reduces defects and enhances the Seebeck coefficient, and cold pressing significantly densifies the SWCNT films while preserving the high Seebeck coefficient. Also, bending tests confirm structural stability and exceptional flexibility, and a six-legged flexible device demonstrates a maximum power density of 2996 μW cm−2 at a 40 K temperature difference, showing great application potential. This advancement positions SWCNT films as promising flexible thermoelectric materials, providing insights into high-performance carbon-based thermoelectrics.

Direct acylation of sp3 C−H bonds in complex organic molecules is not well established compared to that of sp2 C−H bonds. Here, the authors report the combination of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and photoredox catalysis for the direct and site-selective acylation of benzylic C−H bonds.