Search

Bacterial endophthalmitis is a rare intraocular infection, and prompt administration of intravitreal antibiotics is crucial for preventing severe vision loss. The retrospective study is to investigate the in vitro susceptibility to the antibiotics vancomycin, amikacin, and ceftazidime of bacterial endophthalmitis isolates in specimens at a tertiary referral center from January 1996 to April 2019 in Taiwan. Overall, 450 (49.9%) isolates were gram positive, 447 (49.6%) were gram negative, and 4 (0.4%) were gram variable. In gram-positive isolates, coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most commonly cultured bacteria (158, 35.1%), followed by streptococci (100, 22.2%), enterococci (75, 16.7%), and Staphylococcus aureus (70, 15.6%). In gram-negative isolates, they were Klebsiella pneumoniae (166, 37.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (131, 29.3%). All gram-positive organisms were susceptible to vancomycin, with the exception of one Enterococcus faecium isolate (1/450, 0.2%). Of the gram-negative isolates, 96.9% and 93.7% were susceptible to ceftazidime and amikacin, respectively. Nine isolates (9/447, 2.0%) were multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria, comprising Klebsiella pneumoniae (4/164, 2.4%), Acinetobacter baumannii (2/3, 67%), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (3/18, 17%). In conclusion, in vitro susceptibility testing revealed that vancomycin remains the suitable antibiotic treatment for gram-positive endophthalmitis. Ceftazidime and amikacin provide approximately the same degree of gram-negative coverage. Multidrug-resistant bacterial endophthalmitis was uncommon.

Streptococcus pneumoniae endophthalmitis is clinically more severe, more difficult to treat, and carry a higher risk of vision loss, evisceration, or enucleation. This study is to investigate the clinical settings, antibiotic susceptibility, and visual outcomes of S. pneumoniae endophthalmitis at a tertiary referral center in Taiwan. S. pneumoniae endophthalmitis was diagnosed in 38 eyes of 38 patients. The main clinical features were postcataract endophthalmitis (n = 13, 34%) and endophthalmitis associated with corneal ulcer (n = 12, 32%), trauma (n = 6, 16%), endogenous etiology (n = 4, 11%), trabeculectomy (n = 2, 5%), and pterygium excision-related scleral ulcer (n = 1, 3%). Presenting visual acuity ranged from counting fingers to no light perception. Pars plana vitrectomy with intravitreal antibiotics was performed in 17 eyes (39%) in primary or secondary treatments. S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to vancomycin (38/38, 100%), penicillin (37/38, 97%), ceftriaxone (37/38, 97%), cefuroxime (12/15, 80%), levofloxacin (13/15 ,87%), and moxifloxacin (15/17, 88%). Final visual acuity was better than 20/400 in 3 of 38 eyes (8%), 5/200 to hand motions in 3 eyes (8%), and light perception to no light perception in 32 eyes (84%). Ten eyes (26%) underwent evisceration or enucleation. Although S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, S. pneumoniae endophthalmitis had a very poor visual prognosis.

We aimed to determine the prognostic significance of cardiac dose and hematological immunity parameters in esophageal cancer patients after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). During 2010–2015, we identified 101 newly diagnosed esophageal squamous cell cancer patients who had completed definitive CCRT. Patients' clinical, dosimetric, and hematological data, including absolute neutrophil count, absolute lymphocyte count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), at baseline, during, and post-CCRT were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards were calculated to identify potential risk factors for overall survival (OS). Median OS was 13 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.38–15.63). Univariate analysis revealed that male sex, poor performance status, advanced nodal stage, higher percentage of heart receiving 10 Gy (heart V10), and higher NLR (baseline and follow-up) were significantly associated with worse OS. In multivariate analysis, performance status (ECOG 0 & 1 vs. 2; hazard ratio [HR] 3.12, 95% CI 1.30–7.48), heart V10 (> 84% vs. ≤ 84%; HR 2.24, 95% CI 1.26–3.95), baseline NLR (> 3.56 vs. ≤ 3.56; HR 2.36, 95% CI 1.39–4.00), and follow-up NLR (> 7.4 vs. ≤ 7.4; HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.12–3.41) correlated with worse OS. Volume of low cardiac dose and NLR (baseline and follow-up) were associated with worse patient survival.

Halyomorpha halys has been recognized as a global cross-border pest species. Along with well-established pheromone trapping approaches, there have been many attempts to utilize botanical odorant baits for field monitoring. Due to sensitivity, ecological friendliness, and cost-effectiveness for large-scale implementation, the selection of botanical volatiles as luring ingredients and/or synergists for H. halys is needed. In the current work, botanical volatiles were tested by olfactometer and electrophysiological tests. Results showed that linalool oxide was a potential candidate for application as a behavioral modifying chemical. It drove remarkable attractiveness toward H. halys adults in Y-tube assays, as well as eliciting robust electroantennographic responsiveness towards antennae. A computational pipeline was carried out to screen olfactory proteins related to the reception of linalool oxide. Simulated docking activities of four H. halys odorant receptors and two odorant binding proteins to linalool oxide and nerolidol were performed. Results showed that all tested olfactory genes were likely to be involved in plant volatile-sensing pathways, and they tuned broadly to tested components. The current work provides insights into the later development of field demonstration strategies using linalool oxide and its molecular targets.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of acute hepatitis E. Genotype 3 (G3) and 4 (G4) HEV have recently been identified in and isolated from swine as the main HEV genotypes worldwide. However, there is limited information on HEV infection status among pigs in Taiwan, especially pigs in the stage before transportation to the slaughterhouse. To determine the frequency of HEV infection among pigs in Taiwan, we detected and quantified HEV RNA contained in 295 fecal specimens collected from 6-month-old pigs bred in 30 pig farms located in 8 counties. We found that 25.1% (74/295) of the fecal specimens were positive for HEV RNA by a quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and the copy number ranged from 2.3 × 103 to 2.08 × 107 copies/g. Amplification of a 338 bp sequence in ORF2 was achieved in 16 of 74 HEV RNA-positive samples, and their nucleotide sequences were determined. Two HEV sequences appeared to belong to subtype 3a of G3 and the remaining 14 HEV sequences belonged to subtype 4b of G4 (G4b). The entire genome sequence of two G4b HEVs was obtained by next-generation sequence analyses, and the phylogenetic analyses indicated that unique G4b HEVs were circulating in pig farms in Taiwan. In the present study, we found that both G3 and G4 HEVs were circulating in Taiwanese pig farms and G4b was the predominant subtype. In addition, the relatively high detection frequency of HEV RNA in the 6-month-old pigs indicated that Taiwanese pigs just before transportation to the slaughterhouse are at risk of carrying HEVs, and thus thorough cooking or heating of pork meat or organs is needed before consumption in Taiwan and possibly in other countries as well.

Due to issues with establishment and persistence of natural enemies in biological control, the provision of alternative food sources and oviposition sites are important factors to enhance pest control. In this study, three different supplementation treatments were examined for their ability to increase the populations of the predatory mite Amblydromalus limonicus, and its implications for greenhouse whitefly control on peppers and eggplants. These were: (1) pollen (Typha orientalis), (2) pollen and thread, (3) pollen, thread, and a substrate mixture of buckwheat, gorse, and rice husks, which were compared to a control treatment that had no supplementation. Significant treatment effects were found on pepper for A. limonicus (mite eggs p = 0.008, mobile mites p =

The oriental armyworm Mythimna separate is an economically important insect with a wide distribution and strong migratory activity. However, knowledge about the molecular mechanisms regulating the physiological and behavioural responses of the oriental armyworm is scarce. In the present study, we took a transcriptomic approach to characterize the gene network in the adult head of M. separate. The sequencing and de novo assembly yielded 63,499 transcripts, which were further assembled into 46,459 unigenes with an N50 of 1,153 bp. In the head transcriptome data, unigenes involved in the ‘signal transduction mechanism’ are the most abundant. In total, 937 signal transduction unigenes were assigned to 22 signalling pathways. The circadian clock, melanin synthesis, and non-receptor protein of olfactory gene families were then identified, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with these M. separate genes, the model insect Bombyxmori and other insects. Furthermore, 1,372 simple sequence repeats of 2–6 bp in unit length were identified. The transcriptome data represent a comprehensive molecular resource for the adult head of M. separate, and these identified genes can be valid targets for further gene function research to address the molecular mechanisms regulating the migratory and olfaction genes of the oriental armyworm.

Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) is characterized by germline mutations of the FH gene that encodes for the TCA cycle enzyme, fumarate hydratase. HLRCC patients are at risk for the development of an aggressive form of type 2 papillary renal cell carcinoma. By studying the mechanism of action of marizomib, a proteasome inhibitor able to cross the blood-brain barrier, we found that it modulates the metabolism of HLRCC cells. Marizomib decreased glycolysis in vitro and in vivo by downregulating p62 and c-Myc. C-Myc downregulation decreased the expression of lactate dehydrogenase A, the enzyme catalyzing the conversion of pyruvate to lactate. In addition, proteasomal inhibition lowered the expression of the glutaminases GLS and GLS2, which support glutamine metabolism and the maintenance of the redox balance. Thus, in HLRCC cells, proteasome inhibition disrupts glucose and glutamine metabolism, restricting nutrients and lowering the cells’ anti-oxidant response capacity. Although the cytotoxicity induced by proteasome inhibitors is complex, the understanding of their metabolic effects in HLRCC may lead to the development of effective therapeutic strategies or to the development of markers of efficacy.

Characterized with a high recurrence rate and low detection rate, prevention is the best approach to reduce mortality in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The overexpression of Phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-Trisphosphate Dependent Rac Exchange Factor 2 (PREX2) is observed in various tumors, including HCC; and the frequent PREX2 mutations in melanoma are associated with invasiveness. We sought to identify somatic mutations and the functional changes in mutational signatures of PREX2. Genomic DNA sequencing was performed in 68 HCC samples with three types of hepatitis viral infection status: HBs Ag-positive, anti-HCV Ab-positive, and negative for any hepatitis B or C markers. Stabilities and interactions of proteins as well as cell proliferation and migration were evaluated. Fourteen non-silent point mutations in PREX2 were detected, with 16 of 68 HCC patients harboring at least one non-silent mutation. All mutant forms of PREX2, except for K400f, had an extended half-life compared with wild-type PREX2. Moreover, only the half-life of S1113R was twice that of the wild-type. PREX2 mutant-S1113R also promoted migration and activated the AKT pathway as well as impaired HectH9-mediated ubiquitination. Our study identified a gain-of-function mutation of PREX2 – S1113R in HCC. Such mutation enhanced PREX2 protein stability, promoted cell proliferation, and was associated with aggressiveness of HCC.

Excessive long-term fluoride intake is associated with several health problems, including infertility. However, limited information is available on the toxic effects of fluoride exposure on the female reproductive system, especially oocyte maturation. In this study, we investigated the toxic effect of sodium fluoride (NaF) exposure on porcine oocyte maturation and its possible underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that NaF exposure during porcine oocyte maturation inhibited cumulus cell expansion and impaired polar body extrusion. Cell cycle analysis showed that NaF exposure blocked meiotic resumption, disturbed spindle dynamics, disrupted chromosome separation, and increased aneuploidy in porcine oocytes. Moreover, NaF exposure disturbed mitochondrial function, triggered DNA damage response, and induced early apoptosis in porcine oocytes. NaF exposure also induced oxidative stress, decreased GSH level, and increased cathepsin B activity in and impaired the further development potential of porcine oocytes, as indicated by a decrease in blastocyst formation rate, increase in apoptosis, and inhibition of cell proliferation. Together, these results indicate that NaF exposure impairs the maturation capacity of porcine oocytes by inhibiting cumulus cell expansion, disturbing cytoskeletal dynamics, and blocking nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation, thus decreasing the quality and affecting the subsequent embryonic development potential of porcine oocytes.

While cells are known to sense and respond to their niche including the matrix and the mechanical microenvironment, whether they preferentially sense and react to the stiffness of their microenvironment regardless of its intrinsic material properties is unknown. In this work, protein micropillar arrays with independently controllable stiffness via alterations in pillar height and elastic modulus via laser power used during photochemical cross-linking, were fabricated using a recently developed multiphoton-based 3D protein micro-patterning technology. Human dermal fibroblasts were cultured on these micropillar arrays and the specific interactions between cells and the protein micropatterns particularly on the formation and maturation of the cell-matrix adhesions, were investigated via immunofluorescence staining of the major molecular markers of the adhesions and the measurement of their cluster size, respectively. Our results showed that the cluster size of focal adhesions increased as the stiffness of the micropillar arrays increased, but it was insensitive to the elastic modulus of the protein micropillars that is one of the intrinsic material properties. This finding provides evidence to the notion that cells preferentially sense and react to the stiffness, but not the elastic modulus of their microenvironment.

To evaluate the association between dipstick proteinuria and myocardial infarction (MI) or all-cause mortality, a cohort study was conducted among 16,573 general Chinese population with diabetes or pre-diabetes, which were defined as self-reported history of diabetes or fasting blood glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L or under blood glucose lowering therapy. Proteinuria was detected biennially during 2006–2013 by dipstick test. MI and all-cause mortality were recorded through the end of 2014. Mean age (standard deviation) of study participants was 51.16 (10.63) years, with 82.24% of male. During a median follow-up of 8.03 years, 211 MI and 403 all-cause mortality occurred. Multivariable Cox regression revealed occasional or persistent detection of trace or higher in proteinuria increased the risk of all-cause mortality, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.42 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.10, 1.83) and 2.23 (95% CI: 1.66, 3.01), respectively, compared to sustained negative in proteinuria. A time-dependent analysis also revealed the association between degree of proteinuria and all-cause mortality, with HRs of 1.80 (95% CI: 1.31, 2.48) for trace and 3.34 (95% CI: 2.40, 4.65) for one plus or higher in proteinuria, compared to negative. The associations regarding MI lost statistical significance after multivariable adjustment. In conclusion, dipstick proteinuria was associated with an increased risk of MI and all-cause mortality among a general population with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental contaminant widely used in the plastic industry. BPA has been demonstrated to be an endocrine disruptor and has an adverse effect on the embryonic development of mammals. However, the mechanism of action of BPA is limited. In this study, we investigated the role and mechanism of BPA in porcine embryonic development. First, the parthenotes were treated with different concentrations of BPA. We found that blastocyst formation was impaired and the parthenotes were arrested at the 4-cell stage after treatment with 100 μm BPA. Second, ROS increased following the addition of BPA, which further caused mitochondrial damage, and cytochrome c was released from the mitochondria to induce apoptosis. The adaptive response was demonstrated through LC3 immunofluorescence staining and by assessing autophagy-related gene expression. In addition, BPA caused DNA damage through the p53-p21 signaling pathway. Thus, our results indicate that BPA displays an adverse effect on porcine early embryonic development through mitochondrial and DNA damage.

The lymph node ratio(LNR) has been described as a novel predictor of the survival of patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma(O/OPSCC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether LNR is better at predicting survival and the need for adjuvant treatment than traditional tumour-nodal-metastasis(TNM) staging. Eight hundred nine patients with O/OPSCC and positive lymph node disease were retrospectively enrolled in this study. LNR equal to 0.075 is the best cut-off value for stratifying 5-year disease-free survival(DFS). High LNR is closely associated with more advanced T stage, higher N stage, more severe pathological grade, the presence of diffuse infiltration and extracapsular spread(ECS). LNR is better for evaluating prognosis than the pathological N stage. Patients with high LNR coupled with high number of positive lymph nodes who received adjuvant concurrent chemo-radiotherapy(CCRT) had a better 5-year DFS than patients who received surgery alone. Multivariate analyses revealed that T stage, ECS and LNR are independent prognostic factors of 5-year DFS and disease-specific survival(DSS). Therefore, high LNR is closely correlated with adverse parameters that markedly hinder prognosis. LNR is superior to traditional TNM staging for the evaluation of prognosis,and the combination of the LNR with the number of positive lymph nodes can predict the benefits of adjuvant CCRT.

All-angle negative refraction (AANR) of phononic crystals and its frequency range are dependent on mechanical properties of constituent materials and their spatial distribution. So far, it is impossible to achieve the maximum operation frequency range of AANR theoretically. In this paper, we will present a numerical approach for designing a two-dimensional phononic crystal with broadband AANR without negative index. Through analyzing the mechanism of AANR, a topology optimization problem aiming at broadband AANR is established and solved by bi-directional evolutionary structural optimization method. The optimal steel/air phononic crystal exhibits a record AANR range over 20% and its refractive properties and focusing effects are further investigated. The results demonstrate the multifunctionality of a flat phononic slab including superlensing effect near upper AANR frequencies and self-collimation at lower AANR frequencies.

The molecular mechanism of silkworm resistance to Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) infection remains largely unclear. Accumulating evidence suggests that subcellular fractionation combined with proteomics is an ideal technique to analyse host antiviral mechanisms. To clarify the anti-BmNPV mechanism of the silkworm, the near-isogenic line BC9 (resistant strain) and the recurrent parent P50 (susceptible strain) were used in a comparative subcellular proteomics study. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) combined with mass spectrometry (MS) was conducted on proteins extracted from the cytosol, mitochondria, and microsomes of BmNPV-infected and control larval midguts. A total of 87 proteins were successfully identified from the three subcellular fractions. These proteins were primarily involved in energy metabolism, protein metabolism, signalling pathways, disease, and transport. In particular, disease-relevant proteins were especially changed in microsomes. After infection with BmNPV, differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) primarily appeared in the cytosolic and microsomal fractions, which indicated that these two fractions might play a more important role in the response to BmNPV infection. After removing genetic background and individual immune stress response proteins, 16 proteins were identified as potentially involved in repressing BmNPV infection. Of these proteins, the differential expression patterns of 8 proteins according to reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analyses were consistent with the 2-DE results.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) WTe2 and MoTe2 with orthorhombic Td phase, being potential candidates as type-II Weyl semimetals, are attracted much attention recently. Here we synthesized a series of miscible Mo1−xWxTe2 single crystals by bromine vapor transport method. Composition-dependent X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, as well as composition and temperature-dependent resistivity prove that the tunable crystal structure (from hexagonal (2H), monoclinic (β) to orthorhombic (Td) phase) can be realized by increasing W content in Mo1−xWxTe2. Simultaneously the electrical property gradually evolves from semiconductor to semimetal behavior. Temperature-dependent Raman spectroscopy proves that temperature also can induce the structural phase transition from β to Td phase in Mo1−xWxTe2 crystals. Based on aforementioned characterizations, we map out the temperature and composition dependent phase diagram of Mo1−xWxTe2 system. In addition, a series of electrical parameters, such as carrier type, carrier concentration and mobility, have also been presented. This work offers a scheme to accurately control structural phase in Mo1−xWxTe2 system, which can be used to explore type-II Weyl semimetal, as well as temperature/composition controlled topological phase transition therein.

High-quality broadband ultrasound transducers yield superior imaging performance in biomedical ultrasonography. However, proper design to perfectly bridge the energy between the active piezoelectric material and the target medium over the operating spectrum is still lacking. Here, we demonstrate a new anisotropic cone-structured acoustic metamaterial matching layer that acts as an inhomogeneous material with gradient acoustic impedance along the ultrasound propagation direction. When sandwiched between the piezoelectric material unit and the target medium, the acoustic metamaterial matching layer provides a broadband window to support extraordinary transmission of ultrasound over a wide frequency range. We fabricated the matching layer by etching the peeled silica optical fibre bundles with hydrofluoric acid solution. The experimental measurement of an ultrasound transducer equipped with this acoustic metamaterial matching layer shows that the corresponding −6 dB bandwidth is able to reach over 100%. This new material fully enables new high-end piezoelectric materials in the construction of high-performance ultrasound transducers and probes, leading to considerably improved resolutions in biomedical ultrasonography and compact harmonic imaging systems.

Ten novel loci have been found to be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility by a recent genome-wide association study conducted in Europeans. To test their disease associations and genetic similarities/differences in Asians and Europeans, we genotyped the 10 novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and performed an association study. A Chinese cohort from Northern China was recruited as the discovery population, and three East Asian cohorts were included for independent replication. The 10 SNPs were genotyped using TaqMan allele discrimination assays. To prioritize the associated SNPs, different layers of the public functional data were integrated. Among the 10 SNPs, rs564799 in IL12A was shared in both ethnicities (Padjust = 5.91 × 10−4; odds ratio = 1.22, 1.10–1.35). We also confirmed the reported polymorphism rs7726414 in TCF7 in the current study (Padjust = 4.12 × 10−8; odds ratio = 1.46, 1.28–1.66). The directions and magnitudes of the allelic effects for most of the 10 SNPs were comparable between Europeans and Asians. However, higher risk allele frequencies and population-attributable risk percentages were observed in Asians than in Europeans. We also identified the most likely functional SNPs at each locus. In conclusion, both genetic similarities and differences across ethnicities have been observed, providing further evidence for a genetic basis of the high incidence of SLE in Asian ancestry.

Molecular epidemiologic studies collecting information of the spatiotemporal distribution of rotavirus VP7 (G) and VP4 (P) genotypes have shown evidence for the increasing global importance of genotype G9 rotaviruses in humans and pigs. Sequence comparison of the VP7 gene of G9 strains identified different lineages to prevail in the respective host species although some of these lineages appear to be shared among heterologous hosts providing evidence of interspecies transmission events. The majority of these events indicates the pig-to-human spillover, although a reverse route of transmission cannot be excluded either. In this study, new variants of G9 rotaviruses were identified in two children with diarrhea and numerous pigs in Taiwan. Whole genome sequence and phylogenetic analyses of selected strains showed close genetic relationship among porcine and human strains suggesting zoonotic origin of Taiwanese human G9 strains detected in 2014–2015. Although the identified human G9P[19] and G9P[13] rotaviruses represented minority strains, the repeated detection of porcine-like rotavirus strains in Taiwanese children over time justifies the continuation of synchronized strain surveillance in humans and domestic animals.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the initial enzyme in the melanin pathway, catalyzes tyrosine conversion into Dopa. Although expression and regulation of TH have been shown to affect cuticle pigmentation in insects, no direct functional studies to date have focused on the specific physiological processes involving the enzyme during mosquito development. In the current study, silencing of AsTH during the time period of continuous high expression in Anopheles sinensis pupae led to significant impairment of cuticle tanning and thickness, imposing a severe obstacle to eclosion in adults. Meanwhile, deficiency of melanin in interference individuals led to suppression of melanization, compared to control individuals. Consequently, the ability to defend exogenous microorganisms declined sharply. Accompanying down-regulation of the basal expression of five antimicrobial peptide genes resulted in further significant weakening of immunity. TH homologs as well as the composition of upstream transcription factor binding sites at the pupal stage are highly conserved in the Anopheles genus, implying that the TH-mediated functions are crucial in Anopheles. The collective evidence strongly suggests that TH is essential for Anopheles pupae tanning and immunity and provides a reference for further studies to validate the utility of the key genes involved in the melanization pathway in controlling mosquito development.

Recently, the layered semimetal WTe2 has attracted renewed interest owing to the observation of a non-saturating and giant positive magnetoresistance (~105%), which can be useful for magnetic memory and spintronic devices. However, the underlying mechanisms of the giant magnetoresistance are still under hot debate. Herein, we grew the stoichiometric and non-stoichiometric WTe2 crystals to test the robustness of giant magnetoresistance. The stoichiometric WTe2 crystals have magnetoresistance as large as 3100% at 2 K and 9-Tesla magnetic field. However, only 71% and 13% magnetoresistance in the most non-stoichiometry (WTe1.80) and the highest Mo isovalent substitution samples (W0.7Mo0.3Te2) are observed, respectively. Analysis of the magnetic-field dependent magnetoresistance of non-stoichiometric WTe2 crystals substantiates that both the large electron-hole concentration asymmetry and decreased carrier mobility, induced by non-stoichiometry, synergistically lead to the decreased magnetoresistance. This work sheds more light on the origin of giant magnetoresistance observed in WTe2.

One-way transmission and negative refraction are the exotic wave properties founded in photonic crystals which attract a great attention due to their promising applications in photonic devices. How to integrate such two phenomena in one material or device is interesting and valuable. In this work, we theoretically and experimentally demonstrate that one-way electromagnetic space wave can be realized by means of two-dimensional magnetic photonic crystals. Simultaneously breaking the time-reversal and parity symmetries of the magnetic photonic crystals designed, we observe oblique incident space wave propagating one-way in the magnetic photonic crystals with positive or negative refraction occurring at interfaces, which can be manipulated upon the incident angle and operating frequency. Our work may offer a potential platform to realize some exotic photoelectronic and microwave devices such as one-way imaging and one-way cloaking.