Search

Spectrometer miniaturization is desired for handheld and portable applications, yet nearly no miniaturized spectrometer is reported operating within terahertz (THz) waveband. Computational strategy, which can acquire incident spectral information through encoding and decoding it using optical devices and reconstruction algorithms, respectively, is widely employed in spectrometer miniaturization as artificial intelligence emerges. We demonstrate a computational miniaturized THz spectrometer, where a plasmonic filter array tailors the spectral response of a blocked-impurity-band detector. Besides, an adaptive deep-learning algorithm is proposed for spectral reconstructions with curbing the negative impact from the optical property of the filter array. Our spectrometer achieves modest spectral resolution (2.3 cm−1) compared with visible and infrared miniaturized spectrometers, outstanding sensitivity (e.g., signal-to-noise ratio, 6.4E6: 1) superior to common benchtop THz spectrometers. The combination of THz optical devices and reconstruction algorithms provides a route toward THz spectrometer miniaturization, and further extends the applicable sphere of the THz spectroscopy technique.

Owing to their consistently emerging applications in modern photonics, highly sensitive and rapid mid‐infrared (MIR) photodetectors, operating at high temperatures, are of great significance. Herein, a novel PbTe/Ge heterostructure is introduced. Notably, the discovery of a 2D electron gas (2DEG) system on the surface of the PbTe layer is experimentally identified for the first time. A high‐performance PbTe/Ge heterostructure MIR photodetector utilizing a plasmonic photovoltaic effect is developed by employing asymmetric electrodes. The photodetecting device demonstrates an exceptionally high detectivity of 1.1 × 1011 Jones along with a short response time of 15 ns at room temperature. Additionally, the proposed plasmonic photovoltaic mechanism of the device is investigated and mainly ascribed to the propagating plasmons, generated by the coupling of the 2DEG with incident MIR photons. Moreover, a linear detector array (LDA) of PbTe/Ge is demonstrated for a thermal imaging application, which exhibits promising high‐quality real‐time imaging via the 2D photodetector arrays on Ge‐based integrated circuits. This work opens up a new way for the development of next‐generation, advanced MIR photonic devices and integrated photonic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal malnutrition may increase the risk of depressive symptoms in adulthood. This study investigated the association between prenatal exposure to malnutrition with risk of depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults using the Chinese Great Famine of 1959–1961 as a natural experiment. Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study baseline survey (2011). A total of 5391 individuals born from 1956 to 1965 were included in the study. Depressive symptoms were ascertained via the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale short form. Famine severity was measured using the cohort size shrinkage index. Difference-in-differences models were used to explore the association between prenatal famine exposure and later-life depressive symptoms. Compared with the post-famine cohort (1963–1965), famine cohorts (1959–1962) were 4.74 times (95% CI = 1.28–8.20) as likely to develop depressive symptoms. The stratified analysis found that prenatal exposure to famine was associated with depressive symptoms in rural residents but not those living in urban areas. In rural females, prenatal malnutrition was associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms. However, there was no significant association between prenatal malnutrition and depressive symptoms in rural males. Our results indicated that prenatal malnutrition may contribute to a higher risk for depressive symptoms in later life among female rural residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐speed and highly sensitive infrared photodetectors are regarded as one of the most essential components in modern photonic devices and technology because of constantly emerging application scenarios. In this paper, an ultrafast and extremely low noise mid‐infrared (MIR) photodetector is reported at both room and cryogenic temperatures by leveraging the high‐mobility 2D electron gas (2DEG) at the polar CdTe/PbTe heterostructure interface. The detector simultaneously exhibits a peak detectivity of ≈4.2 × 1011 Jones with rapid response in the order of 10 ns, which is substantially superior to the state‐of‐the‐art 2DEG MIR detectors made of 2D layered materials. The ultrafast response with extremely low noise of the 2DEG photodetector is attributed to the unique band alignment at the interface. The practical infrared imaging application is further showcased using the 2DEG MIR detector by revealing the fine features of a MIR radiation target. This work highlights the promising prospect of utilizing the unique 2DEG interface in the field of high‐speed and highly sensitive MIR detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Memristors have recently received substantial attention because of their promising and unique emerging applications in neuromorphic computing, which can achieve gains in computation speed by mimicking the topology of the brain in electronic circuits. Traditional memristors made of bulk MoO 3 and HfO 2 , for example, suffer from a low switching ratio and poor durability and stability. In this work, a floating-gate memristor is developed based on a mixed-dimensional heterostructure comprising two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS 2 ) and zero-dimensional (0D) Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) separated by an insulating hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) layer (MoS 2 /h-BN/AuNPs). We find that under the modulation of back-gate voltages, the MoS 2 /h-BN/AuNPs device operates reliably between a high-resistance state (HRS) and a low-resistance state (LRS) and shows multiple stable LRS states, demonstrating the excellent potential of our memristor in multibit storage applications. The modulation effect can be attributed to electron quantum tunneling between the AuNP charge-trapping layer and the MoS 2 channel. Our memristor exhibits excellent durability and stability: the HRS and LRS are retained for more than 10 4 s without obvious degradation and the on/off ratio is >10 4 after more than 3000 switching cycles. We also demonstrate frequency-dependent memory properties upon stimulation with electrical and optical pulses., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Background: Family environments can shape children's personalities and social networks, rendering distinguishing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) from family and society essential, but related evidence remains limited., Aims: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the correlations between intrafamilial and social ACEs, their associations with depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment and the (education-moderated) mediating role of social ACEs., Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study were from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Nine intrafamilial (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more) and three social (0, 1, and 2 or more) ACEs were identified. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Global cognition, including episodic memory and mental intactness, was calculated as z scores. Binary and ordered logistic regressions, generalised linear models with Gaussian family and identity link, and mediation analysis were used., Results: 13 435 participants aged 59.0 (51.0-66.0) were included. Compared with participants with no intrafamilial ACEs, those with 1, 2, 3, and 4 or more intrafamilial ACEs tended to develop more social ACEs, with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.55 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36 to 1.76), 2.36 (95% CI: 2.08 to 2.68), 3.46 (95% CI: 3.02 to 3.96) and 6.10 (95% CI: 5.30 to 7.02), respectively. Both intrafamilial and social ACEs were associated with depressive symptoms (OR >3 for four or more intrafamilial ACEs and two or more social ACEs) and global cognition (β=-0.26 for four or more intrafamilial ACEs and β=-0.29 for two or more social ACEs). Social ACEs mediated the associations of intrafamilial ACEs with depressive symptoms and global cognition by 12.3% and 13.1%, respectively. Furthermore, as education levels increased, the impact of intrafamilial ACEs on depressive symptoms was increasingly mediated through social ACEs, while the mediating role of social ACEs between intrafamilial ACEs and cognitive impairment gradually diminished., Conclusions: Improving children's social environments and elevating general education can prevent later-life depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment attributed to ACEs in China., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Inconsistent results have been reported on the association between periconceptional folic acid only (FAO) or multiple micronutrients containing folic acid (MMFA) supplementation and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in previous research., What Is Added by This Report?: In a prospective cohort study conducted among pregnant women in Haidian District, Beijing Municipality, it was observed that those who took MMFA demonstrated a higher likelihood of developing GDM in comparison to those who consumed FAO periconceptionally. Interestingly, the increased risk for GDM in pregnant women supplemented with MMFA compared to FAO was primarily due to changes in fasting plasma glucose., What Are the Implications for Public Health Practice?: It is highly recommended that women prioritize the use of FAO in order to yield potential benefits in the prevention of GDM., Competing Interests: No conflicts of interest., (Copyright and License information: Editorial Office of CCDCW, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2023.)

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Chronic pain has been identified as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Evidence shows that adopting a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the cardiometabolic risks associated with chronic pain., What Is Added by This Report?: Results from this cohort study suggest a positive association between chronic pain and the development of new-onset metabolic-related multimorbidity, specifically metabolic multimorbidity and cardiometabolic comorbidity, within middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Furthermore, adopting healthy lifestyles can potentially mitigate or even reverse these associations., What Are the Implications for Public Health Practice?: The results of our study emphasize the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles among older Chinese adults as a preventative measure against the medical burdens and cardiometabolic risks associated with chronic pain., Competing Interests: No conflicts of interest., (Copyright and License information: Editorial Office of CCDCW, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2023.)

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations of obesity phenotypes with hypertension stages, phenotypes, and transitions among middle-aged and older Chinese., Methods: Using the 2011-2015 waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we conducted a cross-sectional analysis included 9,015 subjects and a longitudinal analysis included 4,961 subjects, with 4,872 having full data on the hypertension stage and 4,784 having full data on the hypertension phenotype. Based on body mass index and waist circumstance, subjects were categorized into 4 mutually exclusive obesity phenotypes: normal weight with no central obesity (NWNCO), abnormal weight with no central obesity (AWNCO), normal weight with central obesity (NWCO), and abnormal weight with central obesity (AWCO). Hypertension stages were classified into normotension, pre-hypertension, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension. Hypertension phenotypes were categorized as normotension, pre-hypertension, isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), and systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH). The association between obesity phenotypes and hypertension was estimated by logistic regression. A comparison between different sexes was conducted by testing the interaction effect of sex., Results: NWCO was associated with normal→stage 2 (odds ratio [OR], 1.95; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11 to 3.42), maintained stage 1 (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.14 to 2.29), and normal→ISH (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.85). AWCO was associated with normal→stage 1 (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.40 to 2.19), maintained stage 1 (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 2.06 to 3.72), maintained stage 2 (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.50 to 5.25), normal→ISH (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.20 to 2.02), and normal→SDH (OR, 2.54; 95% CI, 1.72 to 3.75). An interaction effect of sex existed in the association between obesity phenotypes and hypertension stages., Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of various obesity phenotypes and sex differences in hypertension progression. Tailored interventions for different obesity phenotypes may be warranted in hypertension management, taking into account sex-specific differences to improve outcomes.