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This paper proposes the use of aperture sharing synergistic operation in the structure of the metalens, together with the rational selection of the scattering unit size according to the linear relationship between the output phase and frequency of the scattering unit, and the selection of the slope of the phase variation with frequency, combined with the modulation of the phase change material Ge2Sb2Te5 crystallization rate m value, in the set wavelength band, for different wavelengths of incident light through the metasurface can produce a uniform phase distribution. The method is used to achieve a polarization-insensitive achromatic metalens in the 9.5-13 μm continuous wavelength band by adjusting the m value of the phase transition material Ge2Sb2Te5 crystallization rate and producing a phase distribution with a uniform focal length for different wavelengths of incident light passing through the metasurface. The simulation results show that the focal length of the achromatic metasurface varies by 3.57 μm in the working band, with an error of about 4.3% from the set focal length, and the full width of the half-peak of the focal point at all wavelengths of incidence reaches the diffraction limit, and the focusing efficiency exceeds 60%. The achromatic metalens proposed in this paper provides a new idea for the design of achromatic metasurfaces and promotes the research of phase change materials in broadband achromatic metasurfaces.

To effectively control the micro-pressure wave noise radiating from tunnel exits, numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the generation and propagation of such noise at the exits of high-speed metro tunnels. Large-eddy simulation was employed to obtain the near-field unsteady flow field data at the tunnel exit. The Ffowcs Williams–Hawkings (FW–H) acoustic analogy was used to predict the types of sound sources for micro-pressure wave noise. The unsteady flow field data were also utilized for finite element method acoustic analysis to calculate the far-field radiation of micro-pressure wave noise. The accuracy of the numerical methods was verified through moving model tests. The results indicate that dipole noise dominates within the micro-pressure wave noise. The tunnel's inner wall contributes most to the dipole sound sources. Dipole noise radiates outward in the form of semi-ellipsoidal waves, with energy mainly concentrated below 20 Hz and a peak frequency of 4 Hz. Furthermore, the decay of dipole noise in the direction of the tunnel exit follows a similar exponential decay pattern to that of an explosion shock wave. When the train speed exceeds 400 km/h, the human ear can distinctly perceive the sonic booms at the tunnel exit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapid development of modern optics, optical elements have become an indispensable part of an optical system. A metasurface is a nanostructure composed of arrays of sub-wavelength scatterers and is widely used due to its simple structure, thin thickness, easy integration, and high utilization rate. This paper designs a polarization-multiplexed transmissive metasurface lens in the visible light band 690 nm and near-infrared light band 880 nm. The metasurface lens combines the x-polarized lens design with the y-polarized lens design to realize three metasurface lenses with dual wavelength and different polarization states under the same metasurface. The metasurface lenses are: a coaxial confocal metasurface lens with the focus length of f1=f2=7 215 nm, an off-axis metasurface lens with the focus length of f1=f2=7 221 nm and with a displacement of xd=±4 000 nm, and a coaxial metasurface lens with the focus length of f1=7 000 nm and f2=10 000 nm, respectively. They have not only a high numerical aperture of 0.8 but also a good focusing capability with a full width at half maximum close to diffraction limit, and their space utilization is also improved. This compact and highly numerical aperture and high spatial utilization of dual-wavelength polarization multiplexing metasurface design provides an effective solution for the development of focusing lens and has unique potentials and advantages in fluorescent microlens, optical imaging, etc.

Involving addition of chemical groups or protein units to specific residues of the target protein, post-translational modifications (PTMs) alter the charge, hydrophobicity, and conformation of a protein, which in turn influences protein function, protein–protein interaction, and protein aggregation. These alterations, which include phosphorylation, glycosylation, ubiquitination, methylation, acetylation, lipidation, and lactylation, are significant biological events in the development of cancer, and play vital roles in numerous biological processes. The processes behind essential functions, the screening of clinical illness signs, and the identification of therapeutic targets all depend heavily on further research into the PTMs. This review outlines the influence of several PTM types on prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis in an effort to shed fresh light on the molecular causes and progression of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a high-throughput sequencing technique that identifies a wide array of pathogens directly from clinical specimens. This study evaluates the diagnostic value of mNGS in Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) and compares its efficacy with traditional detection methods, including Grocott's Methenamine Silver (GMS) staining, serum (1– 3)-β-D-Glucan (BDG) testing, and Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) testing. Methods: Seventy-eight patients hospitalized between January 2022 and March 2023 with suspected pulmonary infections were included. Patients were eligible for mNGS if they exhibited symptoms such as fever, cough, dyspnea, or progressive hypoxemia, and met specific clinical criteria for PJP. Specimens obtained included bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, sputum, and peripheral blood. Positive rates and pathogen distributions detected by mNGS and traditional methods were compared. Results: In the PJP group, 25%, 37.5%, and 9.38% of patients had solid organ tumors, corticosteroid use, and skin diseases, respectively, significantly higher than in the non-PJP group. The sensitivity and specificity of mNGS were both 100%, significantly higher than those of serum BDG (sensitivity 50%, specificity 81.8%) and LDH (sensitivity 9.3%, specificity 91.3%). Significant differences in microbial composition between the PJP and Non-PJP groups were observed. mNGS detected multiple mixed pathogens in 96.88% of PJP cases, with 68.75% exhibiting mixed bacterial and viral infections. Notably, 71% of patients improved following antibacterial treatment based on mNGS results. Conclusion: mNGS technology shows superior sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing PJP and guides precise treatment for complex pulmonary infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead sulfide (PbS) is a nanomaterial with excellent optical and chemical properties, such as a narrow bandgap (0.37 eV), high thermal damage threshold, and high stability. Obviously, it is appropriate as a saturable absorber (SA) device for ultrafast photonics. However, PbS nanoparticles (NPs) as the SA of ultrashort harmonic mode‐locked pulse still haven't been demonstrated at present. In this paper, the PbS NPs are made into an SA‐device‐based microfiber by optical deposition method and connected in an integrated Erbium‐doped fiber laser. And both characteristics and nonlinear optical properties of PbS NPs have been systemically investigated. A fundamental frequency mode‐locked pulsed laser is proposed, whose central wavelength is 1560 nm, and the pulse width is 1 ps. In addition, high repetition rate operations are achieved, with a maximum repetition rate of 833 MHz. This is the first time that PbS NPs are used to generate 96th‐order harmonic mode‐locking, and the corresponding pulse duration is 987 fs. It is demonstrated that PbS NPs are a kind of SA photonic material with excellent performance. It can improve the communication capacity by applying fiber communication, and it has potential application value even in material processing and optical comb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]