1
|
Sun C, Zhong J, Gan Z, Chen L, Liang C, Feng H, Sun Z, Jiang Z, Li WD. Nanoimprint-induced strain engineering of two-dimensional materials. Microsyst Nanoeng 2024; 10:49. [PMID: 38595945 PMCID: PMC11001999 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00669-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The high stretchability of two-dimensional (2D) materials has facilitated the possibility of using external strain to manipulate their properties. Hence, strain engineering has emerged as a promising technique for tailoring the performance of 2D materials by controlling the applied elastic strain field. Although various types of strain engineering methods have been proposed, deterministic and controllable generation of the strain in 2D materials remains a challenging task. Here, we report a nanoimprint-induced strain engineering (NISE) strategy for introducing controllable periodic strain profiles on 2D materials. A three-dimensional (3D) tunable strain is generated in a molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) sheet by pressing and conforming to the topography of an imprint mold. Different strain profiles generated in MoS2 are demonstrated and verified by Raman and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The strain modulation capability of NISE is investigated by changing the imprint pressure and the patterns of the imprint molds, which enables precise control of the strain magnitudes and distributions in MoS2. Furthermore, a finite element model is developed to simulate the NISE process and reveal the straining behavior of MoS2. This deterministic and effective strain engineering technique can be easily extended to other materials and is also compatible with common semiconductor fabrication processes; therefore, it provides prospects for advances in broad nanoelectronic and optoelectronic devices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuying Sun
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Zhuofei Gan
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Liyang Chen
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | | | - Zhao Sun
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zijie Jiang
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wen-Di Li
- The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bonzi LC, Donelson JM, Spinks RK, Munday PL, Ravasi T, Schunter C. Matching maternal and paternal experiences underpin molecular thermal acclimation. Mol Ecol 2024:e17328. [PMID: 38520127 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
The environment experienced by one generation has the potential to affect the subsequent one through non-genetic inheritance of parental effects. Since both mothers and fathers can influence their offspring, questions arise regarding how the maternal, paternal and offspring experiences integrate into the resulting phenotype. We aimed to disentangle the maternal and paternal contributions to transgenerational thermal acclimation in a reef fish, Acanthochromis polyacanthus, by exposing two generations to elevated temperature (+1.5°C) in a fully factorial design and analysing the F2 hepatic gene expression. Paternal and maternal effects showed not only common but also parent-specific components, with the father having the largest influence in shaping the offspring's transcriptomic profile. Fathers contributed to transcriptional transgenerational response to warming through transfer of epigenetically controlled stress-response mechanisms while mothers influenced increased gene expression associated with lipid metabolism regulation. However, the key to acclimation potential was matching thermal experiences of the parents. When both parents were exposed to the same condition, offspring showed increased expression of genes related to structural RNA production and transcriptional regulation, whereas environmental mismatch in parents resulted in maladaptive parental condition transfer, revealed by translation suppression and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Interestingly, the offspring's own environmental experience had the smallest influence on their hepatic transcription profiles. Taken together, our results show the complex nature of the interplay among paternal, maternal and offspring cue integration, and reveal that acclimation potential to ocean warming might depend not only on maternal and paternal contributions but importantly on congruent parental thermal experiences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- L C Bonzi
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - J M Donelson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - R K Spinks
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Blue Carbon Section, Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - P L Munday
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - T Ravasi
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Marine Climate Change Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan
| | - C Schunter
- The Swire Institute of Marine Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ma J, Jia D, Zhang L, Guan YJ, Ge Y, Sun HX, Yuan SQ, Chen H, Yang Y, Zhang X. Observation of vortex-string chiral modes in metamaterials. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2332. [PMID: 38485983 PMCID: PMC10940314 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46641-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
As hypothetical topological defects in the geometry of spacetime, vortex strings could have played many roles in cosmology, and their distinct features can provide observable clues about the early universe's evolution. A key feature of vortex strings is that they can interact with Weyl fermionic modes and support massless chiral-anomaly states along strings. To date, despite many attempts to detect vortex strings in astrophysics or to emulate them in artificially created systems, observation of these vortex-string chiral modes remains experimentally elusive. Here we report experimental observations of vortex-string chiral modes using a metamaterial system. This is implemented by inhomogeneous perturbation of Yang-monopole phononic metamaterials. The measured linear dispersion and modal profiles confirm the existence of topological modes bound to and propagating along the string with the chiral anomaly. Our work provides a platform for studying diverse cosmic topological defects in astrophysics and offers applications as topological fibres in communication techniques.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Ma
- Faculties of Science and Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ding Jia
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- International Joint Innovation Center, The Electromagnetics Academy at Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Haining, 314400, China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Jinhua, 321099, China
- Shaoxing Institute of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Yi-Jun Guan
- Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Yong Ge
- Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Hong-Xiang Sun
- Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Acoustics, Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Shou-Qi Yuan
- Research Center of Fluid Machinery Engineering and Technology, School of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China
| | - Hongsheng Chen
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- International Joint Innovation Center, The Electromagnetics Academy at Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Haining, 314400, China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Jinhua, 321099, China
- Shaoxing Institute of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, 312000, China
| | - Yihao Yang
- Interdisciplinary Center for Quantum Information, State Key Laboratory of Extreme Photonics and Instrumentation, ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
- International Joint Innovation Center, The Electromagnetics Academy at Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Haining, 314400, China.
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Micro/Nano Electronic Devices & Smart Systems of Zhejiang, Jinhua Institute of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Jinhua, 321099, China.
- Shaoxing Institute of Zhejiang University, Zhejiang University, Shaoxing, 312000, China.
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Faculties of Science and Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
He X, Qi F, Zou X, Li Y, Liu H, Lu X, Wong KS, Jen AKY, Choy WCH. Selenium substitution for dielectric constant improvement and hole-transfer acceleration in non-fullerene organic solar cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2103. [PMID: 38453920 PMCID: PMC10920633 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46352-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Dielectric constant of non-fullerene acceptors plays a critical role in organic solar cells in terms of exciton dissociation and charge recombination. Current acceptors feature a dielectric constant of 3-4, correlating to relatively high recombination loss. We demonstrate that selenium substitution on acceptor central core can effectively modify molecule dielectric constant. The corresponding blend film presents faster hole-transfer of ~5 ps compared to the sulfur-based derivative (~10 ps). However, the blends with Se-acceptor also show faster charge recombination after 100 ps upon optical pumping, which is explained by the relatively disordered stacking of the Se-acceptor. Encouragingly, dispersing the Se-acceptor in an optimized organic solar cell system can interrupt the disordered aggregation while still retain high dielectric constant. With the improved dielectric constant and optimized fibril morphology, the ternary device exhibits an obvious reduction of non-radiative recombination to 0.221 eV and high efficiency of 19.0%. This work unveils heteroatom-substitution induced dielectric constant improvement, and the associated exciton dynamics and morphology manipulation, which finally contributes to better material/device design and improved device performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinjun He
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Feng Qi
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy (HKICE), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- College of Materials Science and Engineering, Qingdao University, Qingdao, P. R. China
| | - Xinhui Zou
- Department of Physics and William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yanxun Li
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy (HKICE), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Heng Liu
- Department of Physics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xinhui Lu
- Department of Physics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kam Sing Wong
- Department of Physics and William Mong Institute of Nano Science and Technology, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Alex K-Y Jen
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
- Hong Kong Institute for Clean Energy (HKICE), City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Wallace C H Choy
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tao ZY, Wang L, Zhu WY, Zhang G, Su YX. Lingual Denervation Improves the Efficacy of Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas by Downregulating TGFβ Signaling. Cancer Res Commun 2024; 4:418-430. [PMID: 38324026 PMCID: PMC10868515 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Intratumoral nerve infiltration relates to tumor progression and poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). How neural involvement regulates antitumor immunity has not been well characterized. This study aims to investigate molecular mechanisms of regulating tumor aggressiveness and impairing antitumor immunity by nerve-derived factors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We performed the surgical lingual denervation in an immunocompetent mouse OSCC model to investigate its effect on tumor growth and the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. A trigeminal ganglion neuron and OSCC cell coculture system was established to investigate the proliferation, migration, and invasion of tumor cells and the PD-L1 expression. Both the neuron-tumor cell coculture in vitro model and the OSCC animal model were explored. RESULTS Lingual denervation slowed down tumor growth and improved the efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment in the OSCC model. Coculturing with neurons not only enhanced the proliferation, migration, and invasion but also upregulated TGFβ-SMAD2 signaling and PD-L1 expression of tumor cells. Treatment with the TGFβ signaling inhibitor galunisertib reversed nerve-derived tumor aggressiveness and downregulated PD-L1 on tumor cells. Similarly, lingual denervation in vivo decreased TGFβ and PD-L1 expression and increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration and the expression of IFNγ and TNFα within tumor. CONCLUSIONS Neural involvement enhanced tumor aggressiveness through upregulating TGFβ signaling and PD-L1 expression in OSCC, while denervation of OSCC inhibited tumor growth, downregulated TGFβ signaling, enhanced activities of CD8+ T cells, and improved the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. This study will encourage further research focusing on denervation as a potential adjuvant therapeutic approach in OSCC. SIGNIFICANCE This study revealed the specific mechanisms for nerve-derived cancer progression and impaired antitumor immunity in OSCC, providing a novel insight into the cancer-neuron-immune network as well as pointing the way for new strategies targeting nerve-cancer cross-talk as a potential adjuvant therapeutic approach for OSCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo-Ying Tao
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Leilei Wang
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wang-Yong Zhu
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Gao Zhang
- Division of Applied Oral Sciences and Community Dental Care, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Yu-Xiong Su
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tan YP, Tsang CC, Chan KF, Fung SL, Kok KH, Lau SKP, Woo PCY. Differential innate immune responses of human macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells against Talaromyces marneffei. mSphere 2023; 8:e0025822. [PMID: 37695039 PMCID: PMC10597461 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00258-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Talaromyces marneffei is a thermally dimorphic fungal pathogen endemic in Southeast Asia. As inhalation of airborne conidia is believed as the major infection route, airway epithelial cells followed by pulmonary macrophages are the first cell types which the fungus encounters inside the host. In this study, we established an in vitro infection model based on human peripheral blood-derived macrophages (hPBDMs) cultured with the supplementation of autologous plasma. Using this model, we determined the transcriptomic changes of hPBDMs in response to T. marneffei infection by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction as well as high-throughput RNA sequencing. Results showed that T. marneffei infection could activate hPBDMs to the M1-like phenotype and trigger a potent induction of chemokine and pro-inflammatory cytokine production as well as the expression of other immunoregulatory genes. In contrast to hPBDMs, there was no detectable innate cytokine response against T. marneffei in human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs). Using a green fluorescent protein-tagged T. marneffei strain and confocal microscopy, internalization of the fungus by hBECs was confirmed. Live cell imaging further demonstrated that the infected cells exhibited normal cellular physiology, especially that the process of cell division could be observed. Moreover, T. marneffei also survived better inside hBECs than hPBDMs. Our results illustrated a potential role of hBECs to serve as reservoir cells for T. marneffei to evade immunosurveillance by phagocytes, from which the fungus reactivates when the host immunity is weakened and causes infection. Such immunoevasion and reactivation may also help explain the long incubation period observed for talaromycosis, in particular the travel-related cases. IMPORTANCE Talaromyces marneffei is an important fungal pathogen especially in Southeast Asia. To understand the innate immune response to talaromycosis, a suitable infection model is needed. Here, we established an in vitro T. marneffei infection model using human peripheral blood-derived macrophages (hPBDMs). We then examined the transcriptomic changes of hPBDMs in response to T. marneffei infection with this model. We found that contact with T. marneffei could activate hPBDMs to the M1-like phenotype and induced mRNA expressions of five cytokines and eight immunoregulatory genes. Contrary to hPBDMs, such immunoresponse was not elicited in human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs), despite normal physiology observed in infected cells. We also found that infected hBECs did not eliminate T. marneffei as efficiently as hPBDMs. Our observation suggested that hBECs may potentially serve as reservoir cells for T. marneffei to evade immunosurveillance. When the host immunity deteriorates later, then the fungus reactivates and causes infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Pei Tan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi-Ching Tsang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Tung Wah College, Homantin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka-Fai Chan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siu-Leung Fung
- Tuberculosis and Chest Medicine Unit, Grantham Hospital, Aberdeen, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kin-Hang Kok
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Susanna K. P. Lau
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
| | - Patrick C. Y. Woo
- Department of Microbiology, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong, China
- Doctoral Program in Translational Medicine and Department of Life Sciences, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
- The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Research Center, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ma CW, Cheng PS, Chan YS, Tipoe GL. Virtual reality: a technology to promote active learning of physiology for students across multiple disciplines. Adv Physiol Educ 2023; 47:594-603. [PMID: 37382503 DOI: 10.1152/advan.00172.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The usefulness of virtual reality (VR) technology in physiology education is largely unexplored. Although VR has the potential to enrich learning experience by enhancing the spatial awareness of students, it is unclear whether VR contributes to active learning of physiology. In the present study, we used a mixed-method research approach to investigate students' perceptions of physiology learning based on VR simulations. Quantitative and qualitative data indicate that the implementation of VR learning environments improves the quality of physiology education by promoting active learning in terms of interactive engagement, interest, problem-solving skills, and feedback. In the Technology-Enabled Active Learning Inventory, which consisted of 20 questions to which students responded along a 7-point Likert scale, the majority of students agreed that VR learning of physiology not only stimulated their curiosity (77%; P < 0.001) but also allowed them to obtain knowledge through diverse formats (76%; P < 0.001), participate in thought-provoking dialogue (72%; P < 0.001), and interact better with peers (72%; P < 0.001). Positive responses in the social, cognitive, behavioral, and evaluative domains of active learning were received from students across different disciplines, including medicine, Chinese medicine, biomedical sciences, and biomedical engineering. Their written feedback showed that VR enhanced their interest in physiology and facilitated the visualization of physiological processes to improve their learning. Overall, this study supports that the integration of VR technology into physiology courses can be an effective teaching strategy.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Virtual reality (VR) improves physiology education by promoting active learning in terms of interactive engagement, interest, problem-solving skills, and feedback. Positive responses toward multiple components of active learning were received from students across different disciplines. The majority of students agreed that VR learning of physiology not only stimulated their curiosity but also allowed them to obtain knowledge through diverse formats, participate in thought-provoking dialogue, and interact better with peers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Wai Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Pui-Sum Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ying-Shing Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - George Lim Tipoe
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang M, Tang NY, Xie S, Watt RM. Functional Characterization of Small Alarmone Synthetase and Small Alarmone Hydrolase Proteins from Treponema denticola. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0510022. [PMID: 37289081 PMCID: PMC10434055 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05100-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The stringent response enables bacteria to survive nutrient starvation, antibiotic challenge, and other threats to cellular survival. Two alarmone (magic spot) second messengers, guanosine pentaphosphate (pppGpp) and guanosine tetraphosphate (ppGpp), which are synthesized by RelA/SpoT homologue (RSH) proteins, play central roles in the stringent response. The pathogenic oral spirochete bacterium Treponema denticola lacks a long-RSH homologue but encodes putative small alarmone synthetase (Tde-SAS, TDE1711) and small alarmone hydrolase (Tde-SAH, TDE1690) proteins. Here, we characterize the respective in vitro and in vivo activities of Tde-SAS and Tde-SAH, which respectively belong to the previously uncharacterized RSH families DsRel and ActSpo2. The tetrameric 410-amino acid (aa) Tde-SAS protein preferentially synthesizes ppGpp over pppGpp and a third alarmone, pGpp. Unlike RelQ homologues, alarmones do not allosterically stimulate the synthetic activities of Tde-SAS. The ~180 aa C-terminal tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain of Tde-SAS acts as a brake on the alarmone synthesis activities of the ~220-aa N-terminal catalytic domain. Tde-SAS also synthesizes "alarmone-like" nucleotides such as adenosine tetraphosphate (ppApp), albeit at considerably lower rates. The 210-aa Tde-SAH protein efficiently hydrolyzes all guanosine and adenosine-based alarmones in a Mn(II) ion-dependent manner. Using a growth assays with a ΔrelAΔspoT strain of Escherichia coli that is deficient in pppGpp/ppGpp synthesis, we demonstrate that Tde-SAS can synthesize alarmones in vivo to restore growth in minimal media. Taken together, our results add to our holistic understanding of alarmone metabolism across diverse bacterial species. IMPORTANCE The spirochete bacterium Treponema denticola is a common component of the oral microbiota. However, it may play important pathological roles in multispecies oral infectious diseases such as periodontitis: a severe and destructive form of gum disease, which is a major cause of tooth loss in adults. The operation of the stringent response, a highly conserved survival mechanism, is known to help many bacterial species cause persistent or virulent infections. By characterizing the biochemical functions of the proteins putatively responsible for the stringent response in T. denticola, we may gain molecular insight into how this bacterium can survive within harsh oral environments and promote infection. Our results also expand our general understanding of proteins that synthesize nucleotide-based intracellular signaling molecules in bacteria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miao Wang
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Nga-Yeung Tang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA
| | - Shujie Xie
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Rory M. Watt
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zhang T, Wang L, Wang J, Wang Z, Gupta M, Guo X, Zhu Y, Yiu YC, Hui TKC, Zhou Y, Li C, Lei D, Li KH, Wang X, Wang Q, Shao L, Chu Z. Multimodal dynamic and unclonable anti-counterfeiting using robust diamond microparticles on heterogeneous substrate. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2507. [PMID: 37130871 PMCID: PMC10154296 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38178-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing prevalence of counterfeit products worldwide poses serious threats to economic security and human health. Developing advanced anti-counterfeiting materials with physical unclonable functions offers an attractive defense strategy. Here, we report multimodal, dynamic and unclonable anti-counterfeiting labels based on diamond microparticles containing silicon-vacancy centers. These chaotic microparticles are heterogeneously grown on silicon substrate by chemical vapor deposition, facilitating low-cost scalable fabrication. The intrinsically unclonable functions are introduced by the randomized features of each particle. The highly stable signals of photoluminescence from silicon-vacancy centers and light scattering from diamond microparticles can enable high-capacity optical encoding. Moreover, time-dependent encoding is achieved by modulating photoluminescence signals of silicon-vacancy centers via air oxidation. Exploiting the robustness of diamond, the developed labels exhibit ultrahigh stability in extreme application scenarios, including harsh chemical environments, high temperature, mechanical abrasion, and ultraviolet irradiation. Hence, our proposed system can be practically applied immediately as anti-counterfeiting labels in diverse fields.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhongqiang Wang
- Dongguan Institute of Opto-Electronics, Peking University, Dongguan, China
| | - Madhav Gupta
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xuyun Guo
- Department of Applied Physics, Research Institute for Smart Energy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ye Zhu
- Department of Applied Physics, Research Institute for Smart Energy, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yau Chuen Yiu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
- Primemax Biotech Limited, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Yan Zhou
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Can Li
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Dangyuan Lei
- Department of Material Science and Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kwai Hei Li
- School of Microelectronics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinqiang Wang
- Dongguan Institute of Opto-Electronics, Peking University, Dongguan, China
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Dongguan Institute of Opto-Electronics, Peking University, Dongguan, China.
| | - Lei Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Display Material and Technology, School of Electronics and Information Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Zhiqin Chu
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lau JJ, Cheng SMS, Leung K, Lee CK, Hachim A, Tsang LCH, Yam KWH, Chaothai S, Kwan KKH, Chai ZYH, Lo THK, Mori M, Wu C, Valkenburg SA, Amarasinghe GK, Lau EHY, Hui DSC, Leung GM, Peiris M, Wu JT. Real-world COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron BA.2 variant in a SARS-CoV-2 infection-naive population. Nat Med 2023; 29:348-357. [PMID: 36652990 PMCID: PMC9941049 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02219-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant has demonstrated enhanced transmissibility and escape of vaccine-derived immunity. Although first-generation vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death, robust evidence on vaccine effectiveness (VE) against all Omicron infections, irrespective of symptoms, remains sparse. We used a community-wide serosurvey with 5,310 subjects to estimate how vaccination histories modulated risk of infection in infection-naive Hong Kong during a large wave of Omicron BA.2 epidemic in January-July 2022. We estimated that Omicron infected 45% (41-48%) of the local population. Three and four doses of BNT162b2 or CoronaVac were effective against Omicron infection 7 days after vaccination (VE of 48% (95% credible interval 34-64%) and 69% (46-98%) for three and four doses of BNT162b2, respectively; VE of 30% (1-66%) and 56% (6-97%) for three and four doses of CoronaVac, respectively). At 100 days after immunization, VE waned to 26% (7-41%) and 35% (10-71%) for three and four doses of BNT162b2, and to 6% (0-29%) and 11% (0-54%) for three and four doses of CoronaVac. The rapid waning of VE against infection conferred by first-generation vaccines and an increasingly complex viral evolutionary landscape highlight the necessity for rapidly deploying updated vaccines followed by vigilant monitoring of VE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan J Lau
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Samuel M S Cheng
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kathy Leung
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Cheuk Kwong Lee
- Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, Hong Kong SAR, People's Republic of China
| | - Asmaa Hachim
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Leo C H Tsang
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kenny W H Yam
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Sara Chaothai
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kelvin K H Kwan
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zacary Y H Chai
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tiffany H K Lo
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Masashi Mori
- Research Institute for Bioresources and Biotechnology, Ishikawa Prefectural University, Nonoichi, Japan
| | - Chao Wu
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sophie A Valkenburg
- HKU-Pasteur Research Pole, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gaya K Amarasinghe
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Eric H Y Lau
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - David S C Hui
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics and Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Gabriel M Leung
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Malik Peiris
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Immunology and Infection, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Joseph T Wu
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control, School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Laboratory of Data Discovery for Health (D24H), Hong Kong SAR, China.
- School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gan Z, Feng H, Chen L, Min S, Liang C, Xu M, Jiang Z, Sun Z, Sun C, Cui D, Li WD. Spatial modulation of nanopattern dimensions by combining interference lithography and grayscale-patterned secondary exposure. Light Sci Appl 2022; 11:89. [PMID: 35396549 PMCID: PMC8993805 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-022-00774-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Functional nanostructures are exploited for a variety of cutting-edge fields including plasmonics, metasurfaces, and biosensors, just to name a few. Some applications require nanostructures with uniform feature sizes while others rely on spatially varying morphologies. However, fine manipulation of the feature size over a large area remains a substantial challenge because mainstream approaches to precise nanopatterning are based on low-throughput pixel-by-pixel processing, such as those utilizing focused beams of photons, electrons, or ions. In this work, we provide a solution toward wafer-scale, arbitrary modulation of feature size distribution by introducing a lithographic portfolio combining interference lithography (IL) and grayscale-patterned secondary exposure (SE). Employed after the high-throughput IL, a SE with patterned intensity distribution spatially modulates the dimensions of photoresist nanostructures. Based on this approach, we successfully fabricated 4-inch wafer-scale nanogratings with uniform linewidths of <5% variation, using grayscale-patterned SE to compensate for the linewidth difference caused by the Gaussian distribution of the laser beams in the IL. Besides, we also demonstrated a wafer-scale structural color painting by spatially modulating the filling ratio to achieve gradient grayscale color using SE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhuofei Gan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Microelectronics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongtao Feng
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Liyang Chen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Siyi Min
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chuwei Liang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Menghong Xu
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zijie Jiang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhao Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chuying Sun
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Dehu Cui
- School of Microelectronics, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wen-Di Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Abstract
Nowadays, typewriting has become an important mode of written communication. A report that typewriting may hinder Chinese children's reading development has sparked substantial concern about whether typing on electronic devices would increase the rate of reading disorders, wherein children used a pronunciation-based input system that associates alphabet letters with phonemes in standard Chinese (Putonghua) and may conflict with the traditional visuomotor-based learning processes for written Chinese. If orthographic-based input methods that require good awareness of the orthographic structure of characters are used, different outcomes might be observed. This study examined the impact of participants' experience in different typewriting methods on the literacy abilities of fluent Chinese-English bilingual readers. We found that orthographic-based typewriting measures correlated positively with Chinese reading measures, whereas pronunciation-based typewriting measures did not correlate with Chinese reading measures but correlated positively with English reading and spelling performance. Orthographic-based typewriters also performed better than pronunciation-based typewriters in Chinese reading and dictation when their age, typewriting skills and pre-University language ability were statistically controlled. Our findings based on two contrastive writing systems suggest that typewriting methods that tally with the learning principles of a writing system should be used to promote and preserve literacy skills in the digital era.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wai Ting Siok
- Department of Linguistics, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong.
| | - Chun Yin Liu
- Department of Linguistics, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong
| |
Collapse
|