Publications by authors named "Zhihang Liu"

Quantum state discrimination (QSD) is a fundamental task in quantum information processing, improving the computation efficiency and communication security. Non-Hermitian (NH) PT-symmetric systems were found to be able to discriminate two quantum states better than the Hermitian strategy. In this work, we propose a QSD approach based on -pseudo-Hermitian systems with real spectra.

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Quantum dot (QD)-based semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are critical amplifying elements for future high-speed, cost-effective optical communication networks. In this work, we demonstrate a high-gain 1.3 µm QD SOA with a proposed dual-pass configuration, achieving a record small-signal gain of 44.

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In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the pursuit of safe and sustainable cities that promote well-being across all age groups has become a core objective in urban planning and environmental management. The built environment profoundly influences individuals' thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, underscoring the importance of understanding how people perceive their surroundings in relation to objectively measured urban form. Despite growing recognition of the role of perception in shaping urban experience, empirical assessments of the alignment between perceived and actual built environments remain limited.

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Resistance to radiotherapy is a significant challenge in the clinical management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study investigates a novel multimodal therapeutic strategy that combines oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) with an anti-VEGFR2 single-chain variable fragment (NDV-anti-VEGFR2) to enhance radiosensitivity in NSCLC. We engineered NDV-anti-VEGFR2 and assessed its efficacy in sensitizing Calu-1 cells to radiation.

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Composite polymer electrolytes (CPEs) are considered among the leading contenders for next-generation all-solid-state lithium-metal batteries. However, CPEs simultaneously face multiple significant challenges, including reduced ion transference number, insufficient ionic conductivity, and poor cycling stability, which severely limit their practical applicability. Herein, we have designed a multifunctional unilamellar inorganic nanosheets (TiO) additive for CPEs with cationic defects which is capable of simultaneously addressing all aforementioned challenges.

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Psychological stress causes gut microbial dysbiosis and cancer progression, yet how gut microbiota determines psychological stress-induced tumor development remains unclear. Here we showed that psychological stress promotes breast tumor growth and cancer stemness, an outcome that depends on gut microbiota in germ-free and antibiotic-treated mice. Metagenomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that psychological stress markedly alters the composition and abundance of gut microbiota, especially Akkermansia muciniphila (A.

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Zero-shot learning (ZSL) focuses on recognizing unseen categories by aligning visual features with semantic information. Recent advancements have shown that aligning each attribute with its corresponding visual region significantly improves zero-shot learning performance. However, the crude semantic proxies used in these methods fail to capture the varied appearances of each attribute, and are also easily confused by the presence of semantically redundant backgrounds, leading to suboptimal alignment.

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The current approach to treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) primarily focuses on managing inflammation rather than maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier. In our study, we sought to investigate the potential role of PHLDA1 in preserving intestinal barrier function as a promising strategy for treating IBD. We observed a significant decrease in PHLDA1 expression in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) of both IBD patients and mice with chemically induced colitis.

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Objective: Gout, common metabolic disorders, have poorly understood links with blood metabolites. Exploring these relationships could enhance clinical prevention and treatment strategies.

Methods: We applied bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, using data from a genome-wide association (GWAS) study of 486 blood metabolites.

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The treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases often requires targeting multiple pathogenic pathways. KYS202004A is a novel bispecific fusion protein designed to antagonize TNF-α and IL-17A, pivotal in the pathophysiology of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Our initial efforts focused on screening for optimal structure by analyzing expression levels, purity, and binding capabilities.

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Acetylation, a critical regulator of diverse cellular processes, holds significant implications in various cancer contexts. Further understanding of the acetylation patterns of key cancer-driven proteins is crucial for advancing therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment. This study aimed to unravel the acetylation patterns of Engulfment and Cell Motility Protein 1 (ELMO1) and its relevance to the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC).

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Ammonia has been emerging as a sustainable and environmentally friendly fuel. However, direct electrochemical ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR) in low-temperature fuel cells seriously suffers from high overpotential and deficient durability. Herein, rhombic dodecahedron nanoframe of platinum iridium copper (PtIrCu) with high-index faceted hyperbranched nanodendrites (RDNF-HNDs) was developed using a one-step self-etching solvothermal method.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, like carbon nanosheets and layered hydroxides, enhance performance in hydrovoltaic applications due to their unique properties.
  • * The review discusses advancements, efficiency improvement strategies, and applications of these 2D materials in self-powered devices, while also addressing current challenges and future potential in the field.
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Poor infiltration of T lymphocytes has been regarded as a crucial mechanism of tumor immune escape. Here, we demonstrate a protective role of KRT17 in colorectal cancer, where KRT17 reversed the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment by increasing T-lymphocyte infiltration. High-throughput RNA sequencing suggested that KRT17 was significantly upregulated in deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) tumors compared with proficient mismatch repair (pMMR) tumors.

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  • Radiation enteritis (RE) is a common complication from radiotherapy for pelvic cancers, leading to severe intestinal damage and fibrosis, but its causes are not well understood and there is no targeted treatment.
  • Researchers found that the protein CXCL16 is increased in the intestines of RE patients and in mice, and when this protein is genetically removed in mice, it reduces fibrosis and helps the intestines heal.
  • The study suggests that CXCL16 promotes fibrosis through signaling pathways that involve specific receptors, and blocking CXCL16 with a monoclonal antibody improves intestinal repair, indicating it could be a new target for RE therapies.
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  • Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) have high energy potential due to their great specific capacities, but face issues with the shuttle effect that impacts performance.! -
  • This study introduces a 3D hierarchical composite of binary transition metal selenides on carbon cloth as an effective sulfur host, enhancing performance by improving the interaction with lithium polysulfides and reaction kinetics.! -
  • The resulting electrodes demonstrate impressive metrics, including a specific capacity of 1363 mAh/g, excellent stability over 1000 cycles with minimal capacity loss, and maintain efficient performance even under mechanical stress and high sulfur loadings.!
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Background: Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) or intersphincteric resection (ISR) has recently proven to be a valid and safe surgical procedure for low rectal cancer. However, studies focusing on the combination of these two technologies are limited. This study aimed to evaluate perioperative results, long-term oncologic outcomes, and anorectal functions of patients with low rectal cancer undergoing taTME combined with ISR, by comparing with those of patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominoperineal resection (laAPR).

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Graphene oxide (GO)-based adsorbents have received attention in the removal of heavy metal ions in wastewater due to its large specific surface area and oxygen-containing functional groups, which can enhance the interaction between GO and heavy metal ions. Many researchers are seeking economical and effective strategies to further improve the adsorption capacity of GO. In this study, hyperbranched polymers and cellulose were used to surface functionalize GO for the efficient adsorption of heavy metal ions.

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Fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) performs a wide range of biological functions in organisms. Here, we report for the first time that FGF-21 suppresses thrombus formation with no notable risk of bleeding. Prophylactic and therapeutic administration of FGF-21 significantly improved the degree of vascular stenosis and reduced the thrombus area, volume and burden.

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Introduction: Since transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) was introduced, it has become an important topic in rectal cancer treatment. Many previous studies reported positive relevant short-term results, histopathological results, and associated complications. Recently, concerns regarding the oncological safety of taTME have been raised due to reports showing high local recurrences (LR) rates.

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In recent decades when biological agents have flourished, a part of patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have received the treatment of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors or IL-1 antibodies. This study aims to investigate the anti-colitis effects of bispecific antibody (FL-BsAb1/17) targeting IL-1β and IL-17A comparing with TNF-α soluble receptor medicine etanercept. IBD model in mice was established by drinking 3% DSS (dextran sulfate sodium salt).

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Most cancer-related deaths result from the progressive growth of metastases. Patients with peritoneal metastatic (PM) colorectal cancer have reduced overall survival. Currently, it is still unclear why colorectal cancer (CRC) cells home to and proliferate inside the peritoneal cavity, and there is no effective consolidation therapy for improved survival.

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Background: Ever since transanal total mesorectal excision was introduced by Sylla and Lacy in 2010, it has become more popular among colorectal surgeons. However, some surgeons hesitate to use it, because this novel approach differs greatly from laparoscopic total mesorectal excision and requires a long learning curve.

Objective: This study analyzed the learning curve of transanal total mesorectal excision procedure and compared the different phases of transanal total mesorectal excision with laparoscopic total mesorectal excision.

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Article Synopsis
  • * In a study with male mice, FGF21 treatment significantly improved cognitive and neurological scores, while reducing levels of key factors like GABA and CCL5 involved in HE progression.
  • * FGF21 also downregulated fibrotic and pro-inflammatory markers in the liver and brain, suggesting it may help manage complications of HE by inhibiting certain pathways and promoting anti-inflammatory responses.
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  • Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a disease that damages multiple organs and can be triggered by various factors, but recent treatments using biological agents aim to combat this.
  • A new bispecific antibody, FL-BsAb1/17, was tested for its ability to reduce inflammation and fibrosis caused by bleomycin in a mouse model of SSc, showing promising results in reducing inflammatory and fibrotic factors.
  • The study highlights that FL-BsAb1/17 can effectively alleviate symptoms of SSc by targeting specific signaling pathways and enhancing antioxidant defenses, suggesting it may be a potential new treatment option for the disease.
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