Fast selective edge-enhanced imaging with topological chiral lamellar superstructures.

Edge detection is a fundamental operation for feature extraction in image processing. The all-optical method has aroused growing interest owing to its ultra-fast speed, low energy consumption and parallel computation. However, current optical edge detection methods are generally limited to static devices and fixed functionality.

Logical rotation of non-separable states via uniformly self-assembled chiral superstructures.

The next generation of high-capacity, multi-task optical informatics requires sophisticated manipulation of multiple degrees of freedom (DoFs) of light, especially when they are coupled in a non-separable way. Vector beam, as a typical non-separable state between the spin and orbital angular momentum DoFs, mathematically akin to entangled qubits, has inspired multifarious theories and applications in both quantum and classical regimes. Although qubit rotation is a vital and ubiquitous operation in quantum informatics, its classical analogue is rarely studied.

Polychromatic Dual-Mode Imaging with Structured Chiral Photonic Crystals.

Optical spatial differentiation is a typical operation of optical analog computing and can single out the edge to accelerate the subsequent image processing, but in some cases, overall information about the object needs to be presented synchronously. Here, we propose a multifunctional optical device based on structured chiral photonic crystals for the simultaneous realization of real-time dual-mode imaging. This optical differentiator is realized by self-organized large-birefringence cholesteric liquid crystals, which are photopatterned to encode with a special integrated geometric phase.

PD-1 signaling negatively regulates the common cytokine receptor γ chain via MARCH5-mediated ubiquitination and degradation to suppress anti-tumor immunity.

Combination therapy with PD-1 blockade and IL-2 substantially improves anti-tumor efficacy comparing to monotherapy. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the synergistic effects of the combination therapy remain enigmatic. Here we show that PD-1 ligation results in BATF-dependent transcriptional induction of the membrane-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCH5, which mediates K27-linked polyubiquitination and lysosomal degradation of the common cytokine receptor γ chain (γ).

Ultralow-power all-optical switching via a chiral Mach-Zehnder interferometer.

It is a challenge for all-optical switching to simultaneous achieve ultralow power consumption, broad bandwidth and high extinction ratio. We experimentally demonstrate an ultralow-power all-optical switching by exploiting chiral interaction between light and optically active material in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We achieve switching extinction ratio of 20.

Pancharatnam-Berry phase reversal via opposite-chirality-coexisted superstructures.

Recently discovered reflective Pancharatnam-Berry phase (PB phase) from chiral anisotropic media (e.g., cholesteric liquid crystal, CLC) has aroused great interest in the emerging frontier of planar optics.

Transflective spatial terahertz wave modulator.

Spatial light modulators can digitally manipulate the amplitude, phase, and polarization of light. Their counterparts in the terahertz band are highly pursued to meet the requirements of numerous applications such as wireless communications and biomedical detection. Here, we propose a spatial terahertz wave modulator based on a liquid-crystal-integrated metadevice.

Programmable self-propelling actuators enabled by a dynamic helical medium.

Rotation-translation conversion is a popular way to achieve power transmission in machinery, but it is rarely selected by nature. One unique case is that of bacteria swimming, which is based on the collective reorganization and rotation of flagella. Here, we mimic such motion using the light-driven evolution of a self-organized periodic arch pattern.

[Phenotype Analysis of 78 Cases of Abnormal Hemoglobin E Homozygotes].

Objective: To analyze the hematological characteristics of HbE homozygotes.

Methods: Complete blood cells count and hemoglobin electrophoresis were used for phenotypic analysis of 78 cases with HbE homozygotes from Yunnan province, China. The PCR-fluorescence hybridization was used to detect the common gene mutation of thalassemia.

Chirality invertible superstructure mediated active planar optics.

Active planar optical devices that can dynamically manipulate light are highly sought after in modern optics and nanophotonics. The geometric phase derived from the photonic spin-orbit interaction provides an integrated strategy. Corresponding elements usually suffer from static functions.

Digitalizing Self-Assembled Chiral Superstructures for Optical Vortex Processing.

Cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) chiral superstructures exhibit unique features; that is, polychromatic and spin-determined phase modulation. Here, a concept for digitalized chiral superstructures is proposed, which further enables the arbitrary manipulation of reflective geometric phase and may significantly upgrade existing optical apparatus. By encoding a specifically designed binary pattern, an innovative CLC optical vortex (OV) processor is demonstrated.

Helicity-dependent forked vortex lens based on photo-patterned liquid crystals.

A liquid crystal forked vortex lens integrated with Pancharatnam-Berry phase is proposed and demonstrated via a dynamic photo-patterning technique. The forked vortex lens can generate two optical vortices with opposite spin and orbital angular momentum, which are spatially separated to two focal points with one optical vortex focused and the other defocused. It exhibits distinctive helicity-dependency and ultra-high diffraction efficiency up to 95%.

Smectic Layer Origami via Preprogrammed Photoalignment.

Hierarchical architecture is of vital importance in soft materials. Focal conic domains (FCDs) of smectic liquid crystals, characterized by an ordered lamellar structure, attract intensive attention. Simultaneously tailoring the geometry and clustering characteristics of FCDs remains a challenge.

"Hot-wire" microfluidic flowmeter based on a microfiber coupler.

Using an optical microfiber coupler (MC), we present a microfluidic platform for strong direct or indirect light-liquid interaction by wrapping a MC around a functionalized capillary. The light propagating in the MC and the liquid flowing in the capillary can be combined and divorced smoothly, keeping a long-distance interaction without the conflict of input and output coupling. Using this approach, we experimentally demonstrate a "hot-wire" microfluidic flowmeter based on a gold-integrated helical MC device.

Polarization-controllable Airy beams generated via a photoaligned director-variant liquid crystal mask.

Researches on Airy beams have grown explosively since the first demonstration in 2007 due to the distinguishing properties of nondiffraction, transverse acceleration and self-healing. To date, a simple and compact approach for generating Airy beams in high quality and efficiency has remained challenging. Here, we propose and demonstrate a liquid crystal (LC) polarization Airy mask (PAM) featured by spatially variant LC azimuthal director.

Genetic heterogeneity of the β-globin gene in various geographic populations of Yunnan in southwestern China.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the geographic distribution of β-globin gene mutations in different ethnic groups in Yunnan province.

Methods: From 2004 to 2014, 1,441 subjects with hemoglobin disorders, identified by PCR-reverse dot blot and DNA sequencing, were studied according to ethnicity and geographic origin. Haplotypes were examined among 41 unrelated thalassemia chromosomes.

Simulation and optimization of liquid crystal gratings with alternate twisted nematic and planar aligned regions.

Electro-optical properties of liquid crystal (LC) gratings with alternate twisted nematic (TN) and planar aligned (PA) regions are simulated. Three typical steps are introduced: first, the LC director distributions of the two different regions are simulated. Then, the phase and amplitude of the emergent light in each region are calculated through Jones matrix.