High precision and stable clock is extremely important in communication and navigation.The miniaturization of the clocks is considered to be the trend to satisfy the demand for5G and the next generation communications...High precision and stable clock is extremely important in communication and navigation.The miniaturization of the clocks is considered to be the trend to satisfy the demand for5G and the next generation communications.Based on the concept of meter bar and the principle of the constancy of light velocity,we designed a micro clock,Space Time Clock(STC),with the size smaller than 1 mm×1 mm and the power dissipation less than 2 m W.Designed in integrated circuit of 0.18μm technology,the instability of STC is assessed to be 2.23×10^(-12)and the trend of the instability is reversely proportional toτ.With the potential ability to reach the level of 10instability on chip in the future,the period of the STC’s signal is locked on the delay time defined by the meter bar which keeps the time reference constant.Because of its superior performance,the STC is more suitable for mobile communication,PNT(Positioning,Navigation and Timing),embedded processor and deep space application,and becomes the main payload of the ASRTU satellite scheduled to launch next year and investigate in space environment.展开更多
Owing to the presence of a low-energy,long-lived nuclear isomeric state,^(229)Th is an ideal candidate for developing the next generation clock—the nuclear clock—holding great promise for both applied and fundamenta...Owing to the presence of a low-energy,long-lived nuclear isomeric state,^(229)Th is an ideal candidate for developing the next generation clock—the nuclear clock—holding great promise for both applied and fundamental physics.The^(229)Th ionic nuclear optical clock has garnered considerable attention,attributed to its high precision with a relative uncertainty of≤1.5×10^(-19)and the potential for common-mode noise cancellation via self-comparison between the nuclear transition and the electronic transition of thorium ions.In this article,we focus on Th^(n+)ions(n=1,2,3)and present a comprehensive review of the current progress in the development of ionic nuclear clocks,covering essential steps such as ion generation,trapping,and cooling.Furthermore,we discuss the realization of a closed-loop clock cycle,addressing key aspects including stable isomer excitation and efficient isomer deexcitation.展开更多
We report the SrII optical lattice clock at the National Time Service Center(NTSC).In this system,a blackbody radiation shield with movable lattice mitigates blackbody radiation shifts through active temperature contr...We report the SrII optical lattice clock at the National Time Service Center(NTSC).In this system,a blackbody radiation shield with movable lattice mitigates blackbody radiation shifts through active temperature control.A shallow optical lattice with minimal tunneling minimizes AC Stark shifts.Phase-locked counter-propagating lattice beams and conductive vacuum viewports further reduce systematic uncertainties and a novel initial-state preparation method simplifies the system.Clock transition spectra achieve a linewidth of 2.5 Hz with a 400 ms clock pulse,and self-comparison stability reaches 5.1×10^(-16)at 1 s.These advancements give this clock the potential to be a critical platform for realizing outstanding systematic uncertainties in the future.展开更多
The isomeric transition of thorium-229(^(229)Th),as the only known laser-accessible nuclear transition,offers the possibility for the development of a new generation of optical clocks.Solid-state nuclear optical clock...The isomeric transition of thorium-229(^(229)Th),as the only known laser-accessible nuclear transition,offers the possibility for the development of a new generation of optical clocks.Solid-state nuclear optical clock based on^(229)Th-doped crystals or thin films has attracted much attention due to its potential advantages in high stability,miniaturization,and robustness.This paper reviews the research progress of solid-state nuclear optical clock materials,analyzes the preparation,defects,and properties of the candidate solid material systems for^(229)Th,explores the influence of the local crystal environment on the nuclear transition,focuses on introducing the latest research results of crystal materials such as Th-doped CaF_(2)and LiSrAlF_(6),and looks forward to the future development direction of this field.It could provide a reference for the material selection and optimization of solid-state nuclear optical clocks.展开更多
Clock synchronization has important applications in multi-agent collaboration(such as drone light shows,intelligent transportation systems,and game AI),group decision-making,and emergency rescue operations.Synchroniza...Clock synchronization has important applications in multi-agent collaboration(such as drone light shows,intelligent transportation systems,and game AI),group decision-making,and emergency rescue operations.Synchronization method based on pulse-coupled oscillators(PCOs)provides an effective solution for clock synchronization in wireless networks.However,the existing clock synchronization algorithms in multi-agent ad hoc networks are difficult to meet the requirements of high precision and high stability of synchronization clock in group cooperation.Hence,this paper constructs a network model,named DAUNet(unsupervised neural network based on dual attention),to enhance clock synchronization accuracy in multi-agent wireless ad hoc networks.Specifically,we design an unsupervised distributed neural network framework as the backbone,building upon classical PCO-based synchronization methods.This framework resolves issues such as prolonged time synchronization message exchange between nodes,difficulties in centralized node coordination,and challenges in distributed training.Furthermore,we introduce a dual-attention mechanism as the core module of DAUNet.By integrating a Multi-Head Attention module and a Gated Attention module,the model significantly improves information extraction capabilities while reducing computational complexity,effectively mitigating synchronization inaccuracies and instability in multi-agent ad hoc networks.To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model,comparative experiments and ablation studies were conducted against classical methods and existing deep learning models.The research results show that,compared with the deep learning networks based on DASA and LSTM,DAUNet can reduce the mean normalized phase difference(NPD)by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude.Compared with the attention models based on additive attention and self-attention mechanisms,the performance of DAUNet has improved by more than ten times.This study demonstrates DAUNet’s potential in advancing multi-agent ad hoc networking technologies.展开更多
Recent advances in atomic optical clocks based on electronic transitions have achieved frequency uncertainties at the10^(-19)level,enabling wide applications in testing variations of physical constants,exploring dark ...Recent advances in atomic optical clocks based on electronic transitions have achieved frequency uncertainties at the10^(-19)level,enabling wide applications in testing variations of physical constants,exploring dark matter signatures,and enhancing precision metrology for position,navigation,and timing systems.To pursue higher-precision optical clocks,the development of nuclear optical clocks has emerged,with the^(229)Th system distinguished by its unique low-lying isomeric state at~8.4 eV and a natural linewidth of approximately 100μHz,promising uncertainties below 10^(-19).The intrinsic insensitivity of nuclear transitions to external perturbations and their subatomic-scale spatial confinement provide significant advantages over electronic transitions in mitigating environmental shifts.Recent experimental breakthroughs include the excitation of the nuclear clock transition in solid-state^(229)Th-doped crystals with spectral resolution at the k Hz level.However,critical challenges persist,particularly in implementing effective laser excitation schemes(e.g.,via the electronic bridge mechanism)and closed-loop quantum control in trapped ion systems.Addressing these requires comprehensive understanding of complex many-body interactions in^(229)Th,encompassing electronic structure,nuclear deformation,hyperfine and field shift,and solid-state environmental coupling.This review synthesizes recent advancements in(i)the characterization of nuclear and atomic structures of the^(229)Th nuclear clock,and(ii)precise evaluation and mitigation of external perturbations affecting the clock transitions.The analysis provides a solid theoretical and experimental foundation for optimizing^(229)Th-based nuclear clock performance.展开更多
Microbatteries(MBs)are crucial to power miniaturized devices for the Internet of Things.In the evolutionary journey of MBs,fabrication technology emerges as the cornerstone,guiding the intricacies of their configurati...Microbatteries(MBs)are crucial to power miniaturized devices for the Internet of Things.In the evolutionary journey of MBs,fabrication technology emerges as the cornerstone,guiding the intricacies of their configuration designs,ensuring precision,and facilitating scalability for mass production.Photolithography stands out as an ideal technology,leveraging its unparalleled resolution,exceptional design flexibility,and entrenched position within the mature semiconductor industry.However,comprehensive reviews on its application in MB development remain scarce.This review aims to bridge that gap by thoroughly assessing the recent status and promising prospects of photolithographic microfabrication for MBs.Firstly,we delve into the fundamental principles and step-by-step procedures of photolithography,offering a nuanced understanding of its operational mechanisms and the criteria for photoresist selection.Subsequently,we highlighted the specific roles of photolithography in the fabrication of MBs,including its utilization as a template for creating miniaturized micropatterns,a protective layer during the etching process,a mold for soft lithography,a constituent of MB active component,and a sacrificial layer in the construction of micro-Swiss-roll structure.Finally,the review concludes with a summary of the key challenges and future perspectives of MBs fabricated by photolithography,providing comprehensive insights and sparking research inspiration in this field.展开更多
Objective To investigate the structural changes of rat thoracic aorta and changes in expression levels of Bmal1 and cyclins in thoracic aorta endothelial cells following heat stress.Methods Twenty male SD rats were ra...Objective To investigate the structural changes of rat thoracic aorta and changes in expression levels of Bmal1 and cyclins in thoracic aorta endothelial cells following heat stress.Methods Twenty male SD rats were randomized equally into control group and heat stress group.After exposure to 32℃for 2 weeks in the latter group,the rats were examined for histopathological changes and Bmal1 expression in the thoracic aorta using HE staining and immunohistochemistry.In the cell experiments,cultured rat thoracic aortic endothelial cells(RTAECs)were incubated at 40℃for 12 h with or without prior transfection with a Bmal1-specific small interfering RNA(si-Bmal1)or a negative sequence.In both rat thoracic aorta and RTAECs,the expressions of Bmal1,the cell cycle proteins CDK1,CDK4,CDK6,and cyclin B1,and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blotting.TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis in rat thoracic aorta,and the changes in cell cycle distribution and apoptosis in RTAECs were analyzed with flow cytometry.Results Compared with the control rats,the rats exposed to heat stress showed significantly increased blood pressures and lowered heart rate with elastic fiber disruption and increased expressions of Bmal1,cyclin B1 and CDK1 in the thoracic aorta(P<0.05).In cultured RTAECs,heat stress caused significant increase of Bmal1,cyclin B1 and CDK1 protein expression levels,which were obviously lowered in cells with prior si-Bmal1 transfection.Bmal1 knockdown also inhibited heat stress-induced increase of apoptosis in RTAECs as evidenced by decreased expression of Bax and increased expression of Bcl-2.Conclusion Heat stress upregulates Bmal1 expression and causes alterations in expressions of cyclins to trigger apoptosis of rat thoracic aorta endothelial cells,which can be partly alleviated by suppressing Bmal1 expression.展开更多
Coupled-waveguide devices are essential in photonic integrated circuits for coupling,polarization handling,and mode manipulation.However,the performance of these devices usually suffers from high wavelength and struct...Coupled-waveguide devices are essential in photonic integrated circuits for coupling,polarization handling,and mode manipulation.However,the performance of these devices usually suffers from high wavelength and structure sensitivity,which makes it challenging to realize broadband and reliable on-chip optical functions.Recently,topological pumping of edge states has emerged as a promising solution for implementing robust optical couplings.In this paper,we propose and experimentally demonstrate broadband on-chip mode manipulation with very large fabrication tolerance based on the Rice–Mele modeled silicon waveguide arrays.The Thouless pumping mechanism is employed in the design to implement broadband and robust mode conversion and multiplexing.The experimental results prove that various mode-order conversions with low insertion losses and intermodal crosstalk can be achieved over a broad bandwidth of 80 nm ranging from 1500 to 1580 nm.Thanks to such a topological design,the device has a remarkable fabrication tolerance of±70 nm for the structural deviations in waveguide width and gap distance,which is,to the best of our knowledge,the highest among the coupled-waveguide mode-handling devices reported so far.As a proof-of-concept experiment,we cascade the topological mode-order converters to form a four-channel mode-division multiplexer and demonstrate the transmission of a 200-Gb/s 16-quadrature amplitude modulation signal for each mode channel,with the bit error rates below the 7%forward error correction threshold of 3.8×10^(-3).We reveal the possibility of developing new classes of broadband and fabrication-tolerant coupled-waveguide devices with topological photonic approaches,which may find applications in many fields,including optical interconnects,quantum communications,and optical computing.展开更多
We present analog clocks fitted to the Mars solar day.These clocks use the standard Earth-based second of the International System of Units(SI)as their operational unit of time,unlike current practice for Mars timekee...We present analog clocks fitted to the Mars solar day.These clocks use the standard Earth-based second of the International System of Units(SI)as their operational unit of time,unlike current practice for Mars timekeeping.We discuss the importance of preserving the SI second.On this basis,we identify the two analog clocks most suitable for public use by a future Mars population.These are a 20-hour clock with a hand motion similar to that of the standard Earth clock,and a 24-hour clock with a novel“Martian”hand motion which strikes the hour when all 3 hands converge onto that hour mark on the dial.Both clocks have Earth-day equivalents to assist learning.We also present a 24-hour“SpaceClock”,similar to the Martian clock but with no favored reference plane,hence equally readable from any viewing orientation.展开更多
The circadian clock is a highly hierarchical network of endogenous pacemakers that primarily maintains and directs oscillations through transcriptional and translational feedback loops,which modulates an approximately...The circadian clock is a highly hierarchical network of endogenous pacemakers that primarily maintains and directs oscillations through transcriptional and translational feedback loops,which modulates an approximately 24-h cycle of endocrine and metabolic rhythms within cells and tissues.While circadian clocks regulate metabolic processes and related physiology,emerging evidence indicates that metabolism and circadian rhythm are intimately intertwined.In this review,we highlight the concept of metabolites,including lipids and other polar metabolites generated from intestinal microbial metabolism and nutrient intake,as time cues that drive changes in circadian rhythms,which in turn influence metabolism and aging.Furthermore,we discuss the roles of functional metabolites as circadian cues,paving a new direction on potential intervention targets of circadian disruption,pathological aging,as well as metabolic diseases that are clinically important.展开更多
A new on-chip light source configuration has been proposed,which utilizes the interaction between a microwave or laser and a dielectric nanopillar array to generate a periodic electromagnetic near-field and applies pe...A new on-chip light source configuration has been proposed,which utilizes the interaction between a microwave or laser and a dielectric nanopillar array to generate a periodic electromagnetic near-field and applies periodic transverse acceleration to relativistic electrons to generate high-energy photon radiation.The dielectric nanopillar array interacting with the driving field acts as an electron undulator,in which the near-field drives electrons to oscillate.When an electron beam propagates through this nanopillar array in this light source configuration,it is subjected to a periodic transverse near-field force and will radiate X-ray or evenγ-ray high-energy photons after a relativistic frequency up-conversion.Compared with the undulator which is based on the interaction between strong lasers and nanostructures to generate a plasmonic near-field,this configuration is less prone to damage during operation.展开更多
The^(229)Th nuclear optical clocks,operating via the 8.4 eV nuclear transition,hold great promise for attaining unprecedented accuracy in frequency standards and fundamental physics tests.In this study,we propose an a...The^(229)Th nuclear optical clocks,operating via the 8.4 eV nuclear transition,hold great promise for attaining unprecedented accuracy in frequency standards and fundamental physics tests.In this study,we propose an approach that utilizes highly charged^(229)Th^(6+)ions as the platform for nuclear clock,which exhibits simple electronic energy structures and enhanced nucleus–electron coupling compared to low-charge Th ions.The^(3)P_(2)↔^(3)P_(0)ionic clock transition in^(229)Th^(6+)ions has the potential to serve as a probe for nuclear structure.Moreover,we predict the existence of two excited electronic states near and slightly above the nuclear clock state,which can serve as the intermediate states in the optical repumping process.We estimate the Rabi frequencies of the electronic bridge transitions from the nuclear clock state to these intermediate states and further analyze the population dynamics of the optical repumping process,which can be completed on the millisecond timescale.Our results demonstrate the advantages of using^(229)Th^(6+)ions as the promising platform for nuclear clock.展开更多
The plant circadian clock temporally drives gene expression throughout the day and coordinates various physiological processes with diurnal environmental changes. It is essential for conferring plant fitness and compe...The plant circadian clock temporally drives gene expression throughout the day and coordinates various physiological processes with diurnal environmental changes. It is essential for conferring plant fitness and competitive advantages to survive and thrive under natural conditions through the circadian control of gene transcription. Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is an economically important vegetable crop worldwide, although there is little information concerning its circadian clock system. Here we found that gene expression patterns are affected bycircadian oscillators at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in Chinese cabbage. Time-course RNA-seq analyses were conducted on two short-period lines(SPcc-1 and SPcc-2) and two long-period lines(LPcc-1 and LPcc-2) under constant light. The results showed that 32.7–50.5% of the genes were regulated bythe circadian oscillator and the expression peaks of cycling genes appeared earlier in short-period lines than long-period lines. In addition, approximately 250 splicing events exhibited circadian regulation, with intron retention(IR) accounting for a large proportion. Rhythmically spliced genes included the clock genes LATE ELONGATEDHYPOCOTYL(BrLHY), REVEILLE 2(BrRVE2) and EARLY FLOWERING 3(BrELF3). We also found that thecircadian oscillator could notably influence the diurnal expression patterns of genes that are associated with glucose metabolism via photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle and the tricarboxylic acid(TCA) cycle at both the transcriptional andpost-transcriptional levels. The collective results of this study demonstrate that circadian-regulated physiological processes contribute to Chinese cabbage growth and development.展开更多
The circadian clock is an important internal time regulatory system for a range of physiological and behavioral rhythms within living organisms.Testosterone,as one of the most critical sex hormones,is essential for th...The circadian clock is an important internal time regulatory system for a range of physiological and behavioral rhythms within living organisms.Testosterone,as one of the most critical sex hormones,is essential for the development of the reproductive system,maintenance of reproductive function,and the overall health of males.The secretion of testosterone in mammals is characterized by distinct circadian rhythms and is closely associated with the regulation of circadian clock genes.Here we review the central and peripheral regulatory mechanisms underlying the influence of circadian clock genes upon testosterone synthesis.We also examined the specific effects of these genes on the occurrence,development,and treatment of common male diseases,including late-onset hypogonadism,erectile dysfunction,male infertility,and prostate cancer.展开更多
Optical clocks with thermal atoms are characterized by compact size,simple structure,reduced weight,and low power consumption and have the potential for broad out-of-the-lab and commercial applications.Here,we demonst...Optical clocks with thermal atoms are characterized by compact size,simple structure,reduced weight,and low power consumption and have the potential for broad out-of-the-lab and commercial applications.Here,we demonstrate a 459 nm optical clock based on the 6S_(1/2)-7P_(1/2)transition in thermal^(133)Cs atoms.Two methods,modulation transfer spectroscopy(MTS)and frequency modulation spectroscopy(FMS),are employed to stabilize the frequency of a 459 nm commercial laser to the atomic transition.The MTS-MTS and MTS-FMS beat-note measurements show short-term frequency stabilities of 3.7×10^(-13)/√t and 6.4×10^(-13)/√t,respectively,at the averaging time t.The 459 nm passive optical clock further serves as the pump for an active 1470 nm optical clock based on the cavityless lasing.The resultant 1470 nm output power reaches over 10μW and the pump-beam-induced light shift is estimated to be 2π×11 Hz with a fractional uncertainty of 2.4×10^(-18).These results demonstrate the feasibility of hybridizing passive and active optical clocks,providing a promising route toward compact multi-wavelength optical frequency standards.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11973021)Harbin Institute of Technology,Research Centre of Satellite Technology and Department of Microelectronics Science and Technologysupported by the ASRTU satellite project。
文摘High precision and stable clock is extremely important in communication and navigation.The miniaturization of the clocks is considered to be the trend to satisfy the demand for5G and the next generation communications.Based on the concept of meter bar and the principle of the constancy of light velocity,we designed a micro clock,Space Time Clock(STC),with the size smaller than 1 mm×1 mm and the power dissipation less than 2 m W.Designed in integrated circuit of 0.18μm technology,the instability of STC is assessed to be 2.23×10^(-12)and the trend of the instability is reversely proportional toτ.With the potential ability to reach the level of 10instability on chip in the future,the period of the STC’s signal is locked on the delay time defined by the meter bar which keeps the time reference constant.Because of its superior performance,the STC is more suitable for mobile communication,PNT(Positioning,Navigation and Timing),embedded processor and deep space application,and becomes the main payload of the ASRTU satellite scheduled to launch next year and investigate in space environment.
基金Project supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB0920000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12341401)。
文摘Owing to the presence of a low-energy,long-lived nuclear isomeric state,^(229)Th is an ideal candidate for developing the next generation clock—the nuclear clock—holding great promise for both applied and fundamental physics.The^(229)Th ionic nuclear optical clock has garnered considerable attention,attributed to its high precision with a relative uncertainty of≤1.5×10^(-19)and the potential for common-mode noise cancellation via self-comparison between the nuclear transition and the electronic transition of thorium ions.In this article,we focus on Th^(n+)ions(n=1,2,3)and present a comprehensive review of the current progress in the development of ionic nuclear clocks,covering essential steps such as ion generation,trapping,and cooling.Furthermore,we discuss the realization of a closed-loop clock cycle,addressing key aspects including stable isomer excitation and efficient isomer deexcitation.
基金supported by the Innovation Pro-gram for Quantum Science and Technology(Grant Nos.2021ZD0300900 and 2021ZD0300902)the Strate-gic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB35010202)the Operation and Maintenance of Major Scientific and Technological In-frastructure of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.2024000014).
文摘We report the SrII optical lattice clock at the National Time Service Center(NTSC).In this system,a blackbody radiation shield with movable lattice mitigates blackbody radiation shifts through active temperature control.A shallow optical lattice with minimal tunneling minimizes AC Stark shifts.Phase-locked counter-propagating lattice beams and conductive vacuum viewports further reduce systematic uncertainties and a novel initial-state preparation method simplifies the system.Clock transition spectra achieve a linewidth of 2.5 Hz with a 400 ms clock pulse,and self-comparison stability reaches 5.1×10^(-16)at 1 s.These advancements give this clock the potential to be a critical platform for realizing outstanding systematic uncertainties in the future.
基金supported by Zhangjiang Laboratory(Grant No.ZJSP21A001D)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB0920000)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12341402 and 12341403)。
文摘The isomeric transition of thorium-229(^(229)Th),as the only known laser-accessible nuclear transition,offers the possibility for the development of a new generation of optical clocks.Solid-state nuclear optical clock based on^(229)Th-doped crystals or thin films has attracted much attention due to its potential advantages in high stability,miniaturization,and robustness.This paper reviews the research progress of solid-state nuclear optical clock materials,analyzes the preparation,defects,and properties of the candidate solid material systems for^(229)Th,explores the influence of the local crystal environment on the nuclear transition,focuses on introducing the latest research results of crystal materials such as Th-doped CaF_(2)and LiSrAlF_(6),and looks forward to the future development direction of this field.It could provide a reference for the material selection and optimization of solid-state nuclear optical clocks.
文摘Clock synchronization has important applications in multi-agent collaboration(such as drone light shows,intelligent transportation systems,and game AI),group decision-making,and emergency rescue operations.Synchronization method based on pulse-coupled oscillators(PCOs)provides an effective solution for clock synchronization in wireless networks.However,the existing clock synchronization algorithms in multi-agent ad hoc networks are difficult to meet the requirements of high precision and high stability of synchronization clock in group cooperation.Hence,this paper constructs a network model,named DAUNet(unsupervised neural network based on dual attention),to enhance clock synchronization accuracy in multi-agent wireless ad hoc networks.Specifically,we design an unsupervised distributed neural network framework as the backbone,building upon classical PCO-based synchronization methods.This framework resolves issues such as prolonged time synchronization message exchange between nodes,difficulties in centralized node coordination,and challenges in distributed training.Furthermore,we introduce a dual-attention mechanism as the core module of DAUNet.By integrating a Multi-Head Attention module and a Gated Attention module,the model significantly improves information extraction capabilities while reducing computational complexity,effectively mitigating synchronization inaccuracies and instability in multi-agent ad hoc networks.To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model,comparative experiments and ablation studies were conducted against classical methods and existing deep learning models.The research results show that,compared with the deep learning networks based on DASA and LSTM,DAUNet can reduce the mean normalized phase difference(NPD)by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude.Compared with the attention models based on additive attention and self-attention mechanisms,the performance of DAUNet has improved by more than ten times.This study demonstrates DAUNet’s potential in advancing multi-agent ad hoc networking technologies.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant Nos.XDB0920100 and XDB0920101)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12174402,12393821,12274417)the Chinese Academy of Sciences Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research(Grant No.YSBR-055)。
文摘Recent advances in atomic optical clocks based on electronic transitions have achieved frequency uncertainties at the10^(-19)level,enabling wide applications in testing variations of physical constants,exploring dark matter signatures,and enhancing precision metrology for position,navigation,and timing systems.To pursue higher-precision optical clocks,the development of nuclear optical clocks has emerged,with the^(229)Th system distinguished by its unique low-lying isomeric state at~8.4 eV and a natural linewidth of approximately 100μHz,promising uncertainties below 10^(-19).The intrinsic insensitivity of nuclear transitions to external perturbations and their subatomic-scale spatial confinement provide significant advantages over electronic transitions in mitigating environmental shifts.Recent experimental breakthroughs include the excitation of the nuclear clock transition in solid-state^(229)Th-doped crystals with spectral resolution at the k Hz level.However,critical challenges persist,particularly in implementing effective laser excitation schemes(e.g.,via the electronic bridge mechanism)and closed-loop quantum control in trapped ion systems.Addressing these requires comprehensive understanding of complex many-body interactions in^(229)Th,encompassing electronic structure,nuclear deformation,hyperfine and field shift,and solid-state environmental coupling.This review synthesizes recent advancements in(i)the characterization of nuclear and atomic structures of the^(229)Th nuclear clock,and(ii)precise evaluation and mitigation of external perturbations affecting the clock transitions.The analysis provides a solid theoretical and experimental foundation for optimizing^(229)Th-based nuclear clock performance.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(22125903,22439003,22209175)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant 2022YFA1504100,2023YFB4005204)+1 种基金the Energy Revolution S&T Program of Yulin Innovation Institute of Clean Energy(Grant E412010508)the State Key Laboratory of Catalysis(No:2024SKL-A-001)。
文摘Microbatteries(MBs)are crucial to power miniaturized devices for the Internet of Things.In the evolutionary journey of MBs,fabrication technology emerges as the cornerstone,guiding the intricacies of their configuration designs,ensuring precision,and facilitating scalability for mass production.Photolithography stands out as an ideal technology,leveraging its unparalleled resolution,exceptional design flexibility,and entrenched position within the mature semiconductor industry.However,comprehensive reviews on its application in MB development remain scarce.This review aims to bridge that gap by thoroughly assessing the recent status and promising prospects of photolithographic microfabrication for MBs.Firstly,we delve into the fundamental principles and step-by-step procedures of photolithography,offering a nuanced understanding of its operational mechanisms and the criteria for photoresist selection.Subsequently,we highlighted the specific roles of photolithography in the fabrication of MBs,including its utilization as a template for creating miniaturized micropatterns,a protective layer during the etching process,a mold for soft lithography,a constituent of MB active component,and a sacrificial layer in the construction of micro-Swiss-roll structure.Finally,the review concludes with a summary of the key challenges and future perspectives of MBs fabricated by photolithography,providing comprehensive insights and sparking research inspiration in this field.
文摘Objective To investigate the structural changes of rat thoracic aorta and changes in expression levels of Bmal1 and cyclins in thoracic aorta endothelial cells following heat stress.Methods Twenty male SD rats were randomized equally into control group and heat stress group.After exposure to 32℃for 2 weeks in the latter group,the rats were examined for histopathological changes and Bmal1 expression in the thoracic aorta using HE staining and immunohistochemistry.In the cell experiments,cultured rat thoracic aortic endothelial cells(RTAECs)were incubated at 40℃for 12 h with or without prior transfection with a Bmal1-specific small interfering RNA(si-Bmal1)or a negative sequence.In both rat thoracic aorta and RTAECs,the expressions of Bmal1,the cell cycle proteins CDK1,CDK4,CDK6,and cyclin B1,and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blotting.TUNEL staining was used to detect cell apoptosis in rat thoracic aorta,and the changes in cell cycle distribution and apoptosis in RTAECs were analyzed with flow cytometry.Results Compared with the control rats,the rats exposed to heat stress showed significantly increased blood pressures and lowered heart rate with elastic fiber disruption and increased expressions of Bmal1,cyclin B1 and CDK1 in the thoracic aorta(P<0.05).In cultured RTAECs,heat stress caused significant increase of Bmal1,cyclin B1 and CDK1 protein expression levels,which were obviously lowered in cells with prior si-Bmal1 transfection.Bmal1 knockdown also inhibited heat stress-induced increase of apoptosis in RTAECs as evidenced by decreased expression of Bax and increased expression of Bcl-2.Conclusion Heat stress upregulates Bmal1 expression and causes alterations in expressions of cyclins to trigger apoptosis of rat thoracic aorta endothelial cells,which can be partly alleviated by suppressing Bmal1 expression.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2023YFB2905503)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.62035016,62105200,62475146,and 62341508).
文摘Coupled-waveguide devices are essential in photonic integrated circuits for coupling,polarization handling,and mode manipulation.However,the performance of these devices usually suffers from high wavelength and structure sensitivity,which makes it challenging to realize broadband and reliable on-chip optical functions.Recently,topological pumping of edge states has emerged as a promising solution for implementing robust optical couplings.In this paper,we propose and experimentally demonstrate broadband on-chip mode manipulation with very large fabrication tolerance based on the Rice–Mele modeled silicon waveguide arrays.The Thouless pumping mechanism is employed in the design to implement broadband and robust mode conversion and multiplexing.The experimental results prove that various mode-order conversions with low insertion losses and intermodal crosstalk can be achieved over a broad bandwidth of 80 nm ranging from 1500 to 1580 nm.Thanks to such a topological design,the device has a remarkable fabrication tolerance of±70 nm for the structural deviations in waveguide width and gap distance,which is,to the best of our knowledge,the highest among the coupled-waveguide mode-handling devices reported so far.As a proof-of-concept experiment,we cascade the topological mode-order converters to form a four-channel mode-division multiplexer and demonstrate the transmission of a 200-Gb/s 16-quadrature amplitude modulation signal for each mode channel,with the bit error rates below the 7%forward error correction threshold of 3.8×10^(-3).We reveal the possibility of developing new classes of broadband and fabrication-tolerant coupled-waveguide devices with topological photonic approaches,which may find applications in many fields,including optical interconnects,quantum communications,and optical computing.
文摘We present analog clocks fitted to the Mars solar day.These clocks use the standard Earth-based second of the International System of Units(SI)as their operational unit of time,unlike current practice for Mars timekeeping.We discuss the importance of preserving the SI second.On this basis,we identify the two analog clocks most suitable for public use by a future Mars population.These are a 20-hour clock with a hand motion similar to that of the standard Earth clock,and a 24-hour clock with a novel“Martian”hand motion which strikes the hour when all 3 hands converge onto that hour mark on the dial.Both clocks have Earth-day equivalents to assist learning.We also present a 24-hour“SpaceClock”,similar to the Martian clock but with no favored reference plane,hence equally readable from any viewing orientation.
基金supported by grants from the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB39050800)the Major Project of Guangzhou National Laboratory(GZNL2024A03013)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(92357308 and 32321004)。
文摘The circadian clock is a highly hierarchical network of endogenous pacemakers that primarily maintains and directs oscillations through transcriptional and translational feedback loops,which modulates an approximately 24-h cycle of endocrine and metabolic rhythms within cells and tissues.While circadian clocks regulate metabolic processes and related physiology,emerging evidence indicates that metabolism and circadian rhythm are intimately intertwined.In this review,we highlight the concept of metabolites,including lipids and other polar metabolites generated from intestinal microbial metabolism and nutrient intake,as time cues that drive changes in circadian rhythms,which in turn influence metabolism and aging.Furthermore,we discuss the roles of functional metabolites as circadian cues,paving a new direction on potential intervention targets of circadian disruption,pathological aging,as well as metabolic diseases that are clinically important.
基金pported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12325409,12388102,12074398,and U2267204)the CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research(Grant No.YSBR-060)the Shanghai Pilot Program for Basic Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai Branch。
文摘A new on-chip light source configuration has been proposed,which utilizes the interaction between a microwave or laser and a dielectric nanopillar array to generate a periodic electromagnetic near-field and applies periodic transverse acceleration to relativistic electrons to generate high-energy photon radiation.The dielectric nanopillar array interacting with the driving field acts as an electron undulator,in which the near-field drives electrons to oscillate.When an electron beam propagates through this nanopillar array in this light source configuration,it is subjected to a periodic transverse near-field force and will radiate X-ray or evenγ-ray high-energy photons after a relativistic frequency up-conversion.Compared with the undulator which is based on the interaction between strong lasers and nanostructures to generate a plasmonic near-field,this configuration is less prone to damage during operation.
基金supported by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB0920000)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2022YFB3904002)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12341401)。
文摘The^(229)Th nuclear optical clocks,operating via the 8.4 eV nuclear transition,hold great promise for attaining unprecedented accuracy in frequency standards and fundamental physics tests.In this study,we propose an approach that utilizes highly charged^(229)Th^(6+)ions as the platform for nuclear clock,which exhibits simple electronic energy structures and enhanced nucleus–electron coupling compared to low-charge Th ions.The^(3)P_(2)↔^(3)P_(0)ionic clock transition in^(229)Th^(6+)ions has the potential to serve as a probe for nuclear structure.Moreover,we predict the existence of two excited electronic states near and slightly above the nuclear clock state,which can serve as the intermediate states in the optical repumping process.We estimate the Rabi frequencies of the electronic bridge transitions from the nuclear clock state to these intermediate states and further analyze the population dynamics of the optical repumping process,which can be completed on the millisecond timescale.Our results demonstrate the advantages of using^(229)Th^(6+)ions as the promising platform for nuclear clock.
基金supported by the Science and Technology Program of Hebei Province, China (236Z2903G)the Innovative Research Group Project of Hebei Natural Science Foundation, China (C2024204246)+1 种基金the Hebei International Joint Research Center of Vegetable Functional Genomicsthe International Joint R&D Center of Hebei Province in Modern Agricultural Biotechnology for supporting this work。
文摘The plant circadian clock temporally drives gene expression throughout the day and coordinates various physiological processes with diurnal environmental changes. It is essential for conferring plant fitness and competitive advantages to survive and thrive under natural conditions through the circadian control of gene transcription. Chinese cabbage(Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is an economically important vegetable crop worldwide, although there is little information concerning its circadian clock system. Here we found that gene expression patterns are affected bycircadian oscillators at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in Chinese cabbage. Time-course RNA-seq analyses were conducted on two short-period lines(SPcc-1 and SPcc-2) and two long-period lines(LPcc-1 and LPcc-2) under constant light. The results showed that 32.7–50.5% of the genes were regulated bythe circadian oscillator and the expression peaks of cycling genes appeared earlier in short-period lines than long-period lines. In addition, approximately 250 splicing events exhibited circadian regulation, with intron retention(IR) accounting for a large proportion. Rhythmically spliced genes included the clock genes LATE ELONGATEDHYPOCOTYL(BrLHY), REVEILLE 2(BrRVE2) and EARLY FLOWERING 3(BrELF3). We also found that thecircadian oscillator could notably influence the diurnal expression patterns of genes that are associated with glucose metabolism via photosynthesis, the Calvin cycle and the tricarboxylic acid(TCA) cycle at both the transcriptional andpost-transcriptional levels. The collective results of this study demonstrate that circadian-regulated physiological processes contribute to Chinese cabbage growth and development.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(N0.82474525 and No.82074444)the Hunan Provincial Natural Outstanding Young People Science Foundation(2023JJ10032)the Hunan Province Health and High-Level Talent Medical Academic Leader Training Plan(20240304051).
文摘The circadian clock is an important internal time regulatory system for a range of physiological and behavioral rhythms within living organisms.Testosterone,as one of the most critical sex hormones,is essential for the development of the reproductive system,maintenance of reproductive function,and the overall health of males.The secretion of testosterone in mammals is characterized by distinct circadian rhythms and is closely associated with the regulation of circadian clock genes.Here we review the central and peripheral regulatory mechanisms underlying the influence of circadian clock genes upon testosterone synthesis.We also examined the specific effects of these genes on the occurrence,development,and treatment of common male diseases,including late-onset hypogonadism,erectile dysfunction,male infertility,and prostate cancer.
基金provided by CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research(Grant No.YSBR-085)National Time Service Center(Grant No.E239SC1101)+1 种基金the funding of Wenzhou Major Science&Technology Innovation Key Project(Grant No.ZG2023021)supported by Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology(Grant No.2021ZD0303200).
文摘Optical clocks with thermal atoms are characterized by compact size,simple structure,reduced weight,and low power consumption and have the potential for broad out-of-the-lab and commercial applications.Here,we demonstrate a 459 nm optical clock based on the 6S_(1/2)-7P_(1/2)transition in thermal^(133)Cs atoms.Two methods,modulation transfer spectroscopy(MTS)and frequency modulation spectroscopy(FMS),are employed to stabilize the frequency of a 459 nm commercial laser to the atomic transition.The MTS-MTS and MTS-FMS beat-note measurements show short-term frequency stabilities of 3.7×10^(-13)/√t and 6.4×10^(-13)/√t,respectively,at the averaging time t.The 459 nm passive optical clock further serves as the pump for an active 1470 nm optical clock based on the cavityless lasing.The resultant 1470 nm output power reaches over 10μW and the pump-beam-induced light shift is estimated to be 2π×11 Hz with a fractional uncertainty of 2.4×10^(-18).These results demonstrate the feasibility of hybridizing passive and active optical clocks,providing a promising route toward compact multi-wavelength optical frequency standards.
