Quantum interference gives rise to the asymmetric Fano resonance line shape when the final states of an electronic transition follow within a continuum of states and a discrete state, which has significant applications in optical switching and sensing. The resonant optical phenomena associated with the Fano resonance have been observed by absorption spectra, Raman spectra, transmission spectra, etc., but have rarely been reported in photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. In this work, we performed spectroscopic studies on layered chromium thiophosphate (CrPS4), a promising ternary antiferromagnetic semiconductor with PL in the near-infrared wavelength region and observed a Fano resonance when CrPS4 experiences phase transition into the antiferromagnetic state below the Néel temperature (38 K). The photoluminescence of the continuum states results from the d band transitions localized at Cr3+ ions, whereas the discrete state is formed by an impurity level, the electronic transition of which is enabled by symmetry breaking. Our findings provide insights into the photon-emitting coherent electronic transitions of CrPS4 and their connection to the magnetism-related broken symmetry.

Solid-state perovskites have recently emerged as promising coherent light sources, due to their efficient gain. While the continuous-wave (CW) optically pumped perovskite laser has been achieved at low temperatures, the final frontier of an electrical perovskite-based laser diode remains challenging due to the heat management and intrinsic instability of perovskite materials. Here, we demonstrate waterproof perovskite-hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) hybrid nanolasers with low lasing thresholds and high operating temperature. After capping with the hBN flake, which possesses superb and anisotropic thermal conductivity, heat dissipation of the perovskite nanolaser is accelerated and an overheated hot spot is avoided. This results in the significant reduction of lasing thresholds (17.05% to 60.15%) in 16 measured samples and clear lasing behavior under a temperature as high as 75.6 °C. Moreover, hBN with high environmental stability can effectively protect the perovskite from the polar solvents. The hBN encapsulated CsPbI 3 nanolaser can incessantly lase in water for an hour, and the lasing behavior can be retained even after 24 h of immersion in water. The reduction of lasing threshold, improved heat removal, and higher temperature tolerance of the hybrid structure nanolaser marks a major step toward a CWpumped perovskite laser at room temperature, while also allowing perovskites to be integrated into high power density optoelectronic devices and future electrically driven lasers. In addition, as the sandwiching of perovskites with hBN can withstand polar solvents, this method may serve as a reliable method for both the future fabrication of perovskite-based devices and sensor-based applications in solvent systems.

Mouse KRC is a large zinc finger protein that binds to the kappaB motif of gene transcription and to the recognition signal sequences for the somatic recombination of the immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene segments. The mouse KRC gene is more than 70 kilobases (kb) in size, and contains at least seven exons, with the largest transcript being approximately 9.5 kb. Multiple differentially spliced transcripts of KRC were identified in thymus and brain, which would result in the production of multiple KRC protein isoforms with different N-termini and number of DNA binding domains. Alternative splicing events leading to the production of these multiple transcripts have been elucidated. Of particular interest are the exclusions in some transcripts of sequences from a gigantic exon of 5487 base pairs (bp), or from an exon of 176 bp. Both potentially deleted exons code for zinc finger motifs that are essential components of the N-terminal and C-terminal DNA binding domains, respectively. Another intriguing phenomenon found in some KRC transcripts is the skipping of a 459 bp fragment within the gigantic exon that would code for the N-terminal DNA binding domain. Bacterial fusion proteins derived from this fragment bind specifically to KRC target DNAs. Apparently, distinct alternative splicing events could eliminate the N-terminal DNA binding domain of KRC.

Metformin, the first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2D), decreases hepatic glucose production and reduces fasting plasma glucose levels. Dorzagliatin, a dual-acting orally bioavailable glucokinase activator targeting both the pancreas and liver glucokinase, decreases postprandial glucose in patients with T2D. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial, the efficacy and safety of dorzagliatin as an add-on therapy to metformin were assessed in patients with T2D who had inadequate glycemic control using metformin alone. Eligible patients with T2D (n = 767) were randomly assigned to receive dorzagliatin or placebo (1:1 ratio) as an add-on to metformin (1,500 mg per day) for 24 weeks of double-blind treatment, followed by 28 weeks of open-label treatment with dorzagliatin for all patients. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels from baseline to week 24, and safety was assessed throughout the trial. At week 24, the least-squares mean change from baseline in HbA1c (95% confidence interval (CI)) was −1.02% (−1.11, −0.93) in the dorzagliatin group and −0.36% (−0.45, −0.26) in the placebo group (estimated treatment difference, −0.66%; 95% CI: −0.79, −0.53; P < 0.0001). The incidence of adverse events was similar between groups. There were no severe hypoglycemia events or drug-related serious adverse events in the dorzagliatin and metformin combined therapy group. In patients with T2D who experienced inadequate glycemic control with metformin alone, dorzagliatin resulted in effective glycemic control with good tolerability and safety profile (NCT03141073).

Van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures constructed with two-dimensional (2D) materials have attracted great interests, due to their fascinating properties and potential for novel applications. While earlier efforts have advanced the understanding of the ultrafast cross-layer charge transfer process in 2D heterostructures, mechanisms for the interfacial photocarrier recombination remain, to a large extent, unclear. Here, we investigate a heterostructure comprised of black phosphorus (BP) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), with a type-II band alignment.Interestingly, it is found that the photo-generated electrons in MoS2 (transferred from BP) exhibit an ultrafast lifetime of ~5 ps, significantly shorter than those of the 2 constituent materials. By corroborating with the relaxation of photo-excited holes in BP, it is revealed that the ultrafast time constant is as a result of efficient Langevin recombination, where the high hole mobility of BP facilitates a large recombination coefficient (~2 × 10 −10 m 2 /s). In addition, broadband transient absorption spectroscopy confirms that the hot electrons transferred to MoS2 distribute over a broad energy range following an ultrafast thermalization. The rate of the interlayer Langevin recombination is found to exhibit no energy level dependence. Our findings provide essential insights into the fundamental photo-physics in type-II 2D heterostructures, and also provide useful guidelines for customizing photocarrier lifetimes of BP for high-speed photo-sensitive devices.