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Förster valley-orbit coupling and topological lattice of hybrid moiré excitons
Get PDFHybrid excitons in moiré superlattices of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors inherit the electric dipole, strong moiré trapping, and stacking optical selection rules from its interlayer part, whereas the intralayer part is intended for enhancing optical coupling strength. Here, we show that electron-hole Coulomb exchange, or Förster type multipole-multipole coupling, in the intralayer component qualitatively alters the properties of moiré excitons, enabling their coherent hopping between moiré traps laterally separated over 10 nm and/or across layers, where their kinetic propagation is completely suppressed. Valley-flip hopping channels are found as significant as the valley-conserving ones, leading to rich possibilities to tailor valley-orbit-couplings and introduce non-trivial topology to the moiré exciton superlattice. In twisted MoTe2 where hybrid moiré excitons feature a symmetry protection from radiative recombination, we show that Förster valley-orbit-coupling can give rise to a rich topological phase diagram.published_or_final_versio
Long-term follow-up of BCMA CAR-T cell therapy in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma
No full textBackground B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeting chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell immunotherapy has shown promising results in the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (R/RMM). This study presents the updated long-term outcomes from our center. Methods Between July 30, 2018, and September 27, 2023, 141 patients with R/RMM who received BCMA CAR-T therapy were enrolled. Patients underwent conditioning chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine, followed by BCMA CAR-T cell infusion at a median dose of 2.36×10 6 cells/kg. The study evaluated overall response rates, long-term efficacy, safety profiles, and their associations with clinical and disease characteristics. Results At a median follow-up of 20.2 months, the safety profile of the therapy was manageable. Grade 3/4 cytokine release syndrome occurred in 36.2% of patients, with no cases of severe neurotoxicity reported. 1-month post-infusion, grade ≥3 anemia persisted in 39.6% of patients, while neutropenia (43.3%) and thrombocytopenia (52.2%) were observed. The objective response rate (ORR) among evaluable patients was 94.8%, with 50.7% achieving a complete response (CR). The 4-year progression-free survival and overall survival rates were 37.4% (95% CI, 29.1% to 48.1%) and 63.2% (95% CI, 54.8% to 72.8%), respectively, with survival curves showing gradual flattening over time. Patients with a history of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and those with extramedullary disease demonstrated significantly inferior efficacy and survival outcomes. Peak CAR-T cell expansion was positively correlated with ORR (p<0.001) and CR (p<0.001). Notably, patients with prior ASCT exhibited significantly lower CAR-T cell expansion compared with those without prior ASCT (p<0.001). Immunophenotypic analysis of infused CAR-T cells demonstrated impaired fitness in patients who received ASCT in the past year. Conclusions BCMA CAR-T therapy in patients with R/RMM results in significant and sustained responses, with a manageable safety profile on a large scale. Prior ASCT and extramedullary disease represent adverse prognostic factors. Patients with a history of ASCT demonstrate limited peak CAR-T cell expansion
“Bai Jiang Cao” for treatment of colon cancer – comparison between Patrinia scabiosaefolia Link and the misused species Thlaspi arvense L.
No full textEthnopharmacological relevance“Bai Jiang Cao” comprise of various Patrina species, such as Patrinia scabiosaefolia Link and Patrina villosa (Thunb.) Dufr., which are traditionally used for treating intestinal disorders. They are also commonly prescribed by Chinese medicine practitioners to colon cancer patients in recent decades. However, the herb Thlaspi arvense L., which has higher commercial availability than Patrinia species in herbal markets in Hong Kong SAR, is regarded as a misused species of “Bai Jiang Cao” without anti-tumor efficacy verification.Aim of the studyThis study aimed to compare the phytochemistry and anti-tumor effects of the water extracts of Patrinia scabiosaefolia (PSW) and Thlaspi arvense L. L. (TAW) on colon cancer using cell-based studies and tumor-bearing mouse models.Materials and methodsThe chemical profiles of PSW and TAW were analyzed using UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS. Cell-based assays including MTT, scratch wound, colony formation and apoptosis analysis were performed in human and murine colon cancer cells to evaluate the effects of PSW and TAW. While the in vivo anti-tumor activities of these extracts were determined in Colon 26 tumor-bearing mice.ResultsIn PSW and TAW, 16 and 17 known compounds could be identified, respectively. In vitro results showed that PSW exhibited significant inhibition on cell migration and colony formation, as well as promotion of cell apoptosis in both types of colon cancer cells, whereas TAW did not show obvious inhibitory effects. Furthermore, oral administration of PSW or TAW (1.6 g/kg) in colon tumor-bearing mice suppressed the tumor growth with reduced expressions of Ki67 and CD31 in tumor tissues, with PSW being more potent. Both PSW and TAW treatment modulated the population of intra-tumoral T cells and the expressions of NF-κB signaling pathway-related proteins in tumors. In addition, both treatment could reduce lung metastasis and modulate the cytokines (IL-2, IL-10, and TNF-α) production of spleen lymphocytes in tumor-bearing mice.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated for the first time that Thlaspi arvense L., which commonly regarded as a misused species of “Bai Jiang Cao”, also exhibited anti-tumor effect in colon cancer, though not as potent as Patrinia scabiosaefolia. Our preclinical findings certainly provide important information for Chinese medicine practitioners and colon cancer patients, which may affect clinical practice.</p
Unveiling the role of mast cells in breast cancer–a case study of natural product Eriocalyxin B as an inhibitor
No full textBackground: Inflammation and breast cancer are closely associated. Considering that mast cells are essential component of inflammatory cells, its relationship with breast cancer arose rising attention. Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the influence of mast cells on triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and explore potential therapeutic interventions targeting mast cells. Methods: The study employed proteomic analysis and molecular investigations to examine disparities between mast cells from healthy mice and those from breast tumor-bearing mice. Additionally, the natural product Ericalyxin B (Eri B) was utilized for its anti-inflammatory and anti-breast cancer properties. Ex vivo and in vivo treatments of Eri B were conducted to assess its impact on mast cell-mediated promotion of breast cancer. Results: The crosstalk between mast cells and TNBC cells was found to enhance proliferation, invasion, and migration of TNBC cells. Mast cells from breast tumor-bearing mice exhibited disparities compared to those from healthy mice, as confirmed by proteomic analysis. Treatment with Eri B suppressed the promoting effect of mast cells on breast cancer by inhibiting the TAK1/NF-κB signaling pathway and downregulating downstream cytokine release. In vivo treatment with Eri B also reduced mast cell numbers and tryptase levels in tumors. Conclusion: This is the first study to compare disparities between mast cells derived from healthy mice and those from breast tumor-bearing mice, while also revealing the effects of the natural product Eri B on mast cells in breast cancer. Our findings highlighted the crucial role of mast cells as potential targets for triple negative breast cancer therapy and suggests that Eri B holds promise in suppressing breast cancer progression by regulating mast cells. </p
Predictive optimization of educational buildings' environmental performance under future climate scenarios using Catboost and SHAP
No full textClimate change is increasingly impacting building energy consumption and environmental quality, making rapid early-stage performance prediction crucial for optimizing design decisions and improving energy efficiency. This study developed a representative model of educational buildings across three major climate zones in China, simulating performance under four SSP scenarios for 2036–2065 and 2066–2095 using CMIP6 data. A total of 7,200 samples were generated across eight scenarios within each zone. CatBoost was used to efficiently predict and optimize building eco-performance, and results were compared with XGBoost, LightGBM, and Random Forest. Findings show CatBoost outperforms the others on discrete datasets, with an average R2 of 0.96, MAPE of 3.68%, and computational speed approximately 600 times faster than traditional simulation-based methods. SHAP analysis indicates that performance is most influenced by the exterior window-to-wall ratio (WWR), glazing type, and orientation. For multi-objective optimization, the NSGA-III algorithm was applied, yielding maximum improvement rates of 35.78% (UDI), 18.29% (UDI-up), 21.12% (ASE), 31.34% (EUI), and 17.49% (PPD) across all scenarios. Optimized results show WWR tends to be below 0.5 in low-emission scenarios and above 0.5 in high-emission ones. Optimal orientation varies by climate zone—favoring south-facing in colder regions and east- or west-facing in warmer ones. The proposed machine learning model enhances building design and energy efficiency by accurately predicting and optimizing educational building performance, supporting climate adaptation.</p
Exposure to parental conflict and intimate partner violence across cultures: the mediating effects of self-conscious emotions
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State-Engineered Temporary Urbanism and Multi-Dimensional Adaptability of the Transitional Housing Scheme in Hong Kong
No full textTemporary urbanism, originally a Western response to urban challenges, has spread globally. In Hong Kong, it is embodied by the transitional housing scheme, which departs from Western models through the state’s strong involvement in design, funding and regulation to tackle the acute housing crisis. This article examines the scheme’s development, institutional arrangements and outcomes through adaptability – a core principle of temporary urbanism – using a comprehensive framework with spatial, institutional and social dimensions. Our analysis reveals that while the scheme has navigated bureaucratic constraints via spatial and institutional adaptability, neglect of social adaptability has strained residents and undermined its effectiveness. Two policy gaps stand out: the mismatch between available private temporary space and local needs; and incongruence between simplified government targets and the adaptation burdens borne by users. The study calls for balanced approaches to temporary urbanism that better integrate all three dimensions of adaptability to effectively address urban issues.</p