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Ginkgo biloba seeds are important raw material for foods and medicines. A response surface method was used to obtain the following optimized extraction conditions for Ginkgo biloba seed extracts (GBSE) with the highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging ability: 0.08 g/mL material-to-liquid ratio, 70% ethanol concentration, 47°C extraction temperature and extraction time of 22 min. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy revealed the polysaccharide structure of GBSE from three varieties of Ginkgo biloba seeds (Fozhi, Maling and Yuanling seed varieties). The extract yield, polysaccharides, total phenolics and total flavonoids in the three varieties were 5.77–6.11%, 11.45–364.69 mg/g, 22.34–25.54 mg/g and 14.87–16.47 mg/g, respectively. The GBSE has good antioxidant ability, including DPPH-reducing activity (1842.73–2616.00 micromol [mmol] Trolox Equivalents [TE]/gram [g]), ABTS (2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid); 185.03–217.63 mmol TE/g) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP; 220.46–230.77 mmol TE/g). This study provides a method for preparing GBSE with high antioxidant activity and improving the utilization value of Ginkgo biloba seeds.

Talent training in Colleges and universities is a process of the unity of education and talent cultivation. To build a high-level talent training system, we must consider the ideological and political work system, pay attention to the construction of Ideological and Political Theories Teaching in All Courses(IPTTAC), and solve the problem of "two skins" of professional education and ideological and political education[1]. In the teaching process of data structure course, Teachers practice IPTTAC and explore a series of methods of IPTTAC. Breaking the boundaries of disciplines, carrying out benign interaction, engineering culture and IPTTAC going hand in hand, engineering ethics education, socialist core values and Chinese traditional culture should be applied to IPTTAC.Paying attention to teachers' ethics and style, teaching by words and deeds, it will prompt IPTTAC. In teaching, we should start from the professional curriculum itself, explore the content related to ideology and politics, extend and expand the curriculum content, and enrich the charm of the curriculum itself.

Bi4Br4 is a quasi-one-dimensional van der Waals topological insulator with novel electronic properties. Several efforts have been devoted to the understanding of its bulk form, yet it remains a challenge to explore the transport properties in low-dimensional structures due to the difficulty of device fabrication. Here we report for the first time a gate-tunable transport in exfoliated Bi4Br4 nanobelts. Notable two-frequency Shubnikov–de Haas oscillations oscillations are discovered at low temperatures, with the low- and high-frequency parts coming from the three-dimensional bulk state and the two-dimensional surface state, respectively. In addition, ambipolar field effect is realized with a longitudinal resistance peak and a sign reverse in the Hall coefficient. Our successful measurements of quantum oscillations and realization of gate-tunable transport lay a foundation for further investigation of novel topological properties and room-temperature quantum spin Hall states in Bi4Br4.

Toroviruses (ToVs), closely related but genetically distinct from coronaviruses, are known to infect horses, cows, pigs, goats and humans, mainly causing enteritic disorders. However, due to the lack of an adaptive culture system, porcine ToV (PToV) has received less attention. In this study, we developed a novel serological detection method based on the PToV envelope spike subunit 1 (S1) protein for the first time, and compared it to an existing indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based on the nucleocapsid protein. By using the S1-based ELISA, we carried out the first seroepidemiological survey of PToV in China, assaying both specific IgG and IgA responses in 1,037 serum samples collected from diarrheic pigs in eastern China. There was a relatively high incidence of seropositivity in pigs of different ages, especially one-week-old piglets and sows (78% and 43%), the former probably reflecting maternal antibodies. Furthermore, 3/20 (15%) of faecal samples collected from one PToV-seropositive swine herd in Zhejiang province tested positive by RT-PCR. The complete PToV genome was sequenced from one of these samples, and its phylogenetic relationship with other full-length PToV sequences available in GenBank was determined. Our data provide the first serological evidence for PToV infection in pigs from China, which will help elucidate the potential pathogenicity of PToV in pigs.

Xiao-nan Gao,1 Xu-yang Nie,1 Jing-lin Gao,1 Tian-fang Heng,2 Yu-qi Zhang,2 Li Hua,1 Ya-qi Sun,1 Zhang-ying Feng,1 Ming-xia Wang,1 Li Jia2 1Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Ming-xia Wang, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 311-66696233, Email mxia_wang@163.com Li Jia, Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 12 Jiankang Road, Shijiazhuang, People’s Republic of China, Email 281575038@qq.comPurpose: This study aimed to characterize the pharmacokinetics of nalbuphine in patients undergoing general anesthesia with varying degrees of liver dysfunction.Patients and Methods: Twenty-four patients were enrolled and divided into three cohorts based on liver function: normal liver function (n = 13), mild liver dysfunction (n = 5), and moderate/severe liver dysfunction (n = 6). During the induction of anesthesia, they received 15 mg of nalbuphine intravenously. Venous blood samples were collected from each patient. The plasma concentration of nalbuphine was determined using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The pharmacokinetic parameters of nalbuphine were calculated by non-compartmental analysis (NCA) using Phoenix WinNonlin software.Results: Compared with the normal liver function group, the plasma elimination half-life (T1/2) of nalbuphine was increased by approximately 33% in the moderate/severe liver dysfunction group (2.66 h vs 3.54 h, P< 0.05), and the volume of distribution (Vd) increased by approximately 85% (100.08 L vs 184.95 L, P< 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that weight and platelet were associated with clearance (CL); total bilirubin as an independent factor was associated with T1/2, and weight associated with area under the curve (AUC(0→∞)) independently.Conclusion: The T1/2, mean residence time, and Vd of nalbuphine in patients with moderate/severe liver dysfunction were prolonged or increased significantly compared with those in the normal liver function group. These data suggest that it may need to be used with caution when nalbuphine is administered to patients with moderate or severe liver dysfunction.Keywords: nalbuphine, intravenous, liver dysfunction, UPLC-MS/MS, pharmacokinetics

Defective mitophagy and mitochondrial dysfunction have been linked to aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). β2-Adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) is critical for mitochondrial and cognitive function. However, researchers have not clearly determined whether ADRB2 activation ameliorates defective mitophagy and cognitive deficits in individuals with AD. Here, we observed that the activation of ADRB2 by clenbuterol (Clen, ADRB2 agonist, 2 mg/kg/day) ameliorated amyloid-β-induced (Aβ1-42 bilateral intracerebral infusion, 2 μl, 5 μg/μl) memory deficits. Activation of ADRB2 also attenuated Aβ-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, as revealed by increased ATP levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP/Δψm) and complex I activity. Further studies revealed that ADRB2 activation restored mitophagy deficits, as revealed by the increased light chain 3 (LC3)-II/LC3-I ratio, Atg5 levels, and Atg7 levels and decreased p62 levels, along with the upregulation of PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin and NAD

Background Double-chambered left ventricle (DCLV) is extremely rare. Challenges remain in accurate diagnosis of DCLV by echocardiography, because it is easily confused with left ventricular diverticulum, left ventricular aneurysm, ventricular septal defect, etc. Herein, we reviewed echocardiographic characteristics of DCLV and evaluated the accuracy of echocardiographic diagnosis. Methods Clinical and echocardiographical databases of two heart centers were reviewed. Nine children with DCLV of superior-inferior arrangement were studied retrospectively. Results Normal elliptical geometry of LV cavity is preserved in DCLV. Fibromuscluar bundles separate LV into the main chamber and the accessory chamber. The associated malformations included ventricular septal defects, mitral regurgitation, mitral valve stenosis, pulmonary stenosis, and left ventricular noncompaction in our study. Eight of nine subjects with DCLV of superior-inferior arrangement were diagnosed correctly by initial echocardiographic examination, and one case was mistaken as left ventricular diverticulum. Conclusions Double-chambered left ventricle could be diagnosed and followed up by echocardiography. The morphological classification is a simplified way to improve diagnostic accuracy.

The response of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation to changes of illumination affects plant growth and crop productivity under natural fluctuating light conditions. However, the effects of nitrogen (N) supply on photosynthetic physiology after transition from low to high light are seldom studied. To elucidate this, we measured gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence under fluctuating light in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings grown with different N conditions. After transition from low to high light, the induction speeds of net CO2 assimilation (AN), stomatal conductance (gs), and mesophyll conductance (gm) delayed with the decline in leaf N content. The time to reach 90% of maximum AN, gs and gm was negatively correlated with leaf N content. This delayed photosynthetic induction in plants grown under low N concentration was mainly caused by the slow induction response of gm rather than that of gs. Furthermore, the photosynthetic induction upon transfer from low to high light was hardly limited by photosynthetic electron flow. These results indicate that decreased leaf N content declines carbon gain under fluctuating light in tomato. Increasing the induction kinetics of gm has the potential to enhance the carbon gain of field crops grown in infertile soil.

The bidirectional associations between parenting styles and conduct problems in Chinese children attending preschools were rarely discussed. A study covering 171 preschools in Longhua District of Shenzhen, China was conducted among children when they first attended preschools. Parents of children reported the self-perceived parenting styles and their children's conduct problems using validated questionnaires. The bidirectional associations between parenting styles and conduct problems in children were assessed using multivariate linear or logistic regressions in both cross-sectional and cohort settings. In cross-sectional settings, the bidirectional associations were present in all dimensions of parenting styles with children's conduct problems. After 1.01 years of follow-up, increases in parenting dimensions of rejection, control attempts, and favoring subject were significantly associated with children's conduct problems at follow-up, while increases in emotional warmth of parents significantly reduced such risk. In addition, parents of children who had conduct problems at baseline but regressed to normal at follow-up showed decreased scores in negative parenting dimensions. In contrast, among children who developed conduct problems during the study period, the scores of rejection and favoring subject in their parents have increased significantly, while the scores of emotional warmth have decreased. Parent-to-child effect was similar between fathers and mothers, while child-to-parent effect was stronger in fathers than that in mothers. In order to stop the negative feedback loop between poor parenting styles and children's conduct problems, our study underscored the importance of intervention not only in parents but also in their children.

A linearly-polarized radiation can be considered as the superposition of two circularly-polarized components with the same propagating direction and opposite spins. We investigated the splitting between the two spin-components in the reflective beam off the antiferromagnetic surface. The gyromagnetism and surface impedance mismatch cause the difference between the spatial shifts of the two spin-components, i.e., the spin-splitting. We analytically achieved the in- and out-plane shift-expressions of either spin-component for two typical linearly-polarized incident beams (i.e., the p- and s-incidences). In the case of no gyromagnetism, we obtained very simple shift-expressions, which indicate a key role played by the gyromagnetism or the surface impedance-mismatch in spin-splitting. Based on a FeF2 crystal, the spin-splitting distance was calculated. The spin-splitting distance is much longer for the p-incidence than the s-incidence, and meanwhile the in-plane splitting distance is much larger than the out-plane one. The gyromagnetism plays a key role for the in-plane spin-splitting and the surface impedance-mismatch is a crucial factor for the out-plane spin-splitting distance. The results are useful for the manipulation of infrared radiations and infrared optical detection.

The response of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation to changes of illumination affects plant growth and crop productivity under natural fluctuating light conditions. However, the effects of nitrogen (N) supply on photosynthetic physiology after transition from low to high light are seldom studied. To elucidate this, we measured gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence under fluctuating light in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) seedlings grown with different N conditions. After transition from low to high light, the induction speeds of net CO2 assimilation (AN), stomatal conductance (gs) and mesophyll conductance (gm) delayed with the decline in leaf N content. The times to reach 90% of maximum AN, gs and gm were negatively correlated to leaf N content. This delayed photosynthetic induction in plants grown under low N concentration was mainly caused by the slow induction response of gm rather than that of gs. Furthermore, the photosynthetic induction upon transfer from low to high light was hardly limited by photosynthetic electron flow. These results indicate that decreased leaf N content declines carbon gain under fluctuating light in tomato. Increasing the induction kinetics of gm has the potential to enhance the carbon gain of field crops grown in infertile soil.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and clinical value of real time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT-3DE) for assessing ventricular systolic dysfunction and dyssynchrony in children with an functional single right ventricle (FSRV) having undergone the Fontan procedure. METHODS Twenty-five children with an FSRV and 25 healthy children were enrolled in our study. RV volume analysis was performed compared with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the reference standard in FSRV patients. The patients were divided into wide and narrow QRS interval groups. Global and regional functions of the RV in three compartments (inflow, body, and outflow) were compared between FSRV and control subjects, including RV systolic dyssynchrony indices of maximal difference of time to minimal volume (Tmsv-Dif), standard deviation of time to minimal volume (Tmsv-SD), maximal difference of time to minimal volume corrected by R-R interval (Tmsv-Dif%), and standard deviation of time to minimal volume corrected by R-R interval (Tmsv-SD%). RESULTS RT-3DE measurements were significantly lower than MRI measurements for RV-EDV, RV-ESV, RV-SV, and RVEF (p

The proportions of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involving portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) varies greatly in different countries or regions, ranging from 13% to 45%. The treatment regimens for PVTT recommended by HCC guidelines in different countries or regions also vary greatly. In recent years, with the progress and development of surgical concepts, radiotherapy techniques, systematic therapies (for example, VEGF inhibitors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors), patients with HCC involving PVTT have more treatment options and their prognoses have been significantly improved. To achieve the maximum benefit, both clinicians and patients need to think rationally about the indications of treatment modalities, the occurrence of severe adverse events, and the optimal fit for the population. In this review, we provide an update on the treatment modalities available for patients with HCC involving PVTT. Trials with large sample size for patients with advanced or unresectable HCC are also reviewed.

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is one of the emerged coronaviruses posing a significant threat to the swine industry. Previous work showed the presence of a viral accessory protein NS6 in PDCoV-infected cells. In this study, we detected the expression of the NS6 protein in small intestinal tissues of PDCoV-infected piglets. In addition, SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis of sucrose gradient-purified virions showed the presence of a 13-kDa NS6 protein. Further evidences of the presence of NS6 in the PDCoV virions were obtained by immunogold staining of purified virions with anti-NS6 antiserum, and by immunoprecipitation of NS6 from purified virions. Finally, the anti-NS6 antibody was not able to neutralize PDCoV in cultured cells. These data establish for the first time that the accessory protein NS6 is expressed during infection in vivo and incorporated into PDCoV virions., Highlights • PDCoV accessory protein NS6 is expressed during infection in vivo. • A 13-KDa NS6 protein is detected in purified PDCoV virions. • NS6 is incorporated into PDCoV particles by immunogold labeling with anti-NS6. • Anti-NS6 does not exhibit neutralizing activity against PDCoV.

Background The tumors in third ventricle are common intracranial tumors in children, characterized by various pathological types and difficult to be removed. The transcallosal interforniceal approach is often used for these tumors. The separation of bilateral fornix causes multiple surgical complications. In the past, complications could only be assessed by clinical feature and traditional imaging, lack of quantitative data to support. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) can assess brain functional connectivity between local regions and different regions in quiet state. The changes of ReHo, ALFF, fALFF and brain function connections (DMN and Hippocampus as ROI) can be used to evaluate the effects caused by operation. Objective To evaluate the effects of brain function caused by operation. Methods 9 children patients with tumors in third ventricle were randomly selected in Yuquan hospital, and scanned by rs-fMRI before and after operation. ReHo, ALFF, fALFF and function connections (DMN and Hippocampus as ROI) were chosen to analyze rs-fMRI data. Results The results of ReHo, ALFF, fALFF and brain function connections (DMN and Hippocampus as ROI) showed that: (1) Compared with preoperative state, ReHo decreased in left superior frontal gyrus in 1 month after operation, while increased in right middle occipital gyrus, right middle temporal gyrus, and left posterior central gyrus. In 2 months after operation, ReHo decreased in left superior temporal gyrus and right precentral gyrus compared with that in 1 month after operation. (2) Compared with preoperative state, ALFF decreased in left middle frontal gyrus and increased in left superior temporal gyrus in 1 month after operation; ALFF decreased in right fusiform gyrus and right supramarginal gyrus, while increased in left parahippocampal gyrus and left caudate nucleus in 2 months after operation. When compared with these in 1 month after operation, ALFF decreased in right fusiform gyrus and left precentral gyrus in 2 months after operation. (3) Compared with preoperative state, fALFF decreased in left superior frontal gyrus in 1 month after operation, and decreased in left middle frontal gyrus in 2 months after surgery. (4) The connections of DMN showed that enhanced connections of bilateral middle frontal gyrus and other regions in 1 month after operation, which restored to preoperative state in 3 months after operation. (5) There were changes of connections between bilateral hippocampus and related brain regions without any interruption occurred. The effects of approach can disappear in 3 months after operation. Conclusions The short-term effects of ReHo, ALFF and fALFF in brain regions of children patients can recover to preoperative state with time. The operation did not interrupt the connections between DMN and hippocampus related brain areas. The effects of surgery can restore to the preoperative state in 3 months after operation.

We investigated Goos–Hänchen (GH) and Imbert–Fedorov (IF) shifts of a reflective beam on a twisted bilayer of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), where a left circularly polarized beam was incident on the surface. Our results demonstrate that the twist angle between the two optical axes plays an important role in obtaining large shifts with a high reflectivity. The GH shift with 10λ 0 is achieved, while the reflectivity is near 100% by tuning the twist angle. The maximum of the IF shift is found in the certain condition satisfied by the reflective coefficients, and the shift strongly depends on the twist angle between the optical axes of the two slabs. The spatial shifts obtained directly from the GH and IF shift definitions were provided, which indicate that the theoretical results from the stationary phase method are believable. These results may open up a new way for developing the nano-optical devices.

Goos–Hänchen (GH) and Imbert–Fedorov (IF) shifts of reflected beams and the effects of two Dyakonov surface magnon polaritons (DSMPs) on these shifts are studied in the Otto configuration with an antiferromagnetic substrate. A modified dispersion equation of the DSMPs is proposed to recognize GH and IF shifts related to the DSMPs. Reflected beam shift spectra are simulated for a F e F 2 substrate. Shift features around the two DSMPs are observed by frequency scanning with a fixed incident angle. The GH-shift amplitude corresponding to either DSMP is situated between the immediately adjacent maximum and minimum of a GH-shift curve. The shift-amplitude maximum of an IF-shift curve corresponds to the relevant DSMP accurately. GH and IF shifts also are given by frequency scanning along dispersion curves.

BACKGROUND Challenges remain in quantitative evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function by echocardiography. Multiple-view assessment is believed to provide a more comprehensive quantification of RV function than conventional single-view analysis. Peak systolic longitudinal RV strain (RVLS) measured by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) has clinical and prognostic value. No study has investigated RV systolic function in the repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) using a standardized four-view iRotate model from one apical view. Herein, we examined the feasibility and accuracy of the four-view analysis from apical window in quantitation of RVLS among children with rTOF. METHODS Thirty-seven children with rTOF and 37 age- and gender-matched controls were prospectively enrolled. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity (TDI-S' ) and fractional area change(FAC) were obtained. RVLS of four free-walls were analyzed by dedicated RV speckle tracking software. Echocardiographic parameters were compared with the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) measured by the cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in children with rTOF. RESULTS Multi-view RVLS analysis from apical window was feasible in 35 children with rTOF and all the controls. Compared with age- and gender-matched controls, RVLS of the anterior, lateral, inferior-a, and inferior-b walls were significantly reduced in children with rTOF (P

MicroRNAs (miRs) play an important role in many cancers and can affect cancer cell behavior, including glioma. This study aims at investigating the effects of miR-338-5p on the senescence, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of glioma cells via MAPK-signaling pathway by binding to FOXD1. Gene expression microarray analysis was performed to screen differentially expressed miRNAs associated with glioma. Glioma tissues and adjacent tissues were collected. siRNA, mimic, and inhibitor were introduced for investigating the tumor suppressor role of miR-338-5p in glioma. Proliferation, migration, invasion, senescence, cell-cycle distribution, and apoptosis after transfection were detected by MTT assay, scratch test, Transwell assay, β-galactosidase staining, and flow cytometry, respectively. FOXD1 was identified as the up-regulated gene in glioma based on microarray data of GSE65626. FOXD1 was the target gene of miR-338-5p. Glioma tissues had increased expression of FOXD1, MEK-2, ERK-1, DAF, PCNA, and Bcl-2, and decreased expression of miR-338-5p and Bax. In cell experiments, after transfected with overexpressed miR-338-5p, higher expression of miR-338-5p, Bax, CD133, ZEB1, SOX2, SNAI1, and MMP2, but lower expression of FOXD1, MEK-2, ERK-1, Bcl-2, DAF, and PCNA were found accompanied with weaker proliferation, migration and invasion as well as stemness abilities but stronger senescence and higher apoptosis rate. We found that overexpression of miR-338-5p suppresses glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and accelerates its senescence and apoptosis by decreasing FOXD1 expression via inhibition of activation of MAPK-signaling pathway.

Metropolitan wholesale markets are at high risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread as originally seen in Wuhan, China. We studied the metropolitan wholesale market-related resurgence of COVID-19 in Beijing, China, and highlight the importance of control strategies based on the temporospatial characteristics of wholesale markets.

We explored the feasibility and reproducibility of cardiac computed tomography (CCT)-derived left ventricular (LV) global strain in postoperative children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and compared its correlation and agreement with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).Fifty-one patients (28 males, 23 females) were included who underwent clinically indicated retrospective electrocardiography-triggered CCT. and all patients underwent additional TTE on the same day. LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), and global radial strain (GRS) were measured. Correlations of global strains between CCT and TTE were assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to assess CCT intra-observer and inter-observer reproducibility.GLS and GCS were not significantly different between CCT and TTE (GLS: -23.54 ± 3.24 vs. -23.85 ± 3.72, respectively, p = 0.415; GCS: -28.21 ± 3.55 vs. -28.79 ± 3.69, respectively, p = 0.155). GRS was significantly different between CCT and TTE (60.79 ± 15.11 vs. 41.73 ± 4.27, respectively, p 0.001). There was good correlation between CCT- and TTE-derived GLS (r = 0.70, p 0.001) and GCS (r = 0.68, p 0.001), but GRS showed no correlation between CCT and TTE (r = 0.09, p = 0.54). CCT-derived global strain showed good intra- and inter-observer reproducibility (ICC = 0.86-0.92), except the inter-observer reproducibility for GRS (ICC = 0.77).CCT was feasible for postoperative evaluation of LV global strain in pediatric patients with CHD with sufficient reproducibility. CCT-derived global strain can provide additional information in selected CHD patients with poor acoustic windows and who are intolerant to or have contraindications for cardiac magnetic resonance.

Along with functionally intact insulin, diabetes-associated insulin peptides are secreted by β cells. By screening the expression and functional characterization of olfactory receptors (ORs) in pancreatic islets, we identified Olfr109 as the receptor that detects insulin peptides. The engagement of one insulin peptide, insB:9-23, with Olfr109 diminished insulin secretion through Gi-cAMP signaling and promoted islet-resident macrophage proliferation through a β cell-macrophage circuit and a β-arrestin-1-mediated CCL2 pathway, as evidenced by β-arrestin-1

Three Dyakonov-like polaritons (DLPs) exist at the interface between a hyperbolic material (HM) and a covering medium (CM). Each DLP is a hybridized-polarization surface polariton composed of two evanescent waves on both sides of the interface. We investigated their spin and angular momentum. We analytically found that any DLP carries two spins producing mutually orthogonal spin angular-momentum (SAM) components. The spins and angular-momentum have different features on both sides of the interface, and further differences among the three DLPs are very obvious. For the interface structure formed by hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and air, the SAM mainly distributes in the air for DLP-I, the SAM is approximately transverse to the propagating direction for DLP-II, and it is surprisingly large in the hBN for DLP-III and can reach several ten times that in the usual situation. There is the spin-k locking for every DLP, but the spin-k locking is different for different DLPs. These properties do not exist for traditional surface polaritons or ordinary evanescent waves. The above unique results can support some potential applications in the fields of nano- and micro-photonics, optoelectronics and mechanics, as well as relevant technologies.

Microplastics (MPs) contain high levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), which can leach to organism tissues upon ingestion, thereby leading to increased chemical exposure. However, leaching kinetics of inherent contaminants from ingested MPs are poorly studied. The present study characterized the leaching kinetics of PBDEs from sub-millimeter sized MPs in fish oil at relevant body temperatures for marine organisms and assessed exposure risk of MPs for cod fish by a biodynamic model. Diffusion coefficients (Dp) of PBDEs are in the ranges of 1.98 × 10-19–2.35 × 10-16 m2·s-1 in polystyrene, 1.89 × 10-20–2.07 × 10-18 m2·s-1 in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, and 4.26 × 10-18–1.72 × 10-15 m2·s-1 in polypropylene. A linear function obtained between log Dp of BDE-209 and glass-transition temperature of MPs allows estimation of Dp of BDE-209 contained in other common types of MPs present in the gastrointestinal lipid. The biota-plastic accumulation factors of PBDEs for three plastics were in the range of 4.77 × 10-14–4.03 × 10-7. Although bioaccumulation of MPs-affiliated PBDEs is accelerated by oil in the gastrointestinal tract, the modeled steady-state concentrations of PBDEs in cod tissue lipid through ingestion of MPs under the most likely conditions were below the lower end of the global PBDE concentration, implicating that ingestion of MPs by organisms remains a negligible pathway in general.

There is urgent need to discover effective traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) for treating coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19). The development of a bioinformatic tool is beneficial to predict the efficacy of TCM against COVID-19. Here we deve-loped a prediction platform TCMATCOV to predict the efficacy of the anti-coronavirus pneumonia effect of TCM, based on the interaction network imitating the disease network of COVID-19. This COVID-19 network model was constructed by protein-protein interactions of differentially expressed genes in mouse pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV and cytokines specifically up-regulated by COVID-19. TCMATCOV adopted quantitative evaluation algorithm of disease network disturbance after multi-target drug attack to predict potential drug effects. Based on the TCMATCOV platform, 106 TCM were calculated and predicted. Among them, the TCM with a high disturbance score account for a high proportion of the classic anti-COVID-19 prescriptions used by clinicians, suggesting that TCMATCOV has a good prediction ability to discover the effective TCM. The five flavors of Chinese medicine with a disturbance score greater than 1 are mainly spicy and bitter. The main meridian of these TCM is lung, heart, spleen, liver, and stomach meridian. The TCM related with QI and warm TCM have higher disturbance score. As a prediction tool for anti-COVID-19 TCM prescription, TCMATCOV platform possesses the potential to discovery possible effective TCM against COVID-19.