Tunable strong plasmon-exciton coupling based on borophene and deep subwavelength perovskite grating

Two-dimensional materials support deeply confined and tunable plasmonic modes, which have great potential for achieving device miniaturization and flexible manipulation. In this paper, we propose a diffraction-unlimited system composed of borophene layer and perovskite grating to investigate the strong coupling between the borophene guiding plasmon (BGP) and perovskite exciton (PE) mode. The resonant energy of BGP mode could be electrically tuned to match the energy of PE mode, and a remarkable Rabi splitting is attained under zero-detuning condition. The splitting energy could reach 230 meV due to the strong field enhancement provided by BGP mode. Consequently, an active reflective phase modulation with 1.76{\pi} range is achieved by dynamically manipulating the detuning. Furthermore, by increasing the distance between the borophene layer and perovskite grating, a parity-time symmetry breaking could be observed with the vanished energy splitting. Our results deepen the understanding of light-matter interaction at the sub-wavelength scale and provide a guideline for designing active plasmonic devices.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

{4-[(Diphenyl­phosphino)methyl­amino]pyridinium-κP}bis­(nitrato-κO)silver(I)

In the title mononuclear complex, [Ag(C18H18N2P)(NO3)2], the metal centre is coordinated in a slightly distorted trigonal–planar geometry by the P atom of the phosphine ligand and the O atoms of the two monodentate nitrate anions. In the crystal structure, complex mol­ecules are connected by inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains running parallel to the b axis

Characterization and identification of in vitro metabolites of (-)-epicatechin using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

Purpose: To characterize and identify metabolites of (-)-epicatechin in microsomal fraction of rat hepatocytes (MFRHs). Methods: A single incubation of (-)-epicatechin (1 mL, 50 µg/mL) in MFRH (0.5 mg/mL) was used for the generation of metabolites. Thereafter, the sample was subjected to protein precipitation prior to analysis with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to linear ion-trap orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitap MS). Results: Nine metabolites of (-)-epicatechin were characterized on the basis of high resolution mass measurement, MS spectra and literature data. Based on their structures, the major metabolic routes of (-)-epicatechin in MFRHs were identified as hydroxylation, dihydroxylation and glycosylation. Conclusion: This is the first report on metabolites of (-)-epicatechin in MFRHs, and it is helpful in gaining deeper insight into the metabolism of (-)-epicatechin in vivo. The results will also provide guidance in research on the pharmacokinetics of new drugs. Keywords: (-)-Epicatechin, Metabolites, Hydroxylation, Dihydroxylation, Glycosylation, Rat liver microsomes, Pharmacokinetic studie

The investigation of status of human parasites in children from Yushu

目的  调查青海省玉树县震后转移安置学生的肠道寄生虫感染情况。方法  粪便直接涂片法检查虫卵。结果  512份粪便样品中，寄生虫阳性粪便31份，感染率为6.05%。其中，结肠内阿米巴20例，感染率为3.91%；蓝氏贾第鞭毛虫8例，感染率为1.56%；蛔虫3例，感染率0.59%。结论  玉树的学生肠道寄生虫的感染率均不高于全国平均水平。Objective: To investigate the status of human parasites in children who have been evacuated here from Yushu after earthquake. Methods: Detect the eggs from smear feces samples. Results: 512 stool samples were collected and examined by microscope. The total infection rate was 6.05%, where the infection rate for entamoeba coli Grassi was 3.91%, Giardia lamblia stile was 1.56%, Ascaris Lumbricoides was 0.59%. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the infection rate of human parasites is not higher than normal rate in China

Multiphysics Structured Eddy Current and Thermography Defects Diagnostics System in Moving Mode

Eddy current testing (ET) and eddy current thermography (ECT) are both important non-destructive testing (NDT) methods that have been widely used in the field of conductive materials evaluation. Conventional ECT systems have often employed to test static specimens eventhough they are inefficient when the specimen is large. In addition, the requirement of high-power excitation sources tends to result in bulky detection systems. To mitigate these problems, a moving detection mode of multiphysics structured ET and ECT is proposed in which a novel L-shape ferrite magnetic yoke circumambulated with array coils is designed. The theoretical derivation model of the proposed method is developed which is shown to improve the detection efficiency without compromising the excitation current by ECT. The specimens can be speedily evaluated by scanning at a speed of 50-250 mm/s while reducing the power of the excitation current due to the supplement of ET. The unique design of the excitation-receiving structure has also enhanced the detectability of omnidirectional cracks. Moreover, it does not block the normal direction visual capture of the specimens. Both numerical simulations and experimental studies on different defects have been carried out and the obtained results have shown the reliability and detection efficiency of the proposed system

Liraglutide-induced reduction of myocardial ischemiareperfusion injury in rats via ERK1/2 signaling pathway

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of liraglutide on myocardial ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury and its molecular mechanism.Methods: Ischemia reperfusion model male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into negative control group, I/R group (saline), liraglutide group (liraglutide) and PD group (liraglutide + PD98059). The weight of myocardium in ischemic and infarction areas of the heart, myocardial injury biomarker, oxidative stress, as well as expressions of mRNA molecules of apoptosis were determined.Results: The myocardial mass of ischemic and infarcted areas of the heart (relative to left ventricular mass) of I/R group were significantly higher (p ˂ 0.05) than those of negative control group, but significantly lower in liraglutide group than in I/R group (p > 0.05). However, the parameters were significantly higher in PD group than in liraglutide group (p ˂ 0.05). CK, CK-MB and LDH activities, as well as levels of cTnI and cTnT in I/R group were significantly higher (p ˂ 0.05) than those of negative control group. However, the parameters were significantly lower (p ˂ 0.05) in liraglutide group than in I/R group, but higher in PD group (p ˂ 0.05) than in liraglutide group. Serum SOD, GSH-Px, CAT activities and tBcl-2 mRNA expression were significantly lower in I/R group than those of negative control group (p ˂ 0.001), while those PD group were significantly lower than those of liraglutide group (p ˂ 0.001).Conclusion: Liraglutide alleviates myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury and inhibits oxidative stress and apoptosis via ERK1/2 signaling pathway in rats, but further studies are required to ascertain the clinical efficacy and safety of the compound.Keywords: Ischemia-reperfusion injury, Liraglutide, ERK1/2 signal pathway, Oxidative stress, Apoptosi

Effect and mechanism of exogenous selenium on selenium content and quality of fresh tea leaves

To study the effect and mechanism of selenium sources on the selenium content and quality of fresh tea leaves, tea seedlings (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) were the research object. A solution of 100 mg/L sodium selenate (Na2SeO4), sodium selenite (Na2SeO3), and selenium yeast (selenium yeast) were applied on the leaves surface of 5-week-old tea plants, and the selenium levels in the leaves, roots, and stems were determined at 20 weeks of age. The effects of different selenium sources on the mineral nutrient content, antioxidant enzyme activity, and quality parameters content in leaves were analyzed. The mechanism was analyzed by detecting the expression levels of related genes. The results showed that the three selenium sources can increase the growth of tea seedlings and the selenium content in leaves and stems, and the selenium yeast treatment had the most significant effect. Selenium spraying promoted the absorption of mineral nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but had no significant impact on the absorption of calcium and magnesium. Spraying the three selenium sources dramatically increased the activities of APX, POD, and SOD antioxidant enzymes, among which the selenium yeast treatment had the most significant effect. However, there was no significant impact on the MDA level in this study. Selenium sources markedly increased leaves total amino acid levels, accompanied by up-regulation the genes of amino acid synthetic enzymes (CsGS, CsGOGAT, and CsGDH). Leaves glucose, tea polyphenol, total soluble protein, catechin, flavonoid contents, and sucrose were higher in selenium sources treatments than in control treatment seedlings. Moreover, selenium sources up-regulated expression of CsHMGR, CsAPX, and CsTCS1 genes. selenium yeast had the best comprehensive effect of the three selenium sources. These results confirmed that selenium sources play a positive role on the selenium content and quality of tea by increasing the antioxidant capacity of leaves, the absorption rate of mineral nutrients, and regulating expression of related genes in Camellia sinensis

CRF07_BC Strain Dominates the HIV-1 Epidemic in Injection Drug Users in Liangshan Prefecture of Sichuan, China

The Liangshan prefecture in Sichuan province is an area in China severely affected by the HIV epidemic, with intravenous drug use (IDU) as the main risk factor. No reports on HIV subtypes prevalent in IDUs in Liangshan prefecture could be found. In this study, we have characterized the genotypes of HIV-1 in the IDU population in Liangshan prefecture and further determined the phylogenetic relationship of the CRF07_BC strains to HIV-1 sequences from the other regions of China, including Xinjiang and Yunnan provinces, to explore the pattern and possible diffusion pathway of HIV-1 in these regions. HIV-1-seropositive drug-naive IDUs identified in Liangshan prefecture, Sichuan province were enrolled in 2009. Full-length gag and pol genes were amplified by reverse transcription and nested PCR and then sequenced. All of the sequences were subtyped. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood methods. Divergence times were estimated using a Bayesian molecular clock approach. CRF07_BC was found to be the predominant strain in IDUs in Liangshan prefecture (95.5%). The CRF07_BC strains from Liangshan prefecture were found to be intermixed with those from Yunnan province in phylogenetic trees. The CRF07_BC sequences from Xinjiang province can be grouped into several clusters, suggesting that the expansion of the CRF07_BC epidemic in Xinjiang province was the result of a local epidemic driven by multiple independent introductions in the late 1990s. Only low-level drug-resistant viruses were found in the IDU population. CRF07_BC strains from Liangshan prefecture were more similar to those from Yunnan province than those from Xinjiang province. This finding will contribute to our understanding of the distribution, the evolution, and the potential source of CRF07_BC founder strains, and will also provide useful information for the development of strategies to prevent transmission