Sub-gigahertz bandwidth all-optical tunable differentiator with high-energy efficiency based on a micro-ring resonator.

We propose and demonstrate a tunable fractional-order photonic differentiator (DIFF) that can process input pulses with a sub-gigahertz bandwidth. Our scheme utilizes the self-induced optical modulation effect observed in a silicon-on-insulator micro-ring resonator. Gaussian-like pulses with varying pulse widths between 7.5 and 20 ns are employed for differentiation, achieving an energy efficiency over 45%, to the best of our knowledge, which surpasses all previously reported schemes for input pulses with a sub-gigahertz bandwidth. We simulate the temporal dynamics of pulses to gain insight into the physical mechanisms underlying the differentiated outputs and provide a method for differentiation order adjustment, which is experimentally realized using an all-optical pump-probe technique.

Antimicrobial peptide HI-3 from Hermetia illucens alleviates inflammation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells via suppression of the nuclear factor kappa-B signaling pathway.

Hermetia illucens-3 (HI-3), an active insect antimicrobial peptide extracted from H. illucens larvae, exerts antibacterial and anticancer activity. However, the inflammatory effects and their relative molecular mechanisms remain unclear. To explore the inflammatory effects of HI-3, an inflammatory model was induced using 1 ng/mL LPS in RAW264.7 cells. The cell viability and phagocytosis of LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells were then detected after HI-3 treatment. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity, the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and the expression levels of both p65 and inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (IκB) were measured. Results showed that HI-3 could inhibit the differentiation, proliferation, phagocytosis, and antioxidant ability, as well as the secretion and messenger RNA expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß of LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased after HI-3 treatment. Western blotting results showed that HI-3 suppressed LPS-induced p65 and IκB activation in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, HI-3 exerts its anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and the activation of p65 and IκB, which indicated that HI-3 could be a promising therapeutic medicine for inflammation.

[Observation on serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels of patients with subclinical schistosomiasis before and after pathogen treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels before and after the pathogen treatment in patients with subclinical schistosomiasis, and explore its clinical value in the diagnosis and treatment of subclinical schistosomiasis. METHODS: Totally 109 patients with subclinical schistosomiasis, who were found in the endemic investigation of schistosomiasis in Ezhou City, were selected as the investigation subjects, and then they were treated with praziquantel. The serum GGT levels of the subjects before and after the treatment were detected and compared. RESULTS: Before the treatment, the average value of the GGT levels of the 109 patients was (48.1 ± 45.9) IU/L, among which, the GGT levels of 69 cases (63.3%) were normal, and the levels of 40 cases (36.7%) were increased. After the treatment, the average GGT level of the patients was (32.1 ± 23.4) IU/L, which decreased by 33.3% comparing with that before the treatment, and the difference had a statistical significance (U＝2.17, P = 0.01). The GGT levels of 65 patients decreased in different degrees. Among the 40 patients whose GGT levels had increased before the treatment, the GGT levels of 31 ones returned to the normal. CONCLUSIONS: The GGT level detection can accurately reflect the liver function in the patients with subclinical schistosomiasis, and also it has certain clinical application value to judge the liver function damage and recovery of the patients before and after the pathogen treatment.