Embryonic stage is important for the development of aquatic animals, and embryonic chorion is an efficient barrier against exogenous pollutants. The efficient barrier function of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryonic chorions against micro- and nano- polystyrene (PS) particles was observed. Embryonic chorions presented high affinity to PS particles. The covering layer of PS particles on the outer surface of chorions affected the patency of pores in chorions, and the nano- PS particles exerted a considerable effect. The accelerated heart rate and blood flow velocity in the embryos indicated that the PS particles adhering to embryonic chorions might cause an internal hypoxic microenvironment in the embryos. The coating of PS particles on embryonic chorions also resulted in delayed hatching of the embryos. The observed development toxicity induced by the nano- and micro-PS particles was confirmed via the expressions of metabolic pathways related to antioxidant system. The pathways of biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid, linoleic acid metabolism and alanine, and aspartate and glutamate metabolism extensively altered when the embryos were exposed to PS particles, especially to the nano- PS particles. Although micro- and nano- plastic particles can be efficiently blocked by embryonic chorions, they can still affect the early development of aquatic organisms. BACKGROUND This study aims to determine whether relative miR-122 levels in peripheral blood are correlated with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection and viral replication to determine whether miR-122 can be a new marker for liver injury. METHODS MicroRNA (miRNA) was extracted from the peripheral blood of 20 CHB patients, 20 CHC patients, and 20 healthy controls. The levels of miR-122 were determined using fluorescence real-time reverse transcription PCR. Then, the associations of miR-122 with CHB and CHC were analyzed, and its correlation with other markers of liver function and viral replication were determined. RESULTS The expression level of miR-122 in patients with CHB was significantly higher when compared to subjects in the control group (P = 0.007) or CHC patients (P = 0.005). Furthermore, the miR-122 level in patients with CHC was somewhat higher when compared to healthy controls (66% higher), but the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.229). MiR-122 levels were significantly correlated with ALT (correlation coefficient [R] = 0.7, P  less then  0.001), AST (R = 0.71, P  less then  0.001), and HBV NA (R = 0.9, P  less then  0.001). The regression analysis indicated that the AUC of miR-122 levels in the diagnosis of CHB was 0.87, with a sensitivity of 0.8 and a specificity of 0.8.  https://www.selleckchem.com/products/sf2312.html  CONCLUSION MiR-122 can be used to distinguish healthy persons and patients with CHB infection with high sensitivity and specificity. These present findings presented that the complex and context-specific associations of miR-122 with liver diseases, suggesting that this may be a promising marker for liver injury. PURPOSE To compare the performance of different image reconstruction algorithms in the presence of small metal objects of different sizes and at different dose levels. METHOD A fresh bone of bovine femur was drilled with seven drill bits of increasing diameter. CT images with eight different dose levels were acquired and reconstructed with three algorithms hybrid iterative reconstruction - HIR, Full model-based iterative reconstruction - full MBIR and a single energy metal artifact reduction - SEMAR. Trabecular distortion adjacent to metal was evaluated subjectively with a four-point scale. Edge profile artifacts were evaluated quantitatively by measuring drill bit diameter overestimation and the width of the low-density halo surrounding the drill bit. RESULTS Trabecular distortion was higher with full MBIR compared to HIR and SEMAR (P  less then  0.0001) and increased with drill bits larger than 1.2 mm and with doses lower than 18.1 mGy.cm. Low-density halos size and drill bit diameter overestimation decreased with full MBIR compared to the other two reconstruction algorithms and with SEMAR compared to HIR (P  less then  0.0001). There was a mean drill bit overestimation of 0.56 ± 0.25 mm for full MBIR versus 0.68 ± 0.09 mm for SEMAR and mean low-density halo diameters of 0.03 mm ± 0.08 for full MBIR versus 0.42 mm ± 0.09 for SEMAR. CONCLUSION Algorithm performance is influenced by dose levels and metal object size and no individual algorithm provides the best overall performance. Full MBIR is better in reducing edge artifacts and SEMAR is the best option for larger metal implants and low dose protocols. HYPOTHESIS Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) is frequently used in paper industry as an inexpensive sizing agent. The formation of a porous structure after curing the solidified AKD for an extra-long time (4-6 days) results in superhydrophobicity. In this study, a facile and low-cost method was utilized to turn the surface of AKD superhydrophobic in a very short period of time. EXPERIMENTS We fabricated superhydrophobic coatings by dipping glass and paper substrates in molten AKD and then treating them with ethanol after solidification. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Confocal laser scanning microscopy, and dynamic contact angle goniometry. FINDINGS The results show that briefly treating the coatings, obtained from isothermally heated AKD melt at 40 °C for 3 min, with ethanol leads to superhydrophobicity with advancing and receding contact angles of 158.7 ± 1.4° and 156.8 ± 0.9°, respectively. By increasing the melt temperature to 70 °C and its heating time to 6 h followed by ethanol treatment, the advancing and receding contact angles increased to 163.7 ± 1.3° and 162.6 ± 1.2°, respectively. This enhancement in superhydrophobicity is due to the formation of porous, entangled irregular micro/nano textures that create air cushions on the surface resulting in droplet state transition from Wenzel to Cassie.