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Gas curtain launch is an innovative method for underwater gun firing that enhances efficiency by creating a gas curtain. This gas curtain interacts with post-projectile gas and the surrounding water, resulting in a complex multiphase flow field at the muzzle, which significantly impacts projectile accuracy. To investigate the evolution of this flow field, a three-dimensional numerical model was developed, focusing on the distribution of shock waves, temperature, and pressure at the muzzle. The study's findings reveal that after ignition, the gas curtain passes through the projectile and exits the muzzle, forming an initial bottle-shaped shock wave through repeated expansion and compression actions. As the projectile penetrates this shock wave and the post-projectile gas continues to exit, a radially expanding bottle-shaped shock wave is formed. The Mach disk diameter decreases exponentially over time. The gas temperature within the shock wave bottle rises sharply at the Mach disk and remains high in the downstream region, gradually expanding while the overall temperature decreases. The high-pressure region is located downstream of the Mach disk and, due to the swirling effect caused by projectile penetration, this region moves radially along the Mach disk towards the downstream, with the average pressure gradually decreasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The engagement of preschool teachers in their work is pivotal for maintaining teaching quality, ensuring teacher well-being, and fostering children's development. Despite its significance, there is limited knowledge regarding the daily fluctuations in work engagement and the underlying factors influencing it. This study, guided by the Job Demands-Resources model and Affect Event Theory, utilized an experience sampling methodology to investigate the impact of challenge and hindrance stressors on daily work engagement, as well as the mediating role of affect and the moderating effect of mindfulness. Methods: Utilizing an experience sampling method, this study collected data from 220 preschool teachers in Shanghai over five consecutive workdays, conducting surveys once daily. Data analysis was performed using multilevel linear models. Results: The results from multilevel regression indicated that: (1) daily challenge stressors were positively related to work engagement, (2) daily hindrance stressors were negatively related to work engagement, (3) daily positive affect mediated the relationship between challenge stressors and work engagement, (4) daily negative affect mediated the relationship between hindrance stressors and work engagement, and (5) daily mindfulness played a crucial moderating role by alleviating the adverse effects of hindrance stressors on daily negative affect. Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into the daily experiences of preschool teachers and the factors that influence their work engagement. Understanding the impact of stressors, affect, and mindfulness on work engagement can inform the development of interventions and strategies to improve teacher well-being and work engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the challenges in mathematical solving, accurate analytical solutions for rectangular thin plates are mainly limited to these plates subject to simple Lévy-type boundary conditions (BCs). Conversely, plates with more complicated BCs are more frequently encountered in practical engineering applications. This study employs the finite integral transform method to analyze the free vibration behavior of isotropic rectangular thin plates with three edges rotationally-restrained and one edge free, which is difficult for other methods. Primarily, the method adopted eliminates the necessity for predetermining trial function for plate deflection, offering simplicity and generality for plate mechanical problems. Furthermore, the approach establishes one way to allow one solving linear algebraic equations instead of handling complex boundary value problems of higher-order vibration partial differential equation (PDE), resulting precise and rapidly converging analytical solutions. Finally, new accurate free vibration studies for plates with four non-Lévy-type BCs and three non-classical BCs are presented via altering the introduced rotating fixed coefficients. The results obtained are contrasted with the numerical simulations from ABAQUS software and existing literature works, confirming the accuracy of this method and providing benchmark results for further exploration of free vibration problems of rectangular plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problematic media use among preschoolers is a growing concern. This study investigates the relationship between mother phubbing and problematic media use in preschoolers, examining the mediating role of child screen preference and the moderating effect of extraversion. 772 mothers (Meanage = 34.13 years) with preschool-aged children from Shanghai completed an online survey. The study found a significant positive correlation between mother phubbing and child problematic media use, mediated by the child's screen preference. Extraversion moderated the link between mother phubbing and child screen preference, with the relationship weakening as the child's extraversion increased. These findings highlight the complex interplay between parental behaviour, child characteristics, and media use patterns in early childhood, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions considering both environmental and individual factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between mother phubbing and preschoolers' problematic media use, examining the mediating role of the mother-child relationship and the moderating effects of paternal coparenting. Drawing on the Interactive Theory of Childhood Problematic Media Use and family system theory, we aim to identify key family dynamics that influence early childhood media habits. The findings could provide insights into mitigating the negative impacts of parental phubbing on children's media habits and inform targeted interventions to promote healthier media use among young children. Methods: The study examined 1008 mothers (Mage = 35.58 years, SD = 3.90) with preschool-aged children (Mage = 4.59 years, SD = 0.92) who completed self-report questionnaires. Path analysis with bootstrap sampling was executed to assess the moderated mediation model. Results: Mother phubbing was positively associated with preschoolers' problematic media use, with this relationship mediated by the mother-child relationship. Paternal coparenting moderated both the direct and indirect pathways in this relationship. Specifically, paternal coparenting directly mitigated the impact of mother phubbing on child problematic media use. Additionally, it alleviated the negative influence of mother phubbing on the mother-child relationship, thereby indirectly reducing its adverse effect on preschoolers' problematic media use. Overall, paternal coparenting demonstrated a protective function against the negative consequences of mother phubbing. Conclusion: The findings significantly contribute to our understanding of how mother phubbing might increase the risk of problematic media use among preschoolers and underscore the potential importance of reducing mother phubbing and increasing paternal coparenting as integral steps to prevent preschoolers' problematic media use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the progress of industrialization and urbanization, cadmium (Cd) pollution in farmland is increasingly severe, greatly affecting human health. Sunflowers possess high resistance to Cd stress and great potential for phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil. Previous studies have shown that humic acid (HA) effectively mitigates plant damage induced by Cd; however, its alleviating effects on sunflower plants under Cd stress remain largely unknown. Results: We employed four different concentrations of HA (50, 100, 200, and 300 mg L−1) via foliar application to examine their ability to alleviate Cd stress on sunflower plants' growth, chlorophyll synthesis, and biochemical defense system. The results revealed that Cd stress not only reduced plant height, stem diameter, fresh and dry weight, and chlorophyll content in sunflower plants but also altered their chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics compared to the control group. After Cd stress, the photosynthetic structure was damaged and the number of PSII reactive centers per unit changed. Application of 200 mg L−1 HA promotes sunflower growth and increases chlorophyll content. HA significantly enhances antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, CAT, and APX) and reduces ROS content (O2−, H2O2 and −OH). Totally, Application of 200 mg L−1 HA had the best effect than other concentrations to alleviate the Cd-induced stress in sunflower plants. Conclusions: The foliar application of certain HA concentration exhibited the most effective alleviation of Cd-induced stress on sunflower plants. It can enhance the light energy utilization and antioxidant enzyme activities, while reduce ROS contents in sunflower plants. These findings provide a theoretical basis for using HA to mitigate Cd stress in sunflowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the finite integral transform approach for analytical thermal buckling solutions of composite thin plates with all edges rotationally-restrained, which is difficult to handle by other analytical approaches. Performing the transformations defined on the governing thermal buckling equation and the boundaries investigated, which yields the transform coefficient for the deflection. Incorporating the inversion formula to satisfy the remaining boundary restraints yields sets of homogenous linear algebraic equations, which determines the critical temperature and corresponding mode shapes for plates. In addition, we provide new exact solutions for non-Levy-type plates via setting the rotational restrained coefficient. The precision and efficiency of the present solutions were well validated by precise FEM analysis. It is promising to develop the present approach for seeking more analytical solutions for intractable moderately-thick/thick plate problems. Finite integral transform approach for new exact thermal buckling analysis of fully rotationally-restrained composite rectangular thin plates is developed. New analytic exact thermal buckling solutions of plates under non-classical/non-Levy-type boundaries are obtained. Comprehensive benchmark numerical and graphical results are presented. The method is promising to explore new analytic solutions for intractable problems of plates based on different shear deformation theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corrosion of reinforcement bar caused by chloride ions diffusion is a crucial durability problem for concrete structures. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a new type of corrosion inhibitor. Previous research has concentrated primarily on the influence of DNA on the corrosion of reinforcement bar caused by chloride salts in simulated concrete pore solution and cement-based materials, with scant attention to the chloride diffusion behavior of cement-based materials with DNA. In this work, the chloride diffusion behavior of cement-based materials with DNA was studied using chloride binding isotherm, chloride rapid migration (RCM), and natural diffusion tests. The composition, content, and morphology of the hydration products and pore structure were monitored using X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) tests. The results show that DNA can improve the chloride-binding capacity and enhance the chloride diffusion resistance in cement-based materials. The lowest chloride migration coefficient and chloride diffusion coefficient were found in cement mortar with 4% by weight DNA, which were 45.58% and 42.36% lower than those of the reference group, respectively. DNA can stimulate the cement hydration reaction to produce more C-S-H gels and can increase the Ca/Si ratio of C-S-H. This is conducive to physical chloride adsorption. DNA can be combined with calcium ions to form insoluble aggregates that can fill the pore structure of mortar. Mortar with 4% by weight DNA maintained the lowest porosity, which effectively enhanced the chloride diffusion resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser scanning 3D imaging technology, because it can obtain accurate three-dimensional surface data, has been widely used in the search for wrecks and rescue operations, underwater resource development, and other fields. At present, the conventional underwater spinning laser scanning imaging system maintains a relatively fixed light window. However, in low-light situations underwater, the rotation of the scanning device causes some degree of water fluctuation, which warps the light strip data that the system sensor receives about the object's surface. To solve this problem, this research studies an underwater 3D scanning and imaging system that makes use of a fixed light window and a spinning laser (FWLS). A refraction error compensation algorithm is investigated that is based on the fundamentals of linear laser scanning imaging, and a dynamic refraction mathematical model is established based on the motion of the imaging device. The results of the experiment on error analysis in an optimal underwater environment indicate that the error in reconstructing the radius is decreased by 60% (from 2.5 mm to around 1 mm) when compensating for the measurement data of a standard sphere with a radius of 20 mm. Moreover, the compensated point cloud data exhibit a higher degree of correspondence with the model of the standard spherical point cloud. Furthermore, we examine the impact of physical noise, measurement distance, and partial occlusion of the object on the imaging system inside an authentic underwater setting. This study is a good starting point for looking at the refractive error of an underwater laser scanning imaging system. It also provides to us some ideas for future research on the refractive error of other scanning imaging methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Parental phubbing refers to the act of parents using mobile phones in the presence of their children instead of engaging with them. With increasing smartphone use in many households, parental phubbing is a potential threat to children's healthy development. This meta-analysis synthesized the existing evidence on the impact of parental phubbing on children's social-emotional development to examine the effect sizes and identify the moderators.Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic search across multiple electronic databases (Web of Science, EBSCO, ProQuest, Springer, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure) from 2012 to May 2023. Our search included both English and Chinese literature, encompassing published journal articles as well as thesis. To assess the risk of bias, we utilized the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plot interpretation and Egger's regression intercept.Results: Our comprehensive search identified 42 studies with 56,275 children and 59 effect sizes. A random-effects meta-analysis revealed that parental phubbing was positively associated with children's internalizing problems (r =  0.270; 95% CI [0.234, 0.304]) and externalizing problems (r =  0.210; 95% CI [0.154, 0.264]), while negatively correlated with children's self-concept (r = − 0.206; 95% CI [− 0.244, − 0.168]) and social-emotional competence (r = − 0.162; 95% CI [− 0.207, − 0.120]). Furthermore, the parental phubbing group moderated the association between parental phubbing and internalizing problems, when both parents engage in phubbing, there is a stronger association with children's externalizing problems compared to when only one parent is engaging in phubbing.Discussion: The findings of this meta-analysis provide strong evidence supporting the detrimental effects of parental phubbing on child social-emotional adjustment. Consequently, parents, researchers, and the government must collaborate to mitigate parental phubbing and promote the healthy development of children's social-emotional abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydration kinetics of cement pastes with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were studied. And the hydration products and microstructure of cement pastes were detected by XRD, SEM, and MIP. The results reveal that, compared with the blank sample, the maximum hydration heat flow and cumulative heat release rate of samples with DNA decrease. The compressive strength of the cement samples with DNA is reduced at ages of 3 d and 7 d. As the content of DNA increases, the strength of the test samples cured for 28 d shows a first increases and then decreases trend and the quantities of hydration products of Ca(OH)2 decrease, but the types of hydration products have not changed. DNA converts more gel pores to capillary pores and macropores, and reduces the compactness of the cement pastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the first time, the finite integral transform (FIT) approach is extended to predict thermal buckling behaviors of orthotropic thin plates with various edge restraints. A rational strategy of accurate solution procedure is proposed to tackle plate problems, and no assumption of trial function is imposed, which is different from traditional semi-inverse solution framework. Performing the transformation introduced on the plate thermal buckling equation to produce systems of linear algebraic equations easily solved, which can provide useful benchmark results for the critical temperature and the associated thermal buckling mode shape of orthotropic plates. Good agreement between the present result with data offered by finite element method (FEM) is found, which validates the accuracy of the approach employed. Thermal buckling behaviors of plates are also investigated parametrically, with the parameters involved being the aspect ratio and edge restraint. All the present numerical and graphical results are expected to give better design for orthotropic plate structures subjected to uniform thermal load. Furthermore, in view of the generality of the present method, it is hopeful to be extended for more complex plate and shell problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the majority of fluid mechanisms are multi-field coupling mechanisms, and their function is also achieved in the flow field. Therefore, calculating the aerodynamic characteristics of the multi-field coupling mechanism in a symmetric flow field is very important. However, at present, the strong coupling algorithm in the domain has the problems of low accuracy and computational efficiency, which make it more difficult to solve the coupling problem. This article obtains the vector potential of the law of conservation of momentum using the tensor analysis method in a Cartesian coordinate system. Meanwhile, the generalized operator of Navier–Stokes equations and the fundamental solution of the generalized operator are obtained on this basis. Then, this article proposes the boundary integral equation of the Navier–Stokes equations by combining the fundamental solution of the Laplace equation with generalized potential theory. Based on this boundary integral equation, this article has developed a new calculation method that can help achieve integral calculation without domains, greatly reducing the problem's difficulty. Finally, by comparing the ellipsoid example solution with the experimental results, the algorithm's reliability in solving the incompressible problem is verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New accurate buckling analysis for rectangular orthotropic thin plates with complicated non-classical boundary restraints are conducted through adopting the finite Fourier integral transform approach. Non-classical boundaries such as rotationally restrained edges increase the mathematical difficulty in processing problems of plates, which leads to rare analytical results for benchmark use. The proposed approach is implemented in the framework of integral transform theory, in which trial function for the deflection is not necessary, and offers uniform solution procedures for problems of plates with various boundaries via adopting different integral kernels. The main merits of the approach employed is to enable one to change the complicated title problem into dealing with linear algebraic equations easily solved. Via altering the rotational spring factors introduced, buckling behaviors of plates with Levy-type boundaries and non-Levy-type boundaries can also be studied. Finally, all the given results including critical load factor and mode shape match the FEM analysis exactly, which illustrate the accuracy and validity of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• BPA-PEN//BNNS was prepared by heterogeneous multilayer electrostatic spinning method. • The BNNS on the surface of the BPA-PEN fibers forms a thermally conductive network. • Compared toPEN film, the thermal conductivity of BPA-PEN//BNNS increases by 593%. Thermal management materials with excellent thermal conductivity and electrical insulation are highly favorable in the modern integrated electronic areas. In present work, a novel polyarylene ether nitrile (PEN) composite film, integrating thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and flexibility, was fabricated utilizing a hybrid approach combining heterogeneous multilayer electrostatic spinning with a subsequent hot pressing technique. BNNS acts as a thermally conductive filler which builds a good thermal conduction pathway, and PEN acts as a bonding agent which ensures the flexibility and insulation of the film. Heterogeneous multilayer electrostatic spinning ensures the formation of thermal conduction pathways. Compared to conventional composite film, heterogeneous multilayer film shows excellent thermal conductivity, increases by 83% in-plane, and 71% through-plane, respectively. Therefore, This work will provide a technological reserve for the preparation of thermally conductive and insulating flexible films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels were reliable biomarkers of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Lipoprotein-related Phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2) levels have also been increasingly studied in PD. We aimed to explore the association of plasma NfL and Lp-PLA2 with the diagnosis, motor subtypes and disease severity of PD. Plasma NfL and Lp-PLA2 were assayed separately in 106 participants (74 PD and 32 healthy controls, HC). The motor subtypes of PD were classified according to the MDS-UPDRS components, and motor and non-motor manifestations of patients were also evaluated. Subsequently, correlation analyses were performed. The plasma NfL levels were higher in the PD than HC, and were positively correlated with age, UPDRS II, UPDRS III and the modified Hoehn and Yahr staging scale (H&Y stage) in the PD. Moreover, plasma Lp-PLA2 levels were lower in the PD than HC, and were positively correlated with Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (PDQ-39) in the PD. For further distinguishing tremor-dominant (TD) from postural instability and gait difficulty-dominant (PIGD), plasma Lp-PLA2 levels were higher in the TD than PIGD, but there was no significant difference in NfL. plasma Lp-PLA2 levels were positively correlated with UPDRS I, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) and PDQ-39 in the TD. These results suggest that NfL and Lp-PLA2 may be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of PD. We first demonstrated the potential utility of plasma Lp-PLA2 in differentiating motor subtypes. These findings deserve further evidence in larger PD cohorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CD93, integrin β1 and M1 phenotype microglia increased in rat pneumococcal meningitis. • C1q and PDBu increased M1 phenotype microglia, sCD93, and integrin β1. • Down-regulation of CD93 decreased M1 phenotype microglia. • Down-regulation of integrin β1 decreased CD93 and M1 phenotype microglia. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the main bacterial pathogen of meningitis worldwide, which has a high mortality rate and survivors are prone to central nervous system (CNS) sequelae. In this regard, microglia activation has been associated with injury to the CNS. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CD93, integrin β1, and microglia activation. In the rat pneumococcal meningitis model, we found significant increases of CD93 and integrin β1 expression and differentiation of M1 phenotype microglia. Furthermore, we showed in vitro siRNA-mediated downregulation of CD93 and integrin β1 expression after infecting highly aggressive proliferating immortalized (HAPI) microglia cells with S. pneumoniae. We observed differentiation of S. pneumonia -infected HAPI microglia cells to the M1 phenotype and significant release of soluble CD93 (sCD93) and integrin β1 expression. Complement C1q and metalloproteinases promoted sCD93 release. We also showed that downregulation of CD93 significantly reduced differentiation to M1 microglia and increased differentiation to M2 microglia. However, addition of recombinant CD93 may regulate microglia differentiation to the M1 phenotype. Furthermore, the downregulation of integrin β1 resulted in downregulation of the CD93 protein. In conclusion, interaction between integrin β1 and CD93 promotes differentiation of microglia to the M1 phenotype, increases the release of pro-inflammatory factors, and leads to nervous system injury in pneumococcal meningitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With rapid advancement of Internet of Things (IoT) and social networking applications generating large amounts of data at or close to the network edge, Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) has naturally been proposed to bring model training closer to where data is produced. However, there still exists privacy concern since typical MEC frameworks need to transfer sensitive data resources from data collection end devices/clients to MEC server. So the concept of Federated Learning (FL) has been introduced which supports privacy-preserved collaborative machine learning involving multiple clients coordinated by the MEC server without centralizing the private data. Unfortunately, FL is prone to multiple challenges: 1) systems heterogeneity between clients causes straggler issue, and 2) statistical heterogeneity between clients brings about objective inconsistency problem, both of which may lead to a significant slow-down in the convergence speed in heterogeneous MEC environment. In this paper, we propose a novel framework, FedAda (Federated Adaptive Training), that incorporates systems capabilities and data characteristics of the clients to adaptively assign appropriate workload to each client. The key idea is that instead of running a fixed number of local training iterations as in Federated Averaging (FedAvg), our algorithm adopts an adaptive workload assignment strategy by minimizing the runtime gap between clients and maximizing convergence gain in heterogeneous MEC environment. Moreover, we design a light mechanism extending FedAda to accelerate the convergence speed by further fine-tuning the workload assignment based on the global convergence status in each communication round. We evaluate FedAda on CIFAR-10 dataset to explore the performance of the algorithm in the simulated heterogeneous MEC environment. Experimental results show that FedAda is able to assign appropriate amount of workload to each client and substantially reduces the convergence time by up to 49.5% compared to FedAvg in heterogeneous MEC environment. In addition, we demonstrate that fine-tuning the workload assignment can help FedAda improve the learning performance in heterogeneous mobile edge computing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To predict the multiphase flow field during the underwater launch, a two-dimensional (2D) transient model and a visual experiment platform were employed. The simulated graphs were compared to the experimental photos, and the results indicate the reasonableness of the model. Furthermore, the effects of muzzle velocity on the flow field were investigated. The results demonstrate that a partially formed bottle-shaped shock wave is generated when t = 0.4 ms for various velocities, and a greater muzzle velocity can accelerate its expansion process. Additionally, the maximum displacement of the Mach disk fulfills the binomial law with the muzzle velocity. The maximum peak pressure of oscillations increases with the greater muzzle velocity, but the duration of pressure oscillations decreases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, nucleic acid-related sensing and detection have become essential in clinical diagnostics, treatment and genotyping, especially in connection with the Human Genome Project and the COVID-19 pandemic. Many traditional nucleic acid-related sensing strategies have been employed in analytical chemistry, including fluorescence, colorimetric and chemiluminescence methods. However, their key limitation is the lack of understanding of the interaction during analysis, particularly at the 3D matrix level close to biological tissue. To address this issue, smart-responsive hydrogels are increasingly used in biosensing due to their hydrophilic and biocompatible properties. By combining smart-responsive hydrogels with traditional nucleic acid-related sensing, biological microenvironments can be mimicked, and targets can be easily accessed and diffused, making them ideal for nucleic acid sensing. This review focuses on utilizing smart-responsive hydrogels for nucleic acid-related sensing and detection, including nucleic acid detection, other nucleic acid-based analyte detection and nucleic acid-related sensing platforms applying nucleic acid as sensing tools in hydrogels. Additionally, the analytical mechanisms of smart-responsive hydrogels with the combination of various detection platforms such as optical and electrochemical techniques are described. The limitations of using smart-responsive hydrogels in nucleic acid-related sensing and proposed possible solutions are also discussed. Lastly, the future challenge of smart-responsive hydrogels in nucleic acid-related sensing is explored. Smart-responsive hydrogels can be used as biomimetic materials to simulate the extracellular matrix, achieve biosensing, and exhibit great potential in nucleic acid-related sensing. They serve as a valuable complement to traditional detection and analytical methods. Graphic summary of nucleic acid-related sensing based on smart-responsive hydrogels. [Display omitted] • Smart-responsive hydrogels for nucleic acid-related target sensing are reviewed. • Response types of hydrogels for nucleic acid-related sensing are provided. • The sensing strategies of smart-responsive hydrogels are systematically discussed. • The latest challenges, possible solutions, and prospects of sensing techniques in hydrogels are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation therapy is one of the most commonly used methods in clinical cancer treatment, and radiosensitizers could achieve enhanced therapeutic efficacy by incorporating heavy elements into structures. However, the secondary excitation of these high-Z elements-doped nanosensitizers still imply intrinsic defects of low efficiency. Herein, we designed Bi-doped titanium dioxide nanosensitizers in which high-Z Bi ions with adjustable valence state (Bi3+ or Bi4+) replaced some positions of Ti4+ of anatase TiO2, increasing both X-rays absorption and oxygen vacancies. The as-prepared TiO2:Bi nanosensitizers indicated high ionizing radiation energy-transfer efficiency and photocatalytic activity, resulting in efficient electron–hole pair separation and reactive oxygen species production. After further modification with cancer cell targeting peptide, the obtained nanoplatform demonstrated good performance in U87MG cell uptakes and intracellular radicals-generation, severely damaging the vital subcellular organs of U87MG cells, such as mitochondrion, membrane lipid, and nuclei etc. These combined therapeutic actions mediated by the composition-tunable nanosensitizers significantly inhibited the U87MG tumor growth, providing a refreshing strategy for X-ray induced dynamic therapy of malignant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dealing with the COVID‐19 pandemic, government officials often encounter two concurrent concerns: they have to enforce necessary public health and safety measures to manage COVID‐19. Meanwhile, they also have to mitigate conspiracy beliefs about COVID‐19. To shed light on these issues, we conducted two studies to investigate national identity certainty (i.e., the extent to which people are certain about their national identity) as a predictor of (a) support for restrictive measures to curtail COVID‐19 and (b) conspiracy beliefs about an outgroup as the culprit of COVID‐19. Study 1 was a three‐week longitudinal study (N = 301) where we investigated the relationships both on a between‐person level (differences between individuals) and on a within‐person level (week‐by‐week fluctuations of the same individual). We found that individual differences in national identity certainty predicted increased support for restrictive measures and increased outgroup conspiracy beliefs. These relationships emerged, even when we controlled for national identity positivity, that is, the extent to which people see their national identity in positive light. In Study 2 (N = 316), we used a cross‐sectional correlational design and replicated the findings of Study 1. Moreover, we found that the relationships were explained by distinct threat perceptions: realistic threat explained the increased support for restrictive measures, whereas symbolic threat explained the increased outgroup conspiracy beliefs. Overall, our findings suggest that support for restrictive measures and outgroup conspiracy beliefs can be seen as attempts of people high in national identity certainty to address the distinct threats of COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with senile plaques (SP) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain. With aging of the population, AD has become the most common form of dementia. However, the mechanisms leading to AD are still under investigation, and there are currently no specific drugs for its treatment. Therefore, further study on the pathogenesis of AD to develop new drugs for AD treatment remains a top priority. Several studies have suggested that intracellular calcium homeostasis is dysregulated in AD, and this has been implicated in the deposition of amyloid β (Aβ), hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, abnormal synaptic plasticity, and apoptosis, all of which are involved in the occurrence and development of AD. In addition, some based on pathways linking calcium homeostasis and AD have achieved results in AD treatment. This review comprehensively explores the relationship between calcium homeostasis and the pathogenesis of AD to provide a theoretical basis for the future exploration of AD and the development of novel therapeutic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this issue of Cancer Cell , Zaitsev et al. (2022) present a machine-learning-based approach, trained from millions of artificial transcriptomes with admixed cell populations, for reconstructing tumor microenvironments (TMEs). The high accuracy of this approach, demonstrated through extensive validation, enables systematic investigation of TMEs in both research and clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Species–area relationships (SARs) are fundamental for understanding biodiversity patterns and are generally well described by a power law with a constant exponent z. However, z‐values sometimes vary across spatial scales. We asked whether there is a general scale dependence of z‐values at fine spatial grains and which potential drivers influence it. Location: Palaearctic biogeographic realm. Methods: We used 6,696 nested‐plot series of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens from the GrassPlot database with two or more grain sizes, ranging from 0.0001 m² to 1,024 m² and covering diverse open habitats. The plots were recorded with two widespread sampling approaches (rooted presence = species “rooting” inside the plot; shoot presence = species with aerial parts inside). Using Generalized Additive Models, we tested for scale dependence of z‐values by evaluating if the z‐values differ with gran size and tested for differences between the sampling approaches. The response shapes of z‐values to grain were classified by fitting Generalized Linear Models with logit link to each series. We tested whether the grain size where the maximum z‐value occurred is driven by taxonomic group, biogeographic or ecological variables. Results: For rooted presence, we found a strong monotonous increase of z‐values with grain sizes for all grain sizes below 1 m². For shoot presence, the scale dependence was much weaker, with hump‐shaped curves prevailing. Among the environmental variables studied, latitude, vegetation type, naturalness and land use had strong effects, with z‐values of secondary peaking at smaller grain sizes. Conclusions: The overall weak scale dependence of z‐values underlines that the power function generally is appropriate to describe SARs within the studied grain sizes in continuous open vegetation, if recorded with the shoot presence method. When clear peaks of z‐values occur, this can be seen as an expression of granularity of species composition, partly driven by abiotic environment.Fine‐grain species‐area relationships can be well described with the power function, but at closer look the exponent z (a measure of multiplicative beta diversity) might vary across scales. Using nearly 7,000 nested‐plot series from Palaearctic open habitats, we found that for rooted presence sampling z strongly increases from 1 m² towards smallest grains, whereas for shoot presence sampling there is typically a weak peak somewhere below 1 m². Peak position was mainly influenced by taxonomic group, latitude and naturalness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective modulation of ligand–receptor interaction is essential in targeted therapy. In this study, we design an intelligent "scan and unlock" DNA automaton (SUDA) system to equip a native protein‐ligand with cell‐identity recognition and receptor‐mediated signaling in a cell‐type‐specific manner. Using embedded DNA‐based chemical reaction networks (CRNs) on the cell surface, SUDA scans and evaluates molecular profiles of cell‐surface proteins via Boolean logic circuits. Therefore, it achieves cell‐specific signal modulation by quickly unlocking the protein‐ligand in proximity to the target cell‐surface to activate its cognate receptor. As a proof of concept, we non‐genetically engineered hepatic growth factor (HGF) with distinct logic SUDAs to elicit target cell‐specific HGF signaling and wound healing behaviors in multiple heterogeneous cell types. Furthermore, the versatility of the SUDA strategy was shown by engineering tumor necrotic factor‐α (TNFα) to induce programmed cell death of target cell subpopulations through cell‐specific modulation of TNFR1 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective modulation of ligand–receptor interaction is essential in targeted therapy. In this study, we design an intelligent "scan and unlock" DNA automaton (SUDA) system to equip a native protein‐ligand with cell‐identity recognition and receptor‐mediated signaling in a cell‐type‐specific manner. Using embedded DNA‐based chemical reaction networks (CRNs) on the cell surface, SUDA scans and evaluates molecular profiles of cell‐surface proteins via Boolean logic circuits. Therefore, it achieves cell‐specific signal modulation by quickly unlocking the protein‐ligand in proximity to the target cell‐surface to activate its cognate receptor. As a proof of concept, we non‐genetically engineered hepatic growth factor (HGF) with distinct logic SUDAs to elicit target cell‐specific HGF signaling and wound healing behaviors in multiple heterogeneous cell types. Furthermore, the versatility of the SUDA strategy was shown by engineering tumor necrotic factor‐α (TNFα) to induce programmed cell death of target cell subpopulations through cell‐specific modulation of TNFR1 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two‐photon excited fluorescent (TPEF) materials are highly desirable for bioimaging applications owing to their unique characteristics of deep‐tissue penetration and high spatiotemporal resolution. Herein, by connecting one, two, or three electron‐deficient zinc porphyrin units to an electron‐rich triazatruxene core via ethynyl π‐bridges, conjugated multipolar molecules TAT‐(ZnP)n (n=1–3) were developed as TPEF materials for cell imaging. The three new dyes present high fluorescence quantum yields (0.40–0.47) and rationally improved two‐photon absorption (TPA) properties. In particular, the peak TPA cross section of TAT‐ZnP (436 GM) is significantly larger than that of the ZnP reference (59 GM). The δTPA values of TAT‐(ZnP)2 and TAT‐(ZnP)3 further increase to 1031 and up to 1496 GM, respectively, indicating the effect of incorporated ZnP units on the TPA properties. The substantial improvement of the TPEF properties is attributed to the formation of π‐conjugated quadrapole/octupole molecules and the extension of D‐π‐A‐D systems, which has been rationalized by density function theory (DFT) calculations. Moreover, all of the three new dyes display good biocompatibility and preferential targeting ability toward cytomembrane, thus can be superior candidates for TPEF imaging of living cells. Overall, this work demonstrated a promising strategy for the development of porphyrin‐based TPEF materials by the construction and extension of D‐π‐A‐D multipolar array. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel nonlinear sliding mode control scheme that combines on-line model modification, a nonlinear sliding mode controller, and a disturbance observer to solve the essential problems in spacecraft electromagnetic docking control, such as model uncertainties, unknown external disturbances, and inherent strong nonlinearity and coupling. An improved far-field model of electromagnetic force which is much more accurate than the widely used far-field model is proposed to enable the model parameters to be on-line self-adjusting. Then, the relationship between magnetic moment allocation and energy consumption is derived, and the optimal direction of the magnetic moment vector is obtained. Based on the proposed improved far-field model and the research results of magnetic moment allocation law, a fast-nonsingular terminal mode controller driven by a disturbance observer is designed in the presence of model uncertainties and external disturbances. The proposed control method is guaranteed to be chattering-free and to possess superior properties such as finite-time convergence, high-precision tracking, and strong robustness. Two simulation scenarios are conducted to illustrate the necessity of modifying the far-field model and the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme. The simulation results indicate the realization of electromagnetic soft docking and validate the merits of the proposed control scheme. In the end of this paper, some conclusions are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to obtain the analytical free vibration solution of an orthotropic rectangular thin plate using the finite integral transformation. Due to the mathematical difficulty of complex boundary value problems, it is very hard to solve the title problem with common analytical methods. By imposing the integral transformation, the high-order partial differential equation with specified boundary conditions is converted into linear algebraic equation and the exact solutions with high precision and fast convergence are obtained elegantly. The main advantage of the proposed method is that it is simple and general, and it does not need to pre-determine the deflection function, which makes the solution procedure more reasonable. The method has a wide range of applications and can deal with other elastic plate problems, such as buckling and bending. The present results are validated by comparison with the existing analytical solutions that showed satisfactory agreement. The new analytical solution obtained can be used as a benchmark for validating other numerical and approximate methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full spectrum sunlike light-emitting diode (LED) devices in the wavelength range of 380–670 nm have received much attention for their applications in human centric lighting. Herein, the inorganic color converter of the sunlike phosphor-in-glass (PiG) has been developed by embedding the green-emitting (Lu 3-x Y x Al 5 O 12 : Ce3+) and red-emitting (Sr 0.6 Ca 0.4 AlSiN 3 : Eu2+) phosphor powders in ultra-low melting tin fluorophosphate glass. Notably, the sunlike PiG exhibits the full spectrum in the wavelength range of 380–670 nm under the excitation of a near-ultraviolet (NUV) chip. Tunable color temperature (2785 K–5806 K) and high color rendering index (R a = 95) were obtained by varying the mix ratio of the red-emitting component in the glass matrix. Further, the full visible spectrum emission was regulated by adjusting the Lu/Y ratio of the green phosphor Lu 3-x Y x Al 5 O 12 : Ce3+ and the color quality was further optimized (R a = 97). The color quality of white light-emitting diode (WLED) was systematically investigated using Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) of North America evaluation systems and the LED devices exhibit fidelity index (R f) and gamut index (R g) close to sunlight (R f = 95, R g = 101). Compared with the traditional phosphor-in-silicone (PiS), the sunlike PiG based WLED exhibits a low working temperature of ∼37 °C for high power LED. Therefore, the WLED devices based on sunlike-PiG can be regarded as promising candidates for ultra-high color rendering index light sources because of the adjustable color temperature, high color quality, low-efficiency loss, excellent thermal properties and water stability. • The full visible spectrum was regulated by adjusting the Lu/Y ratio of the LuYAG and the color quality had been optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rational strategy was introduced for the synthesis of a novel dual functionalized metal–organic framework nanocomposite (AuGC/ZIF-8) with ultra-hydrophilicity to enhance glycopeptide enrichment. The advantages of ingenious synergy, low-cost, facile and large-scale synthesis, and excellent enrichment performance will enable it to have a bright future in nanomaterial synthesis, glycoproteomics analysis, and related biochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our study aimed to scrutinize the incidence and risk factors of femoral inserted central catheter (FICC)-related thrombosis in patients with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) undergoing chemotherapy. A retrospective analysis of patients with SVCS undergoing chemotherapy who received FICC catheterization at the Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha City, Hunan Province between May 2012 and February 2019 was performed. Both asymptomatic thrombosis and symptomatic thrombosis were diagnosed by color doppler ultrasound (CDUS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify patient-, insertion-, and catheter-related factors. Eight hundred and seventy-four patients with SVCS undergoing chemotherapy, with a total of 157,180 catheter days were enrolled in our study. FICC-related thrombosis was detected in 144 patients, and yielding an overall incidence of 16.47% or 0.92 events per 1000 catheter days. Of these, 19(2.17%) patients had symptomatic thrombosis. The mean time interval between FICC insertion and thrombosis onset was (10.40 ± 6.32) days and the mean catheter indwelling time was (179.84 ± 46.15) days. The history of deep venous thrombosis, treatment with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor (bevacizumab), puncture site (mid-thigh, groin), tip position and catheter size showed association with FICC-related thrombosis. Treatment with VEGF inhibitor [odds ratio (OR) = 2.779; 95%confidence interval (CI): 1.860–4.153; P < 0.001] and puncture site at the groin (OR = 10.843; 95%CI: 6.575–17.881; P < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors of FICC-related thrombosis. Treatment with VEGF inhibitor and puncture site at the groin during FICC catheterization were considered as high-risk factors in FICC-related thrombosis. • Femoral inserted central catheter has been proved effective during clinical verifications. • Femoral inserted central catheter has become the preferred choice in patients with superior vena cava syndrome. • The incidence of femoral inserted central catheter -related thrombosis was 16.48%. • Bevacizumab is a risk factor of femoral inserted central catheter-related thrombosis. • Puncture site at the groin is a risk factor of femoral inserted central catheter-related thrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, for the first time, the double finite integral transform method is introduced to explore the analytical bending solutions of rectangular thin plates with corner supports. Introducing the concept of generalized simply supported edge, the general form analytical solutions for bending of the plates under consideration are obtained by applying the finite integral transform to the governing equation and some of the boundary conditions. The analytical bending solutions of plates under specific boundary conditions are then obtained elegantly by imposing the remaining boundary conditions. Compared with the conventional inverse/semi-inverse methods, the present method is straightforward without any predetermination of solution forms, which makes it very attractive for exploring new analytical bending solutions of plates with complex boundary conditions. Another advantage of the method is that the analytical solutions obtained converge rapidly due to utilization of the sum functions. Comprehensive analytical results obtained in this paper illuminate the validity and accuracy of the present method by comparison with those from the literature and the finite element method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, a two-dimensional generalized finite integral transform method is developed for new analytic bending solutions of orthotropic rectangular thin foundation plates. The vibrating beam functions are adopted as the integral kernels to construct the integral transform pairs. By imposing the transform to the governing equation, utilizing some inherent properties of the beam functions, the title problem is converted to that of solving a system of linear algebraic equations, by which the new analytic solutions are elegantly obtained in a straightforward way. Numerical examples validate the present method as well as the solutions yielded by satisfactory agreement with the literature and finite element analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Due to complex pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), currently there is no effective disease-modifying treatment. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has introduced itself as an important target for AD therapy. Linarin as the representative active ingredient of flavonoid glycoside in Flos chrysanthemi indici has been found to have anti-acetylcholinesterase effect. Aims The present study intended to explore the potential effect of linarin for treatment of AD. Main methods In this study, molecular docking simulation was used to evaluate whether linarin could dock with AChE and decipher the mechanism of linarin as an AChE inhibitor. After molecular docking simulation, AlCl 3 -induced Alzheimer's disease zebrafish model was established. Effects of linarin on treating AD zebrafish dyskinesia and AChE inhibition were compared with donepezil (DPZ) which was used as a positive control drug. Key findings Molecular docking simulation showed that linarin plays a critical role in AChE inhibition by binding AChE active sites. The experiments illustrated that the dyskinesia recovery rate of AD zebrafish could be significantly improved by linarin. The dyskinesia recovery and AChE inhibition rate were 88.0% and 74.5% respectively, while those of DPZ were 79.3% and 43.6%. Significance These findings provide evidences for supporting linarin to be developed into an AD drug by inhibiting the activity of AChE. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human organic anion transporter 4 (hOAT4) belongs to a family of multispecific organic anion transporters that play critical roles in the disposition of numerous drugs and therefore are the major sites for drug-drug interaction. Drug-drug interactions contribute significantly to the individual variation in drug response. hOAT4 is expressed in the kidney and placenta. In the current study, we examined the interaction of 36 anticancer drugs with hOAT4 in kidney COS-7 cells and placenta BeWo cells. Among the drugs tested, only epirubicin hydrochloride and dabrafenib mesylate exhibited > 50% cis-inhibitory effect, in COS-7 cells, on hOAT4-mediated uptake of estrone sulfate, a prototypical substrate for the transporter. The IC50 values for epirubicin hydrochloride and dabrafenib mesylate were 5.24±0.95 μM and 8.30±3.30 μM, respectively. Dixon plot analysis revealed that inhibition by epirubicin hydrochloride was noncompetitive with a Ki = 3 μM whereas inhibition by dabrafenib mesylate was competitive with a Ki = 4.26 μM. Our results established that epirubicin hydrochloride and dabrafenib mesylate are inhibitors of hOAT4. Furthermore, by comparing our data with clinically relevant exposures of these drugs, we conclude that although the tendency for dabrafenib mesylate to cause drug-drug interaction through hOAT4 is insignificant in the kidney, the propensity for epirubicin hydrochloride to cause drug-drug interaction is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Human organic anion transporter 4 (hOAT4) belongs to a class of organic anion transporters that exert critical function in the secretion, absorption, and distribution of numerous drugs in the body, such as anti-viral drugs, anti-cancer therapeutics, antibiotics, antihypertensive medicine, and anti-inflammatory drugs. hOAT4 is richly existent in the kidney and placenta. We previously established that serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinases (sgk) stimulate hOAT4 expression and transport activity by abrogating the inhibitory effect of a ubiquitin ligase Nedd4-2. Insulin is one of the upstream signaling molecules for sgk. We therefore investigated the effect of insulin on hOAT4 function. We showed that insulin stimulated hOAT4 expression and transport activity, and the action of insulin was abolished in cells overexpressing Nedd4-2-specific siRNA to knockdown the endogenous Nedd4-2. We further showed that insulin phosphorylated serine 327 on Nedd4-2 and weakened the interaction between hOAT4 and Nedd4-2. Interestingly, in cells overexpressing sgk2, the stimulatory effect of insulin on hOAT4 was diminished. In addition, the stimulatory effect of insulin on hOAT4 was blocked by wortmannin and buparlisib, two PI3K inhibitors. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that insulin stimulates hOAT4 expression and transport activity by abrogating the inhibition effect of Nedd4-2 on the transporter. Moreover, insulin regulates hOAT4 by competing with sgk2 rather than through sgk2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the swift advancement of 5G communication technology and the widespread prevalence of intelligent connected vehicles, a multitude of applications for the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) have been steadily burgeoning. Nevertheless, owing to vehicular mobility and the variety of tasks generated by IoV applications competing for restricted edge resources, the task of assigning users to edge nodes, in addition to appropriating edge node resources to hybrid tasks within edge environments, persists as a formidable challenge. In addressing this predicament, we establish a model delineating the execution duration of hybrid tasks engendered by IoV applications, and introduce a joint mechanism for user assignment and edge resource allocation. Within this mechanism, we architect an optimal strategy for edge resource allocation, predicated upon given user assignment outcomes. In order to ascertain the user assignment strategy, we employ an enhanced genetic algorithm in scenarios of a large user base, and utilize the branch-and-bound algorithm when dealing with a small user base. Finally, we design and implement an experimental setup for joint user assignment and edge resource allocation. The comprehensive simulation results provide robust verification of the effectiveness of our proposed mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, pipeline parallelism for large-scale Deep Neural Network (DNN) training has been developed, which partitions the DNN model across multiple devices (e.g., GPUs) and improves the training efficiency by processing data divided into minibatches as a pipeline. However, existing model partitioning algorithms are mostly designed for homogeneous clusters with the same GPU devices and network connections (e.g., bandwidths), while heterogeneous GPU clusters are widely used in mainstream computing infrastructures. In heterogeneous environment, devices are equipped with different GPUs and network connections, and the efficiency of previous approaches is unsatisfactory due to the unbalanced load of the pipeline stages. In this paper, we propose PipePar, a model partitioning and task placement algorithm for pipeline parallel DNN training in heterogeneous GPU clusters. PipePar is based on dynamic programming with search space pruning that takes into consideration both the heterogeneity of GPUs and network bandwidth. PipePar can profile the DNN model for each type of GPU and conduct model partitioning and task placement based on given GPUs and network connections, which can optimize pipeline load balancing in heterogeneous environments and thus improve training efficiency. We design and implement a pipeline-based distributed deep learning training system in a heterogeneous GPU cluster and show through extensive experiments that PipePar outperforms the baseline approaches in the speed of large-scale DNN training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The underwater sealed launch is one of effective launch technologies for enhancing the velocity of underwater vehicle and also for achieving better interior ballistic performance. However, the underwater muzzle flow field based on this sealed technology is a major consideration as it decides initial kinetic stability and subsequent shooting accuracy. Hence, this study establishes a comprehensive model involving in a modified sealed interior ballistic model, muzzle multiphase turbulent flow model and supercavitation model due to high-velocity moving vehicle, and mainly investigates the effect of the vehicle shapes on the underwater sealed muzzle field. An experiment for the muzzle field of underwater sealed launch is also carried out using a 12.7 mm-caliber launch device and water tank. Comparisons on flow patterns of muzzle field and expansion displacements of Taylor cavity on computational results are done with experimental studies, and a reasonable match has been obtained in these comparisons. The results show that the gas sealed in the launch barrel firstly injects into the water forming an initial Taylor cavity once the sealed device is broken. Then, the propellant combustion-gas just with high pressure and high temperature injects into the water with the moving vehicle. Consequently, a complicated interaction effect between these two types of gases and high-density water takes place, generating complicated shock wave phenomena in the muzzle field. Different vehicle shapes can affect the formation of the shock waves and expansion characteristics of Taylor cavity in the water. Eventually, the diameter of the Mach disk is always the largest for the cylindrical underwater vehicle and the axial pressure fluctuation for the vehicle with a cavitator are most significant with a lowest temperature field due to strong gas-liquid interaction. • An experiment is carried out on the base of underwater sealed launch system. • The evolution characteristics of gas cavity for underwater sealed launch process. • Development on the shock waves of directly underwater sealed muzzle field. • Underwater sealed interior ballistic model coupled with the muzzle multiphase model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Casein kinase II subunit alpha (CK2α) is highly expressed in many malignant tumor tissues, including lymphomas and leukemia. To investigate the role of CK2α in cell proliferation and apoptosis of malignant lymphomas and leukemia, 2 lymphoma cell lines and one leukemia cell line were infected with CK2α shRNA lentivirus or negative control shRNA lentivirus, and stably infected cell lines were established. Real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that the mRNA and protein levels of CK2α were significantly reduced in CK2α knockdown cells. The tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) assay found that down-regulation of CK2α inhibited the proliferation of these cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that inhibition of CK2α induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of lymphoma and leukemia cells. In accordance with these, down-regulation of CK2α also reduced the protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclinD1, and bcl-2, and increased the protein expression of bax, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, and cleaved poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP). Moreover, knockdown of CK2α impeded the growth of xenograft tumors in vivo. In summary, our study revealed that CK2α may contribute to the development of malignant lymphoma and leukemia, and serve as the therapeutic target of these malignant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening brain-penetrable antioxidants from natural products is a promising way for neuroprotective drug discovery. However, there is no screening methodology enables simultaneous investigation of antioxidant activity and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability of compounds from complex samples. Here we propose a novel strategy by combining BBB specific parallel artificial membrane permeability assay with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl recognition (BBB-PAMPA–DPPH) to achieve rapid multicomponent screening. First, BBB specific artificial membrane was constructed to separate the compounds with high BBB permeability in herbal extracts. The antioxidant activity of the isolated compounds could be optically recognized through the bleaching of the purple-colored DPPH. By off-line combined HPLC–UV/Q-TOF-MS analysis, the exact BBB-penetrable compounds responsible for the antioxidant activity could be rapidly screened. With this approach, compound 2,6,4′-trihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenon in Rhizoma Anemarrhena was found to be an antioxidant with very high BBB permeability, which could also be detected in rat plasma and brain tissue after oral administration. Our findings suggested the BBB-PAMPA–DPPH method could be a powerful tool for neuroprotective drug discovery from natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymer thin films are generally employed as coatings on implants to prevent protein adsorption. Polymer chain mobility and surface softness have been found to contribute to the protein resistance, but also bring film instability in a liquid protein medium. We investigated the protein resistance ability of three low-T g polymers, including hydrophobic polymers polyisoprene (PI), poly( n -butyl methacrylate) (PnBMA) and hydrophilic polyethylene oxide (PEO), by overcoming the instability issue with crosslinking. We found that the T g s of PI and PEO can be increased to around 0 °C after crosslinking. The remained strong chain mobility of both films can still resist protein adsorption regardless the hydrophobicity, yet greatly increases the film stability under an aqueous circumstance. The PnBMA film increased its T g to around room temperature after crosslinking, which deteriorated the protein-resistance ability having the surface covered by BSA molecules. Our results support that the chain mobility of a polymer film plays an important role in resisting protein adsorption due to the increased entropy associated with more mobile polymer chains. By tune the degree of crosslinking, the stability of polymer in aqueous environment can be increased while the protein resistant ability can be remained. Our results provide a new strategy to design polymer materials for effective antifouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradations of Reactive Brilliant Red X-3B (RBRX-3B) in an electric-assisted microbial system (EAMS), a microbial system (MS) and an electrochemical system (ECS) were compared. The degradation efficiency of RBRX-3B in EAMS (99.8%) was 10.8% higher than the sum in MS (61.9%) and ECS (27.1%) at 24 h at the optimal voltage of 0.4 V, indicating that there was a synergistic effect between the electrode reaction and the biodegradation. The RBRX-3B degradation in EAMS followed first-order kinetic model. The activation energy of RBRX-3B degradation in EAMS was calculated to be 60.53 kJ mol −1 by the Arrhenius equation, showing that the degradation rate of RBRX-3B mainly depended on bio-chemical reaction. RBRX-3B was degraded to both low-strength toxic compounds and nontoxic compounds in EAMS and those intermediates were easier to be further degraded. The pathway of RBRX-3B degradation in EAMS was different from that in MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various applications are deployed on mobile smart devices in almost every situations of our life, while in some of these situations sensitive applications are strictly prohibited, such as cameras in cinemas and browsers in examination halls. Real-time recognition of applications running on mobile smart devices is of great significance in these cases. However, most of the existing technologies have the limitation that they require system permissions to obtain the running application list which is banned by mainstream mobile operating systems. Noting that the launch of a certain application will emit a unique pattern of magnetic field, we introduce magnetic field side channel analysis to recognize running applications. However, magnetic field side channel analysis is challenging since it is hard to extract features from magnetic field data without domain experts. Besides, real-time applications identification demands accurate detection of applications launching. To overcome these challenges, we extract robust depth features using autoencoder and implement online application recognition by introducing finite-state machine to identify the application launch window from raw data. The proposed method is evaluated by recognizing 1000 different applications in real environment. The experiment results show that the proposed method is feasible and effective in real-time application identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was first to compare the differences of coordination between forward walking (FW) and reversed backward walking (RevBW) in 40 healthy children aged between three and six; and then to explore interaction effects of age and direction of motion on intra-limb coordination. Kinematics of FW and RevBW of those subjects were measured by Coda motion system. Based on the Euler angle (EA) and angle velocity in knee (OAB), ankle (ABD) and metatarsophalangeal joint (MTH)(BDF), continuous relative phase (CRP) between knee-ankle ( CRP θ (K-A)) and ankle-metatarsophalangeal ( CRP θ (A-M)) were calculated. Coefficient of variance between FW and RevBW in each EA and CRP variable were figured out. Statistical model of independent T test and paired T test, as well as univariate analysis were applied with significant level of 0.05 and confidence interval of 95%. Our results show that RevBW significantly increased the amplitude of knee, ankle and MTH joint; while majority of inter-age CoV-EA variables were found less prominent, with exception of CoV-EA (OAB) between ages of five to six. Amplitude-EA variables were recorded with significant differences between FW and RevBW in each age group. In terms of interaction effects, only walking direction showed significant impact on the variables of amplitude-EA. Overall, although BW increased amplitude of motion in knee, ankle and MTH joint, children aged between three and six have already achieved a mechanism that central nervous system could switch their gait control freely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrated that miR-21 and miR-95 expression were significantly higher in the ALDH1+CD133+subpopulation than in the ALDH1-CD133- subpopulation of lung cancer cells. Combined delivery of anti-miR-21 and anti-miR-95 by calcium phosphate nanoparticles significantly inhibited tumor growth in a xenograft tumor model and sensitized radiotherapy. The anti-miRNAs significantly reduced miR-21 and miR-95 levels, increased PTEN, SNX1, and SGPP1 protein expression, but reduced Akt Ser473 and Thr308 phosphorylation. ALDH1+CD133+ subpopulation of NSCLC tumor cells confers radioresistance due to high expression of miR-21 and miR-95. Targeting inhibition of miR-21 and miR-95 can inhibit tumor growth through elevating PTEN, SNX1, and SGPP1 expression and inhibiting Akt phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]