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The dynamics of cellular pattern formation are crucial for understanding embryonic development and tissue morphogenesis. Recent studies have shown that human dermal fibroblasts cultured on liquid crystal elastomers can exhibit an increase in orientational alignment over time, accompanied by cell proliferation, under the influence of the weak guidance of a molecularly aligned substrate. However, a comprehensive understanding of how this order arises remains largely unknown. This knowledge gap may be attributed, in part, to a scarcity of mechanistic models that can capture the temporal progression of the complex nonequilibrium dynamics during the cellular alignment process. To fill in this gap, we develop a hybrid procedure that utilizes statistical learning approaches to select individual-level features for extending the state-of-art physics models. The maximum likelihood estimator of the model was derived and implemented in computationally scalable algorithms for model calibration and simulation. By including these features, such as the non-Gaussian, anisotropic fluctuations, and limiting alignment interaction only to neighboring cells with the same velocity direction, this model is able to reproduce system-level parameters: the temporal progression of the velocity orientational order parameters and the variability of velocity vectors. Unlike other data-driven approaches, we do not rely on a loss function to tune model parameters to match these system-level characteristics. Furthermore, we develop a computational toolbox for automating model construction and calibration that can be applied to other systems of active matter.

The ability of cells to reorganize in response to external stimuli is important in areas ranging from morphogenesis to tissue engineering. While nematic order is common in biological tissues, it typically only extends to small regions of cells interacting via steric repulsion. On isotropic substrates, elongated cells can co-align due to steric effects, forming ordered but randomly oriented finite-size domains. However, we have discovered that flat substrates with nematic order can induce global nematic alignment of dense, spindle-like cells, thereby influencing cell organization and collective motion and driving alignment on the scale of the entire tissue. Remarkably, single cells are not sensitive to the substrate’s anisotropy. Rather, the emergence of global nematic order is a collective phenomenon that requires both steric effects and molecular-scale anisotropy of the substrate. To quantify the rich set of behaviours afforded by this system, we analyse velocity, positional and orientational correlations for several thousand cells over days. The establishment of global order is facilitated by enhanced cell division along the substrate’s nematic axis, and associated extensile stresses that restructure the cells’ actomyosin networks. Our work provides a new understanding of the dynamics of cellular remodelling and organization among weakly interacting cells.

Background: In order to improve the solubility and carrying capacity of anticancer drugs to the targeted cells, a potential nanoformulation is needed. Objective: Viscoelastic wormlike micelles (WLM) have been reported in the present study. Methods: The elongated and flexible aggregates of amphiphiles were formed due to the selforganization when the amphiphile concentration was fixed at its CMC and the sodium salicylate concentration was varied for the optimization. Results: The stable structure, higher density, higher viscosity and potent cell killing effect at lower concentration of the drug was observed at 480 μM concentration of sodium salicylate. The doxorubicin release profile showed a clear sustained release after 20 h, and 82% of the drug has been released after 72 h. Conclusion: Therefore, the designed WLMs can be used as efficient drug delivery vehicles for the treatment of cancer.

Background:: Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) accounts for 80% of all lung cancer cases, which have been a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Previous studies demonstrated that centromere proteins were dysregulated and involved in regulating the tumorigenesis and development of human cancers. However, the roles of centromere protein family members in NSCLC remained to be further elucidated. Objective:: The present study aimed to explore the roles of centromere protein family members in NSCLC. Method:: GEPIA (http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn/) was used to analyze the target’s expression between normal and human cancers. We explored the prognostic value of centromere proteins in NSCLC using the Kaplan–Meier plotter (http://kmplot.com). The protein-protein interaction among centromere proteins were determined using GeneMANIA (http://www.genemania.org). TISIDB (http://cis.hku.hk/TISIDB) database was used to detect the relationship between centromere proteins expression and clinical stages, lymphocytes, immunomodulators and chemokines in NSCLC. The DAVID database (https://david.ncifcrf.gov) was used to detect potential roles of CENPK using its co-expressing genes Results:: The present study for the first time showed that centromere protein family members including CENPA, CENPF, CENPH, CENPI, CENPK, CENPM, CENPN, CENPO, CENPQ, CENPU were dysregulated and correlated to the poor prognosis of patients with LUAD. CENPK showed the greatest correlation with the prognosis of patients with NSCLC. We found that CENPK was significantly highly expressed in LUAD samples and overexpression of CENPK was remarkably correlated to the shorter OS and DFS on patients with different stage NSCLC. Of note, this study for the first time showed that CENPK was significantly correlated to the lymphocytes and immunomodulators using the TISIDB database Conclusion:: In summary, CENPK can serve as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of patients with NSCLC.

As the by-product accompanied by sewage treatment, sludge has complex composition and high moisture content, therefore, its reutilization and disposal are still a challenge. In this paper, five kinds of quartz sand conditioners with different particle sizes (denoted as QS1, QS2, QS3, QS4 and QS5, respectively) were used to explore the effect of particle size distribution of conditioners on sludge dewatering performance. The moisture content, capillary suction time (CST), time to filter (TTF), specific resistance of filtration (SRF), particle size distribution curve, pore distribution law, scanning electron microscopy, isothermal adsorption-desorption curve and extracellular polymeric substances distribution were employed to characterize the modified sludge and explore the improvement mechanism. The results show that the particle size distribution of the conditioner significantly affects the efficiency of sludge dewatering. The wt% of sludge regulated with QS1 (QS1-S) could be reduced to 52%, and its CST value, TTF value and SRF value is 57.93 s, 278 s and 1.84 × 10

A mathematical model for the flowrate and rotation speed of RCP during idling was established. The numerical calculation method and dimensionless method were used to analyze the flow, head, torque and pressure and speed changes under idle conditions. Regularity, using the Q criterion vortex identification judgment method combined with surface flow spectrum morphology analysis to diagnose the vortex dynamic characteristics on RCP blade. On impeller blade, there is two oscillations in the pressure ratio on pressure surface in blade outlet region. The velocity on the suction surface is two times more oscillating than the inlet of blade, and there is an intersection with the velocity ratio curve on pressure surface. On blade of guide vane, the pressure ratio increases along the inlet to outlet direction, and the speed ratio decreases with the increase of idle time. There is a vortex that rotates counterclockwise on the suction surface, and the streamline on the suction surface of blade is subjected to the entrainment and blocking action of the vortex creates a large reverse flow in the main flow region. There are two vortices at the outlet of guide vane suction side and the vortices are in opposite directions.

The ability of cells to reorganize in response to external stimuli is important in areas ranging from morphogenesis to tissue engineering. Elongated cells can co-align due to steric effects, forming states with local order. We show that molecular-scale substrate anisotropy can direct cell organization, resulting in the emergence of nematic order on tissue scales. To quantitatively examine the disorder-order transition, we developed a high-throughput imaging platform to analyze velocity and orientational correlations for several thousand cells over days. The establishment of global, seemingly long-ranged order is facilitated by enhanced cell division along the substrate's nematic axis, and associated extensile stresses that restructure the cells' actomyosin networks. Our work, which connects to a class of systems known as active dry nematics, provides a new understanding of the dynamics of cellular remodeling and organization in weakly interacting cell collectives. This enables data-driven discovery of cell-cell interactions and points to strategies for tissue engineering., Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures

Physically intelligent micro-robotic systems exploit information embedded in micro-robots, their colloidal cargo, and their milieu to interact, assemble and form functional structures. Nonlinear anisotropic fluids like nematic liquid crystals (NLCs) provide untapped opportunities to embed interactions via their topological defects, complex elastic responses, and their ability to dramatically restructure in dynamic settings. Here we design and fabricate a 4-armed ferromagnetic micro-robot to embed and dynamically reconfigure information in the nematic director field, generating a suite of physical interactions for cargo manipulation. The micro-robot shape and surface chemistry are designed to generate a nemato-elastic energy landscape in the domain that defines multiple modes of emergent, bottom-up interactions with passive colloids. Micro-robot rotation expands the ability to sculpt interactions; the energy landscape around a rotating micro-robot is dynamically reconfigured by complex far-from-equilibrium dynamics of the micro-robot's companion topological defect. These defect dynamics allow transient information to be programmed into the domain and exploited for top-down cargo manipulation. We demonstrate robust micro-robotic manipulation strategies that exploit these diverse modes of nemato-elastic interaction to achieve cargo docking, transport, release, and assembly of complex reconfigurable structures at multi-stable sites. Such structures are of great interest to future developments of LC-based advanced optical device and micro-manufacturing in anisotropic environments., Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures in the main text and 4 figures in the SI

Non-equilibrium dynamics of topological defects can be used as a fundamental propulsion mechanism in microscopic active matter. Here, we demonstrate swimming of topological defect-propelled colloidal particles in (passive) nematic fluids through experiments and numerical simulations. Dynamic swim strokes of the topological defects are driven by colloidal rotation in an external magnetic field, causing periodic defect rearrangement which propels the particles. The swimming velocity is determined by the colloid's angular velocity, sense of rotation and defect polarity. By controlling them we can locomote the particles along different trajectories. We demonstrate scattering -- that is, the effective pair interactions -- of two of our defect-propelled swimmers, which we show is highly anisotropic and depends on the microscopic structure of the defect stroke, including the local defect topology and polarity. More generally, this work aims to develop biomimetic active matter based on the underlying relevance of topology.

Ying Wu,1 Jing Huang,1 Qin Wang,2 Mei Zhang,1 Yimin Luo,1 Xihua Wang,1 Xiaoli Zhu,1 Hongbing Liu21Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing 210002, People’s Republic of ChinaAbstract: Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare and aggressive mesenchymal tumor that often mimics thromboembolic disease. Due to its rare and fatal nature, patients are often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. There is still no consensus regarding the diagnosis and treatment of PAS. We present a case of a 63 year old male misdiagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism who received anticoagulant therapy. 18FDG positron emission tomography (PET) integrated with computed tomography (PET/CT) and subsequent surgery led to the final diagnosis of PAS. Whole exome sequencing of the tissue identified the genetic alterations profile of PAS: copy number variation (CNV) of KIT and mutations of TP53, PIK3CA, IL7R andATR. Treated with chemotherapy followed by anlotinib, the patient’s survival time was 8months after firm diagnosis. To our knowledge, anlotinib used as a treatment for PAS has not been reported.Keywords: pulmonary artery sarcoma, whole exome sequencing, anlotinib &nbsp

Colonialism is the single most powerful force shaping the world we dwell in. It is a policy of supremacy, which involves the subjugation of a superior country to another inferior country. Colonizing nations by and large are primary concerned with usurping the resources, labor, and markets of the colonial territory, and may, in the long run, impose socio-cultural, religious and linguistic structures on the indigenous population.. Shakespeare’s The Tempest is one the most prevailing plays in literature that reveals the elements of the colonial life, mainly through the relationship between the colonist Prospero and the native Caliban. This paper aimed to investigate the colonist’s attitude and the way he contemptuously looks at the native and the native’s rebellion and revolution against such maltreatment resulting in hatred, scorn, loath, cunning and enmity due to the feeling of settler’s superiority over aborigine’s inferiority. The study also investigated the dimensional aspects of such phenomenon that surprisingly became much more significant in the contemporary analysis. Key words: Colonialism, Prospero, Caliban, aboriginal, colonialist, settler.