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The huge amount of data enforces great pressure on the processing efficiency of database systems. By leveraging the in-situ computing ability of emerging nonvolatile memory, processing-in-memory (PIM) technology shows great potential in accelerating database operations against traditional architectures without data movement overheads. In this article, we introduce ReSQM, a novel ReCAM-based accelerator, which can dramatically reduce the response time of database systems. The key novelty of ReSQM is that some commonly used database queries that would be otherwise processed inefficiently in previous studies can be in-situ accomplished with massively high parallelism by exploiting the PIM-enabled ReCAM array. ReSQM supports some typical database queries (such as SELECTION, SORT, and JOIN) effectively based on the limited computational mode of the ReCAM array. ReSQM is also equipped with a series of hardware-algorithm co-designs to maximize efficiency. We present a new data mapping mechanism that allows enjoying in-situ in-memory computations for SELECTION operating upon intermediate results. We also develop a count-based ReCAM-specific algorithm to enable the in-memory sorting without any row swapping. The relational comparisons are integrated for accelerating inequality join by making a few modifications to the ReCAM cells with negligible hardware overhead. The experimental results show that ReSQM can improve the (energy) efficiency by $611\times $ ($193\times $), $19\times $ ($17\times $), $59\times $ ($43\times $), and $307\times $ ($181\times $) in comparison to a 10-core Intel Xeon E5-2630v4 processor for SELECTION, SORT, equi-join, and inequality join, respectively. In contrast to state-of-the-art CMOS-based CAM, GPU, FPGA, NDP, and PIM solutions, ReSQM can also offer $2.2\times 39\times $ speedups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have reported that thermal aging of insulation paper affects its moisture absorption property, which can affect moisture equilibrium in oil-paper insulation. In engineering practice, Fessler's model is one of the most widely used methods to estimate the moisture content of paper through measurement of moisture content of oil. However, this model lacks consideration of the thermal aging effect on equilibrium moisture. This study comprehensively investigated the effect of thermal aging on moisture equilibrium in oil-paper insulation. Based on the accelerated ageing and moisture measurements, the equilibrium moisture content of insulation paper with different aging and temperatures were obtained. The effects of aging condition and the temperature on equilibrium moisture are discussed and Fessler's model was modified accordingly. The results show that: 1) the decreasing of specific surface area is the dominant factor that affects the moisture equilibrium in oil-paper insulation, which is caused by thermal aging; 2) the modified Fessler model is reasonable and suitable to estimate the equilibrium moisture content of insulation paper with different aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal aging of insulation paper has obvious effects on its moisture absorption property. The presented studies aim to investigating the effects of aging on moisture diffusion in oil-immersed insulation paper. Based on the experimental designs and preparation of experimental materials, the transient moisture contents of insulation paper with different aging status were obtained at different conditions. Then, the experimental results were discussed. Furthermore, the diffusion factors and equilibrium time constants were extracted based on the model of moisture diffusion in oil-immersed insulation paper, which are applicable to our studies. Finally, the effects of thermal aging on the diffusion factor and equilibrium time constant were analyzed. The results show that: 1) With the aging of insulation paper, the rate of moisture absorption increases, and the equilibrium moisture content of insulation paper decreases at the same temperature. Besides, the equilibrium time constant decreases with aging at the same temperature. 2) Considering the effects of aging, thickness of insulation paper and temperature, the empirical expression of diffusion factor was obtained and verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our knowledge in how extracellular vesicles (EVs) are secreted from cells remains inadequate due to the limited technologies available for visualizing them in situ . We report a pH-reversible boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) fluorescent probe for confocal imaging of EVs secreted from living cells without inducing severe cytotoxicity. This probe predominantly assumes a non-fluorescent leuco-BODIPY form under basic conditions, but it gradually switches to its fluorescent parent BODIPY form upon acidification; such pH transition empowers the imaging of acidic EVs (such as CD81-enriched exosomes and extracellular multivesicular bodies) in weakly basic culture medium and intracellular acidic precursor EVs in weakly basic cytoplasm, with minimal false positive signals frequently encountered for "always-on" dyes. Joint application of this probe with plasmid transfection reveals the secretion of some EVs from cellular pseudopodia via microtubule trackways. This probe may provide mechanistic insights into the extracellular transport of EVs and support the development of EV-based nanomedicines.

Nanosubstrate engineering is an established approach for modulating cellular responses, but it remains infrequently exploited to facilitate the intracellular delivery of nanoparticles (NPs). We report nanoscale roughness of the extracellular environment as a critical parameter for regulating the cellular uptake of NPs. After seeding cells atop a substrate that contains randomly immobilized gold NPs (termed AuNP-S) with sub-10 nm surface roughness, we demonstrate that such cells internalize up to ∼100-fold more poly(ethylene glycol)-coated AuNPs (Au@PEG NPs) than those cells seeded on a conventional flat culture plate. Our result is generalizable to 4 different cell types and Au@PEG NPs modified with 13 different hydrocarbyl functional groups. Conditioning cells to AuNP-S not only leads to upregulation of clathrin- and integrin-related genes, but also supports elevated uptake of Au@PEG NPs via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Our data suggest a simple and robust method for boosting the intracellular delivery of nanomedicines by nanosubstrate engineering.

Advances in DNA nanotechnology empower the programmable assembly of DNA building blocks (oligonucleotides and plasmids) into DNA nanostructures with precise architectural control. As DNA nanostructures are biocompatible and can naturally enter mammalian cells without the aid of transfection agents, they have found numerous biological or biomedical applications as delivery carriers of therapeutic and imaging cargoes into mammalian cells for at least a decade. Nevertheless, mechanistic studies on how DNA nanostructures interact with cells have remained limited and incomprehensive until 2-3 years ago. This Review presents the recent progress in elucidating the "cell-nano" interactions of DNA nanostructures, with an emphasis on three key classes of structures commonly utilized in intracellular applications: tile-based structures, origami-based structures, and nanoparticle-templated structures. Structural parameters of DNA nanostructures and strategies of biochemical modification for promoting intracellular delivery are discussed. Biological mechanisms for cellular uptake, including specific pathways and receptors involved, are outlined. Routes of intracellular trafficking and degradation, together with strategies for re-directing their trafficking, are delineated. This Review concludes with several aspects of the "bio-nano" interactions of DNA nanostructures that warrant future investigations., (© 2019 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)