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Light has profoundly impacted modern medicine and healthcare, with numerous luminescent agents and imaging techniques currently being used to assess health and treat diseases. As an emerging concept in luminescence, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has shown great potential in biological applications due to its advantages in terms of brightness, biocompatibility, photostability, and positive correlation with concentration. This review provides a comprehensive summary of AIE luminogens applied in imaging of biological structure and dynamic physiological processes, disease diagnosis and treatment, and detection and monitoring of specific analytes, followed by representative works. Discussions on critical issues and perspectives on future directions are also included. This review aims to stimulate the interest of researchers from different fields, including chemistry, biology, materials science, medicine, etc., thus promoting the development of AIE in the fields of life and health.

Light has profoundly impacted modern medicine and healthcare, with numerous luminescent agents and imaging techniques currently being used to assess health and treat diseases. As an emerging concept in luminescence, aggregation-induced emission (AIE) has shown great potential in biological applications due to its advantages in terms of brightness, biocompatibility, photostability, and positive correlation with concentration. This review provides a comprehensive summary of AIE luminogens applied in imaging of biological structure and dynamic physiological processes, disease diagnosis and treatment, and detection and monitoring of specific analytes, followed by representative works. Discussions on critical issues and perspectives on future directions are also included. This review aims to stimulate the interest of researchers from different fields, including chemistry, biology, materials science, medicine, etc., thus promoting the development of AIE in the fields of life and health. © 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.

X-ray-based analytics are routinely applied in many fields, including physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering. The full potential of such techniques in the life sciences and medicine, however, has not yet been fully exploited. We highlight current and upcoming advances in this direction. We describe different X-ray-based methodologies (including those performed at synchrotron light sources and X-ray free-electron lasers) and their potentials for application to investigate the nano-bio interface. The discussion is predominantly guided by asking how such methods could better help to understand and to improve nanoparticle-based drug delivery, though the concepts also apply to nano-bio interactions in general. We discuss current limitations and how they might be overcome, particularly for future use in vivo.

X-ray-based analytics are routinely applied in many fields, including physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering. The full potential of such techniques in the life sciences and medicine, however, has not yet been fully exploited. We highlight current and upcoming advances in this direction. We describe different X-ray-based methodologies (including those performed at synchrotron light sources and X-ray free-electron lasers) and their potentials for application to investigate the nano-bio interface. The discussion is predominantly guided by asking how such methods could better help to understand and to improve nanoparticle-based drug delivery, though the concepts also apply to nano-bio interactions in general. We discuss current limitations and how they might be overcome, particularly for future use in vivo.

Biological applications of nanomaterials as delivery carriers have been embedded in traditional biomedical research for decades. Despite lagging behind, recent significant breakthroughs in the use of nanocarriers as tools for plant biotechnology have created great interest. In this Perspective, we review the outstanding recent works in nanocarrier-mediated plant transformation and its agricultural applications. We analyze the chemical and physical properties of nanocarriers determining their uptake efficiency and transport throughout the plant body.

X-ray-based analytics are routinely applied in many fields, including physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering. The full potential of such techniques in the life sciences and medicine, however, has not yet been fully exploited. We highlight current and upcoming advances in this direction. We describe different X-ray-based methodologies (including those performed at synchrotron light sources and X-ray free-electron lasers) and their potentials for application to investigate the nano–bio interface. The discussion is predominantly guided by asking how such methods could better help to understand and to improve nanoparticle-based drug delivery, though the concepts also apply to nano–bio interactions in general. We discuss current limitations and how they might be overcome, particularly for future use in vivo.

Hydrazine sulphate was used as a reducing agent for the leaching of Li, Ni, Co and Mn from spent lithium-ion batteries. The effects of the reaction conditions on the leaching mechanism and kinetics were characterised and examined. 97% of the available Li, 96% of the available Ni, 95% of the available Co, and 86% of the available Mn are extracted under the following optimised conditions: sulphuric acid concentration of 2.0 mol/l, hydrazine sulphate dosage of 30 g/l, solid-to-liquid ratio of 50 g/l, temperature of 80 degrees C, and leaching time of 60 min. The activation energies of leaching are determined to be 44.32, 59.37 and 55.62 kJ/mol for Li, Ni and Co, respectively. By performing X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, it is confirmed that the main phase in the leaching residue is MnO2. The results show that hydrazine sulphate is an effective reducing agent in the acid leaching process for spent lithium-ion batteries. (Authors.), Hydrazine sulphate was used as a reducing agent for the leaching of Li, Ni, Co and Mn from spent lithium-ion batteries. The effects of the reaction conditions on the leaching mechanism and kinetics were characterised and examined. 97% of the available Li, 96% of the available Ni, 95% of the available Co, and 86% of the available Mn are extracted under the following optimised conditions: sulphuric acid concentration of 2.0 mol/l, hydrazine sulphate dosage of 30 g/l, solid-to-liquid ratio of 50 g/l, temperature of 80 degrees C, and leaching time of 60 min. The activation energies of leaching are determined to be 44.32, 59.37 and 55.62 kJ/mol for Li, Ni and Co, respectively. By performing X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, it is confirmed that the main phase in the leaching residue is MnO2. The results show that hydrazine sulphate is an effective reducing agent in the acid leaching process for spent lithium-ion batteries. (Authors.)

The ageing population trend is correlated with an increased prevalence of acquired cognitive impairments such as dementia. Although there is no cure for dementia, a timely diagnosis helps in obtaining necessary support and appropriate medication. Researchers are working urgently to develop effective technological tools that can help doctors undertake early identification of cognitive disorder. In particular, screening for dementia in ageing Deaf signers of British Sign Language (BSL) poses additional challenges as the diagnostic process is bound up with conditions such as quality and availability of interpreters, as well as appropriate questionnaires and cognitive tests. On the other hand, deep learning based approaches for image and video analysis and understanding are promising, particularly the adoption of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), which require large amounts of training data. In this paper, however, we demonstrate novelty in the following way: a) a multi-modal machine learning based automatic recognition toolkit for early stages of dementia among BSL users in that features from several parts of the body contributing to the sign envelope, e.g., hand-arm movements and facial expressions, are combined, b) universality in that it is possible to apply our technique to users of any sign language, since it is language independent, c) given the trade-off between complexity and accuracy of machine learning (ML) prediction models as well as the limited amount of training and testing data being available, we show that our approach is not over-fitted and has the potential to scale up.

Anthropogenic environments have been implicated in enrichment and exchange of antibiotic resistance genes and bacteria. Here we study the impact of confined and controlled swine farm environments on temporal changes in the gut microbiome and resistome of veterinary students with occupational exposure for 3 months. By analyzing 16S rRNA and whole metagenome shotgun sequencing data in tandem with culture-based methods, we show that farm exposure shapes the gut microbiome of students, resulting in enrichment of potentially pathogenic taxa and antimicrobial resistance genes. Comparison of students’ gut microbiomes and resistomes to farm workers’ and environmental samples revealed extensive sharing of resistance genes and bacteria following exposure and after three months of their visit. Notably, antibiotic resistance genes were found in similar genetic contexts in student samples and farm environmental samples. Dynamic Bayesian network modeling predicted that the observed changes partially reverse over a 4-6 month period. Our results indicate that acute changes in a human’s living environment can persistently shape their gut microbiota and antibiotic resistome.

Physical traits such as the shape of the hand and face can be used for human recognition and identification in video surveillance systems and in biometric authentication smart card systems, as well as in personal health care. However, the accuracy of such systems suffers from illumination changes, unpredictability, and variability in appearance (e.g. occluded faces or hands, cluttered backgrounds, etc.). This work evaluates different statistical and chrominance models in different environments with increasingly cluttered backgrounds where changes in lighting are common and with no occlusions applied, in order to get a reliable neural network reconstruction of faces and hands, without taking into account the structural and temporal kinematics of the hands. First a statistical model is used for skin colour segmentation to roughly locate hands and faces. Then a neural network is used to reconstruct in 3D the hands and faces. For the filtering and the reconstruction we have used the growing neural gas algorithm which can preserve the topology of an object without restarting the learning process. Experiments conducted on our own database but also on four benchmark databases (Stirling’s, Alicante, Essex, and Stegmann’s) and on deaf individuals from normal 2D videos are freely available on the BSL signbank dataset. Results demonstrate the validity of our system to solve problems of face and hand segmentation and reconstruction under different environmental conditions.

Physical traits such as the shape of the hand and face can be used for human recognition and identification in video surveillance systems and in biometric authentication smart card systems, as well as in personal health care. However, the accuracy of such systems suffers from illumination changes, unpredictability, and variability in appearance (e.g. occluded faces or hands, cluttered backgrounds, etc.). This work evaluates different statistical and chrominance models in different environments with increasingly cluttered backgrounds where changes in lighting are common and with no occlusions applied, in order to get a reliable neural network reconstruction of faces and hands, without taking into account the structural and temporal kinematics of the hands. First a statistical model is used for skin colour segmentation to roughly locate hands and faces. Then a neural network is used to reconstruct in 3D the hands and faces. For the filtering and the reconstruction we have used the growing neural gas algorithm which can preserve the topology of an object without restarting the learning process. Experiments conducted on our own database but also on four benchmark databases (Stirling’s, Alicante, Essex, and Stegmann’s) and on deaf individuals from normal 2D videos are freely available on the BSL signbank dataset. Results demonstrate the validity of our system to solve problems of face and hand segmentation and reconstruction under different environmental conditions.

The anisotropic two-dimensional (2D) layered material rhenium disulfide (ReSe2) has attracted considerable attention because of its unusual properties and promising applications in electronic and optoelectronic devices. However, because of its low lattice symmetry and interlayer decoupling, anisotropic growth and out-of-plane growth occur easily, yielding thick flakes, dendritic structure, or flower-like structure. In this study, we demonstrated a bottom-up method for the controlled and scalable synthesis of ReSe2 by van der Waals epitaxy. To achieve controllable growth, a micro-reactor with a confined reaction space was constructed by stacking two mica substrates in the chemical vapor deposition system. Within the confined reaction space, the nucleation density and growth rate of ReSe2 were significantly reduced, favoring the large-area synthesis of ReSe2 with a uniform monolayer thickness. The morphological evolution of ReSe2 with growth temperature indicated that the anisotropic growth was suppressed at a low growth temperature (<600 °C). Field-effect transistors employing the grown ReSe2 exhibited p-type conduction with a current ON/OFF ratio up to 105 and a hole carrier mobility of 0.98 cm2/(V·s). Furthermore, the ReSe2 device exhibited an outstanding photoresponse to near-infrared light, with responsivity up to 8.4 and 5.1 A/W for 850- and 940-nm light, respectively. This work not only promotes the large-scale application of ReSe2 in high-performance electronic devices but also clarifies the growth mechanism of low-lattice symmetry 2D materials. Keywords: rhenium diselenide (ReSe₂); epitaxial growth; high crystal quality; anisotropy; optoelectronics, National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grant DMR-1231319)

Jian-Wei Lin,1 Le-He Yang,2 Zhuo-Chao Ren,3 De-Guang Mu,3 Ya-Qing Li,3 Jian-Ping Yan,3 Liang-Xing Wang,4 Chun Chen31Department of Cardiology, Xiasha Campus, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325600, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of ChinaBackground: To evaluate the effects of resveratrol to monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in this process in vitro.Materials and methods: Animal acute pulmonarythromboembolism (PTE) model: rat model was established by infusion of an autologous blood clot into the pulmonary artery through a polyethylene catheter. One hundred and thirty-two rats were randomly and equally divided into ten groups: rats-control (untreated), rats-1% DMSO, rats-TNF-α, rats-TNF-α + resveratrol, rats-TNF-α +C1142, rats-TNF-α+SB203580, rats-TNF-α+resveratrol + SB203580, rats-resveratrol only, rats-C1142 only, and rats-SB203580 only. Rat pulmonary artery endothelial cells (RPAs) tests: RPAs were isolated from above animal and designated as: RPAs-control, RPAs-1% DMSO control, RPAs-TNF-α, RPAs-TNF-α + resveratrol, RPAs-TNF-α + C1142, RPAs-TNF-α + SB203580, RPAs-TNF-α + resveratrol + SB203580, RPAs-resveratrol only, RPAs-C1142 only, and RPAs-SB203580 only. Each group was further divided into 1, 4, and 8 hrs time point for evaluation (n=6 rats per time point) exc

Proper morphogenesis of dendrites plays a fundamental role in the establishment of neural circuits. The molecular mechanism by which dendrites grow highly complex branches is not well understood. Here, using the Caenorhabditis elegans PVD neuron, we demonstrate that high-order dendritic branching requires actin polymerization driven by coordinated interactions between two membrane proteins, DMA-1 and HPO-30, with their cytoplasmic interactors, the RacGEF TIAM-1 and the actin nucleation promotion factor WAVE regulatory complex (WRC). The dendrite branching receptor DMA-1 directly binds to the PDZ domain of TIAM-1, while the claudin-like protein HPO-30 directly interacts with the WRC. On dendrites, DMA-1 and HPO-30 form a receptor-associated signaling complex to bring TIAM-1 and the WRC to close proximity, leading to elevated assembly of F-actin needed to drive high-order dendrite branching. The synergistic activation of F-actin assembly by scaffolding distinct actin regulators might represent a general mechanism in promoting complex dendrite arborization.

Synaptic vesicle and active zone proteins are required for synaptogenesis. The molecular mechanisms for coordinated synthesis of these proteins are not understood. Using forward genetic screens, we identified the conserved THO nuclear export complex (THOC) as an important regulator of presynapse development in C. elegans dopaminergic neurons. In THOC mutants, synaptic messenger RNAs are retained in the nucleus, resulting in dramatic decrease of synaptic protein expression, near complete loss of synapses, and compromised dopamine function. CRE binding protein (CREB) interacts with THOC to mark synaptic transcripts for efficient nuclear export. Deletion of Thoc5, a THOC subunit, in mouse dopaminergic neurons causes severe defects in synapse maintenance and subsequent neuronal death in the substantia nigra compacta. These cellular defects lead to abrogated dopamine release, ataxia, and animal death. Together, our results argue that nuclear export mechanisms can select specific mRNAs and be a rate-limiting step for neuronal differentiation and survival.

Liang-Xing Fang,1,2,* Xing-Ping Li,1,2,* Liang Li,1,2 Mu-Ya Chen,1,2 Cai-Yan Wu,3 Lu-Lu Li,4 Xiao-Ping Liao,1,2 Ya-Hong Liu,1,2 Jian Sun1,2 1National Risk Assessment Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance of Animal Original Bacteria, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutics Development and Safety Evaluation, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Institute of Animal Health, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: CMY-2 is the most prevalent pAmpC β-lactamase, but the chromosomal blaCMY-2 gene transfer via horizontal transmission has been seldom reported. This study aimed to describe an ISEcp1-mediated transposition of a chromosomal blaCMY-2 gene from Escherichia coli into a small endogenous ColE1-like plasmid, resulting in elevated resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins. Methods: Three ESCs-resistant ST641 E. coli strains EC6413, EC4103 and EC5106 harbored the blaCMY-2 gene. S1- PFGE, I-ceu I-PFGE, Southern blotting and electroporation experiments were performed to investigate the location and transferability of blaCMY-2. The genetic context and gene expression of blaCMY-2 in the original isolates and the corresponding electroporants were explored by PCR mapping, primer walking strategy and RT-qPCR. Results: The blaCMY-2-containing region (ISEcp1-blaCMY-2-∆blc-∆yggR-∆tnp1-orf7-orf8-orf9-∆tnp2-∆hsdR) was transposed into endogenous ColE1-like plasmid pSC137 in the process of electroporation at very low frequencies (10–8–10–9). The transpositions resulted in novel larger blaCMY-2-harboring ColE1-like plasmid

The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic.

The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic.

The design and use of materials in the nanoscale size range for addressing medical and health-related issues continues to receive increasing interest. Research in nanomedicine spans a multitude of areas, including drug delivery, vaccine development, antibacterial, diagnosis and imaging tools, wearable devices, implants, high-throughput screening platforms, etc. using biological, nonbiological, biomimetic, or hybrid materials. Many of these developments are starting to be translated into viable clinical products. Here, we provide an overview of recent developments in nanomedicine and highlight the current challenges and upcoming opportunities for the field and translation to the clinic.

Zhou X, Chen X, Cai JJ, et al. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015;9: 4599–4611. On page 4600, the product type and source of the relaxin used in these experiments was missed from the ‘Materials and methods’ section. Under the subheading ‘Rat model of cardiac fibrosis’ the second paragraph should read: Rats were randomly divided into five groups (ten per group) for treatment: control; myocardial fibrosis (isoproterenol [Iso]); and low-, middle-, and high-dose RLX (0.2, 2, and 20 μg⋅kg-1⋅day-1, respectively). RLX was obtained from Peprotech, Rocky Hill, NJ, USA (product number 130-15). For the Iso-model, on days 1–6, Iso (5 mg⋅kg-1⋅d-1; Sigma-Aldrich Co., St Louis, MO, USA) was injected subcutaneously in the rats. In the therapeutic groups, Iso administration was the same as in the Iso-model group, and RLX at different concentrations (0.2, 2.0, and 20 μg⋅kg-1⋅day-1) were injected at the same time as Iso injection and lasted for 6 days, then RLX injection was continued for another 8 days. The same volume of saline was injected for controls.Read the original article.

Dense inorganic nanoparticles have recently been identified as promising radiosensitizers. In addition to dose enhancement through increased attenuation of ionizing radiation relative to biological tissue, scintillating nanoparticles can transfer energy to coupled photosensitizers to amplify production of reactive oxygen species, as well as provide UVvisible emission for optical imaging. Lanthanum fluoride is a transparent material that is easily prepared as nanocrystals, and which can provide radioluminescence at a number of wavelengths through simple substitution of lanthanum ions with other luminescent lanthanides. We have prepared lanthanum fluoride nanoparticles doped with cerium, terbium, or both, that have good spectral overlap with chlorine6 or Rose Bengal photosensitizer molecules. We have also developed a strategy for stable conjugation of the photosensitizers to the nanoparticle surface, allowing for high energy transfer efficiencies on a per molecule basis. Additionally, we have succeeded in making our conjugates colloidally stable under physiological conditions. Here we present our latest results, using nanoparticles and nanoparticle-photosensitizer conjugates to demonstrate radiation dose enhancement in B16 melanoma cells. The effects of nanoparticle treatment prior to 250 kVp x-ray irradiation were investigated through clonogenic survival assays and cell cycle analysis. Using a custom apparatus, we have also observed scintillation of the nanoparticles and conjugates under the same conditions that the cell samples are irradiated.

The Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film was prepared by a facile solution method without vacuum environment and toxic substance. The formation mechanism of the film was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and Raman scattering measurements. Through cyclic voltammetry and photo-electricity tests, the electrocatalytic activity of the prepared film as the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cell was also studied. The results show that the mixed precursor solution mainly consists of Cu2SnS3 nanoparticles and Zn ions. After 550 °C annealing process on the precursor film prepared from the mixed solution, Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film is obtained. Besides, it is found that the prepared Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film has the electrocatalytic activity toward the redox reaction of I3−/I− and the dye-sensitized solar cell with the prepared Cu2ZnSnS4 thin film as the counter electrode achieves the efficiency of 1.09%.

This paper presents a review of existing research on interface from the perspective of interactive relations. Interface has been discussed within the realm of user experience for some time. The developments of corresponding design rationale and methods have increased recently; however, they are often based on different definitions and varying designs of the respective objects. Understanding what interface is and why it is important to industrial design is the beginning of systematic interface research. The purpose of this study is to review the existing literature in China and summarize objects where consensus exists, while identifying areas for further research. In addition, the relational system of design based on interface theory and service interface based on intangible products are touched upon too. This review shows a clear consensus on the point of differences and similarities among different design objects. In reviewing industrial design, not much work could be found for describing these benefits of design based on the new perspective on the interface. The contributions of interface theory based on a relational system of design can be widely applied in related research and practice. Lastly, the study hopes to highlight the present inconsistencies in the field of industrial design and put forward some critical problems, which could lead to further research into this field.

This paper presents a review of existing research on interface from the perspective of interactive relations. Interface has been discussed within the realm of user experience for some time. The developments of corresponding design rationale and methods have increased recently; however, they are often based on different definitions and varying designs of the respective objects. Understanding what interface is and why it is important to industrial design is the beginning of systematic interface research. The purpose of this study is to review the existing literature in China and summarize objects where consensus exists, while identifying areas for further research. In addition, the relational system of design based on interface theory and service interface based on intangible products are touched upon too. This review shows a clear consensus on the point of differences and similarities among different design objects. In reviewing industrial design, not much work could be found for describing these benefits of design based on the new perspective on the interface. The contributions of interface theory based on a relational system of design can be widely applied in related research and practice. Lastly, the study hopes to highlight the present inconsistencies in the field of industrial design and put forward some critical problems, which could lead to further research into this field.

X Zhou,1 X Chen,2 JJ Cai,2 LZ Chen,3 YS Gong,4 LX Wang,5 Z Gao,1 HQ Zhang,1 WJ Huang,1 H Zhou1 1Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, 2Wenzhou Medical University, 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Wenzhou Central Hospital, 4Institute of Hypoxia Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, 5Department of Respiratory Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, People’s Republic of China Background: Relaxin (RLX) can prevent cardiac fibrosis. We aimed to investigate the possible mechanism and signal transduction pathway of RLX inhibiting cardiac fibrosis.Methods: Isoproterenol (5 mg·kg-1·d-1) was used to establish the cardiac fibrosis model in rats, which were administered RLX. The cardiac function, related targets of cardiac fibrosis, and endothelial–mesenchymal transition (EndMT) were measured. Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) was used to induce EndMT in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, which were pretreated with RLX, 200 ng·mL-1, then with the inhibitor of Notch. Transwell cell migration was used to evaluate cell migration. CD31 and vimentin content was determined by immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis. Notch protein level was examined by Western blot analysis.Results: RLX improved cardiac function in rats with cardiac fibrosis; it reduced the content of collagen I and III, increased the microvascular density of the myocardium, and suppressed the EndMT in heart tissue. In vitro, RLX decreased the mobility of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced by TGF-β, increased the expression of endothelial CD31, and decreased vimentin content. Compared to TGF-β and RLX co-culture alone, TGF-β + RLX + Notch inhibitor increased cell mobility and the EndMT, but decreased the levels of Notch-1, HES-1, and Jagged-1 proteins.Conclusion: RLX may inhibit the cardiac fibrosis via EndMT by Notch-med

Xiaowei Ma*, Huan Wang*, Shubin Jin, Yan Wu, Xing-Jie LiangLaboratory of Nanomedicine and Nanosafety, Division of Nanomedicine and Nanobiology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, People’s Republic of China; and CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this workBackground: There is an urgent need to develop drug-loaded biocompatible nanoscale packages with improved therapeutic efficacy for effective clinical treatment. To address this need, a novel poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-poly (lactide)-1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine [PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE)] copolymer was designed and synthesized to enable these nanoparticles to be pH responsive under pathological conditions.Methods: The structural properties and thermal stability of the copolymer was measured and confirmed by Fourier transform infrare d spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermogravimetric analysis. In order to evaluate its feasibility as a drug carrier, paclitaxel-loaded PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles were prepared using the emulsion-solvent evaporation method.Results: The PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles could be efficiently loaded with paclitaxel and controlled to release the drug gradually and effectively. In vitro release experiments demonstrated that drug release was faster at pH 5.0 than at pH 7.4. The anticancer activity of the PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles was measured in breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vivo and in vitro. In comparison with the free drug, the paclitaxel-loaded PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles could induce more significant tumor regression.Conclusion: This study indicates that PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles are promising carriers for hydrophobic drugs. This system can passively target cancer tissue and release drugs in a controllable manner, as determined by the pH value of the area in

A hybrid finite element model based on F-Trefftz kernels (fundamental solutions) is formulated for analyzing Dirichlet problems associated with two-dimensional nonlinear Poisson-type equations including nonlinear PoissonBoltzmann equation and diffusionreaction equation. The nonlinear force term in the Poisson-type equation is frozen by introducing the imaginary terms at each Picard iteration step, and then the induced Poisson problem is solved by the present hybrid finite element model involving element boundary integrals only, coupling with the particular solution method with radial basis function interpolation. The numerical accuracy of the present method is investigated by numerical experiments for problems with complex geometry and various nonlinear force functions.

Xiaowei Ma*, Huan Wang*, Shubin Jin, Yan Wu, Xing-Jie LiangLaboratory of Nanomedicine and Nanosafety, Division of Nanomedicine and Nanobiology, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, People’s Republic of China; and CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China *These authors contributed equally to this workBackground: There is an urgent need to develop drug-loaded biocompatible nanoscale packages with improved therapeutic efficacy for effective clinical treatment. To address this need, a novel poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-poly (lactide)-1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine [PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE)] copolymer was designed and synthesized to enable these nanoparticles to be pH responsive under pathological conditions.Methods: The structural properties and thermal stability of the copolymer was measured and confirmed by Fourier transform infrare d spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermogravimetric analysis. In order to evaluate its feasibility as a drug carrier, paclitaxel-loaded PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles were prepared using the emulsion-solvent evaporation method.Results: The PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles could be efficiently loaded with paclitaxel and controlled to release the drug gradually and effectively. In vitro release experiments demonstrated that drug release was faster at pH 5.0 than at pH 7.4. The anticancer activity of the PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles was measured in breast cancer MCF-7 cells in vivo and in vitro. In comparison with the free drug, the paclitaxel-loaded PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles could induce more significant tumor regression.Conclusion: This study indicates that PHEMA-g-(PLA-DPPE) nanoparticles are promising carriers for hydrophobic drugs. This system can passively target cancer tissue and release drugs in a controllable manner, as determined by the pH value of the area in

Despite considerable research related to lubrication with cavitation, significant simulation results and relative comparisons remain. To accomplish that, we make use of the finite element method which is seen as a better method to simulate lubrication with cavitation models such as the variational inequality model and the Elrod-Adams model. Different techniques are used during the process of resolution by the finite element method. A penalty method is used for the variational model and an iterative method is used for the Elrod-Adams model. Finally, some simulation results are presented to show dierent aspects of the two models.

Magnetomotive microscopy techniques are introduced to investigate cell dynamics and biomechanics. These techniques are based on magnetomotive transducers present in cells and optical coherence imaging techniques. In this study, magnetomotive transducers include magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and fluorescently labeled magnetic microspheres, while the optical coherence imaging techniques include integrated optical coherence (OCM)and multiphoton (MPM) microscopy,and diffraction phase microscopy (DPM). Samples used in this study are murine macrophage cells in culture that were incubated with magnetomotive transducers. MPMis used to visualize multifunctional microspheres based on their fluorescence, while magnetomotive OCM detects sinusoidal displacements of the sample induced by a magnetic field. DPM is used to image single cells at a lower frequency magnetic excitation, and with its Fourier transform light scattering (FTLS) analysis, oscillation amplitude is obtained, indicating the relative biomechanical properties of macrophage cells. These magnetomotive microscopy method shave potential to be used to image and measure cell dynamics and biomechanical properties. The ability to measure and understand biomechanical properties of cells and their microenvironments, especially for tumor cells, is of great importance and may provide insight for diagnostic and subsequently therapeutic interventions. © (2011) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Despite considerable research related to lubrication with cavitation, significant simulation results and relative comparisons remain. To accomplish that, we make use of the finite element method which is seen as a better method to simulate lubrication with cavitation models such as the variational inequality model and the Elrod-Adams model. Different techniques are used during the process of resolution by the finite element method. A penalty method is used for the variational model and an iterative method is used for the Elrod-Adams model. Finally, some simulation results are presented to show dierent aspects of the two models.

Magnetomotive microscopy techniques are introduced to investigate cell dynamics and biomechanics. These techniques are based on magnetomotive transducers present in cells and optical coherence imaging techniques. In this study, magnetomotive transducers include magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and fluorescently labeled magnetic microspheres, while the optical coherence imaging techniques include integrated optical coherence (OCM)and multiphoton (MPM) microscopy,and diffraction phase microscopy (DPM). Samples used in this study are murine macrophage cells in culture that were incubated with magnetomotive transducers. MPMis used to visualize multifunctional microspheres based on their fluorescence, while magnetomotive OCM detects sinusoidal displacements of the sample induced by a magnetic field. DPM is used to image single cells at a lower frequency magnetic excitation, and with its Fourier transform light scattering (FTLS) analysis, oscillation amplitude is obtained, indicating the relative biomechanical properties of macrophage cells. These magnetomotive microscopy method shave potential to be used to image and measure cell dynamics and biomechanical properties. The ability to measure and understand biomechanical properties of cells and their microenvironments, especially for tumor cells, is of great importance and may provide insight for diagnostic and subsequently therapeutic interventions. © (2011) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Magnetomotive microscopy techniques are introduced to investigate cell dynamics and biomechanics. These techniques are based on magnetomotive transducers present in cells and optical coherence imaging techniques. In this study, magnetomotive transducers include magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and fluorescently labeled magnetic microspheres, while the optical coherence imaging techniques include integrated optical coherence (OCM)and multiphoton (MPM) microscopy,and diffraction phase microscopy (DPM). Samples used in this study are murine macrophage cells in culture that were incubated with magnetomotive transducers. MPMis used to visualize multifunctional microspheres based on their fluorescence, while magnetomotive OCM detects sinusoidal displacements of the sample induced by a magnetic field. DPM is used to image single cells at a lower frequency magnetic excitation, and with its Fourier transform light scattering (FTLS) analysis, oscillation amplitude is obtained, indicating the relative biomechanical properties of macrophage cells. These magnetomotive microscopy method shave potential to be used to image and measure cell dynamics and biomechanical properties. The ability to measure and understand biomechanical properties of cells and their microenvironments, especially for tumor cells, is of great importance and may provide insight for diagnostic and subsequently therapeutic interventions. © (2011) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

This paper presents the dynamic characteristics of molten droplets and hot particles at the very beginning of their falling into coolant pools, which are of importance to the subsequent interactions such as fragmentation of the droplets in coolants. The falling course of a single droplet or a single hot particle was recorded by a high-speed camera and a curve of velocity vs. time was obtained. Emphasis was placed on the effects of the droplet's size and temperature, the coolant's temperature and properties, and the droplet's physical properties on the moving behavior. Tests with hot particles were also performed for a comparison with the droplets. The results for the all cases showed that the velocity of a falling droplet/particle decreased rapidly but rebounded shortly, at the beginning of droplet/particle falling in the coolant. Following such a V-shaped evolution in velocity, the droplet/particle slows down gradually till a comparatively steady velocity. An increase in either coolant temperature or droplet temperature results in a larger velocity variation in the "J-region", but a smaller deceleration after it moves out of the "J-region". The elevated volatility of a coolant leads to a steeper deceleration in the "J-region" and beyond. The bigger size of a particle leads to a greater velocity variation in the "J-region" and terminal velocity. A high melting point and thermal conductivity as well as lower heat capacity contribute to dramatic variation in the "J-region" and low terminal velocity., QC 20110405

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of different database management systems (DBMS) have been performed in order to identify and compare those which address requirements such as public domain licensing, free of charge, high product support, ADO .NET Entity Framework compatibility, good performance, referential integrity, among others. More than 20 existing database management systems have been selected as possible candidates. Qualitative analysis reduced that number to 4 candidates DBMSs (PostgreSQL, SQLite, Firebird and MySQL). Quantitative analysis has been used to test the performance of these 4 DBMSs while performing the most common structured query language (SQL) data manipulation statements (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE and SELECT). Referential integrity and easy to install were also evaluated for these 4 DBMSs. As results, Firebird is the most suitable DBMS which best addressed all desired requirements.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of different database management systems (DBMS) have been performed in order to identify and compare those which address requirements such as public domain licensing, free of charge, high product support, ADO .NET Entity Framework compatibility, good performance, referential integrity, among others. More than 20 existing database management systems have been selected as possible candidates. Qualitative analysis reduced that number to 4 candidates DBMSs (PostgreSQL, SQLite, Firebird and MySQL). Quantitative analysis has been used to test the performance of these 4 DBMSs while performing the most common structured query language (SQL) data manipulation statements (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE and SELECT). Referential integrity and easy to install were also evaluated for these 4 DBMSs. As results, Firebird is the most suitable DBMS which best addressed all desired requirements.

We transmit multilevel quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) data-IEEE 802.16 schemes-at 20 MSps and an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) 802.11 g signal (54 Mbps) with a 25 GHz millimeter-wave over fiber system, which employs a dual wavelength source, over 20 km of single mode fiber. Downlink data transmission is successfully demonstrated over both optical and wireless (up to 12 m) paths with good error vector magnitude. An analysis of two different schemes, in which data is applied to one (single) and both (dual) of the wavelengths of a dual wavelength source, is carried out. The system performance is analyzed through simulation and a good match with experimental results is obtained. The analysis investigates the impact of Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) and RF amplifier nonlinearity and various noise sources, such as laser relative intensity noise, amplified spontaneous emission, thermal, and shot noise. A comparison of single carrier QAM IEEE 802.16 and OFDM in terms of their sensitivity to the distortions from MZM and RF amplifier nonlinearity is also presented.