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The aim of this superiority trial was to investigate the clinical outcomes of arthrocentesis as an early treatment supported by use of an occlusal splint vs use of an occlusal splint only in the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthralgia.

Chemotherapy is one of the main treatments for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), especially as a combined modality approach with and after surgery or radiotherapy. Limited therapeutic efficiency and serious side effects greatly restrict the clinical performance of chemotherapeutic drugs. The development of smart nanomedicines has provided new research directions, to some extent. However, the involvement of complex carrier compositions inevitably brings biosafety concerns and greatly limits the “bench-to-bed” translation of most nanomedicines reported. In this study, a carrier-free self-assembled prodrug was fabricated by two triterpenes (glycyrrhetinic acid, GA and ginsenoside Rh2, Rh2) isolated from medicinal plants, licorice, and ginseng, for the targeted and highly effective treatment of OSCC. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) self-supplied molecule TK-GA2was synthesized with ROS-responsive thioketal linker and prodrug was prepared by a rapid-solvent-exchange method with TK-GA2and Rh2. After administration, oral tumor cells transported large amounts of prodrugs with glucose ligands competitively. Endogenous ROS in oral tumor cells then promoted the release of GA and Rh2. GA further evoked the generation of a large number of ROS to help self-boosted drug release and increase oxidative stress, synergistically causing tumor cell apoptosis with Rh2. Overall, this carrier-free triterpene-based prodrug might provide a preeminent opinion on the design of effective chemotherapeutics with low systemic toxicity against OSCC.

Enzymatic processes coupled with continuous microfluidic techniques have significant application prospects in pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. It is important to stably load enzymes in microreactors. This study reported a sol–gel method for preparing wall-coated immobilized enzyme microreactors (W-IMERs) by entrapment of Candida antarcticalipase B (CALB). The W-IMERs were simply constructed in one step by a flow coating process in a capillary. Compared with the free enzyme, the tolerance of immobilized enzyme to ethanol and temperature is significantly improved, and the yield of immobilized enzyme activity is 76.12% in the batch reactor. In W-IMERs, the yield of immobilized enzyme activity increased to 82.95%. The W-IMERs maintained stable activity in 10 cycles for up to 30 days. A CFD model was also established to explore the relationship between the internal reaction and the mass transfer in W-IMERs. The relationship between the internal and external diffusion limits of W-IMERs and the overall reaction rate was analyzed by dimensionless numbers. The results indicated that sol–gel flow coating is a simple and effective method for the preparation of enzymatic microreactors. An in-depth understanding of the relationship between diffusion limitation and reaction rate will have a significant impact on the overall performance of enzyme-catalyzed microreactors.

ABSTRACT The degree of deterioration in the structural capacity of a pavement is an important indicator of its performance. Conventional falling weight deflectometer, which assesses pavement capacity based on the [...]

Random Walk is a basic algorithm to explore the structure of networks, which can be used in many tasks, such as local community detection and network embedding. Existing random walk methods are based on single networks that contain limited information. In contrast, real data often contain entities with different types or/and from different sources, which are comprehensive and can be better modeled by multiple networks. To take the advantage of rich information in multiple networks and make better inferences on entities, in this study, we propose random walk on multiple networks, $\mathsf {RWM}$RWM. $\mathsf {RWM}$RWM is flexible and supports both multiplex networks and general multiple networks, which may form many-to-many node mappings between networks. $\mathsf {RWM}$RWM sends a random walker on each network to obtain the local proximity (i.e., node visiting probabilities) w.r.t. the starting nodes. Walkers with similar visiting probabilities reinforce each other. We theoretically analyze the convergence properties of $\mathsf {RWM}$RWM. Two approximation methods with theoretical performance guarantees are proposed for efficient computation. We apply $\mathsf {RWM}$RWM in link prediction, network embedding, and local community detection. Comprehensive experiments conducted on both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of $\mathsf {RWM}$RWM.

ABSTRACT This study investigates the internal curing effects on the microstructure and permeability of interface transition zones (ITZ) in cement mortar samples with SEM imaging, transport simulation, and hydration modeling [...]

ABSTRACT This study investigates the internal-frost damage due to the development of ice crystallization pressure in the capillary pores of concrete. The SEM imaging analysis, microdamage modeling and ultrasonic wave [...]

Real-time monitoring of the running states of processing equipment is essential for the stability and safety of unit operations in chemical engineering. In this study, an acoustic signal-based method is proposed for recognizing fluid flow states in distillation columns. This method could accurately identify various fluid flow states in distillation columns, including dispersion, flooding, and weeping states. First, acoustic signals corresponding to various fluid flow states were recorded in various columns. Then, the characteristic parameters of these acoustic signals, including the short-time-averaged energy (STAE), linear predictive cepstral coefficients, and Mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), were extracted and fused from the time, frequency, and cepstrum domains. Finally, a multi-classification support vector machine (MSVM) model was coupled with the characteristic parameters to recognize the fluid flow states in distillation columns. The MSVM based on the STAE + MFCC characteristics yielded the highest identification accuracy (97.25%).

AbstractEvaluation of scour depth is essential but challenging for the design and surveillance of bridges. The current engineering practice is primarily based on empirical equations. However, without considering geomechanics concepts, these methods are not always reliable, especially when utilised under different geological conditions. This paper introduces a new approach based on the geomechanical equilibrium concept, i.e. erosive force versus the erosion resistance. This analysis procedure incorporates the geomechanics concepts, and it can be solved by coupling computational fluid dynamics and soil particles. Based on numerical investigations considering soil particles, cases of scour prediction considering soil layer distributions have been carried out. With this concept, scour processes in layer-distributed soils and under different flood consequences have been analysed. It can be applied to investigate the scour process considering layered soils with different erosion resistance distributions and various hydraulic conditions. It is found that the proposed model can provide reliable results and explain a few scour phenomena, which are difficult to explain with traditional models.

This study aims to evaluate the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX)—on esophageal cancer (EC) via regulating long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) metastasis‐associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1). The effect of DEX on MALAT1 expression and EC cell viability was detected. EC cells were divided into Blank, DEX, scrambled/MALAT1 siRNA, and DEX + control/MALAT1 groups, followed by a series of experiments including quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR), western blotting, 3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), Annexin V‐FITC/PI staining, wound healing, and Transwell assays. Additionally, mice were subjected to the subcutaneous injection of Eca109 cells transfected by control/MALAT1 activation lentiviral vector to construct EC models with the DEX treatment, and then the tumor volume and the expression of Ki‐67 and active caspase‐3 were determined. DEX reduced the expression of MALAT1 in EC cells in a dose‐dependent manner. DEX inhibited the viability of EC cells, but increased the cell apoptosis, which, however, was reversed by MALAT1 overexpression. Moreover, MALAT1 overexpression abolished the inhibitory effect of DEX on the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of EC cells, with enhanced migration and invasion. Furthermore, DEX succeeded in decreasing the tumor volume with the down‐regulation of MALAT1. In comparison with the DEX group, mice in the DEX + MALAT1 group had larger tumors, with the up‐regulation of Ki‐67 and the down‐regulation of active caspase‐3. DEX can reduce the expression of MALAT1 in EC cells, thereby inhibiting the proliferation, invasion and migration, as well as EMT, and promoting the apoptosis of EC cells.

Byline: Wang. Shaobin, Xiong. Yu, Lin. Jiatian, Chen. Zaizhong, Dai. Luping, Chen. Junhui Aims: To analyze the changes of CD4[sup]+ T-cell subsets following radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in lung cancer and [...]

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a serious complication associated with antiresorptive and antiangiogenic medications, of which impaired angiogenesis is a key pathological alteration. Since Magnesium (Mg)-based implants possess proangiogenic effects, we hypothesized that the biodegradable Mg implant could alleviate the development of MRONJ via enhancing angiogenesis.

ABSTRACTGastric cancer (GC) is a tumor with high incidence and lack of early diagnostic markers. The aim of this study was to explore novel regulatory circular RNAs (circRNAs) in GC and their underlying mechanisms. Differentially expressed circRNAs were analyzed using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). mRNA and miRNA expression levels were determined using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Protein expression was detected using Western blotting. Cellular functions were evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry analysis. Immunofluorescence analysis was used to visually identify microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) puncta on a per-cell basis. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays were performed to verify the interaction between microRNA (miR)-182 and circ_0001658/Ras-related protein Rab-10 (RAB10). Circ_0001658 was identified to be aberrantly expressed in GC tissues and was demonstrated in GC cell lines (AGS and HGC27) in vitro. MiR-182 bound to circ_0001658 and RAB10. Circ_0001658 and RAB10 were upregulated, whereas miR-182 was suppressed in AGS and HGC27 cells. GC cell viability and autophagy were inhibited and apoptosis was promoted after circ_0001658 knockdown, and the cellular functions were reversed by downregulating miR-182. Moreover, upregulated RAB10 neutralized the effects of miR-182 on cell viability, autophagy, and apoptosis of GC cells. Silencing circ_0001658 restrained cell viability, suppressed autophagy, and promoted apoptosis of GC cells by sponging miR-182 to suppress the expression of RAB10. Therefore, circ_0001658 may be a potential therapeutic target for GC.

The rapid increase in both the quantity and complexity of data that are being generated daily in the field of environmental science and engineering (ESE) demands accompanied advancement in data analytics. Advanced data analysis approaches, such as machine learning (ML), have become indispensable tools for revealing hidden patterns or deducing correlations for which conventional analytical methods face limitations or challenges. However, ML concepts and practices have not been widely utilized by researchers in ESE. This feature explores the potential of ML to revolutionize data analysis and modeling in the ESE field, and covers the essential knowledge needed for such applications. First, we use five examples to illustrate how ML addresses complex ESE problems. We then summarize four major types of applications of ML in ESE: making predictions; extracting feature importance; detecting anomalies; and discovering new materials or chemicals. Next, we introduce the essential knowledge required and current shortcomings in ML applications in ESE, with a focus on three important but often overlooked components when applying ML: correct model development, proper model interpretation, and sound applicability analysis. Finally, we discuss challenges and future opportunities in the application of ML tools in ESE to highlight the potential of ML in this field.

Treatment of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been challenging due to a lack of well-defined molecular targets. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is known to be activated in many TNBC patients and BCL9 and BCL9L are important transcriptional co-activators of β-catenin, but whether inhibition of BCL9/BCL9L can suppress TNBC growth and the underlying mechanism are not fully understood. Here we demonstrate that the expression of BCL9 and BCL9L is directly correlated with malignancy in TNBC patient tumors and that BCL9 and BCL9L promote tumor cell growth, cell migration and metastasis in TNBC models. Mechanistically, we found that BCL9/BCL9L promotes tumorigenicity through both the Wnt and TGF-β pathways. Besides, BCL9/BCL9L expression inversely correlates with CD8+T cell infiltration in TNBC and BCL9/BCL9L inhibits the infiltration of CD8+T cells in the tumor microenvironment. hsBCL9CT-24, an inhibitor of BCL9/β-catenin peptides, promotes intratumoral infiltration of cytotoxic T cells, reducing regulatory T cells (Treg) and increasing dendritic cells (DCs). Inhibition of BCL9/BCL9L and TGF-β suppresses activity of Treg. TGF-β signaling increases tumor infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+T cells. In accordance, genetic or pharmacological inhibition of BCL9/BCL9L synergizes with PD-1/L1 antibodies to inhibit tumor growth. In summary, these results suggest that targeting BCL9/BCL9L has a direct anti-tumor effect and also unleashes an anti-cancer immune response through inhibition of both Wnt and TGF-β signaling, suggesting a viable therapeutic approach for TNBC treatment.

The approach coupling computational fluid dynamics and a population balance model (PBM) was adopted to simulate the hydraulic performance of liquid–liquid dispersions in a pump-mixer. Behaviors of the drop breakage and coalescence were considered in the PBM. To validate simulation methods and strategies, simulated drop size distributions were compared with experimental data and a good agreement was obtained. Flow structures in the pump-mixer were analyzed and two recirculation loops were observed. Holdup profiles reveal that the dispersed phase is unevenly distributed in space, which is more obvious at lower rotating speeds. Simulation results show that breakup regions are mainly located near the impeller where high energy dissipation rates exist, while coalescence regions were observed in the whole mixer. Distributions of the drop mean diameter were displayed. It indicated that the drop size is uniformly distributed in space at higher rotating speeds.

Highway agencies frequently encounter problems caused by sulfate-induced heave in lime- and cement-treated subgrades. A thorough evaluation of sulfate-related risks for subgrades involves time-consuming laboratory tests. A real-time monitoring of the sulfate heaving phenomenon in the test section in the real field environment would provide a quick performance evaluation of sulfate soils treated with chemical additives. This would help transportation agencies in producing resilient pavements with low maintenance issues. This article presents an innovative hybrid sensor comprising a bender element and time domain reflectometry that can evaluate sulfate-related heave in real time. The new sensor was calibrated in the laboratory by studying the strength and stiffness behavior of three chemically treated high-sulfate soils. Following laboratory calibration, the sensor was embedded in lime-treated field sections, where the changes in moisture and stiffness were monitored simultaneously in real time. Field testing proved that the sensor was able to provide data to assess sulfate-induced heaving in the field. This article details the development of this sensor that can save millions of dollars for transportation agencies in the better stabilization design for sulfate soils.

Craniomaxillofacial reconstruction implants, which are extensively used in head and neck surgery, are conventionally made in standardized forms. During surgery, the implant must be bended manually to match the anatomy of the individual bones. The bending process is time-consuming, especially for inexperienced surgeons. Moreover, repetitive bending may induce undesirable internal stress concentration, resulting in fatigue under masticatory loading in vivoand causing various complications such as implant fracture, screw loosening, and bone resorption. There have been reports on the use of patient-specific 3D-printed implants for craniomaxillofacial reconstruction, although few reports have considered implant quality. In this paper, we present a systematic approach for making 3D-printed patient-specific surgical implants for craniomaxillofacial reconstruction. The approach consists of three parts: First, an easy-to-use design module is developed using Solidworks® software, which helps surgeons to design the implants and the axillary fixtures for surgery. Design engineers can then carry out the detailed design and use finite-element modeling (FEM) to optimize the design. Second, the fabrication process is carried out in three steps: ① testing the quality of the powder; ② setting up the appropriate process parameters and running the 3D printing process; and ③ conducting post-processing treatments (i.e., heat and surface treatments) to ensure the quality and performance of the implant. Third, the operation begins after the final checking of the implant and sterilization. After the surgery, postoperative rehabilitation follow-up can be carried out using our patient tracking software. Following this systematic approach, we have successfully conducted a total of 41 surgical cases. 3D-printed patient-specific implants have a number of advantages; in particular, their use reduces surgery time and shortens patient recovery time. Moreover, the presented approach helps to ensure implant quality.

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a widely used photocatalyst that can oxidize motor vehicle exhaust, for example, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, and sulfur dioxide, under the irradiation of sunlight. It has been reported that nano-scale TiO2particles can be effectively used to modify the concrete-asphalt pavement, and make it as a photocatalytic pavement. However, the pure TiO2additive limits its absorption spectrum to the ultraviolet region, which only occupies a small portion of sunlight irradiance. To increase the utilization of the full spectrum of sunlight, it has been demonstrated that doping TiO2with substances such as Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), or metal can reduce the band-gap and extend the threshold of the absorption spectrum to the visible light region. Therefore, doped-TiO2has a better photocatalytic performance under sunlight irradiation. This paper conducted computational simulation of the kinetics of photocatalytic pavement to quantify the efficiency of doped-TiO2embedded pavement in reducing exhaust gas from motor vehicles. A three-dimensional model is developed on a section of local road with doped-TiO2embedded pavement. The effects of doped-TiO2concentration, daylight conditions, and traffic flow conditions on the removal of NOxand CO were studied. The results indicate that the pavement with doped-TiO2coating is effective to remove CO and NOxunder different traffic density and daylight intensity conditions. Compared with UV activated TiO2, visible-light-activated doped-TiO2features significantly higher removal efficiency of poisonous exhaustive gas including NOxand CO.

This paper describes the development of a random finite element model that allows holistic simulation of the phase transition and consequent development of internal stress and volume changes in frozen soils. The simulation capabilities of the model are first validated with laboratory scale experiments. The validated model is then implemented to study the soil lateral stress on the retaining wall subjected to frost action. The results show that the frost action leads to an increase of lateral stresses along the retaining wall. Strategies to mitigate the frost loads on the retaining wall are analyzed with this model; drainage of water in the backfill and use of thermal insulation layer both help to mitigate the lateral frost loads. Overall, by accounting for the spatial nonhomogeneity and coupled thermo-mechanical responses in frozen soils, the model provides holistic simulation of the responses of retaining walls subjected to freezing conditions.

In this study, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was adopted to calculate axial dispersion coefficients of annular pulsed disc and doughnut columns (APDDCs). Passive tracer was uniformly injected by pulse input at the continuous phase inlet, and its concentration governing equation was solved in liquid–liquidtwo-phase flow fields. The residence time distributions (RTDs) were obtained using the surface monitoring technique. The adopted RTD–CFD method was verified by comparing the axial dispersion coefficient between simulation and experimental results in the literature. However, in pilot-scale APDDCs, the axial dispersion coefficients predicted by the CFD–RTD method were approximately three times larger than experimental results determined by the steady-state concentration profile method. This experimental method was demonstrated to be insensitive to the variation of the axial dispersion coefficient. The CFD–RTD method was more recommended to determine the axial dispersion coefficient. It was found that the axial dispersion coefficient increased with an increase in pulsation intensity, column diameter, and plate spacing, but was little affected by the throughput.

In this study, augmented computational fluid dynamic–population balance model (CFD–PBM) simulations were carried out to predict hydrodynamics in pulsed disc and doughnut columns (PDDC) with wettable internal plates. The droplet breakage and droplet–liquid layer interaction submodels were integrated to construct an augmented PBM, which was embedded in the CFD to calculate droplet-size distributions (DSD). It was found that the augmented PBM-predicted DSDs are better than the PBM with only the breakage submodel. The influences arising from the wettability of internal plates should be carefully considered. In a pilot-scale PDDC with wettable internal plates, the augmented CFD–PBM simulation results indicated that the shape of DSDs changed little with an increase in the throughput from 80 to 200 L/(dm2·h), but was significantly influenced by the pulsation intensity as it increased from 0.0065 to 0.0125 m/s.

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

The operational state of distillation columns significantly impacts product quality and production efficiency. However, due to the complex operation and diverse influencing factors, ensuring the safety and efficient operation of the distillation columns becomes paramount. This research combines passive acoustic monitoring with artificial intelligence techniques, proposed a technology based on residual network (ResNet), which involves the transformation of the acoustic signals emitted by three distillation columns under different operating states. The acoustic signals were initially in one-dimensional waveform format and then converted into two-dimensional Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients spectrogram database using fast Fourier transform. Ultimately, this database was employed to train a ResNet for the purpose of identifying the operational states of the distillation columns. Through this approach, the operational states of distillation columns were monitored. Various faults, including flooding, entrainment, dry-tray, etc., were diagnosed with an accuracy of 98.91%. Moreover, an intermediate transitional state between normal operation and fault was identified and accurately recognized by the proposed method. Under the transitional state, the acoustic signals achieved an accuracy of 97.85% on the ResNet, which enables early warnings before faults occur, enhancing the safety of chemical production processes. The approach presents a powerful tool for the monitoring and diagnosis of chemical equipment, particularly distillation columns, ensuring the safety and efficiency.

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) free flap has become a workhorse for head and neck reconstruction. This paper offers a thorough introduction to the ALT flap, covering its anatomy, surgical technique, adaptable designs, and use in a range of clinical settings along with case studies. With its long vascular pedicle and tissue versatility, the ALT flap is well-suited for matching varied defects. Still, understanding possible anatomic variances and managing complications are critical to its success. With this paper as a comprehensive guidance, surgeons can apply the ALT flap for difficult head and neck reconstructions and achieve the best possible results.

A significant number of landslides occur in cold regions because of freezing and thawing cycles. The instability of thawing slopes can cause serious damage to transportation infrastructure and property, and even loss of human life. This type of landslide is difficult to analyze by the traditional limit-equilibrium methods, however, because of the complicated multi-physics processes involved. This paper describes a holistic microstructure-based random finite element model (RFEM) to simulate the stability of a thawing slope. The RFEM model is developed to simulate the bulk behaviors of frozen and unfrozen soils based on the behaviors of individual phases. The phase coded image of a frozen silty clay is first custom built and then converted into a finite element model. The mechanical behaviors of individual phases of the frozen soil are calibrated by uniaxial compressive test. The triaxial test is then simulated by RFEM to obtain the shear strength parameters of frozen and unfrozen soils. Coupled thermal-mechanical REFM models are developed to simulate the effects of temperature on the displacement field and stress field in the slope. From the results, the local factor of safety field can be determined. The development of local factor of safety and potential failure surface associated with the thawing process over a typical year are simulated by this new model. The variations in the stability of thawing slopes predicted by this model are consistent with field observations as well as the global-wise slope stability analysis.

A hydrothermal method using tetrabutyl titanate and KOH as reactants for synthesis of K2Ti6O13 nanowires was developed, obtaining nanowires with a uniform diameter around 10nm. It is shown that the hydrothermal temperature and the KOH concentration have little influence in tuning the growth of K2Ti6O13 nanowires. By changing the time for hydrothermal reaction, the length of K2Ti6O13 nanowires can be controlled from several dozen of nanometers to several hundreds of nanometers. The as-prepared K2Ti6O13 nanowires exhibit a wide and strong absorption band in the ultraviolet range (around 200~300 nm), and stable photocurrent of 0.5μA/cm2, which might suggest potential applications in solar cell and water splitting.

Frost heave can cause serious damage to civil infrastructure. For example, interactions of soil and water pipes under frozen conditions have been found to significantly accelerate pipe fracture. Frost heave may cause the retaining walls along highways to crack and even fail in cold climates. This paper describes a holistic model to simulate the temperature, stress, and deformation in frozen soil and implement a model to simulate frost heave and stress on water pipelines. The frozen soil behaviors are based on a microstructure-based random finite element model, which holistically describes the mechanical behaviors of soils subjected to freezing conditions. The new model is able to simulate bulk behaviors by considering the microstructure of soils. The soil is phase coded and therefore the simulation model only needs the corresponding parameters of individual phases. This significantly simplifies obtaining the necessary parameters for the model. The capability of the model in simulating the temperature distribution and volume change are first validated with laboratory scale experiments. Coupled thermal-mechanical processes are introduced to describe the soil responses subjected to sub-zero temperature on the ground surface. This subsequently changes the interaction modes between ground and water pipes and leads to increase of stresses on the water pipes. The effects of cracks along a water pipe further cause stress concentration, which jeopardizes the pipe’s performance and leads to failure. The combined effects of freezing ground and traffic load are further evaluated with the model.

Hydraulic conductivity and soil-water retention are two critical soil properties describing the fluid flow in unsaturated soils. Existing experimental procedures tend to be time consuming and labor intensive. This paper describes a heuristic approach that combines a limited number of experimental measurements with a computational model with random finite element to significantly accelerate the process. A microstructure-based model is established to describe unsaturated soils with distribution of phases based on their respective volumetric contents. The model is converted into a finite element model, in which the intrinsic hydraulic properties of each phase (soil particle, water, and air) are applied based on the microscopic structures. The bulk hydraulic properties are then determined based on discharge rate using Darcy’s law. The intrinsic permeability of each phase of soil is first calibrated from soil measured under dry and saturated conditions, which is then used to predict the hydraulic conductivities at different extents of saturation. The results match the experimental data closely. Mualem’s equation is applied to fit the pore size parameter based on the hydraulic conductivity. From these, the soil-water characteristic curve is predicted from van Genuchten’s equation. The simulation results are compared with the experimental results from documented studies, and excellent agreements were observed. Overall, this study provides a new modeling-based approach to predict the hydraulic conductivity function and soil-water characteristic curve of unsaturated soils based on measurement at complete dry or completely saturated conditions. An efficient way to measure these critical unsaturated soil properties will be of benefit in introducing unsaturated soil mechanics into engineering practice.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a developing class of natural and synthetic oligopeptides with host defense mechanisms against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. With in‐depth research on the structural conformations of AMPs, synthesis or modification of peptides has shown great potential in effectively obtaining new therapeutic agents with improved physicochemical and biological properties. Notably, AMPs with self‐assembled properties have gradually become a hot research topic for various biomedical applications. Compared to monomeric peptides, these peptides can exist in diverse forms (e.g., nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanofibers) and possess several advantages, such as high stability, good biocompatibility, and potent biological functions, after forming aggregates under specific conditions. In particular, the stability and antibacterial property of these AMPs can be modulated by rationally regulating the peptide sequences to promote self‐assembly, leading to the reconstruction of molecular structure and spatial orientation while introducing some peptide fragments into the scaffolds. In this work, four self‐assembled AMPs are developed, and the relationship between their chemical structures and antibacterial activity is explored extensively through different experiments. Importantly, the evaluation of antibacterial performance in both in vitro and in vivo studies has provided a general guide for using self‐assembled AMPs in subsequent treatments for combating bacterial infections. In this research, four self‐assembled antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with different nano‐micro structures are prepared based on the secondary structure regulation of a king cobra cathelicidin. By further comprehensively exploring the antibacterial mechanism, spherical particle‐like self‐assembled AMPs show great potential to combat antibiotic resistance as a novel antibiotic or serve as an antibiotic adjuvant for clinical use.

Cisplatin is the first-line chemotherapeutic agent, but its systemic toxicity and side effects severely limit its clinical use. We report a microneedle technique to mediate the transdermal delivery of lipid-coated cisplatin nanoparticles (LCC-NPs) for efficient and safe cancer therapy. Cisplatin was encapsulated by tumor-targeting pH-responsive lipid nanoparticles with a high loading rate of 80%, and the encapsulation substantially increased the solubility of cisplatin and enhanced its antitumor efficiency in vitro. The LCC-NPs were embedded in dissolvable microneedles, and released from the microneedles after inserting into the skin. This enabled the nanoparticles to pass the stratum corneum for safe local delivery. An in vivo study with a xenograft tumor animal model demonstrated that microneedle arrays loaded with cisplatin nanoparticles significantly increased cytotoxicity and apoptosis in cancer cells with an apoptotic index of 58.6%, resulting in significantly reduced tumor volume and weight. Moreover, serum platinum, pulmonary toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity were not detected in vivo, indicating that this technique is biosafe. The cisplatin-nanoparticle microneedle system developed in this study may offer promising opportunities in cancer therapy for enhancing antitumor effects and reducing systemic toxicity and side effects.

ABSTRACTCreative people are now defined as a new emerging collective, the creative class. In the context of destination tourism discussion of creative class is usually interpreted as being about a special consumer group. On the other side, an emerging body of tourism literature reveals the primacy of foodservice to the broader tourism experience as ‘the growth engine of the post-industrial city.’ This study identified that the creative class, the human resource in city area, positively influences local society and economic development. And this study affirms that chefs as one of the creative people in tourism development are an important resource. For further research into the creative class, the authors invite studies which are relative to the occupation of cookery from the perspectives of both the producers themselves and their consumers that may yield further interesting theoretical and practical applications. Investigating creativity, which contains dimensions with various antecedents and determinants, including creativity requirements in job description and design, may highlight the gap between the perceptions held towards the occupation of cookery and the reality of working within it.

Xenograft, namely bone-derived biological apatite (BAp), is widely recognized as a favorable biomaterial in bone tissue engineering owing to its biodegradability, biocompatibility, and osteoconductive properties. Substitutions of endogenous trace ions are thought to improve the osteogenic capacity of xenograft compared with synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAp). In order to modify the physicochemical and biological properties of apatite, different approaches to induce trace ion incorporation have been widely considered. In this study, we demonstrated that the incorporation of fluoride ions into porcine bone-derived biological apatite (pBAp) contributes to altered crystal morphology of the apatite, the sustained release of fluoride, and the in siturelease of endogenous trace ions (e.g., magnesium and calcium) into the peripheral tissue microenvironment. This ionic balanced perimaterial microenvironment not only led to superior proliferation and osteogenic differentiation of rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs), but also accelerated new bone formation of the calvarial defect on a rat model viathe activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. These promising observations may be attributed to the controlled release of endogenous trace ions from the xenograft to the peripheral tissue microenvironment driven by fluoride ion incorporation. Lastly, this study may provide a new insight to strengthen the osteogenicity of xenografts for clinical applications in the future.

This study aimed to investigate the reconstruction of the thumb and finger extension function in patients with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus. From April 2010 to January 2015, we enrolled in this study 4 patients diagnosed with middle and lower trunk root avulsion injuries of the brachial plexus via imaging tests, electrophysiological examinations, and clinical confirmation. Muscular branches of the radial nerve, which innervate the supinator in the forearm, were transposed to the posterior interosseous nerve to reconstruct the thumb and finger extension function. Electrophysiological findings and muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis, as well as the distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip, were monitored. All patients were followed up for 24 to 30 months, with an average of 27.5 months. Motor unit potentials (MUP) of the extensor digitorum communis appeared at an average of 3.8 months, while MUP of the extensor pollicis longus appeared at an average of 7 months. Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) appeared at an average of 9 months in the extensor digitorum communis, and 12 months in the extensor pollicis longus. Furthermore, the muscle strength of the extensor pollicis longus and extensor digitorum communis both reached grade III at 21 months. Lastly, the average distance between the thumb tip and index finger tip was 8.8 cm at 21 months. In conclusion, for patients with middle and lower trunk injuries of the brachial plexus, transposition of the muscular branches of the radial nerve innervating the supinator to the posterior interosseous nerve for the reconstruction of thumb and finger extension function is practicable and feasible.

A three-dimensional position-sensitive fast neutron spectrometer is designed to measure fast neutron spectrum over 10 MeV. The detector consists of a 16 $$\times $$ × 16 mutually perpendicular plastic scintillation fiber array coupled to $$2 \times 2$$ 2×2 Hamamatsu H8500C position-sensitive photomultiplier tubes by optical fibers. The fiber array is fabricated with 0.5 mm $$\times $$ × 3 mm fibers and 3-mm square fibers. Due to the combined application of different sizes of fibers, the detector can broaden energy dynamic range and meanwhile have good detection efficiency. The method of the combined application of different sizes of plastic fibers in the array may provide a solution to measure wider energy range of solar neutrons. In this paper, we used FLUKA to simulate the performance of the detector model and report the results of experimental studies with neutrons from a pulsed D-T neutron.

Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is a key innate immunity response to pathogens. Recruitment of signaling adapters such as MAL (TIRAP) and MyD88 to the TLRs requires Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)-domain interactions, which remain structurally elusive. Here we show that MAL TIR domains spontaneously and reversibly form filaments in vitro. They also form cofilaments with TLR4 TIR domains and induce formation of MyD88 assemblies. A 7-Å-resolution cryo-EM structure reveals a stable MAL protofilament consisting of two parallel strands of TIR-domain subunits in a BB-loop-mediated head-to-tail arrangement. Interface residues that are important for the interaction are conserved among different TIR domains. Although large filaments of TLR4, MAL or MyD88 are unlikely to form during cellular signaling, structure-guided mutagenesis, combined with in vivo interaction assays, demonstrated that the MAL interactions defined within the filament represent a template for a conserved mode of TIR-domain interaction involved in both TLR and interleukin-1 receptor signaling.

In this work, different thick TiN thin films were prepared by pulsed laser deposition on GaN substrates at 650°C. The crystal structure and morphology are characterized by X-ray Diffraction and Atomic Force Microscopy. We characterized the sample by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy at room temperature and measured the thickness of the film by a cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy. Combining the attenuation of light intensity and the thickness, the absorption coefficient of the samples can be estimated by the Beer-Lambert law. The absorption coefficients of TiN metal thin film obtained here are closed with each other. The optical properties may not change with increasing thickness.

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a severe complication associated with antiresorptive medications managing osteoporosis, such as bisphosphonates (BPs). To date, there is very limited evidence from prospective, controlled studies to support or refute the controversial prevention regimen that if a discontinuation of BPs before dentoalveolar surgery, so called “drug holiday”, is effective in reducing the risk of MRONJ development in patients with osteoporosis. We proposed an experimental animal study, aiming to investigate the prevention of MRONJ following tooth extractions in osteoporotic condition, with the implementation of a BP drug holiday.

The use of biocatalysts in pharmaceutical production is an important approach for the pharmaceutical industry to achieve green manufacturing. Compared to other lipases, Candida antarcticalipase B (CALB) possesses numerous excellent characteristics due to its unique structure. It exhibits relatively strong catalytic activity toward both water-insoluble and water-soluble substances. It shows high selectivity in hydrolysis and organic synthesis reactions. These properties are crucial for drug synthesis. However, current research shows that the use of CALB as a catalyst still faces challenges such as high cost, poor stability, and difficulty in large-scale production. Therefore, this paper mainly explores the advantages of CALB in the pharmaceutical industry and the challenges that still need to be overcome. It introduces the application progress of CALB in the pharmaceutical industry and finally provides a prospect for future research directions, hoping to provide appropriate references for related research.

Large open-ended pipe pile has been found to be advantageous for use in transportation projects. The current design method, however, is not adequately developed. To close this practice gap, this paper first summarized different design methods for open-ended pipe piles in sandy soils. A major factor for all the design codes is to properly account for the formation and effects of soil plug. The comparison indicates that there is a large variation in the base capacity evaluation among different methods due to the complex behaviors of soil plug. To close the knowledge gap, discrete element method (DEM) was used to simulate the soil plugging process and provide insight on the plugging mechanism. The simulation results show that the arching effect significantly increases the internal unit shear resistance along pipe piles. The porosity distribution and particle contact force distribution from DEM model indicate a large stress concentration occurs at the bottom of the soil plug. Besides, nearly 90% of the plug resistance is provided by the bottom half portion of the soil column. The soil-pile friction coefficient has a significant effect on the magnitude of plug resistance, with the major transition occurred for friction coefficient between 0.3 and 0.4.

Video-based vibration measurement is a cost-effective way for remote monitoring the health conditions of transportation and other civil structures, especially for situations where accessibility is restricted and does not allow installation of conventional monitoring devices. Besides, video-based system is global measurement. The technical basis of video-based remote vibration measurement system is digital image analysis. Comparison of the images allow the field of motion to be accurately delineated. Such information is important to understand the structure behaviors including the motion and strain distribution. This paper presents system and analyses to monitor the vibration velocity and displacement field. The performance is demonstrated on a testbed of model building. Three different methods (i.e., frame difference method, particle image velocimetry, and optical Flow Method) are utilized to analyze the image sequences to extract the feature of motion. The Performance is validated using accelerometer data. The results indicate that all three methods can estimate the velocity field of the model building, although the results can be affected by factors such as background noise and environmental interference. Optical flow method achieved the best performance among these three methods studied. With further refinement of system hardware and image processing software, it will be developed into a remote video based monitoring system for structural health monitoring of transportation infrastructure to assist the diagnoses of its health conditions.

Conventional asphalt strongly absorbs the energy from sunlight due to its black colour. The induced high surface temperature on asphalt pavement during summer and fast temperature drop during winter accelerate the rutting and cracking, impairing its long-term durability. Thermochromic materials, substances that can reversibly change their colours in response to temperature, are characterised as high solar reflectance above certain threshold temperature and high absorbance below the threshold temperature. In this paper, innovative thermochromic coatings are designed to modulate the surface temperature of asphalt pavement and potentially improve its durability and safety. The thermal, optical, and chemical properties of the coatings with thermochromic materials were characterised using modulated differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–Vis–IR spectrophotometry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Besides, production conditions of thermochromic asphalt coatings were also determined to prevent thermal degradation. Finally, the thermal performance of thermochromic asphalt coatings was evaluated by measuring the surface temperature under different weather conditions. Results of measurements under hot weathers found that the surface temperature of thermochromic asphalt coating is lower than that of the conventional asphalt coating with the maximum decrease as high as 6.6°C. This helps to improve its resistance to high temperature-related performance degradation (such as rutting and fatigue). Furthermore, experimental results during cold weathers indicated that the surface temperature of asphalt concrete covered with thermochromic asphalt coating is generally 1°C higher than that of conventional asphalt coating. This means thermochromic asphalt can potentially delay ice formation on the surface of the road than traditional asphalt. Therefore, the incorporation of thermochromic materials into asphalt pavement will potentially help improve the durability, reduce undesirable environmental impacts, and improve the safety of asphalt roads.