Tissue optical clearing enhances efficacy of vascular targeted photodynamic therapy of mouse dorsal skin

Vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy(V-PDT)is an effective treatment for port wine stains(PWS).However,repeated treatment is usually needed to achieve optimal treatment outcomes,possibly due to the limited treatment light penetration depth in the PWS lesion.The optical clearing technique can increase light penetration in depth by reducing light scattering.This study aimed to investigate the V-PDT in combination with an optical clearing agent(OCA)for the therapeutic enhancement of V-PDT in the rodent skinfold window chamber model.Vascular responses were closely monitored with laser speckle contrast imaging(LSCI),optical coherence tomography angiography,and stereo microscope before,during,and after the treatment.We further quantitatively demonstrated the effects of V-PDT in combination with OCA on the blood flow and blood vessel size of skin microvasculature.The combination of OCA and V-PDT resulted in significant vascular damage,including vasoconstriction and the reduction of blood flow.Our results indicate the promising potential of OCA for enhancing V-PDT for treating vascular-related diseases,including PWS.

Fine mapping of two recessive genes TaFLA1 and TaSPL8 controlling flag leaf angle in bread wheat

Flag leaf angle is one of the key target traits in high yield wheat breeding.A smaller flag leaf angle reduces shading and enables plants to grow at a higher density,which increases yield.Here we identified a mutant,je0407,with an 84.34%-89.35%smaller flag leaf angle compared with the wild type.The mutant also had an abnormal lamina joint and no ligule or auricle.Genetic analysis indicated that the ligule was controlled by two recessive genes,which were mapped to chromosomes 2AS and 2DL.The mutant allele on chromosome 2AS was named Tafla1b,and it was fine mapped to a 1 Mb physical interval.The mutant allele on chr.2DL was identified as Taspl8b,a novel allele of TaSPL8 with a missense mutation in the second exon,which was used to develop a cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence marker.F3 and F4 lines derived from crosses between Jing411 and je0407 were genotyped to investigate interactions between the Tafla1b and Taspl8b alleles.Plants with the Tafla1b/Taspl8a genotype had 58.41%-82.76%smaller flag leaf angles,6.4%-24.9%shorter spikes,and a greater spikelet density(0.382 more spikelets per cm)compared with the wild type.Plants with the Tafla1a/Taspl8b genotype had 52.62%-82.24%smaller flag leaf angles and no differences in plant height or spikelet density compared with the wild type.Tafla1b/Taspl8b plants produced erect leaves with an abnormal lamina joint.The two alleles had dosage effects on ligule formation and flag leaf angle,but no significant effect on thousand-grain weight.The mutant alleles provide novel resources for improvement of wheat plant architecture.

UHMWPE织物/剪切增稠液防刺复合材料的制备及性能

为了制备防刺复合材料,以气相二氧化硅(Fumed SiO2)和碳纳米管(CNTs)为分散相,聚乙二醇(PEG200)为分散介质,采用超声分散法制备多相剪切增稠液(STFs),然后以浸渍工艺将其与超高分子量聚乙烯(UHMWPE)纤维织物复合。结果表明,CNTs颗粒的加入会使得STFs体系黏度和剪切应力增加,增稠周期缩短,增稠比增大,具备更高的储能模量和耗能模量;UHMWPE织物/STFs复合材料纤维束间的摩擦增加,抗穿刺性能增强,在不影响防刺性能的前提下,织物层数减少。

DOA Estimation Algorithm Based on Adaptive Filtering in Spatial Domain

In this paper, a novel DOA estimation methodology based upon the technology of adaptive nulling antenna is proposed. Initially, the nulling antenna obtains the weight vector by LMS algorithm and power inversion criterion.Afterwards, reciprocal of the antenna pattern is defined as the spatial spectrum and the extracted peak values are corresponded to the estimated DOA. Through observation of the spectrum and data analysis of variable steps and SNRs, the simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can estimate DOA above board. Furthermore, the estimation error of the proposed technique is directly proportional to step size and is inversely proportional to SNR. Unlike the existing MUSIC algorithm, the proposed algorithm has less computational complexity as it eliminates the need of estimating the number of signals and the eigenvalue decomposition of covariance matrix. Also it outperforms MUSIC algorithm, the recently proposed MUSIC-Like algorithm and classical methods by achieving better resolution with narrow width of peaks.

Experimental Investigation on Shock Wave Characteristics of Aluminized Explosives in Air Blast

To investigate the shock wave characteristics of RDX-based aluminized explosives,air blast tests were conducted for measuring the parameters of 10 kg aluminized explosives which contained 0-40% aluminum.The results showed that with the increasing of aluminum content,the overpressures and impulses increase at first and then decrease within 7 m or 5 m,which reached the maximum when aluminum content was 20% or 30%.Power exponential formulas are used to fit the shock wave parameters vs scaled distance,where an equal weight of TNT is used to calculate the scaled distance.The overpressures of HL0 and TNT in tested locations not only conform to the similar law,but also conform to the same attenuation law after gaining the scaled distances of equal TNT mass.The pre-exponential factors of overpressure and impulse,kp and kI,decrease along with the increasing of Al content and keep the same pace as the calculated PCJ）.The attenuation coefficients a_P and aIincrease at first and decrease later with the increasing of aluminum content,and they reached the maximal values with30% Al containing,which keeps the same pace as the calculated QV.

Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Caulophyllum robustum Maxim Extract on Adjuvant Arthritis Rats

[Objectives]To study the anti-inflammation and anti-swelling effect of Caulophyllum robustum Maxim( CRM) extract on secondary lesions of adjuvant arthritis( AA),associated inflammatory factors of AA rats and mice immune function. [Methods]Rats were divided into high,middle and low dose CRM extract groups( 69. 23,34. 61,17. 31 mg/kg),methotrexate group( 0. 68 mg/kg),triptolide group( 7. 88 mg/kg),model group and normal control group. The AA rat model was induced by intradermal injection of Freund's complete adjuvant( FCA). After the AA model was established successfully,the paw swelling of AA rats was observed and recorded. The levels of interleukin-1β( IL-1β),interleukin-4( IL-4),interleukin-10( IL-10),Tumor Necrosis Factor-α( TNF-α),interleukin 17( IL-17),interferon( IFN-γ),granulocyte colony-stimulating factor( G-CSF) and transforming growth factor( TGF-β) in the serum of AA rats were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay( ELISA). The spleen was removed and weighed for detecting the drug influence on the immune organs.Impacts were observed by gavage administration at different dosages of 25 mg/kg,50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg for seven days,adopting carbon granules clearance test,delayed-type hypersensitivity induced by dinitrofluorobenzene( DNFB) coupled with flow cytometry evaluating lymphocytes( CD3^+,CD4^+,CD8^+) activation and serolysin test. [Results] Compared with the model group,the joint swelling,spleen index and inflammatory cytokines( IL-1β,IL-4,IL-10,TNF-α,IL-17,IFN-γ,G-CSF,TGF-β) were reduced significantly( P < 0. 05,P < 0. 01). And the activity of CRM was significantly superior to methotrexate and triptergium. Moreover,the results indicated that different dosages of 25 mg/kg,50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg of CRM could significantly reduce the carbon granules clearance index( K) and phagocytic index( a),inhibit the phagocytosis of mononuclear macrophages,reduce the mice swelling extent and inhibit DTH in mice induced by DNFB,decrease the quantity of serum hemolysin. Percentage of CD3^+,CD4^+,and the ratio of CD4^+,CD8^+ notably decreased,whereas CD8^+ obviously increased. Intragastrica dose of 50 mg/kg,100 mg/kg were acknowledged as more objective inhibiting effect compared with a dosage of 25 mg/kg.[Conclusions] Decreasing inflammatory cytokines content,non-specific immune,humoral immune and cellular immune function may be the therapeutic mechanism for rheumatoid arthritis( RA).

专栏导语:政府信息公开:主动选择与被动学习

在大数据时代,公民通过网络资源获取信息并运用这些信息参与到政府的治理和决策过程之中并不鲜见且逐渐成为一种趋势。网络公民的崛起与对信息资源的需求使得政府这一最大的信息所有者和控制者主动、半主动或者被动地向社会公众开放其所拥有的部分信息。网络问政、公众参与、群体性事件、网络舆情、政府回应等信息时代的新鲜事物则进一步促进了公民信息意识的觉醒。在这样的大背景下,公民要求信息公开,特别是政府财务信息的公开成为了各级地方政府所必须要面对的一个严峻问题。从法律的角度来看,政府信息公开是有法可依的。

Evaluation Model of Teaching Quality Based on Cloud Computing

In the teaching quality evaluation, due to the influence of various human factors, the teaching quality evaluation system is presented with some grey characteristics. Traditional evaluation methods cannot solve the problem effectively. Through gray relational analysis, the grey system of partial information known and unknown can be analyzed. It is difficult for the qualitative description language evaluation index to use traditional mathematical model for accurate representation. In this paper, cloud model is combined with grey relational analysis, and an evaluation method is proposed based on the cloudgrey relational analysis, in order to realize the mutual transformation between the qualitative information and quantitative numerical. Three university teachers’ information was collected by questionnaire survey, and the teaching quality was evaluated through the evaluation model based on grey relational analysis built in MATLAB. The results were compared with those of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation and the BP neural network evaluation. The results show that the teaching quality evaluation model based on cloud grey relational analysis has certain rationality and feasibility.

秀丽隐杆线虫RNA结合蛋白复合物AMG-1/SLRP-1通过线粒体稳态维持实现调控生殖腺发育和精子发生

RNA结合蛋白(mtRBP)介导的mRNA转录后调节对精子发生必不可少但却鲜有报道.在本文中,我们鉴定到一个在生殖腺中特异性表达的线粒体RNA结合蛋白AMG-1,它是秀丽隐杆线虫精子发生过程中必需的蛋白,同时与哺乳动物LRPPRC蛋白同源.amg-1突变会阻碍生殖腺的发育,最终导致生殖细胞的线粒体形态和结构异常以及线粒体功能障碍.通过测序鉴定RNA结合蛋白的靶点发现,AMG-1更倾向于与mtDNA编码的参与线粒体核糖体组装的12S和16S核糖体RNA(rRNA)结合,12S rRNA对于维持生殖细胞线粒体蛋白稳态至关重要,而12S rRNA的表达却受AMG-1蛋白调节.此外,哺乳动物SLIRP在秀丽线虫中的同源蛋白SLRP-1蛋白与AMG-1在遗传上存在互作关系,它们可共同调节秀丽线虫的精子发生和育性.综上所述,这些发现揭示了mtRBP蛋白AMG-1在线粒体调控中的新机制,这可能为由线粒体功能障碍引发的男性不育治疗提供新的理论基础.

Design of GH4169 diaphragm for combined improvements of yield strength and surface roughness

Diaphragm compressors have become the primary source of on-site hydrogen compression for hydrogen fuelling stations around the world.The most common hydrogen-compressor-failure mechanism has been identified as diaphragm fracture due to low ten-sile strength and poor surface properties.In this study,a new type of GH4169 diaphragm with high yield strength and low surface roughness was fabricated.Microstructures,tensile behaviours and surface properties of the specimens were characterized by using scanning electron microscopy,an electronic universal testing machine and atomic force microscopy,respectively.The evolution of theandphases with temperature has been examined.Bothandphases were precipitant-strengthened phases for GH4169 and the volume and size ofandphases increase with ageing time.In addition,thephase is the main strengthening phase andis the supportive strengthening phase.Tensile strength was increased due to the strengthening phases at the cost of ductility.The roughness of the diaphragm could reach an arithmetic average roughness(Ra)of 0.1μm by applying a cooling-assisted polishing process.This work improves the reliability and reduces the auxiliary steps and down-time for diaphragm compressors.

Porous tantalum-composited gelatin nanoparticles hydrogel integrated with mesenchymal stem cell-derived endothelial cells to construct vascularized tissue in vivo

The ideal scaffold material of angiogenesis should have mechanical strength and provide appropriate physiological microporous structures to mimic the extracellular matrix environment.In this study,we constructed an integrated three-dimensional scaffold material using porous tantalum(pTa),gelatin nanoparticles(GNPs)hydrogel,and seeded with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells(BMSCs)-derived endothelial cells(ECs)for vascular tissue engineering.The characteristics and biocompatibility of pTa and GNPs hydrogel were evaluated by mechanical testing,scanning electron microscopy,cell counting kit,and live-cell assay.The BMSCs-derived ECs were identified by flow cytometry and angiogenesis assay.BMSCs-derived ECs were seeded on the pTa-GNPs hydrogel scaffold and implanted subcutaneously in nude mice.Four weeks after the operation,the scaffold material was evaluated by histomorphology.The superior biocompatible ability of pTa-GNPs hydrogel scaffold was observed.Our in vivo results suggested that 28 days after implantation,the formation of the stable capillary-like network in scaffold material could be promoted significantly.The novel,integrated pTa-GNPs hydrogel scaffold is biocompatible with the host,and exhibits biomechanical and angiogenic properties.Moreover,combined with BMSCs-derived ECs,it could construct vascular engineered tissue in vivo.This study may provide a basis for applying pTa in bone regeneration and autologous BMSCs in tissue-engineered vascular grafts.

Assessing platelet function may reduce platelet transfusion requirements in women in thrombocytopenia undergoing cesarean section

Thrombocytopenia is a common comorbidity during pregnancy.A platelet(PLT)count of<100×109/L is used as the diagnosis for thrombocytopenia.The major adverse effect of thrombocytopenia in the clinical setting is hemorrhage of varying severity.[1]The causes of thrombocytopenia during pregnancy are distinct from those of other diseases.Gestational thrombocytopenia accounts for>75%of thrombocytopenia cases in pregnant women and occurs in 5%to 8%of pregnancies.Other causes of thrombocytopenia include hemolysis,elevated liver enzymes.

Metal-to-ligand charge transfer chirality-based sensing of mercury ions

Chiral ligand conjugated transition metal oxide nanoparticles(NPs) are a promising platform for chiral recognition, biochemical sensing, and chiroptics. Herein, we present chirality-based strategy for effective sensing of mercury ions via ligand-induced chirality derived from metal-to-ligand charge transfer(MLCT) effects. The ligand competition effect between molybdenum and heavy metal ions such as mercury is designated to be essential for MLCT chirality. With this know-how, mercury ions, which have a larger stability constant(Kf) than molybdenum, can be selectively identified and quantified with a limit of detection(LOD) of 0.08 and 0.12 nmol/L for D-cysteine and L-cysteine(Cys) capped Mo O2 NPs. Such chiral chemical sensing nanosystems would be an ideal prototype for biochemical sensing with a significant impact on the field of biosensing, biological systems,and water research-based nanotoxicology.

Light-guided tumor diagnosis and therapeutics:From nanoclusters to polyoxometalates

Malignant tumors,with the characteristics of easy metastasis and recurrence,are a serious threat to health of mankind.It is urgent to develop promising clinical cancer targeted agents with combination of rapid diagnosis and efficient therapies.Compared with the conventional photosensitizing agents,the recent advances of nanoagents based on transition metal-oxide clusters possess unique structural and electronic properties,greatly improving cancer survival rate,meanwhile,keeping high contrast imaging.This review provides a brief introduction of metal-oxide clusters,including both nanoclusters to molecular clusters,specifically polyoxometalates(POMs).Subsequently,biocompatibility of metal-oxide clusters is emphasized from aspects of endocytosis,macropinocytosis,and phagocytosis.Through the classification of late and early transition metals oxide clusters,recent outcomes of light-guided nanoagents are represented with their intriguing chemical and optical properties in their diagnosing and photochemotherapy performance.It shed light on the summary of next generation multifunctional cancer targeting agents'developments as well as outlook of materials selection trends and research direction in the future.

Experimental investigation on waterproofing performance of segmental joint with double gaskets for shield tunnel

The waterproofing capacity of segmental joints is an essential indicator for the long-term service performance of shield tunnels.The segmental joints with double gaskets have been adopted to improve the waterproof performance for certain tunnels with high water pressure,especially water-conveyance tunnels.This paper presents a series of waterproofing tests on joints with different settings of double gaskets via an improved test apparatus.Four cases are investigated,including(i)double gaskets with equal high/low waterproof capacity,(ii)the outer gasket with higher waterproof capacity,and(iii)the outer gasket with lower waterproof capacity.Different joint openings are also considered.Moreover,the water pressures at two cavities are continuously monitored to highlight the waterproofing mechanism and failure pattern of double gaskets.The results demonstrate that the gasket with the higher waterproofing capacity dominates the overall waterproofing capacity of joint with double gaskets;only a little enhancement of the waterproofing capacity is found for the joint with the same double gaskets.The waterproofing capacity of joints with double gaskets decreases with the increase of the joint opening.The failure pattern depends on the arrangement of double gaskets,and four stages can be identified during the whole failure process.The advantages of double gaskets in case of joint rotation are also discussed.