Avalanching patterns of irregular sand particles in continual discrete flow

We investigate the flow patterns of irregular sand particles under avalanching mode in a rotating drum by using the spatial filtering velocimetry technique.By exploring the variations of velocity distribution of granular flow,we find a type of avalanching pattern of irregular sand particles which is similar to that of spherical particles flow.Due to the fact that the initial position of avalanche in this pattern locates at the middle of the drum and the avalanche propagates toward the edge area gradually,we named it as mid-to-edge avalanching pattern.Furthermore,we find another avalanching pattern which slumps from the edge and propagates toward the opposite edge of the flow surface,named as edge-to-edge pattern.By analyzing the temporal and spatial characteristics of these two types of avalanching patterns,we discover that these two types of avalanche patterns are caused by that the avalanching particles constantly perturb the axial adjacent particles.Thus,the particles on the flow surface are involved in avalanching sequentially in order of the axial distance from the initial position.

Improved spatial filtering velocimetry and its application in granular flow measurement

Spatial filtering velocimetry(SFV)has the advantages of simple structure,good stability,and wide applications.However,the traditional linear CCD-based SFV method requires an accurate angle between the direction of linear CCD and the direction of moving object,so it is not suitable for measuring a complex flow field or two-dimensional speed in a granular media.In this paper,a new extension of spatial filtering method(SFM)based on high speed array CCD camera is proposed as simple and effective technique for measuring two-dimensional speed field of granular media.In particular,we analyzed the resolution and range of array CCD-based SFV so that the reader can clarify the application scene of this method.This method has a particular advantage for using orthogonal measurement to avoid the angle measurement,which were problematic when using linear CCD to measure the movement.Finally,the end-wall effects of the granular flow in rotating drum is studied with different experimental conditions by using this improved technique.

Intra-individual comparison of therapeutic responses to vascular disrupting agent CA4P between rodent primary and secondary liver cancers

AIM To compare therapeutic responses of a vascular-disrupting-agent, combretastatin-A4-phosphate(CA4 P), among hepatocellular carcinomas(HCCs) and implanted rhabdomyosarcoma(R1) in the same rats by magneticresonance-imaging(MRI), microangiography and histopathology.METHODS Thirty-six HCCs were created by diethylnitrosamine gavage in 14 rats that were also intrahepatically implanted with one R1 per rat as monitored by T2-/T1-weighted images(T2wI/T1wI) on a 3.0 T clinical MRIscanner. Vascular response and tumoral necrosis were detected by dynamic contrast-enhanced(DCE-) and CE-MRI before, 1 h after and 12 h after CA4P iv at 10 mg/kg(treatment group n = 7) or phosphate-buffered saline at 1.0 mL/kg(control group n = 7). Tumor blood supply was calculated by a semiquantitative DCE parameter of area under the time signal intensity curve(AUC30). In vivo MRI findings were verified by postmortem techniques.RESULTS On CE-T1wIs, unlike the negative response in all tumors of control animals, in treatment group CA4P caused rapid extensive vascular shutdown in all R1-tumors, but mildly or spottily in HCCs at 1 h. Consequently, tumor necrosis occurred massively in R1-tumors but patchily in HCCs at 12 h. AUC30 revealed vascular closure(66%) in R1-tumors at 1 h(P < 0.05), followed by further perfusion decrease at 12 h(P < 0.01), while less significant vascular clogging occurred in HCCs. Histomorphologically, CA4P induced more extensive necrosis in R1-tumors(92.6%) than in HCCs(50.2%)(P < 0.01); tumor vascularity heterogeneously scored +^+++ in HCCs but homogeneously scored ++ in R1-tumors.CONCLUSION This study suggests superior performance of CA4P in metastatic over primary liver cancers, which could guide future clinical applications of vascular-disruptingagents.

Mitochondria-derived small RNAs as diagnostic biomarkers in lung cancer patients through a novel ratio-based expression analysis methodology

Small non-coding RNAs are potential diagnostic biomarkers for lung cancer. Mitochondria-derived small RNA (mtRNA) is a novel regulatory small non-coding RNA that only recently has been identified and cataloged. Currently, there are no reports of studies of mtRNA in human lung cancer. Currently, normalization methods are unstable, and they often fail to identify differentially expressed small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs). In order to identify reliable biomarkers for lung cancer screening, we used a ratio-based method using mtRNAs newly discovered in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In the discovery cohort (AUC = 0.981) and independent validation cohort (AUC = 0.916) the prediction model of eight mtRNA ratios distinguished lung cancer patients from controls. The prediction model will provide reliable biomarkers that will allow blood-based screening to become more feasible and will help make lung cancer diagnosis more accurate in clinical practice.

The combined therapeutic effects of ^(131)iodinelabeled multifunctional copper sulfide-loaded microspheres in treating breast cancer

Compared to conventional cancer treatment, combination therapy based on well-designed nanoscale platforms may offer an opportunity to eliminate tumors and reduce recurrence and metastasis.In this study, we prepared multifunctional microspheres loading ^(131)I-labeled hollow copper sulfide nanoparticles and paclitaxel( ^(131)I-HCu SNPs-MS-PTX) for imaging and therapeutics of W256/B breast tumors in rats.18 F-fluordeoxyglucose(18 F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography(PET/CT) imaging detected that the expansion of the tumor volume was delayed(Po0.05) following intra-tumoral(i.t.) injection with ^(131)I-HCu SNPs-MS-PTX plus near-infrared(NIR) irradiation. The immunohistochemical analysis further confirmed the anti-tumor effect. The single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT)/photoacoustic imaging mediated by ^(131)I-HCu SNPs-MS-PTX demonstrated that microspheres were mainly distributed in the tumors with a relatively low distribution in other organs. Our results revealed that ^(131)I-HCu SNPs-MS-PTX offered combined photothermal, chemo-and radio-therapies, eliminating tumors at a relatively low dose, as well as allowing SPECT/CT and photoacoustic imaging monitoring of distribution of the injected agents non-invasively. The copper sulfide-loaded microspheres, ^(131)I-HCu SNPs-MS-PTX, can serve as a versatile theranostic agent in an orthotopic breast cancer model.

Development of a tRNA-derived small RNA diagnostic and prognostic signature in liver cancer

Liver cancer presents divergent clinical behaviors.There remain opportunities for molecular markers to improve liver cancer diagnosis and prognosis,especially since tRNA-derived small RNAs(tsRNA)have rarely been studied.In this study,a random forests(RF)diagnostic model was built based upon tsRNA profiling of paired tumor and adjacent normal samples and validated by independent validation(IV).A LASSO model was used to developed a seven-tsRNA-based risk score signature for liver cancer prognosis.Model performance was evaluated by a receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC curve)and Precision-Recall curve(PR curve).The five-tsRNA-based RF diagnosis model had area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUROC)88%and area under the precision–recall curve(AUPR)87%in the discovery cohort and 87%and 86%in IV-AUROC and IV-AUPR,respectively.The seven-tsRNA-based prognostic model predicts the overall survival of liver cancer patients(Hazard Ratio 2.02,95%CI 1.36–3.00,P<0.001),independent of standard clinicopathological prognostic factors.Moreover,the model successfully categorizes patients into high-low risk groups.Diagnostic and prognostic modeling can be reliably utilized in the diagnosis of liver cancer and high-low risk classification of patients based upon tsRNA characterization.