Optimization Design of a Multi-slot Nanoantenna Based on Genetic Algorithm for Energy Harvesting

A new genetic algorithm (GA)-based multi-slot nanoantenna is proposed for energy harvesting, which consists of two element nanoantennas with rectangular shape and with double bowtie double ring (DBDR) slot. The DBDR slot structure can enhance the electric field to increase the absorptivity of nanoantennas; however, the larger parameter space of multi-slot is more hardly controlled. Therefore, we use GA to optimize the parameters of the DBDR slot nanoantenna and the Finite-Difference Time-Domain method to calculate the absorptivity. It is found that absorptivity of the optimized nanoantenna is over 77% in 400–1800 nm waveband. We attribute the better absorbing property of the nanoantenna to the synergistic effect of the localized surface plasmon resonance enhancement and coupling between slots.

     

微针技术用于非经皮途径的药物递送研究进展

近年来,微针作为一种新兴的经皮给药技术,具有微创、无痛、使用方便和高效的特点,逐渐成为一种极具研究价值和应用潜力的给药策略。微针技术在过去20年中得到迅速发展并呈现出多样化的趋势,已可根据不同需求来定制微针的形状、组成、机械性能和其他特殊功能等。由于微针能以微创方式穿越各种生物屏障,因此许多研究人员探索了微针在除皮肤外各类组织和器官中的药物递送应用。本文综述了微针技术及其近年来在眼睛、血管、心脏等组织和器官的药物递送中的应用研究,以期推动微针技术的应用发展。     

基于GISP模型的城市绿色基础设施多功能性评估

绿色基础设施建设是加强城市生态弹性力的重要手段之一。绿色基础设施多功能性是实现城市生态系统服务功能综合效益最大化的前提,这一点已被众多学者认可。构建绿色基础设施规划(GISP,Green Infrastructure Spatial Planning)模型,基于绿色基础设施的雨洪管理、绿色空间可达性、净化空气、缓解热岛效应、景观连通性五大功能指标,开展城市绿色基础设施多功能性评估,明确合肥市绿色基础设施的高需求地区,探讨绿色基础设施不同功能之间的权衡和协同关系。结果表明:合肥市东北部对于绿色基础设施缓解城市热岛效应、净化空气的需求最强烈,城市一环区域对于绿色基础设施的雨洪管理需求最为强烈,城市东部、南部对于绿色基础设施的绿色空间可达性需求显著;总体而言,绿色基础设施选址的热点区域为城市一环内及东北区域;绿色基础设施的雨洪管理、缓解城市热岛和净化空气间存在着协同关系,与景观连通性之间存在着权衡关系;运用GISP模型评估合肥生态空间体系控制规划以及合肥市域空间绿道网络系统建设总体规划,规划中绿地选址不在绿色基础设施的高需求区域,也没有在战略上整合绿地多功能的生态系统服务、获得更大的生态弹性力。     

R-2HG Exhibits Anti-tumor Activity by Targeting FTO/m6A/MYC/CEBPA Signaling

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Developing a Time Series Predictive Model for Dengue in Zhongshan,China Based on Weather and Guangzhou Dengue Surveillance Data

Background

Dengue is a re-emerging infectious disease of humans, rapidly growing from endemic areas to dengue-free regions due to favorable conditions. In recent decades, Guangzhou has again suffered from several big outbreaks of dengue; as have its neighboring cities. This study aims to examine the impact of dengue epidemics in Guangzhou, China, and to develop a predictive model for Zhongshan based on local weather conditions and Guangzhou dengue surveillance information.

Methods

We obtained weekly dengue case data from 1^st January, 2005 to 31^st December, 2014 for Guangzhou and Zhongshan city from the Chinese National Disease Surveillance Reporting System. Meteorological data was collected from the Zhongshan Weather Bureau and demographic data was collected from the Zhongshan Statistical Bureau. A negative binomial regression model with a log link function was used to analyze the relationship between weekly dengue cases in Guangzhou and Zhongshan, controlling for meteorological factors. Cross-correlation functions were applied to identify the time lags of the effect of each weather factor on weekly dengue cases. Models were validated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and k-fold cross-validation.

Results

Our results showed that weekly dengue cases in Zhongshan were significantly associated with dengue cases in Guangzhou after the treatment of a 5 weeks prior moving average (Relative Risk (RR) = 2.016, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.845–2.203), controlling for weather factors including minimum temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall. ROC curve analysis indicated our forecasting model performed well at different prediction thresholds, with 0.969 area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for a threshold of 3 cases per week, 0.957 AUC for a threshold of 2 cases per week, and 0.938 AUC for a threshold of 1 case per week. Models established during k-fold cross-validation also had considerable AUC (average 0.938–0.967). The sensitivity and specificity obtained from k-fold cross-validation was 78.83% and 92.48% respectively, with a forecasting threshold of 3 cases per week; 91.17% and 91.39%, with a threshold of 2 cases; and 85.16% and 87.25% with a threshold of 1 case. The out-of-sample prediction for the epidemics in 2014 also showed satisfactory performance.

Conclusion

Our study findings suggest that the occurrence of dengue outbreaks in Guangzhou could impact dengue outbreaks in Zhongshan under suitable weather conditions. Future studies should focus on developing integrated early warning systems for dengue transmission including local weather and human movement.     

Response Inhibition Impairment in High Functioning Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Evidence from Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Data

Background

Response inhibition, an important domain of executive function (EF), involves the ability to suppress irrelevant or interfering information and impulses. Previous studies have shown impairment of response inhibition in high functioning autism (HFA) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but more recent findings have been inconsistent. To date, almost no studies have been conducted using functional imaging techniques to directly compare inhibitory control between children with HFA and those with ADHD.

Method

Nineteen children with HFA, 16 age- and intelligence quotient (IQ)-matched children with ADHD, and 16 typically developing (TD) children were imaged using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) while performing Go/No-go and Stroop tasks.

Results

Compared with the TD group, children in both the HFA and ADHD groups took more time to respond during the No-go blocks, with reaction time longest for HFA and shortest for TD. Children in the HFA and ADHD groups also made a greater number of reaction errors in the No-go blocks than those in the TD group. During the Stroop task, there were no significant differences between these three groups in reaction time and omission errors. Both the HFA and ADHD groups showed a higher level of inactivation in the right prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the No-go blocks, relative to the TD group. However, no significant differences were found between groups in the levels of oxyhemoglobin concentration in the PFC during the Stroop task.

Conclusion

Functional brain imaging using NIRS showed reduced activation in the right PFC in children with HFA or ADHD during an inhibition task, indicating that inhibitory dysfunction is a shared feature of both HFA and ADHD.     

Up-regulated long non-coding RNA H19 contributes to proliferation of gastric cancer cells

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to have important regulatory roles in cancer biology, and the lncRNA H19 is up-regulated in hypoxic stress and in some tumors. However, the contributions of H19 to gastric cancer remain largely unknown. In this study, we assayed the H19 expression level in gastric cancer tissues by real-time PCR, and defined the biological functions by flow cytometry and RNA immunoprecipitation. We demonstrated that H19 levels were markedly increased in gastric cancer cells and gastric cancer tissues compared with normal controls. Moreover, ectopic expression of H19 increased cell proliferation, whereas H19 siRNA treatment contributed to cell apoptosis in AGS cell line. We further verified that H19 was associated with p53, and that this association resulted in partial p53 inactivation. These data suggest an important role for H19 in the molecular etiology of gastric cancer and potential application of H19 in gastric cancer therapy.     

活性氧对植物自噬调控的研究进展

自噬是一种在真核生物中高度保守的降解细胞组分的生物过程, 在饥饿、衰老和病菌感染等过程中起关键作用。而活性氧是有氧生物在正常或胁迫条件下产生的一种代谢副产物, 在植物的生长发育、胁迫适应和程序性细胞死亡过程中起重要作用。最新研究结果表明, 当植物受到病菌感染产生超敏反应时活性氧和自噬在程序性细胞死亡、生长发育和胁迫适应过程中起重要调控作用。因此, 该文结合最新的研究进展, 从活性氧的种类及特点、自噬的分子基础以及活性氧在植物自噬中的作用等方面, 探讨了活性氧与植物自噬之间的信号转导关系。     

应用微环DNA技术体外诱导和制备重组的乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA

乙型肝炎病毒(hepatitis B virus,HBV)共价闭合环状DNA(covalently closed circular DNA,cccDNA)是病毒慢性感染的分子基础。本课题组前期研究通过Cre/loxP介导的位点特异性DNA重组策略,在细胞核内由前体质粒诱导重组cccDNA(rcccDNA^loxP)产生,首次建立了HBV cccDNA的体外培养细胞和小鼠实验模型。本研究基于大肠埃希菌ZYCY10P3S2T PhiC31重组酶诱导表达系统,建立了一种体外诱导HBV rcccDNA(rcccDNA^attR)微环产生和纯化的策略。纯化的rcccDNA^attR微环具有超螺旋结构,细胞培养实验证实其能支持功能性的HBV复制和抗原表达。与普通的线性HBV复制子编码质粒相比,rcccDNA^attR尾静脉高压注射小鼠模型能诱导显著延长的病毒抗原血症。因此,本研究在原核表达系统和实验小鼠水平提供了一种更为简化的HBV cccDNA实验模型系统,并再次显示rcccDNA具有显著的稳定性,能作为一种基本策略在小鼠模型中诱导病毒持续感染。