Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is one of the most crucial components of the tumor microenvironment which promotes the growth and invasion of cancer cells by various mechanisms. CAFs demonstrate ...a high degree of heterogeneity due to their various origins; however, many distinct morphological features and physiological functions of CAFs have been identified. It is becoming clear that the crosstalk between the cancer cells and the CAFs plays a key role in the progression of cancer, and understanding this mutual relationship would eventually enable us to treat cancer patients by targeting CAFs. In this review, we will discuss the latest findings on the role of CAFs in tumorigenesis and metastasis as well as potential therapeutic implication of CAFs.
In recent years, with the development of materials science and architectural art, ensuring the safety of modern buildings is the top priority while they are developing toward higher, lighter, and ...more unique trends. Structural health monitoring (SHM) is currently an extremely effective and vital safeguard measure. Because of the fiber-optic sensor's (FOS) inherent distinctive advantages (such as small size, lightweight, immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and corrosion, and embedding capability), a significant number of innovative sensing systems have been exploited in the civil engineering for SHM used in projects (including buildings, bridges, tunnels, etc.). The purpose of this review article is devoted to presenting a summary of the basic principles of various fiber-optic sensors, classification and principles of FOS, typical and functional fiber-optic sensors (FOSs), and the practical application status of the FOS technology in SHM of civil infrastructure.
Linear switched reluctance motors (LSRMs) have been an attractive solution for linear driving systems. This paper presents the design and performance comparison of dual side mover and segmental ...stator LSRM. A conventional teeth-type LSRM, which has identical dimensions, is designed and compared. A design process is developed based on the linear inductance model, and then a standard power equation of this kind of machine is derived, giving a guideline for the design process of the presented LSRM. Using the designed process obtained, a prototype machine is designed and manufactured. Finally, the experimental results from the prototype validate the design procedures and analysis.
Smoking has a profound impact on tumor immunity, and nicotine, which is the major addictive component of smoke, is known to promote tumor progression despite being a non-carcinogen. In this study, we ...demonstrate that chronic exposure of nicotine plays a critical role in the formation of pre-metastatic niche within the lungs by recruiting pro-tumor N2-neutrophils. This pre-metastatic niche promotes the release of STAT3-activated lipocalin 2 (LCN2), a secretory glycoprotein from the N2-neutrophils, and induces mesenchymal-epithelial transition of tumor cells thereby facilitating colonization and metastatic outgrowth. Elevated levels of serum and urine LCN2 is elevated in early-stage breast cancer patients and cancer-free females with smoking history, suggesting that LCN2 serve as a promising prognostic biomarker for predicting increased risk of metastatic disease in female smoker(s). Moreover, natural compound, salidroside effectively abrogates nicotine-induced neutrophil polarization and consequently reduced lung metastasis of hormone receptor-negative breast cancer cells. Our findings suggest a pro-metastatic role of nicotine-induced N2-neutrophils for cancer cell colonization in the lungs and illuminate the therapeutic use of salidroside to enhance the anti-tumor activity of neutrophils in breast cancer patients.
Graphene shows great potential in biosensing owing to its extraordinary optical, electrical and physical properties. In particular, graphene possesses unique optical properties, such as broadband and ...tunable absorption, and strong polarization-dependent effects. This lays a foundation for building graphene-based optical sensors. This paper selectively reviews recent advances in graphene-based optical sensors and biosensors. Graphene-based optical biosensors can be used for single cell detection, cell line, and anticancer drug detection, protein and antigen-antibody detection. These new high-performance graphene-based optical sensors are able to detect surface structural changes and biomolecular interactions. In all these cases, the optical biosensors perform well with ultra-fast detection, high sensitivities, unmarked, and are able to respond in real time. The future of the field of graphene applications is also discussed.
Transformer-coupling technique plays a key role in low-noise design methodology. Recently, there has been an increasing amount of research undertaken on developing dedicated transformer-coupled ...low-noise preamplifiers for particular sensors or systems. However, no research exists which combines an in-depth analysis of analytical models with a thorough understanding of performance specifications in terms of background noise, input range, bandwidth, and size. In this research, we present a small-signal model and a noise model for these preamplifiers along with fundamental design parameters. We design, construct, and test a prototype miniature transformer-coupled low-noise preamplifier for a specific resistive sensor with a source resistance below <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">0.1~\boldsymbol{\Omega } </tex-math></inline-formula> in a frequency band of interest between several hertz and 1 kHz. The proposed models are validated by the excellent agreement between the simulation and experiment results. Results show the input-referred voltage noise at room temperature settles to about 25 and 35 pV/ (Hz) 1/2 at 10 Hz when the source resistance is 6 and <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">36~\mathbf {m\Omega } </tex-math></inline-formula>, respectively. This research will serve as a basis for future studies on high-resolution resistive sensors and systems.
Graphene has received extensive scholarly attention for its extraordinary optical, electrical, and physicochemical properties, as well as its compatibility with silicon-based semiconductor processes. ...As a unique two-dimensional atomic crystal material, graphene has excellent mechanical properties, ultra-high carrier mobility, ultra-wide optical response spectrum, and strong polarization dependence effect, which make it have great potential in new optical and polarization devices. A series of new optical devices that are based on graphene have been developed, showing excellent performance and broad application prospects. In this paper, the recent research progress of polarizers, sensors, modulators, and detectors that are based on the polarization characteristics of graphene is reviewed. In particular, the polarization dependence effect and broadband absorption enhancement of graphene under total reflection structure are emphasized, which enhance the interaction between graphene and light and then provide a new direction for research of graphene polarization devices.
In this work, a detailed comparison of corrosion behavior and microstructural features of the Cr-rich stainless steel coatings manufactured by conventional laser metal deposition (CLMD) and extreme ...high-speed laser metal deposition (EHLMD) was firstly investigated. Results indicate that the EHLMD coating exhibited a superior corrosion resistance with a significantly higher the polarization resistance (Rp = 709.79 kΩ. cm2) compared to the CLMD coating (Rp = 356.69 kΩ. cm2) in 0.598 mol/L NaCl solution at room temperature. This was ascribed to the differences in microstructure characteristics of the coatings prepared by the two additive manufacturing processes.
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•Corrosion behavior of coatings manufactured by CLMD and EHLMD was compared.•Dislocations and stacking faults were generated in the EHLMD coating.•The EHLMD coating exhibited ultrafine grains and high density of grain boundaries.•The EHLMD coating possessed significantly higher polarization resistance.
Bone metastasis is an incurable complication of breast cancer. In advanced stages, patients with estrogen-positive tumors experience a significantly higher incidence of bone metastasis (>87%) ...compared to estrogen-negative patients (<56%). To understand the mechanism of this bone-tropism of ER
tumor, and to identify liquid biopsy biomarkers for patients with high risk of bone metastasis, the secreted extracellular vesicles and cytokines from bone-tropic breast cancer cells are examined in this study. Both exosomal miR-19a and Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein (IBSP) are found to be significantly upregulated and secreted from bone-tropic ER
breast cancer cells, increasing their levels in the circulation of patients. IBSP is found to attract osteoclast cells and create an osteoclast-enriched environment in the bone, assisting the delivery of exosomal miR-19a to osteoclast to induce osteoclastogenesis. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which ER
breast cancer cells create a microenvironment favorable for colonization in the bone. These two secreted factors can also serve as effective biomarkers for ER
breast cancer to predict their risks of bone metastasis. Furthermore, our screening of a natural compound library identifies chlorogenic acid as a potent inhibitor for IBSP-receptor binding to suppress bone metastasis of ER
tumor, suggesting its preventive use for bone recurrence in ER
patients.
The properties of RHA samples obtained at different conditions in muffle furnace and their effects on the mechanical behavior of cement have been studied. The properties were characterized by SEM, ...XRF, XRD and specific surface area. The effect of using RHA as a partial replacement for cement has been investigated by compressive and flexural strengths test. It is showed that in muffle furnace 600°C is the appropriate temperature for RHA preparation with large specific surface area due to the existences of nanoscale and amorphous SiO2. While, long combustion time could increase pozzolanic activity of RHA. The presence of K could decrease the specific surface area and increase the residual carbon content which content should be control strictly. RHA obtained in proper conditions can be used as cement additive to increase compressive and flexural strengths of cement mortar specimens. It is verified that RHA replacement ratio of 10% (by weight) has the best enhancement effect on cement strength.
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