In this paper, we investigate opacity of discrete event systems. We define two types of opacities: strong opacity and weak opacity. Given a general observation mapping, a language is strongly opaque ...if all strings in the language are confused with some strings in another language and it is weakly opaque if some strings in the language are confused with some strings in another language. We show that security and privacy of computer systems and communication protocols can be investigated in terms of opacity. In particular, two important properties in security and privacy, namely anonymity and secrecy, can be studied as special cases of opacity. We also show that by properly specifying the languages and the observation mapping, three important properties of discrete event systems, namely observability, diagnosability, and detectability, can all be reformulated as opacity. Thus, opacity has a wide range of applications. Also in this paper we provide algorithms for checking strong opacity and weak opacity for systems described by regular languages and having a generalized projection as the observation mapping.
The clinical prospect of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has not been fully realized due to the scarcity of efficient sonosensitizers. Herein, we designed phthalocyanine–artesunate conjugates (e.g. ...ZnPcT4A), which could generate up to ca. 10‐fold more reactive oxygen species (ROS) than the known sonosensitizer protoporphyrin IX. Meanwhile, an interesting and significant finding of aggregation‐enhanced sonodynamic activity (AESA) was observed for the first time. ZnPcT4A showed about 60‐fold higher sonodynamic ROS generation in the aggregated form than in the disaggregated form in aqueous solutions. That could be attributed to the boosted ultrasonic cavitation of nanostructures. The level of the AESA effect depended on the aggregation ability of sonosensitizer molecules and the particle size of their aggregates. Moreover, biological studies demonstrated that ZnPcT4A had high anticancer activities and biosafety. This study thus opens up a new avenue the development of efficient organic sonosensitizers.
An interesting aggregation‐enhanced sonodynamic activity (AESA) effect was first observed based on the studies of phthalocyanine–artesunate conjugates and common organic sonosensitizers, which arose from boosted ultrasonic cavitation caused by nanostructured aggregates. We believed that the AESA effect in this work could open up a new avenue for the development of efficient sonosensitizers.
The deterioration of perishable items results not only in direct quantitative losses, but also in qualitative losses, which would reduce the customer acceptability. To maintain or improve the quality ...level, sellers usually invest in functionality, aesthetics, safety or any other attributes. In addition to quality, price also plays a critical role in influencing the purchase choice of consumers and the profit of a firm. Most inventory management models for perishables are restricted to physical quantity deterioration and do not address joint dynamic pricing and quality investment strategies. This paper studies an optimal replenishment model with dynamic pricing and quality investment for perishable products, where the quality and physical quantity deteriorate simultaneously. The demand rate is decreasing in sales price and increasing in quality level. A dynamic optimization model is proposed to maximize the total profit per unit time and solved on the basis of Pontryagin's maximum principle. The optimal joint dynamic pricing, quality investment, and replenishment policy is obtained. A numerical example and sensitivity analysis on the key system parameters are presented to illustrate the validity of the theoretical results. Some managerial implications for the pricing and quality investment for the perishables are provided.
Some pathogens and pests deliver small RNAs (sRNAs) into host cells to suppress host immunity. Conversely, hosts also transfer sRNAs into pathogens and pests to inhibit their virulence. Although sRNA ...trafficking has been observed in a wide variety of interactions, how sRNAs are transferred, especially from hosts to pathogens and pests, is still unknown. Here, we show that host
cells secrete exosome-like extracellular vesicles to deliver sRNAs into fungal pathogen
These sRNA-containing vesicles accumulate at the infection sites and are taken up by the fungal cells. Transferred host sRNAs induce silencing of fungal genes critical for pathogenicity. Thus,
has adapted exosome-mediated cross-kingdom RNA interference as part of its immune responses during the evolutionary arms race with the pathogen.
Herein, we reported for the first time that gold nanoparticles-catalyzed 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine-H2O2 system can serve as an ultrasensitive colorimetric pH indicator. Gold nanoparticles acted ...as a catalyst and imitated the function of horseradish peroxidase. The absorbance at 450 nm of the yellow-color product in the catalytic reaction exhibited a linear fashion over the pH range of 6.40–6.60. On the basis of this property, we constructed a novel sensing platform for the determination of urea, urease, and urease inhibitor. The limit of detection for urea and urease was 5 μM and 1.8 U/L, respectively. The half-maximal inhibition value IC50 of acetohydroxamic acid was found to be 0.05 mM. Urea in human urine and urease in soil were detected with satisfied results.
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•GNPs-catalyzed TMB-H2O2 reporting system is used as an ultrasensitive pH indicator.•A450 exhibits a linear fashion over the pH range of 6.40–6.60.•A platform is established for the detection of urea, urease, and urease inhibitor.
The discovery of proper ligands to simultaneously modulate the reactivity and effectively control the stereoselectivity is a central topic in the field of enantioselective C−H activation. Herein, we ...reported the synthesis of axially chiral biaryls by Pd‐catalyzed atroposelective C−H olefination. A novel chiral spiro phosphoric acid, STRIP, was identified as a superior ligand for this transformation. A broad range of axially chiral quinoline derivatives were synthesized in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee). Density functional theory was used to gain a theoretical understanding of the enantioselectivities in this reaction.
The discovery of proper ligands to simultaneously modulate the reactivity and effectively control the stereoselectivity is a central topic in the field of enantioselective C−H activation. Herein, the synthesis of axially chiral biaryls by Pd‐catalyzed atroposelective C−H olefination is reported. A broad range of axially chiral quinoline derivatives were synthesized in good yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98 % ee).
Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been widely studied and applied in the field of tumor diagnosis and treatment because of their special fundamental properties. In order to make AuNPs more suitable for ...tumor diagnosis and treatment, their natural properties and the interrelationships between these properties should be systematically and profoundly understood. The natural properties of AuNPs were discussed from two aspects: physical and chemical. Among the physical properties of AuNPs, localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), radioactivity and high X-ray absorption coefficient are widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of tumors. As an advantage over many other nanoparticles in chemicals, AuNPs can form stable chemical bonds with S-and N-containing groups. This allows AuNPs to attach to a wide variety of organic ligands or polymers with a specific function. These surface modifications endow AuNPs with outstanding biocompatibility, targeting and drug delivery capabilities. In this review, we systematically summarized the physicochemical properties of AuNPs and their intrinsic relationships. Then the latest research advancements and the developments of basic research and clinical trials using these properties are summarized. Further, the difficulties to be overcome and possible solutions in the process from basic laboratory research to clinical application are discussed. Finally, the possibility of applying the results to clinical trials was estimated. We hope to provide a reference for peer researchers to better utilize the excellent physicochemical properties of gold nanoparticles in oncotherapy.
This paper reports on tunable 2- and 3-pole bandpass filters with a wide frequency tuning range (tuning ratio >3) and a constant bandwidth using switchable varactor-tuned resonators. The wide center ...frequency tuning range is obtained using p-i-n diodes to switch in and out quarter-wavelength (λ/4) or half-wavelength (λ/2) resonators for low-band or high-band modes, without increasing the tuning capacitance range of the varactors. A combination of electric and magnetic coupling is utilized to realize a near constant absolute bandwidth across the tuning range. A switchable feed line with a fixed matching capacitance is used to realize the external coupling. Two filters are designed and fabricated on a Duroid substrate with ε r = 2.2 and h = 0.787 mm. For the 2-pole filter, the center frequency is tuned from 550 to 1900 MHz while maintaining a 3-dB bandwidth of 92 ± 6 MHz, insertion loss of 3.2~4.4 dB, and return loss of better than 15 dB. For the 3-pole filter, the center frequency is tuned from 540 to 1800 MHz while maintaining a 3-dB bandwidth of 89 ± 4 MHz, insertion loss of 4~5.4 dB, and return loss of better than 12 dB. For both filter types, the third-order intercept point and 1-dB compression point (P 1 dB) are 11 and 7 dBm, respectively. The rejection level at 200-MHz offset frequency from the passband center frequency is better than 25 and 41 dB for 2- and 3-pole filters, respectively, across the entire tuning range. To the best of our knowledge, this planar bandpass filter exhibits the widest tuning range with a near-constant bandwidth.
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