Bone-targeted polymeric nanoparticles as alendronate carriers for potential osteoporosis treatment

Bone-targeted polymeric nanoparticles for alendronate delivery based on Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) conjugated chitosan (CS-PLGA) and alendronate conjugated PLGA (Alen-PLGA) are fabricated and their superior performances are evaluated. The nanoparticles exhibited sustained Alen release without obvious burst release and good cytocompatibility against MC3T3 cells. Alen-modified nanoparticles demonstrated a high affinity to hydroxyapatite, which is the main mineral component of bone, indicating their feasibility for bone-targeted delivery. In addition, unlike nanoparticles without Alen, Alen-modified nanoparticles were preferentially taken up by MC3T3 cells, compared to HDF cells, revealing their specific uptake for osteoblast-like cells. Thus, the Alen-modified nanoparticles can potentially be developed as bone-targeted carriers for osteoporosis treatment

The Governance Challenge within Socio-Technical Transition Processes: Public Bicycles and Smartphone-Based Bicycles in Guangzhou, China

In urban China, utilitarian cycling plays a significant role in achieving sustainable mobility. Within this context, different kinds of sharing-bicycle programs equipped with new technologies/devices emerge and extend. By comparing two generations of them in Guangzhou (China), this paper explores how new technologies impact existing modes of mobility governance. First, the technical innovations, e.g., app-based bicycle locks and micro-GPS equipment, contribute to liberating emerging private companies from existing governmental regulations based on land control. Second, the adoption of these innovations not only contributes to the accumulation of cultural and symbolic capitals based on a fashionable lifestyle but also links bicycles to personal point-to-point travel data that could be translated to economic capital. Third, the discrepancy between the dispositions of the government and private companies regarding the innovations opens an opportunity for the quick extension of sharing bicycles, which brings both positive and negative consequences on citizens’ daily travel and life. The absence of other civic actors in the decision-making process accelerates the negative consequences caused by the profit-driven fast extension of sharing bicycles and the governmental top-down governing logic. These findings provide academia with implications for understanding the impact of innovations on achieving sustainable mobility

Location Is Back: The Influence of COVID-19 on Chinese Cities and Urban Governance

This article explores the short-term and (potential) long-term influences of COVID-19 on urban China and its governance, which was characterised by increasing mobilities and delocalised societies before the outbreak. Through the analysis of 18 observation reports in 16 cities, it is revealed that the outbreak enables the government to (re-)build a location-based urban management system with the participation of residents facing the pandemic as an external threat. A paradoxical combination of low physical mobility and high information mobility occurs. The location-based lifestyle and governance pattern has been “normalised” rather than just being a temporary response to the pandemic. The re-localisation in urban China differs from the localism in western societies as it results from the combination of the state-power-based governmental action and citizens’ participation aimed at regaining location-based ontological security. The normalisation of the re-localisation tendency may bring about fundamental changes to urban China, even “after” the pandemic

Location Is Back: The Influence of COVID-19 on Chinese Cities and Urban Governance

This article explores the short-term and (potential) long-term influences of COVID-19 on urban China and its governance, which was characterised by increasing mobilities and delocalised societies before the outbreak. Through the analysis of 18 observation reports in 16 cities, it is revealed that the outbreak enables the government to (re-)build a location-based urban management system with the participation of residents facing the pandemic as an external threat. A paradoxical combination of low physical mobility and high information mobility occurs. The location-based lifestyle and governance pattern has been “normalised” rather than just being a temporary response to the pandemic. The re-localisation in urban China differs from the localism in western societies as it results from the combination of the state-power-based governmental action and citizens’ participation aimed at regaining location-based ontological security. The normalisation of the re-localisation tendency may bring about fundamental changes to urban China, even “after” the pandemic

Dancing with shackles? : The sociopolitical opportunities, achievements, and dilemmas of cycling activism in Guangzhou, China

Over the last decade, urban cycling has re-emerged as a popular mode of transportation in Chinese cities. This article examines how grassroots activism contributed to this cycling renaissance by considering the case of Guangzhou. In the wake of rapid economic development, the Chinese government modified its transportation policies such that cycling was revived, with Guangzhou playing a role in the "rise, fall, and re-emergence" of China as a "cycling kingdom". We contend that these sociopolitical circumstances of economic development and political opening up provided a structural opportunity for cycling activists, who gained public visibility and institutional recognition through their strategic interaction with both governmental and nongovernmental actors. In addition, activists empowered themselves by accumulating and transforming their social capital. Their example resonated with other marginal organizations and the resulting alliances enhanced the legitimacy of cycling as a movement. Finally, we identify the dilemmas and limitations of cycling activism in urban China due to the closure of local governance channels and the perception that cycling issues are "nonurgent"

The Role of Information and Knowledge in Achieving Environmentally Sound Farming: A Chinese Case

The paper analyzes the role of information–knowledge for making farming environmentally friendly, using eutrophication of the main drinking water reservoir of Tianjin, China as a case. The analysis considers information and instruction sources used by farmers in relation to their farming and environmental issues, in particular application of fertilizers, and on this basis it discusses governance and policy measures. The study is interdisciplinary, covering both natural and social sciences, and it is based on quantitative methodology, employing descriptive and multivariate statistical methods. The main findings are: (i) farmers make use of a broad range of information and instruction sources, thereby confirming the claim that eutrophication and hence good farming practices are a “wicked” problem; (ii) the young and the members of the Communist Party are more active than others in using a broad range of information and instruction sources; (iii) different categories of farmers give priority to different information and instruction sources, providing a basis for tailor-made disseminations; (iv) the majority of farmers report receiving clear instructions for using fertilizers, yet half of them conceive using fertilizers correctly as difficult; (v) receiving instructions from other farmers and suppliers cater for high scores on clear instructions; and (vi) farmers are best seen as muddling through different pressures from above and different knowledge bases, and not just willy-nilly responding to top-down policy instructions

Improvement of microstructure and acquirement of excellent mechanical properties of high-Nb Ti2AlC/TiAl alloy by Ta under ultrasonic action in solid-liquid zone

To promote element diffusion in the solid-liquid two-phase region, optimize solidification microstructure, and improve the matching degree of strength and toughness, Ti–46Al–8Nb-2.6C-xTa (at. %) alloys were prepared by arc melting under the action of ultrasound. The lamellar colony, precipitate phase, elements distribution, and related mechanisms were analyzed. Results show that the relative content of the γ phase decreases, while the relative content of the α2 phase and Ti2AlC phase increases as the addition of Ta increases. The coarse long rod-shaped Ti2AlC transforms into short rod-shaped particles. The lamellar colony size reduces from 32.1 to 18.6 μm, the lamellar spacing reduces from 1.4 to 0.7 μm, and the aspect ratio of Ti2AlC reduces from 5.8 to 2.5 as the addition of Ta increases from 0 to 1.0 at. %. The acoustic streaming effect of ultrasound promotes the diffusion of tantalum in the solid-liquid two-phase region for a certain ultrasonic processing time. Tantalum is a heterogeneous nucleation particle of Ti2AlC particles and causes composition supercooling at the forefront of the solidification interface, which is the main reason for refining the microstructure. Compressive strength increases from 1996 to 2596 MPa and the strain increases from 25.4 to 29.3% as the addition of Ta increases from 0 to 0.6 at. %. The main reasons for improving the properties of alloy are the refinement of the microstructure and the formation of a large number of dislocations

Developing a Training System for Web Fires [video]

TechCon2017 (CRUSER)Presented by LCDR Dan DeCicco, USN and NPS SEA 25 TDSI Cohort: Ryan Beall, Preston Tilus, Clayton Petty, Dor Kronzilber, Ang Chin Beng, Ang Pak Siang, Kan Wei Sheng, Ang Wee Kiong, Hoon Dingyao, Gay Wee Choon, Soh Yuan Wei, Yee Jian Hong, Ang Cheng Hai, Han Keng Siew, Foo Yueng Hao, Chin Hon Keong, See Hongze, Toh Ying Jie, Lai Wee, Tan Choon SengIncludes slidesSEA 25 TASKING: Design a fleet system of systems and concept of operations for employment of a cost effective training system capable of preparing naval warfighters to employ and leverage the web fires concepts and technologies in the 2025-2030 timeframe. Consider training across warfare specialties and missions; Conduct research to provide a solid foundation of knowledge requirements for a web fires fleet concept; Complete a gap analysis by comparing current fleet training with the required training to leverage cross domain and cross-platform capabilities in a warfighting environment; Scan for current examples of cross-domain training and current training simulation from DoD and industry; Develop a system architecture addressing responsible command, training requirements, training and exercise venues, and training participants to fill discovered gaps in meeting the knowledge requirements; Assess the proposed system against the principles of high velocity learning found in the CNO's "A Design for Maintaining Maritime SuperiorityNPS CRUSE