On the efficient estimation of blood velocities

Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler ultrasound systems are commonly used to examine blood flow dynamics and the technique plays a very important role in numerous diagnostic applications. Commonly, narrow-band PW systems estimate the blood velocity using an autocorrelation-based estimator. Herein, we examine a recently proposed hybrid frequency estimator, and via extensive numerical simulations using simulated blood scatterers show the achievable performance gain of this method as compared to the traditional approach

Nucleic Acid Self-Assembly Circuitry Aided by Exonuclease III for Discrimination of Single Nucleotide Variants

Robust and rapid discrimination of one base mutations in nucleic acid sequences is important in clinical applications. Here, we report a hybridization-based assay exploiting nucleic acid self-assembly circuitry and enzyme exonuclease III (Exo III) for the differentiation of single nucleotide variants (SNVs). This one-step approach combines the merits of discrimination power of competitive DNA hybridization probes (probe + sink) with catalytic amplification assisted by Exo III. The phosphorothioate bonds modified on a wild-type (WT) specific sink inhibit the Exo III digestion; thus, subsequent catalytic amplification magnifies only the intended SNV targets. The integrated assay exhibits improved SNV discrimination rather than hybridization probes relying solely on competition or amplification and enables SNV detection at 1% abundance. Two frequent cancer-driver mutation sequences (EGFR-L861Q, NRAS-Q61K) were tested. Our strategy allows simple sequence design and can easily adapt to multianalyte SNV detections

On the Efficient Estimation of Blood Velocities

Pulsed wave (PW) Doppler ultrasound systems are commonly used to examine blood flow dynamics and the technique plays a very important role in numerous diagnostic applications. Commonly, narrow-band PW systems estimate the blood velocity using an autocorrelation-based estimator. Herein, we examine a recently proposed hybrid frequency estimator, and via extensive numerical simulations using simulated blood scatterers show the achievable performance gain of this method as compared to the traditional approach

Rapid-Forming and Self-Healing Agarose-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Adhesives and Potential Wound Dressings

To meet the progressive requirements of advanced engineering materials with superior physicochemical performances, self-healing and injectable hydrogels (AD hydrogels) based on agarose with pH-response were prepared through dynamic covalent Schiff-base linkages by simply mixing nontoxic agarose–ethylenediamine conjugate (AG-NH₂) and dialdehyde-functionalized polyethylene glycol (DF-PEG) solutions. The self-healing and injectable capabilities of the hydrogels without any external stimulus are ascribed to dynamic covalent Schiff-base linkages between the aldehyde groups of DF-PEG and amine groups on AG-NH₂ backbone. It is demonstrated that the AD hydrogels possess interconnected porous morphologies, rapid gelation time, excellent deformability, and good mechanical strength. The incorporated Schiff’s base imparts the hydrogels to the remarkable tissue adhesiveness. In vivo hemostatic tests on rabbit liver demonstrate that the hydrogels are able to stanch the severe trauma effectively. Compared with the conventional gauze treatment, the total amount of bleeding sharply declined to be (0.19 ± 0.03) g, and hemostasis time was strikingly shorter than 10 s after treating with AD hydrogels. In summary, the self-healing ability, cytocompatibility, and adhesion characteristic of the pH-responsive hydrogels make them promising candidates for long-lived wound dressings in critical situations

Joint optimization of green vehicle scheduling and routing problem with time-varying speeds

<div><p>Based on an analysis of the congestion effect and changes in the speed of vehicle flow during morning and evening peaks in a large- or medium-sized city, the piecewise function is used to capture the rules of the time-varying speed of vehicles, which are very important in modelling their fuel consumption and CO₂ emission. A joint optimization model of the green vehicle scheduling and routing problem with time-varying speeds is presented in this study. Extra wages during nonworking periods and soft time-window constraints are considered. A heuristic algorithm based on the adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm is also presented. Finally, a numerical simulation example is provided to illustrate the optimization model and its algorithm. Results show that, (1) the shortest route is not necessarily the route that consumes the least energy, (2) the departure time influences the vehicle fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions and the optimal departure time saves on fuel consumption and reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 5.4%, and (3) extra driver wages have significant effects on routing and departure time slot decisions.</p></div

Flowchart of adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm.

<p>Flowchart of adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm.</p

Rapid-Forming and Self-Healing Agarose-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Adhesives and Potential Wound Dressings

To meet the progressive requirements of advanced engineering materials with superior physicochemical performances, self-healing and injectable hydrogels (AD hydrogels) based on agarose with pH-response were prepared through dynamic covalent Schiff-base linkages by simply mixing nontoxic agarose–ethylenediamine conjugate (AG-NH₂) and dialdehyde-functionalized polyethylene glycol (DF-PEG) solutions. The self-healing and injectable capabilities of the hydrogels without any external stimulus are ascribed to dynamic covalent Schiff-base linkages between the aldehyde groups of DF-PEG and amine groups on AG-NH₂ backbone. It is demonstrated that the AD hydrogels possess interconnected porous morphologies, rapid gelation time, excellent deformability, and good mechanical strength. The incorporated Schiff’s base imparts the hydrogels to the remarkable tissue adhesiveness. In vivo hemostatic tests on rabbit liver demonstrate that the hydrogels are able to stanch the severe trauma effectively. Compared with the conventional gauze treatment, the total amount of bleeding sharply declined to be (0.19 ± 0.03) g, and hemostasis time was strikingly shorter than 10 s after treating with AD hydrogels. In summary, the self-healing ability, cytocompatibility, and adhesion characteristic of the pH-responsive hydrogels make them promising candidates for long-lived wound dressings in critical situations

Comparative analysis of system performances with extra wages during overtime periods.

<p>Comparative analysis of system performances with extra wages during overtime periods.</p

Multichannel Charge Transport of a BiVO₄/(RGO/WO₃)/W₁₈O₄₉ Three-Storey Anode for Greatly Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Efficiency

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar conversion is a green strategy for addressing the energy crisis. In this study, a three-storey nanostructure BiVO₄/(RGO/WO₃)/W₁₈O₄₉ was fabricated as a PEC photoanode and demonstrated a highly enhanced PEC efficiency. The top and middle storeys are a reduced graphene oxide (RGO) layer and WO₃ nanorods (NRs) decorated with BiVO₄ nanoparticles (NPs), respectively. The bottom storey is the W₁₈O₄₉ film grown on a pure W substrate. In this novel design, experiments and modeling together demonstrated that the RGO layer and WO₃ NRs with a fast carrier mobility can serve as multichannel pathways, sharing and facilitating electron transport from the BiVO₄ NPs to the W₁₈O₄₉ film. The high conductivity of W₁₈O₄₉ can further enhance the charge transfer and retard electron–hole recombination, leading to a highly improved PEC efficiency of the BiVO₄/WO₃ heterojunction. As a result, the as-fabricated three-storey photoanode covered with FeOOH/NiOOH achieves an attractive PEC photocurrent density of 4.66 mA/cm² at 1.5 V versus Ag/AgCl, which illustrates the promising potential of the three-storey hetero-nanostructure in future photoconversion applications

Rapid-Forming and Self-Healing Agarose-Based Hydrogels for Tissue Adhesives and Potential Wound Dressings

To meet the progressive requirements of advanced engineering materials with superior physicochemical performances, self-healing and injectable hydrogels (AD hydrogels) based on agarose with pH-response were prepared through dynamic covalent Schiff-base linkages by simply mixing nontoxic agarose–ethylenediamine conjugate (AG-NH₂) and dialdehyde-functionalized polyethylene glycol (DF-PEG) solutions. The self-healing and injectable capabilities of the hydrogels without any external stimulus are ascribed to dynamic covalent Schiff-base linkages between the aldehyde groups of DF-PEG and amine groups on AG-NH₂ backbone. It is demonstrated that the AD hydrogels possess interconnected porous morphologies, rapid gelation time, excellent deformability, and good mechanical strength. The incorporated Schiff’s base imparts the hydrogels to the remarkable tissue adhesiveness. In vivo hemostatic tests on rabbit liver demonstrate that the hydrogels are able to stanch the severe trauma effectively. Compared with the conventional gauze treatment, the total amount of bleeding sharply declined to be (0.19 ± 0.03) g, and hemostasis time was strikingly shorter than 10 s after treating with AD hydrogels. In summary, the self-healing ability, cytocompatibility, and adhesion characteristic of the pH-responsive hydrogels make them promising candidates for long-lived wound dressings in critical situations