PrEmo Toolkit: Measuring emotions for design research

The product generated in this project aims to develop offline version of an emotion measure instrument and the objective of the project is to combining the convenience of physical product and the clarity of animations. By analysing some other emotion measurement instrument as well as previous work of PrEmo, some opportunities that could help to improve the offline product. Through a group discussion, some inspiring ideas were generated and five design directions formed. Eight interviews were conducted to get users’ requirements of PrEmo and also assess the five design concepts. Four qualities were summarized and the ideal solution was selected. After some exploration and several iterations, the final prototype was made. It is a set of acrylic cards with manual guiding people to use it. An application was also developed for users to watch the animations of emotions. There is also an introduction movie inserted in the APP. An evaluation test was taken place at the end of study and all the tests went well, proving that the usability of the PrEmo is fine, though the clarity still haves some room to be improved.Design for Interactio

Synthetic Chemotaxis: Path Tracking Vesicles with DNA Walkers

Here we demonstrate dynamic synthetic vesicles (SVs) capable of chasing one another on two dimensional (2D) surfaces by programming DNA components.1 As a programmable material, DNA has been engineered for generating synthetic molecular systems such as nanostructures, affinity reagents, motors, and logic gates. We show that directed motility in DNA functionalized SVs can be achieved by combining toehold switchable oligonucleotides with signaling strands and that the ‘follow’ vesicle recognizes the path that the ‘lead’ vesicle has travelled and tracks the trajectory with enhanced speed. To demonstrate such synthetic chemotaxis, we first self-assembled vesicles using phospholipid-oligonucleotide conjugates whose sequence contains our motility designs. The vesicle has an average diameter of ~200 nm and decorated with multiple DNA walkers such that it can migrate on an RNA fuel decorated glass coverslip. Paper presented virtually for 17th Annual Conference on Foundations of Nanoscience: Self-Assembled Architectures and Devices (FNANO20)

Association between serum osteocalcin and glucose/lipid metabolism in Chinese Han and Uygur populations with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Xinjiang: two cross-sectional studies

Abstract Background Recent studies have shown osteocalcin (OC) plays an important role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association of OC with glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Chinese Han and Uygur population. Methods A total of 1397 T2DM patients (705 Han and 692 Uygur T2DM patients) were enrolled in the present study. Lipid profile, glucose metabolic indices and total OC (TOC) were measured. Homeostasis model assessment of β-cells function (HOMA-β), insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IS) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were also calculated in all participants. Pearson/Spearman correlation analysis and multivariate stepwise regression analysis were adopted to test the relationships between OC and those parameters. Results Uygur T2DM patients had significantly higher body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) and lower TOC compared with their Han counterparts (all P  0.05). Conclusion There were differences in the associations between TOC and glucose metabolism in Han and Uygur T2DM patients, indicating genetic factors may play a role in modulating OC and glucose metabolism in different ethnic population

Mechanistic Understanding of Surface Migration Dynamics with DNA Walkers

Dynamic DNA walkers can move cargoes on a surface through various mechanisms including enzymatic reactions and strand displacement. While they have demonstrated high processivity and speed, their motion dynamics are not well understood. Here, we utilize an enzyme-powered DNA walker as a model system and adopt a random walk model to provide new insight on migration dynamics. Four distinct migration modes (ballistic, Lévy, self-avoiding, and diffusive motions) are identified. Each mode shows unique step time and velocity distributions which are related to mean squared displacement (MSD) scaling. Experimental results are in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. With a better understanding of the dynamics, we performed a mechanistic study, elucidating the effects of cargo types and sizes, walker sequence designs, and environmental conditions. Finally, this study provides a set of design principles for tuning the behaviors of DNA walkers. The DNA walkers from this work could serve as a versatile platform for mathematical studies and open new opportunities for bioengineering.</p

Mechanics of Dynamic and Deformable DNA Nanostructures

In DNA nanotechnology, DNA molecules are designed, engineered, and assembled into arbitrary-shaped architectures with predesigned functions. Static DNA assemblies often have delicate designs with structural rigidity to overcome thermal fluctuations, whose design strategies have been studied extensively. Dynamic structures reconfigure in response to external cues. Such transformational mechanisms have been explored to create dynamic nanodevices for environmental sensing, payload delivery, and other applications. However, the precise control of reconfigurable dynamics has been a challenge due partly to flexible single-stranded DNA connections between moving parts. Deformable structures are special dynamic constructs with deformation on double-stranded parts and single-stranded hinges during reconfiguration. These structures often have better controls in programmed deformation. However, related deformability and mechanics, as well as deformation mechanisms are not well understood or documented. In this review, we summarize the development of dynamic and deformable nanostructures from the mechanics perspectives. We present deformation mechanisms such as single-stranded DNA hinges with lock-and-release pairs, jack edges, helicity modulation, and external loading. Theoretical and computational models are discussed for understanding the deformations and mechanics, including commonly used elasticity theory, finite element method, and coarse-grained molecular dynamics models. Other special models are also introduced. We elucidate the pros and cons of each model and recommend design processes based on the models. The design guidelines should be useful for those who have limited knowledge in mechanics as well as expert DNA designers. After presenting unique applications, we conclude with current challenges in dynamic and deformable structures and outlook for the development of the field

Prediction of tight sandstone reservoirs based on waveform indication simulation

With the deepening exploratory development, geological targets are gradually shifting from conventional reservoirs to unconventional ones. The sandstone reservoirs in the northeast margin of the Ordos Basin are stacked vertically and change quickly horizontally with thin thicknesses. Therefore, traditional inversion technology cannot satisfy the requirements of precise prediction of thin reservoirs. To solve this problem, this paper integrated geological, seismic and logging data based on the GR curve. A wave form simulation of the MG block in the eastern margin of Ordos Basin was conducted, and the distribution of sandstone reservoirs in the target bed was depicted. The results showed that the waveform indication simulation profiles had a high resolution both horizontally and vertically. They were also in line with the drilling well and strongly correlated with the seismic waveform, which could reflect the spatial variation in the reservoir and accord with the law of geological deposition in the study area. Therefore, as a more efficient inversion method, waveform indication simulation provided a strong support for the refined study of thin inter-bedded reservoirs and helped to maximize the development and utilization of gas resources

Beneficial effects of time-restricted fasting on cardiovascular disease risk factors: a meta-analysis

Abstract Background Cardiovascular disease continues to be a leading cause of mortality worldwide, highlighting the need to explore innovative approaches to improve cardiovascular health outcomes. Time-restricted fasting (TRF) is a dietary intervention that involves limiting the time window for food consumption. It has gained attention for its potential benefits on metabolic health and weight management. This study aims to investigate the impact of TRF on key risk factors, including body weight, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and lipid profile. Methods We conducted a systematic search in five databases (Scopus, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science) for relevant studies up to January 2023. After applying inclusion criteria, 12 studies were eligible for analysis. Quality assessment was conducted using the ROB-2.0 tool and ROBINS-I. Risk of bias was mapped using Revman 5.3, and data analysis included Hartung-Knapp adjustment using R 4.2.2. Results The group that underwent the TRF intervention exhibited a significant decrease in body weight (SMD: -0.22; 95%CI: -0.41, -0.04; P  0.05). Conclusion TRF has shown potential as a treatment strategy for reducing total body weight by targeting adipose tissue, with potential improvements in cardiometabolic function

Investigation of the effect of torch tilt and external magnetic field on arc during overlapping deposition of wire arc additive manufacturing

International audiencePurpose The purpose of this paper is to find a theoretical reference to adjust the unsymmetrical arc shape and plasma flow of overlapping deposition in wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) and ensure the effect of the gas shielding and stable heat and mass transfer in deposition process. The multiphysical numerical simulation and physical experiment are used for validation. Design/methodology/approach In this study, welding torch tilt deposition and external parallel magnetic field–assisted deposition are presented to adjust the unsymmetrical arc shape and plasma flow of overlapping deposition, and a three-dimensional numerical model is developed to simulate the arc of torch tilt overlapping deposition and external parallel magnetic field–assisted overlapping deposition. Findings The comparison of simulated results indicate that the angle of welding torch tilt equal to 20° and the magnetic flux density of external transverse magnetic field equal to 0.001 Tesla are capable of balancing the electric arc and shielding gas effectively, respectively. The arc profiles captured by a high-speed camera match well with simulated results. Originality/value These studies of this paper can provide a theoretical basis and reference for the calibration and optimization of WAAM process parameters