Revisiting van der Waals like behavior of f(R) AdS black holes via the two point correlation function

Van der Waals like behavior of $f(R)$ AdS black holes is revisited via two point correlation function, which is dual to the geodesic length in the bulk. The equation of motion constrained by the boundary condition is solved numerically and both the effect of boundary region size and $f(R)$ gravity are probed. Moreover, an analogous specific heat related to $\delta L$ is introduced. It is shown that the $T-\delta L$ graphs of $f(R)$ AdS black holes exhibit reverse van der Waals like behavior just as the $T-S$ graphs do. Free energy analysis is carried out to determine the first order phase transition temperature $T_*$ and the unstable branch in $T-\delta L$ curve is removed by a bar $T=T_*$. It is shown that the first order phase transition temperature is the same at least to the order of $10^{-10}$ for different choices of the parameter $b$ although the values of free energy vary with $b$. Our result further supports the former finding that charged $f(R)$ AdS black holes behave much like RN-AdS black holes. We also check the analogous equal area law numerically and find that the relative errors for both the cases $\theta_0=0.1$ and $\theta_0=0.2$ are small enough. The fitting functions between $\log\mid T -T_c\mid$ and $\log\mid\delta L-\delta L_c\mid$ for both cases are also obtained. It is shown that the slope is around 3, implying that the critical exponent is about $2/3$. This result is in accordance with those in former literatures of specific heat related to the thermal entropy or entanglement entropy.Comment: Revised version. Match the published version. 14pages,5figure

An In situ TEM study of the surface oxidation of palladium nanocrystals assisted by electron irradiation

An In situ atomic scale study of the surface oxidation of Pd nanocrystals.</p

In silico Genetic Network Models for &#xb;Pre-clinical Drug Prioritization

The high rates of failure in oncology drug clinical trials highlight the problems of using pre-clinical data to predict the clinical effects of drugs. Patient population heterogeneity and unpredictable physiology complicate pre-clinical cancer modeling efforts. We hypothesize that gene networks associated with cancer outcome in heterogeneous patient populations could serve as a reference for identifying drug effects. Here we propose a novel in vivo genetic interaction which we call &#x2018;synergistic outcome determination&#x2019; (SOD), a concept similar to &#x2018;Synthetic Lethality&#x2019;. SOD is defined as the synergy of a gene pair with respect to cancer patients&#x27; outcome, whose correlation with outcome is due to cooperative, rather than independent, contributions of genes. The method combines microarray gene expression data with cancer prognostic information to identify synergistic gene-gene interactions that are then used to construct interaction networks based on gene modules (a group of genes which share similar function). In this way, we identified a cluster of important epigenetically regulated gene modules. By projecting drug sensitivity-associated genes on to the cancer-specific inter-module network, we defined a perturbation index for each drug based upon its characteristic perturbation pattern on the inter-module network. Finally, by calculating this index for compounds in the NCI Standard Agent Database, we significantly discriminated successful drugs from a broad set of test compounds, and further revealed the mechanisms of drug combinations. Thus, prognosis-guided synergistic gene-gene interaction networks could serve as an efficient in silico tool for pre-clinical drug prioritization and rational design of combinatorial therapies.&#xd;&#xa

Electrospinning of Carboxymethyl Chitosan/Polyoxyethylene Oxide Nanofibers for Fruit Fresh-Keeping

Electrospinning provides an effective method for generating nanofibers from solution of carboxymethyl chitosan/polyoxyethylene oxide (CMCS/PEO). The goal of this work is to explore the potential application of electrospun CMCS/PEO nanofiber membrane in fruit fresh-keeping. The microstructure, antibacterial activity, hydrophilia, and air permeability of the nanofiber membrane have been tested. For comparison, the fresh-keeping effects of commercial cling wrap and CMCS/PEO nanofiber membranes on strawberries’ rotting rate and weight loss rate have been studied. The results indicate that the electrospun CMCS/PEO membrane could effectively avoid water loss in strawberries and has a remarkable effect to prolong strawberries’ shelf life due to its breathability and antibacterial activity. In addition, the composite CMCS/PEO, nanofiber membrane is non-poisonous and edible, which can be used in food industry

Characterization of a Superconducting Microstrip Single-Photon Detector Shunted with an External Resistor

A superconducting microstrip single-photon detector (SMSPD) generally requires a shunt resistor to avoid latching, caused by its high current-carrying capacity and low kinetic inductance. Here, the effect of the shunt resistor on the behaviors of microbridge SMSPDs was investigated. We analyzed the change in equivalent switching current at different shunt resistances in two ways and determined the operating current range using intrinsic dark count rate (iDCR) curves. We observed that the reduction in shunt resistance can increase the operating current range, which helps to improve the internal detection efficiency (IDE) and reduce the iDCR. However, the reduction in the shunt resistance can reduce the pulse amplitude and increase the pulse decay time, which can degrade the timing jitter and count rate performance of the SMSPD. The trends of the experimental results can be qualitatively reproduced using a circuit model for an SMSPD with a shunt resistor, which provides useful information for the selection of shunt resistors. Furthermore, we report the improved detection performance of a helium-ion-irradiated SMSPD shunted with a small resistance of 5.2 {\Omega}. We observed a weak IDE saturation with a bias current at a wavelength up to 2000 nm and a nonlinear relation between detection current and photon energy.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 1 tabl

Immunomodulatory Hydrogels:Advanced Regenerative Tools for Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most common complications of diabetes, bringing physical and mental challenges for patients due to the lack of efficient curative therapy. Despite considerable advances in pharmacological and surgical approaches, clinical trials for DFU patients remain disappointing due to the local overactive and excessive inflammation. Immunomodulatory hydrogels has significant advantages to overcome the clinical challenge of DFUs therapy. Here, recent fabrication and regenerative advances in the utilization of functional hydrogels for altering the immune microenvironment of DFUs are comprehensively reviewed. The pathological features and the healing processes of DFUs, followed by summarizing the physicochemical properties essential for the design of regenerative hydrogels for immunomodulation in DFUs, are briefly introduced. Then, the potential immuno-therapeutic modalities of hydrogels and emerging trends used to treat DFUs via multitherapeutic approaches and enhanced efficacy and safety are discussed. Taken together, by linking the structural properties of hydrogels to their functions in DFU therapy with a particular focus on immunomodulatory stimuli, this review can promote further advances in designing advanced hydrogels for DFUs, resulting in improved diabetic wound repair through translation into clinical setting in the near future.</p

Poor-Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Risk Factors Affecting Clinical Outcomes in Intracranial Aneurysm Patients in a Multi-Center Study

Objective: Patients with poor-grade aneurysm subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) have commonly been considered to have a poor prognosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the independent risk factors affecting clinical outcomes in intracranial aneurysm patients with poor-grade aneurysm subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) underwent different intervention therapies.Methods: A multicenter observational registry of 324 poor-grade aSAH patients treated at tertiary referral centers from October 2010 to March 2012 were enrolled in this study. The clinical data including patient characteristics on admission and during treatment course, treatment modality, aneurysm size and location, radiologic features, signs of cerebral herniation (dilated pupils), and functional neurologic outcome were collected. Clinical outcomes were assessed via a modified Rankin Scale at 12 months. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to develop prognostic models. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curves (AUC) and Hosmer-Lemeshow tests were used to assess discrimination and calibration. WAP score was developed to predict risk of poor outcome.Results: Older age, female gender, ventilated breathing status, non-reactive pupil response, pupil dilation, lower GCS score, a WFNS grade of V, intraventricular hemorrhage, a higher Fisher grade, a higher modified Fisher grade, and conservative treatment were calculated to be associated with a relatively poor outcome. Multivariate analyses revealed that older age, lower Glasgow coma scale score (GCS), the absence of pupillary reactivity, higher modified Fisher grade, and conservative treatment were independent predictors of poor outcome, showed good discrimination and calibration. Patients with WFNS grade V, older age and non-reactive pupillary reactivity were predicted to have a poor outcome by WAP risk score.Conclusions: A simple WAP risk score had good discrimination and calibration in the prediction of outcome. The risk score can be easily measured and may complement treatment decision-making