Robust competitive facility location model with uncertain demand types.

In competitive settings, firms locate their facilities according to customers' behavior to maximize their market share. A common behavior is consuming from different motivations: one is for convenient demand, and the other is for quality demand. In this behavioral pattern, consumers patronize facilities within convenience for some demands, and patronize high quality facilities beyond convenience range for other demands.

Self-Reinforced Cancer Targeting (SRCT) Depending on Reciprocally Enhancing Feedback between Targeting and Therapy.

Conventional cancer targeting methodology needs to be reformed to overcome the intrinsic barriers responsible for poor targeting efficiency. This study describes a concept of self-reinforced cancer targeting (SRCT) by correlating targeting with therapy in a reciprocally enhancing manner. SRCT is achieved on the basis of two prerequisites: (1) target molecules have to be expressed on cancer cell membranes but not on normal cells, and (2) notably, their expression on cancer cells must be actively upregulated in response to cellular attack by cancer treatments.

[Phylogenetic structure of Abies georgei var. smithii community at different spatial scales in Sygera Mountains of Tibet, China].

We analyzed the phylogenetic structure of trees within six diameter classes (1-2, 2-4, 4-7, 7-11, 11-16, >16 cm) in quadrats with different size of 5 m×5 m,10 m×10 m, 20 m×20 m, 50 m×50 m, 100 m×100 m in a Abies georgei var. smithii community in a 4 hm stem-mapping plot located in subalpine dark coniferous forest of Sygera Mountains, southeast Tibet. In various spatial scales, both net relatedness index (NRI) and nearest taxon index (NTI) of the community were larger than zero, indicating a clustered phylogenetic structure with the largest clustering intensity at small spatial scale (5 m×5 m).

pH-sensitive MOF integrated with glucose oxidase for glucose-responsive insulin delivery.

Glucose-responsive insulin delivery system mimicking the function of pancreatic β-cells to maintain blood glucose homeostasis would effectively alleviate diabetes. Here, a new glucose-responsive delivery (ZIF@Ins&GOx) for self-regulated insulin release was constructed by encapsulating insulin and glucose oxidase (GOx) into pH-sensitive zeolitic imidazole framework-8 (ZIF-8) nanocrystals. After entering the cavities of ZIF-8, glucose can be oxidized into gluconic acid by GOx, causing a decrease in local pH.

A leader-follower model for discrete competitive facility location problem under the partially proportional rule with a threshold.

When consumers are faced with the choice of competitive chain facilities that offer exclusive services, current rules do not properly describe the behavior pattern of these consumers. To eliminate the gap between the current rules and this kind of customers behavior pattern, the partially proportional rule with a threshold is proposed in this paper. A leader-follower model for discrete competitive facility location problem is established under the partially proportional rule with a threshold.

Platelet-Mimicking Biotaxis Targeting Vasculature-Disrupted Tumors for Cascade Amplification of Hypoxia-Sensitive Therapy.

Tumorous vasculature plays key roles in sustaining tumor growth. Vascular disruption is accompanied by internal coagulation along with platelet recruitment and the resulting suppression of oxygen supply. We intend to artificially create this physiological process to establish the mutual feedback between vascular disruption and platelet-mimicking biotaxis for the cascade amplification of hypoxia-dependent therapy.

Enzyme-Driven Membrane-Targeted Chimeric Peptide for Enhanced Tumor Photodynamic Immunotherapy.

Here, a protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase)-driven plasma membrane (PM)-targeted chimeric peptide, PpIX-C-PEG-KKKKKKSKTKC-OMe (PCPK), was designed for PM-targeted photodynamic therapy (PM-PDT) and enhanced immunotherapy tumor cell PM damage and fast release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). The PM targeting ability of PCPK originates from the cellular K-Ras signaling, which occurs exclusively to drive the corresponding proteins to PM by PFTase. With the conjugation of the photosensitizer protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), PCPK could generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species to deactivate membrane-associated proteins, initiate lipid peroxidation, and destroy PM with an extremely low concentration (1 μM) under light irradiation.

Nanotherapeutics interfere with cellular redox homeostasis for highly improved photodynamic therapy.

Redox homeostasis inside malignant cells is a defense mechanism against the reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced therapy means, but little importance has been paid to this innate barrier. The present study intends to make cancer cells more sensitive to the ROS-induced therapy by disturbing cellular redox homeostasis. To verify this concept, a porous metal-organic framework (MOF) serves not only as the photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent but also as the carrier to transport alkaloid piperlongumine (PL), a thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibitor used to disturb cellular redox homeostasis.

Hydrogen gas improves photothermal therapy of tumor and restrains the relapse of distant dormant tumor.

Inflammation during photothermal therapy (PTT) of tumor usually results in adverse consequences. Here, a biomembrane camouflaged nanomedicine (mPDAB) containing polydopamine and ammonia borane was designed to enhance PTT efficacy and mitigate inflammation. Polydopamine, a biocompatible photothermal agent, can effectively convert light into heat for PTT.

Cytomembrane nanovaccines show therapeutic effects by mimicking tumor cells and antigen presenting cells.

Most cancer vaccines are unsuccessful in eliciting clinically relevant effects. Without using exogenous antigens and adoptive cells, we show a concept of utilizing biologically reprogrammed cytomembranes of the fused cells (FCs) derived from dendritic cells (DCs) and cancer cells as tumor vaccines. The fusion of immunologically interrelated two types of cells results in strong expression of the whole tumor antigen complexes and the immunological co-stimulatory molecules on cytomembranes (FMs), allowing the nanoparticle-supported FM (NP@FM) to function like antigen presenting cells (APCs) for T cell immunoactivation.

Laser-treated glass platform for rapid wicking-driven transport and particle separation in bio microfluidics.

In this work, we present a laser-based fabrication technique for direct patterning of micro-channels consisting of interconnected micro-cracks on soda-lime glass. Using a CO laser to deposit energy at a linear rate of 18.75 to 93.

Expandable Immunotherapeutic Nanoplatforms Engineered from Cytomembranes of Hybrid Cells Derived from Cancer and Dendritic Cells.

Using the cytomembranes (FMs) of hybrid cells acquired from the fusion of cancer and dendritic cells (DCs), this study offers a biologically derived platform for the combination of immunotherapy and traditional oncotherapy approaches. Due to the immunoactivation implicated in the cellular fusion, FMs can effectively express whole cancer antigens and immunological co-stimulatory molecules for robust immunotherapy. FMs share the tumor's self-targeting character with the parent cancer cells.

O Economizer for Inhibiting Cell Respiration To Combat the Hypoxia Obstacle in Tumor Treatments.

Hypoxia, a ubiquitously aberrant phenomenon implicated in tumor growth, causes severe tumor resistance to therapeutic interventions. Instead of the currently prevalent solution through intratumoral oxygen supply, we put forward an "O-economizer" concept by inhibiting the O consumption of cell respiration to spare endogenous O and overcome the hypoxia barrier. A nitric oxide (NO) donor responsible for respiration inhibition and a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy (PDT) are co-loaded into poly(d,l-lactide- co-glycolide) nanovesicles to provide a PDT-specific O economizer.

A two-photon excited O-evolving nanocomposite for efficient photodynamic therapy against hypoxic tumor.

This paper reported on a two-photon excited nanocomposite FCRH to overcome tumor hypoxia for enhanced photodynamic therapy (PDT). Through modified by ruthenium (Ⅱ) complex (Ru(bpy)) and hyperbranched conjugated copolymer with poly (ethylene glycol) arms (HOP), the water-splitting mediated O generation can be triggered via two-photon irradiation from iron-doped carbon nitride (Fe-CN) for the first time. While exposured to two-photon laser, Ru(bpy) was activated to generate singlet oxygen (O) and Fe-CN was triggered to split water for oxygen supply in the mean time.

Ferrous-Supply-Regeneration Nanoengineering for Cancer-Cell-Specific Ferroptosis in Combination with Imaging-Guided Photodynamic Therapy.

Non-apoptotic ferroptosis is of clinical importance because it offers a solution to the inevitable biocarriers of traditional apoptotic therapeutic means. Inspired by industrial electro-Fenton technology featured with electrochemical iron cycling, we construct ferrous-supply-regeneration nanoengineering to intervene tumorous iron metabolism for enhanced ferroptosis. Fe ion and naturally derived tannic acid (TA) spontaneously form a network-like corona onto sorafenib (SRF) nanocores.

Aggressive Man-Made Red Blood Cells for Hypoxia-Resistant Photodynamic Therapy.

Extreme hypoxia of tumors represents the most notable barrier against the advance of tumor treatments. Inspired by the biological nature of red blood cells (RBCs) as the primary oxygen supplier in mammals, an aggressive man-made RBC (AmmRBC) is created to combat the hypoxia-mediated resistance of tumors to photodynamic therapy (PDT). Specifically, the complex formed between hemoglobin and enzyme-mimicking polydopamine, and polydopamine-carried photosensitizer is encapsulated inside the biovesicle that is engineered from the recombined RBC membranes.

A Smart Capsule With a Hydrogel-Based pH-Triggered Release Switch for GI-Tract Site-Specific Drug Delivery.

In this paper, we present a smart capsule that can release its payload after a predetermined/adjustable delay subsequent to passing from the stomach into the small intestine. The described capsule (9 mm × 22 mm) comprises a pH-sensitive hydrogel-based switch, an electronic compartment containing a capacitor charged to 2.7 V, and a drug reservoir capped by a taut fusible thread intertwined with a nichrome wire.

Virus-Inspired Nanogenes Free from Man-Made Materials for Host-Specific Transfection and Bio-Aided MR Imaging.

Many viruses have a lipid envelope derived from the host cell membrane that contributes much to the host specificity and the cellular invasion. This study puts forward a virus-inspired technology that allows targeted genetic delivery free from man-made materials. Genetic therapeutics, metal ions, and biologically derived cell membranes are nanointegrated.

Diaper-Embedded Urinary Tract Infection Monitoring Sensor Module Powered by Urine-Activated Batteries.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common infections in humans. UTI is easily treatable using antibiotics if identified in early stage. However, without early identification and treatment, UTI can be a major source of serious complications in geriatric patients, in particular, those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases.

Directly embroidered microtubes for fluid transport in wearable applications.

We demonstrate, for the first time, a facile and low-cost approach for integrating highly flexible and stretchable microfluidic channels into textile-based substrates. The integration of the microfluidics is accomplished by means of directly embroidering surface-functionalized micro-tubing in a zigzag/meander pattern and subsequently coating it with an elastomer for irreversible bonding. We show the utility of the embroidered micro-tubing by developing robust and stretchable drug-delivery and electronic devices.

Preferential Cancer Cell Self-Recognition and Tumor Self-Targeting by Coating Nanoparticles with Homotypic Cancer Cell Membranes.

The ultimate goal in cancer therapy and diagnosis is to achieve highly specific targeting to cancer cells. Coated with the source cancer cell membrane specifically derived from the homologous tumors, the nanoparticles are identified with the self-recognition internalization by the source cancer cell lines in vitro and the highly tumor-selective targeting "homing" to the homologous tumor in vivo even in the competition of another heterologous tumor. As the result, MNP@DOX@CCCM nanovehicle showed strong potency for tumor treatment in vivo and the MR imaging.

Multifunctional Nanotherapeutics with All-in-One Nanoentrapment of Drug/Gene/Inorganic Nanoparticle.

It is challenging but imperative to merge together specific inorganic nanomaterials with macromolecular and small-molecule therapeutics into one nanoentity for all-in-one theranostic/remedy. We establish a versatile nanotechnology to nanoentrap magnetic nanoparticles, doxorubicin, and DNA, thus allowing the combination of magnetic targeting, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, gene transport, and bioresponsive chemotherapy. We hope this nanotechnology can prompt the development of complex inorganic/organic nanosystems for various applications.

A Smart Capsule With GI-Tract-Location-Specific Payload Release.

In this paper, we present a smart capsule for location-specific drug release in the gastrointestinal tract. Once activated through a magnetic proximity fuse, the capsule opens up and releases its powdered payload in a location specified by an implanted miniature magnetic marker or an externally worn larger magnet. The capsule (9 mm × 26 mm) comprises of two compartments: one contains a charged capacitor and a reed switch, while the second one houses the drug reservoir capped by a taut nylon thread intertwined with a nichrome wire.

Highly stretchable and sensitive unidirectional strain sensor via laser carbonization.

In this paper, we present a simple and low-cost technique for fabricating highly stretchable (up to 100% strain) and sensitive (gauge factor of up to 20 000) strain sensors. Our technique is based on transfer and embedment of carbonized patterns created through selective laser pyrolization of thermoset polymers, such as polyimide, into elastomeric substrates (e.g.

Short telomeres in patients with chronic schizophrenia who show a poor response to treatment.

Objective: Telomere shortening has been observed in many human diseases, including atherosclerosis, cancer, aging syndromes, Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia. The present study aimed to investigate the mean telomere lengths of patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: We analyzed the lengths of telomeric DNA, comparing 2 groups of patients with schizophrenia (34 good responders and 34 poor responders).