13,159 research outputs found
Hyaluronic acid reagent functional chitosan-PEI conjugate with AQP2-siRNA suppressed endometriotic lesion formation
No full textMeng-Dan Zhao,1 Jin-Lin Cheng,2 Jing-Jing Yan,1 Feng-Ying Chen,1 Jian-Zhong Sheng,3 Dong-Li Sun,1 Jian Chen,4 Jing Miao,4 Run-Ju Zhang,1 Cai-Hong Zheng,1 He-Feng Huang1,5 1Women’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 2State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, 3Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, 4The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 5International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China Abstract: To identify a new drug candidate for treating endometriosis which has fewer side effects, a new polymeric nanoparticle gene delivery system consisting of polyethylenimine-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO-PEI) with hyaluronic acid (HA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) was designed. There was no obvious difference in sizes observed between (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA and CSO-PEI/siRNA, but the fluorescence accumulation in the endometriotic lesion was more significant for (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA compared with CSO-PEI/siRNA due to the specific binding of HA to CD44. In addition, the (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA nanoparticle gene therapy significantly decreased the endometriotic lesion sizes with atrophy and degeneration of the ectopic endometrium. The epithelial cells of ectopic endometrium from rat models of endometriosis showed a significantly lower CD44 expression than control after treatment with (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA. Furthermore, observation under an electron microscope showed no obvious toxic effect on the reproductive organs. Therefore, (CSO-PEI/siRNA)HA gene delivery system can be used as an effective method for the treatment of endometriosis. Keywords: chitosan-PEI, hyaluronic acid, AQP2-siRNA, endometriosis, targeted therapy 
Research on the impact of campus road network form on spatial cognition based on anchor point theory: case studies of Peking University and Tsinghua University
No full textHuman-oriented campus planning and design intended to realize the sustainable development of university campuses is concerned by domestic and foreign experts from planning and design academia. Research in the perspective of spatial cognition can provide important empirical references for human-oriented campus planning and design. Current research on spatial cognition of university campuses lacks both elaborate quantitative description of campus space form and association analysis of space form and spatial cognition of campuses, thus leading to limited reference value for campus planning and design. Therefore, the study takes Peking University and Tsinghua University as study objects and selects road network form, a representative spatial variable, to explore the impact of road network form on spatial cognition. Firstly, the study summarizes the evolution process and the spatial characteristics of road networks in Peking University and Tsinghua University. Based on literature review, the study discovers that the campus space of Peking University is organized with Weiming Lake and Boya Tower as the center and multiple secondary cores distributed in the periphery and the campus space of Tsinghua University is organized along some major design axes. The campus of Peking University is featured with multiple axis intercalation and centrality while the campus space of Tsinghua University is mainly featured with several main roads, such as Huangdao Axis, East District Axis and Xuetang Road. On the basis of literature review, this study conducts a questionnaire survey on the students’ familiarity of the locations in the two campuses and performs a correlation analysis among the students’ familiarity, integration degree, road network density of different locations. The study discovers that in Tsinghua University, locations with high familiarity are located along major axes, such as Xuetang Road while in Peking University locations with high familiarity are mainly located around the core area of the campus. According to correlation analysis, the familiarity with the locations of participants from the two universities will be improved if the global integration degrees of road network around the locations are higher while in Tsinghua University the increase of road density will also contribute to the improvement of participants’ familiarity of different locations. Finally, this research conducts externalization of cognitive map to further explore the impact of road network on spatial cognition of students. This research discovers that participants in Tsinghua University mainly encode spatial information in the perspective of the relationship between cognitive locations and road networks and the auxiliary elements of Tsinghua University in cognitive map are mostly path elements such as major roads (Xuetang Road) as well as design axes (East District Axis). The directions and the dispersion degrees of the cognitive location distortions in Tsinghua University are all highly related to major roads and axis. On the other hand, participants in Peking University mainly encode spatial information in the perspective of the relationship between cognitive locations and major land marks and the auxiliary elements of Peking University in cognitive map are mostly node elements. Additionally, the directions and the dispersion degrees of the cognitive location distortions in Peking University apparently are with center-edge characteristics. Through the analysis, the study discovers that participants from the two universities have the inclination to utilize path elements such as main roads as the anchor points for spatial cognition to master the surrounding environment when the campus space is featured with road network with relatively higher global integration and significant transport axes. Besides, road network with relatively low density and global integration will thus result in the declination of the familiarity of locations and the accuracy of spatial cognition. Through the analysis of the research results, this article suggests that the density and the integration degree of road network form as well as the integration of the main axes should be properly enhanced to improve the familiarity and the accuracy of spatial cognition of university campuses. The research intends to combine the analysis of road network form such as space syntax with the questionnaire on the familiarity of participants as well as the measurement of the distortion of cognitive locations. Through the analysis of research results, this research provides quantitative research evidence from the aspects of the encode and the storage of spatial knowledge on the conditions when residents will select path elements as cognitive anchors. Through the analysis of spatial cognition of campus space, this paper will provide empirical references for campus planning and design
General electronic community / Yan Pei Sun
Get PDFThis project Generic electronic community system has been proposed for facilitate the real life community environment in more effective way which comprised of some modules such as forum, message board, file sharing, photo gallery, testimonial, announcement and etc. People are able to gather in a “cyber space” to conduct discussion or interaction via internet. A complete literature review and analysis on existing e community system have been done to gain more valuable information and knowledge about this project. Methodology and techniques used in the researches and developing system has discussed with emphasis on the chosen waterfall model with prototyping. Microsoft Internet Information Services, SQL Server, ASP.NET and Microsoft visual Studio.Net have been chosen as development tools and software tools. Functional and non-functional requirement, hardware and software requirements of the project have been listed down in the project. Much consideration have also been taken on the system design of the proposed system which include architecture design. Network design, process design database design and user interface design
Síntese de polietilenoiminas ramificadas decoradas com grupos hidrofóbicos e nucleosídeos e estudos de sua interação com dodecilsulfato de sódio e DNA
Get PDFTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciencias Fisicas e Matematicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química, Florianópolis, 2012A poli(etilenoimina) (PEI) foi modificada por meio da alquilação com grupos n-alquila (n = 4, 6, 8 e 12 carbonos). O espalhamento de raios X a baixos ângulos (SAXS), tensão superficial, emissão de fluorescência do pireno, viscosidade e medidas de pH foram as técnicas usadas para investigar a conformação e agregação das PEIs hidrofobicamente modificadas em solução aquosa, na ausência e na presença de dodecil sulfato de sódio (SDS). Medidas de SAXS mostraram que o raio de giro diminui com o aumento do comprimento da cadeia alquílica, enquanto que os dados de viscosidade indicaram uma diminuição na viscosidade intrínseca. A PEI não modificada não apresentou atividade na superfície, enquanto as PEIs modificadas mostraram atividade pronunciada na superfície e presença de domínios hidrofóbicos. Na presença de SDS, o início da formação do complexo polímero-surfactante foi determinado, indicando uma diminuição na concentração de agregação crítica (cac) com o aumento no comprimento da cadeia alquílica substituída na PEI. A PEI também foi decorada com o grupo uridina com dois graus de substituição (5% e 15%). A formação de complexos das PEIs, decoradas com uridina ou hidrofobicamente modificadas, com o DNA do timo de bezerro foi investigada através das técnicas de emissão de fluorescência do brometo de etídio, espectrofotometria de UV-Vis, dicroísmo circular (CD), potencial zeta, viscosidade, espalhamento de luz dinâmico (DLS) e SAXS, na ausência e na presença de SDS. Todas as PEIs apresentaram três etapas na formação de complexos com o DNA: a primeira, quando uma pequena quantidade de polieletrólito foi adicionada, as cadeias do DNA são parcialmente condensadas; a segunda, quando mais polieletrólito foi adicionado, apresenta complexos com densidade de carga nula, com tamanho micrométrico; a terceira, em concentrações mais altas da PEI, o DNA foi completamente condensado pelas cadeias das PEIs, formando complexos positivamente carregados com valores de RH,ap na faixa de 51 a 88 nm. Análises de viscosidade e SAXS sugerem que o a PEI não modificada teve a interação mais forte e que melhor condensa o DNA.Abstract : The polyethylene imine (PEI) was modified by means of the alkylation with n-alkyl groups (n = 4, 6, 8 and 12 carbons). Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), viscosity, surface tension, and pyrene fluorescence emission were then used as techniques to examine the conformation and aggregation of the hydrophobically modified PEIs in aqueous solution, in the absence and presence of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS). Analysis of the SAXS data showed that the radius of gyration decreases with an increase in the alkyl chain length of the polymer, while the viscosity data indicated a decrease in the intrinsic viscosity under the same conditions. The nonmodified PEI was not surface active, while the hydrophobically modified samples showed pronounced surface activity and the presence of hydrophobic domains. On addition of SDS, the onset of the formation of polymer#surfactant complexes was determined, indicating a decrease in the critical aggregate concentration (cac) with an increase in the alkyl chain length of the polymer backbone. The PEI also was decorated with uridine groups with two substitution degrees (5% and 15%). The complex formation of the decorated or hydrophobically modified PEI with calf thymus DNA was investigated through of the ethidium bromide fluorescence emission, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, circular dichroism (CD), potential zeta, viscosity, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and SAXS techniques, in the absence and presence of SDS. All versions of PEI showed three steps in complexes formation with DNA: first, when a small amount of polyelectrolyte was added, DNA chains were partially condensed; second, when more polyelectrolyte was added, the complexes had a null charge density and micrometric size; third, at higher concentration of PEI, the DNA was fully condensed by PEI chains, leading to positively charged complexes with RH,ap values in the range of 51-88 nm. Viscosity and SAXS analyses suggested that the unmodified PEI had the stronger interaction and promoted the best DNA condensation
Young Sun troopers
No full textThis paper presents Young Sun Troopers, a health communications campaign by four final year undergraduates at Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) in Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Local skin cancer rates rose by an alarming 60% in the last decade (National Skin Centre, 2014). Dermatologist Dr. Wong Su-Ni verified that one blistering childhood sunburn doubles the risk of melanoma, a form of malignant skin cancer, in adulthood. Skin cancer is preventable, yet health agencies and the media had not shown urgency in addressing the problem. The team’s formative survey amongst 213 Singaporean parents found that nine in ten do not practise regular sun protection for their children during outdoor activities. Knowledge on irreversible sun damage is also severely inadequate. Prompted by this worrying situation, the team designed their campaign to educate parents on the importance of sun protection, and motivate them to inculcate sun-safe habits in their children.Informed by findings, the team employed a strategic communication plan to Rationalise, Persuade, and Incentivise, with the goal to convert knowledge into behavioural intent. To disseminate credible messages, they partnered with healthcare institutions, including National University Hospital (NUH) and KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH). At parks and SAFRA Clubhouses, they educated parents in the relevant context of outdoor play for sun-safe behaviours. The campaign also targeted children aged 7 to 12 through school-based intervention, so as to complement parent outreach initiatives. This strategy encouraged sustainable habits through mutual parent-child influence. Assessment of these efforts showed significant positive impact on knowledge and behavioural intent, for parents and children.Bachelor of Communication Studie
The Life of Pei by Pei Feng Su
No full textThe “Life of Pei” tells the story of how the author, as a Taiwanese animal advocate, is making a difference for people, animals, and the environment
Constrained quantization of open string in background B field and non-commutative D-brane
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