376 research outputs found
sj-pdf-1-trj-10.1177_00405175231161777 - Supplemental material for Study on thermal, mechanical, and wettability properties of three-dimensional weft-knitted spacer fabrics with various silica aerogels coating
No full textSupplemental material, sj-pdf-1-trj-10.1177_00405175231161777 for Study on thermal, mechanical, and wettability properties of three-dimensional weft-knitted spacer fabrics with various silica aerogels coating by Syed Rashedul Islam, Wendi Wang, Pan Junjie, Jinhua Jiang, Huiqi Shao and Nanliang Chen in Textile Research Journal</p
Beyond Academics: Chinese Immigrant Families’ Expectations and Attitudes Towards Play-Based Learning in Australia
No full text© 2025 Huiqi WangThis research project investigated the reflections of a new generation of Australian Chinese immigrant parents, specifically those born between 1980 and 1990, a period shaped by the People’s Republic of China’s significant economic reforms and the early implementation of the One-Child Policy. The study aimed to understand how these parents’ early childhood experiences have influenced their views on play-based learning and their educational expectations for their own children growing up in Australia. As part of a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants, and the data were analysed using thematic coding.
Findings highlighted the interplay between parents’ childhood experiences, traditional Confucian values, and their new experiences in Australia. They revealed views on play that had evolved over time and represented a shift from traditional Chinese parenting practices to more holistic, child-centred approaches. The study also highlighted the need for professional support in helping parents engage in play-based learning at home. In examining parenting in the context of changing socio-political and migratory contexts, this research informs early childhood education, cultural studies, and family support policies
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Socioscope: Human Relationship and Behavior Analysis in Mobile Social Networks
No full textThe widely used mobile phone, as well as its related technologies had opened opportunities for a complete change on how people interact and build relationship across geographic and time considerations. The convenience of instant communication by mobile phones that broke the barrier of space and time is evidently the key motivational point on why such technologies so important in people's life and daily activities. Mobile phones have become the most popular communication tools. Mobile phone technology is apparently changing our relationship to each other in our work and lives. The impact of new technologies on people's lives in social spaces gives us the chance to rethink the possibilities of technologies in social interaction. Accordingly, mobile phones are basically changing social relations in ways that are intricate to measure with any precision. In this dissertation I propose a socioscope model for social network, relationship and human behavior analysis based on mobile phone call detail records. Because of the diversities and complexities of human social behavior, one technique cannot detect different features of human social behaviors. Therefore I use multiple probability and statistical methods for quantifying social groups, relationships and communication patterns, for predicting social tie strengths and for detecting human behavior changes and unusual consumption events. I propose a new reciprocity index to measure the level of reciprocity between users and their communication partners. The experimental results show that this approach is effective. Among other applications, this work is useful for homeland security, detection of unwanted calls (e.g., spam), telecommunication presence, and marketing. In my future work I plan to analyze and study the social network dynamics and evolution
Analysis of Content Marketing Communication Strategy of the Internet Insurance Industry on the Xiaohongshu Platform
No full textWith the development of Internet technology, the insurance industry has ushered in transformation and upgrading, the most prominent achievement of which is Internet insurance. Internet insurance has completely changed the traditional way of insurance sales. Currently, the content platform is the central position of Internet insurance marketing. Many Internet insurance companies carry out content marketing on the Xiaohongshu. Creating content attracts users to consult and then sell insurance products. Today, this Internet insurance sales model is quite mature. This paper uses the 5W theory, content analysis method, and case analysis method to analyze the communication strategy of Internet insurance on Xiaohongshu and finds that it adapts to the style of Xiaohongshu through young language, creating scenarios, and creating rich insurance content on the platform. However, there are areas for improvement, such as severe content homogenization and false advertising. In response to these issues, the author proposes optimization suggestions such as understanding user needs and regularly organizing training for content creators
Design and synthesis of renewable lipid-based nanocarriers with thermosensitivity for targeted drug delivery applications
No full textNumerous drug molecules currently available on the market suffer from short half-life, in vivo instability, poor bioavailability, rapid degradation and inappropriate distribution. While nanocarriers have emerged as a promising solution to address these issues, the primary objective and challenge in modern medicine lie in achieving successful drug delivery in a targeted and controllable manner. Ongoing innovations are exploring the use of biocompatible, biodegradable, and sustainable materials for drug delivery. Among these, lipids, as naturally occurring biomolecules, have found extensive applications in the pharmaceutical industry. However, examples of utilizing fatty acids as hydrophobic building blocks to fabricate amphiphilic block copolymers for drug delivery are relatively scarce. This study aimed to synthesize and investigate thermoresponsive renewable lipid-based block copolymers, along with their bioconjugates with proteins, as a means of achieving effective anti-cancer drug delivery.
The self-assembly of amphiphilic macromolecules to form polymeric micelles is considered as one of the most potent drug delivery systems. In the first study, a stearic acid-based polymer, poly(2-methacryloyloxy) ethyl stearate (PSAMA), was synthesized by microwave-assisted reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization, and it was subsequently utilized as a macro-chain transfer agent (CTA) to block copolymerize with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) to produce the thermoresponsive amphiphilic block copolymer PSAMA-b-PNIPAM. These block copolymers with variable hydrophobic block length self-assembled in aqueous media and formed spherical nanoparticles of ~30 nm with low critical micelle concentration (CMC). The hydrophobic model drug, carbamazepine (CBZ), was chosen to assess the micelles' performance as nanocarriers, achieving a loading efficiency of 31.6% into PSAMA-b-PNIPAM micelles. The drug release displayed an obvious temperature-triggered response at body temperature, with a sustained and slow release lasting up to 84 h.
In the second study, the impact of fatty acid type on self-assembly and drug encapsulation was explored. Two distinct fatty acid-based polymers, poly(vinyl stearate) (PVS) and poly(vinyl laurate) (PVL), were synthesized as the hydrophobic segments for the polymeric micelles. The hydrophilic shell was formed using another thermoresponsive polymer, poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL), known for its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity. By varying fatty acid types and adjusting hydrophilic/hydrophobic block lengths, the self-assembly behavior of the block copolymer (PVS/PVL-b-PNVCL) was found to be highly tunable in terms of morphology and particle size. Specifically, PVS-b-PNVCL micelles tended to form smaller, spherical structures (~80 nm) with an increase in hydrophilic block length, while both worm-like and spherical structures with an average size of 111 nm were observed when the repeating unit of PNVCL was 35. Notably, micelles made from PVL-b-PNVL exhibited exclusive spherical morphology and larger particle sizes (130-145 nm) with a relatively broad size distribution. Additionally, PVS-b-NVCL polymeric micelles demonstrated high drug loading capacity for anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX), along with good serum stability, controlled drug release, favorable biocompatibility, and efficient in vitro uptake.
The third study outlined the development of a protein-polymer bioconjugate comprising bovine serum albumin (BSA) and a lipid-based thermoresponsive amphiphilic block copolymer (PVS-b-PNVCL). The resulting bioconjugates exhibited a well-defined structure, low cytotoxicity and commendable biocompatibility with different cell lines. In an aqueous environment, the amphiphilic BSA-polymer conjugates can self-assemble into vesicular compartment with a particle size of approximately 200 nm. DOX was effectively encapsulated into the conjugates with a high loading capacity of 25.6%, demonstrating an effective in vitro antitumor activity and efficient cellular uptake. Notably, the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the bioconjugates was fine-tuned to around 40 oC through the integration of hydrophilic BSA. This temperature modulation facilitated targeted drug delivery to tumors, allowing enhanced therapeutic efficacy of the bioconjugates.
Overall, this PhD research highlights the potential for advancing smart drug delivery nanocarrier platforms by exploring renewable materials as hydrophobic building blocks. The findings hold promise for future advancements in biobased and biocompatible carrier systems in cancer therapies
Synthesis and Evaluation of Thermoresponsive Renewable Lipid-Based Block Copolymers for Drug Delivery
No full textPolymeric micelle forming from self-assembly of amphiphilic macromolecules is one of the most potent drug delivery systems. Fatty acids, naturally occurring hydrophobic lipid components, can be considered as potential candidates for the fabrication of block copolymer micelles. However, examples of synthesis of responsive block copolymers using renewable fatty acids are scarce. Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization and testing of block copolymer micelles composed of a renewable fatty-acid-based hydrophobic block and thermoresponsive hydrophilic block for controlled drug delivery. The block copolymers of functionalized fatty acid and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) were prepared via consecutive microwave-assisted reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The block copolymers with variable hydrophobic block length self-assembled in aqueous media and formed spherical nanoparticles of ~30 nm with low critical micelle concentration (CMC). To demonstrate the proof-of-concept, carbamazepine (CBZ) was used as a hydrophobic model drug to evaluate the performance of these micelles as nanocarriers. The in vitro drug release tests were carried out below (25 °C) and above (37 °C) the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the block copolymer. The drug release showed obvious temperature-triggered response and an accelerated drug release at 37 °C
Time delay effects on collective resonant behaviors in two coupled fractional oscillators with mass fluctuations
No full textAbstract In this study, we introduce a coupled fractional system consisting of two fluctuating-mass oscillators with time delay and investigate their collective resonant behaviors. First, we achieve complete synchronization between the average behaviors of these oscillators. We then derive the exact analytical expression for the output amplitude gain, and based on this, we observe generalized stochastic resonance (GSR) in the system. We further examine how GSR behavior depends on system parameters, demonstrating that coupling strength, fractional order, and time delay are crucial in facilitating and optimizing its intensity. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to validate the analytical results
Notice of Retraction: Developing knowledge city from a dynamic perspective: Practices from outstanding knowledge cities
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