A Versatile Theranostic Nanoemulsion for Architecture‐Dependent Multimodal Imaging and Dually Augmented Photodynamic Therapy

To design a clinically translatable nanomedicine for photodynamic theranostics, the ingredients should be carefully considered. A high content of nanocarriers may cause extra toxicity in metabolism, and multiple theranostic agents would complicate the preparation process. These issues would be of less concern if the nanocarrier itself has most of the theranostic functions. In this work, a poly(ethylene glycol)‐boron dipyrromethene amphiphile (PEG‐F₅₄‐BODIPY) with 54 fluorine‐19 (¹⁹F) is synthesized and employed to emulsify perfluorohexane (PFH) into a theranostic nanoemulsion (PFH@PEG‐F₅₄‐BODIPY). The as‐prepared PFH@PEG‐F₅₄‐BODIPY can perform architecture‐dependent fluorescence/photoacoustic/¹⁹F magnetic resonance multimodal imaging, providing more information about the in vivo structure evolution of nanomedicine. Importantly, this nanoemulsion significantly enhances the therapeutic effect of BODIPY through both the high oxygen dissolving capability and less self‐quenching of BODIPY molecules. More interestingly, PFH@PEG‐F₅₄‐BODIPY shows high level of tumor accumulation and long tumor retention time, allowing a repeated light irradiation after a single‐dose intravenous injection. The “all‐in‐one” photodynamic theranostic nanoemulsion has simple composition, remarkable theranostic efficacy, and novel treatment pattern, and thus presents an intriguing avenue to developing clinically translatable theranostic agents.     

An enhanced state estimation for linear parabolic PDE systems with mobile sensors

This paper studies an enhanced state estimation problem of distributed parameter processes modeled by a linear parabolic partial differential equation using mobile sensors. The proposed estimation scheme contains a state estimator and the guidance of mobile sensors, where the spatial domain is decomposed into multiple subdomains according to the number of sensors and each sensor is capable of moving within the respective subdomain. The state estimator is desired to make the state estimation error system exponentially stable while providing an performance bound. The mobile sensor guidance is used to enhance the transient performance of the error system. By the Lyapunov direct technique, an integrated design of state estimator and mobile sensor guidance laws is developed in the form of bilinear matrix inequalities (BMIs) to meet the desired design objectives. Moreover, to make the performance bound as small as possible, a suboptimal enhanced state estimation problem is formulated as a BMI optimization one, which can be solved via an iterative linear matrix inequality algorithm. Finally, numerical simulations are given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Improving fairness of TCP Vegas

TCP Vegas exhibits fairness problems even for flows with the same round‐trip time (RTT). We propose an enhanced Vegas with three revisions, replacing BaseRTT with RTT, detecting how fast acknowledgements return and the acceleration of the return speed. The impacts of each of the three proposed revisions are not ignorable. The proposed novel Vegas with the three revisions, called EVA, achieves better fairness under various network conditions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the shear strength of reinforced concrete deep beam with web opening

An objective of this study is to establish the shear strength of reinforced concrete deep beam with web opening. Eighteen beams were tested with the variables of the steel ratio and strength of longitudinal bars, concrete strength, and shear span‐to‐depth ratio. It was observed that the opening is strengthened by longitudinal bars but the load‐carrying capacity of deep beams with openings can be largely improved by the increase in concrete strength. Modifying the softened truss model derived by Mau and Hsu and utilizing the results of this experiment carried out with the variables of concrete strength, cross‐section size, shear‐span‐to‐depth ratio, and the strength and steel ratio of longitudinal bars, this study proposes an improved model to predict the shear strength. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial variation in nitrogen dioxide in three European areas

In order to estimate the spatial variation within well-defined study areas, nitrogen dioxide was measured with diffusion samplers (Palmes tube) in 40-42 sites each in Germany (Munich), the Netherlands and Sweden (Stockholm County). Each site was measured over four 2-week periods during 1 year (spring 1999 to summer 2000). In each country, one reference site was measured during all periods and the results were used to adjust for seasonal variability, to improve the estimates of the annual average. Comparisons between the chemiluminescence method (European reference method) and Palmes tube measurement indicated a good agreement in Germany (with a ratio of 1.0 for Palmes tube/chemiluminescence) but underestimation for Palmes tube measurement in the Netherlands and Sweden (0.8 for both countries). The r2 values were between 0.86 and 0.90 for all three countries. The annual average values for NO2 for different sampling sites were between 15.9 and 50.6 (mean 28.8 microg/m3) in Germany, between 12.1 and 50.8 (mean 28.9 microg/m3) in the Netherlands and between 6.1 and 44.7 (mean 18.5 microg/m3) in Sweden. Comparing spatial variation between similar sites in the three countries, we did not find any significant differences between annual average levels for urban traffic sites. In Sweden, annual average levels in urban background and suburban backgrounds sites were about 8 microg/m3 lower than comparable sites in Germany and the Netherlands. Comparing site types within each country only urban traffic sites and suburban background sites differed in Germany. In the Netherlands and Sweden, the urban traffic sites differed from all other sites and in Sweden also the urban background sites differed from the other background sites. The observed contribution from local traffic was similar in the Netherlands and Sweden (10 and 8 microg/m3, corresponding to 26-27% of the NO2 concentration found in the urban traffic sites). In Germany, the contribution from local traffic was only 3 microg/m3, corresponding to 9% of the NO2 concentration found in the urban traffic sites. The spatial variation was substantially larger for NO2 than the variation for PM2.5 and similar to PM2.5 absorbance, measured in the same locations.     

A framework of critical resource chain for project schedule analysis

Analysing a schedule is beneficial to help stakeholders understand the scheduled project. Project schedules, which create time plans based on the critical path method (CPM) or on resource‐constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP) optimization, are targets herein. The Theory of Constraints (TOC) treats a schedule as a system. Schedule elements are suspected constraints and a goal depends on the schedule creation policy. Resource information is further surveyed herein to identify true constraints. A framework is proposed to integrate identified constraints on a schedule, and the critical resource chain concept is introduced. Three scenarios illustrate the proposed framework under different scheduling considerations. Results explain schedule constraints, and several schedule analysis issues are discussed.     

Lead and cadmium in teeth,bone and kidneys of rats with a standard Pb‐Cd supply

Male Wistar rats received a combination of 25 ppm PbCl₂ and 5 ppm CdCl₂ in drinking water at different developmental stages. Pb and Cd levels of incisors, molars, epiphyses, diaphyses and kidney cortex were recorded by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results confirmed that Pb has an affinity for hard tissue and especially to teeth, but it also accumulated in soft tissues under the above conditions. In addition, the results indicated none or only a moderate placental or mammary barrier for Pb, and suggested a high absorption of lead from the intestine of sucklings. The results also confirmed that kidney cortex is a primary target for Cd, and indicated that Cd has crossed the placental and mammary barriers to some degree. The positive significant correlation between Cd levels in molars and kidney cortex suggested that rodent molars indicate a degree of Cd absorption, whereas incisors do not. It is supposed that rodent molars are comparable to human deciduous teeth. It is thus confirmed that human deciduous teeth indicate previous lead exposure. It is further inferred that they also can be used as indicators of previous Cd‐exposures.