Bi-objective optimization approaches to many-to-many hub location routing with distance balancing and hard time window

Neural Computing and Applications - This study addresses a many-to-many hub location-routing problem where the best-found locations of hubs and the best-found tours for each hub are determined with...     

Modified guar gum: An alternative source for printing of cotton fabric with reactive dye

The alginate thickener is the thickener frequently used for reactive printing of textile. The thickener responds with reactive pigments and thus does not lead to the fabric composition becoming stiffer. In this study, we prepared oxidised natural guar gum with hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide. All other polysaccharides comprise reactive hydroxyl units with a stronger reactivity that must be replaced if they are to be used in reactive printing. Guar derivatives were synthesised and verified using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Natural thickeners, synthetic guar gum derivatives, have been employed in textile printing technique. In comparison to other synthetic thickeners, modified environmental guar gum polymer has been shown to be an ecologically friendly and low-cost thickener. Cotton fabric printed with modified guar thickening with hydrogen peroxide has even stronger colour strength than fabric printed with sodium alginate thickener, which is highly favourable. Penetration properties, colour value, colour strength, colour fastness to washing, light and rubbing was compared with alginate thickener (readily available on the market). Guar gum thickeners showed enhanced features versus sodium alginate for reactive printing. Partially replaced guar gum is an appropriate option due to the colour and physical properties.     

Constructing a block layout by face area

Solving the facility layout problems by graph theory consists of two stages. In the first stage, a planar graph that specifies desired adjacencies is obtained and in the second stage, a block layout is achieved from the planar graph. In this paper, we introduce face area as a new concept for constructing a block layout. Based on this idea, we present a new algorithm for constructing block layout from a maximal planar graph (MPG). This MPG must be generated from deltahedron heuristic. Constructed block layout by this algorithm satisfies all of adjacency and area requirements.     

Leukemia inhibitory factor ligand-receptor signaling is important for uterine receptivity and implantation in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus)

Blastocyst implantation occurs in the progesterone-primed uterus of hamsters, but not in mice where the progesterone-primed uterus requires estrogen influence. Leukemia inhibitory factor (Lif), an estrogen-regulated gene in mice, is an absolutely needed cytokine for uterine receptivity and implantation in this species. This study aimed to evaluate the importance of Lif ligand-receptor signaling during uterine receptivity and implantation in hamsters. We investigated whether or not the uterine expression patterns of Lif and its receptors, Lif-r and gp130, during the periimplantation period of pregnancy and its hormonal regulation in the ovariectomized hamster correlate with some of the vital phases of uterine changes during early pregnancy. Uterine Lif, Lif-r, and gp130 mRNA expressions were examined by Northern and in situ hybridization. During the uterine preparatory phase for implantation, Lif, Lif-r, and gp130 were expressed either in the gland, luminal epithelium or both. As the implantation process began, Lif expression was minimal, but Lif-r and gp130 extended to the decidual areas. This decidual expression of Lif-r and gp130 was not dependent on the presence of the embryo since these genes were expressed in the suture-induced deciduomata. We also observed that, while the uterine Lif was induced by estrogen, Lif-r and gp130 were induced by progesterone in ovariectomized hamsters. Additionally, we show that a Lif antibody when instilled intraluminally on day 3 of pregnancy reduced the number of implantation sites. Taken together, these data suggest that Lif signaling is important for uterine receptivity and implantation in hamsters.     

Maternal Neutrophil Depletion Fails to Avert Systemic Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Early Pregnancy Defects in Mice

Maternal infection-induced early pregnancy complications arise from perturbation of the immune environment at the uterine early blastocyst implantation site (EBIS), yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we demonstrated in a mouse model that the progression of normal pregnancy from days 4 to 6 induced steady migration of leukocytes away from the uterine decidual stromal zone (DSZ) that surrounds the implanted blastocyst. Uterine macrophages were found to be CD206⁺ M2-polarized. While monocytes were nearly absent in the DSZ, DSZ cells were found to express monocyte marker protein Ly6C. Systemic endotoxic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure on day 5 of pregnancy led to: (1) rapid (at 2 h) induction of neutrophil chemoattractants that promoted huge neutrophil infiltrations at the EBISs by 24 h; (2) rapid (at 2 h) elevation of mRNA levels of MyD88, but not Trif, modulated cytokines at the EBISs; and (3) dose-dependent EBIS defects by day 7 of pregnancy. Yet, elimination of maternal neutrophils using anti-Ly6G antibody prior to LPS exposure failed to avert LPS-induced EBIS defects allowing us to suggest that activation of Tlr4-MyD88 dependent inflammatory pathway is involved in LPS-induced defects at EBISs. Thus, blocking the activation of the Tlr4-MyD88 signaling pathway may be an interesting approach to prevent infection-induced pathology at EBISs.     

Composite‐Scattering Plasmonic Nanoprobes for Label‐Free,Quantitative Biomolecular Sensing

Biosensing based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) relies on concentrating light to a nanometeric spot and leads to a highly enhanced electromagnetic field near the metal nanostructure. Here, a design of plasmonic nanostructures based on rationally structured metal–dielectric combinations is presented, called composite scattering probes (CSPs), to generate an integrated multimodal biosensing platform featuring LSPR and surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Specifically, CSP configurations are proposed, which have several prominent resonance peaks enabling higher tunability and sensitivity for self‐referenced multiplexed analyte sensing. Using electron‐beam evaporation and thermal dewetting, large‐area, uniform, and tunable CSPs are fabricated, which are suitable for label‐free LSPR and SERS measurements. The CSP prototypes are used to demonstrate refractive index sensing and molecular analysis using albumin as a model analyte. By using partial least squares on recorded absorption profiles, differentiation of subtle changes in refractive index (as low as 0.001) in the CSP milieu is demonstrated. Additionally, CSPs facilitate complementary untargeted plasmon‐enhanced Raman measurements from the sample's compositional contributors. With further refinement, it is envisioned that the method may lead to a sensitive, versatile, and tunable platform for quantitative concentration determination and molecular fingerprinting, particularly where limited a priori information of the sample is available.     

Integration g-C3N4 nanotubes and Sb2MoO6 nanoparticles: Impressive photoactivity for tetracycline degradation,Cr (VI) reduction,and organic dyes removals under visible light

The development of high-efficiency photocatalysts is an attractive strategy for pollutants degradation under visible light. Herein, novel photocatalysts are reported through coupling Sb₂MoO₆ with g-C₃N₄ nanotube (abbreviated as GCN nanotube) by a simple reflux method. Also, the nanocomposites were defined by applying various analyses. Under visible-light excitation, the GCN nanotube/Sb₂MoO₆ systems had more photoactivity than g-C₃N₄ (abbreviated as GCN) and the rate constant for RhB removal on optimal GCN nanotube/Sb₂MoO₆ (30%) nanocomposite was 48.3 times premier than the GCN. Also, compared to the pristine GCN, the GCN nanotube/Sb₂MoO₆ (30%) sample demonstrated supreme photoactivity towards tetracycline degradation and Cr (VI) photoreduction, which was 88.5 and 21.8 times higher than the bulk GCN, respectively. These impressive enhancements were attributed to the quick segregation of charge carriers, boosted visible-light absorption, and extended specific surface area. Moreover, the photocatalyst has enough activity after four successive cycles. Finally, a conceivable charges transfer route is presented through n-n heterojunction constructed between Sb₂MoO₆ and GCN nanotube.     

Nanowire Assisted Mechanotyping of Cellular Metastatic Potential

Nanotechnology has provided tools for next generation biomedical devices which rely on nanostructure interfaces with living cells. In vitro biomimetic structures have enabled observation of cell response to various mechanical and chemical cues, and there is a growing interest in isolating and harnessing the specific cues that 3D microenvironments can provide without the requirement for such culture and the experimental drawbacks associated with it. Here, a randomly oriented gold coated Si nanowire substrate with patterned hydrophobic–hydrophilic areas for the differentiation of isogenic breast cancer cells of varying metastatic potential is reported. When considering synthetic surfaces for the study of cell-nanotopography interfaces, randomly oriented nanowires more closely resemble the isotropic architecture of a natural extracellular matrix. In the study reported here, the authors show that primary cancer cells preferably attach to the hydrophilic region of randomly oriented nanowire substrate while secondary cancer cells do not adhere. Using machine learning analysis of fluorescence images, cells are found to spread and elongate on the nanowire substrates as compared to a flat substrate, where they mostly remain round. Such platforms can not only be used for developing bioassays but also as stepping stones for tissue printing technologies where cells can be selectively patterned at desired locations.