Topical application of zein-silk sericin nanoparticles loaded with curcumin for improved therapy of dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is characterized by leukocyte migration into the skin dermis and typically driven by excessive chemokine production at the site of inflammation. Conventional topical formulations such as gels, creams, and ointments are insufficient for this treatment because of low penetration of drug molecules into the targeted skin tissues. Herein, using a simple, green, sustainable strategy, we have developed novel primary zein nanoparticles embedded in curcumin (Cur) and coated with silk sericin (ZHSCs) for the topical delivery of Cur to penetrate into the dermis and exercise anti-dermatitis effects on the lesion with minimal side-effects. Transdermal delivery experiments and porcine skin fluorescence imaging indicated that ZHSCs facilitate the penetration of Cur across the epidermis layer of skin to reach deep-seated sites. Notably, ZHSCs = 1:0.25 (zein-to-silk sericin mass ratios of 1:0.25) markedly elevated the skin permeability and cumulative turnover of Cur transferred, which were provided a greater than a 3.8-fold increase relative to free Cur. The special nanoparticles of ZHS = 1:0.25 possessed the deepest localization depth and experience a transition of the particle structure and core-shell separation after penetrating into the dermis of skin. In a cell model of dermatitis induced by tumor necrosis factor α/interferon γ co-stimulation, compared with free Cur, Cur-loaded ZHS nanoparticles down-regulated the generation of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in keratinocytes through suppression of the nuclear translocation of NF-κBp65 and hence exerted an anti-dermatitis effect. This strategy may provide new avenues and direction for the demanding issues of valid topical delivery systems.     

Terahertz generation in quantum cascade structures by two-color deriving fields: An approach to reach inversion population via optical pumping

In this paper, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) design is proposed based on GaAs/AlGaAs material system, which simultaneously operates at three widely separated wavelengths (${\lambda }_1=11.1\mu m,{\lambda }_2=14.1\mu m$ and ${\lambda }_{THz}=60\mu m$). In the design, all the wavelength radiations are achieved by the engineering of the electronic spectrum via the quantum-well widths and the applied electric field in a single active region within a same waveguide. The mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths are obtained by adoption a dual-upper-state active region, and the proposed design aims to use both the mid-IR radiations as the coherent deriving fields to populate the upper THz lasing state to aid the THz-laser population inversion via optical pumping instead of direct electrical injection. A detailed analysis of electronic transport in the structure is carried out using a multi-level rate-equation model. The results show that the proposed structure offers an alternative approach to room temperature THz generation in QCLs.     

On Hr(curl,Ω) estimates for a Maxwell type system in convex domains

In bounded convex domains, the regularity of a vector field u with its $\mathrm{div}\mathbf{u}$, $\mathrm{curl}\mathbf{u}$ in $L^r$ space and the tangential component or the normal component of u over the boundary in $L^r$ space, is established for $1<r<\infty$. As an application, we derive an $H^r(\mathrm{curl},\mathrm{\Omega })$ estimate for solutions to a Maxwell type system with an inhomogeneous boundary condition in convex domains. In contrast to the well-posed region of r in the space $H^r(\mathrm{curl},\mathrm{\Omega })$ for the Maxwell type system in Lipschitz domains given by Kar and Sini (2016) [16], we extend the well-posed region to be optimal.     

A nonlinear model for marble sulphation including surface rugosity and mechanical damage

Here we propose and analyze a mathematical model that aims to describe the marble sulphation process occurring in a given material. The model accounts for rugosity as well as for damaging effects. This model is characterized by some technical difficulties that seem hard to overcome from a theoretical viewpoint. Therefore, we introduce some physically reasonable modifications in order to establish the existence of a suitable notion of solution on a given time interval. Numerical simulations are presented and discussed, also in view of further research.     

Characterizations of modalities and lex modalities

A reflective subuniverse in homotopy type theory is an internal version of the notion of a localization in topology or in the theory of ∞-categories. Working in homotopy type theory, we give new characterizations of the following conditions on a reflective subuniverse L: (1) the associated subuniverse $L^{\prime }$ of L-separated types is a modality; (2) L is a modality; (3) L is a lex modality; and (4) L is a cotopological modality. In each case, we give several necessary and sufficient conditions. Our characterizations involve various families of maps associated to L, such as the L-étale maps, the L-equivalences, the L-local maps, the L-connected maps, the unit maps ${\eta }_X$, and their left and/or right orthogonal complements. More generally, our main theorem gives an overview of how all of these classes related to each other. We also give examples that show that all of the inclusions we describe between these classes of maps can be strict.     

Dendritic polyurethane-based prodrug as unimolecular micelles for precise ultrasound-activated localized drug delivery

Ultrasound has been recognized as an exciting tool to enhance the therapeutic efficacy in tumor chemotherapy owing to the triggered drug release, facilitated intracellular drug delivery, and improved spatial precision. Aiming for a precise localized drug delivery, novel dendritic polyurethane-based prodrug (DOX-DPU-PEG) was fabricated with a drug content of 18.9% here by conjugating DOX onto the end groups of the functionalized dendritic polyurethane via acid-labile imine bonds. It could easily form unimolecular micelles around 38 nm. Compared with the non-covalently drug-loaded unimolecular micelles (DOX@Ph-DPU-PEG), they showed excellent pH/ultrasound dual-triggered drug release performance, with drug leakage of only 4% at pH 7.4, but cumulative release of 14% and 88% at pH 5.0 without and with ultrasound, respectively. The ultrasound responsiveness was attributed to the unique strawberry-shaped topological structure of the DOX-DPU-PEG, in which DOX was embedded in the skin layer of the hydrophobic DPU cores. With ultrasound, the DOX-DPU-PEG unimolecular micelles possessed enhanced tumor growth inhibition than free DOX but showed no obvious cytotoxicity on the tumor cells without ultrasound. Such feature makes them promising potential for precise localized drug delivery.     

非线性玻尔兹曼方程的傅里叶谱方法

玻尔兹曼方程作为空气动理学中最基本的方程之一,是连接微观牛顿力学和宏观连续介质力学的重要桥梁.该方程描述了一个由大量粒子组成的复杂系统的非平衡态时间演化:除了基本的输运项,其最重要的特性是粒子间的相互碰撞由一个高维,非局部且非线性的积分算子来描述,从而给玻尔兹曼方程的数值求解带来非常大的挑战.在过去的二十年间,基于傅里叶级数的谱方法成为了数值求解玻尔兹曼方程的一种很受欢迎且有效的确定性算法.这主要归功于谱方法的高精度及它可以被快速傅里叶变换加速的特质.本文将回顾玻尔兹曼方程的傅里叶谱方法,具体包括方法的导出,稳定性和收敛性分析,快速算法,以及在一大类基于碰撞的空气动理学方程中的推广.     

Diffusion Model of a Non-Integer Order PIγ Controller with TCP/UDP Streams

In this article, a way to employ the diffusion approximation to model interplay between TCP and UDP flows is presented. In order to control traffic congestion, an environment of IP routers applying AQM (Active Queue Management) algorithms has been introduced. Furthermore, the impact of the fractional controller PIγ and its parameters on the transport protocols is investigated. The controller has been elaborated in accordance with the control theory. The TCP and UDP flows are transmitted simultaneously and are mutually independent. Only the TCP is controlled by the AQM algorithm. Our diffusion model allows a single TCP or UDP flow to start or end at any time, which distinguishes it from those previously described in the literature.