Promising Chemotherapy for Malignant Pediatric Brain Tumor in Recent Biological Insights

Brain tumors are the most widespread malignancies in children around the world. Chemotherapy plays a critical role in the treatment of these tumors. Although the current chemotherapy process has a remarkable outcome for a certain subtype of brain tumor, improving patient survival is still a major challenge. Further intensive treatment with conventional non-specific chemotherapy could cause additional adverse reactions without significant advancement in survival. Recently, patient derived brain tumor, xenograft, and whole genome analysis using deep sequencing technology has made a significant contribution to our understanding of cancer treatment. This realization has changed the focus to new agents, targeting the molecular pathways that are critical to tumor survival or proliferation. Thus, many novel drugs targeting epigenetic regulators or tyrosine kinase have been developed. These selective drugs may have less toxicity in normal cells and are expected to be more effective than non-specific chemotherapeutics. This review will summarize the latest novel targets and corresponding candidate drugs, which are promising chemotherapy for brain tumors according to the biological insights.     

A Simple Hydrothermal Method for the Growth of ZnO Crystals

ZnO microstructures have been grown from zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) and ammonia solution at 100 °C for 1 – 24 hours. X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and field‐emission scanning microscope were utilized to investigate the structural properties and morphology of the ZnO crystals. Structural investigations show that phase‐pure hexagonal structure ZnO has been successfully synthesized, and the hexagonal structure ZnO can be achieved in solutions with an appropriate range of concentrations. Under our experimental conditions, several different morphologies of ZnO structures were obtained, including flower‐like and bar flower‐like. The relationship between the morphology and experimental conditions are discussed.     

Modelling of a novel high-impedance matching layer for high frequency (>30 MHz) ultrasonic transducers

This work describes a new approach to impedance matching for ultrasonic transducers. A single matching layer with high acoustic impedance of 16 MRayls is demonstrated to show a bandwidth of around 70%, compared with conventional single matching layer designs of around 50%. Although as a consequence of this improvement in bandwidth, there is a loss in sensitivity, this is found to be similar to an equivalent double matching layer design. Designs are calculated by using the KLM model and are then verified by FEA simulation, with very good agreement Considering the fabrication difficulties encountered in creating a high-frequency double matched design due to the requirement for materials with specific acoustic impedances, the need to accurately control the thickness of layers, and the relatively narrow bandwidths available for conventional single matched designs, the new approach shows advantages in that alternative (and perhaps more practical) materials become available, and offers a bandwidth close to that of a double layer design with the simplicity of a single layer design. The disadvantage is a trade-off in sensitivity. A typical example of a piezoceramic transducer matched to water can give a 70% fractional bandwidth (comparable to an ideal double matched design of 72%) with a 3 dB penalty in insertion loss.     

习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想学理化研究论纲

加强对习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的学理化研究具有重大理论和现实意义。开展学理化研究,一方面是要坚持以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导,加快推动学科体系、学术体系和话语体系建设,推动构建中国特色哲学社会科学;另一方面,学理化研究可以增强对新思想的学科体系、学术体系和话语体系的有力支撑,使新思想进一步彰显其内在的学理性、创新性和整体性,从而全面系统揭示习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想的时代性、科学性和真理性,以及彰显当代中国马克思主义理论的优秀品质和学风文风。开展学理化研究,要紧扣习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想这一根本性主题和主线,聚焦并挖掘新思想对马克思主义理论的原创性贡献,更好体现新思想的理论创新性、价值创造性以及实践指导性。推动学理化研究,需要处理好学理化研究与党的理论宣传和贯彻落实以及与思想性和工具性、实践性和理论性、学术话语和政策话语、本土化和国际化、学理化和大众化等之间的内在关系。     

IN SITU OBSERVATION OF 2-DIMENSIONAL TEXTURE OF EUROPIUM COMPLEX ON WATER SURFACE BY BREWSTER ANGLE MICROSCOPY

Monolayers of europium complexes on water surface have been directly visualized in the gas-liquid expanded region at different temperatures using Brewster angle microscopy (BAM). The film texture with network patterns of the complex (C₁₈)₂ Eu(DBM)₄ and hs evolution with time and temperature of the subphase were examined. The average linear cell dimension and the polygon areas have been analyzed as a function of time and the temperature. The mechanism of the domain growth is qualitatively discussed.     

Effect of additives on the structure and electrochemical performance of mesoporous nickel hydroxide

Nickel hydroxide mesoporous structures are synthesized by a simple method in the presence of different additives (oxalic acid, aminoacetic acid, and sulfosalicylic acid). Structural characterizations reveal that the additives can affect the crystal structure, increase the specific surface area, and reduce the pore size of the products. The electrochemical properties of the synthesized Ni(OH)₂ samples are dependent on their crystal phase, surface area, and pore size distribution. Mesoporous β-Ni(OH)₂ with poor crystallinity shows high specific capacitances at different current densities and excellent cycling ability. A highest specific capacitance of 1,693 F?g^?1 can be achieved at a scan rate of 5 mV?s^?1. The results suggest its potential application in electrochemical supercapacitors.     

Size-refinement enhanced flexibility and electrochemical performance of MXene electrodes for flexible waterproof supercapacitors

Increasing mechanical flexibility without sacrificing electrochemical performance of the electrode mate-rial is highly desired in the design of flexible electro...     

ISOVALEROYL OXOKADSURANE,A NOVEL DIBENZOCYCLOOCTADIENE LIGNAN POSSESSING A SPIROBENZOPURANOID SKELETON

Isovaleroyl oxokadsurane, a novel dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan pos-sessing a spirobenzofuranoid skeleton was isolated from the stems of Kadsura coccinea.Its structure and relative configuration were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.