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There is a need to develop cost-effective and compact solutions for Smart Home monitoring. Existing monitoring systems depend on continuous power sources to support the operation of sensors and electronics modules used therein. In this article, we present three simple battery-free, Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID)-based solutions for real-time monitoring of the orientation of an object using a tilt sensor based on a metallic bead, an entry detection system utilizing a reed switch-based proximity sensor, and a temperature crossing event detection using a thermistor. All sensors are integrated with individual passive RFID tags. The proposed sensing mechanisms were also combined to achieve multi-modal logic sensing operation. Active events (change in position, motion, and temperature) would alter the state of the corresponding flexible RFID sensors to transmit warning signals wirelessly to an RFID reader, realizing a simple RFID-based Smart Home network. The proposed platform has been validated through extensive simulation and actual measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microneedles offer a convenient transdermal delivery route with potential for long term sustained release of drugs. However current microneedle technologies may not have the mechanical properties for reliable and stable penetration (e.g. hydrogel microneedles). Moreover, it is also challenging to realize microneedle arrays with large size and high flexibility. There is also an inherent upper limit to the amount and kind of drugs that can be loaded in the microneedles. In this paper, we present a new class of polymeric porous microneedles made from biocompatible and photo-curable resin that address these challenges. The microneedles are unique in their ability to load solid drug formulation in concentrated form. We demonstrate the loading and release of solid formulation of anesthetic and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, namely Lidocaine and Ibuprofen. Paper also demonstrates realization of large area (6 × 20 cm2) flexible and stretchable microneedle patches capable of drug delivery on any body part. Penetration studies were performed in an ex vivo porcine model supplemented through rigorous compression tests to ensure the robustness and rigidity of the microneedles. Detailed release profiles of the microneedle patches were shown in an in vitro skin model. Results show promise for large area transdermal delivery of solid drug formulations using these porous microneedles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the randomness of the fire location and the high probability of tunnel fires occurring near the tunnel portal, a series of experiments were conducted using a 1:15 tunnel model. In the event of double fires with an extra external fire source except for the internal fire source, the characteristics of smoke spread and smoke stratification are influenced by asymmetric flow fields. The distribution and decay of the smoke temperature beneath the tunnel ceiling, the smoke layer thickness, and the smoke layer stratification were measured and analyzed. The findings indicate that despite a considerable dimensionless fire spacing, the maximum temperature remains longitudinally positioned between the two fire sources. The characteristics of temperature attenuation showed the variation with the dimensionless fire spacing, particularly when the fire spacing was minimal. Furthermore, a model of the pre-exponential factor was built. There was a stable area of smoke layer thickness upstream of the internal fire, showing no sensitivity to variations in dimensionless fire spacing or pool size. Additionally, an obvious smoke interface drop was found between two fire sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Although erythropoietin (EPO) has been proven to significantly promote the proliferation of cancer cells, the mechanism for promoting glioma proliferation is poorly understood. Here, we examined the functional role of the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway in the EPO-mediated proliferation of glioma. Methods: The distribution of EPO and Ki-67 among clinical samples with different WHO grades was plotted by Immunological Histological Chemistry analysis. U87 and U251 glioma cell lines were treated with short hairpin RNA targeting (shEPO), recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) and/or AKT-specific inhibitor (MK-2206). The changes in phosphorylated AKT, nuclear β-catenin, cyclin D1 and p27kip1 expression were detected. Cell cycle distributions and glioma proliferation in vitro and in vivo were analyzed. Results: The expression level of EPO was significantly elevated with the increase of WHO grade and Ki67 in clinical glioma specimens. In vitro, knockdown of endogenous EPO in U87 and U251 cells effectively block the phosphorylation of AKT and GSK-3β and the expression of nuclear β-catenin. shEPO treatment also significantly decreased the expression of cyclin D1 and increased the expression of p27kip1. The cell cycle transition then slowed down and the proliferation of glioma cells or mouse xenograft tumors both decreased. Treatment of cells or tumors with extra rhEPO reversed the above biological effects mediated by shEPO. rhEPO-induced activation of the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway and proliferation were abolished by MK-2206. Conclusions: Our study identified the AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin axis as a critical mediator of EPO-induced glioma proliferation and further provided a clinically significant dimension to the biology of EPO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]