New genetic and epigenetic insights into the chemokine system: the latest discoveries aiding progression toward precision medicine.

Over the past thirty years, the importance of chemokines and their seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has been increasingly recognized. Chemokine interactions with receptors trigger signaling pathway activity to form a network fundamental to diverse immune processes, including host homeostasis and responses to disease. Genetic and nongenetic regulation of both the expression and structure of chemokines and receptors conveys chemokine functional heterogeneity. Imbalances and defects in the system contribute to the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, including cancer, immune and inflammatory diseases, and metabolic and neurological disorders, which render the system a focus of studies aiming to discover therapies and important biomarkers. The integrated view of chemokine biology underpinning divergence and plasticity has provided insights into immune dysfunction in disease states, including, among others, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this review, by reporting the latest advances in chemokine biology and results from analyses of a plethora of sequencing-based datasets, we outline recent advances in the understanding of the genetic variations and nongenetic heterogeneity of chemokines and receptors and provide an updated view of their contribution to the pathophysiological network, focusing on chemokine-mediated inflammation and cancer. Clarification of the molecular basis of dynamic chemokine-receptor interactions will help advance the understanding of chemokine biology to achieve precision medicine application in the clinic.

Fractal Characteristics of Corrosion-Induced Cracks in Reinforced Concrete.

Based on the fractal geometry, a quantitative index describing the development degree of the internal corrosion expansion of reinforced concrete was proposed. This approach could describe the similarity and complexity of the development of corrosion-induced cracks in concrete simultaneously. Based on this approach, the influence of cracking pattern and coarse aggregate distribution on crack distribution was investigated. This study obtained the crack distribution of reinforced concrete by using the half-soaking galvanic accelerated corrosion method. The results showed that the cracking pattern was the main factor affecting the complexity of crack distribution. For cracks with the simplest cracking pattern, the presence of coarse aggregate and its surface irregularity greatly affected their development trend.

One-step synthesis of core shell cellulose-silica/n-octadecane microcapsules and their application in waterborne self-healing multiple protective fabric coatings.

Exploiting water-based fabric coatings outfitted with multiple protections (e.g., waterproofness, ultraviolet (UV) resistance and thermal insulation) are urgently demanded. Nevertheless, achieving the multifunction and durability poses the major challenge. In the present study, novel multifunctional cellulose/silica hybrid microcapsules were developed by one-step emulsion-solvent diffusion; these microcapsules were well dispersed into waterborne silicone resins to form waterborne multiple protective fabric coatings. Since the encapsulated phase change materials were in the core of capsules, and the hydrophobic coupling reagent and UV absorber were grafted onto the silicas in the shell of capsules, these fabric coatings exhibited high superhydrophobicity, UV protection and thermal insulation. Moreover, because hydrophobic coupling reagent and UV absorber in the shell-cellulose of capsules exhibited easy mobility, the fabric coatings displayed self-repairability of superhydrophobicity and UV protection even after being damaged chemically or mechanically. The fabric coating presented in this study could have a range of applications, covering special protective fabric, high-altitude garments as well as self-cleaning materials.

Multifunctional fabric coatings with slow-releasing fragrance and UV resistant properties from ethyl cellulose/silica hybrid microcapsules.

The synthesis of multifunctional microcapsules using natural polymers has contributed to a broad range of practical applications on fabric coatings. This paper presents a facile and environment-friendly approach for waterborne multifunctional fabric coatings by using cellulose/silica hybrid microcapsules. In this method, lavender fragrance oil-loaded cellulose/silica hybrid microcapsules were one-step synthesized via emulsion solvent diffusion. This microcapsule is core-shell structure with UV absorbers and methacrylic acid grafted silica in the shell and then added into the waterborne polysiloxane resins to form multifunctional fabric coatings. The as-obtained fabric coatings not only exhibited controlled lavender fragrance oil-releasing performance, and it can keep above 30 % fragrance after ninety days due to the slow releasing of lavender fragrance oil in the capsules, but also showed excellent UV resistant property with 159 UPF value.

Fuzzy theory analysis on imagery modeling of wearable bracelet in the urbanian health management.

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the imagery modeling of wearable bracelets. Twelve kinds of smart wearable bracelets with the biggest market share were taken as the research samples. Firstly, by means of questionnaire survey, the factor analysis was utilized to assess the survey results. And 6 groups of adjective vocabularies were selected to describe the imagery modeling of smart wearable bracelets, as neat and good-looking, individuality and interesting, elegance and tasteful, gorgeous and diversiform, technology and quality, popular and economical. At the second step, the evaluation of 12 smart wearable bracelets in 6 groups of adjective vocabularies was calculated with triangle fuzzy theory. The costumers in Hangzhou City were taken as the research target and divided into three categories as elderly silver population, white-collar workers and physical fitness youth. Based on the user matching hypothesis, a questionnaire survey was conducted again. Smart bracelets with concise, popular, economical, technological, recognizable imagery were applied in elderly silver population group. Smart bracelets with good-quality, gorgeousness, elegance and taste were more suitable for the group of urban white-collar worker. The smart bracelets with neat, good-looking, personalized, interesting characteristics showed great physical fitness to youth group. The analysis on the survey results show that assessment on the imagery modeling of smart wearable bracelets for three costumer groups is consistent with the user matching hypothesis. The investigation will offer reference for the designers and manufacturers to develop products purposely. The research results of this study can help the consumers to rationally use the smart bracelet and form a personal health database, so that the government can optimize the allocation of medical resources and build a better medical service system.