Miniaturized therapeutic systems for ultrasound-modulated drug delivery to the central and peripheral nervous system

Ultrasound is a promising technology to address challenges in drug delivery, including limited drug penetration across physiological barriers and ineffective targeting. Here we provide an overview of the significant advances made in recent years in overcoming technical and pharmacological barriers using ultrasound-assisted drug delivery to...

The role of acculturation in the process of advance care planning among Chinese immigrants: A narrative systematic review

Background: Acculturation is the process of two different cultures coming into contact. It is unclear how acculturation influences Chinese immigrants’ engagement in advance care planning due to the complexity and multifaceted nature of both acculturation and advance care planning. Aims: To synthesize evidence regarding the role of Chinese...

Water Adsorption in MOFs: Structures and Applications

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are superior sorbents for water adsorption-based applications. The unique step-like water isotherm at a MOF-specific relative pressure allows easy loading and regeneration over a small range of temperature and pressure conditions. With good hydrothermal stability and cyclic durability, it stands out over...

Fostering spatial ability development in and for authentic STEM learning

Empirical interdisciplinary research has explored the role of spatial ability in STEM learning and achievement. While most of this research indicates that fostering spatial thinking in educational contexts has the potential to positively impact students’ enrollment and performance in STEM subjects, there is less agreement on the best approach...

Recent advances in understanding the flow over bluff bodies with different geometries at moderate Reynolds numbers

The application of unsteady incompressible flow phenomenon over the bluff bodies has received the attention of many researchers due to the rich and complex physics underpinning these flows, and thus requiring special attention in their modelling and numerical simulations. The wake that forms at the leeside of the bluff body is of particular...

Flexible, wearable biosensors for digital health

Flexible and stretchable biosensors have the advantage of enhanced signal validity and patient comfort during physiological signal sensing and biomolecular analysis, crucial for disease diagnosis, treatment and health management. Their lightness, softness and excellent mechanical properties enable effective skin-device interface coupling and...

A historical review of sediment export–import shift in the North Branch of Changjiang Estuary

Net sediment transport is predominantly seaward in fluvial-dominated estuaries worldwide. However, a distributary branch in the Changjiang Estuary, the North Branch, undergoes net landward sediment transport, which leads to severe channel aggradation. Its controlling mechanism and the role of human activities remain insufficiently understood,...

Changjiang Delta in the Anthropocene: Multi-scale hydro-morphodynamics and management challenges

The Changjiang Delta (CD) is one of well-studied large deltas of critical socio-economical and ecological importance regionally and global representativeness. Cumulated field data and numerical modeling has facilitated scientific understanding of its hydro-morphodynamics at multiple spatial and time scales, but the changing boundary forcing...

New innovations in pavement materials and engineering: A review on pavement engineering research 2021

Sustainable and resilient pavement infrastructure is critical for current economic and environmental challenges. In the past 10 years, the pavement infrastructure strongly supports the rapid development of the global social economy. New theories, new methods, new technologies and new materials related to pavement engineering are emerging....

From the headwater to the delta: A synthesis of the basin-scale sediment load regime in the Changjiang River

Many large rivers in the world delivers decreasing sediment loads to coastal oceans owing to reductions in sediment yield and disrupted sediment deliver. Understanding the sediment load regime is a prerequisite of sediment management and fluvial and deltaic ecosystem restoration. This work examines sediment load changes across the Changjiang...

The use of solubility parameters and free energy theory for phase behaviour of polymer-modified bitumen: a review

Advances related to the use of solubility parameters and free energy theory for the phase behaviour study of polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) are reviewed in this paper. The origin and effects of PMB phase behaviour are criticised with a focus on PMB storage stability, morphology and swelling ratio. An overview of the solubility approach for...