Design Principles Research Articles

Design and engineering of 3D plasmonic superstructure based on Pickering emulsion templates for Surface-Enhanced Raman spectroscopy applications in chemical and biomedical sensing

The integration of Pickering emulsion as a versatile template facilitates the assembly of nanoscale and microscale NPs, leading to the formation of intricate 3D superstructures. These superstructures exhibit collective properties, including optical, electric, and catalytic functionalities, surpassing individual building block. This review comprehensively explores the design and engineering principles behind the creation of these multifaceted superstructures. The exploration begins with the fundamental aspects of surface chemistry governing nanoparticles, a crucial factor in directing their assembly behavior at the curved liquid–liquid emulsion interface. Emphasis is placed on understanding emulsion stability, a pivotal element guiding the formation of stable 3D architectures. The discussion extends to unraveling the underlying mechanisms promoting the formation of these 3D superstructures. The focus lies in elucidating the optical functionalities of these superstructures, particularly in the context of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy application. The surveyed literature showcases diverse Pickering emulsion-based strategies employed in the assembly of plasmonic nanoparticles into intricate superstructures, offering controlled architectures and unlocking unique potentials for chemical and biochemical sensing.

Electroadhesion-driven Crawling Robots Based on Origami Mechanism

Soft crawling robots can operate regularly in complicated situations and are more adapted to their surroundings. This study presents a novel electroadhesion(EA)-driven soft crawling robot utilizing an origami mechanism design. This innovative combination significantly enhances the environmental adaptability and performance of soft crawling robots. The integration of electroadhesion provides strong surface adherence, while origami techniques enable flexible and efficient movement. We detail the design principles and manufacturing process, optimizing key parameters such as leg lengths and folding angles to maximize crawling efficiency. Extensive experimentation confirms the superior performance of this approach. This multidisciplinary strategy, combining electrostatics, origami, and robotics, opens new possibilities in soft robotics design, offering robust solutions for complex environments.

Design, synthesis, anti-tumor activity and mechanism of novel PROTACs as degraders of PD-L1 and inhibitors of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction

Currently, antibody drugs targeting programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) have achieved promising results in cancer treatment, while the development of small-molecule drugs lags behind. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of PD-L1-degrading agents based on the PROTAC design principle, utilizing the PD-L1 inhibitor A56. Through systematic screening of ligands and linkers and investigating the structure–activity relationship of the degraders, we identified two highly active compounds, 9i and 9j. These compounds enhance levels of CD4+, CD8+, granzyme B, and perforin, demonstrating significant in vivo antitumor effects with a tumor growth inhibition (TGI) of up to 57.35 %. Both compounds facilitate the internalization of PD-L1 from the cell surface and promote its degradation through proteasomal and lysosomal pathways, while also maintaining inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. In summary, our findings provide a novel strategy and mechanism for developing biphenyl-based PROTAC antitumor drugs targeting and degrading PD-L1.

Multi-Objective Optimization of the Ultrasonic Scalpel Rod and Tip with Improved Performance: Vibration Frequency, Amplitude, and Service Life

Ultrasonic scalpel design for minimally invasive surgical procedures is mainly focused on optimizing cutting performance. However, an important issue is the low fatigue life of traditional ultrasonic scalpels, which affects their long-term reliability and effectiveness and creates hidden dangers for surgery. In this study, a multi-objective optimal design for the cutting performance and fatigue life of ultrasonic scalpels was proposed using finite element analysis and fatigue simulation. The optimal design parameters of resonance frequency and amplitude were determined. By setting the transition fillet and keeping the gain structure away from the node position to enable the scalpel to have a high service life with excellent cutting performance. The frequency modulation method of setting the vibration node bosses at the node position and setting the vibration antinode grooves at the antinode position was compared. Then, the mechanism of the influence of various design elements, such as tip, shank, node position, and antinode position, on the resonance frequency, amplitude, and fatigue life of the ultrasonic scalpel was analyzed, and the optimal design principles of the ultrasonic scalpel were obtained. The proposed ultrasonic scalpel design was confirmed by simulations, impedance measurements, and liver tissue cutting experiments, demonstrating its feasibility and enhanced performance. This research introduces innovative design strategies to improve the fatigue life and performance of ultrasonic scalpels to address an important issue in minimally invasive surgery.

Designing visual hierarchies for the communication of health data.

Visual hierarchy underlies all visual design decisions related to information presentation. This manuscript describes the experience of a multidisciplinary health data visualization and software design team in using visual hierarchy to redesign a hereditary colorectal cancer lab report. A series of interviews with representative users were conducted to identify target user groups and determine information hierarchy for each user type. Visual elements (eg, size, color, contrast, etc.) were then assigned to mirror the information hierarchy and workflow for each user type. User research identified 2 distinct user groups as consumers of the redesigned lab report. An interactive design employing a 2-level page hierarchy was developed, which stratified the content to support the needs of each user type. The challenges related to displaying the complex nature of digital and personal health data can be addressed by applying foundational design methods such as visual hierarchy. Visual hierarchy, a foundational design principle, can be used by visualization teams to clearly and efficiently present complex datasets associated with healthcare.

Reduction-Induced Self-Propelled Oscillatory Motion of Perylenediimides on Water.

The emergence of macroscopic self-propelled oscillatory motion based on molecular design has attracted continual attention in relation to autonomous systems in living organisms. Herein, a series of perylenediimides (PDIs) with various imide side chains was prepared to explore the impact of molecular design and alignment on the self-propelled motion at the air-water interface. When placed on an aqueous solution containing a reductant, a solid disk of neutral PDI was reduced to form the water soluble, surface-active PDI dianion species, which induces a surface tension gradient in the vicinity of the disk for self-propelled motion. We found that centimeter-scale oscillatory motion could be elicited by controlling the supply rate of PDI dianion species through the reductant concentration and the structure of imide side chains. Furthermore, we found that the onset and speed of the self-propelled motion could be changed by the crystallinity of PDI at the water surface. This design principle using π-conjugated molecules and their self-assemblies could advance self-propelled, non-equilibrium systems powered by chemical energy.

Reduction‐Induced Self‐Propelled Oscillatory Motion of Perylenediimides on Water

The emergence of macroscopic self‐propelled oscillatory motion based on molecular design has attracted continual attention in relation to autonomous systems in living organisms. Herein, a series of perylenediimides (PDIs) with various imide side chains was prepared to explore the impact of molecular design and alignment on the self‐propelled motion at the air–water interface. When placed on an aqueous solution containing a reductant, a solid disk of neutral PDI was reduced to form the water soluble, surface‐active PDI dianion species, which induces a surface tension gradient in the vicinity of the disk for self‐propelled motion. We found that centimeter‐scale oscillatory motion could be elicited by controlling the supply rate of PDI dianion species through the reductant concentration and the structure of imide side chains. Furthermore, we found that the onset and speed of the self‐propelled motion could be changed by the crystallinity of PDI at the water surface. This design principle using π‐conjugated molecules and their self‐assemblies could advance self‐propelled, non‐equilibrium systems powered by chemical energy.

Confining Iodine into Metal-Organic Framework Derived Metal-Nitrogen-Carbon for Long-Life Aqueous Zinc-Iodine Batteries.

Aqueous zinc-iodine batteries (AZIBs) are highly appealing for energy requirements owing to their safety, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. However, the inadequate redox kinetics and severe shuttling effect of polyiodide ions impede their commercial viability. Herein, several Zn-MOF-derived porous carbon materials are designed, and the further preparation of iron-doped porous carbon (Fe-N-C, M9) with varied Fe doping contents is optimized based on a facile self-assembly/carbonization approach. M9, with atomic Fe coordinated to nitrogen atoms, is employed as an efficient cathode host for AZIBs. Functional modifications of porous carbon hosts involving the doping species and levels are investigated. The adsorption tests, in situ Raman spectroscopy, and in situ UV-vis results demonstrate the adsorption capability and charge-discharge mechanism for the iodine species. Furthermore, experimental findings and theoretical analyses have proven that the redox conversion of iodine is enhanced through a physicochemical confinement effect. This study offers basic principles for the strategic design of single-atom dispersed carbon as an iodine host for high-performance AZIBs. Flexible soft-pack battery and wearable microbattery applications also have implications for future long-life aqueous battery designs.

Single and combined strategies for mesenchymal stem cell exosomes alleviate liver fibrosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical animal models

Background: The efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating liver fibrosis has been supported by various clinical studies. However, stem cell transplantation is limited in clinical application due to its low survival rate, low liver implantation rate, and possible carcinogenicity. Recently, there has been increasing interest in the use of MSC-exos due to their widespread availability, low immunogenicity, and non-carcinogenic properties. Numerous studies have demonstrated the potential of MSC-exos in treating liver fibrosis and preventing progression to end-stage liver disease.Objective: This study aimed to systematically investigate the efficacy of MSC-exos single administration in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis and the combined advantages of MSC-exos in combination with drug therapy (MSC-exos-drugs).Methods: Data sources included PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library, which were built up to January 2024. The population, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and study design (PICOS) principle was used to screen the literature, and the quality of the literature was evaluated to assess the risk of bias. Finally, the data from each study’s outcome indicators were extracted for a combined analysis.Results: After screening, a total of 18 papers (19 studies) were included, of which 12 involved MSC-exos single administration for the treatment of liver fibrosis and 6 involved MSC-exos-drugs for the treatment of liver fibrosis. Pooled analysis revealed that MSC-exos significantly improved liver function, promoted the repair of damaged liver tissue, and slowed the progression of hepatic fibrosis and that MSC-exos-drugs were more efficacious than MSC-exos single administration. Subgroup analyses revealed that the use of AD-MSC-exos resulted in more consistent and significant efficacy when MSC-exos was used to treat hepatic fibrosis. For MSC-exos-drugs, a more stable end result is obtained by kit extraction. Similarly, infusion through the abdominal cavity is more effective.Conclusion: The results suggest that MSC-exos can effectively treat liver fibrosis and that MSC-exos-drugs are more effective than MSC-exos single administration. Although the results of the subgroup analyses provide recommendations for clinical treatment, a large number of high-quality experimental validations are still needed.Systematic Review Registration: CRD42024516199.

The Influence of Interactive Technology of Contemporary Classroom Software on University Teaching Practice

Contemporary classroom interactive software technology greatly impacts university practical education. This study adopts the research method of literature review and case analysis. Through extensive collection and analysis of domestic and foreign literature on classroom interactive software technology in higher education, it deeply understands its development history, functional characteristics, and current situation. Secondly, combined with specific teaching cases, this paper analyzes the use effect of these software technologies in the actual teaching process, the feedback of students, and the challenges faced and the basis. This article also explores how these interactive technologies will impact practical university education and how they have changed the learning environment. Through research, we also find that classroom interactive software technology is indeed helpful to improve teaching effect. Still, software technology needs to be used rationally, pay attention to balance, and ensure effective combination. Meanwhile, teachers also need to receive more professional training to ensure that they master relevant operational skills and teaching design principles.

Tailoring Interfacial Structures to Regulate Carrier Transport in Solid-State Batteries.

Solid-state lithium-ion batteries (SSLIBs) have been considered as the priority candidate for next-generation energy storage system, due to their advantages in safety and energy density compare with conventional liquid electrolyte systems. However, the introduction of numerous solid-solid interfaces results in a series of issues, hindering the further development of SSLIBs. Therefore, a thorough understanding on the interfacial issues is essential to promote the practical applications for SSLIBs. In this review, the interface issues are discussed from the perspective of transportation mechanism of electrons and lithium ions, including internal interfaces within cathode/anode composites and solid electrolytes (SEs), as well as the apparent electrode/SEs interfaces. The corresponding interface modification strategies, such as passivation layer design, conductive binders, and thermal sintering methods, are comprehensively summarized. Through establishing the correlation between carrier transport network and corresponding battery electrochemical performance, the design principles for achieving a selective carrier transport network are systematically elucidated. Additionally, the future challenges are speculated and research directions in tailoring interfacial structure for SSLIBs. By providing the insightful review and outlook on interfacial charge transfer, the industrialization of SSLIBs are aimed to promoted.

Research on Visual Design of Smart Phone APP Interface Based on Human-Computer Interaction Behavior

This paper explores the application and influence of human-computer interaction behaviours in the visual design of smartphone APP interfaces. This paper firstly analyses the user's behavioural characteristics, interaction mode and optimization of the interaction process, and points out that the interface design should be closely integrated with the user's needs. Then the article puts forward the principles of smartphone app interface visual design, which provides a guiding framework for designers. In elaborating the design elements, the importance of colour, icon and text in interface design is emphasized, and the corresponding design principles and methods are proposed. The article concludes with a summary of the research results pointing out the problems and shortcomings, and looking forward to the future development trends and directions. This article aims to improve the user experience rate and interaction efficiency of smartphone APP interface design, and provide useful references for research and practice in related fields.

Immediate Versus Delayed Low-Stakes Questioning: Encouraging the Testing Effect Through Embedded Video Questions to Support Students’ Knowledge Outcomes, Self-Regulation, and Critical Thinking

AbstractIn light of the educational challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a growing need to bolster online science teaching and learning by incorporating evidence-based pedagogical principles of Learning Experience Design (LXD). As a response to this, we conducted a quasi-experimental, design-based research study involving nN = 183 undergraduate students enrolled across two online classes in an upper-division course on Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at a large R1 public university. The study extended over a period of 10 weeks, during which half of the students encountered low-stakes questions immediately embedded within the video player, while the remaining half received the same low-stakes questions after viewing all the instructional videos within the unit. Consequently, this study experimentally manipulated the timing of the questions across the two class conditions. These questions functioned as opportunities for low-stakes content practice and retention, designed to encourage learners to experience testing effect and augment the formation of their conceptual understanding. Across both conditions, we assessed potential differences in total weekly quiz grades, page views, and course participation among students who encountered embedded video questions. We also assessed students’ self-report engagement, self-regulation, and critical thinking. On average, the outcomes indicated that learners exposed to immediate low-stakes questioning exhibited notably superior summative quiz scores, increased page views, and enhanced participation in the course. Additionally, those who experienced immediate questioning demonstrated heightened levels of online engagement, self-regulation, and critical thinking. Moreover, our analysis delved into the intricate interplay between treatment conditions, learners’ self-regulation, critical thinking, and quiz grades through a multiple regression model. Notably, the interaction between those in the immediate questioning condition and self-regulation emerged as a significant factor, suggesting that the influence of immediate questioning on quiz grades varies based on learners’ self-regulation abilities. Collectively, these findings highlight the substantial positive effects of immediate questioning of online video lectures on both academic performance and cognitive skills within an online learning context. This discussion delves into the potential implications for institutions to continually refine their approach in order to effectively promote successful online science teaching and learning, drawing from the foundations of pedagogical learning experience design paradigms and the testing effect model.

Organic Mechanochromic Luminescent Materials with Self-Recovering Characters.

Recently, applied research on stimuli-responsive materials with luminescence-switching characteristics has been conducted in various fields. A representative phenomenon of stimuli-responsive luminescent materials is mechanochromic luminescence (MCL), which exhibits luminescent color change induced by mechanical stimuli such as grinding. These materials are among the most prominent candidates for security and sensing applications. Interestingly, some mechanochromic luminescent materials have shown self-recovery character, in which their original luminescent color can be recovered by just standing under ambient conditions after grinding. Although there are more and more reports of such materials in recent years, the fundamental principles of molecular design still remain elusive. In this concept, we summarize distinctive advances in mechanochromic luminescent materials with self-recovery according to the core structures of luminescent molecules. Controlling amorphous state by introducing substituents such as alkyl or polar groups is effective method to provide self-recovering properties.

Symposium 5: Design for networked learning: A case study in health science

Higher education (HE) institutions have been transforming dramatically since the pandemic started late 2019 and early 2020. After an initial period of emergency online teaching and learning, HE educators have focused our energy on supporting students' learning in a complex dynamic learning environment, where digital/online - material/physical - social elements are interwoven and interrelated. Networked learning can be a useful medium for us in this complex context. This paper explores a case study of design for networked learning in a health science postgraduate course. The course was designed in the context of a New Zealand university. The paper will examine how the course design reflects the eight principles of design for networked learning, and proposes some recommendations on design for networked learning at a course level. It links practice and theories, and illustrates how networked learning is unpacked in the context of the course design. While the current paper focuses on the design of the course, it is suggested that future research should conduct an evaluation of the design and develop empirical studies on students' and teacher's experience.

Unboxing the process of revision between two design-based hybrid learning interventions

The paper investigates the revision process of a Design-Based Research (DBR) project, in which a hybrid continuing professional development (CPD) course for educators from three higher education institutions is developed, tested and redesigned. The course runs over two cycles and is based on a key design principle, which aims at fostering inter-institutional collaboration among participants in relation to developing, testing and evaluating new learning designs in the participants’ respective teaching practices. On the basis of semi-structured interviews with the course participants, it is discussed which aspects of the course should be revised and which design strategy to apply during the revision process. Moreover, the implications for the following intervention are discussed and the redesigned course is presented. The empirical contribution of the paper lies in the detailed unboxing of the steps taken by the research and design team in the revision process between the two cycles of the course. As such, the paper exemplifies data-informed revision processes in which the key design principle of a course is maintained, but the adaptation of it is fundamentally revised though the strategy of branching out, i.e. central aspects of the design are revised to create a new solution.

Engineered transcription activator-like effector dimer proteins confer DNA loop-dependent gene repression comparable to Lac repressor.

Natural prokaryotic gene repression systems often exploit DNA looping to increase the local concentration of gene repressor proteins at a regulated promoter via contributions from repressor proteins bound at distant sites. Using principles from the Escherichia coli lac operon we design analogous repression systems based on target sequence-programmable Transcription Activator-Like Effector dimer (TALED) proteins. Such engineered switches may be valuable for synthetic biology and therapeutic applications. Previous TALEDs with inducible non-covalent dimerization showed detectable, but limited, DNA loop-based repression due to the repressor protein dimerization equilibrium. Here, we show robust DNA loop-dependent bacterial promoter repression by covalent TALEDs and verify that DNA looping dramatically enhances promoter repression in E. coli. We characterize repression using a thermodynamic model that quantitates this favorable contribution of DNA looping. This analysis unequivocally and quantitatively demonstrates that optimized TALED proteins can drive loop-dependent promoter repression in E. coli comparable to the natural LacI repressor system. This work elucidates key design principles that set the stage for wide application of TALED-dependent DNA loop-based repression of target genes.

Navigating normalcy: designing personal health visualizations for pediatric kidney transplant recipients and caregivers.

Patients with chronic illnesses, including kidney disease, consider their sense of normalcy when evaluating their health. Although this concept is a key indicator of their self-determined well-being, they struggle to understand if their experience is typical. To address this challenge, we set out to explore how to design personal health visualizations that aid participants in better understanding their experiences post-transplant, identifying barriers to normalcy, and achieving their desired medical outcomes. Pediatric kidney transplant patients and their caregivers participated in three asynchronous design sessions involving sharing experiences, presenting symbolic objects, and providing feedback on visualizations to understand their perceptions of normalcy post-transplant. Data analysis of design session 1 and 2 comprised deductive and inductive analysis. We used affinity diagramming to identify thematic areas about participants' transplant experiences. Comprehension of design session three normalcy visualizations was also evaluated. Participants effectively engaged in the design sessions, revealing diverse perspectives on their experiences. We found there is a significant need for visualizations that depict normalcy to better inform patients and caregivers about their health. Normalcy Visualizations should incorporate three key design principles: personal values, facilitating peer and self-comparison, and seamlessly communicating abstract concepts to help youth kidney transplant recipients comprehend and contextualize if their transplant experience is normal and what normalcy means to them. By incorporating holistic aspects of patients' and caregivers' lives into personal health visualizations, they can be cognizant of their progress to normalcy and empowered to make decisions that help them feel normal.

Improving self‐regulated learning of speaking skills in foreign languages

AbstractIn foreign language learning, it is important that learners become autonomous and learn how to self‐regulate their learning to continue language development. This article presents a self‐evaluation procedure designed to promote self‐regulation in speaking skills in a foreign language. This self‐evaluation procedure was tested in a quasi‐experimental study among 329 secondary school students in the Netherlands to investigate to what extent changes occurred in students’ self‐regulation of their speaking skills and to what extent students perceived the self‐evaluation procedure as motivating and adaptive to their needs. The results showed that shifts were found in the focus of students’ diagnoses and improvement plans for their own speaking performances. It was also found that the perceived need for teachers’ assistance decreased. Moreover, students found support to be adaptive and appreciated the activities in the self‐evaluation procedure—especially producing and executing an improvement plan. In conclusion, this study contributes to the development of knowledge about guiding students’ self‐regulation of speaking skills by adding concrete design principles to realize such a learning process.

Open is not enough: design considerations for a networked data commons

Recently, researchers within the Networked Learning (NL) community have tried to (re)claim NL’s roots in critical pedagogy and (re)assert its commitment to social justice (Networked Learning Editorial Collective, 2021; 2021a). However, despite these avowed intentions, NL has also been criticised from within for “fail[ing] to take account of emancipatory struggles and political imperatives in society more broadly” (Networked Learning Editorial Collective, 2021a, p. 328). The suggestion is made to put NL “to work … to allow the concept of NL itself to become ‘networked’: to make connections, to interrelate, to transform, mutate, and hybridise in response to the pressing issues of our time” (Networked Learning Editorial Collective, 2021a, p. 359). In this paper, we take concepts from NL and put them “to work” in relation to the design of an informal digital learning environment – that is, a digital environment that lies outside of formal education provision, but that is intended to be a place where knowledge can be shared and circulated and where people encounter knowledge in ways that enable them to think, understand or act differently. The work was carried out in the context of a project aiming to develop design principles for an internet-based platform through people would be able to openly access, learn about and share publicly available data, using Scotland’s waste and re-use data as a case study. In this context, we plug NL into a theoretical and methodological design assemblage that connects concepts of openness, data literacy, (de)coloniality, and participatory design into new formations that we hope will allow these concepts to mutate and hybridise into something closer to the social justice ideals that NL claims.