Ferroptosis can serve as a potent strategy for regulating cell death via lipid peroxidation and the imbalance of the antioxidant system resulting from iron accumulation in triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)therapy.Ho...Ferroptosis can serve as a potent strategy for regulating cell death via lipid peroxidation and the imbalance of the antioxidant system resulting from iron accumulation in triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)therapy.However,the ferroptosis accompanied with down-regulation of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)lead to CD36-mediated tumor-infiltrating CD8^(+)T cells uptaking fatty acids,resulting in the negative action on immunotherapeutic efficacy.Herein,the albumin nanoparticles,abbreviated as LHS NPs,were designed by co-assembly of hemin,linoleic acid-cystamine,and a CD36 inhibitor sulfosuccinimide oleate,to bi-directionally manipulated ferroptosis in tumor and CD8^(+)T cells for TNBC therapy.LHS NPs exerted more efficient reactive oxygen species generation,glutathione depletion and malondialdehyde production by the combinatory strategy of classical and non-classical ferroptosis modes,which amplified the positive action on ferroptosis in tumor cells.Meanwhile,LHS manipulated the negative action of ferroptosis by inhibiting the CD36 mediated-lipid peroxidation in CD8^(+)T cells,thereby activating the immunotherapeutic efficacy with the improvements on induction of immunogenic cell death,proliferation of CD4+CD8^(+)T cells and natural killer cells,alleviation immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells,and repolarization of the M2-to M1-phenotype tumor-associated macrophages.Thus,LHS NPs demonstrated an improved antitumor efficacy in suppressing the tumor growth and lungmetastasis of 4T1-tumormice.Our work gives novel insights for the bi-directionally manipulating ferroptosis in tumor and CD8^(+)T cells on TNBC chemoimmunotherapy.展开更多
Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a devastating ailment that results in drastic life style alterations for the patients and their family members(Mc Donald and Sadowsky,2002).Damage post injury causes necrosis,edema,hemorr...Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a devastating ailment that results in drastic life style alterations for the patients and their family members(Mc Donald and Sadowsky,2002).Damage post injury causes necrosis,edema,hemorrhage and vasospasm.Post injury,secondary damage is caused by ischemia,展开更多
BACKGROUND Alopecia areata(AA)is a common autoimmune disease characterized by hair loss.AA appears in extensive forms,such as progressive and diffusing hair loss(diffuse AA),a total loss of scalp hair(alopecia totalis...BACKGROUND Alopecia areata(AA)is a common autoimmune disease characterized by hair loss.AA appears in extensive forms,such as progressive and diffusing hair loss(diffuse AA),a total loss of scalp hair(alopecia totalis),and complete loss of hair over the entire body(alopecia universalis).Recently,mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been identified as a therapeutic alternative for autoimmune diseases.For this reason,preclinical and case studies of AA and related diseases using MSCs have been conducted.CASE SUMMARY Case 1:A 55-year-old woman suffered from AA in two areas of the scalp.She was given 15 rounds of minimally manipulated umbilical cord-MSCs(MM-UC-MSCs)over 6 mo.The AA gradually improved 3 mo after the first round.The patient was cured,and AA did not recur.Case 2:A 30-year-old woman,with history of local steroid hormone injections,suffered from AA in one area on the scalp.She was given two rounds of MM-UC-MSCs over 1 mo.The AA immediately improved after the first round.The patient was cured,and AA did not recur.Case 3:A 20-year-old woman,who was diagnosed with alopecia universalis at the age of 12,was given 14 rounds of MM-UC-MSCs over 12 mo.Her hair began to grow about 3 mo after the first round.The patient was cured,and alopecia universalis did not recur.CONCLUSION MM-UC-MSC transplantation potentially treats patients who suffer from AA and related diseases.展开更多
BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that usually manifests as a red scaly epidermis,induration,and hyperproliferation of basal keratinocytes.About 2%of the world’s population suffers from psoriasis b...BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that usually manifests as a red scaly epidermis,induration,and hyperproliferation of basal keratinocytes.About 2%of the world’s population suffers from psoriasis but there are no clear therapeutics yet.Recently,mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been regarded as a therapeutic alternative for autoimmune diseases,as they possess immunosuppressive effects without risks.Human umbilical cord-derived MSCs effectively regulate immune cells and are characterized by low immunogenicity,which has many advantages in treating immune diseases.CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 47-year-old male,diagnosed with psoriasis in 1995.He had received various treatments for 25 years,but the psoriatic condition was not significantly improved.He was given three rounds of minimally manipulated umbilical cord-derived MSCs over 2 wk.The erythema gradually disappeared.Three months after the 1st round,all erythema completely disappeared,and the psoriasis did not recur.CONCLUSION Minimally manipulated umbilical cord-derived MSC transplantation can potentially treat patients who suffer from psoriasis.展开更多
BACKGROUND Stroke is one of the major causes of disability and death worldwide.Some treatments for stroke exist,but existing treatment methods have limitations such as difficulty in the regeneration of damaged neurona...BACKGROUND Stroke is one of the major causes of disability and death worldwide.Some treatments for stroke exist,but existing treatment methods have limitations such as difficulty in the regeneration of damaged neuronal cells of the brain.Recently,mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been studied as a therapeutic alternative for stroke,and various preclinical and case studies have been reported.CASE SUMMARY A 55-year-old man suffered an acute stroke,causing paralysis in the left upper and lower limbs.He intravenously transplanted the minimally manipulated human umbilical cord-derived MSCs(MM-UC-MSCs)twice with an 8-d interval.At 65 wk after transplantation,the patient returned to his previous occupation as a veterinarian with no adverse reactions.CONCLUSION MM-UC-MSCs transplantation potentially treats patients who suffer from acute ischemic stroke.展开更多
A single particle magneto-confined in a one-dimensional (1D) quantum wire experiences a harmonic potential, and imposing a sharply focused laser beam on an appropriate site shapes a δ potential. The theoretical inv...A single particle magneto-confined in a one-dimensional (1D) quantum wire experiences a harmonic potential, and imposing a sharply focused laser beam on an appropriate site shapes a δ potential. The theoretical investigation has demonstrated that for a sufficiently strong δ pulse the quantum motional stationary state of the particle is one of the eigenstates of the free harmonic oscillator, and it is determined by the site of the laser beam uniquely, namely a quantum state is admissible if and only if the laser site is one of its nodes. The numerical computation shows that all the nodes of the lower energy states with quantum numbers n ≤ 20, except the coordinate origin, are mutually different. So we can manipulate the multiphoton transitions between the quantum states by adjusting the position of the laser δ pulse and realize the transition from an unknown higher excitation state to a required lower energy state.展开更多
Single-cell biomechanics and electrophysiology measuring tools have transformed biological research over the last few decades,which enabling a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of cellular behavior and function....Single-cell biomechanics and electrophysiology measuring tools have transformed biological research over the last few decades,which enabling a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of cellular behavior and function.Despite their high-quality information content,these single-cell measuring techniques suffer from laborious manual processing by highly skilled workers and extremely low throughput(tens of cells per day).Recently,numerous researchers have automated the measurement of cell mechanical and electrical signals through robotic localization and control processes.While these efforts have demonstrated promising progress,critical challenges persist,including human dependency,learning complexity,in-situ measurement,and multidimensional signal acquisition.To identify key limitations and highlight emerging opportunities for innovation,in this review,we comprehensively summarize the key steps of robotic technologies in single-cell biomechanics and electrophysiology.We also discussed the prospects and challenges of robotics and automation in biological research.By bridging gaps between engineering,biology,and data science,this work aims to stimulate interdisciplinary research and accelerate the translation of robotic single-cell technologies into practical applications in the life sciences and medical fields.展开更多
Vortex-induced vibration(VIV)of an underwater manipulator in pulsating flow presents a notable engineering problem in precise control due to the velocity variation in the flow.This study investigates the VIV response ...Vortex-induced vibration(VIV)of an underwater manipulator in pulsating flow presents a notable engineering problem in precise control due to the velocity variation in the flow.This study investigates the VIV response of an underwater manipulator subjected to pulsating flow,focusing on how different postures affect the behavior of the system.The effects of pulsating parameters and manipulator arrangement on the hydrodynamic coefficient,vibration response,motion trajectory,and vortex shedding behaviors were analyzed.Results indicated that the cross flow vibration displacement in pulsating flow increased by 32.14%compared to uniform flow,inducing a shift in the motion trajectory from a crescent shape to a sideward vase shape.In the absence of interference between the upper and lower arms,the lift coefficient of the manipulator substantially increased with rising pulsating frequency,reaching a maximum increment of 67.0%.This increase in the lift coefficient led to a 67.05%rise in the vibration frequency of the manipulator in the in-line direction.As the pulsating amplitude increased,the drag coefficient of the underwater manipulator rose by 36.79%,but the vibration frequency in the cross-flow direction decreased by 56.26%.Additionally,when the upper and lower arms remained in a state of mutual interference,the cross-flow vibration amplitudes of the upper and lower arms were approximately 1.84 and 4.82 times higher in a circular-elliptical arrangement compared to an elliptical-circular arrangement,respectively.Consequently,the flow field shifted from a P+S pattern to a disordered pattern,disrupting the regularity of the motion trajectory.展开更多
Octopuses,due to their flexible arms,marvelous adaptability,and powerful suckers,are able to effortlessly grasp and disengage various objects in the marine surrounding without causing devastation.However,manipulating ...Octopuses,due to their flexible arms,marvelous adaptability,and powerful suckers,are able to effortlessly grasp and disengage various objects in the marine surrounding without causing devastation.However,manipulating delicate objects such as soft and fragile foods underwater require gentle contact and stable adhesion,which poses a serious challenge to now available soft grippers.Inspired by the sucker infundibulum structure and flexible tentacles of octopus,herein we developed a hydraulically actuated hydrogel soft gripper with adaptive maneuverability by coupling multiple hydrogen bond-mediated supramolecular hydrogels and vat polymerization three-dimensional printing,in which hydrogel bionic sucker is composed of a tunable curvature membrane,a negative pressure cavity,and a pneumatic chamber.The design of the sucker structure with the alterable curvature membrane is conducive to realize the reliable and gentle switchable adhesion of the hydrogel soft gripper.As a proof-of-concept,the adaptive hydrogel soft gripper is capable of implement diversified underwater tasks,including gingerly grasping fragile foods like egg yolks and tofu,as well as underwater robots and vehicles that station-keeping and crawling based on switchable adhesion.This study therefore provides a transformative strategy for the design of novel soft grippers that will render promising utilities for underwater exploration soft robotics.展开更多
Highly efficient generation and arbitrary manipulation of spin-polarized terahertz(THz)radiation will enable chiral lightwave driven quantum nonequilibrium state regulation,induce new electronic structures,consequentl...Highly efficient generation and arbitrary manipulation of spin-polarized terahertz(THz)radiation will enable chiral lightwave driven quantum nonequilibrium state regulation,induce new electronic structures,consequently provide a powerful experi-mental tool for investigation of nonlinear THz optics and extreme THz science and applications.THz circular dichromic spectroscopy,ultrafast electron bunch manipulation,as well as THz imaging,sensing,and telecommunication,also need chiral THz waves.Here we review optical generation of circularly-polarized THz radiation but focus on recently emerged polarization tunable spintronic THz emission techniques,which possess many advantages of ultra-broadband,high efficiency,low cost,easy for integration and so on.We believe that chiral THz sources based on the combination of electron spin,ultra-fast optical techniques and material structure engineering will accelerate the development of THz science and applications.展开更多
Dear Editor,Viruses of the genus Orthoebolavirus cause sporadic outbreaks of severe haemorrhagic fever,with case fatality rates ranging from 25%to 90%(Mahanty and Bray,2004).Six species of the virus(Orthoebolavirus za...Dear Editor,Viruses of the genus Orthoebolavirus cause sporadic outbreaks of severe haemorrhagic fever,with case fatality rates ranging from 25%to 90%(Mahanty and Bray,2004).Six species of the virus(Orthoebolavirus zairense,sudanense,bundibugyoense,taiense,restonense,and bombaliense)have so far been identified(Biedenkopf et al.,2023).Among these,Orthoebolavirus zairense,commonly known as Ebola virus(EBOV),stands out as the most virulent.Given its high contagiousness and lethality,EBOV must be manipulated under biosafety level 4(BSL-4)conditions,as stipulated by the the People's Republic of China's list of human pathogenic microorganisms(National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China,2023).Prior to being removed from a BSL-4 laboratory,it is imperative that infectious EBOV undergoes complete inactivation.Here we systematically evaluate viral thermostability under BSL-4 containment conditions,demonstrating EBOV's marked thermotolerance.展开更多
Purpose–The study aims to build a high-precision longitudinal dynamics model for heavy-haul trains and validate it with line test data,present an optimization method for multi-stage cyclic brakes based on the model a...Purpose–The study aims to build a high-precision longitudinal dynamics model for heavy-haul trains and validate it with line test data,present an optimization method for multi-stage cyclic brakes based on the model and conduct a multi-objective detailed evaluation of the driver’s manipulation during cyclic braking.Design/methodology/approach–The high-precision longitudinal train dynamics model was established and verified by the cyclic braking test data of the 20,000 t heavy-haul combination train on the long and steep downgrade.Then the genetic algorithm is employed for optimization subsequent to decoupling multiple cyclic braking procedures,with due consideration of driver operation rules.For evaluation,key manipulation assessments in the scenario are prioritized,supplemented by multi-objective evaluation requirements,and the computational model is employed for detailed evaluation analysis.Findings–Based on the model,experimental data reveal that the probability of longitudinal force error being less than 64.6 kN is approximately 68%,95%for less than 129.2 kN and 99.7%for less than 193.8 kN.Upon optimizing manipulations during the cyclic braking,the maximum reduction in coupler force spans from 21%∼23.9%.Andtheevaluation scoresimply that a proper elevationof the releasingspeed favorssafety.A high electric braking force,although beneficial to some extent for energy-saving,is detrimental to reducing coupler force.Originality/value–The results will provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for further ensuring the safety and energy-efficient operation of heavy haul trains on long downhill sections and improving the operational quality of heavy-haul trains.展开更多
Serial-parallel manipulators are of great interest to academic community in recent years,especially those composed of classical parallel mechanisms.There have been many studies around 2(3RPS)and 2(3SPR)S-PMs,but unfor...Serial-parallel manipulators are of great interest to academic community in recent years,especially those composed of classical parallel mechanisms.There have been many studies around 2(3RPS)and 2(3SPR)S-PMs,but unfortunately their inverse kinematics have not yet been resolved.This paper discovers that the unknown kinematic parameters of middle platform are responsible for the unresolvable of inverse kinematics,meanwhile the unknown kinematic parameters of middle platform also have huge coupling relationships.Therefore,to break through this challenges,the huge coupling relationships are decoupled layer by layer,the kinematic parameters of middle platform are solved by combining Sylvester's elimination method,and the inverse displacements of 2(3RPS)and 2(3SPR)S-PMs are obtained subsequently.This paper not only solves the inverse kinematics of classical 2(3RPS)and 2(3SPR)S-PMs,but also reveals the essence of the inverse kinematics of general(3-DOF)+(3-DOF)6-DOF S-PMs and proposes a corresponding solution.展开更多
The combination of advanced photoelectric detectors has rendered single-band camouflage materials ineffective,necessitating the development of infrared multispectral camouflage.However,the design and fabrication of ex...The combination of advanced photoelectric detectors has rendered single-band camouflage materials ineffective,necessitating the development of infrared multispectral camouflage.However,the design and fabrication of existing works remain complex as they usually require the integration of multiscale structures.Here,we introduce phase modulation into the infrared camouflage metasurfaces with metal-dielectric-metal configuration,enabling them to achieve camouflage across more bands.Based on this strategy,a simple but effective single-layer cascaded metasurface is demonstrated for the first time to achieve low reflection at multi-wavelength lasers,low infrared radiation in atmospheric windows,and broadband thermal management.As a proof-of-concept,a 4-inch sample with a minimum linewidth of 1.8μm is fabricated using photolithography.The excellent infrared multispectral camouflage performance is verified in experiments,showing low reflectance in 0.9–1.6μm,low infrared emissivity in mid-wavelength infrared(MWIR)and long-wavelength infrared(LWIR)bands,and high absorptance at the wavelength of 10.6μm.Meanwhile,broadband high emissivity in 5–8μm can provide high-performance radiative heat dissipation.When the input power is 1.57 W·cm^(-2),the surface/radiation temperature of the metasurface decreases by 5.3℃/18.7℃ compared to the reference.The proposed metasurface may trigger further innovation in the design and application of compact multispectral optical devices.展开更多
Vanadium pentoxide(V_(2)O_(5))displays the characteristics of high theoretical specific capacity,high operating voltage,and adjustable layered structure,possessing the considerable potential as cathode in magnesium me...Vanadium pentoxide(V_(2)O_(5))displays the characteristics of high theoretical specific capacity,high operating voltage,and adjustable layered structure,possessing the considerable potential as cathode in magnesium metal batteries(MMBs).Nevertheless,the large charge-radius ratio of Mg^(2+)induces the strong interactions of Mg^(2+)with solvent molecules of electrolyte and anionic framework of cathode,resulting in a notable voltage polarization and structural deterioration during cycling process.Herein,an in-situ multi-scale structural engineering is proposed to activate the interlayer-expanded V_(2)O_(5)cathode(pillared by tetrabutylammonium cation)via adding hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB)additive into electrolyte.During cycling,the in-situ incorporation of CTA^(+)not only enhances the electrostatic shielding effect and Mg species migration,but also stabilizes the interlayer spacing.Besides,CTA^(+)is prone to be adsorbed on cathode surface and induces the loss-free pulverization and amorphization of electroactive grains,leading to the pronounced effect of intercalation pseudocapacitance.CTAB additive also enables to scissor the Mg^(2+)solvation sheath and tailor the insertion mode of Mg species,further endowing V_(2)O_(5)cathode with fast reaction kinetics.Based on these merits,the corresponding V2O5‖Mg full cells exhibit the remarkable rate performance with capacities as high as 317.6,274.4,201.1,and 132.7 mAh g^(-1)at the high current densities of 0.1,0.2,0.5,and 1 A g^(-1),respectively.Moreover,after 1000 cycles,the capacity is still preserved to be 90,4 mAh g^(-1)at 1 A g^(-1)with an average coulombic efficiency of~100%.Our strategy of synergetic modulations of cathode host and electrolyte solvation structures provides new guidance for the development of high-rate,large-capacity,and long-life MMBs.展开更多
Animals exhibit complex responses to external and internal stimuli.The information is computed by interconnected neurons that express numerous ion channels,which modulate the neuronal membrane potential.How can neuron...Animals exhibit complex responses to external and internal stimuli.The information is computed by interconnected neurons that express numerous ion channels,which modulate the neuronal membrane potential.How can neuronal activity orchestrate complex motor patterns or allow learning from previous experience?To answer such questions,we need the ability not only to record,but also to modulate neuronal activity in both space(e.g.,neuronal subsets)and time.展开更多
OBJECTIVE To investigate the intervention effects of tissue-bone homeostasis manipulation(TBHM)on peripatellar biomechanical parameters and knee joint function in knee osteoarthritis(KOA)patients.METHODS Sixty patient...OBJECTIVE To investigate the intervention effects of tissue-bone homeostasis manipulation(TBHM)on peripatellar biomechanical parameters and knee joint function in knee osteoarthritis(KOA)patients.METHODS Sixty patients with KOA(Kellgren-Lawrence gradeⅡ-Ⅲ)were recruited from the Acupuncture-Moxibustion Rehabilitation Department,Anhui University of Chinese Medicine between October 2024 and May 2025.Participants were randomized into a TBHM group(n=30)or a transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation(TENS)group(n=30).Using two-way repeated measures ANOVA,biomechanical indicators,including rectus femoris tension,vastus medialis tension,vastus lateralis tension,patellar ligament tension,lateral patellar displacement(LPD),medial patellar displacement(MPD),normalized patellar mobility(LPD/patellar width[PW],MPD/PW),knee flexion range of motion,and functional indicators,including KOOS subscales,time up and go test(TUGT),were compared between groups at baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention.RESULTS After intervention,all biomechanical and knee joint function indicators in the TBHM group were significantly improved(P<0.05,P<0.01),while only the vastus medialis tension,TUGT and KOOS Pain,ADL and QoL scores in the control group were significantly improved(P<0.01).The improvement amplitudes of biomechanical indicators in the TBHM group,including rectus femoris tension,vastus lateralis tension,patellar ligament tension,MPD/PW,LPD/PW and knee flexion range of motion were better than those in the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01).In the functional evaluation,the interaction effects of the TBHM group in all dimensions of the KOOS score and TUGT were statistically significant(P<0.05,P<0.01).Post-hoc simple effect analysis confirmed that there were significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups after intervention(P<0.05),and all indicators showed a significant main effect of time(P<0.01),suggesting that the intervention measures had continuous and cumulative curative effects.CONCLUSION TBHM effectively improves joint function and quality of life in KOA patients by restoring dynamic equilibrium in soft tissue tension and patellar mobility,ultimately achieving the therapeutic goal of concurrent tissue-bone management.展开更多
OBJECTIVE:In recent years,the number of clinical research reports on acupuncture and manipulation for the treatment of greater occipital neuralgia has gradually increased,but the quality is uneven.There is currently n...OBJECTIVE:In recent years,the number of clinical research reports on acupuncture and manipulation for the treatment of greater occipital neuralgia has gradually increased,but the quality is uneven.There is currently no literature evaluating the quality of published reports,which is not conducive to the promotion of clinical use of these therapies.Therefore,this article assessed the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials on acupuncture and manipulation for greater occipital neuralgia.METHODS:Cochrane Library,PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),VIP,WanFang Data,and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database(CBM)from inception to May 20,2024 were searched.The reporting quality of included randomized controlled trials was independently evaluated by two investigators using the CONSORT statement,STRICTA checklist,and Cochrane bias of risk assessment tool.A third investigator resolved any disagreement.RESULTS:A total of 62 articles were included.Based on the CONSORT statement,59.46%(22/37)of all entries had a reporting rate of less than 50%,mainly including“Identification as a randomized trial in the title(1/62,1.61%),”“How sample size was determined(7/62,11.29%),”“Implementation(1/62,1.61%),”“Blinding(1/62,1.61%),”and“Reports of Funding(4/62,6.45%).”According to the STRICTA checklist,29.41%(5/17)of all entries had a reporting rate of less than 50%,mainly including“Details of other interventions(7/58,12.07%),”“Setting and context of treatment(0/58,0%),”and“Description of participating acupuncturists(0/58,0%).”CONCLUSION:The reporting quality of randomized controlled trials on acupuncture and manipulation therapy for greater occipital neuralgia remains low.Future researchers need to make greater efforts to strictly adhere to the CONSORT statement and STRICTA checklist during trial design,implementation,and reporting.This will facilitate the standardization of research in this field and enhance the reliability and reproducibility of the research results.展开更多
Optical field manipulation,an emerging frontier in photonics,demonstrates significant potential in biomedical microscopy,quantum state engineering,and micro-nano fabrication.To address the critical limitations of curr...Optical field manipulation,an emerging frontier in photonics,demonstrates significant potential in biomedical microscopy,quantum state engineering,and micro-nano fabrication.To address the critical limitations of current optical modulation technologies in achieving full-parameter precision control,we proposed a novel approach for dynamic azimuthal optical field modulation based on dual-spiral arrays.By designing spatially interleaved spiral structures with different initial radii while maintaining identical periodic parameters,we achieved continuous optical modulation spanning the full 0-2πrange in azimuthal field distribution.Through rigorous numerical simulations,we systematically established a quantitative correlation between the structural parameters and azimuthal optical field patterns,revealing,for the first time,a quasi-linear relationship between the radius difference and the resultant optical distribution.This theoretical framework advances our fundamental understanding of structured optical field manipulation as well as provides a new paradigm for programmable photonic device design,with distinct technical advantages in super-resolution imaging and optical tweezer systems.展开更多
This paper is an attempt to explore the root of the modern paradox across multiple registers in order to uncover a persuasive pattern of contradiction that runs through the very fabric of contemporary existence.We dis...This paper is an attempt to explore the root of the modern paradox across multiple registers in order to uncover a persuasive pattern of contradiction that runs through the very fabric of contemporary existence.We discover that the very logic meant to emancipate the human subject-scientific mastery,bureaucratic order,economic growth,and many others,often recoil upon the subject,generating conditions of fragmentation,depersonalization,and spiritual aridity.Far from rejecting modernity wholesale,our task is a diagnostic one-to enter into the deep fabric of modernity and to decode its operating metaphors and interrogate what holds up the“scaffolding of collective life”.This is in a bid to find the rootedness of genuine human flourishing.Part of the answer,from our analysis,lies in a critical re-thinking within modernity without being subsumed by it.展开更多
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China(NO.82260699)the Science and Technology Leading Talents of Ningxia(NO.2022GKLRLX011)the West Light Foundation of The Chinese Academy of Sciences(the Science and Technology Department of Ningxia,Department of Science and Technology Cooperation[2021]NO.2).
文摘Ferroptosis can serve as a potent strategy for regulating cell death via lipid peroxidation and the imbalance of the antioxidant system resulting from iron accumulation in triple-negative breast cancer(TNBC)therapy.However,the ferroptosis accompanied with down-regulation of glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)lead to CD36-mediated tumor-infiltrating CD8^(+)T cells uptaking fatty acids,resulting in the negative action on immunotherapeutic efficacy.Herein,the albumin nanoparticles,abbreviated as LHS NPs,were designed by co-assembly of hemin,linoleic acid-cystamine,and a CD36 inhibitor sulfosuccinimide oleate,to bi-directionally manipulated ferroptosis in tumor and CD8^(+)T cells for TNBC therapy.LHS NPs exerted more efficient reactive oxygen species generation,glutathione depletion and malondialdehyde production by the combinatory strategy of classical and non-classical ferroptosis modes,which amplified the positive action on ferroptosis in tumor cells.Meanwhile,LHS manipulated the negative action of ferroptosis by inhibiting the CD36 mediated-lipid peroxidation in CD8^(+)T cells,thereby activating the immunotherapeutic efficacy with the improvements on induction of immunogenic cell death,proliferation of CD4+CD8^(+)T cells and natural killer cells,alleviation immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells,and repolarization of the M2-to M1-phenotype tumor-associated macrophages.Thus,LHS NPs demonstrated an improved antitumor efficacy in suppressing the tumor growth and lungmetastasis of 4T1-tumormice.Our work gives novel insights for the bi-directionally manipulating ferroptosis in tumor and CD8^(+)T cells on TNBC chemoimmunotherapy.
文摘Spinal cord injury(SCI)is a devastating ailment that results in drastic life style alterations for the patients and their family members(Mc Donald and Sadowsky,2002).Damage post injury causes necrosis,edema,hemorrhage and vasospasm.Post injury,secondary damage is caused by ischemia,
文摘BACKGROUND Alopecia areata(AA)is a common autoimmune disease characterized by hair loss.AA appears in extensive forms,such as progressive and diffusing hair loss(diffuse AA),a total loss of scalp hair(alopecia totalis),and complete loss of hair over the entire body(alopecia universalis).Recently,mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been identified as a therapeutic alternative for autoimmune diseases.For this reason,preclinical and case studies of AA and related diseases using MSCs have been conducted.CASE SUMMARY Case 1:A 55-year-old woman suffered from AA in two areas of the scalp.She was given 15 rounds of minimally manipulated umbilical cord-MSCs(MM-UC-MSCs)over 6 mo.The AA gradually improved 3 mo after the first round.The patient was cured,and AA did not recur.Case 2:A 30-year-old woman,with history of local steroid hormone injections,suffered from AA in one area on the scalp.She was given two rounds of MM-UC-MSCs over 1 mo.The AA immediately improved after the first round.The patient was cured,and AA did not recur.Case 3:A 20-year-old woman,who was diagnosed with alopecia universalis at the age of 12,was given 14 rounds of MM-UC-MSCs over 12 mo.Her hair began to grow about 3 mo after the first round.The patient was cured,and alopecia universalis did not recur.CONCLUSION MM-UC-MSC transplantation potentially treats patients who suffer from AA and related diseases.
文摘BACKGROUND Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that usually manifests as a red scaly epidermis,induration,and hyperproliferation of basal keratinocytes.About 2%of the world’s population suffers from psoriasis but there are no clear therapeutics yet.Recently,mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been regarded as a therapeutic alternative for autoimmune diseases,as they possess immunosuppressive effects without risks.Human umbilical cord-derived MSCs effectively regulate immune cells and are characterized by low immunogenicity,which has many advantages in treating immune diseases.CASE SUMMARY The patient was a 47-year-old male,diagnosed with psoriasis in 1995.He had received various treatments for 25 years,but the psoriatic condition was not significantly improved.He was given three rounds of minimally manipulated umbilical cord-derived MSCs over 2 wk.The erythema gradually disappeared.Three months after the 1st round,all erythema completely disappeared,and the psoriasis did not recur.CONCLUSION Minimally manipulated umbilical cord-derived MSC transplantation can potentially treat patients who suffer from psoriasis.
文摘BACKGROUND Stroke is one of the major causes of disability and death worldwide.Some treatments for stroke exist,but existing treatment methods have limitations such as difficulty in the regeneration of damaged neuronal cells of the brain.Recently,mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been studied as a therapeutic alternative for stroke,and various preclinical and case studies have been reported.CASE SUMMARY A 55-year-old man suffered an acute stroke,causing paralysis in the left upper and lower limbs.He intravenously transplanted the minimally manipulated human umbilical cord-derived MSCs(MM-UC-MSCs)twice with an 8-d interval.At 65 wk after transplantation,the patient returned to his previous occupation as a veterinarian with no adverse reactions.CONCLUSION MM-UC-MSCs transplantation potentially treats patients who suffer from acute ischemic stroke.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No 10575034), and the Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics of China (Grant No T152504).
文摘A single particle magneto-confined in a one-dimensional (1D) quantum wire experiences a harmonic potential, and imposing a sharply focused laser beam on an appropriate site shapes a δ potential. The theoretical investigation has demonstrated that for a sufficiently strong δ pulse the quantum motional stationary state of the particle is one of the eigenstates of the free harmonic oscillator, and it is determined by the site of the laser beam uniquely, namely a quantum state is admissible if and only if the laser site is one of its nodes. The numerical computation shows that all the nodes of the lower energy states with quantum numbers n ≤ 20, except the coordinate origin, are mutually different. So we can manipulate the multiphoton transitions between the quantum states by adjusting the position of the laser δ pulse and realize the transition from an unknown higher excitation state to a required lower energy state.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China[62525301,62127811,62433019]the New Cornerstone Science Foundation through the XPLORER PRIZEthe financial support by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation[GZB20240797].
文摘Single-cell biomechanics and electrophysiology measuring tools have transformed biological research over the last few decades,which enabling a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of cellular behavior and function.Despite their high-quality information content,these single-cell measuring techniques suffer from laborious manual processing by highly skilled workers and extremely low throughput(tens of cells per day).Recently,numerous researchers have automated the measurement of cell mechanical and electrical signals through robotic localization and control processes.While these efforts have demonstrated promising progress,critical challenges persist,including human dependency,learning complexity,in-situ measurement,and multidimensional signal acquisition.To identify key limitations and highlight emerging opportunities for innovation,in this review,we comprehensively summarize the key steps of robotic technologies in single-cell biomechanics and electrophysiology.We also discussed the prospects and challenges of robotics and automation in biological research.By bridging gaps between engineering,biology,and data science,this work aims to stimulate interdisciplinary research and accelerate the translation of robotic single-cell technologies into practical applications in the life sciences and medical fields.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51905211)A Project of the“20 Regulations for New Universities”Funding Program of Jinan(No.202228116).
文摘Vortex-induced vibration(VIV)of an underwater manipulator in pulsating flow presents a notable engineering problem in precise control due to the velocity variation in the flow.This study investigates the VIV response of an underwater manipulator subjected to pulsating flow,focusing on how different postures affect the behavior of the system.The effects of pulsating parameters and manipulator arrangement on the hydrodynamic coefficient,vibration response,motion trajectory,and vortex shedding behaviors were analyzed.Results indicated that the cross flow vibration displacement in pulsating flow increased by 32.14%compared to uniform flow,inducing a shift in the motion trajectory from a crescent shape to a sideward vase shape.In the absence of interference between the upper and lower arms,the lift coefficient of the manipulator substantially increased with rising pulsating frequency,reaching a maximum increment of 67.0%.This increase in the lift coefficient led to a 67.05%rise in the vibration frequency of the manipulator in the in-line direction.As the pulsating amplitude increased,the drag coefficient of the underwater manipulator rose by 36.79%,but the vibration frequency in the cross-flow direction decreased by 56.26%.Additionally,when the upper and lower arms remained in a state of mutual interference,the cross-flow vibration amplitudes of the upper and lower arms were approximately 1.84 and 4.82 times higher in a circular-elliptical arrangement compared to an elliptical-circular arrangement,respectively.Consequently,the flow field shifted from a P+S pattern to a disordered pattern,disrupting the regularity of the motion trajectory.
基金the financial support from the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB0470303)the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFB4600101)+5 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52175201)the Research Program of Science and Technology Department of Gansu Province (24JRRA059, 24JRRA044, and 24YFFA014)the Science Fund of Shandong Laboratory of Advanced Materials and Green Manufacturing at Yantai (AMGM2024F12)the Major Program (ZYFZFX-2) of the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, CASthe Special Research Assistant Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciencesthe Oasis Scholar of Shihezi University
文摘Octopuses,due to their flexible arms,marvelous adaptability,and powerful suckers,are able to effortlessly grasp and disengage various objects in the marine surrounding without causing devastation.However,manipulating delicate objects such as soft and fragile foods underwater require gentle contact and stable adhesion,which poses a serious challenge to now available soft grippers.Inspired by the sucker infundibulum structure and flexible tentacles of octopus,herein we developed a hydraulically actuated hydrogel soft gripper with adaptive maneuverability by coupling multiple hydrogen bond-mediated supramolecular hydrogels and vat polymerization three-dimensional printing,in which hydrogel bionic sucker is composed of a tunable curvature membrane,a negative pressure cavity,and a pneumatic chamber.The design of the sucker structure with the alterable curvature membrane is conducive to realize the reliable and gentle switchable adhesion of the hydrogel soft gripper.As a proof-of-concept,the adaptive hydrogel soft gripper is capable of implement diversified underwater tasks,including gingerly grasping fragile foods like egg yolks and tofu,as well as underwater robots and vehicles that station-keeping and crawling based on switchable adhesion.This study therefore provides a transformative strategy for the design of novel soft grippers that will render promising utilities for underwater exploration soft robotics.
基金This work was supported by the Open Project Program of Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics(No.2018WNLOKF001)the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2019YFB2203102).
文摘Highly efficient generation and arbitrary manipulation of spin-polarized terahertz(THz)radiation will enable chiral lightwave driven quantum nonequilibrium state regulation,induce new electronic structures,consequently provide a powerful experi-mental tool for investigation of nonlinear THz optics and extreme THz science and applications.THz circular dichromic spectroscopy,ultrafast electron bunch manipulation,as well as THz imaging,sensing,and telecommunication,also need chiral THz waves.Here we review optical generation of circularly-polarized THz radiation but focus on recently emerged polarization tunable spintronic THz emission techniques,which possess many advantages of ultra-broadband,high efficiency,low cost,easy for integration and so on.We believe that chiral THz sources based on the combination of electron spin,ultra-fast optical techniques and material structure engineering will accelerate the development of THz science and applications.
基金supported by the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(2023350 to Xiaoxiao Gao).
文摘Dear Editor,Viruses of the genus Orthoebolavirus cause sporadic outbreaks of severe haemorrhagic fever,with case fatality rates ranging from 25%to 90%(Mahanty and Bray,2004).Six species of the virus(Orthoebolavirus zairense,sudanense,bundibugyoense,taiense,restonense,and bombaliense)have so far been identified(Biedenkopf et al.,2023).Among these,Orthoebolavirus zairense,commonly known as Ebola virus(EBOV),stands out as the most virulent.Given its high contagiousness and lethality,EBOV must be manipulated under biosafety level 4(BSL-4)conditions,as stipulated by the the People's Republic of China's list of human pathogenic microorganisms(National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China,2023).Prior to being removed from a BSL-4 laboratory,it is imperative that infectious EBOV undergoes complete inactivation.Here we systematically evaluate viral thermostability under BSL-4 containment conditions,demonstrating EBOV's marked thermotolerance.
文摘Purpose–The study aims to build a high-precision longitudinal dynamics model for heavy-haul trains and validate it with line test data,present an optimization method for multi-stage cyclic brakes based on the model and conduct a multi-objective detailed evaluation of the driver’s manipulation during cyclic braking.Design/methodology/approach–The high-precision longitudinal train dynamics model was established and verified by the cyclic braking test data of the 20,000 t heavy-haul combination train on the long and steep downgrade.Then the genetic algorithm is employed for optimization subsequent to decoupling multiple cyclic braking procedures,with due consideration of driver operation rules.For evaluation,key manipulation assessments in the scenario are prioritized,supplemented by multi-objective evaluation requirements,and the computational model is employed for detailed evaluation analysis.Findings–Based on the model,experimental data reveal that the probability of longitudinal force error being less than 64.6 kN is approximately 68%,95%for less than 129.2 kN and 99.7%for less than 193.8 kN.Upon optimizing manipulations during the cyclic braking,the maximum reduction in coupler force spans from 21%∼23.9%.Andtheevaluation scoresimply that a proper elevationof the releasingspeed favorssafety.A high electric braking force,although beneficial to some extent for energy-saving,is detrimental to reducing coupler force.Originality/value–The results will provide a theoretical basis and practical guidance for further ensuring the safety and energy-efficient operation of heavy haul trains on long downhill sections and improving the operational quality of heavy-haul trains.
基金Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.52275033)National Natural Science Youth Foundation of China(Grant No.52205033)Hebei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.E2021203019)。
文摘Serial-parallel manipulators are of great interest to academic community in recent years,especially those composed of classical parallel mechanisms.There have been many studies around 2(3RPS)and 2(3SPR)S-PMs,but unfortunately their inverse kinematics have not yet been resolved.This paper discovers that the unknown kinematic parameters of middle platform are responsible for the unresolvable of inverse kinematics,meanwhile the unknown kinematic parameters of middle platform also have huge coupling relationships.Therefore,to break through this challenges,the huge coupling relationships are decoupled layer by layer,the kinematic parameters of middle platform are solved by combining Sylvester's elimination method,and the inverse displacements of 2(3RPS)and 2(3SPR)S-PMs are obtained subsequently.This paper not only solves the inverse kinematics of classical 2(3RPS)and 2(3SPR)S-PMs,but also reveals the essence of the inverse kinematics of general(3-DOF)+(3-DOF)6-DOF S-PMs and proposes a corresponding solution.
基金financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51925503&52105575)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.QTZX23063)+2 种基金the Aeronautical Science Foundation of China(Grant No.2022Z073081001)the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of CPSF(Grant No.GZC20232028)the Open Research Funds of State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology(Grant No.IMETKF2024008).
文摘The combination of advanced photoelectric detectors has rendered single-band camouflage materials ineffective,necessitating the development of infrared multispectral camouflage.However,the design and fabrication of existing works remain complex as they usually require the integration of multiscale structures.Here,we introduce phase modulation into the infrared camouflage metasurfaces with metal-dielectric-metal configuration,enabling them to achieve camouflage across more bands.Based on this strategy,a simple but effective single-layer cascaded metasurface is demonstrated for the first time to achieve low reflection at multi-wavelength lasers,low infrared radiation in atmospheric windows,and broadband thermal management.As a proof-of-concept,a 4-inch sample with a minimum linewidth of 1.8μm is fabricated using photolithography.The excellent infrared multispectral camouflage performance is verified in experiments,showing low reflectance in 0.9–1.6μm,low infrared emissivity in mid-wavelength infrared(MWIR)and long-wavelength infrared(LWIR)bands,and high absorptance at the wavelength of 10.6μm.Meanwhile,broadband high emissivity in 5–8μm can provide high-performance radiative heat dissipation.When the input power is 1.57 W·cm^(-2),the surface/radiation temperature of the metasurface decreases by 5.3℃/18.7℃ compared to the reference.The proposed metasurface may trigger further innovation in the design and application of compact multispectral optical devices.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52372249)support by the Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader(21XD1424400)。
文摘Vanadium pentoxide(V_(2)O_(5))displays the characteristics of high theoretical specific capacity,high operating voltage,and adjustable layered structure,possessing the considerable potential as cathode in magnesium metal batteries(MMBs).Nevertheless,the large charge-radius ratio of Mg^(2+)induces the strong interactions of Mg^(2+)with solvent molecules of electrolyte and anionic framework of cathode,resulting in a notable voltage polarization and structural deterioration during cycling process.Herein,an in-situ multi-scale structural engineering is proposed to activate the interlayer-expanded V_(2)O_(5)cathode(pillared by tetrabutylammonium cation)via adding hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB)additive into electrolyte.During cycling,the in-situ incorporation of CTA^(+)not only enhances the electrostatic shielding effect and Mg species migration,but also stabilizes the interlayer spacing.Besides,CTA^(+)is prone to be adsorbed on cathode surface and induces the loss-free pulverization and amorphization of electroactive grains,leading to the pronounced effect of intercalation pseudocapacitance.CTAB additive also enables to scissor the Mg^(2+)solvation sheath and tailor the insertion mode of Mg species,further endowing V_(2)O_(5)cathode with fast reaction kinetics.Based on these merits,the corresponding V2O5‖Mg full cells exhibit the remarkable rate performance with capacities as high as 317.6,274.4,201.1,and 132.7 mAh g^(-1)at the high current densities of 0.1,0.2,0.5,and 1 A g^(-1),respectively.Moreover,after 1000 cycles,the capacity is still preserved to be 90,4 mAh g^(-1)at 1 A g^(-1)with an average coulombic efficiency of~100%.Our strategy of synergetic modulations of cathode host and electrolyte solvation structures provides new guidance for the development of high-rate,large-capacity,and long-life MMBs.
文摘Animals exhibit complex responses to external and internal stimuli.The information is computed by interconnected neurons that express numerous ion channels,which modulate the neuronal membrane potential.How can neuronal activity orchestrate complex motor patterns or allow learning from previous experience?To answer such questions,we need the ability not only to record,but also to modulate neuronal activity in both space(e.g.,neuronal subsets)and time.
文摘OBJECTIVE To investigate the intervention effects of tissue-bone homeostasis manipulation(TBHM)on peripatellar biomechanical parameters and knee joint function in knee osteoarthritis(KOA)patients.METHODS Sixty patients with KOA(Kellgren-Lawrence gradeⅡ-Ⅲ)were recruited from the Acupuncture-Moxibustion Rehabilitation Department,Anhui University of Chinese Medicine between October 2024 and May 2025.Participants were randomized into a TBHM group(n=30)or a transcutaneous electrical neuromuscular stimulation(TENS)group(n=30).Using two-way repeated measures ANOVA,biomechanical indicators,including rectus femoris tension,vastus medialis tension,vastus lateralis tension,patellar ligament tension,lateral patellar displacement(LPD),medial patellar displacement(MPD),normalized patellar mobility(LPD/patellar width[PW],MPD/PW),knee flexion range of motion,and functional indicators,including KOOS subscales,time up and go test(TUGT),were compared between groups at baseline and after 6 weeks of intervention.RESULTS After intervention,all biomechanical and knee joint function indicators in the TBHM group were significantly improved(P<0.05,P<0.01),while only the vastus medialis tension,TUGT and KOOS Pain,ADL and QoL scores in the control group were significantly improved(P<0.01).The improvement amplitudes of biomechanical indicators in the TBHM group,including rectus femoris tension,vastus lateralis tension,patellar ligament tension,MPD/PW,LPD/PW and knee flexion range of motion were better than those in the control group(P<0.05,P<0.01).In the functional evaluation,the interaction effects of the TBHM group in all dimensions of the KOOS score and TUGT were statistically significant(P<0.05,P<0.01).Post-hoc simple effect analysis confirmed that there were significant differences in the above indicators between the two groups after intervention(P<0.05),and all indicators showed a significant main effect of time(P<0.01),suggesting that the intervention measures had continuous and cumulative curative effects.CONCLUSION TBHM effectively improves joint function and quality of life in KOA patients by restoring dynamic equilibrium in soft tissue tension and patellar mobility,ultimately achieving the therapeutic goal of concurrent tissue-bone management.
文摘OBJECTIVE:In recent years,the number of clinical research reports on acupuncture and manipulation for the treatment of greater occipital neuralgia has gradually increased,but the quality is uneven.There is currently no literature evaluating the quality of published reports,which is not conducive to the promotion of clinical use of these therapies.Therefore,this article assessed the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials on acupuncture and manipulation for greater occipital neuralgia.METHODS:Cochrane Library,PubMed,Web of Science,Embase,China National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI),VIP,WanFang Data,and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database(CBM)from inception to May 20,2024 were searched.The reporting quality of included randomized controlled trials was independently evaluated by two investigators using the CONSORT statement,STRICTA checklist,and Cochrane bias of risk assessment tool.A third investigator resolved any disagreement.RESULTS:A total of 62 articles were included.Based on the CONSORT statement,59.46%(22/37)of all entries had a reporting rate of less than 50%,mainly including“Identification as a randomized trial in the title(1/62,1.61%),”“How sample size was determined(7/62,11.29%),”“Implementation(1/62,1.61%),”“Blinding(1/62,1.61%),”and“Reports of Funding(4/62,6.45%).”According to the STRICTA checklist,29.41%(5/17)of all entries had a reporting rate of less than 50%,mainly including“Details of other interventions(7/58,12.07%),”“Setting and context of treatment(0/58,0%),”and“Description of participating acupuncturists(0/58,0%).”CONCLUSION:The reporting quality of randomized controlled trials on acupuncture and manipulation therapy for greater occipital neuralgia remains low.Future researchers need to make greater efforts to strictly adhere to the CONSORT statement and STRICTA checklist during trial design,implementation,and reporting.This will facilitate the standardization of research in this field and enhance the reliability and reproducibility of the research results.
文摘Optical field manipulation,an emerging frontier in photonics,demonstrates significant potential in biomedical microscopy,quantum state engineering,and micro-nano fabrication.To address the critical limitations of current optical modulation technologies in achieving full-parameter precision control,we proposed a novel approach for dynamic azimuthal optical field modulation based on dual-spiral arrays.By designing spatially interleaved spiral structures with different initial radii while maintaining identical periodic parameters,we achieved continuous optical modulation spanning the full 0-2πrange in azimuthal field distribution.Through rigorous numerical simulations,we systematically established a quantitative correlation between the structural parameters and azimuthal optical field patterns,revealing,for the first time,a quasi-linear relationship between the radius difference and the resultant optical distribution.This theoretical framework advances our fundamental understanding of structured optical field manipulation as well as provides a new paradigm for programmable photonic device design,with distinct technical advantages in super-resolution imaging and optical tweezer systems.
文摘This paper is an attempt to explore the root of the modern paradox across multiple registers in order to uncover a persuasive pattern of contradiction that runs through the very fabric of contemporary existence.We discover that the very logic meant to emancipate the human subject-scientific mastery,bureaucratic order,economic growth,and many others,often recoil upon the subject,generating conditions of fragmentation,depersonalization,and spiritual aridity.Far from rejecting modernity wholesale,our task is a diagnostic one-to enter into the deep fabric of modernity and to decode its operating metaphors and interrogate what holds up the“scaffolding of collective life”.This is in a bid to find the rootedness of genuine human flourishing.Part of the answer,from our analysis,lies in a critical re-thinking within modernity without being subsumed by it.