DUAL EFFECTS OF BILIRUBIN ON THE PROLIFERATION OF RAT RENAL NRK52E CELLS AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH GAP JUNCTIONS

Objective: The effect of bilirubin on renal pathophysiology is controversial. This study aimed to observe the effects of bilirubin on the proliferation of normal rat renal tubular epithelial cell line (NRK52E) and its potential interplay with gap junction function. Methods: Cultured NRK52E cells, seeded respectively at high- or low- densities, were treated with varying concentrations of bilirubin for 24 hours. Cell injury was assessed by measuring cell viability and proliferation, and gap junction function was assessed by Parachute dye-coupling assay. Connexin 43 protein was assessed by Western blotting. Results: At doses from 17.1 to 513μmol/L, bilirubin dose-dependently enhanced cell viability and colony-formation rates when cells were seeded at either high- or low- densities (all p\u3c0.05 vs. solvent group) accompanied with enhanced intercellular fluorescence transmission and increased Cx43 protein expression in high-density cells. However, the above effects of BR were gradually reversed when its concentration increased from 684 to 1026μmol/L. In high-density cells, gap junction inhibitor 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13- acetate attenuated bilirubin-induced enhancement of colony-formation and fluorescence transmission. However, in the presence of high concentration bilirubin (1026μmol/L), activation of gap junction with retinoid acid decreased colony-formation rates. Conclusion: Bilirubin can confer biphasic effects on renal NRK52E cell proliferation potentially by differentially affecting gap junction functions

Reactive uptake coefficients for multiphase reactions determined by a dynamic chamber system

Dynamic flow-through chambers are frequently used to measure gas exchange rates between the atmosphere and biosphere on the Earth's surface such as vegetation and soils. Here, we explore the performance of a dynamic chamber system in determining the uptake coefficient γ of exemplary gases (O3 and SO2) on bulk solid-phase samples. After characterization of the dynamic chamber system, the derived γ is compared with that determined from a coated-wall flow tube system. Our results show that the dynamic chamber system and the flow tube method show a good agreement for γin the range of 10−8 to 10−3. The dynamic chamber technique can be used for liquid samples and real atmospheric aerosol samples without complicated coating procedures, which complements the existing techniques in atmospheric kinetic studies.</p

ieee access special section editorial recent advances on radio access and security methods in 5g networks

Serviceability is the ability of a network to serve user equipments (UEs) within desired requirements (e.g., throughput, delay, and packet loss). High serviceability is considered as one of the key foundational criteria towards a successful fog radio access infrastructure satisfying the Internet of Things paradigm in the 5G era. In the article by Dao et al. , "Adaptive resource balancing for serviceability maximization in fog radio access networks," the authors propose an adaptive resource balancing (ARB) scheme for serviceability maximization in fog radio access networks wherein the resource block (RB) utilization among remote radio heads (RRHs) is balanced using the backpressure algorithm with respect to a time-varying network topology issued by potential RRH motilities. The optimal UE selection for service migration from a high-RB-utilization RRH to its neighboring low RB-utilization RRHs is determined by the Hungarian method to minimize RB occupation after moving the service. Analytical results reveal that the proposed ARB scheme provides substantial gains compared to the standalone capacity-aware, max-rate, and cache-aware UE association approaches in terms of serviceability, availability, and throughput

Manganese oxide electrode with excellent electrochemical performance for sodium ion batteries by pre-intercalation of K and Na ions

Materials with a layered structure have attracted tremendous attention because of their unique properties. The ultrathin nanosheet structure can result in extremely rapid intercalation/de-intercalation of Na ions in the charge-discharge progress. Herein, we report a manganese oxide with pre-intercalated K and Na ions and having flower-like ultrathin layered structure, which was synthesized by a facile but efficient hydrothermal method under mild condition. The pre-intercalation of Na and K ions facilitates the access of electrolyte ions and shortens the ion diffusion pathways. The layered manganese oxide shows ultrahigh specific capacity when it is used as cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. It also exhibits excellent stability and reversibility. It was found that the amount of intercalated Na ions is approximately 71% of the total charge. The prominent electrochemical performance of the manganese oxide demonstrates the importance of design and synthesis of pre-intercalated ultrathin layered materials

Long-term trends and drivers of aerosol pH in eastern China

Aerosol acidity plays a key role in regulating the chemistry and toxicity of atmospheric aerosol particles. The trend of aerosol pH and its drivers is crucial in understanding the multiphase formation pathways of aerosols. Here, we reported the first trend analysis of aerosol pH from 2011 to 2019 in eastern China, calculated with the ISORROPIA model based on observed gas and aerosol compositions. The implementation of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan led to −35.8 %, −37.6 %, −9.6 %, −81.0 % and 1.2 % changes of PM2.5, SO42-, NHx, non-volatile cations (NVCs) and NO3- in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region during this period. Different from the drastic changes of aerosol compositions due to the implementation of the Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, aerosol pH showed a minor change of −0.24 over the 9 years. Besides the multiphase buffer effect, the opposite effects from the changes of SO42- and non-volatile cations played key roles in determining this minor pH trend, contributing to a change of +0.38 and −0.35, respectively. Seasonal variations in aerosol pH were mainly driven by the temperature, while the diurnal variations were driven by both temperature and relative humidity. In the future, SO2, NOx and NH3 emissions are expected to be further reduced by 86.9 %, 74.9 % and 41.7 % in 2050 according to the best health effect pollution control scenario (SSP1-26-BHE). The corresponding aerosol pH in eastern China is estimated to increase by ∼0.19, resulting in 0.04 less NO3- and 0.12 less NH4+ partitioning ratios, which suggests that NH3 and NOx emission controls are effective in mitigating haze pollution in eastern China.</p

Study on optimization of rake head density of suction hopper dredger based on bat algorithm and extreme learning machine

The dredging output of suction dredger mainly comes from the suction density of the rake head. Accurate prediction of suction density is of great significance to improve the dredging output of suction dredger. In order to overcome the shortcomings of low accuracy and poor real-time performance of the current inhalation density prediction methods, a bat algorithm is proposed to optimize the inhalation density prediction method of extreme learning machine. The bat algorithms for optimizing extreme learning machines prediction model is constructed based on the measured construction data of “Xinhaifeng” Yangtze Estuary, and compared with other prediction models. Finally, the bat algorithms for optimizing extreme learning machines model is used to build the output simulator of inhalation density. Compared with the actual construction, the selection of control parameters is analyzed when the output of inhalation density is the best. Experients show that bat algorithms for optimizing extreme learning machines prediction has high accuracy and good stability, and can provide scientific and effective reference for yield prediction and construction guidance

Study on optimization of rake head density of suction hopper dredger based on bat algorithm and extreme learning machine

The dredging output of suction dredger mainly comes from the suction density of the rake head. Accurate prediction of suction density is of great significance to improve the dredging output of suction dredger. In order to overcome the shortcomings of low accuracy and poor real-time performance of the current inhalation density prediction methods, a bat algorithm is proposed to optimize the inhalation density prediction method of extreme learning machine. The bat algorithms for optimizing extreme learning machines prediction model is constructed based on the measured construction data of “Xinhaifeng” Yangtze Estuary, and compared with other prediction models. Finally, the bat algorithms for optimizing extreme learning machines model is used to build the output simulator of inhalation density. Compared with the actual construction, the selection of control parameters is analyzed when the output of inhalation density is the best. Experients show that bat algorithms for optimizing extreme learning machines prediction has high accuracy and good stability, and can provide scientific and effective reference for yield prediction and construction guidance

Effects of Chemical Curing Temperature and Time on the Properties of Liquefied Wood based As-cured Precursors and Carbon Fibers

Liquefied wood based as-cured precursors and carbon fibers prepared by different chemical curing processes were carried out to investigate the effects of curing temperature and time on the thermostability and microstructure of liquefied wood based precursors, the tensile strength of carbon fibers as well. The primary fibers can be converted into precursors with high performance by directly heating at target curing temperature. With the temperature and duration increasing, the numbers of methylene bonds in precursors increased, resulting in the enhancement of cross-linkages among molecular chains and then the improvement of thermostability of precursors. Carbon fibers prepared from as-cured precursors (curing temperature 95 oC, curing time 3h) had the minimum value of the average interlayer spacing (d002), it also showed the highest tensile strength, almost 800 MPa, which can be classified as fibers of general grade