Glucose-fueled Micromotors with Highly Efficient Visible Light Photocatalytic Propulsion

Synthetic micro/nanomotors fueled by glucose are highly desired for numerous practical applications because of the biocompatibility of their required fuel. However, currently all of the glucose-fueled micro/nanomotors are based on enzyme-catalytic-driven mechanisms, which usually suffer from strict operation conditions and weak propulsion characteristics that greatly limit their applications. Here, we report a highly efficient glucose-fueled cuprous oxide@N-doped carbon nanotube (Cu_2O@N-CNT) micromotor, which can be activated by environment-friendly visible-light photocatalysis. The speeds of such Cu_2O@N-CNT micromotors can reach up to 18.71 μm/s, which is comparable to conventional Pt-based catalytic Janus micromotors usually fueled by toxic H_2O_2 fuel. In addition, the velocities of such motors can be efficiently regulated by multiple approaches, such as adjusting the N-CNT content within the micromotors, glucose concentrations, or light intensities. Furthermore, the Cu_2O@N-CNT micromotors exhibit a highly controllable negative phototaxis behavior (moving away from light sources). Such motors with outstanding propulsion in biological environments and wireless, repeatable, and light-modulated three-dimensional motion control are extremely attractive for future practical applications

m6A mRNA methylation-mediated MAPK signaling modulates the nasal mucosa inflammatory response in allergic rhinitis

BackgroundAllergic rhinitis (AR) is a complex disease in which gene-environment interactions contribute to its pathogenesis. Epigenetic modifications, such as N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of mRNA, play important roles in regulating gene expression in multiple physiological and pathological processes. However, the function of m6A modification in AR and the inflammatory response is poorly understood.MethodsWe used the ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide to induce an AR mouse model. Nasal symptoms, histopathology, and serum cytokines were examined. We performed combined m6A and RNA sequencing to analyze changes in m6A modification profiles. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing qPCR (MeRIP-qPCR) were used to verify differential methylation of mRNAs and the m6A methylation level. Knockdown or inhibition of Alkbh5 in nasal mucosa of mice was mediated by lentiviral infection or IOX1 treatment.ResultsWe showed that m6A was enriched in a group of genes involved in MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, we identified a MAPK pathway involving Map3k8, Erk2, and Nfκb1 that may play a role in the disrupted inflammatory response associated with nasal inflammation. The m6A eraser, Alkbh5, was highly expressed in the nasal mucosa of AR model mice. Furthermore, knockdown of Alkbh5 expression by lentiviral infection resulted in high MAPK pathway activity and a significant nasal mucosa inflammatory response. Our findings indicate that ALKBH5-mediated m6A dysregulation likely contributes to a nasal inflammatory response via the MAPK pathway.ConclusionTogether, our data show that m6A dysregulation mediated by ALKBH5, is likely to contribute to inflammation of the nasal mucosa via the MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting that ALKBH5 is a potential biomarker for AR treatment

MHC class I loci of the Bar-Headed goose (Anser indicus)

MHC class I proteins mediate functions in anti-pathogen defense. MHC diversity has already been investigated by many studies in model avian species, but here we chose the bar-headed goose, a worldwide migrant bird, as a non-model avian species. Sequences from exons encoding the peptide-binding region (PBR) of MHC class I molecules were isolated from liver genomic DNA, to investigate variation in these genes. These are the first MHC class I partial sequences of the bar-headed goose to be reported. A preliminary analysis suggests the presence of at least four MHC class I genes, which share great similarity with those of the goose and duck. A phylogenetic analysis of bar-headed goose, goose and duck MHC class I sequences using the NJ method supports the idea that they all cluster within the anseriforms clade

Fault diagnosis and energy consumption analysis for variable air volume air conditioning system: a case study

Several common faults and their causes in variable air volume (VAV) air conditioning system are presented, and the principle of fault diagnosis of air conditioning system is briefly described. The VAV air conditioning system was modeled in TRNSYS, and five typical faults of the cooling mode were simulated. The comparative analysis of the respective under normal operation and fault operation had been made, and the impact of each fault on the energy consumption was also analyzed. The actual operating characteristics of air conditioning system was then evaluated. Further, some parameters under fault operations were compared with those under the normal operation, from which the changing characteristics of parameters could be discovered, and the characteristics can be used to diagnose faults. The simulation results demonstrate that fault can affect the energy consumption of VAV air conditioning system, and the impact of each fault is different. In addition, monitoring the change of energy consumption and operation parameters is helpful in fault diagnosis, and the effective fault diagnosis has great significance to energy-saving of the air conditioning system

Experimental study of hydraulic stability for variable water volume air conditioning System

The hydraulic stability of the variable water volume air conditioning system has a significant impact on the thermodynamic stability, service life of the pipe network and energy consumption. The hydraulic stability of variable water volume air conditioning system was investigated by means of experiments. An air conditioning system with variable water volume is served as the platform, and then the changes of the passive branches’ hydraulic characteristics are studied in valve action cycle of the active branch under the following three conditions: without pump control, constant differential pressure (DP) control or variable differential pressure set-point control. The results show that the branch with the small flow and high-pressure drop has the good hydraulic stability. Under the pressure difference control, the hydraulic stability of the system is improved obviously, the energy-saving effect of the pump is better, and the energy saving of the chilled water pump at least 20.8% when closed any branch valve. This study provides a reference for the design of variable water volume air conditioning systems with good hydraulic stability

A modification for a centralized inventory policy for an Open-Loop reverse supply chain: simulation and comparison ∗

Abstract. As an extension to Gou et al.(2007) [7] , this paper introduces a modified inventory policy for an open-loop reverse supply chain. The major issue is to determine the economical parameters to minimize the system wide cost. To find the optimal parameters, simulations are utilized. Comparison with the previous policy is also presented