Effect of geometric factors on the energy performance of high-rise office towers in Tianjin, China

To improve energy efficiency of office buildings in Tianjin, we select a prototypical high-rise office tower as an example and focus on the effect of geometric factors on building energy performance. These factors include the orientation, plane shape, floor area, plane shape factor (the ratio of the plane length to the plane width, only as regards to a rectangle-shaped plane), floor height, floor number and window-to-wall ratio. The simulation is performed in DesignBuilder, which integrates artificial lighting with instantaneous daylight during the energy simulation process. The geometric factors of the defined prototype are examined in both single-parameter and multi-parameter evaluations. As to the multi-parameter results, the energy saving rate can vary by up to 18.9%, and reducing the floor height is observed to be the most effective means of reducing annual total end-use energy consumption, followed by increasing the plane shape factor and reducing the floor area. The results can serve as a reference for passive design strategies related to geometric factors in the early design stage

A modular network model of aging

Many fundamental questions on aging are still unanswered or are under intense debate. These questions are frequently not addressable by examining a single gene or a single pathway, but can best be addressed at the systems level. Here we examined the modular structure of the protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks during fruitfly and human brain aging. In both networks, there are two modules associated with the cellular proliferation to differentiation temporal switch that display opposite aging-related changes in expression. During fly aging, another couple of modules are associated with the oxidative–reductive metabolic temporal switch. These network modules and their relationships demonstrate (1) that aging is largely associated with a small number, instead of many network modules, (2) that some modular changes might be reversible and (3) that genes connecting different modules through PPIs are more likely to affect aging/longevity, a conclusion that is experimentally validated by Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan analysis. Network simulations further suggest that aging might preferentially attack key regulatory nodes that are important for the network stability, implicating a potential molecular basis for the stochastic nature of aging

Inhalable particulate matter and mitochondrial DNA copy number in highly exposed individuals in Beijing, China: a repeated-measure study

Background: Mitochondria are both a sensitive target and a primary source of oxidative stress, a key pathway of air particulate matter (PM)-associated diseases. Mitochondrial DNA copy number (MtDNAcn) is a marker of mitochondrial damage and malfunctioning. We evaluated whether ambient PM exposure affects MtDNAcn in a highly-exposed population in Beijing, China. Methods: The Beijing Truck Driver Air Pollution Study was conducted shortly before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (June 15-July 27, 2008) and included 60 truck drivers and 60 office workers. Personal PM2.5 and elemental carbon (EC, a tracer of traffic particles) were measured during work hours using portable monitors. Post-work blood samples were obtained on two different days. Ambient PM10 was averaged from 27 monitoring stations in Beijing. Blood MtDNAcn was determined by real-time PCR and examined in association with particle levels using mixed-effect models. Results: In all participants combined, MtDNAcn was negatively associated with personal EC level measured during work hours (β=−0.059, 95% CI: -0.011; -0.0006, p=0.03); and 5-day (β=−0.017, 95% CI: -0.029;-0.005, p=0.01) and 8-day average ambient PM10 (β=−0.008, 95% CI: -0.043; -0.008, p=0.004) after adjusting for possible confounding factors, including study groups. MtDNAcn was also negatively associated among office workers with EC (β=−0.012, 95% CI: -0.022;-0.002, p=0.02) and 8-day average ambient PM10 (β=−0.030, 95% CI: -0.051;-0.008, p=0.007). Conclusions: We observed decreased blood MtDNAcn in association with increased exposure to EC during work hours and recent ambient PM10 exposure. Our results suggest that MtDNAcn may be influenced by particle exposures. Further studies are required to determine the roles of MtDNAcn in the etiology of particle-related diseases

Crucial Roles of 5-HT and 5-HT2 Receptor in Diabetes-Related Lipid Accumulation and Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Generation in Hepatocytes

Background/Aims: Previously, we confirmed that liver-synthesized 5-HT rather than non-liver 5-HT, acting on the 5-HT2 receptor (5-HT2R), modulates lipid-induced excessive lipid synthesis (ELS). Here, we further revealed the effects of the hepatocellular 5-HT system in diabetes-related disorders. Methods: Studies were conducted in male ICR mice, human HepG2 cells, and primary mouse hepatocytes (PMHs) under gene or chemical inhibition of the 5-HT system, key lipid metabolism, and inflammation-related factors. Protein and messenger RNA expression and levels of the factors were determined via western blotting, reverse transcription PCR, and quantitative assay kits, respectively. Hepatic steatosis with inflammation and fibrosis, intracellular lipid droplet accumulation (LDA), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) location were determined via hematoxylin and eosin, Masson’s trichrome, Oil red O, and fluorescent-specific staining, respectively. Results: Palmitic acid induced the activation of the 5-HT system: the activation of 5-HT2R, primarily 5-HT2AR, in addition to upregulating monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) expression and 5-HT synthesis, by activating the G protein/ phospholipase C pathway modulated PKCε activation, resulting in ELS with LDA; the activation of NF-κB, which mediates the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, was primarily due to ROS generation in the mitochondria induced by MAO-A–catalyzed 5-HT degradation, and secondarily due to the activation of PKCε. These effects of the 5-HT system were also detected in palmitic acid- or high glucose-treated PMHs and regulated multiple inflammatory signaling pathways. In diabetic mice, co-treatment with antagonists of both 5-HT synthesis and 5-HT2R significantly abolished hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis as well as hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia. Conclusion: Activation of the hepatocellular 5-HT system plays a crucial role in inducing diabetes-related hepatic dysfunction and is a potential therapeutic target

Efficient photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production over TiO2 passivated by SnO2

Photocatalysis provides an attractive strategy for synthesizing H2O2 at ambient condition. However, the photocatalytic synthesis of H2O2 is still limited due to the inefficiency of photocatalysts and decomposition of H2O2 during formation. Here, we report SnO2-TiO2 heterojunction photocatalysts for synthesizing H2O2 directly in aqueous solution. The SnO2 passivation suppresses the complexation and decomposition of H2O2 on TiO2. In addition, loading of Au cocatalyst on SnO2-TiO2 heterojunction further improves the production of H2O2. The in situ electron spin resonance study revealed that the formation of H2O2 is a stepwise single electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for Au and SnO2 modified TiO2 photocatalysts. We demonstrate that it is feasible to enhance H2O2 formation and suppress H2O2 decomposition by surface passivation of the H2O2-decomposition-sensitive photocatalysts

Prognostic Value of CD44 and Its Isoforms in Advanced Cancer: A Systematic Meta-Analysis With Trial Sequential Analysis

Objective: Cancer stem cell marker CD44 and its variant isoforms (CD44v) may be correlated with tumor growth, metastasis, and chemo-radiotherapy resistance. However, the prognostic power of CD44 and CD44v in advanced cancer remains controversial. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to generalize the prognostic significance of these cancer stem cell markers in advanced cancer patients.Methods: Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated from multivariable analysis to assess the associations among CD44, CD44v6, and CD44v9 positivity and overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Trial sequential analysis (TSA) was also conducted.Results: We included 15 articles that reported on 1,201 patients with advanced cancer (CD44: nine studies with 796 cases, CD44v6: three studies with 143 cases, and CD44v9: three studies with 262 cases). CD44 expression was slightly linked to worse OS (HR = 2.03, P = 0.027), but there was no correlation between CD44 expression and DFS, RFS, or PFS. Stratified analysis showed that CD44 expression was not correlated with OS at ≥5 years or OS in patients receiving adjuvant therapy. CD44v6 expression was not associated with OS. CD44v9 expression was closely associated with poor 5-years CSS in patients treated with chemo/radiotherapy (HR = 3.62, P < 0.001). However, TSA suggested that additional trials were needed to confirm these conclusions.Conclusions: CD44 or CD44v9 might be novel therapeutic targets for improving the treatment of advanced cancer patients. Additional prospective clinical trials are strongly needed across different cancer types

The mechanisms underlying the actions of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction pretreatment against neurological deficits after ischemic stroke in mice: The mediation of glymphatic function by aquaporin-4 and its anchoring proteins

Ischemic stroke (IS) has been associated with an impairment in glymphatic function. Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) is widely used in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke. We hypothesized that Xuefu Zhuyu decoction pretreatment could attenuate early neurological deficits after ischemic stroke by enhancing the function of the glymphatic system. To prove our hypothesis, we carried out temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion surgery on C57BL/6 mice and then measured neurological score, infarct size and performed hematoxylin-eosin staining to assess stroke outcomes after 24 h of reperfusion. Subsequently, we injected fluorescent tracers in to the cisterna magna and evaluated tracer distribution in coronal brain sections. The polarization of aquaporin-4 (AQP4), colocalization of aquaporin-4, α-dystroglycan, β-dystroglycan and agrin were determined by immunofluorescence. Our research showed that pretreatment with Xuefu Zhuyu decoction significantly alleviated neurological scores, neurological deficits and pathological abnormalities in a mouse model of ischemic stroke. Importantly, Xuefu Zhuyu decoction pretreatment enhanced cerebrospinal fluid influx, protected aquaporin-4 depolarization and promoted the colocalization of aquaporin-4 with its anchoring proteins in the brain. Our findings highlight novel mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction pretreatment on ischemic stroke-induced brain damage through the glymphatic system. Xuefu Zhuyu decoction pretreatment may offer a promising approach to slow the onset and progression of ischemic stroke