Optimization of Window Positions for Wind-Driven Natural Ventilation Performance

This paper optimizes opening positions on building facades to maximize the natural ventilation’s potential for ventilation and cooling purposes. The paper demonstrates how to apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results to architectural design processes, and how the CFD-driven decisions impact ventilation and cooling: (1) background: A CFD helps predict the natural ventilation’s potential, the integration of CFD results into design decision-making has not been actively practiced; (2) methods: Pressure data on building facades were obtained from CFD simulations and mapped into the 3D modeling environment, which were then used to identify optimal positions of two openings of a zone. The effect of the selected opening positions was validated with building energy simulations; (3) results: The cross-comparison study of different window positions based on different geographical locations quantified the impact on natural ventilation effectiveness; and (4) conclusions: The optimized window positions were shown to be effective, and some optimal solutions contradicted the typical cross-ventilation strategy

Time Dependent Gene Expression Changes in the Liver of Mice Treated with Benzene

Benzene is used as a general purpose solvent. Benzene metabolism starts from phenol and ends with p-benzoquinone and o-benzoquinone. Liver injury inducted by benzene still remains a toxicologic problem. Tumor related genes and immune responsive genes have been studied in patients suffering from benzene exposure. However, gene expression profiles and pathways related to its hepatotoxicity are not known. This study reports the results obtained in the liver of BALB/C mice (SLC, Inc., Japan) administered 0.05 ml/100 g body weight of 2% benzene for six days. Serum, ALT, AST and ALP were determined using automated analyzer (Fuji., Japan). Histopathological observations were made to support gene expression data. c-DNA microarray analyses were performed using Affymetrix Gene-chip system. After six days of benzene exposure, twenty five genes were down regulated whereas nineteen genes were up-regulated. These gene expression changes were found to be related to pathways of biotransformation, detoxification, apoptosis, oxidative stress and cell cycle. It has been shown for the first time that genes corresponding to circadian rhythms are affected by benzene. Results suggest that gene expression profile might serve as potential biomarkers of hepatotoxicity during benzene exposure

Chiral orbital-angular-momentum in the surface states of Bi2Se3

Locking of the spin of a quasi-particle to its momentum in split bands of on the surfaces of metals and topological insulators (TIs) is understood in terms of Rashba effect where a free electron in the surface states feels an effective magnetic field. On the other hand, the orbital part of the angular momentum (OAM) is usually neglected. We performed angle resolved photoemission experiments with circularly polarized lights and first principles density functional calculation with spin-orbit coupling on a TI, Bi2Se3, to study the local OAM of the surface states. We show from the results that OAM in the surface states of Bi2Se3 is significant and locked to the electron momentum in opposite direction to the spin, forming chiral OAM states. Our finding opens a new possibility to have strong light-induced spin-polarized current in the surface states.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Bone marrow-derived, alternatively activated macrophages enhance solid tumor growth and lung metastasis of mammary carcinoma cells in a Balb/C mouse orthotopic model

INTRODUCTION: Tumor-associated macrophages, which are derived from the infiltration of circulating bone marrow-derived monocytes, consist primarily of a polarized M2 macrophage (M2-Mϕ) population and are associated with poor prognosis in various cancers. In the present study, we attempted to assess whether M2-Mϕs derived from bone marrow stimulate the promotion and progression of mammary tumors. METHODS: 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma cells were injected either alone or coupled with M2-Mϕs into the mammary fat pads of syngeneic female Balb/C mice. M2-Mϕs were prepared by treating monocytes isolated from female Balb/C mouse bone marrow with IL-4. Tumor cell growth was determined using an in vivo imaging system and the expression of cell proliferation-related, angiogenesis-related, and lymphangiogenesis-related proteins in tumor tissues was immunohistochemically analyzed. To evaluate the effects of the crosstalk between 4T1 cells and M2-Mϕs on the secretion and mRNA expression of cytokines and the migration of monocytes, 4T1 cells and M2-Mϕs were co-cultured and cytokine antibody array, real-time RT-PCR, and trans-well migration assays were conducted. RESULTS: The co-injection of M2-Mϕs into the mammary fat pads of mice increased solid tumor growth and lung metastasis of 4T1 cells as well as the infiltration of CD45(+ )leukocytes into tumor tissues. The proportions of Ki-67(+ )proliferating cells and the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α, vascular endothelial cell growth factor A, CD31, vascular endothelial cell growth factor C, and lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor-1 were increased significantly in the tumor tissues of mice co-injected with 4T1 cells and M2-Mϕs. The in vitro results revealed that the proliferation of 4T1 cells, the migration of monocytes, and the secretion of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, IFNγ, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-16, IFNγ-induced protein-10, keratinocyte-derived chemokine, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, and RANTES were increased when 4T1 cells were co-cultured with M2-Mϕs, as compared with when the 4T1 cells were cultured alone. CONCLUSION: The crosstalk between 4T1 cells and M2-Mϕs increased the production of cytokines, which may have induced immune cell infiltration into tumor tissues, tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and lymph angiogenesis, thereby increasing solid tumor growth and lung metastasis

Optimization of Window Positions for Wind-Driven Natural Ventilation Performance

This paper optimizes opening positions on building facades to maximize the natural ventilation’s potential for ventilation and cooling purposes. The paper demonstrates how to apply computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results to architectural design processes, and how the CFD-driven decisions impact ventilation and cooling: (1) background: A CFD helps predict the natural ventilation’s potential, the integration of CFD results into design decision-making has not been actively practiced; (2) methods: Pressure data on building facades were obtained from CFD simulations and mapped into the 3D modeling environment, which were then used to identify optimal positions of two openings of a zone. The effect of the selected opening positions was validated with building energy simulations; (3) results: The cross-comparison study of different window positions based on different geographical locations quantified the impact on natural ventilation effectiveness; and (4) conclusions: The optimized window position was shown to be effective, and some optimal solutions contradicted the typical cross-ventilation strategy