Analysis of Dynamic Variation Characteristics and Influential Factors of PM2.5 on Subway Platforms under Air-Conditioning Condition and Ventilation Condition

The purpose of this study is to investigate the main influential factors of the subway Particulate Matter (PM) pollutants under the air-conditioning condition and ventilation condition, by an on-site field measurement in a subway station in Shanghai. It is found that the dust accumulation at fresh air shaft was the secondary dusting action under the influence of fresh air flow, leading to a higher concentration of the PM in the subway station than in the outdoor air even when the outdoor air quality was good. In addition, in the morning rush hour the PM 2.5 value near the platform screen door our is highest of the day

A Game Theoretical Approach to Modeling Energy Consumption with Consumer Preference

Abstract-We propose a new game theoretical equilibrium model to analyze residential users' electricity consumption behavior in smart grid where energy usage and price data are exchanged between users and utilities via advanced communication. Consideration is given to users' possible preference on convenience over cost-saving under the real-time pricing in smart grid, and each user is assumed to have a preferred time window for using a particular appliance. As a result, each user (player) in the proposed energy consumption game wishes to maximize a payoff or utility consisting of two parts: the negative of electricity cost and the convenience of using appliances during their preferred time windows. Extensive numerical tests suggest that users with less flexibility on their preferred usage times have larger impact on the system performance at equilibrium. This provide insights for utilities to design their pricing based demand response schemes

Mutual-cognition for proactive human-robot collaboration: A mixed reality-enabled visual reasoning-based method

Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) is key to achieving the flexible automation required by the mass personalization trend, especially towards human-centric intelligent manufacturing. Nevertheless, existing HRC systems suffer from poor task understanding and poor ergonomic satisfaction, which impede empathetic teamwork skills in task execution. To overcome the bottleneck, a Mixed Reality (MR) and visual reasoning-based method is proposed in this research, providing mutual-cognitive task assignment for human and robotic agents’ operations. Firstly, an MR-enabled mutual-cognitive HRC architecture is proposed, with the characteristic of monitoring Digital Twins states, reasoning co-working strategies, and providing cognitive services. Secondly, a visual reasoning approach is introduced, which learns scene interpretation from the visual perception of each agent’s actions and environmental changes to make task planning strategies satisfying human–robot operation needs. Lastly, a safe, ergonomic, and proactive robot motion planning algorithm is proposed to let a robot execute generated co-working strategies, while a human operator is supported with intuitive task operation guidance in the MR environment, achieving empathetic collaboration. Through a demonstration of a disassembly task of aging Electric Vehicle Batteries, the experimental result facilitates cognitive intelligence in Proactive HRC for flexible automation

Polyethylene Glycol-grafted poly alpha-lipoic acid-dexamethasone nanoparticles for osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes synovial hyperplasia, cartilage destruction, and the formation of bone spurs. Macrophages play an indispensable role in the pathogenesis of OA by producing proinflammatory cytokines. To achieve the effect of arthritis, hormones can effectively inhibit the progression of inflammation by inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by macrophages in traditional therapy. However, the drug is quickly cleared from the joint space, and the high injection site infection rate and low local drug concentration make the clinical efficacy of corticosteroids greatly reduced. We described the design and preparation of Polyethylene Glycol-grafted Poly Alpha-lipoic Acid-dexamethasone Nanoparticles (NPDXM/PPLA), elucidated the mechanism of action of NPDXM/PPLA in the treatment of OA in mice, and provided an experimental basis for investigating the treatment of OA with polymer nanoparticles loaded with dexamethasone. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to confirm that NPDXM/PPLA was well absorbed and released by macrophages, and it was discovered that NPDXM/PPLA could efficiently reduce the proliferation of activated macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that NPDXM/PPLA could efficiently reduce the expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. The knee bone structure of OA mice was investigated by MicroCT, and it was discovered that intraarticular injection of NPDXM/PPLA effectively alleviated the bone damage of the articular cartilage. Therefore, NPDXM/PPLA is a potential therapeutic nanomedicine for the treatment of OA

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Mediated MDRV p10.8 Protein-Induced Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis Through the PERK/eIF2α Pathway

In this study, the mechanism of Muscovy duck reovirus (MDRV) p10.8 protein-induced pathogenesis was investigated, with a focus on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In chicken embryo fibroblasts cell lines (DF1), pCI-neo-flg-p10.8 protein transfection increased the phosphorylation (p-) levels of PERK and eIF2α as shown by Western blotting analysis and led to the dissociation of BiP from PERK as shown by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) analysis. Results of treatment with both ER stress activator and inhibitor further confirmed that p10.8 protein induced ER stress. Subsequently, using flow cytometry analysis, it was also found that p10.8 protein induced cell cycle arrest during the G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, p10.8 transfection increased the phosphorylation levels of PERK and eIF2α, and reduced the expression levels of CDK2, CDK4, and Cyclin E according to Western blotting analysis. Treatment with ER stress activator and ER stress inhibitor after p10.8 protein transfection in DF1 cells further indicated that p10.8 protein induced ER stress, which resulted in cell cycle arrest. The results of knockdown of either PERK or eIF2α genes further confirmed that p10.8 protein-induced ER stress led to cell cycle arrest through the PERK/eIF2α pathway. Further results showed that p10.8 protein induced ER stress and apoptosis in DF1 cells. The expression levels of p-PERK, p-eIF2α, CHOP, cleaved-Caspase12, and cleaved-Caspase3 were increased by p10.8 protein. Test results of treatment with each of Tunicamycin, TUDCA and knockdown of PERK, and eIF2α, confirmed that p10.8 protein induced ER stress involving apoptosis via the PERK/eIF2α pathway. In conclusion, MDRV p10.8 protein induced ER stress that caused cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through the PERK/eIF2α pathway

Gastrodin attenuates renal injury and collagen deposition via suppression of the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway based on network pharmacology analysis

Background: Gastrodin has been widely used clinically in China as an antihypertensive drug. However, its effect on hypertensive renal injury is yet to be elucidated. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of gastrodin on hypertensive renal injury and its underlying mechanisms by network pharmacology analysis and validation in vivo and in vitro.Methods: A total of 10 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were randomly categorized into the following two groups: SHR and SHR + Gastrodin groups. Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as the control group (n = 5). The SHR + Gastrodin group was intragastrically administered gastrodin (3.5 mg/kg/day), and the rats in both WKY and SHR groups were intragastrically administered an equal amount of double-distilled water for 10 weeks. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson’s trichrome, and Sirius red staining were used to detect the pathological changes and collagen content in the renal tissues. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to explore its potential targets and related pathways. In vitro, the CCK-8 assay was used to determine the cell viability. Immunohistochemistry and western-blotting analyses were employed to assess the protein expression associated with renal fibrosis and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway-related proteins in the renal tissues or in TGF-β1-stimulated rat kidney fibroblast cell lines (NRK-49F).Results: Gastrodin treatment attenuates renal injury and pathological alterations in SHRs, including glomerular sclerosis and atrophy, epithelial cell atrophy, and tubular dilation. Gastrodin also reduced the accumulation of collagen in the renal tissues of SHRs, which were confirmed by downregulation of α-SMA, collagen I, collagen III protein expression. Network pharmacology analysis identified TGFB1 and SMAD2 as two of lead candidate targets of gastrodin on against hypertensive renal injury. Consistently, gastrodin treatment downregulated the increase of the protein expression of TGF-β1, and ratios of both p-Smad2/Smad2 and p-Samd3/Smad3 in renal tissues of SHRs. In vitro, gastrodin (25–100 μM) treatment significantly reversed the upregulation of α-SMA, fibronectin, collagen I, as well as p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 protein expressions without affecting the cell viability of TGF-β1 stimulated NRK-49F cells.Conclusion: Gastrodin treatment significantly attenuates hypertensive renal injury and renal fibrosis and suppresses TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signaling in vivo and in vitro

An ultralight, supercompressible, superhydrophobic and multifunctional carbon aerogel with a specially designed structure

Abstract(#br)Compressible and ultralight carbon aerogels are attractive due to its compressibility, elasticity and conductivity. However, it is still a great challenge to enrich the properties of carbon aerogel to meet various requirements. Herein, we report an untralight, supercompressible, fatigue resistant, superhydrophobic and fire-resistant and multifunctional CNF-GO/glucose-kaolin carbon aerogel (C-NGGK) carbon aerogel. To achieve such excellent performances, calcined GO, CNFs, glucose and kaolin are used for forming low-density and continuous wave-shape rGO layers, reinforcing the mechanical strength of carbon layers, realizing superelasticity and fatigue resistance and resulting in a superhydrophobic surface for C-NGGK, respectively. The as-prepared C-NGGK demonstrates excellent superhydrophobicity with the water contact angle (WCA) of 124.9°, and the absorption efficiency of the C-NGGK samples for different oils and organic solvents are 75–255 times their own weight. These advantages show that the C-NGGK can be an ideal candidate for oil/water separation. In addition, there is also the prospect to be used for pressure sensors, while other potential applications include three-dimensional electrode materials for supercapacitors and batteries, catalyst carriers and various wearable devices