USP21 negatively regulates antiviral response by acting as a RIG-I deubiquitinase

Lys63-linked polyubiquitination of RIG-I is essential in antiviral immune defense, yet the molecular mechanism that negatively regulates this critical step is poorly understood. Here, we report that USP21 acts as a novel negative regulator in antiviral responses through its ability to bind to and deubiquitinate RIG-I. Overexpression of USP21 inhibited RNA virus–induced RIG-I polyubiquitination and RIG-I–mediated interferon (IFN) signaling, whereas deletion of USP21 resulted in elevated RIG-I polyubiquitination, IRF3 phosphorylation, IFN-α/β production, and antiviral responses in MEFs in response to RNA virus infection. USP21 also restricted antiviral responses in peritoneal macrophages (PMs) and bone marrow–derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). USP21-deficient mice spontaneously developed splenomegaly and were more resistant to VSV infection with elevated production of IFNs. Chimeric mice with USP21-deficient hematopoietic cells developed virus-induced splenomegaly and were more resistant to VSV infection. Functional comparison of three deubiquitinases (USP21, A20, and CYLD) demonstrated that USP21 acts as a bona fide RIG-I deubiquitinase to down-regulate antiviral response independent of the A20 ubiquitin-editing complex. Our studies identify a previously unrecognized role for USP21 in the negative regulation of antiviral response through deubiquitinating RIG-I

Deployment of a Web-based Control Laboratory Using HTML5

With the recent achievements in Internet and communication technology and its utilization in online laboratory, remote learning and online laboratory are made possible in the last few decades. This not only provides learning opportunities for people living in rural areas of developing countries, but also offers simple alternatives for those who are already able to access educational resources. The evolution of Web technologies makes it relatively easy to facilitate laboratory deployments, thus, more and more different online laboratory platforms emerge. However, the use of Hyper Text Mark-up Language (HTML5) and related standards such as WebGL and CSS3 in experimental platform, which is future trends and provides full-featured environment, is rare so far. This paper introduces a new HTML5 version of Networked Control System Laboratory (NCSLab), which has been developing for over 10 years since 2006. The 3D version of NCSLab has been developing for almost 5 years in Wuhan University (WHU), whose rendering solution is changed from Flash 3D engine to HTML5 recently. Therefore, Flash player plug-in is eliminated to provide better user experience for users since most of the mainstream web browsers are compatible with HTML5

Design and Implementation of Digital Twin Diesel Generator Systems

In stationary power generation units such as distributed remote site power systems and ship power systems, diesel engine generator systems are essential for supplying electricity. This paper proposes a digital twin diesel generator system for teaching and research purposes. A five-layer resilient architecture, including a web interface layer, server cluster layer, real-time data layer, controller layer, and equipment layer, is proposed in this paper. Based on the resilient architecture, users are able to build, implement and monitor the digital twin through web interfaces. Apart from MATLAB/Simulink, a modeling tool called M2PLink is developed to allow users to create mathematical models using a block diagram editor similar to Simulink. Various basic blocks for control systems are provided for users to form sophisticated models. These models are converted into executable codes which are downloaded to the simulator in the controller layer, where the real-time simulations are implemented. A web-based real-time monitoring interface with many widgets such as charts, oscilloscopes, and three-dimensional (3D) animation is also provided for users to customize their monitoring interface. All the signals can be traced and all the parameters can be tuned in the monitoring interface. The users are able to interact with the digital twin just like they do with the real system. The proposed system can not only be used for research such as digital twin-assisted real-time online monitoring but also for educational purposes, which is not only cost-effective but can also ensure the safety of the user as well as the equipment

A DC Motor Position Control System in a 3D Real-Time Virtual Laboratory Environment Based on NCSLab 3D

Virtual laboratories and remote laboratories have been a great complement of traditional laboratories in the last few decades. Virtual laboratories, which use computer technology to perform experiments utilizing virtual instrumentation instead of physical devices, are warmly welcomed for its low-cost advantage, 24/7 operation, remotely accessibility and sharing features. In this paper, a DC motor control system which can be used to carry out the experiments of position control in real time based on NCSLab framework is presented. After describing the process of 3D modelling, rendering in Flash 3D engine and control algorithms that are generated using Matlab Real-Time Workshop, a position control experiment is conducted and the experimental results are demonstrated as an example. For most virtual control laboratories, users are only allowed to design the algorithms and then monitor the control results. However, wiring process which is also an important part of practical control experiments cannot be emulated. To address this problem, a new experiment modelling method which allows the users to do the wiring in the 3D real-time virtual laboratory is proposed in this paper. It could make users feel more sense of reality and immersion when performing the virtual experiments

Geochemical Features of Lacustrine Shales in the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation of Changling Sag, Songliao Basin, Northeast China

The organic-rich shale of the Upper Cretaceous Qingshankou Formation is an important hydrocarbon source rock in Northeast China. In this study, taking the lacustrine shale in the Qingshankou Formation as an example, geochemical analysis, including total organic carbon (TOC), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, maceral compositions, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and biomarker analyses, were carried out on twenty-four shale samples to evaluate the geochemistry and environmental features of this shales. The Qingshankou lacustrine shales contains mainly Type I/II1 organic matter and is oil prone, with a good to excellent source rock. Vitrinite reflectance and Rock-Eval pyrolysis parameters show that the Qingshankou lacustrine shales is mainly in the mature stage and within the oil window. Biomarker composition of the shales provide evidence that the Qingshankou lacustrine shales was formed in a reductive sedimentary environment with relatively high salinity water. The organic matter came from a mixture of plankton, bacterial and land plants

VR Interactive Feature of HTML5-based WebVR Control Laboratory by Using Head-mounted Display

The development of web-based online laboratory for engineering education has made big progress in recent years with state-of-the-art technologies. In order to further promote the effectiveness within an online virtual environment, the virtual reality (VR) interactive feature of WebVR Control laboratory based on HTML5 is presented in this paper. The educational objective is to assist the students or researchers to conduct a realistic and immersive experiment of control engineering with a head-mounted display (HMD) equipped. The implementation of the VR technique mainly relies on the Three.js graphic engine based on Web Graphics Library (WebGL) which has been supported by most of the mainstream web browsers in their latest version without a plugin embedded. At the end of the paper, the ball and beam system is taken as an example to illustrate the whole operational approach of the novel VR experiment in detail. While such a VR interactive feature hasn’t been integrated into some of the current web-based online laboratories, the technical solution could be inspirational for them

Smart Sensor and Sensor Node Design Based on WGSN Data Interface Standard

The standardized configuration methods of sensors and sensor nodes were presented based on the basis of the sensor signal and data interface standardization efforts of China Standardization Working Group on Sensor Networks (WGSN). The self-descriptive digital communication sensors that can be configured by the sensor nodes were designed and developed. And the sensor nodes could automatically identify the docking sensors. The application demo indicates that sensor node can automatically identify the accessing sensors and completes the corresponding configuration, which can also calibrate these sensors