Generalized Stampacchia Vector Variational-Like Inequalities and Vector Optimization Problems Involving Set-Valued Maps

We first obtain that subdifferentials of set-valued mapping from finite-dimensional spaces to finite-dimensional possess certain relaxed compactness. Then using this weak compactness, we establish gap functions for generalized Stampacchia vector variational-like inequalities which are defined by means of subdifferentials. Finally, an existence result of generalized weakly efficient solutions for vector optimization problem involving a subdifferentiable and preinvex set-valued mapping is established by exploiting the existence of a solution for the weak formulation of the generalized Stampacchia vector variational-like inequality via a Fan-KKM lemma

Energy Optimization in Multi-UAV-Assisted Edge Data Collection System

In the IoT (Internet of Things) system, the introduction of UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) as a new data collection platform can solve the problem that IoT devices are unable to transmit data over long distances due to the limitation of their battery energy. However, the unreasonable distribution of UAVs will still lead to the problem of the high total energy consumption of the system. In this work, to deal with the problem, a deployment model of a mobile edge computing (MEC) system based on multi-UAV is proposed. The goal of the model is to minimize the energy consumption of the system in the process of data transmission by optimizing the deployment of UAVs. The DEVIPSK (differential evolution algorithm with variable population size based on a mutation strategy pool initialized by K-Means) is proposed to solve the model. In DEVIPSK, the population is initialized by K-Means to obtain better initial positions of UAVs. Besides, considering the limitation of the fixed mutation strategy in the traditional evolutionary algorithm, a mutation strategy pool is used to update the positions of UAVs. The experimental results show the superiority of the DEVIPSK and provide guidance for the deployment of UAVs in the field of edge data collection in the IoT system

Loss of ARHGEF6 Causes Hair Cell Stereocilia Deficits and Hearing Loss in Mice

ARHGEF6 belongs to the family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for Rho GTPases, and it specifically activates Rho GTPases CDC42 and RAC1. Arhgef6 is the X-linked intellectual disability gene also known as XLID46, and clinical features of patients carrying Arhgef6 mutations include intellectual disability and, in some cases, sensorineural hearing loss. Rho GTPases act as molecular switches in many cellular processes. Their activities are regulated by binding or hydrolysis of GTP, which is facilitated by GEFs and GTPase-activating proteins, respectively. RAC1 and CDC42 have been shown to play important roles in hair cell (HC) stereocilia development. However, the role of ARHGEF6 in inner ear development and hearing function has not yet been investigated. Here, we found that ARHGEF6 is expressed in mouse cochlear HCs, including the HC stereocilia. We established Arhgef6 knockdown mice using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat-associated Cas9 nuclease (CRISPR-Cas9) genome editing technique. We showed that ARHGEF6 was indispensable for the maintenance of outer hair cell (OHC) stereocilia, and loss of ARHGEF6 in mice caused HC stereocilia deficits that eventually led to progressive HC loss and hearing loss. However, the loss of ARHGEF6 did not affect the synapse density and did not affect the mechanoelectrical transduction currents in OHCs at postnatal day 3. At the molecular level, the levels of active CDC42 and RAC1 were dramatically decreased in the Arhgef6 knockdown mice, suggesting that ARHGEF6 regulates stereocilia maintenance through RAC1/CDC42

Fungal Zinc Homeostasis and Its Potential as an Antifungal Target: A Focus on the Human Pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic airborne fungus that causes severe invasive aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. Zinc is an essential micronutrient for the growth of A. fumigatus and even for all microorganisms. An increasing number of studies have reported that fungal zinc acquisition ability plays a key role in fungal survival in hosts with an extremely zinc-limited microenvironment. The ability to fight scarcity and excess of zinc are tightly related to fungal virulence and may be used as new potential targets. Because the regulation of zinc homeostasis is important, a thorough understanding of the functional genes involved in the regulatory network for zinc homeostasis is required for fungal pathogens. The current mini-review summarized potential zinc homeostasis regulators in A. fumigatus and classified these regulators according to localization and function, which were identified or predicted based on A. fumigatus or deduced from homologs in model yeasts. Future perspectives for zinc homeostasis regulators as potential antifungal targets to treat invasive aspergillosis are also discussed

Graphene superlubricity: A review

Abstract Superlubricity has drawn substantial attention worldwide while the energy crisis is challenging human beings. Hence, numerous endeavors are bestowed to design materials for superlubricity achievement at multiple scales. Developments in graphene-family materials, such as graphene, graphene oxide, and graphene quantum dots, initiated an epoch for atomically thin solid lubricants. Nevertheless, superlubricity achieved with graphene-family materials still needs fundamental understanding for being applied in engineering in the future. In this review, the fundamental mechanisms for superlubricity that are achieved with graphene-family materials are outlined in detail, and the problems concerning graphene superlubricity and future progress in superlubricity are proposed. This review concludes the fundamental mechanisms for graphene superlubricity and offers guidance for utilizing graphene-family materials in superlubricity systems

Liquid Superlubricity Enabled by the Synergy Effect of Graphene Oxide and Lithium Salts

In this study, graphene oxide (GO) nanoflakes and lithium salt (LiPF6) were utilized as lubrication additives in ether bond−containing dihydric alcohol aqueous solutions (DA(aq)) to improve lubrication performances. The apparent friction reduction and superlubricity were realized at the Si3N4/sapphire interface. The conditions and laws for superlubricity realization have been concluded. The underlying mechanism was the synergy effect of GO and LiPF6. It was proven that a GO adsorption layer was formed at the interface, which caused the shearing interface to transfer from solid asperities to GO interlayers (weak interlayer interactions), resulting in friction reduction and superlubricity realization. In addition to the GO adsorption layer, a boundary layer containing phosphates and fluorides was formed by tribochemical reactions of LiPF6 and was conducive to low friction. Additionally, a fluid layer contributed to friction reduction as well. This work proved that GO−family materials are promising for friction reduction, and provided new insights into realizing liquid superlubricity at macroscale by combining GO with other materials

Preparation and application of yttrium oxide with a large specific surface area through moderate carbonation in the presence of carbon dioxide

Yttrium oxide with a large specific surface area (SSA) (hereafter called LSSA Y2O3) has high-porosity structure, relatively large interface, and relatively abundant active surface sites, and its optical, chemical and thermal stability properties are greatly improved compared with ordinary yttrium oxide. As a result, LSSA Y2O3 has been applied in various fields as a luminescent, catalytic, and adsorbent material, showing enormous market potential. This study creatively presents a process designed to prepare LSSA Y2O3 powders through moderate carbonation in the presence of CO2. Experimentally, CO2 was used to carbonate a yttrium hydroxide [Y(OH)3] slurry. During the initial stage of carbonation, crystalline yttrium carbonate encapsulated Y(OH)3 through heterogeneous nucleation on its surface. This encapsulation considerably improved the filterability of the carbonation product while allowing it to retain the phase structure and high-porosity morphology of Y(OH)3. Further calcination of the carbonation product produced LSSA Y2O3 with an SSA of approximately 84 m2/g. This Y2O3 powder exhibited a relatively high adsorption capacity for methyl orange and was easy to recycle and reuse, thus showing potential for use as an adsorbent. The process developed in this study for preparing LSSA Y2O3 powders through carbonation in the presence of CO2 is advantageous because it requires only moderate conditions, causes no pollution, produces products with a uniform granularity and morphology, and is easy to scale up to meet industrial demands. Therefore, this process can effectively increase the added value and market competitiveness of Y2O3 powders and provide an experimental basis and theoretical guidance for the synthesis of other rare earth (RE) compounds with large SSAs through carbonation

Loss of CIB2 Causes Profound Hearing Loss and Abolishes Mechanoelectrical Transduction in Mice

Calcium and integrin-binding protein 2 (CIB2) belongs to a protein family with four known members, CIB1 through CIB4, which are characterized by multiple calcium-binding EF-hand domains. Among the family members, the Cib1 and Cib2 genes are expressed in mouse cochlear hair cells, and mutations in the human CIB2 gene have been associated with nonsyndromic deafness DFNB48 and syndromic deafness USH1J. To further explore the function of CIB1 and CIB2 in hearing, we established Cib1 and Cib2 knockout mice using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated Cas9 nuclease (CRISPR/Cas9) genome editing technique. We found that loss of CIB1 protein does not affect auditory function, whereas loss of CIB2 protein causes profound hearing loss in mice. Further investigation revealed that hair cell stereocilia development is affected in Cib2 knockout mice. Noticeably, loss of CIB2 abolishes mechanoelectrical transduction (MET) currents in auditory hair cells. In conclusion, we show here that although both CIB1 and CIB2 are readily detected in the cochlea, only loss of CIB2 results in profound hearing loss, and that CIB2 is essential for auditory hair cell MET