56016 research outputs found
Sort by
High levels of intracellular endotrophin in adipocytes mediate COPII vesicle supplies to autophagosome to impair autophagic flux and contribute to systemic insulin resistance in obesity
No full textBackground and aims: Extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis plays a crucial role in metabolic plasticity and endocrine function of adipose tissue. High levels of intracellular endotrophin, a cleavage peptide of type VI collagen alpha 3 chain (Col6a3), have been frequently observed in adipocyte in obesity and diabetes. However, how endotrophin intracellularly traffics and influences metabolic homeostasis in adipocyte remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the trafficking of endotrophin and its metabolic effects in adipocytes depending on lean or obese condition.
Methods: We used doxycycline-inducible adipocyte-specific endotrophin overexpressed mice for a gain-offunction study and CRISPR-Cas9 system-based Col6a3-deficient mice for a loss-of-function study. Various molecular and biochemical techniques were employed to examine the effects of endotrophin on metabolic parameters.
Results: In adipocytes during obesity, the majority of endosomal endotrophin escapes lysosomal degradation and is released into the cytosol to mediate direct interactions between SEC13, a major component of coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles, and autophagy-related 7 (ATG7), leading to the increased formation of autophagosomes. Autophagosome accumulation disrupts the balance of autophagic flux, resulting in adipocyte death, inflammation, and insulin resistance. These adverse metabolic effects were ameliorated by either suppressing ATG7 with siRNA ex vivo or neutralizing endotrophin with monoclonal antibodies in vivo.
Conclusions: High levels of intracellular endotrophin-mediated autophagic flux impairment in adipocyte contribute to metabolic dysfunction such as apoptosis, inflammation, and insulin resistance in obesity
Spatiotemporal extension of extreme heat stress over East Asia under shared socioeconomic pathways
No full textThis study examines future changes in extreme heat stress over East Asia and its sub-regions using wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) based on the CORDEX East Asia Phase II multiple Regional Climate Model (RCM) simulations performed under Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) scenarios. Daily maximum WBGTs (WX) are obtained from 3-hourly bias-corrected WBGTs and their future changes in the late 21st century (2081-2100) are analyzed with respect to the current period (1979-2014). Summer mean WX is projected to increase by 3.2 degrees C (SSP1-2.6: low emission) to 7.6 degrees C (SSP5-8.5: high emission) over East Asia, dominated by temperature increases. Relative humidity decreases over many regions, slightly offsetting WX increases (up to-6%), while it increases in northeastern and northern China, intensifying WX increases (up to +14%). This humidity-induced WX increase becomes stronger during hottest WX days (summer top 5%) and also under low emission scenarios (up to +33%). For sub-regional projections, extreme heat stress day (EHD) is defined when WX exceeds its 95th percentile in at least 10% of the area. RCMs project on average a 10 times increase of EHD frequency under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. The EHD magnitude, which combines the intensity and area extent of EHD events, is also expected to increase dramatically throughout East Asia, reaching a range of 3.2-3.5 degrees C center dot fraction compared to the current (0.1-0.2 degrees C center dot fraction). Further, EHDs are projected to start earlier and end later, lasting much longer (85-140 days) than the current condition (5-6 days) in the SSP5-8.5 scenario. RCMs exhibit a good agreement in WX and EHD projections with some noticeable differences in in-land sub-regions. Our results indicate that severe heat stress will affect the whole East Asia throughout and beyond the summer season and, in particular, southern sub-regions will be affected by more-intense and longer-lasting extreme heat stress events
Optimization of Vehicle Routing Problem in the Context of E-commerce Logistics Distribution
No full text2E-MDCVRP is a multi-depot, capacity, two-echelon vehicle routing issue. Satellites make it possible to collect and sort orders. In this paper, a 2E-MDCVRP model will be designed to be applied to e-commerce. In the completion stage, the researcher developed a 2E-MDCVRP solution with two stages of completion. The first stage is finding the best route for the satellite to travel to the customer. In the first stage of work, satellites are plotted as centroids in clusters using the k-Means algorithm to obtain k-set clusters. To determine route scheduling using the RNN algorithm in determining travel routes in the second echelon. The second stage uses the trial-and-error method to determine the first echelon's routing schedule. This research aims to minimize the operational application, fuel consumption, vehicle maintenance, vehicle oil change, and handling costs. Moreover, at the end of the paper, the researcher simulate the model that has been built and test the model's effectiveness by comparing it with the classic MDCVRP model, which is similar to the Same-Day Delivery model. The test results show that the 2E-MDCVRP model can make better total distance and cost improvements than the classic MDCVRP model carried out by Same-day Delivery
NiO@ZnO composite bimetallic nanocrystalline decorated TiO 2-CsPbI 3 photo-anode surface modifications for perovskite-sensitized solar cell applications
No full textIn this work, we fabricated a novel NiO@ZnO modification of TiO2-CsPbI3 photoanode-based Perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A facile hydrothermal synthesis is adopted for the preparation of NiO@ZnO-modified TiO2-CsPbI3 composite. The as-prepared NiO@ZnO modified TiO2-CsPbI3 composite is characterized by XRD, HR-TEM, SAED, FE-SEM with EDAX, AFM, XPS, FT-IR, UV-Vis, and Tauc plot analysis. UV-Vis spectra show that visible light absorption of the NiO@ZnO modified TiO2-CsPbI3 bilayer photoanode was more effective than NiO/ZnO modified TiO2-CsPbI3. XRD analysis showed the formation of NiO@ZnO in the TiO2-CsPbI3 in cubic crystalline nature. Morphological analyses were performed using FESEM, HRTEM, SAED, and AFM which revealed the formation of NiO@ZnO-modified TiO2-CsPbI3 with a multi-crystalline surface. EDAX and XPS analyses confirmed the presence of Ni, Zn, O, Ti, Cs, Pb, and I elements in the NiO@ZnO-modified TiO2-CsPbI3 composite. FT-IR spectra of perovskite metal oxide and hydroxide stretching vibrations peaks appeared at 920 and 3450 cm -1. The band gap was found to be 2.47 eV for NiO@ZnO-modified TiO2-CsPbI3 by using a Tauc plot. Finally, the photoanode-based PSCs were opti-mized by adding NiO@ZnO and TiO2-CsPbI3 composite, giving a high efficiency of 8.73%. We confirm that NiO@ZnO-modified TiO2-CsPbI3 bilayer photoanode-based PSCs show a better performance than NiO and ZnO-modified TiO2-CsPbI3.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved
Investigation of mass loading of cathode materials for high energy lithium-ion batteries
No full textThe loading levels of electrodes are one of the crucial parameters of high energy lithium-ion batteries (LIBs); however, their effects on specific energy and energy density remain insufficiently studied. Moreover, the rate capability can differ greatly with varying loading levels and hence requires further investigation. Herein, we investigated the relationship between electrode loading levels and electrochemical performance of LIBs via galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). We found that the differences in performance stem from differing internal resistances at varying loading levels. On one hand, internal resistance decreased with a higher number of parallel connection; on the other hand, it increased with extension of electrical pathways. As a result, the optimal loading level of commercial LiNi0.6-Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode materials was approximately 20 mg/cm2, which corresponds to an areal capacity of 3.3 mAh/cm2. These findings will assist in the further optimization of commercially available LIBs
DXplorer: A Unified Visualization Framework for Interactive Dendritic Spine Analysis Using 3D Morphological Features
No full textDendritic spines are dynamic, submicron-scale protrusions on neuronal dendrites that receive neuronal inputs. Morphological changes in the dendritic spine often reflect alterations in physiological conditions and are indicators of various neuropsychiatric conditions. However, owing to the highly dynamic and heterogeneous nature of spines, accurate measurement and objective analysis of spine morphology are major challenges in neuroscience research. Most conventional approaches for analyzing dendritic spines are based on two-dimensional (2D) images, which barely reflect the actual three-dimensional (3D) shapes. Although some recent studies have attempted to analyze spines with various 3D-based features, it is still difficult to objectively categorize and analyze spines based on 3D morphology. Here, we propose a unified visualization framework for an interactive 3D dendritic spine analysis system, DXplorer, that displays 3D rendering of spines and plots the high-dimensional features extracted from the 3D mesh of spines. With this system, users can perform the clustering of spines interactively and explore and analyze dendritic spines based on high-dimensional features. We propose a series of high-dimensional morphological features extracted from a 3D mesh of dendritic spines. In addition, an interactive machine learning classifier with visual exploration and user feedback using an interactive 3D mesh grid view ensures a more precise classification based on the spine phenotype. A user study and two case studies were conducted to quantitatively verify the performance and usability of the DXplorer. We demonstrate that the system performs the entire analytic process effectively and provides high-quality, accurate, and objective analysis
Biosensors for healthcare: current and future perspectives
No full textBiosensors are utilized in several different fields, including medicine, food, and the environment; in this review, we examine recent developments in biosensors for healthcare. These involve three distinct types of biosensor: biosensors for in vitro diagnosis with blood, saliva, or urine samples; continuous monitoring biosensors (CMBs); and wearable biosensors. Biosensors for in vitro diagnosis have seen a significant expansion recently, with newly reported clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas methodologies and improvements to many established integrated biosensor devices, including lateral flow assays (LFAs) and microfluidic/electrochemical paper-based analytical devices (??PADs/ePADs). We conclude with a discussion of two novel groups of biosensors that have drawn great attention recently, continuous monitoring and wearable biosensors, as well as with perspectives on the commercialization and future of biosensors
Design and Field Trial of Tunee in Shared Houses: Exploring Experiences of Sharing Individuals??? Current Noise-level Preferences with Housemates
No full textBeing a little more careful about the sound that people produce is difficult in shared houses because individuals can generate several unintended living noises and sounds. We designed Tunee to help each housemate better understand the others??? context and desired noise-level. It is an interactive speaker that allows people to share noise-level preferences through the position change of nodes. Our three-week in-field study with four groups of participants revealed that expressing noise-level preference through nodes reduced the burden of verbally delivering issues about the trivial noises of everyday life, and the intentions of the lowered preference were referred to and deemed significant. We also identified how participants figured out what behavior was acceptable for others according to each noise-level. Our findings imply considerations in designing interfaces to support coordinating behaviors and awareness of social contexts in shared spaces
