Functions of ULK1 in autophagy and non-autophagy pathways and its implications in human physiology and disease

ULK1 (unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1), a mammalian serine/threonine kinase, is a key component of autophagy initiation complex and helps to induce all types of autophagy. Canonical autophagy is a process in which, through the interactions of a series of autophagy-related proteins, damaged organelles or misfolded proteins are engulfed by autophagosomes and then merged with lysosomes to be degraded. Thus, canonical autophagy is an important constituent part of the cellular “quality control.” Besides, accumulating evidence indicates that ULK1 exerts autophagy-independent effects in a cell-specific manner. For example, ULK1 facilitates neurite elongation through the regulation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–Golgi trafficking in neurons, stimulates phosphopentose pathway to help NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen) production, and acts as a duplex regulator in type I IFN (type I interferon) induced innate immune response. Considering the importance and diversity of ULK1 in various biological processes, this review aims to present a comprehensive overview of autophagy and non-autophagy related functions of ULK1 in a variety of human physiological, pathological, and disease processes.     

The potential of energy flexibility of space heating and cooling in Portugal

This study assesses the potential of energy flexibility of space heating and cooling for a typical household under different geographical conditions in Portugal. The proposed approach modifies the demand through the optimization of the thermostat settings using a genetic algorithm to reduce either operational costs or interaction with the grid. The results show that the used energy flexibility indicator expresses the available potential and that flexibility depends on several factors, namely: i) thermal inertia of the archetypical household; ii) the time of use electricity tariffs; iii) users’ comfort boundaries; and iv) the geographical location of the houses.     

Demand response for home energy management system

The optimization of energy consumption, with consequent cost reduction, is one of the main challenges for the present and future smart grid. Demand response (DR) program is expected to be vital in home energy management system (HEMS) which aims to schedule the operation of appliances to save energy costs by considering customer convenience as well as characteristics of electric appliances. The DR program is a challenging optimization problem especially when the formulations are non-convex or NP-hard problems. In order to solve this challenging optimization problem efficiently, an effective heuristic approach is proposed to achieve a near optimal solution with low computational costs. Different from previously proposed methods in literatures which are not suitable to be run in embedded devices such as a smart meter. The proposed algorithm can be implemented in an embedded device which has severe limitations on memory size and computational power, and can get an optimal value in real-time. Numerical studies were carried out with the data simulating practical scenarios are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

考虑流固耦合的管道机器人冲击环焊缝过程动力学建模与分析

以管道机器人（Pipeline inspection gauge，PIG）为载体的内检测技术是保障油气管道安全运输的重要手段。针对管内高压流体作用下，管道机器人在冲击管内环焊缝过程中产生的动力学行为突变问题。建立了管道周向受限空间中基于Kelvin弹簧阻尼的管道机器人密封盘等效动力学模型，结合管道机器人本体建立了多体系管道机器人动力学模型；详细推导了管道机器人轴向振动微分方程，以及管内流体的流动方程；并使用Matlab/Simulink与Adams进行流固耦合仿真，作为重要的工艺参数之一，研究了管道机器人速度改变时，其在冲击环焊缝过程中的动力学响应情况。结果表明：所建立的密封盘及管道机器人动力学模型能够很好地表征密封盘在管道轴向、径向以及周向的力学特性；运行速度越快，管道机器人通过环焊缝引起的轴向振动越剧烈，冲击振动越明显；而垂向和俯仰振动现象随运动速度增大而显著减弱。     

咖啡渣活性炭的制备、表征及其对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附机制研究

以碘吸附值为评价指标，活化时间、活化温度和浸渍比为影响因素，采用响应面法试验设计对磷酸活化法制备咖啡渣活性炭的工艺条件进行优化，并通过静态吸附试验研究了不同吸附时间、溶液pH值和吸附温度条件下，活性炭对水溶液中Cr（Ⅵ）吸附性能的影响，最后利用Langmuir、Freundlich吸附等温方程、准一级动力学方程、准二级动力学方程和颗粒内部扩散方程进行拟合。试验结果表明，制备咖啡渣活性炭的最佳工艺条件为活化时间1 h、活化温度498℃、浸渍比1.72；在此条件下活性炭得率为30.4%，碘吸附值为（799±16）mg/g，比表面积为1 006 m²/g，孔容为0.779 cm³/g、微孔孔容为0.051 cm³/g、平均孔径为3.088 nm。较低pH值和较高温度能够促进活性炭对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附；Langmuir等温方程能够更好地描述活性炭对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附效果；活性炭对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附分3个阶段：快速吸附阶段、慢速吸附阶段和吸附平衡阶段，10 min内可完成吸附总量的79%，360 min内达到吸附平衡，该吸附过程符合准二级吸附动力学方程。分析表明咖啡渣活性炭对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附主要为单分子层的化学吸附。     

Experimental research on dynamic response of PZT-5H under impact load

In order to improve the stability of PZT-based sensors, the mechanical, dielectric, ferroelectric and piezoelectric properties of PZT-5H under impact load were studied experimentally by using the separated Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) with an electrical output measurement device. At the same time, the experimental study on the material properties of PZT-5H before and after the impact was carried out. The effect of impact cracks on the output voltage of PZT-5H was also analyzed. The results show that the dynamic piezoelectric constants of PZT-5H under low stress impact (10–50 MPa) are different from those under quasi-static state, and the empirical relationship between them and the peak stress is obtained through experiments. The dielectric properties of PZT-5H did not change under low stress impact, but micro-cracks occurred in the material and dielectric loss increased at high frequencies. Under short circuit, the residual polarization intensity of PZT-5H decreases sharply due to impact load. While the impact load causes the secondary polarization and the increase of the residual polarization intensity of PZT under open circuit. When the stress is over 45 MPa, the PZT-5H breaks. The formation of cracks causes abnormal discharge voltage and gap discharge.     

基于3D打印技术复制砂浆节理的剪切试验及峰值抗剪强度模型

为进一步研究节理三维形貌特征与节理峰值抗剪强度的关系,首先采用巴西劈裂试验获取了自然劈裂岩石表面,通过三维扫描技术获取了节理面形态的高精度点云,通过逆向建模得到了自然岩石表面的立体模型,结合3D打印技术制作出了与自然岩石表面一致的PLA模具,以3D打印获得的底模通过水泥砂浆浇筑了含有自然结构面形貌的相似节理面试样。PLA模具与复制材料差异较大,复制材料在凝结过程中不易与PLA模具黏结,进而使脱模过程较为方便,不会破坏节理面。同时PLA模具可重复进行相似材料复制工作,具有可重复使用的优点。然后进行了具有5组形貌面的20个水泥砂浆节理面在4种不同法向荷载情况下的结构面剪切试验,得到了结构面剪切位移-荷载曲线。研究了结构面峰值抗剪强度、峰值位移、剪切刚度影响因素。节理经过剪切后形貌面出现不同程度的磨损,其磨损范围与等效高差分布范围基本一致,并且在等效高差为剪断破坏模式且成片的区域磨损较为严重。在新粗糙度指标基础上提出了新的峰值抗剪强度模型,经试验对比显示出新模型的有效性。在新模型基础上提出了一个简化模型。对比发现新模型简化后其计算精度较新模型有所降低但由于所需参数减小计算较为方便,新模型简化结果精度虽然有所下降但是还是比Barton公式精度高。     

Combination of vegetable soup and glucan demonstrates synergistic effects on macrophage-mediated immune responses

Vegetable soup (VS), a plant-based functional food, has been used as a traditional folk medicine and is attracting attention for its ability to enhance the immune response. β-Glucan, a well-established and effective immunomodulator, has synergistic effects when used in combination with some bioactive compounds. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the synergistic immunomodulatory effects of the combination of VS and β-glucan on macrophage-mediated immune responses. β-Glucan was demonstrated to synergistically enhance the VS-stimulated immune response, including the production of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitric oxide, mainly through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway in macrophages. In addition, this combination has the potential for further development in functional foods with immune-enhancing activity.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-021-00888-x.