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.     

腐蚀对模块式钢结构选煤厂设备支架振动响应影响的测试及分析

选煤厂采用模块式钢结构作为设备支架,受设备使用及养护不当造成结构构件严重腐蚀,构件截面削弱,导致结构产生过大振动,通过对结构各层振动响应测试,得到各测点水平向及竖直向振动速度幅值。经分析得出腐蚀后对结构整体刚度影响程度,为后期采取措施及安全生产提供依据。     

考虑设备劣化及返工的质量批量模型研究

为了得到最大质量批量，研究了返工成本边际效应下的期望利润值计算方法，将生产过程分为两个阶段：无需返工和需要返工的连续加工。给出了质量控制策略下批量计算公式以及考虑边际成本下的最大利润所对应的质量批量。采用蒙特卡洛仿真和Design Expert 8.0.6软件拟合，通过数字实验，对比了返工成本与未考虑返工成本情况下的期望利润值。研究显示，考虑返工成本边际效应下的质量批量大于一般的经济批量，所得到期望利润也最大。     

复频电导技术在隧洞超前探水中的应用

围岩富水带是隧道超前预报最关注的问题，目前，多使用电磁方法来预报围岩的含水性，但受到场地条件限制，面临掌子面条件、金属机具干扰、三维波场定位等诸多困难，特别是掌子面前方100 m范围内围岩的含水性预报，在国内外都是一个新的高难课题。在研究了岩体电导率与电容率复频特性的基础上，结合巴基斯坦NJ-TBM引水隧洞工程，开发了复频电导探水(CFC)技术。该技术基于电磁波反射与相干原理，选用100 kHz～10 MHz频率范围，采用电偶极子发射与阵列接收方式和偏移成像技术，突破了隧道内场地条件的限制。依据1/4相干波长确定含水体的位置，相干能量确定含水量的大小。在巴基斯坦NJ-TBM隧洞超前探水的应用，证明了该方法的可行性与有效性。      

基于ARM7的高精度频率计的设计

文章通过对相位重合检测技术的分析，提出了基于此理论并用ARM7作为主控芯片的高精度频率计的设计方法。该设计方法通过捕捉相位之间的重合点，能够有效消除±1个字的计数误差。在此基础上由于ARM7具有32位的处理器内核以及流水线技术，使得频率计的测量速度和精度比传统的使用16位单片机设计的频率计要高很多。本频率计最大测量频率为10MHz。同时本设计采用安捷伦公司生产的恒温晶振10811A作为标准频率，能够有效保证测量精度能够达到10-10量级。为了降低成本，在设计中选用采用ARM7芯片内部的计数器以及用简单的逻辑电路进行设计。由于其测量精度要超过多周期同步测量法，而成本又比模拟内插法和游标法低很多，因此此频率计拥有很广泛的市场前景。     

Hydroxypropylated microcrystalline pea starch: optimisation,functional characterisation

Pea starch (PS) appears to be very attractive for the peculiar physicochemical characteristics, which is used for the vermicelli, film‐forming material due to the high amylose content. The aim of this study was to optimise the hydroxypropylation technology parameters of the microcrystalline pea starch based on pea starch as a raw material, hydrochloric acid as an hydrolysis reagent, epoxy propane as an etherisation reagent by the Box–Behnken method. The thermal properties of hydroxypropylated microcrystalline pea starch were characterised by the thermogravimetric analyser and differential scanning calorimeter, respectively. Through the analysis of Design‐Expert software, the regression model and corresponding variances were obtained. In this case, the determination coefficient (R²) was 0.9631. This implied that 96.31% of the variation could be explained by the regression model. The best reaction conditions for preparing the hydroxypropylated microcrystalline pea starch were as follows: reaction temperature 40 °C, reaction time 16 h, amount of epoxy propane 14%, amount of sodium hydroxide 1.2% and amount of anhydrous sodium sulphate 12%. After the microcrystalline pea starch was hydroxypropylated, its peak temperature, melting enthalpy, temperature range of the endothermic peak increased, but its the thermal stability, onset temperature decreased.     

Systematic tool to plan and evaluate demand side strategies during sustained energy crises in hydrothermal power systems

HARE, a systematic tool to evaluate demand side measures to face sustained energy supply risk in hydrothermal power systems is presented in this paper. The main focus of the paper is to help centralized planners to systematically discuss, select, and plan the measures that better respond to the variety of critical situations that can arise due to expected energy shortage, integrate them into the usual medium-term scheduling tool and consequently keep the associated overall costs as low as possible. A medium-term definition of the system state is proposed as a decision-making aid, as well as a set of general energy saving measures that can be applied with their corresponding attributes (time delays, costs of implementation, and energy saving impact). The tool is demonstrated and applied to a simplified version of Chilean’s medium-term hydrothermal scheduling model and to a specific risk scenario experienced during 2011. The results show that it is possible to define various sets of demand side measures that avoid the impacts on the system and subsequently to select among them those with least expected implementation costs. This tool seems mainly useful for hydro-electric systems, which are more vulnerable to sustained energy supply risk. Every power system will have to go through a detailed review and planning process to implement this type of tool.     

The validation and further development of a multidimensional cognitive load scale for virtual environments

Measuring cognitive load is important in virtual learning environments (VLE). Thus, valid and reliable measures of cognitive load are important to support instructional design in VLE. Through three studies, we investigated the validity and reliability of Leppink's Cognitive Load Scale (CLS) and developed the extraneous cognitive load (EL) dimension into three sub-scales relevant for VLE: EL instructions, EL interaction, and EL environment. We investigated the validity of the measures using the Partial Credit Model (PCM), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), and correlations with retention tests. Study 1 (n = 73) investigated the adapted version of the CLS. Study 2 describes the development and validation of the Multidimensional Cognitive Load Scale for Virtual Environments (MCLSVE), with 140 students in higher education. Study 3 tested the generalizability of the results with 121 higher education students in a more complicated VLE. The results provide initial evidence for the validity and reliability of the MCLSVE.     

Military crisis responses to COVID‐19

Countries across the globe have mobilized their armed forces in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic. Current contributions of armed forces have resulted from an urgent need for additional personnel and resources, and were facilitated by a framing of the crisis in terms of war. These deployments were in the interest of armed forces and enabled them to improve their operational readiness, boost their societal standing and support societies with their expertise. Even though armed forces may provide crucial aid in times of need, it is important that civilian crisis organizations are not undermined, civilian control and civil rights are guaranteed, and the effects on other military operations are considered and discussed. This Forum contribution offers some reflections and recommendations.