Shared human–robot path following control of an unmanned ground vehicle

This paper considers the shared path following control of an unmanned ground vehicle by a single person. A passive measure of human intent is used to blend the human and machine inputs in a mixed initiative approach. The blending law is combined with saturated super-twisting sliding mode speed and heading controllers, so that exogenous disturbances can be counteracted via equivalent control. It is proven that when the proposed blending law is used, the combined control signals from both the human and automatic controller respect the actuator magnitude constraints of the machine. To demonstrate the approach, shared control experiments are performed using an unmanned ground vehicle, which follows a lawn mower pattern shaped path.     

Effects of Electromagnetic Waves with LTE and 5G Bandwidth on the Skin Pigmentation In Vitro

With the rapid growth of wireless communication devices, the influences of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on human health are gathering increasing attention. Since the skin is the largest organ of the body and is located at the outermost layer, it is considered a major target for the health effects of EMF. Skin pigmentation represents one of the most frequent symptoms caused by various non-ionizing radiations, including ultraviolet radiation, blue light, infrared, and extremely low frequency (ELF). Here, we investigated the effects of EMFs with long-term evolution (LTE, 1.762 GHz) and 5G (28 GHz) bandwidth on skin pigmentation in vitro. Murine and Human melanoma cells (B16F10 and MNT-1) were exposed to either LTE or 5G for 4 h per day, which is considered the upper bound of average smartphone use time. It was shown that neither LTE nor 5G exposure induced significant effects on cell viability or pigmentation. The dendrites of MNT-1 were neither lengthened nor regressed after EMF exposure. Skin pigmentation effects of EMFs were further examined in the human keratinocyte cell line (MNT-1-HaCaT) co-culture system, which confirmed the absence of significant hyper-pigmentation effects of LTE and 5G EMFs. Lastly, MelanoDerm™, a 3D pigmented human epidermis model, was irradiated with LTE (1.762 GHz) or 5G (28 GHz), and image analysis and special staining were performed. No changes in the brightness of MelanoDerm™ tissues were observed in LTE- or 5G-exposed tissues, except for only minimal changes in the size of melanocytes. Collectively, these results imply that exposure to LTE and 5G EMFs may not affect melanin synthesis or skin pigmentation under normal smartphone use condition.     

Hsp100 Molecular Chaperone ClpB and Its Role in Virulence of Bacterial Pathogens

This review focuses on the molecular chaperone ClpB that belongs to the Hsp100/Clp subfamily of the AAA+ ATPases and its biological function in selected bacterial pathogens, causing a variety of human infectious diseases, including zoonoses. It has been established that ClpB disaggregates and reactivates aggregated cellular proteins. It has been postulated that ClpB’s protein disaggregation activity supports the survival of pathogenic bacteria under host-induced stresses (e.g., high temperature and oxidative stress), which allows them to rapidly adapt to the human host and establish infection. Interestingly, ClpB may also perform other functions in pathogenic bacteria, which are required for their virulence. Since ClpB is not found in human cells, this chaperone emerges as an attractive target for novel antimicrobial therapies in combating bacterial infections.     

The Plants of the Asteraceae Family as Agents in the Protection of Human Health

The Asteraceae family is one of the largest flowering plant families, with over 1600 genera and 2500 species worldwide. Some of its most well-known taxa are lettuce, chicory, artichoke, daisy and dandelion. The members of the Asteraceae have been used in the diet and for medicine for centuries. Despite their wide diversity, most family members share a similar chemical composition: for example, all species are good sources of inulin, a natural polysaccharide with strong prebiotic properties. They also demonstrate strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity, as well as diuretic and wound healing properties. Their pharmacological effects can be attributed to their range of phytochemical compounds, including polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, acetylenes and triterpenes. One such example is arctiin: a ligand with numerous antioxidant, antiproliferative and desmutagenic activities. The family is also a source of sesquiterpene lactones: the secondary metabolites responsible for the bitter taste of many plants. This mini review examines the current state of literature regarding the positive effect of the Asteraceae family on human health.     

Transglycosylation Activity of Engineered Bifidobacterium Lacto-N-Biosidase Mutants at Donor Subsites for Lacto-N-Tetraose Synthesis

The health benefits of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) make them attractive targets as supplements for infant formula milks. However, HMO synthesis is still challenging and only two HMOs have been marketed. Engineering glycoside hydrolases into transglycosylases may provide biocatalytic routes to the synthesis of complex oligosaccharides. Lacto-N-biosidase from Bifidobacterium bifidum (LnbB) is a GH20 enzyme present in the gut microbiota of breast-fed infants that hydrolyzes lacto-N-tetraose (LNT), the core structure of the most abundant type I HMOs. Here we report a mutational study in the donor subsites of the substrate binding cleft with the aim of reducing hydrolytic activity and conferring transglycosylation activity for the synthesis of LNT from p-nitrophenyl β-lacto-N-bioside and lactose. As compared with the wt enzyme with negligible transglycosylation activity, mutants with residual hydrolase activity within 0.05% to 1.6% of the wild-type enzyme result in transglycosylating enzymes with LNT yields in the range of 10–30%. Mutations of Trp394, located in subsite -1 next to the catalytic residues, have a large impact on the transglycosylation/hydrolysis ratio, with W394F being the best mutant as a biocatalyst producing LNT at 32% yield. It is the first reported transglycosylating LnbB enzyme variant, amenable to further engineering for practical enzymatic synthesis of LNT.     

EGCG对高脂饮食诱导的肥胖HFA小鼠脂质代谢的影响

利用高脂饮食诱导人源菌群(human flora-associate,HFA)肥胖小鼠模型,探讨表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)对肥胖小鼠的降脂功效。无菌昆明(KM)小鼠灌胃健康人粪便悬液构建HFA模型后随机分为两组:高脂组40只和普通组10只,分别喂食高脂饲料和普通饲料,8周后各处死10只,测定小鼠体重、肝重、附睾脂肪垫重量、血糖血脂含量以及肝脏和附睾脂肪垫苏木精-伊红(HE)染色。将获得的肥胖小鼠随机分为三组,即对照组,0.2%EGCG低剂量组和0.8%EGCG高剂量组,喂食普通饲料,8周后全部处死,测定同上指标。结果表明高剂量组小鼠附睾脂肪垫重量、总胆固醇(Tch)和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)含量均较对照组显著降低,分别降低了48.15%、28.64%和43.16%,同时脂肪细胞大小较对照组也显著减小,除此之外EGCG干预组肝脏病变程度较对照组有明显好转。由此证实,EGCG对肥胖HFA小鼠降脂及肝脏损伤修复有一定的作用。     

Bridging the Gap: Plant-Endophyte Interactions as a Roadmap to Understanding Small-Molecule Communication in Marine Microbiomes

Probing the composition of the microbiome and its association with health and disease states is more accessible than ever due to the rise of affordable sequencing technology. Despite advances in our ability to identify members of symbiont communities, untangling the chemical signaling that they use to communicate with host organisms remains challenging. In order to gain a greater mechanistic understanding of how the microbiome impacts health, and how chemical ecology can be leveraged to advance small-molecule drug discovery from microorganisms, the principals governing communication between host and symbiont must be elucidated. Herein, we review common modes of interkingdom small-molecule communication in terrestrial and marine environments, describe the differences between these environments, and detail the advantages and disadvantages for studies focused on the marine environment. Finally, we propose the use of plant-endophyte interactions as a stepping stone to a greater understanding of similar interactions in marine invertebrates, and ultimately in humans.     

公民水素养评价表征因素模型构建与分析

针对我国水资源紧缺、水生态损害、水环境污染等相关水问题,以提升全民爱水惜水节水护水的意识和能力为目标,从水素养概念出发,通过扎根理论质性研究方法对公民水素养评价的表征因素进行筛选和提炼,最终得出包含水知识、水态度、水行为为主范畴的10个表征因素并运用解释结构模型(ISM)深入剖析各因素之间的内在联系。在此基础上建立了3级多层次递阶结构模型,进一步精确描述系统各要素两两之间的直接关系。结果表明:公民水素养评价的表征因素自上而下形成了表象层、中间层和根源层等3个层级,可直观、清晰地反映表征因素之间的递阶、层级关系;水态度在各表征因素中具有调节作用以及各表征因素之间存在内在逻辑关系。研究成果为提高公民水素养水平提供一定的科学依据和政策参考。     

鲍鱼肽的制备及其抑制人乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞增殖作用

将鲍鱼内脏进行蛋白酶解、超滤和纳滤制备鲍鱼肽,研究不同质量浓度鲍鱼肽对体外培养人乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞增殖和凋亡的影响。结果表明:鲍鱼肽中除含有71.62%(质量分数,下同)蛋白以外,还含有3.38%碳水化合物和11.48%灰分;鲍鱼肽的分子质量主要分布在350～1 000 Da,丰度较高的蛋白肽分子质量分布在350 Da附近,表明鲍鱼肽中由2～3个氨基酸组成的寡肽占比较高。根据四甲基偶氮唑蓝法检测的结果,发现不同质量浓度(1、2、4、8 mg/mL)鲍鱼肽均能抑制MDA-MB-231细胞的生长增殖,并呈现出明显的剂量依赖性。伴随鲍鱼肽质量浓度的增加,贴壁细胞数量逐渐减少,细胞变圆,且部分细胞核出现浓缩。流式细胞术分析结果表明,鲍鱼肽主要将MDA-MB-231细胞阻滞在S期和G2期,诱导MDA-MB-231细胞凋亡和坏死,进而抑制肿瘤细胞增殖。因此,利用鲍鱼内脏制备的蛋白肽是一种具有发展潜力的辅助抗肿瘤功能性食品。     

Muddling between science and engineering: an epistemic strategy for developing human factors and ergonomics as a hybrid discipline

Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) recognises itself as a design-driven, systemic and scientific discipline geared towards well-being and performance. Being a scientific discipline and design-oriented requires that the epistemic basis of science and design/engineering be fully comprehended. In interdisciplinary research where these two viewpoints meet, there are often dilemmas posed in terms of knowledge construction and labelling of activity. Therefore, this article scrutinises these two orientations and addresses the differences and commonalities, using case studies from engineering and psychological science (both constituents of HFE). Based on these insights, a way forward is suggested in terms of (1) a reflexive engagement with epistemic concepts and methods; (2) finding a conceptual space for balancing and bridging the science-engineering divide; (3) comprehending ‘design-thinking/design knowledge’ and not treating it as an application of science; (4) providing emphasis on problem formulation and practices of HFE focusing on developing them in systemic terms.