► A global optimization method for district heating networks (DHNs) is developed. ► The relation between users’ demands and the design parameters is established. ► An optimization equation group for ...DHNs is derived theoretically. ► Solving these equations offers the optimal design parameters of DHNs. ► The method is applied in the optimization of two typical district heating networks.
Improving the heating performance of district heating networks (DHNs), one of the most important components in district heating systems, has significant influence on the promotion of energy efficiency. Based on the entransy theory, this paper develops an entransy dissipation-based method for global optimization of DHNs. We analyze the irreversibility of three types of heat transfer processes in DHNs: (1) the heat transfer process between the waters in primary heating networks and DHNs in substation heat exchangers; (2) the heat transfer process between supply water and indoor airs in radiators; and (3) the return water mixing process, then derive the expressions of entransy dissipation for each process, and finally deduce two different formulas of the total entransy dissipation in DHNs by the users’ demands and the structural and operating parameters of DHNs, respectively, from which we establish the mathematical relation between the users’ demands and the structural and operating parameters of DHNs. Based on this relation, two typical optimization problems of DHNs are converted into conditional extremum problems to deduce two optimization equation groups. Solving the equation groups gives the optimal structural and operating parameters for DHNs with highest energy efficiency. Finally, the method is proved valid and advantageous through the optimization for both 1-column-2-user and 2-column-4-user DHNs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The recently developed entransy theory is introduced in this paper to tackle the heat transfer processes in building central chilled water systems so as to improve their energy efficiency. We first ...divide the irreversible heat transfer processes into four categories: (1) air mixing processes; (2) heat transfer processes between chilled water and air; (3) chilled water mixing processes; and (4) heat transfer processes between chilled water and refrigerant. The formulas of entransy dissipation rates for each irreversible process are derived, and then the total entransy dissipation rate in the whole chilled water systems is obtained, which connects the geometrical structures of each heat exchanger and the operating parameters of each fluid directly to the demands of users and the supply of refrigerating unit. Based on the formula of entransy dissipation rate together with the conditional extremum method in mathematics, two optimization equation groups are deduced theoretically. Simultaneously solving such equation groups will easily find the optimal central chilled water system with the highest energy efficiency. Finally, a simple building central chilled water system with two users is taken as an example to illustrate the applications of the newly proposed optimization principle.
► A general principle for the optimization of building central chilled water systems is developed based on the entransy theory. ► The total entransy dissipation connects the structural and operating parameters of chilled water systems directly to the users’ demands. ► Two optimization equation groups are derived theoretically for designing the optimal chilled water system with the highest energy efficiency. ► A practical building central chilled water system is optimized to illustrate the applications of the newly proposed optimization principle.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
With theoretical prediction and experimental validation, we propose a novel approach to significantly enhance the conversion efficiency of thermoacoustic (TA) imaging by using an ultrashort microwave ...pulse. The implementation of the ultrashort microwave pulse leads to orders of magnitude enhancement in excitation efficiency and spatial resolution, compared to that from existing TA imaging techniques. This allows high-resolution (~ 100 micron resolution) TA imaging to be acquired noninvasively. The present work represents a major breakthrough in the conversion efficiency of the TA effect and the resolution of TA imaging, which can potentially be used for clinical imaging.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
A growing number of studies have focused on investigating circRNAs as crucial regulators in the progression of multiple cancer types. Nevertheless, the biological effects and underlying mechanisms of ...circRNAs in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remain unclear.
Differentially expressed circRNAs between cancerous tissue and adjacent normal tissues were identified by RNA sequencing in PDAC. Subsequently, in vitro and in vivo functional experiments were performed to investigate the functional roles of circNEIL3 in PDAC tumour growth and metastasis. Furthermore, RNA pull-down, dual-luciferase reporter assays, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and Sanger sequencing assays were performed to examine the circular interaction among circNEIL3, miR-432-5p and adenosine deaminases acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1).
CircNEIL3 was upregulated in PDAC and promoted the progression of PDAC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circNEIL3 was shown to regulate the expression of ADAR1 by sponging miR-432-5p to induce RNA editing of glioma-associated oncogene 1 (GLI1), ultimately influencing cell cycle progression and promoting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PDAC cells. Moreover, we discovered that the circNEIL3/miR-432-5p/ADAR1 axis was correlated with the PDAC clinical stage and overall survival of PDAC patients, while ADAR1 may reduce the biogenesis of circNEIL3.
Our findings reveal that circNEIL3 facilitates the proliferation and metastasis of PDAC through the circNEIL3/miR-432-5p/ADAR1/GLI1/cell cycle and EMT axis and that its expression is regulated by ADAR1 through a negative feedback loop. Therefore, circNEIL3 may serve as a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target for PDAC.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Mutualistic and dynamic communication between tumour cells and the surrounding microenvironment accelerates the initiation, progression, chemoresistance and immune evasion of glioblastoma (GBM). ...However, the immunosuppressive mechanisms of GBM has not been thoroughly elucidated to date. We enrolled six microenvironmental signatures to identify glioma microenvironmental genes. The functional enrichment analysis such as ssGSEA, ESTIMATE algorithm, Gene Ontology, Pathway analysis is conducted to discover the potential function of microenvironmental genes. In vivo and in vitro experiments are used to verify the immunologic function of LGALS1 in GBM. We screen eight glioma microenvironmental genes from glioma databases, and discover a key immunosuppressive gene (LGALS1 encoding Galectin‐1) exhibiting obviously prognostic significance among glioma microenvironmental genes. Gliomas with different LGALS1 expression have specific genomic variation spectrums. Immunosuppression is a predominate characteristic in GBMs with high expression of LGALS1. Knockdown of LGALS1 remodels the GBM immunosuppressive microenvironment by down regulating M2 macrophages and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and inhibiting immunosuppressive cytokines. Our results thus implied an important role of microenvironmental regulation in glioma malignancy and provided evidences of LGALS1 contributing to immunosuppressive environment in glioma and that targeting LGALS1 could remodel immunosuppressive microenvironment of glioma.
What's new?
When a glioblastoma (GBM) develops in the CNS, immunosuppressive cytokines allow the tumor to evade and suppress the immune system. They also prevent current immunotherapies from effectively attacking the tumor. In this study, the authors found that variations in the gene coding for the cytokine Galectin‐1 may provide a prognostic biomarker in GBM. They also found that blocking this gene reduces immunosuppression in the GBM microenvironment. These results help to explain why immunosuppression is a hallmark of GBMs, and may also lead to improved immunotherapies for this aggressive tumor.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
A nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear inertial vibration isolator is proposed in this article. It consists of an inerter, a damper, and spring elements. The nonlinear stiffness characteristic is ...achieved through a negative stiffness structure based on the diamond-shaped structure that generates nonlinear displacement terms. The nonlinear inertial characteristic is implemented via a geometrical nonlinear inerter that produces a nonlinear acceleration term and a nonlinear quadratic velocity term. An averaging method is developed to analyze approximately the dynamic response. The isolation performance is evaluated using four performance criteria: dynamic displacement peak, force transmissibility peak, isolation frequency band, and high-frequency force transmissibility. The effects of the nonlinear inertial characteristic on the dynamic response and isolation performance are examined. The results show that the backbone curve of the nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear inertial vibration isolator has two changing trends: bending first to the right and then to the left and bending directly to the left. The corresponding frequency response curve displays linear, hardening, and softening characteristics. The isolation performance of the nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear inertial vibration isolator is compared with that of the nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear stiffness and linear inertial ones. It could achieve a smaller force transmissibility peak, lower resonant frequency, and larger isolation frequency band than the nonlinear stiffness one and could have smaller dynamic displacement peak and smaller high-frequency force transmissibility than the nonlinear stiffness and linear inertial one. The proposed nonlinear stiffness and nonlinear inertial vibration isolator achieves a better integrated isolation performance among the three vibration isolators.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Key message
Oxidative stress and apoptosis-like programmed cell death, induced in part by H
2
O
2
, are two key factors that damage cells during plant cryopreservation. Their inhibition can improve ...cell viability.
We hypothesized that oxidative stress and apoptosis-like event induced by ROS seriously impact plant cell viability during cryopreservation. This study documented changes in cell morphology and ultrastructure, and detected dynamic changes in ROS components (O
2
·−
, H
2
O
2
and OH·), antioxidant systems, and programmed cell death (PCD) events during embryonic callus cryopreservation of
Agapanthus praecox
. Plasmolysis, organelle ultrastructure changes, and increases in malondialdehyde (a membrane lipid peroxidation product) suggested that oxidative damage and PCD events occurred at several early cryopreservation steps. PCD events including autophagy, apoptosis-like, and necrosis also occurred at later stages of cryopreservation, and most were apoptosis. H
2
O
2
is the most important ROS molecule mediating oxidative damage and affecting cell viability, and catalase and AsA–GSH cycle are involved in scavenging the intracellular H
2
O
2
and protecting the cells against stress damage in the whole process. Gene expression studies verified changes of antioxidant system and PCD-related genes at the main steps of the cryopreservation process that correlated with improved cell viability. Reducing oxidative stress or inhibition of apoptosis-like event by deactivating proteases improved cryopreserved cell viability from 49.14 to 86.85 % and 89.91 %, respectively. These results verify our model of ROS-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis-like event in plant cryopreservation. This study provided a novel insight into cell stress response mechanisms in cryopreservation.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Optimization for convective heat transfer plays a significant role in energy saving and high-efficiency utilizing. We compared two optimization principles for convective heat transfer, the minimum ...entropy generation principle and the entransy dissipation extremum principle, and analyzed their physical implications and applicability. We derived the optimization equation for each optimization principle. The theoretical analysis indicates that both principles can be used to optimize convective heat-transfer process, subject to different objectives of optimization. The minimum entropy generation principle, originally derived from the heat engine cycle process, optimizes the convective heat-transfer process with minimum usable energy dissipation focusing on the heat–work conversion. The entransy dissipation extremum principle however, originally for pure heat conduction process, optimizes the heat-transfer process with minimum heat-transfer ability dissipation, and therefore is more suitable for optimization of the processes not involving heat–work conversion. To validate the theoretical results, we simulated the convective heat-transfer process in a two-dimensional foursquare cavity with a uniform heat source and different temperature boundaries. Under the same constraints, the results indicate that the minimum entropy production principle leads to the highest heat–work conversion while the entransy dissipation extremum principle yields the maximum convective heat-transfer efficiency.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Summary
Plant resistance genes (R genes) harbor tremendous allelic diversity, constituting a robust immune system effective against microbial pathogens. Nevertheless, few functional R genes have been ...identified for even the best‐studied pathosystems. Does this limited repertoire reflect specificity, with most R genes having been defeated by former pests, or do plants harbor a rich diversity of functional R genes, the composite behavior of which is yet to be characterized? Here, we survey 332 NBS‐LRR genes cloned from five resistant Oryza sativa (rice) cultivars for their ability to confer recognition of 12 rice blast isolates when transformed into susceptible cultivars. Our survey reveals that 48.5% of the 132 NBS‐LRR loci tested contain functional rice blast R genes, with most R genes deriving from multi‐copy clades containing especially diversified loci. Each R gene recognized, on average, 2.42 of the 12 isolates screened. The abundant R genes identified in resistant genomes provide extraordinary redundancy in the ability of host genotypes to recognize particular isolates. If the same is true for other pathogens, many extant NBS‐LRR genes retain functionality. Our success at identifying rice blast R genes also validates a highly efficient cloning and screening strategy.
Significance Statement
Resistance genes (R‐genes) provide protection against pathogens, but relatively few have been characterized. Here we surveyed the rice genome and identified 98 R‐genes capable of recognizing one or more isolates of rice blast, nearly twice the number previously identified against any pathogen. These results provide the most comprehensive picture to date of the architecture of resistance and overturn the perception that most R‐genes in genomes are relics that have been overcome by pathogens.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Atomic structure and electronic band structure are fundamental properties for understanding the mechanism of superconductivity. Motivated by the discovery of pressure-induced high-temperature ...superconductivity at 80 K in the bilayer Rud-dlesden-Popper nickelate La
3
Ni
2
O
7
, the atomic structure and electronic band structure of the trilayer nickelate La
4
Ni
3
O
10
under pressure up to 44.3 GPa are investigated. A structural transition from the monoclinic
P
2
1
/
a
space group to the tetragonal
I
4/
mmm
around 12.6–13.4 GPa is identified, accompanied by a drop of resistance below 7 K. Density functional theory calculations suggest that the bonding state of Ni
3
d
z
2
orbital rises and crosses the Fermi level at high pressures, which may give rise to possible superconductivity observed in resistance under pressure in La
4
Ni
3
O
10
. The trilayer nickelate La
4
Ni
3
O
10
shows some similarities with the bilayer La
3
Ni
2
O
7
and has unique properties, providing a new platform to investigate the underlying mechanism of superconductivity in nickelates.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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