Traditionally, industrial networks rely on field bus to support real-time applications. In the trend of industrial internet of things (IIoT), traffic load has increased dramatically, and industrial ...networks are moving towards time-sensitive networking (TSN), which is based on the widely used Ethernet. In TSN, the time-triggered mechanism is a promising technology for real-time control due to its ability to provide deterministic latency and jitter guarantees. However, this mechanism is mainly based on offline computed schedules, making it difficult to satisfy dynamic requirements in data transmission of IIoT. In this paper, we propose an adaptive group routing and scheduling (AGRS) approach in multicast time-sensitive networks. The framework of this approach contains three phases including pre-processing, schedule synthesis, and post-processing phases. While the pre-processing phase first prunes unnecessary links and adaptively groups qualified complete subgraphs of the network to obtain a simplified topology, the schedule synthesis phase then jointly considers routing and scheduling processes based on the simplified topology to improve schedulability. Finally, the post-processing phase handles the scheduling results of previous phases to generate a feasible schedule. Experiments show that our approach improves schedulability by 68% and reduces execution time by 74% for multicast time-sensitive networks compared with existing approaches.
Plume buoyancy is one of the most crucial driving forces of gas pollutant dispersion in weak wind regions such as the recirculation region. In this study, steady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes ...(SRANS) simulation and large eddy simulation (LES) are conducted simultaneously to investigate the flow and concentration fields around a cubic building, in which the positive and negative buoyancies produced by the density difference between pollutants and the ambient air are considered at the same time. The performances of SRANS and LES are quantitatively evaluated by comparing the simulated results with the data from wind tunnel tests. In general, LES provides more accurate predictions for the time-averaged concentration fields, especially for the cases of neutral gas and heavy gas. Also, by studying the effect of different plume buoyant forces, the research finds that the increased vertical turbulent flux of light gas in the recirculation region behind the building enhances the dilution of pollutant. However, the heavy gas has an adverse effect. It is also found that the positive plume buoyancy raises the concentration fluctuation above the pollutant source considerably, while the negative plume buoyancy has a certain inhibitory effect on it.
∙The effect of positive and negative plume buoyancy is investigated simultaneously.∙The prediction accuracy of RANS and LES for buoyant gas dispersion is evaluated.∙Negative buoyancy restrains the dilution of pollutants in wake region.∙Positive buoyancy raises the concentration fluctuation behind the building.
A series of 2D steady RANS CFD simulations are conducted in this study to investigate the impact of roof slope on the snow redistribution on gable roofs. A small value of turbulent Schmidt number, ...which is calibrated by trapping efficiency from experiments, is adopted to enhance the snow particles’ turbulent diffusion in the CFD simulations for snow phase. And a scaled model test is conducted in the wind tunnel to validate the accuracy of numerical simulation, in which the silica sand was used to model snow particles. To uncover the mechanism of wind effects on the snow redistribution on gable roofs, the simulation results of wind-flow patterns, wall friction velocity of the roof surface, snow concentration and snow distributions are analyzed in detail for various roof slopes (5°–60°). Based on the features of wind-flow patterns and distribution patterns of snow, the gable roofs are classified into two categories: low slope where flow separates strongly at the leading edge and high slope where flow separates strongly at the roof ridge. The critical roof slope is between 20° and 25°.
•A series of 2D steady RANS CFD simulations are conducted for snow redistribution on gable roofs.•CFD simulation results of snow redistribution are validated by scaled model experiments.•The impact of roof slope on the snow redistributions for gable roofs is explored.•Simulation results of flow filed, friction velocity, snow concentration and snow redistributions are analyzed in detail.
Rhein, an anthraquinone compound existing in many traditional herbal medicines, has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, antiviral, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective activities, but its ...anti-influenza A virus (IAV) activity is ambiguous. In the present study, through plaque inhibition assay, time-of-addition assay, antioxidant assay, qRT-PCR, ELISA, and western blotting assays, we investigated the anti-IAV effect and mechanism of action of rhein in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that rhein could significantly inhibit IAV adsorption and replication, decrease IAV-induced oxidative stress, activations of TLR4, Akt, p38, JNK MAPK, and NF-κB pathways, and production of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases in vitro. Oxidant H2O2 and agonists of TLR4, Akt, p38/JNK and IKK/NF-κB could significantly antagonize the inhibitory effects of rhein on IAV-induced cytopathic effect (CPE) and IAV replication. Through an in vivo test in mice, we also found that rhein could significantly improve the survival rate, lung index, pulmonary cytokines, and pulmonary histopathological changes. Rhein also significantly decreased pulmonary viral load at a high dose. In conclusion, rhein can inhibit IAV adsorption and replication, and the mechanism of action to inhibit IAV replication may be due to its ability to suppress IAV-induced oxidative stress and activations of TLR4, Akt, p38, JNK MAPK, and NF-κB signal pathways.
Microalgae have already been investigated as a potential resource for biofuel in many reports. In this study, the effect of phosphorus concentration on lipid content was analyzed using the freshwater ...microalga
Chlorella
sp as a model. In addition, the carbohydrate and protein content were also analyzed in order to investigate the variations of biochemical composition under different phosphorus levels. Results showed that both lipid content and lipid productivity were increased under low phosphorus conditions. Furthermore, it was also found that lipid accumulation in cells decreased by supplementing the growth media with K
2
HPO
4
in the late growth phase. The analysis of the total protein and the carbohydrate content showed that the former remained unaffected by external phosphorus variation; while the latter was directly correlated to phosphorus concentration. In summary, lipid accumulation had significant relationship with phosphorus concentration.
The prognostic value of Ki-67 expression in colorectal cancer patients was controversial. Therefore, this meta analysis was conducted to ascertain the prognostic value of Ki-67 expression in ...colorectal cancer patients.
The electronic databases, including EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Knowledge database, were searched from January 1970 to July 2017. The pooled hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to evaluate the prognostic value of Ki-67 expression for colorectal cancer patients.
Totally 34 eligible studies and 6180 colorectal cancer patients were included in the present meta analysis. The pooled hazard ratios were 1.54(95% CI 1.17-2.02, P = 0.005) for overall survival and 1.43(1.12-1.83, P = 0.008) for disease free survival in univariate analysis. After adjustment of other prognostic factors, the pooled HR was 1.50(95% CI 1.02-2.22, P = 0.03) for overall survival in multivariate analysis.
The present meta analysis demonstrated that high Ki-67 expression is significantly correlated with poor overall survival and disease free survival, indicating that high Ki-67 expression may serve as a valuable predictive method for poor prognosis of colorectal cancer patients.
This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the postoperative clinical outcomes and safety of the direct anterior approach (DAA) versus posterior approach (PA) in total hip arthroplasty (THA).
We searched ...PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Google databases from inception to June 2018 to select studies that compared the DAA and PA for THA. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Outcomes included Harris hip score at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 1 year; VAS at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h; incision length, operation time, postoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, and complications (intraoperative fracture, postoperative dislocation, heterotopic ossification (HO), and groin pain).
Nine RCTs totaling 754 THAs (DAA group = 377, PA group = 377) met the criteria to be included in this meta-analysis. The present meta-analysis indicated that, compared with PA group, DAA group was associated with an increase of the Harris hip score at the 2-week and 4-week time points. No significant difference was found between DAA and PA groups of the Harris hip scores at 12 weeks, 1 year length of hospital stay (p > 0.05). DAA group was associated with a reduction of the VAS at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h with statistical significance (p < 0.05). What is more, DAA was associated with a reduction of the incision length and postoperative blood loss (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the operation time and complications (intraoperative fracture, postoperative dislocation, HO, and groin pain).
In THA patients, compared with PA, DAA was associated with an early functional recovery and less pain scores. What is more, DAA was associated with shorter incision length and blood loss.
Microglia play a critical role in controlling the homeostasis of the brain, but over-activated microglia secrete pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, which induce neuronal cell death. ...Fucoxanthin (Fx), a marine carotenoid, has demonstrated a variety of beneficial health effects. Despite accumulating evidence supporting the immune-modulating effects of Fx in vitro, the underlying signaling pathways remain unknown. In the present study, Fx dose-dependently inhibited the secretion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pro-inflammatory mediators including interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, reactive oxygen species (ROS), prostaglandin (PG) E
2
, and nitric oxide (NO) productions, and also suppressed the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 enzymes. Further, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis indicated IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS, and COX-2 mRNA expression were suppressed by treatment with Fx in a dose-dependently manner. The mechanism studies indicated that Fx blocks protein kinase B (Akt)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs)/transcription factor (AP)-1 pathways. In addition, we demonstrated that Fx increases nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf)-2 activation and heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression in LPS-activated BV-2 microglia. Subsequently, we found that Fx also mediates the reactive oxygen species (ROS) by activating protein kinase A (PKA)/cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB) pathway, and promotes the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). These results indicate that Fx may be more effective and potential than other candidates via either decreasing the pro-inflammatory factors production or increasing the neuroprotective molecules expression for therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.
Recent studies have shown that miR-494-3p is oncogene and has a central role in many solid tumors; however, the role of miR-494-3p in the progression and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ...remains unknown. In this study, it was found that miR-494-3p was up-regulated in HCC tissues. The high level of miR-494-3p in HCC tumors was correlated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and predicted poor prognosis in HCC patients. Functional study demonstrated that miR-494-3p significantly promoted HCC cell metastasis in vitro and vivo. Since phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase-B (PI3K/AKT) signaling is a basic oncogenic driver in HCC, a potential role of miR-494-3p was explored as well as its target genes in PI3K/AKT activation. Of all the predicted target genes of miR-494-3p, the tumor-suppressor phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were identified. In conclusion, the data we collected could define an original mechanism of PI3K/AKT hyperactivation and sketch the regulatory role of miR-494-3p in suppressing the expression of PTEN. Therefore, targeting miR-494-3p could provide an effective therapeutic method for the treatment of the disease.