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• The BIPV shading unit can be divided into linear, centripetal, and centrifugal folding types. The linear type BIPV shading unit refers to the geometry series comprising the folded-up square model, the vertical folded-up rhombus model, and the diagonally folded square model. The centripetal type BIPV shading unit refers to the geometry series comprising the hexagonal folded regular triangle model, octagonal folded square model, and dodecagonal folded regular hexagon model. • The proposed method is a line search of solar radiation received per shading unit and solar radiation received by the side window sorted by the average daylight factor (ADF) in the interior working plane. • In high-latitude regions, the linear folding type performed better than the central type, and the diagonally folded square model is suitable for the west direction. In low-latitude regions, the folded up square model maintains a high level of BIPV efficiency in all conditions. The central type models only perform best for BIPV at the south facade, while they perform better for shading during the cooling season. In Shanghai, the line chart of performance shows similarity in the non-air conditioning season and cooling season, indicating that the solar performance of different types is not sensitive to directions from April to September when the folded-up square model performs best among the linear folding types for BIPV efficiency. • After the data analysis from three cities, the same type of dynamic shading has a similar trend in solar performance. The solar performance of dynamic shading relies on its way of folding (linear or central) and geometry. Recent literature introduces dynamic shading for environmental-related design issues. Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and adjusting natural lighting are the main focuses of the environmental performance. Through the lens of morphology, this research explores the solar performance and efficiency of folded dynamic shading consisting of six patterns divided into linear and centripetal groups. With the help of the parametric simulation technique, it presents the evaluation of dynamic BIPV shading performance using an experimental approach built on a shoe box context-case analysis. For the simulation of solar radiation received per shading unit or by the side window, the proposed method is a line search sorted by the daylight factor in the interior working plane. Results demonstrate that solar performance and efficiency of dynamic BIPV shading is feasible through parametric modeling and simulation for the typology selection of geometry at the early design stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circadian rhythm is a widespread physiological phenomenon present in almost all forms of life and is constituted by a system of interlocked transcriptional/translational feedback loops (TTFLs). External zeitgebers regulate biological rhythms through the direct or indirect regulation of circadian genes. Oxidative stress is involved in many diseases and injuries, such as ageing, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. Despite an increasing number of studies on circadian rhythm disorders caused by oxidative stress, little is known about the effects of oxidants on clock gene expression and the underlying mechanism. In this study, we found that the protein expression of circadian genes Clock , Bmal1 , Per1/2 , and Cry1/2 in NIH3T3 cells was upregulated by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), an important mediator of oxidative stress. In addition, H 2 O 2 modulated the circadian rhythm of Bmal1-luciferase via RORα, REV-ERBα (NR1D1), and REV-ERBβ (NR1D2). Further studies showed that H 2 O 2 regulated biological rhythm by PRX2-STAT3-REV-ERBα/β pathway. These findings provide an accessory loop-related mechanism by which non-transcriptional oscillation interplays with TTFLs. Image 1 • H 2 O 2 up-regulate the protein expression of core clock genes. • H 2 O 2 modulate the circadian rhythm of Bmal1-luciferase. • The effects of H 2 O 2 are mediated by PRX2-STAT3-NR1D1/2 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating intelligent optimization algorithms in the early stages of office building design facilitates a better response to the local climate. The indoor and outdoor thermal performances of office buildings, such as solar radiation, indoor lighting, and outdoor thermal comfort, must be jointly evaluated during the conceptual design phase. Based on the technical framework of "performance-based generative architectural design", this study constructs a data-driven workflow for comprehensive performance assessment and rapid prediction of office buildings. The method was then applied to an office building in the hot summer and cold winter regions of China. Based on a total of 6000 data samples generated by the iterative process of genetic optimization, this study achieved a precision of 0.77, recall of 0.59, and F-1 score of 0.75 for categorical prediction by the XGBoost algorithm. The method facilitates the optimization potential of integrated solar and thermal performances in the early design phase of office buildings while significantly improving the efficiency of interaction and feedback between design decisions and their performance evaluation. • A Performance-based Generative Architectural Design (PGAD) framework incorporating machine learning algorithms is developed. • The indoor and outdoor light and heat performance of office buildings is jointly evaluated and predicted. • The XGBoost algorithm shows better prediction performance than other algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core circadian clock gene, Clock , is a positive component of the transcription/translation feedback loop in the master pacemaker suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in mammals. The robust daytime peak of some clock genes in the wild-type SCN is absent in Clock mutant mice. However, very little is known about the impact of Clock mutation on the expression of other functional genes in SCN. Here, we performed cDNA microarray and found 799 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at zeitgeber time 2 (ZT2) and 1289 DEGs at ZT14 in SCN of Clock △19/△19 mutant mice. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the changed mRNAs were highly associated with hedgehog signaling pathway, retinol metabolism, allograft rejection, drug metabolism, hematopoietic cell lineage and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. The top 14 and 71 hub genes were identified from the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network at ZT2 and ZT14, respectively. The sub-networks revealed hub genes were involved in olfactory transduction and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways. These results demonstrate the Clock △19/△19 mutation alters the expression of various genes involved in a wide spectrum of biological function in mouse SCN, which are helpful for better understanding the function of Clock and potential regulatory mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a multifunctional cytokine that regulates cell growth, differentiation, migration, apoptosis and extracellular matrix remodeling. TGF-β1 transduces signals from the cell membrane to the cell nucleus through serine/threonine kinase receptors and their downstream effectors, Smad molecules. Although many studies have been focused on TGF-β1–Smad signaling pathway, the role of TGF-β1/Smad in tongue squamous cell carcinoma is not fully understood. In the present study, we used a series of cell function assays to examine the role of TGF-β–Smad4 signaling in tongue squamous cell carcinoma. We observed the effects of TGF-β1 on the growth and metastatic potential of the tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line Ts, which expresses lower level of Smad4 protein. We found that Smad4 could decrease TGF-β1-induced cell proliferation, and that Smad4 overexpression promoted Ts cell apoptosis. In Ts vector control cells, TGF-β1 increased the expression of TβRII, as well as MMP-2, and enhanced cell invasion through the basement membrane, and then induced cell metastasis. However in Ts cells stably expressing Smad4, Smad4 mediated TGF-β1-induced p21 expression promoted cell apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation, delayed MMP-2 expression, and decreased cell metastasis. Therefore, TGF-β1 plays distinct roles in the Smad4-dependent and -independent signaling pathways. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Previously, we identified 3 overlapping regions showing loss of heterozygosity (LOH, R-R from 11 to 30 cM) on chromosome 17 in 45 primary gastric cancers (GCs). The data indicated the presence of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) on chromosome 17 involved in GC. Among the putative TSGs in these regions, HIC1 (in SR) and TOB1 (in SR) remain to be examined in GC. By immunohistochemistry (IHC), methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and western blot, we evaluated the expression and regulation status for HIC1 and TOB1 protein in GC. We narrowed down the deletion intervals on chromosome 17 and defined five smaller LOH subregions, SR-SR (0.54 to 3.42 cM), in GC. We found that HIC1 had downregulated expression in 86% (91/106) and was methylated in 87% (26/30) of primary GCs. Of the primary GCs showing downregulation of HIC1 protein, 75% (18/24) had methylated HIC1 gene. TOB1 was either absent or expressed at reduced levels in 75% (73/97) of the GC samples. In addition, a general reduction was found in total and the ratio of unphosphorylated to phosphorylated TOB1 protein levels in the differentiated GC cell lines. Further analysis revealed significant simultaneous downregulation of both HIC1 and TOB1 protein in GC tissue microarray samples (67%, 52/78) and in primary GCs (65%, 11/17). These results indicate that silencing of HIC1 and TOB1 expression is a common occurrence in GC and may contribute to the development and progression of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]