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During the regulation process of VAV systems, the supply air volume changes with the real time load changes, which will cause the fresh air volume to deviate from its set value. Insufficient fresh air results in poor IAQ, whereas an excessive fresh air increases energy consumption. Therefore, an effective method to control the fresh air volume is essential for VAV systems. Based on the differential pressure control theory, two improved control methods—the fresh air section static pressure control method and the critical air volume control method—are proposed herein. Three control methods were compared through experimental study. The results indicate that differential pressure in the first improved method is higher than that in the differential pressure control method, which increases the ease of measurement. However, both these methods have approximately 15% to 25% errors when the supply air volume is small. The critical air volume control method provides more precise control of the fresh air volume, and eliminates deviations at small supply air volumes. Furthermore, the fan power is reduced as well. Investigation has demonstrated that the critical air volume control method is energy-efficient, and can provide new insights into optimized energy-saving control methods for VAV systems. This work proposed a fresh air volume control method of VAV system, the critical air volume control method. This method improves the control accuracy and the convenience of differential pressure measurement of VAV system. The reliability of the method was verified on the test rig, and it is similar to the engineering situation. Therefore, this method has practical application value. Also this method reduces the fan energy consumption of VAV system, thereby improving energy efficiency and reducing operating costs.

Aging-affected cellular compositions of the spinal cord are diverse and region specific. Age leads to the accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates and dysregulation of proteostasis. Dysregulated proteostasis and protein aggregates result from dysfunction of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and autophagy. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of spinal cord aging is essential and important for scientists to discover new therapies for rejuvenation. We found age-related increases in STAT3 and decreases in Tuj1 in aging mouse spinal cords, which was characterized by increased expression of P16. Coaggregation of lysine-48 and lysine-63 ubiquitin with STAT3 was revealed in aging mouse spinal cords. STAT3-ubiquitin aggregates formed via lysine-48 and lysine-63 linkages were increased significantly in the aging spinal cords but not in central canal ependymal cells or neural stem cells in the spinal cord. These results highlight the increase in STAT3 and its region-specific aggregation and ubiquitin-conjugation during spinal cord aging.

All the information in this paper shows the questions about the NFL Super Bowl and the possible solutions to the questions in Part Three. Those solutions might be useful for the Managers of the NFL. If they start to use those solutions, the Super Bowl and the Playoff of the NFL will be much better than before, and they can expand the scope of their game and influence by being known not only in the United States but also around the world. For the part of the business value, the value of the NFL is about 132 billion dollars, which is an extremely large commercial value for sports, which means that the business potential of the sport is huge. This is extremely beneficial to NFL officials worldwide because they have a solid economic base. This will certainly help them promote themselves quickly and help them better solve some of the problems within the league. After solving these problems, investors in other countries and regions will have a better first impression of the NFL, allowing them to attract investors better and increase their market share. This research paper addresses some of the problems the NFL has to improve the league and get more people in the world involved in the sport.

The acupuncture case registry study is focusing on acupuncture therapy data from patient cases. The main objective is to collect real-world data and integrate clinically meaningful outcome evaluation indicators to uncover and evaluate real-world acupuncture efficacy and safety, explore factors affecting acupuncture efficacy, and provide real-world evidence to complement RCTs. Since the International Acupuncture Case Registry data collection system’s establishment in 2017, 16 projects have been underway, including two acupuncture specialty therapies and 15 diseases. Data from 3404 patients included extensive information on the diagnosis and treatment of acupuncture and the evaluation of its efficacy. In order to serve as a guide for future studies, this article discusses the value of and rationale for establishing acupuncture case registry studies, how to distinguish them from patient registries, and crucial techniques for implementing registry studies in terms of applications, patient recruitment, costakeholder collaboration, data collection and management, study quality control, and ethics.

Robot path planning is task of navigating a mobile robot around a space in which lie a number of obstacles that have to be avoided. Path-planning can be static or dynamic.It is also an important primitive for autonomous mobile robots that lets robots find the shortest or otherwise optimal path between two points. Here we deal with static path-planning. We proposed 8 methods for path planning on this topic.

The extraction and analysis of electricity consumption changing patterns are increasingly important, as they can guide in energy management and efficiency retrofitting. Consequently, it is necessary to extract the laws governing building electricity consumption characteristics. This method should be on an hour-scale and successfully applied online to various buildings. Under these conditions, the method should be as simple as possible to ensure excellent online applications. A matrix model method was developed based on the conventional K-nearest neighbour clustering algorithm, which introduced the concept of electricity intensity levels. This method used the slopes of the power consumption curve as the grading standard for the extraction and assessment of the electricity consumption laws. The validation results for seven different buildings with various functions and climate zones, including the mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, mean square error, root mean square error, and coefficient of variance, showed that this method met the aforementioned requirements. Moreover, this method can be used for power consumption prediction, which integrated a process of filtering historical data, leading to better accuracy and less data volume than that of other methods that use historical data for prediction. Practical application This paper proposed a matrix model method based on the conventional K-nearest-neighbour clustering algorithm, which introduced the concept of electricity intensity levels. This method was applied to various buildings online, which coupled the process of filtering historical data and flexible selectivity of models when used on different buildings. This method was used for assessing energy-saving potential, energy-saving retrofit priorities, and power consumption forecasting, which will benefit researchers and engineers.

Background. Observational studies from China suggest that Kangbingdu oral liquid (KBD) may be effective in treating the common cold. Objective. Reevaluation of efficacy and safety of Kangbingdu oral liquid after marketing and expanding population. Design. Prospective, Pragmatic randomized controlled trial (Chictr.org.cn registration number: chiCTR-TRC-12002399). Setting. Eleven hospitals from 3 provinces in China. Patients were recruited through 11 centers, including 7 teaching hospitals, 2 University health services, one military clinic, and one community hospital. Patients. 2647 persons aged 18 to 75 years with Common cold. Intervention. Patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups: the treatment group Kangbingdu oral liquid (composed of 9 Chinese herbal medicines and honey) and the placebo group were divided into a standard-dose group of 10 ml every time, a middle dose group of 20 ml every time, high dose group of 30 ml every time, 3 times daily. Interventions and control were given for 5 days. Measurements. The primary outcome is the mean amount of total scores measured by the 11-primary symptoms: to observe the change of main symptoms from severe to disappear and to calculate and compare the mean amount of total scores after the periods of observation. Secondary outcomes are the disappearance rate of each symptom and the median time of body temperature returned to normal. Results. On day 5, the Kangbingdu liquid group had significant reductions in the mean amount of total scores measured by the 11-primary symptoms (7.39 [95% CI 7.26 to 7.51] compared to the placebo group (6.43 [95%: CI 6.24 to 6.62]). The Kangbingdu liquid can improve the remission rate of accompanying symptoms on day 5 including aversion to wind, aversion to cold, fever, cough, stuffy, runny nose, sore throat, muscular aches, headache, fatigue, and sweat ( P < 0.0001 ). Significant reductions in time of body temperature to return to normal in the Kangbingdu liquid group (P50, 48.33 [95% CI 46.00 to 52.50] compared with the control group (P50, 64.59 [95% CI 51.08 to 70.50] ( P = 0.0022 ). 13 (0.7%) participants in the Kangbingdu liquid group and 1(0.2%) participants in the placebo group ( P > 0.05 ) had treatment-related AEs, which mainly include diarrhea and dyspepsia in the Kangbingdu liquid group and constipation in the placebo group. Conclusion. The study’s conclusion in this paper was based on the placebo, Kangbingdu oral liquid two groups which clinically diagnosed the common cold and flu. (1) Kangbingdu oral liquid can effectively improve the comprehensive clinical symptoms of common adult cold, also improved main symptoms, including sore throat, muscle aches, headache, and so on. (2) Kangbingdu oral liquid effectively shortens the time of body temperature to return to normal.

Policy-makers are seeking to build vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) to promote innovative entrepreneurship. However, the role of government policy in EEs, especially in the emerging economy context, is poorly understood, lacking a systematic concept of policy and theoretical framework, clear policy classification, and empirical research considering distinctive characteristics of policy mixes in EEs. This paper introduces the concept of EE policy mixes and classifies them into seven policy instruments. Using data from 21 national high-tech zones (NHZs) in China, fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) is applied to identify effective configurations of EE policy mixes that support early-stage and late-stage technology start-ups to produce high entrepreneurial performance. The configurational analysis shows that EE policy mixes present causal complexity and stage differences. Based on interpreting multiple policy interactions, we reveal the differentiated support mechanisms of EE policy mixes in NHZs and draw out their implications for research, policy, and practice. This study contributes to the EE literature by adopting a policy-mix perspective to examine the role of policy, exploring the specific emerging economy context of China, suggesting further extensions of the research to other contexts, and applying a methodology that reveals causal mechanisms. It also supports better-informed EE policy and governance.

To shield increasingly severe radiation pollution, ultrathin MXene-based electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials with excellent mechanical properties are urgently demanded in wearable electrical devices or aerospace fields. However, it is still a challenge to fabricate ultrastrong and stiff MXene-based nanocomposites with excellent EMI shielding capacity in a universal and scalable manner. Here, inspired by the natural nacre structure, we propose an efficient superspreading strategy to construct a highly oriented layered "brick-and-mortar" structure using shear-flow-induced alignment of MXene nanosheets at an immiscible hydrogel/oil interface. A continuous and large-area MXene nanocomposite film has been fabricated through a homemade industrial-scale continuous fabrication setup. The prepared MXene nanocomposite films exhibit a tensile strength of 647.6 ± 56 MPa and a Young's modulus of 59.8 ± 6.1 GPa, respectively. These outstanding mechanical properties are attributed to the continuous interphase layer that formed between the well-aligned MXene nanosheets. Moreover, the obtained MXene nanocomposites also show great EMI shielding effectiveness (51.6 dB). We consider that our MXene-based nanocomposite films may be potentially applied as electrical or aerospace devices with superior mechanical properties and high EMI shielding capacity.

Gout is a common arthritis caused by deposition of monosodium urate crystals. Macrophage is crucial in the process of monosodium urate (MSU)-induced inflammation. Although it has been reported that adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in nature can be used to cure urarthritis, the mechanism concerning macrophage is still not clear. However, gout patients manifest other complications, such as hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and hormone intolerance, which limit efficacy of some of these first-line drugs. Therefore, this study aims to explore how natural ACTH can alleviate urarthritis through functional changes in macrophage. We analyzed the variations in VAS pain scores of five patients, knowing the time of action and detecting the level of cortisol and ACTH in patients 24 hours after the application of ACTH. The effect of natural ACTH on joint inflammation and the level of cortisol in blood in the mouse model was evaluated by studies in vivo. In vitro studies, we evaluated the effect of natural ACTH on macrophages and revealed different functions of ACTH and dexamethasone on macrophages in the transcriptional level. In patients with acute gout, natural ACTH can quickly alleviate pain and does not affect the level of cortisol and ACTH. Natural ACTH is able to ease the swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration caused by arthritis, without changing the level of cortisol. Besides, natural ACTH in vitro can alleviate acute gouty inflammation by regulating phagocytosis and polarization of macrophage, which also exerts different effects on the transcription of some related genes. Natural ACTH is able to alleviate acute gouty inflammation by regulating macrophage, and this effect differs from that of dexamethasone at the transcriptional level.

Objective Interleukin (IL)-37 is a natural suppressor of inflammation. Macrophages play an important role in acute gout flare by dominating the inflammation and spontaneous relief. We have reported that IL-37 could limit runaway inflammation in gout. Here we focus on whether IL-37 inhibits gouty inflammation by altering macrophage functions, and how it does so. Methods Macrophage functions were evaluated in terms of phagocytosis, pyroptosis, polarization and metabolism. Phagocytosis and polarization of macrophages were detected by side scattering and double-labelling induced nitrogen monoxide synthase (iNOS)/arginase-1 (Arg-1) using flow cytometry, respectively. Transcription of pyroptosis-related molecules was detected by qPCR. Metabolomics was performed by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer. Human IL-37 knock-in mice and a model with point mutation (S9A) at mouse Gsk3b locus were created by CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome engineering. MSU was injected into the paws and peritoneal cavity to model acute gout. Vernier calliper was used to measure the thickness of the paws. The mice paws and human synovium tissues or tophi were collected for pathological staining. Peritoneal fluid of mice was used to enrich macrophages to detect polarization. Results IL-37 promoted non-inflammatory phagocytic activity of macrophages by enhancing phagocytosis of MSU, reducing transcription of pyroptosis-related proteins and release of inflammatory cytokines, protecting mitochondrial function, and mediating metabolic reprogramming in MSU-treated THP-1 cells. These multifaceted roles of IL-37 were partly depended on the mediation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β). Conclusions Our study revealed that IL-37 could shape macrophages into a ‘silent’ non-inflammatory phagocytic fashion. IL-37 may become a potentially valuable treatment option for patients of chronic gout, especially for those with tophi.

Aphis gossypii Glover is one of the most important pests in cotton seedling. The specialized mouthpart and short generation time allow them seriously restricted the quality and yield of cotton. With the electrical penetration graph (EPG), optical microscope, and scanning electron microscope, the physical characteristics of trichomes on the cotton leaf surface and their effects on the feeding behaviors of cotton aphids were investigated in this study. Two types of leaf trichomes, glandular trichomes, and asteroid non-glandular trichomes were observed on the surface of cotton leaves under optical and scanning electron microscopes. As a whole, EPG results mainly showed differences in a non-probe waveform which meant searching on the leaf surface, and a potential drop waveform which meant intracellular penetration. Whereas pathway waveform, xylem waveform, and phloem waveform showed inconspicuous differences. Detailed indicators were slightly different at different periods. Our results confirmed that the structure of trichomes may directly affect the searching behaviors of herbivorous insect pests and hence regulate the plant-environment interactions.

In this study, a radius expansion approach to enlarge radius around welding area is proposed to reduce residual stresses and distortion for large girth joint structure. The finite element (FE) model is developed to investigate the effects of expansion on the welding residual stresses and distortion. The simulation is verified with the experiment results. With larger radius expansion, there is lower residual stresses and distortion in joint. The mechanism is discussed using thermal-elastic-plastic (TEP) strains theory of welding. The theoretical analysis reveals that elastic strain induced by radius expansion is the key factor that reduces hoop residual stress and radial shrinkage.

Residual stress is a severe problem concerning about the service life and the safety of welded structures, which is affected by the assembling and restraint conditions. In this study, the residual stresses of 2219-T8 aluminum alloy butt-welded joints are investigated at different restraint conditions through contour method, which can obtain the 2D map of residual stress on the cross-sectional surface of the weld joints. X-ray diffraction measurement method is used to compare the results of the contour method. The results show that the variation trend and distribution of the residual stresses obtained by contour method are in good agreement with the results tested by X-ray diffraction method. The maximum internal residual stress, which locates in the middle thickness and the HAZ, is higher than that on the surfaces, with a difference over 50 MPa. The restraint conditions that mentioned in this study affect the amplitude of the tensile residual stresses and their distributions. Little influence is found on the amplitude of the internal residual stresses. But the surface residual stress is affected by restraint conditions. Higher vertical pressing force results in larger tensile stress region and larger distance between peak tensile stress and the weld center. Higher horizontal clamping force induces a smaller tensile stress region and a steeper variation rate of tensile stress in the HAZ. With higher vertical pressing force and lower horizontal clamping force, the welded joint obtains a smaller angular distortion.

Recently, the application of building information modeling (BIM) in building energy efficiency design programs has been emphasized in research. In China, faced with requirements in building energy efficiency design standards and specifications, researchers have been using BIM as a platform for breaking up bottlenecks in energy simulation and design software, and BIM is considered the key to improve the efficiency of building energy efficiency design. Firstly, based on the trade-off energy consumption judgment method proposed in the ‘Public Building Energy Efficiency Design Standard (GB50189-2015)’, this study combines the BIM platform with an orthogonal simulation design adopting an experimental building construction project in a cold region of China, to thereby study the influences of different envelope structural parameters on cooling and heating loads. Then, this study analyzes the continuity and consistency of data exchange between different BIM-related software, through the modeling software Revit and the sustainable analysis software Ecotect. Finally, through the experiment, the critical factors of the optimized design of the building envelope are investigated and applied for the optimized design of the building thermal system. In addition, this study uses BIM to complete an energy efficiency design for a laboratory heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. According to the experimental results, the following conclusions can be drawn: this study proposes a BIM-based optimized design method of building thermal system, which complies with various Chinese building energy efficiency standards and polices and can be used as a reference for Chinese designers. Also, the issues and challenges in building consumption simulation based on BIM technology and the application of BIM technology in the design of building thermal HVAC systems are discussed, and the development trends of BIM technology in China are analyzed. Building thermal system and HVAC system design are the key points of building efficiency design. The optimized design method proposed in this paper is of great significance to this system design. The optimized design method can improve the design efficiency of designers while complying with China’s standards and policies. Therefore, it can save costs, improve the economic benefits of the projects and, at the same time, obtain an ideal building efficiency design.

Gut microbiota plays a significant role in maintaining host health, and conversely, disorders potentially lead to dysbiosis, an imbalance in the composition of the gut microbial community. Intervention approaches, such as medications, diets, and several others, also alter the gut microbiota in either a beneficial or harmful direction. In 2020, the gutMDisorder was developed to facilitate researchers in the investigation of dysbiosis of gut microbes as occurs in various disorders as well as with therapeutic interventions. The database has been updated this year, following revision of previous publications and newly published reports to manually integrate confirmed associations under multitudinous conditions. Additionally, the microbial contents of downloaded gut microbial raw sequencing data were annotated, the metadata of the corresponding hosts were manually curated, and the interactive charts were developed to enhance visualization. The improvements have assembled into gutMDisorder v2.0, a more advanced search engine and an upgraded web interface, which can be freely accessed via http://bio-annotation.cn/gutMDisorder/.

The association between blood lead (PbB) and uric acid (SUA) remains unclear in US adults without a high level of lead exposure. Additionally, the effects of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) modifying this association are still unclear. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effect of modification of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol on the association between PbB and SUA.This research analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2005 to 2016. Through several screenings, 18,578 participants over the age of 20 were eligible for the analysis. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the association between PbB and SUA. By having stratified participants based on the HDL-C intake category (low HDL-C intake 50 mg/dl; high HDL-C intake ≥ 50 mg/dl), effect modification by HDL-C was assessed through a likelihood ratio test between PbB and SUA.Multivariable linear regression indicated that PbB positively affects SUA (β = 0.19, 95% CI 0.16-0.22). The relationship between PbB and SUA was different in the low and high HDL-C intake group (β 0.12 95% Cl 0.08-0.16 vs. β 0.26 95% Cl 0.22 ~ - 0.30). Furthermore, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol significantly modified the relationship between PbB and SUA in all models which indicates that the interaction of lead exposure and HDL-C is more dangerous than the sum of the individual effects.Our study shows that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood lead have an interactive effect on increasing uric acid, which may have great importance for clinical medication.