Neuroprotective effects of total saponins from Rubus parvifolius L. on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats

This study examines the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of action of total saponins from Rubus parvifolius L. （TSRP） on focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury in rats. Focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury was performed in rats using the suture method. The results indicate that intragastric injection of TSRP, at 5, 10 and 20 mg/kg, could decrease neurological impairment, reduce cerebral infarct volume, diminish pathological changes, and significantly inhibit the apoptosis of neurons surrounding the ischemic area. In addition, TSRP upregulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2, at the protein and mRNA levels, and it downregulated the expression of the pro-apoptotic factor Bax, at the protein and mRNA levels. These findings indicate that TSRP protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and that it may do so by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax.

A novel coating technology for fast sealing of air leakage in underground coal mines

Air leakage in underground coal mines presents a serious hazard for coal production and the safety of miners.Coating technology is commonly used as an efficient means for preventing air leakage.To address existing problems with high dust concentrations in large operations involving complex processes and the high cost of traditional coating technology,a novel coating technology that ensures intrinsic safety by utilizing water pressure and wind pressure was developed.This new coating technology was designed to suction and spray,and the technical parameters of its spray performance was also studied.The experimental tests and evaluation indicated the optimum working range is 0.3–0.7 MPa of wind pressure,1.2–10.2 L/min of water quantity,and 1.0–3.5 m of spraying distance.Moreover,this novel coating technology was tested in the Dashuitou Coal Mine in Gansu Province of China.Compared with conventional counterparts,the proposed new technology is safe,efficient,and convenient to operate.During spraying,dust concentrations were kept at less than 10 mg/m3,and the average rebound ratio resilient rate of solid materials was below 13%.After spraying,the average leakage every 100 m was 4 m3/min,and the oxygen volume fraction in the adjacent goaf was approximately 4%,demonstrating excellent air leakage prevention.

Parameter Effects of the Potential‑Field‑Driven Model Predictive Controller for Shared Control

Parameter effects of the potential-field-driven model predictive control(PF-MPC)method on performances of shared control systems during obstacles avoidance are investigated.The PF-MPC controllers of autonomous driving and shared control systems are designed based on the constructed potential fields and model predictive control method,and the driver-vehicle dynamics and the driver-related costs are also considered in the design of the shared controller.To explore a potential approach of alleviating driver-automation conflicts of the shared control systems,different motion planning results generated by the PF-MPC controller are explored by adjusting effects of potential fields’parameters,which provides possibilities to decrease driver-automation conflicts between the planned trajectory and driver’s target path.Moreover,two case studies are designed to discuss different frameworks and parameters effects on shared control systems.Results show that the proposed shared control frameworks considering driver-vehicle dynamics and the driver-related cost show better performances regarding driver-automation conflicts management and driving safety than the decentralized control framework.And the longitudinal normalized constant of potential fields parameters shows influences on the driver-automation conflicts management and driving safety performances of shared control.

中国煤系中关键金属资源:富集类型与分布

煤是特殊的沉积有机矿产,资源量巨大.以有机质为主要物质组成的特征决定了煤的吸附障和还原障性能,因而可以在特定地质条件下富集多种关键金属,能够形成大型、超大型甚至异常超大型规模的矿床,即"煤型关键金属矿床"这种新的矿床类型.煤型关键金属矿产已成为矿产资源勘探的新领域、新蹊径和重要方向.本文选择性地总结了煤型锗矿床、煤型镓铝矿床、煤型稀土矿床,以及煤型铌-锆-稀土-镓矿床的分布特征与成矿机制,并简要介绍了中国煤中铍、钪、锂、镁、钒和铼的富集与分布.不同煤型关键金属矿床具有特定的成矿地质环境,研究这些矿床的分布、富集成因以及金属赋存机制,有助于金属矿床的预测、勘探和开发.此外,这些矿床还是研究有机质和无机质相互作用的难得案例,能够帮助解决区域地质演化等重大科学问题,对发展和完善已有的关键金属成矿理论、保障关键金属安全供给、发展循环经济、减轻环境污染都具有重要意义.

An investigation on the link between driver demographic characteristics and distracted driving by using the SHRP 2 naturalistic driving data

Purpose–The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of driver demographic characteristics on the driving safety involving cell phone usages.Design/methodology/approach–A total of 1,432 crashes and 19,714 baselines were collected for the Strategic Highway Research Program 2 naturalistic driving research.The authors used a case-control approach to estimate the prevalence and the population attributable risk percentage.The mixed logistic regression model is used to evaluate the correlation between different driver demographic characteristics(age,driving experience or their combination)and the crash risk regarding cell phone engagements,as well as the correlation among the likelihood of the cell phone engagement during the driving,multiple driver demographic characteristics(gender,age and driving experience)and environment conditions.Findings–Senior drivers face an extremely high crash risk when distracted by cell phone during driving,but they are not involved in crashes at a large scale.On the contrary,cell phone usages account for a far larger percentage of total crashes for young drivers.Similarly,experienced drivers and experienced-middle-aged drivers seem less likely to be impacted by the cell phone while driving,and cell phone engagements are attributed to a lower percentage of total crashes for them.Furthermore,experienced,senior or male drivers are less likely to engage in cell phone-related secondary tasks while driving.Originality/value–The results provide support to guide countermeasures and vehicle design.