The compensatory increase of Gli-similar 3 inhibited neuronal apoptosis through regulating Mps one binder kinase activator 1b (MOB1b): a possible strategy for the functional recovery after spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disease characterized by neuronal apoptosis. Gli-similar 3 (GLIS3), a transcriptional factor, was involved in cell apoptosis and associated with the transcription of downstream target genes related to neuronal function. However, the function of GLIS3 in SCI remains unknown. Therefore, we used the mouse model of SCI to explore the role of GLIS3 in SCI. The results showed that GLIS3 expression was significantly increased in spinal cord tissues of SCI mice, and GLIS3 overexpression promoted the functional recovery, reserved histological changes, and inhibited neuronal apoptosis after SCI. Through online tools, the potential target genes of GLIS3 were analyzed and we found that Mps one binder kinase activator 1b (Mob1b) had a strong association with SCI among these genes. MOB1b is a core component of Hippo signaling pathway, which was reported to inhibit cell apoptosis. MOB1b expression was significantly increased in mice at 7 days post-SCI and GLIS3 overexpression further increased its expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed that GLIS3 bound to the promoter of Mob1b and promoted its transcription. In conclusion, our findings reveal that the compensatory increase of GLIS3 promotes functional recovery after SCI through inhibiting neuronal apoptosis by transcriptionally regulating MOB1b. Our study provides a novel target for functional recovery after SCI.

Estimation for running time and energy losses due to unproductive stops at bus stations in urban-rural traffic corridors.

To provide data support for developing fixed-route DRT based on FRT to reduce operating costs inside base routes in urban-rural traffic corridors, this paper estimated running time and energy losses due to unproductive stops at bus stations in urban-rural traffic corridors. Firstly, 14 urban-rural bus routes without ticket sellers in Xi'an are selected to demonstrate the universality of unproductive stops at bus stations. Secondly, a model for estimating running time and energy losses based on the VT-CPFM model is developed. Finally, running time and energy losses due to unproductive stops in two representative urban-rural traffic corridors are estimated. Estimated results show that the average running time loss ratios of different rounds in Routes 332, 333, 335, 338 and G1 range from 8.30% to 17.52% and that average fuel loss ratios range from 9.16% to 13.30%. In addition, the monetary loss in energy consumption of Route G1 in 2019 is estimated to be up to 193213 yuan. This study proves that unproductive stops at bus stations generally exist in urban-rural bus routes and can result in significant running time and energy losses and that developing fixed-route DRT based on FRT leveraging V2I with mobile APP in representative urban-rural traffic corridors is very necessary, which is expected to reduce energy consumption and running time.

Effects of vehicle gap changes on fuel economy and emission performance of the traffic flow in the ACC strategy.

This paper focuses on the effects of vehicle gap changes on fuel and emission performance of the simulated traffic flow in the adaptive cruise control (ACC) strategy. Firstly, the close correlation of vehicle gap changes and the host car's behaviors was explored with the measured car-following data. Secondly, the correlation between the host car's velocity and vehicle gap changes with different memory steps was also explored to develop the nth car's optimal velocity function. Thirdly, a microscopic traffic simulation program was created for analyzing the traffic flow evolution process and approximately estimating the fuel consumptions and exhaust emissions. As a result, it was seen that vehicle gap changes with memory significantly affect fuel economy and emission performance of the simulated traffic flow in the ACC strategy, which can result in low fuel consumptions and exhaust emissions. This study is an incremental step forward for designing the control strategy of the ACC system.