Impact of different roofing mitigation strategies on near-surface temperature and energy consumption over the Chicago metropolitan area during a heatwave event.

This study examined the impact of cool roofs, green roofs, and solar panel roofs on near-surface temperature and cooling energy demand through regional modeling in the Chicago metropolitan area (CMA). The new parameterization of green roofs and solar panel roofs based on model physics has recently been developed, updated, and coupled to a multilayer building energy model that is fully integrated with the Weather Research and Forecasting model. We evaluate the model performance against with observation measurements to show that our model is capable of being a suited tool to simulate the heatwave event. Next, we examine the impact by characterizing the near-surface air temperature and its diurnal cycle from experiments with and without the different rooftops. We also estimate the impact of the rooftop on the urban island intensity (UHII), surface heat flux, and the boundary layer. Finally, we measure the impact of the different rooftops on citywide air-conditioning consumption. Results show that the deployment of the cool roof can reduce the near-surface temperature most over urban areas, followed by green roof and solar panel roof. The cool roof experiment was the only one where the near-surface temperature trended down as the urban fraction increased, indicating the cool roof is the most effective mitigation strategy among these three rooftop options. For cooling energy consumption, it can be reduced by 16.6 %, 14.0 %, and 7.6 %, when cool roofs, green roofs, and solar panel roofs are deployed, respectively. Although solar panel roofs show the smallest reduction in energy consumption, if we assume that all electricity production can be applied to cooling demand, we can expect almost a savings of almost half (46.7 %) on cooling energy demand.

Watanabeales ord. nov. and twelve novel species of Trebouxiophyceae (Chlorophyta).

The Trebouxiophyceae include Chlorellales, Prasiolales, Trebouxiales, Microthamniales, and numerous members for which taxonomic locations have not been determined. The Watanabea clade is a group in the Trebouxiophyceae of Chlorella-like taxa, which are predominantly solitary and terrestrial. With the increase in descriptions of new species within the Watanabea clade in recent years, it is necessary to define the boundary and taxonomic status of the clade. In this study, nineteen strains of terrestrial algae collected from China were investigated based on molecular and morphological data, involving phylogenetic analyses, light and electron microscopy, and ITS-2 secondary structures. These 19 strains were described as five known species and 12 novel ones. Based on the consistent topological structures of the phylogenetic analyses for three taxonomic levels (the core Chorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae based on 18S sequences, Watanabeales and Symbiochloris based on 18S, 5.8S, ITS2 and rbcL gene sequences) and common morphological characteristics, especially the key phenotypic feature of unequally sized autospores, the Watanabea clade was defined as a new order, Watanabeales ord. nov., with one family, Watanabeaceae fam. nov. The boundary of Watanabeales was delineated and included the genera Chloroidium, Calidiella, Jaagichlorella, Kalinella, Massjukichlorella, Mysteriochloris, Polulichloris, Phyllosiphon, Watanabea, and Viridiella. Symbiochloris did not belong to Watanabeales according to the phylogenetic analyses and the reproduction by equal-sized autospores, aplanospores, or zoospores. The Watanabeales were separated into four groups during the phylogenetic analyses, but no regular differences in habitats or morphology could be used as the morphological basis to split Watanabeales into the four groups.

Caspase 3-mediated cytotoxicity of mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) oil extract against human hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal adenocarcinoma.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Mealworm larvae (MWL) (Tenebrio molitor) have been traditionally used in Asian countries for the treatment of liver diseases, including cancer. However, to date, there is marginal information on the mechanisms underlying the anticancer activity of MWL oil. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to determine the in vitro effect of MWL oil on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells growth in order to produce insect-derived chemotherapeutic agents against cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MWL oil was extracted, and its effects on cancer cells growth were investigated, by the MTT reduction, AO/EB staining, Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining, apoptosis, comet, and caspase activity assays. RESULTS: MWL oil inhibited HepG2 and Caco-2 growth, with IC50 (48 h) values of 0.98% for HepG2 and 0.37% for Caco-2 cells. In addition, flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that 24 h-MWL oil treatment increased early and late apoptosis from 0.04% to 39.77% and from 2.06% to 74.34% on HepG2 and Caco-2 cells, respectively. The mechanism of apoptosis was associated with the death receptor pathway by the activation of caspases -8, -9, and -3, and correlated to its fatty acids action. CONCLUSION: Results of this study demonstrated the potential of MWL oil in the development of natural anticancer therapeutic agents.

Para-Conjugated Dicarboxylates with Extended Aromatic Skeletons as the Highly Advanced Organic Anodes for K-Ion Battery.

A new family of the para-conjugated dicarboxylates embedding in biphenyl skeletons was exploited as the highly advanced organic anodes for K-ion battery. Two members of this family, namely potassium 1,1'-biphenyl-4,4'-dicarboxylate (K2BPDC) and potassium 4,4'-E-stilbenedicarboxylate (K2SBDC), were selectively studied and their detailed redox behaviors in K-ion battery were also clearly unveiled. Both K2BPDC and K2SBDC could exhibit very clear and highly reversible two-electron redox mechanism in K-ion battery, as well as higher potassiation potentials (above 0.3 V vs K+/K) when compared to the inorganic anodes of carbon materials recently reported. Meanwhile, the satisfactory specific and rate capacities could be realized for K2BPDC and K2SBDC. For example, the K2BPDC anode could realize the stable rate capacities of 165/143/135/99 mAh g-1 under the high current densities of 100/200/500/1000 mA g-1, respectively, after its electronic conductivity was improved by mixing a very small amount of graphene. More impressively, the average specific capacities of ∼75 mAh g-1 could be maintained for the K2BPDC anode for 3000 cycles under the high current density of 1 A g-1.

Multiple-dose safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of oral nemonoxacin (TG-873870) in healthy volunteers.

Nemonoxacin (TG-873870) is a novel nonfluorinated quinolone with broad-spectrum activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic, anaerobic, and atypical pathogens, as well as against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant S. aureus, and multiple-resistant bacterial pathogens. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-escalating study to ascertain the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of nemonoxacin. We enrolled 46 healthy volunteers and used a once-daily oral-dosing range of 75 to 1,000 mg for 10 days. Additionally, the food effect was evaluated in subjects in the 500-mg cohort. Nemonoxacin was generally safe and well tolerated, with no significant changes in the clinical laboratory tests or electrocardiograms. Adverse effects, including headache, contact dermatitis, and rash, were mild and resolved spontaneously. Nemonoxacin was rapidly absorbed within 2 h postdosing, and generally, a steady state was reached after 3 days. The maximum plasma concentration and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve were dose proportional over the dosing range. The elimination half-life was approximately 7.5 h and 19.7 h on days 1 and 10, respectively. Approximately 37 to 58% of the drug was excreted in the urine. Food affected the pharmacokinetics, with decreases in the maximum plasma concentration and area under the plasma concentration-time curve of 46% and 27%, respectively. However, the free AUC/MIC(90) of nemonoxacin was more than 100 under both the fasting and fed conditions, predicting the efficacy of nemonoxacin against most of the tested pathogens. In conclusion, the results support further clinical investigation of once-daily nemonoxacin administration for antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.