Bortezomib inhibits lung fibrosis and fibroblast activation without proteasome inhibition

The FDA-approved proteasomal inhibitor bortezomib (BTZ) has attracted interest for its potential anti-fibrotic actions. However, neither its in vivo efficacy in lung fibrosis nor its dependence on proteasome inhibition has been conclusively defined. Herein, we identify that therapeutic administration of BTZ in a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis diminished the severity of fibrosis without reducing proteasome activity in the lung. Under conditions designed to mimic this lack of proteasome inhibition in vitro, it reduced fibroblast proliferation, differentiation into myofibroblasts, and collagen synthesis. It promoted de-differentiation of myofibroblasts and overcame their characteristic resistance to apoptosis. Mechanistically, BTZ inhibited kinases important for fibroblast activation while inducing expression of dual-specificity phosphatase 1 or DUSP1, and knockdown of DUSP1 abolished its anti-fibrotic actions in fibroblasts. Our findings identify a novel proteasome-independent mechanism of anti-fibrotic actions for BTZ and support its therapeutic repurposing for pulmonary fibrosis.

Islam and H. G. Nahuys’ Memoirs on the Java War 1825-1830

This article analyzes the worldview of the memoir of H.G. Nahuys van Burgst, Resident of Surakarta, entitled Verzameling van officiele Rapporten, betreffende den Oorlog op Java in de Jarren 1825-1830, as a polemic with H.J.J.L. Ridder de Stuer. His memoirs represent a typical Dutch government worldview based more on colonial interests and power tendencies. The colonial interests made the colonial government have a tendency and take a certain position from the start against Islam and the cultural and Islamic characteristic resistance movements launched by Diponegoro and Kyai Modjo. The descriptive analysis of the memoirs about the Javanese War which is presented chronologically makes it easy for us to reveal how war figures put Islam as the motivation for war, the spirit, the basis for thinking, the strengthening of the support network, the basis for regulation, and the justification for starting or ending the war. Meanwhile, the colonial government saw Islam as being used as a foster for the character’s socio-vertical mobility ambitions, as an identity, propaganda material, and procedures in oath-taking ceremonies.

The influence of mortar strength on the mechanical behavior of ceramic and concrete structural masonry blocks

This paper analyses the influence of mortar strength on the mechanical behavior of ceramic and concrete structural masonry blocks. Experimental tests of uniaxial compression were carried out on blocks as well as prisms, with mortar strengths lower, higher and within the limits of the Brazilian standard recommendation. The characteristic resistance of prisms (fpk) was lower than the blocks (fbk) in all combinations. The lowest decreases in strength occurred for both materials in the prisms with mortar strength within the limits indicated by the Brazilian standard. In addition, the ceramic materials were more sensitive to the variation on the mortar strength when compared to the concrete blocks.

A Flux-Controllable NI HTS Flux-Switching Machine for Electric Vehicle Applications

This paper deals with a flux-controllable NI HTS flux-switching machine (FSM) for electric vehicle (EV) applications. In a variable-speed rotating machine for EVs, such as electric buses, electric aircraft and electric ships, an electric motor capable of regulating the flux offers the advantage of constant output operation. In general, conventional HTS rotating machines have excellent flux-regulation performance, because they excite an HTS field coil. However, it is difficult to ensure any flux-regulation capabilities in HTS rotating machines using HTS field coils that apply the no-insulation (NI) winding technique, due to the inherent charge and discharge delays in these machines. Nevertheless, the NI winding technique is being actively researched as a key technology for the successful development of HTS rotating machines, because it can dramatically improve the operational stability of HTS field coils. Therefore, research to implement an HTS rotating machine with flux-regulation capabilities, while improving the operating stability of the HTS field coil using the NI winding technique, is required for EV applications. In this paper, we propose an HTS rotating machine with a flux switching structure, a type of topology of a rotating machine that is being actively studied for application to the electric motors used in EVs. The proposed HTS flux-switching machine (FSM) uses NI field coils, but additional field windings are applied for flux regulation, which enables flux control. In this study, an NI HTS field coil was also fabricated and tested because the characteristic resistance value should be used for the design and characteristic analyses of machines which utilize an NI coil. The simulation model used to analyze the flux-regulation performance capabilities of the NI HTS FSM were devised based on the characteristic resistance values obtained from a charging test of the fabricated NI HTS field coil. This study can provide a good reference for further research, including work on the manufacturing of a prototype NI HTS FSM for EV applications, and it can be used as a reference for the development of other HTS rotating machines, such as those used in large-scale wind power generation, where flux-regulation capabilities are required.

Extended electric power sources

Chemical sources of current are investigated as lines with distributed parameters. Analytical expressions are obtained for the voltage and active power values of the source at different distances from the beginning of the cell as well as dependences of the working voltage and active power on the source length. Effects of a reduction in the operating voltage and active power are due to the flow of electric current along the source during operation. The magnitude of these effects depends not only on the length of the source, but also on the ratio of characteristic resistance to the load resistance.<br>

Extended electric power sources

Chemical sources of current are investigated as lines with distributed parameters. Analytical expressions are obtained for the voltage and active power values of the source at different distances from the beginning of the cell as well as dependences of the working voltage and active power on the source length. Effects of a reduction in the operating voltage and active power are due to the flow of electric current along the source during operation. The magnitude of these effects depends not only on the length of the source, but also on the ratio of characteristic resistance to the load resistance.<br>