Effect of Metformin on Lactate Metabolism in Normal Hepatocytes under High Glucose Stress in Vitro

Objective: To study the effect of metformin on lactate metabolism in hepatocytes in vitro under high glucose stress. Method: LO2 hepatocytes was cultured in vitro, hepatocytes were randomly divided into blank control group, 25 mmol/L glucose solution, 27 mmol/L glucose solution, 29 mmol/L glucose solution, 31 mmol/L glucose solution, 33 mmol/L glucose solution, 35 mmol/L glucose solution treatment group, after determining the optimal concentration as 31 mmol/L, use 30 mmol/L metformin solution, and then divided into blank control group, normal hepatocytes + the optimal concentration of glucose solution, normal hepatocytes + metformin solution , normal hepatocytes+. The optimal concentration of glucose solution normal hepatocytes + metformin solution, calculate the number of hepatocytes on cell count plate respectively in the 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and use the lactic acid kit to determine the lactic acid value of the cell culture medium of normal liver cells + optimal concentration glucose solution and normal liver cells + optimal concentration glucose solution + metformin solution at 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h, respectively. Results: There was no significant change in the lactic acid concentration but significant increase in the number of surviving hepatocytes in the high-glycemic control group compared with that in the high-glycemic control group without metformin. Conclusions: Metformin has no significant effect on lactic acid metabolism of hepatocytes under high glucose stress in vitro, and has a protective effect on hepatocytes under high glucose stress. Based on this, it is preliminarily believed that metformin is not the direct factor leading to diabetic lactic acidosis

sox9b Is a Key Regulator of Pancreaticobiliary Ductal System Development

The pancreaticobiliary ductal system connects the liver and pancreas to the intestine. It is composed of the hepatopancreatic ductal (HPD) system as well as the intrahepatic biliary ducts and the intrapancreatic ducts. Despite its physiological importance, the development of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system remains poorly understood. The SRY-related transcription factor SOX9 is expressed in the mammalian pancreaticobiliary ductal system, but the perinatal lethality of Sox9 heterozygous mice makes loss-of-function analyses challenging. We turned to the zebrafish to assess the role of SOX9 in pancreaticobiliary ductal system development. We first show that zebrafish sox9b recapitulates the expression pattern of mouse Sox9 in the pancreaticobiliary ductal system and use a nonsense allele of sox9b, sox9bfh313, to dissect its function in the morphogenesis of this structure. Strikingly, sox9bfh313 homozygous mutants survive to adulthood and exhibit cholestasis associated with hepatic and pancreatic duct proliferation, cyst formation, and fibrosis. Analysis of sox9bfh313 mutant embryos and larvae reveals that the HPD cells appear to mis-differentiate towards hepatic and/or pancreatic fates, resulting in a dysmorphic structure. The intrahepatic biliary cells are specified but fail to assemble into a functional network. Similarly, intrapancreatic duct formation is severely impaired in sox9bfh313 mutants, while the embryonic endocrine and acinar compartments appear unaffected. The defects in the intrahepatic and intrapancreatic ducts of sox9bfh313 mutants worsen during larval and juvenile stages, prompting the adult phenotype. We further show that Sox9b interacts with Notch signaling to regulate intrahepatic biliary network formation: sox9b expression is positively regulated by Notch signaling, while Sox9b function is required to maintain Notch signaling in the intrahepatic biliary cells. Together, these data reveal key roles for SOX9 in the morphogenesis of the pancreaticobiliary ductal system, and they cast human Sox9 as a candidate gene for pancreaticobiliary duct malformation-related pathologies

An Extended Car-Following Model Based on Visual Angle and Electronic Throttle Effect

With the continuous advancement of electronic technology, auto parts manufacturing institutions are gradually applying electronic throttles to automobiles for precise control. Based on the visual angle model (VAM), a car-following model considering the electronic throttle angle of the preceding vehicle is proposed. The stability conditions are obtained through linear stability analysis. By means of nonlinear analysis, the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau (TDGL) equation is derived first, and then the modified Korteweg-de-Vries (mKdV) equation is derived. The relationship between the two is thus obtained. Finally, in the process of numerical simulations and exploration, it is shown how the visual angle and electronic throttle affect the stability of traffic flow. The simulation results in MATLAB software verify the validity of the model, indicating that the visual angle and electronic throttle can improve traffic stability

An Extended Car-Following Model Based on Visual Angle and Electronic Throttle Effect

With the continuous advancement of electronic technology, auto parts manufacturing institutions are gradually applying electronic throttles to automobiles for precise control. Based on the visual angle model (VAM), a car-following model considering the electronic throttle angle of the preceding vehicle is proposed. The stability conditions are obtained through linear stability analysis. By means of nonlinear analysis, the time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau (TDGL) equation is derived first, and then the modified Korteweg-de-Vries (mKdV) equation is derived. The relationship between the two is thus obtained. Finally, in the process of numerical simulations and exploration, it is shown how the visual angle and electronic throttle affect the stability of traffic flow. The simulation results in MATLAB software verify the validity of the model, indicating that the visual angle and electronic throttle can improve traffic stability

High Bending Strength Hypereutectic Al-22Si-0.2Fe-0.1Cu-Re Alloy Fabricated by Selective Laser Melting

The objective of the study is to investigate the corresponding microstructure and mechanical properties, especially bending strength, of the hypereutectic Al-Si alloy processed by selective laser melting (SLM). Almost dense Al-22Si-0.2Fe-0.1Cu-Re alloy is fabricated from a novel type of powder materials with optimized processing parameters. Phase analysis of such Al-22Si-0.2Fe-0.1Cu-Re alloy shows that the solubility of Si in Al matrix increases significantly. The fine microstructure can be observed, divided into three zones: fine zones, coarse zones, and heat-affected zones (HAZs). Fine zones are directly generated from the liquid phase with the characteristic of petaloid structures and bulk Al-Si eutectic. Due to the fine microstructure induced by the rapid cooling rate of SLM, the primary silicon presents a minimum average size of ~0.5 μm in fine zones, significantly smaller than that in the conventional produced hypereutectic samples. Moreover, the maximum value of Vickers hardness reaches ~170 HV0.2, and bending strength increases to 687.70 MPa for the as-built Al-22Si-0.2Fe-0.1Cu-Re alloys parts, which is much higher than that of cast counterparts. The formation mechanism of this fine microstructure and the enhancement reasons of bending strength are also discussed

Serotonin Activated Hepatic Stellate Cells Contribute to Sex Disparity in Hepatocellular CarcinomaSummary

Background & Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurs more frequently and aggressively in men than in women. Although sex hormones are believed to play a critical role in this disparity, the possible contribution of other factors largely is unknown. We aimed to investigate the role of serotonin on its contribution of sex discrepancy during HCC. Methods: By using an inducible zebrafish HCC model through hepatocyte-specific transgenic krasV12 expression, differential rates of HCC in male and female fish were characterized by both pharmaceutical and genetic interventions. The findings were validated further in human liver disease samples. Results: Accelerated HCC progression was observed in krasV12-expressing male zebrafish and male fish liver tumors were found to have higher hepatic stellate cell (HSC) density and activation. Serotonin, which is essential for HSC survival and activation, similarly were found to be synthesized and accumulated more robustly in males than in females. Serotonin-activated HSCs could promote HCC carcinogenesis and concurrently increase serotonin synthesis via transforming growth factor (Tgf)b1 expression, hence contributing to sex disparity in HCC. Analysis of liver disease patient samples showed similar male predominant serotonin accumulation and Tgfb1 expression. Conclusions: In both zebrafish HCC models and human liver disease samples, a predominant serotonin synthesis and accumulation in males resulted in higher HSC density and activation as well as Tgfb1 expression, thus accelerating HCC carcinogenesis in males. Keywords: Liver Cancer, TGFB1, Kras, Zebrafis

Flow around a Rectangular Cylinder Placed in a Channel with a High Blockage Ratio under a Subcritical Reynolds Number

With the depletion of fossil energy sources, clean energy has become a growing concern for scholars. Vortex-Induced Vibration Aquatic Clean Energy (VIVACE), a device that uses water flow energy to generate electricity, has attracted much attention for its broad applicability and other advantages. Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) experiments were conducted to improve the efficiency of the VIVACE device in low-velocity areas. The present study investigated the effects of the Blockage ratio (Br), Reynolds number (Re = ρU0D/μ), and Aspect ratio (Ar = B/D, width-to-height) of rectangular cylinders on flow characteristics. The influence of the Ar, Br, and Re on the flow field structure was systematically analyzed in terms of the time-averaged flow field, Reynolds shear stress, space–time correlation, vorticity field, and water pressure characteristics. The vorticity field was deconstructed by Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD). The results show that the first two orders of POD modal energy accounted for 75% of the total energy, indicating that the first two modes can be used to identify the large-scale vortex structure. The main water pressure frequency and vortex shedding frequency (f) had a high degree of consistency. Thus, vortex shedding was the main cause of wall water pressure fluctuations. Given the blockage effect, the shear layer’s development spanwise was restricted. Moreover, the blockage effect increased the local flow velocity and accelerated the vortex shedding. The dimensionless time-averaged flow velocity U/U0 increased to 1.5, and the frequency of vortex shedding increased by approximately 25% when the Br increased from 0.067 to 0.25. The frequency increased by 25% when the Ar decreased from 0.5 to 0.2. The experimental results also provide a new idea for optimizing the VIVACE device

Combining Krafft Point and Volume Phase Transition Temperature Toward Regulation of Solar Radiation and Privacy Protection

Abstract Everlasting pursuit of high energy efficiency as well as meeting fluctuant temperatures raise various lighting requirements, which is driving the originality of thermochromic smart windows (SWs). SWs with dual‐temperature response upon rational designs are identified as an effective approach to regulate solar radiation and protect privacy. Here, combining the Krafft point (Tk) of ionic surfactants and the volume phase transition temperature (VPTT) of gels toward SW materials is utilized to achieve a transition of opacity‐transparence‐opacity as temperature change, maintaining transparency at an intermediate temperature range with favorable optical modulation parameters. Cationic surfactant, hexadecylpyridinium bromide (HPB), and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) are combined using Tk and VPTT to serve as the dual thermo‐responsive switches for regulating solar radiation and protecting privacy. Tk of HPB can be adjusted by adding salts and VPTT is turned by introducing hydrophilic and hydrophobic comonomer. This work provides a realizable pathway by which in situ adjustable parameters may be performed and operated in external environment conditions, completely changing the smart window materials

Polymorphism and Enzymatic Degradation of Poly(1,4-butylene adipate) and Its Binary Blends with Atactic Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and Poly(vinyl phenol)

The influence of atactic poly­(3-hydroxybutyrate) (aPHB) and poly­(vinyl phenol) (PVPh) on the crystallization, phase transition, and enzymatic degradation behaviors of poly­(1,4-butylene adipate) (PBA) was studied. It was found that both aPHB and PVPh can lower the critical temperature of neat α-PBA crystallization from 34 °C for neat PBA to 32 °C for the blends. Also the critical temperatures of neat β-PBA crystallization decrease from 28 °C for neat PBA to 26 and 24 °C for the PBA/aPHB and PBA/PVPh, respectively. Moreover, the β-to-α phase transition can be accelerated by incorporation of PVPh and aPHB. The β-to-α phase transition completes at 55 °C during heating process for neat PBA, while the temperatures for a complete β-to-α transition of PBA in PBA/aPHB and PBA/PVPh are 50 and 45 °C, respectively. This result should be attributed to the decreasing melting point of PBA in its blends with aPHB or PVPh. Therefore, the melting of the original β-PBA and accompanied recrystallization into α ones should take place earlier and more quickly in the blends than that in neat PBA. The analysis of enzymatic degradation demonstrates that the degradation of PBA can be affected by crystalline morphology and the molecular chain mobility of PBA in the amorphous region. The restricted mobility of amorphous PBA imposed by aPHB and PVPh can slow down the degradation rate of PBA in the blends. The higher <i>T</i>_g and stronger intermolecular interaction between PVPh and PBA result in the slowest degradation of PBA in the PBA/PVPh blend. Furthermore, in neat PBA, PBA/PVPh, or PBA/aPHB, the degradation rate of α-PBA crystals obtained via annealing is slower than that of α-PBA prepared by isothermal crystallization and even slower than that of β-PBA

D-π-A conjugated polymer dyes-covered TiO2 compact layers for enhancing photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

Three donor-conjugated units (triphenylamine (TPA)) and phenothiazine (PTZ))-side chain acceptor (cyanoacrylic acid (CAA)) donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) conjugated polymers with different conjugated units (thiophen and/or 3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) were rationally designed and synthesized. The electronic properties and energy levels could be effectively tuned via methodically altering the conjugated units of the resulted polymers (PTPAPTZ, PTPAPTZ-1 and PTPAPTZ-2). Regulating the molecular orbital energy levels can be considered as a direct and effective method to get bathchromic and broad spectra shifts in polymer dyes. Photoelectrochemical cells based on the dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) format were fabricated putting the polymers as sensitizers. Device based on PTPAPTZ-2 exhibits a power conversion efficiency of 4.71% with short circuit photocurrent density of 10.8 mA·cm, overrating all polymer DSSCs previously disclosed