Algebraicity of hypergeometric functions with arbitrary parameters

We provide a complete classification of the algebraicity of (generalized) hypergeometric functions with no restriction on the set of their parameters. Our characterization relies on the interlacing criteria of Christol (1987) and Beukers-Heckman~(1989) for globally bounded and algebraic hypergeometric functions, however in a more general setting which allows arbitrary complex parameters with possibly integral differences. We also showcase the adapted criterion on a variety of different examples.Comment: 21 page

Normal forms of ordinary linear differential equations in arbitrary characteristic

Fuchs' Theorem on the solutions of ordinary linear differential equations with regular singularities is extended to positive characteristic by proving a normal form theorem for the respective linear differential operators. This yields an explicit algorithm to compute a basis of solutions in characteristic p.Comment: 40 page

Flexible-step Model Predictive Control based on generalized Lyapunov functions

We present a novel model predictive control (MPC) scheme with relaxed stability criteria, based on the idea of generalized discrete-time control Lyapunov functions. Most notably, this scheme allows for implementing a flexible number of control inputs in each iteration, while guaranteeing recursive feasibility and stability. The advantages of our flexible-step implementation are demonstrated on nonholonomic systems, where the one-step standard implementation may suffer from lack of asymptotic convergence.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figure

Evidence that the multiflorine‐derived substituted quinazolidine 55P0251 augments insulin secretion and lowers blood glucose via antagonism at α2‐adrenoceptors in mice

To investigate the mechanism of action of 55P0251, a novel multiflorine‐derived substituted quinazolidine that augments insulin release and lowers blood glucose in rodents, but does not act via mechanisms addressed by any antidiabetic agent in clinical use.Materials and MethodsUsing male mice, we determined the effects of 55P0251 on glucose tolerance, insulin secretion from isolated islets and blood oxygen saturation, including head‐to‐head comparison of 55P0251 to its inverted enantiomer 55P0250, as well as to other anti‐hyperglycaemic multiflorine derivatives discovered in our programme.Results55P0251 was clearly superior to its inverted enantiomer in the glucose tolerance test (area under the curve: 11.3 mg/kg 55P0251, 1.19 ± 0.04 min*mol/L vs 55P0250, 1.80 ± 0.04 min*mol/L; P P P ConclusionsOur findings suggest that 55P0251 and related multiflorine derivatives are to be categorized as α2‐adrenoceptor antagonists with potential to lower blood glucose by blocking α2A‐adrenoceptors on pancreatic β cells.</p

Exercise training and selenium or a combined treatment ameliorates aberrant expression of glucose and lactate metabolic proteins in skeletal muscle in a rodent model of diabetes

Exercise training (ET) and selenium (SEL) were evaluated either individually or in combination (COMBI) for their effects on expression of glucose (AMPK, PGC-1α, GLUT-4) and lactate metabolic proteins (LDH, MCT-1, MCT-4, COX-IV) in heart and skeletal muscles in a rodent model (Goto-Kakisaki, GK) of diabetes. Forty GK rats either remained sedentary (SED), performed ET, received SEL, (5 µmol·kg body wt-1·day-1) or underwent both ET and SEL treatment for 6 wk. ET alone, SEL alone, or COMBI resulted in a significant lowering of lactate, glucose, and insulin levels as well as a reduction in HOMA-IR and AUC for glucose relative to SED. Additionally, ET alone, SEL alone, or COMBI increased glycogen content and citrate synthase (CS) activities in liver and muscles. However, their effects on glycogen content and CS activity were tissue-specific. In particular, ET alone, SEL alone, or COMBI induced upregulation of glucose (AMPK, PGC-1α, GLUT-4) and lactate (LDH, MCT-1, MCT-4, COX-IV) metabolic proteins relative to SED. However, their effects on glucose and lactate metabolic proteins also appeared to be tissue-specific. It seemed that glucose and lactate metabolic protein expression was not further enhanced with COMBI compared to that of ET alone or SEL alone. These data suggest that ET alone or SEL alone or COMBI represent a practical strategy for ameliorating aberrant expression of glucose and lactate metabolic proteins in diabetic GK rats

Life Under Hypoxia Lowers Blood Glucose Independently of Effects on Appetite and Body Weight in Mice

Blood glucose and the prevalence of diabetes are lower in mountain than lowland dwellers, which could among other factors be due to reduced oxygen availability. To investigate metabolic adaptations to life under hypoxia, male mice on high fat diet (HFD) were continuously maintained at 10% O2. At variance to preceding studies, the protocol was designed to dissect direct metabolic effects from such mediated indirectly via hypoxia-induced reductions in appetite and weight gain. This was achieved by two separate control groups on normal air, one with free access to HFD, and one fed restrictedly in order to obtain a weight curve matching that of hypoxia-exposed mice. Comparable body weight in restrictedly fed and hypoxic mice was achieved by similar reductions in calorie intake (−22%) and was associated with parallel effects on body composition as well as on circulating insulin, leptin, FGF-21, and adiponectin. Whereas the effects of hypoxia on the above parameters could thus be attributed entirely to blunted weight gain, hypoxia improved glucose homeostasis in part independently of body weight (fasted blood glucose, mmol/l: freely fed control, 10.2 ± 0.7; weight-matched control, 8.0 ± 0.3; hypoxia, 6.8 ± 0.2; p &lt; 0.007 each; AUC in the glucose tolerance test, mol/l*min: freely fed control, 2.54 ± 0.15; weight-matched control, 1.86 ± 0.08; hypoxia, 1.67 ± 0.05; p &lt; 0.05 each). Although counterintuitive to lowering of glycemia, insulin sensitivity appeared to be impaired in animals adapted to hypoxia: In the insulin tolerance test, hypoxia-treated mice started off with lower glycaemia than their weight-matched controls (initial blood glucose, mmol/l: freely fed control, 11.5 ± 0.7; weight-matched control, 9.4 ± 0.3; hypoxia, 8.1 ± 0.2; p &lt; 0.02 each), but showed a weaker response to insulin (final blood glucose, mmol/l: freely fed control, 7.0 ± 0.3; weight-matched control, 4.5 ± 0.2; hypoxia, 5.5 ± 0.3; p &lt; 0.01 each). Furthermore, hypoxia weight-independently reduced hepatic steatosis as normalized to total body fat, suggesting a shift in the relative distribution of triglycerides from liver to fat (mg/g liver triglycerides per g total fat mass: freely fed control, 10.3 ± 0.6; weight-matched control, 5.6 ± 0.3; hypoxia, 4.0 ± 0.2; p &lt; 0.0004 each). The results show that exposure of HFD-fed mice to continuous hypoxia leads to a unique metabolic phenotype characterized by improved glucose homeostasis along with evidence for impaired rather than enhanced insulin sensitivity

Paraoxonase-1 is related to inflammation, fibrosis and PPAR delta in experimental liver disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme synthesized by the liver. It protects against liver impairment and attenuates the production of the pro-inflammatory monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). We investigated the relationships between hepatic PON1 and MCP-1 expression in rats with liver disease and explored the possible molecular mechanisms involved.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>CCl₄was administered for up to 12 weeks to induce liver damage. Serum and hepatic levels of PON1 and MCP-1, their gene and protein expression, nuclear transcription factors, and histological and biochemical markers of liver impairment were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>High levels of PON1 and MCP-1 expression were observed at 12^thweek in the hepatocytes surrounding the fibrous septa and inflammatory areas. CCl₄-administered rats had an increased hepatic PON1 concentration that was related to decreased gene transcription and inhibited protein degradation. Decreased PON1 gene transcription was associated with PPARδ expression. These changes were accompanied by increased hepatic MCP-1 concentration and gene expression. There were significant direct relationships between hepatic PON1 and MCP-1 concentrations (P = 0.005) and between PON1 and the amount of activated stellate cells (P = 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results from this experimental model suggest a hepato-protective role for PON1 against inflammation, fibrosis and liver disease mediated by MCP-1.</p

Getting to the heart of the matter: Does aberrant interoceptive processing contribute towards emotional eating?

According to estimates from Public Health England, by 2034 70% of adults are expected to be overweight or obese, therefore understanding the underpinning aetiology is a priority. Eating in response to negative affect contributes towards obesity, however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. Evidence that visceral afferent signals contribute towards the experience of emotion is accumulating rapidly, with the emergence of new influential models of ‘active inference’. No longer viewed as a ‘bottom up’ process, new interoceptive facets based on ‘top down’ predictions have been proposed, although at present it is unclear which aspects of interoception contribute to aberrant eating behaviour and obesity. Study one examined the link between eating behaviour, body mass index and the novel interoceptive indices; interoceptive metacognitive awareness (IAw) and interoceptive prediction error (IPE), as well as the traditional measures; interoceptive accuracy (IAc) and interoceptive sensibility (IS). The dissociation between these interoceptive indices was confirmed. Emotional eaters were characterised by a heightened interoceptive signal but reduced meta-cognitive awareness of their interoceptive abilities. In addition, emotional eating correlated with IPE; effects that could not be accounted for by differences in anxiety and depression. Study two confirmed the positive association between interoceptive accuracy and emotional eating using a novel unbiased heartbeat discrimination task based on the method of constant stimuli. Results reveal new and important mechanistic insights into the processes that may underlie problematic affect regulation in overweight populations

What is the most promising heat concept from an investor perspective, for a biomass CHP plant in Croatia considering its technical and economic feasibility?

According to experience from the past, heat concepts for biomass combined heat and power (CHP) plants are necessary. Partially, according to valid feed-in tariff laws, already mandatory. The necessity derives from the economic side, where higher fuel input prices requires an additional income, and from the energetic side. A total efficiency of 25-35% is not state of the art any more. The motivator for this work, to find an answer to these questions in the master thesis, was a specific project, where an evaluation of different solutions have not been conducted but a high interest about the best solution still exists. The path to come closer to the answer was decided to be from an investor-s point of view and to look onto a project through his eyes. For those projects, which are obliged to have a heat concept, the availability of a feasible solution is mandatory to even be able to realize the project. Missing heat concepts could have already hindered the development or implementation in the past. The core questions to be answered is: a.) What is the most promising heat concept from an investor-s perspective for a biomass CHP plant in Croatia, considering its technical and economic feasibility? b.) Would the implementation of a district cooling network be feasible in Zagreb? What would be the lowest national electricity price for compressor chiller as alternative solution, to still create a breakeven of heat absorber solution? Main driver for renewable energy projects are the political frame conditions. These framework need to be analysed first, to form the project basement. Following that, the biomass CHP project need to be described to further define the characteristic of the heat, which should be used in a next stage heat concept. Beforehand with the investor, the heat concepts to be investigated in this master thesis, were defined. Beside fancy ones, the decision were on realistic possible projects, where also the investor would have an interest in the realization and the project fits to his portfolio. The pre-selected solutions are: 1. Building up an own district heating system 2. Installation of pellets production plant and use the heat for biomass drying 3. Heat use for cooling networks (Tri-Generation) To fulfil the criteria of the feed in tariff, minimum 50% efficiency must be reached. Out of the CHP project, the heat supply of 40.000 MWh/a is defined as minimum which need to be used. For each of the heat concepts, the technical solution is developed, investigated through literature research, own sources and experience, and finally summarized and described in this master thesis. To enable the comparison, an economic calculation according to NPV method is conducted. The main aim is a general comparison of the different solutions. According to the result, a detailed analyse need to be undertaken before realization. The result of this master thesis, as most promising heat concept, the implementation of a pellet production unit next to the biomass CHP plant turned out. The development of a district heating network seems not feasible due to necessary high heat prices to pay back the huge investment costs resulting in a wide village structure. A tri-generation is not possible due to missing heat consumers in Jasenovac coming from to the consumer structure, but would be feasible in a town structure with huge cool energy consumer in a narrow area. If an electrical driven chiller is compared with an absorption chiller, in case the installed district heating network sells also heat during heating season, the absorption variant serves better economic feasibility. Looking into a comparison of just cooling then the electrical driven solution is better and the electricity price need to be 5 times higher to reach equal feasible results of the absorption chiller. The conclusion which can be drawn, is that a state of the art biomass CHP plant needs to have a heat concept to reach an efficiency of 50% or higher. In Eastern Europe where a district heating system does not already exist, a heat concept is difficult to realize. However, there are solutions available. For every solution, the focus should be on the affordable energy price for the population, which will offtake the material produced, or the heat supplied. The best solution of a heat concept is the production of a separate good, which is also a renewable energy carrier, easily stored and transported which is needed by Central and Western Europe and can be finally used in the country of origin itself if the demand is created.10