Combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs in treating model rats with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

We explored the effects of combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs in treating model rats with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and to explore whether acupuncture has positive effects on the absorption of salvianolic acid B in the extracts of a Chinese medicine formula when treating the model rats. 60 female Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into Groups A, B, C, D, E and F, with ten rats in each group. Except Group F, all of the other rats were induced to PCOS with oral administration of letrozole. The rats in Group F served as normal controls. Group A was treated with acupuncture. Group B was treated with oral administration of the extracts of the Chinese medicine formula. Group C was treated with a combination of oral administration of the extracts of Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Group D received western medicine as positive controls. After treatment, the serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH) and testosterone (T) in each group were detected with the Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) and the serum concentration of salvianolic acid B were determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The serum levels of T and the ratio of LH/FSH in Group A, B. C, D, and F were significantly lower than those of Group E, indicating the model rats with PCOS were successfully established. Compared with Groups A, B, D and E, the serum levels of T and the ratio of LH/FSH in Group C were significantly lower respectively, indicating combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs can significantly enhance curative effects in treating model rats with PCOS. The concentration of serum salvianolic acid Group C was significantly higher than Group B, indicating that acupuncture might improve the absorption of salvianolic acid B from the extracts of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge in the Chinese medicine formula. Combination of acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs significantly enhance curative effects in treating model rats with PCOS and acupuncture has positive effects in improving the absorption of salvianolic acid B in the extracts of the Chinese medicine formula when treating the model rats with PCOS.Key words: Acupuncture; Chinese medicine; Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).doi: 10.4314/ajtcam.v8i4.

Gate-Voltage Control of Chemical Potential and Weak Anti-localization in Bismuth Selenide

We report that Bi$_2$Se$_3$ thin films can be epitaxially grown on SrTiO$_{3}$ substrates, which allow for very large tunablity in carrier density with a back-gate. The observed low field magnetoconductivity due to weak anti-localization (WAL) has a very weak gate-voltage dependence unless the electron density is reduced to very low values. Such a transition in WAL is correlated with unusual changes in longitudinal and Hall resistivities. Our results suggest much suppressed bulk conductivity at large negative gate-voltages and a possible role of surface states in the WAL phenomena. This work may pave a way for realizing three-dimensional topological insulators at ambient conditions.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures

Extreme Sensitivity of Superconductivity to Stoichiometry in FeSe (Fe1+dSe)

The recently discovered iron arsenide superconductors, which display superconducting transition temperatures as high as 55 K, appear to share a number of general features with high-Tc cuprates, including proximity to a magnetically ordered state and robustness of the superconductivity in the presence of disorder. Here we show that superconductivity in Fe1+dSe, the parent compound of the superconducting arsenide family, is destroyed by very small changes in stoichiometry. Further, we show that non-superconducting Fe1+dSe is not magnetically ordered down to low temperatures. These results suggest that robust superconductivity and immediate instability against an ordered magnetic state should not be considered as intrinsic characteristics of iron-based superconducting systems, and that Fe1+dSe may present a unique opportunity for determining which materials characteristics are critical to the existence of superconductivity in high Tc iron arsenide superconductors and which are not.Comment: Updated to reflect final version and include journal referenc

Feasibility Study of a Facility to Produce Injection Molded Parts for Automotive Industry

[EN] This study aims at the preliminary assessment in designing a complete stand-alone industrial facility to produce injection molded parts for the automotive industry. A draft design solution to allow the company to evaluate the capital investment was performed giving an estimated solution in project profitability. Proposed successive design steps were developed. It includes the definition of input data and information, quantity determination, plat layout diagrams, machine selection, selection of material handling equipment, plant layout design including space requirements of production centers, aísles, support functions. Moreover, the outdoor facility masterplan design is also proposed. Finally, investment calculation via cash flow analysis is calculated.Yudianto, A.; Tan, H.; Qu, Z.; Xue, Q.; Naveen, A.; Mushtaq, M.; Gopi, K. (2020). Feasibility Study of a Facility to Produce Injection Molded Parts for Automotive Industry. 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Feasibility study on energy audit and data driven analysis procedure for building energy efficiency: bench-marking in Korean hospital buildings. Journal Energy 12(15), 3006. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12153006Jung, S., Ng, D., Ovalle, C. D., Roman, R, V., Mannan, M. S. (2011). New approach to optimizing the facility sitting and layout for fire and explosion scenarios. I&EC research Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, 50, 3928-3937. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie101367gKingenberg, W., Boksma, J. D. (2010). A conceptual framework for outsourcing of material handling activities in automotive: differentiation and implementation. International Journal of Production Research, 48(16), 4877-4899. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207540903067177Kovàcs, G. (2019). Layout design for efficiency improvement and cost reduction. Bull. Pol. Ac.: Tech., 67(3), 547-555. https://doi.org/10.24425%2Fbpasts.2019.129653Ma, T., Yang, H., Lu. L., Qi, R. (2017). 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An effective approach for scheduling of refining process with uncertain iterations in steel-making and continuous casting process. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 48(3), 1966-1972. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2015.06.376Yang, Z., Djurdjanovic, D., Ni, J. (2007). Maintenance scheduling for a manufacturing system of machines with adjustable throughput. IIE Transactions, 39, 1111-1125. https://doi.org/10.1080/0740817070131533