Action Mechanism of Inhibin α-Subunit on the Development of Sertoli Cells and First Wave of Spermatogenesis in Mice

Inhibin is an important marker of Sertoli cell (SC) activity in animals with impaired spermatogenesis. However, the precise relationship between inhibin and SC activity is unknown. To investigate this relationship, we partially silenced both the transcription and translation of the gene for the α-subunit of inhibin, Inha, using recombinant pshRNA vectors developed with RNAi-Ready pSIREN-RetroQ-ZsGreen Vector (Clontech Laboratories, Mountain View, Calif). We found that Inha silencing suppresses the cell-cycle regulators Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E and up-regulates the cell-cycle inhibitor P21 (as detected by Western blot analysis), thereby increasing the number of SCs in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and decreasing the amount in the S-phase of the cell cycle (as detected by flow cytometry). Inha silencing also suppressed Pdgfa, Igf1, and Kitl mRNA levels and up-regulated Tgfbrs, Inhba, Inhbb, Cyp11a1, Dhh, and Tjp1 mRNA levels (as indicated by real-time polymerase chain reaction [PCR] analysis). These findings indicate that Inha has the potential to influence the availability of the ligand inhibin and its antagonist activin in the SC in an autocrine manner and inhibit the progression of SC from G1 to S. It may also participate in the development of the blood–testis barrier, Leydig cells, and spermatogenesis through its effect on Dhh, Tjp1, Kitl, and Pdgfa. Real-time PCR and Western blot analyses of Inha, Inhba, and Inhbb mRNA and Inha levels over time show that Inha plays an important role in the formation of round spermatid during the first wave of spermatogenesis in mice

Wind-thermal systems operation optimization considering emission problem

This paper proposes a hybrid computational framework based on Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to address the Combined Unit Commitment and Emission (CUCE) problem. By considering a model which includes both thermal generators and wind farms, the proposed hybrid computational framework can minimize the scheduling cost and greenhouse gases emission cost. The viability of the proposed hybrid technique is demonstrated using a set of numerical case studies. Moreover, comparisons are performed with other optimization algorithms. The simulation results show that our hybrid method is better in terms of the speed and accuracy. The main contribution of this paper is the development of a emission unit commitment model integrating with wind energy and combining the SQP and PSO methods to achieve faster and better performance optimizatio

Cooperative dispatch of BESS and wind power generation considering carbon emission limitation in Australia

Emami, K ORCiD: 0000-0001-5614-4861Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission. In this paper, an intelligent economic dispatch (ED) model integrating wind energy, carbon tax, and battery energy storage system (BESS) is developed. BESS is incorporated with wind generation to reduce fluctuation of wind energy output. To verify the suitable storage size for the Australian power grid, a sensitivity analysis is performed with different levels of BESS. Carbon tax is also considered to reduce carbon emissions in the proposed ED scheme. A hybrid computational framework based on quantum-inspired particle swarm optimization (QPSO) is proposed to achieve faster and better optimization performance, and its viability demonstrated on a simplified 14-generator model of the Australian power system using a set of case studies. The proposed dispatch model can minimize the generating cost and enhance renewable power consumption capacity. © 2015 IEEE

Cooperative dispatch of BESS and wind power generation considering carbon emission limitation in Australia

Personal use is permitted, but republication/redistribution requires IEEE permission. In this paper, an intelligent economic dispatch (ED) model integrating wind energy, carbon tax, and battery energy storage system (BESS) is developed. BESS is incorporated with wind generation to reduce fluctuation of wind energy output. To verify the suitable storage size for the Australian power grid, a sensitivity analysis is performed with different levels of BESS. Carbon tax is also considered to reduce carbon emissions in the proposed ED scheme. A hybrid computational framework based on quantum-inspired particle swarm optimization (QPSO) is proposed to achieve faster and better optimization performance, and its viability demonstrated on a simplified 14-generator model of the Australian power system using a set of case studies. The proposed dispatch model can minimize the generating cost and enhance renewable power consumption capacity. © 2015 IEEE

The adult human testis transcriptional cell atlas

Human adult spermatogenesis balances spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) self-renewal and differentiation, alongside complex germ cell-niche interactions, to ensure long-term fertility and faithful genome propagation. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of similar to 6500 testicular cells from young adults. We found five niche/somatic cell types (Leydig, myoid, Sertoli, endothelial, macrophage), and observed germline-niche interactions and key human-mouse differences. Spermatogenesis, including meiosis, was reconstructed computationally, revealing sequential coding, non-coding, and repeat-element transcriptional signatures. Interestingly, we identified five discrete transcriptional/developmental spermatogonial states, including a novel early SSC state, termed State 0. Epigenetic features and nascent transcription analyses suggested developmental plasticity within spermatogonial States. To understand the origin of State 0, we profiled testicular cells from infants, and identified distinct similarities between adult State 0 and infant SSCs. Overall, our datasets describe key transcriptional and epigenetic signatures of the normal adult human testis, and provide new insights into germ cell developmental transitions and plasticity