Ameliorating Effect of Ginkgolide B on Obese Mice

This study aims to explore the effect of ginkgolide B (GB) on obese mice. An obese C57BL/6J mice model was induced by high-fat diet firstly, and then the obese mice were divided into 4 groups according to body weight randomly: Positive model group (PG), GB low dose group (GBL), GB medium dose group (GBM) and GB high dose group (GBH). After 8-week intervention, the obesity-related indexes (weight change, visceral fat coefficient and serum indexes) of mice in each group were measured. Results showed that the weight gain of mice in GBM and GBH were significantly decreased than in PG (P<0.05), and the visceral fat coefficient of mice in GBH group was also reduced significantly (P<0.05) after GB treatment. Meanwhile, the serum indexes (TG, TC, LDL-C and HDL-C) of mice in GBM and GBH were obviously improved, especially in GBH. Besides, histopathologic findings showed that liver fat deposition was apparently reduced in GBM and GBH. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression level of PPARγ in liver of mice in GBM and GBH was significantly decreased (P<0.05) in comparison with PG, while the mRNA expression level of UCP-2 was significantly increased (P<0.05). In summary, this study demonstrated that GB of medium and high doses improved obesity in mice, and this ameliorating effect might be related to PPARγ-UCP-2 signaling pathway

A SVM-Based Text Classification System for Knowledge Organization Method of Crop Cultivation

Part 1: Decision Support Systems, Intelligent Systems and Artificial Intelligence ApplicationsInternational audienceThe organization of crop cultivation practices is still far from completion, and Web Resources are not used adequately. This paper proposed a method, based on SVM, to organize the knowledge of crop cultivation practices efficiently from Web Resources. The knowledge organization method of crop cultivation was proposed with Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in the application of the crop cultivation practices. It is that how to organize the existing crop cultivation knowledge, according to the requirements of crop cultivation practices. It mainly includes a text classification method and a search strategy on the knowledge of crop cultivation. For the text classification method, it used a text classification method based on SVM Decision Tree; for the search strategy, it used a strategy, organized by Ontology and custom knowledge bases. The experiment shows that performance of the proposed text classification method and the knowledge organization method with wheat, is workable and feasible

Two-Layer Optimal Operation of AC–DC Hybrid Microgrid Considering Carbon Emissions Trading in Multiple Scenarios

To address the problem of low-carbon, optimal operation of AC–DC hybrid microgrids, a carbon trading mechanism is introduced and the impact of multiple uncertainties on system optimization is considered. Firstly, a two-layer model with the comprehensive economy of the hybrid microgrid as the upper layer and the respective optimal operation of the AC and DC sub-microgrids as the lower layer is established and the demand-side response is introduced, based on which the uncertainty of the scenery load is simulated using the multiscenario analysis method. Then, the baseline method is used to allocate carbon emission allowances to the system without compensation, and the actual carbon emissions of diesel engines, microcombustion engines, and fuel cells are considered to construct a hybrid microgrid. Finally, the model is solved using the CPLEX solver in conjunction with the calculation example, and the simulation verifies the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed strategy in coordinating and optimizing the economy and low carbon of the system. The results show that when the carbon trading mechanism is considered, the carbon emission of the hybrid microgrid is reduced by 4.95%, the output power of the diesel generator is reduced by 5.14%, the output power of the fuel cell is reduced by 18.22%, but the electricity purchase from the power grid is increased by 38.91%. In addition, the influence degrees of the model considering the uncertainty of renewable energy and load are simulated. Furthermore, the impact of different electricity price models on optimal operation is evaluated, and the results show that electricity price will affect electricity purchase from the power grid and further affect carbon emissions

Comprehensive Control Strategy Considering Hybrid Energy Storage for Primary Frequency Modulation

The increase in the number of new energy sources connected to the grid has made it difficult for power systems to regulate frequencies. Although battery energy storage can alleviate this problem, battery cycle lives are short, so hybrid energy storage is introduced to assist grid frequency modulation. In this paper, a hybrid energy storage system composed of battery energy storage and super-capacitor energy storage systems was studied, and a comprehensive control strategy was proposed. Firstly, by setting the frequency dead zone of the energy storage to be smaller than that of the thermal power unit, the frequent action of the thermal power unit was avoided. Secondly, virtual inertial control and virtual droop control were effectively combined. Then, the state of charge of battery energy storage and super-capacitor energy storage was considered so that they could operate in harmony. Finally, a simulation model was built in MATLAB/SIMULINK, and case studies were conducted to verify the proposed control strategy. Results showed that the proposed control strategy could effectively reduce the frequency deviation of the power grid, and maintain the state of charge, reduce the number of operated batteries, and improve cycle life

Comprehensive Control Strategy Considering Hybrid Energy Storage for Primary Frequency Modulation

The increase in the number of new energy sources connected to the grid has made it difficult for power systems to regulate frequencies. Although battery energy storage can alleviate this problem, battery cycle lives are short, so hybrid energy storage is introduced to assist grid frequency modulation. In this paper, a hybrid energy storage system composed of battery energy storage and super-capacitor energy storage systems was studied, and a comprehensive control strategy was proposed. Firstly, by setting the frequency dead zone of the energy storage to be smaller than that of the thermal power unit, the frequent action of the thermal power unit was avoided. Secondly, virtual inertial control and virtual droop control were effectively combined. Then, the state of charge of battery energy storage and super-capacitor energy storage was considered so that they could operate in harmony. Finally, a simulation model was built in MATLAB/SIMULINK, and case studies were conducted to verify the proposed control strategy. Results showed that the proposed control strategy could effectively reduce the frequency deviation of the power grid, and maintain the state of charge, reduce the number of operated batteries, and improve cycle life

MACC1 regulates PDL1 expression and tumor immunity through the c‐Met/AKT/mTOR pathway in gastric cancer cells

Abstract Background Immunotherapy and its mechanisms are being studied in a wide variety of cancers. Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1) is associated with immune evasion in numerous tumor types. Here, we aimed to assess the relationship between metastasis associated in colon cancer‐1 (MACC1) and PDL1 and examine their effects on gastric cancer (GC) tumor immunity. Methods The expression of MACC1, c‐Met, and PDL1 in human GC tissues was first assessed using quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR) and immunohistochemistry. We then focused on the relationships among MACC1, c‐Met, and PDL1 using RT‐PCR and western blotting after cell transfection and inhibitor treatment in vitro and on the identification of their roles in immune killing in vitro and in vivo. Results We found that expression of MACC1, c‐Met, and PDL1 was upregulated in human GC tissues, and there was a positive correlation between the expression levels. In addition, we found that ectopic expression of MACC1 (silencing and overexpression by transfection) resulted in corresponding changes in c‐Met and PDL1 expression levels, and c‐Met/AKT/mTOR pathway inhibitors (SU11274, MK2206, and rapamycin) blocked the regulation of PDL1 expression by MACC1. Furthermore, silencing of MACC1 led to an increase in antitumor and immune killing in vitro and in vivo, and overexpression of MACC1 resulted in a decrease in tumor immunity in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions From these data, we infer that MACC1 regulates PDL1 expression and tumor immunity through the c‐Met/AKT/mTOR pathway in GC cells and suggest that MACC1 may be a therapeutic target for GC immunotherapy

Effects of Acupuncture on 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis in Mice

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Topical corticosteroids are the first-line therapy for ACD despite their significant adverse effects. Acupuncture has been widely used in the treatment of various skin diseases, but its underlying mechanism remains unrevealed. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of acupuncture treatment based on effectiveness and mechanism. BALB/c mice received 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) application to build AD-like model. Results showed that acupuncture was an effective treatment method in inhibiting inflammatory conditions, serum IgE levels, and expression of proinflammatory cytokine Th2 (IL-4, IL-6), and Th2 (IL-1β, TNF-α) mRNA compared with DNCB treatment. Acupuncture treatment also inhibited nuclear factor-κB p65, phosphorylation of IκBα, and phosphorylation of occludin proteins expression. Furthermore, it could improve the expression of epidermal growth factor in both mRNA and protein levels. These results suggest that acupuncture, as an alternative therapy treatment for its no significant side effects, was effective in alleviating ACD by reducing proinflammatory cytokines and changing proteins' expression

Melatonin Modulates Lipid Metabolism in Porcine Cumulus–Oocyte Complex via Its Receptors

Lipid is a crucial energy resource for mammalian oocyte. Melatonin could benefit the maturation of porcine oocyte in vitro, but the related mechanism is not elucidated yet. In the current study, methods to monitor lipid metabolism in single live oocytes were firstly established using probes (Lipi-Blue and Lipi-Green). It was observed that both lipid biogenesis and lipolysis occurred in maturing oocyte, but the general level of lipids dropped. Then maturing oocytes stained with probes were treated with melatonin or lipid metabolic-related inhibitors (triacsin C, rotenone, or etomoxir). The results showed that the lipid metabolism and maturation of porcine oocytes were all disrupted and that melatonin rescued the oocytes treated with triacsin C or rotenone, but not those treated with etomoxir. Further investigation demonstrated that cumulus cells are able to transfer lipids to oocytes via gap junctions. It was also observed that melatonin receptors exist in cumulus cells and are required for oocytes to maintain lipid metabolism. Meanwhile, the global gene expressing in cumulus cells was also modulated by melatonin, especially the genes related to antioxidants (SOD1, GPX1, GPX3, GPX4, PRDX2, and PRDX5), lipid metabolism (FABP3, FABP5, ACACB, TECR, etc.), and mitochondrial respiration (GPD1, ETFB, CYC1, and the genes of ATP synthase). Altogether the current research demonstrates that melatonin modulates lipid metabolism in maturing oocytes through its receptors in cumulus cells and benefits the developmental competence of oocytes

A Dual-Label Time-Resolved Fluorescence Immunoassay for the Simultaneous Determination of β-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Progesterone

<div><p>A dual-label time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay (TRFIA) for the simultaneous determination of β human chorionic gonadotropin and progesterone was developed for the early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. The performance of this assay was evaluated using clinical serum and then compared with standard procedures. The sensitivity for β human chorionic gonadotropin detection was 1 U/L (linear dynamic range, 0–8000 U/L), and the sensitivity for progesterone detection was 0.05 ng/mL (linear dynamic range, 0–50 ng/mL). High correlation coefficients (R²) were obtained between the reported immunoassay and standard methods (R² = 0.99 for β human chorionic gonadotropin, R² = 0.97 for progesterone). The present dual-label TRFIA has high sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in clinical analyses and is a suitable alternative to the single-labeled diagnostic methods.</p> </div