ALMA Observation of NGC5135: The Circumnuclear CO(6-5) and Dust Continuum Emission at 45 Parsec Resolution[⋆\star]

We present high-resolution (0.17\arcsec $\times$ 0.14\arcsec) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the CO\,(6-5) line, and 435\um\ dust continuum emission within a $\sim$9\arcsec $\times$ 9\arcsec\ area centered on the nucleus of the galaxy NGC\,5135. NGC\,5135 is a well-studied luminous infrared galaxy that also harbors a Compton-thick active galactic nucleus (AGN). At the achieved resolution of 48 $\times$ 40\,pc, the CO\,(6-5) and dust emissions are resolved into gas "clumps" along the symmetrical dust lanes associated with the inner stellar bar. The clumps have radii between $\sim$45-180\,pc and CO\,(6-5) line widths of $\sim$60-88\,\kms. The CO\,(6-5) to dust continuum flux ratios vary among the clumps and show an increasing trend with the \FeII/Br-$\gamma$ ratios, which we interpret as evidence for supernova-driven shocked gas providing a significant contribution to the \co65\ emission. The central AGN is undetected in continuum, nor in CO\,(6-5) if its line velocity width is no less than $\sim$\,40\,\kms. We estimate that the AGN contributes at most 1\% of the integrated CO\,(6-5) flux of 512 $\pm$ 24$\,$Jy\kms\ within the ALMA field of view, which in turn accounts for $\sim$32\% of the CO\,(6-5) flux of the whole galaxy.Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap

Advanced Glycation End Products-Induced Activation of Keratinocytes: A Mechanism Underlying Cutaneous Immune Response in Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease, in which epidermal keratinocytes play a vital role in its pathogenesis by acting both as the responder and as the accelerator to the cutaneous psoriatic immune response. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a class of proinflammatory metabolites that are commonly accumulating in cardiometabolic disorders. Recent studies have also observed the increased level of AGEs in the serum and skin of psoriasis patients, but the role of AGEs in psoriatic inflammation has not been well investigated. In the present study, we initially detected abnormal accumulation of AGEs in epidermal keratinocytes of psoriatic lesions collected from psoriasis patients. Furthermore, AGEs promoted the proliferation of keratinocytes via upregulated Keratin 17 (K17)-mediated p27KIP1 inhibition followed by accelerated cell cycle progression. More importantly, AGEs facilitated the production of interleukin-36 alpha (IL-36α) in keratinocytes, which could enhance T helper 17 (Th17) immune response. In addition, the induction of both K17 and IL-36α by AGEs in keratinocytes was dependent on the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1/3 (STAT1/3) signaling pathways. At last, the effects of AGEs on keratinocytes were mediated by the receptor for AGEs (RAGE). Taken together, these findings support that AGEs potentiate the innate immune function of keratinocytes, which contributes to the formation of psoriatic inflammation. Our study implicates AGEs as a potential pathogenic link between psoriasis and cardiometabolic comorbidities

Analysis of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Polymorphisms in Vitiligo in Han Chinese People

Background: Vitiligo is a chronic depigmented skin disorder with regional melanocytes depletion. The pathogenesis was not completely clarified. Recently, more and more evidence suggested that polymorphisms of some genes are associated with vitiligo risk. Here, we want to examine the association between the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene polymorphisms and the risk of vitiligo in Chinese populations. Methods and Principal Findings: In a hospital-based case-control study of 749 patients with vitiligo and 763 age- and sexmatched healthy controls, three polymorphisms of iNOS gene were genotyped by using the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and mutagenically separated PCR (MS-PCR) methods, respectively. We found the iNOS-954 polymorphism was associated with a significantly higher risk of vitiligo (adjusted OR = 1.36, 95 % CI = 1.02–1.81). Furthermore, this association is more pronounced in vulgaris vitiligo, active vitiligo and vitiligo without other autoimmune diseases in the stratification study. Analysis of haplotypes showed increased risk for the C-1173C-954CEx16+14 (OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.01–1.74). In addition, the serum iNOS activity is significantly associated with iNOS-954 combined genotype (GC+CC) and is much higher in vitiligo patients than in the controls (P,0.01). Logistic regression analysis of iNOS activity showed increased risk between higher activity and iNOS-954 GRC variant genotype carriers (Ptrend,0.001). Conclusions and Significance: INOS gene polymorphisms may play an important role in the genetic susceptibility to th

The cold-induced lipokine 12,13-diHOME promotes fatty acid transport into brown adipose tissue

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige adipose tissue combust fuels for heat production in adult humans, and so constitute an appealing target for the treatment of metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes and hyperlipidemia1,2. Cold exposure can enhance energy expenditure by activating BAT, and it has been shown to improve nutrient metabolism3–5. These therapies, however, are time consuming and uncomfortable, demonstrating the need for pharmacological interventions. Recently, lipids have been identified that are released from tissues and act locally or systemically to promote insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance; as a class, these lipids are referred to as ‘lipokines’6–8. Because BAT is a specialized metabolic tissue that takes up and burns lipids and is linked to systemic metabolic homeostasis, we hypothesized that there might be thermogenic lipokines that activate BAT in response to cold. Here we show that the lipid 12,13-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acid (12,13-diHOME) is a stimulator of BAT activity, and that its levels are negatively correlated with body-mass index and insulin sensitivity. Using a global lipidomic analysis, we found that 12,13-diHOME was increased in the circulation of humans and mice exposed to cold. Furthermore, we found that the enzymes that produce 12,13-diHOME were uniquely induced in BAT by cold stimulation. The injection of 12,13-diHOME acutely activated BAT fuel uptake and enhanced cold tolerance, which resulted in decreased levels of serum triglycerides. Mechanistically, 12,13-diHOME increased fatty acid (FA) uptake into brown adipocytes by promoting the translocation of the FA transporters FATP1 and CD36 to the cell membrane. These data suggest that 12,13-diHOME, or a functional analog, could be developed as a treatment for metabolic disorders

Optimal configuration and economic operation of energy storage system considering photovoltaic consumption rate

The outstanding photovoltaic (PV) abandonment problem can be effectively solved by configuring energy storage (ES). The capacity configuration and operation control strategy of ES are the main difficulty in the economic operation of the system. In this paper, a comprehensive evaluation model is established to evaluate the economics of ES to improve PV consumption. Further, an ES capacity configuration method based on double-layer optimization is proposed. The upper optimization uses PV curtailment rate to determine the feasible region of ES capacity configuration. The comprehensive economic benefits are used as the inner optimization indicator to optimize the capacity configuration of ES. The ES charging and discharging strategy used in the paper can realize the efficient use of PV power. The simulation result proves the effectiveness of the proposed method

Combined detection of serum CTX‐II and C2C in a rat model of ACLT‐induced osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative bone and joint disease that often occurs in aging animals. Currently, there are still no biomarkers that can effectively diagnose OA in the early stage. To identify possible biomarkers, here we examined changes in the expression of C‐telopeptide fragments of type II collagen (CTX‐II) and collagenase generated carboxy‐terminal neoepitope of type II collagen (C2C) in serum at different time points in an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)‐induced rat OA model. The serum levels of CTX‐II and C2C, and the OARSI score in the ACLT group were increased from week two until the end of the experiment. The AUC of the combined biomarkers was higher than that of CTX‐II or C2C alone. Moreover, serum levels of CTX‐II and C2C were positively correlated with the OARSI score. The results suggest that the combined detection of serum CTX‐II and C2C concentrations may have potential for assessing and diagnosing OA at early stages

Research and practice of green highway construction technology system

Taking Guangji expressway as an example, this paper focuses on the goal of building “demonstration road of highway construction, demonstration road of green highway and demonstration road of quality engineering” in Jiangxi Province. It mainly describes the construction idea, realization way, characteristics, highlights and practical experience of demonstration project of Guangji green highway construction