Evaluation of Alpha-Ketoglutarate Supplementation on the Improvement of Intestinal Antioxidant Capacity and Immune Response in Songpu Mirror Carp (Cyprinus carpio) After Infection With Aeromonas hydrophila

As an intermediate substance of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and a precursor substance of glutamic acid synthesis, the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate on growth and protein synthesis has been extensively studied. However, its prevention and treatment of pathogenic bacteria and its mechanism have not yet been noticed. To evaluate the effects of alpha-ketoglutarate on intestinal antioxidant capacity and immune response of Songpu mirror carp, a total of 360 fish with an average initial weight of 6.54 ± 0.08 g were fed diets containing alpha-ketoglutarate with 1% for 8 weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, the fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila for 2 weeks. The results indicated that alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation significantly increased the survival rate of carp after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila (P < 0.05), and the contents of immune digestion enzymes including lysozyme, alkaline phosphatase and the concentration of complement C4 were markedly enhanced after alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation (P < 0.05). Also, appropriate alpha-ketoglutarate increased the activities of total antioxidant capacity and catalase and prevented the up-regulation in the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) were strikingly increased after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila (P < 0.05), while the TLR4 was strikingly decreased with alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation (P < 0.05). Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of tight junctions including claudin-1, claudin-3, claudin-7, claudin-11 and myosin light chain kinases (MLCK) were upregulated after alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation (P < 0.05). In summary, the appropriate alpha-ketoglutarate supplementation could increase survival rate, strengthen the intestinal enzyme immunosuppressive activities, antioxidant capacities and alleviate the intestinal inflammation, thereby promoting the intestinal immune responses and barrier functions of Songpu mirror carp via activating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB and MLCK signaling pathways after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila

Aquaporin-3 Attenuates Oxidative Stress-Induced Nucleus Pulposus Cell Apoptosis Through Regulating the P38 MAPK Pathway

Background/Aims: Previous studies have shown that oxidative damage is a main contributor to disc nucleus pulposus (NP) cell apoptosis. Aquaporin-3 (AQP-3) facilitates reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and thus alleviates oxidative injury in other cells. This study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of AQP-3 in regulating NP cell apoptosis under oxidative damage. Methods: Rat NP cells were treated with H2O2 for 48 hours, while control NP cells were free of H2O2. Recombinant AQP-3 lentiviral vectors were used to investigate the effect of enhanced AQP-3 expression levels in NP cells. NP cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry, caspase-3 activity, gene expression of apoptosis-related molecules (Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3), and protein expression of cellular apoptosis markers (cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3). Additionally, intracellular ROS content and activity of the p38 MAPK pathway were evaluated. Results: Compared with the control NP cells, oxidative damage in the treatment cells significantly increased cell apoptosis ratios and caspase-3 activity, upregulated gene expression of Bax and caspase-3, downregulated gene expression of Bcl-2, and increased protein expression of cleaved PARP and cleaved caspase-3, as well as increased intracellular ROS content and activity of the p38 MAPK pathway. However, AQP-3 overexpression partly alleviated cell apoptosis, decreased intracellular ROS content, and inhibited the p38 MAPK pathway in NP cells under oxidative damage. Conclusion: Oxidative damage can significantly downregulate AQP-3 expression. Enhancing AQP-3 expression in NP cells partly attenuates cellular apoptosis through regulating the p38 MAPK pathway under oxidative damage

Refusal of treatment among HER2-positive breast cancer patients in China: a retrospective analysis

BackgroundThere is a need to update the understanding of treatment refusal among cancer patients in China, taking into account recent developments. This study investigated how public insurance coverage of the first breast cancer targeted therapy contributed to the changes in treatment refusal among HER2-positive breast cancer patients in China. And it intensively examined and discussed additional barriers affecting patient utilization of innovative anticancer medicines based on the types and reasons for treatment refusal.MethodsThis retrospective study included female breast cancer patients diagnosed as HER2-positive who received treatment at a provincial oncology center in southern China between 2014 and 2020. Multivariable analysis was conducted using a binary logistic regression model. Subgroup analysis was performed with the same regression model.ResultsAmong the 1,322 HER2-positive breast cancer patients who received treatment at the study hospital between 2014 and 2020, 327 (24.55%) had ever refused treatment. Economic reasons were reported as the primary cause by 142 patients (43.43%). Patients diagnosed after September 2017, when the first breast cancer targeted therapy was included in the public health insurance, were less likely to refuse treatment (OR = 0.64, 95% CI:0.45 ~ 0.91, p = 0.01) compared to those diagnosed before September 2017. Patients enrolled in the resident health insurance were more likely to refuse treatment (OR = 2.43, 95% CI:1.77 ~ 3.35, p < 0.001) than those enrolled in the employee health insurance.ConclusionThis study reveals a high rate of treatment refusal among HER2-positive breast cancer patients, primarily attributed to financial factors. The disparity in public health insurance benefits resulted in a heavier economic burden for patients with less comprehensive benefits. Furthermore, the study identified challenges faced by patients seeking quality-assured cancer care in underdeveloped regions in China. By addressing economic barriers, promoting accurate health information, and improving cancer care capacity across the country can reduce the rate of treatment refusal

Charging load forecasting of electric vehicles based on sparrow search algorithm‐improved random forest regression model

Abstract In order to solve the problem that the current charging load forecasting accuracy is not high, it is difficult to simulate the actual charging load distribution of Electric Vehicles (EVs), and it is impossible to reasonably predict the future load, a charging load forecasting model based on Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA) improved Random Forest Regression (RFR) is proposed. The SSA is used to enhance the ability of global optimization and local exploration. Combined with the advantages of the RFR model, such as low generalization error, fast convergence speed, and few adjustment parameters, the SSA was used to optimize the parameters of the decision tree number and the number of split nodes in the RFR, and the optimal value of the parameters is obtained, so as to obtain the optimal performance of the RFR. Firstly, based on the concept of travel chain and conditional probability distribution, the user's travel habits are described. Monte Carlo simulation method was used to simulate the driving, parking, and charging behaviours of a large number of EVs in different regions, so as to obtain the charging load of EVs in different regions. Then, a charging load forecasting model based on SSA improved RFR is established. Monte Carlo simulation results are used as sample data to predict the charging load of EVs in different regions. Finally, taking a certain area as an example, the experimental results show that the charging load prediction model based on Sparrow Search Algorithm improved Random Forest Regression (SSA‐RFR) can accurately predict the charging load of EVs in different regions, and the charging load of different regional types is obviously different. Compared with the RFR model and other literature models, the SSA‐RFR model has better prediction accuracy, which verifies the feasibility and superiority of SSA‐RFR model in EVs charging load prediction

Highly Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen on CoS/TiO2 Photocatalysts from Aqueous Methanol Solution

The photocatalyzed water splitting reaction in aqueous methanol solution is an efficient preparation method for hydrogen and methanal under mild conditions. In this work, metal sulfide-loaded TiO2 photocatalysts for hydrogen and methanol production were synthesized by hydrothermal method (180°C/12 h) and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The crystal structures of the samples are the typical anatase phase of TiO2 and exhibit a spherical morphology. When TiO2 was loaded with CoS, ZnS, and Bi2S3, respectively, the resulting catalysts showed photocatalytic activities for water decomposition to hydrogen in aqueous methanol solution under 300 W Xe lamp irradiation. Among the photocatalysts with various compositions, the 20 wt% CoS/TiO2 sample with a 2.1 eV band gap showed the maximum photocatalytic activity for the photocatalytic reaction, which indicated that CoS improved the separation ratio of photoexcited electrons and holes. The enhanced activity can be attributed to the intimate junctions that are formed between CoS and TiO2, which can reduce the electron-hole recombination. The production rate of hydrogen with 20 wt% CoS/TiO2 photocatalyst was about 5.6 mmol/g/h, which was 67 times higher than that of pure TiO2. The formation rate of HCHO was 1.9 mmol/g/h with 98.7% selectivity. Moreover, the CoS/TiO2 photocatalyst demonstrated good reusability and stability. In the present study, it is demonstrated that CoS can act as an effective cocatalyst to enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen and methanal production activity of TiO2. The highly improved performance of the CoS/TiO2 composite was mainly ascribed to the efficient charge separation

Effect of Bacillus megaterium-Coated Diets on the Growth, Digestive Enzyme Activity, and Intestinal Microbial Diversity of Songpu Mirror Carp Cyprinus specularis Songpu

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a Bacillus megaterium-coated diet on growth performance, digestive enzymes, and intestinal microbial diversity in Songpu mirror carp (Cyprinus specularis Songpu). The fish were manually fed two diets (a control diet and a B. megaterium-coated diet) three times daily until apparent satiation for 56 days. Compared with the control group, supplementation with the B. megaterium-coated diet enhanced the fish growth and significantly reduced the feed conversion ratio (P0.05). The results of sequencing the 16S rDNA genes of the microbiota through high-throughput sequencing showed that the diversity and abundance of the intestinal microflora increased along with Songpu mirror carp growth. The Songpu mirror carp fed a diet coated with B. megaterium displayed increased proportions of intestinal Bacillus and Lactococcus at the genus level, and both were significantly higher than those of the control group (P<0.05). These results therefore suggest that dietary B. megaterium application can improve the growth and digestive enzyme activity of Songpu mirror carp and enrich the beneficial genus composition of its main intestinal microflora

Isolation, Identification, and Optimization of Culture Conditions of a Bioflocculant-Producing Bacterium Bacillus megaterium SP1 and Its Application in Aquaculture Wastewater Treatment

A bioflocculant-producing bacterium, Bacillus megaterium SP1, was isolated from biofloc in pond water and identified by using both 16S rDNA sequencing analysis and a Biolog GEN III MicroStation System. The optimal carbon and nitrogen sources for Bacillus megaterium SP1 were 20 g L−1 of glucose and 0.5 g L−1 of beef extract at 30°C and pH 7. The bioflocculant produced by strain SP1 under optimal culture conditions was applied into aquaculture wastewater treatment. The removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), and suspended solids (SS) in aquaculture wastewater reached 64, 63.61, and 83.8%, respectively. The volume of biofloc (FV) increased from 4.93 to 25.97 mL L−1. The addition of Bacillus megaterium SP1 in aquaculture wastewater could effectively improve aquaculture water quality, promote the formation of biofloc, and then form an efficient and healthy aquaculture model based on biofloc technology

Optimal Hedging Rules for Water Supply Reservoir Operations under Forecast Uncertainty and Conditional Value-at-Risk Criterion

Hedging rules for water supply reservoir operations provide guidelines for balancing the consequences of competing water allocations. When inflow forecast uncertainty is addressed, hedging acts as insurances for offsetting the negative influence of water shortage in the future, especially when drought is anticipated. This study used a risk-averse criterion, the conditional value-at-risk (CVaR), rather than the expected value (EV) criterion, to rationalize water delivery for overcoming the shortcomings of risk-neutral hedging rules in minimizing water shortage impacts in unfavorable realizations, in which actual inflow is less than anticipated. A two-period hedging model with the objective of maximizing the CVaR of total benefits from water delivery and water storage is established, and the optimal hedging rules using first-order optimality condition are analytically derived. Differences in hedging rules under the two criteria are highlighted by theoretical analysis and numerical experiments. The methods are applied to guide the operations of a water supply reservoir, and results show that: (1) the hedging rules under the EV criterion are special cases under the CVaR criterion; (2) water delivery in the current period would be greatly curtailed under the high influence of forecast uncertainty or the significant risk-averse attitude of decision makers; (3) hedging to maximize the CVaR of total benefit is at the cost of reducing the EV of total benefit; and (4) in real-time operations, compared with the hedging policies under the EV criterion, the hedging policies under the CVaR criterion would be more effective when applied to dry and extremely dry hydrological conditions, especially when inflow is overestimated. These implications provide new insights into rationing water supply and risk aversion