Lipodystrophy - A Rare Condition with Serious Metabolic Abnormalities

Lipodystrophy is a rare lipid storage disorder that is characterized by a loss of adipose tissue. It can be inherited due to monogenic mutation or acquired by medication and autoimmune illness. Two primary forms of inherited lipodystrophy are congenital generalized lipodystrophy manifested as a near-complete loss of fat tissue since birth and familial partial lipodystrophy with progressive, partial loss of fat tissue during late childhood and puberty. Lipodystrophy results in severe metabolic conditions, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hepatosteatosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, acanthosis nigricans, and hypertension. This chapter summarizes the symptoms, causes, and treatments of inherited and acquired lipodystrophy

From a long-term dynamic perspective: how should internal carbon pricing be implemented?

Internal carbon pricing has the potential to positively influence enterprises’ carbon emissions. However, the strategies for implementing internal carbon pricing for enterprises and internal organizations remain unclear. In this study, employing a differential game research methodology, we design three implementation strategies for internal carbon pricing from a dynamic time perspective. Through comparative research and numerical analysis of these three different strategies’ effects on the changes in enterprise carbon emission reduction and goodwill, we find that for both enterprises’ carbon emission reduction and goodwill, Model C (implementing secondary investment for internal carbon fee collection) is optimal when the proportion of internal organizational revenue allocation is high and the proportion coefficient of internal carbon fee collection is low. When the proportion coefficient of internal carbon fee collection meets certain conditions, it makes the total profit of system under model C (implementing secondary investment for internal carbon fee collection) larger than the other two strategies. Due to short-sighted behavior, both enterprises’ profits and carbon emissions gradually decrease, leading to the internal carbon prices of enterprises under the three strategies will approach a stable value

Morphology and properties of thermal/cooling-gel bi-phasic systems based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and hydroxypropyl starch

The miscibility between two gels with largely different gelation behaviors is an interesting topic both scientifically and practically. This paper reports a novel bi-phasic system based on two natural polymers, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) which has a thermal gelation behavior, and hydroxypropyl starch (HPS) which has a cooling gelation property. While both biopolymers have the same glucose unit grafted with propylene oxide, and are compatible to a certain degree, they were observed immiscible because of their different gelation behaviors. The immiscibility of these two compatible polymers could result in special structures leading to different blend film properties. Regarding this, the morphology, thermal transition, mechanical properties and oxygen barrier property could be well tailored by the ratio of two biopolymers and the environmental conditions. The knowledge obtained from this work could be useful for understanding other similar systems with desirable structure and properties

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and hydroxypropyl starch : rheological and gelation effects on the phase structure of their mixed hydrocolloid system

It is common to hybridize biopolymers for developing materials with combined properties or functionality. However, biopolymers are usually not fully compatible despite their chemical similarity, posing challenges to create mixed systems. Herein, we investigated how the gelation behavior and rheological properties of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), a thermal gel, and hydroxypropyl starch (HPS), a cooling gel, affect their miscibility and the phase structure of their mixed system. The dependence of the zero-shear viscosity for HPMC/HPS paste on biopolymer concentration in a double-logarithmic coordinate can be divided into two parts with the slopes being 11.9 and 2.8 respectively, indicating different degrees of intermolecular entanglement. A typical “sea-island” morphology was shown in the blends, and the phase structure (continuous or discrete) changed with varying HPMC/HPS blend ratio and temperature. This phase structure change can be well correlated to rheological parameters such as zero-shear viscosity, loss tangent, complex viscosity, and the Arrhenius equation correction coefficient (α). Biopolymer concentration, HPMC/HPS ratio, and temperature together controlled rheological properties and phase distribution for the mixed system. The relationship between rheological behavior and phase structure for HPMC/HPS understood from this work provides an insight into designing mixed biopolymer systems with desirable processability, structure, and properties

The creative behavior of virtual idol fans: a psychological perspective based on MOA theory

Breakthroughs in digital technology are accelerating the development and commercialization of virtual idols. They are overturning the traditional one-way communication between idols and fans, turning fans into producers and consumers. Therefore, identifying the motivations for fan creation can regulate and guide the creative behavior of fans and turn their creativity into productivity. This paper took “the factors influencing fans’ spontaneous participation in creating virtual idols” as the primary research question, took the Motivation Opportunity Ability (MOA) theory as the research framework, used questionnaires as the primary research method, and combined the relevant research on motivation theory and self-determination theory to explore fans’ creative behavior from the psychological perspective in depth. The empirical tests revealed that in the motivation dimension, interest motivation, achievement motivation, social motivation, and utility motivation all positively influenced fans’ creative behavior; in the opportunity dimension, fans’ perceived cost had a significant negative moderating effect on the influence of interest motivation, social motivation, and utility motivation on fans’ creative behavior; fans’ perceived community atmosphere was substantial. The moderating effect of knowledge and skills on the capability dimension was insignificant. For the virtual idol industry, the future development of the industry could not only focus on IP image creation and content production but also effectively stimulate fans’ creative motivation through the creation of an excellent community atmosphere, the provision of targeted creator services, and the reduction of fans’ perceived costs in the creation process

Preliminary exploration of herbal tea products based on traditional knowledge and hypotheses concerning herbal tea selection: a case study in Southwest Guizhou, China

Background Herbal tea usually refers to “beverage plants that do not belong to the genus Camellia”, and it holds a significant historical legacy as a traditional beverage among specific regions and ethnic groups. In light of this, our research aims to investigate and analyze the traditional knowledge pertaining to herbal tea plants used by local peo- ple in the Qianxinan Buyi and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province. We also initiated preliminary efforts to create tea products from herbal tea leaves using various processing techniques. Additionally, we attempted to test hypotheses to elucidate how local people select herbal tea plants. Methods Data related to the use of herbal tea plants in this study were collected through semi-structured interviews and participatory observations in four villages in Qianxinan. Quantitative indicators, including the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and the relative importance (RI) value, were calculated, and the availability of plants was also evalu- ated. General linear model was performed to examine the relationship between the frequency of citation and resource availability, as well as the correlation between the relative frequency of citation and the relative impor- tance, to test both the resource availability hypothesis and the versatility hypothesis. Centella asiatica tea was pro- cessed using techniques from green tea, black tea and white tea, with a preliminary sensory evaluation conducted. Results A total of 114 plant species were documented as being used for herbal teas by local residents, represent- ing 60 families and 104 genera. Of these, 61% of herbal tea plants were found growing in the wild, and 11 species were exotic plants. The family with the highest number of species was Asteraceae (20 species). The study identified 33 major medicinal functions of herbal tea, with clearing heat-toxin and diuresis being the most common func- tions. General linear model revealed a strong correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.72, p < 0.001) between the fre- quency of citation and plant availability, as well as a significant correlation (correlation coefficient of 0.63, p < 0.001) between RFC and RI. Under different processing conditions, the characteristics of Centella asiatica tea exhibited varia- tions and were found to be suitable for consumption

Critical Role of Cysteine-Rich Protein 61 in Mediating the Activation of Renal Fibroblasts

ObjectiveTo explore the expression of cysteine-rich protein 61 (Cyr61) in ischemic renal fibrosis and the role of Cyr61 in mediating the activation of renal fibroblasts.Methods(1) The rat model of renal fibrosis was established after ischemia-reperfusion acute renal injury (IR-AKI). We detected the renal function by biochemical test, evaluated the fibrosis by Masson staining, and detected the expression of Cyr61 by western blotting. (2) Bioinformatics technique was adopted to analyze the expression of Cyr61 in activated renal fibroblasts. (3) Normal rat kidney fibroblast cells (NRK-49F cells) with over-expression of Cyr61 (Cyr61+) and low-expression of it (Cyr61--) were established by plasmid transfection. Then part of the cells were activated by TGF-β1 and NRK-49F cells were divided into control group, activated group, Cyr61+/Cyr61-- group and Cyr61+/Cyr61-- activated group. The expression of Cyr61 and fibrosis related factors (Col1α1, Col3α1, MMP9, and MMP13) were ascertained by PCR and western blotting. Cell proliferation was discovered by CCK8 method, cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry, and the transcription of cell senescence related factors (P53, P21, Rb, and P16) were ascertained by PCR method.Results(1) In the process of fibrosis after IR-AKI, the area of collagen fiber was most obviously at AKI 1W, while the Cyr61 protein was at the lowest level at AKI 1W. (2) Gene chip analysis showed that the expression of Cyr61 was decreased in renal fibroblasts after IR. (3) Compared with control group, Cyr61+ group expressed less Col1α1 or Col3α1, as well as more MMP9 and MMP13. At the same time, the proliferation of Cyr61+ group decreased and cells in G1 phases increased with more transcription of P53, P21, and Rb (all P &lt; 0.05). Compared with activated group, the results of Cyr61+ activated group were similar to the above. The above effects of low expression group were just the opposite. In addition, there was no difference in the transcription of P16 among these groups (P &gt; 0.05).ConclusionCyr61 may not only inhibit the fibrotic phenotype of fibroblasts, but may also inhibit proliferation by promoting fibroblasts arrest in G1 phase through the P53/P21/Rb interrelated cell senescence pathway, subsequently affecting the process of ischemic renal fibrosis