In vitro observation: the GFP-E. coli adhering to porcine erythrocytes can be removed by porcine alveolar macrophages

Although the activation of pathogen phagocytosis via complement system has been studied, erythrocyte-phagocyte interactions in pigs are not clearly understood. Therefore, we sought to investigate the ability of porcine erythrocytes to clear immune complexes (ICs) by using laser confocal microscopy and flow cytometry to observe the immune adhesion of porcine erythrocytes to fluorescent bacilli and the immune presentation process of transferring fluorescent bacilli to macrophages. Isolated porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) had uniform morphology and size, and a survival rate of 97.2%. The phagocytosis rate was 98.8%. After WT E. coli was labeled with Fluorescein Isothiocyanate (FITC), the bacteria showed a bright green fluorescence, and the labeling rate was 92.3%. When laser confocal microscopy was utilized to observe the co-incubation system of porcine erythrocytes, PAM, and fluorescent E. coli, the fluorescence intensity of bacilli decreased with increasing observation time and even disappeared. Flow Cytometry examination showed that the average fluorescence intensity of PAMs co-incubated with porcine erythrocytes adhered to WT-E. coli-FITC, was significantly higher than that of normal PAMs. Furthermore, when porcine erythrocytes adhered to WT E. coli were incubated with PAMs, the surface mean fluorescence intensity of porcine erythrocytes was significantly higher than that of the blank control group. This shows that PAMs can competitively bind to the oposinized E. coli adhered to the surface of porcine erythrocytes, and these oposinized pathogens can enter macrophages by the process of phagocytosis, which promoting the internalization of ICs or pathogens. During this process, the physical morphology of porcine erythrocytes was not damaged, but the levels of its main functional protein CR1-like were reduced

Analysis of the anti-PCV2 mechanism of Lactobacillus acidophilus based on non-target metabolomics and high-throughput molecular docking

Our previous studies have revealed that L. acidophilus possesses inhibitory effects on PCV2 proliferation in vivo, although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Probiotics like L. acidophilus are known to exert antiviral through their metabolites. Therefore, in this study, non-targeted metabolomics was used to detect the changes in metabolites of L. acidophilus after 24 h of proliferation. Subsequently, high-throughput molecular docking was utilized to analyze the docking scores of these metabolites with PCV2 Cap and Rep, aiming to identify compounds with potential anti-PCV2 effects. The results demonstrated that 128 compounds such as Dl-lactate were significantly increased. The results of high-throughput molecular docking indicated that compounds such as ergocristine, and telmisartan formed complexes with Cap and Rep, suggesting their potential anti-PCV2 properties. Furthermore, compounds like vitamin C, exhibit pharmacological effects consistent with L. acidophilus adding credence to the idea that L. acidophilus may exert pharmacological effects through its metabolites. These results will provide a foundation for the study of L. acidophilus

Hydraulic model of steady state multiphase flow in wellbore annuli

Based on the classification and flow behaviors of two phase flow in wellbore annuli, the hydraulic models for slug flow and annular flow in annuli for vertical or inclined wells were established, and the flow regime transition criteria were also obtained. Based on the flow behavior research of multiphase flow in wellbore annuli, the liquid film zone was used as the control volume, and the effect of the tubing liquid film, casing liquid film and the droplets in gas core area on the mass and momentum transfers were considered. The mass and momentum conservation equations of slug and annular flows were obtained. Then the evaluation criterion of flow pattern transitions were established, including dispersed flow to slug flow, bubble flow to slug flow and slug flow to annular flow. The model prediction results were compared under the experimental conditions from the previous literatures. The predictions of flow pattern, liquid holdup and pressure gradient were compared between the new model and the pipe flow model modified by using the hydraulic diameter. The results show that the flow pattern, liquid holdup and pressure gradient can be predicted by the new model more accurately, and the prediction of liquid holdup and pressure gradient are better. Key words: wellbore annuli, multiphase flow, hydraulic model, steady state, tubing liquid film, casing liquid fil

Two-Step Neural-Network-Based Fault Isolation for Stochastic Systems

This paper studies a fault isolation method for an optical fiber vibration source detection and early warning system. We regard the vibration sources in the system as faults and then detect and isolate the faults of the system based on a two-step neural network. Firstly, the square root B-spline expansion method is used to approximate the output probability density functions. Secondly, the nonlinear weight dynamic model is established through a dynamic neural network. Thirdly, the nonlinear filter and residual generator are constructed to estimate the weight, analyze the residual, and estimate the threshold, so as to detect, diagnose, and isolate the faults. The feasibility criterion of fault detection and isolation is given by using some linear matrix inequalities, and the stability of the estimation error system is proven according to the Lyapunov theorem. Finally, simulation experiments based on a optical fiber vibration source system are given to verify the effectiveness of this method

Extraction of Lignin from Wheat Straw by Catalysts in 1,4-Butanediol Medium under Atmospheric Pressure

Extraction of lignin from lignocellulosic materials in an autoclave using 1,4-butanediol medium has been examined by researchers. However, there has been no research on the extraction of lignin in a 1,4-butanediol medium at atmospheric pressure and no extraction of HBS lignin from wheat straw has been investigated. In this paper, lignin was isolated from wheat straw in 1,4-butanediol media (from 50% to 100%, v/v) that was catalyzed by H2SO4 or NaOH while refluxing under atmospheric pressure. Reaction time, liquid-solid ratio, the volume percentage of 1,4-butanediol, as well as catalysts were optimized to improve the lignin yield. The optimum extraction conditions were: 12-to-1 liquor-to-straw ratio of 80% 1,4-butanediol, 1.67% of H2SO4 or 0.83% of NaOH, and 3 h reaction time. The optimum yield of lignin was found to be 60.64%. Analysis with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, and thermogravimetry showed that the lignin obtained using the NaOH catalyst had fewer unconjugated C=O groups, fewer =C-O-C bonds, lower molecular weight, and was more thermally unstable than lignin obtained using the H2SO4 catalyst

Municipal solid wastes pyro-gasification using high-temperature flue gas as heating resource and gasifying agent

With the implementation of municipal solid wastes (MSW) source segregation collection policy, the combustible waste components are suitable for pyrolysis treatment to recover value-added energy such as gas or oil. In this research, the volatile compounds from MSW pyrolysis were reformed by the char obtained from the same process and the high-temperature flue gas (HTFG) of 1200 degrees C was supplying as heating resource and gasifying agent in a tailor-made experimental set-up. The final yields and properties of the syngas, char, and oil after reforming were investigated. Experimental studies showed that the composition of HTFG had a significant influence on the products. As the HTFG being CO2 and its flowrate increased from 0 to 4 L/min/(kgMSW), the energy share in the gas first increased from 8.29 to 15.1 MJ/(kgMSW) with a higher heat value (HHV) of 19.9 MJ/Nm3, then it decreased slightly with a further increase in the flowrate. However, as the HTFG was H2O or the model flue gas (consisting of CO2, H2O, O2 and N2), the higher flowrate always increased the energy share and cold gasification efficiency (CGE) in the gas products. Both CO2 and H2O participated the volatiles' reforming reactions and enhanced char gasification; while the volatiles' reforming inhibited char gasification. When the flowrate of the model flue gas increased from 0 to 12.04 L/min/(kgMSW), the oil and char yields decreased and the CGE increased to more than 75%, which was much higher than that from direct air gasification of MSW; moreover, the gas products had much higher HHVs. This research provides a guidance for producing high-quality syngas from the MSW

Homocysteine promotes vascular smooth muscle cell migration by induction of the adipokine resistin

Adipokines may represent a mechanism linking insulin resistance to cardiovascular disease. We showed previously that homocysteine (Hcy), an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, can induce the expression and secretion of resistin, a novel adipokine, in vivo and in vitro. Since vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration is a key event in vascular disease, we hypothesized that adipocyte-derived resistin is involved in Hcy-induced VSMC migration. To confirm our hypothesis, Sprague-Dawley rat aortic SMCs were cocultured with Hcy-stimulated primary rat epididymal adipocytes or treated directly with increasing concentrations of resistin for up to 24 h. Migration of VSMCs was investigated. Cytoskeletal structure and cytoskeleton-related proteins were also detected. The results showed that Hcy (300–500 μM) increased migration significantly in VSMCs cocultured with adipocytes but not in VSMC cultured alone. Resistin alone also significantly increased VSMC migration in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Resistin small interfering RNA (siRNA) significantly attenuated VSMC migration in the coculture system, which indicated that adipocyte-derived resistin mediates Hcy-induced VSMC migration. On cell spreading assay, resistin induced the formation of focal adhesions near the plasma membrane, which suggests cytoskeletal rearrangement via an α5β1-integrin-focal adhesion kinase/paxillin-Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1) pathway. Our data demonstrate that Hcy promotes VSMC migration through a paracrine or endocrine effect of adipocyte-derived resistin, which provides further evidence of the adipose-vascular interaction in metabolic disorders. The migratory action exerted by resistin on VSMCs may account in part for the increased incidence of restenosis in diabetic patients