Amino acids contribute to adaptive thermogenesis. New insights into the mechanisms of action of recent drugs for metabolic disorders are emerging

Adaptive thermogenesis is the heat production by muscle contractions (shivering thermogenesis) or brown adipose tissue (BAT) and beige fat (non-shivering thermogenesis) in response to external stimuli, including cold exposure. BAT and beige fat communicate with peripheral organs and the brain through a variegate secretory and absorption processes − controlling adipokines, microRNAs, extracellular vesicles, and metabolites − and have received much attention as potential therapeutic targets for managing obesity-related disorders. The sympathetic nervous system and norepinephrine-releasing adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) activate uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), expressed explicitly in brown and beige adipocytes, dissolving the electrochemical gradient and uncoupling tricarboxylic acid cycle and the electron transport chain from ATP production. Mounting evidence has attracted attention to the multiple effects of dietary and endogenously synthesised amino acids in BAT thermogenesis and metabolic phenotype in animals and humans. However, the mechanisms implicated in these processes have yet to be conclusively characterized. In the present review article, we aim to define the principal investigation areas in this context, including intestinal microbiota constitution, adipose autophagy modulation, and secretome and metabolic fluxes control, which lead to increased brown/beige thermogenesis. Finally, also based on our recent epicardial adipose tissue results, we summarise the evidence supporting the notion that the new dual and triple agonists of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and glucagon (GCG) receptor − with never before seen weight loss and insulin-sensitizing efficacy − promote thermogenic-like amino acid profiles in BAT with robust heat production and likely trigger sympathetic activation and adaptive thermogenesis by controlling amino acid metabolism and ATM expansion in BAT and beige fat

Optimized consumer-centric demand response

Demand side management has focused more on centralized control and heavily depends on continuous consumer interaction, often overlooking consumer thermal and visual comfort. Distribution grid management will necessitate the active involvement of new market actors (i.e. prosumers, aggregators, distribution system operators, retailers, etc.), so a holistic approach becomes critical to transform demand into an active element of electricity system management. This paper presents a consumer centric demand flexibility framework, which facilitates the automated, human-centric demand response, minimizes consumer interactions and accommodates various power system ancillary services

Analysis and management of seismic risks associated with engineered geothermal system operations in South Australia

http://www.pesa.com.au/eabs3/index.as

Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 : a possible link between visceral adipose tissue-associated inflammation and subclinical echocardiographic abnormalities in uncomplicated obesity

Objective: Obesity can be considered a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation. Particularly, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) seems to be an active compartment in pro-inflammatory mol. secretion. Adipocytes and VAT are able to produce large amts. of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), a chemokine directly involved in ventricular remodeling. Design: In this study, the possible existence of a correlation between MCP-1, abdominal fat accumulation and echocardiog. abnormalities in uncomplicated obesity was investigated. Methods: Echocardiog. parameters, MCP-1 and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were assessed in 27 normotensive obese women of fertile age (body mass index 43.5 ? 4.8 kg/m2, mean ? S.D.) and 15 normal wt. women. Visceral fat (VAT) in the obese group was assessed by computed tomog. Results: Obese patients had higher MCP-1 (P 130 cm2) presented higher MCP-1 (P < 0.0001) and CRP levels (P < 0.04) than those with a lower degree of abdominal adiposity. Conclusions: MCP-1 levels and visceral adipose tissue seem to be assocd. with some morphol. and functional echocardiog. abnormalities and support a role for visceral fat in predisposing the subject to cardiac dysfunction, possibly through a low-grade state of inflammation