Modeling the Disorder of Closed System by Multi-Agent Based Simulation

Mess (disorder)—there are many different meanings related to this problem. The explicit majority comes from the area of philosophical, social and medical sciences. In our paper, we try to present the engineering aspect of the concept of disorder. We propose a mathematical model which describes the effects and consequences concerning the process of making the mess. We use Multi-Agent Modeling, where there are several independent agents with decision-making ability. Each agent has the ability to communicate and perceive for achieving its own aim. We use square grid n × n with objects which can be moved by agents to another places. The degree of disorder of the system is examined by the value of entropy. Using computer simulation, we investigate the time needed to find the desired thing in an environment in which agents (in real life, people) co-exist and they have different tendencies to tidiness. The cost of mess is counted as the number of attempts to access the object in the analyzed system and the time needed to locate the object

Nesfatin-1 prevents negative changes in bone in conditions of developing osteopenia

Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of nesfatin-1 on bone properties in female rats in the conditions of developing osteopenia induced by ovariectomy (OVX). Materials and method. The experiment was performed on 21 female Wistar rats assigned to 3 groups receiving intraperitoneally physiological saline (SHO, OVX-PhS) and nesfatin-1 in dose 2 μg/kg BW of (OVX-NES) once a day for 8 wks. At the end of the experiment, the rats were scanned using the DXA method to determine the body composition, tBMC, and tBMD. The isolated femora and tibia were tested with the DXA method for BMD and BMC, and with the pQCT method for separate analysis of the cortical and trabecular bone tissue. The bone strength parameters were also determined. The immunohistochemical method was used for determination of nesfatin-1 localization in growth cartilage. Bone metabolism markers (osteocalcin, bALP, and NTx) were identified using an ELISA kit. Results. OVX exerts a negative effect on bone tissue. The nesfatin-1 administration influenced positively the DXA parameters of tibia. TvBMD and TbvBMD measured by pQCT in metaphysis of bones were significantly higher in the OVX-NES group than in OVX-PhS. No differences were found in the values of bone strength parameters between SHO and OVX-NES females. Extra- and intracellular immunohistochemical reaction for nesfatin-1 was observed in all zones of growth cartilage, with the strongest reaction detected in the calcifying zone. Nesfatin-1 administration caused a significant increase in the osteocalcin and bALP concentration in relation to the OVX-PhS animals. Conclusion. The results of the experiment indicate that nesfatin-1 exerts a protective effect on bone tissue properties and can be used in the prevention of osteoporosis

The protective and therapeutic effect of exclusive and combined treatment with alpha-ketoglutarate sodium salt and ipriflavone on bone loss in orchidectomized rats

Objective: This study investigated the effect of alpha-ketoglutarate sodium salt (AKG) and ipriflavone (IP) treatment on the mineralization of the tibia in male rats during the development and after the establishment of osteopenia. Design: One hundred and twenty eight male rats were randomly selected and submitted to either sham-operation (SHO) or orchidectomy (ORX), after which each group were then randomly divided between the two experiments. In Experiment-1, treatment with AKG or/and IP started after a 7-day recovery period, whereas in Experiment-2, the experimental protocol proceeded after a 60-day period of osteopenia establishment. AKG was then administered as an experimental drinking, at a concentration of 1.0 mol/l. As a control, a placebo solution was administered. IP at 50 mg/kg b.w., and physiological saline–PhS (as a control for IP) were applied daily via gavage. Measurements: After 60 days of experimental treatment, in both experiments, the rats were sacrificed, their body weight recorded, while blood serum (Osteocalcin, CTX) and isolated tibia (weight, length, pQCT, DXA, 3-point bending test) were stored for further analysis. Results and conclusions: Our results show that during the development of osteopenia, AKG and IP when applied exclusively, counteracts osteopenia development, whereas their usage after the establishment of osteopenia, significantly limits the development of bone disorders. Furthermore, combined treatment of AKG and IP exceeded the effects of their sole usage. In addition, during the development of osteopenia, AKG and IP not only inhibited bone resorption, but markedly stimulated the formation of bone tissue. Finally, after the development of osteopenia, combined treatment with AKG and IP protected the bone tissue against orchidectomy-induced bone loss

The effect of fructan-enriched diet on bone turnover parameters in ovariectomized rats under calcium restriction

Introduction. Osteoporosis, the “quiet epidemic”, is one of the most serious threats to public health. It is known that estrogen plays a significant role in the regulation of bone turnover, and its loss at menopause causes osteoporosis. Added to this, insufficient calcium intake accelerates bone mass loss, increasing the risk of fractures. Objective. The study aimed to answer the question whether a fructan-enriched diet could be helpful in preventing from disturbances in bone turnover caused by calcium restriction combined with ovariectomy-induced estrogen deficiency. The differences related to the kind of fructan and “matrix effect” of fructan action (form of addition) were also evaluated. Materials and method. The study was conducted using sham-operated (control groups) or ovariectomized (OVX) rats fed a calcium restricted diet. The treatment diets contained one of three fructan sources – Jerusalem artichoke, yacon and Beneo Orafti Synergy1 – added alone or as an ingredient of strawberry sorbet, all in the amount providing 8% fructans. Analyses of biological material included: serum Ca, Mg and P concentrations, alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP), osteocalcin (OC) and C-telopeptide degradation products from type I collagen (CTX). Densitometric parameters of femora were also assayed. Results. Among markers of bone turnover, the ALP activity depended both on the kind of fructan and the form of addition. The highest value was shown in the OVX group fed a low-calcium diet, whereas administration of diet enriched with Jerusalem artichoke led to an almost 50% decrease in the value of this parameter. Dietary fructans also lowered the OC level. Feeding rats with diet containing sorbet enriched in yacon or Jerusalem artichoke resulted in a decrease of CTX, compared to the diet containing yacon alone or fructan formulation in both forms No significant differences were observed in densitometric parameters between treatment groups. Conclusions. The obtained findings suggest that fructan administration with a calcium-restricted diet might exert a positive effect on bone turnover parameters. Regarding the form of their addition, it is possible that other constituents of sorbets contributed to the fructan action. It remains open whether this impact would be significant over a longer period of time

Bone losses in obese, ovariectomized rats appear to be independent from sclerostin-induced inhibition of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Introduction. Overweight and obesity, as well as a gonadal function, are pivotal factors influencing bone tissue metabolism. Materials and method. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of dietary induced obesity (DIO) on bone tissue metabolism in sham-operated (SHO) or ovariectomized (OVX) adult female Wistar rats. Additionally, the influence of DIO in SHO or OVX on the concentration of sclerostin in the blood serum was analyzed. After SHO or OVX, the rats were placed in groups (n=8) and either received a standard diet (11.5 MJ/kg) (SHO-CON; OVX-CON) or a high-energy diet (17.6 MJ/kg) (SHO-FAT; OVX-FAT). The experiment lasted for 90 days and allowed for the establishment of osteopenia in OVX females and obesity in the rats that had received the high-energy diet. Results. The results of the study demonstrate that obesity or/and ovariectomy increases the resorption of femora and tibiae, hence decreasing the densitometric and mechanical parameters affecting the bone structure in adult females rats. The strongest osteodegenerative effect was seen in the OVX-FAT females. Interestingly, the degree of bone tissue degradation caused exclusively by ovariectomy was similar to that found in the obese sham-operated rats. Conclusions. Bone losses invoked by DIO seem to be independent from the Wnt/β-catenin pathway inhibition induced by sclerostin. While further study is necessary, the obtained results suggest that the usage of sclerostin anti-body in the treatment of osteoporosis can be ineffective, and in obese patients the undertaking of such therapy should be reassessed

Structural Diversity, XAS and Magnetism of Copper(II)-Nickel(II) Heterometallic Complexes Based on the [Ni(NCS)₆]⁴⁻ Unit

The new heterometallic compounds, [{Cu(pn)2}2Ni(NCS)6]n·2nH2O (1), [{CuII(trien)}2Ni(NCS)6CuI(NCS)]n (2) and [Cu(tren)(NCS)]4[Ni(NCS)6] (3) (pn = 1,2-diaminopropane, trien = triethylenetetramine and tren = tris(2-aminoethylo)amine), were obtained and characterized by X-ray analysis, IR spectra, XAS and magnetic measurements. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 show the structural diversity of 2D, 1D and 0D compounds, respectively. Depending on the polyamine used, different coordination polyhedron for Cu(II) was found, i.e., distorted octahedral (1), square pyramidal (2) and trigonal bipyramidal (3), whereas coordination polyhedron for nickel(II) was always octahedral. It provides an approach for tailoring magnetic properties by proper selection of auxiliary ligands determining the topology. In 1, thiocyanate ligands form bridges between the copper and nickel ions, creating 2D layers of sql topology with weak ferromagnetic interactions. Compound 2 is a mixed-valence copper coordination polymer and shows the rare ladder topology of 1D chains decorated with [CuII(tren)]2+ antennas as the side chains attached to nickel(II). The ladder rails are formed by alternately arranged Ni(II) and Cu(I) ions connected by N2 thiocyanate anions and rungs made by N3 thiocyanate. For the Cu(I) ions, the tetrahedral thiocyanate environment mixed N/S donor atoms was found, confirming significant coordination spheres rearrangement occurring at the copper precursor together with the reduction in some Cu(II) to Cu(I). Such topology enables significant simplification of the magnetic properties modeling by assuming magnetic coupling inside {NiIICuII2} trinuclear units separated by diamagnetic [Cu(NCS)(SCN)3]3− linkers. Compound 3 shows three discrete mononuclear units connected by N-H…N and N-H…S hydrogen bonds. Analysis of XAS proves that the average ligand character and the covalency of the unoccupied metal d-based orbitals for copper(II) and nickel(II) increase in the following order: 1 → 2 → 3. In 1 and 2, a weak ferromagnetic coupling between copper(II) and nickel(II) was found, but in 2, additional and stronger antiferromagnetic interaction between copper(II) ions prevailed. Compound 3, as an ionic pair, shows, as expected, a spin-only magnetic moment

Could fructan sources in strawberry matrix be more effective as a tool for improvement of bone structure than these compounds added to diet alone? - Study on osteopenic rat model

Introduction. Osteoporosis, a disease associated with ovarian hormone deficiency following menopause, is the most common cause of age-related bone loss. Although an optimal intake of Ca is vital – both bone accretion during growth and maintenance in adult life – a great percentage of the population consumes far below the recommended amounts of this mineral. On the other hand, there are evidences that fructans enhance not only Ca absorption, but bone calcium as well. Objective. In the knowledge that estrogen deficiency and insufficient Ca in the diet during postmenopause cause serious problems with resultant osteoporosis, the aim of this study is to assess the effects of a diet enriched in fructan-containing sources alone, or in the “strawberry matrix”, on the structure of bone in OVX rats under calcium hypoalimentation. Materials and method. Experimental animals were female Wistar rats, sham-operated or ovariectomized. The treatment with Ca-restricted diets also contained one of the sources of fructan (Jerusalem artichoke, yacon, Beneo Orafti Synergy1), in the amount providing 8% of fructans. Femur architecture of rats was assessed by tomography and Ca content by the AAS method. Results. Ovariectomy led to a significant decrease in femoral Ca content, total mineral content and bone density of rats. This study shows that a diet containing inulin-type fructan (especially as a component of strawberry product) improved bone quality (i.e. increase in Ca content in femur, total density in middle part of bone, as well as decrease of endosteal circumference) in OVX rats under calcium hypoalimentation. Conclusions. These findings suggest that a fructan-enriched diet could be potentially useful for postmenopausal osteoporosis. It is important to determine an optimal dietary level of fructan with the long-term goal of developing a dietary strategy in osteoporosis prevention

Intervention for improvement the diet and physical activity of children and adolescents in Poland

Background. The effects of a two-year educational Programme “Keep Balance” addressed to children and adolescents have been evaluated. Its purpose has been to implement the rules of proper nutrition and increasing the level of physical activity on the population level. Objective. The main objective of the evaluation was an indication if, after two years of programme activities, outcome indicators have been achieved. Material and methods. Approximately 400,000 pupils/students from 1600 educational units from the territory of the whole country have been included in the education programme. The efficiency evaluation has been carried out in a sample of n = 1506 pupils/students in the interventional group and n = 1589 in the control group. Education has been addressed to the entire school environment, pupils, students, parents, teachers, headmasters, and the local community. The survey methodology, body weight and height measurements, the BMI index, and EUROFIT physical fitness tests have been used to assess the effects of the education programme in the scope of knowledge and nutritional behaviour regarding physical activity. There were assumed outcome indicators. The certification of schools/kindergartens with “The Certificate of a School/Kindergarten Friendly to Nutrition and Physical Activity” has been used to evaluate the activation of school environments. Results. There was an improvement achieved over the assumed target points in the level of knowledge of pupils/students in the scope of nutrition and the role of physical activity, in the changes of nutritional habits, and in the results of physical fitness tests. There were achieved 20% increase in knowledge in the scope of nutrition and 5% increase in physical activity. There have been changes in the frequency in the consumption of the first breakfast before going to school (by 25% among the younger ones and by 17% among the older ones), an increase in the consumption of bottled water by 49% and reduction of sweet drinks by 19%. The percentage of the pupils/students consuming the recommended 5 meals increased by 33%. Physical fitness indicators were achieved over assumed 5% increase in the individual exercise tests. The Certificate was obtained after meeting the criteria and documenting the durability of the changes by 65% of 1600 educational units included in the Programme. A decrease in the frequency of overweight and obesity occurrence in the whole intervention sample by 1% was obtained; it was greater (but statistically insignificant) among younger students by 3.3% in comparison to the older ones where there was an increase of 1%. Conclusions. Summing up all achieved results the educational programme “Keep Balance” implemented on the population level aimed at children and adolescents has turned out to be effective and deserves to be continued after minor adjustments. Many positive changes have been identified as well as those that ought to be improved. Comprehensively included education and sometimes small changes in much of nutritional and physical behaviour have influenced the reduction of the percentage of pupils/students with excessive body weight, despite the fact that the average BMI has basically remained on the same level