Quadriceps muscles play a pivotal role in knee osteoarthritis(OA)progression and symptom manifestation,particularly pain.This research investigates the therapeutic effectiveness of muscle enhancement and support thera...Quadriceps muscles play a pivotal role in knee osteoarthritis(OA)progression and symptom manifestation,particularly pain.This research investigates the therapeutic effectiveness of muscle enhancement and support therapy(MEST),a recently developed device intended for intramuscular insertion of cog polydioxanone filaments,in quadriceps restoration to alleviate OA pain.Knee OA was induced in Sprague Dawley rats via monoiodoacetate injections.MEST or sham treatment was performed in OA or Naive rat quadriceps.Pain was assessed using paw withdrawal threshold and weight bearing.Quadriceps injury and recovery via MEST were evaluated using biomarkers,tissue morphology,muscle mass,contractile force and hindlimb torque.Satellite cell and macrophage activation,along with their activators,were also assessed.Data were compared at 1-and 3-weeks post-MEST treatment(M-W1 and M-W3).MEST treatment in OA rats caused muscle injury,indicated by elevated serum aspartate transferase and creatinine kinase levels,and localβ-actin changes at M-W1.This injury triggered pro-inflammatory macrophage and satellite cell activation,accompanied by heightened interleukin-6 and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels.However,by M-W3,these processes gradually shifted toward inflammation resolution and muscle restoration.This was seen in anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotypes,sustained satellite cell activation and injury markers regressing to baseline.Quadriceps recovery in mass and strength from atrophy correlated with substantial OA pain reduction at M-W3.This study suggests that MEST-induced minor muscle injury triggers macrophage and satellite cell activation,leading to recovery of atrophied quadriceps and pain relief in OA rats.展开更多
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically decreased opportunistic infections (OIs) in human immunodef iciency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However,gastrointestinal disease continues to account fo...Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically decreased opportunistic infections (OIs) in human immunodef iciency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However,gastrointestinal disease continues to account for a high proportion of presenting symptoms in these patients. Gastrointestinal symptoms in treated patients who respond to therapy are more likely to the result of drug-induced complications than OI. Endoscopic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract remains a cornerstone of diagnosis,especially in patients with advanced immunodeficiency,who are at risk for OI. The peripheral blood CD4 lymphocyte count helps to predict the risk of an OI,with the highest risk seen in HIV-infected patients with low CD4 count (< 200 cells/mm3). This review provides an update of the role of endoscopy in diagnosing OI in the upper gastrointestinal tract in HIV-infected patients in the era of HAART.展开更多
A new species of small tree frog from a primary montane tropical forest of central Vietnam, Tay Nguyen Plateau, is described based on morphological, molecular, and acoustic evidence. The Golden Bug-Eyed Frog, Theloder...A new species of small tree frog from a primary montane tropical forest of central Vietnam, Tay Nguyen Plateau, is described based on morphological, molecular, and acoustic evidence. The Golden Bug-Eyed Frog, Theloderma auratum sp. nov., is distinguishable from its congeners and other small rhacophorid species based on a combination of the following morphological attributes： （1） bony ridges on head absent; （2） smooth skin completely lacking calcified warts or asperities; （3） pointed elongated tapering snout; （4） vocal opening in males absent; （5） vomerine teeth absent; （6） males of small body size （SVL 21.8-26.4 mm）; （7） head longer than wide; ED/SVL ratio 13%-15%; ESL/SVL ratio 16%-20%; （8） small tympanum （TD/EL ratio 50%-60%） with few tiny tubercles; （9） supratympanic fold absent; （10） ventral surfaces completely smooth; （11 ） webbing between fingers absent; （12） outer and inner metacarpal tubercles present, supernumerary metacarpal tubercle single, medial, oval in shape; （13） toes half-webbed： I 2-21/4 II 11/^-23/~ III 2-31/4 IV 3-11/2 V; （14） inner metatarsal tubercle present, oval; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; （15） iris bicolored; （16） dorsal surfaces golden-yellow with sparse golden-orange speckling or reticulations and few small dark-brown spots; （17） lateral sides of head and body with wide dark reddish-brown to black lateral stripes, clearlyseparated from lighter dorsal coloration by straight contrasting edge; （18） ventral surfaces of body, throat, and chest greyish-blue with indistinct brown confluent blotches; （19） upper eyelids with few （3-5） very small flat reddish superciliary tubercles; （20） limbs dorsally reddish-brown, ventrally brown with small bluish-white speckles. The new species is also distinct from all congeners in 12S rRNA to 16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA fragment sequences （uncorrected genetic distance P〉8.9%）. Advertisement call and tadpole morphology of the new species are described. Our molecular data showed Theloderma auratum sp. nov. to be a sister species of Th. palliatum from Langbian Plateau in southern Vietnam.展开更多
The key word for the design process of the photovoltaic tracking systems is the energetic efficiency. Using the tracking system, the photovoltaic panel follows the sun and increases the collected energy, but the drivi...The key word for the design process of the photovoltaic tracking systems is the energetic efficiency. Using the tracking system, the photovoltaic panel follows the sun and increases the collected energy, but the driving motors consume a part of this energy. In these terms, the optimization of the tracking systems became an important challenge in the modem research and technology. In this paper, a strategy for the dynamic optimization of the photovoltaic tracking systems is presented. The main task in optimization is to maximize the energetic gain by increasing the incoming solar radiation and minimizing the energy consumption for tracking. This strategy is possible by developing the virtual prototype of the tracking system, which is a control loop composed by the multi-body mechanical model connected with the dynamic model of the actuators and with the controller model. In this way, it is possible to optimize the tracking mechanism, choose the appropriate actuators, and design the optimal controller.展开更多
The challenge of achieving sustainable economic development with a secure environmental system is a global challenge faced by both developed and developing countries.Energy Efficiency(EE)is crucial in achieving sustai...The challenge of achieving sustainable economic development with a secure environmental system is a global challenge faced by both developed and developing countries.Energy Efficiency(EE)is crucial in achieving sustainable economic growth while reducing ecological impacts.This research utilizes the Slack-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analysis(SBM-DEA)and the Malmquist-Luenberger Index(MLI)method to evaluate EE and productivity changes from 1995 to 2020 across G20 countries.The study uses four different input-output bundles to gauge the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption and carbon emissions on EE and productivity changes.The study results show that including renewable energy consumption improves the average EE from 0.783 to 0.8578,but energy productivity declines from 1.0064 to 0.9988.Incorporating bad output(carbon emissions)in the estimation process enhances renewable EE and productivity change,resulting in an average EE of 0.6678 and MLI of 1.0044.Technological change is identified as the primary determinant of energy productivity growth in scenarios 1 and 2,while technical efficiency determines energy productivity change in scenarios 3 and 4.The Kruskal-Wallis test reveals a significant statistical difference between the mean EE and MLI scores of G20 countries.展开更多
The electrochemical oxidation of formic acid has been attracting significant attention in the past few years due to the great potential prospect of direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) in applications, including high ...The electrochemical oxidation of formic acid has been attracting significant attention in the past few years due to the great potential prospect of direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) in applications, including high theoretical open circuit potential (1.48 V), low fuel crossover, high practical power densities at low temperature, facilitating of proton transport in catalyst layers and low toxicity [1-5].展开更多
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been used in liver transplantation and have certain effects in alleviating liver ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)and regulating immune rejection.However,some studies have in...BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been used in liver transplantation and have certain effects in alleviating liver ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)and regulating immune rejection.However,some studies have indicated that the effects of MSCs are not very significant.Therefore,approaches that enable MSCs to exert significant and stable therapeutic effects are worth further study.AIM To enhance the therapeutic potential of human menstrual blood-derived stromal cells(MenSCs)in the mouse liver ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)model via interferon-γ(IFN-γ)priming.METHODS Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry to evaluate the safety of IFN-γpriming,and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase(IDO)levels were measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,western blotting,and ELISA to evaluate the efficacy of IFN-γpriming.In vivo,the liver I/R model was established in male C57/BL mice,hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining was performed and serum liver enzyme levels were measured to assess the degree of liver injury,and regulatory T cell(Treg)numbers in spleens were determined by flow cytometry to assess immune tolerance potential.Metabolomics analysis was conducted to elucidate the potential mechanism underlying the regulatory effects of primed MenSCs.In vitro,we established a hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R)model and analyzed apoptosis by flow cytometry to investigate the mechanism through which primed MenSCs inhibit apoptosis.Transmission electron microscopy,western blotting,and immunofluorescence were used to analyze autophagy levels.RESULTS IFN-γ-primed MenSCs secreted higher levels of IDO,attenuated liver injury,and increased Treg numbers in the mouse spleens to greater degrees than untreated MenSCs.Metabolomics and autophagy analyses proved that primed MenSCs more strongly induced autophagy in the mouse livers.In the H/R model,autophagy inhibitors increased the level of H/R-induced apoptosis,indicating that autophagy exerted protective effects.In addition,primed MenSCs decreased the level of H/R-induced apoptosis via IDO and autophagy.Further rescue experiments proved that IDO enhanced the protective autophagy by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway and activating the AMPK pathway.CONCLUSION IFN-γ-primed MenSCs exerted better therapeutic effects in the liver I/R model by secreting higher IDO levels.MenSCs and IDO activated the AMPK-mTOR-autophagy axis to reduce IRI,and IDO increased Treg numbers in the spleen and enhanced the MenSC-mediated induction of immune tolerance.Our study suggests that IFN-γ-primed MenSCs may be a novel and superior MSC product for liver transplantation in the future.展开更多
Optical immersion clearing is a technique that has been widely studied for more than two decades and that is used to originate a temporary transparency effect in biological tissues.If applied in cooperation with clini...Optical immersion clearing is a technique that has been widely studied for more than two decades and that is used to originate a temporary transparency effect in biological tissues.If applied in cooperation with clinical methods it provides optimization of diagnosis and treatment procedures.This technique turns biological tissues more transparent through two main mechanisms-tissue dehydration and refractive index(RI)matching between tissue compo-nents.Such matching is obtained by partial replacement of interstit ial water by a biocompat ible agent that presents higher RI and it can be completely rever sible by natural rehydration in vrivo or by assisted rehydration in ex vivo tissues.Experimental data to characterize and discriminate between the two mechanisms and to find new ones are necessary.Using a simple method,based on collimated transmittance and thickness measurements made from muscle samples under treatment,we have estimated the diffusion properties of glucose,ethylene glycol(EG)and water that were used to perform such char acterization and discrimination.Comparing these properties with data from literature that characterize their diffusion in water we have observed that musde cell membrane permeability limits agent and water diffusion in the muscle.The same experi-mental data has allowed to calculate the optical dearing(OC)eficiency and make an inter-pretation of the internal changes that occurred in muscle during the treatments.The same methodology can now be used to perform similar studies with other agents and in other tissues in order to solve engineering problems at design of inexpensive and robust technologies for a consider.able improvement of optical tomogr aphic techmiques with better contrast and in depth imaging.展开更多
基金supported by the Basic Research Program of the National Research Foundation(NRF)funded by the Ministry of Science,ICT and Future Planning(NRF-2020R1A2C3008481 and RS-2023-00238538).
文摘Quadriceps muscles play a pivotal role in knee osteoarthritis(OA)progression and symptom manifestation,particularly pain.This research investigates the therapeutic effectiveness of muscle enhancement and support therapy(MEST),a recently developed device intended for intramuscular insertion of cog polydioxanone filaments,in quadriceps restoration to alleviate OA pain.Knee OA was induced in Sprague Dawley rats via monoiodoacetate injections.MEST or sham treatment was performed in OA or Naive rat quadriceps.Pain was assessed using paw withdrawal threshold and weight bearing.Quadriceps injury and recovery via MEST were evaluated using biomarkers,tissue morphology,muscle mass,contractile force and hindlimb torque.Satellite cell and macrophage activation,along with their activators,were also assessed.Data were compared at 1-and 3-weeks post-MEST treatment(M-W1 and M-W3).MEST treatment in OA rats caused muscle injury,indicated by elevated serum aspartate transferase and creatinine kinase levels,and localβ-actin changes at M-W1.This injury triggered pro-inflammatory macrophage and satellite cell activation,accompanied by heightened interleukin-6 and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels.However,by M-W3,these processes gradually shifted toward inflammation resolution and muscle restoration.This was seen in anti-inflammatory macrophage phenotypes,sustained satellite cell activation and injury markers regressing to baseline.Quadriceps recovery in mass and strength from atrophy correlated with substantial OA pain reduction at M-W3.This study suggests that MEST-induced minor muscle injury triggers macrophage and satellite cell activation,leading to recovery of atrophied quadriceps and pain relief in OA rats.
文摘Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically decreased opportunistic infections (OIs) in human immunodef iciency virus (HIV)-infected patients. However,gastrointestinal disease continues to account for a high proportion of presenting symptoms in these patients. Gastrointestinal symptoms in treated patients who respond to therapy are more likely to the result of drug-induced complications than OI. Endoscopic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract remains a cornerstone of diagnosis,especially in patients with advanced immunodeficiency,who are at risk for OI. The peripheral blood CD4 lymphocyte count helps to predict the risk of an OI,with the highest risk seen in HIV-infected patients with low CD4 count (< 200 cells/mm3). This review provides an update of the role of endoscopy in diagnosing OI in the upper gastrointestinal tract in HIV-infected patients in the era of HAART.
基金partially supported by the Russian Foundation of Basic Research(RFBR 15-29-02771RFBR17-54-54002_viet_a)molecular analyses,preservation,and storage of specimens were carried out with financial support from the Russian Science Foundation(RSF 14-50-00029)
文摘A new species of small tree frog from a primary montane tropical forest of central Vietnam, Tay Nguyen Plateau, is described based on morphological, molecular, and acoustic evidence. The Golden Bug-Eyed Frog, Theloderma auratum sp. nov., is distinguishable from its congeners and other small rhacophorid species based on a combination of the following morphological attributes： （1） bony ridges on head absent; （2） smooth skin completely lacking calcified warts or asperities; （3） pointed elongated tapering snout; （4） vocal opening in males absent; （5） vomerine teeth absent; （6） males of small body size （SVL 21.8-26.4 mm）; （7） head longer than wide; ED/SVL ratio 13%-15%; ESL/SVL ratio 16%-20%; （8） small tympanum （TD/EL ratio 50%-60%） with few tiny tubercles; （9） supratympanic fold absent; （10） ventral surfaces completely smooth; （11 ） webbing between fingers absent; （12） outer and inner metacarpal tubercles present, supernumerary metacarpal tubercle single, medial, oval in shape; （13） toes half-webbed： I 2-21/4 II 11/^-23/~ III 2-31/4 IV 3-11/2 V; （14） inner metatarsal tubercle present, oval; outer metatarsal tubercle absent; （15） iris bicolored; （16） dorsal surfaces golden-yellow with sparse golden-orange speckling or reticulations and few small dark-brown spots; （17） lateral sides of head and body with wide dark reddish-brown to black lateral stripes, clearlyseparated from lighter dorsal coloration by straight contrasting edge; （18） ventral surfaces of body, throat, and chest greyish-blue with indistinct brown confluent blotches; （19） upper eyelids with few （3-5） very small flat reddish superciliary tubercles; （20） limbs dorsally reddish-brown, ventrally brown with small bluish-white speckles. The new species is also distinct from all congeners in 12S rRNA to 16S rRNA mitochondrial DNA fragment sequences （uncorrected genetic distance P〉8.9%）. Advertisement call and tadpole morphology of the new species are described. Our molecular data showed Theloderma auratum sp. nov. to be a sister species of Th. palliatum from Langbian Plateau in southern Vietnam.
文摘The key word for the design process of the photovoltaic tracking systems is the energetic efficiency. Using the tracking system, the photovoltaic panel follows the sun and increases the collected energy, but the driving motors consume a part of this energy. In these terms, the optimization of the tracking systems became an important challenge in the modem research and technology. In this paper, a strategy for the dynamic optimization of the photovoltaic tracking systems is presented. The main task in optimization is to maximize the energetic gain by increasing the incoming solar radiation and minimizing the energy consumption for tracking. This strategy is possible by developing the virtual prototype of the tracking system, which is a control loop composed by the multi-body mechanical model connected with the dynamic model of the actuators and with the controller model. In this way, it is possible to optimize the tracking mechanism, choose the appropriate actuators, and design the optimal controller.
文摘The challenge of achieving sustainable economic development with a secure environmental system is a global challenge faced by both developed and developing countries.Energy Efficiency(EE)is crucial in achieving sustainable economic growth while reducing ecological impacts.This research utilizes the Slack-Based Measure Data Envelopment Analysis(SBM-DEA)and the Malmquist-Luenberger Index(MLI)method to evaluate EE and productivity changes from 1995 to 2020 across G20 countries.The study uses four different input-output bundles to gauge the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy consumption and carbon emissions on EE and productivity changes.The study results show that including renewable energy consumption improves the average EE from 0.783 to 0.8578,but energy productivity declines from 1.0064 to 0.9988.Incorporating bad output(carbon emissions)in the estimation process enhances renewable EE and productivity change,resulting in an average EE of 0.6678 and MLI of 1.0044.Technological change is identified as the primary determinant of energy productivity growth in scenarios 1 and 2,while technical efficiency determines energy productivity change in scenarios 3 and 4.The Kruskal-Wallis test reveals a significant statistical difference between the mean EE and MLI scores of G20 countries.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (21433003, 21733004, U1601211, 21811530078)Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Program (20180101030JC, 20160622037JC, 20170203003SF)+1 种基金the Hundred Talents Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Recruitment Program of Foreign Experts (WQ2012220007)RFBR (18-5353025)
文摘The electrochemical oxidation of formic acid has been attracting significant attention in the past few years due to the great potential prospect of direct formic acid fuel cell (DFAFC) in applications, including high theoretical open circuit potential (1.48 V), low fuel crossover, high practical power densities at low temperature, facilitating of proton transport in catalyst layers and low toxicity [1-5].
基金National Key R&D Program of China,No.2022YFA1105603 and 2022YFC2304405Hangzhou Science and Technology Project,China,No.20200224+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81900563Key Research&Development Plan of Zhejiang Province,China,No.2019C03015 and 2020C04016。
文摘BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been used in liver transplantation and have certain effects in alleviating liver ischemia-reperfusion injury(IRI)and regulating immune rejection.However,some studies have indicated that the effects of MSCs are not very significant.Therefore,approaches that enable MSCs to exert significant and stable therapeutic effects are worth further study.AIM To enhance the therapeutic potential of human menstrual blood-derived stromal cells(MenSCs)in the mouse liver ischemia-reperfusion(I/R)model via interferon-γ(IFN-γ)priming.METHODS Apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry to evaluate the safety of IFN-γpriming,and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase(IDO)levels were measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,western blotting,and ELISA to evaluate the efficacy of IFN-γpriming.In vivo,the liver I/R model was established in male C57/BL mice,hematoxylin and eosin and TUNEL staining was performed and serum liver enzyme levels were measured to assess the degree of liver injury,and regulatory T cell(Treg)numbers in spleens were determined by flow cytometry to assess immune tolerance potential.Metabolomics analysis was conducted to elucidate the potential mechanism underlying the regulatory effects of primed MenSCs.In vitro,we established a hypoxia/reoxygenation(H/R)model and analyzed apoptosis by flow cytometry to investigate the mechanism through which primed MenSCs inhibit apoptosis.Transmission electron microscopy,western blotting,and immunofluorescence were used to analyze autophagy levels.RESULTS IFN-γ-primed MenSCs secreted higher levels of IDO,attenuated liver injury,and increased Treg numbers in the mouse spleens to greater degrees than untreated MenSCs.Metabolomics and autophagy analyses proved that primed MenSCs more strongly induced autophagy in the mouse livers.In the H/R model,autophagy inhibitors increased the level of H/R-induced apoptosis,indicating that autophagy exerted protective effects.In addition,primed MenSCs decreased the level of H/R-induced apoptosis via IDO and autophagy.Further rescue experiments proved that IDO enhanced the protective autophagy by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR)pathway and activating the AMPK pathway.CONCLUSION IFN-γ-primed MenSCs exerted better therapeutic effects in the liver I/R model by secreting higher IDO levels.MenSCs and IDO activated the AMPK-mTOR-autophagy axis to reduce IRI,and IDO increased Treg numbers in the spleen and enhanced the MenSC-mediated induction of immune tolerance.Our study suggests that IFN-γ-primed MenSCs may be a novel and superior MSC product for liver transplantation in the future.
基金support from the Government of Russian Federation(Grant No.14.Z50.31.0004)The Tomsk State University Academic D.I.Mendeleev Fund Program.
文摘Optical immersion clearing is a technique that has been widely studied for more than two decades and that is used to originate a temporary transparency effect in biological tissues.If applied in cooperation with clinical methods it provides optimization of diagnosis and treatment procedures.This technique turns biological tissues more transparent through two main mechanisms-tissue dehydration and refractive index(RI)matching between tissue compo-nents.Such matching is obtained by partial replacement of interstit ial water by a biocompat ible agent that presents higher RI and it can be completely rever sible by natural rehydration in vrivo or by assisted rehydration in ex vivo tissues.Experimental data to characterize and discriminate between the two mechanisms and to find new ones are necessary.Using a simple method,based on collimated transmittance and thickness measurements made from muscle samples under treatment,we have estimated the diffusion properties of glucose,ethylene glycol(EG)and water that were used to perform such char acterization and discrimination.Comparing these properties with data from literature that characterize their diffusion in water we have observed that musde cell membrane permeability limits agent and water diffusion in the muscle.The same experi-mental data has allowed to calculate the optical dearing(OC)eficiency and make an inter-pretation of the internal changes that occurred in muscle during the treatments.The same methodology can now be used to perform similar studies with other agents and in other tissues in order to solve engineering problems at design of inexpensive and robust technologies for a consider.able improvement of optical tomogr aphic techmiques with better contrast and in depth imaging.
