Search

Based on the simulation results of the typical rural ultra-low energy building (ULEB) in five different climatic regions of China, three indicative technical parameters for paralleled-loop exhaust air heat pump (PEAHP) R&D which are nominal heating-cooling capacity, maximum required fresh air to return air ratio (MFRR) and system energy efficiency grades were calculated and summarized according to the demand of indoor thermal comforts by using statistic method. The nominal heating-cooling capacities were determined according to the peak loads, which are 6.84-2.01 kW, 5-2.96 kW, 3.9-4.6 kW, 3.08-5.02 kW, and 3.4-0.46 kW in the ULEB of Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming, respectively. To ensure both thermal comforts and energy conservation, during the heating season, full fresh air supply is suggested in Beijing and the 1:0.5 MFRR is suggested in Harbin, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming. During the cooling season, the 1:5 MFRR is suggested in Shanghai and Guangzhou, the 1:3, 1:1.5, and 1:0.5 MFRR are suggested in Harbin, Beijing and Kunming, respectively. The PEAHP energy efficiency grades 1~5 are 7.92~11.7, 7.58~11.5, 7.5~11.35, 6.12~9.27, and 4.64~7.03 during the heating season of Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Kunming, respectively, and are 2.33~3.54, 3.93~5.96, 4.61~6.98, 4.62~6.99, and 2.04~3.1 for the cooling season, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we generated a tkl1 deletion mutant in the Toxoplasma gondii type 1 RH (RHDtkl1) strain and tested the protective efficacies of vaccination using RHDtkl1 tachyzoites against acute, chronic, and congenital T. gondii infections in Kunming mice. Mice vaccinated with RHDtkl1 mounted a strong humoral and cellular response as shown by elevated levels of anti-T. gondii-specific IgG, IL-2, IL-12, IFN-γ, and IL-10. All RHDtkl1-vaccinated mice survived a lethal challenge with 1 3 10³ tachyzoites of type 1 RH or ToxoDB#9 (PYS or TgC7) strain as well as 100 cysts or oocysts of Prugniuad strain. All mock-vaccinated plus infected mice have died. Vaccination also protected against cyst- or oocyst-caused chronic infection, reduced vertical transmission caused by oocysts, increased litter size, and maintained body weight of pups born to dams challenged with 10 oocysts on day 5 of gestation. In contrast, all mock-vaccinated plus oocysts-infected dams had aborted, and no fetus has survived. Vaccinated dams remained healthy postinfection, and their brain cyst burden was significantly reduced compared with mock-vaccinated dams infected with oocysts. In vivo depletion of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and B cells revealed that CD8+ T cells are involved in the protection of mice against T. gondii infection. Additionally, adoptive transfer of CD8+ T cells from RHDtkl1-vaccinated mice significantly enhanced the survival of naive mice infected with the pathogenic strain. Together, these data reaffirm the importance of CD8+ T cell responses in future vaccine design for toxoplasmosis and present T. gondii tkl1 gene as a promising vaccine candidate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effect of resveratrol on endocrine function, oocyte oxidative stress and oocyte apoptosis in mice with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: Healthy female Kunming mice (n = 180) were assigned to control, model and resveratrol groups, respectively. Changes in ovarian tissue in each group, including apoptosis of granulosa cells, were measured. Oocyte abnormal mitochondria, changes in oocyte mitochondrial membrane potential, expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-9 in oocytes evaluated. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in each group were also assayed. Results: Compared with the model group, the levels of sex hormones, ovarian cell apoptosis and abnormal mitochondria of mice in the resveratrol group were significantly reduced, while uterine weight increased (p < 0.05). The expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-9, GPx and SOD, and ROS levels in the resveratrol group decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Resveratrol significantly improves endocrine function in PCOS mice, but inhibits oocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress response. Thus, resveratrol may be useful in the treatment of PCOS but further clinical trials are required to confirm it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]