Abstract: The paper is focused on studying how to convert rice husk and sawdust into liquid fuel. Rice husk, sawdust and their mixture were pyrolyzed at the temperature between 420°C and 540°C, and the main product of liquid fuel was obtained. The experimental result showed that the yield of liquid fuel heavily depended on the kind of feedstock and pyrolysis temperature. In the experiments, the maximum liquid yields for rice husk, sawdust and their mixture were 56% at 465°C, 61% at 490°C and 60% at 475°C respectively. Analysis with GC-MS and other apparatus indicated that the liquid fuel is a complicated…organic compound with low caloric value and can be directly used as fuel oil without any up-grading. As a crude oil, the liquid fuel can be refined to be vehicle oil.
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Abstract: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly population. Neuroinflammation induced by amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregation is considered to be the critical factor underlying AD pathological mechanisms. Alternatively activated (M2) macrophages/microglia have been reported to have neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative disease. In this study, we characterized the neuroprotective effects of M2 macrophage transplantation in AD model rats and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ1 - 42 to rats was used to model AD and resulted in cognitive impairment, neuronal damage, and inflammatory changes in the brain microenvironment. We observed an increased interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 5/IRF4 ratio,…resulting in greater production of classically activated (M1) versus M2 microglia. M2 macrophage transplantation attenuated inflammation in the brain, reversed Aβ1 - 42 -induced changes in the IRF4-IRF5 ratio, drove endogenous microglial polarization toward the M2 phenotype, and ameliorated cognitive impairment. Nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment reduced the IRF5/IRF4 ratio and induced primary microglial polarization to the M2 phenotype in vitro ; these effects were prevented by tyrosine Kinase Receptor A (TrkA) inhibition. M2 macrophage transplantation restored the balance of IRF4-IRF5 by affecting the expression of NGF and inflammatory cytokines in the brains of AD model rats. This drove microglial polarization to the M2 phenotype, promoted termination of neuroinflammation, and resulted in improved cognitive abilities.
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Abstract: Purpose: To investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of Aceglutamide on motor dysfunction in rats after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 2 h transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Aceglutamide or vehicle was intraperitoneally given to rats at 24 h after reperfusion and lasted for 14 days. Subsequently functional recovery was assessed and number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons in substantia nigra (SN) was analyzed. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 1(TRAF1), P-Akt and Bcl-2/Bax were determined in mesencephalic tissue by Western blot method. PC12 cells and primary cultured mesencephalic neurons were employed to further investigate the mechanism…of Aceglutamide. Results: Aceglutamide treatment improved behavioral functions, reduced the infarction volume, and elevated the number of TH-positive neurons in the SN. Moreover, Aceglutamide significantly attenuated neuronal apoptosis in the SN. Meanwhile Aceglutamide treatment significantly inhibited the expression of TRAF1 and up-regulated the expression of P-Akt and Bcl-2/Bax ratio both in vitro and in vivo . Conclusions: Aceglutamide ameliorated motor dysfunction and delayed neuronal death in the SN after ischemia, which involved the inhibition of pro-apoptotic factor TRAF1 and activation of Akt/Bcl-2 signaling pathway. These data provided experimental information for applying Aceglutamide to ischemic stroke treatment.
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Keywords: Aceglutamide, neuroprotection, cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, motor function, substantia nigra, TNF receptor associated factor 1 (TRAF1), apoptosis