An adaptive hybrid atom search optimization with particle swarm optimization and its application to optimal no-load PID design of hydro-turbine governor

Zhao Weiguo,Shi Tiancong,Wang Liying,Cao Qingjiao,Zhang Hongfei 한국CDE학회 2021 Journal of computational design and engineering Vol.8 No.5

One metaheuristic algorithm recently introduced is atom search optimization (ASO), inspired by the physical movement of atoms based on the molecular dynamics in nature. ASO displays a unique search ability by employing the interaction force from the potential energy and the constraint force. Despite some successful applications, it still suffers from a local optima stagnation and a low search efficiency. To alleviate these disadvantages, a new adaptive hybridized optimizer named AASOPSO is proposed. In this study, the individual and group cognitive components in particle swarm optimization (PSO) are integrated into ASO to accelerate the exploitation phase, and the acceleration coefficients are introduced to adaptively achieve a good balance between exploration and exploitation. Meanwhile, to improve the search performance of the algorithm, each individual atom possesses its own force constant, which is effectively and adaptively adjusted based on the feedback of the fitness of the atom in some sequential steps. The performance of AASOPSO is evaluated on two sets of benchmark functions compared to the other population-based optimizers to show its effectiveness. Additionally, AASOPSO is applied to the optimal no-load PID design of the hydro-turbine governor. The simulation results reveal that AASOPSO is more successful than its competitors in searching the global optimal PID parameters.

Cuprum Metal-Organic-Framework and Polyacrylonitrile-Derived Cu-N-C Electrocatalyst for Application in Zinc-Air Batteries

Yajun Zhao,Jintao Chen,Xiaorui Li,Jiaqing Zhang,Yanan Li,Yajun Zhao,Liye Cao,Xiaoshi Jin 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2020 NANO Vol.15 No.02

Cu-N-C electrocatalyst was successfully prepared with Cu-BTC and polyacrylonitrile as templates by electrospinning and in-situ growth method. The effect of various N-doped content on the electrochemical performance of the catalyst were investigated and the Cu-N-C-0.25 exhibited the best OER/ORRcatalytic activities. When it was applied to the cathode of the zinc-air batteries, the power density of Cu-N-C-0.25 was 209.1 mW cm -2, which exceeded that of the commercial Pt/C + IrO2 hybrid catalyst (157 mW cm -2). The excellent electrochemical performance may be attributed to large number of active sites and high specific surface area on Cu-N-C electrocatalyst. It will be a promising alternative to precious metal catalysts containing Pt, Ir or Ru and their oxides.

Moderate tetrabasic zinc chloride supplementation improves growth performance and reduces diarrhea incidence in weaned pigs

Zhang, Gang,Xia, Tian,Zhao, Jinbiao,Liu, Ling,He, Pingli,Zhang, Shuai,Zhang, Liying Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2020 Animal Bioscience Vol.33 No.2

Objective: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate tetrabasic zinc chloride (TBZC) on the health of weaned pigs, and to determine the optimal supplemental concentrations and whether dietary TBZC could replace the pharmacological concentrations of dietary zinc oxide (ZnO) to improve growth performance and decrease Zn excretion in weaned pigs. Methods: In Exp. 1, 180 weaned pigs (8.92±1.05 kg body weight [BW]) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments, including the basal diet containing 125 mg/kg zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄), and the basal diet with 1,200, 1,800, 2,400, or 3,000 mg/kg TBZC supplementation. In Exp. 2, 240 weaned pigs (7.66±1.09 kg BW) were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatments, including a negative control diet without Zn supplementation, a positive control diet (2,250 mg/kg ZnO), and 3 experimental diets with different concentrations of TBZC supplementation (1,000, 1,250, and 1,500 mg/kg). Results: In Exp. 1, the average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (G:F) and diarrhea incidence responded quadratically (p<0.01) as the TBZC supplemental concentrations increased, and pigs fed 1,200 and 1,800 mg/kg TBZC showed the best growth performance. Moreover, 1,800 mg/kg TBZC supplementation showed the greatest (p<0.01) total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activities in liver of pigs. Histopathological examination revealed lesions in heart, liver, lung and kidney, and mild or severe histological lesions mainly occurred with the supplementation of 2,400 and 3,000 mg/kg TBZC. In Exp. 2, 1,000 and 1,250 mg/kg TBZC supplementation in diets significantly (p<0.01) increased ADG and G:F of weaned pigs, reduced Zn excretion in feces, and had no effect on diarrhea-reducing compared to 2,250 mg/kg ZnO supplementation. Conclusion: The TBZC is a potential alternative to ZnO. The recommended concentration of TBZC in weaned pig diets is 1,000 to 1,250 mg/kg.

Highly dispersed Cu-ZnO-ZrO2 nanoparticles on hydrotalcite adsorbent as efficient composite catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol

Xin Fang,Yuhan Men,Fan Wu,Qinghu Zhao,Ranjeet Singh,Penny Xiao,Liying Liu,Tao Du,Paul A. Webley 한국화학공학회 2021 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.38 No.4

CO2 hydrogenation to methanol is attracting specific interest because of its potential economic and environmental benefits in transforming waste CO2 to value-added hydrocarbons. Copper-based catalysts are documented as efficient and widely applied, whereas insufficient catalytic properties of conventional catalysts hinder their application. Herein, catalysts using Mg-Al hydrotalcite (HT) as the carrier of Cu/ZnO/ZrO2 (CZZ) nanoparticles were prepared to exploit special advantages of hydrotalcite on copper dispersion and catalytic performance. The results show that CZZ nanoparticles can be uniformly dispersed on external surfaces of HT, elevating BET surface areas of CZZ-HT samples by at least 2.5 times compared to pure CZZ. The HT carrier also enriches strong basic sites and hence elevates CO2 adsorption capabilities in the range of reaction temperature. Both copper surface area and copper dispersion of CZZ-HT samples are improved dramatically. A catalyst containing 45.1 wt% of CZZ shows 1.1 times higher copper surface area per gram CZZ and 1.6 times higher copper dispersion than the reference CZZ. Subsequent reactions demonstrate the CZZ-HT samples show remarkably promoted turnover frequency (TOF) for methanol synthesis and retain considerable catalyst stability. The typical catalyst prepared in this research, at the reaction temperature of 523 K and pressure of 3.0MPa, presents a 68.2% higher methanol STYCu per gram copper and an 117.0% higher SMeOH/SCO ratio than the commercial catalyst. The support HT plays a crucial role for the enhanced catalytic performance physically and chemically. Thus, the as-prepared CZZ-HT catalyst provides a significant improvement for CO2 utilization.

Trapidil determines the fate of RHF rats through inhibition of ER stress

Yilin Wang,Yu Wang,Chengxi Wei,Quan Wan,Zhifei Fan,Liying Xuan,Wanru Geng,Liqun Shao,Jie Long,Junyi Gu,Ming Zhao 대한약학회 2020 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.43 No.4

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a fatal disease,especially when it causes right heart failure (RHF). However, it is difficult to treat. It has been reported thattrapidil (Tra) can improve the redox balance and cardiacconditions. In this study, we investigated the effect of Tra onRHF induced by monocrotaline (MCT) in rats. Male Wistarrats were treated with MCT or Tra. Treatment lasted 28 days,then rats were euthanized after echocardiography and catheterization. Subsequently, lungs and right ventricular myocardiawere evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin, Masson,and TUNEL staining. Protein expression was detected bywestern blotting. We found remarkably expanded rightventricle end-diastolic volume, decreased partial pressureof oxygen (PaO2), increased partial pressure of carbondioxide (PaCO2), right ventricular systolic pressure, meanpulmonary arterial pressure, lung/body weight, and liver/body weight in the RHF rat group, as well as increases inthe apoptosis rate and the expression of endoplasmic reticulumstress (ERS)-related proteins. However, these changes were significantly inhibited by Tra. Our data suggested thatinhibition of ERS is essential for improving RHF, and thattherapeutic intervention of Tra in RHF rats works by reducingERS.

Bacillus subtilis improves antioxidant capacity and optimizes inflammatory state in broilers

Yu Zhang,Junyan Zhou,Linbao Ji,Lian Zhang,Liying Zhao,Yubing Guo,Haitao Wei,Lin Lu Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2024 Animal Bioscience Vol.37 No.6

Objective: Bacillus subtilis, a kind of probiotic with broad-spectrum antibacterial function, was commonly used in livestock and poultry production. Recent research suggested that Bacillus subtilis may have antioxidant properties and improve immune response. This study aimed to verify the probiotic function of Bacillus subtilis in the production of broiler chickens. Methods: A total of 324 (1-day-old) Arbor Acres broilers were selected and randomly divided into three groups: basal diet group (Ctr Group), basal diet + antibiotic growth promoter group (Ctr + AGP) and basal diet + 0.5% Bacillus subtilis preparation group (Ctr + Bac). The experiment lasted for 42 days. Muscle, serum and liver samples were collected at 42 days for determination. Results: The results showed that Bacillus subtilis could decrease malondialdehyde content in the serum and liver (p<0.05) and increase superoxide dismutase 1 mRNA expression (p<0.01) and total superoxide dismutase (p<0.05) in the liver. In addition, compared with AGP supplementation, Bacillus subtilis supplementation increased interleukin-10 (IL-10) and decreased tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-1β level in the serum (p<0.05). At 45 minutes after slaughter Ctr + Bac presented a higher a^* value of breast muscle than Ctr Group (p<0.05), while significant change in leg muscle was not identified. Moreover, there was no difference in weight, shear force, cooking loss and drip loss of breast and leg muscle between treatments. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that Bacillus subtilis in diet can enhance antioxidant capacity and optimize immune response of broilers.

Construction of fat1 Gene Expression Vector and Its Catalysis Efficiency in Bovine Fetal Fibroblast Cells

Liu, Boyang,Yang, Runjun,Li, Junya,Zhang, Lupei,Liu, Jing,Lu, Chunyan,Lian, Chuanjiang,Li, Zezhong,Zhang, Yong-Hong,Zhang, Liying,Zhao, Zhihui Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.5

The FAT-1 protein is an n-3 fatty acid desaturase, which can recognize a range of 18- and 20-carbon n-6 substrates and transform n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) into n-3 PUFAs while n-3 PUFAs have beneficial effect on human health. Fat1 gene is the coding sequence from Caenorhabditis elegans which might play an important role on lipometabolism. To reveal the function of fat1 gene in bovine fetal fibroblast cells and gain the best cell nuclear donor for transgenic bovines, the codon of fat1 sequence was optimized based on the codon usage frequency preference of bovine muscle protein, and directionally cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pEF-GFP. After identifying by restrictive enzyme digests with AatII/XbaI and sequencing, the fusion plasmid pEF-GFP-fat1 was identified successfully. The pEF-GFP-fat1 vector was transfected into bovine fetal fibroblast cells mediated by Lipofectamine2000$^{TM}$. The positive bovine fetal fibroblast cells were selected by G418 and detected by RT-PCR. The results showed that a 1,234 bp transcription was amplified by reverse transcription PCR and the positive transgenic fat1 cell line was successfully established. Then the expression level of fat1 gene in positive cells was detected using quantitative PCR, and the catalysis efficiency was detected by gas chromatography. The results demonstrated that the catalysis efficiency of fat1 was significantly high, which can improve the total PUFAs rich in EPA, DHA and DPA. Construction and expression of pEF-GFP-fat1 vector should be helpful for further understanding the mechanism of regulation of fat1 in vitro. It could also be the first step in the production of fat1 transgenic cattle.