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Photovoltaic power generation and photothermal power generation are two forms of solar power generation. The development cost of photovoltaic is relatively lower than photothermal, but a certain proportion of energy storage and distributed synchronous condensers are needed to ensure the safe and stable operation of the system. As a result the cost of photovoltaic power generation rises. Photothermal comes with heat storage and output friendliness, so currently there is still a great dispute about the technical route of photovoltaic and photothermal. This paper takes Haixi area of Qinghai province as an example. Firstly, based on the characteristics of solar irradiation resources and output in the same time and space, the power guarantee capabilities of photovoltaic+energy storage and photothermal is compared. Then this paper compares photovoltaic+energy storage+condenser with photothermal from the perspective of power grid security and stability support ability. Finally, this paper compares the economics of solar thermal and photovoltaic based on the forecast of their cost declining trend. Photothermal has both thermal storage and conventional generator functions, providing short circuit capacity, reactive power compensation and moment of inertia support for the system. The results show the economy of photothermal is basically equivalent to, or even better than photovoltaic+energy storage+condenser after the cost reduction in the case of technical equivalence.

Background: Rhubarb is a common cold-property drug that is commonly used as an effective laxative. It was first recorded in Shen Nong's Herbal Classic. Purpose: The LC-MS/MS metabolomics technology was used in this study to investigate the possible mechanism by which Rhubarb, a common cold property in traditional Chinese medicine, acts on healthy rats during different administration cycles. Discussing the effect of bitter-cold traditional Chinese medicine on the intestinal tract, not only guides clinical medicine better but also provides a new way to evaluate the efficacy of bitter-cold Chinese medicine objectively. Materials and Methods: Six groups of rats (n = 6) were randomly divided into the following: the control group was fed a basal diet and given pure water; the Rhubarb group was fed a basal diet and was gavaged with Rhubarb (7.5 g/kg per day). The principal component analysis and the orthogonal partial least squares–discriminant analysis method was used to analyse the endogenous differential metabolites, the metabolite differences between rhubarb and the control group were screened, and the metabolic pathways were analysed by MetaboAnalyst. Results: Compared with the blank control group, 20, 17, and 8 metabolites were identified in the feces of the Rhubarb group on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days, respectively, which involved linoleic acid metabolism, purine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and arachidonic acid metabolism. Conclusion: Rhubarb's pharmacological effects on gastrointestinal regulation, and antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties are closely related to its bitter and cold properties and may be generated through porphyrin, purine, tryptophan, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sepsis is defined as a life‐threatening disease. Autophagy and the microbiome are increasingly connected with sepsis. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of autophagy and the possible mechanisms. Methods: The septic rat model was established by cecal ligation perforation (CLP). Rapamycin (Rap), 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA), and chloroquine (CQ) were administered to interfere autophagy. Western blot (WB) was used to detect the expression of key proteins in autophagy. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) were used to identify the effect of autophagy on various organs. 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing was used to analyze the changes of the gut microbiota. Results: Rap significantly upregulated the expression of key autophagy proteins, and 3‐MA reduced the relative expression compared to the CLP group. The autophagic flux showed a corresponding trend. Interestingly, the autophagy inducer significantly decreased the mortality and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) level in serum compared with the CLP group. Autophagy activation significantly improves the inflammatory response in sepsis. Histopathological sections showed that CLP destroyed the tight junctions between ileal epithelial cells, while autophagy induction reversed the damage. The sequencing results showed that autophagy activation increased the alpha diversity and alterted the composition and structure of gut microbiota. The abundance of Proteobacteria was markedly decreased in the Rap group, whereas Bacteroidetes was notably increased compared with the CLP group. Additionally, the protective effect of autophagy further changed the biomarkers in the microbial community. The top 35 functions in each sample were analyzed to obtain 18 genes including RNA synthesis, ATP binding and transport, chromosome assignment, osmotic polysaccharide transport, transcytosis, and methylation. Conclusion: Autophagy is able to improve inflammation and may directly or indirectly regulate the microbiota of septic rats. Autophagy may be an important target for future clinical interventions in the treatment of sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The gut microbiome has a significant impact on human wellness, contributing to the emergence and progression of a range of health issues including inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular problems, and psychiatric disorders. Notably, clinical observations have revealed that these illnesses can display differences in incidence and presentation between genders. The present study aimed to evaluate whether the composition of gut microbiota is associated with sex-specific differences and to elucidate the mechanism., Methods: 16S-rRNA-sequencing technology, hormone analysis, gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone treatment were employed to investigate the correlation between the gut microbiome and sex or sex hormones. Meanwhile, genes and proteins involved bile acid signaling pathway were analyzed both in the liver and ileum tissues., Results: The composition and diversity of the microbiota from the jejunum and feces and the level of sex hormones in the serum differed between the sexes in young and middle-aged Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. However, no similar phenomenon was found in geriatric rats. Interestingly, whether in young, middle-aged, or old rats, the composition of the microbiota and bacterial diversity differed between the jejunum and feces in rats. Gut microbiota transplantation, gonadectomy, and hormone replacement also suggested that hormones, particularly testosterone (T), influenced the composition of the gut microbiota in rats. Meanwhile, the mRNA and protein level of genes involved bile acid signaling pathway (specifically SHP , FXR , CYP7A1 , and ASBT ) exhibited gender-specific differences, and T may play a significant role in mediating the expression of this pathway., Conclusion: Sex-specific differences in the structure of the gut microbiota are mediated by T through the bile acid signaling pathway, pointing to potential targets for disease prevention and management techniques by indicating that sex differences and T levels may alter the composition of the gut microbiota via the bile acid signaling pathway., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Duan, Nie, Xie, Zhang, Zhu, Zhu, Chen, Xu, Zhang, Yang, Yu, Cai, Wang and Tian.)