Memory-based variable neighborhood search for green vehicle routing problem with passing-by drivers: a comprehensive perspective.

A business delivery model with professional vehicles as well as occasional passing-by vehicles is investigated in this paper. The drivers deliver parcels from the distribution center to customers and the passing-by driver can get a certain amount of compensation in return. To give a satisfactory solution from the perspective of platform owner, customers, professional drivers, occasional drivers, and authority, a multi-layer comprehensive model is proposed. To effectively solve the proposed model, we introduce an improved variable neighborhood search (VNS) with a memory-based restart mechanism. The new algorithm is evaluated on instances derived from Solomon's benchmark and real-life beer delivery instances. Taguchi experiment is used to tune parameters in the proposed VNS, followed by component analysis and real-life experiments. Experimental results indicate that the proposed strategies are effective and the new delivery model in this paper has some advantages over traditional and single-delivery ones from the comprehensive perspectives of stakeholders in the crowdsourcing logistics system.

[Effect of Laptm4b Deletion on Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells Homeostasis in Mice].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of lysosomal-associated protein transmembrane-4 Beta(Laptm4b) deletion on hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) homeostasis in mice. METHODS: The hematopoietic system specific Laptm4b-deficient mice were constructed. The number and proportion of HSPCs (LSK, LT, ST, MPP, etc) in Laptm4b-deficient mice were analyzed by flow cytometry. Single SLAM-HSC cell was sorted by flow sorter and cultured in vitro to measure the effect of Laptm4b deletion on the colony forming ability of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The effect of Laptm4b-deficient on the reconstitution ability of HSCs in mice was detected by competitive transplantation experiment of SLAM-HSC cells. RESULTS: Laptm4b deficiency could moderately upregulate the proportion of T cells in the peripheral blood of the mice, but showed no significant effect on the proportion and number of HSPCs. Laptm4b deletion showed no effect on the reconstruction ability of HSCs after competitive transplantation, but it could inhibit the colony formation of HSCs in vitro. CONCLUSION: LAPTM4B may play a role in HSCs under the proliferation stress. Laptm4b-deficient in mice hematopoietic system showed no significant effect on the HSPCs homeostasis maintenance and reconstruction ability.

Probucol alleviates atherosclerosis and improves high density lipoprotein function.

BACKGROUND: Probucol is a unique hypolipidemic agent that decreases high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). However, it is not definite that whether probucol hinders the progression of atherosclerosis by improving HDL function. METHODS: Eighteen New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into the control, atherosclerosis and probucol groups. Control group were fed a regular diet; the atherosclerosis group received a high fat diet, and the probucol group received the high fat diet plus probucol. Hepatocytes and peritoneal macrophages were isolated for [(3)H] labeled cholesterol efflux rates and expression of ABCA1 and SR-B1 at gene and protein levels; venous blood was collected for serum paraoxonase 1, myeloperoxidase activity and lipid analysis. Aorta were prepared for morphologic and immunohistochemical analysis after 12 weeks. RESULTS: Compared to the atherosclerosis group, the paraoxonase 1 activity, cholesterol efflux rates, expression of ABCA1 and SR-BI in hepatocytes and peritoneal macrophages, and the level of ABCA1 and SR-BI in aortic lesions were remarkably improved in the probucol group, But the serum HDL cholesterol concentration, myeloperoxidase activity, the IMT and the percentage plaque area of aorta were significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Probucol alleviated atherosclerosis by improving HDL function. The mechanisms include accelerating the process of reverse cholesterol transport, improving the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant functions.

[Epidemiological study of the cardiovascular risk factors and clinical medications in patients with cardiovascular diseases in Guangzhou hospitals].

OBJECTIVE: To study the cardiovascular risk factors and clinical medications in patients with cardiovascular disease in Guangzhou hospitals. METHODS: Cluster sampling and non-random sampling methods were used to analyze the cardiovascular risk factors and clinical medications among the 6691 inpatients with cardiovascular diseases in the department of cardiology of 9 large general hospitals in Guangzhou during 1995-2005. RESULTS: Compared with the data in 1995, the incidences of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and hypertriglyceridemia increased while hypercholesteremia, elevated low-density lipoprotein, and low high-density lipoprotein levels decreased in 2005. The percentage of patients with level 1 (mild) hypertension was lower while that of patients with level 2 (moderate) hypertension higher in 2005 than in 1995. The percentages of use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin II receptor antagonist (ARB), beta-blockers, diuretics, and anti-platelet drugs (aspirin, clopidogrel), as well as statins lipid-lowering drugs, increased significantly in 2005 as compared with those in 1995. CONCLUSION: The cardiovascular risk factors and clinical medications underwent significant changes in Guangzhou hospitals in the period from 1995 to 2005, and the blood pressure, blood glucose, hypertriglyceridemia of the patients did not appear to be well controlled. The application rate of ACEI, ARB, beta-blockers, diuretics, aspirin, clopidogrel and statins increased rapidly for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, and these drugs have become the first-line drugs.

[Culture of porcine mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and developmental capacity of reconstructed embryos by nuclear transfer].

The developmental potential of reconstructed embryos varied according to the source of donor cells, it was thought that the donor cells capabilities to be reprogrammed were different. We established the method of culturing porcine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs), identified and observed the growth characteristics of pMSCs, and determined pMSCs reprogramming potential as donor cells for nuclear transfer (SCNT). We found that the method of gradient centrifugation to isolate pMSCs from porcine bone marrow was better than the method of anchoring culture; the number of pMSCs achieved peak at day 6, the adhesive rate of cultured cells was 78.50% at 10h and the division index of cultured cells was 24.00 per thousand at day 4. The developmental competence were compared among three kinds of embryos, reconstructed embryos with PF and pMSCs, Parthenogenetic. The blastocysts rate and total cell number of blastocysts were 15.07%, 14.63% vs 30.91% and 24.1 +/- 6.5, 30.67 +/- 17.7 vs 25.8 +/- 11.4. These results indicated that pMSCs could be high proliferation and stable growth characters in vitro, and were suitable donor cells type for nuclear transfer.

[Production of porcine reconstructed embryos by whole-cell intracytoplasmic microinjection].

Cloning by somatic cell nuclear transfer has been achieved by both electric fusion and intracytoplasmic nuclear injection (ICNI) methods. However, each of the above methods involves extended complicate manipulation and special equipment. Here we report a whole-cell injection technique without Piezo assistance for nuclear transfer in pigs. The fibroblast cell of pig as the nucleus donor cell, effects of the new method on the efficiency of somatic nuclear transfer in pig were investigated, compared with that of electric fusion method. Results showed that the new method was a little less efficient in producing reconstructed embryos but without significant difference (88.4% vs 78%, P > 0.05). After the embryos were cultured 48h and 7d, the fusion method is more efficient than the new method in the oocyte cleavage rate and the blastocyst development (78% vs 53.2%, P < 0.05; 27.2% vs 13.8%, P < 0.01). The results indicate that both methods make no difference in the quality of the blastula, but the electric fusion method is more efficient. Therefore, the applicability of producing normal,cloned piglets by the simple and less labor-intensive whole-cell intracytoplasmic injection needs further improvement.