New stochastic simulation capability applied to the GREET model

Background, Aims and Scope

In 1995, the Center for Transportation Research (CTR) of Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) began to develop a model, called GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation), for estimating the full fuel-cycle energy and emissions impacts of alternative transportation fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. The parametric assumptions used in the GREET model involve uncertainties. A new stochastic simulation tool, developed by Vishwamitra Research Institute (VRI), is built into the GREET model to address uncertainties. This paper presents the methodology and features of this new stochastic simulation tool and evaluates the performance of the sampling techniques in the tool.

Methods

The new tool is interfaced through the graphical user interface (GUI) to perform the stochastic simulation. In general, five steps need to be followed to run a complete simulation: 1) Specify probability distribution functions; 2) Indicate the number of samples and the sampling technique; 3) Define the forecast variables; 4) Delete distribution functions (if necessary); and 5) Propagate the uncertainties and statistically analyze the outputs. The GREET model contains more than 700 default distribution functions for a wide variety of key parameters and as many as 3000 forecast variables. The stochastic simulation tool has been developed to incorporate 11 probability distribution function types for representing uncertain parameters and four sampling techniques (Monte Carlo sampling [MCS], Hammersley Sequence sampling [HSS], Latin Hypercube sampling [LHS] and Latin Hypercube Hammersley sampling [LHHS]) for stochastic simulation. To evaluate the performance of the four sampling techniques, 16 independent stochastic simulation runs were conducted in GREET and the output results were analyzed and compared.

Results and Discussion

With the same number of samples, the output distribution curve simulated by HSS is the smoothest corresponding to the highest level of uniformity. To achieve the same level of smoothness as HSS with 1,000 samples, LHHS needs to be simulated with ～1500 samples and LHS and MCS with ～3,000 samples. As a result, HSS can achieve more than 200% reduction in running time compared to LHS or MCS without compromising the accuracy and quality of the prediction curves. The simulated mean values are close enough to the actual mean value (within ±1%) despite the selection of sampling technique and the number of samples (between 1,000 and 4,000). The standard deviation values from each other are close enough as well (within ±5%). It shows the trend that the increasing number of samples makes the simulated mean value marginally closer to the actual mean value; however, the improvement effect is negligible. The simulation time is strictly positive-correlated with the number of samples; therefore, the trade-off between extending simulation time and improving the smoothness of the output distribution curve needs to be carefully assessed.

Conclusion

A new stochastic simulation tool has been developed to be built into Argonne’s GREET model to enhance its capability for addressing uncertainty. This new tool guides the user in each step of the process through the user-friendly GUI windows. According to the performance comparison among the four sampling techniques, HSS was found to be the most efficient technique. Therefore, HSS was set as the default technique in GREET.     

Insulin sensitising action of chromium picolinate in various experimental models of diabetes mellitus.

Although chromium is an essential element for carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, its effects in diabetic patients are still debated. We have studied the effect of 6 week treatment with chromium picolinate (8 microg/ml in drinking water) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 and type 2 diabetic rat models. The mechanism of anti-diabetic action of chromium picolinate was studied using C2C12 myoblasts and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Chromium picolinate significantly decreased the area under the curve over 120 min for glucose of both STZ-induced type 1 (40mg/kg, i.v. in adult rats) and type 2 (90 mg/kg, i.p. in 2 day old rat neonates) diabetic rats without any significant change in area under the curve over 120 min for insulin as compared to controls. The composite insulin sensitivity index and insulin sensitivity index (KITT) values of both type 1 and type 2 diabetic rats were increased significantly by chromium picolinate. Treatment with chromium picolinate produced a significant decrease in elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in both types of diabetic rats. In 3T3-L1 adipocytes, chromium picolinate (0-10 micromol) per se did not produce any effect, however, when co-incubated with insulin it significantly increased the intracellular triglyceride synthesis (EC50 = 363.7nmol/1). Similarly in C2C12 myoblasts, chromium picolinate alone did not produce any effect, however, it significantly increased insulin-induced transport of 14C-glucose. In conclusion, chromium picolinate significantly improves deranged carbohydrate and lipid metabolism of experimental chemically induced diabetes in rats. The mechanism of in vivo anti-diabetic action appears to be peripheral (skeletal muscle and adipose tissue) insulin enhancing action of chromium.     

Does "ichthyosis uteri" have malignant potential? : A case report of squamous cell carcinoma of endometrium associated with extensive ichthyosis uteri

This short report discusses a case of solitary colonic polypoid ganglioneuroma associated with melanosis coli in a woman with no systemic manifestations. To our knowledge this is the first ganglioneuroma reported in the literature in association with melanosis coli. The nature and significance of this event remains unclear, although this may be coincidental due to the laxative intake. Further investigation is necessary to clarify this point. The interest of this case lies moreover in the rarity of this entity and its endoscopic and histologic resemblance to sessile polyps frequent in the clinical practice.     

New examples of μ-η:η-disulfido dicopper(II,II) complexes with bis(tetramethylguanidine) ligands

The new ligand N,N′-(2-methyl-2-(2-pyridyl)propan-1,3-diyl)bis(tetramethylguanidine) (L) and its four-coordinate, distorted square-planar copper(II) complex [CuLCl₂] (1) were synthesized and structurally characterized. Similarly, bis(μ-OH)dicopper(II,II) complex [Cu₂L₂(OH)₂](OTf)₂ (2) was synthesized and structurally characterized. The pyridyl group in L does not coordinate in either 1 or 2. New examples of μ-η²:η²-disulfido dicopper(II,II) complexes were synthesized by treating a copper(I) complex of either L or L′ [L′ = 2′,2′-(propane-1,3-diyl)bis(1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine)] with elemental sulfur. [Cu₂L₂(S₂)](PF₆)₂ (3) and [Cu₂(S₂)](PF₆)₂ (4) were both structurally characterized, and both structures have two copper(II) ions bridged by a disulfido ligand in a μ-η²:η²-manner. The ligands L and L′ coordinate in a bidentate fashion (like 1 and 2, the pyridyl ring does not coordinate in 3), and the geometry around the copper ions in 3 and 4 is distorted square planar. The metrical parameters of 3 and 4 were found to be similar to other μ-η²:η²-disulfido dicopper(II,II) complexes, and the Cu-S and Cu···Cu distances are among the shortest reported for this class of copper disulfide dimers.     

The cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase gene family in Populus: phylogeny, organization, and expression

Background  

Lignin is a phenolic heteropolymer in secondary cell walls that plays a major role in the development of plants and their defense against pathogens. The biosynthesis of monolignols, which represent the main component of lignin involves many enzymes. The cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) is a key enzyme in lignin biosynthesis as it catalyzes the final step in the synthesis of monolignols. The CAD gene family has been studied in Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa and partially in Populus. This is the first comprehensive study on the CAD gene family in woody plants including genome organization, gene structure, phylogeny across land plant lineages, and expression profiling in Populus.     

Low-dose endotoxin induces inflammation by selectively removing nuclear receptors and activating CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein δ

Subclinical levels of circulating endotoxin are associated with the pathogenesis of diverse human inflammatory diseases, by mildly inducing the expression of proinflammatory mediators. In this study, we examined the molecular mechanism responsible for the effect of low-dose LPS in macrophages. In contrast to high-dose LPS, which activates NF-κB and induces the robust expression of proinflammatory mediators, we observed that low-dose LPS failed to activate NF-κB. Instead, it selectively activated C/EBPδ and removed nuclear repressors, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and retinoic acid receptor α, enabling a mild and leaky expression of proinflammatory mediators. The effect of low-dose LPS required IRAK-1, which interacts with and acts upstream of IκB kinase ε to contribute to LPS-mediated induction of C/EBPδ and proinflammatory mediators. Additionally, mice fed a high-fat diet acquired elevated levels of endotoxin and proinflammatory mediators in an IRAK-1-dependent fashion. Taken together, these data reveal a distinct pathway preferentially used by low-dose endotoxin in initiating low-grade inflammation.     

Locking and unlocking of ribosomal motions

During the ribosomal translocation, the binding of elongation factor G (EF-G) to the pretranslocational ribosome leads to a ratchet-like rotation of the 30S subunit relative to the 50S subunit in the direction of the mRNA movement. By means of cryo-electron microscopy we observe that this rotation is accompanied by a 20 A movement of the L1 stalk of the 50S subunit, implying that this region is involved in the translocation of deacylated tRNAs from the P to the E site. These ribosomal motions can occur only when the P-site tRNA is deacylated. Prior to peptidyl-transfer to the A-site tRNA or peptide removal, the presence of the charged P-site tRNA locks the ribosome and prohibits both of these motions.