Gambling with Gametes: A Tale of Two Toxins

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are a population of cells that will ultimately differentiate into the organism’s sex cells. Their distinctiveness from somatic cells stems from the maintenance of pluripotency much longer than the surrounding differentiating cells. The toxins bisphenol-A (BPA) and methoxychlor (MXC) have been shown to have adverse effects on the reproductive systems of various animal models. Here, we use model organism Xenopus laevis to probe the fate of primordial germs cells in the developing Xenopus embryo in response to the presence of these toxicants. We show that BPA affects the total PGC population at the tailbud stage when the embryos are exposed at the 32-cell stage. Conversely, MXC did not exhibit an effect on the final PGC count. However, exposure to MXC does result in somatic malformation such as, decrease in tailbud melanocytes, a malformed gut, and early onset muscle movements.Ope

Effects of Bisphenol A and Methoxychlor on Xenopus laevis Embryos

Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are a population of cells that will ultimately differentiate into the organism’s sex cells. Their distinctiveness from somatic cells stems from the maintenance of pluripotency much longer than the surrounding differentiating cells. The toxins bisphenol-A (BPA) and methoxychlor (MXC) have been shown to have adverse effects on the reproductive systems of various animal models. Here, we use model organism Xenopus laevis to probe the fate of primordial germs cells in the developing Xenopus embryo in response to the presence of these toxicants. We show that BPA affects the total PGC population at the tailbud stage when the embryos are exposed at the 32-cell stage. Conversely, MXC did not exhibit an effect on the final PGC count. However, exposure to MXC does result in somatic malformation such as, decrease in tailbud melanocytes, a malformed gut, and early onset muscle movements.Ope

Asymptotic Tracking Stability Control Method for Grid-Connected Wind Turbine Systems Based on Quantitative Trajectory Constraints

To address the issue of instability induced by direct-drive wind turbines connected to weak AC grids, a grid-connected asymptotic tracking stabilization control strategy for direct-drive wind turbines based on quantitative trajectory constraints is proposed. First, an equivalent mathematical model of the direct-drive wind turbine unit is established, with the dq-axis coupling caused by unmodeled dynamics, power fluctuations, and operational mode switching regarded as inherent disturbances of the system, thereby enhancing modeling accuracy. Secondly, a grid-connected asymptotic tracking stabilization control method for wind turbines based on quantitative trajectory constraints is proposed. This method ensures transient response trajectory constraints throughout the process while guaranteeing steady-state tracking ability and robust operation of the overall system, ensuring that the entire transient response trajectory remains within the specified constraint range, thereby improving the stable operation of the wind turbine grid-connected system. Finally, a simulation model is built in PSCAD for comparative validation. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control strategy enhances the dynamic performance of the full transient response trajectory, effectively improving the stable operation capability of the overall system