Abundant Energy Supply Research Articles

Increased Load Power With Centralized Control of Multiple Microgrid Resources

There are many rural areas on remote islands that cannot be reached by electricity sources from the utility grid. However, Indonesia is a country that has an abundant supply of renewable energy. One of the renewable energies that is obtained for free is solar energy sources. Renewable energy has great potential as a source of distributed electricity generation or microgrids. This article proposes a new method for providing large electrical power supplies for rural areas, namely multiple microgrids with a centralized control strategy. The purpose of this method is to provide stability of power supply to the load. In this method, each microgrid has solar panels (SP), batteries, and diesel generators (GD). Multiple microgrids provide power supply to DC loads and AC loads. The centralized controller uses an outseal programmable logic controller (PLC) which functions to regulate the power flow of microgrid 1 (MG1), microgrid 2 (MG2), and microgrid 3 (MG3) to the load alternately. Simulation test results show the performance of a centralized control which is able to provide power supply to the load according to demand or changes in load. Power regulation management for rural areas can be developed for large-scale microgrid systems.
 Keywords: multiple-microgrid; centralized control; solar panel

Flowering and Runnering of Seasonal Strawberry under Different Photoperiods Are Affected by Intensity of Supplemental or Night-Interrupting Blue Light

The strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) “Sulhyang” is a typical seasonal flowering (SF) strawberry that produces flower buds in day lengths shorter than a critical limit (variable, but often defined as <12 h). There is a trade-off between photoperiod-controlled flowering and gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway-mediated runnering. Some related genes (such as CO, FT1, SOC1, and TFL1) participating in light signaling and circadian rhythm in plants are altered under blue light (BL). Sugars for flowering and runnering are mainly produced by photosynthetic carbon assimilation. The intensity of light could affect photosynthesis, thereby regulating flowering and runnering. Here, we investigated the effect of the intensity of supplemental blue light (S-BL) or night-interrupting blue light (NI-BL) in photoperiodic flowering and runnering regulation by applying 4 h of S-BL or NI-BL with either 0, 10, 20, 30, or 40 μmol·m−2·s−1 photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in a 10 h short-day (SD10) (SD10 + S-BL4 or + NI-BL4 (0, 10, 20, 30, or 40)) or 14 h long-day (LD14) conditions (LD14 + S-BL4 or + NI-BL4 (0, 10, 20, 30, or 40)). Approximately 45 days after the photoperiodic light treatment, generally, whether S-BL or NI-BL, BL (20) was the most promotive in runnering, leading to more runners in both the LD and SD conditions. For flowering, except the treatment LD14 + S-BL, BL (20) was still the key light, either from BL (20) or BL (40), promoting flowering, especially when BL acted as the night-interrupting light, regardless of the photoperiod. At the harvest stage, larger numbers of inflorescences and runners were observed in the LD14 + NI-BL4 treatment, and the most were observed in the LD14 + NI-BL (20). Moreover, the SD10 + NI-BL4 was slightly inferior to the LD14 + NI-BL4 in increasing the numbers of inflorescences and runners, but it caused earlier flowering. Additionally, the circadian rhythm expression of flowering-related genes was affected differently by the S-BL and NI-BL. After the application of BL in LD conditions, the expression of an LD-specific floral activator FaFT1 was stimulated, while that of a flowering suppressor FaTFL1 was inhibited, resetting the balance of expression between these two opposite flowering regulators. The SD runnering was caused by BL in non-runnering SD conditions associated with the stimulation of two key genes that regulate runner formation in the GA pathway, FaGRAS32 and FaGA20ox4. In addition, the positive effects of BL on enhancing photosynthesis and carbohydrate production also provided an abundant energy supply for the flowering and runnering processes.

Plasma-assisted in situ engineering of bimetallic phosphate coated Ni(OH)2–CuO nanosheets for robust electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Hydrogen production by water electrolysis is a promising green and sustainable energy source, and engineering low-cost and high-efficiency electrocatalysts is crucial to ensure reliable and abundant global energy supply. Herein, a new and effective approach for electrocatalyst production for robust hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is reported. The Ni–Cu hydroxide and oxide nanosheets are directly synthesized on the plasma-treated nickel foam (PNF) substrate, and then the ultrathin layer of transition metal phosphate is electrodeposited. The CuO and Ni(OH)2 heterostructures effectively enrich the catalytically active sites, reduce the HER free energy while greatly increasing the conductivity, thus causing the high HER activity. Meanwhile, the multilayer nickel-cobalt phosphate not only accelerates the HER reaction kinetics, but also acts as a protective layer, which greatly improves the electrode stability. The overpotential of the synthesized NiCo–P@CuO–Ni(OH)2/PNF catalyst is 59 mV (Tafel slope is 51.4 mV dec−1) for HER driven with a current density of 10 mA cm−2 (j10) in 1.0 M KOH electrolyte. Importantly, the nanostructure and sustainable activity of NiCo–P@CuO–Ni(OH)2 are retained after a 100 h HER process under the simulated industrial conditions. The Density Functional Theory and in situ Raman results reveal that the nickel sites exposed at the CuO–Ni(OH)2 heterointerface act as the HER catalytically active centers.

Flow Characteristics of Electrochemical Catalytic Reduction of CO2 in Microchannel

Human beings need abundant material support and energy supply in their exploration of the universe. The sustainable supply of materials is an important condition for long-term space exploration. In situ resource utilization technology (ISRU) is an important way to realize the sustainable development of space exploration, which uses the abundant raw materials in outer space to transform energy and materials. In this paper, a microfluidic reaction device based on in situ resource utilization is designed, which converts H2O and CO2 into O2 and organic matter through photoelectrocatalysis. The flow and mixing process of gas-liquid two-phase flow was studied, and both the characteristics of mass transfer and the chemical reaction of fluids in the microchannel were studied. The dynamic process of the fluid-in-microchannel chemical reaction was expounded, and a prediction model of the volumetric mass transfer coefficient was proposed. The results show that the mass transfer coefficient of the chemical reaction is affected by the gas-liquid flow characteristics, and the mass transfer affects the rate of the chemical reaction. The material conversion of in situ resources by using the microchannel device can improve efficiency and accurately control the reaction products.

Exploration and Development of Marine Renewable Energy in Fujian Province Towards Carbon Neutrality

To achieve peak carbon emission and carbon neutrality, marine renewable energy plays an essential role in energy transition in China’s coastal areas. Fujian Province is not only exposed to a shortage of traditional energy resources, but also urgently needs to change its current coal-based energy structure to reduce carbon emissions. In contrast to the scarcity of fossil fuels, Fujian Province has rich marine energy reserves, with an abundant supply of offshore wind, wave, tidal, and ocean current energy. Therefore, the active development of low-carbon and carbon-free marine energy can increase the energy supply and alleviate energy shortages. Furthermore, it can optimize the structure of the energy sector in this region. This study analyzed the energy structure of the Fujian Province, the effort needed to reach the carbon neutrality goal, the reserves of marine energy resources, the background of marine energy development technology, and socio-economic conditions. We believe that the development of the marine energy is a critical action towards solving the current energy resource limitations in Fujian and subsequently propose relevant suggestions for marine energy industry development in Fujian Province in terms of development ideas and pathways.

Transcriptomic responses to thermal stress in hybrid abalone (Haliotis discus hannai ♀ × H. fulgens ♂).

China is the world's largest abalone producing country. Currently, summer mortality caused by high temperature, is one of the biggest challenges for abalone aquaculture industry. The hybrid abalone (Haliotis discus hannai ♀ × H. fulgens ♂) was conferred on the "new variety". It has heterosis for thermal tolerance and has been cultured at large-scale in southern China. In this study, a transcriptome analysis was performed to identify the related genes in this hybrid abalone under thermal stress and recovery stage. Compared to control group (18°C), a total of 75, 2173, 1050, 1349, 2548, 494, and 305 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at 21°C, 24°C, 27°C, 30°C, 32°C, 29°C, and 26°C, respectively. In this study, 24°C is the critical temperature at which the abalone is subjected to thermal stress. With the temperature rising, the number of stress-responsive genes increased. During the temperature recovering to the optimum, the number of stress-responsive genes decreased gradually. Thus, this hybrid abalone has a rapid response and strong adaptability to the temperature. Under the thermal stress, the abalone triggered a complicated regulatory network including degrading the misfolded proteins, activating immune systems, negative regulation of DNA replication, and activating energy production processes. The more quickly feedback regulation, more abundant energy supply and more powerful immune system might be the underlying mechanisms to fight against thermal stress in this hybrid abalone. These findings could provide clues for exploring the thermal-response mechanisms in abalone. The key genes and pathways would facilitate biomarker identification and thermal-tolerant abalone breeding studies.

Factor prices and induced technical change in the industrial revolution

AbstractUsing historical data for the 1700–1914 period, this paper analyses the nature and direction of technical change in Britain. The evidence in this paper indicates that, over this long period, labour‐saving technology adoption was a major response to changes in relative factor prices, thus supporting the hypothesis that ‘induced innovation’ was a major driver of technical change during the British industrial revolution. Labour saving was made possible and sustained by capital‐augmenting and energy‐augmenting technical change coupled with continuous capital accumulation and abundant energy supplies. This process placed the British economy on a higher capital–labour ratio equilibrium, and was the primary force driving sustained productivity growth, which further raised wages and living standards.

Application of Internet of Things Based on Big Data Ecosystem in Factory Energy Consumption Analysis Model

The demand for energy in factories is huge. With abundant energy supply, factories can raise their production capacity to a new height. Energy is the material basis of domestic economic development. As the largest developing country in the world, energy shortage has become an urgent problem for China. In this paper, an Internet of Things based on big data ecosystem is proposed to analyze the energy consumption of the factory and build a model. The Internet of Things technology of big data ecosystem can be summarized as a technology that uses information sensing devices to complete the transaction and network connection according to the protocol content. A total of 853,000 power distribution operations were carried out in the power grid. In 2019, the average ratio of decision tree algorithm, machine learning algorithm, and machine learning algorithm was 36.8%, 37.4%, and 43.5%, respectively. Compared with the three methods, the method in this paper increased by 37.9% year-on-year and reduced the power outage by 2.63 million households, which is equivalent to a corresponding reduction of 35 users per operation. The functional requirements of the IoT energy consumption analysis system in factories based on big data ecosystem are reflected in three aspects: energy consumption monitoring and management, power control and management, and energy consumption supervision and analysis. Based on the management of energy consumption monitoring and power control through the software platform, the functional requirements of the system are analyzed.

Housing Habitability in Abuja Indigenous Settlements

The study examined the housing habitability conditions in Indigenous Peoples Settlements. The research adopted the Urbanized Indigenous Peoples Settlements. These constitutes 14% of the 773 indigenous Settlements that were inexistence at the promulgation of Abuja as the Nigerian New Federal Capital Territory in 1976. In the second stage of data collection,10% of the houses was selected by simple random sampling technique to give a total of 1349 Households. The results of the study revealed that adult constituted lowest proportion (3.4%) of residents in the Indigenous Peoples Settlements. Analysis of Variance(ANOVA) confirmed that, there were significant differences in the age distribution of residents (F=4.11, p= 0.005). The results also inferred, that a trifling 1.0% of the residents in the study area were high income earners, while 99.0% were low and middle income earners. Housing habitability attributes were subjected to factor analysis to evaluate the factors of housing habitability conditions in the study area. Thus, it was discovered that there existed negative correlation between privacy(va), proxemics and security(vb);(-5108,0.0011). The research also opined that abundant, affordable and reliable energy supply(vh) had positive correlation in all Indigenous Settlements (ve,0.6120,0.0001). Furthermore, the study identified social, location, structural and neighborhood attributes as factors that influenced housing habitability in the Indigenous people residents Settlements. In general, the Study concluded that lack of houses with building codes compliance, absence of building with certified designs and absence of fire safety measures was the highest factor (mean=3.32, standard deviation = 0.334) that influence housing habitability conditions. While the next ranked factor of housing habitability (mean=3.12, standard deviation=0.232) was the lack of access road to most Indigenous Settlements.

Assessment of the Electricity System Transition towards High Share of Renewable Energy Sources in South Asian Countries

The progressive use of renewable energy sources to ensure a continuous and abundant energy supply is the significant target towards a sustainable and secure energy system. Previously, the countries that had relied on fossil fuel as a dominating energy source are now endorsing energy system transition towards renewable energy sources. In this study, a comparative assessment of the energy problems of South Asian countries is summarized. Nevertheless, there are many similarities and differences in the electricity supply system of these countries. Long-term planning for renewable energy development is suggested for a diverse population and dispersed geographical location considering all the significant challenges. However, appropriate schemes are imperative for integrating significant renewable energy sources. This study introduces a foresight plan of the electricity model according to the demand and supply balance for extensive technical analysis. The EnergyPLAN modeling tool was employed to work out a more ambitious VRE integration scenario than the official plans. The reference model was validated according to legitimate and authentic data, and then, the technically most feasible renewable energy-based alternate scenario was built. The additional grid integration cost of variable renewable energy was quantitatively investigated for comprehensive power system modeling for a real-time economic analysis. The results may be adapted and support developing more sustainable power generation serving 1787 million in South Asian countries.

Application of wavy absorber plate in solar dryer for higher drying speed in solar food dryer

Conventional food drying by using ambient air is the oldest and widely applied method to preserve agriculture product. This method, however, shows several challenges, e.g. contamination problem, inhomogeneous drying process, difficulty in control of water content which may lead to product degradation. Contamination during this method could be due to many factors, e.g. dirty air, insect, wind which may carry out garbage and animals’ sewage and rain. An alternative solution to overcome these challenges is by developing solar dryer method. This method is widely applied particularly in the area with abundant supply of solar energy. In this research, solar dryer is equipped with wavy plate consisting of two ducting. Two ducting design is expected to result in higher drying temperature compared than one ducting. The research was worked out through experimental method. Data of solar radiation, temperature of ambient air and drying room collected in this research was then synchronized with speed of drying process. The prototype developed in this research showed that drying speed could achieve 8.51% per hour.

Photovoltaic modulation of ferromagnetism within a FM metal/P-N junction Si heterostructure.

Obtaining small, fast, and energy-efficient spintronic devices requires a new way of manipulating spin states in an effective manner. Here, a prototype photovoltaic spintronic device with a p-n junction Si wafer is proposed which generates photo-induced electrons and changes the ferromagnetism by interfacial charge doping. A ferromagnetic resonance field change of 48.965 mT and 11.306 mT is achieved in Co and CoFeB thin films under sunlight illumination, respectively. The transient reflection (TR) analysis and the first principles calculation reveal the photovoltaic electrons that are doped into the magnetic layer and alter its Fermi level, correspondingly. This finding provides a new method of magnetism modulation and demonstrates a solar-driven spintronic device with abundant energy supply, which may further expand the landscape of spintronics research.

Simulation and analysis of thermochemical seasonal solar energy storage for district heating applications in China

Thermochemical energy storage, a promising candidate for seasonal solar thermal energy storage, offers an economic solution to mitigate the use of fossil fuels and CO2 emissions due to its large storage density and almost zero-loss long-term storage. The present article explored the potential of the thermochemical seasonal energy storage system using MgO/Mg(OH)2 system for solar district heating applications in China. The solar district heating model with thermochemical seasonal energy storage system, including the parabolic trough solar collector and a chemical reactor, has been built. The dynamic charging/discharging performance of the seasonal solar thermal energy storage system has been simulated and analyzed by using the real weather data and the practical domestic heating demand. The optimal parameters of the equipment have been identified. And the comparison of the performances between thermochemical seasonal energy storage system and the conventionally used water storage tank system has been carried out for various areas of China. The results indicate that the stored thermochemical energy is able to contribute 94.6% of heating demand in the discharging stage, demonstrating the application potential of MgO/Mg(OH)2 thermochemical energy storage system in China. The needed solar collector areas of the seasonal thermochemical energy storage system decrease by up to 2/3 compared with those of a water storage tank system in the condition of the similar storage system volume. The advantage of seasonal thermochemical energy storage is more obvious for the case of region with abundant solar energy supply.

Multi-input, Multi-output Hybrid Energy Systems

Summary Jurisdictions and industries are setting ambitious goals to decarbonize energy systems. Low-cost wind, solar, and natural gas and the resultant dynamic electric grid require energy technologies to adapt in order to meet key attributes for modern energy systems: resilience, reliability, security, affordability, flexibility, and sustainability. When considering energy sources independently and competitively, value-added synergies among energy technologies may be overlooked for meeting demanding, multidimensional requirements. This paper presents novel concepts for tightly coupled hybrid energy systems that leverage capabilities of diverse energy generators, including renewable, nuclear, and fossil with carbon capture, to provide power, heat, mobility, and other energy services. The paper also presents a framework for engineering-based modeling and analysis for complex optimization of energy generation, transmission, services, processes and products, and market interactions. New modeling capabilities are needed to adequately represent multi-input, multi-output tightly coupled hybrid energy systems that utilize multiple feedstocks to create multiple products and services in novel and synergistic ways through increased coordination of energy systems and tightly coupled hybrid system configurations.

The Politics and Economics of Technology: Bankside Power Station and the Environment, 1945–81

Bankside B power station was a controversial post-war addition to London’s cityscape: objections centred on its adverse visual and environmental impact on a sensitive riverside site opposite the City of London. This article argues that an array of state agencies espoused technology as the solution to Bankside’s amenity, pollution and energy-efficiency issues. However, there were tensions and conflicts between the solutionism of actors proposing — and imposing — such technology and the pragmatism of those organisations which had to implement and operate, or reject, these proposals. The key consideration for the electricity industry was the provision of an abundant, timely and cost-effective energy supply. Technology ameliorated the environmental impact of the station but engendered adverse long-term issues. From the late 1950s the pollution from Bankside became increasingly intolerable in the context of London’s improved air and river quality; yet economic factors precluded further technological mitigation solutions prior to the station’s closure in 1981.

Brain Endothelial Cell Bioenergetics via Extracellular Flux Analysis

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is an important functional component in the central nervous system (CNS). The NVU consists of multiple cell types (endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, others) working together as a restrictive blood‐tissue interface and functions to maintain homeostasis within nervous tissue in the CNS. A dysfunctional NVU is associated with many disease states, including Alzheimer's Disease, strokes, and tumors. The endothelial cell is an important barrier‐forming cell of the NVU because of its direct contact with the blood, its intercellular tight junctions, biotransforming enzymes, and asymmetric distribution of active and carrier‐mediated transporters. These properties are important for maintaining the neuro‐microenvironment and require an abundant supply of energy (ATP). Although energy metabolism has been studied in various tissues and cells, little is known about the energy producing pathways of brain endothelial cells. Therefore, using extracellular flux analysis, we characterized the bioenergetics of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) in vitro. BMECs are primarily glycolytic and D‐glucose, pyruvate, and glutamine are preferred metabolic substrates. Inhibitors of monocarboxylate transporter (MCT1), mitochondrial pyruvate carrier, and glycolysis significantly alter ATP production, cellular respiration, and/or glycolytic rates. These findings contribute to our understanding of endothelial cell metabolic plasticity in normal and diseased brain as well as active angiogenesis during development or tumorigenesis. Understanding endothelial cell bioenergetics will be useful for future studies regarding development of therapies, that target endothelial cell energetics, for neurological disorders.Support or Funding InformationWhiteside Foundation and the Department of DefenseThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Comparative Proteomic and Physiological Analysis Reveals the Variation Mechanisms of Leaf Coloration and Carbon Fixation in a Xantha Mutant of Ginkgo biloba L.

Yellow-green leaf mutants are common in higher plants, and these non-lethal chlorophyll-deficient mutants are ideal materials for research on photosynthesis and plant development. A novel xantha mutant of Ginkgo biloba displaying yellow-colour leaves (YL) and green-colour leaves (GL) was identified in this study. The chlorophyll content of YL was remarkably lower than that in GL. The chloroplast ultrastructure revealed that YL had less dense thylakoid lamellae, a looser structure and fewer starch grains than GL. Analysis of the photosynthetic characteristics revealed that YL had decreased photosynthetic activity with significantly high nonphotochemical quenching. To explain these phenomena, we analysed the proteomic differences in leaves and chloroplasts between YL and GL of ginkgo using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS. In total, 89 differential proteins were successfully identified, 82 of which were assigned functions in nine metabolic pathways and cellular processes. Among them, proteins involved in photosynthesis, carbon fixation in photosynthetic organisms, carbohydrate/energy metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and protein metabolism were greatly enriched, indicating a good correlation between differentially accumulated proteins and physiological changes in leaves. The identifications of these differentially accumulated proteins indicates the presence of a specific different metabolic network in YL and suggests that YL possess slower chloroplast development, weaker photosynthesis, and a less abundant energy supply than GL. These studies provide insights into the mechanism of molecular regulation of leaf colour variation in YL mutants.

Determination of the right wave by empirical statistics: The wave energy resource assessment and the investigation of existing marine and coastal potential compatibility

In competition with other resources, ocean waves provide abundant supply of clean, safe, and reliable energy, but this source needs to be made an economical source for natural energy harvest. For this purpose, a wave energy conversion device is developed through various mechanisms by using ocean fluctuations that affect the ecosystems. The study was developed for the user to reduce the need for profitability of competitive balance and to support decision-makers who govern the equations for identifying locations for wave energy conversion facilities. Our model of wave energy harvesting is based on the analysis of the wave energy facility to quantify the net present value (NPV) of capital investment and evaluation. The proposed model has a local, regional, and flexible framework that can be applied even to the global scale for the wave energy conversion projects. The proposed model can be applied to the ongoing marine spatial planning. Specifically, the applications and ecological characteristics with an existing data collected by laboratory experiments and filed investigations, and the work of the various studies of the quantitative analysis of the compatibility of the commercial fishery data analysis spatial overlap. According to the empirical statistics, we found that the waves of the ocean around the west of Taiwan Island, had a great potential for high harvest, and offshore wave energy gradually increased. However, it comes to have an area of high economic potential whilst taking advantage of wave energy equipment to support the acquisition of a number of different coastal energy, the cost of the landing point of the submarine cable. The NPV is maximized if the conflict of use agreement is in place in the existing sea area. It is possible to build a wave energy facility in order to minimize the maximum composite wave energy and other economic uses. The high possibility of building the facility benefits the goal of this research. By mapping the wave energy, the governing equations of the study can assist decision-makers to use NPV to explore an alternative location for wave energy conversion facilities in order to reap the maximum returns. It is expected that the high potential areas would not be exploited in the race of capturing the existing marine space.

Fossil Energy in Economic Growth: A Study of the Energy Direction of Technical Change, 1950-2012

Climate change mitigation challenges national economies to increase productivity while reducing fossil energy consumption. Fossil energy-saving technical change has been assumed to accomplish this, yet empirical evidence is scarce. This paper investigates the long-run relationship between the rate and direction of technical change with respect to fossil energy and labor in the world economy. Growth rates of labor productivity and the fossil energy-labor ratio are examined for more than 95% of world output be- tween 1950 and 2012. The average elasticity of the energy-labor ratio with respect to labor productivity is close to one, implying highly energy-using technical change, but no trade-off between factor productivity growth rates. This stylized fact suggests the importance of a cheap, abundant energy supply for robust global growth, and a more important role for renewable energy. Integrated assessment models do not incorporate this restriction which may result in poorly specified baseline scenarios.

Adiponectin Inhibits Nutrient Transporters and Promotes Apoptosis in Human Villous Cytotrophoblasts: Involvement in the Control of Fetal Growth.

The placenta exchanges nutrients between the mother and the fetus and requires a constant abundant energy supply. Adiponectin (a cytokine produced primarily by adipose tissue) controls glucose and lipid homeostasis. It is well-known that maternal serum adiponectin levels are inversely related to birth weight, suggesting that adiponectin has a negative effect on fetal growth. This effect appears to be related to the control of nutrient transporters in human placenta. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms have not yet been characterized. In the present work, we studied adiponectin's direct effect on human primary cytotrophoblasts from first-trimester placenta. Our result showed that in placental cells, adiponectin 1) inhibits the expression of the major glucose transporters (GLUT1 and GLUT12) and sodium-coupled neutral amino acid transporters (SNAT1, SNAT2, and SNAT4), 2) enhances total ATP production but decreases lactate production, 3) inhibits mitochondrial biogenesis and function, and 4) stimulates cell death by enhancing the expression of the pro-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2)-associated X protein (BAX) and tumor protein P53 (TP53) gene expression and inducing the caspase activity. Small-interfering RNA mediating the down-regulation of adiponectin receptors (ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2) was used to demonstrate that adiponectin effects on placental nutrient transport and apoptosis seemed to be essentially mediated by these specific receptors. Taken as a whole, these results strongly suggest that adiponectin regulates human placental function by limiting nutrient transporter expression and inducing apoptosis. These findings may help us to better understand adiponectin's role in placental pathologies such as intrauterine growth restriction, which is characterized by fetal weight loss and drastic apoptosis of placental cells.