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This study aims to explore the adsorption and catalytic properties of modified hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) for carbon and oxygen gases, especially for the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO). Due to the limitations of precious metal catalysts, research has focused on transition metal-doped h-BN (M-h-BN) in the first row to address the challenge of greenhouse gas emissions. Through density functional theory, it was found that transition metal doping is stable on boron vacancies in h-BN and has a significant impact on CO adsorption and catalysis. Especially, Ti-, V-, Fe-, and Co-doped systems exhibit strong CO adsorption capacity, while Cr, Mn, and Zn exhibit inclined adsorption. CO in the Sc-doped system is adsorbed on Sc atoms in an inclined manner. These findings not only reveal the adsorption behavior and intrinsic mechanism of M-h-BN toward gas molecules, but also provide direction for the development of new greenhouse gas adsorbents and CO oxidation catalysts. Through this research, we have the potential to promote the application and development of catalytic technology and source reduction strategies in controlling greenhouse gas emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high penetration of online communication in social networks provides a perfect context for launching a viral marketing campaign. Viral marketing strategies with adoption and promotion incentives are applied by companies for acquiring customers and occupying the market rapidly. In this paper, motivational thresholds and the SAN diffusion model are introduced to describe the massage diffusion process. Diffusion thresholds of dual incentives under homogeneous and heterogeneous networks are both deduced. We compare different effects of adoption and promotion incentives on marketing performances including the final penetration and the diffusion speed with numerical simulation. Simulation results show not only a greater influence of promotion incentives than adoption but also the necessity of adoption incentives for higher penetration. Besides, simulation results also show different diffusion characteristics between homogeneous and heterogenous networks, which provide management implications for selecting target customers with different network structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the consensus problem of slow convergence for the active noise control (ANC) model based on standard FxLMS algorithm that leads to performance degradation, this paper takes the error signal and its variation as the inputs of fuzzy logic control, and proposes an improved FxLMS algorithm by fuzzy control mechanism with two-input-two-output TSK fuzzy rules (TSK-FxLMS); In addition, the four-channel ANC models based on standard FxLMS and TSK-FxLMS are constructed using the noise signals from four measuring points inside an electric bus under uniform and variable speed conditions, respectively. Ultimately, the offline simulation and acoustic parameter calculation results indicate that the A-weighted sound pressure level (ASPL) and loudness of the two FxLMS models within the low and middle frequencies are significantly reduced, whereas the TSK-FxLMS model has faster convergence rate, higher average reduction percentage of ASPL and loudness, which proves that the established four-channel TSK-FxLMS model has a better sound quality improvement effect than the standard FxLMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural children are more at risk for childhood obesity but may have difficulty participating in pediatric weight management clinical trials if in-person visits are required. Remote assessment of height and weight observed via videoconferencing may provide a solution by improving the accuracy of self-reported data. This study aims to validate a low-cost, scalable video-assisted protocol for remote height and weight measurements in children and caregivers. Families were provided with low-cost digital scales and tape measures and a standardized protocol for remote measurements. Thirty-three caregiver and child (6–11 years old) dyads completed remote (at home) height and weight measurements while being observed by research staff via videoconferencing, as well as in-person measurements with research staff. We compared the overall and absolute mean differences in child and caregiver weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and child BMI adjusted Z-score (BMIaz) between remote and in-person measurements using paired samples t-tests and one sample t-tests, respectively. Bland–Altman plots were used to estimate the limits of agreement (LOA) and assess systematic bias. Simple regression models were used to examine associations between measurement discrepancies and sociodemographic factors and number of days between measurements. Overall mean differences in child and caregiver weight, height, BMI, and child BMIaz were not significantly different between remote and in-person measurements. LOAs were − 2.1 and 1.7 kg for child weight, − 5.2 and 4.0 cm for child height, − 1.5 and 1.7 kg/m2 for child BMI, − 0.4 and 0.5 SD for child BMIaz, − 3.0 and 2.8 kg for caregiver weight, − 2.9 and 3.9 cm for caregiver height, and − 2.1 and 1.6 kg/m2 for caregiver BMI. Absolute mean differences were significantly different between the two approaches for all measurements. Child and caregiver age were each significantly associated with differences between remote and in-person caregiver height measurements; there were no significant associations with other measurement discrepancies. Remotely observed weight and height measurements using non-research grade equipment may be a feasible and valid approach for pediatric clinical trials in rural communities. However, researchers should carefully evaluate their measurement precision requirements and intervention effect size to determine whether remote height and weight measurements suit their studies. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04142034 (29/10/2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aims to investigate the fatigue performance, by detecting changes in the first-order natural frequency, of single-lap joint specimens subjected to dynamic loadings. A particular attention is given to the evaluation of the effect of tightening torque on fatigue crack initiation life and fatigue crack initiation position. The results show that the joint with the tightening torque of 10 Nm has the highest fatigue life among all investigated joints. The analyses further reveal that this is mainly attributed to the prolonged crack initiation life resulted from the suppressed crack initiation at the joint contacting surface due to the high fretting fatigue resistant produced by the appropriate level of tightening torque. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for a weighted weak-type inequality of the form ∫ M g + f > λ φ ~ λ ω 3 x ω 4 x ω 4 x d x ≤ C 1 ∫ + ∞ - ∞ φ ~ f x ω 1 x ω 2 x ω 2 x d x to be true, which generalize some known results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tachysurus latifrontalis, a new catfish species, is here described based on specimens collected from the Jiulongjiang River: a coastal river flowing into the South China Sea in Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, South China. It belongs to the Tachysurus nitidus species group within the genus Tachysurus, defined by having a smooth anterior margin of the pectoral-fin spine, short maxillary barbels not extending to the base of the pectoral-fin spine, at least 20 anal-fin rays and a deeply forked caudal fin. This new species is distinct from the other two members of this group, Tachysurus nitidus (nec Sauvage and Dabry de Thiersant 1874) and Tachysurus fui (Miao 1934), in having a wider interorbital space [width 46.3–55.0% of head length (HL) vs. 34.3–45.5%], shorter nasal barbels (length 10.6–17.2% of HL vs. 18.1–29.2%), and a deeper body [depth at anus 17.4–27.6% of standard length (SL) vs. 13.4–22.5%]. It further differs from T. fui in having fewer anal-fin rays (20–23 vs. 27–33), a shorter (vs. longer) anal-fin base (length 22.1–28.2% of SL vs. 29.8–36.0%) and a gas bladder with (vs. without) beaded lateral and posterior margins, and from T. nitidus in having a shorter (vs. longer) (length 18.8–20.2% of HL vs. 30.8–37.4%) as well as blunt and rounded (vs. projected and slightly pointed) snout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the vessel fleet deployment problem for liner shipping under uncertain shipment demands. The aim is to minimize the sum of vessel chartering cost and route operating cost, while controlling the risk of shipment demand overflow, i.e., the risk of demand exceeding the shipping capacity. We use moment knowledge to construct an ambiguous set to portray the unknown probability distributions of the demands. We establish chance constraints with risk tolerance for shipping service routes, in a distributionally robust (DR) framework. We propose a mixed integer programming reformulation to approximate the concerned problem with DR chance constraints. We show that the state-of-the-art approach is a special case of our designed approximation method, and we prove the sufficient and necessary conditions such that our approximation method outperforms the state-of-the-art approach, respecting the given risk level. We conduct numerical experiments to demonstrate the advantages of our approximation method. We also show that our novel approximation approach can significantly save the total cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although environmental filtering and spatial structuring are commonly regarded as two key factors shaping community dynamics, their relative contribution remains unknown for numerous aquatic ecosystems, particularly highly dynamic floodplain lakes. This issue is here addressed by examining the seasonal metacommunity dynamics of freshwater fishes in Lake Dongting, a large subtropical lake of the middle Chang-Jiang basin in southern China. Physicochemical variables and fish assemblages were recorded at 20 sampling sites during the wet, normal, and dry seasons. Distance-based redundancy analysis and associated variation partitioning were used to examine the relative role of environmental variables and spatial factors in fish community assembly in each season. Analysis results demonstrated that the relative contribution of environmental filtering and spatial structuring varied depending on environmental features and the extent of hydrological connectivity in different seasons. Intensified physicochemical parameters in the dry season convinced the enhanced environmental filtering, whereas high hydrological connectivity in the wet season favored the stronger spatial process. Specifically, the community assembly processes were temporally dynamic; spatial structuring (or mass effects), resulting from excessively high dispersal rates, was dominant during the flooding season, and environmental filtering was stronger than spatial structuring (or dispersal limitation) during the non-flooding season. These findings highlight the importance of conserving local habitats of Lake Dongting during the dry and normal seasons, and maintaining of the flood pulse of the lake and its natural variability during the wet season. Apparently, the construction of a water-level regulation project at the Chenglingji Channel, the outlet watercourse of Lake Dongting, is not supported because it will change the flood pulse of this lake and thus impact habitat heterogeneity or variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various waveforms of bursting discharges in dynamical models with multiple time scales always imply complex dynamical behaviors, and so it is important but difficult to survey their topological types by multi-layered fast-slow analyses. In this work, we find out two parameters in the Chay–Cook model, which together enable to change timescale of a variable in the model from fast to medium-slow to slow to control directly and indirectly timescales of the system, respectively. At two moderate values of one parameter controlling directly timescales, a variety of complex bursting discharges are excavated by increasing another parameter controlling indirectly timescales to slow the variable down. Thus, two different fast-slow analyses are combined to define more accurately topological types of the bursting discharges. The new definition of the topological type of bursting proposed in the work is an extension and improvement of the existing classification, and provides a dynamic basis for further study of the complexity of information encoding in neuronal system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, a huge amount of cargo is transported via containers by liner shipping companies. Under stochastic demand, repacking operations and carbon reduction, which may lead to an increase in effectiveness and environmental improvement, have been rarely considered in previous literature. In this paper, we investigate a container transshipment route scheduling problem with repacking operations under stochastic demand and environmental protection. The problem is a combinatorial optimization problem. Lacking historical data, a chance-constrained programming model is proposed to minimize the total operating and environment-related costs. We choose two distribution-free approaches, i.e., approximation based in Markov's Inequality and Mixed Integer Second-Order Conic Program to approximate the chance constraints. As the loses induced by unfulfilled demand are not taken into account in the above model, a scenario-based model is developed considering the loses. Risk-neutral model may provide solutions that perform poorly while considering uncertainty. To incorporate decision makers' perspectives, therefore, we also propose a risk-averse model adopting a risk aversion measure called Conditional Value-at-Risk to meet different preferences. Finally, we conduct computational experiments based on real data to compare the performances of the modeling methods and illustrate the impacts by testing different risk levels and confidence levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human blastocysts are comprised of the first three cell lineages of the embryo: trophectoderm, epiblast and primitive endoderm, all of which are essential for early development and organ formation. However, due to ethical concerns and restricted access to human blastocysts, a comprehensive understanding of early human embryogenesis is still lacking. To bridge this knowledge gap, a reliable model system that recapitulates early stages of human embryogenesis is needed. Here we developed a three-dimensional (3D), two-step induction protocol for generating blastocyst-like structures (EPS-blastoids) from human extended pluripotent stem (EPS) cells. Morphological and single-cell transcriptomic analyses revealed that EPS-blastoids contain key cell lineages and are transcriptionally similar to human blastocysts. Furthermore, EPS-blastoids are similar with human embryos that were cultured for 8 or 10 days in vitro, in terms of embryonic structures, cell lineages and transcriptomic profiles. In conclusion, we developed a scalable system to mimic human blastocyst development, which can potentially facilitate the study of early implantation failure that induced by developmental defects at early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the past few decades, immunological checkpoint therapy has been an increasingly prominent strategy in the treatment of tumors, including prostate cancer (PC). There are few systematic studies of the phenotypic of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in PC tissues. Methods: CIBERSORT is an analytical tool for estimating the abundance of member cell types in mixed cell population by gene expression data. Herein, we analyzed different levels of tumor-infiltrating immunity cells in normal tissue compared with PC using CIBERSORT. Results: The results showed that proportion of M1 macrophages and resting mast cells presented significant differences in prostate tumor than these normal tissues. A higher proportion of resting mast cells was associated with a worse outcome and M1 macrophages was associated with a favorable outcome. Moreover, the radiotherapy and targeted molecular therapy can affect the immune infiltration of M1 macrophages and resting mast cells. Conclusions: Resting mast cells and M1 macrophages has an important role in the prognosis of prostate cancer. Our data provides valuable information about the future treatment of PC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A complete mitogenome of T. lineatus from Lake Turkana in the Kenyan part was determined. It had a length of 16 470 bp, including 37 genes as found in teleosts with the typical gene order in these fishes. Mitogenomic comparison and phylogenetic analysis supported not only the morphology-based recognition of the pufferfish specimen from Lake Turkana as the Nile pufferfish, but also the identification of the Chinese specimen recently recorded as T. lineatus and its African source. The mitochondrial genome here amplified for the sample of T. lineatus from Lake Turkana also provides conclusive molecular evidence for the monophyletic nature of Tetraodon s.s., as it serves as a reference genome of this species used to clarify ambiguity in its identification in previous molecular studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is widely accepted that the service life of transformer oil–paper insulation is determined by the aging condition of transformer cellulosic insulation. Therefore, it is rather meaningful to accurately and reliably evaluate the aging condition of transformer cellulose insulation. Existing studies have shown that activation energy can eliminate the temperature effect on the frequency dielectric spectroscopy, however, the traditional activation energy might not be suitable for assessing the aging condition of transformer cellulosic insulation. The aim of the work is to assess the aging condition of cellulosic insulation by using average activation energy technique. The experiment process is firstly discussed. Then, the second-order dynamic equation formed by Arrhenius equation and Ekenstam equation is strictly investigated to accurately calculate the degree of polymerization value of transformer cellulosic insulation. The experimental results preliminarily show that the average activation energy can effectively assess aging condition of transformer cellulosic insulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waxy wheat shows special starch quality due to high amylopectin content. However, little information is available concerning the development and degradation of amyloplast from waxy wheat endosperm. To address this problem, waxy wheat variety, Yangnuo 1, and a non-waxy wheat variety, Yangmai 13, were chosen to investigate the development and degradation of endosperm amyloplast during wheat caryopsis development and germination stage respectively using histochemical staining and light microscopy. Changes of morphology, the soluble sugar and total starch content were indistinguishable in the process of caryopsis development of two wheat varieties. The developing endosperm of non-waxy was stained blue-black by I2-KI while the endosperm of waxy wheat was stained reddish-brown, but the pericarp of waxy and non-waxy wheat was stained blue-black. In contrast to nonwaxy wheat, endosperm amyloplast of waxy wheat had better development status and higher proportion of small amyloplast. During seed germination many small dissolution pores appeared on the surface of endosperm amyloplast and the pores became bigger and deeper until amyloplast disintegrated. The rate of degradation of waxy wheat endosperm amyloplast was faster than non-waxy wheat. Our results may also be helpful to the use of waxy starch in food and nonfood industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toffoli gates are natural elements for the circuit model based quantum computation. We investigate general resource requirements for arbitrary n-qubit Toffoli gate. These resources consist of the nontrivial Clifford gate (CNOT), non-Clifford gate ( T gate), ancillary qubits, and circuit depth. To implement n-qubit Toffoli gates, we consider two cases: only one auxiliary qubit and unlimited auxiliary qubits. The key of the first case is to decompose an n-qubit Toffoli gate into the reduced Toffoli gate modulo phase shift using the Clifford gates and one ancillary qubit. With this construction, it only requires O( n) number of general resources for an n-qubit Toffoli gate. For the second case, an approximate Toffoli gate is constructed to obtain efficient decomposition of a Toffoli gate. The new decomposition can further reduce general resources except auxiliary qubits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate clinical outcomes of pelvic artery embolization (PAE) for treatment of obstetric hemorrhage, and determine the predictive factors associated with failure.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included all consecutive patients who underwent PAE for obstetric hemorrhage (not only in the post-partum setting), between January 2003 and January 2013 at three tertiary care centers. Medical records and imaging were reviewed to identify the study population and collect data on patient characteristics, PAE characteristics, and outcomes. Multiple parameters were compared between the failed and successful PAE groups, and univariate analysis was performed to determine the predictive factors for PAE failure.Results: A total of 74 PAE procedures were performed in 68 patients. Primary clinical success rate was 78%. On univariate analysis, three factors were associated with PAE failure: hemodynamic instability (p < 0.022), hemoglobin level <95 g/dL (p < 0.024), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) (p < 0.046). Other factors, including maternal characteristics, antecedent history, angiographic finding, embolic agent, operator experience, procedure done after hours, and unilateral versus bilateral embolization, did not show any statistically significant association with PAE failure. Only one major complication was encountered, which was fetal demise in a pregnant patient with a uterine arteriovenous malformations. Out of the 68 patients, there were 61 total pregnancies at follow-up.Conclusion: PAE is an effective treatment for obstetric hemorrhage, with a low complication rate, and preserves fertility. Factors significantly associated with PAE failure include hemodynamic instability, hemoglobin level <95 g/dL, and DIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] Abstract: Chemical cross-linking coupled with mass spectrometry (CXMS) identifies protein residues that are close in space, and has been increasingly used for modeling the structures of protein complexes. Here we show that a single structure is usually sufficient to account for the intermolecular cross-links identified for a stable complex with sub-µmol/L binding affinity. In contrast, we show that the distance between two cross-linked residues in the different subunits of a transient or fleeting complex may exceed the maximum length of the cross-linker used, and the cross-links cannot be fully accounted for with a unique complex structure. We further show that the seemingly incompatible cross-links identified with high confidence arise from alternative modes of protein-protein interactions. By converting the intermolecular cross-links to ambiguous distance restraints, we established a rigid-body simulated annealing refinement protocol to seek the minimum set of conformers collectively satisfying the CXMS data. Hence we demonstrate that CXMS allows the depiction of the ensemble structures of protein complexes and elucidates the interaction dynamics for transient and fleeting complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Persistence with and adherence to osteoporosis therapy are critical for fracture reduction. This non-interventional study is evaluating medication-taking behavior of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) receiving denosumab in Germany, Austria, Greece, and Belgium. Patients were representative of the PMO population and highly persistent with and adherent to denosumab at 12 months. Introduction: Persistence with and adherence to osteoporosis therapy are important for optimal treatment efficacy, namely fracture reduction. This ongoing, non-interventional study will evaluate medication-taking behavior of women with postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) receiving denosumab in routine practice in four European countries. Methods: The study enrolled women who had been prescribed subcutaneous denosumab (60 mg every 6 months) in accordance with prescribing information and local guidelines. Persistence was defined as receiving the subsequent injection within 6 months + 8 weeks of the previous injection. Adherence was defined as receiving two consecutive injections within 6 months ± 4 weeks of each other. Medication coverage ratio (MCR) was calculated using the time a patient was covered with denosumab, as assessed from prescription records. Treatment was assigned prior to and independently of enrollment; outcomes are recorded during routine practice. Results: These planned 12-month interim analyses included data from 1500 patients from 141 sites. Mean age was 66.4-72.4 years, mean baseline total hip T-scores ranged from −2.0 to −2.1 and femoral neck T-scores from −2.2 to −2.6, and 30.7-62.1 % of patients had prior osteoporotic fracture. Persistence was 87.0-95.3 %, adherence 82.7-89.3 %, and MCR 91.3-95.4 %. In a univariate analysis, increased age, decreased mobility, and increased distance to the clinic were associated with significantly decreased persistence; parental history of hip fracture was associated with significantly increased persistence. Conclusions: These data extend the real-world evidence regarding persistence with and adherence to denosumab, both of which are critical for favorable clinical outcomes, including fracture risk reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies a variation of online bin packing where there is a capacitated buffer to temporarily store items during packing, and item size is bounded within $$(\alpha , 1/2]$$ for some $$0\le \alpha < 1/2$$ . The problem is motivated by surgery scheduling such that we regard the planned uniform available time interval in each day as a unit size bin and surgeries as items to be packed. Our focus is on the asymptotic performance of NF (Next Fit) and NF-based online algorithms. We show that the classical NF algorithm without use of the buffer has an asymptotic competitive ratio of $$2/(1+\alpha )$$ . An NF-based algorithm which makes use of the buffer is further proposed, and proved to be asymptotic 13/9-competitive for any given buffer size not less than 1. We also present a lower bound of 4/3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Permethrin, cypermethrin and cyfluthrin are three important pyrethroids with similar structures and contain four, eight and eight stereoisomers, respectively. All the stereoisomers were completely resolved by a combination of achiral and chiral high-performance liquid chromatography with hexane/isopropanol as the mobile phase. The absolute configurations for the stereoisomers were also assigned on the basis of enantioselective resolution of permethrinic acid. For cypermethrin and cyfluthrin, although there is the only difference being one F atom substitution in cyfluthrin, the cis-I diastereomer exhibited a reversal of enantiomer order. Three specific stereoisomers were further isolated to investigate the photolysis and chiral stability of synthetic pyrethroids at the enantiomeric level. The results clearly revealed that significant isomerization occurred along with the photolysis process. The isomerization occurred at chiral 1-C position, 3-C position or both in the cyclopropyl ring, and the chiral 3-C exhibited a higher inversion tendency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warfarin is used in paediatric populations, but dosing algorithms incorporating pharmacogenetic data have not been developed for children. Previous studies have produced estimates of the effect of polymorphisms in Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) and vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) on stable warfarin dosing, but data on time in therapeutic range, initial dosing and adverse effects are limited. Participants (n=97) were recruited, and routine clinical data and salivary DNA samples were collected from all participants and analysed for CYP2C9*2, *3 and VKORC1-1639 polymorphisms.VKORC1 -1639 was associated with a greater proportion of the first 6 months' treatment time spent within the target International Normalised Ratio (INR) range, accounting for an additional 9.5% of the variance in the proportion of time. CYP2C9*2 was associated with a greater likelihood of INR values exceeding the target range during the initiation of treatment (odds ratio (OR; per additional copy) 4.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.42, 12.34). CYP2C9*2 and VKORC1-1639 were associated with a lower dose requirement, and accounted for almost 12% of the variance in stable dose. VKORC1-1639 was associated with an increased likelihood of mild bleeding complications (OR (heterozygotes vs homozygotes) 4.53, 95% CI 1.59, 12.93). These data show novel associations between VKORC1-1639 and CYP2C9*2 and INR values in children taking warfarin, as well as replicating previous findings with regard to stable dose requirements. The development of pharmacogenomic dosing algorithms for children using warfarin has the potential to improve clinical care in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies an online scheduling problem with immediate and reliable lead-time quotation. A manufacturer either accepts an order by quoting a reliable lead-time on its arrival or rejects it immediately. The objective is to maximize the total revenue of completed orders. Keskinocak et al. (Management Science 47(2):264-279, ) studied a linear revenue function in a discrete model with integer release time of order, and proposed a competitive strategy Q-FRAC. This paper investigates a relaxed revenue function in both discrete and continuous models where orders are released at integer and real time points, respectively. For the discrete model, we present a revised Q-FRAC strategy that is optimal in competitiveness for concave and linear revenue functions with unit length and uniform weight of order, improving the previous results in Keskinocak et al. (Management Science 47(2):264-279, ). For the scenario with uniform length $$p$$ and nonuniform weight of order, we prove an optimal strategy for the case with $$p=1$$ and the nonexistence of competitive strategies for the case with $$p>1$$ . For the continuous model, we present an optimal strategy in competitiveness for the case with uniform weight of order and linear revenue functions, and prove the nonexistence of competitive strategies for the other case with nonuniform weight of order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes extended studies on the discrete problem of online scheduling and reliable lead time quotation (discrete Q-SLTQ) introduced by Keskinocak et al. (Manag. Sci. 47(2):264-279, ). We first relax the assumption on revenue function from a linear decreasing function to any decreasing function. We present an online deterministic strategy which is optimal in competitiveness for concave revenue functions. The above results are further extended to the continuous Q-SLTQ model where orders are released at arbitrary time points. For the discrete Q-SLTQ problem, if orders are with nonuniform lengths, we prove the nonexistence of online strategies with bounded competitive ratios; otherwise if orders are with unit length but various weights, we present an optimal online strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transcriptional positive coactivator 4 (PC4) is a multifunctional nuclear protein that has important roles in DNA transcription, replication, repair and heterochromatinization. However, the role of PC4 in cancer remains to be clarified. Several studies propose that PC4 may act as a putative tumor suppressor. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that PC4 may represent a potential therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PC4 protein expression is significantly upregulated in NSCLC carcinoma tissues compared with their adjacent noncancerous counterparts as shown by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting in 104 pairs of formalin-fixed human NSCLC specimens and 6 fresh NSCLC samples. Knockdown of PC4 expression by sequence-specific small interfering RNA (siRNA) in human NSCLC cells (A549, H460 and H358) significantly inhibits the growth of cancer cells by the induction of cell cycle arrest and the increase of cell apoptosis in vitro. Interrupting the PC4 signaling pathway by injection of the PC4 siRNA liposome complex produced an effective regression of pre-established A549 cell xenografts in mice through growth inhibition and increased apoptosis. These results indicated that PC4 could be an attractive new therapeutic target for the treatment of NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homatula laxiclathra, new species, is here described from the Wei-He of the Yellow River drainage in Shaanxi Province, northern China. It is similar to H. berezowskii, H. longidorsalis, and H. variegata in the shared possession of a shallower body with a uniform depth, a character distinguishing all of them from all other congeners, but differs from these three species in the width of vertical brown bars on the caudal peduncle. This new species, along with H. berezowskii, differs from H. longidorsalis, and H. variegata in head length, caudal-peduncle depth, length of the dorsal adipose creast of the caudal peduncle, body squamation, and intestinal coiling. Homatula laxiclathra and H. berezowskii are further distinct in the caudal-fin shape and interorbital width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/hypothesis: γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a signalling molecule in the interstitial space in pancreatic islets. We examined the expression and function of the GABA signalling system components in human pancreatic islets from normoglycaemic and type 2 diabetic individuals. Methods: Expression of GABA signalling system components was studied by microarray, quantitative PCR analysis, immunohistochemistry and patch-clamp experiments on cells in intact islets. Hormone release was measured from intact islets. Results: The GABA signalling system was compromised in islets from type 2 diabetic individuals, where the expression of the genes encoding the α1, α2, β2 and β3 GABA channel subunits was downregulated. GABA originating within the islets evoked tonic currents in the cells. The currents were enhanced by pentobarbital and inhibited by the GABA receptor antagonist, SR95531. The effects of SR95531 on hormone release revealed that activation of GABA channels (GABA receptors) decreased both insulin and glucagon secretion. The GABA receptor antagonist, CPG55845, increased insulin release in islets (16.7 mmol/l glucose) from normoglycaemic and type 2 diabetic individuals. Conclusions/interpretation: Interstitial GABA activates GABA channels and GABA receptors and effectively modulates hormone release in islets from type 2 diabetic and normoglycaemic individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AND gate functions such that when all inputs are activated the downstream gene will be transcribed and it is off otherwise. To accomplish optimal and targeted gene therapy in solid tumor patients, we have constructed an AND gate genetic circuit and investigated whether it could be activated by low-dose radiation in vitro and in vivo. The enhancement green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression in different tumor cells transfected with control vector plxsn-EGFP confirmed that 2 Gy of radiation and 1% O2 for 3 h could activate our AND gate. Besides, the obvious different levels of EGFP expression between 2 and 6 Gy of radiation demonstrated that the AND gate could be regulated by radiation doses. Additionally, through EGFP expression and the codistribution of p53 and HIF-1α in xenografts, we illustrated the targeted activation property of the AND gate and real-time monitoring to hypoxic districts in vivo. Moreover, significant growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest in vitro and apoptosis-inducing effects in vitro and in vivo proved that the AND gate induced ideal antitumor effects. In conclusion, the radiation dose-regulated AND gate genetic circuit could not only effectively monitor the therapeutic process in real-time but also induce ideal antitumor efficacy, and can be further exploited for personal therapy in clinical tumor patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein kinase C (PKC) regulates exocytosis in various secretory cells. Here we studied intracellular translocation of the PKC isoenzymes PKCα and PKCδ, and investigated how activation of PKC influences glucagon secretion in mouse and human pancreatic alpha cells. Glucagon release from intact islets was measured in static incubations, and the amounts released were determined by RIA. Exocytosis was monitored as increases in membrane capacitance using the patch-clamp technique. The expression of genes encoding PKC isoforms was analysed by real-time PCR. Intracellular PKC distribution was assessed by confocal microscopy. The PKC activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulated glucagon secretion from mouse and human islets about fivefold ( p < 0.01). This stimulation was abolished by the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide (BIM). Whereas PMA potentiated exocytosis more than threefold ( p < 0.001), BIM inhibited alpha cell exocytosis by 60% ( p < 0.05). In mouse islets, the PKC isoenzymes, PKCα and PKCβ1, were highly abundant, while in human islets PKCη, PKCε and PKCζ were the dominant variants. PMA stimulation of human alpha cells correlated with the translocation of PKCα and PKCδ from the cytosol to the cell periphery. In the mouse alpha cells, PKCδ was similarly affected by PMA, whereas PKCα was already present at the cell membrane in the absence of PMA. This association of PKCα in alpha cells was principally dependent on Ca2+ influx through the L-type Ca2+ channel. PKC activation augments glucagon secretion in mouse and human alpha cells. This effect involves translocation of PKCα and PKCδ to the plasma membrane, culminating in increased Ca2+-dependent exocytosis. In addition, we demonstrated that PKCα translocation and exocytosis exhibit differential Ca2+ channel dependence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate aggregation process of the Ni(OH)2 under hydrothermal condition. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The results show that the self-assembled Ni(OH)2 nanosheets with the hexagonal structure is about 30 nm in thickness. We investigate the effect of reaction temperature on the morphology of the product. The nanosheets can aggregate together when the temperature and reaction time are suitable. And a possible mechanism is also proposed to explain the growth and aggregation process of Ni(OH)2 nanosheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uptake and release of trace metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Co) in estuaries are studied using river and sea end-member waters and suspended particulate matter (SPM) collected from the Changjiang Estuary, China. The kinetics of adsorption and desorption were studied in terms of environmental factors (pH, SPM loading, and salinity) and metal concentrations. The uptake of the metals studied onto SPM occurred mostly within 10 h and reached an asymptotic value within 40 h in the Changjiang Estuary. As low pH river water flows into the high pH seawater and the water become more alkaline as it approaches to the seaside of estuary, metals adsorb more on SPM in higher pH water, thus, particulate phase transport of metal become increasingly important in the seaward side of the estuary. The percentage of adsorption recovery and the distribution coefficients for trace metals remained to be relatively invariable and a significant reduction only occurred in very high concentrations of metals (>0.1 mg L−1). The general effect of salinity on metal behavior was to decrease the degree of adsorption of Cu, Zn, Cd, Co, and Ni onto SPM but to increase their adsorption equilibrium pH. The adsorption–desorption kinetics of trace metals were further investigated using Kurbatov adsorption model. The model appears to be most useful for the metals showing the conservative behavior during mixing of river and seawater in the estuary. Our work demonstrates that dissolved concentration of trace metals in estuary can be modeled based on the metal concentration in SPM, pH and salinity using a Kurbatov adsorption model assuming the natural SPM as a simple surfaced molecule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Qianlabeo striatus gen. et sp. nov. is described from a stream tributary to the Beipan Jiang of the upper Zhu Jiang (Pearl River) drainage in Matou, Anshun County, Guizhou Province, China. This monotypic genus is mainly characterized by its oromadibular morphology, namely an upper lip only present in and fully adnate to the side of the upper jaw, not covered by the pendulous rostral fold; the median portion of the upper jaw lacking an upper lip but bearing a thin, flexible and cornified cutting edge that is fully covered by the pendulous rostral fold; a postlabial groove prolonged, extended anteromedially close to the anteromost point of the midline of the lower lip but not to meet with its counterpart. The type species of this genus, Q. striatus has a longitudinal dark stripe along the side of the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we prove that if T is a regular n-partite tournament with n ≥ 4, then each arc of T lies on a cycle whose vertices are from exactly k partite sets for k = 4, 5, . . . ,n. Our result, in a sense, generalizes a theorem due to Alspach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Experiments were performed to determine whether corneal epithelium transfected with minimalistic immunologically defined expression constructs for the extracellular fragment of CTLA4 and for interleukin-4 (IL-4) or interleukin-10 (IL-10) is able to modulate an allospecific immune response after orthotopic corneal grafting in mice. Methods: Six groups of BALB/c (H-2d) mice received a C3H (H-2k) corneal graft and dexamethasone eye drops until day 11. Five groups of BALB/c mice had gold particles delivered into the corneal epithelium by Gene Gun on day 10 after transplantation. In four groups, minimalistic immunologic-ally defined gene expression (MIDGE) vectors were delivered into the corneal epithelium by ballistic transfer. The levels of expressed IL-4 and IL-10 were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in shock-frozen homogenized corneas. The expression kinetics of Gene-Gun-transfected corneas were determined by measuring luciferase in lysed whole corneas at different time intervals. Results: Luciferase expression was detectable during the first 5 days following transfection. ELISA was used to determine IL-4 and IL-10 expression in corneal tissue 36 h after transfection. Ballistic IL-4 and CTLA4 gene transfer significantly prolonged corneal graft survival in comparison with the gold-treated control group and the IL-10-treated group. Conclusion: The beneficial effect of IL-4 and CTLA4, but not IL-10 gene transfer into the corneal epithelium by MIDGE vectors was demonstrated for the first time in corneal transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain and temperature stimuli activate neurons of lamina I within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and although these neurons can be classified into three basic morphological types and three major physiological classes, earlier studies did not establish a structure/function correlation between their morphology and their physiological responses. We recorded and intracellularly labeled 38 cat lamina I neurons. All 12 fusiform cells were nociceptive-specific, responsive only to pinch and/or heat. All 11 pyramidal cells were thermoreceptive-specific, responsive only to innocuous cooling. Of ten multipolar cells, six were polymodal, responsive to heat, pinch and cold, and four were nociceptire-specific. Five unclassified cells had features consistent with this pattern. These results support the view that central pain and temperature pathways contain anatomically discrete sets of modality-selective neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline chromium boride (CrB) powders were successfully synthesized at 600 °C through a solid-state reaction. The synthesis was carried out in an autoclave by using CrCl3, Mg and MgB2 as the reactants. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern indicates the formation of orthorhombic CrB. Transmission electron microscopy image shows that typical CrB crystallites are composed of floss-like particles with less than 10 nm in diameter and about 50–100 nm in length. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the oxidation resistance for nanocrystalline CrB is much lower than that of bulk CrB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) is an essential insulin replacement therapy in the management of diabetes. However, the longevity of clinical CSII is limited by skin complications, by impaired insulin absorption and by occlusions associated with the subcutaneous insertion of CSII catheters, which require replacement and rotation of the insertion site every few days. Here we show that a biodegradable zwitterionic gel covering the tip end of commercial off-the-shelf CSII catheters fully resolves early skin irritations, extends the longevity of catheters and improves the rate of insulin absorption (also with respect to conventional syringe-based subcutaneous injection) for longer than 6 months in diabetic mice, and by 11 days in diabetic minipigs (from 2 to 13 days, under standard CSII-wearing conditions of insulin pump therapy and in a continuous basal-plus-bolus-infusion setting). The implanted gel displayed anti-inflammatory and anti-foreign-body-reaction properties and promoted the local formation of new blood vessels. The gel is subcutaneously injected before the tip of catheter is inserted into it, and should be generally applicable to CSII catheters and other implantable devices., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

The clinical assessment of microvascular pathologies (in diabetes and in inflammatory skin diseases, for example) requires the visualization of superficial vascular anatomy. Photoacoustic tomography (PAT) scanners based on an all-optical Fabry-Perot ultrasound sensor can provide highly detailed 3D microvascular images, but minutes-long acquisition times have precluded their clinical use. Here we show that scan times can be reduced to a few seconds and even hundreds of milliseconds by parallelizing the optical architecture of the sensor readout, by using excitation lasers with high pulse-repetition frequencies and by exploiting compressed sensing. A PAT scanner with such fast acquisition minimizes motion-related artefacts and allows for the volumetric visualization of individual arterioles, venules, venous valves and millimetre-scale arteries and veins to depths approaching 15 mm, as well as for dynamic 3D images of time-varying tissue perfusion and other haemodynamic events. In exploratory case studies, we used the scanner to visualize and quantify microvascular changes associated with peripheral vascular disease, skin inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis. Fast all-optical PAT may prove useful in cardiovascular medicine, oncology, dermatology and rheumatology., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Metabolic reprogramming has been observed in cancer metastasis, whereas metabolic changes required for malignant cells during lymph node metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are still poorly understood. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of paired ESCC tumor tissues and lymph nodes to uncover the reprogramming of tumor microenvironment (TME) and metabolic pathways. By integrating analyses of scRNA-seq data with metabolomics of ESCC tumor tissues and plasma samples, we found nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism pathway was dysregulated in ESCC patients with lymph node metastasis (LN + ), exhibiting as significantly increased 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA) in both tumors and plasma. Further data indicated high expression of N-methyltransferase (NNMT), which converts active methyl groups from the universal methyl donor, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), to stable MNA, contributed to the increased MNA in LN + ESCC. NNMT promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis of ESCC in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting E-cadherin expression. Mechanically, high NNMT expression consumed too much active methyl group and decreased H3K4me3 modification at E-cadherin promoter and inhibited m6A modification of E-cadherin mRNA, therefore inhibiting E-cadherin expression at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional level. Finally, a detection method of lymph node metastasis was build based on the dysregulated metabolites, which showed good performance among ESCC patients. For lymph node metastasis of ESCC, this work supports NNMT is a master regulator of the cross-talk between cellular metabolism and epigenetic modifications, which may be a therapeutic target., (© 2024. The Author(s).)