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This article is directed to the study of the following Schrödinger-Poisson-Slater type equation: −ε2Δu+V(x)u+ε−α(Iα∗∣u∣2)u=λ∣u∣p−1uinRN,-{\varepsilon }^{2}\Delta u+V\left(x)u+{\varepsilon }^{-\alpha }\left({I}_{\alpha }\ast | u{| }^{2})u=\lambda | u{| }^{p-1}u\hspace{1em}\hspace{0.1em}\text{in}\hspace{0.1em}\hspace{0.33em}{{\mathbb{R}}}^{N}, where ε,λ>0\varepsilon ,\lambda \gt 0 are parameters, N⩾2N\geqslant 2, (α+6)/(α+2)

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0074968.].

In this article, we consider the following Schrödinger-Poisson system: −Δu+u+k(x)ϕ(x)u=f(x)∣u∣p−1u+g(x),x∈R3,−Δϕ=k(x)u2,x∈R3,\left\{\begin{array}{ll}-\Delta u+u+k\left(x)\phi \left(x)u=f\left(x)| u{| }^{p-1}u+g\left(x),& x\in {{\mathbb{R}}}^{3},\\ -\Delta \phi =k\left(x){u}^{2},& x\in {{\mathbb{R}}}^{3},\end{array}\right. with p∈(3,5)p\in \left(3,5). Under suitable assumptions on potentials f(x)f\left(x), g(x)g\left(x) and k(x)k\left(x), then at least four positive solutions for the above system can be obtained for sufficiently small ‖g‖H−1(R3)\Vert g{\Vert }_{{H}^{-1}\left({{\mathbb{R}}}^{3})} by taking advantage of variational methods and Lusternik-Schnirelman category.

AbstractOur most significant aim is to guarantee multiplicity results for a Kirchhoff-type problem involving two parameters and p(x)-triharmonic operator subject to the Navier boundary condition. More precisely, two critical point theorems are exploited to attain main theorems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triclosan (TCS) poses potential risks to reproduction and development due to its endocrine-disrupting properties. However, the mechanism of TCS's effects on early embryonic development is little known. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) and zebrafish embryos provide valuable models for testing the toxic effects of environmental chemicals on early embryogenesis. In this study, mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) were acutely exposed to TCS for 24 h, and general cytotoxicity and the effect of TCS on pluripotency were then evaluated. In addition, zebrafish embryos were exposed to TCS from 2- to 24-h post-fertilization (hpf), and their morphology was evaluated. In mESC, alkaline phosphatase staining was significantly decreased after treatment with the highest concentration of TCS (50 μM). Although the expression levels of Sox2 mRNA were not changed, the mRNA levels of Oct4 and Nanog in TCS-treated groups were significantly decreased compared to controls. In addition, the protein levels of Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog were significantly reduced in response to TCS treatment. MicroRNA (miR)-134, an expression inhibitor of pluripotency markers, was significantly increased in TCS-treated mESC. In zebrafish experiments, after 24 hpf of treatment, the controls had developed to the late stage of somitogenesis, while embryos exposed to 300 μg/L of TCS were still at the early stage of somitogenesis, and three genes (Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog) were upregulated in treated groups when compared with the controls. The two models demonstrated that TCS may affect early embryonic development by disturbing the expression of the pluripotency markers (Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog).

Bisphenol A (BPA) poses potential risks to reproduction and development. However, the mechanism of BPA's effects on early embryonic development is still unknown. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) and embryoid bodies (EB) provide valuable in vitro models for testing the toxic effects of environmental chemicals in early embryogenesis. In this study, mouse embryonic stem cells (mESC) were acutely exposed to BPA for 24h, and general cytotoxicity and the effect of BPA on pluripotency were then evaluated. Meanwhile, mouse embryoid bodies (mEB) were exposed to BPA up to 6 days and their differentiation capacity was evaluated. In mESC and mEB, we found that BPA up-regulated pluripotency markers (Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog) at mRNA and/or protein levels. Moreover, BPA increased the mRNA levels of endodermal markers (Gata4,Sox17) and mesodermal markers (Sma,Desmin), and reduced the mRNA levels of ectodermal markers (Nestin,Fgf5) in mEB. Furthermore, microRNA(miR)-134, an expression inhibitor of pluripotency markers including Oct4, Sox2 and Nanog, was decreased both in BPA-treated mESC and mEB. These results firstly indicate that BPA may disturb pluripotency in mESC and differentiation of mEB, and may inhibit ectodermal lineage differentiation of mEB while miR-134 may play a key role underlying this effect.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) poses potential risks to reproduction and development. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) are ideal models for developmental toxicity testing of environmental contaminants in vitro. However, the mechanism by which PFOS affects early embryonic development is still unclear. In this study, mESCs were exposed to PFOS for 24 h, and then general cytotoxicity and pluripotency were evaluated. MTT assay showed that neither PFOS (0.2 µM, 2 µM, 20 µM, and 200 µM) nor control medium (0.1% DMSO) treatments affected cell viability. Furthermore, there were no significant differences in cell cycle and apoptosis between the PFOS treatment and control groups. However, we found that the mRNA and protein levels of pluripotency markers (Sox2, Nanog) in mESCs were significantly decreased following exposure to PFOS for 24 h, while there were no significant changes in the mRNA and protein levels of Oct4. Accordingly, the expression levels of miR-145 and miR-490-3p, which can regulate Sox2 and Nanog expressions were significantly increased. Chrm2, the host gene of miR-490-3p, was positively associated with miR-490-3p expression after PFOS exposure. Dual luciferase reporter assay suggests that miR-490-3p directly targets Nanog. These results suggest that PFOS can disturb the expression of pluripotency factors in mESCs, while miR-145 and miR-490-3p play key roles in modulating this effect.

For unknown nonlinear systems with actuator saturation, an online policy iteration-based algorithm is employed to solve the optimal event-triggered control problem. To learn the system dynamics, a novel identifier is proposed to make the estimation error converge quickly and the experience replay technique is employed to release the persistence of the excitation condition. To approximate the cost function and the event-triggered control law, we present event-triggered-based critic and actor networks, whose weights are updated only at triggered instants. During the policy iteration process, an event-triggered-based integral reinforcement learning method is proposed to solve the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation. By utilising the integral reinforcement learning, the network resource is saved and learning efficiency is improved. Based on the Lyapunov method, stability for the closed-loop system and estimation errors for the three networks are analysed. At last, simulation results of two numerical examples are used to show the effectiveness of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Fermentation has been increasingly used as a "clean" processing technique to modify proteins. The goal of this research was to assess the use of solid‐state fermentation (SSF) by Aspergillus oryzae on pea (pea protein isolate [PPI]) and navy bean protein isolates (NBPI) for different time periods (0–48 or 0−72 h, respectively) and its impact on their nutrition and volatile profile. Findings: The SSF process resulted in higher total phenolic content and lower protein digestibility, and consequently, the protein quality was reduced for both pulses. The quantity of the volatile compounds initially present in the samples did not change substantially after SSF; however, many new compounds were identified in fermented PPI, which have been reported to have pleasant sensory properties. Conclusions: The protein quality of PPI or NBPI was not improved by A. oryzae SSF; however, the results suggest the potential for using SSF to positively modify the volatile profile of PPI. Significance and Novelty: The findings of this research strengthened our knowledge base of fermented pulse ingredients with the use of protein isolates and navy beans, narrowing the somewhat limited gap for fermentation application to high protein substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]