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This paper presents an efficient outer space branch-and-bound algorithm for globally solving a minimax linear fractional programming problem (MLFP), which has a wide range of applications in data envelopment analysis, engineering optimization, management optimization, and so on. In this algorithm, by introducing auxiliary variables, we first equivalently transform the problem (MLFP) into the problem (EP). By using a new linear relaxation technique, the problem (EP) is reduced to a sequence of linear relaxation problems over the outer space rectangle, which provides the valid lower bound for the optimal value of the problem (EP). Based on the outer space branch-and-bound search and the linear relaxation problem, an outer space branch-and-bound algorithm is constructed for globally solving the problem (MLFP). In addition, the convergence and complexity of the presented algorithm are given. Finally, numerical experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a devastating cardiovascular disease with a high rate of disability and mortality. This disease often rapidly progresses to fatal multiple organ hypoperfusion, and the incidence has been increasing in recent years. However, the molecular mechanisms have yet to be clarified. This study is aimed at identifying the differential abundance proteins (DAPs) of aortic arch tissues in patients with AAD by proteomics and select possible proteins involved in AAD pathogenesis. Methods. The fresh aortic arch tissues obtained from 5 AAD patients and 1 healthy donor were analyzed by amine-reactive tandem mass tag (TMT) labelling and mass spectrometry; then, the pathological sections of another 10 healthy donors and 20 AAD patients were chosen to verify the proteomic results by immunohistochemistry. Results. Of 809 proteins identified by proteomic analysis, 132 differential abundance proteins (DAPs) were screened, of which 100 proteins were significantly downregulated while 32 upregulated. Among 100 downregulated proteins, two proteins with known function, integrin alpha 3 (ITGA-3) and ITGA-5, were selected as target proteins involved in AAD pathogenesis. Two target DAPs were verified by immunohistochemisty, and the results showed that the integrated option density (IOD) of ITGA-3 and ITGA-5 in AAD patients was significantly lower than that in healthy donors, which were consistent with the proteomic results (P < 0.001). Conclusion. ITGA-3 and ITGA-5 represent novel biomarkers for the pathogenesis of AAD and might be a therapeutic target in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focus on the Moore–Penrose metric generalized inverse of the modified operator B=A+UGV, where A,U,G,V are bounded linear operators between some Banach spaces. We establish conditions that guarantee the existence of the Moore–Penrose metric generalized inverse of B. As a consequence, we present an extension of the so-called classical Sherman–Morrison–Woodbury formula for the Moore–Penrose metric generalized inverse. Some particular cases and applications will be also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Starting from two low‐nuclearity linear synthesised Co3 precursors {[Co3L’2(H2O)6]⋅2NO3⋅4H2O} (1) and {[Co3L’2(H2O)6]⋅2NO3} (2) (here, H2L=bis((pyridine‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐yl)methane, H2L’=bis((pyridine‐2‐yl)‐1,2,4‐triazol −5‐yl)ketone), a series of Co3‐substituted complexes and two higher‐nuclearity Co(II) clusters {[Co8L6(μ3‐O)2]⋅5H2O} (3) and [Co6L4(MeOH)6(OAc)4] (4) have been synthesized and characterized through regulating solvent, anion, and pH conditions. For tracking the formation of higher‐nuclearity clusters, the single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SXRD), powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) analyses for the solid‐liquid phase at different times, revealed that [Co2L2] and [Co2L] species can combine together to form [Co4L3] species, which bridged each other through two [μ3‐O]2− ions in strong alkaline conditions, to get [Co8(μ3‐O)2L6] units in 3; which or combined [Co2L] species in weak alkaline conditions, to get [Co6L4] species in 4. And the antiferromagnetic coupling in 1–4 has been briefly investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will present an effective algorithm for globally solving quadratic programs with quadratic constraints. In this algorithm, we propose a new linearization method for establishing the linear programming relaxation problem of quadratic programs with quadratic constraints. The proposed algorithm converges with the global optimal solution of the initial problem, and numerical experiments show the computational efficiency of the proposed algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Activation of inflammation and coagulation was closely related and mutually interdependent in sepsis. Tissue factor (TF) and its endogenous inhibitor, tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) was the main regulators of the initiation of coagulation process. Altered plasma levels of TF and TFPI have been related to worse outcome in sepsis. The objective of this study was to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TF and TFPI genes were associated with risk and outcome for patients with severe sepsis., Methods: Seventeen SNPs in TF and TFPI were genotyped in samples of sepsis (n =577) and severe sepsis patients (n =476), and tested for association in this case-control collection. We then investigated correlation between the associated SNPs and the mRNA expression, and protein level of the corresponding gene. The mRNA levels of TF were determined using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the soluble plasma levels of TF were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method., Results: Association analysis revealed that three TF SNPs in perfect linkage disequilibrium, rs1361600, rs3917615 and rs958587, were significantly associated with outcome of severe sepsis. G allele frequency of rs1361600 in survivor patients was significantly higher than that in nonsurvivor severe sepsis patients (P =4.91 × 10(-5), odds ratio (OR) =0.48, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33 to 0.69). The association remained significant after adjustment for covariates in multiple logistic regression analysis and for multiple comparisons. Lipopolysaccharide-induced TF-mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from subjects carrying rs1361600 AG and GG genotypes, were significantly lower than those subjects carrying AA genotype (P =0.0012). Moreover, severe sepsis patients of GG and GA genotypes showed lower serum levels of TF than patients with AA genotype (P adj =0.02). The plasma levels of TF were also associated with outcome of severe sepsis patients (P adj =0.01). However, genotype and allele analyses did not show any significant difference between sepsis and severe sepsis patients., Conclusions: Our findings indicate that common genetic variation in TF was significantly associated with outcome of severe sepsis in Chinese Han population.

Influenza pandemics are a serious threat to public health in today's world. In the past 10 years, the outbreak of three forms of severe influenza--H5N1, H1N1, and H7N9--has caused tremendous loss of life and property. In order to better cope with pandemics, antivirals such as oseltamivir are being stockpiled in great quantities, placing a substantial burden on government budgets and potentially resulting in massive waste because of the uncertainty as to when an influenza pandemic will strike and whether emerging virus strains will be resistant to the stockpiled drugs. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is generally available, affordable, and commonly used in China and many other countries and CAM has a long track record of fighting influenza. The Chinese Government appropriated funds to intensively investigate herbal medicines in accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine in order to identify effective, inexpensive, and easily stockpiled medicines. Thus far, several drugs including Shufeng Jiedu capsules, Lianhua Qingwen capsules, Maxing Shigan decoction, Yinqiao powder, and Jinhua Qinggan granules have demonstrated effectiveness in fighting influenza. In the future, CAM is expected to make greater contribution in controlling the prevalence of influenza pandemics.

Several lines of in vivo evidence demonstrated that activation of δ-opioid receptors (ORs) with agonists mimics the cardioprotective effect of ischemic preconditioning. However, the subtypes of ORs involved and the molecular and cellular mechanisms are not entirely clear. To investigate the significance of the contribution by δ ORs to cardiomyocyte survival, we used an in vitro model of hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes to study the role of different δ ORs in cardiomyocyte apoptosis and the relevant downstream signaling pathway. The results showed that apoptosis in neonatal cardiomyocytes induced by H/R was reversed by δ2 OR agonist, deltorphin E but not by δ1 OR agonist DPDPE; the deltorphin E-induced cytoprotection was totally abrogated by the MEK inhibitor PD98059 and overexpression of dominant interfering form of MEK1; in contrast, overexpression of constitutive active form of MEK1 exerted a similar protective effect as deltorphin E. These results suggest that δ2 OR, but not δ1 OR, plays a key role in preventing cardiomyocytes from apoptosis during H/R injury, which is mainly mediated by the MEK/ERK1/2 pathway.