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Summary This article focuses on a distributed optimization problem under an undirectd and connected network affected by DoS attacks. First, new event‐triggered mechanisms are developed to schedule the communication between agents. Then, an event‐based resilient distributed optimization algorithm that removes the requirement of continuous communication in the existing results is designed to achieve consensus optimization. Assisted by the design of regulator equations and the algebraic graph theory, it proves that the proposed algorithm is exponentially convergent. Moreover, Zeno behavior can be excluded by reductio ad absurdum. The simulation results validate that the proposed algorithm is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic trioxide suppresses acute graft-versus-host disease by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in mice To further confirm that ATO alleviates GVHD symptoms mainly through activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, we established the GVHD+PBS+ATO and GVHD+ML835+ATO groups. The GVHD+ML835+ATO mice showed shorter survival (Fig C) and increased levels of GVHD, as shown by the skin defects (Fig D) than the GVHD+PBS+ATO group. The peripheral blood CD4+ T/CD8+ T ratio (Fig F) and serum concentration of TNF-a and IFN- (Fig G), which were reduced by ATO, were also decreased in the GVHD+ ML835+ATO group. [Extracted from the article]

A new technique to achieve a single bandpass microwave photonic filter (MPF) with wide tunability based on stimulated Brillouin scattering is proposed. The MPF cascades the Brillouin frequency shifter and amplification based on a dual‐fiber structure. The experimental results present a single bandpass MPF located at 21.4 GHz with a 3‐dB bandwidth of 38 MHz and an out‐of‐band rejection ratio over 30 dB. The proposed single bandpass MPF also successfully demonstrates a wide‐band tuning over 40 GHz, which is achieved by employing a frequency shifter based on carrier suppressed single‐sideband modulation scheme in the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new continuously tunable optoelectronic oscillator based on shifted dispersion‐induced RF‐fading is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The design provides wideband continuously all‐optical tunability by incorporating the shifted RF‐fading based on a Mach‐Zehnder structure in an optoelectronic feedback loop. By simply varying the path difference between the two arms of the Mach‐Zehnder configuration via an adjustable variable delay line, the fundamental frequency of the oscillator can achieve extremely high and continuous tuning with a frequency upper bound dependent on the delay properties of the variable optical delay line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with venous tumor thrombus (VTT) and bland thrombus (BT), and to evaluate the influence of BT on surgical treatment and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) of RCC with VTT. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 123 patients with RCC and VTT, who underwent surgical treatment in our center between February 2015 and May 2018. Patients were divided into the BT group (21 patients) and non‐BT group (102 patients). Chi‐square and Mann‐Whitney U test were used for categorical and continuous variables respectively. Univariable log‐rank tests and multivariable Cox regressions were conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of each variable. Kaplan‐Meier plots were performed to evaluate the influence of BT. Results: In the delayed phase of enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), BT and VTT had difference. Patients were divided according to the relative position of BT: proximal end BT (one patients), contralateral renal vein BT (two patients), distal end BT (12 patients), and multiple BT (six patients). The average length of BT was 8.4 ± 5.8 cm (range: 0.6‐20.0 cm). Patients with BT had longer operative time (P =.001), more surgical blood loss (P =.004), higher proportion of open surgery (P =.006), more postoperative complications (P =.011). BT (hazard ratio [HR] = 3.323, P =.007) were independent risk factors for poor prognosis. Conclusions: In the delayed phase of enhanced MRI, BT showed no obvious enhancement, while VTT usually showed enhancement. This was an important basis for preoperative imaging diagnosis of BT. The presence of BT increases the difficulty of surgery, and is correlated with adverse survival outcomes in patients with RCC and VTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although some studies have investigated the potential predictors of perioperative mortality, there are few specifically for pediatrics. Objective The aim of the retrospective study was to analyze potential preoperative risk factors and to develop a pediatric preoperative risk prediction score ( PRPS), and to predict postoperative ICU admission and the incidence of perioperative death in pediatric patients. Methods Patients who postoperatively admitted to ICU or died (occurred within 30 days after the surgery) from 263 607 pediatric surgical patients with age from 1 day to 14 years old in eight centers in China from October 2010 to September 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. About 5500 non- ICU admission and death patients were randomly selected from those 263 607 patients as controls for analysis comparison. Independent risk factors and a risk model were derived from these analyses, and were further assessed with the likelihood ratio test and the area under the receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) curve. Results There were 1812 ICU admission or death patients but 187 patients' records are incomplete. There were 487 patients with incomplete records among 5500 controls. Collectively, data from 6626 patients were enrolled in final analyses. With multiple logistic regression analysis, age, ASA physical status, SpO2, prematurity, and unfasted status were found to be independent predictors for critical patients. The AUC value of 0.905 indicated excellent predictive performance between critical and noncritical predictors. Conclusions Our study revealed that age, ASA physical status, SpO2, prematurity, and unfasted status are risk factors to predict postoperative ICU admission and death in pediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Mammalian cell entry proteins (Mces) contribute to Mycobacterium tuberculosis virulence. A mce homologue has been identified in the Leptospira interrogans genome, but its function was unknown. We showed that the mce gene is expressed only by pathogenic Leptospira strains tested. Leptospiral mce mRNA and Mce protein levels increased during infection of macrophages. The ability to infect macrophages was significantly lower in a strain with the mce gene deleted ( mce-). Complementation of the mce gene restored the ability of the mutant strain ( mcecom) to adhere to and invade cells. Importantly, the mce gene knock-in strain ( mce+) derived from L. biflexa acquired the ability to infect cells, and the mce+/ΔRAA knock-in strain (in which the RGD motif was replaced by RAA) was unable to infect cells. The mce- mutant was also dramatically less efficient in infecting hamsters than the wild-type L. interrogans strain, and fewer leptospires of the mutant were found in peripheral blood monocytes and the urine from infected animals. The recombinant Mce protein showed a high binding affinity to the integrins α5β1 and αVβ3. Blockade of the two integrins or the Mce protein decreased leptospiral adherence and invasiveness. The results showed that Mce is an RGD-motif-dependent virulence factor in pathogenic Leptospira species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caseous lymphadenitis is a chronic goat and sheep disease caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis ( Cp) that accounts for a huge economic loss worldwide. Proper vaccination or medication is not available because of the lack of understanding of molecular biology of the pathogen. In a recent approach, four Cp (CpFrc41, Cp1002, CpC231, and CpI-19) genomes were sequenced to elucidate the molecular pathology of the bacteria. In this study, using these four genome sequences along with other eight genomes (total 12 genomes) and a novel subtractive genomics approach (first time ever applied to a veterinary pathogen), we identified potential conserved common drug and vaccine targets of these four Cp strains along with other Corybacterium, Mycobacterium and Nocardia (CMN) group of human pathogens ( Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Mycobacterium tuberculosis) considering goat, sheep, bovine, horse, and human as the most affected hosts. The minimal genome of Cp1002 was found to consist of 724 genes, and 20 conserved common targets (to all Cp strains as well as CMN group of pathogens) from various metabolic pathways (13 from host-pathogen common and seven from pathogen's unique pathways) are potential targets irrespective of all hosts considered. ubiA from host-pathogen common pathway and an ABC-like transporter from unique pathways may serve dual (drug and vaccine) targets. Two Corynebacterium-specific (mscL and resB) and one broad-spectrum (rpmB) novel targets were also identified. Strain-specific targets are also discussed. Six important targets were subjected to virtual screening, and one compound was found to be potent enough to render two targets (cdc and nrdL). We are currently validating all identified targets and lead compounds. Various metabolic pathway related common, conserved, novel, and dual targets (drug and vaccine) in C. diphtheriae, M. tuberculosis, and four C. pseudotuberculosis strains are identified using total 12 genomes (4 are newly sequenced) and a novel subtractive genomic approach. Applying virtual screening, one compound is selected that can render two different targets cdc and nrdL simultaneously [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of heterocyclic amides containing pyrrole, pyrrolidinone, and piperidone fragments is described and these are tested together with a wide range of previously prepared analogous derivatives for their binding activity at the urokinase receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]