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LINKED CONTENT This article is linked to Mecci et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15296. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a dataset of natural language instructions for object reference in manipulation scenarios. It comprises 1582 individual written instructions, which were collected via online crowdsourcing. This dataset is particularly useful for researchers who work in natural language processing, human–robot interaction, and robotic manipulation. In addition to serving as a rich corpus of domain-specific language, it provides a benchmark of image–instruction pairs to be used in system evaluations and uncovers inherent challenges in tabletop object specification. Example code is provided for easy access via Python. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second-generation antipsychotic agents (SGAs) cause serious metabolic side effects, including weight gain, dyslipidemia, and glucose metabolism abnormalities, which occur by unknown mechanisms. Therefore, the search for prospective markers for antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) has been of major interest. So far, predictive factors predisposing patients to the develop obesity and related metabolic disturbances induced by SGAs have been relatively less studied among large samples of Chinese schizophrenic patients. In this study, 264 Han Chinese inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder initiated treatment with olanzapine ( n = 131) or risperidone ( n = 133) and were followed for 12weeks. Anthropometric measurements and laboratory analyses of thyroid hormone, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and lipid levels were conducted as part of routine medical care. The results showed baseline thyroxine (T 4 ) and waist:hip ratio (WHR)were negatively correlated to AIWG (T 4 : r s = −0.154, P = 0.014; WHR: r s = −0.199, P = 0.008). Correlations remained significant after multiple regression analyses. The two treatment groups statistically differed for changes in body mass index, WHR, LDL cholesterol, and FPG; in both groups FPG decreased at first and then increased. Our findings suggest basal T 4 and WHR may serve as early biomarkers for weight gain as a side effect of single-SGA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne nanoparticles (NPs) have drawn great attention due to human health concerns. This study reports the detection of the presence of fluorescent NPs, about 5 nm, in two of the most popular beverages, Coca-Cola (Coke) and Pepsi-Cola (Pepsi). The NPs contain H, C and O, three elements with a tunable emission and with a quantum yield of 3.3 and 4.3% for Coke and Pepsi, respectively. The presence of sp3-hybridized carbon atoms of alcohols and ethers bonds was confirmed by NMR analysis. The NPs can be taken up by living cells and accumulate within cell membrane and cytoplasm. Evaluation of the acute toxicity of the NPs revealed that the BALB/c mice appeared healthy after administration of a single dose of 2 g kg−1body weight. Analysis of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), urea and creatinine showed that there were statistically, but not biologically, significant differences in some of these biochemical parameters between the test and control groups. No obvious organ damage or apparent histopathological abnormality was observed in the tested mice. The biodistribution study in major organs indicated that the NPs were easily accumulated in the digestive tract, and they were able to cross the blood–brain barrier and dispersed in the brain.In vitrodigestion of the NPs showed a significant fluorescence quenching of the NPs. This work represents the first report of foodborne fluorescent NPs present in Coke and Pepsi, and provides valuable insights into physicochemical properties of these NPs and their toxicity characteristics bothin vitroandin vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The cortisol awakening response (CAR) has been associated with depression and a broader range of internalizing problems. Emerging adulthood is characterized by numerous stressful transitional life events. Furthermore, the functioning of the neurobiological stress system changes across development. These considerations underscore the importance of evaluating the physiological stress system in emerging adults in identifying the extent to which cortisol levels vary with risk and protective factors for mental health. The present study evaluated the association between internalizing symptoms and perceived life satisfaction with CAR in 32 young adults. Three saliva samples were collected to measure cortisol levels upon awakening and participants completed the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Results show a significant positive correlation between area under the curve for CAR with internalizing symptoms (DASS total) and the DASS-depression subscale, but not with life satisfaction. Study limitations, implications, and future directions for these finding were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in the universe, and has been used as an inert gas for a long time. More recent studies have shown that molecular hydrogen as a kind of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, gene expression and signal modulation molecule, can be used for the treatment of many diseases. This review mainly focuses on the research progresses of hydrogen in various medical fields and the possible action mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let be a finite dimensional Auslander algebra. For a -module , we prove that the projective dimension of is at most one if and only if the projective dimension of its socle soc is at most one. As an application, we give a new characterization of Auslander algebras and prove that a finite dimensional algebra is an Auslander algebra provided its global dimension gl.d and an injective -module is projective if and only if the projective dimension of its socle is at most one. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perforated plates/liners have been widely applied in aeroengines and gas turbines to dissipate unwanted noise. In this work, numerical simulations and experimental study of acoustic damping performance of single-layer perforated plates are conducted. For this, a frequency-domain numerical model is developed via solving 3-dimensional Helmholtz equations. The model validation is performed first by evaluating and comparing the calculated acoustic damping performances of three perforated plates with the experimental results available in literature. These plates are perforated with a number of circle-shaped orifices, which have different porosities σ . Each plate backed by a resonant cavity is placed at the end of a rectangular-shaped pipe with a loudspeaker implemented on the other end. To simulate real engines, a mean flow (also known as bias flow) is applied to pass through the perforated orifices. The effects of 1) the mean flow Mach number M a , 2) the resonance parameter Q , 3) the porosity σ and 4) the plate thickness T are studied one at a time. Acoustic damping performance of these plates is characterized by using sound absorption coefficient α and specific acoustic impedance z . It is found that sound absorption coefficient α is increased first and then decreased with increased M a . The real part of z characterizing acoustic resistance/damping is linearly increased, as M a is increased. However, the imaginary part of z characterizing acoustic reactance remains almost unchanged. It is also found that the presence of the bias flow greatly increases the maximum sound absorption coefficient α max by approximately 33% in comparison with that of without mean flow. The plate thickness T is shown to shift the frequency corresponding to the maximum sound absorption coefficient. Comparing the present simulation results with the experimental and analytical ones available in the literature reveals that good agreement is obtained at lower frequency range. However, as frequency is increased, the model predicts that the bias flow leads to the local α max reduced by 15%. The plate with a larger thickness is associated with another local α max , which is not observed for a lower thickness plate. Finally, experimental measurements of the acoustic damping of 2 single-layer in-duct perforated plates are performed. The frequency-domain model is then applied to simulate the experiment. Good agreement between our experimental and numerical results is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is an essential component for preventing and controlling of healthcare-associated infection (HAI), whereas compliance with HH among health care workers (HCWs) is frequently poor. This study aimed to assess compliance and correctness with HH before and after the implementation of a multimodal HH improvement strategy launched by the World Health Organization (WHO). Methods: A quasi-experimental study design including questionnaire survey generalizing possible factors affecting HH behaviors of HCWs and direct observation method was used to evaluate the effectiveness of WHO multimodal HH strategy in a hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Multimodal HH improvement strategy was drawn up according to the results of questionnaire survey. Compliance and correctness with HH among HCWs were compared before and after intervention. Also HH practices for different indications based on WHO "My Five Moments for Hand Hygiene" were recorded. Results: In total, 553 HCWs participated in the questionnaire survey and multimodal HH improvement strategy was developed based on individual, environment and management levels. A total of 5044 observations in 23 wards were recorded in this investigation. The rate of compliance and correctness with HH improved from 66.27% and 47.75% at baseline to 80.53% and 88.35% after intervention. Doctors seemed to have better compliance with HH after intervention (84.04%) than nurses and other HCWs (81.07% and 69.42%, respectively). When stratified by indication, compliance with HH improved for all indications after intervention (P < 0.05) except for "after body fluid exposure risk" and "after touching patient surroundings". Conclusion: Implementing the WHO multimodal HH strategy can significantly improve HH compliance and correctness among HCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia is a risk factor for severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which aggravates the disease and may cause mortality by inducing hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH). Proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) may mediate this effect. Resveratrol is a phenolic compound extracted from a plant and has been reported to alleviate HPH, although the underlying mechanisms remained to be elucidated. In cancer, resveratrol has been reported to abrogate the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting tumor development. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of resveratrol in preventing PASMCs from proliferating and migrating. Resveratrol was demonstrated to be inhibitory in a dose-dependent manner on hypoxia-induced cell proliferation and migration, and protein expression levels of phosphorylated AKT and AKT. Additionally, resveratrol was identified to act synergistically with LY-294002, a phosphorylation inhibitor of AKT, but antagonistically with insulin-like growth factor-1, an agonist of AKT phosphorylation. This suggested that resveratrol may reduce proliferation and migration by diminishing expression and phosphorylation of AKT, thereby preventing development of HPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image segmentation is a key prerequisite for object-based classification. However, it is often difficult, or even impossible, to determine a unique optimal segmentation scale due to the fact that various geo-objects, and even an identical geo-object, present at multiple scales in very high resolution (VHR) satellite images. To address this problem, this paper presents a novel unsupervised object-based classification for VHR panchromatic satellite images using multiple segmentations via the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model. Firstly, multiple segmentation maps of the original satellite image are produced by means of a common multiscale segmentation technique. Then, the LDA model is utilized to learn the grayscale histogram distribution for each geo-object and the mixture distribution of geo-objects within each segment. Thirdly, the histogram distribution of each segment is compared with that of each geo-object using the Kullback-Leibler (KL) divergence measure, which is weighted with a constraint specified by the mixture distribution of geo-objects. Each segment is allocated a geo-object category label with the minimum KL divergence. Finally, the final classification map is achieved by integrating the multiple classification results at different scales. Extensive experimental evaluations are designed to compare the performance of our method with those of some state-of-the-art methods for three different types of images. The experimental results over three different types of VHR panchromatic satellite images demonstrate the proposed method is able to achieve scale-adaptive classification results, and improve the ability to differentiate the geo-objects with spectral overlap, such as water and grass, and water and shadow, in terms of both spatial consistency and semantic consistency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind power is growing rapidly as a green and clean energy source. As the core part of a wind turbine, the blades are subjected to enormous stress in harsh environments over a long period of time and are therefore extremely susceptible to damage, while at the same time, they are costly, so it is important to monitor their damage in a timely manner. This paper is based on the detection of blade damage using acoustic emission signals, which can detect early minor damage and internal damage to the blades. Instead of conventional piezoelectric sensors, we use fiber optic gratings as sensing units, which have the advantage of small size and corrosion resistance. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the system is doubled by replacing the conventional FBG (fiber Bragg grating) with a π-phase-shifted FBG. For the noise problem existing in the system, this paper combines the traditional WPD (wavelet packet decomposition) denoising method with EMD (empirical mode decomposition) to achieve a better noise reduction effect. Finally, small wind turbine blades are used in the experiment and their acoustic emission signals with different damage are collected for feature analysis, which sets the stage for the subsequent detection of different damage degrees and types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic hollow Fe 3 O 4 -based Mg/Al layered double hydroxide (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @LDH) was successfully synthesized and subsequently the laboratory scale tests were conducted to systematically investigate the sequestration of roxarsone (ROX) and arsenate (As(V)). Owing to its abundant surface metal hydroxyl (M-OH) groups and exchangeable CO 3 2− groups in the interlayer of MgAl-LDH nanosheets, the obtained Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @LDH exhibited remarkable behavior for As(V) and ROX removal. Both As(V) and ROX could be effectively immobilized at a relatively wide pH range (3–8), and the maximum adsorption capacities of As(V) and ROX were 96.47 and 71.67 mg/g, respectively. Meanwhile, the negligible mutual effect demonstrated the Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @LDH can simultaneously remove inorganic and organic arsenic compounds. The competitive cations/anions (except for PO 4 3− ions) and ionic strength were negligible on As(V) and ROX removal, whereas the inhibitory effect stem from humic acid (HA) seemed to be more seriously for As(V) than that of ROX. Adsorption mechanism of As(V)/ROX were attributed to electrostatic attraction and ion/ligand exchange process, whereas hydrogen bonding and π-π interaction may also involve in the ROX removal. Furthermore, the excellent performance in fix-bed column tests and prominent reusability indicated this magnetic Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @LDH was a promising candidate adsorbent and of great potential application in organic/inorganic As-contamination wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • Magnetic hollow Fe 3 O 4 -based Mg/Al layered double hydroxide was successfully synthesized. • Adsorption behavior for As(V) and ROX was favorable at acidic and neutral environment. • Simultaneous removal of inorganic and organic arsenic compounds was achieved by Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 @LDH. • Remarkable removal and excellent performance of As(V) and ROX in fix-bed column tests. • Surface M-OH groups and the exchangeable CO 3 2− ions involved in the adsorption mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The latest progress on cuprous oxide based photocathodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting and CO 2 reduction is comprehensively overviewed in conjunction with insightful future perspective and outlook. [Display omitted] • Principles for crafting Cu 2 O-based photocathodes are elucidated. • Latest developments of Cu 2 O-based photosystems are recapitulated. • Structure-performance correlation of Cu 2 O-based heterostructures is unleashed. Cuprous oxide (Cu 2 O)-based photocathodes have been attracting enduring interest for green and sustainable solar fuel production by solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting and CO 2 reduction reactions. Although Cu 2 O is featured by the theoretically outstanding photoactivity owing to the favorable band-gap and appropriate band alignment, wide-spread utilization of Cu 2 O is largely hampered by its severe photo-corrosion and difficulty in charge transfer/separation modulation, hence rendering fabricating robust, stable and high-efficiency Cu 2 O-based photoelectrodes a continuously challenging issue. In this review, fundamentals of PEC reactions including water splitting and CO 2 reduction are concisely elucidated, and then diverse strategies for constructing a large variety of quintessential Cu 2 O-based photocathodes are comprehensively summarized. Subsequently, predominant Cu 2 O-based photocathodes currently being extensively explored in PEC water splitting and CO 2 reduction reactions are specifically introduced. Finally, future perspective and outlook of Cu 2 O-based photocathodes in these two booming research fields are forecasted. Our review could provide enriched information on rational design and utilization of Cu 2 O-based photocathodes for solar fuel production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence indicates the presence of racial differences in sympathetic nervous system (SNS) functioning, yet the nature of these differences is unclear and appears to vary across different indices of SNS activity. Moreover, racial differences among commonly used indices of SNS activity are under-investigated. This systematic review examines racial differences among widely used resting SNS indices, such as electrodermal activity (EDA), pre-ejection period (PEP), and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA). Our review reveals that Black participants have consistently been found to display lower resting EDA compared to White participants. The few studies that have investigated or reported racial differences in PEP and sAA yield mixed findings about whether racial differences exist. We discuss potential reasons for racial differences in SNS activity, such as index-specific factors, lab confounds, psychosocial environmental factors, and their interactions. We outline a framework characterizing possible contributors to racial differences in SNS functioning. Lastly, we highlight the implications of several definitional, analytic, and interpretive issues concerning the treatment of group differences in psychophysiological activity and provide future recommendations. • Racial differences in sympathetic activity are inconsistent across indices. • Average skin conductance levels are lower for Black compared to White participants. • Pre-ejection period does not appear to differ between Black and White participants. • Index-specific and psychosocial factors may promote racial differences in SNS activity. • Methods used to address racial differences affect interpretation of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The risk of sudden death has changed over time among patients with symptomatic heart failure and reduced ejection fraction with the sequential introduction of medications including angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, beta-blockers, and mineralocorticoid-receptor antagonists. We sought to examine this trend in detail.Methods: We analyzed data from 40,195 patients who had heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and were enrolled in any of 12 clinical trials spanning the period from 1995 through 2014. Patients who had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator at the time of trial enrollment were excluded. Weighted multivariable regression was used to examine trends in rates of sudden death over time. Adjusted hazard ratios for sudden death in each trial group were calculated with the use of Cox regression models. The cumulative incidence rates of sudden death were assessed at different time points after randomization and according to the length of time between the diagnosis of heart failure and randomization.Results: Sudden death was reported in 3583 patients. Such patients were older and were more often male, with an ischemic cause of heart failure and worse cardiac function, than those in whom sudden death did not occur. There was a 44% decline in the rate of sudden death across the trials (P=0.03). The cumulative incidence of sudden death at 90 days after randomization was 2.4% in the earliest trial and 1.0% in the most recent trial. The rate of sudden death was not higher among patients with a recent diagnosis of heart failure than among those with a longer-standing diagnosis.Conclusions: Rates of sudden death declined substantially over time among ambulatory patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction who were enrolled in clinical trials, a finding that is consistent with a cumulative benefit of evidence-based medications on this cause of death. (Funded by the China Scholarship Council and the University of Glasgow.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kinase interaction motif (KIM) family of protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) includes hematopoietic protein-tyrosine phosphatase (HePTP), striatal-enriched protein-tyrosine phosphatase (STEP), and protein-tyrosine phosphatase receptor type R (PTPRR). KIM-PTPs bind and dephosphorylate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and thereby critically modulate cell proliferation and differentiation. PTP activity can readily be diminished by reactive oxygen species (ROS), e.g. H2O2, which oxidize the catalytically indispensable active-site cysteine. This initial oxidation generates an unstable sulfenic acid intermediate that is quickly converted into either a sulfinic/sulfonic acid (catalytically dead and irreversible inactivation) or a stable sulfenamide or disulfide bond intermediate (reversible inactivation). Critically, our understanding of ROS-mediated PTP oxidation is not yet sufficient to predict the molecular responses of PTPs to oxidative stress. However, identifying distinct responses will enable novel routes for PTP-selective drug design, important for managing diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, we performed a detailed biochemical and molecular study of all KIM-PTP family members to determine their H2O2 oxidation profiles and identify their reversible inactivation mechanism(s). We show that despite having nearly identical 3D structures and sequences, each KIMPTP family member has a unique oxidation profile. Furthermore, we also show that whereas STEP and PTPRR stabilize their reversibly oxidized state by forming an intramolecular disulfide bond, HePTP uses an unexpected mechanism, namely, formation of a reversible intermolecular disulfide bond. In summary, despite being closely related, KIM-PTPs significantly differ in oxidation profiles. These findings highlight that oxidation protection is critical when analyzing PTPs, for example, in drug screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preeclampsia (PE) is initiated by abnormal placentation in the early stages of pregnancy, followed by systemic activation of endothelial cells of the maternal small arterioles in the late second or third trimester (TM) of pregnancy. During normal pregnancy, placental cytotrophoblasts (CTBs) invade the maternal uterine wall and spiral arteries, whereas this process is interrupted in PE. However, it is not known how the malformed placenta triggers maternal endothelial crisis and the associated manifestations. Here, we have focused on the association of CD81 with PE. CD81, a member of the tetraspanin superfamily, plays significant roles in cell growth, adhesion, and motility. The function of CD81 in human placentation and its association with pregnancy complications are currently unknown. In the present study, we have demonstrated that CD81 was preferentially expressed in normal first TM placentas and progressively downregulated with gestation advance. In patients with early-onset severe PE (sPE), CD81 expression was significantly up-regulated in syncytiotrophoblasts (STBs), CTBs and the cells in the villous core. In addition, high levels of CD81 were observed in the maternal sera of patients with sPE. Overexpressing CD81 in CTBs significantly decreased CTB invasion, and culturing primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in the presence of a high dose of exogenous CD81 resulted in interrupted angiogenesis and endothelial cell activation in vitro. Importantly, the phenotype of human PE was mimicked in the CD81-induced rat model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phytochemical investigation to obtain new NO inhibitors resulted in the isolation of a new diterpenoid with a rare 9,10- seco -abietane skeleton ( 1 ) and twelve known terpenoids ( 2 – 13 ) from Callicarpa kwangtungensis . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analyses, and the absolute configuration of compound 1 was established by comparison of the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. The inhibitory activities on lipopolysaccharide-induced NO production in murine microglial BV-2 cells of these terpenoids were evaluated, and all of the compounds showed inhibitory effects. The following molecular docking studies showed interactions of the bioactive compounds with the iNOS protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Inhibition of neprilysin, an enzyme degrading natriuretic and other vasoactive peptides, is beneficial in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), as shown in PARADIGM-HF which compared the angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) sacubitril/valsartan with enalapril. As neprilysin is also one of many enzymes clearing amyloid-β peptides from the brain, there is a theoretical concern about the long-term effects of sacubitril/valsartan on cognition. Therefore, we have examined dementia-related adverse effects (AEs) in PARADIGM-HF and placed these findings in the context of other recently conducted HFrEF trials. Methods In PARADIGM-HF, patients with symptomatic HFrEF were randomized to sacubitril/valsartan 97/103mg b.i.d. or and results enalapril 10mg b.i.d. in a 1:1 ratio. We systematically searched AE reports, coded using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA), using Standardized MedDRA Queries (SMQs) with 'broad' and 'narrow' preferred terms related to dementia. In PARADIGM-HF, 8399 patients aged 18-96 years were randomized and followed for a median of 2.25 years (up to 4.3 years). The narrow SMQ search identified 27 dementia-related AEs: 15 (0.36%) on enalapril and 12 (0.29%) on sacubitril/valsartan [hazard ratio (HR) 0.73, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-1.59]. The broad search identified 97 (2.30%) and 104 (2.48%) AEs (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.75-1.37), respectively. The rates of dementia-related AEs in both treatment groups in PARADIGM-HF were similar to those in three other recent trials in HFrEF . Conclusion We found no evidence that sacubitril/valsartan, compared with enalapril, increased dementia-related AEs, although longer follow-up may be necessary to detect such a signal and more sensitive tools are needed to detect lesser degrees of cognitive impairment. Further studies to address this question are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoter recognition by the RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme is a key step in gene regulation. In Chlamydia trachomatis, a medically important obligate intracellular bacterium, σ66 allows the RNAP to initiate promoter-specific transcription throughout the chlamydial developmental cycle. Here, we investigated the intrinsic properties of σ66-specific promoters with emphasis on their role in the developmental gene expression of C. trachomatis. First, we examined whether promoters that contain a 5'-T(-15)G(-14)-3' (TG) motif upstream from the -10 element appear more often than others in genes that are preferentially expressed during the early, middle, or late stages of the C. trachomatis developmental cycle. We then determined the critical genetic elements that are required for transcription initiation in vitro. We also assessed the activity of promoters in the presence of Scc4, which can directly interact with σ66RNAP. Finally, we evaluated the promoter-specific dynamics during C. trachomatis infection using a reporter assay. These results reveal that the TG motif is an important determinant in certain early or late promoters. The TG promoters that have the -35 element are recognized by σ66RNAP and Scc4 differently from those lacking the -35 element. Based on these properties, the σ66-specific promoters can fall into three classes. Architectural diversity, behavioral plasticity, and the specific interplays between promoters and the σ66RNAP likely contribute to developmental gene transcription in C. trachomatis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gefitinib is an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI) that has been demonstrated to be clinically useful for the treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, ~50% of patients do not respond to EGFR TKI treatment through the emergence of mutations, such as T790M. Therefore, it is important to determine which patients are eligible for treatment with gefitinib. As a preferred dimerization partner for EGFR, the role of EGFR 2 (HER2) in mediating sensitivity to gefitinib is poorly understood. In the present study, full-length human HER2 cDNA was introduced to the NSCLC cell lines H1975 and H1299, which have a low endogenous expression level of HER2. In addition, it was observed in the present study that the H1975 cell line harbored the L858R and T790M mutations in the EGFR kinase domain. Western blot analysis and MTT assay were used to evaluate the TKI sensitivity of HER2 expression status, and the activation of HER3 and HER2 downstream effectors. The results indicated that the sensitivity of H1975 cells to gefitinib was restored by the overexpression of HER2, which stimulated HER2-driven signaling cascades accompanied by the activation of protein kinase B. By contrast, ectopic HER2 overexpression in H1299 cells did not significantly alter the sensitivity to gefitinib treatment. In conclusion, the current study results suggested that the relatively resistance of the H1975 cell line to gefitinib could be reversed by the overexpression of HER2. Therefore, the expression of HER2 could also be considered when evaluate the patients' potential response to gefitinib, particularly in the subgroup of lung cancer patients who harbor an EGFR mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for determining the acid values (AVs) of edible oils based on the O H stretching band was developed. The oil sample was diluted with carbon tetrachloride and was placed in a quartz cuvette with a thickness of 1 cm to record the FTIR spectrum. The peak at 3535 cm −1 , which corresponds to the O H stretch of the carboxyl group in free fatty acids, together with the peak valley at 3508 cm −1 and the spectral data in the range of 3340–3390 cm −1 were used to determine the AV of the edible oil. The excellent linear relationship between the AVs measured in this work and those measured using a titration method, with a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9929, indicates that the present procedure can be applied as an alternative to the classic method for determining the AVs of edible oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coupling between unsteady heat release and acoustic perturbations can lead to self-sustained thermoacoustic oscillations, also known as combustion instability. When such combustion instability occurs, the pressure oscillations may become so intense that they can cause engine structural damage and costly mission failure. Thus there is a need to develop a real-time monitoring and control approach, which enables engine systems to be operated stably. In this work, an online monitoring and optimization algorithm is developed to stabilize unstable thermoacoustic systems, which are characterized by nonlinear limit cycle oscillations. It is based on least mean square method (LMS). The performance of the optimization algorithm is evaluated first on a Van der Pol oscillator. It can produce nonlinear limit cycle oscillations, which is similar to pressure oscillation as frequently observed in gas turbine engines. It is shown that implementing the control strategy leads to the oscillations quickly decayed. To further validate the control strategy, experimental study is conducted on a Rijke tube. It is found that approximately 45 dB sound pressure reduction is achieved by actuating a loudspeaker. In addition, the control approach is demonstrated to be able to track and prevent the onset of new limit cycle thermoacoustic oscillations resulting from the changes of fuel flow rate. The present work opens up a new applicable approach to stabilize engine system in terms of minimizing thermoacoustic oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is conventionally believed that there are no self-sustained thermoacoustic oscillations in the absence of acoustic modes in combustors. However, such oscillations (also known as intrinsic thermoacoustic instability) are recently found to occur in a premixed combustor with a mean flow present but no acoustic eigenmodes involved. Practical combustors are associated with entropy waves, pressure jump and mean flow, which are ignored in previous studies without justification. In this work, an entropy-involved energy measure is defined and used to study the stability behaviors of intrinsic thermoacoustic modes. The concepts and methods are exemplified with the classical time-delay n – τ unsteady heat release model. The intrinsic thermoacoustic eigenmodes are found to be related to not only a flame transfer/describing function but also the acoustic impedance at the flame, which is boundary-dependent. It is shown that the predicted frequency ω f r of the intrinsic modes and the critical gain n c depend on the ratio T ¯ 2 / T ¯ 1 between the after- and before-combustion temperatures and the inlet mean flow Mach number M ¯ 1 . Comparison is then made between the present results and those available in literature. Good agreement is obtained for ω f r . Furthermore, the predicted stability of intrinsic modes based on calculated n c is found to agree well with direct numerical simulations (DNS). It is also interesting to show that as T ¯ 2 / T ¯ 1 → 1 , the critical gain as predicted from the previous models is n c → + ∞ , which means that all intrinsic eigenmodes are stable. However, the present works shows that n c → 1.0 . Further illustration is then performed by conducting case studies of measured flame transfer and describing functions in premixed combustors. The present work opens up an alternative but more applicable way to study intrinsic thermoacoustic oscillations via the entropy-involved energy measure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Callicarpa kwangtungensis led to the isolation of three new diterpenoids ( 1 – 3 ), callipenes A–C, and eleven known analogues ( 4 – 14 ). Their structures were established on the basis of extensive analysis of NMR spectroscopic data, X-ray diffraction data, and experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism spectra. Compounds 1 and 2 are rare abietane diterpenoids possessing a peroxide bridge. All of the isolates were found to inhibit LPS-induced NO production in BV-2 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A numerical scheme is developed based on fibre element discretisation. • Application to predict the collapse strength of cylindrical shell under longitudinal bending. • Comparison with equivalent finite element analysis shows the rationality of the proposed method. • Comparison with design guidance demonstrates the conservatism of codified methods. Cylindrical shell is a fundamental building block of many engineering structures. They are usually designed to be the primary load-carrying components to withstand different combinations of environmental loads. This paper presents a fibre-based approach to modelling the progressive collapse of cylindrical shells under combined axial compression and bending moment. In this method, the progressive collapse behaviour of cylindrical shells is incrementally evaluated by accounting for the local response of each fibre element. This approach offers a computationally efficient and robust scheme to compute the ultimate strength of cylindrical shells. Moreover, it enables the modelling of load-shedding between the buckled and intact shell elements on the compressive side, and the yielding failure on the tensile side, which appears to be ignored in existing design codes. Analyses are performed on cylindrical shells with a wide range of design parameters. Validation using the finite element method demonstrates a reasonably well performance of the proposed fibre-based modelling technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a prefabricated beam–column joint with L-shaped stiffeners based on the traditional semi-rigid joint and end-plate connection. The joint is suitable for multi-story prefabricated steel frames and a fully bolted assembly construction. To study the seismic performance and failure modes of the joints, cyclic loading test were conducted on three full-scale specimens of prefabricated beam–column joints with L-shaped stiffeners. Furthermore, the rotation stiffness and bearing mechanism of the joint were obtained by an improved component method proposed in this paper. The results of the tests indicated that the failure modes of the joints were buckling and tearing of the flange and web of the beams. Additionally, the load-carrying capacity as well as ductility and energy dissipation capacities of the joints under cyclic loading can be improved by increasing the length and thickness of the L-shaped stiffeners. The rotation stiffness of the joint satisfies the Eurocode 3 moment–rotation model requirements and is suitable to improving the seismic performance analyses of prefabricated steel structures. • The mechanical properties of prefabricated beam–column joints with L-shaped stiffeners were investigated in this paper. • The Moment–rotation curves of joints were established, and the specimen has a strong plastic deformation capacity. • The bearing mechanism is calculated, and the theoretical values agree well with the test values. • The rotation stiffness of joint is established by component method and the initial stiffness is divided into four parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hydrodynamics and liquid-solid mass transfer in micropacked bed reactors are studied. • The liquid holdup can reach 0.23 ∼ 0.39 in single liquid phase flow. • The liquid–solid volumetric mass transfer coefficient can reach 0.033 ∼ 0.13 s−1. • Models of hydrodynamics and liquid–solid mass transfer coefficient are developed. Hydrodynamics and liquid–solid mass transfer in micropacked bed reactors (μPBRs) with copper foam packing are investigated. Effects of fluid superficial velocities, liquid viscosity, pore diameter of foam packing on the residence time distribution, liquid holdup, axial dispersion coefficient, and liquid–solid mass transfer coefficient are discussed. The liquid holdup of μPBRs can reach 0.23 ∼ 0.39, which is larger than that of packed bed reactors (0.05). The axial dispersion coefficient of μPBRs is 3.17 × 10-6 ∼ 2.30 × 10-5 m2/s, which is similar with that of packed bed reactors. The value of liquid–solid volumetric mass transfer coefficient with effect of axial dispersion coefficient in μPBRs can reach 0.033 ∼ 0.13 s−1, which is higher than that of packed bed reactors (0.006 ∼ 0.09 s−1). The empirical models of liquid holdup, axial dispersion coefficient, and liquid–solid mass transfer coefficient in single liquid phase flow and gas–liquid two phase flow of μPBRs are established and their predictions are in good agreement with experimental values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymeric membrane separations have been used for hydrocarbon recovery in some polyolefin plants due to the low energy consumption and easy operation, but the relatively low separation factor and hydrocarbon permeance block their ways to popularization. In this study, membranes with high propylene permeance and sufficient separation factor for propylene/nitrogen separation were prepared by direct incorporating 2-methylimidazole (MIM) into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), which manifested simultaneous promotion of separation factor and propylene permeance. Interestingly, MIM simultaneously acted in promoting the crosslinking process of PDMS and tetraethyl orthosilicate. A series of tests and characterizations were conducted to investigate the microstructure, morphology, thermal property, and mass transfer property of the membranes. The gas separation performance of the MIM-incorporated PDMS membrane with a separation factor of 20.2 and propylene permeance of 440.9 GPU outperformed many other propylene-selective membranes reported in the literature. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that MIM had a preferential affinity for propylene rather than nitrogen, which was similar to PDMS, but the propylene-affinity of MIM was significantly higher than that of PDMS, accounting for the promoted separation of propylene/nitrogen upon the incorporation of MIM. The MIM-incorporated PDMS membranes with readily available, cheap materials and straightforward manufacturing procedures should be a promising alternative for hydrocarbon recovery. It is also enlightening for the study and design of membrane materials for gas separation. [Display omitted] • 2-Methylimidazole (MIM) was directly incorporated into PDMS membranes. • MIM accelerated the crosslinking reaction of PDMS prepolymer. • Separation factor and permeance of C 3 H 6 were simultaneously promoted by MIM. • MD simulation reveals MIM has a higher preferential propylene-affinity than PDMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Childhood exposure to violence has been consistently linked to externalizing behaviors like delinquency and aggression. Growing evidence indicates that physiological biomarkers from the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems (PNS and SNS) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may moderate or mediate the relation between childhood violence exposure and externalizing behaviors. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize recent findings on physiological biomarkers as mediators and/or moderators of this association across the life course, using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Our search yielded 3878 articles, of which 44 met inclusion criteria (describing a total of 46 independent studies). We found consistent evidence for blunted HPA-axis reactivity as a mediator of the relation between childhood violence exposure and subsequent externalizing behaviors, and for non-reciprocal PNS/SNS activation as moderators exacerbating this relation. However, the results of the majority of included studies that demonstrated significant moderating effects of physiological biomarkers varied by participant sex, type of childhood violence exposure, and type of stimuli used to induce physiological reactivity. The observed mixed findings are consistent with some theories that emphasize that both high and low stress reactivity can be adaptive depending on one's early environment. These findings highlight the need for systematic explorations of heterogeneity, theory-driven research questions, and longitudinal studies that span multiple developmental periods and multiple biological systems. Clinical implications include the need to assess physiological biomarkers in treatment and intervention studies and the potential to target interventions based on both autonomic functioning and environmental contexts. • Childhood violence exposure is an established predictor of externalizing behavior. • Physiological biomarkers may moderate or mediate this relation. • We found more evidence of physiological biomarkers as moderators than mediators. • High and low reactivity, and non-reciprocal SNS/PNS activation, increased risk. • Findings varied by type of biomarker, assessment methods, and participant sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to achieve accurate fault diagnosis of rolling bearing under random noise, a new fault diagnosis method based on wavelet packet-variational mode decomposition (WP-VMD) and kernel extreme learning machine (KELM) optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the time–frequency domain feature vectors of the original rolling bearing fault signals are effectively obtained by preprocessing of WMD and decomposition and reconstruction of VMD. Then, the extracted two-dimensional feature vector is input into the KELM neural network for fault identification, and combined with PSO, KELM parameters were optimized. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively diagnose the rolling bearing under random noise, with the features of fast speed, stable performance and high accuracy. By comparison, this paper obtains better accuracy and real-time performance with fewer features, which provides a simple and efficient solution for fault diagnosis of rolling bearings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Halloysite nanotubes were decorated via coordinate covalent grafting ILs (IHNTs). • IHNTs were incorporated in PDMS matrix to fabricate MMMs for EtAc PV separation. • IHNTs constructed relatively continuous permeation pathways for penetrants. • The synergistic effect of hybrid material facilely breaks the trade-off effect in PV. • Molecular simulation was carried out to analyze permeation behavior of penetrants. The development of high-performance polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for the recovery of ethyl acetate (EtAc) from low-concentration aqueous solutions remains a challenge in the pervaporation field. In this study, ionic-liquids-decorated halloysite nanotubes (ILs@HNTs) composites, which were precisely designed and prepared using a tandem modification strategy, were embedded into PDMS matrix to fabricate MMMs for the permselective pervaporation of EtAc. The results revealed that the ILs incorporated within the lumens and onto the external surfaces of HNTs not only exhibited excellent compatibility with PDMS, but also created permselective diffusion channels for EtAc. Benefit from the synergistic effect of highly permeable HNTs lumens and highly selective ILs, the resultant MMM loaded with 15 wt% ILs@HNTs presented a remarkable separation factor (341) and high flux (925 g m−2 h−1) for the separation of 1 wt% EtAc aqueous solutions at 30 °C. These values were 2.10 and 1.45 times higher, respectively, than those of pristine PDMS membranes. Furthermore, the molecular simulations conducted to analyze the permeation behavior of guest molecules in the HNTs lumens provided theoretical support for the pervaporation experimental results. Moreover, the effects of ILs grafting degree, filler loading, feed temperature, and feed concentration on the pervaporation performance of the fabricated MMMs were systematically investigated. The unique modification method developed in this study can be expanded to other tubular materials and provide valuable guidelines for designing high-performance membrane structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissolution behavior of cellulose acetate (CA) is an extremely important property in its extensive applications and preparation of derivatives. In this paper, we proposed a molecular model building strategy to construct amorphous CA with various substituent distributions (different degrees of substitution and substitution positions). A protocol combing molecular dynamics simulation and density functional theory (DFT) was applied to systematically investigate the dissolution behavior of CAs, and the structural properties of CAs. The reduced cohesive energy and polarity of CAs caused by the increase in substituents would enhance its solubility. The interaction of solvent molecules and CAs and the diffusion of solvent molecules in CAs have a synergistic effect on the dissolution of CAs. The diffusion coefficient is the primary factor affecting the solubility. Moreover, substituents at different positions of the anhydroglucose units along the CAs chains would produce different steric hindrance effects, which in turn affect the dissolution behavior. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assembled steel structure is widely used as in green building structure with life cycle significance. As the key link in steel structure design, the beam-column joint design has been studied. This paper proposes a new assembled beam-column joint with cantilever beam splicing, four specimens with full sizes were designed. The influence of beam cantilever splicing, the stiffener, and joint direction on seismic performance of the joints were discussed by cyclic loading tests and numerical simulations. Then the sensitivity of key parameters is carried out. The results indicate that the joint with double stiffener in the cantilever beam splicing did not significantly improve the seismic performance of the specimen compared to using a single stiffener; and the initial stiffness was not significantly affected when increasing the length of the L-shaped member. In addition, the stiffness, bearing capacity, and the ductility and bearing capacity of the specimen with weak connection were lower 28.3% and 11.8%, respectively, compared with the joints with strong connection. Parameter analysis showed that increasing the length and thickness of the L-shaped member can effectively improve the seismic performance of the joint, However, the thickness of cantilever beam splices had a small impact on mechanical property. Changing the number of bolts on the flanges of beam had a greater effect on the bearing capacity of the joint. Substituting the initial stiffness of the joint into the EC3 moment-rotation model, the results show that the calculated results are in good agreement with the simulation results and the experimental results. • The seismic performance of a newassembled beam–column joint with cantilever segment is studied by experiment and FEM. • The hysteresis curves are full and plastic deformation is isolated in the beam ends out of the L-shaped members. • The use of a double stiffener in the joint did not significantly improve the seismic performance of the specimen. • The limb thickness and the length of L-shaped member had a significant influence on the load-bearing capacity of the joint. • The min number of bolts in the length of L-shaped member should be 6 to ensure the mechanical properties of joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Welding residual stress has a significant detrimental impact on the strength of stiffened plated structures. • Data-driven model is proposed for estimating the ultimate compressive strength reduction of stiffened panels caused by welding residual stress. • Results obtained in interpolation and extrapolation scenarios prove the high accuracy and reliability of the proposed method. Ultimate limit state (ULS) assessment examines the maximum load-carrying capacity of structures considering inelastic buckling failure. Contrary to the traditional allowable stress principle which is mainly based on experiences, the ULS assessment focuses on explicitly evaluating the structural safety margin and thus enables a consistent level of safety/risk between conventional and novel structural designs. Modern structures are usually designed as a network of plates and stiffeners (e.g., ship structures, offshore and onshore wind turbine, and land-based bridge) joined by welding which induces a residual stress field. Hence, predicting the ultimate strength reduction of stiffened panels caused by welding residual stress is a crucial problem addressed by many scholars with different approaches, among which the Nonlinear Finite Element Method (NLFEM) is the prevailing approach within the community of structural engineering. Unfortunately, the NLFEM has a high computational requirement which prevents its use in the design, appraisal, and optimisation phases of stiffened panels. To well approximate the nonlinear finite element method, a data-driven method is proposed in this paper, with a functional which is computationally expensive to build but computationally inexpensive to use allowing its application at design stage. Results obtained in different (i.e., interpolation and extrapolation) scenarios using data generated by a state-of-the-art NLFEM on a series of stiffened panels will support the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutation of Bloom helicase (BLM) causes Bloom syndrome (BS), a rare human genetic disorder associated with genome instability, elevation of sister chromatid exchanges, and predisposition to cancer. Deficiency in BLM homologs in Drosophila and yeast brings about significantly increased rates of recombination between imperfectly matched sequences (“homeologous recombination,” or HeR). To assess whether BLM deficiency provokes an increase in HeR in human cells, we transfected an HeR substrate into a BLM-null cell line derived from a BS patient. The substrate contained a thymidine kinase ( tk )- neo fusion gene disrupted by the recognition site for endonuclease I-SceI, as well as a functional tk gene to serve as a potential recombination partner for the tk-neo gene. The two tk sequences on the substrate displayed 19% divergence. A double-strand break was introduced by expression of I-SceI and repair events were recovered by selection for G418-resistant clones. Among 181 events recovered, 30 were accomplished via HeR with the balance accomplished by nonhomologous end-joining. The frequency of HeR events in the BS cells was elevated significantly compared to that seen in normal human fibroblasts or in BS cells complemented for BLM expression. We conclude that BLM deficiency enables HeR in human cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the genes and signaling pathways associated with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) by bioinformatics analysis. For this purpose, the GSE2503 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between 6 normal skin and 5 SCC samples were analyzed using the Linear Models for Microarray Data package. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs were performed, followed by functional annotation and construction of a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Subnetwork modules were subsequently identified and analyzed. A total of 181 DEGs, including 95 upregulated and 86 downregulated DEGs, were identified, in addition to 20 GO biological processes terms enriched by upregulated DEGs and 14 enriched by downregulated DEGs. The upregulated DEGs were enriched in 18 pathways, and the downregulated DEGs were enriched in 7 pathways. Following functional annotation, three upregulated transcription factors (TFs), including hypoxia inducible factor 1, alpha subunit (HIF1A), and six downregulated TFs were identified. In the PPI network and subnetwork, matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1), also known as interstitial collagenase, and interleukin 8 (IL8) were the hub genes with the highest degree of connectivity (degree =8). Integrin alpha (ITGA)6 and 2 were enriched in several pathways, including focal adhesion and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction. DEGs of SCC were primarily enriched in pathways associated with cancer and cell adhesion. Therefore, DEGs such as IL8, MMP1, HIF1A, ITGA6 and ITGA2 may be potential targets for the diagnosis and treatment of SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The aims of this study were to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model to describe the PK of nalmefene in healthy subjects and to relate the exposure of nalmefene to the μ-opioid receptor occupancy by simulations in the target population. Methods Data from nine phase I studies (243 subjects) with extensive blood sampling were pooled and used for the population PK model building. Data from four other phase I studies (85 subjects) were pooled and used as an external validation dataset. Eight subjects from an imaging study contributed occupancy data and the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship was modelled. Combining the population PK model and the PK/PD relationship enabled simulations to predict μ-opioid occupancy. Results A two compartment model with first order absorption best described the nalmefene PK data. The typical subject in the population was estimated to have a systemic clearance of 60.4 l h−1 and a central volume of distribution of 266 l. Absolute oral bioavailability was estimated to 41% without food intake and with food about 53%. Simulation of the μ-opioid receptor occupancy shows that the 95% confidence bound is within or above 60-90% occupancy for up to 22-24 h after a single dose of 20 mg nalmefene. Conclusions A robust population PK model for nalmefene was developed. Based on the concentration-occupancy model the μ-opioid receptor occupancy after a single 20 mg dose of nalmefene is predicted to be above the target therapeutic occupancy for about 24 h in about 95% of the target population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a method of data flow modeling for a product design process oriented to data parameter is proposed. The data parameters are defined, which are classified as the basic data parameters and complex data parameters. The mechanism of the mapping relationship between different forms of documents and some basic data parameters, and a data transmission based on parameters, are constructed. Aiming at the characteristics of the iterative design process, the parameters version mechanism including node modification and iteration information is proposed. The data parameters transmission relationships are represented by a parameters network model (PNM) based on a directed graph. Finally, through the table of data parameters mapping onto the workflow node and PNM, the data ports and data links in the data flow model are generated automatically by the program. Validation in the 15-meter-diameter S/Ka frequency band antenna design process of the 'Reflector, Back frame and Center part design' data flow model shows that the method can effectively shorten the time of data flow modeling and improve the data transmission efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses data of smelting industry of ferrous metal in stock market to check the explanatory capacity of mathematical model of modern residual income on Chinese stock price, and adopts cr10 as the substitution variable of non-accounting information variable v and CAPM model to calculate the capital cost. Choose 2% and 6% respectively as the risk premium, taking into consideration the influence of capital cost difference of the model. The analysis shows that the explanatory capacity of the residual income model on stock price is better than that of the residual income model derived from the assumption of linear information dynamic excluding net asset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secretion of effector proteins into the eukaryotic host cell is required for Chlamydia trachomatis virulence. In the infection process, Scc1 and Scc4, two chaperones of the type III secretion (T3S) system, facilitate secretion of the important effector and plug protein, CopN, but little is known about the details of this event. Here we use biochemistry, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and genetic analyses to characterize this trimolecular event. We find that Scc4 complexes with Scc1 and CopN in situ at the late developmental cycle of C. trachomatis. We show that Scc4 and Scc1 undergo dynamic interactions as part of the unique bacterial developmental cycle. Using alanine substitutions, we identify several amino acid residues in Scc4 that are critical for the Scc4-Scc1 interaction, which is required for forming the Scc4*Scc1*CopN ternary complex. These results, combined with our previous findings that Scc4 plays a role in transcription (Rao, X., Deighan, P., Hua, Z., Hu, X., Wang, J., Luo, M., Wang, J., Liang, Y., Zhong, G., Hochschild, A., and Shen, L. (2009) Genes Dev. 23, 1818-1829), reveal that the T3S process is linked to bacterial transcriptional events, all of which are mediated by Scc4 and its interacting proteins. A model describing how the T3S process may affect gene expression is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dihydrobenzoxazinones and dihydroquinazolinones are the core units present in many anti-HIV agents, such as Efavirenz, DPC 961, DPC 963, and DPC 083. All these molecules contain a trifluoromethyl moiety at the quaternary stereogenic carbon center with S configuration. The enantioselective addition of carbon nucleophiles to ketones or cyclic ketimines could serve as a key step to access these molecules. This tutorial review provides an overview of significant advances in the synthesis of dihydrobenzoxazinone- and dihydroquinazolinone-based anti-HIV agents and relative analogues, with an emphasis on asymmetric addition reactions for the establishment of the CF3-containing quaternary carbon centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work investigated the ignition and combustion process of single micron-sized iron particles in the hot gas flow of burned methane-oxygen-nitrogen mixture. The particle emission intensity was recorded by a high-speed camera in different flame conditions. Particle temperature was derived through two-color pyrometry method employing an ICCD camera equipped with a stereoscope. Based on scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image, the microstructure change of iron particles was investigated. Results showed that the temperature of burning particle rose rapidly and was much higher than the ambient temperature. The fresh iron particles mainly went through several stages in hot gas flow: heating, melting, rapid combustion and cooling. Some of them became bright again after cooling. According to the above combustion process, combustion parameters including ignition delay time, accelerated burning time, total burning time and second stage of combustion time were defined. All the above defined parameters were almost linearly increasing with the increase of particle size under the same oxygen concentration. For iron particles with roughly the same size, the ignition delay time, accelerated burning time and total burning time decreased as the effective oxygen concentration increased especially for particle size larger than 40 µm. The second stage of combustion time for particles with similar size were almost the same under different oxygen concentrations. After combustion, most of the particles change from irregular shape to spherical or ellipsoidal shape, and some of them showed hollow shell structure. A phenomenon of nano-sized particles releasing during the iron particles combustion had been identified. The frequently observed luminous tail was attributed to coming from the thermal radiation of the formed nanoparticles, which was supported by the SEM sampling analysis of the combustion products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a simplified empirical formulation to predict the ultimate strength of the initially deflected plate subjected to longitudinal compression. The empirical formulation's applicability and accuracy were verified by comparing the nonlinear finite element method (NLFEM). In total, 700 cases of initially deflected plate scenarios by assuming the buckling mode shape were adopted as the input data. For the simplification of the plate design process, a general shape of the empirical formula is proposed based on input data. A reliable technical solution is obtained with good agreements (R2 = 0.98 to 0.99) compared to NLFEM. The advantage of the proposed outcome is documented by comparing the previous study. The obtained result could be beneficial for the structural design of the initially deflected plate in predicting its ultimate strength performance under longitudinal compression. • The general shape of the empirical formula in predicting the ultimate strength of the plate is proposed. • An empirical formula in predicting ULS of initially deflected and simply supported edged plate under longitudinal compression is developed based on general shape with four coefficients. • The results of ULS by NLFEM, semi-analytical method, and direct calculation method by empirical formula are compared, and its accuracy has been verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes an empirical formula to predict the ultimate strength of the initially deflected plate subjected to combined longitudinal compression and lateral pressure. The reliable plate scenarios selected are analysed by the ALPS/ULSAP (= Analysis of Large Plated Structures/Ultimate Limit State Assessment Program) method. In total, 5,600 plate scenarios, including the effects of geometry, material and applied load properties, are generated and used as input data for structural analysis to obtain the ultimate strength of the plates. In particular, five water depths (h) cases (i.e., 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 m), four material yield strength (i.e., 235, 275, 315, and 355 MPa) and various initial deflection amounts were considered together with the wide range of geometric properties. The empirical formula obtained shows good agreement with ALPS/ULSAP simulation results (R 2 = 0.994). The applicability of the outcome verified by statistical analysis and the effect of individual parameters considered on the ultimate strength of the plate is documented. The valuable examples are also provided with a detailed user guide. The obtained result may help estimate the ULS characteristic of the plate under combined compression and lateral pressure. Also, it can be used as a practical design guide for the robust design of the ship's plate. • A useful empirical formula is proposed in predicting the ultimate limit state (ULS) of the initially deflected plate under combined longitudinal compression and lateral pressure. • The obtained outcome was well-fitted with ALPS/ULSAP semi-analytical solutions. • The effect of various yield stress and lateral pressure on the ultimate compressive strength of the initially deflected plate is investigated and summarised. • A detailed procedure to utilise the obtained empirical formula is documented, including the valuable tutorials used for a lecture or design guide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DLA-88 is a classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I gene in dogs, and allelic DLA-88 molecules have been divided into two categories named "DLA-88*0" and "DLA-88*5." The defining difference between the two categories concerns an LQW motif in the α2 domain helical region of the DLA-88*5 molecules that includes the insertion of an extra amino acid compared to MHC class I consensus length. We here show that this motif has been exchanged by recombination between different DLA-88 evolutionary lineages. Previously, with pDLA-88*508:01, the structure of a molecule of the DLA-88*5 category was elucidated. The present study is the first to elucidate a structure, using X-ray crystallography, of the DLA-88*0 category, namely DLA-88*001:04 complexed with β2m and a nonamer peptide derived from canine distemper virus (CDV). The LQW motif that distinguishes DLA-88*5 from DLA-88*0 causes a shallower peptide binding groove (PBG) and a leucine exposed at the top of the α2 domain helix expected to affect T cell selection. Peptide ligand amino acid substitution and pMHC-I complex formation and stability analyses revealed that P2 and P3 are the major anchor residue positions for binding to DLA-88*001:04. We speculate that the distribution pattern of the LQW motif among canine classical MHC class I alleles represents a strategy to enhance allogeneic rejection by T cells of transmissible cancers such as canine transmissible venereal tumor (CTVT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new research tried to improve the distribution of molecular weight of Hb-based oxygen carriers (HBOC), a bottleneck of glutaraldehyde (GDA)-polymerization process. The orthogonal experiments were done on the basis of the early study of human placenta Hemoglobin (Hb)-crosslinked-GDA and three factors were selected including the molar ratio of GDA and Hb, Hb concentration, and the rate of the feeding GDA. The optimal match condition of polymerization process prepared for the purpose of lower mean molecular weight, content of super-weight molecule, and the content of dimer. The results showed that the molar ratio of GDA and Hb was the greatest influencing factor on the molecular weight distribution of polymerized-Hb, followed by the Hb concentration, and the last is the rate of feeding GDA. The optimum matching conditions had reached the objective that the mean molecular weight with 155.54 ± 5.79, the content of dimer with 17.23 ± 3.71, and content of super-weight molecule with 0.17 ± 0.09, and the results can be repeated in the 30 times expansion experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to investigate whether hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC) attenuates cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)-induced cerebral damage. Male adult Beagle dogs were randomly divided into sham, control, and HBOC groups. After establishment of CPB model, hearts were arrested for 2 h and reperfused for 2 h. HBOC improved intracerebral O2 tensions and reduced the releases of biomarkers for cerebral damage, including neuron-specific enolase and S100β in both cerebrospinal fluid and serum. Moreover, HBOC attenuated the releases of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β after CPB. Therefore, our findings suggest that HBOC could reduce cerebral damage after CPB, which was probably associated with improvement of tissue O2 preload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]