Tow different computer calculation methods for distortion of the wide-band diode bridge track and hold amplifier (THA) are presented based on a high frequency Schottky diode model. One of the computer programs calcula...Tow different computer calculation methods for distortion of the wide-band diode bridge track and hold amplifier (THA) are presented based on a high frequency Schottky diode model. One of the computer programs calculates the distortion of weekly nonlinear THA based on the KCL and the nonlinear-current method. The other calculates the weekly nonlinear distortion by using a Volterra series method and a nodal formulation. Comparative calculation results for the diode bridge THA have shown good agreement with these two computer program calculation methods, whereas the overall computational efficiency of the nonlinear-current method is better than that of the nodal formulation method in a special evaluation.展开更多
On the basis of experimental observations on animals, applications to clinical data on patients and theoretical statistical reasoning, the author developed a com-puter-assisted general mathematical model of the ‘prob...On the basis of experimental observations on animals, applications to clinical data on patients and theoretical statistical reasoning, the author developed a com-puter-assisted general mathematical model of the ‘probacent’-probability equation, Equation (1) and death rate (mortality probability) equation, Equation (2) derivable from Equation (1) that may be applica-ble as a general approximation method to make use-ful predictions of probable outcomes in a variety of biomedical phenomena [1-4]. Equations (1) and (2) contain a constant, γ and c, respectively. In the pre-vious studies, the author used the least maximum- difference principle to determine these constants that were expected to best fit reported data, minimizing the deviation. In this study, the author uses the method of computer-assisted least sum of squares to determine the constants, γ and c in constructing the ‘probacent’-related formulas best fitting the NCHS- reported data on survival probabilities and death rates in the US total adult population for 2001. The results of this study reveal that the method of com-puter-assisted mathematical analysis with the least sum of squares seems to be simple, more accurate, convenient and preferable than the previously used least maximum-difference principle, and better fit-ting the NCHS-reported data on survival probabili-ties and death rates in the US total adult population. The computer program of curved regression for the ‘probacent’-probability and death rate equations may be helpful in research in biomedicine.展开更多
Established in 2019,the Shandong Port Group(SPG)comprises four port groups(Qingdao Port,Rizhao Port,Yantai Port,and Bohaiwan Port)and 12 business segments.SPG connects 3,345 kilometers of coastline within Shandong Pro...Established in 2019,the Shandong Port Group(SPG)comprises four port groups(Qingdao Port,Rizhao Port,Yantai Port,and Bohaiwan Port)and 12 business segments.SPG connects 3,345 kilometers of coastline within Shandong Province.Its cargo throughput has consistently ranked first globally for many years,and its container volume growth ranks second globally,forming a port cluster covering the entire industrial chain.展开更多
The Luang Prabang Maintenance Management Center of the ChinaLaos Railway is still brightly lit late into the night.Zhao Renjie,director of power supply,is overseeing catenary maintenance with steady concentration.Next...The Luang Prabang Maintenance Management Center of the ChinaLaos Railway is still brightly lit late into the night.Zhao Renjie,director of power supply,is overseeing catenary maintenance with steady concentration.Next to him are Lao team leader Phouthong and his apprentice,catenary worker Khang Meng.Their busy figures form a routine yet vivid snapshot of therailway's daily operations.展开更多
Background: To develop an effective health education program to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas, we explored the effects of a stress management program ...Background: To develop an effective health education program to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas, we explored the effects of a stress management program based on the type A behavior pattern. Methods: This study was carried out in a rural city in Japan recognized as underpopulated and participants were civil servants aged 45 - 64 who joined a stress management program offered as part of staff training. Learning materials for the program were developed based on the type A behavior pattern. Measures for the impact evaluation were Bloom’s learning domains and stage of change for stress management practice. Measures for the outcome evaluation were KG’s Daily Life Questionnaire (KG Questionnaire), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Framingham 10-year cardiovascular risk score (CVD risk score). We statistically analyzed changes in each item between time points. Results: Eighteen participants completed questionnaire surveys at pre-, post-, and 4 weeks post-program and eleven had complete blood pressure and weight measurements at pre- and post-program. In the impact evaluation, the Friedman test found significant differences between the three time points in all of Bloom’s learning domain scores and stage of change for stress management. In the post hoc analysis, a significant increase was seen between pre- and post-program and between pre- and 4 weeks post-program in cognitive domain score, psychomotor domain score and stage of change for stress management. In the outcome evaluation, a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure was seen between pre- and post-program. Conclusion: The present study suggested that a stress management program using learning materials based on type A behavior could promote stress management practices and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This stress management program is expected to be useful as a health promotion activity for middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas.展开更多
A Linear Programming DASH diet model for persons with hypertension has previously been formulated and daily minimum cost diet plans that satisfy the DASH diets’ tolerable intake level of the nutrients for 1500 mg a d...A Linear Programming DASH diet model for persons with hypertension has previously been formulated and daily minimum cost diet plans that satisfy the DASH diets’ tolerable intake level of the nutrients for 1500 mg a day Sodium level and different daily calorie levels were obtained using sample foods from the DASH diet eating plan chart. But the limitation in the use of linear programming model in selecting diet plans to meet specific nutritional requirements which normally results in the oversupply of certain nutrients was evident in the linear programming DASH diet plan obtained as the nutrient level of the diet plans obtained had wide deviations of from the DASH diets’ tolerable upper and lower intake level for the given calorie and sodium levels. Hence the need for a model that gives diet plans with minimized nutrients’ level deviations from the DASH diets’ tolerable intake level for different daily calorie and sodium level at desired cost. A weighted Goal Programming DASH diet model that minimizes the daily cost of the DASH eating plan as well as deviations of the diets’ nutrients content from the DASH diet’s tolerable intake levels is hereby presented in this work. The formulated weighted goal programming DASH diet model is further illustrated using chosen sample foods from the DASH food chart as used in the work on the linear programming DASH diet model for a 1500 mg sodium level and 2000 calories a day diet plan as well as for 1800, 2200, 2400, 2600, 2800 and 3000 daily calorie levels. A comparison of the DASH nutrients’ composition of the weighted Goal Programming DASH diet plans and those of the linear programming DASH diet plans were carried out at this sodium level and the different daily calorie levels. It was evident from the results of the comparison that the weighted goal programming DASH diet plans has minimized deviations from the DASH diet’s tolerable intake levels than those of the linear programming DASH diet plans.展开更多
Convexity and generalized convexity play important roles in optimization theory. With the development of programming problem, there has been a growing interest in the higher-order dual problem and a lot of related gen...Convexity and generalized convexity play important roles in optimization theory. With the development of programming problem, there has been a growing interest in the higher-order dual problem and a lot of related generalized convexities are given. In this paper, we give the convexity of (F, α ,p ,d ,b , φ )β vector-pseudo- quasi-Type I and formulate a higher-order duality for minimax fractional type programming involving symmetric matrices, and give the weak, strong and strict converse duality theorems under the condition of higher-order (F, α ,p ,d ,b , φ )β vector-pseudoquasi-Type I.展开更多
Throughout the globe,diabetes mellitus（DM） is increasing in incidence with limited therapies presently available to prevent or resolve the significant complications of this disorder.DM impacts multiple organs and af...Throughout the globe,diabetes mellitus（DM） is increasing in incidence with limited therapies presently available to prevent or resolve the significant complications of this disorder.DM impacts multiple organs and affects all components of the central and peripheral nervous systems that can range from dementia to diabetic neuropathy.The mechanistic target of rapamycin（m TOR） is a promising agent for the development of novel regenerative strategies for the treatment of DM.m TOR and its related signaling pathways impact multiple metabolic parameters that include cellular metabolic homeostasis,insulin resistance,insulin secretion,stem cell proliferation and differentiation,pancreatic β-cell function,and programmed cell death with apoptosis and autophagy.m TOR is central element for the protein complexes m TOR Complex 1（m TORC1） and m TOR Complex 2（m TORC2） and is a critical component for a number of signaling pathways that involve phosphoinositide 3-kinase（PI 3-K）,protein kinase B（Akt）,AMP activated protein kinase（AMPK）,silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1（Saccharomyces cerevisiae）（SIRT1）,Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1（WISP1）,and growth factors.As a result,m TOR represents an exciting target to offer new clinical avenues for the treatment of DM and the complications of this disease.Future studies directed to elucidate the delicate balance m TOR holds over cellular metabolism and the impact of its broad signaling pathways should foster the translation of these targets into effective clinical regimens for DM.展开更多
To study gene control mechanisms in Xenopus embryos, we analyzed polyamines, cloned SAMDC (S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase), a key enzyme of polyamine metabolism, and microinjected its mRNA into Xenopus fertilized ...To study gene control mechanisms in Xenopus embryos, we analyzed polyamines, cloned SAMDC (S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase), a key enzyme of polyamine metabolism, and microinjected its mRNA into Xenopus fertilized eggs. The microinjection induced a large increase in SAMDC activity, exhaustion of the substrate SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), and execution of apoptosis at the stage called midblastula transition (MBT). By tracing GFP (green fluorescence protein)-marked apoptotic cells, we reached a conclusion that the apoptosis provides pre-blastula embryos with a fail-safe mechanism of early development. We analyzed caspase mRNAs and found that caspase-9 and -3 mRNAs are maternal mRNA and activation of caspase-9 is one of the key steps for the execution of the apoptosis. We also found that over- expression of caspase-8, and in addition p53, a tumor suppressor protein, also induces apoptosis at MBT, just like the overexpression of SAMDC and caspase-9 does. The apoptosis induced by p53 was suppressed by Xdm-2, a negative regulator of p53, and by a peptide inhibitor and a dominant-negative type mutant of caspase-9, but not by those of caspase-8. By contrast, apoptosis induced by SAMDC was suppressed by peptide inhibitors and dominant-negative mutants of both caspase-9 and caspase-8, but not by Xdm-2. Unlike caspase-9 mRNA, caspase-8 mRNA was not a maternal mRNA, but newly expressed during cleavage stage (pre-MBT stage) only in embryos overexpressed with SAMDC. In SAMDC-induced apoptotic embryos activities to process procaspase-8 and procaspase-9 appeared, whereas in p53-induced apoptotic embryos only activity to process procaspase-9 appeared. Thus, Xenopus embryos have at least two pathways to execute the maternal program of apoptosis: One induced by SAMDC overexpression through activation of caspase-9 and do novo expression of caspase-8 gene, and the other induced by p53 overexpression through activation of caspase-9 but not caspase-8. In Xenopus embryos, it has long been believed that zygotic genes are silent until MBT, but results obtained with caspase-8 may provide a novel example of gene expression before MBT.展开更多
During the use of robotics in applications such as antiterrorism or combat,a motion-constrained pursuer vehicle,such as a Dubins unmanned surface vehicle(USV),must get close enough(within a prescribed zero or positive...During the use of robotics in applications such as antiterrorism or combat,a motion-constrained pursuer vehicle,such as a Dubins unmanned surface vehicle(USV),must get close enough(within a prescribed zero or positive distance)to a moving target as quickly as possible,resulting in the extended minimum-time intercept problem(EMTIP).Existing research has primarily focused on the zero-distance intercept problem,MTIP,establishing the necessary or sufficient conditions for MTIP optimality,and utilizing analytic algorithms,such as root-finding algorithms,to calculate the optimal solutions.However,these approaches depend heavily on the properties of the analytic algorithm,making them inapplicable when problem settings change,such as in the case of a positive effective range or complicated target motions outside uniform rectilinear motion.In this study,an approach employing a high-accuracy and quality-guaranteed mixed-integer piecewise-linear program(QG-PWL)is proposed for the EMTIP.This program can accommodate different effective interception ranges and complicated target motions(variable velocity or complicated trajectories).The high accuracy and quality guarantees of QG-PWL originate from elegant strategies such as piecewise linearization and other developed operation strategies.The approximate error in the intercept path length is proved to be bounded to h^(2)/(4√2),where h is the piecewise length.展开更多
Diabetes has become a growing concern in Japan, both medically and financially. The medical cost of diabetes was estimated at 1215 billion yen for fiscal year 2011. We analyzed the length of stay (LOS) in a hospital f...Diabetes has become a growing concern in Japan, both medically and financially. The medical cost of diabetes was estimated at 1215 billion yen for fiscal year 2011. We analyzed the length of stay (LOS) in a hospital for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who participated in educational programs to determine factors affecting LOS. Data on 991 patients obtained from 28 Red Cross hospitals in 2008 were used. For the analysis, we used the Box-Cox transformation model and Hausman test. The results revealed that patients aged 75 years and above and those with comorbidities and complications were prone to longer LOS. The analysis also revealed significant differences in LOS across the hospitals, even after controlling for patient characteristics. Finally, we applied the least squares method to determine the effects of hospital and regional factors and revealed that patients’ LOS was affected by the region’s average LOS. Regional corporations and networks appeared to be important in improving educational programs.展开更多
In the framework of liberalized deregulated electricity market, dynamic competitive environment exists between wholesale and retail dealers for energy supplying and management. Smart Grids topology in form of energy m...In the framework of liberalized deregulated electricity market, dynamic competitive environment exists between wholesale and retail dealers for energy supplying and management. Smart Grids topology in form of energy management has forced power supplying agencies to become globally competitive. Demand Response (DR) Programs in context with smart energy network have influenced prosumers and consumers towards it. In this paper Fair Emergency Demand Response Program (FEDRP) is integrated for managing the loads intelligently by using the platform of Smart Grids for Residential Setup. The paper also provides detailed modelling and analysis of respective demands of residential consumers in relation with economic load model for FEDRP. Due to increased customer’s partaking in this program the load on the utility is reduced and managed intelligently during emergency hours by providing fair and attractive incentives to residential clients, thus shifting peak load to off peak hours. The numerical and graphical results are matched for intelligent load management scenario.展开更多
Background: Anti-programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1(PD-1/PD-L1) immunotherapy has been proved to be effective on gastric cancer in ongoing clinical trials. However, the value of PD-L1 in predicting responses...Background: Anti-programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1(PD-1/PD-L1) immunotherapy has been proved to be effective on gastric cancer in ongoing clinical trials. However, the value of PD-L1 in predicting responses of patients with gastric cancer to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy is controversial. Some studies suggested that intra-and inter-tumoral heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression might explain the controversy.This study aimed to analyze the expression of PD-L1, PD-L2, and PD-1 as well as CD8(+) T-cell density in primary tumors and lymph nodes from patients with stage T1-4 N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma to explore the heterogeneity of PD-1 signaling pathway molecules.Methods: In primary tumors and metastatic as well as non-metastatic lymph nodes from patients with stage T1-4 N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma, we detected PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression with immunohistochemistry. CD8(+)T-cell density in primary tumors and PD-1 expression on CD8(+)T cells were detected with immunofluorescence. Univariate analysis was used to determine the prognostic values of them. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify independent risk factors that affect patients' overall survival and disease-free survival.Results: Among 119 eligible patients who had undergone surgical resection, the positive rate of PD-L1 was higher in metastatic lymph nodes than in primary tumors(45.4% vs. 38.7%, P = 0.005); the positive rate of PD-1 on CD8(+)T cells was significantly higher in primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes than in tumor-free lymph nodes(both P < 0.001). The intensity of PD-1 expression on CD8(+) T cells in primary tumors and in metastatic lymph nodes were stronger than that in tumor-free lymph nodes from the same patient. Beside, the positive rate of PD-L2 did not show any differences between primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes. In multivariate analysis, PD-L1 expression,PD-L2 expression, a low density of CD8(+) T cells in primary tumors, and PD-1 expression on CD8(+) T cells in primary tumors were associated with poor prognosis.Conclusion: The expression of PD-L1 is heterogeneous in primary tumors and in metastatic lymph nodes from patients with stageT1-4 N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma, which might explain the inconsistent results in assessing the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression in previous studies.展开更多
文摘Tow different computer calculation methods for distortion of the wide-band diode bridge track and hold amplifier (THA) are presented based on a high frequency Schottky diode model. One of the computer programs calculates the distortion of weekly nonlinear THA based on the KCL and the nonlinear-current method. The other calculates the weekly nonlinear distortion by using a Volterra series method and a nodal formulation. Comparative calculation results for the diode bridge THA have shown good agreement with these two computer program calculation methods, whereas the overall computational efficiency of the nonlinear-current method is better than that of the nodal formulation method in a special evaluation.
文摘On the basis of experimental observations on animals, applications to clinical data on patients and theoretical statistical reasoning, the author developed a com-puter-assisted general mathematical model of the ‘probacent’-probability equation, Equation (1) and death rate (mortality probability) equation, Equation (2) derivable from Equation (1) that may be applica-ble as a general approximation method to make use-ful predictions of probable outcomes in a variety of biomedical phenomena [1-4]. Equations (1) and (2) contain a constant, γ and c, respectively. In the pre-vious studies, the author used the least maximum- difference principle to determine these constants that were expected to best fit reported data, minimizing the deviation. In this study, the author uses the method of computer-assisted least sum of squares to determine the constants, γ and c in constructing the ‘probacent’-related formulas best fitting the NCHS- reported data on survival probabilities and death rates in the US total adult population for 2001. The results of this study reveal that the method of com-puter-assisted mathematical analysis with the least sum of squares seems to be simple, more accurate, convenient and preferable than the previously used least maximum-difference principle, and better fit-ting the NCHS-reported data on survival probabili-ties and death rates in the US total adult population. The computer program of curved regression for the ‘probacent’-probability and death rate equations may be helpful in research in biomedicine.
文摘Established in 2019,the Shandong Port Group(SPG)comprises four port groups(Qingdao Port,Rizhao Port,Yantai Port,and Bohaiwan Port)and 12 business segments.SPG connects 3,345 kilometers of coastline within Shandong Province.Its cargo throughput has consistently ranked first globally for many years,and its container volume growth ranks second globally,forming a port cluster covering the entire industrial chain.
文摘The Luang Prabang Maintenance Management Center of the ChinaLaos Railway is still brightly lit late into the night.Zhao Renjie,director of power supply,is overseeing catenary maintenance with steady concentration.Next to him are Lao team leader Phouthong and his apprentice,catenary worker Khang Meng.Their busy figures form a routine yet vivid snapshot of therailway's daily operations.
文摘Background: To develop an effective health education program to prevent cardiovascular disease in middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas, we explored the effects of a stress management program based on the type A behavior pattern. Methods: This study was carried out in a rural city in Japan recognized as underpopulated and participants were civil servants aged 45 - 64 who joined a stress management program offered as part of staff training. Learning materials for the program were developed based on the type A behavior pattern. Measures for the impact evaluation were Bloom’s learning domains and stage of change for stress management practice. Measures for the outcome evaluation were KG’s Daily Life Questionnaire (KG Questionnaire), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Framingham 10-year cardiovascular risk score (CVD risk score). We statistically analyzed changes in each item between time points. Results: Eighteen participants completed questionnaire surveys at pre-, post-, and 4 weeks post-program and eleven had complete blood pressure and weight measurements at pre- and post-program. In the impact evaluation, the Friedman test found significant differences between the three time points in all of Bloom’s learning domain scores and stage of change for stress management. In the post hoc analysis, a significant increase was seen between pre- and post-program and between pre- and 4 weeks post-program in cognitive domain score, psychomotor domain score and stage of change for stress management. In the outcome evaluation, a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure was seen between pre- and post-program. Conclusion: The present study suggested that a stress management program using learning materials based on type A behavior could promote stress management practices and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This stress management program is expected to be useful as a health promotion activity for middle-aged residents after retirement in underpopulated areas.
文摘A Linear Programming DASH diet model for persons with hypertension has previously been formulated and daily minimum cost diet plans that satisfy the DASH diets’ tolerable intake level of the nutrients for 1500 mg a day Sodium level and different daily calorie levels were obtained using sample foods from the DASH diet eating plan chart. But the limitation in the use of linear programming model in selecting diet plans to meet specific nutritional requirements which normally results in the oversupply of certain nutrients was evident in the linear programming DASH diet plan obtained as the nutrient level of the diet plans obtained had wide deviations of from the DASH diets’ tolerable upper and lower intake level for the given calorie and sodium levels. Hence the need for a model that gives diet plans with minimized nutrients’ level deviations from the DASH diets’ tolerable intake level for different daily calorie and sodium level at desired cost. A weighted Goal Programming DASH diet model that minimizes the daily cost of the DASH eating plan as well as deviations of the diets’ nutrients content from the DASH diet’s tolerable intake levels is hereby presented in this work. The formulated weighted goal programming DASH diet model is further illustrated using chosen sample foods from the DASH food chart as used in the work on the linear programming DASH diet model for a 1500 mg sodium level and 2000 calories a day diet plan as well as for 1800, 2200, 2400, 2600, 2800 and 3000 daily calorie levels. A comparison of the DASH nutrients’ composition of the weighted Goal Programming DASH diet plans and those of the linear programming DASH diet plans were carried out at this sodium level and the different daily calorie levels. It was evident from the results of the comparison that the weighted goal programming DASH diet plans has minimized deviations from the DASH diet’s tolerable intake levels than those of the linear programming DASH diet plans.
文摘Convexity and generalized convexity play important roles in optimization theory. With the development of programming problem, there has been a growing interest in the higher-order dual problem and a lot of related generalized convexities are given. In this paper, we give the convexity of (F, α ,p ,d ,b , φ )β vector-pseudo- quasi-Type I and formulate a higher-order duality for minimax fractional type programming involving symmetric matrices, and give the weak, strong and strict converse duality theorems under the condition of higher-order (F, α ,p ,d ,b , φ )β vector-pseudoquasi-Type I.
基金supported by American Diabetes Association,American Heart Association,NIH NIEHS,NIH NIA,NIH NINDS,and NIH ARRA
文摘Throughout the globe,diabetes mellitus（DM） is increasing in incidence with limited therapies presently available to prevent or resolve the significant complications of this disorder.DM impacts multiple organs and affects all components of the central and peripheral nervous systems that can range from dementia to diabetic neuropathy.The mechanistic target of rapamycin（m TOR） is a promising agent for the development of novel regenerative strategies for the treatment of DM.m TOR and its related signaling pathways impact multiple metabolic parameters that include cellular metabolic homeostasis,insulin resistance,insulin secretion,stem cell proliferation and differentiation,pancreatic β-cell function,and programmed cell death with apoptosis and autophagy.m TOR is central element for the protein complexes m TOR Complex 1（m TORC1） and m TOR Complex 2（m TORC2） and is a critical component for a number of signaling pathways that involve phosphoinositide 3-kinase（PI 3-K）,protein kinase B（Akt）,AMP activated protein kinase（AMPK）,silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1（Saccharomyces cerevisiae）（SIRT1）,Wnt1 inducible signaling pathway protein 1（WISP1）,and growth factors.As a result,m TOR represents an exciting target to offer new clinical avenues for the treatment of DM and the complications of this disease.Future studies directed to elucidate the delicate balance m TOR holds over cellular metabolism and the impact of its broad signaling pathways should foster the translation of these targets into effective clinical regimens for DM.
文摘To study gene control mechanisms in Xenopus embryos, we analyzed polyamines, cloned SAMDC (S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase), a key enzyme of polyamine metabolism, and microinjected its mRNA into Xenopus fertilized eggs. The microinjection induced a large increase in SAMDC activity, exhaustion of the substrate SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), and execution of apoptosis at the stage called midblastula transition (MBT). By tracing GFP (green fluorescence protein)-marked apoptotic cells, we reached a conclusion that the apoptosis provides pre-blastula embryos with a fail-safe mechanism of early development. We analyzed caspase mRNAs and found that caspase-9 and -3 mRNAs are maternal mRNA and activation of caspase-9 is one of the key steps for the execution of the apoptosis. We also found that over- expression of caspase-8, and in addition p53, a tumor suppressor protein, also induces apoptosis at MBT, just like the overexpression of SAMDC and caspase-9 does. The apoptosis induced by p53 was suppressed by Xdm-2, a negative regulator of p53, and by a peptide inhibitor and a dominant-negative type mutant of caspase-9, but not by those of caspase-8. By contrast, apoptosis induced by SAMDC was suppressed by peptide inhibitors and dominant-negative mutants of both caspase-9 and caspase-8, but not by Xdm-2. Unlike caspase-9 mRNA, caspase-8 mRNA was not a maternal mRNA, but newly expressed during cleavage stage (pre-MBT stage) only in embryos overexpressed with SAMDC. In SAMDC-induced apoptotic embryos activities to process procaspase-8 and procaspase-9 appeared, whereas in p53-induced apoptotic embryos only activity to process procaspase-9 appeared. Thus, Xenopus embryos have at least two pathways to execute the maternal program of apoptosis: One induced by SAMDC overexpression through activation of caspase-9 and do novo expression of caspase-8 gene, and the other induced by p53 overexpression through activation of caspase-9 but not caspase-8. In Xenopus embryos, it has long been believed that zygotic genes are silent until MBT, but results obtained with caspase-8 may provide a novel example of gene expression before MBT.
基金supported by the National Natural Sci‐ence Foundation of China(Grant No.62306325)。
文摘During the use of robotics in applications such as antiterrorism or combat,a motion-constrained pursuer vehicle,such as a Dubins unmanned surface vehicle(USV),must get close enough(within a prescribed zero or positive distance)to a moving target as quickly as possible,resulting in the extended minimum-time intercept problem(EMTIP).Existing research has primarily focused on the zero-distance intercept problem,MTIP,establishing the necessary or sufficient conditions for MTIP optimality,and utilizing analytic algorithms,such as root-finding algorithms,to calculate the optimal solutions.However,these approaches depend heavily on the properties of the analytic algorithm,making them inapplicable when problem settings change,such as in the case of a positive effective range or complicated target motions outside uniform rectilinear motion.In this study,an approach employing a high-accuracy and quality-guaranteed mixed-integer piecewise-linear program(QG-PWL)is proposed for the EMTIP.This program can accommodate different effective interception ranges and complicated target motions(variable velocity or complicated trajectories).The high accuracy and quality guarantees of QG-PWL originate from elegant strategies such as piecewise linearization and other developed operation strategies.The approximate error in the intercept path length is proved to be bounded to h^(2)/(4√2),where h is the piecewise length.
文摘Diabetes has become a growing concern in Japan, both medically and financially. The medical cost of diabetes was estimated at 1215 billion yen for fiscal year 2011. We analyzed the length of stay (LOS) in a hospital for type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who participated in educational programs to determine factors affecting LOS. Data on 991 patients obtained from 28 Red Cross hospitals in 2008 were used. For the analysis, we used the Box-Cox transformation model and Hausman test. The results revealed that patients aged 75 years and above and those with comorbidities and complications were prone to longer LOS. The analysis also revealed significant differences in LOS across the hospitals, even after controlling for patient characteristics. Finally, we applied the least squares method to determine the effects of hospital and regional factors and revealed that patients’ LOS was affected by the region’s average LOS. Regional corporations and networks appeared to be important in improving educational programs.
文摘In the framework of liberalized deregulated electricity market, dynamic competitive environment exists between wholesale and retail dealers for energy supplying and management. Smart Grids topology in form of energy management has forced power supplying agencies to become globally competitive. Demand Response (DR) Programs in context with smart energy network have influenced prosumers and consumers towards it. In this paper Fair Emergency Demand Response Program (FEDRP) is integrated for managing the loads intelligently by using the platform of Smart Grids for Residential Setup. The paper also provides detailed modelling and analysis of respective demands of residential consumers in relation with economic load model for FEDRP. Due to increased customer’s partaking in this program the load on the utility is reduced and managed intelligently during emergency hours by providing fair and attractive incentives to residential clients, thus shifting peak load to off peak hours. The numerical and graphical results are matched for intelligent load management scenario.
文摘Background: Anti-programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1(PD-1/PD-L1) immunotherapy has been proved to be effective on gastric cancer in ongoing clinical trials. However, the value of PD-L1 in predicting responses of patients with gastric cancer to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy is controversial. Some studies suggested that intra-and inter-tumoral heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression might explain the controversy.This study aimed to analyze the expression of PD-L1, PD-L2, and PD-1 as well as CD8(+) T-cell density in primary tumors and lymph nodes from patients with stage T1-4 N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma to explore the heterogeneity of PD-1 signaling pathway molecules.Methods: In primary tumors and metastatic as well as non-metastatic lymph nodes from patients with stage T1-4 N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma, we detected PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression with immunohistochemistry. CD8(+)T-cell density in primary tumors and PD-1 expression on CD8(+)T cells were detected with immunofluorescence. Univariate analysis was used to determine the prognostic values of them. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify independent risk factors that affect patients' overall survival and disease-free survival.Results: Among 119 eligible patients who had undergone surgical resection, the positive rate of PD-L1 was higher in metastatic lymph nodes than in primary tumors(45.4% vs. 38.7%, P = 0.005); the positive rate of PD-1 on CD8(+)T cells was significantly higher in primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes than in tumor-free lymph nodes(both P < 0.001). The intensity of PD-1 expression on CD8(+) T cells in primary tumors and in metastatic lymph nodes were stronger than that in tumor-free lymph nodes from the same patient. Beside, the positive rate of PD-L2 did not show any differences between primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes. In multivariate analysis, PD-L1 expression,PD-L2 expression, a low density of CD8(+) T cells in primary tumors, and PD-1 expression on CD8(+) T cells in primary tumors were associated with poor prognosis.Conclusion: The expression of PD-L1 is heterogeneous in primary tumors and in metastatic lymph nodes from patients with stageT1-4 N+M0 gastric adenocarcinoma, which might explain the inconsistent results in assessing the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression in previous studies.
