A Generalized Hopfield Network for Nonsmooth Constrained Convex Optimization: Lie Derivative Approach.

This paper proposes a generalized Hopfield network for solving general constrained convex optimization problems. First, the existence and the uniqueness of solutions to the generalized Hopfield network in the Filippov sense are proved. Then, the Lie derivative is introduced to analyze the stability of the network using a differential inclusion.

Discovery of novel, potent and low-toxicity angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) blockers: Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of 6-substituted aminocarbonyl benzimidazoles with a chiral center.

Novel angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) blockers bearing 6-substituted carbamoyl benzimidazoles with a chiral center were designed and synthesized as the first step to develop new antihypertensive agents and understand their pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. The newly synthesized compounds were tested for their potential ability to displace [(125)I] Sar(1) Ile(8)-Ang II, which was specifically bound to human AT1 receptor. Radioligand binding assays revealed nanomolar affinity in several compounds under study.

A dopamine responsive nano-container for the treatment of pheochromocytoma cells based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles capped with DNA-templated silver nanoparticles.

Owing to the over-expressed level in pheochromocytoma cells, dopamine (DA) provides a unique opportunity to design drug delivery systems for pheochromocytoma treatment. Herein, we developed a DA responsive delivery system for the treatment of pheochromocytoma cells based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) capped with DNA-templated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). In this system, cytimidine-rich DNA grafted on the MSN was employed as the template to in situ drive the synthesis of AgNPs.

A sensitive turn-on fluorescent probe for intracellular imaging of glutathione using single-layer MnO2 nanosheet-quenched fluorescent carbon quantum dots.

A sensitive turn-on fluorescent sensor based on single-layer MnO2 nanosheet-quenched fluorescent carbon quantum dots has been developed for rapid and selective sensing of glutathione in aqueous solutions, as well as in living cells.

Noncovalent assembly of reduced graphene oxide and alkyl-grafted mesoporous silica: an effective drug carrier for near-infrared light-responsive controlled drug release.

In this paper, we report the assembly of reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and mesoporous silica grafted with alkyl chains (MSN-C) to develop a new class of drug carriers which are able to deliver the loaded drug molecules into living cells upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) light. This novel drug carrier consists of a structure formed by the noncovalent interaction of RGO caps and alkyl chains on the surface of MSN-C. The capping of RGO sheets on mesoporous silica effectively blocks the pore mouths in the absence of NIR light.

The therapeutic effect of high-dose esomeprazole on stress ulcer bleeding in trauma patients.

Purpose: To compare the therapeutic effects of different doses of intravenous esomeprazole on treating trauma patients with stress ulcer bleeding.

Methods: A total of 102 trauma patients with stress ulcer bleeding were randomly divided into 2 groups: 52 patients were assigned to the high-dose group who received 80 mg intravenous esomeprazole, and then 8 mg/h continuous infusion for 3 days; 50 patients were assigned to the conventional dose group who received 40 mg intravenous esomeprazole sodium once every 12 h for 72 h.

Results: Compared with the conventional dose group, the total efficiency of the high-dose group and conventional dose group was 98.

Synchronization of Memristor-Based Coupling Recurrent Neural Networks With Time-Varying Delays and Impulses.

Synchronization of an array of linearly coupled memristor-based recurrent neural networks with impulses and time-varying delays is investigated in this brief. Based on the Lyapunov function method, an extended Halanay differential inequality and a new delay impulsive differential inequality, some sufficient conditions are derived, which depend on impulsive and coupling delays to guarantee the exponential synchronization of the memristor-based recurrent neural networks. Impulses with and without delay and time-varying delay are considered for modeling the coupled neural networks simultaneously, which renders more practical significance of our current research.

The emerging role of astrocyte-elevated gene-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (Review).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide, yet effective treatment for this disease is lacking. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets for this dreadful disease. Numerous studies have established that overexpression of astrocyte-elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is frequently observed in multiple types of cancers including HCC, and its expression levels are correlated with the stage and grade of the disease.

Plantactinospora veratri sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from black false hellebore root (Veratrum nigrum L.).

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-FHS4T, was isolated from the root of black false hellebore (Veratrum nigrum L.). Strain NEAU-FHS4T formed single spores with smooth surfaces on substrate mycelium.

Comparative study of mutations in SNP loci of K-RAS, hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes in neoplastic intestinal polyps and colorectal cancer.

Aim: To clarify the molecular mechanism involved in pathogenesis of colorectal cancer as well as clinical significance of genetic analysis of histological samples.

Methods: A total of 480 blood and tissue specimens were collected in our hospital from January 2011 to October 2012. In the observation group, there were 120 blood specimens and 120 intestinal tract tissue specimens collected from patients with neoplastic intestinal polyps.

Recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated inhibition of microRNA-21 protects mice against the lethal schistosome infection by repressing both IL-13 and transforming growth factor beta 1 pathways.

Unlabelled: Schistosomiasis is a serious parasitic disease in humans, which can lead to liver fibrosis and death. Accumulating evidence indicated that targeting the deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) could mitigate disease outcomes. Here, we showed that progressive hepatic schistosomiasis caused elevation of miR-21 and efficient and sustained inhibition of miR-21 by using highly hepatic tropic adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (rAAV8), which protected mice against lethal schistosome infection through attenuation of hepatic fibrosis (HF).

Activation of nuclear factor kappa B in the hepatic stellate cells of mice with schistosomiasis japonica.

Schistosomiasis japonica is a serious tropical parasitic disease in humans, which causes inflammation and fibrosis of the liver. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are known to play an important role in schistosome-induced fibrosis, but their role in schistosome-induced inflammation is still largely unknown. Here, we use a murine model of schistosomiasis japonica to investigate the role that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a critical mediator of inflammatory responses, plays in schistosome-induced inflammation.

Neural network for solving Nash equilibrium problem in application of multiuser power control.

In this paper, based on an equivalent mixed linear complementarity problem, we propose a neural network to solve multiuser power control optimization problems (MPCOP), which is modeled as the noncooperative Nash game in modern digital subscriber line (DSL). If the channel crosstalk coefficients matrix is positive semidefinite, it is shown that the proposed neural network is stable in the sense of Lyapunov and global convergence to a Nash equilibrium, and the Nash equilibrium is unique if the channel crosstalk coefficients matrix is positive definite. Finally, simulation results on two numerical examples show the effectiveness and performance of the proposed neural network.

Copper-catalyzed synthesis of α-trifluoromethylthio-substituted ketones.

The CF3S-substituted moiety serves as an important structural element in many bioactive molecules. A versatile copper catalyst that allowed for trifluoromethylthiolation of primary and secondary α-bromoketones is described. The reaction with readily available elemental sulfur and CF3SiMe3 afforded a broad scope and moderate to good yields of α-trifluoromethylthio-substituted ketones.

Bogdanov-Takens singularity in tri-neuron network with time delay.

This brief reports a retarded functional differential equation modeling tri-neuron network with time delay. The Bogdanov-Takens (B-T) bifurcation is investigated by using the center manifold reduction and the normal form method. We get the versal unfolding of the norm forms at the B-T singularity and show that the model can exhibit pitchfork, Hopf, homoclinic, and double-limit cycles bifurcations.

A recurrent neural network for solving bilevel linear programming problem.

In this brief, based on the method of penalty functions, a recurrent neural network (NN) modeled by means of a differential inclusion is proposed for solving the bilevel linear programming problem (BLPP). Compared with the existing NNs for BLPP, the model has the least number of state variables and simple structure. Using nonsmooth analysis, the theory of differential inclusions, and Lyapunov-like method, the equilibrium point sequence of the proposed NNs can approximately converge to an optimal solution of BLPP under certain conditions.

[Comparison of three different methods in transfection of plasmid pGPU6/GFP/Neo to chicken embryo fibroblasts].

Objective: To compare three different methods in transfection of plasmid pGPU6/GFP/Neo into chicken embryo fibroblast.

Methods: Different doses (1.25 μl,2 μl,2.

Reproduction of consistent pulse-waveform changes using a computational model of the cerebral circulatory system.

Due to the inaccessibility of the cranial vault, it is difficult to study cerebral blood flow dynamics directly. A mathematical model can be useful to study these dynamics. The model presented here is a novel combination of a one-dimensional fluid flow model representing the major vessels of the circle of Willis (CoW), with six individually parameterized auto-regulatory models of the distal vascular beds.

Neural network for solving convex quadratic bilevel programming problems.

In this paper, using the idea of successive approximation, we propose a neural network to solve convex quadratic bilevel programming problems (CQBPPs), which is modeled by a nonautonomous differential inclusion. Different from the existing neural network for CQBPP, the model has the least number of state variables and simple structure. Based on the theory of nonsmooth analysis, differential inclusions and Lyapunov-like method, the limit equilibrium points sequence of the proposed neural networks can approximately converge to an optimal solution of CQBPP under certain conditions.

Host serum miR-223 is a potential new biomarker for Schistosoma japonicum infection and the response to chemotherapy.

Background: Numerous studies have shown that aberrant microRNA (miRNA) expression is associated with the pathogenesis and progression of various human diseases. Hence, serum miRNAs are considered to be potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of human diseases. This study examined whether several miRNAs known to be commonly deregulated in liver diseases are deregulated in the serum of hosts with hepatic schistosomiasis, and thus whether they could serve as potential markers for detection of schistosome infection and evaluation of the effectiveness of chemotherapy.

Objective measurements for grading the nasal esthetics on Basal view in individuals with secondary cleft nasal deformity.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to ascertain objective nasal measurements from the basal view that are predictive of nasal esthetics in individuals with secondary cleft nasal deformity.

Design: Thirty-three patients who had undergone unilateral cleft lip repair were retrospectively reviewed in this study. The degree of nasal deformity was subjectively ranked by seven surgeons using standardized basal-view measurements.

[Application of wavenumber-linear scaling to the calculated Raman frequencies of polyenes and carotenoids].

Raman spectra of two typical carotenoids (beta-carotene and lutein) and some short (n = 2-5) polyenes were calculated using density functional theory. The wavenumber-linear scaling (WLS) and other frequency scaling methods were used to calibrate the calculated frequencies. It was found that the most commonly used uniform scaling (UFS) method can only calibrate several individual frequencies perfectly, and the systematic result of this method is not very good.

Responses of Han migrants compared to Tibetans at high altitude.

While many studies have compared Tibetans and low-altitude born Han living at high altitude, few have carefully controlled the chronological age at which lowlanders migrated, the length of time they had lived at high altitude, their nutrition, and their socio-economic status. This has produced an array of results that frequently do not support the hypothesis that Tibetans and Han show fundamental differences in their response to hypoxia. Unlike the situation in the Andes, only one study has tested the developmental adaptation hypothesis on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau.

Substitutions of strontium in mesoporous calcium silicate and their physicochemical and biological properties.

Calcium silicate (Ca-Si) based bioceramics have been regarded as a potential bioactive materials for bone tissue regeneration. In this study, we have successfully prepared ordered mesoporous strontium (Sr)-substituted CaSiO3 (Sr-CaSiO3) materials by using a triblock copolymer (P123) as a structure-directing agent. The microstructure and porosity of mesoporous Sr-CaSiO3 materials were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and the N2 adsorption-desorption technique.