Constrained Moser-Trudinger-Onofri inequality and a uniqueness criterion for the mean field equation

We establish Moser-Trudinger-Onofri inequalities under constraint of a deviation of the second order moments from $0$, which serves as an intermediate one between Chang-Hang's inequalities under first and second order moments constraints. A threshold for the deviation is a uniqueness criterion for the mean field equation $$-a\Delta_{\mathbb{S}^2}u+1=e^{2u} \quad \mathrm{~~on~~} \quad \mathbb{S}^2$$ when the constant $a$ is close to $\frac{1}{2}$.Comment: 22 page

Rigidity controllable as-rigid-as-possible shape deformations

Shape deformation is one of the fundamental techniques in geometric processing. One principle of deformation is to preserve the geometric details while distributing the necessary distortions uniformly. To achieve this, state-of-the-art techniques deform shapes in a locally as-rigid-as-possible (ARAP) manner. Existing ARAP deformation methods optimize rigid transformations in the 1-ring neighborhoods and maintain the consistency between adjacent pairs of rigid transformations by single overlapping edges. In this paper, we make one step further and propose to use larger local neighborhoods to enhance the consistency of adjacent rigid transformations. This is helpful to keep the geometric details better and distribute the distortions more uniformly. Moreover, the size of the expanded local neighborhoods provides an intuitive parameter to adjust physical stiffness. The larger the neighborhood is, the more rigid the material is. Based on these, we propose a novel rigidity controllable mesh deformation method where shape rigidity can be flexibly adjusted. The size of the local neighborhoods can be learned from datasets of deforming objects automatically or specified by the user, and may vary over the surface to simulate shapes composed of mixed materials. Various examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method

Domain selection combined with improved cloning strategy for high throughput expression of higher eukaryotic proteins

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Expression of higher eukaryotic genes as soluble, stable recombinant proteins is still a bottleneck step in biochemical and structural studies of novel proteins today. Correct identification of stable domains/fragments within the open reading frame (ORF), combined with proper cloning strategies, can greatly enhance the success rate when higher eukaryotic proteins are expressed as these domains/fragments. Furthermore, a HTP cloning pipeline incorporated with bioinformatics domain/fragment selection methods will be beneficial to studies of structure and function genomics/proteomics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>With bioinformatics tools, we developed a domain/domain boundary prediction (DDBP) method, which was trained by available experimental data. Combined with an improved cloning strategy, DDBP had been applied to 57 proteins from <it>C. elegans</it>. Expression and purification results showed there was a 10-fold increase in terms of obtaining purified proteins. Based on the DDBP method, the improved GATEWAY cloning strategy and a robotic platform, we constructed a high throughput (HTP) cloning pipeline, including PCR primer design, PCR, BP reaction, transformation, plating, colony picking and entry clones extraction, which have been successfully applied to 90 <it>C. elegans </it>genes, 88 Brucella genes, and 188 human genes. More than 97% of the targeted genes were obtained as entry clones. This pipeline has a modular design and can adopt different operations for a variety of cloning/expression strategies.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The DDBP method and improved cloning strategy were satisfactory. The cloning pipeline, combined with our recombinant protein HTP expression pipeline and the crystal screening robots, constitutes a complete platform for structure genomics/proteomics. This platform will increase the success rate of purification and crystallization dramatically and promote the further advancement of structure genomics/proteomics.</p

Interparental Conflict Relative to Suicidal Ideation in Chinese Adolescents: The Roles of Coping Strategies and Meaning in Life

The aim of this study was to explore the paths between interparental conflict and Chinese adolescents’ suicidal ideation. Altogether 931 adolescents (Mage = 17.84, SD = 0.77, females = 531) completed the Dyadic Consensus Scale, Self-Report Coping Scale, Meaning in Life Questionnaire, and Positive and Negative Suicide Ideation questionnaires. Mediation analyses were conducted, focusing on the relations between interparental conflict and suicidal ideation along with coping styles and a sense of meaning in life. The results showed that interparental conflict indirectly predicted adolescents’ suicidal ideation via three mediators: coping-approach strategies, presence of meaning, and the joint serial effects of coping-approach strategies and presence of meaning in Chinese adolescents. In addition, boys were more likely to be at risk for suicidal ideation than girls, so were 10th graders compared to 11th graders. These findings supported a combined distress-to-meaninglessness line of thinking along with the use of coping-approach strategies to depress self-harm ideation. Generally, interparental conflict should be kept out of youngsters’ immediate vicinity as a preventive measure of suicidal ideation

Disturbance observer design for nonlinear systems represented by input-output models

A new approach to the design of nonlinear disturbance observers for a class of nonlinear systems described by inputoutput differential equations is presented in this paper. In contrast with established forms of nonlinear disturbance observers, the most important feature of this new type of disturbance observer is that only measurement of the output variable is required, rather than the state variables. An inverse simulation model is first constructed based on knowledge of the structure and parameters of a conventional model of the system. The disturbance can then be estimated by comparing the output of the inverse model and the input of the original nonlinear system. Mathematical analysis demonstrates the convergence of this new form of nonlinear disturbance observer. The approach has been applied to disturbance estimation for a linear system and a new form of linear disturbance observer has been developed. The differences between the proposed linear disturbance observer and the conventional form of frequency-domain disturbance observer are discussed through a numerical example. Finally, the nonlinear disturbance observer design method is illustrated through an application involving a simulation of a jacketed continuous stirred tank reactor syste

Therapeutic Angiogenesis of Chinese Herbal Medicines in Ischemic Heart Disease:A Review

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is one of the primary causes of death around the world. Therapeutic angiogenesis is a promising innovative approach for treating IHD, improving cardiac function by promoting blood perfusion to the ischemic myocardium. This treatment is especially important for targeting patients that are unable to undergo angioplasty or bypass surgery. Chinese herbal medicines have been used for more than 2,500 years and they play an important role alongside contemporary medicines in China. Growing evidence in animal models show Chinese herbal medicines can provide therapeutic effect on IHD by targeting angiogenesis. Identifying the mechanism in which Chinese herbal medicines can promote angiogenesis in IHD is a major topic in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, and has the potential for advancing therapeutic treatment. This review summarizes the progression of research and highlights potential pro-angiogenic mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicines in IHD. In addition, an outline of the limitations of Chinese herbal medicines and challenges they face will be presented