Filtering in Stochastic Systems: Analysis for the case of continuous observations with memory of arbitrary multiplicity

We consider stochastic systems with continuous time over observations with memory in the presence of an anomalous noise. The paper is devoted to analysis of some properties of an optimal unbiased in mean-square sense filter. In the case of anomalous noises action in the observation channel with memory, we have proved insensitivity of the filter to inaccurate knowledge of the matrix of anomalous noise intensity and its equivalence to a truncated filter constructed only over non-anomalous components of an observation vector

RORγ is a targetable master regulator of cholesterol biosynthesis in a cancer subtype.

Tumor subtype-specific metabolic reprogrammers could serve as targets of therapeutic intervention. Here we show that triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibits a hyper-activated cholesterol-biosynthesis program that is strongly linked to nuclear receptor RORγ, compared to estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of RORγ reduces tumor cholesterol content and synthesis rate while preserving host cholesterol homeostasis. We demonstrate that RORγ functions as an essential activator of the entire cholesterol-biosynthesis program, dominating SREBP2 via its binding to cholesterol-biosynthesis genes and its facilitation of the recruitment of SREBP2. RORγ inhibition disrupts its association with SREBP2 and reduces chromatin acetylation at cholesterol-biosynthesis gene loci. RORγ antagonists cause tumor regression in patient-derived xenografts and immune-intact models. Their combination with cholesterol-lowering statins elicits superior anti-tumor synergy selectively in TNBC. Together, our study uncovers a master regulator of the cholesterol-biosynthesis program and an attractive target for TNBC

Changes in Nitric Oxide Level and Thickness Index of Synovial Fluid in Osteoarthritis Patients following Intraarticular Injection of Sodium Hyaluronate

Purpose: To monitor the changes in nitric oxide levels and synovium thickness index in synovial fluid following intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate.Methods: One hundred patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the knee from April 2014 to January 2015 in The Third Hospital of Jinan, Jinan, Shandong, China were selected and categorized into three phases; namely, mild, moderate and severe. Patients received a 20 mL sodium hyaluronate injection into the articular cavity of the knee once per week for 15 weeks, with continuous observation. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores were recorded after five weeks. A total of 56 patients (78 knees) remaining in serious condition after 5 weeks were divided into mild, moderate, and severe groups and treated with sodium hyaluronate once a week. Internationally reorganized VAS and WOMAC scores were adopted as clinical observation indices to indicate the curative effect of sodium hyaluronate among the 56 patients after 15 weeks of treatment. The conditions of the patients in the two phases were compared.Results: After 5 weeks of treatment, treatment effective rate in the mild, moderate and severe groups was 72.92, 66.10 and 28.57 %, respectively, with an overall effective rate of 78 %. After 15 weeks of treatment, treatment effective rate in mild, moderate, and severe groups was 96.77, 95.45 and 66.67 %, respectively, with an overall effective rate of 67.95 %.Conclusions: Clinically curative effect of sodium hyaluronate is significant for mild and moderate phase patients after intra-articular injection of sodium hyaluronate, while the effect is insignificant in severe patients. Thus, sodium hyaluronate can effectively improve nitric oxide levels in synovial fluid, reduce synovium thickness, enhances articular cavity lubrication and effectively alleviates disease severity.Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Knee, Intra-articular injection, Sodium hyaluronate, Nitric oxide, Synovium thickness, WOMA

CXCR5+PD-1+ follicular helper CD8 T cells control B cell tolerance

Many autoimmune diseases are characterized by the production of autoantibodies. The current view is that CD4+ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are the main subset regulating autoreactive B cells. Here we report a CXCR5+PD1+ Tfh subset of CD8+ T cells whose development and function are negatively modulated by Stat5. These CD8+ Tfh cells regulate the germinal center B cell response and control autoantibody production, as deficiency of Stat5 in CD8 T cells leads to an increase of CD8+ Tfh cells, resulting in the breakdown of B cell tolerance and concomitant autoantibody production. CD8+ Tfh cells share similar gene signatures with CD4+ Tfh, and require CD40L/CD40 and TCR/MHCI interactions to deliver help to B cells. Our study thus highlights the diversity of follicular T cell subsets that contribute to the breakdown of B-cell tolerance

Experimental and numerical study of a two-body heaving wave energy converter with different power take-off models

Wave energy is one of the most difficult energies to be captured among marine renewables. With the technical progress, wave energy converters (WECs) are being tested in relatively deeper waters, which makes floating concepts almost the only choice. In this paper, a two-body heaving WEC where the wave energy is absorbed through the relative motion between the outer annular and the inner cylindrical buoys is studied. Both experimental and numerical studies are adopted for regular wave conditions. In the physical model test, a hydraulic system is used to achieve constant power take-off (PTO) damping force. Numerical simulations, validated against experimental data, are applied using both the frequency domain and the time domains analyses. Different types of PTOs, including constant, linear and nonlinear damping forces, are undertaken to evaluate the hydrodynamic and power absorption performance of such device.acceptedVersio

Gossip Consensus Algorithm Based on Time-Varying Influence Factors and Weakly Connected Graph for Opinion Evolution in Social Networks

We provide a new gossip algorithm to investigate the problem of opinion consensus with the time-varying influence factors and weakly connected graph among multiple agents. What is more, we discuss not only the effect of the time-varying factors and the randomized topological structure but also the spread of misinformation and communication constrains described by probabilistic quantized communication in the social network. Under the underlying weakly connected graph, we first denote that all opinion states converge to a stochastic consensus almost surely; that is, our algorithm indeed achieves the consensus with probability one. Furthermore, our results show that the mean of all the opinion states converges to the average of the initial states when time-varying influence factors satisfy some conditions. Finally, we give a result about the square mean error between the dynamic opinion states and the benchmark without quantized communication

Performance of the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers with Cosmic Rays

The Cathode Strip Chambers (CSCs) constitute the primary muon tracking device in the CMS endcaps. Their performance has been evaluated using data taken during a cosmic ray run in fall 2008. Measured noise levels are low, with the number of noisy channels well below 1%. Coordinate resolution was measured for all types of chambers, and fall in the range 47 microns to 243 microns. The efficiencies for local charged track triggers, for hit and for segments reconstruction were measured, and are above 99%. The timing resolution per layer is approximately 5 ns

Singlino-dominated dark matter in general NMSSM

The general Next-to-Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (NMSSM) describes the singlino-dominated dark-matter (DM) property by four independent parameters: singlet-doublet Higgs coupling coefficient $\lambda$, Higgsino mass $\mu_{tot}$, DM mass $m_{\tilde{\chi}_1^0}$, and singlet Higgs self-coupling coefficient $\kappa$. The first three parameters strongly influence the DM-nucleon scattering rate, while $\kappa$ usually affects the scattering only slightly. This characteristic implies that singlet-dominated particles may form a secluded DM sector. Under such a theoretical structure, the DM achieves the correct abundance by annihilating into a pair of singlet-dominated Higgs bosons by adjusting $\kappa$'s value. Its scattering with nucleons is suppressed when $\lambda v/\mu_{tot}$ is small. This speculation is verified by sophisticated scanning of the theory's parameter space with various experiment constraints considered. In addition, the Bayesian evidence of the general NMSSM and that of $Z_3$-NMSSM is computed. It is found that, at the cost of introducing one additional parameter, the former is approximately $3.3 \times 10^3$ times the latter. This result corresponds to Jeffrey's scale of 8.05 and implies that the considered experiments strongly prefer the general NMSSM to the $Z_3$-NMSSM.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figure

Power Absorption of A Two-Body Heaving Wave Energy Converter Considering Different Control and Power Take-off Systems

This study proposed a wave power system with two coaxial floating cylinders of different diameters and drafts. Wavebob’s conceptual design has been adopted in the wave power system. In this study, a basic analysis of the wave energy extraction by the relative motion between two floats is presented. The maximum power absorption was studied theoretically under regular wave conditions, and the effects of both linear and constant damping forces on the power take-off (PTO) were investigated. A set of dynamic equations describing the floats’ displacement under regular waves and different PTOs are established. A time-domain numerical model is developed, considering the PTO parameter and viscous damping, and the optimal PTO damping and output power are obtained. With the analysis of estimating the maximum power absorption, a new estimation method called Power Capture Function (PCF) is proposed and constructed, which can be used to predict the power capture under both linear and constant PTO forces. Based on this, energy extraction is analyzed and optimized. Finally, the performance characteristics of the two-body power system are concluded.acceptedVersio