HpGAN: Sequence Search with Generative Adversarial Networks

Sequences play an important role in many engineering applications and systems. Searching sequences with desired properties has long been an interesting but also challenging research topic. This article proposes a novel method, called HpGAN, to search desired sequences algorithmically using generative adversarial networks (GAN). HpGAN is based on the idea of zero-sum game to train a generative model, which can generate sequences with characteristics similar to the training sequences. In HpGAN, we design the Hopfield network as an encoder to avoid the limitations of GAN in generating discrete data. Compared with traditional sequence construction by algebraic tools, HpGAN is particularly suitable for intractable problems with complex objectives which prevent mathematical analysis. We demonstrate the search capabilities of HpGAN in two applications: 1) HpGAN successfully found many different mutually orthogonal complementary code sets (MOCCS) and optimal odd-length Z-complementary pairs (OB-ZCPs) which are not part of the training set. In the literature, both MOCSSs and OB-ZCPs have found wide applications in wireless communications. 2) HpGAN found new sequences which achieve four-times increase of signal-to-interference ratio--benchmarked against the well-known Legendre sequence--of a mismatched filter (MMF) estimator in pulse compression radar systems. These sequences outperform those found by AlphaSeq.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figure

Tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 in ovarian granulosa cells balances follicular development by inhibiting PI3K/AKT signaling.

In mammals, the growth and maturation of oocytes within growing follicles largely depends on ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in response to gonadotropin stimulation. Many signals have been shown to regulate GC proliferation and apoptosis. However, whether the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 is involved remains unclear. In this study, we identified the crucial roles of SHP2 in modulating GC proliferation and apoptosis. The production of both mature oocytes and pups was increased in mice with Shp2 specifically deleted in ovarian GCs via Fshr-Cre. Shp2 deletion simultaneously promoted GC proliferation and inhibited GC apoptosis. Furthermore, Shp2 deficiency promoted, while Shp2 overexpression inhibited, the proliferation of cultured primary mouse ovarian GCs and the human ovarian granulosa-like tumor cell line KGN in vitro. Shp2 deficiency promoted follicule-stimulating hormone (FSH)-activated phosphorylation of AKT in vivo. SHP2 deficiency reversed the inhibitory effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on AKT activation in KGN cells. H2O2 treatment promoted the interaction between SHP2 and the p85 subunit of PI3K in KGN cells. Therefore, SHP2 in GCs may act as a negative modulator to balance follicular development by suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling. The novel function of SHP2 in modulating proliferation and apoptosis of GCs provides a potential therapeutic target for the clinical treatment of follicle developmental dysfunction

2D MXene Ti3C2Tx nanosheets in the development of a mechanically enhanced and efficient antibacterial dental resin composite

The bacterial accumulation at the margins of dental resin composites is a main cause of secondary caries, which may further lead to prosthodontic failure. In this regard, this study for the first time incorporated 2D MXene Ti3C2Tx nanosheets (NSs) into epoxy resin at different mass ratios (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 wt%) by solution blending and direct curing for dental applications. Compared to the pure resin, the as-fabricated MXene/resin composite not only exhibited improved mechanical and abrasive results but also displayed gradually improved antibacterial activity with MXene loading which was further enhanced by illumination in natural light due to the high photothermal efficiency of MXene. In addition, the cytotoxicity result demonstrated that the MXene-modified resin did not cause severe damage to normal cells. This novel MXene/resin nanocomposite could pave the way for new designs for high-performance, multifunctional nanocomposites to effectively protect dental health in daily life

Global Long-Term Care Research: A Scientometric Review

Since the early 1960s, long-term care (LTC) has attracted a broad range of attention from public health practitioners and researchers worldwide and produced a large volume of literature. We conducted a comprehensive scientometric review based on 14,019 LTC articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database from 1963 to 2018, to explore the status and trends of global LTC research. Using CiteSpace software, we conducted collaboration analysis, document co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence analysis. The results showed a rapid increase in annual LTC publications, while the annual citation counts exhibited an inverted U-shaped relationship with years. The most productive LTC research institutions and authors are located primarily in North American and European countries. A simultaneous analysis of both references and keywords revealed that common LTC hot topics include dementia care, quality of care, prevalence and risk factors, mortality, and randomized controlled trial. In addition, LTC research trends have shifted from the demand side to the supply side, and from basic studies to practical applications. The new research frontiers are frailty in elderly people and dementia care. This study provides an in-depth understanding of the current state, popular themes, trends, and future directions of LTC research worldwide

Upregulated Expression of Intestinal Antimicrobial Peptide HD5 Associated with Renal Function in IgA Nephropathy

Purpose. It was reported that gut-kidney axis may play an important role in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Previous five GWASs of different populations for IgAN have discovered several genes related to intestinal immunity, including DEFA gene. However, the roles of the encoded proteins of DEFA5/6 which were called intestinal antimicrobial peptides HD5 and HD6 were not clear in kidney disease, such as IgAN. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association of HD5 and HD6 with IgAN. Methods. We measured HD5 and HD6 in serum, urine, and kidney of IgAN patients and normal controls by ELISA, Western blot, and immunofluorescence. The association of HD5 or HD6 levels with clinical and pathologic phenotypes was analyzed. Results. Serum levels of HD5 and HD6 were significantly higher in IgAN patients than those in normal controls. Baseline serum HD5 levels were significantly associated with eGFR (P=0.002) and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis (P=0.004) by stepwise multivariate regression analysis. Compared to the patients with serum HD5 below the median level, patients with elevated serum HD5 above the median level had a significantly worse renal outcome (log-rank test, P=0.009) by Kaplan-Meier analysis. A Cox regression model showed that serum HD5 was an independent prognostic factor (HR=1.239, P=0.029) after adjusting for the well-known predictors of outcome in IgAN patients. In renal biopsies of IgAN patients, HD5 was significantly expressed in the damaged proximal tubules, while no immunoreactive HD6 was found. Interestingly, the serum HD6 level of IgAN patients was significantly associated with gender. Conclusions. In IgAN patients, an elevated serum HD5 level at the time of renal biopsy was associated with poor renal outcomes. HD5 rather than HD6 was probably associated with renal function of IgAN patients

HpGAN: Sequence Search With Generative Adversarial Networks.

Sequences play an important role in many engineering applications. Searching sequences with desired properties has long been an intriguing but also challenging research topic. This article proposes a novel method, called HpGAN, to search desired sequences algorithmically using generative adversarial networks (GANs). HpGAN is based on the idea of zero-sum game to train a generative model, which can generate sequences with characteristics similar to the training sequences. In HpGAN, we design the Hopfield network as an encoder to avoid the limitations of GAN in generating discrete data. Compared with traditional sequence construction by algebraic tools, HpGAN is particularly suitable for complex problems which are intractable by mathematical analysis. We demonstrate the search capabilities of HpGAN in two applications: 1) HpGAN successfully found many different mutually orthogonal complementary sequence sets (MOCSSs) and optimal odd-length binary Z-complementary pairs (OB-ZCPs) which are not part of the training set. In the literature, both MOCSSs and OB-ZCPs have found wide applications in wireless communications and 2) HpGAN found new sequences which achieve a four-times increase of signal-to-interference ratio--benchmarked against the well-known Legendre sequences--of a mismatched filter (MMF) estimator in pulse compression radar systems. These sequences outperform those found by AlphaSeq

Use of Ga for mass bias correction for the accurate determination of copper isotope ratio by MC-ICPMS

The absolute determination of the Cu isotope ratio in NIST SRM 3114 based on a regression mass bias correction model is performed for the first time with NIST SRM 944 Ga as the calibrant. A value of 0.4471 \ub1 0.0013 (2SD, n = 37) for the 65Cu/63Cu ratio was obtained with a value of +0.18 \ub1 0.04\u2030 (2SD, n = 5) for \u3b465Cu relative to NIST 976. The availability of the NIST SRM 3114 material, now with the absolute value of the 65Cu/63Cu ratio and a \u3b465Cu value relative to NIST 976 makes it suitable as a new candidate reference material for Cu isotope studies.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Bismuth Quantum Dot (Bi QD)/Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) Nanocomposites with Self-Cleaning and Antibacterial Activity for Dental Applications

In the oral microenvironment, bacteria colonies are easily aggregated on the tooth-restoration surface, in the manner of a biofilm, which usually consists of heterogeneous structures containing clusters of a variety of bacteria embedded in an extracellular matrix, leading to serious recurrent caries. In this contribution, zero-dimensional (0D) bismuth (Bi) quantum dots (QDs) synthesized by a facile solvothermal method were directly employed to fabricate a Bi QD/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-modified tooth by simple curing treatment. The result demonstrates that the as-fabricated Bi QD/PDMS-modified tooth at 37 °C for 120 min not only showed significantly improved hydrophobic performance with a water contact angle of 103° and 115° on the tooth root and tooth crown, respectively, compared to that (~20° on the tooth root, and ~5° on the tooth crown) of the pristine tooth, but also exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against S. mutans, superior biocompatibility, and biosafety. In addition, due to the highly photothermal effect of Bi QDs, the antibacterial activity of the as-fabricated Bi QD/PDMS-modified tooth could be further enhanced under illumination, even at a very low power density (12 mW cm−2). Due to the facile fabrication, excellent hydrophobicity, superior antibacterial activity, and biocompatibility and biosafety of the Bi QD/PDMS-modified tooth, it is envisioned that the Bi QD/PDMS-modified tooth with a fascinating self-cleaning and antibacterial performance can pave the way to new designs of versatile multifunctional nanocomposites to prevent secondary caries in the application of dental restoration