Dynamic Behaviors of Mix-game Model and Its Applications

This paper proposes a modification to Minority Game (MG) by adding some agents who play majority game into MG. So it is referred to as mix-game. The highlight of this model is that the two groups of agents in mix-game have different bounded abilities to deal with history information and to count their own performance. Through simulations, this paper finds out that the local volatilities change a lot by adding some agents who play majority game into MG, and the change of local volatilities largely depends on different combinations of history memories of the two groups. Furthermore this paper analyses the underlying mechanisms for this finding. It also gives an example of applications of mix-game.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figure, 1 table,revised versio

Prospects for detection rate of very-high-energy {\gamma}-ray emissions from short {\gamma}-ray bursts with the HADAR experiment

The observation of short gamma ray bursts (SGRBs) in the TeV energy range plays an important role in understanding the radiation mechanism and probing new areas of physics such as Lorentz invariance violation. However, no SGRB has been observed in this energy range due to the short duration of SGRBs and the weakness of current experiments. New experiments with new technology are required to detect sub-TeV SGRBs. In this work, we observe the very high energy (VHE) $\gamma$-ray emissions from SGRBs and calculate the annual detection rate with the High Altitude Detection of Astronomical Radiation HADAR (HADAR) experiment. First, a set of pseudo-SGRB samples is generated and checked using the observations of Fermi-GBM, Fermi-LAT, and SWIFT measurements. The annual detection rate is calculated from these SGRB samples based on the performance of the HADAR instrument. As a result, the HADAR experiment can detect 0.5 SGRB per year if the spectral break-off of $\gamma$-rays caused by the internal absorption is larger than 100 GeV. For a GRB09010-like GRB in HADAR's view, it should be possible to detect approximately 2000 photons considering the internal absorption. With a time delay assumption due to the Lorentz invariance violation effects, a simulated light curve of GRB090510 has evident energy dependence. We hope that the HADAR experiment can perform the SGRB observations and test our calculations in the future

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Development of double-generation gold nanoparticle chip-based dengue virus detection system combining fluorescence turn-on probes

A sensing platform, combined amino acid labeling kit and a double-generation gold nanoparticle (DG-AuNP) chip, was designed to prove the existence of weak but crucial binding between the DV (dengue virus) and its CLEC5A receptor. At first, we have designed a kit combining the novel fluorescence turn-on sensors for lysine, arginine and cysteine amino acids. Advantages of this kit are that emission on-off switching can increase the signal-to-noise ratio and the virus must be fluorescently labelled with sufficient numbers of fluorophores because the lysine, arginine and cysteine residues of viral proteins are labelled simultaneously. Consequently, this kit can be used to light-on single DV spot both in solution and in cell under fluorescence microscopy. Second, the labeling kit was used to examine the DV binding to the CLEC5A-coated DG-AuNP chip. Based on our study, the double-generation gold nanoparticle construction of chip can support more coating areas for receptor CLEC5A and then, support more binding opportunities for DV. Meanwhile, the grooves between nanohemispheres will provide the extra driving force for DV stacking. We try to give a proof that this sensing platform is very useful for detection of weak binding mechanism

Zmiany kanałów potasowych w limfocytach T krwi obwodowej pacjentów pochodzenia kazachskiego mieszkających w północno-zachodnich Chinach i hamujący wpływ telmisartanu na kanały potasowe

Background and aim: Increasing evidence indicates that chronic inflammation is a direct or indirect manifestation of hypertension. Potassium channels are thought to be critical for lymphocyte activation, which suggests that hypertension may be an inflammatory disease initiated at the ion channel level. Methods: This study investigated changes in interleukin (IL)-6, IL-17, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-b1) expression in the blood of Kazakh hypertensive patients in Northwest China using ELISA technology. Whole-cell patch clamp technology was used to evaluate current changes associated with Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 in peripheral blood T lymphocytes of hypertensive patients, and to investigate current changes induced by telmisartan. We also investigated the effects of telmisartan on expression of Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 at mRNA and protein levels in peripheral blood T lymphocytes using real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Results: Expression of IL-6, IL-17 and TGF-b1 in the blood of Kazakh hypertensive patients in Northwest China was significantly higher than in healthy controls (p < 0.05). The current mediated by Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 and the corresponding expression at mRNA and protein levels in T lymphocytes were also higher in these hypertensive patients than in controls (p < 0.05). Telmisartan intervention for 24 h and 48 h inhibited the current and expression of Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 at mRNA and protein levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These results indicated that the increase in functional Kv1.3 and KCa3.1 channels expressed in T lymphocytes of Kazakh patients with hypertension was blocked by telmisartan, resulting in a reduced inflammatory response. These results provide theoretical support for the treatment of hypertension at the cellular ion channel level.Wstęp i cel: Coraz więcej danych naukowych wskazuje, że przewlekły stan zapalny jest zaburzeniem związanym bezpośrednio lub pośrednio z nadciśnieniem tętniczym. Uważa się, że kanały potasowe odgrywają decydującą rolę w aktywacji limfocytów, co sugeruje, że nadciśnienie tętnicze może być chorobą zapalną zapoczątkowaną na poziomie kanałów jonowych. Metody: W badaniu oceniano zmiany ekspresji interleukiny (IL)-6 i IL-17 oraz transformującego czynnika wzrostu (TGF-b1) we krwi chorych z nadciśnieniem tętniczym pochodzenia kazachskiego mieszkających w północno-zachodniej części Chin, stosując testy ELISA. Do oceny zmian prądu jonowego związanego z kanałami Kv1.3 i KCa3.1 w limfocytach T krwi obwodowej chorych z nadciśnieniem tętniczym pod wpływem telmisartanu zastosowano technologię „whole-cell patch clamp”. Autorzy zbadali również wpływ telmisartanu na ekspresję kanałów Kv1.3 i KCa3.1, oceniając stężenia mRNA i białek w limfocytach T krwi obwodowej z zastosowaniem reakcji łańcuchowej polimerazy w czasie rzeczywistym oraz analizy Western blot. Wyniki: Ekspresja IL-6, IL-17 i TGF-b1 we krwi pacjentów z nadciśnieniem tętniczym pochodzenia kazachskiego mieszkających w północno-zachodniej części Chin była istotnie wyższa niż u zdrowych osób z grupy kontrolnej (p < 0,05). Prąd przepływający przez kanały Kv1.3 i KCa3.1 oraz odpowiadająca mu ekspresja na poziome mRNA i białek w limfocytach T były również wyższe u osób z nadciśnieniem tętniczym niż w grupie kontrolnej (p < 0,05). Podawanie telmisartanu przez 24 h i 48 h spowodowało inhibicję prądu jonowego i ekspresji kanałów Kv1.3 i KCa3.1 ocenianej na podstawie analizy mRNA i białek (p < 0,05). Wnioski: Wyniki badania wskazują, że telmisartan wpływał hamująco na zwiększenie aktywności czynnościowych kanałów Kv1.3 i KCa3.1 wykazujących ekspresję w limfocytach T osób z nadciśnieniem tętniczym pochodzenia kazachskiego, co prowadziło do zmniejszenia odpowiedzi zapalnej. Te obserwacje stanowią teoretyczne uzasadnienie terapii nadciśnienia tętniczego działających na poziomie komórkowych kanałów jonowych

Non‐viral Gene Therapy for Melanoma Using Lysenin from Eisenia Foetida

Abstract Earthworms, long utilized in traditional medicine, serve as a source of inspiration for modern therapeutics. Lysenin, a defensive factor in the coelom fluid of the earthworm Eisenia fetida, has multiple bioactivities. However, the inherent toxicity of Lysenin as a pore‐forming protein (PFP) restricts its application in therapy. Here, a gene therapy strategy based on Lysenin for cancer treatment is presented. The formulation consists of polymeric nanoparticles complexed with the plasmid encoding Lysenin. After transfection in vitro, melanoma cells can express Lysenin, resulting in necrosis, autophagy, and immunogenic cell death. The secretory signal peptide alters the intracellular distribution of the expressed product of Lysenin, thereby potentiating its anticancer efficacy. The intratumor injection of Lysenin gene formulation can efficiently kill the transfected melanoma cells and activate the antitumor immune response. Notably, no obvious systemic toxicity is observed during the treatment. Non‐viral gene therapy based on Lysenin derived from Eisenia foetida exhibits potential in cancer therapy, which can inspire future cancer therapeutics

Functional 1,8-naphthyridine copper(I) complex as efficient catalyst for <em>n</em>-arylation of imidazoles coupling reactions

181-185The functional 1,8-naphthyridine copper(I) complex, synthesized through a non-catalyst C(sp3)–H methylenation, catalyzes the cross-coupling reaction of aryl halides with imidazoles, by C―N bond formation. The Cu(I) complex catalyzes the reaction with a low catalyst loading (1%, molar fraction) and cheap base even under aerobic conditions.The procedure tolerates aryl halides with various functional groups(such as methyl, methoxy, acetyl, fluoro, nitrile and nitro groups) and gives the corresponding coupling products in moderate to high yields

Bone microstructure and regional distribution of osteoblast and osteoclast activity in the osteonecrotic femoral head.

OBJECTIVE: To detect and compare the bone microstructure and osteoblast and osteoclast activity in different regions of human osteonecrotic femoral heads. METHODS: Osteonecrotic femoral heads were obtained from 10 patients (6 males, 4 females; Ficat IV) undergoing total hip arthroplasty between 2011 and 2013. The samples were divided into subchondral bone, necrotic, sclerotic, and healthy regions based on micro-computed tomography (CT) images. The bone microstructure, micromechanics, and osteoblast and osteoclast activity were assessed using micro-CT, pathology, immunohistochemistry, nanoindentation, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining and Western blotting. RESULTS: (1) The spatial structure of the bone trabeculae differed markedly in the various regions of the osteonecrotic femoral heads. (2) The elastic modulus and hardness of the bone trabeculae in the healthy and necrotic regions did not differ significantly (P >0.05). (3) The subchondral bone and necrotic region were positive on TRAP staining, while the other regions were negative. (4) On immunohistochemical staining, RANK and RANKL staining intensities were increased significantly in the subchondral bone and necrotic region compared with the healthy region, while RUNX2 and BMP2 staining intensities were increased significantly in the sclerotic region compared with the necrotic region. (5) OPG, RANK, RANKL, RUNX2, BMP2, and BMP7 protein levels were greater in the necrotic and sclerotic region than in subchondral bone and the healthy region. CONCLUSION: The micromechanical properties of bone trabeculae in the necrotic region did not differ significantly from the healthy region. During the progress of osteonecrosis, the bone structure changed markedly. Osteoclast activity increased in subchondral bone and the necrotic region while osteoblast activity increased in the sclerotic region. We speculate that the altered osteoblast and osteoclast activity leads to a reduction in macroscopic mechanical strength