Low-complexity Lattice Reduction Aided Detection for Generalised Spatial Modulation

Generalised spatial modulation (GSM) was first introduced with the maximum-likelihood (ML) optimum decoder. However, ML decoder may be infeasible for practical implementation due to its exponential complexity especially when the number of antennas or the constellation size is large. Lattice reduction (LR) aided linear decoders are known to have much lower complexity while achieving near-optimal bit-error-rate (BER) performance in MIMO V-BLAST systems. In this paper, LR-aided linear decoders are applied to GSM systems for the first time, but the simulation results demonstrate unsatisfactory BER performances. Thereby, two improved LR-aided linear decoders are proposed in this work. The proposed schemes achieve significant BER performance enhancement compared to that of conventional LR-aided linear decoders as well as linear decoders including zero forcing (ZF) detection and minimum mean square error (MMSE) detection. Compared to the ML decoder, the proposed schemes can provide fairly lower complexities with small BER performance degradation

On-the-Fly Power-Aware Rendering

Power saving is a prevailing concern in desktop computers and, especially, in battery-powered devices such as mobile phones. This is generating a growing demand for power-aware graphics applications that can extend battery life, while preserving good quality. In this paper, we address this issue by presenting a real-time power-efficient rendering framework, able to dynamically select the rendering configuration with the best quality within a given power budget. Different from the current state of the art, our method does not require precomputation of the whole camera-view space, nor Pareto curves to explore the vast power-error space; as such, it can also handle dynamic scenes. Our algorithm is based on two key components: our novel power prediction model, and our runtime quality error estimation mechanism. These components allow us to search for the optimal rendering configuration at runtime, being transparent to the user. We demonstrate the performance of our framework on two different platforms: a desktop computer, and a mobile device. In both cases, we produce results close to the maximum quality, while achieving significant power savings

Role of oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress in drug-induced liver injury

The pathogenesis of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is still in an early stage of research. However, investigators have shown that both oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress play a significant role in the pathological mechanism. However, there is little in-depth literature about these two mechanisms. In order to prevent and improve the clinical symptoms of DILI, it is particularly important to study its pathogenesis. In this review article, the role of ER and oxidative stress in DILI is thoroughly discussed

A chromosome-level genome assembly for the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

Background The Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is a bivalve mollusc with vital roles in coastal ecosystems and aquaculture globally. While extensive genomic tools are available for C. gigas, highly contiguous reference genomes are required to support both fundamental and applied research. Herein we report the creation and annotation of a chromosome-level assembly for C. gigas. Findings High-coverage long- and short-read sequence data generated on Pacific Biosciences and Illumina platforms were used to generate an initial assembly, which was then scaffolded into 10 pseudo-chromosomes using both Hi-C sequencing and a high-density linkage map. The assembly has a scaffold N50 of 58.4 Mb and a contig N50 of 1.8 Mb, representing a step advance on the previously published C. gigas assembly. Annotation based on Pacific Biosciences Iso-Seq and Illumina RNA-Seq resulted in identification of ∼30,000 putative protein-coding genes. Annotation of putative repeat elements highlighted an enrichment of Helitron rolling-circle transposable elements, suggesting their potential role in shaping the evolution of the C. gigas genome. Conclusions This new chromosome-level assembly will be an enabling resource for genetics and genomics studies to support fundamental insight into bivalve biology, as well as for selective breeding of C. gigas in aquaculture

Gestión administrativa y calidad de servicio percibida por usuarios de una escuela de posgrado, Huánuco-Perú

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between administrative management and the quality of service perceived by users of a Graduate School, Huánuco-Peru. It was an investigation with a quantitative approach, a correlational, prospective and cross-sectional design; where the sample was made up of 147 students from the Graduate School, who were selected by the probabilistic sampling method and the formula for finite population was applied: For data collection, a questionnaire of administrative management and another previously validated and reliable quality of service questionnaire. Ethical considerations for the investigation were applied and a descriptive analysis was performed and the hypothesis was verified using the Separan correlation test for p≤0.05 and 95% confidence, supported by SPSS V22. The results show that the administrative management, 69.4% (102) did it in an acceptable way, 23.1% (34) ineffectively and 7.5% (11) effectively; as for the quality of service 67.4% (99) rated it as good, 26.5% (39) as fair and 6.1% (9) as very good. By contrasting these results, a value of rs = 742 and p value = 0.000 was obtained, being significant. It is concluded that administrative management is related to the quality of service perceived by users of a Graduate School.El presente estudio tuvo el objetivo, de determinar la relación entre la gestión administrativa con la calidad de servicio percibida por usuarios de una Escuela de Posgrado, Huánuco-Perú, fue una investigación de enfoque cuantitativo, de diseño correlacional, prospectivo y transversal; donde la muestra estuvo conformada por 147 estudiantes de la Escuela de Pos Grado, las que fueron seleccionadas por el método de muestro probabilístico y se aplicó la fórmula para población finita: Para la recolección de datos, se empleó un cuestionario de la gestión administrativa y otro cuestionario de la calidad de servicio previamente validadas y fiabilizadas. Se aplicaron las consideraciones éticas para la investigación y se realizó un análisis descriptivo y la comprobación de la hipótesis fue mediante la prueba de correlación de Separan para p≤0,05 y 95% de confianza, apoyados en el SPSS V22. Los resultados muestran que la gestión administrativa, 69.4% (102) lo hacían de manera aceptable, 23.1% (34) de modo ineficaz y un 7.5% (11) eficaz; en tanto referente a la calidad de servicio 67.4% (99) lo calificaban como buena, un 26.5% (39) como regular y 6.1% (9) como muy buena. Al contrastar estos resultados, se obtuvo un valor rs = 742 y p valor = 0,000, siendo significativo. Se concluye que, la gestión administrativa se relaciona con la calidad de servicio percibida por usuarios de una Escuela de Posgrado

Factors Affecting Bubble Size in Ionic Liquids

This study reports on understanding the formation of bubbles in ionic liquids (ILs), with a view to utilising ILs more efficiently in gas capture processes. In particular, the impact of the IL structure on the bubble sizes obtained has been determined in order to obtain design principles for the ionic liquids utilised. 11 ILs were used in this study with a range of physico-chemical properties in order to determine parametrically the impact on bubble size due to the liquid properties and chemical moieties present. The results suggest the bubble size observed is dictated by the strength of interaction between the cation and anion of the IL and, therefore, the mass transport within the system. This bubble size – ILs structure–physical property relationship has been illustrated using a series of QSPR correlations. A predictive model based only on the sigma profiles of the anions and cations has been developed which shows the best correlation without the need to incorporate the physico-chemical properties of the liquids. Depending on the IL, selected mean bubble sizes observed were between 56.1 and 766.9 μm demonstrating that microbubbles can be produced in the IL allowing the potential for enhanced mass transport and absorption kinetics in these systems

Ovarian follicular cells have innate immune capabilities that modulate their endocrine function

Oestrogens are pivotal in ovarian follicular growth, development and function, with fundamental roles in steroidogenesis, nurturing the oocyte and ovulation. Infections with bacteria such as Escherichia coli cause infertility in mammals at least in part by perturbing ovarian follicle function, characterised by suppression of oestradiol production. Ovarian follicle granulosa cells produce oestradiol by aromatisation of androstenedione from the theca cells, under the regulation of gonadotrophins such as FSH. Many of the effects of E. coli are mediated by its surface molecule lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding to the Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), CD14, MD-2 receptor complex on immune cells, but immune cells are not present inside ovarian follicles. The present study tested the hypothesis that granulosa cells express the TLR4 complex and LPS directly perturbs their secretion of oestradiol. Granulosa cells from recruited or dominant follicles are exposed to LPS in vivo and when they were cultured in the absence of immune cell contamination in vitro they produced less oestradiol when challenged with LPS, although theca cell androstenedione production was unchanged. The suppression of oestradiol production by LPS was associated with down-regulation of transcripts for aromatase in granulosa cells, and did not affect cell survival. Furthermore, these cells expressed TLR4, CD14 and MD-2 transcripts throughout the key stages of follicle growth and development. It appears that granulosa cells have an immune capability to detect bacterial infection, which perturbs follicle steroidogenesis, and this is a likely mechanism by which ovarian follicle growth and function is perturbed during bacterial infection

Freeing Pseudomonas putida KT2440 of its proviral load strengthens endurance to environmental stresses

2.6% of the genome of the soil bacterium Pseudomonas putida KT2440 encodes phage-related functions, but the burden of such opportunistic DNA on the host physiology is unknown. Each of the four apparently complete prophages borne by this strain was tested for stability, spontaneous excision and ability to cause lysis under various stressing conditions. While prophages P3 (PP2266-PP2297) and P4 (PP1532-1584) were discharged from the genome at a detectable rate, their induction failed otherwise to yield infective viruses. Isogenic P. putida KT2440 derivatives bearing single and multiple deletions of each of the prophages were then subjected to thorough phenotypic analyses, which generally associated the loss of proviral DNA with an increase of physiological vigour. The most conspicuous benefit acquired by prophage-less cells was a remarkable improvement in tolerance to UV light and other insults to DNA. This was not accompanied, however, with an upgrade of recA-mediated homologous recombination. The range of tolerance to DNA damage gained by the prophage-free strain was equivalent to the UV resistance endowed by the TOL plasmid pWW0 to the wild-type bacterium. While the P. putida's prophages are therefore genuinely parasitic, their detrimental effects can be offset by acquisition of compensatory traits through horizontal gene transfer.This study was supported by the BIO Program of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, the ST-FLOW and ARYSIS Contracts of the EU, the ERANET-IB Program and the PROMT Project of the CAM. The work in MK Laboratory is supported by Estonian Science Foundation, grant number 9114 to MK, by Estonian Ministry of Research Targeted Financing Project SF0180031s08.Peer reviewe

Branching out in roots: uncovering form, function, and regulation

Root branching is critical for plants to secure anchorage and ensure the supply of water, minerals, and nutrients. To date, research on root branching has focused on lateral root development in young seedlings. However, many other programs of postembryonic root organogenesis exist in angiosperms. In cereal crops, the majority of the mature root system is composed of several classes of adventitious roots that include crown roots and brace roots. In this Update, we initially describe the diversity of postembryonic root forms. Next, we review recent advances in our understanding of the genes, signals, and mechanisms regulating lateral root and adventitious root branching in the plant models Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), maize (Zea mays), and rice (Oryza sativa). While many common signals, regulatory components, and mechanisms have been identified that control the initiation, morphogenesis, and emergence of new lateral and adventitious root organs, much more remains to be done. We conclude by discussing the challenges and opportunities facing root branching research