A trigonometric approach to quaternary code designs with application to one-eighth and one-sixteenth fractions

The study of good nonregular fractional factorial designs has received significant attention over the last two decades. Recent research indicates that designs constructed from quaternary codes (QC) are very promising in this regard. The present paper shows how a trigonometric approach can facilitate a systematic understanding of such QC designs and lead to new theoretical results covering hitherto unexplored situations. We focus attention on one-eighth and one-sixteenth fractions of two-level factorials and show that optimal QC designs often have larger generalized resolution and projectivity than comparable regular designs. Moreover, some of these designs are found to have maximum projectivity among all designs.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/10-AOS815 the Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

An Empirical Study on the Influence of PBL Teaching Model on the Critical Thinking Ability of Non-English Majors

This study combines the PBL teaching model based on cooperative learning autonomous learning and inquiry learning with the intensive reading course of college English with the aim to test whether this model is conducive to promoting the critical thinking ability of students. Ability of second language acquisition (L2) is measured by language test and questionnaire survey among 95 subjects. The results show that the teaching model of PBL has a positive effect on improving students' critical thinking ability and second language acquisition ability

The New Developments of Constructivism Theory and Its Reflection on College English Teaching in the Era of New Media―A Case Study of International Textile Trade English

Constructivism, as one of the core theory of psychology, has a deep influence on foreign language teaching and learning in China. The author in this paper takes a university-based ESP course, International Textile Trade English as a case study and applies the main conception of the four schools of Constructivism as a guide to organize teaching practice, with the expectation to explore the effective combination of Constructivism theory with the ESP teaching practice. Some limitations of the research are put forward in the end

An Electronic Origin of Charge Order in Infinite-Layer Nickelates.

A charge order (CO) with a wavevector [Formula: see text] is observed in infinite-layer nickelates. Here we use first-principles calculations to demonstrate a charge-transfer-driven CO mechanism in infinite-layer nickelates, which leads to a characteristic Ni1+-Ni2+-Ni1+ stripe state. For every three Ni atoms, due to the presence of near-Fermi-level conduction bands, Hubbard interaction on Ni-d orbitals transfers electrons on one Ni atom to conduction bands and leaves electrons on the other two Ni atoms to become more localized. We further derive a low-energy effective model to elucidate that the CO state arises from a delicate competition between Hubbard interaction on Ni-d orbitals and charge transfer energy between Ni-d orbitals and conduction bands. With physically reasonable parameters, [Formula: see text] CO state is more stable than uniform paramagnetic state and usual checkerboard antiferromagnetic state. Our work highlights the multi-band nature of infinite-layer nickelates, which leads to some distinctive correlated properties that are not found in cuprates

FERM domain-containing unconventional myosin VIIA interacts with integrin β5 subunit and regulates αvβ5-mediated cell adhesion and migration

AbstractUnconventional myosin VIIA (Myo7a) has been known to associate with hereditary deafness. Here we present a novel function of Myo7a by identifying that Myo7a directly interacts with integrin β5 subunit and regulates cell adhesion and motility in an integrin-dependent manner. We found that Myo7a bound to the cytoplasmic tail of integrin β5. Further, we pinpointed an integrin-binding domain at F3 of the first FERM domain and F1 of the second FERM domain. Functionally, Myo7a-induced cell adhesion and migration were mediated by integrin αvβ5. These findings indicated that Myo7a interacts with integrin β5 and selectively promotes integrin αvβ5-mediated cell migration

Stabilization of Brain Mast Cells Alleviates LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation by Inhibiting Microglia Activation

BackgroundThe functional aspects of mast cell-microglia interactions are important in neuroinflammation. Our previous studies have demonstrated that mast cell degranulation can directly induce microglia activation. However, the role of mast cells in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglia activation, neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment has not been clarified.MethodsThis study investigated the interaction between brain microglia and mast cells in vivo through site-directed injection of cromolyn into rat right hypothalamus using stereotaxic techniques. Cognitive function was subsequently assessed using trace fear conditioning and Y maze tests. Mast cells in rat brain were stained with toluidine blue and counted using Cell D software. Microglia activation was assessed by Iba1 immunohistochemistry both in rat brain and in mast cell-deficient KitW-sh/W-sh mice. Receptor expression in rat microglia was determined using flow cytometry analysis. Cytokine levels in rat brain tissue and cell supernatant were measured using high-throughput ELISA. Western blotting was used to analyze Cell signaling proteins.ResultsIn this study, intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg LPS induced mast cell activation in hypothalamus and cognitive dysfunction in rats, and that this process can be repressed by the mast cell stabilizer cromolyn (200 μg). Meanwhile, in mice, LPS IP injection induced significant microglia activation 24 h later in the hypothalamus of wild-type (WT) mice, but had little effect in KitW-sh/W-sh mice. The stabilization of mast cells in rats inhibited LPS-induced microglia activation, inflammatory factors release, and the activation of MAPK, AKT, and NF-κB signaling pathways. We also found that LPS selectively provokes upregulation of H1R, H4R, PAR2, and TLR4, but downregulation of H2R and H3R, in ipsilateral hypothalamus microglia; these effects were partially inhibited by cromolyn. In addition, LPS was also found to induce activation of P815 cells in vitro, consistent with findings from in vivo experiments. These activated P815 cells also induced cytokine release from microglia, which was mediated by the MAPK signaling pathway.ConclusionTaken together, our results demonstrate that stabilization of mast cells can inhibit LPS-induced neuroinflammation and memory impairment, suggesting a novel treatment strategy for neuroinflammation-related diseases