Logarithmic and Riesz Equilibrium for Multiple Sources on the Sphere --- the Exceptional Case

We consider the minimal discrete and continuous energy problems on the unit sphere $\mathbb{S}^d$ in the Euclidean space $\mathbb{R}^{d+1}$ in the presence of an external field due to finitely many localized charge distributions on $\mathbb{S}^d$, where the energy arises from the Riesz potential $1/r^s$ ($r$ is the Euclidean distance) for the critical Riesz parameter $s = d - 2$ if $d \geq 3$ and the logarithmic potential $\log(1/r)$ if $d = 2$. Individually, a localized charge distribution is either a point charge or assumed to be rotationally symmetric. The extremal measure solving the continuous external field problem for weak fields is shown to be the uniform measure on the sphere but restricted to the exterior of spherical caps surrounding the localized charge distributions. The radii are determined by the relative strengths of the generating charges. Furthermore, we show that the minimal energy points solving the related discrete external field problem are confined to this support. For $d-2\leq s<d$, we show that for point sources on the sphere, the equilibrium measure has support in the complement of the union of specified spherical caps about the sources. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate our results.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figure

Formative assessment of inquiry skills for Responsible Research and Innovation using 3D Virtual Reality Glasses and Face Recognition

This paper examines the experience and views of learners on technological innovations with a novel pedagogical model to enhance formative online assessment of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) skills with e-authentication. The authors developed the OER “virtual classroom” app based on the famous “Bletchley Park” and also an activity for learners exploring this museum in pairs with individual assessment. Participants practiced RRI skills and shared their views about their VR experience in an e-assessment activity with e-authentication through the TeSLA face recognition system. Participants were students from the UK and Brazil. Our research questions include whether the 3DVRG activities in pairs in the same physical environment support peer-learning with assessment-in-context. Findings revealed that activities that enabled physical interactions in pairs enriched the virtual interactions in the museum. The combination of authentic scenario, interactive tasks and assessment-in-context helped learners acquire new information and connect with existing knowledge. These interactions enhanced the immersive learning experience, particularly for those who did not experienced sickness with 3DVRG. Three types of interactions with the virtual space, their peer and the topic respectively enabled the virtual, social and cognitive presence

Cell cycle regulatory proteins and oral squamous cell carcinoma development

Abstract no. 1279published_or_final_versio

Some algorithms to solve a bi-objectives problem for team selection

In real life, many problems are instances of combinatorial optimization. Cross-functional team selection is one of the typical issues. The decision-maker has to select solutions among (kh) solutions in the decision space, where k is the number of all candidates, and h is the number of members in the selected team. This paper is our continuing work since 2018; here, we introduce the completed version of the Min Distance to the Boundary model (MDSB) that allows access to both the "deep" and "wide" aspects of the selected team. The compromise programming approach enables decision-makers to ignore the parameters in the decision-making process. Instead, they point to the one scenario they expect. The aim of model construction focuses on finding the solution that matched the most to the expectation. We develop two algorithms: one is the genetic algorithm and another based on the philosophy of DC programming (DC) and its algorithm (DCA) to find the optimal solution. We also compared the introduced algorithms with the MIQP-CPLEX search algorithm to show their effectiveness

Prescreening based on the presence of CT-scan abnormalities and biomarkers (KL-6 and SP-D) may reduce severe radiation pneumonitis after stereotactic radiotherapy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>To determine the risk factors of severe radiation pneumonitis (RP) after stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for primary or secondary lung tumors.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>From January 2003 to March 2009, SBRT was performed on 117 patients (32 patients before 2005 and 85 patients after 2006) with lung tumors (primary = 74 patients and metastatic/recurrent = 43 patients) in our institution. In the current study, the results on cases with severe RP (grades 4-5) were evaluated. Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) and serum Surfactant protein-D (SP-D) were used to predict the incidence of RP. A shadow of interstitial pneumonitis (IP) on the CT image before performing SBRT was also used as an indicator for RP. Since 2006, patients have been prescreened for biological markers (KL-6 & SP-D) as well as checking for an IP-shadow in CT.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Grades 4-5 RP was observed in nine patients (7.7%) after SBRT and seven of these cases (6.0%) were grade 5 in our institution. A correlation was found between the incidence of RP and higher serum KL-6 & SP-D levels. IP-shadow in patient's CT was also found to correlate well with the severe RP. Severe RP was reduced from 18.8% before 2005 to 3.5% after 2006 (<it>p </it>= 0.042). There was no correlation between the dose volume histogram parameters and these severe RP patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Patients presenting with an IP shadow in the CT and a high value of the serum KL-6 & SP-D before SBRT treatment developed severe radiation pneumonitis at a high rate. The reduction of RP incidence in patients treated after 2006 may have been attributed to prescreening of the patients. Therefore, pre-screening before SBRT for an IP shadow in CT and serum KL-6 & SP-D is recommended in the management and treatment of patients with primary or secondary lung tumors.</p

Solving parabolic equations on the unit sphere via Laplace transforms and radial basis functions

We propose a method to construct numerical solutions of parabolic equations on the unit sphere. The time discretization uses Laplace transforms and quadrature. The spatial approximation of the solution employs radial basis functions restricted to the sphere. The method allows us to construct high accuracy numerical solutions in parallel. We establish $L_2$ error estimates for smooth and nonsmooth initial data, and describe some numerical experiments.Comment: 26 pages, 1 figur

Application of quasi-Monte Carlo methods to PDEs with random coefficients -- an overview and tutorial

This article provides a high-level overview of some recent works on the application of quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) methods to PDEs with random coefficients. It is based on an in-depth survey of a similar title by the same authors, with an accompanying software package which is also briefly discussed here. Embedded in this article is a step-by-step tutorial of the required analysis for the setting known as the uniform case with first order QMC rules. The aim of this article is to provide an easy entry point for QMC experts wanting to start research in this direction and for PDE analysts and practitioners wanting to tap into contemporary QMC theory and methods.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1606.0661

Antibody landscapes after influenza virus infection or vaccination.

We introduce the antibody landscape, a method for the quantitative analysis of antibody-mediated immunity to antigenically variable pathogens, achieved by accounting for antigenic variation among pathogen strains. We generated antibody landscapes to study immune profiles covering 43 years of influenza A/H3N2 virus evolution for 69 individuals monitored for infection over 6 years and for 225 individuals pre- and postvaccination. Upon infection and vaccination, titers increased broadly, including previously encountered viruses far beyond the extent of cross-reactivity observed after a primary infection. We explored implications for vaccination and found that the use of an antigenically advanced virus had the dual benefit of inducing antibodies against both advanced and previous antigenic clusters. These results indicate that preemptive vaccine updates may improve influenza vaccine efficacy in previously exposed individuals.This is the author’s version of the work. It will be under embargo for 6 months following publication. It is posted here by permission of the AAAS for personal use, not for redistribution. The final version is available from AAAS in Science at http://www.sciencemag.org/content/346/6212/996.long

A novel radioresistant mechanism of galectin-1 mediated by H-Ras-dependent pathways in cervical cancer cells

Galectin-1 is a lectin recognized by galactoside-containing glycoproteins, and is involved in cancer progression and metastasis. The role of galectin-1 in radiosensitivity has not previously been investigated. Therefore, this study tests whether galectin-1 is involved in the radiosensitivity mediated by the H-Ras signaling pathway using cervical carcinoma cell lines. A knockdown of galectin-1 expression in HeLa cells decreased clonogenic survival following irradiation. The clonogenic survival increased in both HeLa and C33A cells with galectin-1 overexpression. The overexpression or knockdown of galectin-1 did not alter radiosensitivity, whereas H-Ras was silenced in both cell lines. Whereas K-Ras was knocked down, galectin-1 restored the radiosensitivity in HeLa cells and C33A cells. The knockdown of galectin-1 increased the high-dose radiation-induced cell death of HeLa cells transfected by constitutively active H-Ras. The knockdown of galectin-1 inhibited the radiation-induced phosphorylation of Raf-1 and ERK in HeLa cells. Overexpression of galectin-1 enhanced the phosphorylation of Raf-1 and ERK in C33A cells following irradiation. Galectin-1 decreased the DNA damage detected using comet assay and γ-H2AX in both cells following irradiation. These findings suggest that galectin-1 mediates radioresistance through the H-Ras-dependent pathway involved in DNA damage repair

Stem cell-based therapy for human diseases.

Recent advancements in stem cell technology open a new door for patients suffering from diseases and disorders that have yet to be treated. Stem cell-based therapy, including human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) and multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), has recently emerged as a key player in regenerative medicine. hPSCs are defined as self-renewable cell types conferring the ability to differentiate into various cellular phenotypes of the human body, including three germ layers. MSCs are multipotent progenitor cells possessing self-renewal ability (limited in vitro) and differentiation potential into mesenchymal lineages, according to the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT). This review provides an update on recent clinical applications using either hPSCs or MSCs derived from bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue (AT), or the umbilical cord (UC) for the treatment of human diseases, including neurological disorders, pulmonary dysfunctions, metabolic/endocrine-related diseases, reproductive disorders, skin burns, and cardiovascular conditions. Moreover, we discuss our own clinical trial experiences on targeted therapies using MSCs in a clinical setting, and we propose and discuss the MSC tissue origin concept and how MSC origin may contribute to the role of MSCs in downstream applications, with the ultimate objective of facilitating translational research in regenerative medicine into clinical applications. The mechanisms discussed here support the proposed hypothesis that BM-MSCs are potentially good candidates for brain and spinal cord injury treatment, AT-MSCs are potentially good candidates for reproductive disorder treatment and skin regeneration, and UC-MSCs are potentially good candidates for pulmonary disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome treatment