Constrained variational-hemivariationalinequalities on nonconvex star-shaped sets

In this paper, we study a class of constrained variational–hemivariational inequality problems with nonconvex sets which are star-shaped with respect to a certain ball in a reflexive Banach space. The inequality is a fully nonconvex counterpart of the variational–hemivariational inequality of elliptic type since it contains both, a convex potential and a locally Lipschitz one. Two new results on the existence of a solution are proved by a penalty method applied to a variational–hemivariational inequality penalized by the generalized directional derivative of the distance function of the constraint set. In the first existence theorem, the strong monotonicity of the governing operator and a relaxed monotonicity condition of the Clarke subgradient are assumed. In the second existence result, these two hypotheses are relaxed and a suitable hypothesis on the upper semicontinuity of the operator is adopted. In both results, the penalized problems are solved by using the Knaster, Kuratowski, and Mazurkiewicz (KKM) lemma. For a suffciently small penalty parameter, the solution to the penalized problem solves also the original one. Finally, we work out an example on the interior and boundary semipermeability problem that ilustrate the applicability of our results

Exploring the mechanism of digital transformation empowering green innovation in construction enterprises

Amid depleting resources and environmental constraints worldwide, green innovation is being considered key to achieving sustainable development. The construction industry has been resistant to technological change and generating a large amount of wasted energy; green innovation should compensate for these shortcomings. The emergence of new and powerful digital transformations has provided several green innovation opportunities to the construction industry. However, the mechanism by which digital transformation can drive this green innovation has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aims to elucidate the effects of digital transformation on green innovation by surveying construction enterprises. Therefore, a model based on the technology–organization–environment framework was developed to uncover the factors of digital transformation related to green innovation in the construction industry. Subsequently, it reviews the literature and proposes postulates to construct a relevant conceptual model. Data of 257 employees from construction enterprises were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) and via fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA). The PLS-SEM results show that all the nine variables positively affected the green innovation behavior; moreover, these results evidently confirmed the influence of policy environment, market environment, and digital culture on green innovation. fsQCA presented four configurations for promoting the green innovation of construction enterprises under multiple antecedent conditions, wherein digital infrastructure was considered a core factor in all configurations. These conclusions provide beneficial insights for construction enterprises to implement green innovation practices

miRNA profiling in autism spectrum disorder in China

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a clinically complex and heterogeneous disorder. It is characterized by impaired social abilities, disordered language, isolated areas of interest, and repetitive behaviors. Evidence suggested that the neuropathology of ASD is widely distributed, involving epigenetic regulation in the brain. MiRNAs are a group of endogenous non-coding RNAs that play a critical role in neurodevelopment, neuroplasticity, and other fundamental neurobiological processes. To study miRNA profiling in Autism spectrum disorder in China, we performed miRNA microarray followed quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Here, we describe detailed methods and analysis on these microarray data which has been deposited in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO): GSE67979

Gram-Scale Synthesis of Graphitic Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots with Ultraviolet Photoluminescence for Fe3+ Ion Detection

A method for gram-scale synthesis of graphitic carbon nitride quantum dots (g-C3N4QDs) was developed. The weight of the g-C3N4QDs was up to 1.32 g in each run with a yield of 66 wt%, and the purity was 99.96 wt%. The results showed that g-C3N4QDs exhibit a stable and strong ultraviolet photoluminescence at a wavelength of 365 nm. More interestingly, the g-C3N4QDs can be used as a high-efficiency, sensitive, and selective fluorescent probe to detect Fe3+ with a detection limit of 0.259 μM

Investigation of Gene Regulatory Networks Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder Based on MiRNA Expression in China

<div><p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) comprise a group of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social and communication capacities and repetitive behaviors. Increasing neuroscientific evidence indicates that the neuropathology of ASD is widespread and involves epigenetic regulation in the brain. Differentially expressed miRNAs in the peripheral blood from autism patients were identified by high-throughput miRNA microarray analyses. Five of these miRNAs were confirmed through quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis. A search for candidate target genes of the five confirmed miRNAs was performed through a Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) biological pathways and Gene Ontology enrichment analysis of gene function to identify gene regulatory networks. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first global miRNA expression profile of ASD in China. The differentially expressed miR-34b may potentially explain the higher percentage of male ASD patients, and the aberrantly expressed miR-103a-3p may contribute to the abnormal ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis observed in ASD.</p></div

qRT-PCR confirmation of the expression of selected miRNAs.

<p>The levels of the five differentially expressed five miRNAs were statistically significant. The miR-34b expression level was significantly increased, whereas the levels of miR-let-7a, miR-let-7d, miR-103a, and miR-1228 were decreased.</p

Importance of target genes and transcription factor genes.

<p>The horizontal axis indicates the names of target genes and transcription factor genes, and the vertical axis indicates the numbers of associated genes. The ranking was performed according to the number of associated genes, more than 10 of which could be shown.</p

Two novel SNPs in ATXN3 3' UTR may decrease age at onset of SCA3/MJD in Chinese patients.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), or Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), is an autosomal dominantly-inherited disease that produces progressive problems with movement. It is caused by the expansion of an area of CAG repeats in a coding region of ATXN3. The number of repeats is inversely associated with age at disease onset (AO) and is significantly associated with disease severity; however, the degree of CAG expansion only explains 50 to 70% of variance in AO. We tested two SNPs, rs709930 and rs910369, in the 3' UTR of ATXN3 gene for association with SCA3/MJD risk and with SCA3/MJD AO in an independent cohort of 170 patients with SCA3/MJD and 200 healthy controls from mainland China. rs709930 genotype frequencies were statistically significantly different between patients and controls (p = 0.001, α = 0.05). SCA3/MJD patients carrying the rs709930 A allele and rs910369 T allele experienced an earlier onset, with a decrease in AO of approximately 2 to 4 years. The two novel SNPs found in this study might be genetic modifiers for AO in SCA3/MJD