Comparison of intra-individual coefficients of variation on the paired sampling data when inter-individual variations are different between measures

Additional file 2. Supplemental figures for the pain intensity data (residual plots, P–P plots and Cook’s distance against leverage/(1-leverage))

Deep Learning-Based Average Consensus

In this study, we analyzed the problem of accelerating the linear average consensus algorithm for complex networks. We propose a data-driven approach to tuning the weights of temporal (i.e., time-varying) networks using deep learning techniques. Given a finite-time window, the proposed approach first unfolds the linear average consensus protocol to obtain a feedforward signal-flow graph, which is regarded as a neural network. The edge weights of the obtained neural network are then trained using standard deep learning techniques to minimize consensus error over a given finite-time window. Through this training process, we obtain a set of optimized time-varying weights, which yield faster consensus for a complex network. We also demonstrate that the proposed approach can be extended for infinite-time window problems. Numerical experiments revealed that our approach can achieve a significantly smaller consensus error compared to baseline strategies

Induction of human inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2 by shear stress in endothelial cells

AbstractTo disclose the anti-atherosclerotic mechanisms of steady laminar shear stress, we analyzed the expression of human inhibitor of apoptosis protein-2 (HIAP-2), whose gene was selected from a cDNA library of sheared endothelial cells (ECs), on ECs. HIAP-2 was dose-independently and time-dependently induced in ECs by shear stress, regulated at the transcriptional level. HIAP-2 expression was also identified in vivo. Shear stress-mediated inhibition of EC apoptosis was associated with the inhibition of caspase-3 activity, suggesting that the shear stress prevents EC apoptosis via negative regulation of caspase-3 by the increment of HIAP-2

Proton-switchable vapochromic behaviour of a platinum(II)-carboxy-terpyridine complex

We synthesized a carboxy-substituted Pt(II)-terpyridine complex, i.e. [PtCl(Hctpy)] Cl ([1H] Cl; Hctpy = 4'-carboxy-2,2': 6',2''-terpyridine), that shows interesting switchable vapochromic behaviour upon protonation/deprotonation of the carboxy group. The as-synthesized dark-blue amorphous-like solid [1H] Cl center dot 3H(2)O was converted to a yellow crystalline solid, [1H] Cl center dot H2O, upon exposure to various polar organic solvent vapours (e.g., acetonitrile, ethanol, 1-propanol, and dichloromethane), which promote the removal of water molecules. The reaction of [1H] Cl center dot 3H(2)O with aqueous ammonia afforded a deprotonated bright-yellow crystalline complex, i.e. [PtCl(ctpy)]center dot H2O (1 center dot H2O), which exhibits red luminescence with an emission maximum at 622nm. Although the colour of 1 center dot H2O was not affected by exposure to various polar organic solvent vapours, interesting vapochromic luminescence with a remarkable red-shift of the emission maximum from 622 to 652 nm was observed upon exposure to saturated water vapour to form orange crystalline 1 center dot 3.5H(2)O X-ray structural analysis revealed that the planar and neutral complex molecule 1 forms a one-dimensional columnar structure with an intermolecular Pt center dot center dot center dot Pt distance of 3.518(2) angstrom in the orange crystall 1 center dot 3.5H(2)O, while the cationic molecule [1H](+) in the protonated form, [1H] Cl center dot H2O, generates a dimeric structure with an intermolecular Pt center dot center dot center dot Pt distance of 3.439(2) angstrom. This difference suggests that the vapochromic behaviours of the protonated and deprotonated forms could be caused by structural changes induced by water-vapour adsorption/desorption, which affect the intermolecular Pt. Pt distance, thereby changing the energy of the metal-metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MMLCT) transition. These contrasting results for the protonated and deprotonated complexes clearly indicate that the hydrophilicity of complex 1 is significantly affected by protonation/deprotonation of the carboxy group. In addition, quasi-reversible conversion between [1H] Cl center dot 3H(2)O and 1 center dot H2O was achieved by exposure of the protonated and deprotonated forms to triethylamine and humid hydrochloric acid vapours, respectively

FON2 SPARE1 Redundantly Regulates Floral Meristem Maintenance with FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER2 in Rice

CLAVATA signaling restricts stem cell identity in the shoot apical meristem (SAM) in Arabidopsis thaliana. In rice (Oryza sativa), FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER2 (FON2), closely related to CLV3, is involved as a signaling molecule in a similar pathway to negatively regulate stem cell proliferation in the floral meristem (FM). Here we show that the FON2 SPARE1 (FOS1) gene encoding a CLE protein functions along with FON2 in maintenance of the FM. In addition, FOS1 appears to be involved in maintenance of the SAM in the vegetative phase, because constitutive expression of FOS1 caused termination of the vegetative SAM. Genetic analysis revealed that FOS1 does not need FON1, the putative receptor of FON2, for its action, suggesting that FOS1 and FON2 may function in meristem maintenance as signaling molecules in independent pathways. Initially, we identified FOS1 as a suppressor that originates from O. sativa indica and suppresses the fon2 mutation in O. sativa japonica. FOS1 function in japonica appears to be compromised by a functional nucleotide polymorphism (FNP) at the putative processing site of the signal peptide. Sequence comparison of FOS1 in about 150 domesticated rice and wild rice species indicates that this FNP is present only in japonica, suggesting that redundant regulation by FOS1 and FON2 is commonplace in species in the Oryza genus. Distribution of the FNP also suggests that this mutation may have occurred during the divergence of japonica from its wild ancestor. Stem cell maintenance may be regulated by at least three negative pathways in rice, and each pathway may contribute differently to this regulation depending on the type of the meristem. This situation contrasts with that in Arabidopsis, where CLV signaling is the major single pathway in all meristems

The Effects of Mutual Interaction of Orexin-A and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 on Reflex Swallowing Induced by SLN Afferents in Rats

(1) Background: Our previous studies revealed that orexin-A, an appetite-increasing peptide, suppressed reflex swallowing via the commissural part of the nucleus tractus solitarius (cNTS), and that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an appetite-reducing peptide, also suppressed reflex swallowing via the medial nucleus of the NTS (mNTS). In this study, we examined the mutual interaction between orexin-A and GLP-1 in reflex swallowing. (2) Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats under urethane-chloralose anesthesia were used. Swallowing was induced by electrical stimulation of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) and was identified by the electromyographic (EMG) signals obtained from the mylohyoid muscle. (3) Results: The injection of GLP-1 (20 pmol) into the mNTS reduced the swallowing frequency and extended the latency of the first swallow. These suppressive effects of GLP-1 were not observed after the fourth ventricular administration of orexin-A. After the injection of an orexin-1 receptor antagonist (SB334867) into the cNTS, an ineffective dose of GLP-1 (6 pmol) into the mNTS suppressed reflex swallowing. Similarly, the suppressive effects of orexin-A (1 nmol) were not observed after the injection of GLP-1 (6 pmol) into the mNTS. After the administration of a GLP-1 receptor antagonist (exendin-4(5-39)), an ineffective dose of orexin-A (0.3 nmol) suppressed reflex swallowing. (4) Conclusions: The presence of reciprocal inhibitory connections between GLP-1 receptive neurons and orexin-A receptive neurons in the NTS was strongly suggested

A case of chorioangioma with polyhydramnios

Chorioangioma is the most common benign placental tumor arising from the chorionic stroma and capillaries, and histologically accounts for about 1% of placental tumors1). It rarely exceeds 5 cm in diameter, and is clinically diagnosed in 1 out of every 8,000-50,000 patients1). We report a patient with a relatively large chorioangioma (10 cm in diameter) accompanied by polyhydramnios