Adaptive tempered reversible jump algorithm for Bayesian curve fitting

Bayesian curve fitting plays an important role in inverse problems, and is often addressed using the reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo (RJMCMC) algorithm. However, this algorithm can be computationally inefficient without appropriately tuned proposals. As a remedy, we present an adaptive RJMCMC algorithm for the curve fitting problems by extending the adaptive Metropolis sampler from a fixed-dimensional to a trans-dimensional case. In this presented algorithm, both the size and orientation of the proposal function can be automatically adjusted in the sampling process. Specifically, the curve fitting setting allows for the approximation of the posterior covariance of the a priori unknown function on a representative grid of points. This approximation facilitates the definition of efficient proposals. In addition, we introduce an auxiliary-tempered version of this algorithm via non-reversible parallel tempering. To evaluate the algorithms, we conduct numerical tests involving a series of controlled experiments. The results demonstrate that the adaptive algorithms exhibit significantly higher efficiency compared to the conventional ones. Even in cases where the posterior distribution is highly complex, leading to ineffective convergence in the auxiliary-tempered conventional RJMCMC, the proposed auxiliary-tempered adaptive RJMCMC performs satisfactorily. Furthermore, we present a realistic inverse example to test the algorithms. The successful application of the adaptive algorithm distinguishes it again from the conventional one that fails to converge effectively even after millions of iterations.<br/

Trans-Anastomotic Drainage Tube Placement After Hand-Sewn Anastomosis in Patients Undergoing Intersphincteric Resection for Low Rectal Cancer: An Alternative Drainage Method

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a common complication after intersphincteric resection (ISR). It significantly reduces quality of life and causes great distress to patients. Although traditional drainage (e.g., anal and pelvic catheters) may reduce the impact of AL to some extent, their role in reducing the incidence of AL remains controversial. In this study, we developed a novel drainage technique involving the placement of drainage tubes through the gap between sutures during handsewn anastomosis, to reduce the occurrence of anastomotic leakage. We retrospectively analyzed 34 consecutive patients who underwent intersphincteric resection requiring handsewn anastomosis between February 1, 2017, and January 1, 2021. Patients were classified into the trans-anastomotic drainage tube group (TADT, n = 14) and the non-TADT group (n = 20) based on whether trans-anastomotic tube placement was performed. The incidence of postoperative complications, such as AL, was compared between the two groups, and anal function of patients at 1-year post-ISR was evaluated. Six cases of AL occurred in the non-TADT group, while none occurred in the TADT group; this difference was statistically significant (p=0.031). The TADT group also had a shorter hospital stay (p=0.007). There were no other significant intergroup differences in operation time, blood loss, pain score, anastomotic stenosis, intestinal obstruction, or incidence of wound infection. In the 30 patients (88.2%) evaluated for anal function, there were no significant intergroup differences in stool frequency, urgency, daytime/nocturnal soiling, Wexner incontinence score, or Kirwan grading. Taken together, trans-anastomotic tube placement is a novel drainage method that may reduce AL after ISR requiring handsewn anastomosis and without adversely affecting anal function

Study on the Effect of Air Throttling on Flame Stabilization of an Ethylene Fueled Scramjet Combustor

The effect of air throttling on flame stabilization of an ethylene fueled scramjet combustor was investigated by numerical simulation and experiments in this paper. The results were obtained under the inflow condition with Mach number of 2.0, total temperature of 900 K, total pressure of 0.8 MPa, and total equivalence ratio of 0.5. The shock train generated by air throttling had a big effect on the flow structure of the scramjet combustor. Compared with the combustor without air throttling, the flow field with air throttling had a lower velocity and higher pressure, temperature, and vortices intensity. Air throttling was an effective way to achieve flame stabilization; the combustion in the combustor without air throttling was nearly blowout. In the experiment, the combustion was nearly blowout with air throttling location of 745 mm, and the fuel/air mixture in the combustor with air throttling location of 875 mm was burned intensively. It was important to choose the location and time sequence of air throttling for fuel ignition and flame stabilization. The numerical simulation results agreed well with experimental measurements

Impact of Brood Cell Cocoons on Metal Accumulation and CYP450 Detoxification Gene Expression in <i>Apis cerana cerana</i>

Honey bees play a critical role as pollinators. However, their reproduction success and survival face severe threats due to the deterioration of their living environment. Notably, environmental conditions during their preimaginal stage inside brood cells can influence their immune capabilities and overall health after emergence. During the in-cell developmental stage, workers are in close contact with cocoons, which can become a source of stress due to accumulated metals. To investigate this potential threat, experiments were conducted to examine the impact of cocoons in brood cells used to rear different generations on the metal content and detoxification gene expression levels in Apis cerana cerana. Our findings indicated significant differences in the layers, weight, base thickness, and metal contents like Cr, Cd, Pb, Mn, Ni, and As of cocoons in multi-generation brood cells compared to single-generation brood cells. These increases led to significant elevations in metal levels and upregulations of the four CYP450 detoxification genes in both six-day-old larvae and newly emerged workers. In conclusion, this study highlights the negative impact of cocoons in multi-generation brood cells on bee health and provides evidence supporting the development of rational apiculture management strategies for ecosystem stability

m6A and m5C modification of GPX4 facilitates anticancer immunity via STING activation

Abstract Cancer immunotherapy is arguably the most rapidly advancing realm of cancer treatment. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) has emerged as the vital enzyme to prevent lipid peroxidation and maintain cellular redox homeostasis. However, the mechanism of GPX4 in the regulation of cancer immunotherapy of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) are incompletely understood. In pan-cancer analysis, we found that GPX4 showed remarkably upregulated expression and exhibited significant association with overall survival in multiple cancer types, especially COAD. Furthermore, upregulated GPX4 expression was positively correlated with increased immune cells infiltration and enhanced expression of immunomodulators. Mechanistically, RBM15B- and IGFBP2-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification and NSUN5-mediated 5-methylcytosine (m5C) modification of GPX4 facilitated anticancer immunity via activation of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon (STING) signaling by maintaining redox homeostasis in COAD. The risk model and nomogram model constructed based on the GPX4-derived genes further confirmed the prognostic and treatment-guiding value of GPX4. In all, our study demonstrated that m6A and m5C modification of GPX4 may be a promising target for cancer immunotherapy via activating the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in COAD

Data for: The significance of Apis cerana cerana (Hymenoptera: Apidae) gnawing off the old brood cells

Apis cerana cerana has the biological characteristic of gnawing off the old brood cells for rearing multiple generations of workers. This study investigated the internal structure of newly built, old, and semi-rebuilt brood cells and their effects on the morphological development of workers to understand the significance of Apis cerana cerana gnawing off the old brood cells. The structural dimensions of the brood cells and the morphological characteristics of the newly emerged workers were measured. The results showed that Apis cerana cerana gnaw off the old brood cells mainly in two ways either by removing the whole cell or only the cell walls keeping the bases. The workers construct semi-rebuilt brood cells on the foundation of these old cell bases. The main shapes of the newly built, old, and semi-rebuilt brood cells are hexagonal prism, hexagonal prismatic table, and hexagonal prism having three rhombuses, hemisphere, and hemisphere-shaped bases, respectively. The average thickness of the newly built or semi-rebuilt brood comb was significantly smaller than that of the old brood comb (P0.05). The depth of brood cells showed no significant difference between the three types of brood cells (P>0.05), but the brood cell volumes were significantly different (P0.05), but these changed within the old brood cells (P0.05). The weight and base thickness of the cocoon were significantly greater in the old brood cells than those in the semi-rebuilt brood cells (P0.05), but were significantly larger than those of old brood cells (P<0.05). The size of brood cell and the external morphology of the workers showed a positive correlation. This study highlights the significance of Apis cerana cerana gnawing off the old brood cells providing a reference for its scientific breeding.Funding provided by: National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001809Award Number: 32060241Funding provided by: National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001809Award Number: 31572339Funding provided by: Agriculture Research System of ChinaCrossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100010203Award Number: CARS-44-KXJ13Funding provided by: Reserve Talents Training Program for Young and Middle-aged Academic and Technical Leaders in Yunnan*Crossref Funder Registry ID: Award Number: 2018HB04