Forward-Backward splitting methods for accretive operators in Banach spaces

Splitting methods have recently received much attention due to the fact that many nonlinear problems arising in applied areas such as image recovery, signal processing, and machine learning are mathematically modeled as a nonlinear operator equation and this operator is decomposed as the sum of two (possibly simpler) nonlinear operators. Most of the investigation on splitting methods is however carried out in the framework of Hilbert spaces. In this paper, we consider these methods in the setting of Banach spaces. We shall introduce two iterative forward-backward splitting methods with relaxations and errors to find zeros of the sum of two accretive operators in the Banach spaces. We shall prove the weak and strong convergence of these methods under mild conditions. We also discuss applications of these methods to variational inequalities, the split feasibility problem, and a constrained convex minimization problem

CFD investigation of blind-tee effects on flow mixing mechanism in subsea pipelines

Blind tees are widely used in subsea pipelines to enhance the mixing conditions of oil and gas products, but their structural design still relies on experience. In this paper, a series of numerical investigations have been carried out on blind-tee pipes in order to develop an in-depth understanding of their mixing mechanism and clarify the effects of blind-tee structures on the pipe flow. Firstly, the three-dimensional flow conditions in a typical blind tee have been simulated under different Reynolds numbers to investigate the mixing mechanism. Two critical Reynolds numbers for the vortex generations in blind tees are determined in the laminar flow regime, and the fitting curves of blind-tee vorticity dissipations are obtained. Then, the geometrical parameters, including the radial size ϕ, axial length (BSL) and position of the blind section, are varied systematically to study their effects on the flow characteristics and mixing conditions. The results indicate that increasing ϕ and BSL in an appropriate range can strengthen the flow circulation and promote the fluid exchange. Finally, an optimal configuration is obtained, which can improve the mixing capacity of blind tee by 53% in terms of the volume average vorticity as compared to the typical structure.publishedVersio

Fatal acute-on-chronic liver failure following camrelizumab for hepatocellular carcinoma with HBsAg seroclearance: a case report and literature review

In the last few years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become major therapeutic agents for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, immunotherapy can activate hepatitis B virus (HBV), and immune clearance may lead to liver failure and even life-threatening conditions. Here we report a case of HCC with HBV-related cirrhosis that caused severe liver injury and rapidly progressed to fatal acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) after only once application of camrelizumab; the patient underwent serological conversion of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with liver injury. The patient’s condition progressed rapidly. We added corticosteroids and applied plasma dialysis, along with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) to control HBV. However, the patient eventually died of liver failure. To our knowledge, there are few reports of HBsAg clearance due to ICIs accompanied by fatal acute-on-chronic liver failure shortly after ICIs initiation. These results suggest that ICIs can cause fatal liver injury in a short term; in patients with chronic HBV infection, ICIs use may promote serological conversion of HBsAg

Photoinduced coupled twisted intramolecular charge transfer and excited-state proton transfer via intermolecular hydrogen bonding: a DFT/TD-DFT study

We discuss theoretically the geometric and electronic structure properties of the thiazolidinedione derivative A and its hydrogen-bonded complex in dimethylformamide (DMF) solution in the S0 and S1 states. To gain insight into the photoinduced coupled excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) and twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) associated with intermolecular hydrogen bonding, the potential energy profiles are provided along the Osingle bondH bond and the twisted angle. It is predicted that TICT in S1 can facilitate ESPT initiated by intermolecular hydrogen-bond strengthening in the S1 state. The coupling of ESPT and TICT is energetically preferable

Tetraspanin CD151 plays a key role in skin squamous cell carcinoma

Here we provide the first evidence that tetraspanin CD151 can support de novo carcinogenesis. During two-stage mouse skin chemical carcinogenesis, CD151 reduces tumor lag time and increases incidence, multiplicity, size, and progression to malignant squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), while supporting both cell survival during tumor initiation and cell proliferation during the promotion phase. In human skin SCC, CD151 expression is selectively elevated compared to other skin cancer types. CD151 support of keratinocyte survival and proliferation may depend on activation of transcription factor STAT3, a regulator of cell proliferation and apoptosis. CD151 also supports PKCα-α6β4 integrin association and PKC-dependent β4 S1424 phosphorylation, while regulating α6β4 distribution. CD151-PKCα effects on integrin β4 phosphorylation and subcellular localization are consistent with epithelial disruption to a less polarized, more invasive state. CD151 ablation, while minimally affecting normal cell and normal mouse functions, markedly sensitized mouse skin and epidermoid cells to chemicals/drugs including DMBA (mutagen) and camptothecin (topoisomerase inhibitor), as well as to agents targeting EGFR, PKC, Jak2/Tyk2, and STAT3. Hence, CD151 ‘co-targeting’ may be therapeutically beneficial. These findings not only support CD151 as a potential tumor target, but also should apply to other cancers utilizing CD151-laminin-binding integrin complexes

An Integrative Model for Soil Biogeochemistry and Methane Processes. II: Warming and Elevated CO2 Effects on Peatland CH4 Emissions

Peatlands are one of the largest natural sources for atmospheric methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas. Climate warming and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) are two important environmental factors that have been confirmed to stimulate peatland CH4 emissions; however, the mechanisms underlying enhanced emissions remain elusive. A data-model integration approach was applied to understand the CH4 processes in a northern temperate peatland under a gradient of warming and doubled atmospheric CO2 concentration. We found that warming and elevated CO2 stimulated CH4 emissions through different mechanisms. Warming initially stimulated but then suppressed vegetative productivity while stimulating soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fermentation, which led to higher acetate production and enhanced acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis. Warming also enhanced surface CH4 emissions, which combined with warming-caused decreases in CH4 solubility led to slightly lower dissolved CH4 concentrations through the soil profiles. Elevated CO2 enhanced ecosystem productivity and SOM mineralization, resulting in higher DOC and acetate concentrations. Higher DOC and acetate concentrations increased acetoclastic and hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis and led to higher dissolved CH4 concentrations and CH4 emissions. Both warming and elevated CO2 had minor impacts on CH4 oxidation. A meta-analysis of warming and elevated CO2 impacts on carbon cycling in wetlands agreed well with a majority of the modeled mechanisms. This mechanistic understanding of the stimulating impacts of warming and elevated CO2 on peatland CH4 emissions enhances our predictability on the climate-ecosystem feedback

Characterization of the Gene BmEm4, a Homologue of Drosophila E(spl)m4, from the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

The Drosophila E(spl)m4 gene contains some highly conserved motifs (such as the Brd box, GY box, K box, and CAAC motif) in its 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR). It was shown to be a microRNA target gene in Drosophila and to play an important role in the regulation of neurogenesis. We identified a homologue of the E(spl)m4 gene from Bombyx mori called BmEm4 and examined the expression patterns of BmEm4 mRNA and protein. There was a lack of correlation in the expression of the mRNA and protein between the different developmental stages, which raises the possibility of posttranscriptional regulation of the BmEm4 mRNA. Consistent with this idea is the finding that the 3′ UTR contains two putative binding sites for microRNAs. Moreover, given that the expression is the highest in the larval head, as confirmed by immunohistochemistry, we propose that BmEm4 may also be involved in the regulation of neurogenesis. Immunostaining indicated that BmEm4 is located primarily in the cytoplasm