The multiple effects of gradient coupling on network synchronization

Recent studies have shown that synchronizability of complex networks can be significantly improved by asymmetric couplings, and increase of coupling gradient is always in favor of network synchronization. Here we argue and demonstrate that, for typical complex networks, there usually exists an optimal coupling gradient under which the maximum network synchronizability is achieved. After this optimal value, increase of coupling gradient could deteriorate synchronization. We attribute the suppression of network synchronization at large gradient to the phenomenon of network breaking, and find that, in comparing with sparsely connected homogeneous networks, densely connected heterogeneous networks have the superiority of adopting large gradient. The findings are supported by indirect simulations of eigenvalue analysis and direct simulations of coupled nonidentical oscillator networks.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Auto Adaptive Identification Algorithm Based on Network Traffic Flow

Traffic identification is a key task for any Internet Service Provider (ISP) or network administrator. Machine learning method is an important researchmethod on traffic identification, while impact of the asymmetry router on the  traffic identification is considered, so this paper analyzes the impact of asymmetry routing on traffic identification, and proposes an effective method to decrease the impact, and experimental results show the auto adaptive algorithm can improve the traffic identification

Machine learning of plasma metabolome identifies biomarker panels for metabolic syndrome: Findings from the China Suboptimal Health Cohort

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been proposed as a clinically identifiable high-risk state for the prediction and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. As a promising “omics” technology, metabolomics provides an innovative strategy to gain a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology of MetS. The study aimed to systematically investigate the metabolic alterations in MetS and identify biomarker panels for the identification of MetS using machine learning methods. Methods: Nuclear magnetic resonance-based untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed on 1011 plasma samples (205 MetS patients and 806 healthy controls). Univariate and multivariate analyses were applied to identify metabolic biomarkers for MetS. Metabolic pathway enrichment analysis was performed to reveal the disturbed metabolic pathways related to MetS. Four machine learning algorithms, including support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), and logistic regression were used to build diagnostic models for MetS. Results: Thirteen significantly differential metabolites were identified and pathway enrichment revealed that arginine, proline, and glutathione metabolism are disturbed metabolic pathways related to MetS. The protein-metabolite-disease interaction network identified 38 proteins and 23 diseases are associated with 10 MetS-related metabolites. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the SVM, RF, KNN, and logistic regression models based on metabolic biomarkers were 0.887, 0.993, 0.914, and 0.755, respectively. Conclusions: The plasma metabolome provides a promising resource of biomarkers for the predictive diagnosis and targeted prevention of MetS. Alterations in amino acid metabolism play significant roles in the pathophysiology of MetS. The biomarker panels and metabolic pathways could be used as preventive targets in dealing with cardiometabolic diseases related to MetS

Disulfiram, a ferroptosis inducer, triggers lysosomal membrane permeabilization by up-regulating ROS in glioblastoma

Introduction: Disulfiram (DSF), a drug used in the treatment of alcoholism since 1948, has been shown to have antitumor properties in various tumor types possibly due to the induction of a type cell death, ferroptosis, and the sensitization of cells to chemo- and radiotherapy. In this study, we explored the antitumor properties of DSF in glioblastoma (GBM) and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: GBM cell lines U251 and LN229 were treated with DSF to assess cytotoxicity and activity of the molecule in vitro. Response of cells to treatment was examined using cell viability, flow cytometry, LDH release assay, immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Results: DSF inhibited cell growth of GBM U251 and LN229 cell lines in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometry demonstrated that DSF caused G0-G1 growth arrest. DSF treatment led to increased ROS and lipid peroxidation levels relative to controls indicating the involvement of ferroptosis. Furthermore, DSF triggered lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP), a critical mechanism promoting cell death, in a ROS-dependent manner. Finally, DSF enhanced radiosensitivity of U251 and LN229 cells. Discussion: Our findings indicated that DSF induced ferroptosis and LMP and enhanced the radiosensitivity of GBM cells. Therefore, DSF might have efficient antitumor activity in the treatment of human GBM.publishedVersio

Molecular Dynamics of Neutral Polymer Bonding Agent (NPBA) as Revealed by Solid-State NMR Spectroscopy

Neutral polymer bonding agent (NPBA) is one of the most promising polymeric materials, widely used in nitrate ester plasticized polyether (NEPE) propellant as bonding agent. The structure and dynamics of NPBA under different conditions of temperatures and sample processing are comprehensively investigated by solid state NMR (SSNMR). The results indicate that both the main chain and side chain of NPBA are quite rigid below its glass transition temperature (Tg). In contrast, above the Tg, the main chain remains relatively immobilized, while the side chains become highly flexible, which presumably weakens the interaction between bonding agent and the binder or oxidant fillers and in turn destabilizes the high modulus layer formed around the oxidant fillers. In addition, no obvious variation is found for the microstructure of NPBA upon aging treatment or soaking with acetone. These experimental results provide useful insights for understanding the structural properties of NPBA and its interaction with other constituents of solid composite propellants under different processing and working conditions.National Natural Science Foundation (China) (21120102038)National Natural Science Foundation (China) (21373265)National Natural Science Foundation (China) (21003154

Quality-of-life outcomes and unmet needs between ileal conduit and orthotopic ileal neobladder after radical cystectomy in a Chinese population: a 2-to-1 matched-pair analysis

Peri-operative outcomes. (DOCX 15 kb

(Tn5-)fish-based imaging in the era of 3D/spatial genomics

3D genomics mainly focuses on the 3D position of single genes at the cell level, while spatial genomics focuses more on the tissue level. In this exciting new era of 3D/spatial genomics, half-century old FISH and its derivative methods, including Tn5-FISH, play important roles. In this review, we introduce the Tn5-FISH we developed recently, and present six different applications published by our collaborators and us, based on (Tn5-)FISH, which can be either general BAC clone-based FISH or Tn5-FISH. In these interesting cases, (Tn5-)FISH demonstrated its vigorous ability of targeting sub-chromosomal structures across different diseases and cell lines (leukemia, mESCs (mouse embryonic stem cells), and differentiation cell lines). Serving as an effective tool to image genomic structures at the kilobase level, Tn5-FISH holds great potential to detect chromosomal structures in a high-throughput manner, thus bringing the dawn for new discoveries in the great era of 3D/spatial genomics

Differential and Prognostic Significance of HOXB7 in Gliomas

Diffuse glioma is the most common primary tumor of the central nervous system. The prognosis of the individual tumor is heavily dependent on its grade and subtype. Homeobox B7 (HOXB7), a member of the homeobox family, is abnormally overexpressed in a variety of tumors. However, its function in glioma is unclear. In this study, HOXB7 mRNA and protein expression levels were analyzed in 401 gliomas from the CGGA RNA-seq database (325 cases) and our hospital (76 cases). HOXB7 expression, at both mRNA and protein levels, were upregulated in glioblastoma (GBM) and isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) wild-type glioma tissues. Kaplan–Meier with log-rank test showed that patients with high HOXB7 expression had a poor prognosis (p < 0.0001). Moreover, HOXB7 protein was deleted in 90.9% (20/22) of oligodendrogliomas and 13.0% (3/23) of astrocytomas. The sensitivity and specificity of HOXB7 protein deletion in oligodendroglioma were 90.9% (20/22) and 87.0% (20/23), respectively. To verify the reliability of using HOXB7 in differentiating oligodendroglioma, we used 1p/19q fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing as a positive control. The Cohen’s kappa coefficient of HOXB7 immunohistochemistry staining and 1p/19q FISH testing was 0.778 (95% CI: 0.594–0.962, p < 0.001). In conclusion, HOXB7 is an independent predictor of poor prognosis in all grade gliomas. Additionally, HOXB7 is also a highly sensitive and specific indicator to differentiate oligodendroglioma from astrocytoma