698 research outputs found
On a New Weighted Hilbert Inequality
It is shown that a weighted Hilbert inequality for double series can be established by introducing a proper weight function. Thus, a quite sharp result of the classical Hilbert inequality for double series is obtained. And a similar result for the Hilbert integral inequality is also proved. Some applications are considered
Digital Inequality in the Use of Mobile Business Supporting Features
Today, Internet has become an essential part of peoples’ daily lives. As the advancement of Internet technology, the phenomenon of digital inequality has received substantial attention. This study extended research on digital inequality to the field of mobile business. The paper aimed to investigate the impact of digital inequality in the use of mobile business supporting features in China. To address this, an empirical study with 258 subjects was carried out. The results indicated that perceived ease of use had a significant positive effect on the use of mobile business supporting features, while perceived risk had a significant negative effect on the use of mobile business supporting features. Furthermore, this study also revealed that socio-economically disadvantaged individuals were more likely to be influenced by perceived risks, while socio-economically advantaged individuals were more likely to be influenced by the utilitarian motivations
SUVH1, a Su(var)3-9 family member, promotes the expression of genes targeted by DNA methylation.
Transposable elements are found throughout the genomes of all organisms. Repressive marks such as DNA methylation and histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) methylation silence these elements and maintain genome integrity. However, how silencing mechanisms are themselves regulated to avoid the silencing of genes remains unclear. Here, an anti-silencing factor was identified using a forward genetic screen on a reporter line that harbors a LUCIFERASE (LUC) gene driven by a promoter that undergoes DNA methylation. SUVH1, a Su(var)3-9 homolog, was identified as a factor promoting the expression of the LUC gene. Treatment with a cytosine methylation inhibitor completely suppressed the LUC expression defects of suvh1, indicating that SUVH1 is dispensable for LUC expression in the absence of DNA methylation. SUVH1 also promotes the expression of several endogenous genes with promoter DNA methylation. However, the suvh1 mutation did not alter DNA methylation levels at the LUC transgene or on a genome-wide scale; thus, SUVH1 functions downstream of DNA methylation. Histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) trimethylation was reduced in suvh1; in contrast, H3K9 methylation levels remained unchanged. This work has uncovered a novel, anti-silencing function for a member of the Su(var)3-9 family that has previously been associated with silencing through H3K9 methylation
Azadiradione exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects, alleviates dopaminergic neurodegeneration and reduces α-synuclein levels in MPTP-induced mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Purpose: To determine the effects of azadiradione (AZD), a tetracyclic triterpenoid, in 1-methyl-4- phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)–induced experimental rodent model of Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Methods: C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected MPTP at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight in saline (4 times at 2-h intervals). Azadiradione (AZD) at doses of 12.5, 25 or 50 mg/kg were administered to separate groups of mice via oral gavage for 6 days prior to MPTP injection.
Results: Azadiradione (AZD) reduced loss of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons. TH-positive counts increased to 91.44 % on treatment with 50 mg/kg AZD. Significantly (p < 0.05) down-regulated α-synuclein levels were seen following MPTP induction and AZD administration. Expressions of Bax, Bcl-2 and cleaved-caspase-3 were significantly downregulated (p < 0.05). Treatment with AZD inhibited the translocation of Cyt-C to the mitochondria, thereby preventing activation of apoptotic cascade. Oxidative stress induced by MPTP was significantly reduced by AZD via up-regulation of glutathione levels and SOD1/HO-1 expression. Azadiradione, at a dose of 50 mg/kg, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced ROS levels from 210.6 19.23%, and also reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines.
Conclusion: These results indicate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuroprotective properties of AZD in mice. Thus, AZD is a potential candidate drug for the management of PD. However, further studies are required to ascertain this
APETALA2 antagonizes the transcriptional activity of AGAMOUS in regulating floral stem cells in Arabidopsis thaliana.
APETALA2 (AP2) is best known for its function in the outer two floral whorls, where it specifies the identities of sepals and petals by restricting the expression of AGAMOUS (AG) to the inner two whorls in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we describe a role of AP2 in promoting the maintenance of floral stem cell fate, not by repressing AG transcription, but by antagonizing AG activity in the center of the flower. We performed a genetic screen with ag-10 plants, which exhibit a weak floral determinacy defect, and isolated a mutant with a strong floral determinacy defect. This mutant was found to harbor another mutation in AG and was named ag-11. We performed a genetic screen in the ag-11 background to isolate mutations that suppress the floral determinacy defect. Two suppressor mutants were found to harbor mutations in AP2. While AG is known to shut down the expression of the stem cell maintenance gene WUSCHEL (WUS) to terminate floral stem cell fate, AP2 promotes the expression of WUS. AP2 does not repress the transcription of AG in the inner two whorls, but instead counteracts AG activity
State Estimation of Wireless Sensor Networks in the Presence of Data Packet Drops and Non-Gaussian Noise
Distributed Kalman filter approaches based on the maximum correntropy
criterion have recently demonstrated superior state estimation performance to
that of conventional distributed Kalman filters for wireless sensor networks in
the presence of non-Gaussian impulsive noise. However, these algorithms
currently fail to take account of data packet drops. The present work addresses
this issue by proposing a distributed maximum correntropy Kalman filter that
accounts for data packet drops (i.e., the DMCKF-DPD algorithm). The
effectiveness and feasibility of the algorithm are verified by simulations
conducted in a wireless sensor network with intermittent observations due to
data packet drops under a non-Gaussian noise environment. Moreover, the
computational complexity of the DMCKF-DPD algorithm is demonstrated to be
moderate compared with that of a conventional distributed Kalman filter, and we
provide a sufficient condition to ensure the convergence of the proposed
algorithm
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