Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Isotonic Normal Means with Unknown Variances

AbstractTo analyze the isotonic regression problem for normal means, it is usual to assume that all variances are known or unknown but equal. This paper then studies this problem in the case that there are no conditions imposed on the variances. Suppose that we have data drawn fromkindependent normal populations with unknown meansμi's and unknown variancesσ2i's, in which the means are restricted by a given partial ordering. This paper discusses some properties of the maximum likelihood estimates ofμi's andσ2i's under the restriction and proposes an algorithm for obtaining the estimates

Non-coding RNAs participate in the regulatory network of CLDN4 via ceRNA mediated miRNA evasion

AbstractThousands of genes have been well demonstrated to play important roles in cancer progression. As genes do not function in isolation, they can be grouped into “networks” based on their interactions. In this study, we discover a network regulating Claudin-4 in gastric cancer. We observe that Claudin-4 is up-regulated in gastric cancer and is associated with poor prognosis. Claudin-4 reinforce proliferation, invasion, and EMT in AGS, HGC-27, and SGC-7901 cells, which could be reversed by miR-596 and miR-3620-3p. In addition, lncRNA-KRTAP5-AS1 and lncRNA-TUBB2A could act as competing endogenous RNAs to affect the function of Claudin-4. Our results suggest that non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulatory network of Claudin-4. As such, non-coding RNAs should be considered as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets against gastric cancer.</jats:p

Proizvodnja β-fruktofuranozidaze s pomoću bakterije Arthrobacter sp. i primjena tog enzima u pretvorbi steviozida i rebaudiozida A

Arthrobacter sp. 10137 has been used to produce β-fructofuranosidase (FFase). Sucrose and corn steep powder in an optimized ratio of 10:1 were the best carbon and nitrogen sources for enzyme production in a shake flask. The maximum FFase activity was 26.69 U/mL after 22.5 h in batch culture, and the crude FFase, obtained by ultrafiltration and (NH4)2SO4 fractionation, was purified about 7-fold as measured by specific activity from the crude culture filtrate. The FFase was specific for introduction of a fructose molecule at the C19 position on both the stevioside and rebaudioside A, with high transfructosylating activity of 65 % after 15 h of incubation.U proizvodnji enzima β-fruktofuranozidaze upotrijebljen je soj bakterije Arthrobacter sp. 10137. Kao najbolji izvori ugljika i dušika za proizvodnju enzima u pokusu na tresilici upotrijebljeni su saharoza i kukuruzni ekstrakt u omjeru 10:1. Maksimalna aktivnost β-fruktofuranozidaze od 26,69 U/mL postignuta je šaržnim uzgojem nakon 22,5 h. Sirovi enzim β-fruktofuranozidaza, dobiven ultrafiltracijom i frakcioniranjem s (NH4)2SO4, pročišćen je 7 puta, što je potvrđeno usporedbom specifične aktivnosti pročišćenog enzima s filtratom sirovoga enzima. Utvrđeno je da je dobiveni enzim specifičan za uvođenje molekule fruktoze na poziciju C19 steviozida i rebaudiozida A, te da je aktivnost transfruktozilaze nakon 15 sati inkubacije iznosila 65 %

Erythromycin Enhances CD4+Foxp3+ Regulatory T-Cell Responses in a Rat Model of Smoke-Induced Lung Inflammation

Heavy smoking can induce airway inflammation and emphysema. Macrolides can modulate inflammation and effector T-cell response in the lungs. However, there is no information on whether erythromycin can modulate regulatory T-cell (Treg) response. This study is aimed at examining the impact of erythromycin on Treg response in the lungs in a rat model of smoking-induced emphysema. Male Wistar rats were exposed to normal air or cigarette smoking daily for 12 weeks and treated by gavage with 100 mg/kg of erythromycin or saline daily beginning at the forth week for nine weeks. The lung inflammation and the numbers of inflammatory infiltrates in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were characterized. The frequency, the number of Tregs, and the levels of Foxp3 expression in the lungs and IL-8, IL-35, and TNF-α in BALF were determined by flow cytometry, RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Treatment with erythromycin reduced smoking-induced inflammatory infiltrates, the levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in the BALF and lung damages but increased the numbers of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs and the levels of Foxp3 transcription in the lungs, accompanied by increased levels of IL-35 in the BALF of rats. Our novel data indicated that erythromycin enhanced Treg responses, associated with the inhibition of smoking-induced inflammation in the lungs of rats

Peranan Pendidikan Dalam Perubahan Masyarakat

Social classification is always happenned in the society calledby social stratification and determine someone\u27s social class. There is a strict or curt, then to determine someone\u27s social class depends on the parents or the child\u27s birth. And it happened in India where the society consists of levels or castes or in the kingdom state, for example if wants to be a king, he must be the king\u27s child. While in the opensociety such as a state that adheres to a democracy system, to determine someone\u27s social class with any ways, means that there is always a change for someone\u27s social class in a society, namely the bottom, to the middle or up or reverse by using an objective method, subjective and reputation. Then in this open society, the education role is very influential toward the social class change in the society. That is why the education is hoped to bring the society to a change, even their incomeresult or their position in the society, which is certainly give the cognitive and psychomotoric ability or education is able to produce an inteligent human beings also expert in his field. In other words, education is hoped to create humans development that is finally able to make a change in the society, even social class change or a change from the traditional society to the modern one

Proposed Modification of Nodal Staging as an Alternative to the Seventh Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Tumor-Node-Metastasis Staging System Improves the Prognostic Prediction in the Resected Esophageal Squamous-Cell Carcinoma

Introduction:The 7th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor-node-metastasis staging system for esophageal cancer defined N classification based on the number of metastatic lymph nodes (LNs). However, this classification might neglect the extent of LNs metastasis. This study aimed to revise N classification based on the extent of LNs metastasis and propose a modification to the current AJCC staging system for better representing the prognostic characteristics of Chinese esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (ESCC).Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 1993 ESCC patients who underwent curative resection. The proposed N categories based on the number of LNs metastasis stations were compared with the current staging system by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Homogeneity, discriminatory ability, and monotonicity of gradients of two staging systems were compared using likelihood ratio χ2 statistics and Akaike information criterion calculations.Results:The survival differences were not significant for N2 versus N3 category (p = 0.231) and stages IIIB versus IIIC (p = 0.713) based on the 7th AJCC staging system. When the modified staging system was adopted, the survival difference for N2 versus N3 and IIIB versus IIIC could be well discriminated. Statistical analysis showed that the modified staging system had higher likelihood ratio χ2 scores and smaller Akaike information criterion values than the 7th AJCC staging system, which represented the optimum prognostic stratification.Conclusions:The modified staging system with the revised N categories based on the number of LNs metastasis stations better predicts the survival of Chinese ESCC population than the 7th AJCC staging system. Further studies are required to confirm this result

Gigahertz-rate-switchable wavefront shaping through integration of metasurfaces with photonic integrated circuit

Achieving spatiotemporal control of light at high-speeds presents immense possibilities for various applications in communication, computation, metrology, and sensing. The integration of subwavelength metasurfaces and optical waveguides offers a promising approach to manipulate light across multiple degrees of freedom at high-speed in compact photonic integrated circuit (PICs) devices. Here, we demonstrate a gigahertz-rate-switchable wavefront shaping by integrating metasurface, lithium niobite on insulator (LNOI) photonic waveguide and electrodes within a PIC device. As proofs of concept, we showcase the generation of a focus beam with reconfigurable arbitrary polarizations, switchable focusing with lateral focal positions and focal length, orbital angular momentum light beams (OAMs) as well as Bessel beams. Our measurements indicate modulation speeds of up to gigahertz rate. This integrated platform offers a versatile and efficient means of controlling light field at high-speed within a compact system, paving the way for potential applications in optical communication, computation, sensing, and imaging