Some Weighted Sum Formulas for Multiple Zeta, Hurwitz Zeta, and Alternating Multiple Zeta Values

We perform a further investigation for the multiple zeta values and their variations and generalizations in this paper. By making use of the method of the generating functions and some connections between the higher-order trigonometric functions and the Lerch zeta function, we explicitly evaluate some weighted sums of the multiple zeta, Hurwitz zeta, and alternating multiple zeta values in terms of the Bernoulli and Euler polynomials and numbers. It turns out that various known results are deduced as special cases

Evaluation Of Electrostatic Discharge (Esd) Characteristics For Bottom Contact Organic Thin Film Transistor

Electrostatic discharge (ESD) performance of the bottom-contact organic thin-film transistors (OTFT) is investigated experimentally for the first time using the transmission line pulsing technique. The failure currents and leakage currents of OTFTs having different channel lengths and finger structures are characterized. Physical insights and measured data are offered to explain the failure of these devices at relatively low ESD stress level. © 2013 IEEE

Effect of cavity parameters on the propagation of shock wave generated by underwater pulsed discharge

In order to optimize the shock wave generated by underwater pulsed discharge, the relationship between cavity parameters and shock wave propagation is further studied by three-dimensional numerical simulation. According to the sound pressure field distribution obtained by the simulation, the reflection of the shock wave by the reactor wall can be clearly observed. The reflected pressure wave will reach its maximum value and then gradually attenuate. The study also found that when the deposition energy is constant, when the initial radius of the arc channel increases from 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm, the maximum amplitude of the shock wave will increase from 0.22 × 105 Pa to 1.70 × 105 Pa. When the initial radius of the arc channel is constant, as the deposition energy increases, the time to radiate the shock wave becomes earlier, and the maximum amplitude of the shock wave will increase. This means that a higher pressure can be generated by increasing the input of the deposition energy. When the deposition energy is constant, a higher-pressure level can be obtained by increasing the initial radius of the channel. The excitation frequency also affects the shock wave amplitude. Higher excitation frequency can obtain higher pressure amplitude. These methods will increase the efficiency of underwater pulse discharge treatment of bacteria

Recent Advances in Biotransformation of Saponins

Saponins are a class of glycosides whose aglycones can be either triterpenes or helical spirostanes. It is commonly recognized that these active ingredients are widely found in various kinds of advanced plants. Rare saponins, a special type of the saponins class, are able to enhance bidirectional immune regulation and memory, and have anti-lipid oxidation, anticancer, and antifatigue capabilities, but they are infrequent in nature. Moreover, the in vivo absorption rate of saponins is exceedingly low, which restricts their functions. Under such circumstances, the biotransformation of these ingredients from normal saponins—which are not be easily adsorbed by human bodies—is preferred nowadays. This process has multiple advantages, including strong specificity, mild conditions, and fewer byproducts. In this paper, the biotransformation of natural saponins—such as ginsenoside, gypenoside, glycyrrhizin, saikosaponin, dioscin, timosaponin, astragaloside and ardipusilloside—through microorganisms (Aspergillus sp., lactic acid bacteria, bacilli, and intestinal microbes) will be reviewed and prospected

Enterogenic Stenotrophomonas maltophilia migrates to the mammary gland to induce mastitis by activating the calcium-ROS-AMPK-mTOR-autophagy pathway

Abstract Background Mastitis is an inflammatory disease of the mammary gland that has serious economic impacts on the dairy industry and endangers food safety. Our previous study found that the body has a gut/rumen-mammary gland axis and that disturbance of the gut/rumen microbiota could result in ‘gastroenterogenic mastitis’. However, the mechanism has not been fully clarified. Recently, we found that long-term feeding of a high-concentrate diet induced mastitis in dairy cows, and the abundance of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) was significantly increased in both the rumen and milk microbiota. Accordingly, we hypothesized that ‘gastroenterogenic mastitis’ can be induced by the migration of endogenous gut bacteria to the mammary gland. Therefore, this study investigated the mechanism by which enterogenic S. maltophilia induces mastitis. Results First, S. maltophilia was labelled with superfolder GFP and administered to mice via gavage. The results showed that treatment with S. maltophilia promoted the occurrence of mastitis and increased the permeability of the blood-milk barrier, leading to intestinal inflammation and intestinal leakage. Furthermore, tracking of ingested S. maltophilia revealed that S. maltophilia could migrate from the gut to the mammary gland and induce mastitis. Subsequently, mammary gland transcriptome analysis showed that the calcium and AMPK signalling pathways were significantly upregulated in mice treated with S. maltophilia. Then, using mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMECs), we verified that S. maltophilia induces mastitis through activation of the calcium-ROS-AMPK-mTOR-autophagy pathway. Conclusions In conclusion, the results showed that enterogenic S. maltophilia could migrate from the gut to the mammary gland via the gut-mammary axis and activate the calcium-ROS-AMPK-mTOR-autophagy pathway to induce mastitis. Targeting the gut-mammary gland axis may also be an effective method to treat mastitis

Differential conductance as a promising approach for rapid DNA sequencing with nanopore-embedded electrodes

We propose an approach for nanopore-based DNA sequencing using characteristic transverse differential conductance. Molecular dynamics and electron transport simulations show that thetransverse differential conductance during the translocation of DNA through the nanopore isdistinguishable enough for the detection of the base sequence and can withstand electrical noisecaused by DNA structure fluctuation. Our findings demonstrate several advantages of the transverseconductance approach, which may lead to important applications in rapid genome sequencing

Nonenveloped Avian Reoviruses Released with Small Extracellular Vesicles Are Highly Infectious

Vesicle-encapsulated nonenveloped viruses are a recently recognized alternate form of nonenveloped viruses that can avoid immune detection and potentially increase systemic transmission. Avian orthoreoviruses (ARVs) are the leading cause of various disease conditions among birds and poultry. However, whether ARVs use cellular vesicle trafficking routes for egress and cell-to-cell transmission is still poorly understood. We demonstrated that fusogenic ARV-infected quail cells generated small (~100 nm diameter) extracellular vesicles (EVs) that contained electron-dense material when observed by transmission electron microscope. Cryo-EM tomography indicated that these vesicles did not contain ARV virions or core particles, but the EV fractions of OptiPrep gradients did contain a small percent of the ARV virions released from cells. Western blotting of detergent-treated EVs revealed that soluble virus proteins and the fusogenic p10 FAST protein were contained within the EVs. Notably, virus particles mixed with the EVs were up to 50 times more infectious than virions alone. These results suggest that EVs and perhaps fusogenic FAST-EVs could contribute to ARV virulence.Other UBCNon UBCReviewedFacultyResearche

Differentiated roles of Lifshitz transition on thermodynamics and superconductivity in La2-xSrxCuO4.

The effect of Lifshitz transition on thermodynamics and superconductivity in hole-doped cuprates has been heavily debated but remains an open question. In particular, an observed peak of electronic specific heat is proposed to originate from fluctuations of a putative quantum critical point p* (e.g., the termination of pseudogap at zero temperature), which is close to but distinguishable from the Lifshitz transition in overdoped La-based cuprates where the Fermi surface transforms from hole-like to electron-like. Here we report an in situ angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy study of three-dimensional Fermi surfaces in La2-xSrxCuO4 thin films (x = 0.06 to 0.35). With accurate kz dispersion quantification, the said Lifshitz transition is determined to happen within a finite range around x = 0.21. Normal state electronic specific heat, calculated from spectroscopy-derived band parameters, reveals a doping-dependent profile with a maximum at x = 0.21 that agrees with previous thermodynamic microcalorimetry measurements. The account of the specific heat maximum by underlying band structures excludes the need for additionally dominant contribution from the quantum fluctuations at p*. A d-wave superconducting gap smoothly across the Lifshitz transition demonstrates the insensitivity of superconductivity to the dramatic density of states enhancement