Hybrid GRU-CNN Bilinear Parameters Initialization for Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm

The Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA), a pivotal paradigm in the realm of variational quantum algorithms (VQAs), offers promising computational advantages for tackling combinatorial optimization problems. Well-defined initial circuit parameters, responsible for preparing a parameterized quantum state encoding the solution, play a key role in optimizing QAOA. However, classical optimization techniques encounter challenges in discerning optimal parameters that align with the optimal solution. In this work, we propose a hybrid optimization approach that integrates Gated Recurrent Units (GRU), Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and a bilinear strategy as an innovative alternative to conventional optimizers for predicting optimal parameters of QAOA circuits. GRU serves to stochastically initialize favorable parameters for depth-1 circuits, while CNN predicts initial parameters for depth-2 circuits based on the optimized parameters of depth-1 circuits. To assess the efficacy of our approach, we conducted a comparative analysis with traditional initialization methods using QAOA on Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi graph instances, revealing superior optimal approximation ratios. We employ the bilinear strategy to initialize QAOA circuit parameters at greater depths, with reference parameters obtained from GRU-CNN optimization. This approach allows us to forecast parameters for a depth-12 QAOA circuit, yielding a remarkable approximation ratio of 0.998 across 10 qubits, which surpasses that of the random initialization strategy and the PPN2 method at a depth of 10. The proposed hybrid GRU-CNN bilinear optimization method significantly improves the effectiveness and accuracy of parameters initialization, offering a promising iterative framework for QAOA that elevates its performance

Dermatophagoides farinae microRNAs released to external environments via exosomes regulate inflammation-related gene expression in human bronchial epithelial cells

BackgroundDermatophagoides farinae (DFA) is an important species of house dust mites (HDMs) that causes allergic diseases. Previous studies have focused on allergens with protein components to explain the allergic effect of HDMs; however, there is little knowledge on the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the allergic effect of HDMs. This study aimed to unravel the new mechanism of dust mite sensitization from the perspective of cross-species transport of extracellular vesicles-encapsulated miRNAs from HDMs.MethodsSmall RNA (sRNA) sequencing was performed to detect miRNAs expression profiles from DFA, DFA-derived exosomes and DFA culture supernatants. A quantitative fluorescent real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was used to detect miRNAs expression in dust specimens. BEAS-2B cells endocytosed exosomes were modeled in vitro to detect miRNAs from DFA and the expression of related inflammatory factors. Representative dfa-miR-276-3p and dfa-novel-miR2 were transfected into BEAS-2B cells, and then differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed by RNA sequencing. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and Gene Ontology (GO) terms enrichment analyses were performed on the first 300 nodes of DEGs.ResultssRNA sequencing identified 42 conserved miRNAs and 66 novel miRNAs in DFA, DFA-derived exosomes, and DFA culture supernatants. A homology analysis was performed on the top 18 conserved miRNAs with high expression levels. The presence of dust mites and miRNAs from HDMs in living environment were also validated. Following uptake of DFA-derived exosomes by BEAS-2B cells, exosomes transported miRNAs from DFA to target cells and produced pro-inflammatory effects in corresponding cells. RNA sequencing identified DEGs in dfa-miR-276-3p and dfa-novel-miR2 transfected BEAS-2B cells. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed the role of exosomes with cross-species transporting of DFA miRNAs in inflammatory signaling pathways, such as JAK-STAT signaling pathway, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and IL-6-mediated signaling pathway.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate the miRNAs expression profiles in DFA for the first time. The DFA miRNAs are delivered into living environments via exosomes, and engulfed by human bronchial epithelial cells, and cross-species regulation may contribute to inflammation-related processes

A multi-discretization scheme for topology optimization based on the parameterized level set method

In the framework of the parameterized level set method, the structural analysis and topology representation can be implemented in a decoupling way. A parameterized level set function, typically, using radial basis functions (RBFs), is a linear combination of a set of prescribed RBFs and coefficients. Once the coefficients are determined, the theoretical level set function is determined. Exploiting this inherent property, we propose a multi-discretization method based on the parameterized level set method. In this approach, a coarse discretization is applied to do the structural analysis whereas another dense discretization is employed to represent the structure topology. As a result, both efficient analysis and high-resolution topological design are available. Note that the dense discretization only accounts for a more precise and smooth description of the theoretical level set function rather than introduce extra design freedom or incur interference to structural analysis or the optimization process. In other words, this decoupling way will not add to the computational burden of structural analysis or result in non-uniqueness of converged results for a particular analysis setting. Numerical examples in both two-dimension and three-dimension show effectiveness and applicability of the proposed method

Exosomes Derived from Dermatophagoides farinae Induce Allergic Airway Inflammation

ABSTRACT House dust mites (HDMs) are a major source of indoor allergens that cause airway allergic disease. Dermatophagoides farinae, a predominant species of HDMs in China, has demonstrated pathogenic role in allergic disorders. Exosomes derived from human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid have been strongly associated with allergic respiratory diseases progression. However, the pathogenic role of D. farinae-derived exosomes in allergic airway inflammation has remained unclear until now. Here, D. farinae was stirred overnight in phosphate-buffered saline, and the supernatant was used to extract exosomes by ultracentrifugation. Then, shotgun liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and small RNA sequencing were performed to identify proteins and microRNAs contained in D. farinae exosomes. Immunoblotting, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated the specific immunoreactivity of D. farinae-specific serum IgE antibody against D. farinae exosomes, and D. farinae exosomes were found to induce allergic airway inflammation in a mouse model. In addition, D. farinae exosomes invaded 16-HBE bronchial epithelial cells and NR8383 alveolar macrophages to release the inflammation-related cytokines interleukin-33 (IL-33), thymic stromal lymphopoietin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and IL-6, and comparative transcriptomic analysis of 16-HBE and NR8383 cells revealed that immune pathways and immune cytokines/chemokines were involved in the sensitization of D. farinae exosomes. Taken together, our data demonstrate that D. farinae exosomes are immunogenic and may induce allergic airway inflammation via bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. IMPORTANCE Dermatophagoides farinae, a predominant species of house dust mites in China, has displayed pathogenic role in allergic disorders, and exosomes derived from human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid have been strongly associated with allergic respiratory diseases progression. However, the pathogenic role of D. farinae-derived exosomes in allergic airway inflammation has remained unclear until now. This study, for the first time, extracted exosomes from D. farinae, and sequenced their protein cargo and microRNAs using shotgun liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and small RNA sequencing. D. farinae-derived exosomes trigger allergen-specific immune responses and present satisfactory immunogenicity, as revealed by immunoblotting, Western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and may induce allergic airway inflammation via bronchial epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages. Our data provide insights into the mechanisms of allergic airway inflammation caused with D. farinae-derived exosomes and the treatment of house dust mite-induced allergic airway inflammation

Research Progress in Ordered Nanomaterials via Magnetic Field Induced Preparation

Ordered nanomaterials are widely concerned for their excellent performance in mechanics, electricity, optics and magnetism. Magnetic field induced self-assembly is widely used for the preparation of ordered nanomaterials, which has the advantages of indirect contact with the reaction system, controllable adjustment of magnetic field. By using this preparation method, it can realize the alignment of nanomaterials without affecting the comprehensive performance of each component in the system. In this paper, we reviewed magnetic field induced self-assembly of metal nanomaterials, oxide nanomaterials and nanocomposites. We also looked forward to the future research direction

Research progress of preservative coating of natural polymer materials

The planting area and output of fruits and vegetables in China are the first in the world. However, due to the imperfection of storage and transportation fresh-keeping technology, the annual loss of fruits and vegetables in China is serious. Rational use of fresh-keeping coating is of great significance for improving the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. Natural polymer preservative coating is widely concerned in the field of fruits and vegetables due to its wide sources, degradability, low price and good film-forming ability. In this paper, the types of natural polymer preservative coating were reviewed, and its application in the freshkeeping of fruits and vegetables was summarized and prospected, so as to provide Reference for further research

The time and energy signals, counter plateau, energy resolution and gas gains performances of a new kind of micro-pattern gaseous detector-Micromegas

In present paper, a new Micromegas detector is developed, and its time and energy signals are obtained in the figure form. The rising time of fast time signal is less than 2 ns due to the very fast collection of avalanche electrons, and the rising time of the energy pulse is about 100 ns, which is corresponding to the total collecting time of the electrons and ions in the avalanche process. The counter plateau, energy resolution and the gas gains of the detector have been compared with other groups' experimental results and the Garfield simulation result

Genomic sequencing identifies a few mutations driving the independent origin of primary liver tumors in a chronic hepatitis murine model

With the development of high-throughput genomic analysis, sequencing a mouse primary cancer model provides a new opportunity to understand fundamental mechanisms of tumorigenesis and progression. Here, we characterized the genomic variations in a hepatitis-related primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mouse model. A total of 12 tumor sections and four adjacent non-tumor tissues from four mice were used for whole exome and/or whole genome sequencing and validation of genotyping. The functions of the mutated genes in tumorigenesis were studied by analyzing their mutation frequency and expression in clinical HCC samples. A total of 46 single nucleotide variations (SNVs) were detected within coding regions. All SNVs were only validated in the sequencing samples, except the Hras mutation, which was shared by three tumors in the M1 mouse. However, the mutated allele frequency varied from high (0.4) to low (0.1), and low frequency (0.1–0.2) mutations existed in almost every tumor. Together with a diploid karyotype and an equal distribution pattern of these SNVs within the tumor, these results suggest the existence of subclones within tumors. A total of 26 mutated genes were mapped to 17 terms describing different molecular and cellular functions. All 41 human homologs of the mutated genes were mutated in the clinical samples, and some mutations were associated with clinical outcomes, suggesting a high probability of cancer driver genes in the spontaneous tumors of the mouse model. Genomic sequencing shows that a few mutations can drive the independent origin of primary liver tumors and reveals high heterogeneity among tumors in the early stage of hepatitis-related primary hepatocellular carcinoma