Two-stage Supply Chain Model with Uncertain Demand

Based on uncertainty theory, a two-stage supply chain model is presented, where the customers’ demands are characterized as uncertain variables. The objective is to minimize the combined costs incurred in the manufacturing and logistics phases. When these uncertain variables are linear, the objective function and constraints can be converted into crisp equivalents, then can be solved by traditional methods. An example is given to illustrate the model and the converting method

The interaction between the PARP10 protein and the NS1 protein of H5N1 AIV and its effect on virus replication

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>During the process that AIV infect hosts, the NS1 protein can act on hosts, change corresponding signal pathways, promote the translation of virus proteins and result in virus replication.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In our study, we found that PARP domain and Glu-rich region of PARP10 interacted with NS1, and the presence of NS1 could induce PARP10 migrate from cytoplasm to nucleus. NS1 high expression could reduce the endogenous PARP10 expression. Cell cycle analysis showed that with inhibited PARP10 expression, NS1 could induce cell arrest in G2-M stage, and the percentage of cells in G2-M stage rise from the previous 10%-45%, consistent with the cell proliferation result. Plague forming unit measurement showed that inhibited PARP10 expression could help virus replication.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In a word, our results showed that NS1 acts on host cells and PARP10 plays a regulating role in virus replication.</p

Continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide plus prednisone in the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma with severe complications

Background/objectiveWe retrospectively analyzed the effective and safety of continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide combined with prednisone (CP) in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients with severe complications.MethodsA total of 130 RRMM patients with severe complications were enrolled in this study, among which 41 patients were further given bortezomib, lenalidomide, thalidomide or ixazomib on the basis of CP regimen (CP+X group). The response to therapy, adverse events (AEs), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were recorded.ResultsAmong the 130 patients, 128 patients received therapeutic response assessment, with a complete remission rate (CRR) and objective response rate (ORR) of 4.7% and 58.6%, respectively. The median OS and PFS time were (38.0 ± 3.6) and (22.9±5.2) months, respectively. The most common AEs were hyperglycemia (7.7%), pneumonia (6.2%) and Cushing’s syndrome (5.4%). In addition, we found the pro-BNP/BNP level was obviously decreased while the LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction) was increased in RRMM patients following CP treatment as compared with those before treatment. Furthermore, CP+X regimen further improved the CRR compared with that before receiving the CP+X regimen (24.4% vs. 2.4%, P=0.007). Also, both the OS and PFS rates were significantly elevated in patients received CP+X regimen following CP regimen as compared with the patients received CP regimen only.ConclusionThis study demonstrates the metronomic chemotherapy regimen of CP is effective to RRMM patients with severe complications

Competition between liquid crystallinity and block copolymer self-assembly in core-shell rod-coil block copolymers

Core-shell type of architecture revealed the subtle competition between liquid-crystalline ordering and block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly in a rod-coil BCP system. Block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly offers a simple and controllable means to obtain nanostructures with typical orders on the scale of 5-100 nm. 1 Liquid crystals (LCs) are one class of soft materials that undergo self-organization at 1-10 nm. 2 Incorporating LCs as one of the blocks in a BCP results in LCBCPs that possess both structural hierarchy and functionality. 3 One unique type of LCBCP is the rodcoil BCP (RCBCP), in which one block adopts a rigid rod-like conformation. 4 Several factors affect the thermodynamic behavior of these systems, including c (Flory-Huggins parameter), N (degree of polymerization), f (volume fraction of each block), the order parameter of the macromolecular mesogen, and the area per junction of the rod (A rod ) and the coil (A coil ). 4 Novel self-assembling behaviors with complex phase structures different from the coil-coil systems have been observed. 4 In general, at symmetric volume fractions, lamellar morphology is prevalent. At asymmetric volume fractions, morphologies with highly curved interfaces such as sphere (S) or gyroid (G) have only been observed in low molecular mass rod-coil systems. 4c,5 As the molecular weight of the rod increases, the rigid rod becomes incompatible with the curved inter-material dividing surface (IMDS) dictated by S or G phases; there thus exists competition between liquid crystallinity of the rods and BCP self-assembly. Most of the reported work showed that liquid crystallinity dominated the phase behavior and the S or G phase was often degenerated into structures with planar IMDS such as zig-zag, arrow-head, mushroom, perforated lamellae, etc. 4a-d This is because the interaction between the rods is relatively strong and LC ordering dominates the ordering process. Thus, we hypothesize that in a RCBCP system with relatively weak LC interactions, BCP self-assembly could dominate the overall phase structure. In order to test this hypothesis, we designed a core-shell RCBCP using mesogen-jacketed LC polymers (MJLCP). Side-attaching LC mesogens directly along the polymer backbone leads to MJLCP systems within which the strong interactions between the mesogens and backbone force the backbone to adopt an extended chain conformation and the polymer chains arrange in the form of macromolecular columns. 6 Further linking MJLCPs with coil chains leads to MJ-RCBCPs. Compared to other types of rod-forming macromolecules such as polypeptides, 7 LC/conjugated oligomers, 8 and poly(hexyl isocyanate) (PHIC) and it derivatives, 4a using MJLCP as the rod to form RCBCP is advantageous because the length, diameter and the surface chemistry of the macromolecular rods can be readily controlled. 9 The molecular weight of the rod dictates the rod length, and the mesogen structure determines the rod diameter and surface chemistry. By using relatively long soft tails in the molecular design, a core-shell rod can be obtained with an aromatic core and an aliphatic shell. (Scheme 1a). Herein we report that, in this system, the shell decouples the strong rod-rod interactions and influences the competition between liquid crystallinity of the rods and BCP self-assembly, which in turn, leads to a variety of new hierarchical structures. The unique role of the shell in the RCBCP structure formation is two fold: first, in the symmetric BCPs, both BCP self-assembly and LC ordering dictate planar IMDS. In this case, the shell enhances the LC ordering and novel columnar-hexagonalin-lamellar (F H -in-L) hierarchical nanostructure was observed. Second, in the asymmetric BCPs, since BCP self-assembly and LC ordering dictate different types of IMDS (curved vs. planar), the shell decreased rod-rod interaction and BCP self-assembly became the dominant factor. Consequently, LC symmetry breaks (from F H to F N ) to compromise with the stronger BCP self-assembly process. Poly[styrene-block-{3,5-bis[(4 0 -((4 00 -tetradecanoylbenzoyl)oxy)benzoyl)oxy]styrene}] (PS-b-PTBOS) where the mesogen is a bent-core LC (BCLC), was chosen as the model RCBCP system (Scheme 1b, see ESI † for the detailed experimental procedure). 9 BCLCs exhibit unique phase structures and possess excellent electro-optical properties. 10 In the present case, the five-ring mesogen ensures a rigid core of the rod with a relatively large diameter while the 14-C tails of the mesogen render a relatively thick &apos;&apos;shell&apos;&apos;. A series of BCPs have been synthesized using atomic transfer radical polymerization, representing the symmetric, PS-rich and PTBOS-rich BCPs. On the basis of differential scanning calorimetry and polarized light microscopy experiments, all these samples show LC behavior with the isotropization temperature of 240 C (see ESI †). Small-angle X-ray scattering and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (SAXS, WAXD) experiments were conducted on the sheared BCP samples, and Scheme 1c shows the shear geometry consisting of the flow direction (FD), constraint direction (CD), and load direction (LD). For the symmetric BCPS, (i.e. PS 202 -b-PTBOS 35 f PTBOS 0.58)

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Development of internal fine structure in stretched rubber vulcanizates

Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) pattern and tensile stress during relaxation of stretched rubber vulcanizates (synthetic polyisoprene) were measured simultaneously at room temperature and at 0 °C. The samples were quickly stretched to the prefixed strain and then allowed to relax for 1 h. In every SAXS pattern, the intensity distribution was elongated along the equator, indicating the formation of structures elongated in the stretching direction. The so-called two-spots pattern corresponding to the long period of stacked lamellar crystals did not appear even when the critical strain to induce crystallization was exceeded. On the other hand, even below the critical strain, additional development of equatorial streaks was detected in the differential SAXS patterns. This result suggests the growth of the density fluctuation elongated in the stretching direction, which is not directly related to strain-induced crystallization

First record of the subgenus Damaeus (Paradamaeus) Bulanova-Zachvatkina (Oribatida, Damaeidae) from China, with description of a new species

A new species Damaeus (Paradamaeus) yushuensis sp. n. is described from Three Rivers’ Headwaters National Natural Reserve, Qinghai province, China. This is the first record of this subgenus in China. A key is given to distinguish all species of the genus

A new method for measurement and calculation of unit width suspended sediment transport rate

The unit width suspended sediment transport rate is the basis for calculating river sediment flux, which provides an important measure of river hydrology and morpho-dynamics. By integrating the vertical distribution of the suspended sediment concentration and logarithmic flow velocity, the formula for unit width suspended sediment transport rate is presented. Based on this formula, the calculation of the near-bed relative transport rate missing in field measurement is given. Moreover, a new stratified water sampling device is invented for suspended sediment transport rate measurement by the six-point method at Mengsheng hydrological station in the Lancang River basin. Results of 24 sets of measurements show that the near-bed relative sediment transport rate ranges from 3.4 to 10.7% and is significantly positively correlated with the suspension index. The unit width suspended sediment transport rate measured by the traditional depth integrating method is on average 15.0% smaller than that calculated by the theoretical formula, which can be a reference for correcting the sediment transport rate based on the traditional method. This work provides a new device and a new method for the measurement and calculation of the unit width transport rate of suspended sediment, which has theoretical and practical significance. HIGHLIGHTS A new formula of unit width suspended sediment transport rate is established.; Theoretically defined and analyzed the near-bed relative sediment transport rate.; A stratified sampling device based on the vacuum principle was invented and applied.; A comparison test of the sediment transport rate was carried out at Mengsheng station.; The results provide a reference for the correction of the sediment transport rate.

Induction of m2 polarization in primary culture liver macrophages from rats with acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), a major process of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), usually occurs after various activated proinflammatory cytokines, which are produced by macrophages such as liver macrophages. Macrophages can secrete not only proinflammatory mediators but also inhibitory inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10, leading to two different functional states defined as "polarization". The main purpose of this study was to demonstrate the polarization of liver macrophages during severe acute pancreatitis and to explore whether the polarization of these activated Liver macrophages could be reversed in vitro. METHODS: Liver macrophages were isolated from rats with acute pancreatitis. These primary culture macrophages were treated with IL-4 or regulatory T cells in vitro to reverse their polarization and was evaluated by measuring M1/M2 marker expression using real time PCR and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: Acute pancreatitis was induced successfully by intra-pancreatic ductal injection of 5% sodium taurocholate. The liver macrophages demonstrated M1 polarization from 4 h to 16 h after the onset of acute pancreatitis. However, after IL-4 or Treg treatment, the polarization of the liver macrophages was reversed as indicated by increased expression of M2 markers and reduced expression of M1 markers. Furthermore, the effect of Treg on modulating macrophage polarization was slightly better than that of IL-4 in vitro. CONCLUSION: Liver macrophages, a pivotal cell type in the pathogenesis of SAP, become M1 polarized during pancreatic inflammation. Treatment of these cells with IL-4 and Treg can reverse this activation in vitro. This method of altering macrophage polarization could be a prospective therapy for SAP