Critical Lattice Size Limit for Synchronized Chaotic State in 1-D and 2-D Diffusively Coupled Map Lattices

We consider diffusively coupled map lattices with $P$ neighbors (where $P$ is arbitrary) and study the stability of synchronized state. We show that there exists a critical lattice size beyond which the synchronized state is unstable. This generalizes earlier results for nearest neighbor coupling. We confirm the analytical results by performing numerical simulations on coupled map lattices with logistic map at each node. The above analysis is also extended to 2-dimensional $P$-neighbor diffusively coupled map lattices.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Estimation of System Parameters in Discrete Dynamical Systems from Time Series

We propose a simple method to estimate the parameters involved in discrete dynamical systems from time series. The method is based on the concept of controlling chaos by constant feedback. The major advantages of the method are that it needs a minimal number of time series data and is applicable to dynamical systems of any dimension. The method also works extremely well even in the presence of noise in the time series. The method is specifically illustrated by means of logistic and Henon maps.Comment: 4 page

Secure Digital Signal Transmission by Multistep Parameter Modulation and Alternative Driving of Transmitter Variables

The idea of secure communication of digital signals via chaos synchronization has been plagued by the possibility of attractor reconstruction by eavesdroppers as pointed out by Perez and Cerdeira. In this Letter, we wish to present a very simple mechanism by which this problem can be overcome, wherein the signal is transmitted via a multistep parameter modulation combined with alternative driving of different transmitter variables, which makes the attractor reconstruction impossible. The method is illustrated by means of the Lorenz system and Chua's circuit as examples.Comment: 15 pages, RevTeX, 6 eps figures, To appear in Int. J. Bifurcation and Chaos (July 2001

Role of Imaging in Identifying Various Renal Lesions in Children Less Than 5 Years Presenting with First Febrile Urinary Tract Infections

Febrile Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) is one of the common causes of infections in children. Unrecognized and untreated UTIs may lead to renal scarring of the growing kidneys with subsequent renal failure. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of USG to detect vesicoureteric reflex confirmed by micturating cystourethrogram (MCU) and renal parenchymal abnormalities confirmed by dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (DMSA) between 1 month to 59 months of age. Methods: A prospective observational study was done at a tertiary care centre to study the imaging correlation in children with the first episode of febrile UTI. Ultrasonography Kidney-Urinary-Bladder (USG-KUB), MCU, and DMSA were done according to the Indian Academy of Paediatrics protocol after getting informed consent from parents. Results:  USG showed a perfect concordance with MCU in detecting VUR (100% sensitivity and specificity) and had a high sensitivity (94.1%) and specificity (100%) in detecting renal parenchymal abnormalities when compared to DMSA in less than 1 year old. It also showed a sensitivity of 85.4% and specificity of 100% in detecting renal parenchymal abnormalities when compared to DMSA in children aged 1-5 years. Conclusion: Overall, the results of this research article indicate that USG shows promising diagnostic accuracy as a non-invasive imaging modality in detecting VUR and renal parenchymal abnormalities across different age groups presenting with febrile UTI.To study the effectiveness of USG in detecting vesicoureteric reflex confirmed by micturating cystourethrogram and renal parenchymal abnormalities confirmed by dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (DMSA) in children with first episode febrile UTI. Short title: Role of imaging in children with first episode febrile UTI

CD23 MEDIATED IGE TRANSCYTOSIS IN AIRWAY INFLAMMATION

CD23 (FceRII), a C-type lectin type II membrane glycoprotein, plays an important role in IgE homeostasis and development of allergic inflammation. I showed that CD23 was constitutively expressed in the established or primary human airway epithelial cells and its expression was significantly up-regulated by IL-4 stimulation. In a transcytosis assay, human IgE or IgE derived immune complex was transported and enhanced by IL-4 stimulation across a polarized Calu-3 monolayer. A CD23 specific antibody or soluble CD23 significantly reduced the transcytosis, suggesting a specific receptor-mediated transport by CD23. Transcytosis of both IgE and the immune complex was further verified in primary human airway epithelial cell monolayers. Furthermore, the transcytosed antigen-IgE complexes were competent in inducing degranulation of the cultured human mast cells. This study implies CD23-mediated IgE transcytosis in human airway epithelial cells may play a critical role in initiating and contributing to the perpetuation of airway allergic inflammation. To verify the above results in a mouse model, CD23 expression was detected in epithelial cells lining mouse airway and enhanced by IL-4 exposure as well as in ovalbumin (OVA) sensitized mouse. I showed that CD23 transported IgE and OVA-IgE derived immune complex across airway epithelial cells in wild-type, but not CD23 knockout (KO), mice. The chimeric CD23KO mice repopulated with wild-type myeloid cells, sensitized and challenged with OVA showed significant reduction in siglec-F+ cells, eosinophils, macrophages and IL-4 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid recovered 24 hours later compared to the wild-type mice. Our finding of CD23-mediated IgE transport in airway epithelial cells suggest a possibility of CD23 transporting an IgE Fc-fused protein for immunotherapy. CTLA-4 (Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4) which competitively binds CD80 and CD86 expressed on antigen presenting cells and inhibits CD28 mediated co-stimulation of T cell activation. A CTLA4-Fc (IgE) fusion protein produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells was intranasally administrated into mouse airway for assessing its specific transport by CD23. The effect of this fusion protein on the development of allergic inflammation is being fully investigated in wild-type, CD23-KO, and chimeric mouse model

Estimation of System Parameters and Predicting the Flow Function from Time Series of Continuous Dynamical Systems

We introduce a simple method to estimate the system parameters in continuous dynamical systems from the time series. In this method, we construct a modified system by introducing some constants (controlling constants) into the given (original) system. Then the system parameters and the controlling constants are determined by solving a set of nonlinear simultaneous algebraic equations obtained from the relation connecting original and modified systems. Finally, the method is extended to find the form of the evolution equation of the system itself. The major advantage of the method is that it needs only a minimal number of time series data and is applicable to dynamical systems of any dimension. The method also works extremely well even in the presence of noise in the time series. This method is illustrated for the case of Lorenz system.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Perceptions and Prospects: Technology-Enabled Teacher Education in the Digital Age

The integration of technology into education has led to significant transformations in teacher education programs. This study examines the perceptions of learners regarding technology-enabled teacher education programs. It explores the experiences and viewpoints of a diverse group of teacher education students, ranging from pre-service teachers to experienced educators pursuing advanced qualifications. The study reveals that learners generally perceive technology-enabled teacher education programs positively, highlighting advantages such as increased accessibility, flexibility, engagement, and personalization. However, they also acknowledge challenges related to technical issues and the digital divide. These findings emphasize the importance of ongoing research and development in technology integration within teacher education to better prepare educators for the digital age classroom

Tissue-specific role and associated downstream signaling pathways of adiponectin

According to the World Health Organization, metabolic syndrome (MetS) can be defined as a pathological condition characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. The incidence of MetS keeps rising, as at least 35% of the USA population suffers from MetS. One of the worst comorbidities of metabolic syndrome are cardiovascular diseases that significantly amplifies the mortality associated with this syndrome. There is an urgent need to understand the pathophysiology of MetS to find novel diagnosis, treatment and management to mitigate the MetS and associated complications. Altered circulatory adiponectin levels have been implicated in MetS. Adiponectin has numerous biologic functions including antioxidative, anti-nitrative, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects. Being a pleiotropic hormone of multiple tissues, tissue-specific key signaling pathways of adiponectin will help finding specific target/s to blunt the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome and associated disorders. The purpose of this review is to elucidate tissue-specific signaling pathways of adiponectin and possibly identify potential therapeutic targets for MetS as well as to evaluate the potential of adiponectin as a biomarker/therapeutic option in MetS

Desynchronized wave patterns in synchronized chaotic regions of coupled map lattices

We analyze the size limits of coupled map lattices with diffusive coupling at the crossover of low-dimensional to high-dimensional chaos. We investigate the existence of standing-wave-type periodic patterns, within the low-dimensional limit, in addition to the stable synchronous chaotic states depending upon the initial conditions. Further, we bring out a controlling mechanism to explain the emergence of standing-wave patterns in the coupled map lattices. Finally, we give an analytic expression in terms of the unstable periodic orbits of the isolated map to represent the standing-wave patterns

Diabetic Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 2 Mutant (ALDH2*2) Mice Are More Susceptible to Cardiac Ischemic-Reperfusion Injury Due to 4-Hydroxy-2-Nonenal Induced Coronary Endothelial Cell Damage

Background: Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2), a mitochondrial enzyme, detoxifies reactive aldehydes such as 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE). A highly prevalent E487K mutation in ALDH2 (ALDH2*2) in East Asian people with intrinsic low ALDH2 activity is implicated in diabetic complications. 4HNE-induced cardiomyocyte dysfunction was studied in diabetic cardiac damage; however, coronary endothelial cell (CEC) injury in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in diabetic mice has not been studied. Therefore, we hypothesize that the lack of ALDH2 activity exacerbates 4HNE-induced CEC dysfunction which leads to cardiac damage in ALDH2*2 mutant diabetic mice subjected to myocardial IRI. Methods and Results: Three weeks after diabetes mellitus (DM) induction, hearts were subjected to IRI either in vivo via left anterior descending artery occlusion and release or ex vivo IRI by using the Langendorff system. The cardiac performance was assessed by conscious echocardiography in mice or by inserting a balloon catheter in the left ventricle in the ex vivo model. Just 3 weeks of DM led to an increase in cardiac 4HNE protein adducts and, cardiac dysfunction, and a decrease in the number of CECs along with reduced myocardial ALDH2 activity in ALDH2*2 mutant diabetic mice compared with their wild-type counterparts. Systemic pretreatment with Alda-1 (10 mg/kg per day), an activator of both ALDH2 and ALDH2*2, led to a reduction in myocardial infarct size and dysfunction, and coronary perfusion pressure upon cardiac IRI by increasing CEC population and coronary arteriole opening. Conclusions: Low ALDH2 activity exacerbates 4HNE-mediated CEC injury and thereby cardiac dysfunction in diabetic mouse hearts subjected to IRI, which can be reversed by ALDH2 activation