Leader-following identical consensus for Markov jump nonlinear multi-agent systems subjected to attacks with impulse

The issue of leader-following identical consensus for nonlinear Markov jump multiagent systems (NMJMASs) under deception attacks (DAs) or denial-of-service (DoS) attacks is investigated in this paper. The Bernoulli random variable is introduced to describe whether the controller is injected with false data, that is, whether the systems are subjected to DAs. A connectivity recovery mechanism is constructed to maintain the connection among multi-agents when the systems are subjected to DoS attack. The impulsive control strategy is adopted to ensure that the systems can normally work under DAs or DoS attacks. Based on graph theory, Lyapunov stability theory, and impulsive theory, using the Lyapunov direct method and stochastic analysis method, the sufficient conditions of identical consensus for Markov jump multi-agent systems (MJMASs) under DAs or DoS are obtained, respectively. Finally, the correctness of the results and the effectiveness of the method are verified by two numerical examples

Primary gastric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Chinese patients: clinical characteristics and prognostic factors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Optimal management and outcome of primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) have not been well defined in the rituximab era. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, and roles of different treatment modalities in Chinese patients with PGL.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The clinicopathological features of 83 Chinese patients with PGL were retrospectively reviewed. Staging was performed according to the Lugano staging system for gastrointestinal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The predominant pathologic subtype among Chinese patients with PGL in our study was diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), followed by mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Among the 57 patients with gastric DLBCL, 20 patients (35.1%) were classified as the germinal center B cell-like (GCB) subtype and 37 patients (64.9%) as the non-GCB subtype. The 83 patients had a five-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) of 52% and 59%, respectively. Cox regression analysis showed that stage-modified international prognostic index (IPI) and performance status (PS) were independent predictors of survival. In the 67 B-cell lymphoma patients who received chemotherapy, 36 patients treated with rituximab (at least 3 cycles) had a mean OS of 72 months (95% CI 62-81) versus 62 months (95% CI 47-76) for patients without rituximab treatment (P = 0.021).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The proportion of Chinese gastric DLBCL cases with non-GCB subtype was higher than the GCB subtype. Stage-modified IPI and PS were effective prognostic factors in Chinese patients with PGL. Our data suggested that primary gastric B-cell lymphoma might have an improved outcome with rituximab in addition to chemotherapy. More studies are necessary, preferentially large prospective randomized clinical trials to obtain more information on the impact of the rituximab in the primary gastric B-cell lymphoma.</p

Rationally Improving Doramectin Production in Industrial <i>Streptomyces avermitilis</i> Strains

Avermectins (AVMs), a family of 16-membered macrocyclic macrolides produced by Streptomyces avermitilis, have been the most successful microbial natural antiparasitic agents in recent decades. Doramectin, an AVM derivative produced by S. avermitilis bkd− mutants through cyclohexanecarboxylic acid (CHC) feeding, was commercialized as a veterinary antiparasitic drug by Pfizer Inc. Our previous results show that the production of avermectin and actinorhodin was affected by several other polyketide biosynthetic gene clusters in S. avermitilis and Streptomyces coelicolor, respectively. Thus, here, we propose a rational strategy to improve doramectin production via the termination of competing polyketide biosynthetic pathways combined with the overexpression of CoA ligase, providing precursors for polyketide biosynthesis. fadD17, an annotated putative cyclohex-1-ene-1-carboxylate:CoA ligase-encoding gene, was proven to be involved in the biosynthesis of doramectin. By sequentially removing three PKS (polyketide synthase) gene clusters and overexpressing FadD17 in the strain DM203, the resulting strain DM223 produced approximately 723 mg/L of doramectin in flasks, which was approximately 260% that of the original strain DM203 (approximately 280 mg/L). To summarize, our work demonstrates a novel viable approach to engineer doramectin overproducers, which might contribute to the reduction in the cost of this valuable compound in the future

Potential role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in the pathogenesis of Marek’s disease

Marek’s disease virus (MDV) can cause malignant T-cell lymphomas and immunosuppression in chickens. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) not only plays a critical role in inhibiting T-cell responses, but also contributes to multiple aspects of tumour progression. The aim of this study was to reveal the potential role of MIF in the pathogenesis of MDV infection

A Dynamic Active Safe Semi-Supervised Learning Framework for Fault Identification in Labeled Expensive Chemical Processes

A novel active semi-supervised learning framework using unlabeled data is proposed for fault identification in labeled expensive chemical processes. A principal component analysis (PCA) feature selection strategy is first given to calculate the weight of the variables. Secondly, the identification model is trained based on the obtained key process variables. Thirdly, the pseudo label confidence of identification model is dynamically optimized with an historical, current, and future pseudo label confidence mean. To increase the upper limit of the identification model that is self-learning with high entropy process data, active learning is used to identify process data and diagnosis fault causes by ontology. Finally, a PCA-dynamic active safe semi-supervised support vector machine (PCA-DAS4VM) for fault identification in labeled expensive chemical processes is built. The application in the Tennessee Eastman (TE) process shows that this hybrid technology is able to: (i) eliminate chemical process noise and redundant process variables simultaneously, (ii) combine historical pseudo label confidence with future pseudo label confidence to improve the identification accuracy of abnormal working conditions, (iii) efficiently select and diagnose high entropy unlabeled process data, and (iv) fully utilize unlabeled data to enhance the identification performance

Protective effect of dexmedetomidine against organ dysfunction in a two-hit model of hemorrhage/resuscitation and endotoxemia in rats

Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a selective agonist of α2-adrenergic receptors, has anti-inflammation properties and potential beneficial effects against trauma, shock, or infection. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether DEX might protect against multiple-organ dysfunction in a two-hit model of hemorrhage/resuscitation (HS) and subsequent endotoxemia. Eighty Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: NS (normal saline), HS/L (HS plus lipopolysaccharide), HS/L+D (HS/L plus dexmedetomidine), and HS/L+D+Y (HS/L+D plus yohimbine). Six hours after resuscitation, blood gas (PaO2) and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), TNF-α, IL-β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and nitric oxide (NO) were measured. The histopathology was assayed by staining. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were assayed. The PaO2 levels in HS/L rats were lower whereas the ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, TNF-α, IL-β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and NO levels were higher compared to the control group. The HS/L+D increased PaO2 and further increased IL-10 and decreased ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, TNF-α, IL-β, IL-6, IL-8, and NO levels of the HS/L groups. In addition, the MDA in the HS/L groups increased whereas SOD activity decreased compared to the control group. Moreover, the HO-1 expression levels were increased by DEX administration in lung, liver, and kidney tissues. Lungs, livers, and kidneys of the HS/L group displayed significant damage, but such damage was attenuated in the HS/L+D group. All of the above-mentioned effects of DEX were partly reversed by yohimbine. DEX reduced multiple organ injury caused by HS/L in rats, which may be mediated, at least in part, by α2-adrenergic receptors

Neuromuscular blocking agents for acute respiratory distress syndrome: an updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is investigating the benefits and harms of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: We comprehensively searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library for randomized controlled trials comparing NMBAs to any other comparator. We pooled data using relative risk (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and weighted mean difference (WMD) for continuous outcomes, with 95% confidence intervals. We assessed the quality of included studies using the Cochrane tool and levels of evidence using the GRADE method. RESULTS: Finally, six RCTs (n = 1557 patients) were eligible for analysis. The results showed NMBAs use was not associated with reduced 28 days mortality (RR 0.78; 95% CI, 0.58 to 1.06; P = 0.11), 90 days mortality (RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.04; P = 0.16), and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality (RR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.79 to 1.03; P = 0.13) in patients with ARDS. However, 21–28 days mortality was slightly lower in patients received NMBAs (RR 0.73; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.99; P = 0.04; I2 = 53%). Besides, NMBAs use could improve the PaO2/FiO2 ratio at 48 and 72 h, decrease plateau pressure and PEEP at 72 h. Additionally, NMBAs had no significant effects on days free of ventilation at day 28 (WMD, 0.55; 95% CI, − 0.46 to 1.57; P = 0.29), days not in ICU at day 28 (WMD, 0.12; 95% CI, − 0.85 to 1.08; P = 0.82), ICU-acquired weakness (RR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.93; P = 0.06). Finally, NMBAs use was associated with a lower risk of barotrauma (RR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.85; P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: In patients with respiratory distress syndrome, NMBAs may be beneficial in reverse refractory hypoxemia and may be associated with reduced short-term mortality and incidence of barotrauma. However, there is no significant effects of NMBAs on mid-term and long-term mortality, and further studies are required

CPEB2 inhibit cell proliferation through upregulating p21 mRNA stability in glioma

Abstract Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults and remains an incurable disease at present. Thus, there is an urgent need for progress in finding novel molecular mechanisms that control the progression of glioma which could be used as therapeutic targets for glioma patients. The RNA binding protein cytoplasmic polyadenylate element-binding protein 2 (CPEB2) is involved in the pathogenesis of several tumors. However, the role of CPEB2 in glioma progression is unknown. In this study, the functional characterization of the role and molecular mechanism of CPEB2 in glioma were examined using a series of biological and cellular approaches in vitro and in vivo. Our work shows CPEB2 is significantly downregulated in various glioma patient cohorts. Functional characterization of CPEB2 by overexpression and knockdown revealed that it inhibits glioma cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis. CPEB2 exerts an anti-tumor effect by increasing p21 mRNA stability and inducing G1 cell cycle arrest in glioma. Overall, this work stands as the first report of CPEB2 downregulation and involvement in glioma pathogenesis, and identifies CPEB2 as an important tumor suppressor gene through targeting p21 in glioma, which revealed that CPEB2 may become a promising predictive biomarker for prognosis in glioma patients