Aptamer and its applications in neurodegenerative diseases

Aptamers are small single-stranded DNA or RNA oligonucleotide fragments or small peptides, which can bind to targets by high affinity and specificity. Because aptamers are specific, non-immunogenic and non-toxic, they are ideal materials for clinical applications. Neurodegenerative disorders are ravaging the lives of patients. Even though the mechanism of these diseases is still elusive, they are mainly characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the central nervous system. So it is essential to develop potential measures to slow down or prevent the onset of these diseases. With the advancements of the technologies, aptamers have opened up new areas in this research field. Aptamers could bind with these related target proteins to interrupt their accumulation, subsequently blocking or preventing the process of neurodegenerative diseases. This review presents recent advances in the aptamer generation and its merits and limitations, with emphasis on its applications in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, Huntington’s disease and multiple sclerosis.     

Risk reduction in a project portfolio

The positive impacts of managing projects as a portfolio are quantified by comparing the value of the integrated risk of a project portfolio and the aggregation of single project risks implemented separately. Firstly, the integrated risk is defined by proposing risky events based on set theory. Secondly, as projects interact with each other in a project portfolio, the integrated risk is evaluated by using a Bayesian network structure learning algorithm to construct an interdependent network of risks. Finally, the integrated risk of a practical case is assessed using this method, and the results show that the proposed method is an effective tool for calculating the extent of risk reduction of implementing a project portfolio and identifying the most risky project, so as to assist companies in making comprehensive decisions in the phase of portfolio selection and portfolio controlling.     

Optimal bundling and pricing decisions for complementary products in a two-layer supply chain

This article explores bundling and pricing decisions for two complementary products in a two-layer supply chain consisting of a multi-product manufacturer and a retailer. We establish four different pricing models under cases of decentralized decision, while considering different portfolio-bundling strategies of the manufacturer and the retailer. A game-theoretical method is used to characterize the corresponding equilibrium outcomes in each scenario. By further analyzing and comparing the maximum profits of all four possible scenarios, optimal bundling and pricing decisions for the manufacturer and the retailer are obtained, respectively. Model extensions and numerical examples are enriched to highlight the factors affecting optimal decision-making. Finally, valuable and interesting managerial insights are summarized. Results show that the upstream manufacturer always profits more when he sells complementary products separately. However, the optimal bundling decision of the downstream retailer is jointly determined by product complementarity (as a major factor) and the difference of product profitability (as a secondary factor). Market power cannot exert an influence on both optimal bundling decisions, but it can partly affect pricing decisions.     

Which is the use of systems theory in literature analysis?: The discovery of the place in La Mancha in Don Quixote

The use of systems theory to attempt to determine which ''place in La Mancha'' was the one whose name Cervantes could not quite recall in his universal novel, appears to be ordained to change certain attitudes towards science held in Cervantine literature. The reason: after four centuries of literary analysis, systemic methodology has proven able to identify the famous ''place'' with acceptable accuracy. Nonetheless, certain reasonable doubts persist around the suitability of a strictly scientific analysis of literature. In light of those doubts, the present article aims primarily to facilitate critique both of the systemic approach adopted and its outcome.     

The cellular autophagy/apoptosis checkpoint during inflammation

Cell death is a major determinant of inflammatory disease severity. Whether cells live or die during inflammation largely depends on the relative success of the pro-survival process of autophagy versus the pro-death process of apoptosis. These processes interact and influence each other during inflammation and there is a checkpoint at which cells irrevocably commit to either one pathway or another. This review will discuss the concept of the autophagy/apoptosis checkpoint and its importance during inflammation, the mechanisms of inflammation leading up to the checkpoint, and how the checkpoint is regulated. Understanding these concepts is important since manipulation of the autophagy/apoptosis checkpoint represents a novel opportunity for treatment of inflammatory diseases caused by too much or too little cell death.     

Null controllability of some degenerate wave equations

This paper is devoted to a study of the null controllability problems for one-dimensional linear degenerate wave equations through a boundary controller. First, the well-posedness of linear degenerate wave equations is discussed. Then the null controllability of some degenerate wave equations is established, when a control acts on the non-degenerate boundary. Different from the known controllability results in the case that a control acts on the degenerate boundary, any initial value in state space is controllable in this case. Also, an explicit expression for the controllability time is given. Furthermore, a counterexample on the controllability is given for some other degenerate wave equations.     

基于正交设计的陶瓷透水砖工艺研究

以废玻璃、废陶瓷、粘土和赤泥为主要原料,以木屑为成孔剂制备陶瓷透水砖,分析不同配比对透水砖透水性能的影响.采用4因素3水平正交实验设计探讨了木屑加入量(A)、烧成温度(B)、保温时间(C)及废陶瓷骨料粒度(D)对透水性能的影响.透水系数的极差分析表明,影响透水系数的因素主次为:ABCD,最优实验组合是A3B1C2D2,即木屑掺量为10%,烧结温度为1 000℃,保温时间为1.5 h,骨料粒度为150μm.     

基于primal RankRLS方法的本体映射算法

本体映射作为实现多本体间相互操作的重要手段,已广泛应用于诸多领域.应用原始RankRLS算法,将多本体图映射到实数轴,由此将本体图中每个顶点都映射成实数.通过比较两概念对应实数间的差值得到本体映射.实验表明,该算法有较高的效率.     

三氯乙酸催化合成β-烯胺酮类化合物

在三氯乙酸催化剂的作用下,以乙醇为溶剂,将芳香胺类化合物和β-二酮一锅反应合成β-烯胺酮类化合物.此法高效、安全,操作便捷,且产率高.