The model and algorithm of distributing cooperation profits among operators of urban rail transit under PPP pattern

The financing channels, investors and operators of urban rail transit are becoming more and more diversified, and public private partnership pattern has been increasingly suggested in financing and investment field of urban rail transit in China. The diversification of investors of urban rail transit will no doubt lead to the diversification of operators of urban rail transit network. To legitimately distribute the cooperation profits among operators, a model is developed based on passenger’s path choice behavior by considering travel period, travel time, transfer convenience and the comprehensive proportion of different service types provided by operators. In accordance with the features of urban rail transit network and origin-destination (OD) pairs of transferring among lines of different operators, a scheme of improved rail transit network is proposed. On the basis of the algorithm of breadth-first search and depth-first search, an algorithm of searching effective paths based on backtracking and traversing along the shortest path is established by considering the factor of transfer. Taking the example of Shenzhen’s rail transit network, three typical OD pairs are selected to measure and calculate, compare and analyze by six different conditions. The result shows that travel period, travel time, transfer convenience, and service types provided by operators exert great influence on the distribution of cooperation profits. Therefore, it is advisable to comprehensively consider all of these factors to improve the accuracy of cooperation profits distribution. Moreover, the proposed algorithm can search effective paths efficiently.     

Cooperative effect of random and time-periodic coupling strength on synchronization transitions in one-way coupled neural system: mean field approach

The cooperative effect of random coupling strength and time-periodic coupling strengh on synchronization transitions in one-way coupled neural system has been investigated by mean field approach. Results show that cooperative coupling strength (CCS) plays an active role for the enhancement of synchronization transitions. There exist an optimal frequency of CCS which makes the system display the best CCS-induced synchronization transitions, a critical frequency of CCS which can not further affect the CCS-induced synchronization transitions, and a critical amplitude of CCS which can not occur the CCS-induced synchronization transitions. Meanwhile, noise intensity plays a negative role for the CCS-induced synchronization transitions. Furthermore, it is found that the novel CCS amplitude-induced synchronization transitions and CCS frequency-induced synchronization transitions are found.     

Regulation of c-Myc Expression by Ahnak Promotes Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Generation

We have previously reported that Ahnak-mediated TGFβ signaling leads to down-regulation of c-Myc expression. Here, we show that inhibition of Ahnak can promote generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) via up-regulation of endogenous c-Myc. Consistent with the c-Myc inhibitory role of Ahnak, mouse embryonic fibroblasts from Ahnak-deficient mouse (Ahnak^−/− MEF) show an increased level of c-Myc expression compared with wild type MEF. Generation of iPSC with just three of the four Yamanaka factors, Oct4, Sox2, and Klf4 (hereafter 3F), was significantly enhanced in Ahnak^−/− MEF. Similar results were obtained when Ahnak-specific shRNA was applied to wild type MEF. Of note, expressionof Ahnak was significantly induced during the formation of embryoid bodies from embryonic stem cells, suggesting that Ahnak-mediated c-Myc inhibition is involved in embryoid body formation and the initial differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. The iPSC from 3F-infected Ahnak^−/− MEF cells (Ahnak^−/−-iPSC-3F) showed expression of all stem cell markers examined and the capability to form three primary germ layers. Moreover, injection of Ahnak^−/−-iPSC-3F into athymic nude mice led to development of teratoma containing tissues from all three primary germ layers, indicating that iPSC from Ahnak^−/− MEF are bona fide pluripotent stem cells. Taken together, these data provide evidence for a new role for Ahnak in cell fate determination during development and suggest that manipulation of Ahnak and the associated signaling pathway may provide a means to regulate iPSC generation.     

A retinoic acid-inducible mRNA from human erythroleukemia cells encodes a novel tissue transglutaminase homologue.

A 1.9-kilobase (kb) cDNA for a new transglutaminase protein has been cloned and sequenced from retinoic acid-induced human erythroleukemia (HEL) cells. Full-length cDNA analysis reveals an open reading frame coding for a polypeptide of 548 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 61,740. The deduced amino acid sequence exhibited 98% identity to the human cellular transglutaminase sequence. The cysteine at position 277 in the active site and the putative Ca(2+)-binding pocket at residues 446-453 of cellular transglutaminase are conserved. Such evidence predicts that the encoded protein product is likely to be a transglutaminase homologue (TGase-H). Immunoprecipitation of the in vitro translation products from a synthetic TGase-H mRNA and from total protein of cultured erythroleukemia HEL cells revealed a protein with a molecular weight of 63,000 by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Northern blot analysis of HEL cells and normal human fibroblast cells WI-38 using a cellular TGase probe detected the 1.9- and 4.0-kb RNA species at a relative abundance of 1:3 and 1:7, respectively. The 3'-end of the human cellular transglutaminase mRNA was also cloned and sequenced to allow comparison to the 3'-end of TGase-H reported here. This new piece gives a full length of 4012 nucleotides (4.0 kb) for human cellular transglutaminase. Comparison of the 5'-end (bases 1-1747) of the 1.9- and 4.0-kb cDNA sequences revealed a very high degree of identity. Beginning with base 1748, the sequences diverge showing no homology. The divergence point correlates with known intron-exon consensus boundaries indicative of alternative splicing.     

Modulating the sensing properties of Escherichia coli-based bioreporters for cadmium and mercury

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Despite the large number of bioreporters developed to date, the ability to detect heavy metal(loid)s with bioreporters has thus far been limited owing to...     

Design,synthesis, and evaluation of curcumin analogues as potential inhibitors of bacterial sialidase

Sialidases are key virulence factors that remove sialic acid from the host cell surface glycan, unmasking receptors that facilitate bacterial adherence and colonisation. In this study, we developed potential agents for treating bacterial infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae Nan A that inhibit bacterial sialidase using Turmeric and curcumin analogues. Design, synthesis, and structure analysis relationship (SAR) studies have been also described. Evaluation of the synthesised derivatives demonstrated that compound 5e was the most potent inhibitor of S. pneumoniae sialidase (IC₅₀?=?0.2?±?0.1?µM). This compound exhibited a 3.0-fold improvement in inhibitory activity over that of curcumin and displayed competitive inhibition. These results warrant further studies confirming the antipneumococcal activity 5e and indicated that curcumin derivatives could be potentially used to treat sepsis by bacterial infections.