15‐Methylene‐Eburnamonine Kills Leukemic Stem Cells and Reduces Engraftment in a Humanized Bone Marrow Xenograft Mouse Model of Leukemia

Recent studies suggest that leukemia stem cells (LSCs) play a critical role in the initiation, propagation, and relapse of leukemia. Herein we show that (?)‐15‐methylene‐eburnamonine, a derivative of the alkaloid (?)‐eburnamonine, is cytotoxic against acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemias (ALL and CLL) and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The agent also decreases primary LSC frequency in vitro. The cytotoxic effects appear to be mediated via the oxidative stress pathways. Furthermore, we show that the compound kills AML, ALL, and CLL stem cells. By the use of a novel humanized bone marrow murine model of leukemia (huBM/NSG), it was found to decrease progenitor cell engraftment.     

Applying reticular synthesis to the design of Cu-based MOFs with mechanically interlocked linkers

The concept of“robust dynamics”describes the incorporation of mechanically interlocked molecules(MIMs)into metal-organic framework(MOF)materials such that large amplitude motions(e.g.,rotation or translation of a macrocycle)can occur inside the free volume pore of the MOF.To aid in the preparation of such materials,reticular synthesis was used herein to design rigid molecular building blocks with predetermined ordered structures starting from the well-known MOF NOTT-101.New linkers were synthesized that have a T-shape,based on a triphenylene tetra-carboxylate strut,and their incorporation into Cu(II)-based MOFs was investigated.The single-crystal structures of three new MOFs,UWCM-12(fof),β-UWCM-13(loz),UWCM-14(lil),with naked T-shaped linkers were determined;β-UWCM-13 is the first reported example of the loz topology.A fourth MOF,UWDM-14(lil)is analogous to UWCM-14(lil)but contains a[2]rotaxane linker.Variable-temperature,²H solid-state NMR was used to probe the dynamics of a 24-membered macrocycle threaded onto the MOF skeleton.     

Metabolic Syndrome: Updates on Pathophysiology and Management in 2021

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) forms a cluster of metabolic dysregulations including insulin resistance, atherogenic dyslipidemia, central obesity, and hypertension. The pathogenesis of MetS encompasses multiple genetic and acquired entities that fall under the umbrella of insulin resistance and chronic low-grade inflammation. If left untreated, MetS is significantly associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Given that CVDs constitute by far the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, it has become essential to investigate the role played by MetS in this context to reduce the heavy burden of the disease. As such, and while MetS relatively constitutes a novel clinical entity, the extent of research about the disease has been exponentially growing in the past few decades. However, many aspects of this clinical entity are still not completely understood, and many questions remain unanswered to date. In this review, we provide a historical background and highlight the epidemiology of MetS. We also discuss the current and latest knowledge about the histopathology and pathophysiology of the disease. Finally, we summarize the most recent updates about the management and the prevention of this clinical syndrome.     

Parallel Self-Index Integer Sorting

We consider the problem of sorting n integers when the elements are drawn from the restricted domain [1...n]. A new deterministic parallel algorithm for sorting n integers is obtained. Its running time is O(lognlog(n/logn)) using n/logn processors on EREW (exclusive read exclusive write) PRAM (parallel random access machine). Also, our algorithm was modified to become optimal when we use processors. This algorithm belongs to class EP (Efficient, Polynomial fast).     

An FPGA implementation of a neural optimization of block truncation coding for image/video compression

This paper presents a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) implementation for image/video compression using an improved block truncation coding (BTC) image compression technique. The improvement is achieved by employing a Hopfield neural network (HNN) to calculate a cost function upon which a block is classified as either a high- or a low-detail block. Accordingly, different blocks are coded with different bit rates and thus resulting in better compression ratios. The paper formulates the utilization of HNN within the BTC algorithm in such a way that a viable FPGA implementation is produced. The implementation exploits the inherent parallelism of the BTC/HNN algorithm to provide efficient algorithm-to-architecture mapping. The Xilinx VirtexE BTC implementation has shown to provide a processing speed of about 1.113 × 10⁶ of pixels per second with a compression ratio which varies between 1.25 and 2 bits/pixel, according to the image nature.     

BaSO4‐, CaF2‐, and Al‐Maleate‐Derived Nanocomposite Coatings with Excellent Mechanical,Thermal, and Optical Properties

Acrylate‐based nanocomposite coatings prepared from uniformly sized, nanoscaled inorganic, i.e., BaSO₄‐ and CaF₂‐ as well as organometallic, i.e., Al‐maleate‐derived nanoparticles were prepared applying photochemical curing. Excellent mechanical and thermal stability as well as high optical transparency was achieved as compared to standard SiO₂‐based coatings. The performance of CaF₂‐based nanocomposites could be further enhanced by addition of nanocorundum. A comprehensive data set on surface and Martens hardness, the penetration depths, glass transition temperatures, and UV–Vis transparency of the final coatings is presented.

     

Switched diversity approach for multireceiving optical wireless systems

A number of existing spatial diversity schemes have been shown to improve the performance of optical wireless communication systems in diversity-rich environments. Among all, switched diversity has low complexity and is simple to implement. In this paper, an innovative spatial diversity scheme based on switched diversity is proposed. The scheme, namely switch-to-dominant combining, contributes to a higher bit error rate (BER) performance when compared to conventional switched diversity schemes, including switch-and-stay and switch-and-examine diversity. The optical multireceiver wireless system operates in a spatially correlated and lognormally distributed fading channel. Analytical analyses are conducted to demonstrate BER and processing load performance offered by the new scheme and compare them to available schemes, i.e., conventional switched combining and selection combining.     

FLOW OF A NON-NEWTONIAN FLUID WITH HEAT TRANSFER ABOVE A ROTATING DISK CONSIDERING THE ION SLIP

The steady flow and heat transfer of a conducting non-Newtonian fluid due to the rotation of an infinite nonconducting disk in the presence of an axial uniform steady magnetic field are studied considering the ion slip. The governing nonlinear equations are solved numerically using finite differences, and the solution shows that the ion slip and the non-Newtonian fluid characteristics give some interesting results.     

Flexural Performance of Drilled Shafts with Minor Flaws in Stiff Clay

Lateral loads are often the primary forces that act on drilled shafts when they support retaining walls, bridge piers, or building foundations. The construction of drilled shafts often inadvertently introduces flaws that are not always detectable with well-performed nondestructive evaluation (NDE) techniques. The effect of such undetectable minor flaws on the lateral-load performance of drilled shafts needs to be assessed and subsequently considered in the design. This paper summarizes a field study that consisted of NDE of six, full-scale drilled shafts with preinstalled voids and lateral-load tests that were performed on the six test shafts. Results from the field study indicated that undetectable (by NDE) void flaws occupying areas of up to 15% of the cross-sectional area of the drilled shaft could reduce free-head shear capacity up to 16%. A subsequent numerical analysis was performed to filter out all variables, other than void flaws, that could affect the lateral-load deformation of drilled shafts. Numerical analysis results validated the field tests measurements. A parametric study of variables affecting the load-deformation behavior of drilled shafts suggests that a reduction in moment capacity of up to 27% is possible with undetected voids present in the shafts that were tested.     

Blue Light Improves Photosynthetic Performance during Healing and Acclimatization of Grafted Watermelon Seedlings

To investigate the importance of light on healing and acclimatization, in the present study, grafted watermelon seedlings were exposed to darkness (D) or light, provided by blue (B), red (R), a mixture of R (68%) and B (RB), or white (W; 35% B, 49% intermediate spectra, 16% R) LEDs for 12 days. Survival ratio, root and shoot growth, soluble carbohydrate content, photosynthetic pigments content, and photosynthetic performance were evaluated. Seedling survival was not only strongly limited in D but the survived seedlings had an inferior shoot and root development, reduced chlorophyll content, and attenuated photosynthetic efficiency. RB-exposed seedlings had a less-developed root system. R-exposed seedlings showed leaf epinasty, and had the smallest leaf area, reduced chlorophyll content, and suppressed photosynthetic apparatus performance. The R-exposed seedlings contained the highest amount of soluble carbohydrate and together with D-exposed seedlings the lowest amount of chlorophyll in their scions. B-exposed seedlings showed the highest chlorophyll content and improved overall PSII photosynthetic functioning. W-exposed seedling had the largest leaf area, and closely resembled the photosynthetic properties of RB-exposed seedlings. We assume that, during healing of grafted seedlings monochromatic R light should be avoided. Instead, W and monochromatic B light may be willingly adopted due to their promoting effect on shoot, pigments content, and photosynthetic efficiency.