Genetic Predisposition to Myelodysplastic Syndromes: A Challenge for Adult Hematologists

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) arising in the context of inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) differ in terms of prognosis and treatment strategy compared to MDS occurring in the adult population without an inherited genetic predisposition. The main molecular pathways affected in IBMFS involve telomere maintenance, DNA repair, biogenesis of ribosomes, control of proliferation and others. The increased knowledge on the genes involved in MDS pathogenesis and the wider availability of molecular diagnostic assessment have led to an improvement in the detection of IBMFS genetic predisposition in MDS patients. A punctual recognition of these disorders implies a strict surveillance of the patient in order to detect early signs of progression and promptly offer allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, which is the only curative treatment. Moreover, identifying an inherited mutation allows the screening and counseling of family members and directs the choice of donors in case of need for transplantation. Here we provide an overview of the most recent data on MDS with genetic predisposition highlighting the main steps of the diagnostic and therapeutic management. In order to highlight the pitfalls of detecting IBMFS in adults, we report the case of a 27-year-old man affected by MDS with an underlying telomeropathy.     

Sequential Template Decomposition to Adjust the Performance of Imperfect Zeolite BEA Membranes

Zeolite membranes offer superior thermal, chemical, and mechanical stability compared to polymeric membranes. However, it is still a challenge to prepare completely defect‐free membranes without any intercrystalline voids, which is necessary for gas separation processes. In this study zeolite beta (*BEA) membranes on stainless‐steel supports were prepared by applying the multiple in situ crystallization technique. The membranes were used as a model system to systematically study the decomposition of the organic structure directing agent tetraethylammoniumhydroxide (TEA‐OH). It was evaluated if the organic decomposition products of TEA‐OH can be used for enhancing the membranes selectivity. Post‐treatment experiments have been carried out to adjust surface properties and pore size dimensions in the zeolitic membrane layer. The results show that membranes calcined at lower temperatures exhibit a higher gas selectivity.     

Portable device for the local three-dimensional deformation measurement using a single camera

The aim of this paper is to establish and validate a portable device for the local three dimensional deformation measurements using a single camera combined with a triangular prism mirror and two mirrors. The mirrors were utilized to convert a single camera into a stereo image system, which views a test object from two different directions and records the surface images of the test specimen on the two halves of the camera sensor in order to achieve a three-dimensional measurement. The proposed system consists of a single camera and the reflection system was integrated into a portable device to achieve a truly portable, low-cost,local three-dimensional deformation measurement, one-time calibration and easy implementation in situ. The optical design and measurement procedures to obtain the three-dimensional(3 D) deformation measurements of the proposed system were described in detail. The efficiency and precision of the proposed system were verified by measuring the displacements of a translated flat plate. As a practical application, the proposed system is used to measure the out-of-plane displacement of an aluminum circular plate with a central load. Moreover, the normal strain measurement of a plastic beam under symmetric four-point bending via an outer loading frame was also presented. The measurement results are in good accordance with the data obtained by strain gauges. The experimental results revealed that the proposed system was practicable and effective for the local three-dimensional deformation measurement. This system well-suited to both laboratory and field condition and will have significant application in the fields of engineering.     

Correction to: Convolutional neural networks based time–frequency image enhancement for the analysis of EEG signals

Multidimensional Systems and Signal Processing -     

Gold nanoparticles film for Q-switched pulse generation in thulium doped fiber laser cavity

Passively Q-switched thulium doped fiber laser (TDFL) has been successfully demonstrated using gold nanoparticles (GNPs), which were embedded into polyvinyl alcohol as saturable absorber (SA). The stable self-starting Q-switched laser was generated to operate at 1 891 nm when a tiny piece of the prepared film was slot in between two fiber ferrules and incorporated into the laser cavity. The repetition rate can be adjusted from 48.54 kHz to 49.64 kHz while the pulse width decreased from 3.52 μs to 2.38 μs with the increase of 1 550 nm pump power from 840 mW to 930 mW. The corresponding pump power output power linearly increased from 3.62 mW to 6.3 mW with a slope efficiency of 2.53%. The maximum peak power and pulse energy were recorded at about 39 mW and 0.12 µJ, respectively at pump power of 930 mW. The Q-switching operation was caused by the surface plasmon resonance absorption of GNPs.     

Analytical modeling of bending and vibration of thick advanced composite plates using a four-variable quasi 3D HSDT

Engineering with Computers - This work presents an efficient and original high-order shear and normal deformation theory for the static and free vibration analysis of functionally graded plates....     

Sum‐of‐Squares‐Based Finite‐Time Adaptive Sliding Mode Control of Uncertain Polynomial Systems With Input Nonlinearities

This paper proposes a novel adaptive sliding mode control (ASMC) for a class of polynomial systems comprising uncertain terms and input nonlinearities. In this approach, a new polynomial sliding surface is proposed and designed based on the sum‐of‐squares (SOS) decomposition. In the proposed method, an adaptive control law is derived such that the finite‐time reachability of the state trajectories in the presence of input nonlinearity and uncertainties is guaranteed. To do this, it is assumed that the uncertain terms are bounded and the input nonlinearities belong to sectors with positive slope parameters. However, the bound of the uncertain terms is unknown and adaptation law is proposed to effectively estimate the uncertainty bounds. Furthermore, based on a novel polynomial Lyapunov function, the finite‐time convergence of the sliding surface to a pre‐chosen small neighborhood of the origin is guaranteed. To eliminate the time derivatives of the polynomial terms in the stability analysis conditions, the SOS variables of the Lyapunov matrix are optimally selected. In order to show the merits and the robust performance of the proposed controller, chaotic Chen system is provided. Numerical simulation results demonstrate chattering reduction in the proposed approach and the high accuracy in estimating the unknown parameters.     

Nonexistence of global solutions for a class of nonlocal in time and space nonlinear evolution equations

In this paper, we study the nonlocal nonlinear evolution equation

${}^C{D}_{0|t}^{\alpha }u(t,x)?(J1\left|u\right|?\left|u\right|)(t,x){+}^C{D}_{0|t}^{\beta }u(t,x)={\left|u(t,x)\right|}^p,t>0,x\in {\mathbb{R}}^d,$

where $1<\alpha <2$, $0<\beta <1$, $p>1$, $J:{\mathbb{R}}^d\to {\mathbb{R}}_{+}$, $1$ is the convolution product in ${\mathbb{R}}^d$, and ${}^C{D}_{0|t}^q$, $q\in \{\alpha ,\beta \}$, is the Caputo left-sided fractional derivative of order $q$ with respect to the time $t$. We prove that the problem admits no global weak solution other than the trivial one with suitable initial data when $1<p<1+\frac{2\beta }{d\beta +2(1?\beta )}$. Next, we deal with the system

where $1<\alpha <2$, $0<\beta <1$, $p>1$, and $q>1$. We prove that the system admitsnon global weak solution other than the trivial one with suitable initial data when $1<pq<1+\frac{2\beta }{d\beta +2(1?\beta )}max\{p+1,q+1\}$. Our approach is based on the test function method.     

Preparation and characterization of layered silicate magadiite intercalated by Cu<Superscript>2+</Superscript> and Zn<Superscript>2+</Superscript> for antibacterial behavior

The purpose of this work is the synthesis of two series of layered silicate materials with different ratios (10, 30, 50, 80 and 100) of Cu(NO₃)₂, or Zn(NO₃)₂ by ion-exchange method. Several analysis techniques have been used such as X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results revealed that ion-exchange method of copper and zinc with different ratios did not affect the structure of Na-magadiite. The gap between the theoretical and experimental ion-exchange are in agreement. Antibacterial activity test against Escherichia coli, Rhizobium sp. and Staphylococcus demonstrate that when ratio was (30, 50, 80 and 100) the antibacterial activity of the layered silicate materials showed high antibacterial activity.