Improving TCP performance for vertical handover in heterogeneous wireless networks

The incorporation of wireless local area networks (WLANs) into existing cellular networks as supplementary access technologies has become an issue of great interest. However, vertical handover (VHO), which allows users to roam between a WLAN and a cellular network, causes an abrupt change in certain link characteristics such as the round trip time and data rate. Owing to such changes, reordering problem and premature timeout occur and trigger unnecessarily fast retransmission during VHO, causing throughput degradation. Thus, we propose a new transmission control protocol (TCP) mechanism, which resolves the reordering problem by suppressing unnecessary retransmission caused by spurious duplicate acknowledgments (dupacks) incurred because of the reordering problem, and prevents premature timeout by employing an adaptive retransmission timer. We analytically investigate the throughput of our proposed TCP scheme. The numerical and simulation results show that our proposed TCP performs better in terms of throughput than other schemes appearing in the literature. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Increased Placental Cell Senescence and Oxidative Stress in Women with Pre-Eclampsia and Normotensive Post-Term Pregnancies

Up to 11% of pregnancies extend to post-term with adverse obstetric events linked to pregnancies over 42 weeks. Oxidative stress and senescence (cells stop growing and dividing by irreversibly arresting their cell cycle and gradually ageing) can result in diminished cell function. There are no detailed studies of placental cell senescence markers across a range of gestational ages, although increased levels have been linked to pre-eclampsia before full term. This study aimed to determine placental senescence and oxidative markers across a range of gestational ages in women with uncomplicated pregnancies and those with a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia. Placentae were obtained from 37 women with uncomplicated pregnancies of 37–42 weeks and from 13 cases of pre-eclampsia of 31⁺²–41⁺² weeks. The expression of markers of senescence, oxidative stress, and antioxidant defence (tumour suppressor protein p16^INK4a, kinase inhibitor p21, interleukin-6 (IL-6), NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), glutathione peroxidases 1, 3, and 4 (GPx1, GPx3, and GPx4), placental growth factor (PlGF), and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)) genes was measured (quantitative real-time PCR). Protein abundance of p16^INK4a, IL-6, NOX4, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxy-guanosine (8-OHdG), and PlGF was assessed by immunocytochemistry. Placental NOX4 protein was higher in post-term than term deliveries and further increased by pre-eclampsia (p < 0.05 for all). P21 expression was higher in post-term placentae (p = 0.012) and in pre-eclampsia (p = 0.04), compared to term. Placental P16^INK4a protein expression was increased post-term, compared to term (p = 0.01). In normotensive women, gestational age at delivery was negatively associated with GPx4 and PlGF (mRNA and protein) (p < 0.05 for all), whereas a positive correlation was seen with placental P21, NOX4, and P16^INK4a (p < 0.05 for all) expression. Markers of placental oxidative stress and senescence appear to increase as gestational age increases, with antioxidant defences diminishing concomitantly. These observations increase our understanding of placental health and may contribute to assessment of the optimal gestational age for delivery.     

Epithelial Cell Transformation and Senescence as Indicators of Genome Aging: Current Advances and Unanswered Questions

The recent advances in deciphering the human genome allow us to understand and evaluate the mechanisms of human genome age-associated transformations, which are largely unclear. Genome sequencing techniques assure comprehensive mapping of human genetics; however, understanding of gene functional interactions, specifically of time/age-dependent modifications, remain challenging. The age of the genome is defined by the sum of individual (inherited) and acquired genomic traits, based on internal and external factors that impact ontogenesis from the moment of egg fertilization and embryonic development. The biological part of genomic age opens a new perspective for intervention. The discovery of single cell-based mechanisms for genetic change indicates the possibility of influencing aging and associated disease burden, as well as metabolism. Cell populations with transformed genetic background were shown to serve as the origin of common diseases during extended life expectancy (superaging). Consequently, age-related cell transformation leads to cancer and cell degeneration (senescence). This article aims to describe current advances in the genomic mechanisms of senescence and its role in the spatiotemporal spread of epithelial clones and cell evolution.     

火炮发射药床冲击破碎动力学仿真研究

为了研究发射装药引起膛炸的基本原理,确保火炮武器系统发射过程安全,实现末端毁伤效应,从理论分析计算的角度出发,基于离散单元法,建立了火炮发射药床冲击破碎动力学仿真模型,模拟了大口径火炮发射药床在燃气流冲击载荷下的破碎过程,并与有限元计算软件LS-DYNA的结果进行对比,结果表明,离散单元法和有限元法计算结果几乎一致,验证了该方法的准确性。该计算方法对发射装药发射安全性研究具有一定理论实用价值。     

VRLA电池的早期容量损失述评

归纳了VRLA电池早期容量损失(PCL)现象的失效模式,对VRLA电池的PCL研究进展进行了分析,介绍了凝胶-晶体结构、球聚集模型、阻挡能层模型3种理论.提出了预防和恢复PCL,提高电池深循环寿命的方法.     

甘薯汁对果蝇寿命及抗氧化能力的影响

为探讨甘薯汁抗氧化及防衰老的功效,选取果蝇为动物模型,在培养基中分别添加低、中、高剂量（分别为0.10、0.15、0.20 mg/mL）甘薯汁饲喂8 h内羽化未交配的雌、雄果蝇,通过果蝇生存实验及测定不同饲养时间果蝇体内的超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）活力、总抗氧化能力（total antioxidant capacity,T-AOC）和丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）含量,评价甘薯汁对果蝇寿命和抗氧化酶活性的影响。结果表明：与对照组相比,不同剂量甘薯汁组均能显著延长雌、雄果蝇的平均寿命（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）,且呈剂量依赖性。果蝇SOD活力、T-AOC在低、中、高剂量组中均显著增加（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）,中、高剂量组果蝇体内MDA含量显著降低（P＜0.05或P＜0.01）。其中,与对照组相比,高剂量组可使雌、雄果蝇平均寿命分别延长17.93%和16.00%,SOD活力分别提高50.51%、58.61%,T-AOC分别提高79.73%、62.67%,MDA含量分别下降35.59%、37.14%。结论：甘薯汁可以提高果蝇体内的抗氧化能力,具有一定的延缓衰老作用。     

能量状态在果蔬采后衰老中的作用及其调控研究进展

能量是采后果蔬维持正常生理代谢活动的基础。近年来的研究表明,能量亏缺是导致采后果蔬衰老的重要因素。本文从采后果蔬的呼吸代谢、活性氧和细胞膜完整性与能量状态的关系等方面阐述能量状态在果蔬采后衰老中的作用,并对采后果蔬能量状态的调控措施以及调控机制等方面的研究进展进行综述。此外,从能量合成、转运、耗散和感知相关基因在转录和蛋白水平的表达与调控,采后果蔬衰老的起始因子,能量亏缺的应激反应等方面进行展望,旨在为从能量角度探究采后果蔬衰老的机制和研发果蔬采后保鲜新技术提供参考。     

Leukemia-Induced Cellular Senescence and Stemness Alterations in Mesenchymal Stem Cells Are Reversible upon Withdrawal of B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Cells

Leukemic cell growth in the bone marrow (BM) induces a very stressful condition. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), a key component of this BM niche, are affected in several ways with unfavorable consequences on hematopoietic stem cells favoring leukemic cells. These alterations in MSC during B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have not been fully studied. In this work, we have compared the modifications that occur in an in vitro leukemic niche (LN) with those observed in MSC isolated from B-ALL patients. MSC in this LN niche showed features of a senescence process, i.e., altered morphology, increased senescence-associated β-Galactosidase (SA-βGAL) activity, and upregulation of p53 and p21 (without p16 expression), cell-cycle arrest, reduced clonogenicity, and some moderated changes in stemness properties. Importantly, almost all of these features were found in MSC isolated from B-ALL patients. These alterations rendered B-ALL cells susceptible to the chemotherapeutic agent dexamethasone. The senescent process seems to be transient since when leukemic cells are removed, normal MSC morphology is re-established, SA-βGAL expression is diminished, and MSC are capable of re-entering cell cycle. In addition, few cells showed low γH2AX phosphorylation that was reduced to basal levels upon cultivation. The reversibility of the senescent process in MSC must impinge important biological and clinical significance depending on cell interactions in the bone marrow at different stages of disease progression in B-ALL.     

Different Stages of Quiescence,Senescence, and Cell Stress Identified by Molecular Algorithm Based on the Expression of Ki67, RPS6, and Beta-Galactosidase Activity

During their life span, cells have two possible states: a non-cycling, quiescent state (G0) and a cycling, activated state. Cells may enter a reversible G0 state of quiescence or, alternatively, they may undergo an irreversible G0 state. The latter may be a physiological differentiation or, following a stress event, a senescent status. Discrimination among the several G0 states represents a significant investigation, since quiescence, differentiation, and senescence are progressive phenomena with intermediate transitional stages. We used the expression of Ki67, RPS6, and beta-galactosidase to identify healthy cells that progressively enter and leave quiescence through G0-entry, G0 and G0-alert states. We then evaluated how cells may enter senescence following a genotoxic stressful event. We identified an initial stress stage with the expression of beta-galactosidase and Ki67 proliferation marker. Cells may recover from stress events or become senescent passing through early and late senescence states. Discrimination between quiescence and senescence was based on the expression of RPS6, a marker of active protein synthesis that is present in senescent cells but absent in quiescent cells. Even taking into account that fixed G0 states do not exist, our molecular algorithm may represent a method for identifying turning points of G0 transitional states that continuously change.     

Properties of Non-Aminoglycoside Compounds Used to Stimulate Translational Readthrough of PTC Mutations in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare disease with autosomal recessive inheritance, caused mostly by bi-allelic gene mutations that impair motile cilia structure and function. Currently, there are no causal treatments for PCD. In many disease models, translational readthrough of premature termination codons (PTC-readthrough) induced by aminoglycosides has been proposed as an effective way of restoring functional protein expression and reducing disease symptoms. However, variable outcomes of pre-clinical trials and toxicity associated with long-term use of aminoglycosides prompt the search for other compounds that might overcome these problems. Because a high proportion of PCD-causing variants are nonsense mutations, readthrough therapies are an attractive option. We tested a group of chemical compounds with known PTC-readthrough potential (ataluren, azithromycin, tylosin, amlexanox, and the experimental compound TC007), collectively referred to as non-aminoglycosides (NAGs). We investigated their PTC-readthrough efficiency in six PTC mutations found in Polish PCD patients, in the context of cell and cilia health, and in comparison to the previously tested aminoglycosides. The NAGs did not compromise the viability of the primary nasal respiratory epithelial cells, and the ciliary beat frequency was retained, similar to what was observed for gentamicin. In HEK293 cells transfected with six PTC-containing inserts, the tested compounds stimulated PTC-readthrough but with lower efficiency than aminoglycosides. The study allowed us to select compounds with minimal negative impact on cell viability and function but still the potential to induce PTC-readthrough.