A singular loop transformation framework based on non-singular matrices

In this paper, we discuss a loop transformation framework that is based on integer non-singular matrices. The transformations included in this framework are called Λ-transformations and include permutation, skewing and reversal, as well as a transformation calledloop scaling. This framework is more general than existing ones; however, it is also more difficult to generate code in our framework. This paper shows how integer lattice theory can be used to generate efficient code. An added advantage of our framework over existing ones is that there is a simple completion algorithm which, given a partial transformation matrix, produces a full transformation matrix that satisfies all dependences. This completion procedure has applications in parallelization and in the generation of code for NUMA machines. This work was supported by the Cornell Theory Center, NSF Presidential Young Investigator award #CCR-8958543. by NSF Grant #CCR-9008526, and by a grant from the Hewlett-Packard Company.     

基于交流比例积分控制器的单相逆变器

提出一种电感电流、输出电压瞬时值反馈控制和负载电流前馈控制相结合的复合控制策略。在此基础上,研制了一台800W的单相逆变器。实验结果表明,提出的控制策略改善了逆变器输出电压的波形,提高了系统的暂态特性。     

Identification of Cyclophilin A as a Potential Anticancer Target of Novel Nargenicin A1 Analog in AGS Gastric Cancer Cells

We recently discovered a novel nargenicin A1 analog, 23-demethyl 8,13-deoxynargenicin (compound 9), with potential anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic activities against human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells. To identify the key molecular targets of compound 9, that are responsible for its biological activities, the changes in proteome expression in AGS cells following compound 9 treatment were analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE), followed by MALDI/TOF/MS. Analyses using chemical proteomics and western blotting revealed that compound 9 treatment significantly suppressed the expression of cyclophilin A (CypA), a member of the immunophilin family. Furthermore, compound 9 downregulated CD147-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) by inhibiting the expression of CD147, the cellular receptor of CypA. Notably, the responses of AGS cells to CypA knockdown were significantly correlated with the anticancer and antiangiogenic effects of compound 9. CypA siRNAs reduced the expression of CD147 and phosphorylation of JNK and ERK1/2. In addition, the suppressive effects of CypA siRNAs on proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis induction of AGS cells were associated with G2/M cell cycle arrest, caspase-mediated apoptosis, inhibition of MMP-9 and MMP-2 expression, inactivation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression. The specific interaction between compound 9 and CypA was also confirmed using the drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) approaches. Moreover, in silico docking analysis revealed that the structure of compound 9 was a good fit for the cyclosporin A binding cavity of CypA. Collectively, these findings provide a novel molecular basis for compound 9-mediated suppression of gastric cancer progression through the targeting of CypA.     

Gouda Cheese with Modified Content of β-Casein as a Source of Peptides with ACE- and DPP-IV-Inhibiting Bioactivity: A Study Based on In Silico and In Vitro Protocol

In silico and in vitro methods were used to analyze ACE- and DPP-IV-inhibiting potential of Gouda cheese with a modified content of β-casein. Firstly, the BIOPEP-UWM database was used to predict the presence of ACE and DPP-IV inhibitors in casein sequences. Then, the following Gouda cheeses were produced: with decreased, increased, and normative content of β-casein after 1 and 60 days of ripening each (six variants in total). Finally, determination of the ACE/DPP-IV-inhibitory activity and the identification of peptides in respective Gouda-derived water-soluble extracts were carried out. The identification analyses were supported with in silico calculations, i.e., heatmaps and quantitative parameters. All Gouda variants exhibited comparable ACE inhibition, whereas DPP-IV inhibition was more diversified among the samples. The samples derived from Gouda with the increased content of β-casein (both stages of ripening) had the highest DPP-IV-inhibiting potency compared to the same samples measured for ACE inhibition. Regardless of the results concerning ACE and DPP-IV inhibition among the cheese samples, the heatmap showed that the latter bioactivity was predominant in all Gouda variants, presumably because it was based on the qualitative approach (i.e., peptide presence in the sample). Our heatmap did not include the bioactivity of a single peptide as well as its quantity in the sample. In turn, the quantitative parameters showed that the best sources of ACE/DPP-IV inhibitors were all Gouda-derived extracts obtained after 60 days of the ripening. Although our protocol was efficient in showing some regularities among Gouda cheese variants, in vivo studies are recommended for more extensive investigations of this subject.     

WAVE FIELD EXTRAPOLATION IN VISCOELASTIC MEDIUM AND VARIABLE FOCUS METHOD TO SEPARATE SEISMIC COMPOUND WAVE

ＷＡＶＥＦＩＥＬＤＥＸＴＲＡＰＯＬＡＴＩＯＮＩＮＶＩＳＣＯＥＬＡＳＴＩＣＭＥＤＩＵＭＡＮＤＶＡＲＩＡＢＬＥＦＯＣＵＳＭＥＴＨＯＤＴＯＳＥＰＡＲＡＴＥＳＥＩＳＭＩＣＣＯＭＰＯＵＮＤＷＡＶＥ￥ＳｏｎｇＳｈｏｕｇｅｎ；ＹｕａｎＸｉｕｇｕｉ；ＨｅＪｉｓｈａｎ...     

化工过程熵增指数及其在磷复肥清洁生产评价中的应用

从热力学第二定律出发, 指出清洁生产的热力学本质是控制物质由有序结构向无序转化并从中获取最大效益, 其优劣可由过程熵增反映。 引用复杂体系非平衡定态过程最小熵产生原理,推导出依据与外界交换的物流和热流信息定量计算化工复杂系统过程熵增的方法, 并定义过程熵增指数ζ 。 评价了化工过程对环境热力学状态的综合影响。选择以硫和以氨为载能原料的磷复肥工艺为例进行了计算和对比,其过程熵增指数分别为6.753和4.571,反映出载能原料硫作为废物排放对环境热力学状态产生更大的影响。     

30%三唑锡悬浮剂的研制及作用机理分析

[目的]解决30%三唑锡悬浮剂分散稳定性的问题。[方法]为提高30%三唑锡悬浮剂分散稳定性,采用流点法对不同类型的分散剂进行初步筛选并测试表面张力,通过测试SC粒径、Zeta电势、悬浮率、流变性能确定分散剂配比与用量并对分散稳定机理进行分析。[结果]与单一分散剂制备SC相比,聚羧酸盐分散剂SD-816和聚氧乙烯醚磷酸酯分散剂SD-208复配体系制备的SC性能较优,其表观黏度、Zeta电势、粒径和悬浮率分别为386 mPa·s、-37.2 mV、2.58μm及98.4%。并且提出了聚羧酸盐分散剂和聚氧乙烯醚磷酸酯分散剂对农药三唑锡可能的分散机理。[结论]聚羧酸盐SD-816和聚氧乙烯醚磷酸酯SD-208的复配体系可同时提供静电排斥作用和空间位阻,明显改善SC体系的悬浮稳定性。     

SUL-151 Decreases Airway Neutrophilia as a Prophylactic and Therapeutic Treatment in Mice after Cigarette Smoke Exposure

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by cigarette smoke (CS) is featured by oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. Due to the poor efficacy of standard glucocorticoid therapy, new treatments are required. Here, we investigated whether the novel compound SUL-151 with mitoprotective properties can be used as a prophylactic and therapeutic treatment in a murine CS-induced inflammation model. SUL-151 (4 mg/kg), budesonide (500 μg/kg), or vehicle were administered via oropharyngeal instillation in this prophylactic and therapeutic treatment setting. The number of immune cells was determined in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Oxidative stress response, mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, and mitophagy-related proteins were measured in lung homogenates. SUL-151 significantly decreased more than 70% and 50% of CS-induced neutrophils in BALF after prophylactic and therapeutic administration, while budesonide showed no significant reduction in neutrophils. Moreover, SUL-151 prevented the CS-induced decrease in ATP and mitochondrial mtDNA and an increase in putative protein kinase 1 expression in the lung homogenates. The concentration of SUL-151 was significantly correlated with malondialdehyde level and radical scavenging activity in the lungs. SUL-151 inhibited the increased pulmonary inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in this CS-induced inflammation model, which implied that SUL-151 might be a promising candidate for COPD treatment.     

Current Perspectives on the Physiological Activities of Fermented Soybean-Derived Cheonggukjang

Cheonggukjang (CGJ, fermented soybean paste), a traditional Korean fermented dish, has recently emerged as a functional food that improves blood circulation and intestinal regulation. Considering that excessive consumption of refined salt is associated with increased incidence of gastric cancer, high blood pressure, and stroke in Koreans, consuming CGJ may be desirable, as it can be made without salt, unlike other pastes. Soybeans in CGJ are fermented by Bacillus strains (B. subtilis or B. licheniformis), Lactobacillus spp., Leuconostoc spp., and Enterococcus faecium, which weaken the activity of putrefactive bacteria in the intestines, act as antibacterial agents against pathogens, and facilitate the excretion of harmful substances. Studies on CGJ have either focused on improving product quality or evaluating the bioactive substances contained in CGJ. The fermentation process of CGJ results in the production of enzymes and various physiologically active substances that are not found in raw soybeans, including dietary fiber, phospholipids, isoflavones (e.g., genistein and daidzein), phenolic acids, saponins, trypsin inhibitors, and phytic acids. These components prevent atherosclerosis, oxidative stress-mediated heart disease and inflammation, obesity, diabetes, senile dementia, cancer (e.g., breast and lung), and osteoporosis. They have also been shown to have thrombolytic, blood pressure-lowering, lipid-lowering, antimutagenic, immunostimulatory, anti-allergic, antibacterial, anti-atopic dermatitis, anti-androgenetic alopecia, and anti-asthmatic activities, as well as skin improvement properties. In this review, we examined the physiological activities of CGJ and confirmed its potential as a functional food.     

Gurum Seeds: A Potential Source of Edible Oil

Cucurbitaceae family seeds are mostly discarded as agro-industrial wastes. Gurum (Citrullus lanatus var. colocynthoide) is an underutilized wild cucurbit plant, closely related to desert watermelon, which is grown abundantly in some African countries. Gurum seeds can play a significant role in health and nutrition due to their high oil content. This review describes the nutritional composition of gurum seeds and their oil profile. Gurum seeds are a good source of oil (27–35.5%), fiber (26–31%), crude protein (15–18%), and carbohydrates (14–17%). Gurum seeds oil is extracted by supercritical CO₂ (SFE), screw press, and solvent extraction techniques. The gurum seeds oil is composed of unsaturated fatty acids with a high proportion of linoleic acid (C18:2) and oleic acid (C18:1). Gurum seeds oil contains various bioactive compounds, such as tocopherols, phytosterols, and polyphenols. It is reported that solvent extraction gives a higher yield than the screw press and SFE, but the SFE is preferred due to safety issues. More studies are required for producing better quality gurum seeds oil by using novel extraction techniques that can increase oil yield.