Form Expressions Research Articles

Entropy generation of MHD flow of sodium alginate (C6H9NAO7) fluid in thermal engineering

In this paper, impacts of magnetic field and porosity on the entropy generation of sodium-alginate (C6H9NaO7) fluid are studied. C6H9NaO7 is taken over a moving and heated vertical wall. Heat transfer is due to free convection. Initially, the problem is formulated in the form of PDEs along with physical conditions and then written in non-dimensional form. Problem is solved via Laplace transform and expression in analytical form is established for temperature and velocity field. The related relations for entropy generation and Bejan number and entropy generation are also examined. Nusselt number and Skin-friction are calculated and plotted in graphs. For numerical computations, a finite difference scheme is used using MATLAB software. The results in tables and graphs are discussed for embedded parameters. It is found that the magnetic field and porosity have strong influence on velocity, entropy generation and Bejan number. For greater Hartman number, entropy generation magnitude is greater compared to the Bejan number, conversely, this variation in Bejan number is more efficient. The porosity effect showed that if the medium is more porous, the entropy generation can decreases 50% when porosity increase from Ka = 1 to Ka = 2, however the Bejan number increases.

Research on the Application of China Traditional Culture in Modern Cultural Tourism Commodity Design

With the rapid development of economy, the competition of tourism culture and tourism commodities is becoming more and more fierce, and the traditional national culture is also impacted, and its historical value is gradually hidden. Traditional cultural elements have strong cultural attributes and influence charm, so it is particularly important to apply them to the design of cultural tourism commodities. However, at present, there are relatively few studies on the application of traditional cultural elements in the design of cultural tourism commodities. Cultural tourism commodity design is the main means of product commercialization and functional expression, and traditional cultural elements play an important role in cultural tourism commodity design. Cultural commodity design is not a simple form, so it is necessary to make breakthroughs and innovations in form expression and color language through the application of various elements. This paper expounds the connotation and development status of traditional cultural elements in China, extracts cultural elements from them, and applies them to the decoration design, modeling design and implication design of cultural tourism commodities, so as to achieve the perfect integration of traditional culture and modern design.

Translation of Contemporary Expression of Traditional Culture of Ci Fu "Luo Shen Fu" and Traditional Dance of "Luo Shen Water Fu"

Henan TV’s "Traditional Culture Series" has pushed the contemporary expression of Chinese traditional culture to a climax. Especially with the rejuvenation of domestic traditional culture, the dance "Luo Shen Water Fu" re-creates the traditional poetry "Luo Shen Fu" in five aspects: the creator's perspective, art form, expression technique, character image and creative power. The new expression of modern form has produced a strong contemporary traditional cultural effect. Through a case analysis of this successful act of traditional culture, the article analyzes the translation techniques of contemporary expressions of traditional culture, and provides useful enlightenment for stimulating the creative vitality of traditional culture and boosting the future trend of traditional Chinese culture.

Research on Monitoring Information Management of Deep Foundation Pit Engineering Based on BIM Technology

With the rapid development of construction industry, there are more and more deep and large foundation pit projects with complex architectural environment and geological conditions. Deformation monitoring in deep foundation pit as a basic element of engineering quality assurance is becoming more and more important. At present, the management and expression form of monitoring data in deep foundation pit still stays in the stage of two-dimensional form and curve expression, and it can not reflect the deformation of deep foundation pit in real, fast and effective way.Take the 3#, 4# high-rise residential and underground garage project of a college in Xi'an as an example. Based on Revit software, taking BIM technology and Revit API as the theoretical basis, and taking Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 and Autodesk Revit 2014 as the development platform, we use C# programming language to carry out the two development of information management module for deep foundation pit engineering monitoring. Combining BIM technology with monitoring data management of deep foundation pit, the information management mode of monitoring data of deep foundation pit is improved, which makes express expression of deep foundation pit construction monitoring more rapid and effective, and has guiding significance for safety construction of deep foundation pit engineering.

Impact of Haplotypes on the Frequency of Morbid Complications in Homozygous SSFA2 Sickle Cell Disease in Cote D’ivoire

Background: Sickle cell disease is a constitutional hemoglobin disease witch poses a public health problem in Côte d’Ivoire due to its prevalence and complications. The homozygous form (SSFA2) is the most severe. The proportion of hemoglobin F by its property determines the haplotype. Authors wanted to determine the impact of these haplotypes on the frequency of morbid complications. Methods: Our study was a transversal type and analytical aims, occurred in the clinical hematology department of the University Hospital of Yopougon over a 3 months period. Our study included 150 SSFA2 patients with complications. The statistical test used was the student. Results: The mean age was 11 years, (6 months to 42 years). The sex ratio was 1.05. The mean rate of hemoglobin S was 86%, of which 17% had severe haplotype, 37% intermediate haplotype, and 45% benign haplotype. Infectious complications were the most frequent (58.72%) (Malaria 53.47%; bronchial pneumonia: 28.22%), followed by anemic complications (36.92%) and ischemic complications (4.36%). Deglobulization crisis was the major acute anemic complication (97.5%) followed by splenic sequestration (2.5%). Chronic anemic complications were dominated by leg ulcers (57.14%) followed by biliary lithiasis (42.86%). Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head was the most frequent ischemic complication (46.66%), followed by retinopathy (33.33%), and then stroke (20%). The severe haplotype was associated with a high frequency of complications in general and infectious complications in particular. (P=0.005) Conclusion: The clinical expression of the SSFA2 homozygous form and the occurrence of complications is closely related to the haplotype.

Biological and Inflammatory Effects of Antigen 5 from Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) Venom in Mouse Intraperitoneal Macrophages.

The social wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) is highly aggressive, being responsible for many medical occurrences. One of the most allergenic components of this venom is Antigen 5 (Poly p 5). The possible modulation of the in vitro immune response induced by antigen 5 from P. paulista venom, expressed recombinantly (rPoly p 5), on BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages, activated or not with LPS, was assessed. Here, we analyzed cell viability changes, expression of the phosphorylated form of p65 NF-κB subunit, nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines production, and co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86). The results suggest that rPoly p 5 does not affect NO production nor the expression of co-stimulatory molecules in mouse peritoneal macrophages. On the other hand, rPoly p 5 induced an increase in IL-1β production in non-activated macrophages and a reduction in the production of TNF-α and MCP-1 cytokines in activated macrophages. rPoly p 5 decreased the in vitro production of the phosphorylated p65 NF-κB subunit in non-activated macrophages. These findings suggest an essential role of this allergen in the polarization of functional M2 macrophage phenotypes, when analyzed in previously activated macrophages. Further investigations, mainly in in vivo studies, should be conducted to elucidate Polybia paulista Ag5 biological role in the macrophage functional profile modulation.

Towards an Aesthetic of „Straniety” in Postmodern and Contemporary Dance

Abstract The complicated physiognomy of dance in the XX-th and XXI-th century obviously exeedes the stable marks of „beauty” as an aesthetic category, by extending the limits of imaginary and techniques of artistic productions beyond any restraints. Both form and artistic expressions become suitable for specific interpretations, through the instruments and postmodern categories. The argumentation frequently refer to three moments of avantgardes, swiftly mentioning the reform’s beginings on the european artistic environment as a starting point, and underlying the Black Montain College phenomenon, and its consequences through the 80-ties and after. The fluctuations of artistic objectives are also “organized” having a starting point two texts with an essential theoretical value, No Manifesto (Yvonne Reiner) and Yes Manifesto (Mette Ingvarsen) which permit the systematization of the dance creators’s “attitude”, underline the philosophical ideas contained by image, which generate the postmodern „straniety”.

Engineering a feedback inhibition-insensitive plant dihydrodipicolinate synthase to increase lysine content in Camelina sativa seeds

Camelina sativa (camelina) is emerging as an alternative oilseed crop due to its short growing cycle, low input requirements, adaptability to less favorable growing environments and a seed oil profile suitable for biofuel and industrial applications. Camelina meal and oil are also registered for use in animal and fish feeds; however, like meals derived from most cereals and oilseeds, it is deficient in certain essential amino acids, such as lysine. In higher plants, the reaction catalyzed by dihydrodipicolinate synthase (DHDPS) is the first committed step in the biosynthesis of lysine and is subject to regulation by lysine through feedback inhibition. Here, we report enhancement of lysine content in C. sativa seed via expression of a feedback inhibition-insensitive form of DHDPS from Corynebacterium glutamicums (CgDHDPS). Two genes encoding C. sativa DHDPS were identified and the endogenous enzyme is partially insensitive to lysine inhibition. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to examine the impact of alterations, alone and in combination, present in lysine-desensitized DHDPS isoforms from Arabidopsis thaliana DHDPS (W53R), Nicotiana tabacum (N80I) and Zea mays (E84K) on C. sativa DHDPS lysine sensitivity. When introduced alone, each of the alterations decreased sensitivity to lysine; however, enzyme specific activity was also affected. There was evidence of molecular or structural interplay between residues within the C. sativa DHDPS allosteric site as coupling of the W53R mutation with the N80V mutation decreased lysine sensitivity of the latter, but not to the level with the W53R mutation alone. Furthermore, the activity and lysine sensitivity of the triple mutant (W53R/N80V/E84T) was similar to the W53R mutation alone or the C. glutamicum DHDPS. The most active and most lysine-insensitive C. sativa DHDPS variant (W53R) was not inhibited by free lysine up to 1 mM, comparable to the C. glutamicums enzyme. Seed lysine content increased 13.6 -22.6% in CgDHDPS transgenic lines and 7.6–13.2% in the mCsDHDPS lines. The high lysine-accumulating lines from this work may be used to produce superior quality animal feed with improved essential amino acid profile.

The anxiolytic effect of salicylic acid is mediated via the GABAergic system in the fear potentiated plus maze behavior in rats.

Salicylic acid(SA) is a natural phenolic compound in plants with many beneficial effects for humans. The anxiolytic effect of this compound has been reported in animal models, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, by using the fear potentiated plus maze test, we evaluated the effect of salicylic acid on the gene expression of the main form of GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) synthesizing enzyme i.e., the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) which is called GAD1, in the ventral subiculum of the hippocampus, one of the main brain structures, in anxiety circuits. Also, the hypnotic effect of Salicylic acid was evaluated. Animals were divided into the solvent, (SA) and diazepam treated groups (n = 6). For evaluating the anxiolytic effect of Salicylic acid, animals were subjected to 2h of isolation, before placing them in the elevated plus maze (EPM). Afterward, the ventral part of the hippocampus was removed for evaluating the change in GAD1 gene expression by the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR) technique. The hypnotic effect of Salicylic acidwas evaluated in the ketamine induced sleeping test. Salicylic acid at 10 and 30 (mg/kg) increased time spent and entries to the open arms in the (EPM) (p < 0.05). (RTqPCR) revealed that 30mg/kg of Salicylic acidincreased GAD1 gene expression (p < 0.001). Salicylic acid(30 and 300mg/kg) also increased the duration of sleep, in ketamine induced sleeping test (p < 0.05). Our results showed that Salicylic acidhas anxiolytic and hypnotic effects and it exerts its anxiolytic effect partly, via up the regulation of GAD1 in the ventral part of the hippocampus.

Social Mobility and Spatialised Slowness

Abstract This article analyses the individual aspirations of Sierra Leoneans living in France in relation to normative expectations related to mobility. It argues that aspirations and expectations are expressions of spatialized forms of social becoming situated within broader norms concerning socially-valued forms of mobility. Aspirations to social mobility link up distinct places in a fragmented transnational field, transform them as value-laden spaces, and inform migrants’ assessment of their own trajectory within them. Individual aspirations are formulated with regard to spaces migrants have left, spaces they live in, and spaces they would like to reach. Sierra Leoneans living in France have reached a ‘destination country’ and yet, do not experience their situation as the ideal migratory path. Their achievements are measured with regard to expectations of social mobility as imagined in English-speaking spaces, thereby reinforcing the narrative of mobility and the persistence of local idioms of ‘success’ based on historical transnational connections.

Three myths about eclecticism

This article explores the concept of modern eclecticism in art and architecture through three accounts of it by influential scholars Rudolf Wittkower, César Daly, and Charles Jencks. Writing from different contexts, each of these thinkers respectively presents the origins and contents of eclecticism as: a product of modern historical consciousness; a reciprocal crisis of historical progress; and a pluralistic discourse in Postmodernism. Through these differing, but interrelated, retellings or myths, one can observe eclecticism’s critical malleability as a concept which may be applied equally to design methodology, historical analysis, or even as a social model. A close reading of eclecticism in instances of its most serious invocations challenges the common perception of the term as one of disparaging ambiguity predicated upon an aimless condition of historical borrowing. Arguing against this position, I show that the discourse of eclecticism contains important and lasting tropes of architecture in modernity; chief among them is the tenuous relationship between form and social expression, as well as the utopic notions of progress and historical transformation.

Engineering in Crisis – Critical Reflection Writing Prompt

Writing Prompt sent to the International Engineering, Social Justice, and Peace community and other engineering education sub-communitiess (primarily in North America:&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Our objective is to capture your thoughts, experiences, and responses to intersecting crises of COVID-19, white supremacy, anti-blackness, police violence, late capitalism, technologies and engineerings, power formations, state violence, academia, and engineering education over the past year.&#x0D; We wish to break the mould and create a space for the entire engineering community - students, educators, and professionals to share varied perspectives. Being oral history, this project is free from the usual academic barriers or gatekeeping. No citations needed if you do not wish to do so.&#x0D; While we aim to keep editorial interference at a minimum, we do not intend to include entries that (in our aesthetic and axiological judgement) can cause significant structural, cultural, or emotional harm to marginalised communities. We recognise that such filtering is hard to fully specify. The "objectives" statement above could be a guide for providing you a sense for what we are looking for. Entries should align with IJESJP's focus on engendering dialog on engineering practices that enhance gender, racial, class, and cultural equity and are democratic, non-oppressive, and non-violent. We acknowledge that even this filter limits the expression of particular forms of knowing and being.&#x0D; Our commitments are available here: http://esjp.org/about-esjp/our-commitments&#x0D; We are inspired by the way stories are told and archived through oral history, and feel the need to capture these stories before they become lost in the flux of our ongoing crises. Such history can be a story, anger and frustrations through rant, back of the envelope ideas and theories, poems, prose, fiction, critiques. This history is anything and everything you wish to document in time.&#x0D; Instructions: Please provide the following information by August 15th, 2021.&#x0D; &#x0D; Entry.&#x0D; Title, optional&#x0D; File upload, optional.&#x0D; Name, gender pronouns, and affiliations of authors&#x0D; Do you want your submission anonymous?&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

G. Ph. Telemann’s Concertos for Four Violins withoutbassocontinuoin the aspect of onomatopoeic and figurative rhetoric

Statement of the problem. In musicology there has long been a tacit belief that Baroque music is the music of rhetoric, rhetorical figures and affects. In Baroque aesthetics, rhetoric, which is an important element of Baroque poetics, is perceived as an integral part of the content of a musical piece that together with form, harmony, counterpoint and musical expression form its integral substance. The study of Baroque music from the perspective of the rhetorical aspect gives a clearer comprehension of the work, understanding the context, and the competent interpretation of the composer’s idea. Analysis of recent research and publication. The theoretical assumptions of this article are based both on historical treatises (M. Praetorius, Ch. Bernhard, J. Mattheson) and authoritative works of researchers who studied theoretical issues of historically informed performance of the late XX – early XXI century (D. Bartel, L. Dreyfus), including relatively new works (M. Zg&amp;#243;&amp;#322;ka, P. Zawistowski, A. Mocek). M. Zg&amp;#243;&amp;#322;ka (2016) adopts a rather traditional approach to rhetoric, which operates with rhetorical figures and affects, and at the same time offers an innovative division of rhetoric into three varieties. Referring to the most important treatises L. Dreyfus (2004) makes us think about the relevance of making parallels between oratory and musical rhetoric highlighting common features and differences. A. Mocek’s (2019) view on musical rhetoric and on the studies devoted to it is quite critical. The main objective of the study is to examine G. Ph. Telemann’s Concertos for Four Violins without basso continuo from the perspective of figurative and onomatopoeic rhetoric. The scientific novelty. In this research for the first time, Telemann’s Concertos were analyzed from the perspective of onomatopoeic and figurative rhetoric. The concept of division of rhetoric into three categories (onomatopoeic, figurative, symbolically mystical) was proposed by the Polish violinist and theorist M. Zg&amp;#243;&amp;#322;ka (2016). The author uses the following methods in this research: historical, typological, comparative and structural-functional analysis. Results. The analysis of four concertos demonstrates that G. Ph. Telemann uses not only figurative type of rhetoric but also onomatopoeic, successfully combining these two categories. In comparison with, for example, A. Vivaldi or H. I. F. von Biber, the palette of sound imitative techniques in the concertos of G. Ph. Telemann is not so diverse and comprehensive, however, elements of onomatopoeic rhetoric can be found both in fast and slow movements: sound of organ or bells as well as sound images of nature. The composer does not refuse from the elements of figurative rhetoric. Like in his duo sonatas, these are mainly represented by figures that describe a melodic motion. Such techniques are often found in polyphonic quick movements. In the lyrical slow movements, similarly to the duo sonatas, harmony, polyphony and intervals are brought to the fore. Conclusions. G. Ph. Telemann’s cycle of Concertos for Four Violins without continuo is an interesting example of chamber music not only in terms of composition but also from the view point of the usage and combination of various types of musical rhetoric. Knowledge of the rhetorical component brings researchers and performers to a new, more comprehensive level of understanding of the composer’s music, allowing us to consider the emotional content not only of the work as a whole, but also of each single intonation.

Role of hippocampal NF-\u03baB and GluN2B in the memory acquisition impairment of experiences gathered prior to cocaine administration in rats

Cocaine can induce severe neurobehavioral changes, among others, the ones involved in learning and memory processes. It is known that during drug consumption, cocaine-associated memory and learning processes take place. However, much less is known about the effects of this drug upon the mechanisms involved in forgetting.The present report focuses on the mechanisms by which cocaine affects memory consolidation of experiences acquired prior to drug administration. We also study the involvement of hippocampus in these processes, with special interest on the role of Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamate receptor 2B (GluN2B), and their relationship with other proteins, such as cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB). For this purpose, we developed a rat experimental model of chronic cocaine administration in which spatial memory and the expression or activity of several proteins in the hippocampus were assessed after 36 days of drug administration. We report an impairment in memory acquisition of experiences gathered prior to cocaine administration, associated to an increase in GluN2B expression in the hippocampus. We also demonstrate a decrease in NF-κB activity, as well as in the expression of the active form of CREB, confirming the role of these transcription factors in the cocaine-induced memory impairment.

The effect of mutatio-type on proteo-phenotype and clinico-phenotype in selected primary immunodeficiencies.

In the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiencies which are heterogeneous groups of genetic disorders, next-generation sequencing strategies take an important place. Protein expression analyses and some functional studies which are fundamental to determine the pathogenicity of the mutation are also performed to accelerate the diagnosis of PIDs before sequencing. However, protein expressions and functions do not always reflect the genetic and clinical background of the disease even the existence of a pathogenic variant or vice versa. In this study, it was aimed to understand genotype-proteophenotype-clinicophenotype correlation by investigating the effect of mutation types on protein expression, function, and clinical severity in X-linked, autosomal dominant, and autosomal recessive forms of PIDs. It was searched in PubMed and Web of Science without any restrictions on study design and publication time. Totally, 1178 patients with PIDs who have 553 different mutations were investigated from 174 eligible full-text articles. For all mutations, the effect of mutation type on protein expressions and protein functions was analyzed. Furthermore, the most frequent missense and nonsense mutations that were identified in patients with PIDs were evaluated to determine the genotype-clinicophenotype correlation. Protein expressions and functions were changed depending on the mutation type and the affected domain. A significant relationship was observed between protein expression level and clinical severity among all investigated patients. There was also a positive correlation between clinical severity and the affected domains. Mutation types and affected domains should be carefully evaluated with respect to protein expression levels and functional changes during the evaluation of clinico-phenotype.

E2F4-Based Gene Therapy Mitigates the Phenotype of the Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Mouse Model 5xFAD

After decades of unfruitful work, no effective therapies are available for Alzheimer’s disease (AD), likely due to its complex etiology that requires a multifactorial therapeutic approach. We have recently shown using transgenic mice that E2 factor 4 (E2F4), a transcription factor that regulates cell quiescence and tissue homeostasis, and controls gene networks affected in AD, represents a good candidate for a multifactorial targeting of AD. Here we show that the expression of a dominant negative form of human E2F4 (hE2F4DN), unable to become phosphorylated in a Thr-conserved motif known to modulate E2F4 activity, is an effective and safe AD multifactorial therapeutic agent. Neuronal expression of hE2F4DN in homozygous 5xFAD (h5xFAD) mice after systemic administration of an AAV.PHP.B-hSyn1.hE2F4DN vector reduced the production and accumulation of Aβ in the hippocampus, attenuated reactive astrocytosis and microgliosis, abolished neuronal tetraploidization, and prevented cognitive impairment evaluated by Y-maze and Morris water maze, without triggering side effects. This treatment also reversed other alterations observed in h5xFAD mice such as paw-clasping behavior and body weight loss. Our results indicate that E2F4DN-based gene therapy is a promising therapeutic approach against AD.

Psychological preconditions for the implementation of the police officers` coping behavior in the context of adaptive perfectionism

The results of the study of psychological preconditions for the implementation of the police officers` coping behavior in the context of an adaptive form of perfectionism are presented. Based on the theoretical analysis of scientific developments of domestic and foreign researchers, it is proved that the types of orientations in difficult situations and tendencies in decision-making are psychological prerequisites for coping behavior, the constructiveness of which determines professional efficiency and positive personalization of the police officers. It is stated that one of the personal factors of overcoming behavior in conditions of professional stress, characteristic for the activity of the police officers, is perfectionism, which, on the one hand, is an important condition for the perfect performance of police duties, but on the other hand, causes ambivalent psychological consequences in accordance with its adaptive or maladaptive form of expression.&#x0D; The purpose of the study was to highlight the features of the functioning of the psychological conditions for the implementation of coping behavior of the police officers in the context of adaptive perfectionism. Certain psychodiagnostic techniques were used: the “Revised Perfectionism Scale” questionnaire (Slaney et al., 2001), the “Types of Orientations in Difficult Situations” method (Bitutka, Korneev, 2020) and the “Trends in Decision Making” questionnaire (Misuraca et al., 2015). The study was conducted with the involvement of two groups of patrol police officers. The first group consisted of subjects with an adaptive form of perfectionism (63 people), the second - subjects with a maladaptive form of perfectionism (39 people). It has been empirically proven that in the study of the types of orientations in difficult situations on the scales "Orientation to labor intensity (diligence)" and "Orientation to opportunities" the first group shows probably higher indicators, while in the second group probably higher indicators are recorded on scales "Orientation to obstacles" and "Loss-oriented (avoidance of difficulties)". The study of the trend in decision-making revealed that on the scale "Maximization" the indicator established in the second group is probably higher than the indicator recorded on this scale in the first group. On the «Satisfaction scale», a significantly higher rate was found in the first group than in the second. The prospect of further research is outlined, which is to study the psychological preconditions for the implementation of coping behavior by police officers, taking into account the levels of expression of various forms of perfectionism and imbalance of its adaptive form on the example of specialists from different police departments.

Clean and folded: Production of active, high quality recombinant human interferon-λ1

Type III interferons exhibit antiviral activity against influenza viruses, coronaviruses, rotaviruses, and others. In addition, this type of interferon theoretically has therapeutic advantages, in comparison with type I interferons, due to its ability to activate a narrower group of genes in a relatively small group of target cells. Hence, it can elicit more targeted antiviral or immunomodulatory responses. Obtaining biologically-active interferon lambda (hIFN-λ1) is fraught with difficulties at the stage of expression in soluble form or, in the case of expression in the form of inclusion bodies, at the stage of refolding. In this work, hIFN-λ1 was expressed in the form of inclusion bodies, and a simple, effective refolding method was developed. Efficient and scalable methods for chromatographic purification of recombinant hIFN-λ1 were also developed. High-yield, high-purity product was obtained through optimization of several processes including: recombinant protein expression; metal affinity chromatography; cation exchange chromatography; and an intermediate protein refolding stage. The obtained protein was shown to feature expected specific biological activity in line with published effects: induction of MxA gene expression in A549 cells and antiviral activity against influenza A virus.

Role of Ras in regulation of intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis and crosstalk with Wnt signaling

Cross talk between different signaling pathways is thought to be important for regulation of homeostasis of, as well as oncogenesis of, the intestinal epithelium. Expression of an active form of K-Ras specifically in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) of mice (IEC-RasDA mice) resulted in the development of hyperplasia in the small intestine and colon of mice. IEC-RasDA mice also manifested the increased proliferation of IECs. In addition, the number of goblet cells markedly increased, while that of Paneth cells decreased in IEC-RasDA mice. Development of intestinal organoids was markedly enhanced for IEC-RasDA mice compared with control mice. Whereas, the expression of Wnt target genes was significantly reduced in the in intestinal crypts from IEC-RasDA mice compared with that apparent for the control. Our results thus suggest that K-Ras promotes the proliferation of IECs as well as generation of goblet cells. By contrast, Ras counter-regulates the Wnt signaling and thereby contribute to the proper regulation of intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis.

Estimation of aerator air demand by an embedded multi-gene genetic programming

Abstract A spillway discharging a high-speed flow is susceptible to cavitation damages. As a countermeasure, an aerator is often used to artificially entrain air into the flow. Its air demand is of relevance to cavitation reduction and requires accurate estimations. The main contribution of this study is to establish an embedded multi-gene genetic programming (EMGGP) model for improved prediction of air demand. It is an MGGP-based framework coupled with the gene expression programming acting as a pre-processing technique for input determination and the Pareto front serving as a post-processing measure for solution optimization. Experimental data from a spillway aerator are used to develop and validate the proposed technique. Its performance is statistically evaluated by the coefficient of determination (CD), Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NSC), root-mean-square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE). Satisfactory predictions are yielded with CD = 0.95, NSC = 0.94, RMSE = 0.17 m3/s and MAE = 0.12 m3/s. Compared with the best empirical formula, the EMGGP approach enhances the fitness (CD and NSC) by 23% and reduces the errors (RMSE and MAE) by 48%. It also exhibits higher prediction accuracy and a simpler expressional form than the genetic programming solution. This study provides a procedure for the establishment of parameter relationships for similar hydraulic issues.