Measure-Valued Differentiation for Markov Chains

This paper addresses the problem of sensitivity analysis for finite-horizon performance measures of general Markov chains. We derive closed-form expressions and associated unbiased gradient estimators for the derivatives of finite products of Markov kernels by measure-valued differentiation (MVD). In the MVD setting, the derivatives of Markov kernels, called -derivatives, are defined with respect to a class of performance functions such that, for any performance measure , the derivative of the integral of g with respect to the one-step transition probability of the Markov chain exists. The MVD approach (i) yields results that can be applied to performance functions out of a predefined class, (ii) allows for a product rule of differentiation, that is, analyzing the derivative of the transition kernel immediately yields finite-horizon results, (iii) provides an operator language approach to the differentiation of Markov chains and (iv) clearly identifies the trade-off between the generality of the performance classes that can be analyzed and the generality of the classes of measures (Markov kernels). The -derivative of a measure can be interpreted in terms of various (unbiased) gradient estimators and the product rule for -differentiation yields a product-rule for various gradient estimators. Part of this work was done while the first author was with EURANDOM, Eindhoven, Netherlands, where he was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft under Grant He3139/1-1. The work of the second author was partially supported by NSERC and FCAR grants of the Government of Canada and Québec.     

Fragmentation patterns of newly isolated cassane butenolide diterpenes and differentiation of stereoisomer by tandem mass spectrometry

Different stereoisomers of active molecules often cause different physiological responses and hence pose a challenge for their identification. This study involves perceptive fragmentation behavior of newly isolated cassane butenolides, caesalpinolide A [1] and caesalpinolide B [2] (epimeric at the hemiketal position) by tandem MS. The electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)/collision-induced dissociation (CID; ESI-MS(2) and ESI-IT-MS(n)) were investigated. The effect of orientations of hemiketal hydroxyl at C-12 was clearly observed in the mass spectrum. Tandem mass spectra of 1, 1(A) or 2, 2(A) show stereospecific fragmentation resulting in significant abundance dissimilarity of [MH - H(2)O](+) as well as differences in fragmentation pathway. Both of these pathways seem to be influenced by the stereochemistry of the molecule. The differentiation can be clearly visualized from the [M + H - H(2)O](+)/[M + H](+) ratio of the two isomers where beta-isomer 2 was found to be five times higher than that of alpha-isomer 1 in full scan liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(LC-ESI-MS). In high-energy CID, the mass fingerprint of 1, 2, 1(A), and 2(A) was found to be different from one another.     

Electrical Stimulation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Conductive Substrates Promotes Neural Priming

Electrical stimulation (ES) within a conductive scaffold is potentially beneficial in encouraging the differentiation of stem cells toward a neuronal phenotype. To improve stem cell-based regenerative therapies, it is essential to use electroconductive scaffolds with appropriate stiffnesses to regulate the amount and location of ES delivery. Herein, biodegradable electroconductive substrates with different stiffnesses are fabricated from chitosan-grafted-polyaniline (CS-g-PANI) copolymers. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) cultured on soft conductive scaffolds show a morphological change with significant filopodial elongation after electrically stimulated culture along with upregulation of neuronal markers and downregulation of glial markers. Compared to stiff conductive scaffolds and non-conductive CS scaffolds, soft conductive CS-g-PANI scaffolds promote increased expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and neurofilament heavy chain (NF-H) after application of ES. At the same time, there is a decrease in the expression of the glial markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin after ES. Furthermore, the elevation of intracellular calcium [Ca²⁺] during spontaneous, cell-generated Ca²⁺ transients further suggests that electric field stimulation of hMSCs cultured on conductive substrates can promote a neural-like phenotype. The findings suggest that the combination of the soft conductive CS-g-PANI substrate and ES is a promising new tool for enhancing neuronal tissue engineering outcomes.     

Large-scale differential display analysis of T helper cell differentiation

We have developed a novel large-scale multicapillary fluorescent differential display (FDD) platform amenable to further automation. The power of the method is demonstrated by the analysis of T helper cell differentiation. Eight RNA samples from wild type, Stat4 knockout and Stat6 knockout mice were analyzed with 16 anchoring primers and 24 arbitrary primers, resulting in 285 294 sample peaks. Visually selected patterns of differential expression suggest two major regulatory mechanisms: activation and Stat4 genotype. A subset of the findings is reproduced in the confirmatory differential display (DD) that included technical and biological replicates. In a small fragment identification pilot study, we identify Ifi27 and Cct8 to be up-regulated by T cell activation. We present a method for the analysis of electropherogram similarity across large datasets, based on correlation of low-resolution representations of electrophoretic data. We show how it can be applied to analyze experimental and technical variables. Using this method, we demonstrate the effect of activation and genotype. In addition, agreement of our real experimental data to the theoretical basis of DD, as well as issues in anchoring primer selectivity, are studied.     

Necessary Conditions in Multiobjective Optimization with Equilibrium Constraints

We study multiobjective optimization problems with equilibrium constraints (MOPECs) described by parametric generalized equations in the form

大花无柱兰遗传多样性的SRAP标记分析

大花无柱兰是一种珍稀兰科植物,具有一定的观赏和药用价值,但数量十分稀少,该物种亟待保护。本研究采用SRAP分子标记技术,对10个居群的115份DNA样品进行PCR扩增,并开展遗传多样性分析。从81对引物中筛选出9个条带清晰、多态性好、重复性高的引物组合,共扩增得到305条谱带。在物种水平上,多态性比率（PPB）为100%,Nei’s基因多样性指数（H）为0.209 8,Shannon’s指数（I）为0.340 2;在居群水平上,PPB为24.59%～52.13%,H为0.079 6～0.165 5,I为0.120 9～0.252 3。居群水平上,基因分化度（Gst）为0.520 9,基因流（Nm）为0.459 9,遗传距离为0.091 9～0.198 4。UPGMA聚类结果表明,10个居群可分为3大类,地理距离相近的居群优先聚集。大花无柱兰的遗传多样性较为丰富,居群间存在一定的遗传分化和基因交流,可采用就地保护和人工栽培等方式加以保护。     

光电跟踪系统计算机辅助控制实现

建立了基于数值微分的目标运动状态滤波预测模型,用s-函数实现了卡尔曼滤波预测算法。利用目标位置拟合方法给出角位置信息,并以此为观测信息通过卡尔曼滤波预测出当前角位置和角速度信息,将其引入跟踪控制系统中以克服脱靶量滞后问题,同时也实现了系统的等效复合控制。仿真结果表明,基于数值微分的模型适用于角度跟踪,滤波预测具有较好的鲁棒性。通过对两个不同等效正弦输入的验证,可知角位置合成精度对共轴跟踪影响较大,在脱靶量和跟踪架角位置采样匹配对应时,跟踪仿真精度较高,而对等效复合控制跟踪误差影响较小,输入信号角频率增大时误差增大。     

Fe3+和Fe2+对原代培养的成骨细胞增殖、分化和矿化功能的影响

采用噻唑蓝(MTT)法、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)比活性测定、油红O染色和茜素红染色及定量分析,研究了不同浓度的Fe3+和Fe2+对原代培养的成骨细胞增殖、分化及矿化功能的影响.结果表明:浓度为1×10-9～1×10-4 mol·L-1的Fe3+和Fe2+促进成骨细胞增殖,但是在较高浓度1×10-3 mol·L-1时,它们则抑制成骨细胞增殖.与成骨细胞作用48 h,浓度为1×10-8～1×10-4 mol·L-1的Fe3+和Fe2+抑制其分化,但在较低的浓度1×10-9 mol·L-1时则对其分化没有影响:进一步延长作用时间为72 h,Fe3+对成骨细胞分化没有影响,除1×10-6mol·L-1浓度的Fe2+促进成骨细胞分化外,其他浓度的Fe2+则抑制其分化;测试浓度下的Fe3+对成骨细胞向脂肪细胞的横向分化表现为抑制或没有影响,而Fe2+的影响则依赖于浓度和作用时间.在1×10-8～1×10-5mol·L-1浓度范围内,Fe3+和Fe2+对矿化结节的影响表现出相反的效应.在较高浓度(1×10-4mol·L-1)下,它们促进矿化节结的形成,而在较低浓度(1×10-9mol·L-1)下,Fe3+抑制矿化节结的形成,Fe2+则没有影响.结果提示:浓度.作用时间和铁离子的价态都是影响Fe3+和Fe2+生物效应(从毒性到活性,从损伤到保护,从上调到下调)转变的关键因素.