Norm equalities and inequalities for three circulant operator matrices

In this paper, three new circulant operator matrices, scaled circulant operator matrices, diag-circulant operator matrices and retrocirculant operator matrices, are given respectively. Several norm equalities and inequalities for these operator matrices are proved. We show the special cases for norm equalities and inequalities, such as the usual operator norm and the Schatten p-norm. Pinching type inequality is also given for weakly unitarily invariant norms. These results are closely related to the nice structure of these special operator matrices. Furthermore, some special cases and specific examples are also considered.     

On realization of fusion rings from generalized Cartan matrices

The Casimir element of a fusion ring (R, B) gives rise to the so called Casimir matrix C of (R, B). This enables us to construct a generalized Cartan matrix D-C in the sense of Kac for a suitable diagonal matrix D. In this paper, we study some elementary properties of the Casimir matrix C and use them to realize certain fusion rings from the generalized Cartan matrix D-C of finite (resp. affine) type. It turns out that there exists a fusion ring with D-C being of finite (resp. affine) type if and only if D-C has only the form A₂ (resp. A₁⁽¹⁾. We also realize all fusion rings with D-C being a particular generalized Cartan matrix of indefinite type.     

Phase II monitoring of changes in mean from high‐dimensional data

The generalized T² chart (GT‐chart), which is composed of the T² statistic based on a small number of principal components and the remaining components, is a popular alternative to the traditional Hotelling's T² control chart. However, the application of the GT‐chart to high‐dimensional data, which are now ubiquitous, encounters difficulties from high dimensionality similar to other multivariate procedures. The sample principal components and their eigenvalues do not consistently estimate the population values, and the GT‐chart relying on them is also inconsistent in estimating the control limits. In this paper, we investigate the effects of high dimensionality on the GT‐chart and then propose a corrected GT‐chart using the recent results of random matrix theory for the spiked covariance model. We numerically show that the corrected GT‐chart exhibits superior performance compared to the existing methods, including the GT‐chart and Hotelling's T² control chart, under various high‐dimensional cases. Finally, we apply the proposed corrected GT‐chart to monitor chemical processes introduced in the literature.     

Substituent Effects on EI-MS Fragmentation Patterns of 5-Allyloxy-1-aryl-tetrazoles and 4-Allyl-1-aryl-tetrazole-5-ones; Correlation with UV-Induced Fragmentation Channels

1,4- and 1,5-disubstituted tetrazoles possess enriched structures and versatile chemistry, representing a challenge for chemists. In the present work, we unravel the fragmentation patterns of a chemically diverse range of 5-allyloxy-1-aryl-tetrazoles and 4-allyl-1-aryl-tetrazolole-5-ones when subjected to electron impact mass spectrometry (EI-MS) and investigate the correlation with the UV-induced fragmentation channels of the matrix-isolated tetrazole derivatives. Our results indicate that the fragmentation pathways of the selected tetrazoles in EI-MS are highly influenced by the electronic effects induced by substitution. Multiple pathways can be envisaged to explain the mechanisms of fragmentation, frequently awarding common final species, namely arylisocyanate, arylazide, arylnitrene, isocyanic acid and hydrogen azide radical cations, as well as allyl/aryl cations. The identified fragments are consistent with those found in previous investigations concerning the photochemical stability of the same class of molecules. This parallelism showcases a similarity in the behaviour of tetrazoles under EI-MS and UV-irradiation in the inert environment of cryogenic matrices of noble gases, providing efficient tools for reactivity predictions, whether for analytical ends or more in-depth studies. Theoretical calculations provide complementary information to articulate predictions of resulting products.     

Circulating Levels of Dephosphorylated-Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Vascular calcification contributes to the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease while matrix Gla protein (MGP) was recently identified as a potent inhibitor of vascular calcification. MGP fractions, such as dephosphorylated-uncarboxylated MGP (dp-ucMGP), lack post-translational modifications and are less efficient in vascular calcification inhibition. We sought to compare dp-ucMGP levels between patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), stratified by ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) status. Physical examination and clinical data, along with plasma dp-ucMGP levels, were obtained from 90 consecutive ACS patients. We observed that levels of dp-ucMGP were significantly higher in patients with NSTEMI compared to STEMI patients (1063.4 ± 518.6 vs. 742.7 ± 166.6 pmol/L, p < 0.001). NSTEMI status and positive family history of cardiovascular diseases were only independent predictors of the highest tertile of dp-ucMGP levels. Among those with NSTEMI, patients at a high risk of in-hospital mortality (adjudicated by GRACE score) had significantly higher levels of dp-ucMGP compared to non-high-risk patients (1417.8 ± 956.8 vs. 984.6 ± 335.0 pmol/L, p = 0.030). Altogether, our findings suggest that higher dp-ucMGP levels likely reflect higher calcification burden in ACS patients and might aid in the identification of NSTEMI patients at increased risk of in-hospital mortality. Furthermore, observed dp-ucMGP levels might reflect differences in atherosclerotic plaque pathobiology between patients with STEMI and NSTEMI.     

脑胶质瘤磁共振弥散张量成像定量参数与VEGF、MMP-9表达的相关性

本研究旨在分析脑胶质瘤患者的磁共振弥散张量成像(DTI)参数与病变组织血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)和基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)表达的相关性,以及DTI参数对脑胶质瘤进行分级诊断的价值。根据病理分级将102例脑胶质瘤患者分为低级别组(47例)和高级别组(55例),均行MRI和DTI检查,定量测定表观弥散系数(ADC)、各向异性分数(FA)、相对ADC(rADC)、相对FA(rFA)值及相对轴向扩散系数(rAD)值;用免疫组化法检测VEGF和MMP-9表达情况。结果显示,高级别组患者的rADC、ADC、rAD、FA、rFA均低于低级别组(P<0.05);高级别组患者的VEGF和MMP-9阳性表达均高于低级别组(P<0.05)。rADC、ADC、rAD、FA、rFA与VEGF和MMP-9表达均呈负相关(P<0.05);rADC、ADC、rAD、FA、rFA对脑胶质瘤分级诊断的AUC均具有一定诊断价值(P<0.05)。本研究结果提示DTI定量参数与脑胶质瘤VEGF和MMP-9表达具有相关性,且有助于脑胶质瘤的分级诊断。     

β-Carotene Inhibits Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-10 and Invasion in Helicobacter pylori-Infected Gastric Epithelial Cells

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), key molecules of cancer invasion and metastasis, degrade the extracellular matrix and cell–cell adhesion molecules. MMP-10 plays a crucial role in Helicobacter pylori-induced cell-invasion. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, which activates activator protein-1 (AP-1), is known to mediate MMP expression. Infection with H. pylori, a Gram-negative bacterium, is associated with gastric cancer development. A toxic factor induced by H. pylori infection is reactive oxygen species (ROS), which activate MAPK signaling in gastric epithelial cells. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) mediates the expression of antioxidant enzymes including catalase. β-Carotene, a red-orange pigment, exerts antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We aimed to investigate whether β-carotene inhibits H. pylori-induced MMP expression and cell invasion in gastric epithelial AGS (gastric adenocarcinoma) cells. We found that H. pylori induced MMP-10 expression and increased cell invasion via the activation of MAPKs and AP-1 in gastric epithelial cells. Specific inhibitors of MAPKs suppressed H. pylori-induced MMP-10 expression, suggesting that H. pylori induces MMP-10 expression through MAPKs. β-Carotene inhibited the H. pylori-induced activation of MAPKs and AP-1, expression of MMP-10, and cell invasion. Additionally, it promoted the expression of PPAR-γ and catalase, which reduced ROS levels in H. pylori-infected cells. In conclusion, β-carotene exerts an inhibitory effect on MAPK-mediated MMP-10 expression and cell invasion by increasing PPAR-γ-mediated catalase expression and reducing ROS levels in H. pylori-infected gastric epithelial cells.     

Impact of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 during Periodontitis and Cardiovascular Diseases

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been shown to play a key role in endothelial function and perhaps pivotal in the correlation between periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease (CVD). For the study, the impact of MMP-9 of periodontitis and CVD on serum and saliva concentrations was analyzed. For the study patients with periodontitis (n = 31), CVD (n = 31), periodontitis + CVD (n = 31), and healthy patients (n = 31) were enrolled. Clinical and demographic characteristics as well as serum and salivary MMP-9 were evaluated. MMP-9 concentrations in serum and saliva were statistically elevated in patients with CVD (p < 0.01) and in patients with periodontitis plus CVD (p < 0.001) compared to patients with periodontitis and healthy subjects. Multivariate regression analysis showed that c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was the only significant predictor for MMP-9 serum (p < 0.001), whereas hs-CRP (p < 0.001) and total cholesterol (p = 0.029) were the statistically significant salivary MMP-9 predictors. This study evidenced that patients with CVD and periodontitis + CVD presented elevated MMP-9 concentrations in serum and saliva compared to patients with periodontitis and healthy subjects. Furthermore, hs-CRP was a negative predictor of serum and salivary MMP-9.     

基体分离-电感耦合等离子体原子发射光谱法 测定精铋中10种杂质元素

试验采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法测定精铋中Cd、Co、Cu、Fe、Mg、Mn、Ni、Pb、Ti、Zn十种杂质元素,样品用优级纯硝酸溶解,往60℃左右的溶液中,滴加氨水(1+1),控制pH值在3.0~4.0。考察了温度、酸度、沉降时间对铋的去除率和对检测结果的影响。根据分析线的选择原则,结合待测元素的检测范围,选择无干扰、峰形对称、灵敏度适中的谱线作为分析线Cd 228.802nm、Co 237.862nm、Cu 324.754nm、Fe 259.940nm、Mg 279.553nm、Mn 257.610nm、Ni 231.604nm、Pb 182.205nm、Ti 323.452nm、Zn 213.856nm。各元素的质量浓度在一定范围内与其发射强度呈线性,校准曲线的线性相关系数均大于0.9997,方法中各元素检出限为0.002μg/g~0.253μg/g。?按照实验方法测定精铋实际样品,结果的相对标准偏差(RSD,n=9)为2.5%~9.8%,加标回收率为95.0%~102.2%,满足检测要求。