U6 is unsuitable for normalization of serum miRNA levels in patients with sepsis or liver fibrosis

MicroRNA (miRNA) levels in serum have recently emerged as potential novel biomarkers for various diseases. miRNAs are routinely measured by standard quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR); however, the high sensitivity of qPCR demands appropriate normalization to correct for nonbiological variation. Presently, RNU6B (U6) is used for data normalization of circulating miRNAs in many studies. However, it was suggested that serum levels of U6 themselves might differ between individuals. Therefore, no consensus has been reached on the best normalization strategy in ‘circulating miRNA''. We analyzed U6 levels as well as levels of spiked-in SV40-RNA in sera of 44 healthy volunteers, 203 intensive care unit patients and 64 patients with liver fibrosis. Levels of U6 demonstrated a high variability in sera of healthy donors, patients with critical illness and liver fibrosis. This high variability could also be confirmed in sera of mice after the cecal ligation and puncture procedure. Most importantly, levels of circulating U6 were significantly upregulated in sera of patients with critical illness and sepsis compared with controls and correlated with established markers of inflammation. In patients with liver fibrosis, U6 levels were significantly downregulated. In contrast, levels of spiked-in SV40 displayed a significantly higher stability both in human cohorts (healthy, critical illness, liver fibrosis) and in mice. Thus, we conclude that U6 levels in the serum are dysregulated in a disease-specific manner. Therefore, U6 should not be used for data normalization of circulating miRNAs in inflammatory diseases and previous studies using this approach should be interpreted with caution. Further studies are warranted to identify specific regulatory processes of U6 levels in sepsis and liver fibrosis.     

Fluorescein thiocarbamyl amino acids as internal standards for migration time correction in capillary sieving electrophoresis

A number of algorithms have been developed to correct for migration time drift in capillary electrophoresis. Those algorithms require identification of common components in each run. However, not all components may be present or resolved in separations of complex samples, which can confound attempts for alignment. This paper reports the use of fluorescein thiocarbamyl derivatives of amino acids as internal standards for alignment of 3-(2-furoyl)quinoline-2-carboxaldehyde (FQ)-labeled proteins in capillary sieving electrophoresis. The fluorescein thiocarbamyl derivative of aspartic acid migrates before FQ-labeled proteins and the fluorescein thiocarbamyl derivative of arginine migrates after the FQ-labeled proteins. These compounds were used as internal standards to correct for variations in migration time over a two-week period in the separation of a cellular homogenate. The experimental conditions were deliberately manipulated by varying electric field and sample preparation conditions. Three components of the homogenate were used to evaluate the alignment efficiency. Before alignment, the average relative standard deviation in migration time for these components was 13.3%. After alignment, the average relative standard deviation in migration time for these components was reduced to 0.5%.     

Theoretical Design of Biodegradable Phthalic Acid Ester Derivatives in Marine and Freshwater Environments

The biodegradability of phtalic acid esters in marine and freshwater environments was characterized by their binding free energy with corresponding degrading enzymes. According to comprehensive biodegradation effects weights, the binding free energy values were converted into dimensionless efficacy coefficient using ratio normalization method. Then, considering comprehensive dual biodegradation effects value and the structural parameters of PAEs in both marine and freshwater environments, a 3D-QSAR pharmacophore model was constructed, five PAE derivatives (DBP−COOH, DBP−CHO, DBP−OH, DINP−NH₂, and DINP−NO₂) were screened out based on their environmental friendliness, functionality and stability. The prediction of biodegradation effects on five PAE derivatives by biodegradation models in marine and freshwater environment increased by 15.90 %, 15.84 %, 27.21 %, 12.33 %, and 8.32 %, and 21.57 %, 15.21 %, 20.99 %, 15.10 %, and 9.74 %, respectively. By simulating the photodegradation path of the PAE derivative molecular, it was found that DBP−OH can generate ^.OH and provides free radicals for the photodegradation of microplastics in the environment.     

Normalization and Fermi–Coulomb and Coulomb hole sum rules for approximate wave functions

For approximate wave functions, we prove the theorem that there is a one‐to‐one correspondence between the constraints of normalization and of the Fermi–Coulomb and Coulomb hole charge sum rules at each electron position. This correspondence is surprising in light of the fact that normalization depends on the probability of finding an electron at some position. In contrast, the Fermi–Coulomb hole sum rule depends on the probability of two electrons staying apart because of correlations due to the Pauli exclusion principle and Coulomb repulsion, while the Coulomb hole sum rule depends on Coulomb repulsion. We demonstrate the theorem for the ground state of the He atom by the use of two different approximate wave functions that are functionals rather than functions. The first of these wave function functionals is constructed to satisfy the constraint of normalization, and the second that of the Coulomb hole sum rule for each electron position. Each is then shown to satisfy the other corresponding sum rule. The significance of the theorem for the construction of approximate “exchange‐correlation” and “correlation” energy functionals of density functional theory is also discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2007     

振型归一化对梁结构柔度曲率损伤指标的影响

结构柔度矩阵需由质量矩阵归一化振型获得,而质量矩阵归一化振型难以直接测得,限制了柔度曲率类损伤指标的应用。为分析振型归一化方法对梁结构柔度曲率类损伤指标的影响,根据梁结构的刚度、弯矩和位移曲率的关系,建立了均布荷载作用下结构损伤前后位移曲率与损伤程度的理论表达式,实现定量分析均匀荷载面曲率结构损伤程度。提出P-范数振型归一化方法,通过均匀荷载面曲率指标推导了振型质量矩阵归一化系数差x_α与损伤程度的关系。以三跨连续梁算例对理论进行了验证,结果表明,损伤程度定量指标效果良好,不同P-范数振型归一化方法下,损伤程度的偏差可由2x_α估算;2-范数振型归一化方法的损伤识别结果与质量矩阵振型归一化结果最接近,故当无法获得质量矩阵归一化振型时,可采用2-范数归一化振型代替。     

等p路径十砂土本构关系的归一化特性及数值建模方法

用神经网络对土体进行建模能反映应力路径相关性、反映土的剪胀剪缩以及反映体应力、剪应力对体应变、剪应变的交互影响,因而成为一种比较理想的建模方式.能否在样本有限的情况下获得精度比较高的本构模型正是主要的研究目的.通过研究中密砂在等p路径下的三轴试验曲线,发现其应力-应变关系曲线在常规应力范围内具有归一化特性.选择合适的归一化指标对砂土三轴试验数据进行归一化,以归一化的试验数据为训练样本进行神经网络训练,得到了比较理想的砂土的神经网络本构模型.本构模型仿真值与试验值符合较好,表明所给出的建模方法是合理的.提出的建模方法可以在所有试验数据的基础上自动实现概率寻优,能有效降低噪声信号的干扰、减小试验数据的分散造成的影响.     

基于多通道滤波技术的散斑条纹图正则化方法

在光测力学中,条纹图正则化是进一步提取条纹位相信息的重要基础。对于散斑条纹图来说,正则化的过程还需能够有效地抑制散斑噪声。本文提出一种基于多通道滤波技术的散斑条纹图正则化方法。通过使用多个Gabor滤波通道对散斑条纹图进行滤波,并且引入与条纹对比度有关的权重因子把各个滤波通道的滤波结果叠加起来,最终得到滤除了散斑噪声的正则化条纹图。数值模拟和实验结果表明,该方法在将散斑条纹图正则化的同时能够有效地滤除条纹图中的散斑噪声,为进一步提取条纹位相奠定了良好的基础。     

Simplicial normalization in the entire cyclic cohomology of Banach algebras

We show that the entire cyclic cohomology of Banach algebras defined by Connes has the simplicial normalization property. A key tool in the proof is the notion and properties of supertraces on the Cuntz algebraQ A. As an example of further applications of this technique, we give a proof of the homotopy invariance of entire cyclic cohomology.Address after 1st October 1995: Department of Mathematics, University of Exeter, North Park Road, Exeter EX4 4QE, U.K.     

Vertex function and coupling constant for the virtual decay of7Li

The alpha-triton relative wave function with various nucleon exchange contributions and their asymptotic normalization are considered in the framework of the generator coordinate method (GCM). The asymptotic normalization of relative wave function provide the estimate of the coupling constant. The relative wave function is also used to obtain⁷Li-α-t vertex function in the virtual decay of⁷Li. The extrapolation of vertex function for negative values ofq ² up to the alpha-triton pole provide the vertex constant, which is compared with the experimentally determined estimates 0.67 FM and 0.72 FM. Our calculated value is 0.656 FM which is in close agreement with the above estimates.     

Real and spurious contributions for the Shannon, Rényi and Tsallis entropies

A two-parameter probability distribution is constructed by dilatation (or contraction) of the escort probability distribution. This transformation involves a physical probability distribution P associated with the system under study and an almost arbitrary reference probability distribution P^′. In contrast to the Shannon and Rényi entropies, the Tsallis entropy does not decompose as the sum of the physical contribution due to P and the reference or spurious part owing to P^′. For solving this problem, a slight modification to the relation between Tsallis and Rényi entropies must be introduced. The procedure in this paper gives rise to a nonconventional one-parameter Shannon entropy and to two-parameter Rényi and Tsallis entropies associated with P. It also contributes to clarify the meaning and role of the escort probabilities set.