Joint Design of Colocated MIMO Radar Constant Envelope Waveform and Receive Filter to Reduce SINR Loss.

In this paper, we aim at the problem that MIMO radar's target detection performance is greatly reduced in the complex multi-signal-dependent interferences environment. We propose a joint design method based on semidefinite relaxation (SDR), fractional programming and randomization technique (JD-SFR) and a joint design method based on coordinate descent (JD-CD) to solve the actual transmit waveform and receive filter bank directly to reduce the loss of strong interference to the output signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) of the radar system. Therefore, the maximization of output SINR is taken as the criterion of the optimization problem. The designed waveforms take into account the radar transmitter's hardware requirements for constant envelope waveforms and impose similarity constraints on the waveforms. JD-SFR uses SDR, fractional programming and randomization technique to deal with the non-convex optimization problems encountered in the solution process. JD-CD transforms the optimization problem into a function of the phase of the waveform and then solves the transmit waveform based on CD. Compared with other methods, the proposed method has lower output SINR loss under strong power interference and forms deep nulls on the direction beampattern of multiple interference sources, which indicates that it has better anti-interference performance.

Diminished stimulator of interferon genes production with cigarette smoke-exposure contributes to weakened anti-adenovirus vectors response and destruction of lung in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease model.

Cigarette smoke (CS) is the primary risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and dampens antiviral response, which increases viral infections and leads to COPD acute exacerbation (AECOPD). Adenovirus, a nonenveloped DNA virus, is linked with AECOPD, whose DNAs trigger innate immune response via interacting with pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). Stimulator of interferon genes (STING), as a cytosolic DNA sensor, participates in adenovirus-induced interferon ß (IFNß)-dependent antiviral response. STING is involved in various pulmonary diseases, but role of STING in pathogenesis of AECOPD is not well documented. In the present study, we explored relationship between STING and AECOPD induced by recombinant adenovirus vectors (rAdVs) and CS in wild type (WT) and STING-/- mice; and also characterized the inhibition of STING- IFNß pathway in pulmonary epithelium exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE). We found that CS or CSE exposure alone dramatically inhibited STING expression, but not significantly effected IFNß production. Moreover, CS or CSE-exposed significantly suppressed activation of STING-IFNß pathway induced by rAdVs and suppressed clearance of rAdVs DNA. Inflammation, fibrosis and emphysema of lung tissues were exaggerated when treated with CS plus rAdVs, which further deteriorate in absences of STING. In A549 cells with knockdown of STING, we also observed enhancing apoptosis related to emphysema, especially CSE and adenovirus vectors in combination. Therefore, STING may play a protective role in preventing the progress of COPD.

Elongation factor-2 kinase acts downstream of p38 MAPK to regulate proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy in human lung fibroblasts.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, fatal and progressive fibro-proliferative lung disease, and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation is a crucial process in the development of IPF. Elongation factor-2 kinase (eEF2K) has been reported to play an important role in various disease types, but the role of eEF2K in IPF is unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of eEF2K in normal lung fibroblast (NHLF) proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and autophagy as well as the interaction between eEF2K and p38 MAPK signaling through in vitro experiments. We found that the inhibition of eEF2K markedly augmented cell proliferation and differentiation, suppressed apoptosis and autophagy, and reversed the anti-fibrotic effects of a p38 MAPK inhibitor. Together, our results indicate that eEF2K might inhibit TGF-ß1-induced NHLF proliferation and differentiation and activate NHLF cell apoptosis and autophagy through p38 MAPK signaling, which might ameliorate lung fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation.

SMAD7 methylation as a novel marker in atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is a complicated process comprising inflammation, accumulation of collagen matrix and aberrant DNA methylation. SMAD7 is known to play an important role in fibrosis and inflammation. In recent years, increasing research has concentrated on the connection between DNA methylation and atherosclerosis. The current study was designed to investigate methylation status of some specific gene with a focus on SMAD7 in atherosclerosis and elucidate their relationship. We found that SMAD7 expression was decreased and its promoter region was markedly methylated in atherosclerotic plaques when compared with normal artery walls. Using MALDI-TOF MS, increased DNA methylation levels of SMAD7 promoter at CpG unit 5.8.15.16 were found in peripheral blood of atherosclerosis patients relative to matched normal controls, respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that mean DNA methylation levels of SMAD7 promoter of CpG unit 5.8.15.16 were positively associated with homocysteine levels (r = 0.724, p < .001) and carotid plaque scores(r = 0.790, p < .001). SMAD7 promoter is hyper-methylated both in human atherosclerotic plaques and atherosclerosis patients, which is positively associated with homocysteine levels and carotid plaque scores. Thus, methylated SMAD7 may be a novel predicted marker and therapeutics target for atherosclerosis.

Association between triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and type 2 diabetes risk in Japanese.

Abnormal lipid metabolism is known to increases the risk for metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM). The relationship between baseline ratio of triglyceride to HDL cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) and T2DM in Japanese adults was investigated in this study. Our secondary analysis included 8419 male and 7034 female Japanese subjects who were free of diabetes at baseline. The correlation between baseline TG/HDL-C and T2DM was analyzed by a proportional risk regression model, the nonlinear correlation between baseline TG/HDL-C and T2DM was analyzed by a generalized additive model (GAM), and the threshold effect analysis was performed by a segmented regression model. We conducted subgroup analyses in different populations. During the median 5.39 years follow-up, 373 participants, 286 males and 87 females, developed diabetes mellitus. After full adjustment for confounders, the baseline TG/HDL-C ratio positively correlated with the risk of diabetes (hazard ratio 1.19, 95% confidence interval 1.09-1.3), and smoothed curve fitting and two-stage linear regression analysis revealed a J-shaped relationship between baseline TG/HDL-C and T2DM. The inflection point for baseline TG/HDL-C was 0.35. baseline TG/HDL-C > 0.35 was positively associated with the development of T2DM (hazard ratio 1.2, 95% confidence interval 1.10-1.31). Subgroup analysis showed no significant differences in the effect between TG/HDL-C and T2DM in different populations. A J-shaped relationship was observed between baseline TG/HDL-C and T2DM risk in the Japanese population. When TG/HDL-C was higher than 0.35, there was a positive relationship between baseline TG/HDL-C and the incidence of diabetes mellitus.

[Inversion of the lake total nitrogen concentration by multiple regression kriging model based on hyperspectral data of HJ-1A].

The content of total nitrogen in the waters is an important index to measure lake water quality, and the technique of remote sensing plays a large role in quantitatively monitoring the dynamic change and timely grasping the status of lake pollution. Taking Chaohu as an example, quantitative inversion models of total nitrogen were established by multivariable regression Kriging under analyzing of an correlation between total nitrogen and chlorophyll-a or suspended solids by HIS hyperspectral remote sensing data of HJ-1A satellite. The result shows that the correlation of 0.76 was discovered between total nitrogen and the multiple combination with band 72, band 79 and band 97, while the correlation could be increased to 0.83 by applying combined model of multiple linear regression and ordinary Kriging. The optimization of the residuals of the conventional regression model can improve the accuracy of the inversion effectively. These results also provide useful exploration for further establishing a common model of quantitative inversion of lake total nitrogen concentration.

Nur77 promotes cigarette smoke­induced autophagic cell death by increasing the dissociation of Bcl2 from Beclin-1.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by partially reversible airflow limitation and persistent alveolar destruction, and autophagy is involved in the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke (CS)­induced COPD. Nuclear receptor 77 (Nur77) participates in a number of biological processes, including apoptosis, autophagy and in disease pathogenesis; however, the role of Nur77 in COPD remains unknown. Thus, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the role of Nur77 in COPD. We report that CS promotes Nur77 expression and nuclear export in vivo and in vitro, which increases cigarette smoke extract (CSE)­induced autophagy. In addition, we found that lung tissues, human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells and A549 cells exposed to CS or CSE expressed lower levels of LC3 and Beclin­1 and contained fewer autophagosomes following Nur77 knockdown with siRNA­Nur77. Moreover, a co­immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that CSE promoted autophagy, partly by accelerating the interaction between Nur77 and Bcl2, in turn leading to the increased dissociation of Bcl2 from Beclin­1; by contrast, leptomycin B (LMB) suppressed the dissociation of Bcl2 from Beclin­1. Taken together, the findings of this study demonstrate that Nur77 is involved in the CSE­induced autophagic death of lung cells, and that this process is partially dependent on the increased interaction between Nur77 and Bcl2, and on the dissociation of Bcl2 from Beclin­1. This study illustrates the role of Nur77 in bronchial and alveolar destruction following exposure to CS.

[Analysis of 1006 cases with selective salpingography and fallopian tube recanalization].

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analysis of selective salpingography (SSG) and fallopian tube recanalization (FTR) in 1006 infertile women with tube obstruction, to summarize their clinical effect and practical value, to analyze the related factors which can improve treatment effect and pregnancy rate, and give suggestions of their indication and contraindication. METHODS: SSG and FTR using self-made coaxial catheter were carried out in 1006 infertile cases with tube obstruction of various portions and extents confirmed by hysterosalpingography (HSG). The one-year cumulative pregnancy rate and the effective rate by HSG reexamination were calculated, in combination with dynamic observation of preoperative HSG and intraoperative tube imaging. RESULTS: In the complete tubal occlusion group of 601 tubes in 315 cases, the recanalization rate was 87.9% (528/601), among which, 35.4% was only treated by SSG and 64.6% by FTR. Postoperative pregnancy rate and ectopic pregnancy rate were 39.9% and 2.7% respectively, and tubal reocclusion was 1.8% in one-year's follow up. In those failure to recanalization, tubal tuberculosis was in 4 cases, salpingitis isthmica nodosum was in 3 cases, isthmic occlusion was in 9 cases with club-changed terminal, ampullar or fimbrial occlusion was in 6 cases, and tubal fibrosis in 10 cases. In the incomplete tubal occlusion group of 1314 tubes in 691 cases, catheterized hydrotubation was carried out. Fimbrial adhesion diagnosed by HSG was found false positive or negative in 65 cases. The pregnancy rate was 53.6%, 45.7% and 26.8% in the mildly, moderately and severely occluded cases respectively. The ectopic pregnancy rate was 1.4%. The patent rate confirmed by HSG reexamination was 86.9% one year later. Sixteen cases with obvious fimbrial adhesion or enwrapped adnexa in both groups were treated by laparoscopy, with a coincidence rate of 97.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Selective salpingography and fallopian tube recanalization have both effects of diagnosis and treatment on tubal infertility. The techniques are simple, safe, and credible, and worth to be applied clinically. Knowing the shapes of fallopian tube confirmed by preoperative HSG can increase the rates of recanalization.