Biochar Addition to Soil Alters its Resilience to Drought

Chen Fei Liang,Shenglei Fu,Gabriel Gasco,Ana Maria Mendez,Jorge Paz-Ferreiro 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

SDC4 Gene Silencing Favors Human Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis and Inhibits Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition via Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Chen, Liang-Liang,Gao, Ge-Xin,Shen, Fei-Xia,Chen, Xiong,Gong, Xiao-Hua,Wu, Wen-Jun Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2018 Molecules and cells Vol.41 No.9

As the most common type of endocrine malignancy, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) accounts for 85-90% of all thyroid cancers. In this study, we presented the hypothesis that SDC4 gene silencing could effectively attenuate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), and promote cell apoptosis via the $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway in human PTC cells. Bioinformatics methods were employed to screen the determined differential expression levels of SDC4 in PTC and adjacent normal samples. PTC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were prepared and their respective levels of SDC4 protein positive expression, in addition to the mRNA and protein levels of SDC4, $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway, EMT and apoptosis related genes were all detected accordingly. Flow cytometry was applied in order to detect cell cycle entry and apoptosis. Finally, analyses of PTC migration and invasion abilities were assessed by using a Transwell assay and scratch test. In PTC tissues, activated $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway, increased EMT and repressed cell apoptosis were determined. Moreover, the PTC K1 and TPC-1 cell lines exhibiting the highest SDC4 expression were selected for further experiments. In vitro experiments revealed that SDC4 gene silencing could suppress cell migration, invasion and EMT, while acting to promote the apoptosis of PTC cells by inhibiting the activation of the $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway. Besides, $si-{\beta}-catenin$ was observed to inhibit the promotion of PTC cell migration and invasion caused by SDC4 overexpression. Our study revealed that SDC4 gene silencing represses EMT, and enhances cell apoptosis by suppressing the activation of the $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway in human PTC.

SDC4 Gene Silencing Favors Human Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Apoptosis and Inhibits Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition via Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

Liang-Liang Chen,Ge-Xin Gao,Fei-Xia Shen,Xiong Chen,Xiao-Hua Gong,Wen-Jun Wu 한국분자세포생물학회 2018 Molecules and cells Vol.41 No.9

As the most common type of endocrine malignancy, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) accounts for 85-90% of all thyroid cancers. In this study, we presented the hypothesis that SDC4 gene silencing could effectively attenuate epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT), and promote cell apoptosis via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in human PTC cells. Bioinformatics methods were employed to screen the determined differential expression levels of SDC4 in PTC and adjacent normal samples. PTC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were prepared and their respective levels of SDC4 protein positive expression, in addition to the mRNA and protein levels of SDC4, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, EMT and apoptosis related genes were all detected accordingly. Flow cytometry was applied in order to detect cell cycle entry and apoptosis. Finally, analyses of PTC migration and invasion abilities were assessed by using a Transwell assay and scratch test. In PTC tissues, activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, increased EMT and repressed cell apoptosis were determined. Moreover, the PTC K1 and TPC-1 cell lines exhibiting the highest SDC4 expression were selected for further experiments. In vitro experiments revealed that SDC4 gene silencing could suppress cell migration, invasion and EMT, while acting to promote the apoptosis of PTC cells by inhibiting the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Besides, si-β-catenin was observed to inhibit the promotion of PTC cell migration and invasion caused by SDC4 overexpression. Our study revealed that SDC4 gene silencing represses EMT, and enhances cell apoptosis by suppressing the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in human PTC.

miR-340 Reverses Cisplatin Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines by Targeting Nrf2-dependent Antioxidant Pathway

Shi, Liang,Chen, Zhan-Guo,Wu, Li-li,Zheng, Jian-Jian,Yang, Jian-Rong,Chen, Xiao-Fei,Chen, Zeng-Qiang,Liu, Cun-Li,Chi, Sheng-Ying,Zheng, Jia-Ying,Huang, Hai-Xia,Lin, Xiang-Yang,Zheng, Fang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.23

Many chemotherapeutic agents have been successfully used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the development of chemoresistance in liver cancer cells usually results in a relapse and worsening of prognosis. It has been demonstrated that DNA methylation and histone modification play crucial roles in chemotherapy resistance. Currently, extensive research has shown that there is another potential mechanism of gene expression control, which is mediated through the function of short noncoding RNAs, especially for microRNAs (miRNAs), but little is known about their roles in cancer cell drug resistance. In present study, by taking advantage of miRNA effects on the resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells line to cisplatin, it has been demonstrated that miR-340 were significantly downregulated whereas Nrf2 was upregulated in HepG2/CDDP (cisplatin) cells, compared with parental HepG2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays of Nrf2-3'-untranslated region-based reporter constructor indicated that Nrf2 was the direct target gene of miR-340, miR-340 mimics suppressing Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway and enhancing the sensitivity of HepG2/CDDP cells to cisplatin. Interestingly, transfection with miR-340 mimics combined with miR-340 inhibitors reactivated the Nrf2 related pathway and restored the resistance of HepG2/CDDP cells to CDDP. Collectively, the results first suggested that lower expression of miR-340 is involved in the development of CDDP resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, at least partly due to regulating Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway.

Development of triangular flat-shell element using a new thin-thick plate bending element based on semiLoof constrains

Chen, Yong-Liang,Cen, Song,Yao, Zhen-Han,Long, Yu-Qiu,Long, Zhi-Fei Techno-Press 2003 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.15 No.1

A new simple 3-node triangular flat-shell element with standard nodal DOF (6 DOF per node) is proposed for the linear and geometrically nonlinear analysis of very thin to thick plate and shell structures. The formulation of element GT9 (Long and Xu 1994), a generalized conforming membrane element with rigid rotational freedoms, is employed as the membrane component of the new shell element. Both one-point reduced integration scheme and a corresponding stabilization matrix are adopted for avoiding membrane locking and hourglass phenomenon. The bending component of the new element comes from a new generalized conforming Kirchhoff-Mindlin plate element TSL-T9, which is derived in this paper based on semiLoof constrains and rational shear interpolation. Thus the convergence can be guaranteed and no shear locking will happen. Furthermore, a simple hybrid procedure is suggested to improve the stress solutions, and the Updated Lagrangian formulae are also established for the geometrically nonlinear problems. Numerical results with solutions, which are solved by some other recent element models and the models in the commercial finite element software ABAQUS, are presented. They show that the proposed element, denoted as GMST18, exhibits excellent and better performance for the analysis of thin-think plates and shells in both linear and geometrically nonlinear problems.

Application of a High-Resolution Spectrometer in a Broadband Optical Monitor for Film Coating

Liang-Yao Chen,Yun-Fei Wu,Qing-Yuan Cai,Yu-Xiang Zheng,Rong-Jun Zhang 한국물리학회 2008 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.53 No.4

The broadband optical monitoring (BOM) method for the thin-film coating proces has become more popular due to its having a higher efficiency than other methods and the ability to precisely control the film coating proces at any thicknes. A high-resolution spectrometer working in the broadband spectral range has to be used for the BOM method to monitor the growth proces of a narow bandpas thin-film filter. In this paper, we show the application of a high-resolution spectrometer in BOM for the narow bandpas thin-film filter-coating proces and away to eliminate effectively the interference eror of the substrate. We also describe an experimental setup that can be used to grow a narow bandpas filter in a real BOM proces.

The Combined Effect of Sodium Butyrate and Low Culture Temperature on the Production, Sialylation, and Biological Activity of an Antibody Produced in CHO Cells

Fei Chen,Tianci Kou,Li Fan,Yan Zhou,Zhaoyang Ye,Liang Zhao,Wen-Song Tan 한국생물공학회 2011 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.16 No.6

Cell cultures containing 0 ~ 5 mM sodium butyrate (NaBu) and grown at 30 and 37°C were conducted to investigate the combined effect of NaBu and low temperature on the quantity and quality of an antibody production in CHO cells. Although NaBu addition decreased cell viability by apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner at both 30 and 37°C, the onset of significant apoptosis induced by NaBu was delayed by lowering culture temperature. The highest specific antibody productivity (q_p) of 23.26 pg/cell/day was obtained in the culture containing 2 mM NaBu at 30°C; however, the highest antibody concentration of 167.84 mg/L was achieved in the culture containing 1 mM NaBu at 30°C, as the detrimental effect of further NaBu addition on cell growth compromised its beneficial effect on q_p. Moreover, protein quality with respect to the total sialic acid content and Nglycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) level was evaluated. There were no apparent changes regarding the total sialic acid content of the antibody, but manipulation of cultures with NaBu treatment or (and) low culture temperature did decrease Neu5Gc levels by 5 ~ 10%. Biological activity of the antibody was also assessed, and no obvious changes were observed. Collectively, the simultaneous application of NaBu and low culture temperature was an effective way to extend culture period and enhance final antibody concentration,without compromising the sialic acid content or biological activity.

Piperonyl butoxide synergizes the larvicidal activity of Origanum vulgare essential oil and its major constituents against the larvae of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus

Chen Junhui,Liu Yangqing,Ma Guangqiang,Yang Feiying,Zhan Zhigao,Guan Limei,Kuang Wendong,Wang Jinchang,Li Jianghuai,Han Fei,Jin Liang 한국응용곤충학회 2023 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.26 No.1

Mosquitoes bite human beings and transmit many diseases, such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. Vector control of mosquitoes is an effective strategy for reducing the spread of disease. However, extensive use of in secticides (e.g. pyrethroids and organophosphorus) has caused resistance in mosquitoes, which weakens the effectiveness of mosquito control. Phytochemicals have been considered an alternative approach to mosquito control. Essential oil (EO) was obtained from the leaves and flowers of Origanum vulgare, and its synergistic activity with piperonyl butoxide (PBO) was tested against Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus larvae. Thirty-seven compounds were identified, among which carvacrol and thymol were two major constitu ents (30.73 % and 18.81 %, respectively). O. vulgare EO had a significant toxic effect against fourth-stage larvae of Cx. p. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus, with LC 50 values of 17.51 and 75.90 mg/L. Carvacrol and thymol also each appeared to be more effective against Cx. p. quinquefasciatus (LC 50 = 19.30 and 11.56 mg/L, respectively) than Ae. albopictus (LC 50 = 26.62 and 26.66 mg/L, respectively). PBO interacted synergistically with O. vulgare EO, carvacrol and thymol with 2.60–6.26 times as much of the active compound needed without PBO as against Cx. p. quinquefasciatus and Ae. albopictus larvae. Overall, our results contribute to the development of new natural mosquito insecticides.

Triplet Platinum-based Combination Sequential Chemotherapy Improves Survival Outcome and Quality of Life of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Chen, Li-Kun,Liang, Ying,Yang, Qun-Ying,Xu, Fei,Zhou, Ning-Ning,Xu, Guang-Chuan,Liu, Guo-Zhen,Wei, Wei-Dong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Background: Maintenance chemotherapy is one strategy pursued in recent years with intent to break through the chemotherapy plateau for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, given the toxicity, platinum-based combinations are rarely given for this purpose. We carried out the present prospective study of triplet platinum-based combination sequential chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC to investigate if patients could tolerate and benefit from such intensive treatment. Methods: From Dec 2003 to Dec 2007, 190 stage IIIB and IV NSCLC patients in Sun yat-sen University sequentially received the 3 platinum-based combination (TP-NP-GP) treatment (T: paclitaxol175$mg/m^2$ d1; N: vinorelbine25$mg/m^2$ d1 and 8; G: gemcitabine1$g/m^2$ d1 and 8; P: cisplatin20$mg/m^2$ d1-5; repeated every 3 weeks). Patients were followed up to at least 3 years to obtain survival data. Treatment toxicities and the quality of life (QOL) were assessed during the whole treatment. Results: There were 187 patients evaluable. The TP, NP and GP response rates with sequential use were 42.8% (80/187), 41.1% (65/158) and 28.8% (21/73) respectively. Median survival time was 18.2 months and the 1, 2 and 3 year overall survival (OS) rates were 78.7%, 38.5% and 21.3%. Patients receiving > 6 cycles of chemotherapy had significantly longer OS and TTP (MST 25.3 vs. 14.5 months, TTP 15.1 vs. 9.1 months). The QOL on the whole for the patients was improved after chemotherapy. Conclusions: The sequential chemotherapy strategy with triplet platinum-based combination regimens can improve the survival outcome and the quality of life of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Electronic and Optical Properties of Noble Metal Oxides M2O (M = Cu, Ag and Au): First-principles Study

Fei Pei,Song Wu,Gang Wang,Ming Xu,Liang-Yao Chen,Yu Jia,Song-You Wang 한국물리학회 2009 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.55 No.3

In this work, first-principles calculations for the structural, electronic, and optical properties of noble metal oxides M2O (M = Cu, Ag, Au) with the cuprite structure are performed by using a plane wave pseudopotential method in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The structural, electronic, and optical properties are investigated and discussed. For Cu2O and Ag2O, good agreement was achieved between calculated and experimental results. Within the same framework, Au2O is predicted to be a semiconductor. In comparison with the copper and the silver oxides, the gold oxide has less ionic bonding between Au and O, and the intra-atomic hybridization is expected to be more evident as the depletion of the Au 5d shell appears to be more profound than it is for the Cu 3d and the Ag 4d shells. In this work, first-principles calculations for the structural, electronic, and optical properties of noble metal oxides M2O (M = Cu, Ag, Au) with the cuprite structure are performed by using a plane wave pseudopotential method in the framework of density functional theory (DFT) and the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The structural, electronic, and optical properties are investigated and discussed. For Cu2O and Ag2O, good agreement was achieved between calculated and experimental results. Within the same framework, Au2O is predicted to be a semiconductor. In comparison with the copper and the silver oxides, the gold oxide has less ionic bonding between Au and O, and the intra-atomic hybridization is expected to be more evident as the depletion of the Au 5d shell appears to be more profound than it is for the Cu 3d and the Ag 4d shells.