Highly fluorescent silicon quantum dots decorated silica microspheres for selective detection and removal of Au3+ and subsequent catalytic application

Lu-Shuang Li,Li Xu 한국공업화학회 2020 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.84 No.-

Sensitive detection and efficient removal of Au3+ are important for environmental monitoring andremediation. In this study, silicon quantum dots (SiQDs) were prepared with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane as the silicon source and boric acid as the doping substance to enhancefluorescencequantum yield. The obtained SiQDs possessedfluorescence sensing ability of Au3+ and were successfullydecorated on the mesoporous silica microspheres (SiO2), giving SiO2-SiQDs. Owing to the high affinity forAu3+ and the relatively large surface area, the SiO2-SiQDs exhibited not only selectivefluorescencedetection of Au3+ in water matrix with a relatively low limit of detection (13.67 mg L 1), but also efficientadsorption of Au3+ with a maximal adsorption capacity of 530.7 mg g 1. Besides, the Au3+ adsorbed on theSiO2-SiQDs could be in-situ reduced into evenly dispersed small-size gold nanoparticles, showing highcatalytic efficiency for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol. The remarkable performance of SiO2-SiQDs ondetection, adsorption and reusability demonstrated its multi-purposed applicabilities.

Expression and Clinical Significance of Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Lu, Li-Rong,Liu, Jing,Xu, Zhen,Zhang, Geng-Lin,Li, De-Chang,Lin, Chao-Shuang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.10

We here document discovery of expression profile of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and changes in the course of disease. The study population was composed of 75 outpatient HBV cases and 15 healthy control cases. Peripheral blood samples were collected for separation of mononuclear cells. Levels of MDSCs labeled with Lin-DR-CD11b+CD33+ obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), were revealed to have significant differences between the CHB and other groups. They were 0.414% for health control cases and 0.226% for CHB cases (Z=-2.356, p=0.0189). It also observed that the group of HBeAg positive cases had significant difference in MDSCs/PBMC median ($X^2=11.877$, p=0.003), compared with group of HBeAg negative cases and the healthy control group. It suggested considerable MDSCs might be involved in HBeAg immune tolerance. In addition, negative correlations between MDSCs/PBMC and parameters of ALT, AST and TBil, while positive correlation between MDSCs/PBMC and ALB parameter were found. Multiple comparisons between the four phases and health control phase again, there was a statistically sifnificant difference ($X^2=17.198$, p=0.002). Taken together, these findings may provide a new immunotherapy strategy for reduced the expression levels of MDSCs in CHB patients, through induction of an autoimmune response to virus removal.

Effects of different culture systems on the culture of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) spermatogonia stem cell-like cells in vitro

Ting-Ting Li,Shuang-Shuang Geng,Hui-Yan Xu,Ao-Lin Luo,Peng-Wei Zhao,Huan Yang,Xing-Wei Liang,Yang-Qing Lu,Xiao-Gan Yang,Ke-Huan Lu 대한수의학회 2020 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.21 No.1

Currently, the systems for culturing buffalo spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in vitro are varied, and their effects are still inconclusive. In this study, we compared the effects of culture systems with undefined (foetal bovine serum) and defined (KnockOut Serum Replacement) materials on the in vitro culture of buffalo SSC-like cells. Significantly more DDX4- and UCHL1-positive cells (cultured for 2 days at passage 2) were observed in the defined materials culture system than in the undefined materials system (p < 0.01), and these cells were maintained for a longer period than those in the culture system with undefined materials (10 days vs. 6 days). Furthermore, NANOS2 (p < 0.05), DDX4 (p < 0.01) and UCHL1 (p < 0.05) were expressed at significantly higher levels in the culture system with defined materials than in that with undefined materials. Induction with retinoic acid was used to verify that the cultured cells maintained SSC characteristics, revealing an SCP3+ subset in the cells cultured in the defined materials system. The expression levels of Stra8 (p < 0.05) and Rec8 (p < 0.01) were significantly increased, and the expression levels of ZBTB16 (p < 0.01) and DDX4 (p < 0.05) were significantly decreased. These findings provided a clearer research platform for exploring the mechanism of buffalo SSCs in vitro.

Determination of Protein, Fat, Starch, and Amino Acids in Foxtail Millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.] by Fourier Transform Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Xiu-Shi Yang,Li-Li Wang,Xian-Rong Zhou,Shaomin Shuang,Zhi-Hua Zhu,Nan Li,Yan Li,Fang Liu,San-Cai Liu,Ping Lu,Guixing Ren,Chuan Dong 한국식품과학회 2013 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.22 No.6

Quantitative detection of protein, fat, starch,and amino acids in foxtail millet using Fourier transformnear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was investigated. Foxtail millet samples (n=259) were analyzed using NIRS. Spectral data were linearized with data from chemicalanalyses. Calibration models were established using apartial least-squares (PLS) algorithm with cross-validation. Optimized models were tested using external validation setsamples with coefficients of determination in the externalvalidation (R2val) of >0.90. Residual predictive deviation(RPD) values were nearly equal to or >2.5 for crudeprotein, alanine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, isoleucine,leucine, and serine. However, for glycine, histidine,phenylalanine, proline, threonine, tyrosine, and valine, theR2val values were >0.83 and RPD values were nearly equalto or >2.0. For crude fat, total starch, arginine, and lysine,the R2val values were >0.70 and RPD values were >1.5. NIRS is a rapid determination tool for foxtail milletbreeding, and for quality control.

MAPK4 silencing in gastric cancer drives liver metastasis by positive feedback between cancer cells and macrophages

Li Shuang,Guo Dongyang,Sun Qiang,Zhang Lu,Cui Yun,Liu Min,Ma Xixi,Liu Yiman,Cui Wenyu,Sun Leimin,Teng Lisong,Wang Liangjing,Lin Aifu,Liu Wei,Zhuo Wei,Zhou Tianhua 생화학분자생물학회 2023 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.55 No.-

Liver metastasis is a major cause of death in gastric cancer patients, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Through a combination of in vivo screening and transcriptome profiling followed by quantitative RT-PCR and tissue array analyses, we found that mitogen-activated protein kinase 4 (MAPK4) downregulation in gastric cancer tissues from patients is significantly associated with liver metastasis and poor prognosis. The knockdown of MAPK4 in gastric cancer cells promotes liver metastasis in orthotopic mouse models. MAPK4 depletion in gastric cancer cells induces the secretion of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) to polarize tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in orthotopic xenograft tumors. Moreover, TAMs activate epithelial–mesenchymal transition of gastric cancer cells to suppress MAPK4 expression, which further increases MIF secretion to polarize TAMs. Taken together, our results suggest a previously undescribed positive feedback loop between cancer cells and macrophages mediated by MAPK4 silencing that facilitates gastric cancer liver metastasis.

CircBLNK regulates tumor proliferation and apoptosis by miR-578/ING5 axis in non-small cell lung cancer

Li Ping,Zou Liuyi,Luo Zuojun,Lu Yuhua,Yu Shuang,Zhu Yujun,Xie Yong 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2023 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.19 No.3

Background Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of most threatening malignancies with a high morbidity and mortality that threaten human health and life. Objective This study aimed to investigate the role of circBLNK in NSCLC and reveal the regulation mechanism of circBLNK in NSCLC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction ( qRT-PCR) was performed to determine the levels of circBLNK, miR-578 and inhibitor of growth 5 (ING5) mRNA. Cell proliferation activity was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)- 2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) staining and colony formation assays. Flow cytometry was carried out to examine cell cycle and cell apoptosis. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to validate the interaction between miR-578 and circBLNK or ING5. Xenograft tumor experiment was performed to uncover the function of circBLNK in vivo. Results CircBLNK was notably down-regulated in NSCLC tissues and cells. Overexpression of circBLNK suppressed the proliferation and accelerated the apoptosis of NSCLC cells in vitro . CircBLNK targeted miR-578, and circBLNK exerted its biological function in NSCLC cells through sponging miR-578. ING5 was verifi ed as a target of miR-578, and circBLNK increased the abundance of ING5 through targeting miR-578 in NSCLC cells. ING5 interference could partly reverse the biological eff ects of NSCLC cells mediated by circBLNK overexpression. CircBLNK overexpression repressed NSCLC tumor growth in vivo. Conclusion CircBLNK functioned as a tumor suppressor in NSCLC to suppress the proliferation and cell cycle and promote cell apoptosis of NSCLC cells through miR-578/ING5 axis.

A new high-order response surface method for structural reliability analysis

Li, Hong-Shuang,Lu, Zhen-Zhou,Qiao, Hong-Wei Techno-Press 2010 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.34 No.6

In order to consider high-order effects on the actual limit state function, a new response surface method is proposed for structural reliability analysis by the use of high-order approximation concept in this study. Hermite polynomials are used to determine the highest orders of input random variables, and the sampling points for the determination of highest orders are located on Gaussian points of Gauss-Hermite integration. The cross terms between two random variables, only in case that their corresponding percent contributions to the total variation of limit state function are significant, will be added to the response surface function to improve the approximation accuracy. As a result, significant reduction in computational cost is achieved with this strategy. Due to the addition of cross terms, the additional sampling points, laid on two-dimensional Gaussian points off axis on the plane of two significant variables, are required to determine the coefficients of the approximated limit state function. All available sampling points are employed to construct the final response surface function. Then, Monte Carlo Simulation is carried out on the final approximation response surface function to estimate the failure probability. Due to the use of high order polynomial, the proposed method is more accurate than the traditional second-order or linear response surface method. It also provides much more efficient solutions than the available high-order response surface method with less loss in accuracy. The efficiency and the accuracy of the proposed method compared with those of various response surface methods available are illustrated by five numerical examples.

Influence of Brittle Fracture of Shear Connectors on Flexural Behavior of Steel–Plate Concrete Composite Beams Under Cyclic Loading

Bing Lu,Chang-Hai Zhai,Shuang Li,Duofa Ji,Xianbin Lu 한국강구조학회 2020 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.20 No.5

The existing push-out test results showed that the ultimate shear capacities and ultimate slips of tie-bars and studs under cyclic loading were signifi cantly lower than those under monotonic loading, which could signifi cantly aff ect the seismic performance of steel–plate concrete composite (SC) structures. The fl exural behavior of two SC beams subjected to cyclic loading was investigated. Specimen SCB1 using tie-bars was partial shear connection, and specimen SCB2 using tie-bars and studs was full shear connection. The failure modes, hysteresis curves, skeleton curves, equivalent lateral stiff ness, energy dissipation, interfacial slip distribution, interfacial shear distributions, and strain in steel plates were researched. The experimental results show that two SC specimens were brittle failure, which primarily resulted from premature shear fracture of shear connectors at the interfaces between steel plate and concrete. Finally, two existing codes for SC structures were used to analyze the bending moment and shear of SC beams as well as interfacial shear of tie-bars and studs. This indicates that due to the diff erence of shear connection ratio between two specimens, the interfacial shear distributions of two SC beams were signifi cantly diff erent.

A new high-order response surface method for structural reliability analysis

Hong-Shuang Li,Zhen-Zhou Lu,Hong-Wei Qiao 국제구조공학회 2010 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.34 No.6

In order to consider high-order effects on the actual limit state function, a new response surface method is proposed for structural reliability analysis by the use of high-order approximation concept in this study. Hermite polynomials are used to determine the highest orders of input random variables, and the sampling points for the determination of highest orders are located on Gaussian points of Gauss-Hermite integration. The cross terms between two random variables, only in case that their corresponding percent contributions to the total variation of limit state function are significant, will be added to the response surface function to improve the approximation accuracy. As a result, significant reduction in computational cost is achieved with this strategy. Due to the addition of cross terms, the additional sampling points, laid on two-dimensional Gaussian points off axis on the plane of two significant variables, are required to determine the coefficients of the approximated limit state function. All available sampling points are employed to construct the final response surface function. Then, Monte Carlo Simulation is carried out on the final approximation response surface function to estimate the failure probability. Due to the use of high order polynomial, the proposed method is more accurate than the traditional second-order or linear response surface method. It also provides much more efficient solutions than the available high-order response surface method with less loss in accuracy. The efficiency and the accuracy of the proposed method compared with those of various response surface methods available are illustrated by five numerical examples.

Short hairpin RNA targeting of fibroblast activation protein inhibits tumor growth and improves the tumor microenvironment in a mouse model

( Fan Cai ),( Zhi Yong Li ),( Chun Ting Wang ),( Shuang Xian ),( Guang Chao Xu ),( Feng Peng ),( Yu Quan Wei ),( You Lu ) 생화학분자생물학회 2013 BMB Reports Vol.46 No.5

Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a specific serine protease expressed in tumor stroma proven to be a stimulatory factor in the progression of some cancers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of FAP knockdown on tumor growth and the tumor microenvironment. Mice bearing 4T1 subcutaneous tumors were treated with liposome-shRNA complexes targeting FAP. Tumor volumes and weights were monitored, and FAP, collagen, microvessel density (MVD), and apoptosis were measured. Our studies showed that shRNA targeting of FAP in murine breast cancer reduces FAP expression, inhibits tumor growth, promotes collagen accumulation (38%), and suppresses angiogenesis (71.7%), as well as promoting apoptosis (by threefold). We suggest that FAP plays a role in tumor growth and in altering the tumor microenvironment. Targeting FAP may therefore represent a supplementary therapy for breast cancer.