Genome‑wide identification of GMP genes in Rosaceae and functional characterization of FaGMP4 in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa)

Yuanxiu Lin,Jiahao Zhang,Lintai Wu,Yunting Zhang,Qing Chen,Mengyao Li,Yong Zhang,Ya Luo,Yan Wang,Xiaorong Wang,Haoru Tang 한국유전학회 2021 Genes & Genomics Vol.43 No.6

Background GDP-D-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMP) is one of the key enzymes determining ascorbic acid (AsA) biosynthesis. However, little information about GMP genes is currently available for the Rosaceae species, especially in the AsA-riched cultivated octoploid strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa). Objective To identify the all the GMP genes in Rosaceae, as well as the predominant homologues and the role of GMP genes in strawberry AsA accumulation. Methods In the present study, we performed genome-wide identifcation and comprehensive analysis of the duplicated GMP genes in strawberry and other Rosaceae species by bioinformatics methods, the expression of the GMP genes from cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa, FaGMP) was specifcally analyzed by qPCR. Finally, the FaGMP4 was transiently overexpressed in strawberry to estimate the role of GMP in regulating AsA accumulation in strawberry. Results As results, a total of 28 GMP genes were identifed in the fve Rosaceae species. The origins of duplication events analysis suggested that most GMP duplications in Rosaceae species were generated from whole genome duplication (WGD). The Ka/Ks ratio suggested that FaGMP genes underwent a stabilization selection. qPCR based expression analysis showed diferent patterns of FaGMP paralogs during fruit ripening, while FaGMP4 expressed higher in the variety containing higher AsA. Overexpression of FaGMP4 in strawberry signifcantly enhanced AsA accumulation. Furthermore, the expression of FaGMP4 under the treatment of blue and red light was largely increased in leaves while signifcantly inhibited in fruit. These results revealed the vital role of FaGMP4 in regulating AsA in strawberry.

Construction of polylactic acid‑based flame retardant composites by zinc oxide and bamboo carbon

Mengyao Ling,Ningning Yin,Yifan Chen,Zenan Zhou,Haifeng Chen,Chunping Dai,Jingda Huang,Wenbiao Zhang 한국탄소학회 2024 Carbon Letters Vol.34 No.2

Experimental and numerical study on the dynamic behavior of a semi-active impact damper

Jiawei Zhang,Zheng Lu,Mengyao Zhou,Zhikuang Huang,Sami F. Masri 국제구조공학회 2023 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.31 No.5

Impact damper is a passive damping system that controls undesirable vibration with mass block impacting with stops fixed to the excited structure, introducing momentum exchange and energy dissipation. However, harmful momentum exchange may occur in the random excitation increasing structural response. Based on the mechanism of impact damping system, a semi-active impact damper (SAID) with controllable impact timing as well as a semi-active control strategy is proposed to enhance the seismic performance of engineering structures in this paper. Comparative experimental studies were conducted to investigate the damping performances of the passive impact damper and SAID. The extreme working conditions for SAID were also discussed and approaches to enhance the damping effect under high-intensity excitations were proposed. A numerical simulation model of SAID attached to a frame structure was established to further explore the damping mechanism. The experimental and numerical results show that the SAID has better control effect than the traditional passive impact damper and can effectively broaden the damping frequency band. The parametric studies illustrate the mass ratio and impact damping ratio of SAID can significantly influence the vibration control effect by affecting the impact force.

Fluorine-Substituted Dithienylbenzodiimide-Based n-Type Polymer Semiconductors for Organic Thin-Film Transistors

Feng, Kui,Zhang, Xianhe,Wu, Ziang,Shi, Yongqiang,Su, Mengyao,Yang, Kun,Wang, Yang,Sun, Huiliang,Min, Jie,Zhang, Yujie,Cheng, Xing,Woo, Han Young,Guo, Xugang American Chemical Society 2019 ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES Vol.11 No.39

<P>Imide functionalization is one of the most effective approaches to develop electron-deficient building blocks for constructing n-type organic semiconductors. Driven by the attractive properties of imide-functionalized dithienylbenzodiimide (TBDI) and the promising device performance of TBDI-based polymers, a novel acceptor with increased electron affinity, fluorinated dithienylbenzodiimide (TFBDI), was designed with the hydrogen replaced by fluorine on the benzene core, and the synthetic challenges associated with this highly electron-deficient fluorinated imide building block are successfully overcome. TFBDI showed suppressed frontier molecular orbital energy levels as compared with TBDI. Copolymerizing this new electron-withdrawing TBDI with various donor co-units afforded a series of n-type polymer semiconductors TFBDI-T, TFBDI-Se, and TFBDI-BSe. All these TFBDI-based polymers exhibited a lower-lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level than the polymer analogue without fluorine. When applied in organic thin-film transistors, three polymers showed unipolar electron transport with large on-current/off-current ratios (<I>I</I><SUB>on</SUB>/<I>I</I><SUB>off</SUB>) of 10<SUP>5</SUP>-10<SUP>7</SUP>. Among them, the selenophene-based polymer TFBDI-Se with the deepest-positioned LUMO and optimal chain stacking exhibited the highest electron mobility of 0.30 cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>-1</SUP> s<SUP>-1</SUP>. This result demonstrates that the new TFBDI is a highly attractive electron-deficient unit for enabling n-type polymer semiconductors, and the fluorination of imide-functionalized arenes offers an effective approach to develop more electron-deficient building blocks in organic electronics.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

Differential Hrd1 Expression and B-Cell Accumulation in Eosinophilic and Non-eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps

Kun Chen,Miaomiao Han,Mengyao Tang,Yadong Xie,Yuting Lai,Xianting Hu,Jia Zhang,Jun Yang,Huabin Li 대한천식알레르기학회 2018 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.10 No.6

Purpose: Hrd1 has recently emerged as a critical regulator of B-cells in autoimmune diseases. However, its role in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to examine Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation and their possible roles in CRSwNP. Methods: Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting were used to assess gene and protein expression in nasal tissue extracts. Cells isolated from nasal tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were characterized by flow cytometry. Local antibody production was measured in tissue extracts with a Bio-Plex assay. Additionally, changes in Hrd1 expression in response to specific inflammatory stimuli were measured in cultured dispersed polyp cells. Results: Nasal polyps (NPs) from patients with eosinophilic CRSwNP (ECRS) had increased levels of Hrd1, B-cells and plasma cells compared with NPs from patients with non-eosinophilic CRSwNP (non-ECRS) or other control subjects (P < 0.05). The average Hrd1 levels in B-cells in NPs from ECRS patients were significantly higher than those from non-ECRS patients and control subjects (P < 0.05). NPs also contained significantly increased levels of several antibody isotypes compared with normal controls (P < 0.05). Interestingly, Hrd1 expression in cultured polyp cells from ECRS patients, but not non-ECRS patients, was significantly increased by interleukin-1β, lipopolysaccharide and Poly(I:C) stimulation, and inhibited by dexamethasone treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Differential Hrd1 expression and B-cell accumulation between the ECRS and non-ECRS subsets suggests that they can exhibit distinct pathogenic mechanisms and play important roles in NP.

The genome of Bacillus aryabhattai T61 reveals its adaptation to Tibetan Plateau environment

Ping Wan,ZhiWei Yang,Yan Yan,Lei Zhang,MengYao Yu,Jian Wang,He Tang 한국유전학회 2016 Genes & Genomics Vol.38 No.3

Tibetan Plateau is called ‘the Roof of the World’. Organisms survive there have to adapt to the high altitude environment. By shotgun method, we sequenced the genome of Bacillus aryabhattai T61, which inhabits in the soil at the altitude of 4123 m in Shigatse, Tibetan. Further, we explored the genomic basis for its adaptations to the plateau environment. The results showed that B. aryabhattai T61 has evolved an array of ROS defense systems and sporulation system for adaptations to the stresses caused by the plateau strong ultraviolet radiation, extreme oxygen limitation and low temperature. Specifically, B. aryabhattai T61 encodes the ResE–ResD twocomponent to sense the oxygen limitation and regulates COX15 for aerobic and anaerobic respiration. The twocomponent system DesK–DesR, which regulates the gene Des initiating the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, along with 33 temperature-shock proteins contribute to low temperature adaptation. With the comparative analysis, we deduced the novel gene cbiY may be involved in cobalamin biosynthesis. We also found that B. aryabhattai T61 may have novel regulatory mechanisms for sporulation initiation. B. aryabhattai T61 is the first Tibetan strain with high quality genome sequenced. The genome provides a paradigm for understanding the adaptations to the plateau environment in Bacteria kingdom.

Cyclooxygenase-2 Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

Jun Wang,Xufeng Guo,Jixiang Zhang,Jia Song,Mengyao Ji,Shijie Yu,Jing Wang,Zhuo Cao,Weiguo Dong 연세대학교의과대학 2013 Yonsei medical journal Vol.54 No.6

Purpose: Four polymorphisms, -765G>C, -1195G>A, 8473T>C, and Val511Ala, in the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene were identified to be associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. However, the results are inconsistent. The objective of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the association between these four polymorphisms and the risk of CRC. Materials and Methods: All eligible case-control studies published up to December 2012 on the association between the four polymorphisms of COX-2 and CRC risk were identified by searching PubMed and Web of Science. The CRC risk associated with the four polymorphisms of the COX-2 gene was estimated for each study by odds ratio (OR) together with its 95% confidence interval (CI), respectively. Results: A total of 15 case-control studies were included. Overall, no evidence has indicated that the -1195A allele, -765C allele, 8473C allele, and 511Ala allele are associated with susceptibility to CRC (-1195G>A: OR=1.11, 95% CI: 0.82-1.51, p=0.78; -765G>C: OR=1.08, 95% CI: 0.96-1.21, p=0.07; 8473T>C: OR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.89-1.18, p=0.91; Val511Ala:OR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.46-1.09, p=0.94). However, stratified analysis with ethnicity indicated that individuals with -765GC or GC/CC genotypes had an increased risk of CRC among Asian populations (GC vs. GG: OR=1.05, 95% CI: 0.87-1.28, p=0.03; GC+CC vs. GG: OR=1.08, 95% CI: 0.96-1.21, p=0.07). Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicated that -765G>C polymorphism was significantly associated with susceptibility to CRC in Asian populations.

Joint module angle error analysis and modelling of self-driven articulated arm coordinate measuring machine

Mei Shen,Hongtao Yang,Jingjing Cheng,Mengyao Zhang,Tingting Hu,Yi Hu 대한기계학회 2022 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.36 No.12

The self-driven articulated arm coordinate measuring machine (self-driven AACMM) is a new type of flexible coordinate measuring equipment. The integrated joint module is introduced to the AACMM joint for self-driven control and automatic measurement, resulting in the joint angle error of self-driven AACMM. In this study, an ideal measurement model of the self-driven AACMM have been established. The sources of angle error of joint module is analysed, and single and comprehensive models of the joint module‘s angle error are established. Numerical simulation of the angle error model of the single joint module is conducted by MATLAB. An angle error calibration experiment of the joint module is carried out with the photoelectric autocollimator and the metal 36-sided prism. Results show that each joint module produces different torsional deformation due to load. The angle error of joint module 1, 6 are most and least affected by the load torque, the actual average errors of the two are 37.64 arcsec and -0.9632 arcsec, respectively. The simulated and calibrated single-joint module angle error trends are cyclical, and the calibrated angle error range is [-100.4 arcsec, 205.2 arcsec]. The harmonic error component in the harmonic reducer and the magnetic encoder is an important factor of the angle error of joint module. The eatablished angle error model of single joint module can be effiectively applied to comprehensive error compensation for high measurement accuracy of self-driven AACMM.

Head-to-Head Linked Dialkylbifuran-Based Polymer Semiconductors for High-Performance Organic Thin-Film Transistors with Tunable Charge Carrier Polarity

Shi, Shengbin,Wang, Hang,Uddin, Mohammad Afsar,Yang, Kun,Su, Mengyao,Bianchi, Luca,Chen, Peng,Cheng, Xing,Guo, Han,Zhang, Shiming,Woo, Han Young,Guo, Xugang American Chemical Society 2019 Chemistry of materials Vol.31 No.5

<P>A planar backbone conformation is essential for enabling polymer semiconductors with high charge carrier mobility in organic thin-film transistors. Benefiting from the smaller van der Waals radius of the O atom in furan (versus the S atom in thiophene), alkylated furan exerts a reduced steric hindrance on neighboring arene, and it was found that the head-to-head (HH)-linked 3,3′-dialkyl-2,2′-bifuran (<B>BFR</B>) can attain a high degree of backbone planarity. Hence, <B>BFR</B> should be a promising building block for constructing polymer semiconductors with a planar backbone conformation and hold distinctive advantages over a dialkylbithiophene-based analogue, which is typically highly twisted. The alkyl chains on the 3 and 3′ positions offer good solubility to the resulting polymers, which in combination with its planar backbone yields an improved molecular design window for developing high-performance polymer semiconductors, particularly those with a simple molecular structure and based on the acceptor co-unit without any solubilizing chains. When incorporated into polymer semiconductors, remarkably high hole and electron mobilities of 1.50 and 0.31 cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>-1</SUP> s<SUP>-1</SUP> are obtained for <B>BFR</B>-based polymers <B>FBFR-BO</B> and <B>CNBFR-C18</B> containing fluorinated and cyano-functionalized benzothiadiazole as the acceptor co-unit, respectively. Such mobilities are the highest values for HH-linked polymers and also among the best for furan-containing polymers. The results demonstrate that HH-linked dialkylbifuran is a highly promising building block for constructing organic and polymeric semiconductors, and this new approach by incorporating HH <B>BFR</B> offers several distinctive advantages for developing high-performance polymer semiconductors, including effective optoelectronic property tuning using a minimal number of aromatic rings, reduced structural complexity, facile material synthesis, good material solubility, and enriching the material library. In addition, the study offers important guidelines for future development of furan-based polymers and head-to-head linkage containing organic semiconductors.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

A Novel EYA1 Mutation Causing Alternative RNA Splicing in a Chinese Family With Branchio-Oto Syndrome: Implications for Molecular Diagnosis and Clinical Application

Anhai Chen,Chufeng He,Yong Feng,Jie Ling,Xin Peng,Xianlin Liu,Shuang Mao,Yongjia Chen,Mengyao Qin,Shuai Zhang,Yijiang Bai,Jian Song,Zhili Feng,Lu Ma,Dinghua He,Lingyun Mei1 대한이비인후과학회 2023 Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology Vol.16 No.4

Objectives. Branchio-oto syndrome (BOS) primarily manifests as hearing loss, preauricular pits, and branchial defects. EYA1is the most common pathogenic gene, and splicing mutations account for a substantial proportion of cases. However,few studies have addressed the structural changes in the protein caused by splicing mutations and potential pathogenicfactors, and several studies have shown that middle-ear surgery has limited effectiveness in improving hearing in thesepatients. BOS has also been relatively infrequently reported in the Chinese population. This study explored the ge-netic etiology in the family of a proband with BOS and provided clinical treatment to improve the patient’s hearing. Methods. We collected detailed clinical features and peripheral blood samples from the patients and unaffected individualswithin the family. Pathogenic mutations were identified by whole-exome sequencing and cosegregation analysis andclassified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Alternative splicing wasverified through a minigene assay. The predicted three-dimensional protein structure and biochemical experimentswere used to investigate the pathogenicity of the mutation. The proband underwent middle-ear surgery and was fol-lowed up at 1 month and 6 months postoperatively to monitor auditory improvement. Results. A novel heterozygous EYA1 splicing variant (c.1050+4 A >C) was identified and classified as pathogenic (PVS1(RNA),PM2, PP1). Skipping of exon 11 of the EYA1 pre-mRNA was confirmed using a minigene assay. This mutation mayimpair EYA1-SIX1 interactions, as shown by an immunoprecipitation assay. The EYA1-Mut protein exhibited cellularmislocalization and decreased protein expression in cytological experiments. Middle-ear surgery significantly improvedhearing loss caused by bone-conduction abnormalities in the proband. Conclusion. We reported a novel splicing variant of EYA1 in a Chinese family with BOS and revealed the potential molec-ular pathogenic mechanism. The significant hearing improvement observed in the proband after middle-ear surgeryprovides a reference for auditory rehabilitation in similar patients.