Static analysis of 2D-FG nonlocal porous tube using gradient strain theory and based on the first and higher-order beam theory

Xiaozhong Zhang,Jian-Feng Li,Yan Cui,Mostafa Habibi,H. Elhosiny Ali,Ibrahim AlBaijan,Tayebeh Mahmoudi 국제구조공학회 2023 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.49 No.3

This article focuses on the study of the buckling behavior of two-dimensional functionally graded (2D-FG) nanosize tubes, including porosity, based on the first shear deformation and higher-order theory of the tube. The nano-scale tube is simulated using the nonlocal gradient strain theory, and the general equations and boundary conditions are derived using Hamilton’s principle for the Zhang-Fu’s tube model (as a higher-order theory) and Timoshenko beam theory. Finally, the derived equations are solved using a numerical method for both simply-supported and clamped boundary conditions. A parametric study is performed to investigate the effects of different parameters, such as axial and radial FG power indices, porosity parameter, and nonlocal gradient strain parameters, on the buckling behavior of the bi-dimensional functionally graded porous tube. Keywords: Nonlocal strain gradient theory; buckling; Zhang-Fu’s tube model; Timoshenko theory; Two-dimensional functionally graded materials; Nanotubes; Higher-order theory.

Human Recombinant Endostatin Combined with Cisplatin Based Doublets in Treating Patients with Advanced NSCLC and Evaluation by CT Perfusion Imaging

Zhang, Feng-Lin,Gao, Er-Yun,Shu, Rong-Bao,Wang, Hui,Zhang, Yan,Sun, Peng,Li, Min,Tang, Wei,Jiang, Bang-Qin,Chen, Shuang-Qi,Cui, Fang-Bo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.15

Aims: To study the effectiveness of human recombinant endostatin injection (Endostar(R)) combined with cisplatin doublets in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to evaluate outcome by CT perfusion imaging. Methods: From April 2011 to September 2014, 76 patients with advanced NSCLC who were treated with platinum-based doublets were divided into group A (36 patients) and group B (40 patients). Endostar(R) 15mg/day was administered 4 days before chemotherapy and combined with chemotherapy from day 5 in group A, and combined with chemotherapy from the first day in Group B. Endostar(R) in the two groups was injected intravenously for 14 days. Results: Treatment effectiveness in the two groups differed with statistical significance (p<0.05). Effectiveness evaluated by CT perfusion imaging, BF, BV, MTT and PS also demonstrated significant differences (all p<0.05). Adverse reactions in the two groups did not significantly vary (p> 0.05). Conclusions: The response rate with Endostar(R) administered 4 days before chemotherapy and combined with chemotherapy from day 5 in group A was better than Endostar(R) combined with chemotherapy from the first day, and CT perfusion imaging could be a reasonable method for evaluation of patient outcomes.

SPON2 Promotes M1-like Macrophage Recruitment and Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Distinct Integrin–Rho GTPase–Hippo Pathways

Zhang, Yan-Li,Li, Qing,Yang, Xiao-Mei,Fang, Fang,Li, Jun,Wang, Ya-Hui,Yang, Qin,Zhu, Lei,Nie, Hui-Zhen,Zhang, Xue-Li,Feng, Ming-Xuan,Jiang, Shu-Heng,Tian, Guang-Ang,Hu, Li-Peng,Lee, Ho-Young,Lee, Su-J American Association for Cancer Research 2018 Cancer research Vol.78 No.9

<P>Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P>Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent key regulators of the complex interplay between cancer and the immune microenvironment. Matricellular protein SPON2 is essential for recruiting lymphocytes and initiating immune responses. Recent studies have shown that SPON2 has complicated roles in cell migration and tumor progression. Here we report that, in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), SPON2 not only promotes infiltration of M1-like macrophages but also inhibits tumor metastasis. SPON2-α4β1 integrin signaling activated RhoA and Rac1, increased F-actin reorganization, and promoted M1-like macrophage recruitment. F-Actin accumulation also activated the Hippo pathway by suppressing LATS1 phosphorylation, promoting YAP nuclear translocation, and initiating downstream gene expression. However, SPON2-α5β1 integrin signaling inactivated RhoA and prevented F-actin assembly, thereby inhibiting HCC cell migration; the Hippo pathway was not noticeably involved in SPON2-mediated HCC cell migration. In HCC patients, SPON2 levels correlated positively with prognosis. Overall, our findings provide evidence that SPON2 is a critical factor in mediating the immune response against tumor cell growth and migration in HCC.</P><P><B>Significance:</B> Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract:</B> http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/9/2305/F1.large.jpg. <I>Cancer Res; 78(9); 2305–17. ©2018 AACR</I>.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P><P> [Figure]</P>

Anomalous magnetization jumps in granular Pb superconducting films

Zhang An-Lei,Jiang Wan-Yan,Chen Xing-Hong,Zhang Xiao-Ke,Lu Wen-Lai,Chen Fei,Feng Zhen-Jie,Cao Shi-Xun,Zhang Jin-Cang,Ge Jun-Yi 한국물리학회 2022 Current Applied Physics Vol.35 No.-

In granular superconductors, the grain boundaries are closely related to the vortex dynamics and the macroscopic superconducting properties. In our research, Pb films with different grain sizes were prepared by tuning the substrate temperature. With the grain size decreasing, Pb films are prone to feature the anomalous magnetization jumps in the M − T curves, while in the M − H curves flux avalanche happens. Both phenomena appear in the same region of the H − T phase diagram and thus are considered to have the same origin. The further theoretical analysis shows that with grain size decreasing the pinning mechanism evolves from a mixed δTc and δl pinning to the δl pinning mechanism. The results shed light on the study of pinning mechanism for granular superconductors and is beneficial to the potential application of manipulating vortex pinning by regulation of intrinsic defects.

Inhibitory Effects of Phenolic Alkaloids of Menispermum Dauricum on Gastric Cancer in Vivo

Zhang, Hong-Feng,Wu, Di,Du, Jian-Kuo,Zhang, Yan,Su, Yun-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.24

The present study was conducted to investigate effects and mechanisms of action of phenolic alkaloids of Menispermum dauricum (PAMD) on gastric cancer in vivo. In vitro, cell apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901 was observed using fluorescence staining. In vivo, a mice model was constructed to observe tumor growth with different doses. Cell apoptosis was examined using flow cytometry and K-RAS protein expression using Western blotting. The mRNA expression of P53, BCL-2, BAX, CASPASE-3, K-RAS was examined by real-time PCR. PAMD significantly suppressed tumor growth in the xenograft model of gastric cancer in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.01). Functionally, PAMD promoted cell apoptosis of the SGC-7901 cells and significantly increased the rate of cell apoptosis of gastric tumor cells (p<0.05). Mechanically, PAMD inhibited the expression of oncogenic K-RAS both at the mRNA and protein levels. In addition, PAMD affected the mRNA expression of the cell apoptosis-related genes (P53, BCL-2, BAX, CASPASE-3). PAMD could suppress gastric tumor growth in vivo, possibly through inhibiting oncogenic K-RAS, and induce cell apoptosis possibly by targeting the cell apoptosis-related genes of P53, BCL-2, BAX, CASPASE-3.

The Presence of EpCAM-/CD49f+ Cells in Breast Cancer Is Associated with a Poor Clinical Outcome

Feng Ye,Yan Qiu,Li Li,Libo Yang,Fei Cheng,Hongying Zhang,Bing Wei,Zhang Zhang,Linyong Sun,Hong Bu 한국유방암학회 2015 Journal of breast cancer Vol.18 No.3

Purpose: It is well established that breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) play an essential role in tumor invasion for both local and distant metastasis. The aim of this study was to establish whether BCSCs could act as a prognostic and clinical marker. Methods: We analyzed tumor tissues from 161 breast cancer patients. Dual immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed on all the slides, and we analyzed the relationship between EpCAM–/CD49f+ tumor cells and key clinical and prognostic factors. Results: Univariate survival analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method showed that the presence of EpCAM–/ CD49f+ tumor cells in breast cancer was significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of EpCAM–/ CD49f+ cells was associated with shorter DFS (p=0.010; hazard ratio [HR], 2.070) and OS (p=0.002; HR, 3.235). Tumors containing EpCAM–/CD49f+ cells were also more likely to metastasize after initial surgery (p=0.048). Conclusion: Our study suggests that breast tumors containing EpCAM–/CD49f+ cells are more likely to undergo distant metastasis after initial surgery and are associated with a shorter DFS and OS.

Roles of Immunohistochemical Staining in Diagnosing Pulmonary Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Yan, Yue,Zhang, Ya-Xiong,Fang, Wen-Feng,Kang, Shi-Yang,Zhan, Jian-Hua,Chen, Nan,Hong, Shao-Dong,Liang, Wen-Hua,Tang, Yan-Na,He, Da-Cheng,Wu, Xuan,Zhang, Li Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.2

Background: Differentiating morphologic features based on hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining is the most common method to classify pathological subtypes of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its accuracy and inter-observer reproducibility in pathological diagnosis of poorly differentiated NSCLC remained to be improved. Materials and Methods: We attempted to explore the role of immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining in diagnosing pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma (SQCC) with poorly differentiated features by HE staining or with elevated serum adenocarcinoma-specific tumor markers (AD-TMs). We also compared the difference of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation rate between patients with confirmed SQCC and those with revised pathological subtype. Logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between different factors and diagnostic accuracy. Results: A total of 132 patients who met the eligible criteria and had adequate specimens for IHC confirmation were included. Pathological revised cases in poor differentiated subgroup, biopsy samples and high-level AD-TMs cases were more than those with high/moderate differentiation, surgical specimens and normal-level AD-TMs. Moreover, biopsy sample was a significant factor decreasing diagnostic accuracy of pathological subtype (OR, 4.037; 95% CI 1.446-11.267, p=0.008). Additionally, EGFR mutation rate was higher in patients with pathological diagnostic changes than those with confirmed SQCC (16.7% vs 4.4%, p=0.157). Conclusions: Diagnosis based on HE staining only might cause pathological misinterpretation in NSCLC patients with poor differentiation or high-level AD-TMs, especially those with biopsy samples. HE staining and IHC should be combined as pathological diagnostic standard. The occurrence of EGFR mutations in pulmonary SQCC might be overestimated.

Operational modal analysis of Canton Tower by a fast frequency domain Bayesian method

Feng-Liang Zhang,Yan-Chun Ni,Yan-Chun Ni,You-Wu Wang 국제구조공학회 2016 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.17 No.2

The Canton Tower is a high-rise slender structure with a height of 610 m. A structural health monitoring system has been instrumented on the structure, by which data is continuously monitored. This paper presents an investigation on the identified modal properties of the Canton Tower using ambient vibration data collected during a whole day (24 hours). A recently developed Fast Bayesian FFT method is utilized for operational modal analysis on the basis of the measured acceleration data. The approach views modal identification as an inference problem where probability is used as a measure for the relative plausibility of outcomes given a model of the structure and measured data. Focusing on the first several modes, the modal properties of this supertall slender structure are identified on non-overlapping time windows during the whole day under normal wind speed. With the identified modal parameters and the associated posterior uncertainty, the distribution of the modal parameters in the future is predicted and assessed. By defining the modal root-mean-square value in terms of the power spectral density of modal force identified, the identified natural frequencies and damping ratios versus the vibration amplitude are investigated with the associated posterior uncertainty considered. Meanwhile, the correlations between modal parameters and temperature, modal parameters and wind speed are studied. For comparison purpose, the frequency domain decomposition (FDD) method is also utilized to identify the modal parameters. The identified results obtained by the Bayesian method, the FDD method and a finite element model are compared and discussed.

A phase II trial of cytoreductive surgery combined with niraparib maintenance in platinum-sensitive, secondary recurrent ovarian cancer: SGOG SOC-3 study

Ting-Yan Shi,Sheng Yin,Jianqing Zhu,Ping Zhang,Jihong Liu,Libing Xiang,Yaping Zhu,Sufang Wu,Xiaojun Chen,Xipeng Wang,Yin-Cheng Teng,Tao Zhu,Aijun Yu,Yingli Zhang,Yanling Feng,He Huang,Wei Bao,Yanli Li 대한부인종양학회 2020 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.31 No.3

Background: In China, secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCR) has been widely used in ovarian cancer (OC) over the past two decades. Although Gynecologic Oncology Group-0213 trial did not show its overall survival benefit in first relapsed patients, the questions on patient selection and effect of subsequent targeting therapy are still open. The preliminary data from our pre-SOC1 phase II study showed that selected patients with second relapse who never received SCR at recurrence may still benefit from surgery. Moreover, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) maintenance now has been a standard care for platinum sensitive relapsed OC. To our knowledge, no published or ongoing trial is trying to answer the question if patient can benefit from a potentially complete resection combined with PARPi maintenance in OC patients with secondary recurrence. Methods: SOC-3 is a multi-center, open, randomized, controlled, phase II trial of SCR followed by chemotherapy and niraparib maintenance vs chemotherapy and niraparib maintenance in patients with platinum-sensitive second relapsed OC who never received SCR at recurrence. To guarantee surgical quality, if the sites had no experience of participating in any OC-related surgical trials, the number of recurrent lesions evaluated by central-reviewed positron emission tomography–computed tomography image shouldn't be more than 3. Eligible patients are randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either SCR followed by 6 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy and niraparib maintenance or 6 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy and niraparib maintenance alone. Patients who undergo at least 4 cycles of chemotherapy and must be, in the opinion of the investigator, without disease progression, will be assigned niraparib maintenance. Major inclusion criteria are secondary relapsed OC with a platinum-free interval of no less than 6 months and a possibly complete resection. Major exclusion criteria are borderline tumors and non-epithelial ovarian malignancies, received debulking surgery at recurrence and impossible to complete resection. The sample size is 96 patients. Primary endpoint is 12-month non-progression rate. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03983226

Multi-Value Attribute Concept Lattice Reduction Based on Granular Computing

Hongcan Yan Feng Zhang,Baoxiang Liu 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Grid and Distributed Comp Vol.9 No.1

Concept lattice essentially describes the relationship between objects and attributes. The reduction of multi-value attribute concept lattice is a hot topic in the fields of information retrieval, knowledge discovery and data mining etc., while the granular computing emphasizes observing and analyzing the same problem from different granular worlds. It makes the complex problems around us be mapped to an easy to handle and more simple theory of calculation. The paper gives definitions of the concept granule and the compatible concept granular set by application of information granular and the granular of layered theory, and provides an algorithm to compute concept granular set through calculation of the compatible relationship. The paper further constructs the concept granule lattice, and then deletes the attribute of smaller contribution to concept granule. Through the comparison of the concept granule lattices, the multi-value attribute reduction could be achieved and the core attribute set in the formal context could be obtained. Instances could demonstrate the high efficiency and accuracy of this algorithm that is easier to realize through programming. Through the resolution of attribute, the calculation complexity could be reduced and the efficiency of calculation could be improved.