Transcriptome profiling of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) discovers candidate regulators of the cold stress respo

Xiao‑Xiao Gong,Bing‑Yu Yan,Jin Hu,Cui‑Ping Yang,Yi‑Jian Li,Jin‑Ping Liu,Wen‑Bin Liao 한국유전학회 2018 Genes & Genomics Vol.40 No.11

Tropical plant rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) is the sole source of commercial natural rubber and low-temperature stress is the most important limiting factor for its cultivation. To characterize the gene expression profiles of H. brasiliensis under the cold stress and discover the key cold stress-induced genes. Three cDNA libraries, CT (control), LT2 (cold treatment at 4 °C for 2 h) and LT24 (cold treatment at 4 °C for 24 h) were constructed for RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and gene expression profiling. Quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) was conducted to validate the RNA-Seq and gene differentially expression results. A total of 1457 and 2328 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in LT2 and LT24 compared with CT were respectively detected. Most significantly enriched KEGG pathways included flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis, Pentose and glucuronate interconversions, phenylalanine metabolism and starch and sucrose metabolism. A total of 239 transcription factors (TFs) were differentially expressed following 2 h or/and 24 h of cold treatment. Cold-response transcription factor families included ARR-B, B3, BES1, bHLH, C2H, CO-like, Dof, ERF, FAR1, G2-like, GRAS, GRF, HD-ZIP, HSF, LBD, MIKC-MADS, M-type MADS, MYB, MYB-related, NAC, RAV, SRS, TALE, TCP, Trihelix, WOX, WRKY, YABBY and ZF-HD. The genome-wide transcriptional response of rubber tree to the cold treatments were determined and a large number of DEGs were characterized including 239 transcription factors, providing important clues for further elucidation of the mechanisms of cold stress responses in rubber tree.

Blue organic light-emitting diodes with 2-methyl-9,10- bis(naphthalen-2-yl)anthracene as hole transport and emitting layer and the impedance spectroscopy analysis

Xiao-Wen Zhang,Bing-Jie Mo,Li-Ming Liu,Hong-Hang Wang,Dan-Teng Chang,Ji-Wen Xu,Hua Wang,Bin Wei 한국물리학회 2014 Current Applied Physics Vol.14 No.11

2-methyl-9,10-bis(naphthalen-2-yl)anthracene (MADN) based fluorescent blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are demonstrated. With MADN as emitting layer, experiments indicate that thick MADN (40e60 nm) is preferable for constructing efficient blue OLED. With MADN as hole-transport and emitting layer and tris(8-hydroxy-quinolinato)aluminium (Alq3) as electron-transport layer, the OLED electroluminescent characteristics show a mixture emission of MADN and Alq3 with Commission Internationale d'Eclairage (CIE) color coordinates of (0.25, 0.34), indicating feasible hole transporting in MADN. Using 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BPhen) replacing Alq3 as electron-transport layer, the OLED shows deep blue emission with a maximum luminous efficiency of 4.8 cd/A and CIE color coordinates of (0.16, 0.09). The hole transport characteristics of MADN are further clarified by constructing hole-only device and performing impedance spectroscopy analysis. The results indicate that MADN shows superior hole-transport ability which is almost comparable to typical hole-transport material of N,N0-bis(naphthalen-1-yl)-N,N0-bis(phenyl)-benzidine (NPB), suggesting a promising application for constructing efficient blue OLED with integrated hole-transport layer and emitting layer.

Chinese herbal medicine for drug-induced liver injury in patients with HIV/AIDS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Zhang Xiao-wen,Li Jing,Hou Wen-Bin,Jiang Yue,Zheng Ruo-Xiang,Xu De-hao,Shen Chen,Robinson Nicola,Liu Jian-Ping 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.1

Background: To explore the effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syn- drome (AIDS). Methods: A systematic search was made of eight databases (Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Sinomed) and two trial registries (WHO ICTRP, ClinicalTrials.gov) from in- ception to September 2022. The effect size was presented as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with their 95% confidence interval (CI). The Cochrane Risk of Bias and Grading of Recommendations, Assess- ment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tools were used for quality appraisal. Results: Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 732 participants were included. Comparing CHM alone with routine treatment, the CHM group showed lower aspartate aminotransferase (MD = -11.47 U/L, 95%CI[-13.05, -9.89], low certainty), lower alanine aminotransferase (MD = -2.68 U/L, 95%CI[-4.27, - 1.08], low certainty), lower total bilirubin (MD = -4.31 mmol/L, 95%CI[-5.66, -2.96], low certainty), lower bilirubin direct (MD = -3.19 mmol/L, 95%CI[-3.87, -2.51], low certainty), and higher effective rate (assessed by symptoms and liver indicators) (RR = 1.13, 95%CI[1.06, 1.20], low certainty). A significant difference was also found in CHM plus routine treatment versus routine treatment in the previous outcomes. No signif- icant difference was found on helper T cells among these comparisons. Only one RCT reported safety of CHM and found no adverse reaction during the trial. Conclusions: CHM may improve the liver function indices and effective rate for HIV/AIDS patients with DILI. However, the sample size was small and quality was low. Larger-samples of high-quality trials are needed.

Copper as an Antimicrobial Agent against Opportunistic Pathogenic and Multidrug Resistant Enterobacter Bacteria

Wen-Xiao Tian,Shi Yu,Muhammad Ibrahim,Abdul Wareth Almonaofy,Liu He,Qiu Hui,Zhu Bo,Bin Li,Guan-lin Xie 한국미생물학회 2012 The journal of microbiology Vol.50 No.4

Infections by Enterobacter species are common and are multidrug resistant. The use of bactericidal surface materials such as copper has lately gained attention as an effective antimicrobial agent due to its deadly effects on bacteria,yeast, and viruses. The aim of the current study was to assess the antibacterial activity of copper surfaces against Enterobacter species. The antibacterial activity of copper surfaces was tested by overlying 5×106 CFU/ml suspensions of representative Enterobacter strains and comparing bacterial survival counts on copper surfaces at room temperature. Iron, stainless steel, and polyvinylchloride (PVC) were used as controls. The mechanisms responsible for bacterial killing on copper surfaces were investigated by a mutagenicity assay of the D-cycloserin (cyclA gene), single cell gel electrophoresis,a staining technique, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Copper yielded a significant decrease in the viable bacterial counts at 2 h exposure and a highly significant decrease at 4 h. Loss of cell integrity and a significantly higher influx of copper into bacterial cells exposed to copper surfaces, as compared to those exposed to the controls,were documented. There was no increase in mutation rate and DNA damage indicating that copper contributes to bacterial killing by adversely affecting cellular structure without directly targeting the genomic DNA. These findings suggest that copper’s antibacterial activity against Enterobacter species could be utilized in health care facilities and in food processing plants to reduce the bioburden, which would increase protection for susceptible members of the community.

Fabrication of Photopolymer Hierarchical Micronanostructures by Coupling Electrospinning and Photolithography for SERS Substrates

Wen-Yi Zhang,Xin-Ze Xiao,Chao Lv,Jia Zhao,Gong Wang,Xuan Gu,Ran Zhang,Bin-Bin Xu,Dan-Dan Zhang,Ai-Wu Li,Yong-Lai Zhang,Hong-Bo Sun 한국고분자학회 2013 Macromolecular Research Vol.21 No.3

Reported here is the fabrication of photopolymer hierarchical micronanostructures through a combinative process of electrospinning and subsequent photolithography. Electrospun SU-8 (epoxy-based negative photoresist)nanofiber films have been patterned into gratings with periods of 100, 200, 300, and 400 μm, respectively. Deposition of a silver nanolayer on these interlaced nanofiber films would lead to the formation of various plasmonic nanostructures,and therefore, giving rise to abundant surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) “hot spots”. In the detection of Rhodamine 6G (R6G), probing molecule, the resultant SERS substrates show both high sensitivity and good reproducibility. The SERS enhancement factor could reach as high as ~108, indicating high efficiency. The fabrication of patterned, highly efficient SERS substrates may hold a great promise for the integration of SERS substrates in various microdevices such as microfluidic chips.

A Color-Reaction-Based Biochip Detection Assay for RIF and INH Resistance of Clinical Mycobacterial Specimens

( Wen Fei Xue ),( Jing Fu Peng ),( Xiao Li Yu ),( Shu Lin Zhang ),( Boping Zhou ),( Dan Qing Jiang ),( Jian Bo Chen ),( Bing Bing Ding ),( Bin Zhu ),( Yao Li ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2016 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.26 No.1

The widespread occurrence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis places importance on the detection of TB (tuberculosis) drug susceptibility. Conventional drug susceptibility testing (DST) is a lengthy process. We developed a rapid enzymatic color-reaction-based biochip assay. The process included asymmetric multiplex PCR/templex PCR, biochip hybridization, and an enzymatic color reaction, with specific software for data operating. Templex PCR (tem- PCR) was applied to avoid interference between different primers in conventional multiplex- PCR. We applied this assay to 276 clinical specimens (including 27 sputum, 4 alveolar lavage fluid, 2 pleural effusion, and 243 culture isolate specimens; 40 of the 276 were non-tuberculosis mycobacteria specimens and 236 were M. tuberculosis specimens). The testing process took 4.5 h. A sensitivity of 50 copies per PCR was achieved, while the sensitivity was 500 copies per PCR when tem-PCR was used. Allele sequences could be detected in mixed samples at aproportion of 10%. Detection results showed a concordance rate of 97.46% (230/236) in rifampicin resistance detection (sensitivity 95.40%, specificity 98.66%) and 96.19% (227/236) in isoniazid (sensitivity 93.59%, specificity 97.47%) detection with those of DST assay. Concordance rates of testing results for sputum, alveolar lavage fluid, and pleural effusion specimens were 100%. The assay provides a potential choice for TB diagnosis and treatment.

Elucidations of weak microcavity effect and improved pixel contrast ratio in Si-based top-emitting organic light-emitting diode

Xiao-Wen Zhang,Hua-Ping Lin,Jun Li,Fan Zhou,Bin Wei,Xue-Yin Jiang,Zhi-Lin Zhang 한국물리학회 2012 Current Applied Physics Vol.12 No.5

Microcavity effect and pixel contrast ratio (PCR) are key issues for top-emitting organic light-emitting diode (TOLED). Si and Ag are two widely used reflective anodes for constructing effective TOLEDs. The mechanism contributing to microcavity effect and PCR has been clarified by using conventional optoelectronic theory. Consequently, the differences of microcavity effect and PCR between Si-based and Agbased TOLEDs are discovered. Our results indicate that the Si-based TOLED possesses weak microcavity effect and improved PCR in comparison with Ag-based device. This is resulted from the low reflectivity and less reflective phase change of Si. The weak microcavity effect in Si-based TOLED also contributes to negligible variation of electroluminescent spectra with viewing angles and low device efficiency. Furthermore, Si-based TOLED shows rather high PCR which is about quintuple that of Ag-based device. Microcavity effect and pixel contrast ratio (PCR) are key issues for top-emitting organic light-emitting diode (TOLED). Si and Ag are two widely used reflective anodes for constructing effective TOLEDs. The mechanism contributing to microcavity effect and PCR has been clarified by using conventional optoelectronic theory. Consequently, the differences of microcavity effect and PCR between Si-based and Agbased TOLEDs are discovered. Our results indicate that the Si-based TOLED possesses weak microcavity effect and improved PCR in comparison with Ag-based device. This is resulted from the low reflectivity and less reflective phase change of Si. The weak microcavity effect in Si-based TOLED also contributes to negligible variation of electroluminescent spectra with viewing angles and low device efficiency. Furthermore, Si-based TOLED shows rather high PCR which is about quintuple that of Ag-based device.

Economic performance of cable supported bridges

Bin Sun,Li-wen Zhang,Yidong Qin,Ru-cheng Xiao 국제구조공학회 2016 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.59 No.4

A new cable-supported bridge model consisting of suspension parts, self-anchored cable-stayed parts and earth-anchored cable-stayed parts is presented. The new bridge model can be used for suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges, cable-stayed suspension bridges, and partially earth-anchored cable-stayed bridges by varying parameters. Based on the assumption that each structural member is in either an axial compressive or tensile state, and the stress in each member is equal to the allowable stress of the material, the material quantity for each component is calculated. By introducing the unit cost of each type of material, the estimation formula for the cost of the new bridge model is developed. Numerical examples show that the results from the estimation formula agree well with that from the real projects. The span limit of cable supported bridge depends on the span-to-height ratio and the density-to-strength ratio of cables. Finally, a parametric study is illustrated aiming at the relations between three key geometrical parameters and the cost of the bridge model. The optimization of the new bridge model indicates that the self-anchored cable-stayed part is always the dominant part with the consideration of either the lowest total cost or the lowest unit cost. It is advisable to combine all three mentioned structural parts in super long span cable supported bridges to achieve the most excellent economic performance.

Chaotic dynamic characteristics of pressure fluctuation signals in hydro-turbine

Wen-Tao Su,Xiao-Bin Li,Chao-Feng Lan,Shi An,Jiansheng Wang,Feng-Chen Li 대한기계학회 2016 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.30 No.11

The pressure fluctuation characteristics in a Francis hydro-turbine running at partial flow conditions were studied based on the chaotic dynamic methods. Firstly, the experimental data of pressure fluctuations in the draft tube at various flow conditions was de-noised using lifting wavelet transformation, then, for the de-noised signals, their spectrum distribution on the frequency domain, the energy variation and the energy partition accounting for the total energy was calculated. Hereby, for the flow conditions ranging from no cavitation to severe cavitation, the chaos dynamic features of fluctuation signals were analyzed, including the temporal-frequency distribution, phase trajectory, Lyapunov exponent and Poincaré map etc. It is revealed that, the main energy of pressure fluctuations in the draft tube locates at low-frequency region. As the cavitation grows, the amplitude of power spectrum at frequency domain becomes larger. For all the flow conditions, all the maximal Lyapunov exponents are larger than zero, and they increase with the cavitation level. Therefore, it is believed that there indeed exist the chaotic attractors in the pressure fluctuation signals for a hydro-turbine.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Fascioliasis in Yaks, Bos grunniens, from Three Counties of Gansu Province, China

Xiao-Xuan Zhang,Sheng-Yong Feng,Jian-Gang Ma,Wen-Bin Zheng,Ming-Yang Yin,Si-Yuan Qin,Dong-Hui Zhou,Quan Zhao,Xing-Quan Zhu 대한기생충학열대의학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.55 No.1