The effects of codon usage on the formation of secondary structures of nucleocapsid protein of peste des petits ruminants virus

Xiao‑xia Ma,Yi‑ning Wang,Xiao‑an Cao,Xue‑rui Li,Yong‑sheng Liu,Jian‑hua Zhou,Xue‑peng Cai 한국유전학회 2018 Genes & Genomics Vol.40 No.9

The nucleocapsid (N) protein of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) with a conserved amino acid usage pattern plays an important role in viral replication. The primary objective of this study was to estimate roles of synonymous codon usages of PPRV N gene and tRNA abundances of host in the formation of secondary structure of N protein. The potential effects of synonymous codon usages of N gene and tRNA abundances of host on shaping different folding units (α-helix, β-strand and the coil) in N protein were estimated, based on the information about the modeling secondary structure of PPRV N protein. The synonymous codon usage bias was found in different folding units in PPRV N protein. To better understand the role of translation speed caused by variant tRNA abundances in shaping the specific folding unit in N protein, we modeled the changing trends of tRNA abundance at the transition boundaries from one folding unit to another folding unit (β-strand → coil, coil → β-strand, α-helix → coil, coil → α-helix). The obvious fluctuations of tRNA abundance were identified at the two transition boundaries (β-strand → coil and coil → β-strand) in PPRV N protein. Our findings suggested that viral synonymous codon usage bias and cellular tRNA abundance variation might have potential effects on the formation of secondary structure of PPRV N protein.

Effect of Different Cooling Rates in High Rheological Rate Forming Process on Mechanical Properties of Zr57Cu20Al10Ni8Ag5 Bulk Metallic Glass

Xiao‑Bo Mei,Bao‑Chuan Liu,Wei Jiang,Quan Xu,Qi‑Dong Zhang,Yu‑Bai Ma,Fang‑Qiu Zu 대한금속·재료학회 2020 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.26 No.9

The influence of cooling rates on the mechanical properties of a Zr-based bulk metallic glass prepared with high rheologicalrate forming (HRRF) was investigated and compared with traditional suction cast methods. Amorphous samples of Zr57Cu-20Ni8Al10Ag5 were prepared in copper molds with different sizes in order to obtain different cooling rates for both HRRFand traditional cast methods. These specimens were subjected to compression experiments, including microhardness testing,X-ray diffraction testing and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The results indicate that the plasticity of the samplesformed by HRRF are higher than that of the as-cast ones at the same cooling rates, while the microhardness manifests theopposite principle. As the cooling rate increases further, the difference in plasticity further increases between two methods,indicating that the plasticity of metallic glasses is more sensitive to cooling rates during the HRRF process. At the core ofthis phenomenon is the fact that HRRF methods can introduce more free volume into glasses than traditional cast methodswith an elevated cooling rate are able to.

Distinctive Slow β Relaxation and Its Impact on Mechanical Property of LaCe Based Bulk Metallic Glasses

Xiao Cui,Jing Guo,Qi‑dong Zhang,Xiao‑jun Meng,Bing‑chuan Bian,Ren‑gao Zhao,Yu‑bai Ma,Fang‑qiu Zu 대한금속·재료학회 2020 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.26 No.10

The slow β relaxation which occurring at temperatures far below glass transition temperature, typically playing importantroles in the plastic deformation behavior of metallic glasses. Compared with polymer glasses, most of the metallic glasses donot exhibit obvious β relaxation based on dynamic mechanical analysis. In the current work, prominent β relaxation behaviorsof a series (LaxCe100−x) Al10Co25(x = 50, 60, 70, 80) bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) at low temperature are observed usingdynamic mechanical analysis. Compared with other BMGs, the LaCe based BMGs show a pronounced β relaxation peak andrelative low peak temperature, the activation energy of the β relaxation based on Arrhenius equation are calculated around79.3 kJ/mol to 86.4 kJ/mol, which obey an empirical rule that Eβ ≈ (26 ± 4) RTg, with the coefficient of 23. Experimentalresults from room temperature compression tests for the LaCe based BMGs indicate that low temperature activated β relaxationbehaviors facilitate the good plasticity of the LaCe based BMGs.

A newly characterized exopolysaccharide from Sanghuangporus sanghuang

Xiao-kui Ma,Xu She,Eric Charles Peterson,Yu Zhen Wang,Peng Zheng,Hongyan Ma,Kexin Zhang,Jian Liang 한국미생물학회 2019 The journal of microbiology Vol.57 No.9

Sanghuangporus sanghuang is a well-known pharmacodynamic and economically important edible fungus associated with mulberry (Morus spp.). A distinctly new exopolysaccharide (EPS), designated SHP-2 was obtained from S. sanghuang P0988 broth, and its structure and anti-aging prosperity were characterized. SHP-2 was found to be composed of a backbone of 4)-β-Manp-(1 4)-α-Araf-(1 3,4)-α-Glcp(1 3,4)-α-Glcp-(1 3,4)-α-Glcp-(1 3,4)-α-Glcp-(1 3,4)-α- Glcp-(1 6)-α-Galp-(1 4)-β-Manp-(1 and five branches, including four α-D-Glcp-(1 and one α-D-Manp-(1 SHP-2 was shown to increase antioxidant enzyme activities including catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, as well as trolox equivalent antioxidant (TEAC) capacity in serum of mice pre-treated with D-Gal, while reducing lipofuscin levels. SHP-2 exerted a favorable influence on immune organ coefficients and ameliorated the histopathological hepatic lesions and apoptosis in hepatocytes of Dgalactose- aged mice almost in a dose-dependent manner. Using the same analytical methods, on comparison with previously studied EPS compounds (i.e. SHP-1), SHP-2 was found to have more complex structure, larger molecule weight, and different anti-aging properties. The results presented here suggest that not only does EPS bioactivity vary with respect to molecular structures and molecule weight, but that multiple structures with different activity can be expressed by a single fungal strain. These results may help understanding the antiaging prosperity of these polysaccharides for use in health foods or dietary supplements.

Hardware Design of Low Energy Consumption Wireless Senor Network Node for Monitoring Mechanical Vibration Signals

Ma Naji,Diao Ming,Hu Xiao,Sun Jian,Ma Anchang 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Future Generation Communi Vol.8 No.5

Aiming at the increasing demand of the monitoring of mechanical vibration signals, by improving the existing Sensor Monitoring Network, a low-power wireless sensor network is designed. The data transmission efficiency is increased by using the compressed sensing (CS) technology to compress the mechanical vibration signals of the devices monitored by the network. To realize real-time processing of monitoring signals, the FPGA+DSP architecture is treated as the core of the equipment processing the mechanical vibration signals of wireless sensor network. The modified designs of the hardware circuit and logic circuit with regard to the data collection, sampling, transmission, processing and the store section are introduced initially. Further, the effects of the improved Sensor Monitoring Network are tested by the experimental study on the rotating equipment. The results show that the real-time processing can be well implemented and the power can be cut down to a certain degree.

Effect of polymer and additive on the structure and property of porous stainless steel hollow fiber

Xiao-Hua Ma,Zhen-Liang Xu,Yu Bai,Yue Cao 한국화학공학회 2014 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.31 No.8

Porous stainless steel hollow fiber has been widely used due to its high mechanical strength, excellentthermal conductivity and good sealing properties compared with other porous supports. We successfully prepared porousstainless steel hollow fibers using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as polymer via dry-wet spinning followed by sintering throughtemperature programming method. The PAN concentration had an obvious impact on the structure and property ofporous stainless steel hollow fiber even if it would be burned off during sintering. The results showed that the morphologycould be tuned by adjusting the concentration of PAN. With increasing PAN concentration in casting solutionfor spinning, the viscosity was increased dramatically, resulting in much compact structures with high pure water flux(higher than 3×105 L·m−2·h−1·Pa−1). A more dense structure could be obtained by adding additive polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVP) as viscosity enhancer.

Experimental investigation on the behaviour of UHPC-steel composite slabs under hogging moment

Xiao-Long Gao,Jun-Yan Wang,Chen Bian,Ru-Cheng Xiao,Biao Ma 국제구조공학회 2022 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.42 No.6

Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) can be used in the UHPC-steel composite structures especially for bridge structures to achieve high stiffness and high fatigue resistance with low self-weight. The structural performances of UHPC-steel composite slabs subjected to hogging moment have a significant influence on the global stiffness and durability of UHPC-steel composite structures. In order to study the structural behaviors of non-steam-cured UHPC-steel composite slabs subjected to negative moment, five composite slabs combined the thin UHPC layers to steel plates via shear stud connecters with the diameter of 16mm were fabricated and tested under negative moment. The test program aimed to investigate the effect of stud spacing and longitudinal reinforcement ratios on the failure mode, load-deflection behaviors, cracking patterns, bond-slips, and carrying capacities of composite slabs subjected to negative moment. In addition, direct tensile tests for the dog-bone UHPC specimens with longitudinal reinforcement bars were carried out to study the effect of reinforcement bars on the tensile strength of UHPC in the thin structure members. Based on the experimental results, analytical models were also developed to predict the cracking load and ultimate load of UHPC-steel composite slabs subjected to negative moment.

Systematic study on temperature and time‑varying characteristics of SiC MOSFET static parameters at 200 °C

Xiao Ma,Jianing Wang,Lijian Ding 전력전자학회 2024 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.24 No.2

Silicon carbide (SiC) devices can be used in high-temperature conditions due to advancements in packaging technology and manufacturing processes. However, a systematic evaluation of SiC device performances at high temperatures is necessary. First, this study implements a number of static tests on SiC MOSFETs from several manufacturers in environments up to 230 °C to obtain the variation patterns of SiC MOSFET static parameters at different temperatures and to characterize the static properties of SiC MOSFETs at high temperatures. Second, the long-term high-temperature tolerances of 200 °C devices and 175 °C conventional commercial devices are compared. Static test results at different aging stages show that the performance for each device type changes to different degrees at high temperatures. However, these devices have recovery characteristics during the process of cooling to room temperature. Finally, the static parameter characteristics of SiC MOSFETs are summarized in terms of time and temperature to provide a theoretical basis for applying SiC power devices at high temperatures.

Pu-Erh Tea Hot-Water Extract Activates Akt and Induces Insulin-Independent Glucose Transport in Rat Skeletal Muscle

Xiao Ma,Satoshi Tsuda,Xin Yang,Ning Gu,Hiroko Tanabe,Rieko Oshima,Tetsuya Matsushita,Tatsuro Egawa,Ai-Jun Dong,Bei-Wei Zhu,Tatsuya Hayashi 한국식품영양과학회 2013 Journal of medicinal food Vol.16 No.3

Skeletal muscle is a major organ that is important for whole-body glucose metabolism. We found that when isolated rat epitrochlearis muscle was incubated with a Pu-erh tea hot-water extract (PTE) for 30 min, the rate of 3-O-methyl-D-glucose (3MG) transport increased in the absence of insulin. This activation was associated with an increase in Ser473 phosphorylation of Akt, a signaling intermediary leading to insulin-dependent glucose transport, but not Tyr458 phosphorylation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase p85, an upstream molecule of Akt. PTE-stimulated 3MG transport was also not accompanied by Thr172 phosphorylation of the catalytic α-subunit of 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Gallic acid, a water-soluble ingredient in Pu-erh tea, stimulated Akt phosphorylation, but not AMPK phosphorylation. These results suggest that Pu-erh tea potentially promotes skeletal muscle glucose transport at least in part by activating Akt.

TERM LIMITS AND AUTHORITARIAN POWER SHARING: THEORY AND EVIDENCE FROM CHINA

Xiao Ma 동아시아연구원 2016 Journal of East Asian Studies Vol.16 No.1

Term limits that effectively govern leadership transition play an important role in authoritarian power sharing. A fixed term and a pre-appointed successor – two crucial components of term limits – credibly commit the incumbent ruler to share power with other elites, and also allow the elites to monitor and coordinate against the ruler's transgression of the power-sharing agreement. While the successful adoption of term limits often requires an even balance of power among the ruling elites in the first place, once adopted it initiates an evolving bargain over allocation of political power among multiple generations of leaders that further keeps any one faction from dominating the others. I corroborate this argument using a biographical dataset of elite members of the Chinese Communist Party from 1982 to 2012. The findings suggest that the Party's incumbent leaders and their rivals (i.e., predecessor and heir-apparent) shared equal chances in promoting their associates—which proxy their political influence—and this pattern has become more salient since the 16th party congress, when the term limits that currently govern China's leadership transition became fully fledged. This result also sheds light on the role of informal, patronage-based promotion in the institutionalization of authoritarian politics.