Evolution of self-assembled Ag nanostructures on c-plane sapphire by the systematic control of annealing temperature

Sui, M.,Pandey, P.,Kunwar, S.,Li, M.-Y.,Zhang, Q.,Lee, J. Elsevier 2016 Superlattices and microstructures Vol.100 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The morphological evolution of various Ag nanostructures on <I>c</I>-plane sapphire is systematically investigated through the solid-state-dewetting by the control of annealing temperature between 200 and 950 °C with the Ag films of 60 and 10 nm. Various configurations of Ag nanostructures including Ag voids, wiggly and round nanoparticles are fabricated with the 60 nm due to the annealing temperature dependent surface diffusion, surface energy minimization and Ag sublimation. As a sharp distinction, highly dense semi-spherical nanoparticles are fabricated with the 10 nm set throughout the temperature range due to a much higher dewetting degree induced by the enhanced surface diffusion with a much thinner film. The reflectance spectra shows a spectral shift along with the size variation, i.e. blue shift with the decreased size and vice versa. The reflectance and Raman spectra reveal a sharp distinction between the two sets along with the strong correlation to the nanostructure morphology.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Various configurations of self-assembled Ag nanostructures on c-plane sapphire. </LI> <LI> Single configuration Ag nanoparticles throughout the range with a thinner film. </LI> <LI> Detailed morphology study by SEM and AFM. </LI> <LI> Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy confirmation of consistent sublimation above 650 °C. </LI> <LI> Reflectance and Raman of various configurations of Ag nanostructures. </LI> </UL> </P>

Nanocomposites of Fe2O3@rGO for adsorptive removal of arsanilic acid from aqueous solution

Li-Li Sui,Li-Na Peng,Hong-Bo Xu 한국화학공학회 2021 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.38 No.3

Arsanilic acid (ASA), an organic-arsenic veterinary drug used widely, has greatly attracted attention due to its potential threats. We report the nanocomposites of the α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles growth on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) by a one-pot method. The α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles are densely covered on the surface of rGO according to the observations of transmission and scanning electron microscope. The adsorptive capacity (357.4±11.2 mg g1 ) of the Fe2O3@rGO nanocomposites for ASA, which was more than the sum of adsorptive capacities of the pure α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and rGO, revealed a remarkable enhancement due to the synergetic effect of multiple interactions and the good dispersion of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles with more active binding sites in the Fe2O3@rGO nanocomposites. The adsorption equilibrium of ASA onto the Fe2O3@rGO nanocomposites was achieved for 60 min, and the adsorption of ASA was dependent of pH and temperature, and independent of the concentration of humic acid ranging from 0 to 20 mg L-1 . After five cycles of adsorption-desorption, the adsorptive amounts of ASA by the regenerative sorbent still retained 85% of adsorptive amount by the fresh sorbents. The adsorption process of ASA can be described by the Langmuir and the pseudo-second-order equations and is exothermic and spontaneous according to thermodynamic analysis.

Bradyrhizobium spp. and Sinorhizobium fredii are Predominant in Root Nodules of Vigna angularis, a Native Legume Crop in the Subtropical Region of China

Li Li Han,En Tao Wang,Yang Li Lu,Yong Fa Zhang,Xin Hua Sui,Wen Feng Chen,Wen Xin Chen 한국미생물학회 2009 The journal of microbiology Vol.47 No.3

Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) is an important legume crop native to China, but its rhizobia have not been well characterized. In the present study, a total of 60 rhizobial strains isolated from eight provinces of China were analyzed with amplified 16S rRNA gene RFLP, IGS-RFLP, and sequencing analyses of 16S rRNA, atpD, recA, and nodC genes. These strains were identified as genomic species within Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Bradyrhizobium, and Ochrobactrum. The most abundant groups were Bradyrhizobium species and Sinorhizobium fredii. Diverse nodC genes were found in these strains, which were mainly co-evolved with the housekeeping genes, but a possible lateral transfer of nodC from Sinorhizobium to Rhizobium was found. Analyses of the genomic and symbiotic gene backgrounds showed that adzuki bean shared the same rhizobial gene pool with soybean (legume native to China) and the exotic Vigna species. All of these data demonstrated that nodule formation is the interaction of rhizobia, host plants, and environment characters.

Metformin Attenuates Liver Fat Content: Finding from Schizophrenia Patients with Olanzapine-induced Weight Gain

Li Wang,Yu Chen,Yun-chuan Sui,Xing-qi Tan,Zhi Zhou,Ning Li,Le-ping Xu 대한정신약물학회 2020 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.18 No.1

Objective: This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of metformin on liver fat content (LFC) in first episode schizophrenia patients with olanzapine-induced weight gain, and the relationship between the change of LFC and the other metabolic indices. Methods: In a double-blind study, the clinically stable inpatients with first-episode schizophrenia under olanzapine monotherapy who gained more than 7% of their baseline weight were randomly assigned to two groups; one with olanzapine plus metformin (1,000 mg/day) (metformin group) and the other with olanzapine plus placebo (placebo group) for 16 weeks. All patients continued to maintain the original olanzapine dosage. LFC was measured by magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and at the end of 16 weeks, respectively. At the same time, glucose and lipid metabolism, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were measured respectively, analyzing the correlation between the change value of LFC and other indicators. Results: Over the 16-week study period, LFC value in metformin group decreased compared with baseline. LFC change across the 16-week treatment period was −2.91% for the metformin group and 0.59% for the placebo group, with a between-group difference of −3.5% (95% confidence interval, −6.08 to −0.93; p = 0.009). Compared to baseline, in the metformin group, triglyceride and HOMA-IR reduced significantly, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly at weeks 16. There was positive correlation between LFC changes and triglycerides, HOMA-IR changes significantly. Conclusion: Metformin can significantly attenuate LFC in schizophrenia patients with olanzapine-induced weight gain. It may be related to the improvement of the part of the glucolipid metabolic indices

Blending of Soybean Oil with Selected Vegetable Oils: Impact on Oxidative Stability and Radical Scavenging Activity

Li, Yang,Ma, Wen-Jun,Qi, Bao-Kun,Rokayya, Sami,Li, Dan,Wang, Jing,Feng, Hong-Xia,Sui, Xiao-Nan,Jiang, Lian-Zhou Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.6

Background: Soybean oil may protect against cancer of the breast and prostate. It may also exert beneficial influence in combination with other oils. Here, blends (20%, v/v) of sea buckthorn oil (SEBO), camellia oil (CAO), rice bran oil (RBO), sesame oil (SEO) and peanut oil (PEO) with soybean oil (SBO) were formulated. Materials and Methods: Oxidative stability (OS) and radical scavenging activity (RSA) of SBO and blends stored under oxidative conditions ($60^{\circ}C$) for 24 days were studied. By blending with different kinds oils, levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decreased, while monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content increased. Progression of oxidation was followed by measuring peroxide value (PV), p-anisidine (PAV), conjugated dienes (CD) and conjugated trienes (CT). Results: Inverse relationships were noted between PV and OS at termination of storage. Levels of CD and CT in SBO, and blends, increased with increase in time. The impact of SEO as additives on SBO oxidation was the strongest followed by RBO, CAO, SEBO and PNO. Conclusions: Oxidative stability of oil blends was better than SBO, most likely as a consequence of changes in fatty acids and tocopherols' profile, and minor bioactive lipids found in selected oils. The results suggest that these oil blends could contribute as sources of important antioxidant related to the prevention of chronic diseases associated to oxidative stress, such as in cancer and coronary artery disease.

Maternal Low-protein Diet Alters Ovarian Expression of Folliculogenic and Steroidogenic Genes and Their Regulatory MicroRNAs in Neonatal Piglets

Sui, Shiyan,Jia, Yimin,He, Bin,Li, Runsheng,Li, Xian,Cai, Demin,Song, Haogang,Zhang, Rongkui,Zhao, Ruqian Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2014 Animal Bioscience Vol.27 No.12

Maternal malnutrition during pregnancy may give rise to female offspring with disrupted ovary functions in adult age. Neonatal ovary development predisposes adult ovary function, yet the effect of maternal nutrition on the neonatal ovary has not been described. Therefore, here we show the impact of maternal protein restriction on the expression of folliculogenic and steroidogenic genes, their regulatory microRNAs and promoter DNA methylation in the ovary of neonatal piglets. Sows were fed either standard-protein (SP, 15% crude protein) or low-protein (LP, 7.5% crude protein) diets throughout gestation. Female piglets born to LP sows showed significantly decreased ovary weight relative to body weight (p<0.05) at birth, which was accompanied with an increased serum estradiol level (p<0.05). The LP piglets demonstrated higher ratio of bcl-2 associated X protein/B cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 mRNA (p<0.01), which was associated with up-regulated mRNA expression of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) (p<0.05) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) (p<0.05). The steroidogenic gene, cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19A1) was significantly down-regulated (p<0.05) in LP piglets. The alterations in ovarian gene expression were associated with a significant down-regulation of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor mRNA expression (p<0.05) in LP piglets. Moreover, three microRNAs, including miR-423-5p targeting both CYP19A1 and PCNA, miR-378 targeting CYP19A1 and miR-210 targeting BMP4, were significantly down-regulated (p<0.05) in the ovary of LP piglets. These results suggest that microRNAs are involved in mediating the effect of maternal protein restriction on ovarian function through regulating the expression of folliculogenic and steroidogenic genes in newborn piglets.

Tanshinone II-A Inhibits Angiogenesis through Down Regulation of COX-2 in Human Colorectal Cancer

Zhou, Li-Hong,Hu, Qiang,Sui, Hua,Ci, Shu-Jun,Wang, Yan,Liu, Xuan,Liu, Ning-Ning,Yin, Pei-Hao,Qin, Jian-Min,Li, Qi Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.9

Angiogenesis plays a significant role in colorectal cancer (CRC) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) appears to be involved with multiple aspects of CRC angiogenesis. Our aim was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Tan II-A (Tanshinone II-A, Tan II-A) on tumor growth in mice, as well as alteration of expression of COX-2 and VEGF in CRC. We established the mice xenograft model of C26 CRC cell line, and injected 0.5, 1, 2mg/kg of Tan II-A and 1mg/kg of 5-FU in respectively in vivo. Then, we assayed tumor weight and volume, and evaluated microvascular density and expression of VEGF. COX-2 promoter and COX-2 plasmids were transfected into HCT-116 cells, followed by detection of COX-2 promoter activity by chemiluminescence, and detection of COX-2 mRNA expression by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Taken together, the results showed Tan II-A could inhibit tumor growth and suppress the VEGF level in vivo. HCT-116 cell experiments showed marked inhibitory effects of Tan II-A on COX-2 and VEGF in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicate that Tan II-A can effectively inhibit tumor growth and angiogenesis of human colorectal cancer via inhibiting the expression level of COX-2 and VEGF.

Anti-metastasis Activity of Black Rice Anthocyanins Against Breast Cancer: Analyses Using an ErbB2 Positive Breast Cancer Cell Line and Tumoral Xenograft Model

Luo, Li-Ping,Han, Bin,Yu, Xiao-Ping,Chen, Xiang-Yan,Zhou, Jie,Chen, Wei,Zhu, Yan-Feng,Peng, Xiao-Li,Zou, Qiang,Li, Sui-Yan Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Background: Increasing evidence from animal, epidemiological and clinical investigations suggest that dietary anthocyanins have potential to prevent chronic diseases, including cancers. It is also noteworthy that human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ErbB2) protein overexpression or ErbB2 gene amplification has been included as an indicator for metastasis and higher risk of recurrence for breast cancer. Materials and Methods: The present experiments investigated the anti-metastasis effects of black rice anthocyanins (BRACs) on ErbB2 positive breast cancer cells in vivo and in vitro. Results: Oral administration of BRACs (150 mg/kg/day) reduced transplanted tumor growth, inhibited pulmonary metastasis, and decreased lung tumor nodules in BALB/c nude mice bearing ErbB2 positive breast cancer cell MDA-MB-453 xenografts. The capacity for migration, adhesion, motility and invasion was also inhibited by BRACs in MDA-MB-453 cells in a concentration dependent manner, accompanied by decreased activity of a transfer promoting factor, urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA). Conclusions: Together, our results indicated that BRACs possess anti-metastasis potential against ErbB2 positive human breast cancer cells in vivo and in vitro through inhibition of metastasis promoting molecules.

Structural Design and Optimization of the Crossbeam of a Computer Numerical Controlled Milling-Machine Tool Using Sensitivity Theory and NSGA-II Algorithm

Xueguang Li,Chongqing Li,Penghui Li,Huizhong Hu,Xiansheng Sui 한국정밀공학회 2021 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.22 No.2

The crossbeam plays a vital role in computer numerical controlled milling machines, especially in machines with a gantry structure, as it directly influences the machining precision. In this study, a machine tool crossbeam was designed, and the modal frequency of the crossbeam was analyzed using the finite element model (FEM) analysis. In the improved structure obtained through FEM analysis, the X-type structure of the internal unit of the crossbeam was replaced by an O-type structure. The specific structure dimensions were further optimized using a neural-network algorithm and a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm. Finally, we calculated the effect of each crossbeam dimension on the mass, deformation, and frequency in a sensitivity analysis. After optimizing the crossbeam dimensions with respect to deformation, modal frequency, and mass, the structural characteristics of the original and optimized crossbeams were compared. After optimization, the mass and deformation were reduced by 7.45% and 3.08%, respectively, and the modal frequency was increased by 0.42%. These results confirm that the optimization improved the performance of the crossbeam structure.

Dryland agricultural environment and sustainable productivity

Gou-Xia Li,Bing-Cheng Xu,Li-Na Yin,Shi-Wen Wang,Sui-Qi Zhang,Lun Shan,곽상수,Qingbo Ke,Xi-Ping Deng 한국식물생명공학회 2020 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.14 No.2

Global climate change is expected to cause progressively increased frequency and severity of drought events, which further seriously limit plant growth and crop yields. Increasing water use effi ciency (WUE) and yield per unit rainfall are one of the most important challenges in dry land agriculture. Here, we reviewed the comprehensive technical strategies including conserving water to combine both increased agricultural productivity and resource conservation; enquiring into how crop plants respond to drought through morphological, physiological, and molecular modifi cations that occur in all plant organs; breeding for drought tolerance where there is a delineated stress environment and genotype × environment interactions are stable; eff ective conservation of rainfall and high effi ciency of use. In addition, we discussed the preponderance of biological water-saving measures, which embraces improvements in WUE and drought tolerance, by genetic improvement and physiological regulation. Sustainable agriculture would be benefi ted from modern engineering such as biological engineering, conservation tillage, and breeding technologies.