Lipids, Anthropometric Measures, Smoking and Physical Activity Mediate the Causal Pathway From Education to Breast Cancer in Women: A Mendelian Randomization Study

Hongkai Li,Lei Hou,Yuanyuan Yu,Xiaoru Sun,Xinhui Liu,Yifan Yu,Sijia Wu,Yina He,Yutong Wu,Li He,Fuzhong Xue 한국유방암학회 2021 Journal of breast cancer Vol.24 No.6

Purpose: We aimed to investigate whether obtaining a higher level of education was causally associated with lower breast cancer risk and to identify the causal mechanism linking them. Methods: The main data analysis used publicly available summary-level data from 2 large genome-wide association study consortia. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis used 65 genetic variants derived from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium as instrumental variables for years of schooling. The outcomes from the Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) were the overall breast cancer risk (122,977 cases/105,974 controls in women) and the two subtypes: estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer and ER-negative breast cancer. Fixed and random effects inverse variance weighted methods were used to estimate the causal effects, along with other additional MR methods for sensitivity analyses. Results: Results showed that each additional standard deviation of 4.2 years of education was causally associated with a 27% lower risk of ER-negative breast cancer (odds ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.64–0.84; p-value < 0.001). This finding was consistent with the results of the sensitivity analyses. Physical activities can help improve the protective effect of education against breast cancer, with relatively large mediation proportions. Education increases the risk of ER-positive breast cancer due to alterations in high-density lipoprotein level, triglyceride level, height, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, and smoking status, with relative medium mediation proportions. Other mediators including low-density lipoprotein, hip circumference, number of cigarettes smoked per day, time spent performing light physical activity, and performing vigorous physical activity for > 10 minutes explain a small part of the causal effect of education on the risk of developing breast cancer, and their mediation proportion is approximately 1%. Conclusion: A low level of education is a causal risk factor in the development of breast cancer as it is associated with poor lipid profile, obesity, smoking, and types of physical activity.

GENOME-WIDE REGULATION OF CO<SUB>2</SUB> CAPTURE AND STORAGE IN MARINE MICROALGAE

Li WEI,Yi XIN,Dongmei WANG,Yutong JI,Jian XU 한국신재생에너지학회 2015 AFORE Vol.2015 No.11

A Novel Rate-dependent Direct Inverse Preisach Model With Input Iteration for Hysteresis Compensation of Piezoelectric Actuators

Yutong Sun,Haifeng Ma,Zhanqiang Liu,Yangmin Li,Zhenhua Xiong 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2024 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.22 No.4

This paper proposes the design and validation of a novel rate-dependent direct inverse Preisach model with input iteration (RDIPMII) dedicated to feedforward compensation of hysteresis nonlinearity in piezoelectricactuators (PEAs). Unlike existing similar works, the proposed RDIPMII avoids deriving the parameters of the inverse compensator from the hysteresis model, and could be directly employed as the inverse compensator. Furthermore, RDIPMII is capable of achieving rate-dependent inverse compensation while reducing the experimental burden in identifying models by the use of newly proposed data expression method (DEM). In addition, by integrating iterative learning control (ILC), RDIPMII accomplishes online input iteration to further suppress the hysteresis effect. The feasibility and efficiency of the presented scheme are demonstrated through experimental investigations conducted on a PEA.

Reference Intervals for Thyroid-Associated Hormones and the Prevalence of Thyroid Diseases in the Chinese Population

Zou Yutong,Wang Danchen,Cheng Xinqi,Ma Chaochao,Lin Songbai,Hu Yingying,Yu Songlin,Xia Liangyu,Li Honglei,Yin Yicong,Liu Huaicheng,Zhang Dianxi,Zhang Kui,Lian Xiaolan,Xu Tengda,Qiu Ling 대한진단검사의학회 2021 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.41 No.1

Background: Thyroid diseases are highly prevalent worldwide, but their diagnosis remains a challenge. We established reference intervals (RIs) for thyroid-associated hormones and evaluated the prevalence of thyroid diseases in China. Methods: After excluding outliers based on the results of ultrasound screening, thyroid antibody tests, and the Tukey method, the medical records of 20,303 euthyroid adults, who visited the Department of Health Care at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2014 to December 2018, were analyzed. Thyroid-associated hormones were measured by the Siemens Advia Centaur XP analyzer. The RIs for thyroid-associated hormones were calculated according to the CLSI C28-A3 guidelines, and were compared with the RIs provided by Siemens. The prevalence of thyroid diseases over the five years was evaluated and compared using the chi-square test. Results: The RIs for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), total thyroxine (TT4), and total triiodothyronine (TT3) were 0.71–4.92 mIU/L, 12.2–20.1 pmol/L, 3.9–6.0 pmol/L, 65.6–135.1 nmol/L, and 1.2–2.2 nmol/L, respectively. The RIs of all hormones except TT4 differed significantly between males and females. The RIs of TSH increased with increasing age. The prevalence of overt hypothyroidism, overt hyperthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism was 0.5% and 0.8%, 0.2% and 0.6%, 3.8% and 6.1%, and 3.3% and 4.7% in males and females, respectively, which differed from those provided by Siemens. Conclusions: Sex-specific RIs were established for thyroid-associated hormones, and the prevalence of thyroid diseases was determined in the Chinese population.

Mechanism of crack propagation for K9 glass

Xiaoguang Guo,Yutong Shi,Xichun Luo,Renke Kang,Zhuji Jin,Fei Ding,Zhipeng Li 한국정밀공학회 2019 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.20 No.5

In order to study the mechanism of crack propagation, the varied cutting-depth scratch experiment is carried out and smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulation method is used to assistant the investigation. The SPH simulation results reveal that crack will propagate in the direction where stress concentration exceeds the fracture toughness of K9 glass. The initial crack length in critical transition depth is calculated by combining the critical stress of fracture and the fracture toughness of K9 glass. Based on the effective plastic strain, the relation between scratching depth and crack depth is obtained. The recovery of crack tip is found and explained from the relationship between cutting depth and crack depth. Using the energy balance theory of Griffith, the variation of material internal energy is revealed. Comparing the scratching forces obtained from experiment and simulation, the validity of simulation results is verified. The phenomenon of crack delayed propagation is found in both experiment and simulation. The explanation of mechanism is given.

The Research on Cooperative Ability of Technology and Finance in Western China based on ANP-FCE Model

Pang Min,Wu Jing,Li Yutong 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of u- and e- Service, Scienc Vol.8 No.7

With the steady economic development in the western region of China, technology and finance has gradually become the inevitable choice of adjusting economic structure and maintaining sustainable development. From the premise of developmental characteristics of technology and finance in western area, this article constructed the index evaluation system of cooperative ability of technology and finance and conducted in-depth research on collaborative ability of technology and finance in the west region of China using ANP-FCE model, and put forward relevant suggestions for improvement to accelerate the economic development as well as enhance collaboration ability of technology and finance in western area.

The impacts of resveratrol on the retinal degeneration in a rat model of retinitis pigmentosa induced by alkylation: an in-vivo study

Weiming Yan,Yan Sun,Yutong Wang,Wangjiao Liang,Yuxin Xia,Weihua Yan,Meizhu Chen,Tao Chen,Dongliang Li 한국통합생물학회 2023 Animal cells and systems Vol.27 No.1

Upregulation of Sirtuin Type 1 (SIRT1), a nicotinamide adeninedinucleotide (NAD+)-dependentdeacetylase, has been proved to protect against ample ocular diseases, while its effect onretinitis pigmentosa (RP) has not been illustrated. The study was aimed to explore the impactsof resveratrol (RSV), a SIRT1 activator, on the photoreceptor degeneration in a rat model of RPinduced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), an alkylation. The rats were induced RP phenotypesvia the intraperitoneal injection of MNU. The electroretinogram was conducted and revealedthat RSV could not prevent the decline of retinal function in the RP rats. The optical coherencetomography (OCT) and the retinal histological examination were performed and showed thatthe reduced thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) was not preserved by RSV intervention. The immunostaining technique was applied. Afther the MNU administration, the number of theapoptotic photoreceptors in the ONL throughout the retinasand the number of microglia cellspresent among the outer part throughout the retinas were not significantly reduced by RSV. Western blotting was also performed. The data showed that the level of SIRT1 protein wasdecreased after MNU administration, while RSV was not able to obviously alleviate thedownregulation. Our data together indicated that RSV was not able to rescue thephotoreceptor degeneration in the MNU-induced RP rats, which might be due to the MNUinducedconsumption of the NAD+.

Complete genome sequence of the Pogostemon cablin bacterial wilt pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum strain SY1

Sun Yunhao,Su Yutong,Hussain Ansar,Xiong Lina,Li Chunji,Zhang Jie,Meng Zhen,Dong Zhangyong,Yu Guohui 한국유전학회 2023 Genes & Genomics Vol.45 No.1

Background Ralstonia solanacearum causes bacterial wilt of Pogostemon cablin which is an important aromatic herb and also the main materials of COVID-19 therapeutic traditional drugs. However, we are lacking the information on the genomic sequences of R. solanacearum isolated from P. cablin. Objective The acquisition and analysis of this whole-genome sequence of the P. cablin bacterial wilt pathogen. Methods An R. solanacearum strain, named SY1, was isolated from infected P. cablin plants, and the complete genome sequence was sequenced and analyzed. Results The SY1 strain contains a 3.70-Mb chromosome and a 2.18-Mb megaplasmid, with GC contents of 67.57% and 67.41%, respectively. A total of 3308 predicted genes were located on the chromosome and 1657 genes were located in the megaplasmid. SY1 strain has 273 unique genes compared with five representative R. solanacearum strains, and these genes were enriched in the plant–pathogen interaction pathway. SY1 possessed a higher syntenic relationship with phylotype I strains, and the arsenal of type III effectors predicted in SY1 were also more closely related to those of phylotype I strains. SY1 contained 14 and 5 genomic islands in its chromosome and megaplasmid, respectively, and two prophage sequences in its chromosome. In addition, 215 and 130 genes were annotated as carbohydrate-active enzymes and antibiotic resistance genes, respectively. Conclusion This is the first genome-scale assembly and annotation for R. solanacearum which isolated from infected P. cablin plants. The arsenal of virulence and antibiotic resistance may as the determinants in SY1 for infection of P. cablin plants.

Full-scale testing on the flexural behavior of an innovative dovetail UHPC joint of composite bridges

Jianan Qi,Zhao Cheng,Jingquan Wang,Yutong Zhu,Wenchao Li 국제구조공학회 2020 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.75 No.1

This paper presents a full-scale experimental test to investigate the flexural behavior of an innovative dovetail ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) joint designed for the 5th Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge. The test specimen had a dimension of 3600 × 1600 × 170 mm, in accordance with the real bridge. The failure mode, crack pattern and structural response were presented. The ductility and stiffness degradation of the tested specimens were explicitly discussed. Test results indicated that different from conventional reinforced concrete slabs, well-distributed cracks with small spacing were observed for UHPC joint slabs at failure. The average nominal flexural cracking strength of the test specimens was 7.7 MPa, signifying good crack resistance of the proposed dovetail UHPC joint. It is recommended that high grade reinforcement be cooperatively used to take full advantage of the superior mechanical property of UHPC. A new ductility index, expressed by dividing the ultimate deflection by flexural cracking deflection, was introduced to evaluate the post-cracking ductility capacity. Finally, a strut-and-tie (STM) model was developed to predict the ultimate strength of the proposed UHPC joint.

Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity of Endophytic Fungi from Lagopsis supina

Zhang Dekui,Sun Weijian,Xu Wenjie,Ji Changbo,Zhou Yang,Sun Jingyi,Tian Yutong,Li Yanling,Zhao Fengchun,Tian Yuan 한국미생물·생명공학회 2023 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.33 No.4

In this study, five endophytic fungi belonging to the Aspergillus and Alternaria genera were isolated from Lagopsis supina. The antimicrobial activity of all fungal fermented extracts against Staphylococcus and Fusarium graminearum was tested using the cup-plate method. Among them, Aspergillus ochraceus XZC-1 showed the best activity and was subsequently selected for large-scale fermentation and bioactivity-directed separation of the secondary metabolites. Four compounds, including 2- methoxy-6-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (1), 3,5-dihydroxytoluene (2), oleic acid (3), and penicillic acid (4) were discovered. Here, compounds 1 and 4 displayed anti-fungal activity against F. graminearum, F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. stratum, Botrytis cinerea, Magnaporthe oryzae, and Verticillium dahliae with diverse MIC values (128–512 μg/ml), which were close to that of the positive control antifungal, actidione (64–128 μg/ml). Additionally, compounds 1 and 4 also exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against S. aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica, with low MIC values (8–64 μg/ml). Moreover, compounds 1 and 4 displayed selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines as compared with the normal fibroblast cells. Therefore, this study proposes that the endophytic fungi from L. supina can potentially produce bioactive molecules to be used as lead compounds in drugs or agricultural antibiotics.