Pathological Impact on the Phyllosphere Microbiota of Artemisia argyi by Haze

( Yu-zhu Zhang ),( De-yu Jiang ),( Chi Zhang ),( Kun Yang ),( Huai-fu Wang ),( Xiu-wen Xia ),( Wei-jun Ding ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2021 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.31 No.4

The pathological impact of haze upon the phyllosphere microbiota awaits investigation. A moderate degree of haze environment and a clean control were selected in Chengdu, China. Artemisia argyi, a ubiquitously distributed and extensively applied Chinese herb, was also chosen for experiment. Total genome DNA was extracted from leaf samples, and for metagenome sequencing, an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform was applied. The results showed that the gene numbers of phyllosphere microbiota derived from haze leaves were lower than those of the clean control. The phyllosphere microbiota derived from both haze and clean groups shared the same top ten phyla; the abundances of Proteobacteria, Actinomycetes and Anorthococcuso of the haze group were substantially increased, while Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes decreased. At the genus level, the abundances of Nocardia, Paracoccus, Marmoricola and Knoelia from haze leaves were markedly increased, while the yeasts were statistically decreased. KEGG retrieval demonstrated that the functional genes were most annotated to metabolism. An interesting find of this work is that the phyllosphere microbiota responsible for the synthesis of primary and secondary metabolites in A. argyi were significantly increased under a haze environment. Relatively enriched genes annotated by eggNOG belong to replication, recombination and repair, and genes classified into the glycoside hydrolase and glycosyltransferase enzymes were significantly increased. In summary, we found that both structure and function of phyllosphere microbiota are globally impacted by haze, while primary and secondary metabolites responsible for haze tolerance were considerably increased. These results suggest an adaptive strategy of plants for tolerating and confronting haze damage.

Genetic Diversity of a Chinese Native Chicken Breed, Bian Chicken, Based on Twenty-nine Microsatellite Markers

Ding, Fu-Xiang,Zhang, Gen-Xi,Wang, Jin-Yu,Li, Yuan,Zhang, Li-Jun,Wei, Yue,Wang, Hui-Hua,Zhang, Li,Hou, Qi-Rui Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.2

The level of genetic differentiation and genetic structure in a Chinese native chicken breed, Bian chicken, and two controlled chicken populations (Jinghai chicken and Youxi chicken in China) were analysed based on 29 microsatellite markers. A total of 166 distinct alleles were observed across the 3 breeds, and 32 of these alleles (19.3%) were unique to only 1 breed. Bian chicken carried the largest number of private alleles at 15 (46.9%), followed by the Jinghai chicken with 12 private alleles (37.5%). The average polymorphism information content (0.5168) and the average expected heterozygote frequency (0.5750) of the Bian chicken were the highest, and those of the Jinghai chicken were 0.4915 and 0.5505, respectively, which were the lowest. Among 29 microsatellite loci, there were 15 highly informative loci in Bian chicken, and the other 14 were reasonably informative loci. The highly informative loci in Jinghai chicken and Youxi chicken were 17 and 14 respectively. Significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed at several locus-breed combinations, showing a deficit of heterozygotes in many cases. As a whole, genetic differentiation among the breeds estimated by the fixation index (Fst) were at 6.7% (p<0.001). The heterozygote deficit within population (Fis) was 22.2% (p<0.001), with the highest (0.249) in Bian chicken and lowest (0.159) in Youxi chicken. These results serve as an initial step in the plan for genetic characterization and conservation of the Chinese chicken genetic resource of Bian, as well as Jinghai and Youxi chickens.

Promoting N2 electroreduction to ammonia by fluorine-terminating Ti3C2Tx MXene

Ding Yu,Zhang Junbo,Guan Anxiang,Wang Qihao,Li Si,Al-Enizi Abdullah M.,Qian Linping,Zhang Lijuan,Zheng Gengfeng 나노기술연구협의회 2021 Nano Convergence Vol.8 No.14

Two-dimensional MXene-based materials are potential of presenting unique catalytic performances of electrocatalytic reactions. The surface functionalization of MXene-based catalysts is attractive for developing efficient electrocatalysts toward nitrogen reduction reaction. Herein, we reported a Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene with a medium density of surface functionalized fluorine terminal groups, as an excellent N 2 reduction reaction electrocatalyst with enhanced adsorption and activation of N 2 . The Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene catalyst showed a production rate of ammonia as 2.81 × 10 –5 μmol·s −1 ·cm −2 , corresponding to a partial current density of 18.3 μA·cm −2 and a Faradic efficiency of 7.4% at − 0.7 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode in aqueous solutions at ambient conditions, substantially exceeding similar Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene catalysts but with higher or lower densities of surface fluorine terminal groups. Our work suggests the capability of developing surface functionalization toolkit for enhancing electrochemical catalytic activities of two-dimensional MXene-based materials.

Reference Gene Screening for Analyzing Gene Expression Across Goat Tissue

Zhanga, Yu,Zhang, Xiao-Dong,Liu, Xing,Li, Yun-Sheng,Ding, Jian-Ping,Zhang, Xiao-Rong,Zhang, Yun-Hai Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2013 Animal Bioscience Vol.26 No.12

Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) is one of the important methods for investigating the changes in mRNA expression levels in cells and tissues. Selection of the proper reference genes is very important when calibrating the results of real-time quantitative PCR. Studies on the selection of reference genes in goat tissues are limited, despite the economic importance of their meat and dairy products. We used real-time quantitative PCR to detect the expression levels of eight reference gene candidates (18S, TBP, HMBS, YWHAZ, ACTB, HPRT1, GAPDH and EEF1A2) in ten tissues types sourced from Boer goats. The optimal reference gene combination was selected according to the results determined by geNorm, NormFinder and Bestkeeper software packages. The analyses showed that tissue is an important variability factor in genes expression stability. When all tissues were considered, 18S, TBP and HMBS is the optimal reference combination for calibrating quantitative PCR analysis of gene expression from goat tissues. Dividing data set by tissues, ACTB was the most stable in stomach, small intestine and ovary, 18S in heart and spleen, HMBS in uterus and lung, TBP in liver, HPRT1 in kidney and GAPDH in muscle. Overall, this study provided valuable information about the goat reference genes that can be used in order to perform a proper normalisation when relative quantification by qRT-PCR studies is undertaken.

Study on seismic behavior of fabricated beam-column bolted joint

Yu Zhang,Kewei Ding 국제구조공학회 2022 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.82 No.6

To better promote the development of fabricated buildings, this paper studies the seismic behavior of precast concrete beam-column bolted joint under vertical low cyclic loading. The experimental results show that cracks appear in the beam-column joint core area. Meanwhile, the concrete and the grade 5.6 bolts are damaged and deformed, respectively. Specifically, the overall structure of the beam-column joint remains intact, and the bolts have good energy dissipation capacity. Based on the experimental study, a new method of beam-column bolted connection is proposed in simulation analysis. The simulation results show that the bolts deform in the core area of the new beam-column joint, which enhances the concrete shear capacity legitimately and protects the T-end of the beam against shear failure. To summarize, both the experimental joint and the simulated joint prolong the service life by replacing the bolts under the seismic loading. The research results provide a reference for applications of the fabricated beam-column joint.

Microvascular Myocardial Ischemia in Patients With Diabetes Without Obstructive Coronary Stenosis and Its Association With Angina

Yu Yarong,Yang Wenli,Dai Xu,Yu Lihua,Lan Ziting,Ding Xiaoying,Zhang Jiayin 대한영상의학회 2023 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.24 No.11

Objective: To investigate the incidence of microvascular myocardial ischemia in diabetic patients without obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) and its relationship with angina. Materials and Methods: Diabetic patients and an intermediate-to-high pretest probability of CAD were prospectively enrolled. Non-diabetic patients but with an intermediate-to-high pretest probability of CAD were retrospectively included as controls. The patients underwent dynamic computed tomography-myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to quantify coronary stenosis, myocardial blood flow (MBF), and extracellular volume (ECV). The proportion of patients with microvascular myocardial ischemia, defined as any myocardial segment with a mean MBF ≤ of 100 mL/min/100 mL, in patients without obstructive CAD (Coronary Artery Disease–Reporting and Data System [CAD-RADS] grade 0–2 on CCTA) was determined. Various quantitative parameters of the patients with and without diabetes without obstructive CAD were compared. Multivariable analysis was used to determine the association between microvascular myocardial ischemia and angina symptoms in diabetic patients without obstructive CAD. Results: One hundred and fifty-two diabetic patients (mean age: 59.7 ± 10.7; 77 males) and 266 non-diabetic patients (62.0 ± 12.3; 167 males) were enrolled; CCTA revealed 113 and 155 patients without obstructive CAD, respectively. For patients without obstructive CAD, the mean global MBF was significantly lower for those with diabetes than for those without (152.8 mL/min/100 mL vs. 170.4 mL/min/100 mL, P < 0.001). The mean ECV was significantly higher for diabetic patients (27.2% vs. 25.8%, P = 0.009). Among the patients without obstructive CAD, the incidence of microvascular myocardial ischemia (36.3% [41/113] vs. 10.3% [16/155], P < 0.001) and interstitial fibrosis (69.9% [79/113] vs. 33.3% [8/24], P = 0.001) were significantly higher in diabetic patients than in the controls. The presence of microvascular myocardial ischemia was independently associated with angina symptoms (adjusted odds ratio = 3.439, P = 0.037) in diabetic patients but without obstructive CAD. Conclusion: Dynamic CT-MPI + CCTA revealed a high incidence of microvascular myocardial ischemia in diabetic patients without obstructive CAD. Microvascular myocardial ischemia is strongly associated with angina.

Therapeutic Benefits of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in a Rat Model of Hemoglobin-Induced Hypertensive Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Ding, Rui,Lin, Chunnan,Wei, ShanShan,Zhang, Naichong,Tang, Liangang,Lin, Yumao,Chen, Zhijun,Xie, Teng,Chen, XiaoWei,Feng, Yu,Wu, LiHua Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2017 Molecules and cells Vol.40 No.2

Previous studies have shown that bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) transplantation significantly improves the recovery of neurological function in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage. Potential repair mechanisms involve anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis and angiogenesis. However, few studies have focused on the effects of MSCs on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and subsequent peroxynitrite formation after hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage (HICH). In this study, MSCs were transplanted intracerebrally into rats 6 hours after HICH. The modified neurological severity score and the modified limb placing test were used to measure behavioral outcomes. Blood-brain barrier disruption and neuronal loss were measured by zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and neuronal nucleus (NeuN) expression, respectively. Concomitant edema formation was evaluated by H&E staining and brain water content. The effect of MSCs treatment on neuroinflammation was analyzed by immunohistochemical analysis or polymerase chain reaction of CD68, Iba1, iNOS expression and subsequent peroxynitrite formation, and by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$). The MSCs-treated HICH group showed better performance on behavioral scores and lower brain water content compared to controls. Moreover, the MSC injection increased NeuN and ZO-1 expression measured by immunochemistry/immunofluorescence. Furthermore, MSCs reduced not only levels of CD68, Iba1 and pro-inflammatory factors, but it also inhibited iNOS expression and peroxynitrite formation in perihematomal regions. The results suggest that intracerebral administration of MSCs accelerates neurological function recovery in HICH rats. This may result from the ability of MSCs to suppress inflammation, at least in part, by inhibiting iNOS expression and subsequent peroxynitrite formation.

Dynamics of waste-to-energy incineration R&D collaboration networks: a social network analysis based on patent data

Ding Ma,Yongsheng Yu,Si-shi Liu,Ya-rui Zhang 한국자원공학회 2017 Geosystem engineering Vol.20 No.2

The municipal solid waste in China is increasing at an unprecedented pace due to the upgrading urbanization and improving living standard. The waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration technology offers a viable and potentially profitable technical solution to this booming phenomenon. The highly complex and systematic nature of WTE technologies have led to the emergence of WTE innovation network in the past decade. This study applies complex network theory as well as social network analysis to investigate the social network structure evolution of WTE technologies in terms of global network properties, major actors’ centrality and collaboration relationships. Based on the data-set covering joint filing patents pertaining to waste heat over the period 2006–2015, this study finds that the overall WTE innovation network exhibits the properties of scale-free network with minority organizations linking to abundant organizations. A large fraction of major actors represent the first-movers in the WTE research and still control the technological trajectories. The collaboration relationships have moved toward higher level of multidisciplinary and larger technological distance. Overall, the evolution of WTE innovation network features a young state of industry with high regime dependence. Finally, some suggestions are proposed to shed light on benign development of WTE innovation network.

Overexpression of Platelet-derived Growth Factor-D as a Poor Prognosticator in Endometrial Cancer

Ding, Jie,Li, Xiao-Mao,Liu, Sui-Ling,Zhang, Yu,Li, Tian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.8

Background: Emerging evidence implicates the platelet-derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D) in many types of human solid tumors. We investigated whether PDGF-D plays an important role in endometrial cancer (EC) in relation to clinicopathologic phenotype, angiogenesis, and patient prognosis. Materials and Methods: We analyzed PDGF-D protein expression by Western blotting in twenty-seven human endometrial cancer tissues, and matched normal endometrial controls collected at the third Affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen University during 2012-2013 (n=27). Immunohistochemical staining was performed using a human PDGF-D antibody on the endometrial cancer patients collected in the same facility during January 2001 and October 2013 (n=152). Patients were followed from the time of primary surgery in 2001-2013 until death or last follow-up. We correlated the PDGF-D expression levels with clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis in human endometrial cancer patients. Results: Compared with matched normal endometrial cases, PDGF-D was up-regulated in endometrial cancer. Expression of PDGF-D protein, found in 78% of the cases, was associated with nonendometrioid histologic type (p=0.028), FIGO stage III/IV (p=0.039), >50% solid tumor growth (p=0.048), pelvic LN metastasis (p=0.035) and ER and PR negativity (p=0.04 and 0.002). PDGF-D expression was also significantly associated with expression of VEGF-A (p=0.021). In multivariate analysis, PDGF-D expression proved to be an independent prognostic factor in addition to histologic grade and FIGO stage. Patients with high expression levels of PDGF-D had a significantly poorer overall survival rate compared with patients with no expression. Conclusions: PDGF-D expression is frequently up-regulated in endometrial cancer, and is associated with aggressive features and poor prognosis.

The Influence of Changing PV Array Interconnections under a Non-uniform Irradiance

Ding, Kun,Feng, Li,Qin, Si-Yu,Mao, Jing,Zhang, Jing-Wei,Wang, Xiang,Peng, Tao,Zhai, Quan-Xin The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2016 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.16 No.2

Usually, the output characteristics of a photovoltaic (PV) array are significantly affected by non-uniform irradiance which is caused by ambient obstacles, clouds, orientations, tilts, etc. Some local maximum power points (LMPP) in the current-voltage (I-V) curves of a PV array can result in power losses of the array. However, the output power at the global maximum power point (GMPP) is different in different interconnection schemes in a PV array. Therefore, based on the theoretical analysis and mathematical derivation of different topological structures of a PV array, this paper investigated the output characteristics of dual series PV arrays with different interconnections. The proposed mathematical models were also validated by experimental results. Finally, this paper also concluded that in terms of performance, the total cross tied (TCT) interconnection was not always the optimal structure, especially in a dual series PV array. When one of the PV modules was severely mismatched, the TCT worked worse than the series parallel (SP) structure. This research can provide guidance for switching the interconnection to gain the greatest energy yield in a changeable- structure PV system.