Effects of Neodymium and Calcium on the Thermal Stability of AZ71 Magnesium Alloys

Cheng‑Feng Yue,Shi‑Jei Huang,Jhewn‑Kuang Chen,Hsien‑Tsung Li,Kam‑Shau Chan 대한금속·재료학회 2018 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.24 No.2

The effects of an addition of 0–2 wt% Nd on thermal stability of 0–3 wt% Ca-containing modified AZ71 magnesium alloyswas investigated. The ignition temperature was found to increase from that of AZ71, 574, to 825 °C with the addition of0.5 wt% Ca and 1 wt% Nd. The ignition temperature was further increased to 1114 °C when 3 wt% Ca was added. The CaandNd-added AZ71 was isothermally maintained at a temperature of 500 °C in air for 12 h. The MgO–CaO–Nd2O3 formedon the surface to improve the thermal stability of the AZ71–xCa–yNd alloys. While both the tensile strength and ductilitydecreased with the Ca concentration in the alloy, an addition of 1 wt% Nd was found able to alleviate the degradation effectsof Ca on the tensile strength and ductility at 170 °C. Both solid solution formation and precipitation strengthening contributedto the increase in toughness. AZ71 containing 0.5–2 wt% Ca and 1 wt% Nd provides the optimum combination of ignitionresistance and mechanical properties.

Expression of Proteasome Activator REGγ in Human Laryngeal Carcinoma and Associations with Tumor Suppressor Proteins

Li, Li-Ping,Cheng, Wei-Bo,Li, Hong,Li, Wen,Yang, Hui,Wen, Ding-Hou,Tang, Yue-Di Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

The functional significance of the proteasome activator $REG{\gamma}$ in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis has been recognized. However, pathological contributions to tumor development remain to be elucidated. Both oncogenic proteins and tumor suppressors are targeted by $REG{\gamma}$ for proteasomal degradation. It has been proposed that the role of the $REG{\gamma}$ in the pathogenesis of cancer is cell- and context-specific. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential involvement of $REG{\gamma}$ in laryngeal carcinomas, comparing protein expression in tumor and adjacent tissues by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis. We also characterized the correlation between the expression of $REG{\gamma}$ and the previously identified substrates p53 and p21. We showed that $REG{\gamma}$ was abnormally highly expressed in cancer tissues. Statistical analysis revealed that there was a positive relationship between the level of $REG{\gamma}$ and the expression of p53 and p21. Our study suggests that $REG{\gamma}$ overexpression can facilitate the growth of laryngeal cancer cells.

Renormalization of Thalamic Sub-Regional Functional Connectivity Contributes to Improvement of Cognitive Function after Liver Transplantation in Cirrhotic Patients with Overt Hepatic Encephalopathy

Cheng Yue,Li Jing-Li,Zhou Jia-Min,Zhang Gao-Yan,Shen Wen,Zhang Xiao-Dong 대한영상의학회 2021 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.22 No.12

Objective: The role of preoperative overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) in the neurophysiological mechanism of cognitive improvement after liver transplantation (LT) remains elusive. This study aimed to explore changes in sub-regional thalamic functional connectivity (FC) after LT and their relationship with neuropsychological improvement using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data in cirrhotic patients with and without a history of OHE. Materials and Methods: A total of 51 cirrhotic patients, divided into the OHE group (n = 21) and no-OHE group (n = 30), and 30 healthy controls were enrolled in this prospective study. Each patient underwent rs-fMRI before and 1 month after LT. Using 16 bilateral thalamic subregions as seeds, we conducted a seed-to-voxel FC analysis to compare the thalamic FC alterations before and after LT between the OHE and no-OHE groups, as well as differences in FC between the two groups of cirrhotic patients and the control group. Correction for multiple comparisons was conducted using the false discovery rate (p < 0.05). Results: We found abnormally increased FC between the thalamic sub-region and prefrontal cortex, as well as an abnormally decreased FC between the bilateral thalamus in both OHE and no-OHE cirrhotic patients before LT, which returned to normal levels after LT. Compared with the no-OHE group, the OHE group exhibited more extensive abnormalities prior to LT, and the increased FC between the right thalamic subregions and right inferior parietal lobe was markedly reduced to normal levels after LT. Conclusion: The renormalization of FC in the cortico-thalamic loop might be a neuro-substrate for the recovery of cognitive function after LT in cirrhotic patients. In addition, hyperconnectivity between thalamic subregions and the inferior parietal lobe might be an important feature of OHE. Changes in FC in the thalamus might be used as potential biomarkers for recovery of cognitive function after LT in cirrhotic patients.

Longitudinal Intrinsic Brain Activity Changes in Cirrhotic Patients before and One Month after Liver Transplantation

Yue Cheng,Li-Xiang Huang,Li Zhang,Ming Ma,Shuang-Shuang Xie,Qian Ji,Xiao-Dong Zhang,Gao-Yan Zhang,Xue-Ning Zhang,Hong-Yan Ni,Wen Shen 대한영상의학회 2017 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.18 No.2

Objective: To evaluate the spontaneous brain activity alterations in liver transplantation (LT) recipients using resting-state functional MRI. Materials and Methods: Twenty cirrhotic patients as transplant candidates and 25 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. All patients repeated the MRI study one month after LT. Amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) values were compared between cirrhotic patients (both pre- and post-LT) and HCs as well as between the pre- and post-LT groups. The relationship between ALFF changes and venous blood ammonia levels and neuropsychological tests were investigated using Pearson’s correlation analysis. Results: In the cirrhotic patients, decreased ALFF in the vision-related regions (left lingual gyrus and calcarine), sensorimotor-related regions (left postcentral gyrus and middle cingulate cortex), and the default-mode network (bilateral precuneus and left inferior parietal lobule) were restored, and the increased ALFF in the temporal and frontal lobe improved in the early period after LT. The ALFF decreases persisted in the right supplementary motor area, inferior parietal lobule, and calcarine. The ALFF changes in the right precuneus were negatively correlated with changes in number connection test-A scores (r = 0.507, p < 0.05). Conclusion: LT improved spontaneous brain activity and the results for associated cognition tests. However, decreased ALFF in some areas persisted, and new-onset abnormal ALFF were possible, indicating that complete cognitive function recovery may need more time.

Identification of Specific Gene Modules in Mouse Lung Tissue Exposed to Cigarette Smoke

Xing, Yong-Hua,Zhang, Jun-Ling,Lu, Lu,Li, De-Guan,Wang, Yue-Ying,Huang, Song,Li, Cheng-Cheng,Zhang, Zhu-Bo,Li, Jian-Guo,Xu, Guo-Shun,Meng, Ai-Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.10

Background: Exposure to cigarette may affect human health and increase risk of a wide range of diseases including pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung fibrosis and lung cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis induced by cigarettes still remain obscure even with extensive studies. With systemic view, we attempted to identify the specific gene modules that might relate to injury caused by cigarette smoke and identify hub genes for potential therapeutic targets or biomarkers from specific gene modules. Materials and Methods: The dataset GSE18344 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and divided into mouse cigarette smoke exposure and control groups. Subsequently, weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to construct a gene co-expression network for each group and detected specific gene modules of cigarette smoke exposure by comparison. Results: A total of ten specific gene modules were identified only in the cigarette smoke exposure group but not in the control group. Seven hub genes were identified as well, including Fip1l1, Anp32a, Acsl4, Evl, Sdc1, Arap3 and Cd52. Conclusions: Specific gene modules may provide better understanding of molecular mechanisms, and hub genes are potential candidates of therapeutic targets that may possible improve development of novel treatment approaches.

Circular RNA expression profile of systemic lupus erythematosus and its clinical significance as a potential novel biomarker

Li Wenyu,Fan Runge,Zhou Cheng,Wei Yue,Lin Shunsheng,Wen Sijian,Zeng Wen,Hou Wei,Zhao Cheng,Lin Youkun 한국유전학회 2022 Genes & Genomics Vol.44 No.11

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of endogenous noncoding RNAs that are more abundant, specific, and highly organized than linear RNAs. Increasing evidence supports that circRNAs may serve as diagnostic biomarkers in many diseases, but their potential as biomarkers in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains unclear. Objective: We investigated the critical circRNAs involved in SLE progression and explored their potential application as biomarkers in SLE. Method: RNA sequencing was conducted on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 4 SLE patients and 4 healthy volunteers. CircRNA profile data were analyzed to identify differentially expressed circRNAs and visualized via R software. After screening, qPCR analysis of target circRNA expression was performed using PBMCs from 31 SLE patients and 35 healthy volunteers. Correlations between circRNA expression levels and the SLEDAI score were assessed via Spearman correlation analysis. Finally, the performance of circRNAs as biomarkers in SLE was examined by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: The result identified six differentially expressed circRNAs between SLE patients and healthy controls: hsa_circ_0006689, hsa_circ_0070562, hsa_circ_0006117, hsa_circ_0007683, hsa_circ_0042519, and hsa_circ_0008647. The validation analysis showed differing relative expression levels of hsa_circ_0007683, hsa_circ_0042519, hsa_circ_0008647, and hsa_circ_0006689 between SLE patients and healthy volunteers (P < 0.05), and hsa_circ_0006689 expression in PBMCs correlated with the SLEDAI score (P < 0.05). Furthermore, addition of hsa_circ_0006689 expression increased the sensitivities of anti-dsDNA antibody and anti-Sm antibody levels for SLE diagnosis (from 29.03 to 61.30% and 32.26-71.00%, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest hsa_circ_0006689 may be a useful circRNA biomarker for SLE diagnosis and prognosis.

On-orbit Reconfiguration Using Adaptive Dynamic Programming for Multi-mission-constrained Spacecraft Attitude Control System

Yue-Hua Cheng,Bin Jiang,Huan Li,Xiao-dong Han 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2019 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.17 No.4

For the on-orbit reconfiguration problem of spacecraft attitude control systems under multi-mission constraints, the idea of a reinforcement-learning algorithm is adopted, and an adaptive dynamic programming algorithm for on-orbit reconfiguration decision-making that is based on a dual optimization index is proposed. Two optimization objectives, total mission reward and total control cost (energy consumption), are defined to obtain the optimal reconfiguration policy of the spacecraft attitude control system reconfiguration, and the on-orbit reconfiguration model for multi-mission constraints is established. Then, based on the Bellman optimality principle, the optimal reconfiguration policy formulated by the discrete HJB equation is obtained. Since the HJB equation is difficult to solve accurately, a method of bi-objective adaptive dynamic programming is proposed to obtain the optimal reconfiguration policy. This method constructs a mission network and an energy network. The method then adopts a Q-learning-based algorithm to train the networks to estimate the values of total mission reward and total control cost to achieve the on-orbit optimal reconfiguration decision under multi-mission constraints. Simulation results for different cases demonstrate the validity and rationality of the proposed method.

The <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> Merozoite Surface Protein 1 Paralog Is a Novel Erythrocyte-Binding Ligand of <i>P. vivax</i>

Cheng, Yang,Wang, Yue,Ito, Daisuke,Kong, Deok-Hoon,Ha, Kwon-Soo,Chen, Jun-Hu,Lu, Feng,Li, Jian,Wang, Bo,Takashima, Eizo,Sattabongkot, Jetsumon,Tsuboi, Takafumi,Han, Eun-Taek American Society for Microbiology 2013 Infection and immunity Vol.81 No.5

<P>Merozoite surface protein 1 of <I>Plasmodium vivax</I> (PvMSP1), a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein (GPI-AP), is a malaria vaccine candidate for <I>P. vivax</I>. The paralog of PvMSP1, named <I>P. vivax</I> merozoite surface protein 1 paralog (PvMSP1P; PlasmoDB PVX_099975), was recently identified and predicted as a GPI-AP. The similarities in genetic structural characteristics between PvMSP1 and PvMSP1P (e.g., size of open reading frames, two epidermal growth factor-like domains, and GPI anchor motif in the C terminus) led us to study this protein. In the present study, different regions of the PvMSP1P protein, demarcated based on the processed forms of PvMSP1, were expressed successfully as recombinant proteins [i.e., 83 (A, B, and C), 30, 38, 42, 33, and 19 fragments]. We studied the naturally acquired immune response against each fragment of recombinant PvMSP1P and the potential ability of each fragment to bind erythrocytes. The N-terminal fragment (83A) and two C-terminal fragments (33 and 19) reacted strongly with sera from <I>P. vivax</I>-infected patients, with 50 to 68% sensitivity and 95 to 96% specificity, respectively. Due to colocalization of PvMSP1P with PvMSP1, we supposed that PvMSP1P plays a similar role as PvMSP1 during erythrocyte invasion. An <I>in vitro</I> cytoadherence assay showed that PvMSP1P, especially the 19-kDa C-terminal region, could bind to erythrocytes. We also found that human sera from populations naturally exposed to vivax malaria and antisera obtained by immunization using the recombinant molecule PvMSP1P-19 inhibited <I>in vitro</I> binding of human erythrocytes to PvMSP1P-19. These results provide further evidence that the PvMSP1P might be an essential parasite adhesion molecule in the <I>P. vivax</I> merozoite and is a potential vaccine candidate against <I>P. vivax</I>.</P>

Does the Fit of Managerial Ability with Firm Strategy Matters on Firm Performance

CHENG, Teng Yuan,LI, Yue-Qi,LIN, Yu-En,CHIH, Hsiang-Hsuan Korea Distribution Science Association 2020 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.7 No.4

The study aims to answer why the previous studies find the positive or insignificant effect of the CEO's abilities on firm performance. Using 34,285 CEO-firm-year panel data from the U.S. publicly traded firms drawn from the BoardEx and EXECUXOMP database during from 1992 to 2014, the results show that the fit of the CEO's generality or specialist ability with firm strategy matters on firm performance and risk. This study computes a discrete STRATEGY composite measure to construct firm strategy types, such as Prospect or Defend and use CEOs' résumés to construct an index of general skills that are transferable across firms and industries. The results find that generalist CEOs are more suitable for prospectors than specialist CEOs. Firm performance is much better when specialist CEOs work for Defenders. Although the firm performance is better too for the generalist CEOs who fit for the Prospect strategy, the firm's risk is up too. The result suggests that firms need to consider their chosen business strategy to recruit and select CEOs Our findings provide direct evidence that the match between CEO's ability and the firm's strategy is crucial to firm performance and risk.

Multiwavelength Observations of a New Redback Millisecond Pulsar Candidate: 3FGL J0954.8-3948

Li, Kwan-Lok,Hou, Xian,Strader, Jay,Takata, Jumpei,Kong, Albert K. H.,Chomiuk, Laura,Swihart, Samuel J.,Hui, Chung Yue,Cheng, K. S. American Astronomical Society 2018 The Astrophysical journal Vol.863 No.2