Synthesis of Novel Poly(aryl ether sulfone)s Bearing Bulky Pendants for Gas Separation Membranes

Zhuang Liu,Baijun Liu,Long Li,Yinan Zhang,Zhenhua Jiang 한국고분자학회 2013 Macromolecular Research Vol.21 No.6

A hydroxylated poly(aryl ether sulfone) (PES-OH) was synthesized by a demethylation reaction of a methoxy-functionalized PES (PES-OCH3) using the HCl/pyridine system. Derived from this hydroxylated PES precursor,bulky (2-trifluoromethyl-4-nitro) phenyl (TFN) and benzophenone (BZP) were introduced to the PES backbones as side groups via aromatic nucleophilic substitution reactions. A direct property comparison of PES-OH,PES-OCH3, PES-TFN and PES-BZP has been made, and these analogues exhibited different solubility, thermal properties and gas permeability. PES grafted with the trifluoromethyl side group (PES-TFN) demonstrated more attractive permeabilities and permselectivities for O2/N2 separation compared to the others, and it exhibited the best P(O2)/P(N2) value of 8.44.

Bioprospecting of Novel and Bioactive Metabolites from Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Rubber Tree Ficus elastica Leaves

( Zhuang Ding ),( Tao Tao ),( Lili Wang ),( Yanna Zhao ),( Huiming Huang ),( Demeng Zhang ),( Min Liu ),( Zhengping Wang ),( Jun Han ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2019 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.29 No.5

Endophytic fungi are an important component of plant microbiota, and have the excellent capacity for producing a broad variety of bioactive metabolites. These bioactive metabolites not only affect the survival of the host plant, but also provide valuable lead compounds for novel drug discovery. In this study, forty-two endophytic filamentous fungi were isolated from Ficus elastica leaves, and further identified as seven individual taxa by ITS-rDNA sequencing. The antimicrobial activity of these endophytic fungi was evaluated against five pathogenic microorganisms. Two strains, Fes1711 (Penicillium funiculosum) and Fes1712 (Trichoderma harzianum), displayed broad-spectrum bioactivities. Our following study emphasizes the isolation, identification and bioactivity testing of chemical metabolites produced by T. harzianum Fes1712. Two new isocoumarin derivatives (1 and 2), together with three known compounds (3-5) were isolated, and their structures were elucidated using NMR and MS. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli. Our findings reveal that endophytic fungi from the rubber tree F. elastica leaves exhibit unique characteristics and are potential producers of novel natural bioactive products.

Collisional dynamics in laser-induced plasmas: evidence for electron-impact excitation

Zhang, Liying,Wei, Pengfei,Qin, Meiyan,Yuan, Xiaolong,Liu, Candong,Geng, Tao,Zhu, Haiyong,Duan, Yanmin,Zhuang, Songlin,Lu, Peixiang,Kim, Dong Eon The Optical Society 2018 Optics express Vol.26 No.8

Appraisal of Guidelines for the Management of Blood Pressure in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus: The Consensuses, Controversies and Gaps

Menghui Liu,Shaozhao Zhang,Xiaohong Chen,Yue Guo,Xiangbin Zhong,Zhenyu Xiong,Yifen Lin,Huimin Zhou,Yiquan Huang,Zhengzhipeng Zhang,Lichun Wang,Xiaodong Zhuang,Xinxue Liao 대한당뇨병학회 2021 Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Vol.45 No.5

Background: Currently available guidelines contain conflicting recommendations on the management of blood pressure (BP) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Therefore, it is necessary to appraise the guidelines and summarize the agreements and differences among recommendations.Methods: Four databases and the websites of guideline organizations were searched for guidelines regarding BP targets and thresholds for pharmacologic therapy in DM patients, and the included guidelines were appraised with the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument.Results: In 6,498 records identified, 20 guidelines met our inclusion criteria with 64.0% AGREE II scores (interquartile range, 48.5% to 72.0%). The scores of the European and American guidelines were superior to those of the Asian guidelines (both adjusted P<0.001). Most of the guidelines advocated systolic BP targets <130 mm Hg (12 guidelines, 60%) and diastolic BP targets <80 mm Hg (14 guidelines, 70%) in DM patients. Approximately half of the guidelines supported systolic BP thresholds >140 mm Hg (10 guidelines, 50%) and diastolic BP thresholds >90 mm Hg (nine guidelines, 45%). The tiny minority of the guidelines provided the relevant recommendations regarding the lower limit of official BP targets and the ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM)/home BP monitoring (HBPM) targets and thresholds in DM patients.Conclusion: The lower official BP targets (<130/80 mm Hg) in patients with DM are advocated by most of the guidelines, but they contain conflicting recommendations on the official BP thresholds. Moreover, the gaps regarding the lower limit of official BP targets and the ABPM/HBPM targets and thresholds need to be considered by future study.

Transcriptome analysis for identifying possible causes of postreproductive death of Sepia esculenta based on brain tissue

Jinyong Zhang,Muchun He,Zilong Xiang,Shufang Liu,ZhiMeng Zhuang 한국유전학회 2019 Genes & Genomics Vol.41 No.6

Background The subpeduncle lobe/olfactory lobe–optic gland axis is called the endocrine regulation center of cephalopods. However, little is known about the mechanism of the subpeduncle lobe/olfactory lobe-optic gland axis regulate the sexual maturation and post-reproductive death of Sepia esculenta Hoyle. Objectives The primary objective of this study was to provide basic information for revealing the mechanism of the subpeduncle lobe/olfactory lobe–optic axis regulating the rapid post-reproductive death of S. esculenta. Methods In this paper, Illumina sequencing based transcriptome analysis was performed on the brain tissue of female S. esculenta in the three key developmental stages: growth stage (BG), spawning stage (BS), and post-reproductive death stage (BA). Results A total of 66.19 Gb Illumina sequencing data were obtained. A comparative analysis of the three stages showed 2609, 3333, and 170 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BG-vs-BA, BG-vs-BA, and BS-vs-BA, respectively. The Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of DEGs revealed that the regulation of cyclin-dependent protein serine/threonine kinase activity, oxidative phosphorylation, and respiratory chain were significantly enriched. The significant enrichment analysis of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway identified pathways associated with the regulation of death, such as the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway, AMPK signaling pathway, oxidative phosphorylation, and cell cycle. Conclusion The post-reproductive death of S. esculenta was found to be a complex energy steady-state regulation network system. The mTOR acted as an energy receptor and had a key role in regulating energy homeostasis.

Preparation of thin oligopeptide films using self-organized dendrimer monolayer as an anchoring scaffold

Wensheng Zhuang,Hua Zhang,Daojun Liu 한국물리학회 2007 Current Applied Physics Vol.7 No.s1

Functionalization of a self-organized poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer monolayer with oligopeptides on a silicon/quartz sub-strate is investigated in this paper. A monolayer of PAMAM dendrimers is formed on a silicon/quartz surface via electrostatic adsorp-tion. The functionalization of the PAMAM monolayer with oligo-tryptophan (Trp) is performed byin situring-opening polymerizationof TrpNspectroscopy (XPS) and UVVis spectroscopy, which conrm that the self-organized PAMAM dendrimer monolayer can be used asan anchoring scaold for the construction of thin oligopeptide lm.

Systematic Analysis on the GSTM1 Null Phenotype and Prostate Cancer Risk in Chinese People

Shi, Jing,Zhuang, Yan,Liu, Yan,Yan, Cheng-Quan,Liu, Xian-Kui,Zhang, Ying Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.5

Objective: Glutathione S-transferase M 1 (GSTM1) is implicated as a risk factor for prostate cancer. However, this issue is not clear in Chinese population. This systemic analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of GSTM1 null genotypes on prostate cancer risk in Chinese. Methods: Published studies investigating the associations between GSTM1 null genotypes and the risk of prostate cancer in China were identified by using a predefined search strategy. Main statisticals were pooled and estimated according to the primarily reported data. Results: The prevalence of the GSTM1 null genotype was higher in prostate cancer patients than in controls, with significance. Conclusion: The GSTM1 null genotypes is associated with increased risk of prostate cancer in Chinese.

A ²³⁵U mass measurement method for UO₂ rod assembly based on the n/γ joint measurement system

Yang, Jianqing,Zhang, Quanhu,Su, Xianghua,Li, Sufen,Zhuang, Lin,Hou, Suxia,Huo, Yonggang,Zhou, Hao,Liu, Guorong Korean Nuclear Society 2020 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.52 No.5

Fast-Neutron Multiplicity Counter based on Liquid Scintillator Detector can directly measure the fast neutron multiplicity emitted by UO₂ rod. HPGe gamma spectrometer; which has superior energy resolution; is routinely used for the gamma energy spectrum measurement. Combing Fast-Neutron Multiplicity Counter and HPGe γ-spectrometer, the n/γ joint measurement system is developed. The fast neutron multiplicity and gamma energy spectrum of UO₂ rod assemblies under different conditions are measured by the n/γ joint measurement system. The induced fission rate and the ²³⁵U abundance, thereby the ²³⁵U mass; can be obtained for UO₂ rod assemblies. The ²³⁵U mass deviation of the measured value from the reference value is less than 5%. The results show that the n/γ joint measurement system is effective and applicable in the measurement of the ²³⁵U mass in samples.

Novel zinc sources as antimicrobial growth promoters for monogastric animals: a review

( Xin Jian Lei ),( Zhang Zhuang Liu ),( Jae Hong Park ),( In Ho Kim ) 한국축산학회 2022 한국축산학회지 Vol.64 No.2

The essentiality of zinc for animals has been recognized over 80 years. Zinc is an essential trace element that is a component of many enzymes and is associated with the various hormones. Apart from the nutritional function, zinc has antimicrobial property and often be supplemented in diets in the quantities greater than which is required to meet the nutritional requirement, especially for weaning pigs. This review will focus on the application of pharmacological zinc and its mechanisms which may be responsible for the effects of zinc on performance and health of monogastric animals. Various novel sources of zinc in non-ruminant animal production will also be discussed. These should assist in more precisely formulating feed to maximize the production performance and to maintain the health condition of monogastric animals.

Curcumin represses lipid accumulation through inhibiting ERK1/2-PPAR-γ signaling pathway and triggering apoptosis in porcine subcutaneous preadipocytes

Pan, Shifeng,Chen, Yongfang,Zhang, Lin,Liu, Zhuang,Xu, Xingyu,Xing, Hua Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2022 Animal Bioscience Vol.35 No.5

Objective: Excessive lipid accumulation in adipocytes results in prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome. Curcumin (CUR), a naturally phenolic active ingredient, has been shown to have lipid-lowering effects. However, its underlying mechanisms have remained largely unknown. Therefore, the study aims to determine the effect of CUR on cellular lipid accumulation in porcine subcutaneous preadipocytes (PSPA) and to clarify novel mechanisms. Methods: The PSPA were cultured and treated with or without CUR. Both cell counting Kit-8 and lactate dehydrogenase release assays were used to examine cytotoxicity. Intracellular lipid contents were measured by oil-red-o staining extraction and triglyceride quantification. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-nick end labelling assay. Adipogenic and apoptosis genes were analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Results: The CUR dose-dependently reduced the proliferation and lipid accumulation of PSPA. Noncytotoxic doses of CUR (10 to 20 μM) significantly inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation and expression of adipogenic genes peroxisome proliferation-activity receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, adipocyte protein-2, glucose transporter-4 as well as key lipogenic enzymes fatty acid synthase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase, while ERK1/2 activation significantly reversed CUR-reduced lipid accumulation by increasing PPAR-γ. Furthermore, compared with differentiation induced media treated cells, higher dose of CUR (30 μM) significantly decreased the expression of AKT and B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), while increased the expression of BCL-2-associated X (BAX) and the BAX/BCL-2 expression ratio, suggesting triggered apoptosis by inactivating AKT and increasing BAX/BCL-2 ratio and Caspase-3 expression. Moreover, AKT activation significantly rescued CUR inhibiting lipid accumulation via repressing apoptosis. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that CUR is capable of suppressing differentiation by inhibiting ERK1/2-PPAR-γ signaling pathway and triggering apoptosis via decreasing AKT and subsequently increasing BAX/BCL-2 ratio and Caspase-3, suggesting that CUR provides an important method for the reduction of porcine body fat, as well as the prevention and treatment of human obesity.