Anti-collapse performance analysis of unequal span steel–concrete composite substructures

Bao Meng,Liangde Li,Wei-hui Zhong,Zheng Tan,Yu-hui Zheng 국제구조공학회 2021 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.39 No.4

In the study, three 1:3-scale unequal span steel–concrete composite substructures with top-seat angle and double web angle connection were designed and identified as specimens GTSDWA-0.6, GTSDWA-1.0, and GTSDWA-1.4. Pseudo-static tests and refined numerical model analysis were conducted to examine the anti-progressive collapse performance of a semi-rigid steel–concrete composite substructure. The results indicated that the failure modes of the three specimens revealed that the fracture occurred in the root of the long leg of the top/seat angle in tension at the connection. With increases in the span ratio of the left and right composite beams, the bearing capacities of the composite substructures decreased, and the corresponding displacement increased. With respect to GTSDWA-0.6 and GTSDWA-1.4, the resistance due to the short composite beam corresponded to 62% and 60%, respectively, and the total resistance provided by the short composite beam exceeded that of the long composite beam. With respect to GTSDWA-1.0, the resistance due to the left and right composite beams was similar. All three specimens underwent the flexure mechanism and flexure–axial mixed mechanism stages. They resisted the external load mainly via the flexure mechanism. Moreover, the addition of stiffeners on both sides of the top and seat angles is advantageous in terms of improving the collapse resistance and ductility of unequal span composite substructures.

Genetic Variations in TERT-CLPTM1L Genes and Risk of Lung Cancer in a Chinese Population

Zhao, Meng-Meng,Zhang, Yue,Shen, Li,Ren, Yang-Wu,Li, Xue-Lian,Yin, Zhi-Hua,Zhou, Bao-Sen Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.6

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and cleft lip and palate transmembrane1-like (CLPTM1L) and lung cancer risk in a Chinese population. Methods: We performed a hospital-based case-control study, including 980 lung cancer cases and 1000 cancer-free controls matched for age and sex. Each case and control was interviewed to collect information by well-trained interviewers. A total of 5 ml of venous blood was collected for genotype testing of TERT rs2736098 and CLPTM1L rs401681 using TaqMan methodology. Results: The results revealed that the variant homozygote TERT rs2736098TT was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (OR=2.017, 95%CI=1.518-2.681), especially lung adenocarcinoma (OR=2.117, 95%CI=1.557-3.043) and small cell carcinoma (OR=1.979, 95%CI: 1.174-3.334), compared with the TERT rs2736098CC genotype. Similar results were observed in non-smokers. Conclusion: The TERT rs2736098 polymorphism might affect the susceptibility to lung cancer in Chinese populations. The associations need to be verified in larger and different populations.

Algicidal Activity of a Dibenzofuran-Degrader Rhodococcus sp

( Meng Hui Wang ),( Peng Peng ),( Yu Mei Liu ),( Rui Bao Jia ),( Li Li ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2013 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.23 No.2

Rhodococcus sp. strain p52, a previously isolated dibenzofuran degrader, could effectively inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria, including species of Microcystis, Anabaena, and Nodularia. When strain p52 was inoculated at the concentration of 7.7×107 CFU/ml, 93.5% of exponentially growing Microcystis aeruginosa (7.3×106 cells/ml initially) was inhibited after 4 day. The threshold concentration for its algicidal activity against M. aeruginosa was 7.7×106 CFU/ml. Strain p52 exerted algicidal effect by synthesizing extracellular substances, which were identified as trans-3-indoleacrylic acid, DL-pipecolic acid, and L-pyroglutamic acid. The effective concentrations of trans-3-indoleacrylic acid and DL-pipecolic acid against M. aeruginosa were tested to be 0.5 mg/l and 5 mg/l, respectively.

Improved image alignment algorithm based on projective invariant for aerial video stabilization

( Meng Yi ),( Bao-long Guo ),( Chun-man Yan ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2014 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.8 No.9

In many moving object detection problems of an aerial video, accurate and robust stabilization is of critical importance. In this paper, a novel accurate image alignment algorithm for aerial electronic image stabilization (EIS) is described. The feature points are first selected using optimal derivative filters based Harris detector, which can improve differentiation accuracy and obtain the precise coordinates of feature points. Then we choose the Delaunay Triangulation edges to find the matching pairs between feature points in overlapping images. The most “useful” matching points that belong to the background are used to find the global transformation parameters using the projective invariant. Finally, intentional motion of the camera is accumulated for correction by Sage-Husa adaptive filtering. Experiment results illustrate that the proposed algorithm is applied to the aerial captured video sequences with various dynamic scenes for performance demonstrations.

Role of High-affinity Choline Transporter 1 in Colonic Hypermotility in a Rat Model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

( Meng-juan Lin ),( Bao-ping Yu ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2018 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.24 No.4

Background/Aims Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disease characterized by intestinal dysmotility, the mechanism of which remains elusive. We aim to determine whether the high-affinity choline transporter 1 (CHT1), a determinant of cholinergic signaling capacity, modulates intestinal motility associated with stress-induced IBS. Methods A rat IBS model was established using chronic water avoidance stress (WAS). Colonic pathological alterations were evaluated histologically and intestinal motility was assessed by intestinal transit time and fecal water content (FWC). Visceral sensitivity was determined by visceromotor response to colorectal distension. RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunostaining were performed to identify colonic CHT1 expression. Contractility of colonic muscle strips was measured using isometric transducers. enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure acetylcholine (ACh). We examined the effects of MKC-231, a choline uptake enhancer, on colonic motility. Results After 10 days of WAS, intestinal transit time was decreased and fecal water content increased. Visceromotor response magnitude in WAS rats in response to colorectal distension was significantly enhanced. Protein and mRNA CHT1 levels in the colon were markedly elevated after WAS. The density of CHT1-positive intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal and myenteric plexus neurons in WAS rats was higher than in controls. Ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate partly reversed CHT1 upregulation and alleviated colonic hypermotility in WAS rats. Pharmacological enhancement of CHT1 activity by MKC-231 enhanced colonic motility in control rats via upregulation of CHT1 and elevation of ACh production. Conclusion Upregulation of CHT1 in intramuscular interstitial cells of Cajal and myenteric plexus neurons is implicated in chronic stress-induced colonic hypermotility by modulation of ACh synthesis via nuclear factor-kappa B signaling. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2018;24:643-655)

Enhanced Performances of Vertical-Structured Green-Band InGaN/GaN Multiple-Quantum-Well Solar Cells with Aluminum Reflectors

Meng-Hua Lai,Zhi-Wei Zheng,Jian Yu,Lei-Ying Ying,Bao-Ping Zhang 한국물리학회 2016 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.68 No.11

We demonstrated vertical-structured InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-well (MQW) solar cells with enhanced performances at a wavelength of 510 nm. The enhancement was achieved by using a ptype ohmic mirror with a combined indium-tin-oxide film and an aluminum (Al) reflector inserted beneath the MQW absorption region. In addition, both good ohmic contact and high reflection were observed. The vertical-structured MQW solar cell with an Al reflector exhibited significant improvements in device performances as compared to that without the Al reflector, including a 49% increase in the short-circuit current density and a 56% increase in the power conversion efficiency.

Glucosamine induces cell death via proteasome inhibition in human ALVA41 prostate cancer cell

Bao-Qin Liu,Hua-Qin Wang,Xin Meng,Chao Li,Yan-Yan Gao,Ning Li,Xiao-Fang Niu,Yifu Guan 생화학분자생물학회 2011 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.43 No.9

Glucosamine, a naturally occurring amino monosaccharide,has been reported to play a role in the regulation of apoptosis more than half century. However the effect of glucosamine on tumor cells and the involved molecular mechanisms have not been thoroughly investigated. Glucosamine enters the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) downstream of the rate-limiting step catalyzed by the GFAT (glutamine:fluctose-6-phosphate amidotransferase), providing UDPGlcNAc substrates for O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) protein modification. Considering that O-GlcNAc modification of proteasome subunits inhibits its activity, we examined whether glucosamine induces growth inhibition via affecting proteasomal activity. In the present study, we found glucosamine inhibited proteasomal activity and the proliferation of ALVA41 prostate cancer cells. The inhibition of proteasomal activity results in the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins, followed by induction of apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrated that glucosamine downregulated proteasome activator PA28γ and overexpression of PA28γ rescued the proteasomal activity and growth inhibition mediated by glucosamine. We further demonstrated that inhibition of O-GlcNAc abrogated PA28γ suppression induced by glucosamine. These findings suggest that glucosamine may inhibit growth of ALVA41 cancer cells through downregulation of PA28γ and inhibition of proteasomal activity via O-GlcNAc modification.

Meta-analysis of Associations between ATM Asp1853Asn and TP53 Arg72Pro Polymorphisms and Adverse Effects of Cancer Radiotherapy

Su, Meng,Yin, Zhi-Hua,Wu, Wei,Li, Xue-Lian,Zhou, Bao-Sen Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.24

Background: The ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein and p53 play key roles in sensing and repairing radiation-induced DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). Accumulating epidemiological evidence indicates that functional genetic variants in ATM and TP53 genes may have an impact on the risk of radiotherapy-induced side effects. Here we performed a meta-analysis to investigate the potential interaction between ATM Asp1853Asn and TP53 polymorphisms and risk of radiotherapy-induced adverse effects quantitatively. Materials and Methods: Relevant articles were retrieved from PubMed, ISI Web of Science and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. Eligible studies were selected according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled to estimate the association between ATM Asp1853Asn and TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphisms and risk of radiotherapy adverse effects. All analyses were performed using the Stata software. Results: A total of twenty articles were included in the present analysis. In the overall analysis, no significant associations between ATM Asp1853Asn and TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphisms and the risk of radiotherapy adverse effects were found. We conducted subgroup analysis stratified by type of cancer, region and time of appearance of side effects subsequently. No significant association between ATM Asp1853Asn and risk of radiotherapy adverse effects was found in any subgroup analysis. For TP53 Arg72Pro, variant C allele was associated with decreased radiotherapy adverse effects risk among Asian cancer patients in the stratified analysis by region (OR=0.71, 95%CI: 0.54-0.93, p=0.012). No significant results were found in the subgroup analysis of tumor type and time of appearance of side effects. Conclusions: The TP53 Arg72Pro C allele might be a protective factor of radiotherapy-induced adverse effects among cancer patients from Asia. Further studies that take into consideration treatment-related factors and patient lifestyle including environmental exposures are warranted.

Characterization of the TAK1 gene in Apis cerana cerana (AccTAK1) and its involvement in the regulation of tissue-specific development

( Fei Meng ),( Ming Jiang Kang ),( Li Liu ),( Lu Luo ),( Bao Hua Xu ),( Xing Qi Guo ) 생화학분자생물학회(구 한국생화학분자생물학회) 2011 BMB Reports Vol.44 No.3

TGF-β activated kinase-1 (TAK1) plays a pivotal role in developmental processes in many species. Previous research has mainly focused on the function of TAK1 in model organisms, and little is known about the function of TAK1 in hymenoptera insects. Here, we isolated and characterized the TAK1 gene from Apis cerana cerana. Promoter analysis of AccTAK1 revealed the presence of transcription factor binding sites related to early development. Real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry experiments revealed that AccTAK1 was expressed at high levels in fourth instar larvae, primarily in the abdomen, in the intestinal wall cells of the midgut and in the secretory cells of the salivary glands. In addition, AccTAK1 expression in fourth instar larvae could be dramatically induced by treatment with pesticides and organic solvents. These observations suggest that AccTAK1 may be involved in the regulation of early development in the larval salivary gland and midgut. [BMB reports 2011; 44(3): 187-192]

Combinatorial Test Generation Using Improved Harmony Search Algorithm

Xiaoan Bao,Shuhan Liu,Na Zhang,Meng Dong 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Hybrid Information Techno Vol.8 No.9

Combinatorial testing can effectively detect the faults triggered by interactions among the various factors in software system. Harmony Search Algorithm (HS), which is a new optimization algorithm and has been widely applied in the fields of portfolio design, repeatedly adjusts the solution variables in harmony memory to reach the optimum. In order to improve the convergence speed of HS, we propose an improved HS algorithm (IHS) and uses one-test-at-a-time strategy to generate a set of optimum initial solutions in IHS. To avoid the algorithm falling into local optima, we dynamically adjust the values of HMCR and PAR in the new algorithm. Compared to some existing algorithms and tools, the improved harmony search algorithm performs more stably and efficiently in generating optimum combinatorial test cases.