Comparison of drought resistance of rootstocks 'M9-T337' and 'M26' grafted with 'Huashuo' apple

Shi Cai-Yun,Liu Li,Li Qiu-Li,Wei Zhi-Feng,Gao Deng-Tao 한국원예학회 2022 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.63 No.3

Drought stress is one of the main limiting factors in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivation. Rootstock plays an important role in the drought tolerance of apple plants. ‘M.9-T337’ is a novel apple rootstock that was recently introduced and widely cultivated in China. In this study, we selected the new, widely promoted Chinese apple variety ‘Huashuo’ as the scion and grafted it onto ‘M.9-T337’ (HM9). Another combination, ‘Huashuo’/‘M.26’/Malus robusta Rehd. (HM26), served as the experimental control to analyse drought resistance in the two hybrids. We believe that this empirical approach is more representative than merely studying rootstock seedlings. After sustained drought stress for over 1 month, the leaf relative water content had decreased in both types of plants, but to a lesser extent in HM26 than in HM9. The SPAD values increased in both plants, but without significant difference. Drought stress reduced photosynthetic activity in both plants, and the net photosynthetic rate was higher in HM26 than in HM9. The observed changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters indicated that drought had damaged the PSII activity centres of both plants, photosynthetic electron transfer was inhibited, and excessive excitation energy accumulated. However, compared to HM26, HM9 displayed lower maximal PSII quantum photochemical efficiency and potential PSII activity. Moreover, HM9 showed lower antioxidant enzyme activity than HM26 under drought stress. A membership function analysis confirmed that ‘M.9-T337’ was less drought resistant than ‘M.26’. Nevertheless, ‘M.9-T337’ could still recover after prolonged drought stress, indicating it also had good drought resistance.

Significance and Application of Digital Breast Tomosynthesis for the BI-RADS Classification of Breast Cancer

Cai, Si-Qing,Yan, Jian-Xiang,Chen, Qing-Shi,Huang, Mei-Ling,Cai, Dong-Lu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.9

Background: Full-field digital mammography (FFDM) with dense breasts has a high rate of missed diagnosis, and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) could reduce organization overlapping and provide more reliable images for BI-RADS classification. This study aims to explore application of COMBO (FFDM+DBT) for effect and significance of BI-RADS classification of breast cancer. Materials and Methods: In this study, we selected 832 patients who had been treated from May 2013 to November 2013. Classify FFDM and COMBO examination according to BI-RADS separately and compare the differences for glands in the image of the same patient in judgment, mass characteristics display and indirect signs. Employ Paired Wilcoxon rank sum test was used in 79 breast cancer patients to find differences between two examine methods. Results: The results indicated that COMBO pattern is able to observe more details in distribution of glands when estimating content. Paired Wilcoxon rank sum test showed that overall classification level of COMBO is higher significantly compared to FFDM to BI-RADS diagnosis and classification of breast (P<0.05). The area under FFDM ROC curve is 0.805, while that is 0.941 in COMBO pattern. COMBO shows relation of mass with the surrounding tissues, the calcification in the mass, and multiple foci clearly in breast cancer tissues. The optimal sensitivity of cut-off value in COMBO pattern is 82.9%, which is higher than that in FFDM (60%). They share the same specificity which is both 93.2%. Conclusions: Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) could be used for the BI-RADS classification in breast cancer in clinical.

Oleanolic Acid Inhibits Neuronal Pyroptosis in Ischaemic Stroke by Inhibiting miR-186-5p Expression

Shi-Chang Cai,Xiu-Ping Li,Xing Li,Gen-Yun Tang,Li-Ming Yi,Xiang-Shang Hu 한국뇌신경과학회 2021 Experimental Neurobiology Vol.30 No.6

Ischaemic stroke is a common condition leading to human disability and death. Previous studies have shown that oleanolic acid (OA) ameliorates oxidative injury and cerebral ischaemic damage, and miR-186-5p is verified to be elevated in serum from ischaemic stroke patients. Herein, we investigated whether OA regulates miR-186-5p expression to control neuroglobin (Ngb) levels, thereby inhibiting neuronal pyroptosis in ischaemic stroke. Three concentrations of OA (0.5, 2, or 8 μM) were added to primary hippocampal neurons subjected to oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R), a cell model of ischaemic stroke. We found that OA treatment markedly inhibited pyroptosis. qRT–PCR and western blot revealed that OA suppressed the expression of pyroptosis-associated genes. Furthermore, OA inhibited LDH and proinflammatory cytokine release. In addition, miR-186-5p was downregulated while Ngb was upregulated in OA-treated OGD/R neurons. MiR-186-5p knockdown repressed OGD/R-induced pyroptosis and suppressed LDH and inflammatory cytokine release. In addition, a dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that miR-186-5p directly targeted Ngb. OA reduced miR-186-5p to regulate Ngb levels, thereby inhibiting pyroptosis in both OGD/R-treated neurons and MCAO mice. In conclusion, OA alleviates pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro by downregulating miR-186-5p and upregulating Ngb expression, which provides a novel theoretical basis illustrating that OA can be considered a drug for ischaemic stroke.

Fluctuation Power Control Strategy for MMC-based SST to Reduce the Submodule Capacitor Voltage Oscillation

Xiaolong Cai,Jianwen Zhang,Gang Shi,Xu Cai,Jianqiao Zhou,Zhuyong Li,Jiacheng Wang,Jiajie Zang 전력전자학회 2019 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2019 No.5

In the future AC-DC hybrid distribution system, solid state transformer (SST) will take place of conventional transformer, as it could reduce the weight and volume of transformer, and achieve voltage and current regulation, power flow control, power quality enhancement. MMC-based SST is a novel SST topology, which could provide the MVDC port. However, the excessive bulky submodule capacitors limits this topology into practical application. This paper proposes a fluctuation power control strategy for MMC-based SST to reduce the submodule capacitor voltage oscillation, which could optimize the capacitance and reduce the volume and cost of capacitor. The feasibility of this proposed method is verified by MATLAB simulation.

Risk assessment of water inrush in karst tunnels based on a modified grey evaluation model: Sample as Shangjiawan Tunnel

Yuan, Yong-cai,Li, Shu-cai,Zhang, Qian-qing,Li, Li-ping,Shi, Shao-shuai,Zhou, Zong-qing Techno-Press 2016 Geomechanics & engineering Vol.11 No.4

A modified grey clustering method is presented to systematically evaluate the risk of water inrush in karst tunnels. Based on the center triangle whitenization weight function and upper and lower limit measure whitenization weight function, the modified grey evaluation model doesn't have the crossing properties of grey cluster and meets the standard well. By adsorbing and integrating the previous research results, seven influence factors are selected as evaluation indexes. A couple of evaluation indexes are modified and quantitatively graded according to four risk grades through expert evaluation method. The weights of evaluation indexes are rationally distributed by the comprehensive assignment method. It is integrated by the subjective factors and the objective factors. Subjective weight is given based on analytical hierarchy process, and objective weight obtained from simple dependent function. The modified grey evaluation model is validated by Jigongling Tunnel. Finally, the water inrush risk of Shangjiawan Tunnel is evaluated by using the established model, and the evaluation result obtained from the proposed method is agrees well with practical situation. This risk assessment methodology provides a powerful tool with which planners and engineers can systematically assess the risk of water inrush in karst tunnels.

Resistant starch (RS), a novel endogenous inert marker for detecting glucose absorption of small intestine with sweeteners administration in mice

Wu Yaran,Cai Lei,Xie Xingzi,Yang Shuying,Shi Qing,Jia Hongzhe,Gu Xuqiang,Deng Jingmin,Shi Mingzhao,Chen Qiuping,Cao Shaoqian,Cai Shuangfeng 한국응용생명화학회 2022 Applied Biological Chemistry (Appl Biol Chem) Vol.65 No.2

Resistant starch could be degraded by the fermentation of colonic microorganisms in the large intestine of mammals, but not in the small intestine. In this study, we established a novel strategy by using resistant starch as an endogenous marker to determine the glucose absorption of the small intestine of laboratory animals. By optimization of the classical enzymatic method of starch measurement, the demand for the sample weight was reduced by 90%. Moreover, the amount of resistant starch in normal feed was detectable without any extra addition. The value of small intestine glucose absorption of mice was similar when using resistant starch and titanium dioxide as inert markers. The fermentation of resistant starch by intestinal microorganisms in the small intestine was demonstrated not disturbing the detection of glucose absorption significantly. Artificial sweeteners exposed ICR mice showed different glucose absorption which indicated, first, resistant starch can be used as a novel endogenous marker in the small intestine of small animals; second, although glucose tolerance did not change in mice after short-term exposure to artificial sweeteners, there were significant changes in glucose absorption associated with it; third, the short-term exposure resulted in no significant change in glucose tolerance.

Molecular and Cellular Microbiology / Biomedical Sciences : Surface-Displayed IL-10 by Recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum Reduces Th1 Responses of RAW264.7 Cells Stimulated with Poly(I:C) or LPS

( Ruo Peng Cai ),( Yan Long Jiang ),( Wei Yang ),( Wen Tao Yang ),( Shao Hua Shi ),( Chun Wei Shi ),( Jing Tao Hu ),( Wei Gu ),( Li Ping Ye ),( Fang Yu Zhou ),( Qing Long Gong ),( Wen Yu Han ),( Guil 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2016 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.26 No.2

Recently, poly-γ-glutamic acid synthetase A (pgsA) has been applied to display exogenous proteins on the surface of Lactobacillus casei or Lactococcus lactis, which results in a surfacedisplayed component of bacteria. However, the ability of carrying genes encoded by plasmids and the expression efficiency of recombinant bacteria can be somewhat affected by the longer gene length of pgsA (1,143 bp); therefore, a truncated gene, pgsA, was generated based on the characteristics of pgsA by computational analysis. Using murine IL-10 as an exogenous gene, recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum was constructed and the capacity of the surface-displayed protein and functional differences between exogenous proteins expressed by these strains were evaluated. Surface expression of IL-10 on both recombinant bacteria with anchorins and the higher expression levels in L. plantarum-pgsA’-IL-10 were confirmed by western blot assay. Most importantly, up-regulation of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and the nuclear transcription factor NF-κB p65 in RAW264.7 cells after stimulation with Poly(I:C) or LPS was exacerbated after co-culture with L. plantarum-pgsA. By contrast, IL-10 expressed by these recombinant strains could reduce these factors, and the expression of these factors was associated with recombinant strains that expressed anchorin (especially in L. plantarum-pgsA’-IL-10) and was significantly lower compared with the anchorin-free strains. These findings indicated that exogenous proteins could be successfully displayed on the surface of L. plantarum by pgsA or pgsA’, and the expression of recombinant bacteria with pgsA’ was superior compared with bacteria with pgsA.

General Characterization Methods for Photoelectrochemical Cells for Solar Water Splitting.

Shi, Xinjian,Cai, Lili,Ma, Ming,Zheng, Xiaolin,Park, Jong Hyeok Wiley-VCH 2015 ChemSusChem Vol.8 No.19

<P>Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a very promising technology that converts water into clean hydrogen fuel and oxygen by using solar light. However, the characterization methods for PEC cells are diverse and a systematic introduction to characterization methods for PEC cells has rarely been attempted. Unlike most other review articles that focus mainly on the material used for the working electrodes of PEC cells, this review introduces general characterization methods for PEC cells, including their basic configurations and methods for characterizing their performance under various conditions, regardless of the materials used. Detailed experimental operation procedures with theoretical information are provided for each characterization method. The PEC research area is rapidly expanding and more researchers are beginning to devote themselves to related work. Therefore, the content of this Minireview can provide entry-level knowledge to beginners in the area of PEC, which might accelerate progress in this area.</P>

Hematopoietic Reconstitution of CD34+ Cells Derived from Short-term Cultured Cord Blood Mononuclear Cells

Shi Yang,Haibo Cai,Huili Jin,Jinli Fan,Wen-song Tan 한국생물공학회 2009 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.14 No.4

Ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is very important for clinical applications of cord blood (CB). With the aim to find proper culture duration for ex vivo expansion, mononuclear cells (MNC) was applied as starting culture cells to expand HSCs and the repopulating potential of seven-day and fourteen-day cultured CD34+ cells were compared. The average expansion of total cells and CD34+ cells cultured for 7 days were higher than those cultured for 14 days. The results of phenotypic analysis of fresh and cultured cells showed that the percentage of CD3+ cells declined and the percentage of CD33+ cells increased during culture. The engraftment levels of fourteen-day cultured CD34+ cells were higher than those of fresh and seven-day cultured CD34+ cells. Fourteen-day cultured CD34+ cells also showed better multilineage reconstitution ability than fresh and seven-day cultured CD34+ cells. The results of the present study demonstrated that prolonged culture could preserve the hematopoietic reconstitution ability of ex vivo cultured CB cells and improve the engraftment level in NOD/SCID mice.

Radiosensitization Effect of Overexpression of Adenovirus-mediated SIRT6 on A549 Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Cai, Yong,Sheng, Zhao-Ying,Liang, Shi-Xiong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.17

Objective: To explore the radiosensitization effect of overexpression of silent information regulator 6 (SIRT6) on A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: Adenovirus vector Ad-SIRT6 causing overexpression of SIRT6 was established. Western blotting and MTT assay were adopted to detect the level of SIRT6 protein and the inhibitory rate of A549 cell proliferation after different concentrations of adenovirus transduction (0, 25, 100, 200, and 400 pfu/cell) for 24 h. Control group, Ad-null group and Ad-SIRT6 group were designed in this experiment and virus concentration of the latter two groups was 200 pfu/cell. Colony formation assays were employed to test survival fraction (SF) of the 3 groups after 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 X-ray irradiation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the status of cell cycle of 3 groups after 48 h of 4Gy X-ray irradiation and Western blotting was used to determine the expression of apoptosis-related genes of 3 groups after 48 h of 4GyX-ray irradiation. Results: In the range of 25~400 pfu/cell, the inhibitory rate of A549 cell proliferation increased as adenovirus concentration raised. The inhibitory rates under the concentrations of 0, 25, 100, 200, and 400 pfu/cell were 0%, $4.23{\pm}0.34%$, $12.7{\pm}2.57%$, $22.6{\pm}3.38%$, $32.2{\pm}3.22%$, $38.7{\pm}4.09%$ and $47.8{\pm}5.58%$ and there were significantly differences among groups (P<0.05). SF in Ad-SIRT6 group was lower than Ad-null and control groups after 4~10Gy X-ray irradiation (P<0.05) and the sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) was 1.35 when compared with control group. Moreover, after 48 h of 4Gy X-ray irradiation, there appeared a significant increase in G1-phase cell proportion, upregulated expression of the level of apoptosis-promoting genes (Bax and Cleaved caspase-3), but a obvious decline in S-phase and G2-phase cell proportion and a significant decrease of the level of apoptosis-inhibiting gene (Bal-2) in the Ad-SIRT6 group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The over-expression of adenovirus-mediated SIRT6, which has radiosensitization effect on A549 cells of NSCLC, can inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells and cause G0/G1 phase retardation as well as induce apoptosis of cells.