Behavior of improved through-diaphragm connection to square tubular column under tensile loading

Qin, Ying,Zhang, Jing-Chen,Shi, Peng,Chen, Yi-Fu,Xu, Yao-Han,Shi, Zuo-Zheng 국제구조공학회 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.68 No.4

Square tubular columns are commonly used in moment resisting frames, while through-diaphragm connection is the most typical configuration detail to connect the H-shaped beam to the column. However, brittle fracture normally occurs at the complete joint penetration weld between the beam flange and the through-diaphragm due to the stress concentration caused by the geometrical discontinuity. Accordingly, three improved types of through-diaphragm are presented in this paper to provide smooth force flow path comparing to that of conventional connections. Tensile tests were conducted on four specimens and the results were analyzed in terms of failure modes, load-displacement response, yield and ultimate capacity, and initial stiffness. Furthermore, strain distributions on the through-diaphragm, the beam flange plate, and the column face were comprehensively evaluated and discussed. It was found that all the proposed three types of improved through-diaphragm connections were able to reduce the stress concentration in the welds between the beam flange and the through-diaphragm. Furthermore, the stress distribution in connection with longer tapered through-diaphragm was more uniform.

The local time of the linear self-attracting diffusion driven by weighted fractional Brownian motion

Qin Chen,Guangjun Shen,Qingbo Wang 대한수학회 2020 대한수학회보 Vol.57 No.3

In this paper, we introduce the linear self-attracting diffusion driven by a weighted fractional Brownian motion with weighting exponent $a>-1$ and Hurst index $|b|<a+1,0<b<1$, which is analogous to the linear fractional self-attracting diffusion. For the 1-dimensional process we study its convergence and the corresponding weighted local time. As a related problem, we also obtain the renormalized intersection local time exists in $L^2$ if $\text{max}\{a_1+b_1,a_2+b_2\}<0$.

Amphiregulin secreted by cartilage endplate stem cells inhibits intervertebral disk degeneration and TNF-α production via PI3K/AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways

Chen Qin,Wu Yaohong,Zhong Mingliang,Xu Chanhua,Chen Rongchun,Liu Ning 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2023 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.19 No.2

Background Intervertebral disk degeneration (IDD) is a common orthopedic disorder, and nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) serve to stabilize the intervertebral disk. Objective This study was implemented to explore the protective eff ect of endplate stem cells (EPSCs) on IDD. NPCs and EPSCs were isolated from rats and tert -Butyl peroxide (TBHP) was used to treat NPCs and simulate IDD. EPSC-derived conditioned medium (CM) was collected and mixed with a culture medium at diff erent proportions, which was then used to treat NPCs. SOD assay was employed to examine the oxidative stress level in the NPCs. To assess apoptosis and caspase-3 activity, fl ow cytometry and western blots for cleaved PARP1 and BAX were carried out. The mRNA expression levels of diff erent genes were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the concentrations of amphiregulin (Areg) and infl ammatory factors were measured with ELISA kits and cell signaling pathways were evaluated using western blotting. Results Following TBHP treatment, caspase-3 activity in the NPCs increased. However, exposing TBHP-induced NPCs to the EPSC-derived CM reduced oxidative stress, caspase-3 activity, cell apoptosis, fi brotic response, and cytokine production. Additionally, the EPSC-derived CM contained a higher concentration of Areg compared to that in the NPCs. Furthermore, Areg decreased oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, fi brosis, and infl ammation via both PI3K/AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. Conclusion ECSCs reduce NPC apoptosis, oxidative stress, production of infl ammatory factors, and fi brotic response via the release of Areg. Moreover, Areg can exert these protective eff ects on NPCs via PI3K/AKT and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.

The transcription factor PjERF1 enhances the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins in Panax japonicus

Chen Qin,Yu Yilin,Zhang Xiang,Zhao Ren,Zhang Jinyu,Liu Diqiu,Cui Xiuming,Ge Feng 한국식물생명공학회 2021 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.15 No.5

The ERF-type transcription factors (TFs) play vital roles in plant secondary metabolism. ERF TFs simultaneously regulate the expression levels of key enzyme genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites due to its “multi-point control” function. In this study, one gene of ERF TFs from Panax japonicus (PjERF1) was cloned. The open reading frame of PjERF1 was 801 bp and encoded 266 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that PjERF1 belonged to ERF subfamily with a typical conserved domain. Subcellular localization found that PjERF1 protein might be located in eukaryotic cell nucleus. Yeast one-hybrid assay demonstrated that PjERF1 could bind to the promoters of PjβAS, PjCAS, and PjSE specifically and regulate the expression levels of such key enzyme genes involved in the triterpene saponins biosynthesis. Therefore, in the PjERF1 overexpression cell lines, the expression levels of some key enzyme genes involved in the triterpenoid saponins biosynthesis were significantly increased compared with those in non-transgenic cell line. As a result of it, the biosynthesis of chikusetsusaponin IV and IVa, and other ginsenosides (Rd, Rb1, Re, and R0) were also promoted in the PjERF1 over- expression cell lines. This study indicated that PjERF1 could regulate the biosynthesis of saponins in P. japonicus through controlling the expression levels of key enzyme genes related to the biosynthesis of triterpenoid saponins.

Use of an Artificial Neural Network to Construct a Model of Predicting Deep Fungal Infection in Lung Cancer Patients

Chen, Jian,Chen, Jie,Ding, Hong-Yan,Pan, Qin-Shi,Hong, Wan-Dong,Xu, Gang,Yu, Fang-You,Wang, Yu-Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.12

Background: The statistical methods to analyze and predict the related dangerous factors of deep fungal infection in lung cancer patients were several, such as logic regression analysis, meta-analysis, multivariate Cox proportional hazards model analysis, retrospective analysis, and so on, but the results are inconsistent. Materials and Methods: A total of 696 patients with lung cancer were enrolled. The factors were compared employing Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney test or the Chi-square test and variables that were significantly related to the presence of deep fungal infection selected as candidates for input into the final artificial neural network analysis (ANN) model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and area under curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the performance of the artificial neural network (ANN) model and logistic regression (LR) model. Results: The prevalence of deep fungal infection from lung cancer in this entire study population was 32.04%(223/696), deep fungal infections occur in sputum specimens 44.05%(200/454). The ratio of candida albicans was 86.99% (194/223) in the total fungi. It was demonstrated that older (${\geq}65$ years), use of antibiotics, low serum albumin concentrations (${\leq}37.18g/L$), radiotherapy, surgery, low hemoglobin hyperlipidemia (${\leq}93.67g/L$), long time of hospitalization (${\geq}14$days) were apt to deep fungal infection and the ANN model consisted of the seven factors. The AUC of ANN model($0.829{\pm}0.019$)was higher than that of LR model ($0.756{\pm}0.021$). Conclusions: The artificial neural network model with variables consisting of age, use of antibiotics, serum albumin concentrations, received radiotherapy, received surgery, hemoglobin, time of hospitalization should be useful for predicting the deep fungal infection in lung cancer.

Absence of EZH2 Gene Mutation in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients in Blast Crisis

Chen, Hao-Yue,Yao, Hong,Wu, Ling-Yu,Liu, Can-Jun,Zhu, Jian-Qin,Liu, Chun-Hua,Wang, Wei,Dong, Sha-Sha,Ping, Na-Na,Chen, Su-Ning,Sun, Miao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.5

Determination of ginsenosides in Asian and American ginsengs by liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight MS: assessing variations based on morphological characteristics

Chen, Yujie,Zhao, Zhongzhen,Chen, Hubiao,Brand, Eric,Yi, Tao,Qin, Minjian,Liang, Zhitao The Korean Society of Ginseng 2017 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.41 No.1

Background: Asian ginseng and American ginseng are functional foods that share a close genetic relationship and are well-known worldwide. This article aims to investigate the correlation between morphological characteristics and the inherent quality of Asian and American ginsengs. Methods: In this study, an ultra-HPLC-quadrupole/time-of-flight MS (UHPLC-Q/TOF-MS) method was established for the quantitative analysis of 45 ginseng samples. The method developed for determination was precise and accurate. Results: The results showed that Asian ginseng samples with the same growing time (with the same or similar number of stem scars) that had a thinner main root, a longer rhizome and more branch roots contained greater amounts of ginsenosides. For American ginseng, two tendencies were observed in the relationship between the diameter of the main root and contents of ginsenosides. One tendency was that samples with thinner main roots tended to contain higher levels of ginsenosides, which was observed in the samples sold under the commercial name pao-shen. Another tendency was that samples with thicker main roots contained higher contents of ginsenosides, which was observed in the samples sold under the commercial name pao-mian, as well as in samples of American ginseng cultivated in Jilin, China. Conclusion: An approach using ultra-HPLC-quadrupole/time-of-flight MS was successfully established to link morphology and active components for evaluating the quality of Asian and American ginsengs. Clear correlation between visible morphological features and quality of Asian and American ginsengs was found. People can see the difference; this means consumers and vendors can evaluate ginseng by themselves.

Effects of adenovirus-mediated bFGF, IL-1Ra and IGF-1 gene transfer on human osteoarthritic chondrocytes and osteoarthritis in rabbits

Chen, Biao,Qin, Jun,Wang, Hui,Magdalou, Jacques,Chen, Liaobin Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Bion 2010 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.42 No.10

The study investigated the effects of adenovirus-mediated gene transfection of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), bFGF combined with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IL-Ra) and/or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) both in human osteoarthritis (OA) chondrocytes and rabbits OA model. Human OA chondrocytes were delivered by adenovirus-mediated bFGF, IL-Ra and IGF-1 vectors, respectively. Chondrocyte proliferation, glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content, expression of type II collagen, ADAMTS-5, MMP-13, MMP-3 and TIMP-1 were determined. Rabbit OA model was induced by anterior cruciate ligament transaction (ACLT) in knees. Adenoviral vectors encoding human bFGF, IL-Ra and IGF-1 were injected intraarticularly into the knee joints after ACLT. The effects of adenovirus-mediated gene transfection on rabbit OA were evaluated. In vitro, the transfected genes were expressed in cell supernatant of human OA chondrocytes. AdbFGF group significantly promoted chondrocyte proliferation, and increased GAG and type II collagen synthesis than in the OA group. As two or three genes were transfected in different combinations, there was significant enhancement on the GAG content, type II collagen synthesis, and TIMP-1 levels, while ADAMTS-5, MMP-13, and MMP-3 levels were reduced. In vivo, the transfected genes were expressed in synovial fluid of rabbits. Intraarticular delivery of bFGF enhanced the expression of type II collagen in cartilage and decreased cartilage Mankin score compared with the OA control group (P = 0.047; P < 0.01, respectively). Multiple-gene transfection in different combinations showed better results than bFGF transfection alone. This study suggests that bFGF gene transfection is effective in treating experimental OA. Multiple gene transfection has better biologic effects on OA.

T-SPOT.TB for Detection of Tuberculosis Infection among Hematological Malignancy Patients and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

Qin, Li-Li,Wang, Qin-Rong,Wang, Qian,Yao, Hong,Wen, Li-Jun,Wu, Li-Li,Ping, Na-Na,Xie, Jun-Dan,Chen, Mei-Yu,Chen, Su-Ning Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

The diagnosis of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is recommended in hematological malignancy patients and before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Guidelines for the prevention and management of infectious complications of solid organ transplantation, 2004). Compared to traditional methods such as tuberculin skin test (TST), T-SPOT.TB has been shown to be more specific. In the present study we enrolled 536 patients for whom T-SPOT.TB was performed, among which 295 patients also received the TST test. The agreement (79%) between T-SPOT.TB and TST was poor (x=0.274, P<0.001). The patients with positive T-SPOT.TB results numbered 62 (11.6%), in which only 20 (48.8%) of the 41 receiving the TST test had positive results. A majority of the patients with T-SPOT.TB positive results had some other evidence ofTB, such as TB history, clinical symptoms and an abnormal chest CT scan. Active TB was found in 9 patients, in which 2 had negative TST results. We followed up the patients and no one developed active TB. Our study suggested that the T-SPOT.TB may be more useful for screening LTBI and active TB in hematological malignancy patients and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients than the TST test.

Effects of Daidzein on mRNA Expression of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type I and II Genes in the Ovine Granulosa Cells

Chen, A Qin,Xu, Zi Rong,Yu, Song Dong,Yang, Zhi Gang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2010 Animal Bioscience Vol.23 No.3

Daidzein, a natural isoflavonoid phytoestrogen, structurally resembles estradiol (E2) and possesses estrogenic activity. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that daidzein may mimic the effects of E2 on ovine follicle development by regulation of the mRNA expression of bone morphogenetic protein receptor genes and thereby influence the reproductive system. Granulosa cells were cultured in serum-free McCoy's 5A medium with and without supplementation of daidzein. Results showed that daidzein (10-100 ng/ml) significantly increased the proliferation of ovine granulosa cells (p<0.05), but inhibited the growth of granulosa cells at a dose of 1,000 ng/ml (p<0.01). Daidzein inhibited progesterone production in a dose dependent manner; however, it did not affect estradiol production by granulosa cells. We also investigated the effects of daidzein on BMPRII, BMPRIB and ALK-5 mRNA expression in ovine granulosa cells by quantitative real-time PCR. Treatment of granulosa cells with daidzein increased significantly expression of these genes at 10-100 ng/ml. Thus, these data suggested that a low concentration of daidzein (10-100 ng/ml) had a direct stimulatory effect on ovine granulosa cells while a high concentration was toxic.