A large-area free-standing graphene oxide multilayer membrane with high stability for nanofiltration applications

Chen, Long,Li, Yanhui,Chen, Lina,Li, Na,Dong, Chenglong,Chen, Qiong,Liu, Beibei,Ai, Qing,Si, Pengchao,Feng, Jinkui,Zhang, Lin,Suhr, Jonghwan,Lou, Jun,Ci, Lijie Elsevier 2018 CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL -LAUSANNE- Vol.345 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>A flexible and free-standing graphene oxide and nylon 6 (GO@nylon 6) multilayer nanofiltration membrane was prepared by a layer-by-layer assembly process. The combination of electrospinning and electrospraying technique was employed, which can facilely prepare large-area membrane with size of 20 × 30 cm. The mechanical stability of multilayer membrane has enhanced significantly due to the tightly locked structure achieved by nylon 6 nanofibers network. The novel GO@nylon 6–13 multilayer nanofiltration membrane demonstrated a pure water flux up to 11.15 L m<SUP>−2</SUP> h<SUP>−1</SUP> bar<SUP>−1</SUP>, while keeping high organic dye rejection rate (>95% for methylene blue, and >99% for methyl orange). The rejections rate of the Na<SUB>2</SUB>SO<SUB>4</SUB>, NaCl, CuSO<SUB>4</SUB>, and Pb(NO<SUB>3</SUB>)<SUB>2</SUB> were 56.5%, 27.6%, 36.7%, and 18.9%, respectively. Furthermore, GO@nylon 6–13 multilayer nanofiltration membrane also demonstrated a high flux of some common organic solvents (8.4, 5.3, and 0.8 L m<SUP>−2</SUP> h<SUP>−1</SUP> bar<SUP>−1</SUP> for methanol, ethanol, and NMP, respectively), showing excellent chemical stability for separation process in those solvents.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Large-area GO@nylon 6 multilayer nanofiltration membrane was prepared. </LI> <LI> The multilayer structure enhances the mechanical stability. </LI> <LI> The multilayer membrane demonstrates a high water flux. </LI> <LI> The multilayer membrane shows high rejection rate for organic dyes. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>Photograph and cross-section SEM image of GO@nylon 6 multilayer nanofiltration membrane, the inset shows the water contact angle.</P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Establishment of Paclitaxel-resistant Breast Cancer Cell Line and Nude Mice Models, and Underlying Multidrug Resistance Mechanisms in Vitro and in Vivo

Chen, Si-Ying,Hu, Sa-Sa,Dong, Qian,Cai, Jiang-Xia,Zhang, Wei-Peng,Sun, Jin-Yao,Wang, Tao-Tao,Xie, Jiao,He, Hai-Rong,Xing, Jian-Feng,Lu, Jun,Dong, Ya-Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Background: Breast cancer is a common malignant tumor which affects health of women and multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the main factors leading to failure of chemotherapy. This study was conducted to establish paclitaxel-resistant breast cancer cell line and nude mice models to explore underlying mechanisms of MDR. Methods: The breast cancer drug-sensitive cell line MCF-7 (MCF-7/S) was exposed in stepwise escalating paclitaxel (TAX) to induce a resistant cell line MCF-7/TAX. Cell sensitivity to drugs and growth curves were measured by MTT assay. Changes of cell morphology and ultrastructure were examined by optical and electron microscopy. The cell cycle distribution was determined by flow cytometry. Furthermore, expression of proteins related to breast cancer occurrence and MDR was tested by immunocytochemistry. In Vivo, nude mice were injected with MCF-7/S and MCF-7/TAX cells and weights and tumor sizes were observed after paclitaxel treatment. In addition, proteins involved breast cancer and MDR were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared to MCF-7/S, MCF-7/TAX cells had a higher resistance to paclitaxel, cross-resistance and prolonged doubling time. Moreover, MCF-7/TAX showed obvious alterations of ultrastructure. Estrogen receptor (ER) expression was low in drug resistant cells and tumors while expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and Ki-67 was up-regulated. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), lung resistance-related protein (LRP) and glutathione-S-transferase-${\pi}$ (GST-${\pi}$) involved in the MDR phenotype of resistant cells and tumors were all overexpressed. Conclusion: The underlying MDR mechanism of breast cancer may involve increased expression of P-gp, LRP and GST-${\pi}$.

Effects of IFN-γ on IL-18 Expression in Pregnant Rats and Pregnancy Outcomes

Si, Li-Fang,Zhang, Shou-Yan,Gao, Chun-Sheng,Chen, Shu-Lin,Zhao, Jin,Cheng, Xiang-Chao Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2013 Animal Bioscience Vol.26 No.10

The present study focused on establishing the effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$) on interleukin-18 (IL-18) expression patterns and pregnancy outcomes in pregnant rats. Pregnant rats at the post-implantation stage were randomized into control, low IFN-${\gamma}$ (L-IFN-${\gamma}$) and high IFN-${\gamma}$ groups (H-IFN-${\gamma}$) that received normal saline, 100 IU/g of IFN-${\gamma}$ and 500 IU/g of IFN-${\gamma}$ vaginal muscular injection, respectively. The effects of IFN-${\gamma}$ on IL-18 expression and pregnancy outcomes were assessed systematically using several methods, including immunohistochemistry streptavidin-perosidase (SP), image pattern analysis, enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA), whole blood count (WBC) count, microscopy and visual observation. IL-18 was detected in the uteri of all pregnant rats, and mainly distributed in the endometrium, decidual cells, vascular endothelium and myometrium. Immunohistochemistry and image pattern analyses revealed significantly lower IL-18 expression in the H-IFN-${\gamma}$ group compared to the L-IFN-${\gamma}$ and control groups (p<0.01), indicating that high doses of IFN-${\gamma}$ induce downregulation of IL-18 in the uterus of pregnant rats. ELISA results disclosed that IL-18 expression in peripheral blood of the H-IFN-${\gamma}$ group was lower than that of the L-IFN-${\gamma}$ group (p<0.05), and significantly reduced compared to the control group (p<0.01). Moreover, the number of peripheral leukocytes in the H-IFN-${\gamma}$ group was significantly higher than those in the control and L-IFN-${\gamma}$ groups (p<0.01). Morphology analysis showed no evident differences between the L-IFN-${\gamma}$ and control groups. However, for the H-IFN-${\gamma}$ group, uterine mucosa bleeding, necrosis and excoriation were observed using microscopy. Visual observation revealed marroon, swelling, crassitude and no embryo in the uterus, which are obvious indicators of abortion. These results indicate that IFN-${\gamma}$ plays a regulatory role in IL-18 expression in the uterus and peripheral blood of pregnant rats at the post-implantation stage. Moreover, high levels (500 IU/g) of IFN-${\gamma}$ influence normal pregnancy at the early stages in rats by downregulating IL-18 expression in the uterus and peripheral blood and increasing the number of peripheral leukocytes, consequently triggering termination of pregnancy.

The effects of cigarettes and alcohol on intestinal microbiota in healthy men

Lin Renbin,Zhang Yawen,Chen Luyi,Qi Yadong,He Jiamin,Hu Mengjia,Zhang Ying,Fan Lina,Yang Tao,Wang Lan,Si Misi,Chen Shujie 한국미생물학회 2020 The journal of microbiology Vol.58 No.11

Human intestinal microbiota is affected by the exogenous microenvironment. This study aimed to determine the effects of cigarettes and alcohol on the gut microbiota of healthy men. In total, 116 healthy male subjects were enrolled and divided into four groups: non-smoking and non-drinking (Group A), smoking only (Group B), drinking only (Group C), and smoking and drinking combined (Group D). Fecal samples were collected and sequenced using 16S rRNA to analyze the microbial composition. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFAs) levels in feces were determined by gas chromatography. We found that cigarette and alcohol consumptions can alter overall composition of gut microbiota in healthy men. The relative abundances of phylum Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes and more than 40 genera were changed with cigarette and alcohol consumptions. SCFAs decreased with smoking and alcohol consumption. Multivariate analysis indicated that when compared with group A, group B/C/D had higher Bacteroides, and lower Phascolarctobacterium, Ruminococcaceae_ UCG-002, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-003, and Ruminiclostridium_ 9 regardless of BMI and age. Additionally, the abundance of Bacteroides was positively correlated with the smoking pack-year (r = 0.207, p < 0.05), the abundance of predicted pathway of bacterial toxins (r = 0.3672, p < 0.001) and the level of carcinoembryonic antigen in host (r = 0.318, p < 0.01). Group D shared similar microbial construction with group B, but exerted differences far from group C with lower abundance of Haemophilus. These results demonstrated that cigarette and alcohol consumption separately affected the intestinal microbiota and function in healthy men; furthermore, the co-occurrence of cigarette and alcohol didn’t exacerbate the dysbiosis and cigarette played the predominated role on the alteration.

Regulation of Nrf2 Transactivation Domain Activity by p160 RAC3/SRC3 and Other Nuclear Co-Regulators

( Wen Lin ),( Guo Xiang Shen ),( Xiao Ling Yuan ),( Mohit R. Jain ),( Si Wang Yu ),( Ai Hua Zhang ),( J. Don Chen ),( Ah Ng Tony Kong ) 생화학분자생물학회 2006 BMB Reports Vol.39 No.3

Cone-beam computed tomographic evaluation of mandibular incisor alveolar bone changes for the intrusion arch technique: A retrospective cohort research

Lu Lin,Si Jiaping,Wang Zhikang,Chen Xiaoyan 대한치과교정학회 2024 대한치과교정학회지 Vol.54 No.2

Objective: Alveolar bone loss is a common adverse effect of intrusion treatment. Mandibular incisors are prone to dehiscence and fenestrations as they suffer from thinner alveolar bone thickness. Methods: Thirty skeletal class II patients treated with mandibular intrusion arch therapy were included in this study. Lateral cephalograms and cone-beam computed tomography images were taken before treatment (T1) and immediately after intrusion arch removal (T2) to evaluate the tooth displacement and the alveolar bone changes. Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation was used to identify risk factors of alveolar bone loss during the intrusion treatment. Results: Deep overbite was successfully corrected (P < 0.05), accompanied by mandibular incisor proclination (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant change in the true incisor intrusion (P > 0.05). The labial and lingual vertical alveolar bone levels showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05). The alveolar bone is thinning in the labial crestal area and lingual apical area (P < 0.05); accompanied by thickening in the labial apical area (P < 0.05). Proclined incisors, non-extraction treatment, and increased A point-nasion-B point (ANB) degree were positively correlated with alveolar bone loss. Conclusions: While the mandibular intrusion arch effectively corrected the deep overbite, it did cause some unwanted incisor labial tipping/flaring. During the intrusion treatment, the alveolar bone underwent corresponding changes, which was thinning in the labial crestal area and thickening in the labial apical area vice versa. And increased axis change of incisors, non-extraction treatment, and increased ANB were identified as risk factors for alveolar bone loss in patients with mandibular intrusion therapy.

Costmap Generation Based on Dynamic Obstacle Detection and Velocity Obstacle Estimation for Autonomous Mobile Robot

Chin-Sheng Chen,Si-Yu Lin 제어로봇시스템학회 2021 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2021 No.10

The environmental conditions corresponding to dangerous or collided areas are generally represented by Costmap when the Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) is navigated. Here, this paper provides a Costmap 2D layer plugin, Velocity Obstacle layer, it can accurately detect obstacle’s coordination and radius and then estimate the obstacle’s velocity to create Velocity Obstacle which can represent the potential collision vector in the future. In the simulation, we assume the robot’s max velocity is 0.2m/s and an obstacle move forward to the robot with 0.3m/s. The results show the AMR can avoid the obstacle well. In experiment, the AMR also can avoid the people moving toward it in the real world.

Effect of pH Buffer and Carbon Metabolism on the Yield and Mechanical Properties of Bacterial Cellulose Produced by Komagataeibacter hansenii ATCC 53582

( Zhaofeng Li ),( Si-qian Chen ),( Xiao Cao ),( Lin Li ),( Jie Zhu ),( Hongpeng Yu ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2021 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.31 No.3

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is widely used in the food industry for products such as nata de coco. The mechanical properties of BC hydrogels, including stiffness and viscoelasticity, are determined by the hydrated fibril network. Generally, Komagataeibacter bacteria produce gluconic acids in a glucose medium, which may affect the pH, structure and mechanical properties of BC. In this work, the effect of pH buffer on the yields of Komagataeibacter hansenii strain ATCC 53582 was studied. The bacterium in a phosphate and phthalate buffer with low ionic strength produced a good BC yield (5.16 and 4.63 g/l respectively), but there was a substantial reduction in pH due to the accumulation of gluconic acid. However, the addition of gluconic acid enhanced the polymer density and mechanical properties of BC hydrogels. The effect was similar to that of the bacteria using glycerol in another carbon metabolism circuit, which provided good pH stability and a higher conversion rate of carbon. This study may broaden the understanding of how carbon sources affect BC biosynthesis.

Crack detection based on ResNet with spatial attention

Qiaoning Yang,Si Jiang,Juan Chen,Weiguo Lin 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2020 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.26 No.5

Deep Convolution neural network (DCNN) has been widely used in the healthy maintenance of civil infrastructure. Using DCNN to improve crack detection performance has attracted many researchers’ attention. In this paper, a light-weight spatial attention network module is proposed to strengthen the representation capability of ResNet and improve the crack detection performance. It utilizes attention mechanism to strengthen the interested objects in global receptive field of ResNet convolution layers. Global average spatial information over all channels are used to construct an attention scalar. The scalar is combined with adaptive weighted sigmoid function to activate the output of each channel’s feature maps. Salient objects in feature maps are refined by the attention scalar. The proposed spatial attention module is stacked in ResNet50 to detect crack. Experiments results show that the proposed module can got significant performance improvement in crack detection.

Elevated plasma YKL-40 level is found in the dogs with cancer and is related to poor prognosis

Kai-Chung Cheng,Jih-Jong Lee,Shang-Lin Wang,Chun-Yu Lin,Ching-Tien Tseng,Chen-Si Lin,Albert Taiching Liao 대한수의학회 2019 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.20 No.5

YKL-40, a secreted glycoprotein, may serve as an autoantigen, which mediates multipleinflammatory diseases and cancers. A high YKL-40 serum level is correlated with metastasisand poor survival in a variety of human cancers. However, the role of YKL-40 in dogs is stillunder evaluation. Herein, we examined the associations between plasma YKL-40 level andYKL-40 autoantibody (YAA) titers with malignancy and prognosis in canine cancer. Plasmalevels of YKL-40 in healthy dogs (n = 20) and in dogs (n = 82) with cancer were evaluatedusing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our results indicated that plasma YKL-40 levelswere significantly higher (p < 0.01) in dogs with cancer than in healthy dogs. A significantdecrease in the YAA titers was detected in the dogs with cancer when compared with thoseof the healthy dogs (p < 0.05), although the change was not correlated with the YKL-40levels. Among the dogs with cancer, plasma YKL-40 levels in the dogs that later relapsed orhad metastasis were significantly higher than in the dogs with no signs of relapse (p < 0.01)or metastasis (p <0.05). The relapse and metastasis rates were significantly higher in thehigh YKL-40 group (> 180 pg/mL) than in the low YKL-40 group (< 180 pg/mL). The resultsimply that plasma YKL-40 levels might have the potential to be developed as a marker ofmalignancy progression and prognosis in canine cancers.