Fabrication of Al–Ti–B Grain Refiner Using Machining Ti Chips, Reaction Mechanisms and Grain Refinement Performance in Pure Al

Maoliang Hu,Fei Wang,Bo Jiang,Huasheng Wang,Yile Liu,Zesheng Ji 대한금속·재료학회 2022 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.28 No.6

Al–5Ti–1B grain refiner was successfully prepared with the reaction of Ti chips produced during machining and KBF4inpure aluminum melt. In order to illustrate the reaction mechanism of Ti chips, the effect of different feeding ways and reactiontimes of Ti chips on microstructure and refining performance of Al–5Ti–1B was systematically investigated by opticalmicroscope, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffractometer. The results show that, in three feeding ways, includingadding Ti chips firstly, adding KBF4firstly and adding both Ti chips and KBF4in the form of prefabricated blocks, the bestrefining performance of Al–5Ti–1B is the feeding way of using the prefabricated block. TiB2and TiAl3as effective heterogeneousnuclei are formed simultaneously around the Ti chips. The average grain size of pure aluminum is refined to about206.80 μm. The reaction time mainly affects the dissolution process of Ti chips and the average size of TiAl3. With the reactiontime from 60 min to 90 min and then to 120 min, the average size of TiAl3increases from 10.74 μm to 14.30 μm and thento 15.39 μm. During the dissolution process, Ti chips undergo a transition from a thermal isolation layer to a supersaturatedzone of Ti atoms. Based on the analysis of the dissolution process of Ti chips, the dissolution model is proposed. Al–5Ti–1B has the best refining performance at 90 min of the reaction time, which can refine pure aluminum to about 223.65 μm.

miR-124 Inhibits Growth and Invasion of Gastric Cancer by Targeting ROCK1

Hu, Cong-Bing,Li, Qiao-Lin,Hu, Jian-Fei,Zhang, Qiang,Xie, Jian-Ping,Deng, Li Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.16

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as critical regulators of genes involved in many biological processes. Aberrant alteration of miRNAs have been found in many cancers, including gastric cancer (GC), but the molecular mechanisms are not well understood. Herein, we investigated the role of miR-124 in GC. We found that its expression was significantly reduced in both GC tissue samples and cell lines. Forced expression of miR-124 suppressed GC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, the Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK1) was identified as a direct target of miR-124 in GC cells. Finally, silencing of ROCK1 showed similar effects as miR-124 overexpression, while supplementation of ROCK1 remarkably restored the cell growth and invasion inhibited by miR-124. Together, our data demonstrate that miR-124 acts as a tumor suppressor by targeting ROCK1, and posit miR-124 as a novel strategy for GC treatment.

Identification and expression analysis of four heat shock protein genes associated with thermal stress in rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae

Fei Hu,Kan Ye,Xiao-Fang Tu,Yu-Jie Lu,Kiran Thakur,Zhao-Jun Wei 한국응용곤충학회 2018 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.21 No.3

In order to explore the function of heat shock proteins during thermal stress in rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, four heat shock protein genes were cloned and characterized. These heat shock protein genes (hsps) were named as Sohsp70–1, Sohsp70–2, Sohsc70, and Sohsp90, respectively. These hsps showed high sequence conservation with the maximum identity with hsps of Tribolium castaneum and other insects. All the four genes showed the highest mRNA expression in pupal stage and the lowest levels in larval stage. The induced expression of the two Sohsp70s (Sohsp70–1 and Sohsp70–2) were reached to the highest levels (15.59-fold and 12.66-fold) after 2 h of incubation at 37 °C, respectively. Expression of Sohsp90 not only was significantly elevated by heat stress but also by cold stress. Whereas, expression level of Sohsc70 was not induced either by heat or cold stress. Furthermore, for rapid heat hardening, the expression levels of Sohsp70–1, Sohsp70–2, Sohsc70 and Sohsp90 were observed as 2.57, 2.53, 3.33 and 2.33-fold higher than control, respectively; for rapid cold hardening, the expression levels of Sohsp70–1, Sohsp70–2, Sohsc70 and Sohsp90 were reported as 2.27, 3.02, 3.37 and 2.23-fold higher than control, respectively. Hence, our results revealed that the four Sohsps were associated with temperature adaption under rapid heat or cold hardening.

Retinoid Receptors in Gastric Cancer: Expression and Influence on Prognosis

Hu, Kong-Wang,Chen, Fei-Hu,Ge, Jin-Fang,Cao, Li-Yu,Li, Hao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Background: Gastric cancer is frequently lethal despite aggressive multimodal therapies, and new treatment approaches are therefore needed. Retinoids are potential candidate drugs: they prevent cell differentiation, proliferation and malignant transformation in gastric cancer cell lines. They interact with nuclear retinoid receptors (the retinoic acid receptors [RARs] and retinoid X receptors [RXRs]), which function as transcription factors, each with three subclasses, ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$ and ${\gamma}$. At present, little is known about retinoid expression and influence on prognosis in gastric cancers. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the expression of the subtypes RARa, $RAR{\beta}$, $RAR{\gamma}$, RXRa, $RXR{\beta}$, $RXR{\gamma}$ by immunohistochemistry in 147 gastric cancers and 51 normal gastric epithelium tissues for whom clinical follow-up data were available and correlated the results with clinical characteristics. In addition, we quantified the expression of retinoid receptor mRNA using real-time PCR (RT-PCR) in another 6 gastric adenocarcinoma and 3 normal gastric tissues. From 2008 to 2010, 80 patients with gastric cancers were enrolled onto therapy with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA). Results: RARa, $RAR{\beta}$, $RAR{\gamma}$ and $RXR{\gamma}$ positively correlated with each other (p < 0.001) and demonstrated significantly lower levels in the carcinoma tissue sections (p < 0.01), with lower $RAR{\beta}$, $RAR{\gamma}$ and RXRa expression significantly related to advanced stages (p < =0.01). Tumors with poor histopathologic grade had lower levels of RARa and $RAR{\beta}$ in different histological types of gastric carcinoma (p < 0.01). Patients whose tumors exhibited low levels of RARa expression had significantly lower overall survival compared with patients who had higher expression levels of this receptor (p < 0.001, HR=0.42, 95.0% CI 0.24-0.73), and patients undergoing ATRA treatment had significantly longer median survival times (p = 0.007, HR=0.41, 95.0% CI 0.21-0.80). Conclusions: Retinoic acid receptors are frequently expressed in epithelial gastric cancer with a decreased tendency of expression and RARa may be an indicator of a positive prognosis. This study provides a molecular basis for the therapeutic use of retinoids against gastric cancer.

Application of Energy Dissipation Technology in High-Rise Buildings

Hu, Da-Zhu,Zhang, Xiao-Xuan,Li, Guo-Qiang,Sun, Fei-Fei,Jin, Hua-Jian Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat Korea 2021 International journal of high-rise buildings Vol.10 No.2

The principle of energy dissipation technology is to dissipate or absorb the seismic energy input through the deformation or velocity change of dampers installed in the main structure of high-rise buildings, so as to reduce the seismic response of the buildings. With the development of energy dissipation technology, recognized as an effective and new measurement for reducing seismic effects, its application in high-rise buildings has become more and more popular. The appropriate energy dissipation devices suitable for high-rise buildings are introduced in this paper. The effectiveness of energy-dissipation technology for reducing the seismic response of high-rise buildings with various structural forms is demonstrated with a number of actual examples of high-rise buildings equipped with various energy dissipation devices.

A Systematic Search for the Geometric Structures, Stabilities and Electronic Properties of Bimetallic CsAu(0,±1)n Clusters

Hu Yan-Fei,Li Qing-Yang,Zhao Ya-Ru,Jiang Gang 한국물리학회 2020 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.77 No.1

The geometric structures, relative stabilities, growth-pattern behaviors, and electronic properties of neutral and charged CsAun(0,±1) clusters have been systematically investigated with the general gradient approximation (GGA) exchange correlation density functional theory (TPSSTPSS) and a relativistic effective core potential, together with a vibrational frequency anslysis. The optimized geometric structures show that the ground-state structures have three-dimensional (3D) structures from n = 4 and that the doped Cs atoms tend to locate at the symmetry and surface position. One gold-atom-capped CsAun-1(0,±1) structure for CsAun(0,±1) clusters with increasing number of Au atoms is the dominant growth pattern. The total energies and the averaged atomic binding energies exhibit a sequence of CsAun- > CsAun > CsAun+, which indicates that the stability of anionic CsAun- clusters is higher than that of neutral CsAun clusters and that the CsAun clusters is more stable than the cationic CsAun+ clusters. The relative stabilities are examined based on the analysis of the averaged atomic binding energy and the second-order difference energy, and the results indicate that the CsAu3, CsAu6+ and CsAu2- clusters are the most stable clusters. Based on the analysis of the frontier molecular orbitals, we find that the CsAun(0,±1) (n = 1 - 10) clusters can more easily acquire electrons and that the loss of electrons is difficult. The highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gaps exhibit significant even-odd oscillation behavior. The higher gaps are exhibited by neutral CsAun clusters with odd numbers of gold atoms and ionic CsAunㅇ1 clusters with even numbers of gold atoms. Especially, the CsAu3, CsAu6+ and CsAu2- clusters have the highest HOMO-LUMO gaps, which proves again that CsAu3, CsAu6^+ and CsAu2- clusters are the most stable and the magic structures. Because of the electronegativity of Au is higher than that of the Cs atom, the charge transfers from the Cs atoms to the Aun frames in the CsAun±1 clusters. Furthermore, we have calculated the dissociation energies and found that the CsAun+ clusters have lower dissociation energies. This indicates that CsAun^+ clusters are easy to dissociate and less stable. The dissociation energies of the CsAun and the CsAun- clusters exhibit a generally opposite odd-even behavior.

Multi-objective Structural Optimization of Composite Wind Turbine Blade

Wei-Fei Hu(후웨이페이),Sang-Joon Yoon(윤상준),Sang-Chul Park(박상철),Dong-Hoon Choi(최동훈) 대한기계학회 2009 대한기계학회 춘추학술대회 Vol.2009 No.11

An extensively automated optimization procedure is presented for a Horizontal-Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) blade. The design parameters associated with Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastics (GFRP) and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP) applied in HAWT blade is optimized automatically. The cost and total mass of the blade are set to be a multi-objective with the constraints of maximum tip deflection and Tsai-Wu failure criterion. To evaluate the mass, tip deflection and stress of the blade under pressure load, a FEM model is generated in SAMCEF environment, a commercial CAE tool. Combining it with a Process Integration and Design Optimization (PIDO) tool named PIAnO, the whole optimization process is executed automatically, which could dramatically reduce the manual design time and increase the efficiency in realistic industrial problem. The design variables consist of layer thickness, type of GFRP and CFRP layers as well as reinforcement orientations in composite laminate. Since they are all discrete values, Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) is applied for searching the global optimal solution with moderate calculation cost. The optimized stacking arrangement of CFRP and GFRP of the blade showed minimized cost and mass satisfying the tip deflection constraint and Tsai-Wu failure criterion.

Psychopathological Profile of Women with Breast Cancer Based on the Symptom Checklist-90-R

Pan, Xiong-Fei,Fei, Man-Dong,Zhang, Kenneth Y.,Fan, Zhen-Lie,Fu, Feng-Huan,Fan, Jin-Hu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Background: With effective early treatments, many breast cancer patients suffer from psychological distress due to adverse effects and lifelong physical disfigurement. Our study aimed to evaluate the psychopathological profile of breast cancer patients in comparison with healthy women and explored demographic correlates. Method: We consecutively enrolled breast cancer patients who came to the hospital for follow-up or rehabilitation care after primary treatment, and healthy female relatives or friends of inpatients in the Cancer Institute of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between August 30, 2010 and January 1, 2012. Psychopathological profile was assessed based on the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) for patients and controls. We compared demographics such as age, ethnicity, education, marriage, and occupation, and incorporated these data plus cancer status for the association with the general SCL-90-R index and scores for 9 major symptom dimensions in multiple regression analysis. Results: We surveyed a total of 291 female breast cancer patients and 531 healthy women. The average age was $55.1{\pm}6.40$ years for breast cancer patients and $43.1{\pm}12.8$ for healthy controls (P<0.01). The mean survival was 5.20 years for cancer patients (range, 0.60-9.90 years). There were statistically significant differences in education, marriage, and occupation between the two groups (P<0.01). General index ($1.45{\pm}0.45$ versus $1.32{\pm}0.37$) and 8 dimension scores (excluding anxiety) on SCL-90-R were significantly higher in patients (P<0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that the breast cancer status was positively correlated with general SCL-90-R index and 6 dimension scores (excluding the anxiety, phobic anxiety and paranoid ideation dimensions) (P<0.05). Regression coefficients ranged from 0.10 (depression) to 0.19 (somatization). Higher interpersonal sensitivity was noticed in single women compared to married women. Conclusions: Chinese patients with breast cancer demonstrate greater psychopathology compared to healthy controls. The breast cancer status is an independent contributing factor to the general psychopathological profile. Breast cancer patients should be given particular counseling and care to alleviate their psychological distress.

Nano La2O3 as a heterogeneous catalyst for biodiesel synthesis by transesterification of Jatropha curcas L. oil

Quan Zhou,Song Yang,Heng Zhang,Fei Chang,Hu Li,Hu Pan,Wei Xue,De-Yu Hu 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.31 No.-

A comparative study on the activity of La2O3 and two kinds of nano La2O3 catalysts prepared usingsonochemical (nano La2O3-S) and hydrothermal methods in the transesterification to produce biodieselwas conducted. The relatively high activity of nano La2O3 catalysts may be ascribed to their high basestrength, large base amount, small particle size and large BET surface areas. Nano La2O3-S was selectedfor further optimisation due to its simple preparation procedure and short preparation time. The FAMEcontent and yield obtained were successively 97.6% and 90.3% under optimal conditions. Moreover, nanoLa2O3-S showed a remarkable tolerance to FFA.

Calpain-10 SNP43 and SNP19 Polymorphisms and Colorectal Cancer: a Matched Case-control Study

Hu, Xiao-Qin,Yuan, Ping,Luan, Rong-Sheng,Li, Xiao-Ling,Liu, Wen-Hui,Feng, Fei,Yan, Jin,Yang, Yan-Fang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Objective: Insulin resistance (IR) is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). Given that CRC and IR physiologically overlap and the calpain-10 gene (CAPN10) is a candidate for IR, we explored the association between CAPN10 and CRC risk. Methods: Blood samples of 400 case-control pairs were genotyped, and the lifestyle and dietary habits of these pairs were recorded and collected. Unconditional logistic regression (LR) was used to assess the effects of CAPN10 SNP43 and SNP19, and environmental factors. Both generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) and the classification and regression tree (CART) were used to test gene-environment interactions for CRC risk. Results: The GA+AA genotype of SNP43 and the Del/Ins+Ins/Ins genotype of SNP19 were marginally related to CRC risk (GA+AA: OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 0.92-1.99; Del/Ins+Ins/Ins: OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 0.84-2.04). Notably, a high-order interaction was consistently identified by GMDR and CART analyses. In GMDR, the four-factor interaction model of SNP43, SNP19, red meat consumption, and smoked meat consumption was the best model, with a maximum cross-validation consistency of 10/10 and testing balance accuracy of 0.61 (P < 0.01). In LR, subjects with high red and smoked meat consumption and two risk genotypes had a 6.17-fold CRC risk (95% CI = 2.44-15.6) relative to that of subjects with low red and smoked meat consumption and null risk genotypes. In CART, individuals with high smoked and red meat consumption, SNP19 Del/Ins+Ins/Ins, and SNP43 GA+AA had higher CRC risk (OR = 4.56, 95%CI = 1.94-10.75) than those with low smoked and red meat consumption. Conclusions: Though the single loci of CAPN10 SNP43 and SNP19 are not enough to significantly increase the CRC susceptibility, the combination of SNP43, SNP19, red meat consumption, and smoked meat consumption is associated with elevated risk.