Enhancing Astaxanthin Accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis by Coupled Light Intensity and Nitrogen Starvation in Column Photobioreactors

( Wen-wen Zhang ),( Xue-fei Zhou ),( Ya-lei Zhang ),( Peng-fei Cheng ),( Rui Ma ),( Wen-long Cheng ),( Hua-qiang Chu ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2018 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.28 No.12

Natural astaxanthin mainly derives from a microalgae producer, Haematococcus pluvialis. The induction of nitrogen starvation and high light intensity is particularly significant for boosting astaxanthin production. However, the different responses to light intensity and nitrogen starvation needed to be analyzed for biomass growth and astaxanthin accumulation. The results showed that the highest level of astaxanthin production was achieved in nitrogen starvation, and was 1.64 times higher than the control group at 11 days. With regard to the optimization of light intensity utilization, it was at 200 μmo/m2/s under nitrogen starvation that the highest astaxanthin productivity per light intensity was achieved. In addition, both high light intensity and a nitrogen source had significant effects on multiple indicators. For example, high light intensity had a greater significant effect than a nitrogen source on biomass dry weight, astaxanthin yield and astaxanthin productivity; in contrast, nitrogen starvation was more beneficial for enhancing astaxanthin content per dry weight biomass. The data indicate that high light intensity synergizes with nitrogen starvation to stimulate the biosynthesis of astaxanthin.

Exploring the Depth and Diversity of Argument Structures in Taiwanese EFL Writing

( Fei Wen Cheng ) 범태평양응용언어학회 2006 범태평양응용언어학회지 Vol.10 No.2

Finding Reasons for ESL/EFL Argumentative Writing

Fei-Wen Cheng 아시아영어교육학회 2010 The Journal of Asia TEFL Vol.7 No.1

Audience Strategies Used by EFL College Writers

( Fei Wen Cheng ) 범태평양응용언어학회 2005 범태평양응용언어학회지 Vol.9 No.2

This study examined how two EFL college students represented their audience in the writing process and how they adapted their writing to the assigned audience. The results indicated that the more skilled writer was more capable of analyzing and making inferences of the assigned audience than the less skilled wIiter. Her conceptualizations were also richer and more articulated. Both participants were able to employ a diverse variety of more obvious audience appeals but they were less able to argue from the reader``s viewpoint. Their abilities to conceptualize the assigned audience and utilize this conceptualization were constrained by the school context and their repertoire of rhetorical strategies.

Task Representation and Text Construction in Reading-to-Write

( Fei Wen Cheng ) 범태평양응용언어학회 2009 범태평양응용언어학회지 Vol.13 No.2

Students` interpretations of their academic writing tasks has been a central concern in the cognitive-based writing research due to the prominent role such decision-making plays in determining students` subsequent thinking and composing strategies and ultimately in shaping their textual quality. Without a comprehensive understanding of how L2 students interpret the writing task, ESL/EFL writing instructors may not know the sources of various writing problems in students` written texts and hence, may not be able to develop appropriate writing pedagogy. The present study attempts to address this research gap by studying the interpretive process of three high ability college seniors as composing a source-based academic assignment. The findings show that all the participants have different representations of the assigned task. Two of them were less able to make sense of the requirements of such a writing task as expected in the academic community and consequently failed to use the assigned readings as required although they did understand the basic format associated with this task type and had received prior instruction on reading-based writing. First language culture may have affected how they constructed the writing task for themselves as inferring and eliciting the information specified in the writing prompt.

Mutation of IPO13 causes recessive ocular coloboma, microphthalmia, and cataract

Xiu-Feng Huang,Lue Xiang,Wan Cheng,Fei-Fei Cheng,Kai-Wen He,Bo-Wen Zhang,Si-Si Zheng,Ru-Yi Han,Yi-Han Zheng,Xiao-Tao Xu,Huan-Yun Yu,Wenjuan Zhuang,Yuk Fai Leung,Zi-Bing Jin 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

Ocular coloboma is a developmental structural defect of the eye that often occurs as complex ocular anomalies. However, its genetic etiology remains largely unexplored. Here we report the identification of mutation (c.331C>T, p. R111C) in the IPO13 gene in a consanguineous family with ocular coloboma, microphthalmia, and cataract by a combination of whole-exome sequencing and homozygosity mapping. IPO13 encodes an importin-B family protein and has been proven to be associated with the pathogenesis of coloboma and microphthalmia. We found that Ipo13 was expressed in the cornea, sclera, lens, and retina in mice. Additionally, the mRNA expression level of Ipo13 decreased significantly in the patient compared with its expression in a healthy individual. Morpholinooligonucleotide- induced knockdown of ipo13 in zebrafish caused dose-dependent microphthalmia and coloboma, which is highly similar to the ocular phenotypes in the patient. Moreover, both visual motor response and optokinetic response were impaired severely. Notably, these ocular phenotypes in ipo13-deficient zebrafish could be rescued remarkably by full-length ipo13 mRNA, suggesting that the phenotypes observed in zebrafish were due to insufficient ipo13 function. Altogether, our findings demonstrate, for the first time, a new role of IPO13 in eye morphogenesis and that loss of function of IPO13 could lead to ocular coloboma, microphthalmia, and cataract in humans and zebrafish.

Investigation into Shearing Behaviour of Loess-Post Harvest Waste Mixture

( Wen-chieh Cheng ),( Lin Wang ),( Zhong-fei Xue ) 대한지질공학회 2019 대한지질공학회 학술발표회논문집 Vol.2019 No.2

Loess-PHW (post-harvest waste) mixture is easily accessible in Chinese Loess Plateau and widely applied to construction of the residential houses that have been utilised over decades under freeze-thaw cycles. However, the shearing behaviour of the loess-PHW mixture is rarely discussed by published literatures. Thus, a consensus has not yet reached. This study investigates the shearing behaviour of the loess-PHW mixture using small-scale and large-scale direct shear (SSDS and LSDS) tests. Four typical shear stress versus horizontal displacement curves are recognised where one is featured with strain-softening shape and the other three strain-hardening shape. Two out of the three curves with strainhardening shape present a gradual increase in the shear stress at additional displacement and larger displacement respectively. Comparisons of the shear strength measured in SSDS and LSDS are made indicating that the scatter exists between SSDS and LSDS. The effect of the PHW dosage on an improvement of the shear strength is assessed to determine the optimal dosage. The improvement is initiated with the added PHW and developed with the aid of adding more water to specimen. Particle-box interaction behaviour is also assessed, and the findings satisfactorily address the gradual increase in the shear stress observed in the strain-hardening curves. The improved shearing behaviour exhibits a great potential of application to sustainable development of urban areas.

Neutropenia during the First Cycle of Induction Chemotherapy Is Prognostic for Poor Survival in Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Real-World Study in an Endemic Area

Cheng Xu,Shi-Ping Yang,Yuan Zhang,Ling-Long Tang,Guan-Qun Zhou,Xu Liu,Yan-Ping Mao,Rui Guo,Wen-Fei Li,Lei Chen,Ai-Hua Lin,Ying Sun,Jun Ma 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.3

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of neutropenia during the first cycle of induction chemotherapy (IC-1) on survival in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LANPC). Materials and Methods Eligible patients (n=545) with LANPC receiving IC+concurrent chemoradiotherapy were included. Based on nadir neutrophil after IC-1, all patients were categorized into three groups: no/grade 1-2/grade 3-4 neutropenia. Five-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between groups and subgroups stratified by IC regimen. We also explored the occurrence of IC-1–induced myelosuppression events and the minimal value of post-treatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (post-NLRmin). Univariate/multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the effect of IC-1–induced neutropenia, timing of neutropenia, number of myelosuppression events, and high post-NLRmin on OS/DFS. Results Grade 1-2/grade 3-4 neutropenia were associated with poorer OS/DFS than no neutropenia (all p < 0.05); OS/DFS were not significantly different between patients experiencing grade 1-2 vs. 3-4 neutropenia. Neutropenia had no significant effect on OS/DFS in patients receiving docetaxel–cisplatin–5-fluorouracil (TPF). Grade 1-2 (grade 3-4) neutropenia negatively influenced OS/DFS in patients receiving cisplatin–5-fluorouracil (PF) (PF and docetaxel– cisplatin [TP]; all p < 0.05). Neutropenia, two/three myelosuppression events, and high post-NLRmin ( 1.33) was most frequent on days 5-10, second and third week of IC-1, respectively. After adjustment for covariates, IC-1–induced neutropenia, two/three myelosuppression events, and post-NLRmin  1.33 were validated as negative predictors of OS/DFS (all p < 0.05); timing of neutropenia had no significant effect. Conclusion Occurrence of neutropenia, number of myelosuppression events, and high post-NLRmin during PF/TP IC-1 have prognostic value for poor survival in LANPC.

Improvement of the Shearing Behaviour of Loess Using Recycled Straw Fiber Reinforcement

Zhong-Fei Xue,Wen-Chieh Cheng,Lin Wang,Geyang Song 대한토목학회 2021 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.25 No.9

Reinforcing structural members and construction materials using recycled fibers has become popular in the past decades due to sustainable development concerns. The recycled fibers as soil reinforcement elements contribute to the increase in shear strength by distributing stresses exerted in the soil along the length of the recycled fibers. Loess, widely spread over the Chinese Loess Plateau, is featured with metastable structure, large porosity, and high water sensitivity. This study presents the results of applying the large-scale stress-controlled direct shear tests on the recycled straw fiber-reinforced loess. The formation mechanism of shearing behaviour enhancement of the loess by straw fiber inclusion is revealed. The associated strain-hardening behaviour can be manifested using the dilation angle or the difference in friction angle between the large-displacement friction angle and the peak friction angle. Further, the shear strength using the displacement-controlled direct shear tests presents good correspondence with that using the stress-controlled direct shear tests. The test results explore the potential of using the recycled straw fiber-reinforced loess to protect the fragile loess environment in the northwest of China.

Quantitative Presentation of the Systematic Relationships Between S. sudanense and S. bicolor

Qiu-Wen Zhan,Ping Lin,Jie-Qin Li,Min Zu,Jun-Cheng Fan,Ya Chen,Fei Fan,Shi-fu Shu 한국초지조사료학회 2009 한국초지조사료학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2009 No.08

Fifty-four biological characters were used for quantitative classification of sorghum and sudangrass and their relationship. Discriminant analysis of all 240 individuals of 48 accessions suggested that 100% of originally grouped cases were correctly classified. Analysis of variance results showed that the differences among 48 accessions in characters were significant at the 0.01 level. Cluster analysis showed that the 48 accessions were obviously divided into two clusters by a Euclidean distance of 17.46 as the classification standards, i.e. the genus maize and genus sorghum. The 48 accessions were divided into four clusters by a Euclidean distance of 9.86, i.e. Sorghum-Sudangrass, Sorghum related species (S. propinquum and S. halepense), Zea mexicana and Z. mays. All accessions were divided into five clusters by a Euclidean distance of 8.91, namely group Ⅰ (Sudangrass-Chinese sorghum), group Ⅱ (Non-Chinese sorghum), group Ⅲ (Sorghum related species), group Ⅳ (Zea mexicana), and group Ⅴ (Z mays).