Oridonin Alleviates Visceral Hyperalgesia in a Rat Model of Postinflammatory Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Role of Colonic Enterochromaffin Cell and Serotonin Availability

Kai-hong Zang,Yun-yun Shao,Xiao Zuo,Zhi Rao,Hongyan Qin 한국식품영양과학회 2016 Journal of medicinal food Vol.19 No.6

The aim of this present study was to investigate the effect of oridonin on visceral hyperalgesia and colonic serotonin availability in a rat model of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced postinflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). Rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control, PI-IBS model, PI-IBS+low-dose oridonin (5 mg/kg), PI-IBS+median-dose oridonin (10 mg/kg), and PI-IBS+high-dose oridonin (20 mg/kg). Rats in control and model groups were orally administered with water by gavage, whereas rats in oridonin-treated groups were orally administered with different dosages of oridonin, and drugs were given for 14 consecutive days. Compared with the control group, the pain threshold pressure was significantly reduced in PI-IBS rats. The colonic enterochromaffin (EC) cell number, serotonin content, and the protein expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) were markedly increased and the protein expression of serotonin reuptake transporter was significantly decreased in PI-IBS rats. The spleen index in PI-IBS rats was decreased, and the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-13 in the colon of PI-IBS rats were also markedly decreased. Oridonin treatment dose dependently increased pain threshold pressure, and markedly decreased colon EC cell numbers, TPH expression, and serotonin content in PI-IBS rats. Oridonin treatment also significantly increased the spleen index as well as the levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-13 in the colon of PI-IBS rats. Results of this study demonstrate that the analgesic effect of oridonin in PI-IBS rats is associated with reduced colonic EC cell hyperplasia and 5-HT availability, the regulatory effect of oridonin on colonic cytokine production may be correlated with its effect on colonic EC cell number.

Biology and natural enemies of Agrilus fleischeri (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), a newly emerging destructive buprestid pest in Northeast China

Kai Zang,Xiaoyi Wang,Zhongqi Yang,Ke Wei,Jian Jun Duan 한국응용곤충학회 2017 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.20 No.1

Agrilus fleischeri Obenberger (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is anemerging pest of poplar trees in northeast China, and is responsible for poplarmortality throughout its range. Its biology and natural enemieswere studied at two field locations from 2013 to 2015 as well as via laboratory experiments. Life history of A. fleischeri was univoltine on exotic Populus nigra var. italica and overwintered asmature larvae in pupal chambers; however,was semivoltine on native Populus davidiana and overwintered as 2nd or 3rd instar larvae in Liaoning Province, China. Adults emerged fromlateMay to mid-Augustwith a peak in early June. Eggswere first discovered in early June and continued to late August. Larvae fed frommid-June to late September of univoltine or frommid-June to the next early September of semivoltine. The sex ratio of adult beetleswas approximately 1:1 (M:F).Mean longevities of female and male adults were 34.87 ± 18.70 and 34.33 ± 18.10 days, respectively. Mean duration of egg stage was 12.83±1.10 days and pupal duration 26.40±1.32 days.Mortality in the fieldwas mainly caused by parasitoids; however, pathogens, predators, and host tree resistance were also noted. The egg parasitoids, Oobius spp. attacked 48.0% and 6.48% of A. fleischeri eggs in P. nigra var. italica and P. davidiana, respectively. Polystenus rugosus and Paramblynotus sp. parasitized 0.71% and 52.17% of larvae in P. nigra var. italica respectively. Euderus fleischeri, Polystenus rugosus, andSpathius sp.were found in P. davidianawith parasitismrates of 7.63%, 4.83%, and 0.25% respectively.

ZnO/Ag/ZnO multilayer transparent electrode for highly-efficient ITO-Free polymer solar cells

Rui Xu,Kai Yang,Yue Zang 한국물리학회 2020 Current Applied Physics Vol.20 No.3

Ultrathin metal film (UTMF) with a ZnO/Ag/ZnO hybrid structure was used as transparent electrode in a highefficiency bulk heterojunction system for the fabrication of ITO-free polymer solar cells. The performance of the devices was carefully tuned through optical simulation using transfer matrix method by varying the thickness of ZnO seed layer and thin absorber layer. By employing appropriate device architecture, polymer solar cells fabricated using this UTMF-based electrode show efficiency as high as 9.49%, which is slightly higher compared to that of ITO-based device. From good agreement between the external quantum efficiency and optical modeling, it was found that the optimized microcavity configuration formed in UTMF-based device can greatly enhance the absorbance of the BHJ layer at longer wavelength as well as the favored exciton distribution for better charge transport and collection.

Quercetin Attenuates Visceral Hypersensitivity and 5-Hydroxytryptamine Availability in Postinflammatory Irritable Bowel Syndrome Rats: Role of Enterochromaffin Cells in the Colon

Hong-Yan Qin,Kai-hong Zang,Xiao Zuo,Xin-An Wu,Zhaoxiang Bian 한국식품영양과학회 2019 Journal of medicinal food Vol.22 No.7

Intestinal enterochromaffin (EC) cell hyperplasia and increased 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) availability play key roles in the pathogenesis of abdominal hypersensitivity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study aims to study the effect of quercetin on visceral pain and 5-HT availability in postinflammatory IBS (PI-IBS) rats. PI-IBS model rats were administered quercetin by gavage at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg for 14 days. Compared with normal rats, the visceral pain threshold of PI-IBS rats was markedly decreased and the abdominal motor response to colon distension was markedly increased. The EC cell count and 5-HT level, as well as tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) protein, were all significantly elevated in PI-IBS rats, while the 5-HT reuptake transporter (serotonin transporter) was reduced. Genes that are responsible for enteroendocrine cell differentiation, that is, Ngn3 and pdx1, were significantly increased in the PI-IBS group. Quercetin treatment markedly elevated the pain threshold pressure and decreased the visceral motor response of PI-IBS animals; and EC cell density and 5-HT level, as well as TPH expression, in the PI-IBS group were all reduced by quercetin. Quercetin treatment also significantly reduced colonic expression of Ngn3 and pdx1 of PI-IBS. Findings from the present study indicated that the analgesic effect of quercetin on PI-IBS may result from reduction of 5-HT availability in the colon, and the regulatory role of quercetin in endocrine progenitors may contribute to reduced EC cells.

A Computer Model for Simulating the Bicycle Rider's Behavior in a Virtual Riding System

( Wei-long Ding ),( Xiao Ding ),( Kai Chen ),( Zang-xin Wan ),( Yan Xu ),( Yuan-jing Feng ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2020 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.14 No.3

People are increasingly demanding to experience realistic behavior of virtual characters in computer games. In this article, we build a computer model for simulating a bicycle rider’s behavior in a virtual riding system. A method to calculate the speed of a bicycle rider is proposed to improve the reality in a virtual riding system. In this method, the property of physical energy is introduced, and the bicycle-riding speed is calculated in real time according to the relationship between the rider’s physical energy and bicycle-riding speed. Then based on the analysis of the behavior of a cyclist in a real competition, various behaviors of the virtual rider are designed and a behavior-tree for the virtual bicycle rider is constructed accordingly. On the basis of these, a virtual riding system is developed. The experiments results show that our system can simulate the behavior of a virtual bicycle rider, and thus encourage exercise on a stationary bicycle.

High Temperature Oxidation Resistance of NiCoCrAl High Entropy Alloy Coating on the TiAl Alloy

Yuanyuan Sun,Qiang Miao,Wenping Liang,Kai Zang,Yuting Wu,Haiyang Yu,Mengjuan Yin,Xiguang Gao,Yindong Song 대한금속·재료학회 2024 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.30 No.1

The high entropy alloy coating is considered as one of the most promising methods to improve the high-temperature oxidationresistance of titanium aluminum alloys due to its fine mechanical property and thermal stability. However, the high entropyalloy coating prepared so far has poor coating quality, and low coating forming efficiency and there are certain requirementsfor the substrate alloys. To this end, a NiCoCrAl high entropy alloy coating was developed using the double glow plasmaalloying technique on the TiAl alloy. The morphology, phase structure, and high temperature oxidation resistance of thecoating were comprehensively studied. The results indicate that a uniform and dense coating with a single solid solution offace-centered cube phase formed on the alloy surface. Furthermore, isothermal oxidation test was performed, and the oxidationfailure process of the TiAl substrate and the NiCoCrAl-coated sample with different oxidation times was analyzed. It isfound that the coating efficiently prevented the TiAl alloy from degeneration for up to 100 h at 900 °C.

Exogenous 5-aminolevulinic acid promotes plant growth and salinity tolerance of grape rootstocks in coastal areas

Zheng Weiwei,Tian Yuting,Shi Haili,Chen Miaomiao,Hong Seungbeom,Xu Kai,Cheng Jianhui,Zang Yunxiang 한국원예학회 2023 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.64 No.2

Salinity stress is a key factor aff ecting grape production in coastal areas. Two grape rootstock cultivars, ‘Beta’ (sensitive to salt stress) and ‘3309 C’ (resistant to salt stress), were used to investigate the physiological role of 5-aminolevlinic acid (5-ALA) in salinity tolerance. Functional capacities in the rhizosphere, leaf phenotype, photosynthetic parameters, antioxidant enzymes activities and certain physiological indexes were determined after treatment with seawater or seawa- ter followed by 100 mg/L 5-ALA application. The results showed that the functional capacities of the rhizosphere were distinct between the two management regimes. Microbial biomass and soil enzyme activities were reduced by salinity but promoted by 5-ALA. Salinity also suppressed the overall plant growth, leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthetic rate, maxi- mal photochemical effi ciency (Fv/Fm), photochemical quenching (qP), electron transport rate (ETR), root activity, ATP content, ATPase activity, and activities of the antioxidant enzymes ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), cata- lase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in both cultivars. Although plant growth, chlorophyll content, and activities of antioxidant enzymes in Beta were decreased to a greater extent than those in 3309 C under salinity stress, exogenous application of 5-ALA signifi cantly improved plant growth along with enhancement of all the above photosynthetic param- eters and activities of the four antioxidant enzymes in both cultivars. Seawater treatment alone signifi cantly increased non- photochemical quenching (NPQ), relative electrical conductivity (REC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in leaves, especially for Beta. However, 5-ALA treatment decreased the levels of NPQ, REC, and MDA, but increased ATP content and ATPase activity in roots and leaves of both cultivars. Thus, application of 5-ALA would be benefi cial to improve the salt tolerance of grape rootstocks grown in coastal areas.

The Interactive Modeling Method of Virtual City Scene Based on Building Codes

( Wei-long Ding ),( Xiao-jie Zhu ),( Bin Xu ),( Yan Xu ),( Kai Chen ),( Zang-xin Wan ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2021 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.15 No.1

For higher-level requirements of urban planning and management and the recent development of "digital earth" and "digital city", it is urgent to establish protocols for the construction of three-dimensional digital city models. However, some problems still exist in the digital technology of the three-dimensional city model, such as insufficient precision of the three-dimensional model, not optimizing the scene and not considering the constraints of building codes. In view of those points, a method to interactively simulate a virtual city scene based on building codes is proposed in this paper. Firstly, some constraint functions are set up to restrict the models to adhere to the building codes, and an improved directional bounding box technique is utilized to solve the problem that geometric objects may intersect in a virtual city scene. The three-dimensional model invocation strategy is designed to convert two-dimensional layouts to a three-dimensional urban scene. A Leap Motion hardware device is used to interactively place the 3D models in a virtual scene. Finally, the design and construction of the three-dimensional scene are completed by using Unity3D. The experiment shows that this method can simulate urban virtual scenes that strictly adhere to building codes in a virtual scene of the city environment, but also provide information and decision-making functions for urban planning and management.