Expression of Epidermal Growth Factor-like Domain 7 is Increased by Transcatheter Arterial Embolization of Liver Tumors

Li, Zhi,Ni, Cai-Fang,Zhou, Jin,Shen, Xiao-Chun,Yin, Yu,Du, Peng,Yang, Chao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.3

Background: Epidermal growth factor-like domain multiple 7 (EGFL7), recently identified as a secreted protein regulated by oxygen exposure, plays a critical role in promoting metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is widely used for treatment of HCC, resulting in hypoxia in tumors and surrounding liver tissues. Accordingly, we proposed the hypothesis that there could be a relationship between expression of EGFL7 and response to TAE. Materials and Methods: We established a rabbit VX2 liver tumor model using percutaneous puncture technique guided by computed tomography. TAE and sham embolization were performed and the results were confirmed by MRI 3 weeks after inoculation. We investigated the EGFL7 expression of the two groups at 6h and 3 days after intervention by means of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results: Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that the levels of EGFL7 protein significantly increased in the TAE-treated tumors compared with the control group at 6 hours (P=0.031) and 3 days (P=0.020) after intervention. Meanwhile, the relative EGFL7 protein detected in TAE group also up-regulated compared with the control group at 6 hours (P=0.020) and 3 days (P=0.024) after intervention. Conclusions: This study reveals an increase of EGFL7 expression in rabbit VX2 liver tumors after TAE. The role of EGFL7 in HCC, especially its biological behavior after TAE, needs further investigation.

Network topology control strategy based on spatial evolutionary public goods game

Li, Zhi,Deng, Chuang,Suh, Il Hong Elsevier 2015 PHYSICA A-STATISTICAL MECHANICS AND ITS APPLICATIO Vol.432 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>It is often the case that rational individuals will adjust their connectivity in commercial or social activities for maximizing their payoffs. In this process, we can observe that individuals always gather around a leader or a competitive individual who can bring them more benefits. Inspired by this, we propose a strategy that impels nodes of network to connect with a specific node that we have specified with the perspective of spatial evolutionary public goods game. Thus a node is specified and given a larger enhancement factor which reflects his advantage over others. Then we employ a payoff-oriented preferential rewire strategy that individual will sever a neighbor who provides him with the lowest benefit and then link others randomly. The results illustrate that this strategy not only ensures the promotion of cooperation but also increases the degree of the specified node. Furthermore, we analyze the effect of two relevant parameters: enhancement factor and rewire frequency. We find that if the control strategy expects to work effectively, these two parameters have to ensure an evolution environment where cooperators can prevail defectors. We also conclude that a relatively low rewire frequency contributes to increasing the degree of the specified node. Meanwhile we attempt to present our interpretations for these phenomena.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The phenomenon that competitive individual will attract more partners is interpreted with the framework of spatial evolutionary game theory. </LI> <LI> A strategy that impels nodes of network to connect with a specified node is proposed. </LI> <LI> Cooperative environment is essential for attractive operation. </LI> <LI> Low rewire frequency leads to high level of heterogeneity. </LI> </UL> </P>

HYDRODYNAMICAL SIMULATIONS OF NUCLEAR RINGS IN BARRED GALAXIES

Li, Zhi,Shen, Juntai,Kim, Woong-Tae IOP Publishing 2015 The Astrophysical journal Vol.806 No.2

<P>Dust lanes, nuclear rings, and nuclear spirals are typical gas structures in the inner region of barred galaxies. Their shapes and properties are linked to the physical parameters of the host galaxy. We use high-resolution hydrodynamical simulations to study 2D gas flows in simple barred galaxy models. The nuclear rings formed in our simulations can be divided into two groups: one group is nearly round and the other is highly elongated. We find that roundish rings may not form when the bar pattern speed is too high or the bulge central density is too low. We also study the periodic orbits in our galaxy models, and find that the concept of inner Lindblad resonance (ILR) may be generalized by the extent of x(2) orbits. All roundish nuclear rings in our simulations settle in the range of x(2) orbits (or ILRs). However, knowing the resonances is insufficient to pin down the exact location of these nuclear rings. We suggest that the backbone of round nuclear rings is the x(2) orbital family, i.e., round nuclear rings are allowed only in the radial range of x(2) orbits. A round nuclear ring forms exactly at the radius where the residual angular momentum of infalling gas balances the centrifugal force, which can be described by a parameter f(ring) measured from the rotation curve. The gravitational torque on gas in high pattern speed models is larger, leading to a smaller ring size than in the low pattern speed models. Our result may have important implications for using nuclear rings to measure the parameters of real barred galaxies with 2D gas kinematics.</P>

Mechanism of synchronization in switched nonlinear coupled dynamic networks

Li, Zhi,Suh, Il Hong,Wang, Long Editions de Physique 2010 Europhysics letters Vol.91 No.4

<P>In this letter, by constructing a switching symmetric matrix, we derive a criterion of exponential synchronization stability in a switched nonlinear coupled dynamical network. This criterion reveals that the mechanism of the synchronization stability is the largest eigenvalue of the switching symmetric matrix and the largest switching coupling strength. We analyze the feasibility of the proposed criterion with the eigenvalue-based method and the diagonally dominant property of the matrices, respectively. And meanwhile, we give the threshold of the switching coupling strength. Unlike other existing results, the deduction processes of our main results are based on the original synchronization stability definition rather than any introduced disagreement function. Besides, the proposed synchronization stability algorithm can be used conveniently.</P>

Static and Dynamic Characteristics of Active-head Sliders

Lizhi SU,Masayuki KURITA,Junguo XU,Koji KATO,Koshi ADACHI 한국트라이볼로지학회 2002 한국트라이볼로지학회 학술대회 Vol.2002 No.10

Active-head sliders with a unimorph piezoelectric actuator for flying height control were experimentally evaluated. It was found that the normalized stroke of the actuator is 5.2 to 6 ㎚/V/㎜ without flying over the disk. However, the normalized adjustment range of flying height is about 1.6 ㎚/V/㎜ when the active-head slider is flying over the disk. This value is smaller than the measured value when the slider is not flying, because of the air pressure generated at the active pad when the pad approaches the disk surface.

Differential Role of VDR Coactivators SRC3 and MED1 in Regulating Skin Homeostasis

( Lizhi Hu ),( Jing Zhang ),( Maoqiang Man ) 한국피부장벽학회 2018 한국피부장벽학회지 Vol.20 No.2

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) participates in skin homeostasis maintenance by modulating sequential expression of a number of genes involved in proliferation, differentiation, barrier function, and immune response, etc. This process is under precise regulation of coactivators and corepressors, activating or inhibiting the transcription activity of VDR in specific spatio-temporal fashion. In keratinocytes, the major coactivator complexes include the vitamin D receptor interacting protein (DRIP, or Mediator) complex and steroid receptor coactivator (SRC) complex. MED1, a subunit of Mediator that that binds directly to VDR, is abundantly expressed in proliferating keratinocytes. We found that MED1 had a specific role in the regulation of epidermal stem cell self-renewal, keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation ability by modulating the activation of β-catenin signaling pathways. SRC3, on the other hand, regulates the ability of 1,25(OH)2D3 to induce functions in the more differentiated keratinocyte such as lipid synthesis and processing required for permeability barrier formation and innate immune response triggered by disruption of the barrier. Therefore, we provide evidence to show that alternative combination of MED1 or SRC3 with VDR could regulate the on and off of target genes expression, selectively control different VDR functions, and achieve the skin homeostasis maintenance in diverse layers of skin.

An Effective Image Coding Method using Lattice Vector Quantization in Wavelet Domain

Lizhi Zhang,Mingrui Zhang,Qinghe Pan1,Tao Wang,Zhijie Zhao,Xuesong Jin 보안공학연구지원센터(IJSIP) 2014 International Journal of Signal Processing, Image Vol.7 No.2

Effects of Cellulase Supplementation on Nutrient Digestibility, Energy Utilization and Methane Emission by Boer Crossbred Goats

Wang, Lizhi,Xue, Bai Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.2

This study examined the effect of supplementing exogenous cellulase on nutrient and energy utilization. Twelve desexed Boer crossbred goats were used in a replicated $3{\times}3$ Latin square design with 23-d periods. Dietary treatments were basal diet (control, no cellulase), basal diet plus 2 g unitary cellulase/kg of total mixed ration dry matter (DM), and basal diet plus 2 g compound cellulase/kg of total mixed ration DM. Three stages of feeding trials were used corresponding to the three treatments, each comprised 23 d, with the first 14 d as the preliminary period and the following 9 d as formal trial period for metabolism trial. Total collection of feces and urine were conducted from the 4th d of the formal trial, and gas exchange measures were determined in indirect respiratory chambers in the last 3 d of the formal trial. Results showed that cellulase addition had no effect (p>0.05) on nutrient digestibility. Dietary supplementation of cellulase did not affect (p>0.05) N intake and retention in goats. Gross energy (GE) intake, fecal energy and urinary energy excretion, heat production were not affected (p>0.05) by the cellulase supplementation. Total methane emission (g/d), $CH_4$ emission as a proportion of live weight or feed intake (DM, organic matter [OM], digestible DM or digestible OM), or $CH_4$ energy output ($CH_4$-E) as a proportion of energy intake (GE, digestible energy, or metabolizable energy), were similar (p>0.05) among treatments. There was a significant (p<0.001) relationship between $CH_4$ and live weight (y = 0.645x+0.2, $R^2$ = 0.54), $CH_4$ and DM intake (y = 16.7x+1.4, $R^2$ = 0.51), $CH_4$ and OM intake (y = 18.8x+1.3, $R^2$ = 0.51) and $CH_4$-E and GE intake. Results from this study revealed that dietary supplementation of cellulase may have no effect on nutrient digestibility, nitrogen retention, energy metabolism, and methane emission in goat.

Comparative analysis biochar and compost-induced degradation of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in soils

He, Lizhi,Fan, Shiliang,Mü,ller, Karin,Wang, Hailong,Che, Lei,Xu, Song,Song, Zhaoliang,Yuan, Guodong,Rinklebe, Jö,rg,Tsang, Daniel C.W.,Ok, Yong Sik,Bolan, Nanthi S. Elsevier 2018 Science of the Total Environment Vol.625 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>In recent years, biochar has been extensively studied as a sorbent for immobilizing contaminants and minimizing their bioavailability in soils. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate the interactions between biochar and compost in soils and their impact on degradation of organic contaminants. In the present study, soils with high organic carbon content (HOC) and low organic carbon content (LOC) were spiked with 100mg·kg<SUP>−1</SUP> di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) amended with biochar derived from dead pigs, bamboo, and composted sheep manure. The soils were thereafter incubated for 112days at 25°C and periodically sampled for monitoring DEHP concentrations. Degradation of DEHP was described by a logistic model. Results showed that the initial degradation rates were slow, but accelerated after 14days of incubation. The DEHP degradation rates were higher in the HOC soils than in the LOC soils over the incubation period. The half-lives of DEHP were shorter in the LOC soils treated with pig biochar, and bamboo/pig biochar plus compost than in the untreated soil. However, there was no significant difference in the half-lives of DEHP in the HOC control and treated soils. The differential effects of soil amendments on DEHP degradation between LOC and HOC soils could be explained by the properties of the organic amendments, soil pH and the organic carbon contents of the soils.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) degraded faster in high organic matter soil. </LI> <LI> DEHP half-life declined in low organic matter soil amended with biochar and compost. </LI> <LI> Biochar had no effect on DEHP half-life in high organic matter soil. </LI> <LI> DEHP degradation accelerated after 2weeks incubation. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

중국 공동구매 서비스품질과 신뢰, 고객만족 및 재구매의도에 관한 연구

SUN LIZHI,고일상 한국경영정보학회 2016 한국경영정보학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2016 No.11

The year of 2010 witnessed the rapid development of a new purchasing model—online group buying. The rise of this group purchasing model is originally contributed by the successful operation of an American group purchasing website named Groupon. Groupon’ s successful group purchasing mode set off the upsurge of starting business among people around the world and was widely imitated. However, group purchasing websites in China have not achieved so much reputational and financial success as those in foreign countries, which mainly results from the emerge of a huge flock of group purchasing websites of varied qualities and the serious homogeneous phenomenon it brought about, thus exerting a bad influence on satisfaction of customer and the healthy development or group purchasing market as a whole.