C-Type Natriuretic Peptide/Natriuretic Peptide Receptor 2 Is Involved in Cell Proliferation and Testosterone Production in Mouse Leydig Cells

Lei Yang,Lanjie Lei,Qihan Zhao,Ying Gong,Gaopeng Guan,Shaoxin Huang 대한남성과학회 2019 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.37 No.2

Purpose: This study investigated the role of natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) on cell proliferation and testosterone secre-tion in mouse Leydig cells.Materials and Methods: Mouse testis of different postnatal stages was isolated to detect the expression C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and its receptor NPR2 by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Leydig cells isolated from mouse testis were cultured and treated with shNPR2 lentiviruses or CNP. And then the cyclic guanosine mono-phosphate production, testosterone secretion, cell proliferation, cell cycle and cell apoptosis in mouse Leydig cells were ana-lyzed by ELISA, RT-qPCR, Cell Counting Kit-8, and flow cytometry. Moreover, the expression of NPR2, cell cycle, apoptosis proliferation and cell cycle related gene were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Results: Knockdown of NPR2 by RNAi resulted in S phase cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis, and decreased testosterone secre-tion in mouse Leydig cells.Conclusions: Our study provides more evidences to better understand the function of CNP/NPR2 pathway in male reproduc-tion, which may help us to treat male infertility.

Dynamic Path Planning Based on Fuzzy and Behavior Control Idea

Lei Yanmin,Xing Xiaoxue,Feng Zhibin,Guan Xiuli,Du Limin 보안공학연구지원센터 2014 International Journal of Control and Automation Vol.7 No.12

In order to solve dynamic path planning problem of multi-robot systems in unknown dynamic environment, a kind of method based on fuzzy and behavior control idea was proposed in this paper. This method designs two fuzzy controllers, which are danger degree fuzzy controller and velocity fuzzy controller. They took fully into account the position and the velocity of the obstacle and the azimuth of the target. Fuzzy rules were designed based on behavior control idea and which reflected move-to-goal behavior, avoid-obstacle behavior and follow-obstacle behavior. The experimental results show that the proposed method is feasible and valid and is suitable for the dynamic and complicated environment in particularly.

Accuracy Analysis for 3D Model Measurement Based on Digital Close-range Photogrammetry Technique for the Deep Foundation Pit Deformation Monitoring

Lei-lei Guan,Yong-gui Chen,Rao-ping Liao 대한토목학회 2023 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.27 No.2

The deformation of deep foundation pits (DFP) may pose a huge potential threat to the safety of the bracing system and the surrounding environment. A large amount of deformation data facilitates the deformation prediction of DFP and the dynamic adjustment of the bracing scheme. This study proposes and validates a 3D modeling technique based on digital close-range photogrammetry, which can obtain sufficient deformation data and enhance the understanding of deformation patterns. Two typical sets of deformation experiments, namely the vertical deformation test and the horizontal deformation test, were conducted to examine the viability and accuracy of 3D model measurement. Furthermore, the factors affecting the accuracy of the measurement were discussed in detail. The results indicate that the measurement accuracy of 3D models can reach millimeter-level or even sub-millimeter level. The measurement accuracy is affected by the coupling of the pixel resolution of CCD, focal length, photographic distance, and photographic baseline. The increase in the pixel resolution of CCD and focal length improve the measurement accuracy of 3D model measurement, but increasing photographic distance shows the opposite trend. The ratio of photographic baseline to photographic distance (BDR) has a much greater effect on accuracy than other factors. The photographic distance with a resolution of less than 1.0mm and the BDR value of 0.6 − 1.8 are recommended. Based on the results, it is found that this technique can be adopted as an effective monitoring method in DFP deformation monitoring due to the high precision and labor-saving.

Novel Buck Mode Three-Level Direct AC Converter with a High Frequency Link

Lei Li,Yue Guan,Kunshan Gong,Guangqiang Li,Jian Guo 전력전자학회 2018 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.18 No.2

A novel family of Buck mode three-level direct ac converters with a high frequency link is proposed. These converters can transfer an unsteady high ac voltage with distortion into a regulated sinusoidal voltage with a low THD at the same frequency. The circuit configuration is constituted of a three-level converter, high frequency transformer, cycloconverter, as well as input and output filters. The topological family includes forward, push-pull, half-bridge, and full-bridge modes. In order to achieve a reliable three-level ac-ac conversion, and to overcome the surge voltage and surge current of the cycloconverter, a phase-shifted control strategy is introduced in this paper. A prototype is presented with experimental results to demonstrate that the proposed converters have five advantages including high frequency electrical isolation, lower voltage stress of the power switches, bi-directional power flow, low THD of the output voltage, and a higher input power factor.

The Synergistic Effects Between Insurance and Credit Markets on Economic Growth: Evidence from China

Guan-Chun Liu,CHIEN-CHIANG LEE,Lei He 연세대학교 동서문제연구원 2016 Global economic review Vol.45 No.1

Insurance and credit markets share some common roles in stimulating economic growth, whether they are complementary or not is worth researching further. Based on the generalized method of moments, this paper investigates the synergistic effects between insurance and credit markets on economic growth in Chinese different regions using an interaction term in the regression model. Moreover, to understand the different economic roles of life and nonlife insurance sectors, we include them into estimation model as well. The results indicate that total insurance and credit markets are substituted, life insurance and credit markets are substituted, and nonlife insurance and credit markets are complementary in the whole region. Specifically, the synergistic effects between insurance and credit markets on economic growth vary considerably across different regions. These findings offer several useful insights for policy-makers.

Effects of Continuous Straw Returning on Soil Functional Microorganisms and Microbial Communities

Guan Yunpeng,Wu Meikang,Che Songhao,Yuan Shuai,Yang Xue,Li Siyuan,Tian Ping,Wu Lei,Yang Meiying,Wu Zhihai 한국미생물학회 2023 The journal of microbiology Vol.61 No.1

This study examined the changes in soil enzymatic activity, microbial carbon source metabolic diversity, and straw decomposition rates in paddy fields treated with 1, 2, or 3 years of straw returning (SR1–SR3). The soil’s ability to decompose straw and cellulolytic bacteria increased with the number of treatment years (1: 31.9% vs. 2: 43.9% vs. 3: 51.9%, P < 0.05). The numbers of Azotobacter, Nitrobacteria, cellulolytic bacteria, and inorganic phosphate bacteria increased progressively with the numbers of straw returning years. Cellulolytic bacteria and inorganic phosphate bacteria were significantly positively correlated with the decomposition rate (r = 0.783 and r = 0.375, P < 0.05). Based on 16S sequencing results, straw returning improved the microbial diversity of paddy soils by increasing unclassified bacteria and keeping dominant soil microorganism populations unchanged. The relative importance of individual microbial taxa was compared using random forest models. Proteobacteria, ammoniating bacteria, and potassium dissolving bacteria contributed to peroxidase activity. The significant contributors to phosphate monoesterase were Acidobacteriota, Desulfobacterota, ammoniating bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria, and potassium-dissolving bacteria. Proteobacteria, ammoniating bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria, and potassium-dissolving bacteria contributed to urease activity. Desulfobacterota, ammoniating bacteria, cellulolytic bacteria, and potassium-dissolving bacteria contributed to the neutral invertase activity. In conclusion, soil microbial community structure and function were affected within 2 years of straw returning, which was driven by the combined effects of soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, available potassium, and pH. With elapsing straw returning years, soil properties interacted with soil microbial communities, and a healthier soil micro-ecological environment would form.

Herbal medicine and gut microbiota: exploring untapped therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative disease management

Yueyue Guan,Guohua Tang,Lei Li,Jianzhong Shu,Yuhua Zhao,Li Huang,Jun Tang 대한약학회 2024 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.47 No.2

The gut microbiota that exists in the human gastrointestinal tract is incredibly important for the maintenance of general healthas it contributes to multiple aspects of host physiology. Recent research has revealed a dynamic connection between the gutmicrobiota and the central nervous system, that can infl uence neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Indeed, imbalances in thegut microbiota, or dysbiosis, play a vital role in the pathogenesis and progression of human diseases, particularly NDs. Herbalmedicine has been used for centuries to treat human diseases, including NDs. These compounds help to relieve symptomsand delay the progression of NDs by improving intestinal barrier function, reducing neuroinfl ammation, and modulatingneurotransmitter production. Notably, herbal medicine can mitigate the progression of NDs by regulating the gut microbiota. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the potential mechanisms by which herbal medicine regulates the gut microbiotain the treatment of NDs can help explain the pathogenesis of NDs from a novel perspective and propose novel therapeuticstrategies for NDs. In this review, we investigate the potential neuroprotective eff ects of herbal medicine, focusing on itsability to regulate the gut microbiota and restore homeostasis. We also highlight the challenges and future research prioritiesof the integration of herbal medicine and modern medicine. As the global population ages, access to this information isbecoming increasingly important for developing eff ective treatments for these diseases.

한반도 식생의 녹색화에 대한 시계열적 분석

Lv, Guan Ting,ZHUYONGYAN,Liu, Wei Qi,Huang, Xiao,Li, Cheng Lei,Cui, Gui Shan 한국기후변화학회 2019 한국기후변화학회지 Vol.10 No.4

The vegetation is feedback on environmental change due to global warming. Also, the growth status of vegetation and the coverage area of vegetation are greatly affected by the environmental changes. The quantitative change of vegetation growth status is the primary task of vegetation response to environmental changes. In this study, the Global Inventory Modeling and Mapping Studies (GIMMS) based Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and CRU climate data are used to analyze the spatio‐temporal characteristics of vegetation greening evolution and its response to climate change from 1982 to 2015 in the Korean Peninsula by applying the partial correlation and trend analysis. The results show that the average NDVI value of the Korean Peninsula in the period 1982‐2015 was 0.68, among which the average NDVI in North Korea and South Korea was 0.69 and 0.67, respectively. The NDVI of the Korean Peninsula between 1982 and 2015 increased by 0.6x10‐3 year‐1. The increasing trend prior to and after 1998 was 2.5×10‐3 year‐1 and 0.9×10‐3 year‐1, respectively. During the 1982‐2015 years, the NDVI of DPRK and South Korea have grown mainly with the trend of 0.2×10‐3 year‐1 and 1.1×10‐3 year‐1, respectively. According to the analysis of NDVI and climatic factors, the distribution of NDVI in the three‐time series of Korean Peninsula is consistent in spatial distribution. According to the results of partial correlation analysis of climate factor and NDVI distribution in Korean Peninsula, the region has significant partial correlation with temperature change. The climate factor of temperature is the main driver of NDVI change, which plays a key role in controlling NDVI change accumulation.

Centrifuge Modelling and Analysis of Ground Reaction of High-speed Railway Embankments over Medium Compressibility Ground

Chong-lei Zhang,Guan-lu Jiang,Xian-feng Liu,Li-jun Su 대한토목학회 2018 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.22 No.12

The objective of this study is to verify the feasibility of using centrifugal model tests to characterize the ground reaction response of a high-speed railway embankment to predict its ground settlement. To do so, a series of Centrifugal Model Tests (CMTs) of the embankment were performed to investigate the variation of ground reaction and corresponding derived modulus at different embankment ratios. The ground reaction determined from the CMTs was compared with those obtained from corresponding fullscale field tests of instrumented embankment. The results show that the ground reaction at the embankment centreline gradually approaches the embankment weight (γH) with increasing embankment ratio. Considering the embankment filling process with different embankment ratios, it seems inappropriate to employ the value of γH as the ground reaction without any correction in settlement prediction. Finally, the predictive capability of the proposed approach for embankment settlement estimation was assessed against the corresponding field measurements and those determined based on the calculation methods suggested in the current design standard in China. The results show that the proposed simple approach satisfactorily estimates the ground settlement of HSR embankments and its deviation of predicted settlements is below 11.9% compared with the data obtained from the field full-scale tests. However, the deviation of the result calculated by the current recommend design standard is 17.7%-148.3%.

Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: A Meta-analysis

Li, Lei,Wu, Bo,Yang, Li-Bo,Yin, Guan-Cheng,Liu, Ji-Yong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.1

Objectives: A number of studies have shown that chronic hepatitis B virus infection is implicated in susceptibility to pancreatic cancer. However, the results are still controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively assess the relationship between chronic hepatitis B virus infection and incidence of pancreatic cancer of cohort and case-control studies. Methods: A literature search was performed for entries from 1990 to 2012 using PUBMED and EMBASE. Studies were included if they reported odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% CIs of pancreatic cancer with respect to the infection of hepatitis B virus. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, which included five case-control studies and three cohort studies. Compared with individuals who have not infection of hepatitis B virus, the pooled OR of pancreatic cancer was 1.403 (95%CI: 1.139-1.729, P=0.001) for patients with hepatitis B virus infection. Sub-group analysis by study design showed that the summary OR was 1.43 (95%CI: 1.06-1.94, P=0.021) when pooling case-control studies and 1.31 (95%CI: 1.00-1.72, P=0.05) when pooling cohort studies. Conclusion: Findings from this meta-analysis suggest that chronic hepatitis B virus infection may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. This relationship needs to be confirmed by further follow-up studies.