Alterations in antioxidant function and cell apoptosis in duck spleen exposed to molybdenum and/or cadmium

Mengmeng Zhang,Junrong Luo,Caiying Zhang,Huabin Cao,Bing Xia,Guoliang Hu 대한수의학회 2017 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.18 No.2

To investigate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and/or cadmium (Cd) on antioxidant function and the apoptosis-related genes in duck spleens. Sixty healthy 11-day-old ducks were randomly divided into six groups of 10 ducks (control, low Mo group, high Mo, Cd, low Mo + Cd, and high Mo + Cd groups). All were fed a basal diet containing low or high dietary doses of Mo and/or Cd. Relative spleen weight, antioxidant indices, apoptosis-related gene mRNA expression levels, and ultrastructural changes were evaluated after 120 days. The results showed that the relative spleen weight decreased significantly in the high Mo + Cd treatment group which compared with control group. Malondialdehyde levels increased and xanthine oxidase and catalase activities decreased in the Mo and/or Cd groups compared with levels in the control group. Bak-1 and Caspase-3 expressions were upregulated in the high Mo + Cd group, while Bcl-2 was downregulated. In addition, mitochondrial crest fracture, swelling, vacuolation, deformed nuclei, and karyopyknosis in both Mo + Cd treated groups were more severe than in the other groups. The results suggest that Mo and/or Cd can induce oxidative stress and apoptosis of spleen via effects on the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. Moreover, the results indicate the two elements have a possible synergistic relationship.

Fast Algorithm for 360-degree Videos Based on the Prediction of Cu Depth Range and Fast Mode Decision

( Mengmeng Zhang ),( Jing Zhang ),( Zhi Liu ),( Fuqi Mao ),( Wen Yue ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2019 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.13 No.6

Spherical videos, which are also called 360-degree videos, have become increasingly popular due to the rapid development of virtual reality technology. However, the large amount of data in such videos is a huge challenge for existing transmission system. To use the existing encode framework, it should be converted into a 2D image plane by using a specific projection format, e.g. the equi-rectangular projection (ERP) format. The existing high-efficiency video coding standard (HEVC) can effectively compress video content, but its enormous computational complexity makes the time spent on compressing high-frame-rate and high-resolution 360-degree videos disproportionate to the benefits of compression. Focusing on the ERP format characteristics of 360-degree videos, this work develops a fast decision algorithm for predicting the coding unit depth interval and adaptive mode decision for intra prediction mode. The algorithm makes full use of the video characteristics of the ERP format by dealing with pole and equatorial areas separately. It sets different reference blocks and determination conditions according to the degree of stretching, which can reduce the coding time while ensuring the quality. Compared with the original reference software HM-16.16, the proposed algorithm can reduce time consumption by 39.3% in the all-intra configuration, and the BD-rate increases by only 0.84%.

Biomass Chitosan-Induced Fe3O4 Functionalized Halloysite Nanotube Composites: Preparation, Characterization and Flame-Retardant Performance

Mengmeng Zhang,Yamin Cheng,Zhiwei Li,Xiaohong Li,Laigui Yu,Zhijun Zhang 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2019 NANO Vol.15 No.01

An inorganic–organic nanohybrid flame retardant, HNT@CS@Fe3O4, is prepared by Halloysite nanotubes (HNT) as nanotemplate, chitosan (CS) as char-forming agent and ferroferric oxide (Fe3O4) playing in a catalytic role, aiming to endow enhanced flame-retardant performance of its nanohybrid. Results show that HNT@CS@Fe3O4 nanohybrids have a corn-like structure and can significantly improve the flame retardancy and thermal stability of epoxy resin (EP). Especially, the initial thermal degradation temperature of EP/HNT@CS@Fe3O4 is significantly improved by 24 ℃ relative to pure EP, and the residual carbon yield under air atmosphere is 8.8 wt.%, which is significantly higher than other EP composites, indicating a higher thermal stability is offered by the as-prepared nanohybrid. The limiting oxygen index of EP/10HNT@CS@Fe3O4 is 31.3%, which is 10.2% higher than that of pure EP. Meanwhile, the HNT@CS@Fe3O4 nanofiller reduces the peak heat release rate, CO production and peak smoke production release of EP nanocomposite by 32.0%, 44.0% and 33.0% in a cone calorimeter test, respectively. This is because the HNT-based composite can form a three-dimensional network structure into the EP matrix to inhibit heat release and diffusion of flammable moieties upon burning of EP. In the meantime, the incorporated Fe3O4 nanoparticle can in situ catalyze the charring of CS and EP matrix on the surface of HNT during the combustion process, which also contributes to the significantly increased fire safety of EP.

Assessment of Myocardial Bridge by Cardiac CT: Intracoronary Transluminal Attenuation Gradient Derived from Diastolic Phase Predicts Systolic Compression

Mengmeng Yu,Yang Zhang,Yuehua Li,Minghua Li,Wenbin Li,Jiayin Zhang 대한영상의학회 2017 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.18 No.4

Objective: To study the predictive value of transluminal attenuation gradient (TAG) derived from diastolic phase of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for identifying systolic compression of myocardial bridge (MB). Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with MB based on CCTA findings and without obstructive coronary artery disease were retrospectively enrolled. In total, 143 patients with 144 MBs were included in the study. Patients were classified into three groups: without systolic compression, with systolic compression < 50%, and with systolic compression ≥ 50%. TAG was defined as the linear regression coefficient between intraluminal attenuation in Hounsfield units (HU) and length from the vessel ostium. Other indices such as the length and depth of the MB were also recorded. Results: TAG was the lowest in MB patients with systolic compression ≥ 50% (-19.9 ± 8.7 HU/10 mm). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cutoff values for identifying systolic compression ≥ 50%. The result indicated an optimal cutoff value of TAG as -18.8 HU/10 mm (area under curve = 0.778, p < 0.001), which yielded higher sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy (54.1, 80.5, 72.8, and 75.0%, respectively). In addition, the TAG of MB with diastolic compression was significantly lower than the TAG of MB without diastolic compression (-21.4 ± 4.8 HU/10 mm vs. -12.7 ± 8 HU/10 mm, p < 0.001). Conclusion: TAG was a better predictor of MB with systolic compression ≥ 50%, compared to the length or depth of the MB. The TAG of MB with persistent diastolic compression was significantly lower than the TAG without diastolic compression.

Optimization of Submerged Fermentation Medium for Matrine Production by Aspergillus terreus, an Endophytic Fungus Harboring Seeds of Sophora flavescens, Using Response Surface Methodology

( Qiang Zhang ),( Yujuan Li ),( Fangxue Xu ),( Mengmeng Zheng ),( Xiaozhi Xi ),( Xuelan Zhang ),( Chunchao Han ) 한국균학회 2017 Mycobiology Vol.45 No.2

Different endophytes isolated from the seeds of Sophora flavescens were tested for their ability to produce matrine production. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the medium components for the endophytic fungus. Results indicated that endophyte Aspergillus terreus had the ability to produce matrine. The single factor tests demonstrated that potato starch was the best carbon source and the combination of peptone and NH₄NO₃ was the optimal nitrogen source for A. terreus. The model of RSM predicted to gain the maximal matrine production at 20.67 μg/L, when the potato starch was 160.68 g/L, peptone was 24.96 g/L and NH₄NO₃ was 2.11 g/L. When cultured in the optimal medium, the matrine yield was an average of 20.63 ± 0.11 μg/L, which was consistent with the model prediction. This study offered an alternative source for the matrine production by endophytic fungus fermentation and may have far-reaching prospect and value.

The mediating role of atrial fibrillation in causal associations between risk factors and stroke: a Mendelian randomization study

Shanmei Qin(Shanmei Qin),Mengmeng Wang(Mengmeng Wang),Dipender Gill(Dipender Gill ),Zhizhong Zhang(Zhizhong Zhang),Xinfeng Liu(Xinfeng Liu) 한국역학회 2024 Epidemiology and Health Vol.46 No.-

Graphene oxide nanosheets to improve permeability and selectivity of PIM-1 membrane for carbon dioxide separation

Mengmeng Chen,Faizal Soyekwo,Qiugen Zhang,Chuan Hu,Aimei Zhu,Qinglin Liu 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.63 No.-

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) have attracted increasing interest in gas separation membranes due to their high permeability. However, the moderate selectivity limits their wide applications in CO2 separation. Herein we report a facile strategy to improve simultaneously the permeability and CO2 selectivity of PIMs membrane using the prepared PIM-1/graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets mixed matrix membrane. The GO nanosheets improves the hydrophilicity and surface roughness of PIM-1 membrane whereas the uniform assembly of GO nanosheets in the PIM-1 matrix creates the hydrophilic/hydrophobic microphase segregation in the membrane. The as-prepared mixed matrix membrane is also very porous and has a pore size of about 0.78 nm. The combination of these properties significantly contributes to the enhancement of the gas separation performance of PIM-1 membrane, with the resultant membrane exhibiting an exceptionally high CO2 permeability of up to 6169 barrer as well as a high CO2/N2 selectivity of 123.5, which is more than 7 times that of the pure PIM-1 membrane. The developed PIM-1/GO mixed matrix membrane should have a wide application in the CO2 separation.

Calcification Remodeling Index Characterized by Cardiac CT as a Novel Parameter to Predict the Use of Rotational Atherectomy for Coronary Intervention of Lesions with Moderate to Severe Calcification

Mengmeng Yu,Yuehua Li,Wenbin Li,Zhigang Lu,Meng Wei,Jiayin Zhang 대한영상의학회 2017 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.18 No.5

Objective: To assess the feasibility of calcification characterization by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) to predict the use of rotational atherectomy (RA) for coronary intervention of lesions with moderate to severe calcification. Materials and Methods: Patients with calcified lesions treated by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who underwent both CCTA and invasive coronary angiography were retrospectively included in this study. Calcification remodeling index was calculated as the ratio of the smallest vessel cross-sectional area of the lesion to the proximal reference luminal area. Other parameters such as calcium volume, regional Agatston score, calcification length, and involved calcium arc quadrant were also recorded. Results: A total of 223 patients with 241 calcified lesions were finally included. Lesions with RA tended to have larger calcium volume, higher regional Agatston score, more involved calcium arc quadrants, and significantly smaller calcification remodeling index than lesions without RA. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the best cutoff value of calcification remodeling index was 0.84 (area under curve = 0.847, p < 0.001). Calcification remodeling index ≤ 0.84 was the strongest independent predictor (odds ratio: 251.47, p < 0.001) for using RA. Conclusion: Calcification remodeling index was significantly correlated with the incidence of using RA to aid PCI. Calcification remodeling index ≤ 0.84 was the strongest independent predictor for using RA prior to stent implantation.

Improved SVR Method for Predicting the Cutting Force of a TBM Cutter Using Linear Cutting Machine Test Data

Mengmeng Hu,Biao Li,Bo Zhang,Ruirui Wang,Lei Chen 대한토목학회 2021 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.25 No.11

This research introduces a support vector regression (SVR) method to predict the cutting forces acting on the constant cross section (CCS) disc cutter, including the normal force (FN) and rolling force (FR), based on linear cutting machine (LCM) test data. To improve the prediction effect, an improved SVR-Outlier Detection (SVR-OD) method and an Additional Input Variable (AIV) method are proposed. After removing the outliers, 148 typical LCM test samples form the training set. Here, 70 samples from the Hangzhou No.2 Water Supply Channel constitute the test set. The prediction results show that the Root-mean-squared Relative Error (RMRE) values of the normal force and rolling force are 19.5% and 24.8%, respectively, and the corresponding determination coefficients are 0.845 and 0.807, respectively. For the prediction of the peak cutting force with an important reference to tunnel boring machine (TBM) design, the proportions of samples with an Absolute Relative Error (ARE) value of less than 20% for FN and FR are 9/10 and 7/7, respectively. The above prediction results are better than those of the common SVR method; thus, the developed method can effectively simulate the cutting force required by a rock mass with good integrity. The cutting force prediction using LCM test data is feasible and practical. In addition, the comparison of the prediction results between the improved SVR and common SVR methods shows that the improved SVR-OD and AIV methods play an active role in improving the prediction accuracy of the SVR method.

Emotion-aware Task Scheduling for Au-tonomous Vehicles in Software-defined Edge Networks

Mengmeng Sun,Lianming Zhang,Jing Mei,Pingping Dong 한국인터넷정보학회 2022 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.16 No.11

Autonomous vehicles are gradually being regarded as the mainstream trend of future devel-opment of the automobile industry. Autonomous driving networks generate many intensive and delay-sensitive computing tasks. The storage space, computing power, and battery ca-pacity of autonomous vehicle terminals cannot meet the resource requirements of the tasks. In this paper, we focus on the task scheduling problem of autonomous driving in soft-ware-defined edge networks. By analyzing the intensive and delay-sensitive computing tasks of autonomous vehicles, we propose an emotion model that is related to task urgency and changes with execution time and propose an optimal base station (BS) task scheduling (OBSTS) algorithm. Task sentiment is an important factor that changes with the length of time that computing tasks with different urgency levels remain in the queue. The algorithm uses task sentiment as a performance indicator to measure task scheduling. Experimental results show that the OBSTS algorithm can more effectively meet the intensive and delay-sensitive requirements of vehicle terminals for network resources and improve user service experience.