Characterization and expression analysis of inositolphosphorylceramide synthase family genes in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Pengfei Liao,Jinqiu Huang,Puguo Tong,Wang Nie,Xin Yan,Yingmei Feng,Hui Peng,Xiaojue Peng,Shao-Bo Li 한국유전학회 2017 Genes & Genomics Vol.39 No.5

Genes encoding inositolphosphorylceramide synthase (IPCS), which play essential roles in sphingolipid biosynthesis, have been known to be widely distributed in plants. However, reports on identification, expression, and function analysis of plant IPCS family genes are very limited. In this study, a total of three OsIPCS genes were identified in the rice database, and their full-length coding regions were amplified by RT-PCR. These genes had 12–13 exons, and they encoded proteins of 313–326 amino acids with molecular mass of 35.8–37.6 kDa and isoelectric point of 10.99–12.61. Importantly, two typical and conserved motifs (D3 and D4) in plants were found in all the three putative OsIPCS proteins, indicating high similarity of OsIPCSs to the other plant IPCS proteins, which were confirmed by phylogenetic analysis. The transcripts of OsIPCS genes appeared in different rice organs including seedling roots, stems and leaves, and young panicles, but each gene showed a unique organ-specific expression pattern. Meanwhile, we found that all the three OsIPCS genes showed responses to stresses like drought, cold and salt, but their expression patterns were also to some extent different under stress treatments. Especially, under cold stress, OsIPCS1 and OsIPCS2 were significantly up-regulated in roots and stems but down-regulated in leaves, while OsIPCS3 was significantly up-regulated in all the measured organs. Actually, putative abiotic-stress regulatory elements were identified in the promoters of these genes. Our data suggest that OsIPCS genes should play important roles during rice growth and adversity adaptation.

Feasibility of Free-Breathing, Non-ECG-Gated, Black-Blood Cine Magnetic Resonance Images With Multitasking in Measuring Left Ventricular Function Indices

Peng Pengfei,Yue Xun,Tang Lu,Wu Xi,Deng Qiao,Wu Tao,Cai Lei,Liu Qi,Xu Jian,Huang Xiaoqi,Chen Yucheng,Diao Kaiyue,Sun Jiayu 대한영상의학회 2023 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.24 No.12

Objective: To clinically validate the feasibility and accuracy of cine images acquired through the multitasking method, with no electrocardiogram gating and free-breathing, in measuring left ventricular (LV) function indices by comparing them with those acquired through the balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFP) method, with multiple breath-holds and electrocardiogram gating. Materials and Methods: Forty-three healthy volunteers (female:male, 30:13; mean age, 23.1 ± 2.3 years) and 36 patients requiring an assessment of LV function for various clinical indications (female:male, 22:14; 57.8 ± 11.3 years) were enrolled in this prospective study. Each participant underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using the multiple breath-hold bSSFP method and free-breathing multitasking method. LV function parameters were measured for both MRI methods. Image quality was assessed through subjective image quality scores (1 to 5) and calculation of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) between the myocardium and blood pool. Differences between the two MRI methods were analyzed using the Bland–Altman plot, paired t-test, or Wilcoxon signed-rank test, as appropriate. Results: LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was not significantly different between the two MRI methods (P = 0.222 in healthy volunteers and P = 0.343 in patients). LV end-diastolic mass was slightly overestimated with multitasking in both healthy volunteers (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 60.5 ± 10.7 g vs. 58.0 ± 10.4 g, respectively; P < 0.001) and patients (69.4 ± 18.1 g vs. 66.8 ± 18.0 g, respectively; P = 0.003). Acceptable and comparable image quality was achieved for both MRI methods (multitasking vs. bSSFP, 4.5 ± 0.7 vs. 4.6 ± 0.6, respectively; P = 0.203). The CNR between the myocardium and blood pool showed no significant differences between the two MRI methods (18.89 ± 6.65 vs. 18.19 ± 5.83, respectively; P = 0.480). Conclusion: Multitasking-derived cine images obtained without electrocardiogram gating and breath-holding achieved similar image quality and accurate quantification of LVEF in healthy volunteers and patients.

Hot Deformation Behaviors and Process Parameters Optimization of Low-Density High-Strength Fe–Mn–Al–C Alloy Steel

Peng Wan,Huixiang Yu,Feng Li,Pengfei Gao,Lei Zhang,Zhengzhi Zhao 대한금속·재료학회 2022 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.28 No.10

The hot deformation behavior of low-density high-strength Fe–Mn–Al–C alloy steel at T = 900-1150 °C and ̇ = 0.01-10 s−1was studied by the Gleeble-3500 thermo-mechanical simulator. The rheological stress curve characteristics of the steel wereanalyzed through experimental data, and a physical constitutive model considering strain coupling was established. At thesame time, the finite element software DEFORM was used to calculate the critical damage value of the steel, and the influenceof T and ̇ on the maximum damage value was considered. By introducing the dimensionless parameter Zener–Hollomon, thecritical damage model was established. Finally, the workability of the steel was evaluated by using the intuitive processingmap technology. The results indicated that Fe–Mn–Al–C alloy steel is a positive strain rate-sensitive and a negative temperature-sensitive material, and the constitutive model considering physical parameters can well predict the rheological stress ofthe steel during hot deformation (R = 0.997). The critical damage factor of Fe–Mn–Al–C alloy steel varies with the changeof T and ̇ , and the range is 0.359-0.535. At the same time, the critical damage factor is more sensitive to ̇ . At a constantT, the damage factor decreases with the increase of ̇ . Based on the Prasad instability criterion, the dynamic material modelprocessing map and the microstructure verification after thermal compression, the rheological instability characteristics ofthe steel are mainly mechanical instability and local plastic flow, and the stable deformation area is mainly characterized bydynamic recrystallization. The optimal hot working process window of the steel is 975-1050 °C/0.01-0.032 s−1.

Experimental study on heat transfer characteristics of supercritical carbon dioxide natural circulation

Pengfei Wang,Peng Ding,Wenhuai Li,Rongshun Xie,Chengjie Duan,Gang Hong,Yaoli Zhang 한국원자력학회 2022 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.54 No.3

An experimental study has been conducted to investigate the heat transfer characteristics of supercriticalcarbon dioxide (sCO2) uniformly heated in the horizontal circular smooth tube. The results illustratedthat there was a significant difference in heat transfer between the top wall and bottom wall due to thebuoyancy. Bulk flow acceleration cannot be negligible in the high heat flux region, which leads to heattransfer deterioration. A new heat transfer correlation is proposed, in which the buoyancy parameter andbulk flow acceleration have been taken into account. The new correlation and six classic correlations forsCO2 are examined in horizontal tubes. The comparison indicates that the new correlation has a betterperformance for sCO2 flowing through a horizontal heating tube under natural circulation conditions. Forexample, 94.9% of the calculated results using the new heat transfer correlation were within ±30% of theexperimental results while only 87.9% of that using the Jackson correlation (the best of the six) werewithin the same error bands.

Predictive Current Control for Multilevel Cascaded H-Bridge Inverters Based on a Deadbeat Solution

Chen Qi,Pengfei Tu,Peng Wang,Michael Zagrodnik 전력전자학회 2017 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.17 No.1

Finite-set predictive current control (FS-PCC) is advantageous for power converters due to its high dynamic performance and has received increasing interest in multilevel inverters. Among multilevel inverter topologies, the cascaded H-bridge (CHB) inverter is popular and mature in the industry. However, a main drawback of FS-PCC is its large computational burden, especially for the application of CHB inverters. In this paper, an FS-PCC method based on a deadbeat solution for three-phase zero-common-mode-voltage CHB inverters is proposed. In the proposed method, an inverse model of the load is utilized to calculate the reference voltage based on the reference current. In addition, a cost function is directly expressed in the terms of the voltage errors. An optimal control actuation is selected by minimizing the cost function. In the proposed method, only three instead of all of the control actuations are used for the calculations in one sampling period. This leads to a significant reduction in computations. The proposed method is tested on a three-phase 5-level CHB inverter. Simulation and experimental results show a very similar and comparable control performance from the proposed method compared with the traditional FS-PCC method which evaluates the cost function for all of the control actuations.

Internal Mammary Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer

Zhao Bi,Peng Chen,Jingjing Liu,Yanbing Liu,Pengfei Qiu,Qifeng Yang,Weizhen Zheng,Yongsheng Wang 한국유방암학회 2018 Journal of breast cancer Vol.21 No.4

Purpose: The definition of nodal pathologic complete response (pCR) after a neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) just included the evaluation of axillary lymph node (ALN) without internal mammary lymph node. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of internal mammary-sentinel lymph node biopsy (IM-SLNB) in patients with breast cancer who underwent NAC. Methods: From November 2011 to 2017, 179 patients with primary breast cancer who underwent operation after NAC were included in this study. All patients received radiotracer injection with modified injection technology. IM-SLNB would be performed on patients with internal mammary sentinel lymph node (IMSLN) visualization. Results: Among the 158 patients with cN+ disease, the rate of nodal pCR was 36.1% (57/158). Among the 179 patients, the visualization rate of IMSLN was 31.8% (57/179) and was 12.3% (7/57) and 87.7% (50/57) among those with cN0 and cN+ disease, respectively. Furthermore, the detection rate of IMSLN was 31.3% (56/179). The success rate of IM-SLNB was 98.2% (56/57). The IMSLN metastasis rate was 7.1% (4/56), and all of them were accompanied by ALN metastasis. The number of positive ALNs in patients with IMSLN metastasis was 3, 6, 8, and 9. The pathology nodal stage had been changed from pN1/ pN2 to pN3b. The pathology stage had been changed from IIA/ IIIA to IIIC. Conclusion: Patients with visualization of IMSLN should perform IM-SLNB after NAC, especially for patients with cN+ disease, in order to complete lymph nodal staging. IM-SLNB could further improve the definition of nodal pCR and guide the internal mammary node irradiation.

Predictive Current Control for Multilevel Cascaded H-Bridge Inverters Based on a Deadbeat Solution

Qi, Chen,Tu, Pengfei,Wang, Peng,Zagrodnik, Michael The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2017 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.17 No.1

Finite-set predictive current control (FS-PCC) is advantageous for power converters due to its high dynamic performance and has received increasing interest in multilevel inverters. Among multilevel inverter topologies, the cascaded H-bridge (CHB) inverter is popular and mature in the industry. However, a main drawback of FS-PCC is its large computational burden, especially for the application of CHB inverters. In this paper, an FS-PCC method based on a deadbeat solution for three-phase zero-common-mode-voltage CHB inverters is proposed. In the proposed method, an inverse model of the load is utilized to calculate the reference voltage based on the reference current. In addition, a cost function is directly expressed in the terms of the voltage errors. An optimal control actuation is selected by minimizing the cost function. In the proposed method, only three instead of all of the control actuations are used for the calculations in one sampling period. This leads to a significant reduction in computations. The proposed method is tested on a three-phase 5-level CHB inverter. Simulation and experimental results show a very similar and comparable control performance from the proposed method compared with the traditional FS-PCC method which evaluates the cost function for all of the control actuations.

Identification and characterization of atypical porcine pestivirus genomes in newborn piglets with congenital tremor in China

Han-Qin Shen,Xiangcong Liu,Pengfei Zhang,Lei Wang,Yan-ling Liu,Le-yi Zhang,Peng-shuai Liang,Chang-xu Song 대한수의학회 2018 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.19 No.3

Recently, a novel atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) in pig was reported. In this study, two APPV strains, APPV-China/GZ01/2016 (GZ01) and APPV-China/GD-SD/2016 (GD-SD), were identified in two newborn piglet herds with congenital tremor from China. The open reading frame of the two strains shared an 83.5% nucleotide identity. Phylogenetically, the APPV strains were placed into two groups: GZ01 belonged to group I and GD-SD belonged to group II. A high viral load was detected in the cerebellum (quantification cycles < 26). Further studies should be carried out to thoroughly elucidate the development of congenital tremors caused by APPV.

An improved design of inserted tooth finishing hob for involute gears

Hu Yong,Xiang Mingjun,Qiu Xing,Song Pengfei,Song Jingan,Peng Fuhua 대한기계학회 2014 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.28 No.8

Gear hobs are widely used to machine involute gears. However, using Archimedes worm as a base worm of the gear hob, which iscommon used in industry, leads to the generating of theoretical error of the gears. Even though this error can be eliminated by using theaccurate involute base worm or be greatly reduced by complicated modification of the shape of cutting edges, the manufacturing cost isvery high. Reported in this paper is an improved design of inserted tooth finishing hob for involute gears on a conventional hobbing machineaiming to eliminate this error in an economical way. For that purpose, both descriptive-geometry-based method and mathematicalanalyzing are employed to illustrate the major parameters of the base worm and the formation and parameters of the inserted tooth finishinghob. In addition, an approximating formation of the flank for the convenience of grinding the inserted tooth finishing hob is proposedand the errors that this substitution arc surface is discussed. Ultimately, the other advantages of this inserted finishing hob are demonstrated.

Acidification of drinking water improved tibia mass of broilers through the alterations of intestinal barrier and microbiota

Zhang Huaiyong,Guo Yujun,Wang Ziyang,Wang Yongshuai,Chen Bo,Du Pengfei,Zhang Xiangli,Huang Yanqun,Li Peng,Michiels Joris,Chen Wen 아세아·태평양축산학회 2022 Animal Bioscience Vol.35 No.6

Objective: Diet acidification supplementation is known to influence intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and on phosphorus (P) utilization of broilers. Alterations in intestinal barrier and microbiota have been associated with systemic inflammation and thus regulating bone turnover. Hence the effect of acidifier addition to drinking water on tibia mass and the linkages between intestinal integrity and bone were studied. Methods: One-d-old male broilers were randomly assigned to normal water (control) or continuous supply of acidified water (2% the blend of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid, lactic, and phosphoric acid) group with 5 replicates of 10 chicks per replicate for 42 d. Results: Acidification of drinking water improved the ash percentage and calcium content of tibia at 42 d. Broilers receiving acidified water had increased serum P concentration compared to control birds. The acidified group showed improved intestinal barrier, evidenced by increased wall thickness, villus height, the villus height to crypt depth ratio, and upregulated mucin-2 expression in ileum. Broilers receiving drinking water containing mixed organic acids had a higher proportion of Firmicutes and the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, as well as a lower population of Proteobacteria. Meanwhile, the addition of acidifier to drinking water resulted in declined ileal and serum proinflammatory factors level and increased immunoglobulin concentrations in serum. Concerning bone remodeling, acidifier addition was linked to a decrease in serum C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase reflecting bone resorption, whereas it did not apparently change serum alkaline phosphatase activity that is a bone formation marker. Conclusion: Acidified drinking water increased tibia mineral deposition of broilers, which was probably linked with higher P utilization and decreased bone resorption through improved intestinal integrity and gut microbiota and through decreased systemic inflammation. Objective: Diet acidification supplementation is known to influence intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, and on phosphorus (P) utilization of broilers. Alterations in intestinal barrier and microbiota have been associated with systemic inflammation and thus regulating bone turnover. Hence the effect of acidifier addition to drinking water on tibia mass and the linkages between intestinal integrity and bone were studied.Methods: One-d-old male broilers were randomly assigned to normal water (control) or continuous supply of acidified water (2% the blend of 2-hydroxy-4-methylthiobutyric acid, lactic, and phosphoric acid) group with 5 replicates of 10 chicks per replicate for 42 d.Results: Acidification of drinking water improved the ash percentage and calcium content of tibia at 42 d. Broilers receiving acidified water had increased serum P concentration compared to control birds. The acidified group showed improved intestinal barrier, evidenced by increased wall thickness, villus height, the villus height to crypt depth ratio, and upregulated mucin-2 expression in ileum. Broilers receiving drinking water containing mixed organic acids had a higher proportion of Firmicutes and the ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, as well as a lower population of Proteobacteria. Meanwhile, the addition of acidifier to drinking water resulted in declined ileal and serum proinflammatory factors level and increased immunoglobulin concentrations in serum. Concerning bone remodeling, acidifier addition was linked to a decrease in serum C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase reflecting bone resorption, whereas it did not apparently change serum alkaline phosphatase activity that is a bone formation marker.Conclusion: Acidified drinking water increased tibia mineral deposition of broilers, which was probably linked with higher P utilization and decreased bone resorption through improved intestinal integrity and gut microbiota and through decreased systemic inflammation.