Appropriate nitrogen application enhances saponin synthesis and growth mediated by optimizing root nutrient uptake ability

Wei, Wei,Ye, Chen,Huang, Hui-Chuan,Yang, Min,Mei, Xin-Yue,Du, Fei,He, Xia-Hong,Zhu, Shu-Sheng,Liu, Yi-Xiang The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.4

Background: Cultivation of medicinal crops, which synthesize hundreds of substances for curative functions, was focused on the synthesis of secondary metabolites rather than biomass accumulation. Nutrition is an important restrict factor for plant growth and secondary metabolites, but little attention has been given to the plasticity of nutrient uptake and secondary metabolites synthesis response to soil nitrogen (N) change. Methods: Two year-field experiments of Sanqi (Panax notoginseng), which can synthesize a high level of saponin in cells, were conducted to study the effects of N application on the temporal dynamics of biomass, nutrient absorption, root architecture and the relationships between these parameters and saponin synthesis. Results: Increasing N fertilizer rates could improve the dry matter yields and nutrient absorption ability through increasing the maximum daily growth (or nutrient uptake) rate. Under suitable N level (225 kg/ha N), Sanqi restricted the root length and surface and enhanced the root diameter and N uptake rate per root length (NURI) to promote nutrient absorption, but the opposite status of Sanqi root architecture and NURI was found when soil N was deficient. Furthermore, increasing N rates could promote the accumulation of saponin in roots through improving the NURI, which showed a significant positive relationship with the content of saponin in the taproots. Conclusion: Appropriate N fertilizer rates could optimize both root architecture and nutrient uptake efficiency, then promote both the accumulation of dry matter and the synthesis of saponins.

A Device Designed for Simulating HM Behavior of Compacted GMZ01 Bentonite

Wei-min Ye,J.-Y. Zhu,B. Chen,Y.-J. Cui,J. Wang 대한토목학회 2012 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.16 No.7

During the long-term operation of a conceptual multi-barrier deep geological repository for disposal of high-level nuclear waste,performance of the artificial barrier system (compacted bentonite) with consideration of influences of the surrounding rocks has to be evaluated for tens of thousands of years. Numerical simulation technology could be one of the most effective assessment methods. In order to have confidence in the prediction of the coupled hydraulic and mechanical processes occurring within the engineered clay barrier, a comparison between calculated and observed results is essential for validation and verification. For this purpose, a new Hydro-Mechanical (HM) device was designed in this paper, in which compacted GMZ01 bentonite specimen was embedded into a hollow Beishan granite column, which was tightly fixed by a closure metal framework. Relative humidity and pressure sensors were employed for monitoring behavior of the compacted bentonite during hydration, in order to observe the HM coupling performance of the compacted bentonite with consideration of influences of surrounding rocks at room temperature. The newly-developed test device includes three parts, a bottom plug, a cylindrical metal cell body and a top plug, which were tightly fixed together with four screws to form a confined (constant volume) closure system. Relative humidity and pressure sensors were implemented. Relative humidity sensors were calibrated before installation. With this newly-developed device, the GMZ01 bentonite-Beishan granite specimen was submitted to hydration. Some interesting preliminary results of the HM behavior of the compacted GMZ01 bentonite with consideration of the bentonite/rock interactions were obtained and discussed.

Short-Term Outcomes and Safety of Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Microwave Ablation of Solitary Adrenal Metastasis from Lung Cancer: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study

Min Men,Xin Ye,Weijun Fan,Kaixian Zhang,Jingwang Bi,Xia Yang,Aimin Zheng,Guanghui Huang,Zhigang Wei 대한영상의학회 2016 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.17 No.6

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the short-term outcomes and safety of computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) of solitary adrenal metastasis from lung cancer. Materials and Methods: From May 2010 to April 2014, 31 patients with unilateral adrenal metastasis from lung cancer who were treated with CT-guided percutaneous MWA were enrolled. This study was conducted with approval from local Institutional Review Board. Clinical outcomes and complications of MWA were assessed. Results: Their tumors ranged from 1.5 to 5.4 cm in diameter. After a median follow-up period of 11.1 months, primary efficacy rate was 90.3% (28/31). Local tumor progression was detected in 7 (22.6%) of 31 cases. Their median overall survival time was 12 months. The 1-year overall survival rate was 44.3%. Median local tumor progression-free survival time was 9 months. Local tumor progression-free survival rate was 77.4%. Of 36 MWA sessions, two (5.6%) had major complications (hypertensive crisis). Conclusion: CT-guided percutaneous MWA may be fairly safe and effective for treating solitary adrenal metastasis from lung cancer.

From 3D to 4D printing: approaches and typical applications

Ye Zhou,Wei Min Huang,Shu Feng Kang,Xue Lian Wu,Hai Bao Lu,Jun Fu,Haipo Cui 대한기계학회 2015 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.29 No.10

With the additional dimension, 4D printing is emerging as a novel technique to enable configuration switching in 3D printed items. Inthis paper, four major approaches, namely self-assembly of elements, deformation mismatch, bi-stability, and the Shape memory effect(SME), are identified as the generic approaches to achieve 4D printing. The main features of these approaches are briefly discussed. Utilizingthese approaches either individually or in a combined manner, the potential of 4D printing to reshape product design is demonstratedby a few example applications.

Clinicopathologic and Prognostic Significance of Carboxyl Terminus of Hsp70-interacting Protein in HBV-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Jin, Ye,Zhou, Li,Liang, Zhi-Yong,Jin, Ke-Min,Zhou, Wei-Xun,Xing, Bao-Cai Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.9

Background: Many factors, including molecular ones, were demonstrated to be associated with long-term prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus far, the expression and clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of the carboxyl terminus of Hsp70-interacting protein (CHIP) in B-type hepatitis virus (HBV)-related HCC remain unknown. Materials and Methods: CHIP expression was detected by immunohistochemical staining of surgical samples from 79 patients with HCC with HBsAg positivity. In addition, correlations with clinicopathologic parameters and patient survival were evaluated. Results: It was found that positive CHIP staining was observed in tumor, but not non-tumor, tissues. High expression of CHIP was significantly related to larger tumor size, with marginally significant associations noted for presence of portal vein invasion and higher serum a-fetoprotein level. In addition, univariate analysis showed that high CHIP expression was a powerful predictor for dismal overall and disease-free survival. However, independent prognostic implications of CHIP were not proven in multivariate Cox regression test. Conclusions: CHIP is overexpressed in HBV-related HCC and is associated with unfavorable biological behavior as well as poor prognosis. However, its prognostic role needs to be further validated.

Magnetism and Thermodynamic Properties of a Spin-1/2 Ferrimagnetic Diamond XY Chain in Magnetic Fields at Finite Temperatures

Tai-Min Cheng,Yan-Ming Ma,Chong-Yuan Ge,Shu-Sheng Sun,Wei-Ye Jia,Qing-Yun Li,Xiao-Fei Shi,Lin Li,Lin Zhu 한국물리학회 2013 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.62 No.1

The elementary excitation spectra of a one-dimensional ferrimagnetic diamond chain in the spin- 1/2 XY model at low temperatures have been calculated by using an invariant eigen-operator (IEO) method, the energies of elementary excitations in different specific cases are discussed, and the analytic solutions of three critical magnetic field intensities (<i>H</i>_C1, <i>H</i>_C2, and <i>H</i>_peak) are given. The magnetization versus external magnetic field curve displays a 1/3 magnetization plateau at low temperatures, in which <i>H</i>_C1 is the critical magnetic field intensity from the disappearance of the 1/3 magnetization plateau to spin-flop states, <i>H</i>_C2 is the critical magnetic field intensity from spin-flop states to the saturation magnetization, and Hpeak is the critical magnetic field intensity when the temperature magnetization shows a peak in the external magnetic field. The temperature dependences of the magnetic susceptibility and the specific heat show a double peak structure. The entropy and the magnetic susceptibility versus external magnetic field curves also exhibit a double peak structure, and the positions of the two peaks correspond to <i>H</i>_C1 and <i>H</i>_C2, respectively. This derives from the competition among different types of energies: the temperature-dependent thermal disorder energy, the potential energy of the spin magnetic moment, the ferromagnetic exchange interaction energy, and the anti-ferromagnetic exchange interaction energy. However at low temperatures, the specific heat as a function of external magnetic field curve exhibits minima at the above two critical points (<i>H</i>_C1 and <i>H</i><sub>C2<sub>). The origins of the above phenomena are discussed in detail.

Clinical Course of Hepatitis B Viral Infection in Patients Undergoing Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor α Therapy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Lee Ji Min,Wei Shu-Chen,Lee Kang-Moon,Ye Byong Duk,Mao Ren,김현수,Park Soo Jung,Park Sang Hyoung,Oh Eun Hye,Im Jong Pil,Jang Byung Ik,Kim Dae Bum,Takeuchi Ken 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2022 Gut and Liver Vol.16 No.3

Background/Aims: Little is known about the clinical course of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients undergoing anti-tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) therapy for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to investigate the clinical course of HBV infection and IBD and to analyze liver dysfunction risks in patients undergoing anti-TNF-α therapy. Methods: This retrospective multinational study involved multiple centers in Korea, China, Taiwan, and Japan. We enrolled IBD patients with chronic or resolved HBV infection, who received anti-TNF-α therapy. The patients’ medical records were reviewed, and data were collected using a web-based case report form. Results: Overall, 191 patients (77 ulcerative colitis and 114 Crohn’s disease) were included, 28.3% of whom received prophylactic antivirals. During a median follow-up duration of 32.4 months, 7.3% of patients experienced liver dysfunction due to HBV reactivation. Among patients with chronic HBV infection, the proportion experiencing liver dysfunction was significantly higher in the non-prophylaxis group (26% vs 8%, p=0.02). Liver dysfunction occurred in one patient with resolved HBV infection. Antiviral prophylaxis was independently associated with an 84% reduction in liver dysfunction risk in patients with chronic HBV infection (odds ratio, 0.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.04 to 0.66; p=0.01). The clinical course of IBD was not associated with liver dysfunction or the administration of antiviral prophylaxis. Conclusions: Liver dysfunction due to HBV reactivation can occur in HBV-infected IBD patients treated with anti-TNF-α agents. Careful monitoring is needed in these patients, and antivirals should be administered, especially to those with chronic HBV infection.

Isolation of NH4+-Tolerant Mutants of Actinobacillus succinogenes for Succinic Acid Production by Continuous Selection

( Gui Zi Ye ),( Min Jiang ),( Jian Li ),( Ke Quan Chen ),( Yong Lan Xi ),( Shu Wen Liu ),( Ping Wei ),( Ping Kai Ouyang ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2010 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.20 No.8

Actinobacillus succinogenes, a representative succinic-acid-producing microorganism, is seriously inhibited by ammonium ions, thereby hampering the industrial use of A. succinogenes with ammonium-ion-based materials as the pH controller. Therefore, this study isolated an ammonium-ion-tolerant mutant of A. succinogenes using a continuous-culture technique in which all the environmental factors, besides the stress (ammonium ions), were kept constant. Instead of operating the mutant-generating system as a nutrient-limited chemostat, it was used as a nutrientunlimited system, allowing the cells to be continuously cultured at the maximum specific growth rate. The mutants were isolated on agar plates containing the acid-base indicator bromothymol blue and a high level of ammonium ions that would normally kill the parent strain by 100%. When cultured in anaerobic bottles with an ammonium ion concentration of 354 mmol/l, the mutant YZ0819 produced 40.21 g/l of succinic acid with a yield of 80.4%, whereas the parent strain NJ113 was unable to grow. When using NH4OH to buffer the culture pH in a 3.0 l stirred bioreactor, YZ0819 produced 35.15 g/l of succinic acid with a yield of 70.3%, which was 155% higher than that produced by NJ113. In addition, the morphology of YZ0819 changed in the fermentation broth, as the cells were aggregated from the beginning to the end of the fermentation. Therefore, these results indicate that YZ0819 can efficiently produce succinic acid when using NH4OH as the pH controller, and the formation of aggregates can be useful for transferring the cells from a cultivation medium for various industrial applications.

Identification and Functional Analysis of RelA/SpoT Homolog (RSH) Genes in Deinococcus radiodurans^s

( Jinhui Wang ),( Ye Tian ),( Zhengfu Zhou ),( Liwen Zhang ),( Wei Zhang ),( Min Lin ),( Ming Chen ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2016 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.26 No.12

To identify the global effects of (p)ppGpp in the gram-positive bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans, which exhibits remarkable resistance to radiation and other stresses, RelA/SpoT homolog (RSHs) mutants were constructed by direct deletion mutagenesis. The results showed that RelA has both synthesis and hydrolysis domains of (p)ppGpp, whereas RelQ only synthesizes (p)ppGpp in D. radiodurans. The growth assay for mutants and complementation analysis revealed that deletion of relA and relQ sensitized the cells to H₂O₂, heat shock, and amino acid limitation. Comparative proteomic analysis revealed that the bifunctional RelA is involved in DNA repair, molecular chaperone functions, transcription, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and metabolism, suggesting that relA maintains the cellular (p)ppGpp levels and plays a crucial role in oxidative resistance in D. radiodurans. The D. radiodurans relA and relQ genes are responsible for (p)ppGpp synthesis/hydrolysis and (p)ppGpp hydrolysis, respectively. (p)ppGpp integrates a general stress response with a targeted re-programming of gene regulation to allow bacteria to respond appropriately towards heat shock, oxidative stress, and starvation. This is the first identification of RelA and RelQ involvement in response to oxidative, heat shock, and starvation stresses in D. radiodurans, which further elucidates the remarkable resistance of this bacterium to stresses.

Expression and characterization of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of Ectropis obliqua virus

( Mei Juan Lin ),( Shan Ye ),( Yi Xiong ),( Da Wei Cai ),( Jia Min Zhang ),( Yuan Yang Hu ) 한국생화학분자생물학회 (구 한국생화학회) 2010 BMB Reports Vol.43 No.4

Replication of positive-strand RNA virus is mediated by a virus- encoded RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). To study the replication of Ectropis obliqua virus (EoV), a newly identified insect virus belonging to the family Iflaviradae, we expressed the RNA polymerase domain in Escherichia coli and purified it on a Ni-chelating HisTrap affinity column. It is demonstrated that EoV RdRp initiated RNA synthesis in a primer- and poly (A)-dependent manner in vitro. Furthermore, the effect of primer concentration, temperature, metal ions (Mg2+, Mn2+, and K+) on enzymatic activity were determined. Our study represented a first step towards understanding the mechanism of EoV replication. [BMB reports 2010; 43(4): 284-290]