Combination of Tumor Volume and Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Improved Prognostic Stratification of Stage II Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in the Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy Era: A Large-Scale Cohort Study

Qiu-Yan Chen,Shao-Yan Guo,Lin-Quan Tang,Tong-Yu Lu,Bo-Lin Chen,Qi-Yu Zhong,Meng-Sha Zou,Qing-Nan Tang,Wen-Hui Chen,Shan-Shan Guo,Li-Ting Liu,Yang Li,Ling Guo,Hao-Yuan Mo,Rui Sun,Dong-Hua Luo,Chong Zha 대한암학회 2018 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.50 No.3

Purpose Little is known about combination of the circulating Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) DNA and tumor volume in prognosis of stage II nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in the intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era. We conducted this cohort study to evaluate the prognostic values of combining these two factors. Materials and Methods By Kaplan-Meier, we compare the differences of survival curves between 385 patients with different EBV DNA or tumor volume levels, or with the combination of two biomarkers mentioned above. Results Gross tumor volume of cervical lymph nodes (GTVnd, p < 0.001) and total tumor volume (GTVtotal, p < 0.001) were both closely related to pretreatment EBV DNA, while gross tumor volume of nasopharynx (GTVnx, p=0.047) was weakly related to EBV DNA. EBV DNA was significantly correlated with progress-free survival (PFS, p=0.005), locoregional-free survival (LRFS, p=0.039), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, p=0.017), while GTVtotal, regardless of GTVnx and GTVnd, had a significant correlation with PFS and LRFS. The p-values of GTVtotal for PFS and LRFS were 0.008 and 0.001, respectively. According to GTVtotal and pretreatment EBV DNA level, patients were divided into a low-risk group (EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm3; EBV DNA 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal  30 cm3; or EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal < 30 cm3) and a high-risk group (EBV DNA > 0 copy/mL, GTVtotal  30 cm3). When patients in the low-risk group were compared with those in the high-risk group, 3-year PFS (p=0.003), LRFS (p=0.010), and DMFS (p=0.031) rates were statistically significant. Conclusion Pretreatment plasma EBV DNA and tumor volume were both closely correlated with prognosis of stage II NPC patients in the IMRT era. Combination of EBV DNA and tumor volume can refine prognosis and indicate for clinical therapy.

Skyline service selection approach based on QoS prediction

Guo, Yan,Wang, Shangguang,Wong, Kok Seng,Kim, Myung Ho Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. 2017 International journal of web and grid services Vol.13 No.4

<P>The internet currently hosts a large number of web services with highly volatile quality of service (QoS), which makes it difficult for users to quickly access highly reliable online services. Hence, the selection of the optimal service composition based on fast and reliable QoS has emerged as a challenging and popular problem in the field of service computing. In this paper, we propose a service selection approach based on QoS prediction. We consider historical QoS information as time series and predict QoS values using the autoregressive integrated moving average model, which can provide more accurate QoS attribute values. We then calculate the uncertainty in the prediction results using an improved coefficient of variation to prune redundant services. In order to downsize the search space, we employ Skyline computing to prune redundant services and perform Skyline service selection using 0-1 mixed-integer programming. Experimental results based on real-world dataset showed that our approach yields satisfactory performance in terms of reliability and efficiency.</P>

A Study of English Writing and Domain-Specific Motivation and Self-Efficacy of Chinese EFL Learners

( Yan Yan Zhang ),( Hui Guo ) 범태평양응용언어학회 2012 범태평양응용언어학회지 Vol.16 No.2

This paper aims to analyze the relationships between English writing and domain-specific motivation and self-efficacy of Chinese EFL learners. 66 English major students from two grades were invited as participants to complete a writing task and two self-designed questionnaires on English writing motivation and self-efficacy, respectively. It was found that the students were largely not self-efficacious with respect to English writing although they had a relatively high motivation for English writing. The results of correlation analyses indicated that English writing motivation, self-efficacy and English writing proficiency positively and significantly correlated with each other for English major freshmen, but not for sophomores. Moreover, the two groups of students differed significantly in terms of English writing proficiency, English writing self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation. These results are partially consistent with those of the previous research and have important implications for the teaching of English writing in EFL countries.

Induction of Apoptosis in Glioma Cells and Upregulation of Fas Expression Using the Human Interferon-β Gene

Guo, Yan,Wang, Gan,Gao, Wen-Wei,Cheng, Shi-Wen,Wang, Ren,Ju, Shi-Ming,Cao, He-Li,Tian, Heng-Li Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

We investigated whether IFN-${\beta}$ inhibits the growth of human malignant glioma and induces glioma cell apoptosis using the human IFN-${\beta}$ gene transfected into glioma cells. A eukaryonic expression vector ($pSV2IFN{\beta}$) for IFN-${\beta}$ was transfected into the glioma cell line SHG44 using liposome transfection. Stable transfection and IFN-${\beta}$ expression were confirmed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cell apoptosis was also assessed by Hoechst staining and electron microscopy. In vivo experiments were used to establish a SHG44 glioma model in nude mice. Liposomes containing the human IFN-${\beta}$ gene were injected into the SHG44 glioma of nude mice to observe glioma growth and calculate tumor size. Fas expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The IFN-${\beta}$ gene was successfully transfected and expressed in the SHG44 glioma cells in vitro. A significant difference in the number of apoptotic cells was observed between transfected and non-transfected cells. Glioma growth in nude mice was inhibited in vivo, with significant induction of apoptosis. Fas expression was also elevated. The IFN-${\beta}$ gene induces apoptosis in glioma cells, possibly through upregulation of Fas. The IFN-${\beta}$ gene modulation in the Fas pathway and apoptosis in glioma cells may be important for the treatment of gliomas.

Molecular Phylogenetic Diversity and Spatial Distribution of Bacterial Communities in Cooling Stage during Swine Manure Composting

Yan Guo,JInliang Zhang,Yongfeng Yan,Jian Wu,Nengwu Zhu,Changyan Deng 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.6

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and subsequent sub-cloning and sequencing were used in this study to analyze the molecular phylogenetic diversity and spatial distribution of bacterial communities in different spatial locations during the cooling stage of composted swine manure. Total microbial DNA was extracted, and bacterial near full-length 16S rRNA genes were subsequently amplified, cloned, RFLP-screened, and sequenced. A total of 420 positive clones were classified by RFLP and near-full-length 16S rDNA sequences. Approximately 48 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were found among 139 positive clones from the superstratum sample; 26 among 149 were from the middle-level sample and 35 among 132 were from the substrate sample. Thermobifida fusca was common in the superstratum layer of the pile. Some Bacillus spp. were remarkable in the middle-level layer, and Clostridium sp. was dominant in the substrate layer. Among 109 OTUs, 99 displayed homology with those in the GenBank database. Ten OTUs were not closely related to any known species. The superstratum sample had the highest microbial diversity, and different and distinct bacterial communities were detected in the three different layers. This study demonstrated the spatial characteristics of the microbial community distribution in the cooling stage of swine manure compost.

Bithiophene-Imide-Based Polymeric Semiconductors for Field-Effect Transistors: Synthesis, Structure−Property Correlations, Charge Carrier Polarity, and Device Stability

Guo, Xugang,Ortiz, Rocio Ponce,Zheng, Yan,Hu, Yan,Noh, Yong-Young,Baeg, Kang-Jun,Facchetti, Antonio,Marks, Tobin J. American Chemical Society 2011 JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY - Vol.133 No.5

Hydrogels with diffusion-facilitated porous network for improved adsorption performance

Yan-yan Pei,Dong-mei Guo,Qing-da An,Zuo-yi Xiao,Shangru Zhai,Bin Zhai 한국화학공학회 2018 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.35 No.12

Porous alginate-based hydrogel beads (porous ABH) have been prepared through a facile and sustainable template-assisted method using nano-calcium carbonate and nano-CaCO3 as pore-directing agent for the efficient capture of methylene blue (MB). The materials were characterized by various techniques. The sorption capacities of ABH towards MB were compared with pure sodium alginate (ABH-1:0) in batch and fixed-bed column adsorption studies. The obtained adsorbent (ABH-1:3) has a higher BET surface area and a smaller average pore diameter. The maximum adsorption capacity of ABH-1:3 obtained from Langmuir model was as high as 1,426.0mg g1. The kinetics strictly followed pseudo-second order rate equation and the adsorption reaction was effectively facilitated, approximately 50minutes to achieve adsorption equilibrium, which was significantly shorter than that of ABH-1:0. The thermodynamic parameters revealed that the adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic. Thomas model fitted well with the breakthrough curves and could describe the dynamic behavior of the column. More significantly, the uptake capacity of ABH-1:3 was still higher than 75% of the maximum adsorption capacity even after ten cycles, indicating that this novel adsorbent can be a promising adsorptive material for removal of MB from aqueous solution under batch and continuous systems.

Progress on the Preparation of Ultra-pure Hydrogen Peroxide

Guo-Yan Luan,Wei-Ping Gao,Ping-Jing Yao 한국공업화학회 2007 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.13 No.7

Progress on the preparation of ultra-pure hydrogen peroxide is reviewed. The technologies include distillation and relative technologies, combination methods of ion exchange and adsorption resin, membrane separation and relative technologies, crystallization, flocculation, and adding addition agents as so well. Distillation is reliable and easy to industrialize, while purity of hydrogen peroxide distilled is not high enough. Crystallization, flocculation, and adding addition agents can only be used as accessory technologies. It is safe for membrane separation, but the life of membrane is short. Ion exchange and adsorption resin processes are simple and the product purity is high, but ion exchange resin is easy to be oxidized. It is the tendency for the preparation of ultra-pure hydrogen peroxide that distillation is used firstly and then the combination of membrane separation technologies or ion exchange and adsorption resin processes are followed.

Study on Optimal Design of Digital Music Player Based on Human-computer Interaction

Yan Chen,Min Lv,LiWei Guo 보안공학연구지원센터(IJSIP) 2015 International Journal of Signal Processing, Image Vol.8 No.1

Through the application of theories and principles of human-computer interaction design system, deficiencies on interaction of digital music player are analyzed; and through the analysis on cognitive features for interaction, hierarchy of needs, and emotional information of target users, the key factors and the relevant data that influence the objective of interaction design are researched, thus facilitating the modern digital music products design to follow up users’ physical and mental requirements, balancing the interaction design between human, computer and environment, bringing users more convenient and effective operation and experience, and providing more important theoretical thought and implementation process for humanized design.

Cyclic loading behavior of high-strength steel framed-tube structures with replaceable shear links constructed using Q355 structural steel

Yan Guo,Ming Lian,Hao Zhang,Qianqian Cheng 국제구조공학회 2022 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.42 No.6

The rotation capacities of the plastic hinges located at beam-ends are significantly reduced in traditional steel framed-tube structures (SFTSs) because of the small span-to-depth ratios of the deep beams, leading to the low ductility and energy dissipation capacities of the SFTSs. High-strength steel framed-tube structures with replaceable shear links (HSSFTSRSLs) are proposed to address this issue. A replaceable shear link is located at the mid-span of a deep spandrel beam to act as a ductile fuse to dissipate the seismic energy in HSSFTS-RSLs. A 2/3-scaled HSSFTS-RSL specimen with a shear link fabricated of high-strength low-alloy Q355 structural steel was created, and a cyclic loading test was performed to study the hysteresis behaviors of this specimen. The test results were compared to the specimens with soft steel shear links in previous studies to investigate the feasibility of using high-strength low-alloy steel for shear links in HSSFTS-RSLs. The effects of link web stiffener spaces on the cyclic performance of the HSSFTS-RSLs with Q355 steel shear links were investigated based on the nonlinear numerical analysis. The test results indicate that the specimen with a Q355 steel shear link exhibited a reliable and stable seismic performance. If the maximum interstory drift of HSSFTS-RSL is designed lower than 2% under earthquakes, the HSSFTS-RSLs with Q355 steel shear links can have similar seismic performance to the structures with soft steel shear links, even though these shear links have similar shear and flexural strength. For the Q355 steel shear links with web height-tothickness ratios higher than 30.7 in HSSFTS-RSLs, it is suggested that the maximum intermediate web stiffener space is decreased by 15% from the allowable space for the shear link in AISC341-16 due to the analytical results.