Late Ordovician provenance and depositional setting in the southwestern Ordos Block, China: constraints from zircon U-Pb geochronology

Fu Yang,Gang Chen,Yu Kang,Dongmin Ma,Qilin Chen,Tian Tao,Fu Deliang 한국지질과학협의회 2020 Geosciences Journal Vol.24 No.2

The U-Pb ages of single zircon grains contained in the sandstone samples were analyzed by the LA-ICP-MS method, the sediment provenances and geological significance were discussed. The LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb dating from the sandstones, tuffaceous sandstones and volcanic tuffs of the Pingliang and Zhaolaoyu Formations along the southwestern Ordos Block are used to limit the maximum depositional age and material sources. The results show that: (1) The youngest ages of zircon dating in the three samples are 445 Ma, 444 Ma and 443 Ma, respectively, suggesting that the studied Formations were deposited in the Late Ordovician. (2) The detrital zircon U-Pb age analysis of the sandstones sample from the Pinliang Formation clustered in the 445–477 Ma, 588–1548 Ma and 1612–2496 Ma with the corresponding youngest peak age of 454.5 ± 3.3 Ma. (3) The distribution of zircon U-Pb age in sandstone samples showing that the sedimentary rocks detritus was mainly sourced from the North Qinling-Qilian terranes and the NCC, and has double provenance supply in the north and south. The material source of the tuffaceous sandstones and volcanic tuffs mainly comes from the volcanic and magmatic activity related to the North Qilian-North Qinling Island Arcs.

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction of three-dimensional carbon fiber-based composites for seawater oxygen-dissolved battery

Yu Juxin,Ma Li,Duan Tigang,Xin Yonglei,Lv Yanzhuo,Zhang Haibing 한국탄소학회 2022 Carbon Letters Vol.32 No.2

One-step hydrothermal reduction method was used to prepare three-dimensional carbon fiber brush-based graphene–platinum (CFB/Pt–G) composites to improve the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction activity of cathode materials for seawater oxygen-dissolved battery. Characterization results show that the reduced graphene oxide of as-prepared graphene–platinum composite displays the few-layer folded structure. In addition, Pt nanoparticles with the polycrystalline structure dispplay a preferential growth along the crystal plane of (111) and are mainly distributed around the defect cavities of folded graphene. Electrochemical results show that the diffusion-limited current density of CFB/Pt–G composite tested with 1600 rpm/min in 3.5% NaCl solution reaches 5 mA/cm2, while that of CFB/G is only 2.64 mA/cm2. Battery discharge results show that the maximum volume power density of CFB/Pt–G–Mg battery with a stable open voltage of 1.73 V is 81 times as much as the commercial seawater battery SWB1200.

Polysaccharide from Polygonatum Inhibits the Proliferation of Prostate Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Cells

Han, Shu-Yu,Hu, Ming-Hua,Qi, Guan-Yun,Ma, Chao-Xiong,Wang, Yuan-Yuan,Ma, Fang-Li,Tao, Ning,Qin, Zhi-Hai Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.8

Inhibition of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) may improve the efficacy of cancer therapy. Polysaccharide extracted from polygonatum can selectively inhibit the growth of prostate-CAFs (p<0.001) without inhibiting the growth of normal fibroblasts (NAFs). Polysaccharides from polygonatum stimulate autophagy of prostate-CAFs. 3-methyl-adenine(3-MA) is an autophagy inhibitor. 3-MA was added to prostate-CAFs with polysaccharide from polygonatum to determine whether autophagy plays an important role in the restrained effect. Finally, polysaccharide from polygonatum treatment significantly increased the activation of Beclin-1 and LC3, key autophagy proteins. Polysaccharide from polygonatum stimulates autophagy of prostate-CAFs and inhibits prostate-CAF growth, indicating that a novel anti-cancer strategy involves inhibiting the growth of prostate-CAFs.

Serum leptin, adiponectin and endometrial cancer risk in Chinese women

Yu Ma,Zhiwei Liu,Yan Zhang,Bingjian Lu 대한부인종양학회 2013 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.24 No.4

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum concentrations of leptin or adiponectin, and endometrial carcinoma in Chinese women. Methods: We conducted a case-control study of a total of 516 Chinese women to detect the relationships between serum concentrations of leptin or adiponectin, and endometrial carcinoma in Chinese women. The study subject constituted 206 cases of endometrial cancer and 310 normal controls. Results: Patients with endometrial carcinoma had higher serum leptin concentrations than controls (28.8±2.2 ug/L vs. 19.8±1.4 ug/L; p<0.001). The adiponectin levels in patients were lower than in controls with borderline statistical significance (2,330.7±180.5 ug/L vs. 2,583.9±147.2 ug/L; p=0.078). Logistic regression analysis confirmed the associations between leptin or adiponectin, and endometrial carcinoma after adjustment for age, body mass index, fasting insulin, serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (odds ratio for the top tertile vs. the bottom tertile: leptin 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28 to 3.29; p<0.001; adiponectin 0.52; 95% CI, 0.32 to 0.83; p<0.001). Conclusion: Increased leptin or decreased adiponectin levels are associated with endometrial carcinoma.

Pretreatment Thrombocytosis as a Prognostic Factor in Women with Gynecologic Malignancies: a Meta-analysis

Yu, Min,Liu, Lei,Zhang, Bing-Lan,Chen, Qi,Ma, Xue-Lei,Wu, Yu-Ke,Liang, Chun-Shui,Niu, Zhi-Min,Qin, Xin,Niu, Ting Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

Background: This study was performed to analyze the prognostic implications of pretreatment or preoperative thrombocytosis in women with gynecologic malignancies. Material and Methods: We surveyed 2 medical databases, PubMed and EMBASE, to identified all relevant studies. A total of 14 (n=3,490) that evaluated the link between thrombocytosis and 5-year survival were included. REVMAN version 5.1 was used for our analysis and publication bias was evaluated using the Begg's funnel plot and tested by STATA 11.0. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) generated by the random effect model were used to assess the strength of any association. Results: 709(20.3%) of the 3,490 patients exhibited thrombocytosis (platelet counts > $400{\times}10^9/L$) at primary diagnosis, and their mortality was 1.62-fold higher compared with the others (RR=1.62, 95%CI=[1.28-2.05], p<0.0001). Thrombocytosis failed to have a stronger effect on the survival of advanced patients of stages III to IV in our study (n=478, RR=1.29, 95% CI=[1.13-1.48], p=0.0003), nor in women with cervical cancer in stage IB (n=1371, RR=1.73, 95% CI=[1.71-2.58], p=0.007). In addition, when adjusted for different carcinoma, it was associated with worse prognosis for all except the ones with vulvar cancer (n=201, RR=0.43, 95% CI=[0.14-1.29], p=0.13). Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicated that thrombocytosis might be associated with a worse prognosis for patients with gynecologic malignancies but without specificity or sensitivity for the ones in advanced stage. When adjusted for different gynecologic malignancies, it showed a significant effect on survival of all except vulvar cancers.

Therapeutic Effects of Ginseng on Psychotic Disorders

Ma, Yu-An,Eun, Jae-Soon,Oh, Ki-Wan The Korean Society of Ginseng 2007 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.31 No.3

Ginseng, the root of Panax species, a well-known herbal medicine has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years and is now a popular and worldwide used natural medicine. Ginseng has been used primarily as a tonic to invigorate weak bodies to help the restoration of homeostasis in a wide range of pathological conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, immune deficiency and hepatotoxicity. Although conclusive clinical data in humans is still missing, recent research results have suggested that some of the active ingredients ginseng exert beneficial effects on central nervous system (CNS) disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting it could be used in treatment of psychotic disorders. Data from neural cell cultures and animal studies contribute to the understanding of these mechanisms that involve inhibitory effects on stress-induced corticosterone level increasing and modulating of neurontransmitters, reducing $Ca^{2+}$ over-influx, scavenging of free radicals and counteracting excitotoxicity. In this review, we focused on recently reported medicinal effects of ginseng and summarized the possibility of its applications on psychotic disorders.

Adiponectin Receptor 1 (ADIPOR1) rs1342387 Polymorphism and Risk of Cancer: a Meta-analysis

Yu, Li-Xiang,Zhou, Nan-Nan,Liu, Li-Yuan,Wang, Fei,Ma, Zhong-Bing,Li, Jie,Yu, Zhi-Gang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.18

Many studies have indicated possible associations between a polymorphism of adiponectin receptor 1 (ADIPOR1) rs1342387 and risk of cancer, but contradictory results have been reported. The main aim of this study was to draw a reliable conclusion about the relationship between the rs1342387 polymorphism and cancer incidence, by conducting a literature search of Pubmed, Embase, Wanfang and Cochrane libraries. Eleven studies including 3, 738 cases and 4, 748 controls were identified in this meta-analysis. The ADIPOR1 rs1342387 polymorphism was associated with risk of colorectal cancer for all genetic comparison models (GG vs AA, OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.21-1.70; G carriers vs A carriers, OR: 1.23, 95%CI: 1.11-1.36; dominant model, OR: 1.28, 95%CI: 1.10-1.49 and recessive model, OR: 1.31, 95%CI: 1.12-1.55). Stratified by ethnicity, the rs1342387 polymorphism was significantly associated with risk of colorectal cancer in Asian ancestry for all genetic comparison models (GG vs AA, OR: 1.56, 95%CI: 1.26-1.92; G carriers vs. A carriers OR: 1.30, 95%CI: 1.18-1.43; dominant model OR: 1.31, 95%CI: 1.08-1.60 and recessive model OR: 1.44, 95%CI: 1.26-1.64), but not in Caucasian or mixed (Caucasian mainly) groups. In summary, the ADIPOR1 rs1342387 polymorphism is significantly associated with risk of colorectal cancer among individuals of Asian ancestry.

Cooking, Textural, Sensorial, and Antioxidant Properties of Common and Tartary Buckwheat Noodles

Yu Jie Ma,Xu Dan Guo,Hang Liu,Bian Na Xu,Min Wang 한국식품과학회 2013 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.22 No.1

Noodles made from flour of 3 common and 2tartary buckwheat cultivars were investigated into cooking,textural, sensorial, antioxidant properties, and polyphenol composition. Common buckwheat noodles possessed greater tensility, lower adhesiveness, and better sensory properties. Buckwheat noodles were found to be good sources of dietary polyphenols and tartary buckwheat noodles contained a higher level of total phenolics (182.65-221.27 mg GA eq./100 g d.w.) and flavonoids (183.33-218.69 mg rutin eq./100 g d.w.) than their counterparts (p<0.05). Tartary buckwheat noodles also showed higher antioxidant capacity measured by reducing power, DPPH radical scavenging,and ABTS•+ scavenging assay. HPLC analysis identified and quantified 12 polyphenol compounds and revealed that rutin and quercetin were the dominant phenolic compounds. Among them, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid,rutin, and quercetin were higher in tartary buckwheat noodles, while common buckwheat noodles had greater contents of chlorogenic acid. Overall, buckwheat noodles are good alternative food with high nutritional quality.

Statistical Investigation on Class Mutation Operators

Yu-Seung Ma,권용래,Sang-Woon Kim 한국전자통신연구원 2009 ETRI Journal Vol.31 No.2

Although mutation testing is potentially powerful, it is a computationally expensive testing method. To investigate how we can reduce the cost of object-oriented mutation testing, we have conducted empirical studies on class mutation operators. We applied class mutation operators to 866 classes contained in six open-source programs. An analysis of the number and the distribution of class mutants generated and preliminary data on the effectiveness of some operators are provided. Our study shows that the overall number of class mutants is smaller than for traditional mutants, which offers the possibility that class mutation can be made practically affordable.

Transcriptional activation of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 6 by 17β-estradiol in SaOS-2 cells

Yu-yan Zhao,Lei Guo,Xiao-juan Zhao,Hong Liu,Tian Lei,Dong-jie Ma,Xiao-yu Gao 생화학분자생물학회 2009 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.41 No.7

Osteoblasts can synthesize the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), which may either enhance or attenuate IGF-stimulated bone cell proliferation. Since estrogen induced osteoblastic differentiation and proliferation through an estrogen- responsive gene in target cells, we investigated the effects of estrogen on IGFBP-6 expression in the human osteoblastic-like cell line SaOS-2. Expressions of IGFBP-6 protein and mRNA increased 2.8 and 2-fold, respectively, in the presence of 17-β-estradiol (E2) (0.01 to 1 μM) and estrogen receptor (ER) in SaOS-2 cells. On the other hand, E2 induced a 2-fold increase in SaOS-2 cell proliferation. To identify genomic sequences associated with estrogen responsiveness, the 5'-promoter region (-44 to +118) of the IGFBP-6 gene was cloned into a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter vector. E2 induced a 3-fold increase in CAT activity in SaOS-2 cells transiently transfected with this construct. Identification of the estrogen- responsive element (ERE) [5'-CCTTCA CCTG-3'] (-9 to +1) in this IGFBP-6 gene promoter region was confirmed using electromobility shift assays and deletion analysis. This functional ERE was important for E2-induced trans-activation of the IGFBP-6 gene. These results demonstrate that E2 exhibits a positive effect on IGFBP-6 gene transcription through estrogen- liganded ER binding to the functional ERE in the IGFBP-6 gene promoter in SaOS-2 cells. Osteoblasts can synthesize the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs), which may either enhance or attenuate IGF-stimulated bone cell proliferation. Since estrogen induced osteoblastic differentiation and proliferation through an estrogen- responsive gene in target cells, we investigated the effects of estrogen on IGFBP-6 expression in the human osteoblastic-like cell line SaOS-2. Expressions of IGFBP-6 protein and mRNA increased 2.8 and 2-fold, respectively, in the presence of 17-β-estradiol (E2) (0.01 to 1 μM) and estrogen receptor (ER) in SaOS-2 cells. On the other hand, E2 induced a 2-fold increase in SaOS-2 cell proliferation. To identify genomic sequences associated with estrogen responsiveness, the 5'-promoter region (-44 to +118) of the IGFBP-6 gene was cloned into a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter vector. E2 induced a 3-fold increase in CAT activity in SaOS-2 cells transiently transfected with this construct. Identification of the estrogen- responsive element (ERE) [5'-CCTTCA CCTG-3'] (-9 to +1) in this IGFBP-6 gene promoter region was confirmed using electromobility shift assays and deletion analysis. This functional ERE was important for E2-induced trans-activation of the IGFBP-6 gene. These results demonstrate that E2 exhibits a positive effect on IGFBP-6 gene transcription through estrogen- liganded ER binding to the functional ERE in the IGFBP-6 gene promoter in SaOS-2 cells.