Immunization of BALB/c mice with Brucella abortus 2308DwbkA confers protection against wild-type infection

Zhi-qiang Li,Dan Gui,Zhi-hua Sun,Jun-bo Zhang,Wen-zhi Zhang,Hui Zhang,Fei Guo,Chuangfu Chen 대한수의학회 2015 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.16 No.4

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that causes animal and human diseases. Vaccination is a major measure for prevention of brucellosis, but it is currently not possible to distinguish vaccinated animals from those that have been naturally infected. Therefore, in this study, we constructed the Brucella (B.) abortus 2380 wbkA mutant (2308DwbkA) and evaluated its virulence. The survival of 2308DwbkA was attenuated in murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) and BALB/c mice, and it induced high protective immunity in mice. The wbkA mutant elicited an anti-Brucella-specific immunoglobulin G response and induced the secretion of gamma interferon. Antibodies to 2308DwbkA could be detected in sera from mice, implying the potential for use of this protein as a diagnostic antigen. The WbkA antigen would allow serological differentiation between infected and vaccinated animals. These results suggest that 2308DwbkA is a potential attenuated vaccine against 16M. This vaccine will be further evaluated in sheep.

Design of Coordination-Crosslinked Nitrile Rubber with Self-Healing and Reprocessing Ability

Zhi Fei Zhang,Xue Tong Liu,Kun Yang,Shu Gao Zhao 한국고분자학회 2019 Macromolecular Research Vol.27 No.8

In this work, we describe a simple approach to design of a coordination crosslinked elastomer with extraordinary mechanical properties: self-healing and recycling abilities by introducing Co-cyano coordination into nitrile rubber(NBR) matrix. The formation of reversible coordination crosslink network results in good mechanical properties superior to conventional sulfur-cured NBR, such as high stretchability and toughness. The reversibility of metal-ligand bond endows the polymer with self-healing capability and recycling or reprocessing abilities by rearrangement at elevated temperature. The fully cut samples after self-healing or reprocessing can restore their original tensile strength. It is also worth noting that the reclaimed NBR exhibited higher modulus than its original sample due to the compensation of new metal-ligand bonds formed during heating. This study provides possibilities to extend lifetime, reshaping and recycling capabilities of commercial rubber and reduce toxicity and environmental issues caused by waste rubber.

GRAPHENE AS TUNABLE STATIONARY PHASE ADDITIVE FOR ENANTIOSEPARATION

FEI-YUE TU,LIN-YAN YU,JIN-GANG YU,XIAOQING CHEN,QIANG FU,FEI-PENG JIAO,ZHI-GUANG PENG,TING ZHANG 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2013 NANO Vol.8 No.6

Graphene-based biosensor and chiral sensor have made significant progress in recent years. Because of the similarity of the optical enantiomers, enantioseparation is perhaps the most subtle to achieve. Developing more effectively chiral separation techniques based on graphene is highly desirable. Herein, pristine graphene was prepared and then applicated to assist resolution of two racemic drugs of propranolol and ofloxacin using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). In comparison with TLC chiral separation by only using pure D-(-)-tartaric acid as a selector with relatively low degree of separation, a mixture of graphene and D-(-)-tartaric acid is more attractive, efficient and ready available. The high specific resolution ability for racemic compounds aided by graphene might allow its potential application in future chiral separation technologies.

Rician 페이딩 채널에 적합한 새로운 LTE 하향링크 코드북

염지비(Zhi Fei Yan),김영주(Young Ju Kim) 大韓電子工學會 2011 電子工學會論文誌-TC (Telecommunications) Vol.48 No.1

LTE (long-term evolution) Rel-10 시스템은 하향링크에서 1Gbits/s 상향링크에서 500Mbits/s 데이터 송신율을 목표로 하므로 넓은 대역폭을 사용할 뿐만 아니라 상향 및 하향링크에서 선부호화 MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) 기법을 적용해야 한다<SUP>[1]</SUP>. 최근에는 스마트 중계기의 도입으로 협력통신을 통한 용량 개선이 가능해지면서 페이딩 채널에 LoS(line-of-sight) 성분을 고려하고 있다<SUP>[2]</SUP>. 본 논문에서는 라이시안 페이딩 채널의 LoS 지표인 K-factor가 증가함에 따라 기존의 코드북보다 우수한 성능을 보이는 새로운 LTE 시스템용 코드북을 제안한다. 기존 LTE 코드북의 생성 원칙을 유지하면서 코드북의 코드워드 사이의 최소 chordal distance를 최대화하는 방법을 라이시안 채널에 적용한다. LTE 하향링크의 시스템 파라미터로 링크레벨 시뮬레이터를 제작하여 기존과 동일한 사이즈로 더 우수한 성능을 보임을 증명한다. LTE Rel-10 aims at peak data rates of 1Gbits/s for the downlink and 500 Mbits/s for the uplink, which can be accomplished by not only wide spectrum but also advanced MIMO techniques such as precoded MIMO and cooperative relays<SUP>[1]</SUP>. Considering some relays can have more direct signal paths than mobile stations do, LoS components are examined to build more efficient codebooks for Rician channels<SUP>[2]</SUP>. The proposed codebooks perform better than the existing LTE codebooks as the criterium of LoS, K-factor increases. Conserving the advantages and max-min chordal distance of the existing LTE codebooks, the proposed ones also maximize the minimum chordal distances between codewords over Rician fading channels. Link-level simulation with LTE system parameters confirm the performance improvements as the value of K increases.

LTE-Advanced 상향링크 시스템에서 단일 계층 코드북 성능 분석

염지비(Zhi-Fei Yan),박노윤(Noe-Yoon Park),김영주(Young-Ju Kim) 한국통신학회 2011 한국통신학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2011 No.2

Interleukin-4 and -8 Gene Polymorphisms and Risk of Gastric Cancer in a Population in Southwestern China

Pan, Xiong-Fei,Wen, Ying,Loh, Marie,Wen, Yuan-Yuan,Yang, Shu-Juan,Zhao, Zhi-Mei,Tian, Zhi,Huang, He,Lan, Hui,Chen, Feng,Soong, Richie,Yang, Chun-Xia Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.7

Background: Gastric carcinogenesis is a complicated process that involves environmental and genetic factors like interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-8. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in their genes are associated with changed levels of gene expression. Here, we investigated the association between IL4-590 C>T and IL8-251T>A and gastric cancer (GC) risk in Sichuan of Southwestern China. Materials and Methods: We surveyed the research subjects using a self-designed questionnaire with questions on demographic factors and putative risk factors. Approximately 2-5ml of whole blood was collected after field survey to analyze IL4-590 C>T and IL8-251T>A genotypes using MALDI-TOF MS. Results: Our study recruited 308 pairs of GC patients and controls, including 224 (72.7%) men and 84 (27.3%) women in each group. There were 99 cardia and 176 noncardia GC patients in the case group. The case and control groups had an average age of $57.7{\pm}10.6$ ($mean{\pm}SD$) and $57.6{\pm}11.1$ years. GC patients reported a significantly greater proportion of family history of cancer (29.9% vs 10.7%, p<0.01) and drinking (54.6% vs 43.2%, p<0.01) than did controls. Variant genotypes of IL-4-590 C>T and IL-8-251 T>A were not associated with overall GC risk (adjusted OR, 0.89; 95%CI, 0.61-1.28 for CT or CC vs TT; adjusted OR, 1.14; 95%CI, 0.86-1.79 for TA or AA vs TT). Stratification analysis of two SNPs for risk by subsites only found that variant IL-8-251 TA or AA genotype was associated with increased noncardia GC risk (adjusted OR, 2.58; 95%CI, 1.19-5.57). We did not observe interactions between the IL-8-251 T>A genotype and smoking (adjusted OR, 0.38; 95%CI, 0.08-1.79) or drinking (adjusted OR, 0.36; 95%CI, 0.08-1.65) for risk of noncardia GC. Conclusions: Our data indicate no association between the two SNPs of IL-4-590 and IL-8-251 with overall GC risk, while the IL-8-251 TA or AA genotype conferred risk of cardia GC. Our findings contribute to the evidence body for risk of SNPs associated with the development of gastric cancer in this region.

AntagomiR-27a Targets FOXO3a in Glioblastoma and Suppresses U87 Cell Growth in Vitro and in Vivo

Ge, Yun-Fei,Sun, Jun,Jin, Chun-Jie,Cao, Bo-Qiang,Jiang, Zhi-Feng,Shao, Jun-Fei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Objective: To study the effect of the antagomiR-27a inhibitor on glioblastoma cells. Methods: The miR-27a expression level in specimens of human glioblastoma and normal human brain tissues excised during decompression for traumatic brain injury was assessed using qRT-PCR; The predicted target gene of miR-27a was screened out through bioinformatics databases, and the predicted gene was verified using genetic report assays; the effect of antagomiR-27a on the invasion and proliferation of glioma cells was analyzed using MTT assays and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) labeling. A xenograft glioblastoma model in BALB-c nude mice was established to detect the effect of antagomiR-27a on tumour growth. Results: qRT-PCR results showed that miR-27a significantly increased in specimens from glioblastoma comparing with normal human brain tissues. Th miR-27a inhibitor significantly suppressed invasion and proliferation of glioblastoma cells. FOXO3a was verified as a new target of miR-27a by Western blotting and reporter analyzes. Tumor growth in vivo was suppressed by administration of the miR-27a inhibitor. Conclusion: MiR-27a may be up-regulated in human glioblastoma, and antagomiR-27a could inhibit the proliferation and invasion ability of glioblastoma cells.

Macrophages Promote Coal Tar Pitch Extract-induced Tumorigenesis of BEAS-2B Cells and Tumor Metastasis in Nude Mice Mediated by AP-1

Zhang, Peng,Jin, Yue-Fei,Zhang, Qiao,Wu, Yi-Ming,Wu, Wei-Dong,Yao, Wu,Wu, Yong-Jun,Li, Zhi-Tao,Zhao, Yong,Liu, Yu,Feng, Fei-Fei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

Background: We sought to evaluate the role of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) on the promotion of coal tar pitch extract (CTPE)-induced tumorigenesis of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and tumor metastasis in nude mice, and related mechanisms. Materials and Methods: BEAS-2B cells were first treated with 2.4 mg/mL CTPE for 72 hours. After removal of CTPE, the cells were continuously cultured and passaged using trypsin-EDTA. THP-1 cells were used as macrophage-like cells. BEAS-2B cells under different conditions (n=6/group) were injected into the back necks of nude mice, and alterations of tumor xenograft growth, indicative of tumorigenicity, and tumor metastasis were determined. Pathological changes (tumor nests and microvascular lesions) of HE-stained tumor tissues were also evaluated. The expression of AP-1(c-Jun) in xenografts and metastatic tumors was determined using immunohistochemistry. Results: Tumor size and weight in nude mice transplanted with the mixture of CTPE-induced passage 30 BEAS-2B and THP-1 cells (2:1) were increased compared to those from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 alone at different observation time points. Tumor metastasis to lymph nodes and liver was only detected after transplantation of a mixture the two kinds of cells. The numbers of tumor nests and microvascular lesions, and the expression levels of AP-1 (c-Jun) in tumors from the mixture of two kinds of cells were increased apparently in contrast to those in tumor from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells of passage 30 alone. In addition, there was positive correlation between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and the number of microvascular lesions, or between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and tumor metastasis in these two groups. Conclusions: TAMs not only facilitate tumorigenesis transformation of CTPE-induced BEAS-2B cells, but also promote tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis in nude mice in vivo, which may be mediated by AP-1.

Development of Integrated Electro-Hydraulic Braking System and Its ABS Application

Zhi-Hui Tan,Zhen-Fu Chen,Xiao-Fei Pei,Xue-Xun Guo,Shuang-Hong Pei 한국정밀공학회 2016 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.17 No.3

This paper presented a new type of integrated EHB system. The EHB consisted of a compact three-chamber structure of master cylinder and mode switching valves. This allowed for the easy implementation of three different modes: normal mode, failsafe mode and ABS mode. In normal mode, a PWM control method was proposed for pressure regulation that took into account overshoot and hysteresis. To provide a favorable pedal feeling, a pedal stroke simulator was designed and integrated with the master cylinder. The failsafe and ABS modes were verified and the performance of the EHB in the three modes was evaluated using co-simulation and a bench test.

The Phytotoxic Effects of Selenium–Mercury Interactions on Root Growth in Brassica rapa (LvLing)

Zhi-Wei Bian,Jian Chen,Hui Li,Dan-Dan Liu,Li-Fei Yang,Yue-Lin Zhu,Wen-Li Zhu,Wei Liu,Zheng-Zheng Ying 한국원예학회 2016 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.57 No.3

Rapid industrial and agricultural development has dramatically increased the emission of selenium (Se) and mercury (Hg) into the environment. Combined soil pollution by Se and Hg poses a potential threat to crop production. However, no toxic effects of Hg–Se interactions on plants have been reported previously. In this study, we investigated the effects of Hg–Se interactions on biochemical and physiological indices in the roots of Brassica rapa (LvLing). Seedlings were treated hydroponically with solutions of mercury chloride (1 μM), sodium selenite (4 μM), or a combination of the two. Combined Hg+Se treatment significantly inhibited root growth, reduced root biomass, and enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde accumulation and led to a loss of plasma membrane integrity. The combined treatment increased glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and peroxidase activity, reduced superoxide dismutase activity, and had no effect on catalase activity. In addition, we detected increased glutathione concentrations in root tips and reduced ascorbic acid concentrations in the presence of Hg+Se relative to individual treatments with these elements. Thus, Hg–Se interactions enhanced oxidative injury, cell death, and phytotoxicity in B. rapa roots.