Colorimetric Probe Coupled to Dispersive Liquid–Liquid Microextraction for Determination of Dopamine in Serum

Zhi-gang Tai,Yi-ren Zhu,Yi-bo Yuan,Jin Liu,Zhen-jie Li,Zhi-hua Liu,Kun-miao Wang 대한화학회 2020 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.41 No.3

In this work, a highly sensitive method using a colorimetric probe coupled to dispersive liquid?liquid microextraction (DLLME) was developed for the quantitative determination of dopamine (DA) in serum. The DA in serum was concentrated by DLLME to increase the detection sensitivity and reduce the matrix effects. After the DLLME process, a colorimetric probe of silver triangular nanoparticles (AgTNPs) was used to detect DA, which was based on the plasma transformation of AgTNPs caused by strong interactions with melamine (MA). The results showed that DA could inhibit the aggregation of AgTNPs induced by MA, resulting in the recovery of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peak of AgTNPs. Thus, the DLLME method followed by colorimetric probe detection of DA can be achieved. The parameters affecting the proposed method were optimized, under the optimal conditions, a linear calibration curve was obtained over a concentration range of 5 to 250?nM with a recovery from 94.4 to 101.3%. The detection limit was 1.6 nM (at an S/N ratio of 3). The present method was successfully applied to determine DA in human serum.

Physiological responses of yellow‑horn seedlings to high temperatures under drought condition

Hua Jin,Jixiang Zou,Linlin Li,Xinlei Bai,Tong Zhu,Junbao Li,Bing-Cheng Xu,Zhi Wang 한국식물생명공학회 2020 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.14 No.1

Drought and hot stresses are the primary limiting factors for the growth and seed production of yellow-horn (Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge), especially in Xinjiang Province of China. A better understanding of its physiological and biochemical characteristics under drought–hot stress is requisite for its efficient cultivation in the arid and semi-arid areas. In this study, the physiological and biochemical responses of 3-month-old yellow-horn seedlings were evaluated after 7 days of treatments of five temperatures (25 °C/20 °C, 30 °C/25 °C, 35 °C/25 °C, 40 °C/25 °C and 45 °C/25 °C) under two watering conditions [adequate water supply (HW): 80 ± 5% FC (field capacity); low water supply (LW): 40 ± 5% FC] by a pot experiment. The increased temperature (above to 35 °C) markedly aggravated the damage on biomass accumulation and membrane integrity of yellow-horn seedlings under the LW. The accumulation of soluble sugars and proteins exhibited a growing trend as the temperature increased from 25 to 40 °C, which declined when the temperature was higher than 40 °C except for the soluble protein accumulation under HW. In addition, captured responsive characteristics of the gas-exchange parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence have indicated that the combinations of high temperature (above to 35 °C) and LW induced significant decrease in photosynthetic activities of yellow-horn seedlings. All these results showed that the hot stress significantly aggravated the drought damage on yellow-horn plant growth, especially when the temperature increased above 35 °C under drought stress.

Broadband Spectrum Sensing of Distributed Modulated Wideband Converter Based on Markov Random Field

Zhi Li,Jiawei Zhu,Ziyong Xu,Wei Hua 한국전자통신연구원 2018 ETRI Journal Vol.40 No.2

The Distributed Modulated Wideband Converter (DMWC) is a networking system developed from the Modulated Wideband Converter, which converts all sampling channels into sensing nodes with number variables to implement signal undersampling. When the number of sparse subbands changes, the number of nodes can be adjusted flexibly to improve the reconstruction rate. Owing to the different attenuations of distributed nodes in different locations, it is worthwhile to find out how to select the optimal sensing node as the sampling channel. This paper proposes the spectrum sensing of DMWC based on a Markov random field (MRF) to select the ideal node, which is compared to the image edge segmentation. The attenuation of the candidate nodes is estimated based on the attenuation of the neighboring nodes that have participated in the DMWC system. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulations show that neighboring attenuation plays an important role in determining the node selection, and selecting the node using MRF can avoid serious transmission attenuation. Furthermore, DMWC can greatly improve recovery performance by using a Markov random field compared with random selection.

A 3D analytical model for the probabilistic characteristics of self-healing model for concrete using spherical microcapsule

He-hua Zhu,Shuai Zhou,Zhi-guo Yan,Woody Ju,Qing Chen 사단법인 한국계산역학회 2015 Computers and Concrete, An International Journal Vol.15 No.1

In general, cracks significantly deteriorate the in-situ performance of concrete members and structures, especially in urban metro tunnels that have been embedded in saturated soft soils. The microcapsule self-healing method is a newly developed healing method for repairing cracked concrete. To investigate the optimal microcapsule parameters that will have the best healing effect in concrete, a 3D analytical probability healing model is proposed; it is based on the microcapsule self-healing method’s healing mechanism, and its purpose is to predict the healing efficiency and healing probability of given cracks. The proposed model comprehensively considers the radius and the volume fraction of microcapsules, the expected healing efficiency, the parameters of cracks, the broken ratio and the healing probability. Furthermore, a simplified probability healing model is proposed to facilitate the calculation. Then, a Monte Carlo test is conducted to verify the proposed 3D analytical probability healing model. Finally, the influences of microcapsules’ parameters on the healing efficiency and the healing probability of the microcapsule self-healing method are examined in light of the proposed probability model.

Genetic Effects of Polymorphisms in Myogenic Regulatory Factors on Chicken Muscle Fiber Traits

Yang, Zhi-Qin,Qing, Ying,Zhu, Qing,Zhao, Xiao-Ling,Wang, Yan,Li, Di-Yan,Liu, Yi-Ping,Yin, Hua-Dong Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.6

The myogenic regulatory factors is a family of transcription factors that play a key role in the development of skeletal muscle fibers, which are the main factors to affect the meat taste and texture. In the present study, we performed candidate gene analysis to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the MyoD, Myf5, MyoG, and Mrf4 genes using polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism in 360 Erlang Mountain Chickens from three different housing systems (cage, pen, and free-range). The general linear model procedure was used to estimate the statistical significance of association between combined genotypes and muscle fiber traits of chickens. Two polymorphisms (g.39928301T>G and g.11579368C>T) were detected in the Mrf4 and MyoD gene, respectively. The diameters of thigh and pectoralis muscle fibers were higher in birds with the combined genotypes of GG-TT and TTCT (p<0.05). Moreover, the interaction between housing system and combined genotypes has no significant effect on the traits of muscle fiber (p>0.05). Our findings suggest that the combined genotypes of TT-CT and GG-TT might be advantageous for muscle fiber traits, and could be the potential genetic markers for breeding program in Erlang Mountain Chickens.

Photo-multicomponent reactions leading to the construction of isocoumarins and large ring lactone precursors

Lu, Zhi-Feng,Yue, Jia-Jun,Zhu, Ye,Hu, Hong-Wen,Xu, Jian-Hua Korean Society of Photoscience 2009 Photochemical & photobiological sciences Vol.8 No.2

Photoinduced three-component reactions between tetracyanobenzene (TCNB), an alkene and water or a diol (as nucleophile) are initiated by electron transfer from the alkene to $^1TCNB^*$ and proceed via a photo-NOCAS reaction sequence by nucleophilic capture of the alkene cation radical and subsequent radical pair coupling of the resulting radical with TCNB anion radical with concomitant cyanide anion extrusion. These photo MCRs provide simple one pot access to isocoumarins and precursors of larger ring lactones with diversified structural features.

Dynamic test and numerical simulation on avoiding the weak-story failure mechanism in structures using LSFDs

Li-Hua Zhu,Gang Li,Zhi-Qian Dong 국제구조공학회 2021 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.40 No.2

The structural damage or collapse caused by weak-story failure mechanisms poses a great threat to the safety of human life and property under strong earthquakes. Many researchers have attempted to transform this unexpected failure mechanism into the desired overall failure mechanism by installing various energy dissipation devices on unsafe structures. This paper introduced a lattice-shaped friction device (LSFD), which is a friction device with hardening postyielding stiffness, into a steel frame with a weak-story failure mechanism. Then, shaking table tests of a three types of two-story steel frames—a frame with LSFDs, a frame with traditional friction brace dampers (FBDs), and a bare frame—were carried out. The seismic responses of the hardening postyielding stiffness of the LSFD on the weak-story failure mechanism of the frame were emphatically studied. The results showed that there was little difference in the seismic responses between the two damped structures under moderate and weak earthquakes. The distribution of maximum story drift for the structure with LSFDs was more uniform, which effectively suppressed the weak-story failure under strong earthquakes, whereas the structure with FBDs had serious deformation concentrations. The numerical simulation results of the structure with LSFDs in the shaking table test showed that the simplified model results were basically consistent with the experimental results. Hence, this model could be used to analyze the seismic performance of damped structures with LSFDs.

Efficacy of Pap Test in Combination with ThinPrep Cytological Test in Screening for Cervical Cancer

Chen, Hua,Shu, Hui-Min,Chang, Zhou-Lin,Wang, Zhi-Feng,Yao, Hai-Hong,Zhu, Hong-Mei,Lu, Tian-Mei,Ma, Qiang-Yan,Yang, Bin-Lie Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Background: Our aim was to investigate the efficacy of the Pap test in combination with the ThinPrep cytological test (TCT) in screening for cervical cancer in China. Design: From March 2006 to October 2008, 988 women with the mean age $46.4{\pm}10.5$ years (range, 23-80 years) were recruited to receive cervical cancer screening. Pap test results ${\geq}$ grade III and TCT findings ${\geq}$ ASCUS/AGUS were considered abnormal. Subjects with a Pap test result ${\geq}$ grade IIb received TCT. Colposcopy and biopsies were performed in all participants, and final diagnosis was based on pathological findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and Youden index for predicting CIN I or above were determined. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and Youden index of the Pap test were 43.1%, 97.2%, 70.0%, 91.9%, and 40.3%, respectively. The same values for TCT in predicting CIN were 80.0%, 63.2%, 16.0%, 97.3%, and 43.2%, respectively. The two tests in combination gave values for predicting CIN of 64.8%, 87.6%, 43.6%, 94.4%, and 53.5%, respectively. Combined testing exhibited the highest Youden index (53.4%). Conclusion: The Pap test with a reduced threshold in combination with the TCT has high sensitivity and high specificity in screening for cervical cancer.

Chinese herbal injections for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A narrative review

Xiao-Bin Zhu,Meng Guo,Zhi-Hui Zhang,Li-Hua Sun,Lei Liu,Li-Juan Zhou,Chun-Lei Shan,Yi Yang,Lian-Di Kan,Liu-Cheng Li 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.4

Background The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused more than 180 million infections and 3.9 million deaths. To date, emerging clinical evidence has shown the synergetic benefits of Chinese herbal injections in treating this contagious respiratory disease. This review aims to summarize and analyze the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal injections in the therapy of COVID-19. Methods The literature from 3 electronic databases, PubMed, CNKI, and Web of Science, were searched using the search terms “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “traditional Chinese medicine”, “herb”, “herbal”, and “injection”. Then the identified articles were comprehensively evaluated. Results Limited data demonstrated that Chinese herbal injections could significantly improve the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 patients, especially in combination with conventional treatment strategies. The benefits of which were mainly associated with the relief of symptoms, prevention of secondary infection, regulation of inflammation and immune function. There was also evidence showing the inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro. Nevertheless, available real-world data suggested the increased risk of adverse event. Furthermore, the defects of existing researches and the insights for discovering novel antiviral drugs were prospectively discussed. Conclusion Evidence-based advances revealed that Chinese herbal injections such as XueBiJing injection and ShenMai injection, exerted potent effects against COVID-19. Further laboratory researches and clinical evaluation are needed to gather scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety.

Suppression of bias stress-induced degradation of pentacene-TFT using MoOx interlayer

Jun Li,Hua-Ping Lin,Fang Zhou,Wen-Qing Zhu,Xue-Yin Jiang,Zhi-Lin Zhang 한국물리학회 2012 Current Applied Physics Vol.12 No.1

The bias stress effect in pentacene thin-film transistors (TFTs) with and without MoOx interlayer was characterized. The device without MoOx interlayer showed a large threshold voltage shift of 5.1 V after stressing with a constant gate-source voltage of 40 V for 10000 s, while at the same condition, the device with MoOx interlayer showed a low threshold voltage shift of 1.9 V. The results can be attributed to the stable interface between MoOx/pentacene and small contact resistance change for the device with MoOx/Cu electrode. Pentacene-TFTs with MoOx interlayer showed a high field-effect mobility of 0.61 cm2/V s and excellent bias stability, which could be a significant step toward the commercialization of OTFT technology.