Identification and Mapping of a Thermo-Sensitive Genic Self-Incompatibility Gene in Maize

Xin Ge Lin,Hui Ling Xie,Zhang Ying Xi,Yan Min Hu,Guang Yuan Zhao,Liu Jing Duan,Zong You Hao,Zong Hua Liu,Ji Hua Tang 한국유전학회 2009 Genes & Genomics Vol.31 No.3

In this study, we describe a novel ecological self-incompatibility (SI) line HE97 in maize. The main environmental factors influencing the inbred line characteristics were identified through field sowing trials during a two-year study period (2001 and 2002). The results showed that daily minimum temperature had the greatest effect on floral morphology and breeding system of the SI line. In staminate floret differentiation, when the daily minimum temperature exceeded 24℃, the line exhibited complete self-compatibility; however SI was observed when the daily minimum temperature was below 20℃. Therefore, we characterized the line as exhibiting thermo-sensitive genic self-incompatibility (TGSI). A set of F2 and F2:3 populations, derived from the inbred lines HE97 and Z58, were evaluated for two years to elucidate the TGSI line patterns of inheritance. Classical genetic analyses and QTL mapping results revealed that HE97 self-incompatibility was governed by a single allele, named here as tgsi1. The tgsi1 gene was mapped to chromosome 2 between SSR markers nc131 and bnlg1633, with a distance of 2.40 cM from nc131 and 2.44 cM from bnlg1633.

Exploration of Molecular Mechanisms of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Development Using a Microarray

Zhang, Zong-Xin,Shen, Cui-Fen,Zou, Wei-Hua,Shou, Li-Hong,Zhang, Hui-Ying,Jin, Wen-Jun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.3

Objective: We aimed to identify key genes, pathways and function modules in the development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with microarray data and interaction network analysis. Methods: Microarray data sets for 7 DLBCL samples and 7 normal controls was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified with Student's t-test. KEGG functional enrichment analysis was performed to uncover their biological functions. Three global networks were established for immune system, signaling molecules and interactions and cancer genes. The DEGs were compared with the networks to observe their distributions and determine important key genes, pathways and modules. Results: A total of 945 DEGs were obtained, 272 up-regulated and 673 down-regulated. KEGG analysis revealed that two groups of pathways were significantly enriched: immune function and signaling molecules and interactions. Following interaction network analysis further confirmed the association of DEGs in immune system, signaling molecules and interactions and cancer genes. Conclusions: Our study could systemically characterize gene expression changes in DLBCL with microarray technology. A range of key genes, pathways and function modules were revealed. Utility in diagnosis and treatment may be expected with further focused research.

A Novel pH-Stable, Bifunctional Xylanase Isolated from a Deep-Sea Microorganism, Demequina sp. JK4

Meng Xin,Zong Ze Shao,Yu Zhi Hong,Ling Lin,Chan Juan Li,Zi Duo Liu 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2009 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.19 No.10

Output-only modal parameter identification of civil engineering structures

Wei-Xin Ren,Zhou-Hong Zong 국제구조공학회 2004 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.17 No.3-4

The ambient vibration measurement is a kind of output data-only dynamic testing where the traffics and winds are used as agents responsible for natural or environmental excitation. Therefore an experimental modal analysis procedure for ambient vibration testing will need to base itself on output-only data. The modal analysis involving output-only measurements presents a challenge that requires the use of special modal identification technique, which can deal with very small magnitude of ambient vibration contaminated by noise. Two complementary modal analysis methods are implemented. They are rather simple peak picking (PP) method in frequency domain and more advanced stochastic subspace identification (SSI) method in time domain. This paper presents the application of ambient vibration testing and experimental modal analysis on large civil engineering structures. A 15 storey reinforced concrete shear core building and a concrete filled steel tubular arch bridge have been chosen as two case studies. The results have shown that both techniques can identify the frequencies effectively. The stochastic subspace identification technique can detect frequencies that may possibly be missed by the peak picking method and gives a more reasonable mode shapes in most cases.

Anti-Obesity and Hypolipidemic Effects of Ethanolic Extract from Alpinia officinarum Hance (Zingiberaceae) in Rats Fed High-Fat Diet

Dao-Zong Xia,Xin-Fen Yu,Hui-Ming Wang,Qi-Ya Ren,Bing-Mei Chen 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.4

To investigate the anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects of Alpinia officinarum ethanolic extract (AOE) for the first time, anti-obesity models in vivo were used. Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed normal control diet (NC); other groups of rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) with or without different proportions of AOE (AOE-1, 3%; AOE-2, 5%) for 6 weeks to examine feed intake, body and adipose tissue weight, serum total cholesterol (Total-C), triacylglycerol (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and leptin levels, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotranferase activities, hepatic Total-C and TG levels, and the pathological changes in liver and epididymal adipose tissues. Interestingly, feed intakes among the experimental groups were not significantly different. Body weight gains were significantly lowered in the AOE-1 and AOE-2 groups compared with the HFD group (P<.05) and near to the level of the NC group. AOE also improved the lipid profile in serum and the pathological changes in liver and adipose tissue and decreased the relative weights of epididymal and perirenal white adipose tissues. They improved lipid profile by lowering serum Total-C, TG, and LDL-C concentrations, leptin content, and the atherogenic index compared with the HFD group. The HDL-C concentration and the ratio of HDL-C/Total-C significantly increased compared with those of the HFD group. The serum ALT activity of the AOE-2 group was notably lower than that of the HFD group. Our data suggest that AOE can be considered as an anti-obesity agent that is effective for suppressing body weight gain and decreasing lipid profile.

Output-only modal parameter identification of civil engineering structures

Ren, Wei-Xin,Zong, Zhou-Hong Techno-Press 2004 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.17 No.3

The ambient vibration measurement is a kind of output data-only dynamic testing where the traffics and winds are used as agents responsible for natural or environmental excitation. Therefore an experimental modal analysis procedure for ambient vibration testing will need to base itself on output-only data. The modal analysis involving output-only measurements presents a challenge that requires the use of special modal identification technique, which can deal with very small magnitude of ambient vibration contaminated by noise. Two complementary modal analysis methods are implemented. They are rather simple peak picking (PP) method in frequency domain and more advanced stochastic subspace identification (SSI) method in time domain. This paper presents the application of ambient vibration testing and experimental modal analysis on large civil engineering structures. A 15 storey reinforced concrete shear core building and a concrete filled steel tubular arch bridge have been chosen as two case studies. The results have shown that both techniques can identify the frequencies effectively. The stochastic subspace identification technique can detect frequencies that may possibly be missed by the peak picking method and gives a more reasonable mode shapes in most cases.

Is Folate Status a Risk Factor for Asthma or Other Allergic Diseases?

Ting Wang,Zong-An Liang,Yu-Lin Ji,Hong-Ping Zhang,Xin Zhang,Gang Wang 대한천식알레르기학회 2015 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.7 No.6

Purpose: It is controversial whether folate status is a risk factor for the development of asthma or other allergic diseases. This study was conducted to investigate whether indirect or direct exposure to folate and impaired folate metabolism, reflected as methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism, would contribute to the development of asthma and other allergic diseases. Methods: Electronic databases were searched to identify all studies assessing the association between folate status and asthma or other allergic diseases. Two reviewers independently assessed the eligibility of studies and extracted data. The relative risk (RR) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was calculated and pooled. Results: Twenty-six studies (16 cohort, 7 case-control, and 3 cross-sectional studies) were identified. Maternal folic acid supplementation was not associated with the development of asthma, atopic dermatitis (AD), eczema, and sensitization in the offspring, whereas exposure during early pregnancy was related to wheeze occurrence in the offspring (RR=1.06, 95% CI=[1.02-1.09]). The TT genotype of MTHFR C677T polymorphism was at high risk of asthma (OR=1.41, 95% CI=[1.07-1.86]). Conclusions: It is indicated that maternal folic acid supplementation during early pregnancy may increase the risk of wheeze in early childhood and that the TT genotype of MTHFR C677T polymorphism impairing folic acid metabolism would be at high risk of asthma development. These results might provide additional information for recommendations regarding forced folate consumption or folic acid supplements during pregnancy based on its well-established benefits for the prevention of congenital malformations. However, currently available evidence is of low quality which is needed to further elucidate.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii Among Primary School Children in Shandong Province, China

Ke-Sheng Xin,Hui Liu,Hong-Bing Wang,Zong-Liang Yao 대한기생충학열대의학회 2015 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.53 No.4

Although Toxoplasma gondii infection in primary school children has been investigated in many countries, limited surveys have been available in primary school children in China. In the present study, we report the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in primary school children in Shandong province, China. Sera from 6,000 primary school children were evaluated for T. gondii antibodies with ELISA. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 16.0% (961/6,000), of which 14.5% (870/6,000) were positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies, 3.4% (206/6,000) positive for IgM, and 1.9% (115/6,000) were positive for both IgG and IgM. The results of the present investigation indicated a high seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in primary school children in Shandong province, China. Therefore, effective measures should be taken to prevent and control T. gondii infection in primary school children in this province. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of T. gondii seroprevalence in primary school children in Shandong province, China.

Numerical simulation of helicon waves current drive in the HL-2M tokamak for the steady-state scenario

Liu Hong Bo,Li Xin Xia,Xiao Zheng Yao,Zhang Ding Zong,Sun Ai Ping 한국물리학회 2021 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.79 No.12

The helicon wave heating and current drive in the HL-2M tokamak for the steady-state scenario is studied numerically. Based on the theory of fast wave current drive proposed by Chiu, we analyze the characteristics of helicon waves damping for the HL-2M tokamak. For wave frequencies larger than 420 MHz, strong wave damping occurs, and electron Landau damping is dominant. Moreover, a strong wave absorption region associated with the dimensionless parameters βe and ξe that depend on the wave frequency is obtained. The helicon wave propagation and current drive are simulated using the GENRAY/CQL3D code. The results show that an off-axis current drive with profiles peak at ρ ∼ 0.4 can be generally received at a wave frequency f ∼ 500 MHz and the launched parallel refractive index n∕∕ = 3.8 and that the current drive efficiency reaches up to ∼140 kA/MW. A scan of n∕∕ showed that both the current drive profile peak and the generated current could be adjusted by changing the launched n∕∕ . Finally, a feasible scheme for the helicon wave off-axis current drive in the HL-2M tokamak is proposed.

The XPD Lys751Gln Polymorphism has Predictive Value in Colorectal Cancer Patients Receiving Oxaliplatin-Based Chemotherapy: a Systemic Review and Meta-analysis

Qian, Ying-Ying,Liu, Xin-You,Pei, Dong,Xu, Jia-Li,Shen, Hua,Chen, Xiao-Feng,Liu, Yi-Qian,Shen, Li-Zong,Shu, Yong-Qian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.22

Background: The predictive value of the xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) Lys751Gln polymorphism regarding clinical outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy has been evaluated in numerous published studies, but the results remain inconclusive. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to determine the precise role of the XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism in this clinical situation and optimize individual chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: A multiple search strategy was used to identify eligible studies. Pooled odds ratios (ORs), generalized odds ratio (ORG) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to estimate the objective response, while hazard ratios (HRs) with 95%CIs were used for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: A total of 17 studies including 2,286 patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, the XPD 751Gln allele was associated with a non-significant reduced objective response to oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in all patients or in the Asian and Caucasian subgroups. However, poor PFS and OS of CRC patients treated with oxaliplatin-based regimens were significantly related to the XPD 751Gln allele in the dominant model (PFS: HR=2.10, 95%CI: 1.65-2.67; OS: HR=3.18, 95%CI: 1.57-6.47). On stratified analysis by ethnicity, these relationships were more pronounced in Asians (PFS: HR=2.49, 95%CI: 1.79-3.47; OS: HR=5.25, 95%CI: 3.46-7.94) than in Caucasians (PFS: HR=1.73, 95%CI: 1.22-2.46; OS: HR=1.78, 95%CI: 1.06-2.99). Conclusions: The XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism may have prognostic value in patients with CRC undergoing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.