Molecular characterization of chicken infectious anaemia virus in Guangxi Province, southern China, from 2018 to 2020

Minxiu Zhang,Xianwen Deng,Zhixun Xie,Yanfang Zhang,Zhiqin Xie,Liji Xie,Sisi Luo,Qing Fan,Tingting Zeng,Jiaoling Huang,Sheng Wang 대한수의학회 2022 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.23 No.5

Background: Chicken anemia virus (CAV) causes chicken infectious anemia, which results in immunosuppression; the virus has spread widely in chicken flocks in China. Objectives: The aim of this study was to understand recent CAV genetic evolution in chicken flocks in Guangxi Province, southern China. Methods: In total, 350 liver samples were collected from eight commercial broiler chicken farms in Guangxi Province in southern China from 2018 to 2020. CAV was detected by conventional PCR, and twenty CAV complete genomes were amplified and used for the phylogenetic analysis and recombination analysis. Results: The overall CAV-positive rate was 17.1%. The genetic analysis revealed that 84 CAVs were distributed in groups A, B, C (subgroups C1-C3) and D. In total, 30 of 47 Chinese CAV sequences from 2005-2020 belong to subgroup C3, including 15 CAVs from this study. There were some specific mutation sites among the intergenotypes in the VP1 protein. The amino acids at position 394Q in the VP1 protein of 20 CAV strains were consistent with the characteristics of a highly pathogenic strain. GX1904B was a putative recombinant. Conclusions: Subgroup C3 was the dominant genotype in Guangxi Province from 2018–2020. The 20 CAV strains in this study might be virulent according to the amino acid residue analysis. These data help improve our understanding of the epidemiological trends of CAV in southern China.

Single-Feedback Based Inverter-Current-Controlled LCL-Type Grid-Connected Inverters with Capacitor-Current Active Damping: Robust Design and Single-Feedback Implementation

Fan Zeyang,Yi Hong,Xu Jian,Xie Kun 대한전기학회 2024 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.19 No.5

The dual-feedback control combining inverter current control and capacitor-current active damping is widely applied for LCL -type grid-connected inverters. This paper investigates the operation cases of this dual-feedback control, paving a path for a robust design. Theoretical analysis is presented to provide a design guideline. A robust damping gain is derived which can ensure robustness against the grid inductance variation. However, it is found that this property is subjected to both fi lter parameter fl uctuations and the lagging phase of the current regulator. To address these issues, extra phase-lead compensation is suggested to be embedded with the current regulator. On top of these, a robust single-feedback inverter current control is developed, where the capacitor current is extracted from the sensed inverter current for active damping, and the proportional-integral-resonant current regulator is used for avoiding the dc bias. The proposed strategy combines high robustness and cost-effi ciency. Experimental results from a 6-kW prototype are fi nally provided to confi rm the theoretical analysis and expectations.

Passivity-Based Design for LCL-Filtered Grid-Connected Inverters with Inverter Current Control and Capacitor-Current Active Damping

Fan Zeyang,Yi Hong,Xu Jian,Xie Kun 대한전기학회 2024 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.19 No.3

Passivity-based design gains much popularity in grid-connected inverters (GCIs) since it enables system stability regardless of the uncertain grid impedance. This paper devotes to a systematic passivity-based design guidance for the LCL-fltered GCI with inverter current control and capacitor-current active damping. It is found that the passivity can be guaranteed with an optimal damping gain of the capacitor-current active damping, but it sufers from both the flter parameter drift and the lagging phase of the current regulator, especially at the one-sixth sampling frequency. To address this issue, a phase-lead compensation is introduced in series with the current regulator, which helps to enhance the full-band passivity and high robustness against the aforementioned challenge. Experiments are conducted to confrm the theoretical expectation.

Bioinformatics Analysis Reveals Connection of Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma of the Lung

Fan, Wei-Dong,Zhang, Xian-Quan,Guo, Hui-Lin,Zeng, Wei-Wei,Zhang, Ni,Wan, Qian-Qian,Xie, Wen-Yao,Cao, Jin,Xu, Chang-Hua Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma are the major histological types of non-small cell lung cancer. Because they differ on the basis of histopathological and clinical characteristics and their relationship with smoking, their etiologies may be different; for example, different tumor suppressor genes may be related to the genesis of each type. We used microarray data to construct three regulatory networks to identify potential genes related to lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and investigated the similarity and specificity of them. In the network, some of the observed transcription factors and target genes had been previously proven to be related to lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. We also found some new transcription factors and target genes related to SCC. The results demonstrated that regulatory network analysis is useful in connection analysis between lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Design of Concentrating System for Solar Side-pumped Slab Laser

Fan, Wentong,Liu, Yan,Guo, Pan,Deng, Rui,Li, Nan,Ding, Fukang,Li, Yasha,Zhou, Jun,Xie, Shiwei Optical Society of Korea 2020 Current Optics and Photonics Vol.4 No.1

The design of a concentration system for a solar side-pumped slab laser was investigated. The side size of the slab laser medium is 2 mm × 20 mm. Based on the principle of the edge ray, a secondary concentrating system consisting of a rectangular parabolic mirror (RPM) and a rectangular dielectric-filled compound parabolic concentrator (RDCPC) was demonstrated. The focal length of RPM is 1200 mm and the size is 734 mm × 2000 mm. The outlet size of the RDCPC is 2 mm × 20 mm. The concentration effect was analyzed by using Tracepro optical software. The results showed that the concentration efficiency reached 81.3% and the uniformity of the spot was 91.4% after optimization. This design of concentration system is of great reference value for a solar side-pumped slab laser.

Coronary Atherosclerosis T₁-Weighed Characterization With Integrated Anatomical Reference

Xie, Y.,Kim, Y.J.,Pang, J.,Kim, J.S.,Yang, Q.,Wei, J.,Nguyen, C.T.,Deng, Z.,Choi, B.W.,Fan, Z.,Bairey Merz, C.N.,Shah, P.K.,Berman, D.S.,Chang, H.J.,Li, D. Elsevier Science B.V. Amsterdam 2017 JACC CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING Vol.10 No.6

Objectives: The aim of this work is the development of coronary atherosclerosis T<SUB>1</SUB>-weighted characterization with integrated anatomical reference (CATCH) technique and the validation by comparison with high-risk plaque features (HRPF) observed on intracoronary optical coherence tomography (OCT) and invasive coronary angiography. Background: T<SUB>1</SUB>-weighted cardiac magnetic resonance with or without contrast media has been used for characterizing coronary atherosclerosis showing promising prognostic value. Several limitations include: 1) coverage is limited to proximal coronary segments; 2) spatial resolution is low and often anisotropic; and 3) a separate magnetic resonance angiography acquisition is needed to localize lesions. Methods: CATCH acquired dark-blood T<SUB>1</SUB>-weighted images and bright-blood anatomical reference images in an interleaved fashion. Retrospective motion correction with 100% respiratory gating efficiency was achieved. Reference control subjects (n = 13) completed both pre- and post-contrast scans. Stable angina patients (n = 30) completed pre-contrast scans, among whom 26 eligible patients also completed post-contrast scans. After cardiac magnetic resonance, eligible patients (n = 22) underwent invasive coronary angiography and OCT for the interrogation of coronary atherosclerosis. OCT images were assessed and scored for HRPF (lipid-richness, macrophages, cholesterol crystals, and microvessels) by 2 experienced analysts blinded to magnetic resonance results. Results: Per-subject analysis showed none of the 13 reference control subjects had coronary hyperintensive plaques (CHIP) in either pre-contrast or post-contrast CATCH. Five patients had CHIP on pre-contrast CATCH and 5 patients had CHIP on post-contrast CATCH. Patients with CHIP had greater lipid abnormality than those without. Per-segment analysis showed elevated pre- and post-contrast plaque to myocardium signal ratio in the lesions with HRPF versus those without. Positive correlation was observed between plaque to myocardium signal ratio and OCT HRPF scoring. CHIP on pre-contrast CATCH were associated with significantly higher stenosis level than non-CHIP on invasive coronary angiography. Conclusions: CATCH provided accelerated whole heart coronary plaque characterization with simultaneously acquired anatomical reference. CHIP detected by CATCH showed positive association with high-risk plaque features on invasive imaging studies.

Effect of Shifting the Pole-shoe and Damper-bar Centerlines on the No-load Voltage Waveform of a Tubular Hydro-generator

Fan, Zhen-nan,Han, Li,Liao, Yong,Xie, Li-dan,Wen, Kun,Wang, Jun,Dong, Xiu-cheng,Yao, Bing The Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers 2018 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.13 No.3

This study optimises the no-load voltage waveform of tubular hydro-generators by a simple design scheme. For different centerlines of the pole shoe and damper bar, the optimisation effects on the no-load voltage waveform are investigated in two tubular hydro-generators with different weighted powers (34 MW and 18 MW). The results are compared with those of the traditional stator-slots skewed design. The quality of the no-load voltage waveform was related to the shifting degree, and the different optimisation effects between the integer slot generator (q = 2) and the fractional slot generator (q = 11/2) were analysed. This research can improve the quality of the power output and no-load voltage waveform, and provide an effective reference for improving the industrial design and manufacture level of tubular hydro-generators.

The role of ginsenoside Rb1, a potential natural glutathione reductase agonist, in preventing oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells

Fan, Hui-Jie,Tan, Zhang-Bin,Wu, Yu-Ting,Feng, Xiao-Reng,Bi, Yi-Ming,Xie, Ling-Peng,Zhang, Wen-Tong,Ming, Zhi,Liu, Bin,Zhou, Ying-Chun The Korean Society of Ginseng 2020 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.44 No.2

Background: Oxidative stress-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis is a key pathological process in ischemic heart disease. Glutathione reductase (GR) reduces glutathione disulfide to glutathione (GSH) to alleviate oxidative stress. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) prevents the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes; however, the role of GR in this process is unclear. Therefore, the effects of GRb1 on GR were investigated in this study. Methods: The antiapoptotic effects of GRb1 were evaluated in H9C2 cells by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting. The antioxidative effects were measured by a reactive oxygen species assay, and GSH levels and GR activity were examined in the presence and absence of the GR inhibitor 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the binding of GRb1 to GR. The direct influence of GRb1 on GR was confirmed by recombinant human GR protein. Results: GRb1 pretreatment caused dose-dependent inhibition of tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced cell apoptosis, at a level comparable to that of the positive control N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The binding energy between GRb1 and GR was positive (-6.426 kcal/mol), and the binding was stable. GRb1 significantl reduced reactive oxygen species production and increased GSH level and GR activity without altering GR protein expression in H9C2 cells. Moreover, GRb1 enhanced the recombinant human GR protein activity in vitro, with a half-maximal effective concentration of ≈2.317 μM. Conversely, 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea co-treatment significantly abolished the GRb1's apoptotic and antioxidative effects of GRb1 in H9C2 cells. Conclusion: GRb1 is a potential natural GR agonist that protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of H9C2 cells.

Comparative kinetic study of coal gasification with steam and CO2 in molten blast furnace slags

Fan Yang,Qingbo Yu,Huaqing Xie,Zongliang Zuo,Limin Hou,Qin Qin 한국화학공학회 2018 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.35 No.8

To make a comparison between coal gasification in molten blast furnace slag (MBFS) in different ambience and choose an appropriate agent to recover BF slag’s waste heat entirely, coal gasification with steam and CO2 in molten blast furnace slags was studied by isothermal thermo-gravimetric analysis. The effects of temperature and addition of MBFS were studied. Carbon conversion and reaction rate increased with increasing temperature and MBFS. Volumetric model (VM), shrinking core model (SCM), and diffusion model (DM) were applied to describe the coal gasification behavior of FX coal. The most appropriate model describing the coal gasification was SCM in steam ambience and VM in CO2 ambience, respectively. The reaction rate constant k(T) in CO2 ambience is greater than that in steam ambience, which means the gasification reactivity of coal in CO2 ambience is better than that in steam ambience. BF slag can effectively reduce the activation energy EA of coal gasification reaction in different ambiences. But, the difference of activation energies is not large in different ambiences. Based on the results of kinetic analysis including k(T) and EA calculated by the established model, CO2 was chosen to be the most appropriate agent.

Signaling Pathways Controlling Microglia Chemotaxis

Fan, Yang,Xie, Lirui,Chung, Chang Y. Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2017 Molecules and cells Vol.40 No.3

Microglia are the primary resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). They are the first line of defense of the brain's innate immune response against infection, injury, and diseases. Microglia respond to extracellular signals and engulf unwanted neuronal debris by phagocytosis, thereby maintaining normal cellular homeostasis in the CNS. Pathological stimuli such as neuronal injury induce transformation and activation of resting microglia with ramified morphology into a motile amoeboid form and activated microglia chemotax toward lesion site. This review outlines the current research on microglial activation and chemotaxis.