A Novel Leader-following Consensus of Multi-agent Systems with Smart Leader

Fu-Yong Wang,Zhong-Xin Liu,Zengqiang Chen 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2018 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.16 No.4

This article studies the leader-following consensus problem for mixed-order multi-agent systems with a leader. Different from the traditional leader which is independent of all the other agents, the leader, called smart leader, can obtain and utilize the feedback information from its neighbors at some disconnected time intervals. A new distributed consensus control protocol based on intermittent control is developed for leader-following consensus with a smart leader. Moreover, the smart leader can adjust the control protocol based on the feedback information from its neighbors. With the aid of Lyapunov function, some sufficient conditions are derived for leader-following consensus of multi-agent systems with mixed-order dynamics under fixed directed topology. In addition, the similar results are obtained under switching directed topology. Finally, simulation results are provided to verify the correctness and effectiveness of theoretical results.

New method for rapidly estimating population densities of the concealed wood‐borer Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in the field

Xiao‐Yi Wang,Zhong-qi Yang,Chun-Nan SITU,Jian WANG,Fu-Yong FU 한국곤충학회 2016 Entomological Research Vol.46 No.2

To rapidly estimate pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus Hope, population densities in forests, the vertical distributions of M. alternatus oviposition sites and larvae on infested Masson pines (Pinus massoniana Lamb.) were studied. Results showed that the number of oviposition sites on sections of trunks between 0 and 2 m above ground was significantly greater than on sections of trunk above 2 m, and the vertical distribution had a significant logarithmic relationship with trunk height. The larval number of M. alternatus on dead infested trees had a significant difference among heights of trunks. Sections on trunks at 2–4 m usually contained the largest number of M. alternatus larvae, while the number of larvae on trunks above 10 m declined significantly, as well as in the 1 m section of trunk at the base. The vertical distribution of M. alternatus larvae on dead infested pines showed a distinct parabolic relationship with trunk height. The number of oviposition sites of M. alternatus on infested Masson pine trunks revealed a significant exponential relationship with the diameter at breast height (DBH) of trees. A significant positive linear relationship also was observed between M. alternatus larval number and DBH on the host pine trees, as well as between the numbers of larvae and oviposition sites on an individual tree. The total number of larvae in an infested tree could be calculated easily using an established equation, through counting the number of oviposition sites at 3–4 m of trunk aboveground. This study developed a practical method for rapid estimation of M. alternatus populations.

Endothelial Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) Expression Is Regulated by Transcription Factor Mef2c

Yong Jiang,He Liu,Wen-jing Liu,Hai-bin Tong,Chang-jun Chen,Fu-gui Lin,Yan-hang Zhuo,Xiao-zhen Qian,Zeng-bin Wang,Yu Wang,Peng Zhang,Hong-liang Jia 한국분자세포생물학회 2016 Molecules and cells Vol.39 No.4

Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is expressed in most microvascula-ture endothelial cells and forms water channels that play major roles in a variety of physiologic processes. This study aimed to delineate the transcriptional regulation of AQP1 by Mef2c in endothelial cells. Mef2c cooperated with Sp1 to activate human AQP1 transcription by binding to its proximal promoter in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Over-expression of Mef2c, Sp1, or Mef2c/Sp1 increased HUVEC migration and tube-forming ability, which can be abolished AQP1 knockdown. These data indicate that AQP1 is a direct target of Mef2c in regulating angiogenesis and vasculogenesis of endothelial cells.

Fangchinoline Inhibits Cell Proliferation Via Akt/GSK-3beta/cyclin D1 Signaling and Induces Apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells

Wang, Chang-Dong,Yuan, Cheng-Fu,Bu, You-Quan,Wu, Xiang-Mei,Wan, Jin-Yuan,Zhang, Li,Hu, Ning,Liu, Xian-Jun,Zu, Yong,Liu, Ge-Li,Song, Fang-Zhou Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Fangchinoline (Fan) inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in several cancer cell lines. The effects of Fan on cell growth and proliferation in breast cancer cells remain to be elucidated. Here, we show that Fan inhibited cell proliferation in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line through suppression of the AKT/Gsk-3beta/cyclin D1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, Fan induced apoptosis by increasing the expression of Bax (relative to Bcl-2), active caspase 3 and cytochrome-c. Fan significantly inhibited cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in a concentration and time dependent manner as determined by MTT assay. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that Fan treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase, which correlated with apparent downregulation of both mRNA and protein levels of both PCNA and cyclin D1. Further analysis demonstrated that Fan decreased the phosphorylation of AKT and GSK-3beta. In addition, Fan up-regulated active caspase3, cytochrome-c protein levels and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, accompanied by apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that Fan is a potential natural product for the treatment of breast cancer.

NANOTOXICITY OF MULTIWALL CARBON NANOTUBES TO A549 CELLS IN VITRO

FU-DE WANG,Ying Tang,Yong Ji Yang,CHAN JIN,HUA ZHANG,HAO LIANG 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2014 NANO Vol.9 No.2

Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) have been widely applied in many ¯elds due to theexcellent physical and chemical properties. As the production and applications of nanotubesexpand, public concern about their potential risks to human health has also raised. Cytotoxicityof MWCNTs was evaluated in this study using a cultured human epithelial cell line A549. Uptakeof MWCNTs by cultured A549 cells was observed by TEM imaging. Dose-dependent decrease ofcell viability showed the cytotoxicity of MWCNTs. Signi¯cant reactive oxygen species (ROS)generation and GSH depletion which reduced the cellular antioxidant level could be the majorfactor of cytotoxicity induced by MWCNTs. MWCNTs seemed to trigger the activation of cellautophagy with the intracellular ATG16L1 level increase as a defense mechanism.

Association of the XRCC1 c.1178G>A Genetic Polymorphism with Lung Cancer Risk in Chinese

Wang, Lei,Lin, Yong,Qi, Cong-Cong,Sheng, Bao-Wei,Fu, Tian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.9

The X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 protein (XRCC1) plays important roles in the DNA base excision repair pathway which may influence the development of lung cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the potential association of the XRCC1 c.1178G>A genetic polymorphism with lung cancer risk. The created restriction site-polymerase chain reaction (CRS-PCR) and DNA sequencing methods were utilized to evaluate the XRCC1 c.1178G>A genetic polymorphism among 376 lung cancer patients and 379 controls. Associations between the genetic polymorphism and lung cancer risk were determined with an unconditional logistic regression model. Our data suggested that the distribution of allele and genotype in lung cancer patients was significantly different from that of controls. The XRCC1 c.1178G>A genetic polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (AA vs GG: OR=2.91, 95%CI 1.70-4.98, p<0.001; A vs G: OR=1.52, 95%CI 1.22-1.90, p<0.001). The allele A and genotype AA may contribute to risk of lung cancer. These preliminary results suggested that the XRCC1 c.1178G>A genetic polymorphism is statistically associated with lung cancer risk in the Chinese population.

A Corpus-Assisted Critical Discourse Analysis of South China Sea Issues in Chinese, American, and Philippine Newspapers

Wang, Jiayin,Fu, Yuping,Lee, Yong-cheol 한국중앙영어영문학회 2020 영어영문학연구 Vol.62 No.4

With a corpus-assisted discourse analysis (CADA) on South China Sea (SCS) issues in Chinese, American, and Philippine newspapers over the past 10 years, this paper aimed to reveal ways of representing the SCS issues from three leading newspapers (China Daily, the Manila Times, and the New York Times) and expound the complicated relations between language use and the historical-socio-political contexts, which, in the end, provides valuable context for the study of the dispute between Japan and South Korea as well as other significant issues. The synchronic and diachronic analyses of the issues from 2010 to 2019 were conducted through a synergy of critical discourse analysis (CDA) and corpus linguistics (CL). The results showed that the representations in China Daily are generally cooperative negotiation-oriented. Those in the Manila Times were inclined toward being proactively and radically oriented during the Aquino III period, while they were moderately oriented during the Duterte period, which is characterized by instability. Those in the New York Times showed a tendency be militarization- and internationalization-oriented. The method used in this study enabled us to find semantic fields within text corpora to explore political issues connected to relevant countries.

Endothelial Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) Expression Is Regulated by Transcription Factor Mef2c

Jiang, Yong,Liu, He,Liu, Wen-jing,Tong, Hai-bin,Chen, Chang-jun,Lin, Fu-gui,Zhuo, Yan-hang,Qian, Xiao-zhen,Wang, Zeng-bin,Wang, Yu,Zhang, Peng,Jia, Hong-liang Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 2016 Molecules and cells Vol.39 No.4

Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is expressed in most microvasculature endothelial cells and forms water channels that play major roles in a variety of physiologic processes. This study aimed to delineate the transcriptional regulation of AQP1 by Mef2c in endothelial cells. Mef2c cooperated with Sp1 to activate human AQP1 transcription by binding to its proximal promoter in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Over-expression of Mef2c, Sp1, or Mef2c/Sp1 increased HUVEC migration and tube-forming ability, which can be abolished AQP1 knockdown. These data indicate that AQP1 is a direct target of Mef2c in regulating angiogenesis and vasculogenesis of endothelial cells.

Abietane Diterpenoids from Perovskia atriplicifolia and Their Anti-HBV Activities

Zhi-Yong Jiang,Zhong-Qiu Li,Chao-Guan Huang,Jun Zhou,Qiu-Fen Hu,Wen-Xing Liu,Xiang-Zhong Huang,Wei Wang,Li-Zhu Zhang,Fu-Ting Xia 대한화학회 2015 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.36 No.2

Bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation on the 90% EtOH extract of Perovskia atriplicifolia resulted in the isolation of eight abietane diterpenoids, including three new ones (1–3). Based on spectroscopic methods involving 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy techniques, mass spectrometry, and optical rotation, the structures of the new compounds (1–3) were unambiguously characterized. Compounds 1–2 and 4–8 were evaluated for their anti-HBV (hepatitis B virus) activity in HepG 2.2.15 cell line. Results suggested rosmadial (8) had the most anti-HBV potency, suppressing the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg, with IC50 values of 0.09 and 0.34 mM, respectively.

Tissue distribution of sialic acid-linked influenza virus receptors in beagle dogs

Zhang-Yong Ning,Xin-Tao Wu,Yan-Fen Cheng,Wen-Bao Qi,Yu-Fu An,Heng Wang,Gui-Hong Zhang,Shou-Jun Li 대한수의학회 2012 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.13 No.3

Reports of influenza A virus infections in dogs has received considerable attention from veterinarians, virologists, and epidemiologists. Interaction between influenza viral hemagglutinin and cell oligosaccharides containing sialic acid residues results in infection. Sialic acids have an α-2,3-linkage to the penultimate galactose in the avian influenza virus receptor and an α-2,6-linkage in the human receptor. To date,there are no detailed data on the tissue distribution or histological features of either type of sialic acid-linked influenza virus receptors in beagle dogs, which are common laboratory animals and pets. We conducted the current study to visualize the in situ tissue distribution of both sialic acid-linked influenza virus receptors in various organs of beagle dogs using Maackia amurensis lectin II and Sambucus nigra agglutinin. Both α-2,3- and α-2,6-sialic acid-linked receptors were detected in the endothelial cells of the respiratory tract and other organs. Endothelial cells of most gastrointestinal organs were negative for α-2,3-sialic acid-linked receptors in the dogs. Our results suggested that these canine organs may be affected by influenza virus infection. The findings from our study will also help evaluate the occurrence and development of influenza virus infections in dogs.