A Comparison of Eu-Doped -Fe2O3 Nanotubes and Nanowires for Acetone Sensing

Yali Cheng,Yifang Wang,Jinbao Zhang,Haiying Li,Li Liu,Yu Lina,Liting Du,Haojie Duan 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2017 NANO Vol.12 No.11

Pure and Eu-doped (1.0, 3.0, 5.0 wt.%) α-Fe2O3 (PFO and EFO) nanotubes and nanowires have been successfully synthesized through the combination of electrospinning and calcination techniques. The structures, morphologies and chemical compositions of the as-obtained products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and energy dispersive spectrum (EDS), respectively. To demonstrate the superior gas sensing performance of the doped nanotubes, a contrastive gas sensing study between PFO (EFO) nanotubes and nanowires was performed. It turned out that Eu doping could magnify the impact of morphology on gas sensitivity. Specifically, at the optimum operating temperature of 240 ℃, the response value of PFO nanotubes to 100 ppm acetone is slightly higher than that of nanowires (3.59/2.20). EFO (3.0 wt.%) nanotubes have a response of 84.05, which is almost 2.7 times as high as that of nanowires (31.54). Moreover, they possess more rapid response/recovery time (11 s and 36 s, respectively) than nanowires (17 s and 40 s, respectively). The lowest detection limit for acetone is 0.1 ppm and its response is 2.15. In addition, both of EFO nanotubes and nanowires sensors have a good linearity (0.1–500 ppm) and favorable selectivity in acetone detection.

Cathepsin K Activity Controls Injury-Related Vascular Repair in Mice

Hu, Lina,Cheng, Xian Wu,Song, Haizhen,Inoue, Aiko,Jiang, Haiying,Li, Xiang,Shi, Guo-Ping,Kozawa, Eiji,Okumura, Kenji,Kuzuya, Masafumi American Heart Association, Inc. 2014 Hypertension Vol.63 No.3

<P>Cathepsin K (CatK) is one of the most potent mammalian collagenases. We showed previously the increased expression of CatK in human and animal atherosclerotic lesions. Here, we hypothesized that ablation of CatK mitigates injury-induced neointimal hyperplasia. Male wild-type (CatK<SUP>+/+</SUP>) and CatK-deficient (CatK<SUP>−/−</SUP>) mice underwent ligation or a combination of ligation and polyethylene cuff-replacement injuries to the right common carotid artery just proximal to its bifurcation, and they were then processed for morphological and biochemical studies at specific time points. On operative day 28, CatK<SUP>−/−</SUP> significantly reduced neointimal formation and neovessel formation in both single- and combination-injured arteries compared with the Cat K<SUP>+/+</SUP> mice. At early time points, CatK<SUP>−/−</SUP> reduced the lesion macrophage contents and medial smooth muscle cell proliferation, the mRNA levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, toll-like receptor-2, toll-like receptor-4, chemokine ligand-12, and the gelatinolytic activity related to matrix metalloproteinase-2/-9. An aorta-explant assay revealed that smooth muscle cell movement was impaired in the CatK<SUP>−/−</SUP> mice compared with the CatK<SUP>+/+</SUP> mice. In addition, the smooth muscle cells and macrophages from CatK<SUP>−/−</SUP> mice had less invasive ability through a reconstituted basement membrane barrier. This vasculoprotective effect was mimicked by Cat inhibition with <I>trans</I>-epoxysuccinyl-L-leucylamido-{4-guanidino} butane (E64<I>d</I>). These results demonstrate an essential role of CatK in neointimal lesion formation in response to injury, possibly via the reduction of toll-like receptor-2/-4–mediated inflammation and smooth muscle cell proliferation, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for the control of endovascular treatment–related restenosis by regulating CatK activity.</P>

Experimental and numerical study on tensile capacity of composite cable-girder anchorage joint

Xuefei Shi,Yuzhuo Zhong,Haiying Ma,Ke Hu,Zhiquan Liu,Cheng Zeng 국제구조공학회 2023 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.49 No.2

Cable-girder anchorage joint is the critical part of cable-supported bridges. Tensile-plate anchorage (TPA) is one of the most commonly used types of cable-girder anchorage joints in steel girder cable-supported bridges. In recent years, it has been proposed by bridge designers to apply TPA to concrete girder cable-supported bridges to form composite cable-girder anchorage joint (CCGAJ). In this paper, the mechanical performance of CCGAJ under tensile force is studied through experimental and numerical analyses. Firstly, the effects of the external prestressing (EP) and the bearing plate (BP) on the mechanical performance of CCGAJ were investigated through three tests. Then, finite element model was established for parametrical study, and was verified by the experimental results. Then, the effects of shear connector forms, EP, BP, vertical rebar rate, and perforated rebar rate on the tensile capacity of CCGAJ were investigated through numerical analyses. The results show that the tensile capacity of CCGAJ depends on the first row of PR. The failure mode of CCGAJ using headed stud connectors is to form a shear failure surface at the end of the studs while the failure mode using PBLs is similar to the bending of a deep girder. Finally, based on the strut-and-tie model (STM), a calculation method for CCGAJ tensile capacity was proposed, which has a high accuracy and can be used to calculate the tensile capacity of CCGAJ.

AP2α negatively regulates PDHA1 in cervical cancer cells to promote aggressive features and aerobic glycolysis in vitro and in vivo

Lijie Zhao,Rong Geng,Yi Huang,Jiping Zhang,Haiying Cheng,Cankun Zhou,Yifeng Wang 대한부인종양학회 2023 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.34 No.5

Objective: As a gate-keeper enzyme link, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 subunit alpha (PDHA1) functions as a key regulator during glycolysis and the mitochondrial citric acid cycle, which has been reported in several tumors. Nevertheless, the effects of PDHA1 on biological behaviors and metabolism remain unclear in cervical cancer (CC) cells. The study aims to explore the PDHA1 effects on glucose metabolism in CC cells and its possible mechanism. Methods: We first determined the expression levels of PDHA1 and activating protein 2 alpha (AP2α) as a PDHA1 potential transcription factor. The effects of PDHA1 in vivo were evaluated through a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) labeling assay, Transwell invasion assay, wound healing assay, Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay and flow cytometry were performed in CC cells. Oxygen consumption rate (OCR) levels were determined to reflect aerobic glycolysis level in gastric cancer cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was measured with 2′, 7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate kit. The relationship between PDHA1 and AP2α was examined by conducting chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Results: In CC tissues and cell lines, PDHA1 was downregulated, while AP2α was upregulated. Overexpression of PDHA1 remarkedly inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of CC cells, and tumor growth in vivo, as well as promoted OCR, apoptosis and ROS production. Moreover, AP2α directly bound to PDHA1 within suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 promoter region to negatively regulate PDHA1 expression level. What is more, PDHA1 knockdown could effectively reversed the AP2α silencing-mediated suppressive effects on cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and the promotive effects of AP2α knockdown on OCR, apoptosis and ROS production. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that AP2α negatively regulated PDHA1 via binding to PDHA1 gene promoter to promote malignant CC cell behaviors, which may provide a potential approach for CC therapeutics.

Increased Serum Cathepsin K in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Xiang Li,Lan Cui,Yuzi Li,Jiyong Jin,Dehao Jin,Xiangshan Li,Yanna Rei,Haiying Jiang,Guangxian Zhao,Guang Yang,Enbo Zhu,Yongshan Nan,Xianwu Cheng 연세대학교의과대학 2014 Yonsei medical journal Vol.55 No.4

Purpose: Cathepsin K is a potent collagenase implicated in human and animal atherosclerosis-based vascular remodeling. This study examined the hypothesis that serum CatK is associated with the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods: Between January 2011 and December 2012, 256 consecutive subjects were enrolled from among patients who underwent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention treatment. A total of 129 age-matched subjects served as controls. Results: The subjects’ serum cathepsin K and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterolwere measured. The patients with CAD had significantly higher serum cathepsinK levels compared to the controls (130.8±25.5 ng/mL vs. 86.9±25.5 ng/mL, p<0.001), and the patients with acute coronary syndrome had significantly higher serum cathepsin K levels compared to those with stable angina pectoris (137.1± 26.9 ng/mL vs. 102.6±12.9 ng/mL, p<0.001). A linear regression analysis showed that overall, the cathepsin K levels were inversely correlated with the high-density lipoprotein levels (r=-0.29, p<0.01) and positively with hs-CRP levels (r=0.32, p<0.01). Multiple logistic regression analyses shows that cathepsin K levels were independent predictors of CAD (odds ratio, 1.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.56; p<0.01). Conclusion: These data indicated that elevated levels of cathepsin K are closely associated with the presence of CAD and that circulating cathepsin K serves a useful biomarker for CAD.