Preparation of Octadecylamine-Graphene/MgCl₂-Supported Ziegler-Natta Catalyst and Its Application in Ethylene Polymerization

Zhang, Hao,Liu, Jing-Sheng,Zhang, He-Xin,Ko, Eun-Bin,Park, Jae-Hyeong,Moon, Young-Kwon,Shin, Byeong-Kwang,Zhang, Xue-Quan,Yoon, Keun-Byoung American Scientific Publishers 2018 Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Vol.18 No.4

<P>A facile coagglomeration method for preparing a long alkyl chain modified graphene oxide (MGO)/MgCl2-supported Ti-based Ziegler-Natta catalyst was reported. The effects of MGO on the catalyst morphology and activity for ethylene polymerization were examined. The resultant polyethylene (PE)/MGO nanocomposites exhibited a layered morphology, with the MGO fillers being well dispersed and exhibiting strong interfacial adhesion to the PE matrix. The thermal stability and mechanical properties of the PE were significantly enhanced with the introduction of a small amount of the MGO filler. Thus, this work provides a facile approach to the production of high-performance PE.</P>

Comparison of virgin and reused 15-5 PH stainless steel powders for laser powder bed fusion process

Zhang, Jing,Hu, Bin,Zhang, Yi,Guo, Xingye,Wu, Linmin,Park, Hye-Yeong,Lee, Je-Hyun,Jung, Yeon-Gil Springer-Verlag 2018 Progress in additive manufacturing Vol.3 No.1

Construction and Characterization of Vitreoscilla Hemoglobin (VHb) with Enhanced Peroxidase Activity for Efficient Degradation of Textile Dye

( Zi Dong Zhang ),( Wei Li ),( Hai Chao Li ),( Jing Zhangi ),( Yue Bin Zhang ),( Yu Feng Cao ),( Jian Zhang Ma ),( Zheng Qiang Li ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.9

Pollution resulting from the discharge of textile dyes into water systems has become a major global concern. Because peroxidases are known for their ability to decolorize and detoxify textile dyes, the peroxidase activity of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) has recently been studied. It is found that VHb and variants of this enzyme show great promise for enzymatic decolorization of dyes and may play a role in achieving their successful removal from industrial wastewater. The level of VHb peroxidase activity correlates with two amino acid residues present within the conserved distal pocket, at positions 53 and 54. In this work, sitedirected mutagenesis of these residues was performed and resulted in improved VHb peroxidase activity. The double mutant, Q53H/P54C, shows the highest dye decolorization and removal efficiency, with 70% removal efficiency within 5 min. UV spectral studies of Q53H/P54C reveals a more compact structure and an altered porphyrin environment (λSoret = 413 nm) relative to that of wild-type VHb (λSoret = 406), and differential scanning calorimetry data indicate that the VHb variant protein structure is more stable. In addition, circular dichroism spectroscopic studies indicate that this variant’s increased protein structural stability is due to an increase in helical structure, as deduced from the melting temperature, which is higher than 90°C. Therefore, the VHb variant Q53H/P54C shows promise as an excellent peroxidase, with excellent dye decolorization activity and a more stable structure than wild-type VHb under high-temperature conditions.

Fuzzy Logic Modeling and Its Application to A Walking-Beam Reheating Furnace

Zhang, Bin,Wang, Jing-Cheng Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems 2007 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL of FUZZY LOGIC and INTELLIGE Vol.7 No.3

A fuzzy modeling method is proposed to build the dynamic model of a walking-beam reheating furnace from the recorded data. In the proposed method, the number of membership function on each variable is increased individually and the modeling accuracy is evaluated iteratively. When the modeling accuracy is satisfied, the membership functions on each variable are fixed and the structure of fuzzy model is determined. Because the training data is limited, in this process, as the number of membership function increase, it is highly possible that some rules are missing, i.e., no data in the training set corresponds to the consequent part of a missing rule. To complete the rulebase, the output of the model constructed at the previous step is used to generate the consequent part of the missing rules. Finally, in the real time application, a rolling update scheme to rulebase is introduced to compensate the change of system dynamics and fine tune the rulebase. The proposed method is verified by the application to the modeling of a reheating furnace.

Cognitive Functions and Subjective Hearing in Cochlear Implant Users

Zhang Fawen,McGuire Kelli,Skeeters Madeline,Barbara Matthew,Chang Pamara F.,Zhang Nanhua,Xiang Jing,Huang Bin 대한청각학회 2024 Journal of Audiology & Otology Vol.28 No.3

Background and Objectives: A cochlear implant (CI) is an effective prosthetic device used to treat severe-to-profound hearing loss. The present study examined cognitive function in CI users by employing a web-based cognitive testing platform, i.e., BrainCheck, and explored the correlation between cognitive function and subjective evaluation of hearing. Subjects and Methods: Forty-two CI users (mean age: 58.90 years) were surveyed in the subjective evaluation of hearing, and 20/42 participated in the BrainCheck cognitive tests (immediate recognition, Trail Making A, Trail Making B, Stroop, digit symbol substitution, and delayed recognition). As controls for cognitive function, young normal-hearing (YNH, mean age=23.83 years) and older normal-hearing (ONH, mean age=52.67 years) listener groups were subjected to Brain-Check testing. Results: CI users exhibited poorer cognitive function than the normal hearing groups in all tasks except for immediate and delayed recognition. The highest percentage of CI users who had “possible” and “likely” cognitive impairment, based on BrainCheck scores (ranging from 0-200), was observed in tests assessing executive function. The composite cognitive score across domains tended to be related to subjective hearing (<i>p</i>=0.07). Conclusions: The findings of the current study suggest that CI users had a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment in the executive function domain than in lower-level domains. BrianCheck online cognitive testing affords a convenient and effective tool to self-evaluate cognitive function in CI users. ackground and Objectives: A cochlear implant (CI) is an effective prosthetic device used to treat severe-to-profound hearing loss. The present study examined cognitive function in CI users by employing a web-based cognitive testing platform, i.e., BrainCheck, and explored the correlation between cognitive function and subjective evaluation of hearing. Subjects and Methods: Forty-two CI users (mean age: 58.90 years) were surveyed in the subjective evaluation of hearing, and 20/42 participated in the BrainCheck cognitive tests (immediate recognition, Trail Making A, Trail Making B, Stroop, digit symbol substitution, and delayed recognition). As controls for cognitive function, young normal-hearing (YNH, mean age=23.83 years) and older normal-hearing (ONH, mean age=52.67 years) listener groups were subjected to Brain-Check testing. Results: CI users exhibited poorer cognitive function than the normal hearing groups in all tasks except for immediate and delayed recognition. The highest percentage of CI users who had “possible” and “likely” cognitive impairment, based on BrainCheck scores (ranging from 0-200), was observed in tests assessing executive function. The composite cognitive score across domains tended to be related to subjective hearing (<i>p</i>=0.07). Conclusions: The findings of the current study suggest that CI users had a higher likelihood of cognitive impairment in the executive function domain than in lower-level domains. BrianCheck online cognitive testing affords a convenient and effective tool to self-evaluate cognitive function in CI users.

XPG is Predictive Gene of Clinical Outcome in Advanced Non-small-cell Lung Cancer with Platinum Drug Therapy

Zhang, Tian,Sun, Jing,Lv, Min,Zhang, Lin,Wang, Xia,Ren, Ji-Chen,Wang, Bin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.2

Polymorphisms in XPG are considered to contribute to the clinical outcome of patients receiving platinum drug chemotherapy. We aimed to investigate the role of five potential SNPs of XPG gene on the response to platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced Chinese NSCLC patients. A total of 451 patients with newly diagnosed and histopathologically confirmed primary NSCLC were consecutively collected. XPG rs2296147, rs4150261, rs17655, rs1047768 and rs2094258 were genotyped by the Taqman real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In our study, we found patients carrying rs1057768 TT genotype had a significantly lower treatment response when compared with the CC genotype (OR=0.38, 95% CI=0.18-0.78). Patients carrying rs1047768 TT genotype showed a significantly short median PFS (11.2 months) and OS (13.6 months) than CC genotype, and the hazard ratios (HR) for PFS and OS were 2.06 (1.01-4.50) and 2.29 (1.21-2.49), respectively. Moreover, we found a significant decreased risk of death from NSCLC among patients carrying the rs2296147 TT genotype when compared with the CC genotype, the HR (95% CI) for OS being 0.50 (0.27-0.95). In conclusion, our study found that polymorphisms in rs1047768 C/T and rs2296147 C/T are associated with response to platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC, and XPG polymorphisms could be predictive of prognosis.

VHL Gene Mutation Analysis of a Chinese Family with Non-Syndromic Pheochromocytomas and Patients with Apparently Sporadic Pheochromocytoma

Zhang, Bin,Qian, Jing,Chang, De-Hui,Wang, Yang-Min,Zhou, Da-Hai,Qiao, Gou-Mei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.5

Objective: The Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHLD), an inherited neoplastic syndrome predisposing to central nervous system hemangioblastoma (CNS), pheochromocytoma (PCC), renal cell carcinoma(RCC), retinal hemangioma (RA) and renal cysts, is caused by mutations or deletions of the VHL tumor-suppressor gene. To assess VHL genotype-phenotype correlations with function of pVHL a gene mutation analysis of members in a Chinese family with non-syndromic PCCs and individuals with apparently sporadic pheochromocytoma (ASP) was performed. Materials and Methods: DNA samples of 20 members from the Chinese family with non-syndromic PCCs and 41 patients with ASP were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing, confirmed by Taqman probe. Results: Three novel mutations (H125P, 623(^TTTGTtG) and R120T) were identified in the Chinese family and in 3 among 41 ASP patients. The mutations were all located in exon 2 of VHL gene encoding ${\beta}$-domain of pVHL. The tumor type in H125P carriers and R120T carriers was VHL type 2C. And 623(^TTTGTtG) carriers presented VHL type 2B or type 2C. Conclusions: VHL gene abnormalities were identified in the Chinese family with non-syndromic PCCs and patients with APS, resulting in dysfunction of pVHL. H125P and R120T could be associated with VHL type 2C, while 623(^TTTGTtG) might be linked with VHL type 2B or type 2C. Not only is the genetic analysis helpful for early diagnosis and treatment of patients with VHLD, it is also benefitial for research intoVHLD pathogenesis.

Chinese herbal medicine for drug-induced liver injury in patients with HIV/AIDS: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Zhang Xiao-wen,Li Jing,Hou Wen-Bin,Jiang Yue,Zheng Ruo-Xiang,Xu De-hao,Shen Chen,Robinson Nicola,Liu Jian-Ping 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.1

Background: To explore the effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for drug-induced liver injury (DILI) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syn- drome (AIDS). Methods: A systematic search was made of eight databases (Pubmed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Sinomed) and two trial registries (WHO ICTRP, ClinicalTrials.gov) from in- ception to September 2022. The effect size was presented as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with their 95% confidence interval (CI). The Cochrane Risk of Bias and Grading of Recommendations, Assess- ment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) tools were used for quality appraisal. Results: Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 732 participants were included. Comparing CHM alone with routine treatment, the CHM group showed lower aspartate aminotransferase (MD = -11.47 U/L, 95%CI[-13.05, -9.89], low certainty), lower alanine aminotransferase (MD = -2.68 U/L, 95%CI[-4.27, - 1.08], low certainty), lower total bilirubin (MD = -4.31 mmol/L, 95%CI[-5.66, -2.96], low certainty), lower bilirubin direct (MD = -3.19 mmol/L, 95%CI[-3.87, -2.51], low certainty), and higher effective rate (assessed by symptoms and liver indicators) (RR = 1.13, 95%CI[1.06, 1.20], low certainty). A significant difference was also found in CHM plus routine treatment versus routine treatment in the previous outcomes. No signif- icant difference was found on helper T cells among these comparisons. Only one RCT reported safety of CHM and found no adverse reaction during the trial. Conclusions: CHM may improve the liver function indices and effective rate for HIV/AIDS patients with DILI. However, the sample size was small and quality was low. Larger-samples of high-quality trials are needed.

Branched polymeric prodrug/programmed cell death 4 complexes for combinational cancer therapy

Yu‑Jing He,Lei Xing,Peng‑Fei Cui,Jia‑Liang Zhang,Jian‑Bin Qiao,Cheng‑Qiong Luo,Ge Jiang,Hu‑Lin Jiang 한국약제학회 2017 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.47 No.2

Here, we demonstrate a co-delivery system constructed by integrating chemotherapeutic molecules into branched polymeric prodrug which can condense nucleic acids. Demethylcantharidate (DCA) was chosen as a model drug and premodified through nucleophilic substitution reaction by its two carboxylic groups with allyl chloride. The synthesized intermediate (DCA-dially) was then used to polymerize with tris (2-aminoethyl) amine (TAEA) through progressively ammonolysis reaction. The obtained poly (DCA-alt-TAEA) (DCAT) was used to pack PDCD4 into spherical-like nanoparticles through electrostatic interaction. Gel retardation assays implied that DCAT could integrate DNA at the weight ratio of 1 and protect it from digestion by nuclease. Acid-base titration experiments showed that DCAT obtained preferable buffering capability which was beneficial for the endosomal escape of DCAT/PDCD4 complexes. Cellular tests involving gene transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity indicated that DCA and PDCD4 co-delivered by the complexes significantly and synergistically suppressed the viability of SMMC-7721 cells. These results suggest that integrating chemotherapeutic molecules into nucleic acid-packing polymeric prodrug as cationic polymer/PDCD4 complexes is a highly efficient way to co-deliver chemotherapeutic drugs and nucleic acids for cancer therapy.

Dynamic Modeling and Accuracy Evaluation Method for Complex Special-Shaped Components of Aviation Transmission

Aiqiang Zhang,Jing Wei,Hao Cheng,Bin Peng,Miaofei Cao 한국정밀공학회 2022 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.23 No.11

Due to designers' demanding pursuit of high power-to-weight ratio, most components in aviation transmission, including casing and shafting, are designed as special-shaped thin-walled structures. The assumption of large stiffness is no longer applicable. The casing is rich in geometric features and is usually modeled by the finite element (FE) method. However, the huge number of degrees of freedom (DOFs) poses great challenges to dynamic design. Model condensation provides an effective method for matrix dimensionality reduction. Taking the case of a helicopter main reducer as an example, a dynamic modeling method based on experimental modal analysis-FE method-substructure condensation is proposed. In addition, a method for measuring condensation errors is proposed to help determine the minimum number of nodes and their most suitable locations. Finally, the condensed models with the minimum number of nodes which meet the accuracy requirements are obtained. In previous studies, beam elements were usually used to simulate shafting flexibility, but the number of nodes and model accuracy were rarely discussed. And the selection of beam elements has not yet been unified. The optimal combination of beam element stiffness and mass matrix is determined based on regular shafting. Furthermore, the applicability of beam element method and condensation method in shafting modeling with different degree of regularity is compared. The research provides substructure models considering both accuracy and calculation efficiency for the overall system modeling of the aviation transmission.