Investigation into Rheological Properties of Magnetorheological Polishing Slurry Using α-Cellulose as an Additive Agent and its Polishing Performance

Jianguo Cao,Zongqiao Ma,Meng Nie 한국정밀공학회 2020 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.21 No.11

Magnetorheological finishing (MRF), considered as a promising polishing technique that can finish a nano-level smooth surface and free of surface or subsurface damage, has been widely utilized in ultra-smooth polishing of hard-to-machine materials. MRF process is mainly rely on shear stress to remove material. In this study, α-cellulose used as an additive agent to improve the rheological properties of magnetorheological polishing slurry (MRPS). The rheometer measurement results and polishing results showed that: (1) α-cellulose can enhance the shear stress of MRPS, but increased the apparent viscosity of MRPS. (2) α-cellulose can effectively improve the stability of MRPS, when the weight fraction of α-cellulose was 0.6 wt%, both stability and internal uniform of MRPS can be obtained. (3) If the weight fraction of α-cellulose was bigger than 0.6 wt%, the machining ability of MPRS was stable and the smooth polished surface can be obtained.

Selection and evaluation of reference genes for quantitative gene expression analysis in broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.)

Hong Yue,Pingchuan Deng,Siyan Liu,Meng Wang,Weining Song,Xiaojun Nie 한국식물학회 2016 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.59 No.5

The appropriate reference genes are crucial for normalization of the target gene expression in qRT-PCR analysis. Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is one of the most important crops in drought areas worldwide, while the systematical investigation and evaluation of reference genes has not been investigated in this species up to now. Here, 9 commonly used reference genes were selected to detect their expressional stability in different tissues and under different stresses in broomcorn millet. ΔC t , BestKeeper, NormFinder and GeNorm approaches were used to evaluate the potentiality of these candidate genes as the reference gene in broomcorn millet. Taken together, results found that 18S and GAPDH were the suitable reference genes for gene expression normalization in different tissues and under stress treatment in broomcorn millet. This was the first study to investigate the reference genes for qRT-PCR analysis in broomcorn millet, which will facilitate the gene expression studies and also accelerate revealing the molecular mechanism of well-adapted extreme climatic conditions.

Pressure drop axial distribution uniformity of the particle bed in the radial bed

Tianhang Wu,Dewu Wang,Ruojin Wang,Bin Zhao,Meng Tang,Shaofeng Zhang,Lu Nie 한국화학공학회 2021 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.38 No.8

In a radial bed, the uniformity of the pressure drop distribution is investigated by Euler single-phase flow and porous media models under different operating mode (CF-U/Z, CP-U/Z), gas flow rate (120-240m3/h), particle diameter ((0.5-3)exp-3 m) and bed voidage (0.3-0.6). According to the nonuniform index η, the uniformity relates to these parameters and improves with increasing total pressure drop of particle bed Δps (sum of the pressure drops of particle bed and gas perforation) or decreasing main channel pressure drop Δpg. Comparing the flow fields with/without particles, Δps is approximately equal to the pressure drop of the particle bed with high-porosity Johnson net, which is well calculated by the Ergun equation. Δpg can be calculated by the modified momentum equation containing k. After changing the wall shear stress and gas-solid axial resistance, it is found that the internal generation factors for k include the influence of gas perforation on boundary layer and the existence of gas axial velocity after perforation. Besides, the global/local k hardly changes with the investigated parameters. The local k is a function of axial position or velocity ratio, which changes obviously at the end of the main channel for the existence of a gas stagnation zone.

Quantitative Assessment the Relationship between p21 rs1059234 Polymorphism and Cancer Risk

Huang, Yong-Sheng,Fan, Qian-Qian,Li, Chuang,Nie, Meng,Quan, Hong-Yang,Wang, Lin Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.10

p21 is a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, which can arrest cell proliferation and serve as a tumor suppressor. Though many studies were published to assess the relationship between p21 rs1059234 polymorphism and various cancer risks, there was no definite conclusion on this association. To derive a more precise quantitative assessment of the relationship, a large scale meta-analysis of 5,963 cases and 8,405 controls from 16 eligible published case-control studies was performed. Our analysis suggested that rs1059234 was not associated with the integral cancer risk for both dominant model [(T/T+C/T) vs C/C, OR=1.00, 95% CI: 0.84-1.18] and recessive model [T/T vs (C/C+C/T), OR=1.03, 95% CI: 0.93-1.15)]. However, further stratified analysis showed rs1059234 was greatly associated with the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN). Thus, larger scale primary studies are still required to further evaluate the interaction of p21 rs1059234 polymorphism and cancer risk in specific cancer subtypes.

Health oil preparation from gardenia seeds by aqueous enzymatic extraction combined with puffing pre-treatment and its properties analysis

Chengyu Jin,Lingyun Wang,Xiaoying Liu,Yuanchao Lu,Ningxiang Yu,Xiaohua Nie,Qin Ye,Xianghe Meng 한국식품과학회 2023 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.32 No.14

Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, a representative for “homology of medicine and food”, can be used to produce pigment and edible oil. Here, aqueous enzymatic extraction (AEE) combined with puffing pre-treatment was explored to prepare oil from gardenia seeds. Both wet-heating puffing (WP) at 90 °C and dry-heating puffing (DP) at 1.0 MPa facilitated the release of free oil by AEE, resulting in the highest free oil yields (FOY) of 21.8% and 23.2% within 3 h, much higher than that of un-puffed group. Additionally, active crocin and geniposide were also completely released. The FOY obtained was much higher than mechanical pressing method (10.44%), and close to solvent extraction (25.45%). Microstructure analysis indicated that gardenia seeds expanded by dry-heating puffing (1.0 MPa) had a larger, rougher surface and porous structure than other groups. Overall, AEE coupled with puffing pre-treatment developed is an eco-friendly extraction technology with high efficiency that can be employed to oil preparation.

Comparison of the flight ability of diapausing and post-diapause Osmia excavata Alfken (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) at different temperatures

Lyu Zhaoyun,Liu Haigang,Zhou Ting,Feng Min,Lu Zengbin,Nie Lei,Wang Guiping,Wang Guangzhao,Li Lili,Men Xingyuan,Sun Meng,Yu Yi 한국응용곤충학회 2024 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.27 No.1

The solitary mason bee Osmia excavata Alfken (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) is an important pollinator of fruit trees in northern China. This stduy compared and studied the flight ability of O. excavata at different temper atures both during and post diapause, with the aim of exploring the feasibility of using O. excavata prematurely released from diapause for pollination. The flight capacity of male and female O. excavata during diapause and post diapause was measured at 3 ◦ C intervals from 10 to 31 ◦ C by using a computer-monitored flight-mill system. The results showed that as the temperature increased, the flight ability also increased until an optimal tem perature was reached, whereupon it gradually decreased regardless of the further increase in temperature. Temperature had a highly significant impact on flight ability (P < 0.01), whereas gender only had a significant effect on average flight distance (P = 0.034). Diapause status had significant effects on average flight distance, average flight speed and maximum flight speed, and the interaction between diapause and temperature had a highly significant impact on average flight distance and average flight speed (P < 0.01). Post diapause, the flying ability of bees was significantly improved; however, diapausing O. excavata demonstrated a sufficient flying ability and so could be used as auxiliary pollinators for fruits in greenhouses during winter and early spring, when there is a shortage of pollinators.

Notch1 promotes the pericytemyofibroblast transition in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis through the PDGFR/ ROCK1 signal pathway

Yi-Chun Wang,Qiong Chen,Jun-Ming Luo,Jing Nie,Qing-He Meng,Wei Shuai,Han Xie,Jia-Mei Xia,Hui Wang 생화학분자생물학회 2019 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.51 No.-

The goals of this study were to investigate the role of the Notch1/PDGFRβ/ROCK1 signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis and to explore the possibility of treating fibrosis by targeting Notch1. Lung tissues from patients with pulmonary fibrosis were examined for the expression of Notch1/PDGFRβ/ROCK1 using RT-qPCR, western blotting, and immunostaining. Cultured mouse lung pericytes were transfected with Notch1-overexpressed vectors or shRNA targeting PDGFRβ/ROCK1 to examine cell behaviors, including proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and differentiation toward myofibroblasts. Finally, a mouse pulmonary fibrosis model was prepared, and a Notch1 inhibitor was administered to observe tissue morphology and pericyte cell behaviors. Human pulmonary fibrotic tissues presented with overexpression of Notch1, PDGFRβ, and ROCK1, in addition to a prominent transition of pericytes into myofibroblasts. In cultured mouse lung pericytes, overexpression of Notch1 led to the accelerated proliferation and differentiation of cells, and it also increased the expression of the PDGFRβ and ROCK1 proteins. The knockdown of PDGFRβ/ROCK1 in pericytes remarkably suppressed pericyte proliferation and differentiation. As further substantiation, the administration of a Notch1 inhibitor in a mouse model of lung fibrosis inhibited the PDGFRβ/ROCK1 pathway, suppressed pericyte proliferation and differentiation, and alleviated the severity of fibrosis. Our results showed that the Notch1 signaling pathway was aberrantly activated in pulmonary fibrosis, and this pathway may facilitate disease progression via mediating pericyte proliferation and differentiation. The inhibition of the Notch1 pathway may provide one promising treatment strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.

Identification and expression analysis of SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein (SBP) genes in mungbean

Zhang Huiying,Guo Xu,Wang Zheng,Yu Zhaohang,Nie Kaiyue,Han Meng,Xu Xuexin,Zhu Hong 한국식물생명공학회 2023 Plant biotechnology reports Vol.17 No.3

SQUAMOSA promoter-binding protein (SBP) genes are important transcription factors involved in plant growth and development. However, the information about mungbean VrSBP genes is limited. In this study, we identified and characterized 22 VrSBP genes in the mungbean genome. Many characteristics of VrSBP genes were analyzed, and most VrSBP genes were considered to be expressed only in the nucleus. VrSBP genes were grouped into 9 subfamilies, with the exception of the g7 and ms subfamilies which are distinctive to Poaceae species. The g3 subfamily was the largest one with 6 VrSBP members. Eight segmental events were found among VrSBP genes, and all VrSBP duplicated genes were evolved via purification selection. The gene structure of VrSBP genes in the same subfamily was similar, and the conserved motifs are different among different subfamilies of VrSBP genes. Additionally, 12 VrSBP genes were considered to be the target genes of vra-miR156a. The types and numbers of cis-acting elements in VrSBP promoters were varied and VrSBP genes showed different expression patterns in different tissues. In addition, the protein interaction network revealed that VrSBP genes were involved in many development processes. Our study has provided important information which will allow the further functional characterization of VrSBP genes.

IL-33 promotes IL-10 production in macrophages: a role for IL-33 in macrophage foam cell formation

Hai-Feng Zhang,Mao-Xiong Wu,Yong-Qing Lin,Shuang-Lun Xie,Tu-Cheng Huang,Pin-Ming Liu,Ru-Qiong Nie,Qin-Qi Meng,Nian-Sang Luo,Yang-Xin Chen,Jing-Feng Wang 생화학분자생물학회 2017 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.49 No.-

We evaluated the role of IL-10- in IL-33-mediated cholesterol reduction in macrophage-derived foam cells (MFCs) and the mechanism by which IL-33 upregulates IL-10. Serum IL-33 and IL-10 levels in coronary artery disease patients were measured. The effects of IL-33 on intra-MFC cholesterol level, IL-10, ABCA1 and CD36 expression, ERK 1/2, Sp1, STAT3 and STAT4 activation, and IL-10 promoter activity were determined. Core sequences were identified using bioinformatic analysis and sitespecific mutagenesis. The serum IL-33 levels positively correlated with those of IL-10. IL-33 decreased cellular cholesterol level and upregulated IL-10 and ABCA1 but had no effect on CD36 expression. siRNA-IL-10 partially abolished cellular cholesterol reduction and ABCA1 elevation by IL-33 but did not reverse the decreased CD36 levels. IL-33 increased IL-10 mRNA production but had little effect on its stability. IL-33 induced ERK 1/2 phosphorylation and increased the luciferase expression driven by the IL-10 promoter, with the highest extent within the − 2000 to − 1752 bp segment of the 5′-flank of the transcription start site; these effects were counteracted by U0126. IL-33 activated Sp1, STAT3 and STAT4, but only the STAT3 binding site was predicted in the above segment. Site-directed mutagenesis of the predicted STAT3-binding sites (CTGCTTCCTGGCAGCAGAA→CTGCCTGGCAGCAGAA) reduced luciferase activity, and a STAT3 inhibitor blocked the regulatory effects of IL-33 on IL-10 expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) confirmed the STAT3-binding sequences within the − 1997 to − 1700 and − 1091 to − 811 bp locus regions. IL-33 increased IL-10 expression in MFCs via activating ERK 1/2 and STAT3, which subsequently promoted IL-10 transcription and thus contributed to the beneficial effects of IL-33 on MFCs.