Distinct evolution of toll‑like receptor signaling pathway genes in cetaceans

Ran Tian,Inge Seim,Zepeng Zhang,Ying Yang,Wenhua Ren,Shixia Xu,Guang Yang 한국유전학회 2019 Genes & Genomics Vol.41 No.12

Background The relatively rapid spread and diversity of marine pathogens posed an initial and ongoing challenge for cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), descendants of terrestrial mammals that transitioned from land to sea approximately 56 million years ago. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play important roles in regulating immunity against pathogen infections by detecting specific molecular patterns and activating a wide range of downstream signaling pathways. The ever-increasing catalogue of mammalian genomes offers unprecedented opportunities to reveal genetic changes associated with evolutionary and ecological processes. Objective This study aimed to explore the molecular evolution of TLR signaling pathway genes in cetaceans. Methods Genes involved in the TLR signaling pathway were retrieved by BLAST searches using human coding sequences as queries. We tested each gene for positive selection along the cetacean branches using PAML and Hyphy. Physicochemical property changes of amino acids at all positively selected residues were assessed by TreeSAAP and visualized with WebLogo. Bovine and dolphin TLR4 was assessed using human embryonic kidney cell line HEK293, which lacks TLR4 and its co-receptor MD-2. Results We demonstrate that eight TLR signaling pathway genes are under positive selection in cetaceans. These include key genes in the response to Gram-negative bacteria: TLR4, CD14, and LY96 (MD-2). Moreover, 41 out of 65 positively selected sites were inferred to harbor substitution that dramatically changes the physicochemical properties of amino acids, with most of them situated in or adjacent to functional regions. We also found strong evidence that positive selection occurred in the lineage of the Yangtze finless porpoise, likely reflecting relatively recent adaptions to a freshwater milieu. Species-specific differences in TLR4 response were observed between cetacean and terrestrial species. Cetacean TLR4 was significantly less responsive to lipopolysaccharides from a terrestrial E. coli strain, possibly a reflection of the arms race of host–pathogen co-evolution faced by cetaceans in an aquatic environment. Conclusion This study provides further impetus for studies on the evolution and function of the cetacean immune system.

Association Between Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Preimplantation Screening and the Response to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Ran Jing,Han Jin,Wei Hua,Shengwen Yang,Yiran Hu,Shu Zhang 대한심장학회 2020 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.50 No.12

Background and Objectives: Preimplantation QRS-T morphology screening (TMS) is a composite tool for selecting subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) candidates. However, its role in predicting the patient's response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is uncertain. Methods: A total of 55 consecutive de novo CRT candidates were enrolled between January 2016 and March 2017. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and TMS were performed before and soon after implantation. The ECG parameters were recorded, including QRS duration and morphology (such as ΔQRS_Index, QTc during biventricular pacing mode [BiV pacing QTc], and QRS/T ratio during biventricular pacing mode [BiV pacing QRS/T ratio]). TMS monitored three sensory vectors of the S-ICD. Six months after implantation, the responses to CRT were evaluated. Results: Thirty-nine patients (70.9%) passed the TMS during biventricular pacing mode. At the six-month follow-up, the number of responders and super-responders was significantly higher in the passing group than in the non-passing group (responders: 31/39 [79.5%] vs. 5/16 [31.3%], p<0.001; super-responders: 9/39 [23.1%] vs. 1/16 [6.3%], p=0.020). The super-response rate was higher among patients who passed all three vectors than among those who passed 1 or 2 vectors (3 vs. 2 vectors, p=0.018; 3 vs. 1 vector, p=0.003). A smaller left atrial diameter, vectors that passed TMS during biventricular pacing mode, and larger ΔQRS_Index values were independently associated with good CRT response. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that patients on CRT who pass the TMS during biventricular pacing mode are more likely to respond and super-respond to CRT.

Poly(vinylidene fluoride)/Plasma-Treated BaTiO3 Nanocomposites with Enhanced Electroactive Phase

Ran Ding,Lei Gong,Ming-ming Li,Shu-hua Chen,Shi-ping Zhan,Xu-dong Sun,Cheng Zhang,Tao Shao 한국고분자학회 2018 Macromolecular Research Vol.26 No.11

Functional C=O and C-O groups are successfully fixated onto the surface of a high dielectric constant material barium titanate (BaTiO3) via non-thermal plasma. The strong dipole interaction exists between these functional groups and CH2 or CF2 groups of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), resulting in the enhancement of the electroactive γ-phase of PVDF/BaTiO3 nanocomposites on one hand; on the other hand the dispersion of BaTiO3 is enhanced in the PVDF matrix, where the smaller spherulite size and better hydrophilic property are observed in the PVDF/plasmatreated BaTiO3 nanocomposite, comparing with the untreated ones. Therefore, the PVDF/plasma-treated BaTiO3 nanoparticles exhibited higher dielectric constant and lower dielectric loss than the PVDF/BaTiO3 nanoparticles.

A Novel Authenticated Group Key Distribution Scheme

( Run-hua Shi ),( Hong Zhong ),( Shun Zhang ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2016 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.10 No.2

In this paper, we present a novel authenticated group key distribution scheme for large and dynamic multicast groups without employing traditional symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic operations. The security of our scheme is mainly based on the basic theories for solving linear equations. In our scheme, a large group is divided into many subgroups, where each subgroup is managed by a subgroup key manager (SGKM) and a group key generation center (GKGC) further manages all SGKMs. The group key is generated by the GKGC and then propagated to all group members through the SGKMs, such that only authorized group members can recover the group key but unauthorized users cannot. In addition, all authorized group members can verify the authenticity of group keys by a public one-way function. The analysis results show that our scheme is secure and efficient, and especially it is very appropriate for secure multicast communications in large and dynamic client-server networks.

A New Adamantane-like Tetranuclear Manganese(III) Complex Based on Flexible Schiff-base Ligand: Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Magnetic Property

Ran Zhang,Zhong-Hai Ni,Li-Fang Zhang,Hui-Zhong Kou 대한화학회 2014 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.35 No.7

A new tetranuclear Mn(III) complex [MnIII 4(sae)4(μ3-O)(μ1,1-N3)(OH)(H2O)2]·H2O (1) (H2sae = 2-salicylideneamino- 1-ethanol) has been synthesized by the reaction of MnCl2·4H2O, H2sae and sodium azide in the mixed solvent of methanol, acetonitrile and water. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows that the four Mn(III) ions in complex 1 have a unique adamantine arrangement, whereas the coordination environment of each Mn(III) ions is different. Magnetic studies indicate that complex 1 manifests antiferromagnetic behaviors. The magnetic susceptibilities of complex 1 have been fitted by two magnetic models based on the suitable analysis of its magnetic structural topology.

Predictive Current Control of a PMSM Three-Level Dual-Vector Model Based on Self-Anti-Disturbance Techniques

Zhang Xiao,Tao Ran,Xu Xiaoming,Wang Tingjie,Zhang Hui 대한전기학회 2022 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.17 No.6

Finite control set-model predictive control (FCS-MPC) has become a hotspot for power electronics applications and research in recent years due to its conceptual simplicity, ease of handling system constraints and excellent multivariable control capability. However, the traditional FCS-MPC vector selection direction is more fi xed and the steady-state performance of the system is poor, while the speed outer loop uses PI control and the speed regulation eff ect is easily infl uenced by the motor parameters and cannot solve the problem of fast and overshoot free at the same time. To address these problems, a threelevel two-vector model predictive current control method for permanent magnet synchronous motors is proposed based on a self-anti-disturbance technique. For the speed outer loop, a fi rst-order linear active disturbance rejection control is used instead of the traditional PI control, which solves the problem of overshooting and speed incompatibility and improves the robustness of the system; for the current inner loop, the idea of dual-vector model prediction is introduced to expand the selection range of the voltage vector, making the selection of the voltage vector more accurate, while a vector partitioning strategy is used to reduce the computational burden. The control system is modelled and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink. Simulation and test results show that the method has good parameter robustness, fast dynamic response and satisfactory steady-state performance.

POSITIVE SOLUTIONS TO p-KIRCHHOFF-TYPE ELLIPTIC EQUATION WITH GENERAL SUBCRITICAL GROWTH

Zhang, Huixing,Zhang, Ran Korean Mathematical Society 2017 대한수학회보 Vol.54 No.3

In this paper, we study the existence of positive solutions to the p-Kirchhoff elliptic equation involving general subcritical growth $(a+{\lambda}{\int_{\mathbb{R}^N}{\mid}{\nabla}u{\mid}^pdx+{\lambda}b{\int_{\mathbb{R}^N}{\mid}u{\mid}^pdx)(-{\Delta}_pu+b{\mid}u{\mid}^{p-2}u)=h(u)$, in ${\mathbb{R}}^N$, where a, b > 0, ${\lambda}$ is a parameter and the nonlinearity h(s) satisfies the weaker conditions than the ones in our known literature. We also consider the asymptotics of solutions with respect to the parameter ${\lambda}$.

Meromorphic solutions of a complex difference equation of Malmquist type

Ran-Ran Zhang,Zhibo Huang 대한수학회 2014 대한수학회보 Vol.51 No.6

In this paper, we investigate the finite order transcendental meromorphic solutions of complex difference equation of Malmquist type n ∏ i=1 f(z + ci) = R(z, f), where c1, . . ., cn ∈ C\ {0}, and R(z, f) is an irreducible rational function in f(z) with meromorphic coefficients. We obtain some results on defi- ciencies of the solutions. Using these results, we prove that the growth order of the finite order solution f(z) is 1, if f(z) has Borel exceptional values a(∈ C) and 1. Moreover, we give the forms of f(z).

An Efficient Dynamic Group Signature with Non-frameability

( Run Xie ),( Chunxiang Xu ),( Chanlian He ),( Xiaojun Zhang ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2016 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.10 No.5

A group signature scheme allows any member to sign on behalf of a group. It is applied to practical distributed security communication environments, such as privacy-preserving, data mining. In particular, the excellent features of group signatures, including membership joining and revocation, anonymity, traceability, non-frameability and controllable linkability, make group signature scheme more attractive. Among these features, non-frameability can guarantee that a member`s signature cannot be forged by any other (including issuer), and controllable linkability supports to confirm whether or not two group signatures are created by the same signer while preserving anonymity. Until now, only Hwang et al.`s group schemes (proposed in 2013 and 2015) can support all of these features. In this paper, we present a new dynamic group signature scheme which can achieve all of the above excellent features. Compared with their schemes, our scheme has the following advantages. Firstly, our scheme achieves more efficient membership revocation, signing and verifying. The cost of update key in our scheme is two-thirds of them. Secondly, the tracing algorithm is simpler, since the signer can be determined without the judging step. Furthermore, in our scheme, the size of group public key and member`s private key are shorter. Lastly, we also prove security features of our scheme, such as anonymity, traceability, non-frameability, under a random oracle model.

Mixtures of Tea and Citrus maxima (pomelo) Alleviate Lipid Deposition in HepG2 Cells Through the AMPK/ACC Signaling Pathway

Ran An,Shuai Wen,Dong-Li Li,Qiu-Hua Li,Xing-Fei Lai,Wen-Ji Zhang,Ruo-Hong Chen,Jun-Xi Cao,Zhi-Gang Li,Qiu-Sheng Huang,Ling-Li Sun,Shi-Li Sun 한국식품영양과학회 2020 Journal of medicinal food Vol.23 No.9

Tea and citrus maxima are natural, medicinal homologous plants, typically used for making beverages, which have anticancer, antiobesity, and antioxidation properties. Green tea, yellow tea, and black tea were combined with citrus maxima to obtain green tea and Citrus maxima (GTCM), yellow tea and Citrus maxima (YTCM), and black tea and Citrus maxima (BTCM). The biochemical components of these mixtures were analyzed, and their possible effects and mechanisms on relieving liver lipid deposition were explored. The tea polyphenols, free amino acids, phenolamine ratio, and caffeine were comparable in YTCM and GTCM, being significantly higher than those in BTCM. In addition, the content of esterified catechins, nonesterified catechins, and total catechins in YTCM was significantly higher than those in GTCM and BTCM. All three mixtures of Citrus maxima tea significantly reduced lipid deposition in HepG2 cells, with GTCM and YTCM being slightly more effective than BTCM. Regarding the possible mechanism, Western blot analysis revealed that the three Citrus maxima tea mixtures could activate the AMPK/ACC signaling pathway, upregulate the expression of p-AMPK, p-ACC, and CPT-1 proteins, and downregulate the expression of SREBP1c and fatty acid synthase proteins to inhibit fat synthesis, thereby relieving lipid deposition in liver cells. In conclusion, as a novel and healthy beverage, Citrus maxima tea has the potential to alleviate liver lipid deposition, and further could be responsible for obesity treatment.