Electronic Structure and Half-metallicity of the Heusler Alloy Co2ZrGe

Songtao Li,Yang Liu,Zhi Ren,Xiaohong Zhang,Guodong Liu 한국물리학회 2014 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.65 No.7

The site preference, the electronic structure and the magnetic properties of Co2ZrGe have beenstudied by using first-principles calculations, and the stabilities of the Cu2MnAl-type and theHg2CuTi-type structures have been tested in this respect. The Cu2MnAltype structure is morefavorable than the Hg2CuTitype structure for the Co2ZrGe compound, and the equilibrium latticeparameter of the Cu2MnAltype Co2ZrGe alloy is 6.06 °A. The Co2ZrGe alloy is found to have anenergy gap in the minority spin direction at the Fermi level (EF ) and the majority spin band showsstrongly metallic characteristic. As a result, the Co2ZrGe alloy is predicted to be a half-metalwith 100% spin polarization of the conduction electrons at the EF . The calculated total magneticmoment is 2.00μB per unit cell, which is in line with the Slater-Pauling curve of Mt = Zt −24. TheCo atom-projected spin moment is 1.02μB, which mainly determines the total moment. Simultaneously,the Zr and the Ge atom moments are −0.08μB and 0.04μB, respectively. The Co2ZrGe alloymay be a promising material for application in future spintronics devices.

Comparative transcriptomic and physiological analyses of contrasting hybrid cultivars ND476 and ZX978 identify important differentially expressed genes and pathways regulating drought stress tolerance in maize

Guo Liu,Tinashe Zenda,Songtao Liu,Xuan Wang,Hongyu Jin,Anyi Dong,Yatong Yang,Huijun Duan 한국유전학회 2020 Genes & Genomics Vol.42 No.8

Background Drought is the major abiotic stress factor that negatively influences growth and yield in cereal grain crops such as maize (Zea mays L.). A multitude of genes and pathways tightly modulate plant growth, development and responses to environmental stresses including drought. Therefore, crop breeding efforts for enhanced drought resistance require improved knowledge of plant drought responses. Objective Here, we sought to elucidate the molecular and physiological mechanisms underpinning maize drought stress tolerance. Methods We therefore applied a 12-day water-deficit stress treatment to maize plants of two contrasting (drought tolerant ND476 and drought sensitive ZX978) hybrid cultivars at the late vegetative (V12) growth stage and performed a large-scale RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) transcriptome analysis of the leaf tissues. Results A comparative analysis of the two genotypes leaf transcriptomes and physiological parameters revealed the key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and metabolic pathways that respond to drought in a genotype-specific manner. A total of 3114 DEGs were identified, with 21 DEGs being specifically expressed in tolerant genotype ND476 in response to drought stress. Of these, genes involved in secondary metabolites biosynthesis, transcription factor regulation, detoxification and stress defense were highly expressed in ND476. Physiological analysis results substantiated our RNA-seq data, with ND476 exhibiting better cell water retention, higher soluble protein content and guaiacol peroxidase activity, along with low lipid peroxidation extent than the sensitive cultivar ZX978 under drought conditions. Conclusion Our findings enrich the maize genetic resources and enhance our further understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating drought stress tolerance in maize. Additionally, the DEGs screened in this study may provide a foundational basis for our future targeted cloning studies.

Viscoelastic Fatigue Damage Properties of Asphalt Mixture with Different Aging Degrees

Songtao Lv,Chaochao Liu,Jianlong Zheng,Zhanping You,Lingyun You 대한토목학회 2018 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.22 No.6

In order to reveal the effects of aging on fatigue damage evolution pattern of asphalt mixture, and to reveal the fatigue damagepatterns of asphalt pavement during its service life more accurately, the viscoelastic fatigue damage model for the aged asphaltmixtures was proposed based on the Burgers viscoelastic model. The dissipation energy was taken as the damage variable, and thedirect tension fatigue tests for asphalt mixture in five different aging degrees were conducted. The viscoelastic parameters of the agedasphalt mixtures were obtained.The calculationmethod of the cumulative fatigue damage was proposed, which considers the agingeffects. Moreover, the critical fatigue damage degree and fatigue life calculation equations were derived by employing the fatiguedamage model, which were calculated and compared. The calculation errors range from 3% to 18%, which was within an acceptableerror range of 30%. The research results show that the aging has a prominent impact on fatigue properties of asphalt mixtures, whichcould be illustrated by the change of the parameters of the viscoelastic fatigue damage model for the aged asphalt mixtures. Theprediction precision of fatigue life is acceptable for using the proposed viscoelastic fatigue damage model.

Development of ML-based Ultra-Sensitive Ceramic Sensor for Stress Visualization

Tao. Cai,Songtao Guo,Di Peng,Xiaofeng Zhao,Weizhe Wang,Yingzheng Liu,Kyung Chun Kim,Ping Xiao 한국가시화정보학회 2019 한국가시화정보학회 학술발표대회 논문집 Vol.2019 No.12

Analysis of sulphur and chlorine induced DNA cytosine methylation alterations in fresh corn (Zea mays L. saccharata and rugosa) leaf tissues by methylation sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) approach

Tinashe Zenda,Songtao Liu,Daxuan Yao,Huijun Duan 한국유전학회 2018 Genes & Genomics Vol.40 No.9

DNA (cytosine) methylation mechanism is another way through which plants respond to various cues including soil fertility amendments and abiotic stresses, and the mechanism has been used to infer some physiological, biochemical or adaptation processes. Despite numerous studies on global DNA methylation profiling in various crop species, however, researches on fresh corn (Zea mays L. saccharata or rugosa) remain largely unreported. The study aimed at investigating sulphur and chlorine induced DNA methylation changes in the fresh corn leaves of field-grown plants at the milk stage. Methylation sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) technique was used to profile sulphur (S) and chlorine (Cl) induced DNA methylation patterns, levels and polymorphism alterations at the CCGG sites in fresh corn leaves of TDN21, JKN2000 and JKN928 hybrid cultivars. Twelve primer pairs used effectively detected 325 MSAP bands, exhibiting differentially methylated sites in the genomic DNA of all the three cultivars, with control showing higher (48.9–56.3%) type I bands as compared to sulphur (34.8–44.9%) and chlorine (40.9–47.4%) treatment samples. Consequently, total methylation levels were greater in S and Cl treatment samples than control; accounting for 43.7–59.7, 51.1–65.2 and 46.8–55.1% of total sites in TDN21, JKN2000 and JKN928, respectively. Full methylation of the internal cytosine was greater than hemi-methylation. Further, demethylation polymorphic loci significantly exceeded methylation polymorphic loci, being greater in S than Cl and control samples in all cultivars. Sulphur and chlorine have a profound influence on DNA methylation patterns and levels at the milk stage, principally by increasing the demethylation loci in the internal cytosine of the fresh corn genome. We speculate that these methylation alterations play an integral role in photosynthates assimilation and physiochemical pathways regulating quality parameters in kernels, as well as abiotic stress responses in fresh corn.

Low serum total testosterone level as a predictor of upgrading in low-risk prostate cancer patients after radical prostatectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Shu Gan,Jian Liu,Zhiqiang Chen,Songtao Xiang,Chiming Gu,Siyi Li,Shusheng Wang 대한비뇨의학회 2022 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.63 No.4

Purpose: To investigated the association between serum total testosterone and Gleason score upgrading of low-risk prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy (RP). Materials and Methods: Medline, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify eligible studies published before October 2021. Multivariate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random or fixed effects models. Results: Five studies comprising 1,203 low-risk prostate cancer patients were included. The results showed that low serum total testosterone (<300 ng/dL) is associated with a high rate of Gleason score upgrading after RP (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.38–3.83; p<0.001; I2, 92.2%). Notably, sensitivity and meta-regression analyses further strengthen the reliability of our results. Conclusions: Our results support the idea that low serum total testosterone is associated with a high rate of Gleason score upgrading in prostate cancer patients after RP. It is beneficial for urologist to ensure close monitoring of prostate-specific antigen levels and imaging examination when choosing non-RP treatment for low-risk prostate cancer patients.

Catalytic performance of CuCl2-modified V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst for Hg0 oxidation in simulated flue gas

Chuanmin Chen,Wenbo Jia,Songtao Liu,Yue Cao,Bing Zhao,Jianqiao Wang 한국화학공학회 2018 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.35 No.3

CuCl2-SCR catalysts prepared by an improved impregnation method were studied to evaluate the catalytic performance for gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) oxidation in simulated flue gas. Hg0 oxidation activity of commercial SCR catalyst was significantly improved by the introduction of CuCl2. Nitrogen adsorption, XRD, XRF and XPS were used to characterize the catalysts. The results indicated that CuCl2 was well loaded and highly dispersed on the catalyst surface, and that CuCl2 played an important role for Hg0 catalytic oxidation. The effects of individual flue gas components on Hg0 oxidation were also investigated over CuCl2-SCR catalyst at 350 oC. The co-presence of NO and NH3 remarkably inhibited Hg0 oxidation, while this inhibiting effect was gradually scavenged with the decrease of GHSV. Further study revealed the possibility of simultaneous removal of Hg0 and NO over CuCl2-SCR catalyst in simulated flue gas. The mechanism of Hg0 oxidation was also investigated.

AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF BANK TOE SCOURING IN BANK-PROTECTION WORKS

CHUNTlAN ZHOU,RENJIAN SHAO,MINMIN LIU,SONGTAO HU 한국수자원학회 2005 한국수자원학회 학술대회 Vol.2005 No.1

EFFECT OF REACTION TIME ON MICROSTRUCTURE, DIELECTRIC PROPERTY AND MICROWAVE ABSORPTION PROPERTY OF Cu-DOPED SiC NANOPOWDER

XIAOLEI SU,YONGSHENG TAN,YAN JIA,KAILI ZHAO,SONGTAO LIU,XINHAI HE,CHONG FU 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2014 NANO Vol.9 No.2

Cu-doped SiC nanopowders have been prepared via combustion synthesis of the silicon andcarbon system in a 0.1 MPa nitrogen atmosphere under di®erent reaction time, using copper asthe dopant and PTFE as the chemical activator, respectively. X-ray di®raction, scanning elec-tronic microscope and Raman spectra have been used to characterize the phase and morphologyof prepared nanopowders. Results indicate that the lattice constant of prepared Cu-doped SiCnanopowder decreases with extending reaction time. The prepared nanopowders have ¯nespherical particles and narrow particle size distribution and the particle size increases withincreasing reaction time. The electric permittivities of prepared Cu-doped SiC nanopowders inthe frequency range of 8.2 – 12.4 GHz have been determined. The real part " 0, imaginary part " 00and dielectric loss tg ? of complex permittivity decrease with increasing reaction time. All pre-pared Cu-doped SiC nanopowder exhibits good microwave absorption property in the frequencyrange of 8.2 – 12.4 GHz.

The roles of interleukin-17A in risk stratification and prognosis of patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury

Heng Jin,Wei Wei,Yibo Zhao,Ai Ma,Keke Sun,Xiaoxi Lin,Qihui Liu,Songtao Shou,Yan Zhang 대한신장학회 2023 Kidney Research and Clinical Practice Vol.42 No.6

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of interleukin (IL)-17A in risk stratification and prognosis of patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SAKI). Methods: We enrolled 146 sepsis patients (84 non-SAKI and 62 SAKI patients) admitted to the emergency department from November 2020 to November 2021. Patients with SAKI were differentiated based on the severity of acute kidney injury. All clinical parameters were evaluated upon admission before administering antibiotic treatment. Inflammatory cytokines were assessed using flow cytometry and the Pylon 3D automated immunoassay system (ET Healthcare). In addition, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to determine the prognostic values of IL-17A in SAKI. Results: The levels of creatinine, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-17A, tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin (PCT) were significantly higher in the SAKI group than in the non-SAKI group (p < 0.05). The level of IL-17A revealed significant differences among stages 1, 2, and 3 in SAKI patients (p < 0.05). The mean levels of PCT, IL-4, and IL-17A were significantly higher in the non-survival group than in the survival group in SAKI patients (p < 0.05). In addition, the area under the ROC curve of IL-17A was 0.811. Moreover, the IL-17A cutoff for differentiating survivors from non-survivors was 4.7 pg/mL, of which the sensitivity and specificity were 77.4% and 71.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Elevated levels of IL-17A could predict that SAKI patients are significantly prone to worsening kidney injury with higher mortality. The usefulness of IL-17A in treating SAKI requires further research.