Fabrication of Photopolymer Hierarchical Micronanostructures by Coupling Electrospinning and Photolithography for SERS Substrates

Wen-Yi Zhang,Xin-Ze Xiao,Chao Lv,Jia Zhao,Gong Wang,Xuan Gu,Ran Zhang,Bin-Bin Xu,Dan-Dan Zhang,Ai-Wu Li,Yong-Lai Zhang,Hong-Bo Sun 한국고분자학회 2013 Macromolecular Research Vol.21 No.3

Reported here is the fabrication of photopolymer hierarchical micronanostructures through a combinative process of electrospinning and subsequent photolithography. Electrospun SU-8 (epoxy-based negative photoresist)nanofiber films have been patterned into gratings with periods of 100, 200, 300, and 400 μm, respectively. Deposition of a silver nanolayer on these interlaced nanofiber films would lead to the formation of various plasmonic nanostructures,and therefore, giving rise to abundant surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) “hot spots”. In the detection of Rhodamine 6G (R6G), probing molecule, the resultant SERS substrates show both high sensitivity and good reproducibility. The SERS enhancement factor could reach as high as ~108, indicating high efficiency. The fabrication of patterned, highly efficient SERS substrates may hold a great promise for the integration of SERS substrates in various microdevices such as microfluidic chips.

Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate inhibits L-type Ca2+ channels, Ca2+ transients, and contractility but not hERG K+ channels

Yue Lin,Yuanyuan Zhang,Qiongtao Song,Tao Song,Xue Han,Ying Zhang,Xuan Zhang,Xi Chu,Fenghua Zhang,Li Chu,Jianping Zhang 대한약학회 2017 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.40 No.10

To explore the cardiovascular protective effectsof Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MI), especially theunderlying cellular mechanisms related to L-type calciumchannels and myocardial contractility, and to examine theeffects of MI on hERG K? current expressed in HEK293cells. We used the whole-cell patch clamp technique,video-based edge detection and dual excitation fluorescencephotomultiplier systems to explore the effect of MIon L-type Ca2? currents (ICa-L) and cell contraction in ratcardiomyocytes. We also examined the rapidly activatingdelayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) expressed inHEK293 cells using a perforated patch clamp. MI inhibitedICa-L in a dose-dependent manner, with a half-maximalinhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.22 mg/ml, and themaximal inhibitory effect was 61.10 ± 0.59%. MI at aconcentration of 0.3 mg/ml reduced cell shortening by24.12 ± 3.97% and the peak value of the Ca2? transient by36.54 ± 4.96%. MI had no significant influence on hERGK? channels expressed in HEK293 cells at all testpotentials. MI exerts protective effects on the heart via theinhibition of ICa-L and cell shortening in rat cardiomyocytes. However, MI had no significant influence on IKr;thus, MI may exert cardioprotective effects without causingdrug-induced long QT syndrome.

Virtual negatively resistive output impedance for power sharing among paralleled inverters in microgrid

Xuan Zhang,Jinjun Liu,Ting Liu 전력전자학회 2011 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2011 No.5

In this paper, a new control method for paralleled inverters in microgrid is presented. The strategy of power sharing among inverters in microgrid can be divided into control with and without communication. When there is no communication among inverters, droop control is used to share power. But droop control is effective only when the transmission line is approximately pure inductive. Microgrid is in the distribution network in power system, so the resistive component in transmission line is very high. Under this condition, there is severe coupling in droop control and power sharing mechanism is invalid. In this paper, by making use of virtual impedance, the equivalent output impedance of inverter becomes negatively resistive, while its amplitude equals to the value of resistive component in transmission line, so the resistive component in transmission line will be neutralized. So the circuit can be viewed as inverter supplying power through pure inductive transmission line. Therefore, the coupling in droop control can be removed and power sharing mechanism is effective. The analysis of the proposed method and design procedure are provided. Simulation results validate the proposed control strategy.

SPON2 Promotes M1-like Macrophage Recruitment and Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Metastasis by Distinct Integrin–Rho GTPase–Hippo Pathways

Zhang, Yan-Li,Li, Qing,Yang, Xiao-Mei,Fang, Fang,Li, Jun,Wang, Ya-Hui,Yang, Qin,Zhu, Lei,Nie, Hui-Zhen,Zhang, Xue-Li,Feng, Ming-Xuan,Jiang, Shu-Heng,Tian, Guang-Ang,Hu, Li-Peng,Lee, Ho-Young,Lee, Su-J American Association for Cancer Research 2018 Cancer research Vol.78 No.9

<P>Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P>Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) represent key regulators of the complex interplay between cancer and the immune microenvironment. Matricellular protein SPON2 is essential for recruiting lymphocytes and initiating immune responses. Recent studies have shown that SPON2 has complicated roles in cell migration and tumor progression. Here we report that, in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), SPON2 not only promotes infiltration of M1-like macrophages but also inhibits tumor metastasis. SPON2-α4β1 integrin signaling activated RhoA and Rac1, increased F-actin reorganization, and promoted M1-like macrophage recruitment. F-Actin accumulation also activated the Hippo pathway by suppressing LATS1 phosphorylation, promoting YAP nuclear translocation, and initiating downstream gene expression. However, SPON2-α5β1 integrin signaling inactivated RhoA and prevented F-actin assembly, thereby inhibiting HCC cell migration; the Hippo pathway was not noticeably involved in SPON2-mediated HCC cell migration. In HCC patients, SPON2 levels correlated positively with prognosis. Overall, our findings provide evidence that SPON2 is a critical factor in mediating the immune response against tumor cell growth and migration in HCC.</P><P><B>Significance:</B> Matricellular protein SPON2 acts as an HCC suppressor and utilizes distinct signaling events to perform dual functions in HCC microenvironment.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract:</B> http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/78/9/2305/F1.large.jpg. <I>Cancer Res; 78(9); 2305–17. ©2018 AACR</I>.</P><P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P><P> [Figure]</P>

Study on the Influence of Distribution Lines to Parallel Inverter Systems Adopting the Droop Control Method

Zhang, Xuan,Liu, Jinjun,You, Zhiyuan,Liu, Ting The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2013 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.13 No.4

This paper takes into account the influence of the different impedances of distribution lines on power distribution among inverters when the inverters are paralleled with the droop control method. The impact of distribution lines on the power distribution of inverters can be divided into two aspects. Firstly, since the distributed generators are in low voltage grids, there is resistive impedance in the distribution lines, which will cause control coupling and reduce system stability. The virtual negative resistive impedance of inverters is adopted in this paper to neutralize the resistive element of distribution lines and thus make the distribution line impedance purely inductive. Secondly, after solving the resistive impedance problem, the difference in the inductive impedance value of distribution lines due to the low density of distributed generators will cause an unequal share of reactive power. With regards to this problem, modification is put forward for the droop control strategy to share the reactive power equally. The feasibility of the design is validated by simulation and experimental results.

The treatment effect of novel hGHRH homodimer to male infertility hamster

Zhang, Xu-Dong,Guo, Xiao-Yuan,Tang, Jing-Xuan,Yue, Lin-Na,Zhang, Juan-Hui,Liu, Tao,Dong, Yu-Xia,Tang, Song-Shan The Korean Society of Pharmacology 2018 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.22 No.6

Extra-hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) plays an important role in reproduction. To study the treatment effect of Grin (a novel hGHRH homodimer), the infertility models of 85 male Chinese hamsters were established by intraperitoneally injecting 20 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide once in a week for 5 weeks and the treatment with Grin or human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) as positive control was evaluated by performing a 3-week mating experiment. 2-8 mg/kg of Grin and 200 U/kg of hMG showed similar effect and different pathological characteristics. Compared to the single cyclophosphamide group (0%), the pregnancy rates (H-, M-, L-Grin 26.7, 30.8, 31.3%, and hMG 31.3%) showed significant difference, but there was no difference between the hMG and Grin groups. The single cyclophosphamide group presented loose tubules with pathologic vacuoles and significant TUNEL positive cells. Grin induced less weight of body or testis, compactly aligned tubules with little intra-lumens, whereas hMG caused more weight of body or testis, enlarging tubules with annular clearance. Grin presented a dose-dependent manner or cell differentiation-dependentincrease in testicular GHRH receptor, and did not impact the levels of blood and testicular GH, testosterone. Grin promotes fertility by proliferating and differentiating primitive cells through up-regulating testicular GHRH receptor without triggering GH secretion, which might solve the etiology of oligoasthenozoospermia.

Physiological Races of Phytophthora infestans in Korea

Xuan-Zhe Zhang,Byung-Sup Kim 한국식물병리학회 2007 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.23 No.3

A total of the 261 Phytophthora infestans isolates collected from 2003 to 2005 in Korea were investigated for their physiological race composition. Among the isolates, we detected 18 physiological races and the dominant races were R0.1.3.5.6.10.11 and R0.1.3.5.6.7. 10.11 with frequencies of 18.4% and 11.4%, respectively. All of the P. infestans races carried multiple virulence genes and showed virulence to the potato resistance genes R1, R3, R5, R6, R7, R10 and R11, but not to R8 and R9. Therefore, it is likely that the physiological races of P. infestans were diverse in Korea.

Physiological Races of Phytophthora infestans in Korea

Zhang, Xuan-Zhe,Kim, Byung-Sup The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2007 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.23 No.3

A total of the 261 Phytophthora infestans isolates collected from 2003 to 2005 in Korea were investigated for their physiological race composition. Among the isolates, we detected 18 physiological races and the dominant races were R0.1.3.5.6.10.11 and R0.1.3.5.6.7.10.11 with frequencies of 18.4% and 11.4%, respectively. All of the P. infestans races carried multiple virulence genes and showed virulence to the potato resistance genes R1, R3, R5, R6, R7, R10 and R11, but not to R8 and R9. Therefore, it is likely that the physiological races of P. infestans were diverse in Korea.

Comorbidity Relationship to Outcome of Radical Cystectomy in Chinese: a Single Institution Study with the ACE-27 Comorbidity Index

Xuan, Zhu,Zhong, Zhao-Hui,Zhang, Xuan-Zhi,Zhang, Lei,Zhao, Xiao-Kun,Lv, Chen,Xu, Ran,Ren, Wei-Gang,Li, Song-Chao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

To determine the relationship between comorbidity and outcome after radical cystectomy in Chinese patients by using the Adult Comorbidity Evaluation (ACE)-27 index. Two-hundred-and-forty-six patients treated with radical cystectomy at the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Hunan Province, China between 2000 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Medical records were reviewed for age, gender, delayed time of radical cystectomy, urinary diversion type, pelvic lymphadenectomy status, TNM stage, and pathological grade. Comorbidity information was assessed by the ACE-27 index. The outcome measurement was overall survival. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to determine the association between comorbidity and outcome. The study population consisted of 215 (87.40%) males and 31 (12.60%) females with a mean age of $62{\pm}11$ years. Median duration of follow-up was $47{\pm}31$ months. A total of 151 (61.38%) patents died during follow-up. Of those, 118 (47.97%) had at least one comorbidity. According to the ACE-27 scores, 128 (52.03%) patients had no comorbidity, 79 (32.11%) had mild, 33 (13.41%) had moderate, and 6 (2.45%) had severe comorbidities. Multivariate analysis indicated that moderate (p=0.002) and severe (p<0.001) comorbidity was significantly associated with decreased overall survival. In addition, age ${\geq}70$ years (p=0.002), delayed time of radical cystectomy >12 weeks (p=0.044), pelvic lymphadenectomy status (p=0.014), and TNM stage >T3 (p<0.001) were determined to be independent risk factors of overall survival. Increasing severity of comorbidity statistically correlated with decreased overall survival after radical cystectomy.

The influence of synergistic effects of hexakis (4-nitrophenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene and POE-g-MA on anti-dripping and flame retardancy of PET

Xuan Zhang,ZhiPing Mao,Qian Wu,LinPing Zhang 한국공업화학회 2013 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.19 No.3

In this report, hexakis (4-nitrophenoxy) cyclotriphosphazene (HNCP) and ethylene–octene copolymer grafted-maleic anhydride (POE-g-MA) were blended with pure PET together. The fire retardant ability and thermal stability of PET/HNCP/POE-g-MA were investigated respectively. The results indicated that HNCP and POE-g-MA had a synergic effect on the dripping resistance of PET besides the enhancement in flame retardancy to a certain degree. LOI values of the polymers with both POE-g-MA and 10 wt%HNCP were higher than that of pure PET and no drips just containing 1 wt%POE-g-MA. The reason was that HNCP could be well dispersed in PET when POE-g-MA was added, forming a more effective char layer and preventing dripping of polymers. Indeed, the morphology of charred residue of PET/HNCP/POE-g-MA showed that a porous protective layer with a dense surface was formed. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed that addition of HNCP improved the thermal stability and the yield of char residue of the PET/POE-g-MA systems. Based on a series of experiment results, the synergistic effect of HNCP and POE-g-MA on the anti-dripping of PET was also discussed. In the PET/HNCP/POE-g-MA system, POE-g-MA played a role of compatibilizer. The improved compatibility and dispersion provided the composite with the ideal flame retardancy, thermal stability and anti-dripping property.