Seismic Performance of a Full-Scale Precast Concrete L-Shaped Column Frame Structure with a Grouted Connection

Wei-Bin Ni,De-Hao Qiao,Hong-Wei Sun,Xu Zhang,Zhong-Wen Zhang,Shao-Jie Wang 대한토목학회 2022 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.26 No.2

Precast concrete frame structure with nonrectangular columns are becoming attractive to researchers and engineers owing to advantages such as avoiding column protrusion from walls and saving space. This paper presents the experimental investigation of a full-scale precast concrete frame structure with L-shaped columns (PCFS) subjected to reverse cyclic loading. The precast connection adopted grouted anchor connection. As a comparison and benchmark, one full-scale monolithic sample (RCFS) was also tested. The results indicates that the greater steel ratio in the grouted anchor connection region leads to a high local stiffness of the elements, which contributed to delaying occurrence of the first crack at the grouting holes. The failure mode, lateral load capacity, stiffness degradation, load-carrying capacity degradation, energy-dissipating capacity, ductility and interlayer residual deformation were compared between two specimens. PCFS specimen exhibited comparatively better hysteretic behavior, energy-dissipating capacity, residual deformation-resisting capacity and ductility. For RCFS and PCFS specimens, the peak load difference was within 7%. About 15% increases in ductility were observed for PCFS specimen compared with RCFS specimen. The test results would provide reference for the application of the precast concrete structure with nonrectangular columns in the new residential buildings.

irrE, an Exogenous Gene from Deinococcus radiodurans, Improves the Growth of and Ethanol Production by a Zymomonas mobilis Strain Under Ethanol and Acid Stresses

( Ying Zhang ),( Rui Qiang Ma ),( Zhong Lin Zhao ),( Zheng Fu Zhou ),( Wei Lu ),( Wei Zhang ),( Ming Chen ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2010 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.20 No.7

Association between hearing loss and physical performance in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Fan Weifeng,Zhong Xiaojing,Wu Qing,Zhang Lihong,Yang Zhenhao,Gu Yong,Guo Qi,Chen Xiaoyu,Yu Chen,Zhang Kun,Ding Wei,Qi Hualin,Zhao Junli,Zhang Liming,Zhang Suhua,Niu Jianying 대한신장학회 2024 Kidney Research and Clinical Practice Vol.43 No.3

Background: The correlation between hearing loss (HL) and physical performance in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) remains poorly investigated. This study explored the association between HL and physical performance in patients on MHD. Methods: This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2020 and April 2021 in seven hemodialysis centers in Shanghai and Suzhou, China. The hearing assessment was performed using pure-tone average (PTA). Physical performance was assessed using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), handgrip strength, and gait speed. Results: Finally, 838 adult patients (male, 516 [61.6%]; 61.2 ± 2.6 years) were enrolled. Among them, 423 (50.5%) had mild to profound HL (male, 48.6% and female, 53.4%). Patients with HL had poorer physical performance than patients without HL (p < 0.001). TUGT was positively correlated with PTA (r = 0.265, p < 0.001), while handgrip strength and gait speed were negatively correlated with PTA (r = –0.356, p < 0.001 and r = –0.342, p < 0.001, respectively). Physical performance in patients aged <60 years showed significant dose-response relationships with HL. After adjusting for confounders, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for HL across the TUGT quartiles (lowest to highest) were 1.00 (reference), 1.15 (0.73–1.81), 1.69 (1.07–2.70), and 2.87 (1.69–4.88) (p for trend = 0.005). Conclusion: Lower prevalence of HL was associated with a faster TUGT and a stronger handgrip strength in patients on MHD.

Clinical Features and Survival Analysis of Very Young (Age<35) Breast Cancer Patients

Wei, Xue-Qing,Li, Xing,Xin, Xiao-Jie,Tong, Zhong-Sheng,Zhang, Sheng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Objectives: To compare the clinicalpathological features and prognosis between premenopausal breast cancer patients aged of <35 and ${\geq}35$ years old. Methods: The clinical data and survival status of 1498 cases premenopausal operable breast cancer treated in our hospital from 2002.1 to 2004. 12 were collected, 118 cases were aged <35. They were divided into 4 groups: Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-positive, Triple-negative. The disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified. Results: The 5-year DFS and OS rates were significantly lower in age<35 than in $age{\geq}35$ patients. In the Luminal B, HER2-positive, Triple-negative group, the 5-year recurrence risk was higher in age<35 than in $age{\geq}35$ patients, and age<35 patients' 5-year death risk was higher only in Luminal B, Triple-negative group. Regardless of whether lymph node involved, age<35 patients had a bad prognosis in both DFS and OS. Conclusions: Compared with premenopausal age ${\geq}35$ breast cancer, age<35 patients had a worse outcome.

C1420T Polymorphism of Cytosolic Serine Hydroxymethyltransferase and Risk of Cancer: a Meta-analysis

Zhong, Shan-Liang,Zhang, Jun,Hu, Qing,Chen, Wei-Xian,Ma, Teng-Fei,Zhao, Jian-Hua Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.5

A series of studies have explored the role of cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1) C1420T polymorphism in cancer risk, but their results were conflicting rather than conclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the association between C1420T and cancer risk, the present meta-analysis of 28 available studies with 15,121 cases and 18,023 controls was conducted. The results revealed that there was no significant association between the polymorphism and cancer risk overall. In stratified analysis by cancer type (breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, and others), the results showed that 1420T allele was associated with decreased risk in leukemia (CT vs. CC: OR= 0.825, 95% CI =0.704-0.966; and CT+TT vs. CC: OR= 0.838, 95% CI = 0.722-0.973), but the same results were not present for other cancer types. When subgroup analysis was performed by source of control (population-based [PB] and hospital-based [HB]), a borderline inverse association was observed for the HB subgroup (CT vs. CC: OR= 0.917, 95% CI = 0.857-0.982) but not for the PB subgroup. Stratifying by geographic area (America, Asia and Europe), significant inverse association was only found in Asia subgroup (CT vs. CC: OR= 0.674, 95% CI = 0.522-0.870). In summary, the findings suggest that SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism is not associated with overall cancer development, but might decrease cancer susceptibility of Asians as well as reduce leukemia risk. Large well-designed epidemiological studies will be necessary to validate the risk identified in the current meta-analysis.

Lack of Influence of an XRCC3 Gene Polymorphism on Oral Cancer Susceptibility: Meta-analysis

Zhang, En-Jiao,Cui, Zhi-Gang,Xu, Zhong-Fei,Duan, Wei-Yi,Huang, Shao-Hui,Tan, Xue-Xin,Yin, Zhi-Hua,Sun, Chang-Fu,Lu, Li Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.23

Background: To systematically summarize the association between the X-ray repair cross complementing 3 (XRCC3) gene polymorphism and oral cancer susceptibility by meta-analysis. Materials and Methods: Databases including PubMed, EMbase, CNKI, VIP and WanFang Data were searched to identify case-control studies concerning the association between an XRCC3 gene polymorphism and the risk of oral cancer from the inception to June 2014. Two reviewers independently screened the literature according to the criteria, extracted the data and assessed the quality. Then meta-analysis was performed using Stata 11.0 software. Results: Seven published case-control studies including 775 patients with oral cancer and 1922 controls were selected. Associations between the rs861539 polymorphism and overall oral cancer risk were not statistically significant in all kinds of comparison models (CT vs CC: OR=0.94, 95%CI=0.74-1.18; TT vs CC: OR=0.94, 95%CI=0.64-1.38; dominant model: OR=0.95, 95%CI=0.76-1.18; recessive model: OR=0.94, 95%CI=0.69-1.29; allele T vs C: OR=0.97, 95%CI=0.84-1.11). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, no significant associations were found among Asians and Caucasians. On stratification by tumor type, no significant associations were found for cancer and oral premalignant lesions. Conclusions: The XRCC3 gene polymorphism was not found to be associated with the risk of oral cancer. Considering the limited quality of the included case-control studies, more high quality studies with large sample size are needed to verify the above conclusion.

Synergistic Anticancer Activity of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy in Combination with Low-dose Cisplatin on Hela Cells

Wei, Xiao-Qiang,Ma, Hui-Qing,Liu, Ai-Hong,Zhang, You-Zhong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.5

Objective: Photodynamic therapy (PDT ) is a promising modality for the treatment of various tumors. In order to assist in optimizing treatment, we applied 5-ALA/PDT in combination with low-dose cisplatin to evaluate cytotoxicity in Hela cells. Methods: Antiproliferative effects of 5-ALA/PDT and cisplatin, alone and in combination, were assessed using MTT assay. To examine levels of apoptosis, Hela cells treated with 5-ALA/PDT, and combination treatment were assessed with Annexin-V/PI by flow cytometry. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying alterations in cell proliferation and apoptosis, Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the expression of p53, p21, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins. Results: MTT assays indicated that combination treatment obviously decreased the viability of Hela cells compared to individual drug treatment. In addition, it was confirmed that exposure of Hela cells to 5-ALA/PDT in combination with low-dose cisplatin resulted in more apoptosis in vitro. Synergistic anticancer activity was related to upregulation p53 expression and alteration in expression of p21, Bcl-2 and Bax. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that administration of 5-ALA/PDT in combination with the low-dose cisplatin may be an effective and feasible therapy for cervical cancer.

Ki-67 Can Predict the Response to the Gemcitabine, Oxaliplatin And L-asparaginase Regimen (GELOX) and Prognosis in Patients with Nasal Natural Killer/T-cell Lymphoma

Zhang, Jing,Jiang, Wei,Wang, Wei-Da,Liu, Cheng-Cheng,Hu, Yan-Ping,Xia, Zhong-Jun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.11

GELOX (gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and L-asparaginase) regimen showed an impressive result in our previous study, but the effect of this new regimen is still dissatisfying for some patients, so it is necessary to identify which patients will benefit from this regimen. A total of fifty-one cases with nasal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma receiving initial GELOX chemotherapy were enrolled in this study. The ki-67 expression detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in the specimens ranged from 10% to 90%, with a median value of 70%, so cases higher than the median value (${\geq}70%$) were defined as high ki-67 expression, and the others were designated as low ki-67 expression. The response rate had no statistical difference between low ki-67 expression group and high ki-67 expression group (P=0.291) though the value in the former group was relatively high. After a median follow-up of 18.03 months, the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with low ki-67 expression was significantly higher than those with high ki-67 expression (83.8% vs. 47.9%, P=0.038). In the stage I/II subgroup, 3-year PFS and overall survival (OS) were statistically higher in the patients with low ki-67 expression than those with high ki-67 expression. Multivariate analysis revealed high ki-67 expression was an independent prognostic factor for PFS. These results suggest that low ki-67 expression can predict a good response of GELOX in these patients, and the combination of ki-67 expression and early stage is helpful to identify an excellent prognosis subgroup from patients receiving GELOX in this disease.

Transport of Runaway Electrons in Sawtooth Active Plasmas in the HT-7 Tokamak

Zhong Yong Chen,Wei Jin,Yang Zhang 한국물리학회 2012 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.61 No.7

The magnetic fluctuation level is an important parameter in lower hybrid current-drive (LHCD) plasmas because LHCD has been used to improve plasma performance extensively in the HT-7 tokamak. We investigate the transport of runaway electrons in LHCD plasmas with strong sawteeth in the HT-7 tokamak. A delay time was found to exist between the peak of the soft X-ray sawteeth and the peak of the hard X-ray flux. Based on the delay time, we obtained the transport coefficient of the runaway electrons and the averaged magnetic fluctuation level in sawtooth activity of the plasmas. We found that the diffusion coefficient of the runaway electrons was on the order of <i>D_r</i> ∼ 1 m²s⁻¹ and that the magnetic fluctuation level was on the order of <i>˜b</i> ∼ 10⁻⁶.

EMI Noise Source Reduction of Single-Ended Isolated Converters Using Secondary Resonance Technique

Zhang-yong Chen,Yong Chen,Qiang Chen,Wei Jiang,Rongqiang Zhong 전력전자학회 2019 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.19 No.2

Aiming at the problems of large dv/dt and di/dt in traditional single-ended converters and high electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise levels, a single-ended isolated converter using the secondary resonance technique is proposed in this paper. In the proposed converter, the voltage stress of the main power switch can be reduced and the voltage across the output diode is clamped to the output voltage when compared to the conventional flyback converter. In addition, the peak current stress through the main power switch can be decreased and zero current switching (ZCS) of the output diode can be achieved through the resonance technique. Moreover, the EMI noise coupling path and an equivalent model of the proposed converter topology are presented through the operational principle of the proposed converter. Analysis results indicate that the common mode (CM) EMI noise and the differential mode (DM) EMI noise of such a converter are deduced since the frequency spectra of the equivalent controlled voltage sources and controlled current source are decreased when compared with the traditional flyback converter. Furthermore, appropriate parameter selection of the resonant circuit network can increase the equivalent impedance in the EMI coupling path in the low frequency range, which further reduces the common mode interference. Finally, a simulation model and a 60W experimental prototype of the proposed converter are built and tested. Experimental results verify the theoretical analysis.