piRNA-1742 promotes renal cell carcinoma malignancy by regulating USP8 stability through binding to hnRNPU and thereby inhibiting MUC12 ubiquitination

Zhang Wentao,Zheng Zongtai,Wang Keyi,Mao Weipu,Li Xue,Wang Guangchun,Zhang Yuanyuan,Huang Jianhua,Zhang Ning,Wu Pengfei,Liu Ji,Zhang Haimin,Che Jianping,Peng Bo,Zheng Junhua,Li Wei,Yao Xudong 생화학분자생물학회 2023 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.55 No.-

Accumulating studies have confirmed that PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are considered epigenetic effectors in cancer. We performed piRNA microarray expression analysis on renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tumor tissues and paired normal tissues and performed a series of in vivo and in vitro experiments to explore piRNAs associated with RCC progression and investigate their functional mechanisms. We found that piR-1742 was highly expressed in RCC tumors and that patients with high piR-1742 expression had a poor prognosis. Inhibition of piR-1742 significantly reduced tumor growth in RCC xenograft and organoid models. Mechanistically, piRNA-1742 regulates the stability of USP8 mRNA by binding directly to hnRNPU, which acts as a deubiquitinating enzyme that inhibits the ubiquitination of MUC12 and promotes the development of malignant RCC. Subsequently, nanotherapeutic systems loaded with piRNA-1742 inhibitors were found to effectively inhibit the metastasis and growth of RCC in vivo. Therefore, this study highlights the functional importance of piRNA-related ubiquitination in RCC and demonstrates the development of a related nanotherapeutic system, possibly contributing to the development of therapeutic approaches for RCC.

Application of Computer-Aided Approaches to the PUMC Classification of Scoliosis

Junhua Zhang,Hongjian Li,Yufeng Zhang 대한의용생체공학회 2017 Biomedical Engineering Letters (BMEL) Vol.7 No.3

Surgical planning for scoliosis relies on theclassification of the spinal curve pattern. To improve thereliability of the Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)classification system for scoliotic spinal curves, a computer-aided system is proposed and its reliability is evaluated. First, the reliability of curve measurements wasimproved by the computer-aided Cobb measurementapproach. Second, judgmental errors were reduced by thecomputer program through the automation of the PUMCclassification procedure. Four observers divided into anexpert group and a resident group participated in theexperiments. The kappa statistic was used to evaluate thevariability. Classifications of 65 scoliotic cases by the fourobservers showed that with the computer’s aid, the averageintraobserver and interobserver kappa values wereimproved from 0.86 to 0.93 and from 0.75 to 0.86,respectively. The results indicate that the proposed computerizedsystem can assist a surgeon in the PUMC classificationof scoliosis and is especially useful forinexperienced surgeons.

Welding Performance of Low-Yield-Strength Steel Shear Panel Dampers Under Large Plastic Deformation

Chaofeng Zhang,Shixi Chen,Junhua Zhao,Xuchuan Lin,Lingxin Zhang,Jiajia Zhu,Weili Wang 한국강구조학회 2021 International Journal of Steel Structures Vol.21 No.6

Characterized by large plastic deformation and energy-dissipation capacity, low-yield-strength steel shear panel dampers (LYSPDs) are widely used as energy-dissipating members in seismic engineering. However, the eff ect of welding on the properties of LYSPDs remains unclear. Hence, in this study, we investigated the matching performance between low-yieldstrength steel (LYS) and two diff erent welding materials. Subsequently, the quality of welding between LYS and dissimilar metals was investigated. Furthermore, the fracture characteristics of the welding seam of LYS under large plastic deformation were explored. Finally, the welding performance of LYSPDs under large plastic deformation was verifi ed under cyclic loading. The results of this study are signifi cant in terms of the eff ect of welding on the properties of LYSPDs.

Quantum optical emulation of molecular vibronic spectroscopy using a trapped-ion device

Shen, Yangchao,Lu, Yao,Zhang, Kuan,Zhang, Junhua,Zhang, Shuaining,Huh, Joonsuk,Kim, Kihwan Royal Society of Chemistry 2018 Chemical Science Vol.9 No.4

<▼1><P>Here, we present the first quantum device that generates a molecular spectroscopic signal with the phonons in a trapped ion system, using SO<SUB>2</SUB> as an example.</P></▼1><▼2><P>Molecules are one of the most demanding quantum systems to be simulated by quantum computers due to their complexity and the emergent role of quantum nature. The recent theoretical proposal of Huh <I>et al.</I> (Nature Photon., 9, 615 (2015)) showed that a multi-photon network with a Gaussian input state can simulate a molecular spectroscopic process. Here, we present the first quantum device that generates a molecular spectroscopic signal with the phonons in a trapped ion system, using SO<SUB>2</SUB> as an example. In order to perform reliable Gaussian sampling, we develop the essential experimental technology with phonons, which includes the phase-coherent manipulation of displacement, squeezing, and rotation operations with multiple modes in a single realization. The required quantum optical operations are implemented through Raman laser beams. The molecular spectroscopic signal is reconstructed from the collective projection measurements for the two-phonon-mode. Our experimental demonstration will pave the way to large-scale molecular quantum simulations, which are classically intractable, but would be easily verifiable by real molecular spectroscopy.</P></▼2>

A Novel Recombined Potato virus Y Isolate in China

Han, Shuxin,Gao, Yanling,Fan, Guoquan,Zhang, Wei,Qiu, Cailing,Zhang, Shu,Bai, Yanju,Zhang, Junhua,Spetz, Carl The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2017 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.33 No.4

This study reports the findings of a distinct Potato virus Y (PVY) isolate found in Northeast China. One hundred and ten samples (leaves and tubers) were collected from potato plants showing mosaic symptoms around the city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province of China. The collected tubers were planted and let to grow in a greenhouse. New potato plants generated from these tubers showed similar symptoms, except for one plant. Subsequent serological analyses revealed PVY as the causing agent of the disease. A novel PVY isolate (referred to as HLJ-C-44 in this study) was isolated from this sample showing unique mild mosaic and crisped leaf margin symptoms. The complete genome of this isolate was analyzed and determined. The results showed that HLJ-C-44 is a typical PVY isolate. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this isolate belongs to the N-Wi strain group of PVY recombinants ($PVY^{N-Wi}$) and also shared the highest overall sequence identity (nucleotide and amino acid) with other members of this strain group. However, recombination analysis of isolate HLJ-C-44 revealed a recombination pattern that differed from that of other $PVY^{N-Wi}$ isolates. Moreover, biological assays in four different potato cultivars and in Nicotiana tabacum also revealed a different phenotypic response than that of a typical $PVY^{N-Wi}$ isolate. This data, combined, suggest that HLJ-C-44 is a novel PVY recombinant with distinct biological properties.

A Novel Recombined Potato virus Y Isolate in China

Shuxin Han,Yanling Gao,Guoquan Fan,Wei Zhang,Cailing Qiu,Shu Zhang,Yanju Bai,Junhua Zhang,Carl Spetz 한국식물병리학회 2017 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.33 No.4

This study reports the findings of a distinct Potato virus Y (PVY) isolate found in Northeast China. One hundred and ten samples (leaves and tubers) were collected from potato plants showing mosaic symptoms around the city of Harbin in Heilongjiang province of China. The collected tubers were planted and let to grow in a greenhouse. New potato plants generated from these tubers showed similar symptoms, except for one plant. Subsequent serological analyses revealed PVY as the causing agent of the disease. A novel PVY isolate (referred to as HLJ-C-44 in this study) was isolated from this sample showing unique mild mosaic and crisped leaf margin symptoms. The complete genome of this isolate was analyzed and determined. The results showed that HLJ-C-44 is a typical PVY isolate. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that this isolate belongs to the N-Wi strain group of PVY recombinants (PVYN-Wi) and also shared the highest overall sequence identity (nucleotide and amino acid) with other members of this strain group. However, recombination analysis of isolate HLJ-C-44 revealed a recombination pattern that differed from that of other PVYN-Wi isolates. Moreover, biological assays in four different potato cultivars and in Nicotiana tabacum also revealed a different phenotypic response than that of a typical PVYN-Wi isolate. This data, combined, suggest that HLJ-C-44 is a novel PVY recombinant with distinct biological properties.

Facial Feature Extraction Based on Weighted ALW and Pulse-Coupled Neural Network

Junhua Liang,Zhisheng Zhao,Xiao Zhang,Xuan Wang,Yang Liu 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Signal Processing, Image Vol.9 No.8

In order to improve the robustness of face identification with the changes of illumina-tion, expression and facial alteration, a new facial feature extraction algorithm based on weighted adaptive lifting wavelet(ALW) scheme and pulse-coupled neural network (PCNN) is involved in this paper. The face images are decomposed into several subbands by weighted adaptive lifting scheme. Then the PCNN is utilized to decompose each weighted subbands into a series of binary images, the entropies of which are calculated and regarded as facial features. Experimental results show that the method yields a good robustness against the illumination, expression and facial variability and reduces the computer burden.

A Novel Electrochemical Method for Sensitive Detection of Melamine in Infant Formula and Milk using Ascorbic Acid as Recognition Element

Junhua Li,Daizhi Kuang,Yonglan Feng,Fuxing Zhang,Zhifeng Xu,Mengqin Liu 대한화학회 2012 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.33 No.8

A novel and convenient electrochemical method has been developed for sensitive determination of melamine (MEL) using ascorbic acid (AA) as the recognition element. The working electrode employed in this method was modified with the nanocomposite of hydroxyapatite/carbon nanotubes to enhance the current signal of recognition element. The interaction between MEL and AA was investigated by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry, and the experimental results indicated that hydrogen bonding was formed between MEL and AA. Because of the existing hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction, the anodic peak current of AA was decreased obviously while the non-electroactive MEL added in. It illustrated that the MEL acted as an inhibitor to the oxidation of AA and the decreasing signals can be used to detect MEL. Under the optimal conditions, the decrease in anodic peak current of AA was proportional to the MEL concentrations ranging from 10 to 350 nM, with a detection limit of 1.5 nM. Finally this newly-proposed method was successfully employed to detect MEL in infant formula and milk, and good recovery was achieved.

Mechanical Behaviors on T-shaped Hook-connected Structure Made of 2.5D Woven Composites and TC4 Alloy

Hongjian Zhang,Junhua Guo,Weidong Wen,Haitao Cui 한국섬유공학회 2020 Fibers and polymers Vol.21 No.2

This work designed a T-shaped hook-connected structure composed of a bottom plate made of 2.5D woven composites and a T-shaped plate made of TC4 alloy. In order to explore to its bending and tensile properties, the corresponding experiments were designed and performed. Then, based on the progressive damage model and an improved Hashin’s failure criteria, numeral calculations were conducted in ANSYS to study its bending and tensile damage propagations. Compared with experimental results, the maximum error is less than 20 %, and the damage modes are similar, which proves the rationality of numerical calculation. In addition, both the experimental and simulation results show that the fatal damage both occurs at the constrained plate of the bottom plate whether in bending or tensile processes. Specifically, the fatal failure occurs at the installed edges in bending process or at the sides of groove-middle to groove-edge in tensile process. This work provides a design reference for typical T-shaped hook-connected composite structure, especially the connector of blade and casing, which appear in engineering and has good engineering application value.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Combined With Electroacupuncture Treatment Regulate the Subpopulation of Macrophages and Astrocytes to Facilitate Axonal Regeneration in Transected Spinal Cord

Rongyi Zhang,Junhua Wang,Qingwen Deng,Xingru Xiao,Xiang Zeng,Biqin Lai,Ge Li,Yuanhuan Ma,Jingwen Ruan,한인보,Yuan-Shan Zeng,Ying Ding 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.4

Objective: Herein, we investigated whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation combined with electroacupuncture (EA) treatment could decrease the proportion of proinflammatory microglia/macrophages and neurotoxic A1 reactive astrocytes and inhibit glial scar formation to enhance axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Adult rats were divided into 5 groups after complete transection of the spinal cord at the T10 level: a control group, a nonacupoint EA (NA-EA) group, an EA group, an MSC group, and an MSCs+EA group. Immunofluorescence labeling, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blots were performed. Results: The results showed that MSCs+EA treatment reduced the proportion of proinflammatory M1 subtype microglia/macrophages, but increased the differentiation of anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype cells, thereby suppressing the mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and IL-1β) and increasing the expression of an anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin [IL]-10) on days 7 and 14 after SCI. The changes in expression correlated with the attenuated neurotoxic A1 reactive astrocytes and glial scar, which in turn facilitated the axonal regeneration of the injured spinal cord. In vitro, the proinflammatory cytokines increased the level of proliferation of astrocytes and increased the expression levels of C3, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan. These effects were blocked by administering inhibitors of ErbB1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (AG1478 and AG490) and IL-10. Conclusion: These findings showed that MSCs+EA treatment synergistically regulated the microglia/macrophage subpopulation to reduce inflammation, the formation of neurotoxic A1 astrocytes, and glial scars. This was achieved by downregulating the ErbB1-STAT3 signal pathway, thereby providing a favorable microenvironment conducive to axonal regeneration after SCI.