Systematic Modulation of Gelation Dynamics of Snakehead (Channa argus) Skin Collagen by Environmental Parameters

Juntao Zhang,Benmei Wei,Lang He,Chengzhi Xu,Dong Xie,Kyung-Wook Paik,Haibo Wang 한국고분자학회 2017 Macromolecular Research Vol.25 No.11

Gel matrices of mammalian collagen are routinely used as bioengineering materials and food thickening agents, for which the modulation of their mechanical properties is a key issue. However, little information is available regarding gel matrices based on fish-sourced collagen, which offer unique advantages for some applications. Here, a rheology assay, which is the most commonly used method for monitoring developing gels, was used to systematically reveal the influence of environmental parameters on the gelation dynamics and rheological properties of pepsin-soluble collagen (PSC) extracted from snakehead (Channa argus) skins. The gelation dynamics and equilibrium elastic moduli of PSC were affected by concentration, temperature, pH, buffer, and ion strength and type. SEM and TEM images of gels at different concentrations and incubation temperatures confirmed that the mechanical properties of PSC gels are directly related to the density, rather than size, of fibrils. Additionally, the relationship between the biological and mechanical properties of these collagen gels was also evaluated. The present study would facilitate a better understanding of the gelation of fish-sourced collagen and enable more precise control of the mechanical properties of these gel matrices.

Spatial analysis of tuberculosis treatment outcomes in Shanghai: implications for tuberculosis control

Zhang Jing,Shen Xin,Yang Chongguang,Chen Yue,Guo Juntao,Wang Decheng,Zhang Jun,Lynn Henry,Hu Yi,Pan Qichao,Zhang Zhijie 한국역학회 2022 Epidemiology and Health Vol.44 No.-

OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes are a key indicator in the assessment of TB control programs. We aimed to identify spatial factors associated with TB treatment outcomes, and to provide additional insights into TB control from a geographical perspective.METHODS: We collected data from the electronic TB surveillance system in Shanghai, China and included pulmonary TB patients registered from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2016. We examined the associations of physical accessibility to hospitals, an autoregression term, and random hospital effects with treatment outcomes in logistic regression models after adjusting for demographic, clinical, and treatment factors.RESULTS: Of the 53,475 pulmonary TB patients, 49,002 (91.6%) had successful treatment outcomes. The success rate increased from 89.3% in 2009 to 94.4% in 2016. The successful treatment outcome rate varied among hospitals from 78.6% to 97.8%, and there were 12 spatial clusters of poor treatment outcomes during the 8-year study period. The best-fit model incorporated spatial factors. Both the random hospital effects and autoregression terms had significant impacts on TB treatment outcomes, ranking 6th and 10th, respectively, in terms of statistical importance among 14 factors. The number of bus stations around the home was the least important variable in the model.CONCLUSIONS: Spatial autocorrelation and hospital effects were associated with TB treatment outcomes in Shanghai. In highly-integrated cities like Shanghai, physical accessibility was not related to treatment outcomes. Governments need to pay more attention to the mobility of patients and different success rates of treatment among hospitals.

Production of Xylooligosaccharides from Corncobs Using Ultrasound-assisted Enzymatic Hydrolysis

Juntao Sun,Zhichao Zhang,Fugang Xiao,Ximei Jin 한국식품과학회 2015 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.24 No.6

Xylooligosaccharides were obtained using ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis from xylan that was alkali extracted from corncobs. Effects of alkali treatments on xylan extraction were investigated. The influence of operational conditions in ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysis on xylooligosaccharide production was also studied. Optimal conditions for xylan extraction were determined to be an alkaline concentration of 15%, a corncobs to alkaline solution ratio of 1:20, a reaction temperature of 100°C, and a reaction time of 2 h. Optimal conditions for xylanase-catalyzed hydrolysis of xylan to xylooligosaccharides were determined to be an enzyme concentration of 4 g/L, an ultrasound power of 200 W, a reaction temperature of 50°C and a reaction time of 10 min. Using a combination of ultrasound and enzyme increased the reducing sugar content by approximately 50%, compared with using of enzymes alone. Ultrasound and enzymes exert a synergistic effect.

Reporting quality of economic evaluations of the negotiated Traditional Chinese Medicines in national reimbursement drug list of China: A systematic review

Yan Juntao,Bao Shiyi,Liu Liu,Zhang Yu-Qing,Ming Jian,Wei Yan,Chen Yingyao 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.1

Background: Traditional Medicine (TM) has a wide uptake in most countries. In China, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a common kind of primary health because of its beneficial effects. This review aimed to appraise the publication reporting quality of economic evaluations for selective TCM in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL), Version 2020, based on the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) statement. Methods: Electronic databases were searched for economic evaluation that supported the TCM negotia- tions in NRDL (2020 version) published from 2001 to 2021, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI, WanFang, and SinoMed. The CHEERS statement was used to appraise the reporting quality of in- cluded TCM economic evaluations. Results: A total of 360 articles were retrieved, but only 38 economic evaluations met the inclusion crite- ria. None of the articles reported all items in the CHEERS checklist. The mean score of included articles is low at 10.93 ±2.62, with an average scoring rate of 51.31 ±10.53%. The least reported items included: “Characterizing heterogeneity,”“Conflicts of interest”, “Discount rate,”and “Study perspective,”with a re- porting rate of 0.00%, 5.26%, 7.89%, and 15.79%, respectively. Conclusion: An upward trend occurred in the quantity and quality of the economic evaluation publica- tions of TCM in China. TCM economic evaluations are still at an early stage, with an urgent need for improving reporting quality. It may result from research experiences or different ideas between TCM and Western Medicine. Adhering to reporting guidelines like CHEERS and educating economic evaluation in- vestigators can improve TCM economic evaluations’ reporting quality.

Physicochemical properties and energy content of yellow dent corn from different climatic origins in growing pigs

Wenxuan Dong,Juntao Li,Zhongchao Li,Shuo Zhang,Xiaozhen Li,Chundi Yang,Ling Liu,Shuai Zhang 아세아·태평양축산학회 2020 Animal Bioscience Vol.33 No.11

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) of yellow dent corn sourced from different meteorological origins fed to growing pigs and develop equations to predict the DE and ME of yellow dent corn from southwestern China. Methods: Sixty crossbred barrows were allotted to 20 treatments in a triplicate 20×2 incomplete Latin square design with 3 replicated pigs per dietary treatment during 2 consecutive periods. Each period lasted for 12 days, and total feces and urine during the last 5 days of each period were collected to calculate the energy contents. Results: On dry matter (DM) basis, the DE and ME in 20 corn grain samples ranged from 15.38 to 16.78 MJ/kg and from 14.93 to 16.16 MJ/kg, respectively. Selected best-fit prediction equations for DE and ME (MJ/kg DM basis) for yellow dent corn (n = 16) sourced from southwestern China were as follows: DE = 28.58–(0.12×% hemicellulose)+(0.35×% ether extract)–(0.83×MJ/kg gross energy)+(0.20×% crude protein)+(0.49×% ash); ME = 30.42–(0.11×% hemicellulose)+(0.31×% ether extract)–(0.81×MJ/kg gross energy). Conclusion: Our results indicated that the chemical compositions, but not the meteorological conditions or physical characteristics could explain the variation of energy contents in yellow dent corn sourced from southwestern China fed to growing pigs.

ON THE PURE IMAGINARY QUATERNIONIC LEAST SQUARES SOLUTIONS OF MATRIX EQUATION

WANG, MINGHUI,ZHANG, JUNTAO The Korean Society for Computational and Applied M 2016 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.34 No.1

In this paper, according to the classical LSQR algorithm forsolving least squares (LS) problem, an iterative method is proposed for finding the minimum-norm pure imaginary solution of the quaternionic least squares (QLS) problem. By means of real representation of quaternion matrix, the QLS's correspongding vector algorithm is rewrited back to the matrix-form algorthm without Kronecker product and long vectors. Finally, numerical examples are reported that show the favorable numerical properties of the method.

Determination of the energy contents and nutrient digestibility of corn, waxy corn and steam-flaked corn fed to growing pigs

Dongli Ma,Juntao Li,Chengfei Huang,Fengjuan Yang,Yi Wu,Ling Liu,Wei Jiang,Zhicheng Jia,Peijun Zhang,Xuezhen Liu,Shuai Zhang 아세아·태평양축산학회 2019 Animal Bioscience Vol.32 No.10

Objective: The research was conducted to determine the digestible (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents as well as the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients in corn, waxy corn and steam-flaked corn fed to growing pigs. Methods: Eighteen growing pigs with initial body weight of 15.42±1.41 kg were randomly allotted to three diets including a corn diet, a waxy corn diet and a steam-flaked corn diet in a completely randomized design. Each treatment contained six replicates. The experiment lasted for 12 days, which comprised 7-d adaptation to diets followed by a 5-d total collection of feces and urine. The energy contents and the nutrient digestibility in three ingredients were calculated using direct method. Results: Compared to normal corn, both the amylose and dietary fiber contents in waxy corn were numerically lower, but the starch gelatinization degree was numerically greater. Moreover, the DE and ME contents as well as the ATTD of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber (ADF) in waxy corn were significantly greater (p<0.05) than those in normal corn when fed to growing pigs. Furthermore, the steam-flaked corn had greater (p<0.05) DE and ME contents, and ATTD of ether extract and ADF compared to normal corn. Conclusion: Both variety and processing procedure have influence on chemical compositions, energy contents and nutrient digestibility of corn. The waxy corn and steam-flaked corn had greater degree of starch gelatinization and DE and ME contents compared to normal corn when fed to growing pigs.

On the pure imaginary quaternionic least squares solutions of matrix equation

Minghui Wang,Juntao Zhang 한국전산응용수학회 2016 Journal of applied mathematics & informatics Vol.34 No.1

In this paper, according to the classical LSQR algorithm for solving least squares (LS) problem, an iterative method is proposed for finding the minimum-norm pure imaginary solution of the quaternionic least squares (QLS) problem. By means of real representation of quaternion matrix, the QLS's correspongding vector algorithm is rewrited back to the matrix-form algorthm without Kronecker product and long vectors. Finally, numerical examples are reported that show the favorable numerical properties of the method.

Simultaneous activation of KHSO5 and BuOOH by iron octacarboxyphthalocyanine loaded on fly ash microspheres to boost pollutant degradation

Dapeng Li,Peng Zhang,Jiangtao Duan,Yaxin Wu,Na Ding,Zhenyu Wan,Longqi Chen,Jingli Xu,Suxiang Ge,Juntao Ma 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.114 No.-

Utilization of fly ash (FA) wastes as the carriers of catalysts for the environmental application is an economicand practical strategy for their low cost, easy accessibility and thermal stability. However, mostcatalysts immobilized on fly ash were metal or metal oxides, some potential catalysts such as metalphthalocyanine complexes have not been reported upon their heterogeneous catalysis with FA as the carriers. In this paper, highly active iron octacarboxyphthalocyanine were immobilized onto the bird nestlikesurfaces of fly ash microspheres after NaOH activation. It is noted that the FeOCPc@FA compositeswith only 2 wt.% exhibited the high catalytic efficiency in the organic dye degradation. The high concentrationof 30 mg/L rhodamine B and methylene blue could be fast decolorized in the presence ofFeOCPc@FA–2 % and KHSO5. Moreover, the ultrafast decolorization of these dyes could be observed inthe catalytic system composed of FeOCPc@FA–2 %, KHSO5 and BuOOH (tert-butyl hydroperoxide). Simultaneous activation of KHSO5 and BuOOH could be realized in our designed catalytic system. Based on the structural characterizations of composites and active species generated during the catalyticprocesses, the probable generation pathway of metal–oxygen active species and various radicals wereanalyzed to explicate the catalytic mechanism. Our investigation provides a high efficiency, low costand environmentally friendly strategy for advanced oxidation treatment of organic pollutants.

Effects of Dietary Coconut Oil as a Medium-chain Fatty Acid Source on Performance, Carcass Composition and Serum Lipids in Male Broilers

Jianhong Wang,Xiaoxiao Wang,Juntao Li,Yiqiang Chen,Wenjun Yang,Liying Zhang 아세아·태평양축산학회 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.2

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary coconut oil as a medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) source on performance, carcass composition and serum lipids in male broilers. A total of 540, one-day-old, male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allotted to 1 of 5 treatments with each treatment being applied to 6 replicates of 18 chicks. The basal diet (i.e., R0) was based on corn and soybean meal and was supplemented with 1.5% soybean oil during the starter phase (d 0 to 21) and 3.0% soybean oil during the grower phase (d 22 to 42). Four experimental diets were formulated by replacing 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% of the soybean oil with coconut oil (i.e., R25, R50, R75, and R100). Soybean oil and coconut oil were used as sources of long-chain fatty acid and MCFA, respectively. The feeding trial showed that dietary coconut oil had no effect on weight gain, feed intake or feed conversion. On d 42, serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were linearly decreased as the coconut oil level increased (p<0.01). Lipoprotein lipase, hepatic lipase, and total lipase activities were linearly increased as the coconut oil level increased (p<0.01). Abdominal fat weight/eviscerated weight (p = 0.05), intermuscular fat width (p<0.01) and subcutaneous fat thickness (p<0.01) showed a significant quadratic relationship, with the lowest value at R75. These results indicated that replacement of 75% of the soybean oil in diets with coconut oil is the optimum level to reduce fat deposition and favorably affect lipid profiles without impairing performance in broilers.