Long Non-Coding RNA RMRP Contributes to Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Xia Zhang,Zhongwei Huang,Yan Wang,Ting Wang,Jingjing Li,Peipei Xi 연세대학교의과대학 2021 Yonsei medical journal Vol.62 No.3

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the role of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) RNA component of mitochondrial RNAase P (RMRP) in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). Materials and Methods: Venous blood was collected from septic patients and healthy people. C57BL/6 mice who underwent cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) were used as in vivo models of septic AKI. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HK-2 cells were employed as in vitro models of AKI. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to detect cell apoptosis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot assays were used to detect levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Results: RMRP was upregulated in sera from patients with AKI and in LPS-induced cells. Knockdown of RMRP inhibited cell apoptosis and reduced production of inflammatory factors in LPS-induced cells, as well as alleviated AKI in CLP mice. RMRP facilitated inflammation by activating NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome. We found that microRNA 206 (miR-206) binds with and is negatively regulated by RMRP: miR-206 directly targets the 3’ untranslated region of DEAD-box helicase 5 (DDX5) and negatively regulates DDX5 expression. By binding with miR-206, RMRP upregulated DDX5 expression. Rescue assays revealed that overexpression of DDX5 counteracted the effect of RMRP inhibition on cell apoptosis and inflammatory response in LPS-induced cells. Conclusion: The lncRNA RMRP contributes to sepsis-induced AKI through upregulation of DDX5 in a miR-206 dependent manner and through activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. This novel discovery may provide a potential strategy for treating AKI.

Cooperative Control of Multiple Dynamic Positioning Vessels with Input Saturation Based on Finite-time Disturbance Observer

Guoqing Xia,Chuang Sun,Bo Zhao,Jingjing Xue 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2019 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.17 No.2

This paper presents a new cooperative control strategy for dynamic positioning of multiple surface vesselssubject to unknown time-varying environmental disturbances and input saturation. The vessels are assumedinterconnected through a directed topology rather than bidirectional. Two control objectives are considered in thispaper. The first one is to make these vessels track desired positions and headings, and the other control objective isto hold the desired formation. For these purposes, we propose a cooperative control which consists of finite-timedisturbance observer, auxiliary dynamic system and dynamic surface control technique. A nonlinear finite-timeobserver is developed to estimate unknown time-varying disturbance. To tackle the input saturation problem, anauxiliary dynamic system is constructed. It is also proved that all signals in the closed-loop control system convergeto a small neighborhood of equilibrium state via Lyapunov analysis. Simulation results are given to validate theeffectiveness of the proposed control strategy.

Fabrication of CeO2@MnO2 Core–Shell Nanospheres and Their Application in CO Oxidation

Ling Liu,Jingjing Shi,Hong-Xia Cao,Ruiyu Wang 성균관대학교(자연과학캠퍼스) 성균나노과학기술원 2017 NANO Vol.12 No.3

Rational design and fabrication of heterogeneous core–shell nanostructures is of great significance because their two-phase interface could render hybrid junctions with rich redox reactions, which are beneficial for improving catalytic performance. Herein, hierarchical CeO2 yolk-shell nanospheres@MnO2 nanosheets core–shell nanostructures were fabricated by a multistep wet chemical synthetic strategy. The resulting CeO2@MnO2 core–shell nanospheres exhibited high catalytic activity toward CO oxidation in comparison with pure CeO2 and MnO2 structures and their physical and chemical mixture. The enhanced catalytic performance should be attributed to the formation of core–shell structure and the possible synergistic effects between the two components of MnO2 and CeO2, which facilitates materials with promoted redox properties and enhanced oxidation activity. In addition, this synthetic method is expected to extend to fabricate other multi-composite core–shell structures for a broad range of technical applications.

Long-term Survivals, Toxicities and the Role of Chemotherapy in Early-Stage Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients Treated with Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy: A Retrospective Study with 15-year Follow-up

Lin Wang,Jingjing Miao,Huageng Huang,Boyu Chen,Xiao Xiao,Manyi Zhu,Yingshan Liang,Weiwei Xiao,Shaomin Huang,Yinglin Peng,Xiaowu Deng,Xing Lv,Weixiong Xia,Yanqun Xiang,Xiang Guo,Fei Han,Chong Zhao 대한암학회 2022 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.54 No.1

Purpose This study was aimed to investigate long-term survivals and toxicities of early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in endemic area, evaluating the role of chemotherapy in stage II patients. Materials and Methods Totally 187 patients with newly diagnosed NPC and restaged American Joint Committee on Cancer/ International Union Against Cancer 8th T1-2N0-1M0 were retrospectively recruited. All received intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)±chemotherapy (CT) from 2001 to 2010. Results With 15.7-year median follow-up, 10-year locoregional recurrence-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and overall survival (OS) were 93.3%, 93.5%, 92.9% and 88.2%, respectively. Multivariable analyses showed cervical lymph nodes positive and pre-treatment prognostic nutritional index ≥ 52.0 could independently predict DMFS (p=0.036 and p=0.011), DSS (p=0.014 and p=0.026), and OS (p=0.002 and p < 0.001); Charlson comorbidity index < 3 points could predict DSS (p=0.011); age > 45 years (p=0.002) and pre-treatment lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 240 U/L (p < 0.001) predicted OS. No grade 4 late toxicity happened; grade 3 late toxicities included subcutaneous fibrosis (4.3%), deafness or otitis (4.8%), skin dystrophy (2.1%), and xerostomia (1.1%). No differences on survivals were shown between IMRT+CT vs. IMRT alone in stage II patients, even in T2N1M0 (p > 0.05). Unsurprising, patients in IMRT+CT had more acute gastrointestinal reaction, myelosuppression, mucositis, late ear toxicity, and cranial nerve injury (all p < 0.05) than IMRT alone group. Conclusion Superior tumor control and satisfying long-term outcomes could be achieved with IMRT in early-stage NPC with mild late toxicities. As CT would bring more toxicities, it should be carefully performed to stage II patients.

DESIGN STRATEGIES IN A TRANSITIONAL ECONOMY: THE CASE OF CHINESE UNDERWEAR ENTERPRISE AIMER GROUP, LTD.

Hong Yu,Ping Zhao,Jingjing Xia 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2014 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2014 No.8

Introduction Over the past 30 years, Chinese textile and clothing manufacturers have successfully established themselves as leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for world markets. This reputable position requires dedicated cost management; however, incremental increases in labor, land prices, rent, and production costs in China threaten and may eventually eliminate their OEM advantage (Yam, Lo, Sun, & Tang, 2003). The worldwide economic and business recession has intensified cost cutting measures as the essential survival tool for maintaining competitiveness. Since the mid-1990s, many Chinese companies have begun to recognize the importance of developing their own global brands and moving up the value-creation ladder (Fan, 2006). One such company is Aimer Group, Ltd., a vertically integrated premium underwear manufacturer. Initially founded in 1993 as an OEM, Aimer quickly transitioned to establish its own brands in domestic markets and, in recent years, has ventured into international markets. Currently, Aimer and its umbrella product lines are among the most recognized underwear brands in China with a manufacturing capacity of 10 million pieces. Their merchandise includes an array of women’s, men’s, teen girl’s and children’s lines as well as custom-made lingerie. According to the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Aimer Group has maintained the highest market share and the largest sales volume in the underwear sector for several years in China’s markets (Aimer, 2011). Objectives The purpose of the study was to investigate the design strategies implemented by Aimer to support their successful branding efforts. Specifically, the researchers seek to find: (a) the core elements in Aimer’s design strategies; (b) Aimer designers’ approach to product development; and (c) How design strategies support Aimer’s overall branding and marketing strategies. Findings will provide valuable implications for other Chinese apparel manufacturers who strive to integrate design innovation in order to remain competitive. Research Method A case study method was implemented which included: on-site visits to Aimer Group’s headquarters, manufacturing facility, and retail stores in Beijing; in-depth interviews with Aimer Groups’ Chairman, senior management, Chief Design Officer, designers, retail store managers, and the general manger of the Beijing manufacturing facility; and a review of the company website and other internal documents, as well as an extensive external search of relevant news reports, social media contents, industry information, and academic literature. A qualitative data analysis method was utilized. Findings Aimer brands have grown and matured along with the Chinese consumers. Until the late 1990s, consumers passively accepted whatever the industry provided for them. Today, 15 years later, consumers have become keenly aware of what they want in underwear and that desire drives the industry’s new product development. Aimer’s design strategies are consumer-centric but also a reflection of its internal strategic direction. Its core elements include the following: (1) Understanding consumer lifestyles: Extensive fashion industry trend analysis, consumer research, and market/sale feedback are just starting points for product development at Aimer. In addition, they use broader consumer lifestyle analysis, including an examination of new technology trends, consumer preferences for jewelry, cosmetics, car and cell phone designs, popular video/computer games, consumers’ financial management behaviors, and societal hot topics as a way of guiding product design. (2) Innovation: Innovation is of paramount importance in Aimer’s product development. They have maintained active partnerships with international suppliers and Research & Development teams to ensure the latest fiber discoveries, fabric developments, and pattern engineering technology are incorporated into new product design. (3) Tradition preserved and reinvented: Aimer brands keep certain essential elements integral to their overall style, reinventing and integrating heritage elements into new designs. By doing so, brand history is enriched and continuity sustained. Aspers (2010) suggests that product development must embrace contextual knowledge: the designer’s general knowledge of fashion and their lifeworld. Each domain is used to interpret fashion. A designer’s lifeworld comprises their inherent values and beliefs, presenting challenges when creating products for consumers who live in different lifeworld. Aimer’s solutions to the challenge include the following: (1) Designers as entrepreneurs: Designers are trained to be entrepreneurs who must think of design not only from creative aspects but also within a business context. The company has established effective protocols for new product design and adoption procedures and standards; meanwhile, designers are provided with weekly sales records as market feedback to guide their future design directions. They are also given opportunities on a regular basis to travel to various international and domestic markets to gain first-hand experience and knowledge of fashion trends and consumers. (2) Teamwork: Designers from various regions of China and internationally are grouped in teams and assigned to work together on brands. This provides ample opportunity for them to interact and learn from each other so that their lifeworld is expanded. Branding literature suggests that consumer’s individual and shared brand experiences affect a consumer-brand relationship (Chang, Long, Chieng, & Hua, 2006) which is of critical importance to brand loyalty. Aimer’s design strategies support its branding and marketing strategies by: (a) contributing to consumers’ positive, consistent, and multi-dimensional brand knowledge as a part of the brand-leveraging process (Keller, 2003); (b) providing value-added product and service features to enhance brand-augme

DESIGN STRATEGIES IN A TRANSITIONAL ECONOMY: THE CASE OF CHINESE UNDERWEAR ENTERPRISE AIMER GROUP, LTD.

Hong Yu,Ping Zhao,Jingjing Xia 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2014 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2014 No.7

Introduction Over the past 30 years, Chinese textile and clothing manufacturers have successfully established themselves as leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for world markets. This reputable position requires dedicated cost management; however, incremental increases in labor, land prices, rent, and production costs in China threaten and may eventually eliminate their OEM advantage (Yam, Lo, Sun, & Tang, 2003). The worldwide economic and business recession has intensified cost cutting measures as the essential survival tool for maintaining competitiveness. Since the mid-1990s, many Chinese companies have begun to recognize the importance of developing their own global brands and moving up the value-creation ladder (Fan, 2006). One such company is Aimer Group, Ltd., a vertically integrated premium underwear manufacturer. Initially founded in 1993 as an OEM, Aimer quickly transitioned to establish its own brands in domestic markets and, in recent years, has ventured into international markets. Currently, Aimer and its umbrella product lines are among the most recognized underwear brands in China with a manufacturing capacity of 10 million pieces. Their merchandise includes an array of women’s, men’s, teen girl’s and children’s lines as well as custom-made lingerie. According to the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Aimer Group has maintained the highest market share and the largest sales volume in the underwear sector for several years in China’s markets (Aimer, 2011). Objectives The purpose of the study was to investigate the design strategies implemented by Aimer to support their successful branding efforts. Specifically, the researchers seek to find: (a) the core elements in Aimer’s design strategies; (b) Aimer designers’ approach to product development; and (c) How design strategies support Aimer’s overall branding and marketing strategies. Findings will provide valuable implications for other Chinese apparel manufacturers who strive to integrate design innovation in order to remain competitive. Research Method A case study method was implemented which included: on-site visits to Aimer Group’s headquarters, manufacturing facility, and retail stores in Beijing; in-depth interviews with Aimer Groups’ Chairman, senior management, Chief Design Officer, designers, retail store managers, and the general manger of the Beijing manufacturing facility; and a review of the company website and other internal documents, as well as an extensive external search of relevant news reports, social media contents, industry information, and academic literature. A qualitative data analysis method was utilized. Findings Aimer brands have grown and matured along with the Chinese consumers. Until the late 1990s, consumers passively accepted whatever the industry provided for them. Today, 15 years later, consumers have become keenly aware of what they want in underwear and that desire drives the industry’s new product development. Aimer’s design strategies are consumer-centric but also a reflection of its internal strategic direction. Its core elements include the following: (1) Understanding consumer lifestyles: Extensive fashion industry trend analysis, consumer research, and market/sale feedback are just starting points for product development at Aimer. In addition, they use broader consumer lifestyle analysis, including an examination of new technology trends, consumer preferences for jewelry, cosmetics, car and cell phone designs, popular video/computer games, consumers’ financial management behaviors, and societal hot topics as a way of guiding product design. (2) Innovation: Innovation is of paramount importance in Aimer’s product development. They have maintained active partnerships with international suppliers and Research & Development teams to ensure the latest fiber discoveries, fabric developments, and pattern engineering technology are incorporated into new product design. (3) Tradition preserved and reinvented: Aimer brands keep certain essential elements integral to their overall style, reinventing and integrating heritage elements into new designs. By doing so, brand history is enriched and continuity sustained. Aspers (2010) suggests that product development must embrace contextual knowledge: the designer’s general knowledge of fashion and their lifeworld. Each domain is used to interpret fashion. A designer’s lifeworld comprises their inherent values and beliefs, presenting challenges when creating products for consumers who live in different lifeworld. Aimer’s solutions to the challenge include the following: (1) Designers as entrepreneurs: Designers are trained to be entrepreneurs who must think of design not only from creative aspects but also within a business context. The company has established effective protocols for new product design and adoption procedures and standards; meanwhile, designers are provided with weekly sales records as market feedback to guide their future design directions. They are also given opportunities on a regular basis to travel to various international and domestic markets to gain first-hand experience and knowledge of fashion trends and consumers. (2) Teamwork: Designers from various regions of China and internationally are grouped in teams and assigned to work together on brands. This provides ample opportunity for them to interact and learn from each other so that their lifeworld is expanded. Branding literature suggests that consumer’s individual and shared brand experiences affect a consumer-brand relationship (Chang, Long, Chieng, & Hua, 2006) which is of critical importance to brand loyalty. Aimer’s design strategies support its branding and marketing strategies by: (a) contributing to consumers’ positive, consistent, and multi-dimensional brand knowledge as a part of the brand-leveraging process (Keller, 2003); (b) providing value-added product and service features to enhance brand-augmentation (Magrath, 1997); and (c) offering strong and effective design capacity for brand tiering (Magrath, 1997). Implications Based on the findings, implications for Chinese apparel manufacturers who strive to upgrade with design innovation will be discussed.

Study on Preparation of Core-Spun Yarn Surgical Sutures by Compositing Drug-Loaded Nanofiber Membrane with PLA and Its Controllable Drug Release Performance

Zhichao Yang,Shuqiang Liu,Jingjing Li,Gaihong Wu,Man Zhang,Fu Li,Lu Jia,Yujing Zhang,Huimin Li,Xia Liu,Jingjing Zhao,Huiqin Zhang,Shiyu Li 한국섬유공학회 2023 Fibers and polymers Vol.24 No.12

Polylactic acid (PLA) surgical suture is considered to be one of the most ideal materials for tissue closure due to its rich raw materials and excellent biological properties. However, surgical sutures face great challenges due to problems such as wound infection and tissue reaction in practical applications. In order to improve the clinical applicability of surgical sutures, we constructed a new drug-loading system for core-spun surgical sutures. The shell was composed of nanofibrous membranes composed of polyglycolic acid (PGA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) and ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibacterial drugs, and the core layer adopts PLA filament. By adjusting the composition ratio of PGA and PCL in the shell, a new mode of regulating the release rate and release cycle of the suture was constructed. According to different wound healing time, different drug release cycles of surgical suture were selected. In the study, the structure of the core-spun yarn can be clearly observed by scanning electron microscope, the higher the shell PGA content and drug loading, the faster the drug release rate. When the carrier ratio PGA/PCL was 80/20 and the drug loading was 3%, the drug release rate was the fastest and the drug release was high; finally, antibacterial experiments showed that the suture had excellent antibacterial effect and could effectively kill Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The successful preparation of core-spun yarn surgical suture provides a new idea for the study of new antibacterial surgical suture.

Bovine adenovirus type 3 virions cannot be rescued in vivo after full-length viral genome transfection in the absence of detectable polypeptide IX

Peng Zhang,Qinghong Xue,Jing Ma,Jingjing Ren,Shuili Xia,Lu Zhang,Wen-Bin Wang,Suresh K. Tikoo,Enqi Du 대한수의학회 2017 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.18 No.2

Bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAdV3) is being used in the development of potential vehicles for gene therapy and vectored vaccine. To that end, a more comprehensive description of BAdV3 biology is essential. In this study, we focused on the role of pIX in BAdV3 virion rescue after full-length BAdV3 genome transfection. Initially, pIX deletion or initiation codon mutation abolished the production of progeny virions, which suggested that pIX was essential for the rescue of BAdV3 containing a full-length genome. Moreover, through transfection of a panel of pIX mutant BAdV3 genomes, we observed that the conserved N-terminus and the putative leucine zipper element (PLZP) were essential for virion rescue, whereas the C-terminus following the coiled-coil domain was non-essential. In addition, swap of the PLZP element and its following region of BAdV3 pIX to corresponding domains of human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV5) did not affect virion production, whereas swap of the entire pIX abolished production of progeny virions. We suggest that failure of the full-length BAdV3 pIX swap might be due to species specificity of its N-terminus region before the PLZP element.

In Vitro and In Vivo Study on the Effect of Lysosome-associated Protein Transmembrane 4 Beta on the Progression of Breast Cancer

Deyou Tao,Junqing Liang,Yihong Pan,Yanting Zhou,Ying Feng,Lin Zhang,Jingjing Xu,Hui Wang,Ping He,Jie Yao,Yang Zhao,Qinjie Ning,Wen Wang,Wei Jiang,Jing Zheng,Xia Wu 한국유방암학회 2019 Journal of breast cancer Vol.22 No.3

Purpose: Although the effect of lysosome-associated protein transmembrane 4 beta (LAPTM4B) on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of breast cancer (BC) cells has already been studied, its specific role in BC progression is still elusive. Here, we evaluated the effect of different levels of LAPTM4B expression on the proliferation, invasion, adhesion, and tumor formation abilities of BC cells in vitro, as well as on breast tumor progression in vivo. Methods: We investigated the influence of LAPTM4B expression on MCF-7 cell proliferation, invasion, adhesion, and tube formation abilities in vitro through its overexpression or knockdown and on breast tumor progression in vivo. Results: Cell growth curves and colony formation assays showed that LAPTM4B promoted the proliferation of breast tumor cells. Cell cycle analysis results revealed that LAPTM4B promoted the entry of cells from the G1 into the S phase. Transwell invasion and cell extracellular matrix adhesion assays showed that LAPTM4B overexpression increased the invasion and adhesion capabilities of MCF-7 cells. More branches were observed in MCF-7 cells overexpressing LAPTM4B under an electron microscope. In comparison with LAPTM4B overexpression, LAPTM4B knockdown decreased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A and significantly inhibited the vasculogenic tube formation ability of tumors. These results were also verified with western blot analysis. Conclusion: LAPTM4B promoted the proliferation of MCF-7 cells through the downregulation of p21 (WAF1/CIP1) and caspase-3, and induced cell invasion, adhesion, and angiogenesis through the upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), and MMP9 expression. This specific role deems LAPTM4B as a potential therapeutic target for BC treatment.

A study of P release from Fe-P and Ca-P via the organic acids secreted by Aspergillus niger

Tian Da,Wang Liyan,Hu Jun,Zhang Liangliang,Zhou Ningning,Xia Jingjing,Xu Meiyue,Yusef Kianpoor Kalkhajeh,Wang Shimei,Li Zhen,Gao Hongjian 한국미생물학회 2021 The journal of microbiology Vol.59 No.9

Phosphate solubilizing fungi (PSF) have been widely applied to dissolve insoluble phosphates (IPs). However, the PSF usually demonstrates a different phosphate solubilizing capacity for various IPs. This study explored the mechanisms of Aspergillus niger for the dissolution of ferric phosphate (FePO4, Fe-P), and tricalcium phosphate (Ca3[PO4]2, Ca-P) regarding the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Aspergillus niger has higher phosphorus (P) content released from Ca-P, reached the maximum value of 861 mg/L after seven days of incubation, compared with the 169 mg/L from Fe-P. Oxalic acid promoted the release of P from Ca-P through the formation of calcium oxalate. The presence of Fe-P can stimulate A. niger to secrete large amounts of citric acid, confirmed by the enhancement of citrate synthase (CS) activity. However, citric acid only promotes 0.5% of P released from Fe-P. Meanwhile, although oxalic acid still dominates the release of P from Fe-P, its abundance was significantly declined. In contrast, oxalic acid also shows a higher P release ratio in Ca-P than citric acid, i.e., 36% vs. 22%. This study points to the future usage of A. niger to dissolve IPs in soil required to enhance oxalic acid secretion.