Measuring the Branching Angle for the Diagnosis of Hypertensive Retinopathy

Xiaofang Zhao,Huazhu Liu,Shanjin Wang,Tusheng Lin 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Vol.11 No.11

The sizes and changes in the retinal arteries branching angles are an important characteristic for diagnose of hypertension, and also used as a preliminary index of the future location of the branch. An algorithm that can automatically calculate the branching angle which is defined according to vascular blood flow dynamics is presented. The result shows that the theoretical prediction and manual measurement have good agreement.

Production of Transgenic Pigs with an Introduced Missense Mutation of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor Type IB Gene Related to Prolificacy

Zhao, Xueyan,Yang, Qiang,Zhao, Kewei,Jiang, Chao,Ren, Dongren,Xu, Pan,He, Xiaofang,Liao, Rongrong,Jiang, Kai,Ma, Junwu,Xiao, Shijun,Ren, Jun,Xing, Yuyun Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2016 Animal Bioscience Vol.29 No.7

In the last few decades, transgenic animal technology has witnessed an increasingly wide application in animal breeding. Reproductive traits are economically important to the pig industry. It has been shown that the bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IB (BMPR1B) A746G polymorphism is responsible for the fertility in sheep. However, this causal mutation exits exclusively in sheep and goat. In this study, we attempted to create transgenic pigs by introducing this mutation with the aim to improve reproductive traits in pigs. We successfully constructed a vector containing porcine BMPR1B coding sequence (CDS) with the mutant G allele of A746G mutation. In total, we obtained 24 cloned male piglets using handmade cloning (HMC) technique, and 12 individuals survived till maturation. A set of polymerase chain reactions indicated that 11 of 12 matured boars were transgene-positive individuals, and that the transgenic vector was most likely disrupted during cloning. Of 11 positive pigs, one (No. 11) lost a part of the terminator region but had the intact promoter and the CDS regions. cDNA sequencing showed that the introduced allele (746G) was expressed in multiple tissues of transgene-positive offspring of No.11. Western blot analysis revealed that BMPR1B protein expression in multiple tissues of transgene-positive $F_1$ piglets was 0.5 to 2-fold higher than that in the transgene-negative siblings. The No. 11 boar showed normal litter size performance as normal pigs from the same breed. Transgene-positive $F_1$ boars produced by No. 11 had higher semen volume, sperm concentration and total sperm per ejaculate than the negative siblings, although the differences did not reached statistical significance. Transgene-positive $F_1$ sows had similar litter size performance to the negative siblings, and more data are needed to adequately assess the litter size performance. In conclusion, we obtained 24 cloned transgenic pigs with the modified porcine BMPR1B CDS using HMC. cDNA sequencing and western blot indicated that the exogenous BMPR1B CDS was successfully expressed in host pigs. The transgenic pigs showed normal litter size performance. However, no significant differences in litter size were found between transgene-positive and negative sows. Our study provides new insight into producing cloned transgenic livestock related to reproductive traits.

Current-induced Polarization in (Ga,Mn)As Dilute Magnetic Semiconductor

Xiaofang Gu,Xuan Qian,Yang Ji,Lin Chen,Weizhu Wang,Jianhua Zhao 한국자기학회 2010 한국자기학회 학술연구발표회 논문개요집 Vol.2010 No.12

An efficient Video Dehazing Algorithm Based on Spectral Clustering

Zhao, Fan,Yao, Zao,Song, Xiaofang,Yao, Yi Korean Society for Internet Information 2018 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.12 No.7

Image and video dehazing is a popular topic in the field of computer vision and digital image processing. A fast, optimized dehazing algorithm was recently proposed that enhances contrast and reduces flickering artifacts in a dehazed video sequence by minimizing a cost function that makes transmission values spatially and temporally coherent. However, its fixed-size block partitioning leads to block effects. The temporal cost function also suffers from the temporal non-coherence of newly appearing objects in a scene. Further, the weak edges in a hazy image are not addressed. Hence, a video dehazing algorithm based on well designed spectral clustering is proposed. To avoid block artifacts, the spectral clustering is customized to segment static scenes to ensure the same target has the same transmission value. Assuming that edge images dehazed with optimized transmission values have richer detail than before restoration, an edge intensity function is added to the spatial consistency cost model. Atmospheric light is estimated using a modified quadtree search. Different temporal transmission models are established for newly appearing objects, static backgrounds, and moving objects. The experimental results demonstrate that the new method provides higher dehazing quality and lower time complexity than the previous technique.

An efficient Video Dehazing Algorithm Based on Spectral Clustering

( Fan Zhao ),( Zao Yao ),( Xiaofang Song ),( Yi Yao ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2018 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.12 No.7

Image and video dehazing is a popular topic in the field of computer vision and digital image processing. A fast, optimized dehazing algorithm was recently proposed that enhances contrast and reduces flickering artifacts in a dehazed video sequence by minimizing a cost function that makes transmission values spatially and temporally coherent. However, its fixed-size block partitioning leads to block effects. The temporal cost function also suffers from the temporal non-coherence of newly appearing objects in a scene. Further, the weak edges in a hazy image are not addressed. Hence, a video dehazing algorithm based on well designed spectral clustering is proposed. To avoid block artifacts, the spectral clustering is customized to segment static scenes to ensure the same target has the same transmission value. Assuming that edge images dehazed with optimized transmission values have richer detail than before restoration, an edge intensity function is added to the spatial consistency cost model. Atmospheric light is estimated using a modified quadtree search. Different temporal transmission models are established for newly appearing objects, static backgrounds, and moving objects. The experimental results demonstrate that the new method provides higher dehazing quality and lower time complexity than the previous technique.

RhGLP-1 (7-36) protects diabetic rats against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via up-regulating expression of Nrf2/HO-1 and increasing the activities of SOD

Yi Fang,Xiaofang Liu,Libo Zhao,Zhongna Wei,Daoli Jiang,Hua Shao,Yannan Zang,Jia Xu,Qian Wang,Yang Liu,Ye Peng,Xiaoxing Yin 대한약리학회 2017 The Korean Journal of Physiology & Pharmacology Vol.21 No.5

The present study aimed to explore the neuroprotective effect and possible mechanisms of rhGLP-1 (7-36) against transient ischemia/reperfusion injuries induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in type 2 diabetic rats. First, diabetic rats were established by a combination of a high-fat diet and low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) (30 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Second, they were subjected to MCAO for 2 h, then treated with rhGLP-1 (7-36) (10, 20, 40 μg/kg i.p.) at the same time of reperfusion. In the following 3 days, they were injected with rhGLP-1 (7- 36) at the same dose and route for three times each day. After 72 h, hypoglycemic effects were assessed by blood glucose changes, and neuroprotective effects were evaluated by neurological deficits, infarct volume and histomorphology. Mechanisms were investigated by detecting the distribution and expression of the nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) in ischemic brain tissue, the levels of phospho-PI3 kinase (PI3K)/PI3K ratio and heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-l), as well as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA). Our results showed that rhGLP-1 (7-36) significantly reduced blood glucose and infarction volume, alleviated neurological deficits, enhanced the density of surviving neurons and vascular proliferation. The nuclear positive cells ratio and expression of Nrf2, the levels of P-PI3K/PI3K ratio and HO-l increased, the activities of SOD increased and the contents of MDA decreased. The current results indicated the protective effect of rhGLP-1 (7-36) in diabetic rats following MCAO/R that may be concerned with reducing blood glucose, up-regulating expression of Nrf2/HO-1 and increasing the activities of SOD.

Walking patterns of Trichogramma chilonis and Trichogrammatoidea bactrae upon vegetable leaf surfaces

Desen WANG,Xiaofang HE,Chengyin ZHAO,Yurong He,Lihua LU,Yongli LUO,Hualong QIU 한국곤충학회 2020 Entomological Research Vol.50 No.1

Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are egg parasitoids of the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae). We observed and recorded the walking patterns of T. chilonis and T. bactrae females on leaves of Raphanus sativus L., Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. et Coss., Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. utilis Tsen et Lee, and Brassica oleracea L. Our analysis indicated that Trichogramma females spent more time and moved more slowly on R. sativus leaf surface, compared with the other vegetable leaf surfaces. In addition, Trichogramma females were more likely to walk in straight line on B. oleracea leaf surfaces than R. sativus, B. juncea, and B. campestris leaf surface. Compared to T. bactrae females, T. chilonis females spent significantly less time on the leaf surface, and the walking path of T. chilonis was less affected by leaf surface characters (e.g., trichomes, wrinkle, and waxes). During the period of residence on the leaf surface, parasitoid females spent more than 87.8% of their time moving. This study demonstrates that vegetable leaf surface can influence Trichogramma’s walking pattern while they are foraging for hosts.

Effects of Fengliao-Changweikang in Diarrheapredominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Rats and Its Mechanism Involving Colonic Motility

( Mengdi Jia ),( Xiaofang Lu ),( Zhengfang Wang ),( Luqing Zhao ),( Shengsheng Zhang ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2018 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.24 No.3

Background/Aims This study was designed to investigate the effect of Fengliao-Changweikang (FLCWK) in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) rats and explore its underlying mechanisms. Methods IBS-D model rats were induced by neonatal maternal separation (NMS) combined with restraint stress (RS). In in vivo experiments, the model rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: NMS + RS, FLCWK (low dose, middle dose, and high dose), and pinaverium bromide. The normal control (no handling) rats were classified as the NH group. The therapeutic effect of FLCWK was evaluated by fecal characteristics, electromyographic response and abdominal withdrawal reflex scores. In in vitro experiments, the model rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: NMS + RS, FLCWK (middle dose), and no handling rats were used as the NH group. The differences in basic tension and ACh-induced tension of isolated colonic longitudinal smooth muscle strips (CLSMs) among the 3 groups were observed. In addition, different inhibitors (nifedipine, TMB-8, L-NAME, methylene blue, and 4-AP) were pretreated to explore the underlying mechanisms. Results In in vivo experiments, fecal characteristics, electromyographic response, and abdominal withdrawal reflex scores significantly improved in the FLCWK group, compared with the NMS + RS group. In in vitro experiments, the basic tension and ACh-induced tension of CLSMs in IBS-D rats were significantly inhibited by FLCWK. After pre-treatment with different inhibitors, the ACh-induced tension of CLSMs in each group showed no significant difference. Conclusions FLCWK manifested curative effect in IBS-D rats by inhibiting colonic contraction. The underlying mechanisms may be related to regulatory pathway of nitric oxide/cGMP/Ca²⁺ and specific potassium channels. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2018;24:479-489)

Do Foreign Investors Monitor Managers in Merger and Acquisition? Evidence from China

Chao Xu,Xiaofang Zhao,Hao Yang,Shiqing Li 한국증권학회 2022 Asia-Pacific Journal of Financial Studies Vol.51 No.1

Using foreign investors’ shareholding to proxy for foreign investors’ monitoring effect in the Chinese stock market, we find that those acquirers exhibit higher announcement returns with higher shareholding, and this effect is stronger when acquirers are private firms. We provide price efficiency and corporate governance channels through which foreign investors play a monitoring role in mergers and acquisitions. Finally, foreign investors decrease the likelihood that managers will conduct mergers in the future and significantly improve long-run performance. Our study provides new insights into the real effects of foreign investors on acquisition performance and the economy.

Enhanced photocatalytic performance of TiO2 nanowires by substituting noble metal particles with reduced graphene oxide

Fei Yuchen,Ye Xiaofang,Al-Baldawy Aseel Shaker,Wan Jing,Lan Jinshen,Zhao Jingtian,Wang Ziyun,Qu Shanzhi,Hong Rongdun,Guo Shengshi,Huang Shengli,Li Shuping,Kang Junyong 한국물리학회 2022 Current Applied Physics Vol.44 No.-

Noble metal particles have been embedded in semiconductors to improve photocatalysis efficiently, but the high cost made this approach difficult to apply widely in industry. Herein titanium dioxide/reduced graphene oxide (TiO2/rGO) nanowires in a core-shell structure were prepared. The physicochemical properties and photocatalytic performance of the specimen were characterized in comparison with TiO2 and TiO2/Pt nanowires. The rGO layer and Pt nanoparticles increased chemical states of the components, reduced bandgap energy of the nanowires, enhanced visible light absorption, improved conductance and capacitance significantly. The methylene blue as catalyzed by TiO2/Pt and TiO2/rGO nanowires was degraded to 7.9% and 8.4% in an hour, but retained 25.7% by the TiO2 nanowires. The properties and function of TiO2/rGO nanowires were close to those of TiO2/Pt nanowires, while the rGO price was much lower than that of Pt, which was of great significance for the photocatalytic application of TiO2 heterojunction materials in industry.