Rice Gene OsDSR-1 Promotes Lateral Root Development in Arabidopsis Under High-Potassium Conditions

Xu Ming Yin,Pedro S. C. F. Rocha,Man Ling Wang,Yu Xin Zhu,Luo Ye Li,Shu Feng Song,Xinjie Xia 한국식물학회 2011 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.54 No.3

Rice gene Oryza sativa Drought Stress Response-1 (OsDSR-1) was one of the genes identified to be responsive to drought stress in the panicle of rice at booting and heading stages by both microarray and quantitative real-time PCR analyses. OsDSR-1 encodes a putative calcium-binding protein, and its overexpression in Arabidopsis rendered transgenic plants to produce much shorter lateral roots (LRs) than wild-type (WT) plants in the medium supplemented with abscisic acid (ABA), suggesting that OsDSR-1 may act as a positive regulator during the process of ABA inhibition of LR development. No significant difference was observed in the total LR length between WT and transgenic plants in the media with the increase of only osmotic stress caused by NaCl, LiCl, and mannitol, while transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings appeared to produce larger root systems with longer total LR lengths under highpotassium conditions than WT seedlings. Further analysis showed that external Ca^2+ was required for the production of larger root systems, indicating that the promotion by OsDSR-1 of the LR development of transgenic Arabidopsis seemed to occur in a Ca^2+ -dependent manner under high-potassium conditions. We propose that OsDSR-1 may function as a calcium sensor of the signal transduction pathway controlling the LR development under high-potassium conditions.

OsCML4 improves drought tolerance through scavenging of reactive oxygen species in rice

Xu Ming Yin,Li Fanng Huang,Xin Zhang,Man Ling Wang,Guo Yun Xu,Xin Jie Xia 한국식물학회 2015 Journal of Plant Biology Vol.58 No.1

Calmodulin-like (CML) genes function in regulating plant responses to different abiotic stresses, such as high salt and drought. Using japonica type rice seedlings (‘Nipponbare’), we induced the expression of OsCML4 (Accession No. NM_001057768), which encodes a rice CML protein. Under drought conditions, transgenic plants over-expressing that gene exhibited obviously improved growth performance and higher survival rates than the wild type (WT). Activity by reactive oxygen species (ROS)- scavenging enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as proline concentrations, were significantly increased in transgenic plants. Expression by ROS scavenging-related genes APXI and Cat-B and the stress-related gene OsP5CS1 was also enhanced in the transgenics under drought conditions. However, the sensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA) was similar between over-expressing and WT plants. These results suggest that OsCML4 confers drought tolerance partially through ROS-scavenging and also by inducing other stress-related genes in an ABAindependent manner.

Clinical Implications of p57^KIP2 Expression in Breast Cancer

Xu, Xiao-Yin,Wang, Wen-Qian,Zhang, Lei,Li, Yi-Ming,Tang, Miao,Jiang, Nan,Cai, Shou-Liang,Wei, Liang,Jin, Feng,Chen, Bo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.10

Objective: To study the relationship between expression of $p57^{KIP2}$ and prognosis and other clinicopathological parameters in invasive breast cancers. Methods: We assessed the expression of $p57^{KIP2}$ in 89 cases of invasive breast cancer and 20 cases of normal breast tissue by immunohistochemical methods and analyzed the results with SPSS software (ver. 16.0). Result: The positive expression rates of $p57^{KIP2}$ protein in the invasive breast cancers and surrounding normal tissue were 30.3% (27/89) and 65% (13/20), respectively. Cases with no $p57^{KIP2}$ expression exhibited a significantly higher post-operative distant metastasis rate than those with $p57^{KIP2}$ expression (37.9% vs. 14.8%; P = 0.01). DFS analysis showed that $p57^{KIP2}$-/C-erbB-2+ tumors also exhibited a significantly higher post-operative distant metastasis rate than the other groups (66.7% vs. 29.2%; P = 0.007), as did $p57^{KIP2}$-/p53+ tumors (64.3% vs. 22.7%; P = 0.001). Survival analysis revealed that $p57^{KIP2}$ was associated with breast cancer-specific survival overall (P = 0.045, log-rank test). Subgroup analysis demonstrated that individuals with $p57^{KIP2}$-/C-erbB-2+tumors experienced significantly worse post-operative survival than those with $p57^{KIP2}$-/C-erbB-2- or other tumors (P = 0.006, log-rank test). $p57^{KIP2}$-/p53+ tumors were associated with significantly worse post-operative survival than $p57^{KIP2}$-/p53- or other tumors (P = 0.001, log-rank test). Cox regression analysis showed that $p57^{KIP2}$ was a non-independent prognostic factor for breast cancer (P = 0.303). Conclusions: $p57^{KIP2}$ is expressed at low levels in invasive breast cancer and is associated with better overall survival rate and disease-free survival in breast cancer patients, but it was a non-independent prognostic factor for breast cancer. Thus, the connection between $p57^{KIP2}$/p53 and $p57^{KIP2}$/C-erbB-2 may provide biomarkers for breast cancer.

Genetic Variants in the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR Pathway Predict Platinum-based Chemotherapy Response of Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancers in a Chinese Population

Xu, Jia-Li,Wang, Zhen-Wu,Hu, Ling-Min,Yin, Zhi-Qiang,Huang, Ming-De,Hu, Zhi-Bin,Shen, Hong-Bing,Shu, Yong-Qian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Objective: The PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway has been implicated in resistance to cisplatin. In the current study, we determined whether common genetic variations in this pathway are associated with platinum-based chemotherapy response and clinical outcome in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Methods: Seven common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in core genes of this pathway were genotyped in 199 patients and analyzed for associations with chemotherapy response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed an association between AKT1 rs2494752 and response to treatment. Patients carrying heterozygous AG had an increased risk of disease progression after two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy compared to those with AA genotype (Adjusted odds ratio (OR)=2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-4.77, which remained significant in the stratified analyses). However, log-rank test and cox regression detected no association between these polymorphisms in the PI3K pathway genes and survival in advanced NSCLC patients. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that genetic variants in the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway may predict platinum-based chemotherapy response in advanced NSCLC patients in a Chinese population.

Genetic Variants of NBS1 Predict Clinical Outcome of Platinum-based Chemotherapy in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in Chinese

Xu, Jia-Li,Hu, Ling-Min,Huang, Ming-De,Zhao, Wan,Yin, Yong-Mei,Hu, Zhi-Bin,Ma, Hong-Xia,Shen, Hong-Bing,Shu, Yong-Qian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

Objective: NBS1 plays a key role in the repair of DNA double-strand break (DSB). We conducted this study to investigate the effect of two critical polymorphisms (rs1805794 and rs13312840) in NBS1 on treatment response and prognosis of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with platinum-based chemotherapy. Methods: Using TaqMan methods, we genotyped the two polymorphisms in 147 NSCLC patients. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidential intervals (CIs) were calculated as a measure of difference in the response rate of platinum-based chemotherapy using logistic regression analysis. The Kaplan-Meier and log-rank tests were used to assess the differences in progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Cox proportional hazards model was applied to assess the hazard ratios (HRs) for PFS and OS. Results: Neither of the two polymorphisms was significantly associated with treatment response of platinum-based chemotherapy. However, patients carrying the rs1805794 CC variant genotype had a significantly improved PFS compared to those with GG genotype (16.0 vs. 8.0 months, P = 0.040). Multivariable cox regression analysis further showed that rs1805974 was a significantly favorable prognostic factor for PFS [CC/CG vs. GG: Adjusted HR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.39-0.99; CC vs. CG/GG: Adjusted HR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.32-0.97). Similarly, rs13312840 with a small sample size also showed a significant association with PFS (CC vs. CT/TT: Adjusted HR = 25.62, 95% CI: 1.53-428.39). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that NBS1 polymorphisms may be genetic biomarkers for NSCLC prognosis especially PFS with platinum-based chemotherapy in the Chinese population.

MLH1 Polymorphisms and Cancer risk: a Meta-analysis Based on 33 Case-control Studies

Xu, Jia-Li,Yin, Zhi-Qiang,Huang, Ming-De,Wang, Xie-Feng,Gao, Wen,Liu, Ling-Xiang,Wang, Rong-Sheng,Huang, Pu-Wen,Yin, Yong-Mei,Liu, Ping,Shu, Yong-Qian Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.3

Objective: Cumulative evidence suggests that MLH1, the key component in the mismatch pathway, plays an important role in human cancers. Two potential functional polymorphisms (-93G>A and I219V) of MLH1 have been implicated in cancer risk. The aim of this meta-analysis was to summarize the evidence for associations. Methods: Eligible studies were identified by searching the electronic literature PubMed, ScienceDirect and Embase databases for relevant reports and bibliographies. Studies were included if of case-control design investigating MLH1 polymorphisms (-93G>A and I219V) and cancer risk with sufficient raw data for analysis. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to evaluate the strength of associations. Results: Our meta-analysis from 33 published case-control studies showed the variant A allele of -93G>A polymorphism to be associated with increased risk in all genetic models (AA vs. GG: OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03-1.44), especially among non-Asians (AA vs. GG: OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.04-1.58). For the I219V polymorphism, however, there was no main effect associated with overall cancer risk in any genetic model. Conclusions: The meta-analysis suggested that the MLH1 -93G>A polymorphism may be a biomarker of cancer susceptibility. Large sample association studies and assessment of gene-to-gene as well as gene-to-environment interactions are required to confirm these findings.

High-Speed PIV Evaluation of Fuel Sprays under Superheated Conditions

( Ming Zhang ),( Min Xu ),( Yu Yin Zhang ),( Gao Ming Zhang ) 한국액체미립화학회 2010 한국액체미립화학회 학술강연회 논문집 Vol.2010 No.-

Spray structure, distribution, and atomization process of the superheated sprays are dramatically influenced by the degree of the fuel superheating. The fuel spray flow field can provide detailed information about such influence due to the fuel superheating. It is anticipated that the fuel spray flow field depends on the superheat degree, which is carefully examined using high-speed PIV in this study. The fuel droplet velocities are measured within the lower number density regions of the spray generated from a multi-hole injector. The spray structure is characterized by spray penetration, maximum spray width and spray angle derived from the spray laser-sheet images. These characteristics are correlated with the spray velocity vector field to analyze the driving force of the spray transformation. The results illustrate that, as the superheat degree increases, the spray velocities in both radial and axial directions vary dramatically accompanied by the unexpected transformations of the spray structure, such as transforming from separate plumes to a collapsed form. The superheat degree is the predominant factor influencing break-up, atomization, and structure of the superheated sprays.

Association Between the Ku70-1310C/G Promoter Polymorphism and Cancer Risk: a Meta-analysis

Xu, Lu,Ju, Xiao-Bing,Li, Pu,Wang, Jue,Shi, Zhu-Mei,Zheng, Ming-Jie,Xue, Dan-Dan,Xu, Yan-Jie,Yin, Yong-Mei,Wang, Shui,You, Yong-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.2

Ku70 plays an important role in DNA double-strand break repair. Studies revealing conflicting results on the role of the Ku70-1310C/G promoter polymorphism on cancer risk led us to perform a meta-analysis to investigate this relationship. Ten case-control studies with 2566 cases and 3058 controls were identified. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of associations. The overall results suggested no association between the Ku70-1310C/G promoter polymorphism and total cancer risk. However, on stratified analysis, significantly increased risks were observed among the Asian population (GG vs. CC: OR=1.50, 95%CI=1.10-2.06; GG vs. CC/CG: OR=1.47, 95%CI=1.07-2.01) and population-based case-control studies (GG vs. CC: OR=1.57, 95%CI=1.12-2.22; CG vs. CC: OR=1.35, 95%CI=1.11-1.64; CG/GG vs. CC: OR=1.37, 95%CI=1.14-1.65). Additionally, variant genotypes were associated with a significantly increased breast cancer risk (GG vs. CC: OR=1.80, 95%CI=1.26-2.56; GG vs. CC/CG: OR=1.40, 95%CI=1.01-1.95).

Theoretical Calculation of the Optical Properties of Gold Nanoparticles

Gang Yin,Songyou Wang,Liangyao Chen,Ming Xu 한국물리학회 2006 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.49 No.5I

The properties of metal nanoparticles have received considerable attention due to their wide range of applications extending from surface-sensitive spectroscopic analysis to catalysis and microwave polarizers. Various methods for synthesizing these nanoparticles, both spheres and rods, have been described. In this paper, the simulated optical properties of Au nanoparticles are presented. The extinction e±ciencies are calculated using the discrete dipole approximation (DDA). The in°uence of the nanoparticle size and shape on the plasmon resonance bands is investigated. For spherical particles with R · 10 nm, the intensity of extinction increases with increasing radius, but the position of maximum in the spectrum, which is associated with plasmon resonance, does not change. For particles with 10 < R · 50 nm, the extinction spectrum also increases with increasing radius, and the plasmon resonance shifts to red. For particles with R > 50 nm, the extinction spectrum decreases with increasing radius and becomes irregular. For spheroidal and rod-like nanoparticle, there are two peaks in the extinction spectra corresponding to the transverse and the longitudinal resonances. With increasing aspect ratio, the extinction spectral peak of the transverse mode shifts to shorter wavelength while that of the longitudinal mode shifts to longer wavelength. Our theoretical results explain the experimental data well.淺

Macroscopic Characterization of Flash Boiling Sprays using Laser Induced Exciplex Fluorescence from a Multi-Hole DI Injector

( Gao Ming Zhang ),( Min Xu ),( Yu Yin Zhang ),( Ming Zhang ),( David J. Cleary ) 한국액체미립화학회 2010 한국액체미립화학회 학술강연회 논문집 Vol.2010 No.-

Fuel temperature and the ambient pressure can dramatically influence spray characteristics such as the spray structure, spray penetration, and quantity of vaporized fuel. Higher fuel temperatures that occur in today`s direct-injection engines can reach superheated conditions, dramatically changing the spray due to flash boiling. In this paper, the spray structure and vaporization behaviors are examined for a multi-hole DI injector over a range of superheated conditions. Planer laser-induced-exciplex fluorescence (PLIEF) is used to characterize the spray, where fluorobenzene (FB) and diethyl-methyl-amine (DEMA) are added into n-hexane as vapor and liquid tracers, respectively. The temperature dependence of crosstalk signal intensity is examined using a quartz cell and necessary corrections are made to the spray image. The individual plumes from this multi-hole injector are determined to collapse with increasing superheat degree until the spray transforms into a single plume. The liquid component of the spray is more resistant to collapsing as comparing to the vapor component, where a vapor jet-like structure is formed near the centerline axis of the fuel spray once collapsed. The relative vapor quantity increases with fuel temperature in a near linear fashion until a step change is observed for the vapor signal when the two vapor plumes merge into a single structure.