White-Matter Hyperintensities and Lacunar Infarcts Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in the Elderly in China

Shuai Ye,Shuyang Dong,Jun Tan,Le Chen,Hai Yang,Yang Chen,Zeyan Peng,Yingchao Huo,Juan Liu,Mingshan Tang,Yafei Li,Huadong Zhou,Yong Tao 대한신경과학회 2019 Journal of Clinical Neurology Vol.15 No.1

Background and Purpose This study investigated the contribution of white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) and lacunar infarcts (LI) to the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in an elderly cohort in China. Methods Older adults who were initially cognitively normal were examined with MRI at baseline, and followed for 5 years. WMH were classified as mild, moderate, or severe, and LI were classified into a few LI (1 to 3) or many LI (≥4). Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination and the Activities of Daily Living scale. Results Among the 2,626 subjects, 357 developed AD by the end of the 5-year follow-up period. After adjusting for age and other potential confounders, having only WMH, having only LI, and having both WMH and LI were associated with an increased risk of developing AD compared with having neither WMH nor LI. Moderate and severe WMH were associated with an increased risk of developing AD compared with no WMH. Furthermore, patients with many LI had an increased risk of developing AD compared with no LI. Conclusions Having moderate or severe WMH and many LI were associated with an increased risk of developing AD, with this being particularly striking when both WMH and LI were present.

The effects of mouse ovarian granulosa cell function and related gene expression by suppressing BMP/Smad signaling pathway

Li Zhang,Hejian Wang,Daolun Yu,Jie Chen,Chaofeng Xing,Jie Li,Jun Li,Yafei Cai 한국통합생물학회 2018 Animal cells and systems Vol.22 No.5

BMP I type receptor inhibitor can selectively inhibit BMP/Smad signaling pathways, mainly by inhibiting the BMP I type receptor activity to prevent phosphorylation of Smad1, Smad5 and Smad9. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of mouse ovarian granulosa cell function and related gene expression by suppressing BMP/Smad signaling pathway with LDN- 193189(A type of BMP I type receptor inhibitor). In this study, we cultivate the original generation of mouse ovarian granular cells then collect cells and cell culture medium after treatment. Cellular localization and expression of Smad9 and P-smad9 proteins was studied by immunofluorescence (IF) in the ovarian granulosa cells of mouse; Related genes mRNA and proteins expression was checked by QRT-PCR and Western blot; Detected the concentration of related hormones by using ELISA kit; finally, the growth of the cells was analyzed by plotting cell growth curve with CCK-8 assay. The results indicate that, suppression of BMP/Smad signaling pathway can inhibit the expression of LHR and FSHR, inhibit cell proliferation and decrease E2 secretion, the mechanism of action maybe reduce the expression of smad9, at the same time, we found that the feedback regulation of smad9 may affect the expression of FSHR and cell proliferation.

Synthesis of γ-valerolactone from ethyl levulinate hydrogenation and ethyl 4-hydroxypentanoate lactonization over supported Cu-Ni bimetallic, bifunctional catalysts

Yafei Li,Xiaocheng Lan,Boyang Liu,Tiefeng Wang 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.107 No.-

A stable and highly efficient supported Cu-Ni catalysts for the conversion of ethyl levulinate (EL) toc-valerolactone (GVL) was developed. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, TPD, TPR, andXPS. The support effect of metal oxides (Al2O3, SiO2, ZrO2, and TiO2) revealed that Cu-Ni supported onAl2O3 showed the highest activity for EL hydrogenation to ethyl 4-hydroxypentanoate (EHP) and thesubsequent intramolecular esterification of EHP to GVL. EHP intramolecular esterification to GVL in theethanol solution was a reversible reaction with an equilibrium constant of 24 at 453 K. A simplified reactionkinetic network was established. The solvent had a significant influence on the reaction equilibriumand the catalyst stability. Cu-Ni/Al2O3 in n-hexane solvent gave a higher GVL yield than that in ethanolsolvent, and showed better recyclability than that in toluene solvent. With optimizing the conditions, Cu-Ni/Al2O3 gave 99.9% conversion and 98% selectivity to GVL with a space–time yield of 1.13 gGVL gcat-1 h1 inn-hexane solvent with good recyclability.

Relationship among porcine lncRNA TCONS_00010987, miR-323, and leptin receptor based on dual luciferase reporter gene assays and expression patterns

Ding, Yueyun,Qian, Li,Wang, Li,Wu, Chaodong,Li, DengTao,Zhang, Xiaodong,Yin, Zongjun,Wang, Yuanlang,Zhang, Wei,Wu, Xudong,Ding, Jian,Yang, Min,Zhang, Liang,Shang, Jinnan,Wang, Chonglong,Gao, Yafei Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2020 Animal Bioscience Vol.33 No.2

Objective: Considering the physiological and clinical importance of leptin receptor (LEPR) in regulating obesity and the fact that porcine LEPR expression is not known to be controlled by lncRNAs and miRNAs, we aim to characterize this gene as a potential target of SSC-miR-323 and the lncRNA TCONS_00010987. Methods: Bioinformatics analyses revealed that lncRNA TCONS_00010987 and LEPR have SSC-miR-323-binding sites and that LEPR might be a target of lncRNA TCONS_00010987 based on cis prediction. Wild-type and mutant TCONS_00010987-target sequence fragments and wild-type and mutant LEPR 3'-UTR fragments were generated and cloned into pmiRRB-REPORT^TM-Control vectors to construct respective recombinant plasmids. HEK293T cells were co-transfected with the SSC-miR-323 mimics or a negative control with constructs harboring the corresponding binding sites and relative luciferase activities were determined. Tissue expression patterns of lncRNA TCONS_00010987, SSC-miR-323, and LEPR in Anqing six-end-white (AQ, the obese breed) and Large White (LW, the lean breed) pigs were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction; backfat expression of LEPR protein was detected by western blotting. Results: Target gene fragments were successfully cloned, and the four recombinant vectors were constructed. Compared to the negative control, SSC-miR-323 mimics significantly inhibited luciferase activity from the wild-type TCONS_00010987-target sequence and wild-type LEPR-3'-UTR (p<0.01 for both) but not from the mutant TCONS_00010987-target sequence and mutant LEPR-3'-UTR (p>0.05 for both). Backfat expression levels of TCONS_00010987 and LEPR in AQ pigs were significantly higher than those in LW pigs (p<0.01), whereas levels of SSC-miR-323 in AQ pigs were significantly lower than those in LW pigs (p<0.05). LEPR protein levels in the backfat tissues of AQ pigs were markedly higher than those in LW pigs (p<0.01). Conclusion: LEPR is a potential target of SSC-miR-323, and TCONS_00010987 might act as a sponge for SSC-miR-323 to regulate LEPR expression.

Relationship between porcine miR-20a and its putative target low-density lipoprotein receptor based on dual luciferase reporter gene assays

Yueyun Ding,Shujiao Zhu,Chaodong Wu,Li Qian,DengTao Li,Li Wang,Yuanlang Wang,Wei Zhang,Min Yang,Jian Ding,Xudong Wu,Xiao-Dong Zhang,Yafei Gao,Zongjun Yin 아세아·태평양축산학회 2019 Animal Bioscience Vol.32 No.7

Objective: Mutations in low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), which encodes a critical protein for cholesterol homeostasis and lipid metabolism in mammals, are involved in cardiometabolic diseases, such as familial hypercholesterolemia in pigs. Whereas microRNAs (miRNAs) can control LDLR regulation, their involvement in circulating cholesterol and lipid levels with respect to cardiometabolic diseases in pigs is unclear. We aimed to identify and analyze LDLR as a potential target gene of SSC-miR-20a. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis predicted that porcine LDLR is a target of SSC-miR-20a. Wild-type and mutant LDLR 3′-untranslated region (UTR) fragments were generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and cloned into the pGL3-Control vector to construct pGL3 Control LDLR wild-3′-UTR and pGL3 Control LDLR mutant-3′-UTR recombinant plasmids, respectively. An miR-20a expression plasmid was constructed by inserting the porcine pre-miR-20a-coding sequence between the HindIII and BamHI sites in pMR-mCherry, and constructs were confirmed by sequencing. HEK293T cells were co-transfected with the miR-20a expression or pMR-mCherry control plasmids and constructs harboring the corresponding 3′-UTR, and relative luciferase activity was determined. The relative expression levels of miR-20a and LDLR mRNA and their correlation in terms of expression levels in porcine liver tissue were analyzed using reverse-transcription quantitative PCR. Results: Gel electrophoresis and sequencing showed that target gene fragments were successfully cloned, and the three recombinant vectors were successfully constructed. Compared to pMR-mCherry, the miR-20a expression vector significantly inhibited wild-type LDLR-3′-UTR-driven (p<0.01), but not mutant LDLR-3′-UTR-driven (p>0.05), luciferase reporter activity. Further, miR-20a and LDLR were expressed at relatively high levels in porcine liver tissues. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that porcine liver miR-20a and LDLR levels were significantly negatively correlated (r = –0.656, p<0.05). Conclusion: LDLR is a potential target of miR-20a, which might directly bind the LDLR 3′-UTR to post-transcriptionally inhibit expression. These results have implications in understanding the pathogenesis and progression of porcine cardiovascular diseases.

Polymorphism of the Promoter Region of Hsp70 Gene and Its Relationship with the Expression of HSP70mRNA, HSF1mRNA, Bcl-2mrna and Bax-AMrna in Lymphocytes in Peripheral Blood of Heat Shocked Dairy Cows

Cai, Yafei,Liu, Qinghua,Xing, Guangdong,Zhou, Lei,Yang, Yuanyuan,Zhang, Lijun,Li, Jing,Wang, Genlin Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2005 Animal Bioscience Vol.18 No.5

The blood samples were collected from dairy cows at the same milking stage. The single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method was used to analyze for polymorphism at the 5'flanking region of the hsp70 gene. The mRNA expression levels of HSP70, HSF1, Bcl-2 and Bax-$\alpha$ at different daily-mean-temperature were analyzed by relative quantitative RTPCR. The DNA content, cell phase and the ratio of apoptosis of lymphocytes in peripheral blood of dairy cattle at different daily-meantemperature were determined by FCM. The PCR-SSCP products of primer pair 1 showed polymorphisms and could be divided into four genotypes: aa, ab, ac, cc, with the cis-acting element (CCAAT box) included. Mutations in the hsp70 5'flanking region (468-752 bp) had different effects on mRNA expression of HSP70, HSF1, Bcl-2 and Bax-$\alpha$. The ac genotypic cows showed higher expressions of HSP70mRNA, HSF1mRNA and Bcl-2mRNA/Bax-$\alpha$mRNA and lower ratio of apoptosis. These mutation sites can be used as molecular genetic markers to assist selection for anti-heat stress cows.

Method applied to evaluate heat leakage of cryogenic vessel for liquid hydrogen

Zhengqing Li,Shengsheng Yang,Xiaojun Wang,Yafei Yuan 한국초전도저온학회 (구 한국초전도저온공학회) 2021 한국초전도저온공학회논문지 Vol.23 No.1

Influence of axial clearance on the performance characteristics of a turbopump

Deyou Li,Zhipeng Ren,Rong Fan,Yafei Chai,Ruzhi Gong,Hongjie Wang 대한기계학회 2021 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.35 No.10

To evaluate the influence of axial clearance on the performance characteristics in turbopumps, numerical simulations of an entire flow passage were carried out. The simulations were validated by performance characteristic experiments. The progress of the reciprocating axial movement in the rotor between the front and back covers was disassembled into five fixed clearances groups. Hump characteristic occurs at the same flow rate under these clearances groups. The hydraulic loss of the inducer-impeller was clearly influenced by the clearances. In particular, the hydraulic loss of the impeller changes significantly at the low flow rate under the ±0.3 mm clearance. With the increase of the flow rate, the effect of the clearance change on the flow is weakened. An innovative entropy production analysis was also performed. The distribution of the high local entropy production rate at the impeller inlet under the 0 mm clearance and at the impeller outlet under the −0.15 mm and −0.3 mm clearances overlapped with the vortex caused by flow separation, and the counterpart at the back cover is concentrated around the clearance structures, thereby leading to high hydraulic loss.

Evaluation of 관-Amyloid Peptides Fibrillation Induced by Nanomaterials Based on Molecular Dynamics and Surface Plasmon Resonance.

Hou, Yafei,Li, Pengfei,Zhou, Hongjian,Zhu, Xiaoli,Chen, Haifeng,Lee, Jaebeom,Koh, Kwangnak,Shen, Zhongming,Chen, Hongxia American Scientific Publishers 2015 Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Vol.15 No.2

<P>This report investigated the effect of carbon nanomaterials, single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and graphene oxide, on fibrillation of 관-amyloid 40 (A관40) based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular dynamics (MD). MD simulations are carried out in order to reveal the molecular mechanisms of the interaction between nanomaterials and A관40. The strong interaction between A관40 and nanomaterials is related to Van der Waals forces and the Coulomb force, inducing delicate manipulation of the main bonding energy for fibrillation of A관40. The interaction energy between the A관 peptide and graphene is higher than that of SWCNT. Experimental results show both carbon nanomaterials enhance the appearance of a critical nucleus for nucleation of peptide fibrils. Graphene is more beneficial to assist the nucleation process than SWCNT. Combination of SPR and molecular dynamics could be a high-throughput method to screen protein fibrillation.</P>

Investigation of the strength of concrete-like material with waste rock and aeolian sand as aggregate by machine learning

Hu Yafei,Li Keqing,Zhang Bo,Han Bin 한국CDE학회 2022 Journal of computational design and engineering Vol.9 No.5

Solid waste filling is an important development direction for filling mining technology. This paper proposes to use waste rock and aeolian sand as aggregates to fill the underground extraction area in order to reduce the environmental damage of related waste solid. The experiments are optimized by response surface methodology and multivariate nonlinear response models are constructed to investigate the effects of different factors on uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of concrete-like material (CLM). The performance of different swarm intelligence optimization algorithms is analyzed and combined with support vector regression model (SVR) to construct an intelligent prediction model for UCS. The results show that the packing density has a maximum value of 0.74 when the proportion of waste rock is around 0.6. The response model constructed in this paper has a P-value < 0.01 and R2 > 0.8, which indicates its high significance and goodness of fit. The UCS of CLM increases with the increase of cement content and slurry mass fraction, while it also increases and then decreases with the increase of proportion of waste rock. The ratio of waste rock and aeolian sand will affect the compactness of cemented structure. The better the ratio, the higher the average grey value of the cemented structure, the more compactness the cemented structure. The whale optimization algorithm-SVR model constructed in this paper has a prediction accuracy of more than 99% for UCS of CLM, which achieves high accuracy and fast prediction of UCS under multifactor conditions.