Gambogenic Acid Induction of Apoptosis in a Breast Cancer Cell Line

Zhou, Jing,Luo, Yan-Hong,Wang, Ji-Rong,Lu, Bin-Bin,Wang, Ke-Ming,Tian, Ye Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

Background: Gambogenic acid is a major active compound of gamboge which exudes from the Garcinia hanburyi tree. Gambogenic acid anti-cancer activity in vitro has been reported in several studies, including an A549 nude mouse model. However, the mechanisms of action remain unclear. Methods: We used nude mouse models to detect the effect of gambogenic acid on breast tumors, analyzing expression of apoptosis-related proteins in vivo by Western blotting. Effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins in MDA-MB-231 cells were detected by MTT, flow cytometry and Western blotting. Inhibitors of caspase-3,-8,-9 were also used to detect effects on caspase family members. Results: We found that gambogenic acid suppressed breast tumor growth in vivo, in association with increased expression of Fas and cleaved caspase-3,-8,-9 and bax, as well as decrease in the anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2. Gambogenic acid inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: Our observations suggested that Gambogenic acid suppressed breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell growth by mediating apoptosis through death receptor and mitochondrial pathways in vivo and in vitro.

Organizational Values as `Attractors of Chaos':An Emerging Supply Chain Management Change Designed to Overcome Organizational Complexity

Guojun Ji,Yan Zhou Jungseok Research Institute of International Logis 2004 JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LOGISTICS AND TRADE Vol.2 No.1

This paper considers supply chain management organizations with the aid of `chaotic systems theory' developed originally in physics and mathematics. Since innovations in supply chain management are vital for organizational survival `complex systems theory' may assist in fine-tuning managerial philosophies that provide stability in supply chain management become it is on the boundary of chaos that the greatest innovational creativity occurs. Neither `management by rigid objectives' (MBO) nor `management by instruction' (MBI) will be suitable for the information society of the twenty-first century because chaotic social systems will be derived essentially from how supply chain management members accept a shared set of values or principes for action─`management by values' (MBV). Complex systems theory deals with systems that show complex structures in time or space, often hiding simple deterministic rules. This theory holds that once these rules are found, it is possible to make effective predictions and even to control the apparent complexity. The state of chaos that self-organizes is attributable to the appearance of the `strange attractor' and provides the ideal basis for creativity and innovation in the twenty-first century. In the self-organized state of chaos, social members are not confined to narrow roles and gradually develop their capacity for differentiation and relationships, growing progressively towards their maximum potential contribution to the efficiency of the organization. In this meaning, values act as organizers of `attractors' of disorder, which, in the theory of chaos, are systems represented by usually regular geometric configurations that predict the long-term behavior of complex systems. In supply chain management organizations (as in all kinds of social systems) the initial principles end up as the final principles in the long term. An attractor is a model representation of the behavioral results of the system. The attractor is not a force of attraction or a goal-oriented presence in the system; it simply depicts where the system is heading based on its rules of motion. In supply chain management organizations that cultivate or shares values of autonomy, responsibility, independence, innovation, creativity, and proactivity, the risk of short-term chaos is mitigated by external complexities that organizations are currently confronting. The strategy is to alter the supply chain management's surroundings so that they can benefit from management by values (MBV).

Adaptive Target Synchronization for Wireless Sensor Networks with Markov Delays and Noise Perturbation

Wuneng Zhou,Chuan Ji,Jinping Mou,Dongbing Tong,Yan Gao 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2013 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.11 No.5

This article focuses on the problem of adaptive target synchronization for the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). By applying the LaSalle-type invariance principle and the M-matrix approach for stochastic differential delay equations with Markovian switching, several sufficient conditions to ensure adaptive target synchronization and adaptive exponential target synchronization in pth moment for WSNs with Markov delays and stochastic noises are derived. We further investigate the adaptive exponential target synchronization in probabilistic sense for the WSNs and obtain the almost sure adaptive exponential target synchronization. Via the adaptive feedback control techniques, some suitable parameters update laws are attained. We finally show some numerical simulations to illustrate the effectiveness of the results derived in this paper.

Adaptive Exponential Synchronization in pth Moment of Neutral-Type Neural Networks with Time Delays and Markovian Switching

Wuneng Zhou,Yan Gao,Dongbing Tong,Chuan Ji,Jian’an Fang 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2013 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.11 No.4

In this letter, the analysis problem of adaptive exponential synchronization in pth moment is considered for neutral-type neural networks with time delays and Markovian switching. By utilizing a new nonnegative function and the M-matrix approach, several sufficient conditions to ensure the adaptive exponential synchronization in pth moment for neutral-type neural networks are derived. Via the adaptive feedback control techniques, some suitable parameters update laws are found. To illustrate the effectiveness of the M-matrix-based synchronization conditions derived in this letter, numerical example is provided finally.

Effects of Pressure and Deposition Time on the Characteristics of In2Se3 Films Grown by Magnetron Sputtering

Yong Yan,Shasha Li,Yufeng Ou,Yaxin Ji,Zhou Yu,Lian Liu,Chuanpeng Yan,Yong Zhang,Yong Zhao 대한금속·재료학회 2014 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.10 No.6

Crystalline In2Se3 films were fabricated by magnetron sputtering from a sintered In2Se3-compound target and the effects of the deposition parameters, including the working pressure and deposition time, on the phase composition, structure, morphology, and optical properties were clarified. Single-phase κ-In2Se3 was prepared at 4.0 Pa, but γ-In2Se3 was recognized when the working pressure was lower than 4.0 Pa. The optical transmittance of the films decreased to 45% and the optical band gap varied from 2.9 to 2.0 eV with increasing film thickness from 80 to 967 nm. Metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetectors based on γ-In2Se3 thin films with various thicknesses were also fabricated. The result of photosensitivity research on such MSM photodetectors suggests that it may be impossible to fabricate wide-absorption-range MSM devices by just using a single material (γ-In2Se3) because of spatial potential fluctuations in the layers.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Targeting Based on Image Matching

Zhang Yan,Li Jianzeng,Li Deliang,Zhou Zidong,Du Yulong,Ji Weidong 보안공학연구지원센터 2016 International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Vol.11 No.1

Aiming at the problem of low accuracy of the target for one UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), an UAV target location method based on image matching is presented according to the data of video and photograph as well as the information of the digital map. Firstly, using the improved artificial matching method, the UAV aerial images are jointed based on the digital map to obtain the coordinates information. Then, the UAV video frame resolution containing the target is improved by the improving method of super-resolution reconstruction. Finally, making use of the improved SIFT algorithm, the video frames are registered with the aerial photo to complete the location of the target. Results prove that this method can achieve the target location without the UAV’s position and attitude information, while improving the precision and speed of target location, this method is an effective one for target location based on the image matching in the battlefield.

Study on Forage Oat in Qinghai Alpine Region

Yajun Ji,Qingping Zhou,Hongbo Yan,Wenhui Liu 한국초지조사료학회 2009 한국초지조사료학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2009 No.08

The cultivation of oat in China could be traced back to 2500 B.C. while the Qinghai province, which located in the North-East of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, has been the major region for oat production due to its high quality caused by the unique climate say long sun-shine hours and large temperature discrepancy between days and nights that is beneficial to the accumulation of nutrients in oat plant. Oat has been grown in the Qinghai alpine region on the altitude ranging from 1600m to 3600m and regarded as an ideal forage plant due to its resistance to environment. The role of oat drew more attention in 1980s along with the implementing of so called four-matched policy, which compounds establishment of fenced rangeland, animal bars, fodder production base and settled living place for local herdsmen who used to be nomadic around the region. To make a full use of the oat resource in Qinghai province, a great deal research and extension with respect of oat had been engaged in the region. The author overviewed researches accomplished in Qinghai province on oat germplasm collection, breeding of fine oat variety, cultivate techniques, oat base establishment and production and marketing system establishment as well in terms of projects completed.

What Causes Curbside Illegal Parking Behavior: A Method Based on Structural Equation Model

Jie Yan,Xizhen Zhou,Yanjie Ji 대한토목학회 2023 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.27 No.8

Reducing curbside illegal parking is a crucial aspect of urban parking management. However, there is currently a dearth of relevant research. Further analysis is required to determine the factors that influence curbside illegal parking behavior. To this end, a questionnaire survey was conducted in Nanjing, and exploratory factor analysis was used to evaluate the explanatory power of the measurement variables. From this, driver factors, traffic conditions, parking facilities and environment were identified as latent variables. A structural equation model was created to examine the relationship between these variables. The findings indicated that parking facilities and driver factors had a direct and positive correlation with curbside illegal parking behavior, while the environment had a direct and negative correlation with such behavior. Moreover, parking facilities had the greatest impact. The study highlighted the effectiveness of measures such as promoting traffic regulation awareness, optimizing public parking lot charging standards, and strengthening penalties for curbside illegal parking behavior. The results of this research will contribute to a greater comprehension of the phenomenon and provide a theoretical foundation for curbside parking management.

A novel M2e-multiple antigenic peptide providing heterologous protection in mice

Feng Wen,Ji-Hong Ma,Hai Yu,Fu-Ru Yang,Meng Huang,Yan-Jun Zhou,Ze-Jun Li,Xiu-Hui Wang,Guo-Xin Li,Yi-Feng Jiang,Wu Tong,Guangzhi Tong 대한수의학회 2016 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.17 No.1

Swine influenza viruses (SwIVs) cause considerable morbidity and mortality in domestic pigs, resulting in a significant economic burden. Moreover, pigs have been considered to be a possible mixing vessel in which novel strains loom. Here, we developed and evaluated a novel M2e-multiple antigenic peptide (M2e-MAP) as a supplemental antigen for inactivated H3N2 vaccine to provide cross-protection against two main subtypes of SwIVs, H1N1 and H3N2. The novel tetra-branched MAP was constructed by fusing four copies of M2e to one copy of foreign T helper cell epitopes. A high-yield reassortant H3N2 virus was generated by plasmid based reverse genetics. The efficacy of the novel H3N2 inactivated vaccines with or without M2e-MAP supplementation was evaluated in a mouse model. M2e-MAP conjugated vaccine induced strong antibody responses in mice. Complete protection against the heterologous swine H1N1 virus was observed in mice vaccinated with M2e-MAP combined vaccine. Moreover, this novel peptide confers protection against lethal challenge of A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1). Taken together, our results suggest the combined immunization of reassortant inactivated H3N2 vaccine and the novel M2e-MAP provided cross-protection against swine and human viruses and may serve as a promising approach for influenza vaccine development.

Inhibition of acetylation of histones 3 and 4 attenuates aortic valve calcification

Jia Gu,Yan Lu,Menqing Deng,Ming Qiu,Yunfan Tian,Yue Ji,Pengyu Zong,Yongfeng Shao,Rui Zheng,Bin Zhou,Xiangqing Kong,Wei Sun 생화학분자생물학회 2019 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.51 No.-

Aortic valve calcification develops in patients with chronic kidney disease who have calcium and phosphate metabolic disorders and poor prognoses. There is no effective treatment except valve replacement. However, metabolic disorders put patients at high risk for surgery. Increased acetylation of histones 3 and 4 is present in interstitial cells from human calcific aortic valves, but whether it is involved in aortic valve calcification has not been studied. In this study, we found that treating cultured porcine aortic valve interstitial cells with a high-calcium/high-phosphate medium induced calcium deposition, apoptosis, and expression of osteogenic marker genes, producing a phenotype resembling valve calcification in vivo. These phenotypic changes were attenuated by the histone acetyltransferase inhibitor C646. C646 treatment increased the levels of class I histone deacetylase members and decreased the acetylation of histones 3 and 4 induced by the high-calcium/high-phosphate treatment. Conversely, the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid promoted valve interstitial cell calcification. In a mouse model of aortic valve calcification induced by adenine and vitamin D treatment, the levels of acetylated histones 3 and 4 were increased in the calcified aortic valves. Treatment of the models with C646 attenuated aortic valve calcification by restoring the levels of acetylated histones 3 and 4. These observations suggest that increased acetylation of histones 3 and 4 is part of the pathogenesis of aortic valve calcification associated with calcium and phosphate metabolic disorders. Targeting acetylated histones 3 and 4 may be a potential therapy for inoperable aortic valve calcification in chronic kidney disease patients.