Removal of Chromium (Ⅵ) by Escherichia coli Cells Expressing Cytoplasmic or Surface-Displayed ChrB: a Comparative Study

( Xiaofeng Zhou ),( Jianghui Li ),( Weilong Wang ),( Fan Yang ),( Bingqian Fan ),( Chenlu Zhang ),( Xiaojun Ren ),( Feng Liang ),( Rong Cheng ),( Fengying Jiang ),( Huaibin Zhou ),( Juanjuan Yang ),( 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2020 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.30 No.7

Various genetically engineered microorganisms have been developed for the removal of heavy metal contaminants. Metal biosorption by whole-cell biosorbents can be enhanced by overproduction of metal-binding proteins/peptides in the cytoplasm or on the cell surface. However, few studies have compared the biosorption capacity of whole cells expressing intracellular or surface-displayed metal-adsorbing proteins. In this study, several constructs were prepared for expressing intracellular and surface-displayed Ochrobactrum tritici 5bvl1 ChrB in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells. E. coli cells expressing surface-displayed ChrB removed more Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions than cells with cytoplasmic ChrB under the same conditions. However, intracellular ChrB was less susceptible to variation in extracellular conditions (pH and ionic strength), and more effectively removed Cr(VI) from industrial wastewater than the surface-displayed ChrB at low pH (<3). An adsorptiondesorption experiment demonstrated that compared with intracellular accumulation, cell-surface adsorption is reversible, which allows easy desorption of the adsorbed metal ions and regeneration of the bioadsorbent. In addition, an intrinsic ChrB protein fluorescence assay suggested that pH and salinity may influence the Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of ChrB-expressing E. coli cells by modulating the ChrB protein conformation. Although the characteristics of ChrB may not be universal for all metal-binding proteins, our study provides new insights into different engineering strategies for whole-cell biosorbents for removing heavy metals from industrial effluents.

High-efficiency organic solar cells based on a small-molecule donor and a low-bandgap polymer acceptor with strong absorption

Yang, Yankang,Qiu, Beibei,Chen, Shanshan,Zhou, Qiuju,Peng, Ying,Zhang, Zhi-Guo,Yao, Jia,Luo, Zhenghui,Chen, Xiaofeng,Xue, Lingwei,Feng, Liuliu,Yang, Changduk,Li, Yongfang The Royal Society of Chemistry 2018 Journal of materials chemistry. A, Materials for e Vol.6 No.20

<P>Solution-processed organic solar cells (OSCs) have been attracting more and more attention for a series of well-known advantages, and power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of over 11% have been reported. However, the highest PCE of the OSCs based on small molecule donor/polymer acceptor blends is only 4.82%, which was much lower than those of other types of OSCs due to weak absorption of the polymer acceptor and the unbalanced charge carrier mobility of the small molecule donor and the polymer acceptor. Here, we fabricated small molecule donor/polymer acceptor-based OSCs using the wide bandgap SM1 and DR3TBDTT as the small molecular donor and the low-bandgap n-type conjugated polymer PZ1 as the polymer acceptor. With the treatment of a solvent additive, which can promote the absorption intensity, enhance the carrier mobility and suppress the charge carrier recombination, the SM1-based devices and the DR3TBDTT-based devices show PCEs of 3.97% and 5.86%, respectively. It is worth mentioning that the PCE of 5.86% is the state-of-the-art efficiency for OSCs based on the small molecular donor/polymer acceptor system.</P>

Effect of Potassium Supply on the Photosynthetic Characteristics and Quality of Lettuce

Xiaofeng Yang,Bie Zhilong 한국원예학회 2006 한국원예학회 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-

Preparation of epoxypropyl functionalized graphene oxide and its anticorrosion properties complexed with epoxy resin

Xiaofeng Yang,Yuepeng Zhang,Zhiping Chen,Yinshuai Yang,Hongxia Jing,Zhenhao Sun,Huijie Wang 한국화학공학회 2020 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.37 No.12

Functionalized graphene oxide (GO)/epoxy resin (EP) composite coating has attracted attention due to its advantages of epoxy resin in acid resistance, anticorrosion and having the characteristics of GO such as good chemical stability and strong electrolyte barrier properties. In this study, epoxypropyl functionalized graphene oxide (EFGO) was synthesized with a new strategy by grafting epichlorohydrin (ECH) onto the surface of GO. EFGO was then crosslinked with EP by diethylenetriamine (DETA) to fabricate EFGO/EP anticorrosive coating. The structure and property of EFGO and EFGO/EP were characterized and evaluated by various methods such as FTIR, Raman, XPS, SEM, and EIS. The results showed that the graft amount of epoxypropyl on GO surface could be effectively increased by using KI-KF catalysis system. The increase of the graft amount further improved the compatibility between EFGO and EP. EFGO/EP had a network structure with EFGO as the “central node”. The “central node” locked the movement of EP chain segment, as improving the thermal stability of EFGO/EP. The EFGO/EP coating fabricated by the EFGO, which grafted larger epoxypropyl, had good anticorrosion performance and adhesion with steel plates, showing a good barrier effect on electrolyte migration. The coating resistance reached up 4.88×108 cm2.

Electrochemical Determination of Artemisinin Using a Multi-wall Carbon Nanotube Film-modified Electrode

Yang, Xiaofeng,Gan, Tian,Zheng, Xiaojiang,Zhu, Dazhai,Wu, Kangbing Korean Chemical Society 2008 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.29 No.7

Artemisinin, the effective ingredient of Chinese herb Artemisia annua L (Qinghao in Chinese), has been proved to be effective to antimalarial. Herein, a reliable, sensitive and convenient electrochemical method was developed for the determination of artemisinin utilizing the excellent properties of multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWNT). The electrochemical behavior of artemisinin was investigated. It is found that the reduction peak current of artemisinin remarkably increases and the peak potential shifts positively by 240 mV at the MWNT film-modified electrode. These phenomena indicate that the MWNT film exhibits efficient catalytic activity to the electrochemical reduction of artemisinin. The effects of pH value, amount of MWNT, scan rate and accumulation time were examined. The limit of detection (S/N = 3) is as low as 10 $\mu$ g $L^{-1}$. Finally, this newly developed method was used to determine the content of artemisinin in Artemisia annua L.

Feasibility analysis of bone density evaluation with Hounsfield unit value after fibula flap reconstruction of jaw defect

Yihui Yang,Yifan Kang,Yifan Yang,Mengkun Ding,Xiaofeng Shan,Zhigang Cai 대한악안면성형재건외과학회 2023 Maxillofacial Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Vol.45 No.-

Background Implant-supported dentures have become an essential means of restoring occlusal function after jaw reconstruction. Bone mineral density (BMD) may influence the success rate of implant denture restorations. This study aimed to explore whether the Hounsfield unit (HU) value can be used to monitor the changing trend of fibular BMD after jaw reconstruction. Results A total of 54 patients who underwent maxillar/mandibular reconstruction with a fibula flap were included in this study. There was a significant correlation between the HU value and BMD at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery, and both were significantly correlated with follow-up time. The difference between each pair of absorption rates (DAR) was less than 10% in 66.7% and 75.9% of patients at 3 and 6 months; however, the DAR was more than 20% in 12% and 13.8% of patients at 3 and 6 months, respectively. Conclusions There is a significant correlation between HU value and BMD. The HU value can be used to roughly reflect the fibular BMD changing trend in a group of patients as opposed to an individual, and the HU value is not equivalent to BMD. Trial registration ChiCTR, ChiCTR2300069661, retrospectively registered on 22 March 2023. Retrospectively registered, https:// www. chictr. org. cn/ showp roj. html? proj= 188953.

Representing the Heat-to-Moisture Transport Efficiency in Stable Conditions: An Extension of Two Different Approaches

Guo Xiaofeng,Yang Kun,Yang Wei,Zhao Long,Li Shenghai,Ding Baohong 한국기상학회 2020 Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences Vol.56 No.4

Using eddy-covariance turbulence measurements over a Tibetan glacier, we present a description of scalar turbulence characteristics in the stable boundary layer. Interesting behaviours are demonstrated in terms of temperature–humidity de-correlation and dissimilarity. That is, a lack of perfect correlation occurs between the two scalars (i.e., correlation coefficients <1 in magnitude); overall, sensible heat is more efficiently transported than water vapour over snow and ice surfaces. Such behaviours provide evidence of departures from the idealized expectation of Monin–Obukhov similarity theory—all scalars assume a perfect level of linear correlation and an equal efficiency level of vertical transport. Results presented herein are noteworthy in that observations over uniform glaciated surfaces involve negligible effects of either a canopy-induced roughness sublayer or heterogeneity in the temperature–humidity source/sink distributions. Moreover, we address two different approaches to representing the heat-to-moisture transport efficiency in stable conditions. A new approach is extended through application of the quadrant analysis technique, thereby representing it as a function of atmospheric stability. Caution is further advised in the use of this approach, when temperature–humidity turbulence becomes markedly de-correlated. A second approach, as previously applied for estimating forest evaporation fluxes in unstable conditions, is extended to a stable boundary layer over snow and ice surfaces.

On the forced vibration of high-order functionally graded nanotubes under the rotation via intelligent modeling

Liu, Yang,Wang, Xiaofeng,Liu Li,Wu, Bin,Yang, Qin Techno-Press 2022 Advances in nano research Vol.13 No.1

The present research investigates the dynamic behavior of a rotating functionally graded (FG) nonlocal cylindrical beam. The cylindrical beam is mathematically modeled via third-order beam theory linked with nonlocal strain gradient theory. The tube structure is made of functionally graded materials composed of Aluminum oxide coated on the Nickel, which the mechanical properties vary in the tube radius direction according to the power law. The bending harmonic force is applied in the tube length middle. The nonlocal spinning equations of the tube are derived via the energy method of the Hamilton principle, and they are solved via a robust numerical procedure for different boundary conditions. The main application of the rotating nanostructures is for the production of small-scale motors and devices and the drug-delivery application, the presented results can help the researcher have a better view regarding the different conditions.

Thermal error prediction of motorized spindle for five-axis machining center based on analytical modeling and BP neural network

Yang Liu,Xiaofeng Wang,Xiaogang Zhu,Ying Zhai 대한기계학회 2021 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.35 No.1

To ensure the stability of precision of the motorized spindle for five-axis machining center, the thermal error of five-axis machining center was investigated, and the temperature rise-thermal deformation model of a thin-wall ring type rotary elastomer was built on the basis of thermo-elastic property. Thus, a model of radial thermal error was con-structed. The relationship between radial error and axial error was also investigated in this paper and the total radial errors were gotten. In addition, the thermal error of the motorized spindle of five-axis machining center was measured by the ball bar in the experiment of thermal error. The motorized spindle total radial error was achieved by this experiment and radial total error analytical model. Finally, a BP neural network algorithm was introduced for thermal error prediction of five-axis machining center, and the precision of prediction of these models was compared and analyzed. The analysis shows that this method is practical and effective.

Pretreatment with low-dose fimasartan ameliorates NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation and brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage

Yang, Xiuli,Sun, Jing,Kim, Tae Jung,Kim, Young-Ju,Ko, Sang-Bae,Kim, Chi Kyung,Jia, Xiaofeng,Yoon, Byung-Woo Elsevier 2018 Experimental neurology Vol.310 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, which is composed of an NLRP3 domain, the adaptor molecule apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) domain, and procaspase-1, plays an important role in the immune pathophysiology of the secondary damage induced by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study aims to investigate whether pre-stroke treatment with fimasartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker, has anti-inflammatory effects on ICH by inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: sham, vehicle, low-dose (0.5 mg/kg) and regular-doses (1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg) fimasartan. These rats were treated for 30 days before the induction of collagenase-induced ICH and continuously 3 days after surgery. The mean blood pressure (BP) in the low-dose fimasartan group was not significantly different from that of control, and BP in the regular-dose groups was decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with low-dose fimasartan attenuated ICH-induced edema and improved neurological functions. Activation of the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 and the NF-κB pathways after ICH was markedly reduced by low-dose fimasartan. The double immunofluorescence staining of brain cells showed a significant decrease in the co-localization of NLRP3 with Iba1 (microglia marker) positive cells by fimasartan treatment. Cultured microglia cells stimulated by hemolysate demonstrated significant activation of the inflammasome, which was reduced by fimasartan. Pretreatment with a low-dose fimasartan alleviated brain damage after acute ICH by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome without lowering MBP. Our study suggests pre-stroke administration of fimasartan could potentially attenuate ICH-induced secondary brain injury by targeting the inflammasome.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> NLRP3 inflammasome activation is involved in the secondary brain damage after ICH. </LI> <LI> Pre-stroke treatment with low-dose fimasartan has favorable effects on acute ICH injury. </LI> <LI> Fimasartan could potentially target the NLRP3 inflammasome to protect ICH injury independent of its effect on BP. </LI> </UL> </P>