• Mycobiology
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.435-443
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• 2015

Sixty-one endophytic fungus strains with different colony morphologies were isolated from the leaves, stems and roots of Tephrosia purpurea with colonization rates of 66.95%, 37.50%, and 26.92%, respectively. Based on internal transcribed spacer sequence analysis, 61 isolates were classified into 16 genera belonging to 3 classes under the phylum Ascomycota. Of the 61 isolates, 6 (9.84%) exhibited antifungal activity against one or more indicator plant pathogenic fungi according to the dual culture test. Isolate TPL25 had the broadest antifungal spectrum of activity, and isolate TPL35 was active against 5 plant pathogenic fungi. Furthermore, culture filtrates of TPL25 and TPL35 exhibited greater than 80% growth inhibition against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. We conclude that the endophytic fungal strains TPL25 and TPL35 are promising sources of bioactive compounds.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.1857-1864
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• 2018

Phthalate plasticizers residue in food is a serious threat to public health. Spores of Ganoderma lucidum are easy to be contaminated with phthalates during collection and processing. In this study, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was performed to remove phthalates in spores of G. lucidum, and the effects on acid and peroxide values of spores' oil were also evaluated. The results showed SFE removed 100% of the residual di-iso-butyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate in the spores of G. lucidum. No significant differences in polysaccharides content and fatty acid composition were observed between SFE and control spores. However, the triterpenoid extracts of SFE spores had a 7.45% increase, significantly higher than that in control spores. Accelerated oxidation tests further implied that SFE could improve the stability of spores' oil. Our results suggested SFE is a potential approach to remove phthalate from food related products.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.337-350
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• 2019

The objective of this paper is to investigate the confinement coefficient of concrete-filled square stainless steel tubular (CFSSST) stub columns under axial loading. A fine finite 3D solid element model was established, which utilized a constitutive model of stainless steel considering the strain-hardening characteristics and a triaxial plastic-damage constitutive model of concrete with features of the parameter certainty under axial compression. The finite element analysis results revealed that the increased ultimate bearing capacity of CFSSST stub columns compared with their carbon steel counterparts was mainly due to that the composite action of CFSSST stub columns is stronger than that of carbon steel counterparts. A further parametric study was carried out based on the verified model, and it was found that the stress contribution of the stainless steel tube is higher than the carbon steel tube. The stress nephogram was simplified reasonably in accordance with the limit state of core concrete and a theoretical formula was proposed to estimate the ultimate bearing capacity of square CFSSST stub columns using superposition method. The predicted results showed satisfactory agreement with both the experimental and FE results. Finally, the comparisons of the experimental and predicted results using the proposed formula and the existing codes were illustrated.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제77권3호
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• pp.355-368
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• 2021

The time-varying mean (TVM) component of non-stationary wind speeds is commonly extracted utilizing empirical mode decomposition (EMD) in practice, whereas the accuracy of the extracted TVM is difficult to be quantified. To deal with this problem, this paper proposes an approach to identify and extract the optimal TVM from several TVM results obtained by the EMD. It is suggested that the optimal TVM of a 10-min time history of wind speeds should meet both the following conditions: (1) the probability density function (PDF) of fluctuating wind component agrees well with the modified Gaussian function (MGF). At this stage, a coefficient p is newly defined as an evaluation index to quantify the correlation between PDF and MGF. The smaller the p is, the better the derived TVM is; (2) the number of local maxima of obtained optimal TVM within a 10-min time interval is less than 6. The proposed approach is validated by a numerical example, and it is also adopted to extract the optimal TVM from the field measurement records of wind speeds collected during a sandstorm event.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제84권5호
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• pp.591-604
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• 2022

A gravity wall combined with an anchoring lattice frame (a combined retaining structure) is adopted at a typical engineering site at Dali-Ruili Railway Line China. Where, the combined retaining structure supports a soil deposit covering on different inclined rock slopes. With an aim to investigate and compare the effects of inclined rock slopes on the response of combined retaining structure under seismic excitation, three groups of shaking table tests are conducted. The rock slopes are shaped as planar surfaces inclined at angles of 20°, 30°, and 40° with the horizontal, respectively. The shaking table tests are supplemented by dynamic numerical simulations. The results regarding the horizontal acceleration response, vertical acceleration response, permanent displacement mode, and axial anchor force are comparatively examined. The acceleration response is more susceptible to outer structural profile of combined retaining structure than to inclined angle of rock slope. The permanent displacement decreases when the inclined angle of the rock slope increases within a range of 20°-40°. A critical inclined angle of rock slope exists within a range of 20°-40°, and induces the largest axial anchor force in the combined retaining structure.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.4065-4069
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• 2015

Background: Epidermal growth factor-like domain multiple 7 (EGFL7), a secreted protein specifically expressed by endothelial cells during embryogenesis, recently was identified as a critical gene in tumor metastasis. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was found to be closely related with tumor progression. Accordingly, it is important to investigate the migration and EMT change after knock-down of EGFL7 gene expression in human pancreatic cancer cells. Materials and Methods: EGFL7 expression was firstly testified in 4 pancreatic cancer cell lines by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR) and western blot, and the highest expression of EGFL7 was found in PANC-1 cell line. Then, PANC-1 cells transfected with small interference RNA (siRNA) of EGFL7 using plasmid vector were named si-PANC-1, while transfected with negative control plasmid vector were called NC-PANC-1. Transwell assay was used to analyze the migration of PANC-1 cells. Real-time PCR and western blotting were used to detect the expression change of EGFL7 gene, EMT markers like E-Cadherin, N-Cadherin, Vimentin, Fibronectin and transcription factors like snail, slug in PANC-1, NCPANC-1, and si-PANC-1 cells, respectively. Results: After successful plasmid transfection, EGFL7 gene were dramatically knock-down by RNA interference in si-PANC-1 group. Meanwhile, migration ability decreased significantly, compared with PANC-1 and NC-PANC-1 group. Meanwhile, the expression of epithelial phenotype marker E-Cadherin increased and that of mesenchymal phenotype markers N-Cadherin, Vimentin, Fibronectin dramatically decreased in si-PANC-1 group, indicating a reversion of EMT. Also, transcription factors snail and slug decreased significantly after RNA interference. Conclusions: Current study suggested that highly-expressed EGFL7 promotes migration of PANC-1 cells and acts through transcription factors snail and slug to induce EMT, and further study is needed to confirm this issue.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.2087-2093
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• 2012

Previous evidence showed ${\beta}1$, 3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 8 (${\beta}3GnT8$), which can extend polylactosamine on N-glycans, to be highly expressed in some cancer cell lines and tissues, indicating roles in tumorigenesis. However, so far, the function of ${\beta}3GnT8$ in laryngeal carcinoma has not been characterized. To test any contribution, Hep-2 cells were stably transfected with sense or interference vectors to establish cell lines that overexpressed or were deficient in ${\beta}3GnT8$. Here we showed that cell proliferation was increased in ${\beta}3GnT8$ overexpressed cells but decreased in ${\beta}3GnT8$ knockdown cells using MTT. Furthermore, we demonstrated that change in ${\beta}3GnT8$ expression had significant effects on tumor growth in nude mice.We further provided data suggesting that overexpression of ${\beta}3GnT8$ enhanced the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) at both the mRNA and protein levels, associated with shedding of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase TIMP-2. In addition, it caused increased production of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-${\beta}1$), whereas ${\beta}3GnT8$ gene knockdown caused the reverse effect. The results may indicate a novel mechanism by which effects of ${\beta}3GnT8$ in regulating cellular proliferation are mediated, at least in partvia targeting MMPs/TIMPs and TGF-${\beta}1$ in laryngeal carcinoma Hep-2 cells. The finding may lay a foundation for further investigations into the ${\beta}3GnT8$ as a potential target for therapy of laryngeal carcinoma.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권10호
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• pp.1644-1655
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• 2019

Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) and glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) have been employed to improve the intestinal development of weaned animals. The goal of this study was to determine whether either exogenous S. cerevisiae or GLP-2 elicits major effects on fecal microbiotas and cytokine responses in weaned piglets. Ninety-six piglets weaned at 26 days were assigned to one of four groups: 1) Basal diet (Control), 2) empty vector-harboring S. cerevisiae (EV-SC), 3) GLP-2-expressing S. cerevisiae (GLP2-SC), and 4) recombinant human GLP-2 (rh-GLP2). At the start of the post-weaning period (day 0), and at day 28, fecal samples were collected to assess the bacterial communities via sequencing the V1-V2 region of the 16S-rRNA gene, and piglets' blood was also sampled to measure cytokine responses (i.e., IL-$1{\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IFN-${\gamma}$). This study revealed that, on the one hand, although S. cerevisiae supplementation did not significantly alter the growth of weaned piglets, it induced increases in the relative abundances of two core genera (Ruminococcaceae_norank and Erysipelotrichaceae_norank) and decreases in the relative abundances of two other core genera (Lachnospiraceae_norank and Clostridiale_norank) and cytokine levels (IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$) (p < 0.05, Control vs EV-SC; p < 0.05, rh-GLP2 vs GLP2-SC). On the other hand, GLP-2 supplementation had no significant influence on fecal bacterial communities and cytokine levels, but it produced better body weight and average daily gain (p < 0.05, Control vs EV-SC; p < 0.05, rh-GLP2 vs GLP2-SC). Therefore, altered fecal microbiotas and cytokine response effects in weaned piglets were due to S. cerevisiae rather than GLP-2.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권4호
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• pp.2447-2451
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• 2013

Objective: To study changes of tumor associated carbohydrate antigen (TACAs) expression and mRNA levels for tumor associated glycosyltransferases, and assess subcellular localizations of N-acetyl galactosyltransferases (GalNAc-Ts) in the K562 leukemia cell line after imatinib treatment. Methods: RT-PCR was performed to analyze the expression of glycosyltransferases which synthesize O-glycan in tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TCTAs). The expression of Tn antigen, T antigen and sialyl T antigen on K562 cell membranes was measured by flow cytometry after treatment with different concentrations of imatinib. Co-localization of GalNAc-Ts and ER (endoplasmic reticulum) was determined by confocal laser scanning microcopy. Results: Transcript expression levels of several glycosyltransferases related to TCTAs were decreased after imatinib ($0-0.3{\mu}M$) treatment. Expression of Tn antigen and T antigen was increased while that of sialyl T antigen was decreased. Co-localization of GalNAc-Ts and ER was reduced by $0.2{\mu}M$ of imatinib. Conclusion: Imatinib inhibited the expression of O-glycan related TACAs and several related glycosyltransferases, while decreasing the co-localization of GalNAc-Ts and ER and normalizing O-glycosylation in the K562 human leukemia cell.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권11호
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• pp.5747-5752
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• 2012

Purpose: The main objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone in the treatment of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: The search strategy included Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Internet Web, Chinese Biomedical Database and Wanfang Database. We also searched reference lists of articles and the volumes of abstracts of scientific meetings. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma were included. Meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.1.0. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system (GRADE) was used to rate the level of evidence. Results: Five studies were included. Risk ratios of 1.02 (95%CI 0.89-1.15), 0.93 (95%CI 0.72-1.21), 1.07 (95%CI 0.87-1.32), 0.95 (95%CI 0.80-1.13) were observed for 3 years overall survival, 5 years failure-free survival, 5 years locoregional failure-free survival and 5 years distant metastasis failure-free survival. There were no treatment-related deaths in both groups of five studies. Hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicity were the most significant for patients during adjuvant chemotherapy. The level of evidence was low. Conclusion: Compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone, concurrent chemotherapy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve prognosis. More toxicity was found during adjuvant chemotherapy.