• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제14권9호
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• pp.5243-5248
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• 2013

Background: Triptolide, extracted from the herb Tripteryglum wilfordii Hook.f that has long been used as a natural medicine in China, has attracted much interest for its anti-cancer effects against some kinds of tumours in recent years. Artesunate, extracted from the Chinese herb Artemisia annua, has proven to be effective and safe as an anti-malarial drug that possesses anticancer potential. The present study attempted to clarify if triptolide enhances artesunate-induced cytotoxicity in pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Methods: In vitro, to test synergic actions, cell viability and apoptosis were analyzed after treatment of pancreatic cancer cell lines with the two agents singly or in combination. The molecular mechanisms of apoptotic effects were also explored using qRT-PCR and Western blotting. In vivo, a tumor xenograft model was established in nude mice, for assessment of inhibitory effects of triptolide and artesunate. Results: We could show that the combination of triptolide and artesunate could inhibit pancreatic cancer cell line growth, and induce apoptosis, accompanied by expression of HSP 20 and HSP 27, indicating important roles in the synergic effects. Moreover, tumor growth was decreased with triptolide and artesunate synergy. Conclusion: Our result indicated that triptolide and artesunate in combination at low concentrations can exert synergistic anti-tumor effects in pancreatic cancer cells with potential clinical applications.

• BMB Reports
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.759-765
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• 2006

In this study, we investigate Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expressions in adriamycin (ADR)-induced cadiomyopathy in rats. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two main groups: control and ADR groups. Myocardial histopathological observation was performed; Expressions of 3 isoforms of NOS genes were examined by RT-PCR analysis; Expressions of 3 isoforms of NOS protein was assessed by Western blot analysis. Myocardium exhibited intensive morphological changes after 8 weeks of ADR treatment. The expression levels of inducible NOS (iNOS) gene and protein were significantly increased in ADR-treated rats after 8 weeks of treatment and then slightly increased at weeks 9 and 10. No significantly difference of neuronal NOS (nNOS) or endothelial NOS (eNOS) gene and protein were observed in the myocardium obtained from the control rats and ADR-injected rats at any time point. iNOS gene expression is selectively induced by ADR in heart. The upregulation of iNOS gene and protein may be somehow correlated with morphological changes seen in heart of rat treated with ADR.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.436-446
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• 2016

A novel step-up DC-DC converter with a switched-coupled-inductor-capacitor (SCIC) which successfully integrates three-winding coupled inductors and switched-capacitor techniques is proposed in this paper. The primary side of the coupled inductors for the SCIC is charged by the input source, and the capacitors are charged in parallel and discharged in series by the secondary windings of the coupled inductor to achieve a high step-up voltage gain with an appropriate duty ratio. In addition, the passive lossless clamped circuits recycle the leakage energy and reduce the voltage stress on the main switch effectively, and the reverse-recovery problem of the diodes is alleviated by the leakage inductor. Thus, the efficiency can be improved. The operating principle and steady-state analyses of the converter are discussed in detail. Finally, a prototype circuit at a 50 kHz switching frequency with a 20-V input voltage, a 200-V output voltage, and a 200-W output power is built in the laboratory to verify the performance of the proposed converter.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.401-407
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• 2011

In order to enhance torque density of five-phase permanent magnetic synchronous motor with third harmonic injection for electric vehicles (EVs) applications, optimum seeking method for injection ratio of third harmonic was proposed adopting theoretical derivation and finite element analysis method, under the constraint of same amplitude for current and air-gap flux. By five-dimension space vector decomposition, the mathematic model in two orthogonal space plane, $d_1-q_1$ and $d_3-q_3$, was deduced. And the corresponding dual-plane vector control method was accomplished to independently control fundamental and third harmonic currents in each vector plane. A five-phase PMSM prototype with quasi-trapezoidal flux pattern and its fivephase voltage source inverter were designed. Also, the dual-plane vector control was digitized in a single XC3S1200E FPGA. Simulation and experimental results prove that using the proposed optimum seeking method, the torque density of five-phase PMSM is enhanced by 20%, without any increase of power converter capacity, machine size and iron core saturation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권11호
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• pp.1447-1455
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• 2009

Two novel avian $\beta$-defensins (AvBDs) isolated from duck liver were characterized and their homologies with other AvBDs were analyzed. They were shown to be duck AvBD9 and AvBD10. The mRNA expression of the two genes was analyzed in 17 different tissues from 1-28-day-old ducks. AvBD9 was differentially expressed in the tissues, with especially high levels of expression in liver, kidney, crop, and trachea, whereas AvBD10 was only expressed in the liver and kidney of ducks at all the ages investigated. We produced and purified GST-tagged recombinant AvBD9 and AvBDI0 by expressing the two genes in Escherichia coli. Both recombinant proteins exhibited antimicrobial activity against several bacterial strains. The results revealed that both recombinant proteins retained their antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus under a range of different temperatures ($-70^{\circ}C-100^{\circ}C$) and pH values (pH 3-12).

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.287-301
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• 2020

Fragility as one of the most effective methods to evaluate seismic performance, which is greatly affected by damage index. Taking a multi span continuous rigid frame offshore bridge as an example. Based on fragility and reliability theory, considering coupling effect of time-varying durability damage of materials and time-varying attenuation effect of damage index to analyze seismic performance of offshore bridges. Results show that IDA curve considering time-varying damage index is obviously below that without considering; area enclosed by IDA of 1# pier and X-axis under No.1 earthquake considering this effect is 96% of that without considering. Area enclosed by damage index of 1# pier and X-axis under serious damage with considering time-varying damage index is 90% of that without considering in service period. Time-varying damage index has a greater impact on short pier when ground motion intensity is small, while it has a great impact on high pier when the intensity is large. The area enclosed by fragility of bridge system and X-axis under complete destruction considering time-varying damage index is 165% of that without considering when reach designed service life. Therefore, time-varying attenuation effect of damage index has a great impact on seismic performance of bridge in service period.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• 제39권4호
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• pp.521-539
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• 2011

Jilin highway concrete bridge is located in the center of Jilin City, which is positioned in the middle part in Jilin Province in the east north of China. This bridge crosses the Songhua River and connects the north and the south of Jilin City. The main purpose of damages inspection of the bridge components is to ensure the safety of a bridge and to identify any maintenance, repair, or strengthening which that need to be carried out. The damages that occur in reinforced concrete bridges include different types of cracks, scalling and spalling of concrete, corrosion of steel reinforcement, deformation, excessive deflection, and stain. The main objectives of this study are to inspect the appearance of Jilin highway concrete bridge and describe all the damages in the bridge structural members, and to evaluate the structural performance of the bridge structure under dead and live loads. The tests adopted in this study are: (a) the depth of concrete carbonation test, (b) compressive strength of concrete test, (c) corrosion of steel test, (d) static load test, and (e) dynamic load test. According to the damages inspection of the bridge structure appearance, most components of the bridge are in good conditions with the exception arch waves, spandrel arch, deck pavement of new arch bridge, and corbel of simply supported bridge which suffer from serious damages. Load tests results show that the deflection, strain, and cracks development satisfy the requirements of the standards.

• Journal of Power Electronics
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• 제16권6호
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• pp.2315-2326
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• 2016

This paper discusses the elimination of DC voltage deviation and the enhancement of load current sharing accuracy in multi-terminal high voltage direct current (MT-HVDC) systems. In order to minimize the power line losses in different parallel network topologies and to insure the stable operation of systems, a decentralized control method based on a modified droop control is presented in this paper. Averaging the DC output voltage and averaging the output current of two neighboring converters are employed to reduce the congestion of the communication network in a control system, and the decentralized control method is implemented. By minimizing the power loss of the cable, the optimal load current sharing proportion is derived in order to achieve rational current sharing among different converters. The validity of the proposed method using a low bandwidth communication (LBC) network for different topologies is verified. The influence of the parameters of the power cable on the control system stability is analyzed in detail. Finally, transient response simulations and experiments are performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed control strategy for a MT-HVDC system.

• Journal of international Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.48-53
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• 2014

In December 2011 and July 2012, two sets of 840MVA hydro-generator of Three Gorges on Yangtze River with Close-loop-self-circulating evaporative cooling (CLSCEC) system were put into commercial operation. In this paper, we make engineering summary of these two generators with CLSCEC system. We also make a comparison between the internal water cooling (IWC) hydro-generator and the CLSCEC hydro-generator used in Three Gorges power plant in fields of their operating characteristics, working performances, technical features, working safety and reliability. In addition, engineering structures, type tests' results and systematic emulating calculation of CLSCEC schemes are analyzed.

• Smart Structures and Systems
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.555-576
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• 2015

The large number of long-span bridges constructed in China motivates the applications of structural health monitoring (SHM) technology. Many bridges have been equipped with sophisticated SHM systems in the mainland of China and in Hong Kong of China. Recently, SHM technology has been extended to field test systems. In this view, SHM can serve as a tool to develop the methods of life-cycle performance design, evaluation, maintenance and management of bridges; to develop new structural analysis methods through validation and feedback from SHM results; and to understand the behavior of bridges under natural and man-made disasters, rapidly assess the damage and loss of structures over large regions after disasters, e.g., earthquake, typhoon, flood, etc. It is hoped that combining analytical methods, numerical simulation, small-scale tests and accelerated durability tests with SHM could become the main engine driving the development of bridge engineering. This paper demonstrates the above viewpoint.