• Wind and Structures
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.465-474
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• 2020

Vortex-induced vibrations of a yawed flexible cylinder near a plane boundary are numerically investigated at a Reynolds number Re_n= 500 based on normal component of freestream velocity. Free to oscillate in the in-line and cross-flow directions, the cylinder with an aspect ratio of 25 is pinned-pinned at both ends at a fixed wall-cylinder gap ratio G/D = 0.8, where D is the cylinder diameter. The cylinder yaw angle (α) is varied from 0° to 60° with an increment of 15°. The main focus is given on the influence of α on structural vibrations, flow patterns, hydrodynamic forces, and IP (Independence Principle) validity. The vortex shedding pattern, contingent on α, is parallel at α=0°, negatively-yawed at α ≤ 15° and positively-yawed at α ≥ 30°. In the negatively- and positively-yawed vortex shedding patterns, the inclination direction of the spanwise vortex rows is in the opposite and same directions of α, respectively. Both in-line and cross-flow vibration amplitudes are symmetric to the midspan, regardless of α. The RMS lift coefficient C_L,rms exhibits asymmetry along the span when α ≠ 0°, maximum C_L,rms occurring on the lower and upper halves of the cylinder for negatively- and positively-yawed vortex shedding patterns, respectively. The IP is well followed in predicting the vibration amplitudes and drag forces for α ≤ 45° while invalid in predicting lift forces for α ≥ 30°. The vortex-shedding frequency and the vibration frequency are well predicted for α = 0° - 60° examined.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.533-546
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• 2020

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) is used to study the effects of steady slot suction on the aerodynamic forces of and flow around a wall-mounted finite-length square cylinder. The aspect ratio H/d of the tested cylinder is 5, where H and d are the cylinder height and width, respectively. The Reynolds number based on free-stream oncoming flow velocity U_∞ and d is 2.78×10⁴. The suction slot locates near the leading edge of the free end, with a width of 0.025d and a length of 0.9d. The suction coefficient Q (= U_s/U_∞) is varied as Q = 0, 1 and 3, where U_s is the velocity at the entrance of the suction slot. It is found that the free-end steady slot suction can effectively suppress the aerodynamic forces of the model. The maximum reduction of aerodynamic forces occurs at Q = 1, with the time-mean drag, fluctuating drag, and fluctuating lift reduced by 3.75%, 19.08%, 40.91%, respectively. For Q = 3, all aerodynamic forces are still smaller than those for Q = 0 (uncontrolled case), but obviously higher than those for Q = 1. The involved control mechanism is successfully revealed, based on the comparison of the flow around cylinder free end and the near wake for the three tested Q values.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7221-7227
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• 2013

Background: Fascin, an actin-bundling protein forming actin bundles including filopodia and stress fibers, is overexpressed in multiple human epithelial cancers including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Previously we conducted a microarray experiment to analyze fascin knockdown by RNAi in ESCC. Method: In this study, the differentially expressed genes from mRNA expression profilomg of fascin knockdown were analyzed by multiple bioinformatics methods for a comprehensive understanding of the role of fascin. Results: Gene Ontology enrichment found terms associated with cytoskeleton organization, including cell adhesion, actin filament binding and actin cytoskeleton, which might be related to fascin function. Except GO categories, the differentially expressed genes were annotated by 45 functional categories from the Functional Annotation Chart of DAVID. Subpathway analysis showed thirty-nine pathways were disturbed by the differentially expressed genes, providing more detailed information than traditional pathway enrichment analysis. Two subpathways derivated from regulation of the actin cytoskeleton were shown. Promoter analysis results indicated distinguishing sequence patterns and transcription factors in response to the co-expression of downregulated or upregulated differentially expressed genes. MNB1A, c-ETS, GATA2 and Prrx2 potentially regulate the transcription of the downregulated gene set, while Arnt-Ahr, ZNF42, Ubx and TCF11-MafG might co-regulate the upregulated genes. Conclusions: This multiple bioinformatic analysis helps provide a comprehensive understanding of the roles of fascin after its knockdown in ESCC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.1379-1385
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• 2017

The content of taxol in the bark of yews is very low, and this is not affordable from the environmental point of view. Thus, it is a necessity to look for alternative sources of taxol production to solve its supply. Currently, a large portion of the taxol in the market comes from chemical semi-synthesis, but the semi-synthetic precursors such as baccatin III and 10-deacetyl-baccatin III are extracted from needles and twigs of yew trees. Taxol-producing fungi as a renewable resource is a very promising way to increase the scale of taxol production. Our group has obtained a taxol-producing endophytic fungus, Aspergillus niger subsp. taxi HD86-9, to examine if A. niger can produce the taxanes. Six compounds from the fermentation broth of strain HD86-9 were isolated and identified by $^1H$ NMR, $^{13}C$ NMR, and ESI-MS. The results showed that the six compounds included four taxane diterpenoids (taxol, cephalomannine, baccatin III, and 10-deacetyl-baccatin III) and two non-taxane compounds (${\beta}-sitosterol$ and flavonoid isovitexin). The study verified that the taxanes can be produced by the A. niger, which is very important to taxol production via chemical semi-synthesis. Additionally, the finding is potentially very significant to solve the taxol semi-synthetic precursors extracted from needles and twigs of yew trees, and the precursor production can be easily increased through the culture condition optimization, genetic breeding, and metabolic engineering of the A. niger.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.143-155
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• 2016

The interaction between two different shaped structures is very important to be understood. Fluid-structure interactions and aerodynamics of a circular cylinder in the wake of a V-shaped cylinder are examined experimentally, including forces, shedding frequencies, lock-in process, etc., with the V-shaped cylinder width d varying from d/D = 0.6 to 2, where D is the circular cylinder diameter. While the streamwise separation between the circular cylinder and V-shaped cylinder was 10D fixed, the transverse distance T between them was varied from T/D = 0 to 1.5. While fluid force and shedding frequency of the circular cylinder were measured using a load cell installed in the circular cylinder, measurement of shedding frequency of the V-shaped cylinder was done by a hotwire. The major findings are: (i) a larger d begets a larger velocity deficit in the wake; (ii) with increase in d/D, the lock-in between the shedding from the two cylinders is centered at d/D = 1.1, occurring at $d/D{\approx}0.95-1.35$ depending on T/D; (iii) at a given T/D, when d/D is increased, the fluctuating lift grows and reaches a maximum before decaying; the d/D corresponding to the maximum fluctuating lift is dependent on T/D, and the relationship between them is linear, expressed as $d/D=1.2+{\frac{1}{e}}T/D$; that is, a larger d/D corresponds to a greater T/D for the maximum fluctuating lift.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.109-125
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• 2016

Flow interference is investigated between two tripped cylinders of identical diameter D at stagger angle ${\alpha}=0^{\circ}{\sim}180^{\circ}$ and gap spacing ratio $P^*$ (= P/D) = 0.1 ~ 5, where ${\alpha}$ is the angle between the freestream velocity and the line connecting the cylinder centers, and P is the gap width between the cylinders. Two tripwires, each of diameter 0.1D, were attached on each cylinder at azimuthal angle ${\beta}={\pm}30^{\circ}$, respectively. Time-mean drag coefficient ($C_D$) and fluctuating drag ($C_{Df}$) and lift ($C_{Lf}$) coefficients on the two tripped cylinders were measured and compared with those on plain cylinders. We also conducted surface pressure measurements to assimilate the fluid dynamics around the cylinders. $C_D$, $C_{Df}$ and $C_{Lf}$ all for the plain cylinders are strong function of ${\alpha}$ and $P^*$ due to strong mutual interference between the cylinders, connected to six interactions (Alam and Meyer 2011), namely boundary layer and cylinder, shear-layer/wake and cylinder, shear layer and shear layer, vortex and cylinder, vortex and shear layer, and vortex and vortex interactions. $C_D$, $C_{Df}$ and $C_{Lf}$ are very large for vortex and cylinder, vortex and shear layer, and vortex and vortex interactions, i.e., the interactions where vortex is involved. On the other hand, the interference as well as the strong interactions involving vortices is suppressed for the tripped cylinders, resulting in insignificant variations in $C_D$, $C_{Df}$ and $C_{Lf}$ with ${\alpha}$ and $P^*$. In most of the (${\alpha}$, $P^*$ ) region, the suppressions in $C_D$, $C_{Df}$ and $C_{Lf}$ are about 58%, 65% and 85%, respectively, with maximum suppressions 60%, 80% and 90%.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7583-7588
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• 2014

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related death and cancer-related incidence worldwide. The potential of microRNA-21 (miR-21) as a biomarker for CRC detection has been studied in several studies. However, the results were inconsistent. Therefore, we conducted the present meta-analysis to systematically assess the diagnostic value of miR-21 for CRC. Materials and Methods: Using a random-effect model, the pooled sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) were calculated to evaluate the diagnostic performance of miR-21 for CRC. A summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve and an area under the curve (AUC) were also generated to assess the diagnosis accuracy of miR-21 for CRC. Q test and I2 statistics were used to assess between-study heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated by the Deeks' funnel plot asymmetry test. Results: A total of 986 CRC patients and 702 matched healthy controls from 8 studies were involved in the meta-analysis. The pooled results for SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR, DOR, and AUC were 57% (95%CI: 39%-74%), 87% (95%CI: 78%-93%), 4.4 (95%CI: 2.4-8.0), 0.49 (95%CI: 0.32-0.74), 9 (95%CI: 4-22), and 0.83 (95%CI: 0.79-0.86), respectively. Subgroup analyses further suggested that blood-based studies showed a better diagnostic accuracy compared with feces-based studies, indicating that blood may be a better matrix for miR-21 assay and CRC detection. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that miR-21 has a potential diagnostic value for CRC with a moderate level of overall diagnostic accuracy. Hence, it could be used as auxiliary means for the initial screening of CRC and avoid unnecessary colonoscopy, which is an invasive and expensive procedure.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.2453-2458
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• 2010

Photochemical studies of N-[(trimethylsilyl)alkyl]saccharins were carried out to investigate their photochemical behavior. Depending on the nature of the substrate and the solvent system employed, reactions of these substances can take place by either SET-promoted silyl migration from carbon to either the amide carbonyl or sulfonyl oxygen or by a N-S homolysis route. The results of the current studies show that an azomethine ylide, arising from a SET-promoted silyl migration pathway, is generated in photoreactions of N-[(trimethylsilyl)methyl]saccharin and this intermediate reacts to give various photoproducts depending on the conditions employed. In addition, irradiation of N-[(trimethylsily)ethyl]saccharin produces an excited state that reacts through two pathways, the relative importance is governed by solvent polarity and protic nature. Finally, photoirradiation of N-[(trimethylsilyl)propyl]saccharin in a highly polar solvent system comprised of 35% aqueous MeOH gives rise to formation of a tricyclic pyrrolizidine and saccharin that generated via competitive SET-promoted silyl transfer and $\gamma$-hydrogen abstraction pathways.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.1501-1508
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• 2004

In this study the effect of extenders and temperatures on sperm viability and fertilizing capacity of boar sperm during long-term storage was investigated. Acrosomal integrity, membrane integrity, motility and hypo-osmotic resistance were evaluated by fluorescence and light microscopy. An in vitro fertilization test was performed to assess the fertilizing capacity of stored spermatozoa. The five diluents tested were ranked according to their ability to maintain sperm functional parameters and Zorlesco (ZO) extender with BSA or with PVA instead of BSA produced the best results. Zorlesco extender substituted with PVA (ZO+PVA) was found to maintain motility both at 15 and 20$^{\circ}C$. within 5 days of storage, but the quality of semen stored at 15$^{\circ}C$ decreased thereafter as compared to semen stored at 20$^{\circ}C$ Semen stored at 5$^{\circ}C$ demonstrated rapid loss of motility already within 24 h. Both fertilization and cleavage of semen stored at 20$^{\circ}C$ in ZO substituted with PVA instead of BSA did not change significantly until day 8 of storage. It is therefore concluded that PVA can be used to substitute for BSA and 20$^{\circ}C$ was more suitable than 15$^{\circ}C$ for boar semen storage, and in vitro fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa was maintained for at least 8 days in ZO+PVA at 20$^{\circ}C$.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.1566-1572
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• 2020

Objective: The extensive breeding of commercial chickens has led to a sharp decrease in the resources of many indigenous chickens, especially the indigenous chickens in the southeastern coastal region, which are on the verge of extinction, and the indigenous chickens in the northwestern region of China, which are also at risk. However, there are few reports on the evaluation of genetic diversity and conservation of genetic resources of indigenous chickens in remote areas in the Northwest of China. Methods: In the present study, the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship of six indigenous chickens from different regions were studied based on variation in mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop), and the degree of introgression from commercial breeds into these chickens was determined by the amount of haplotype sharing between indigenous and commercial breeds. Results: Twenty-five polymorphic sites and 25 haplotypes were detected in 206 individuals. Principal component analysis showed that the Jingning chicken had the highest genetic diversity among the six indigenous chickens. According to the degree of introgression, the six indigenous breeds may be involved in haplotype sharing with commercial breeds, and the introgression from commercial chickens into the Haidong chicken is the most serious. Conclusion: The genetic uniqueness of indigenous chickens has been eroded, so it is necessary to consider the protection of their genetic resources. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the six indigenous chickens have two major matrilineal origins: one from Yunnan or its surrounding areas in China and the other from the Indian subcontinent.