Feng Lu | NanTong University (original) (raw)
Papers by Feng Lu
Environmental Science and Information Application Technology, 2009. ESIAT 2009. Volume 1: 308-311.
The prediction of urban water demand using a small number of representative properties is fundame... more The prediction of urban water demand using a small number of representative properties is fundamental in evaluating carrying capacity of water resources. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have recently become popular tools in the prediction of urban water demand. In this paper, an iterative method which combining the strength of back-propagation (BP) in weight learning and genetic algorithms’ capability of searching the satisfying solution is proposed for optimizing wavelet neural networks (WNNs). Taking the city of Hefei in China as an example, the proposed genetic algorithms optimized WNN that required a few representative properties as possible for input data is applied to predict urban water demand in the future several years. The prediction performance of the GA Optimized WNN is compared with traditional neural networks, and simulation results demonstrate the accuracy and the reliability of the prediction methodology based on the proposed model. Finally, urban water demand in Hefei, 2008-2010, is obtained which provide reference for coordinated development of socio-economic and water resources in Hefei.
2009 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory, 2009
LT codes provide an efficient way to transfer information over erasure channels. Past research ha... more LT codes provide an efficient way to transfer information over erasure channels. Past research has illustrated that LT codes can perform well for a large number of input symbols. However, it is shown that LT codes have poor performance when the number of input symbols is small. We notice that the poor performance is due to the design of the LT decoding process. In this respect, we present a decoding algorithm called full rank decoding that extends the decodability of LT codes by using Wiedemann algorithm. We provide a detailed mathematical analysis on the rank of the random coefficient matrix to evaluate the probability of successful decoding for our proposed algorithm. Our studies show that our proposed method reduces the overhead significantly in the cases of small number of input symbols yet preserves the sim plicity of the original LT decoding process.
Nature communications, 2014
Male factor infertility affects one-sixth of couples worldwide, and non-obstructive azoospermia (... more Male factor infertility affects one-sixth of couples worldwide, and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is one of the most severe forms. Our previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified three susceptibility loci for NOA in Han Chinese men. Here we test promising associations in an extended three-stage validation using 3,608 NOA cases and 5,909 controls to identify additional risk loci. We find strong evidence of three NOA susceptibility loci (P<5.0 × 10(-8)) at 6p21.32 (rs7194, P=3.76 × 10(-19)), 10q25.3 (rs7099208, P=6.41 × 10(-14)) and 6p12.2 (rs13206743, P=3.69 × 10(-8)), as well as one locus approaching genome-wide significance at 1q42.13 (rs3000811, P=7.26 × 10(-8)). In addition, we investigate the phenotypic effect of the related gene (gek, orthologous to CDC42BPA) at 1q42.13 on male fertility using a Drosophila model. These results advance our understanding of the genetic susceptibility to NOA and provide insights into its pathogenic mechanism.
Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi, 2014
To investigate the joint association of adiposity, physical activity, sedentary leisure time and ... more To investigate the joint association of adiposity, physical activity, sedentary leisure time and job intensity on diabetes and impaired glycoregulation. Data was from the 2010 Zhejiang survey and 17 437 adults ( ≥18 years) were examined. Logistic regression was used in this cross-sectional study. Under the same level of sedentary leisure time, adiposity anticipants showed an OR of 2.52-2.75 times for people with diabetes than those with normal or underweight BMI, and anticipants with highest WC having an OR of 2.09-3.71 times than those with the lowest WC. With the same level of physical activity, those adiposity anticipants had an OR of 2.19-5.98 times for diabetes than those with normal or underweight BMI, and anticipants with the highest WC had an OR of 3.10-6.25 times than those with the lowest WC. Anticipants who had no physical activity but with adiposity. BMI had an OR of 3.21 times than those with normal or underweight BMI, but there was no significant difference between dia...
Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi, 2014
To assess the cardiovascular disease-related risk levels among hypertensive people in Zhejiang. S... more To assess the cardiovascular disease-related risk levels among hypertensive people in Zhejiang. Subjects were selected from local residents aged ≥18 years old, using the multi stage stratified-random sampling method. All participants accepted physical examinations including blood tests for lipids, fasting blood glucose, 2 hours blood glucose and physical measurements for obesity and blood pressure in the year 2010. Totally, 17 437 subjects were finally included in the study, in which 5 227 were diagnosed as having hypertension, with 'grade one hypertension' the majority. Cardiovascular disease-related risk factors would include older age (male >55 years, female >65 years), smoking, abnormal fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, abnormal TC, abnormal HDL-C, abdominal obesity and obesity, with rates as 42.78% , 20.89%, 5.31%, 8.35%, 9.87%, 35.66%, 40.55% and 13.93%. Most of the hypertensive people had two (30.44%) or three risk factors (29.96%). Proportions of low...
Zhonghua yu fang yi xue za zhi [Chinese journal of preventive medicine], 2013
To explore the association between dyslipidemia and different subtypes of hypertension among Zhej... more To explore the association between dyslipidemia and different subtypes of hypertension among Zhejiang population. From June to October in 2010, 19 113 local residents aged ≥ 18 years old were selected among 7571 families from fifteen counties in Zhejiang by four stage stratified-random sampling method. A self-designed questionnaire was adopted to collect information on demographic characteristics, physical activity and life style. At the same time, physical examinations including height, weight, blood pressure and blood lipids were carried out. A total of 19 113 participants completed the interviews, physical examinations and collected the blood samples.Excluding those who did not meet the criteria, 14 731 were finally enrolled in the study. The prevalence rates of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), systolic and diastolic hypertension (SDH) were 7.16% (1055/14 731, standardized rate:5.46%), 4.60% (677/14 731, standardized rate:4.41%), 7.09% ...
Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi, 2013
To investigate factors associated with awareness, treatment and control of diabetes in Zhejiang. ... more To investigate factors associated with awareness, treatment and control of diabetes in Zhejiang. Subjects under study were selected among local residents aged ≥ 18 years old by multi stage stratified-random sampling method. All participants received physical examinations including blood tests for lipids, fasting blood glucose, 2 h blood glucose and physical measurements for obesity and blood pressure in the year 2010. Totally, 17 437 residents were finally included in the study, including 1529 patients with diabetes. The rates of awareness, treatment and control of diabetes among the subjects under study, were 59.19%, 46.63% and 23.87%, respectively. Rate of treatment in patients with awareness of diabetes and the rate of under control among patients with treated diabetes were 78.78% and 51.19% respectively. Data from multivariate logistic regression method showed that factors as older age, having family history of diabetes were associated with higher awareness of diabetes, being al...
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2009
The efficacy of autologous fat transplantation is reduced by fat absorption and fibrosis due to f... more The efficacy of autologous fat transplantation is reduced by fat absorption and fibrosis due to fat necrosis. Enhanced transplant neovascularization early after transplantation may reduce these outcomes. The authors asked whether cell and concomitant gene therapy using adipose-derived stem cells transduced with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) improves fat transplant neovascularization and survival. Human adipose-derived stem cells were expanded ex vivo for three passages, labeled with 1,1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-dioctadecyl-3,3,3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;,3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI), and transduced with VEGF or left untransduced. Human fat tissues were then mixed with the DiI-labeled VEGF-transduced adipose-derived stem cells, the DiI-labeled adipose-derived stem cells, the known vascularization-promoting agent insulin, or medium alone, and 18 nude mice were injected subcutaneously with all four preparations, with each of the four designated spots receiving one of these four mixtures in a random fashion. Six months later, transplanted tissue volume and histology were evaluated and neovascularization was quantified by counting the capillaries. Control transplant survival was 27.1 +/- 8.2 percent, but mixture with the VEGF-transduced and VEGF-untransduced stem cells significantly increased transplant survival (74.1 +/- 12.6 percent and 60.1 +/- 17.6 percent, respectively). Insulin was less effective (37.7 +/- 6.9 percent). Histological analysis revealed both types of transplants consisted predominantly of adipose tissue, unlike the control transplants, and had significantly less fat necrosis and fibrosis. The VEGF-transduced, adipose-derived stem cell-treated transplants had significantly higher capillary density than the other transplants and bore DiI-double-positive and CD31-double-positive cells (i.e., adipose-derived stem cell-derived endothelial cells). Adipose-derived stem cells together with VEGF transduction can enhance the survival and quality of transplanted fat tissues.
PloS one, 2015
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified dozens of single nucleotide polymorphisms ... more Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified dozens of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with type 2 diabetes risk. We have previously confirmed the associations of genetic variants in HHEX, CDKAL1, VEGFA and FTO with type 2 diabetes in Han Chinese. However, the cumulative effect and predictive value of these GWAS identified SNPs on the risk of type 2 diabetes in Han Chinese are largely unknown. We conducted a two-stage case-control study consisting of 2,925 cases and 3,281controls to examine the association of 30 SNPs identified by GWAS with type 2 diabetes in Han Chinese. Significant associations were found for proxy SNPs at KCNQ1 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.41, P = 9.91 × 10-16 for rs2237897], CDKN2A/CDKN2B (OR = 1.30, P = 1.34 × 10-10 for rs10811661), CENTD2 (OR = 1.28, P = 9.88 × 10-4 for rs1552224) and SLC30A8 (OR = 1.19, P = 1.43 × 10-5 for rs13266634). We further evaluated the cumulative effect on type 2 diabetes of these 4 SNPs, in combination with 5 SNPs...
PLoS ONE, 2014
Objection: To investigate the safety and treatment response of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) in combin... more Objection: To investigate the safety and treatment response of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) in combination with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of VX 2 tumor on rabbit.
PLoS ONE, 2014
The recent discovery of hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains in rabbits in the People's Republic of Ch... more The recent discovery of hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains in rabbits in the People's Republic of China and the United States revealed that rabbits are another noteworthy reservoir of HEV. However, whether HEV from rabbits can infect humans is unclear. To study the zoonotic potential for and pathogenesis of rabbit HEV, we infected 2 cynomolgus macaques and 2 rabbits with an HEV strain from rabbits in China. Typical hepatitis developed in both monkeys; they exhibited elevated liver enzymes, viremia, virus shedding in fecal specimens, and seroconversion. Comparison of the complete genome sequence of HEV passed in the macaques with that of the inoculum showed 99.8% nucleotide identity. Rabbit HEV RNA (positive-and negative-stranded) was detectable in various tissues from the experimentally infected rabbits, indicating that extrahepatic replication may be common. Thus, HEV is transmissible from rabbits to cynomolgus macaques, which suggests that rabbits may be a new source of human HEV infection.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2007
Expression of connexins and other constituent proteins of gap junctions along with gap junctional... more Expression of connexins and other constituent proteins of gap junctions along with gap junctional intercellular communication are involved in cellular development and differentiation processes. In addition, an increasing number of hereditary skin disorders appear to be linked to connexins. Therefore, in this report, the authors studied in vitro gap junctional intercellular communication function and connexin expression in fibroblasts derived from keloid and hypertrophic scar patients. Fibroblasts harvested from each of six keloid and hypertrophic scar patients were used for this study. Gap junctional intercellular communication function was investigated using the gap fluorescence recovery after photobleaching method, and expression of connexin proteins was studied using quantitative confocal microscopic analyses. Compared with normal skin, a decreased level of gap junctional intercellular communication was seen in fibroblasts derived from hypertrophic scar tissue, whereas an extremely low gap junctional intercellular communication level was detected in fibroblasts derived from keloid tissue. We also detected little connexin 43 (Cx43) protein localized in fibroblasts derived from keloids. Moreover, Cx43 protein levels were much lower in fibroblasts derived from hypertrophic scars than in those derived from normal skin. The authors&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; data suggest that the loss of gap junctional intercellular communication and connexin expression may affect intercellular recognition and thus break the proliferation and apoptosis balance in fibroblasts derived from keloid and hypertrophic scar tissue.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2008
Flap necrosis caused by inadequate blood supply is a common postoperative complication in reconst... more Flap necrosis caused by inadequate blood supply is a common postoperative complication in reconstructive surgery. Because a putative stem cell population within the adipose tissue has been found to possess angiogenic potential, the authors sought to determine whether these cells might selectively induce neovascularization and increase the viability of random pattern skin flaps. Adipose-derived stem cells were isolated from the inguinal fat pads of ICR mice and expanded ex vivo for three passages. After the elevation of cranially based random pattern skin flaps (3 cm long and 1 cm wide), 1,1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-dioctadecyl-3,3,3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;,3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI)-labeled adipose-derived stem cells were then injected into the pedicle base (group A) or 1.5 cm distal to the pedicle (group B). Medium containing no adipose-derived stem cells, mature adipocytes, or basic fibroblast growth factor were injected in three other control groups separately (n = 10 for each group). Millimetric measurements were taken at postoperative day 7 for evaluation of flap viability. Specimens were harvested for histologic analyses. Adipose-derived stem cells led to a statistically significant increase in flap viability in both group A and group B compared with the control and the adipocyte groups. Histologic examination also demonstrated a statistically significant increase in capillary density in both group A and group B. Moreover, some of the endothelial cells were stained positively for DiI. These findings suggest that adipose-derived stem cells have a potential for enhancing the blood supply of random pattern skin flaps. This mechanism might be both the direct differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells into endothelial cells and the indirect effect of angiogenic growth factor released from adipose-derived stem cells.
Neuroscience Letters, 2012
The present study investigates the neurological protective effects of edaravone against global br... more The present study investigates the neurological protective effects of edaravone against global brain ischemia. Gerbils were treated with edaravone (3 mg/kg; i.p.) 30 min before transient forebrain ischemia, which was induced by occluding the bilateral common carotid artery for 5 min. The effects of edaravone were examined by measuring neuronal damage and behavioral deficits. Hexanoyl-lysine adduct (HEL) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), oxidative stress markers, were also examined to assess the anti-oxidative effects of edaravone. Edaravone treatment significantly inhibited both lipid and DNA oxidative damage 72 hours after ischemia, and decreased neuronal damage. Edaravone also significantly reduced the locomotor activity deficit 72 hours after ischemia and improved memory impairment. These findings suggest that edaravone inhibits oxidative stress and attenuates neuronal damage induced by transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils and which may contribute to improvements in behavioral deficits.
Microbes and Infection, 2014
The newly identified GPI-anchored Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 paralog (MSP1P) ha... more The newly identified GPI-anchored Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 paralog (MSP1P) has a highly antigenic C-terminus that binds erythrocytes. To characterize the antigenicity and immunogenicity of two regions (PvMSP1P-19 and -33) of the highly conserved Cterminus of MSP1P relative to PvMSP1-19, 30 P. vivax malaria-infected patients and two groups of mice (immunized with PvMSP1P-19 or -33) were tested for IgG subclass antibodies against PvMSP1P-19 and -33 antigens. In the patients infected with P. vivax, IgG1 and IgG3 levels were significantly higher than those levels in healthy individuals, and were the predominant response to the two C-terminal fragments of PvMSP1P ( p < 0.05). In mice immunized with PvMSP1P-19, IgG1 levels were the highest while IgG2b levels were similar to IgG1 levels. The levels of Th1 cytokines in mice immunized with PvMSP1P-19 or -33 were significantly higher than those in mice immunized with PvMSP1-19 ( p < 0.05). Our results indicate that: (i) IgG1 and IgG3 (IgG2b in mice) are predominant IgG subclasses in both patients infected with P. vivax and mice immunized with PvMSP1P-19 or -33; (ii) the C-terminus of MSP1P induces a Th1-cytokine response. This immune profiling study provides evidence that MSP1P may be a potential candidate for vivax vaccine.
Journal of Surgical Research, 2014
The transmural biodegradable polycaprolactone/poly(D,L-lactic/glycolic acid) (PCL/PLGA) scaffold ... more The transmural biodegradable polycaprolactone/poly(D,L-lactic/glycolic acid) (PCL/PLGA) scaffold is a promising modality for diffuse coronary atherosclerosis cases that are not suitable for bypass grafting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term performance of the PCL/PLGA scaffold in vivo in the setting of polymer and heparin degradation. After mechanical drilling through the ventricular wall was performed in the whole ventricular wall, two scaffolds were implanted into the ventricular wall. Animals were grouped into the single drilling group (SD group), the blank scaffold group (BS group), and the heparinized scaffold group (HS group) and were allowed to survived for 6 mo. Next, the patency and integrity of the scaffolds were evaluated by echocardiography and 3D-DOCTOR software. Endothelium coverage of the lumen was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Neovessels and collagen fiber within the scaffolds were identified by histologic staining. Metabolite production of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in the plasma was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of PGI2 synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) involved in PGI2 production and COX-1 involved in TXA2 production were measured by Western blot analysis. The heparinized scaffolds were patent for up to 6 mo and the lumen was covered with confluent endothelial cells. Histologic staining revealed collagen fiber remodeling and reconstruction of the neovascular network immediately surrounding the lumen. The expression of PGI2 synthase and COX-2 in the HS group was significantly higher compared with the SD and BS groups (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01). The expression of COX-1 was similar in the three groups (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 0.05). Consistent with synthetase expression, a PGI2 metabolite (6-keto-PGF1a) also showed a significant increase in the HS group relative to the SD and BS groups (P = 0.021 and P = 0.015, respectively). Concomitantly, as a PGI2 antagonist, the TXA2 metabolite (TXB2) did not exhibit a significant difference among the three groups (P = 0.17). Despite polymer and heparin degradation, the scaffold could continuously maintain the structural integrity and lumen patency for up to 6 mo by reinforcement of host collagen fiber and the balance of PGI2/TXA2.
Journal of Proteomics, 2014
Completion of sequencing of the Plasmodium vivax genome and transcriptome offers the chance to id... more Completion of sequencing of the Plasmodium vivax genome and transcriptome offers the chance to identify antigens among >5000 candidate proteins. To identify those P. vivax proteins that are immunogenic, a total of 152 candidate proteins (160 fragments) were expressed using a wheat germ cell-free system. The results of Western blot analysis showed that 92.5% (148/160) of the targets were expressed, and 96.6% (143/148) were in a soluble form with 67.7% of solubility rate. The proteins were screened by protein arrays with sera from 22 vivax malaria patients and 10 healthy individuals to confirm their immune profile, and 44 (27.5%, 44/160) highly reactive P. vivax antigens were identified. Overall, 5 candidates (rhoptry-associated membrane antigen [RAMA], Pv-fam-a and -b, EXP-1 and hypothetical protein PVX_084775) showed a positive reaction with >80% of patient sera, and 21 candidates with 50% to 80%. More than 23% of the highly immunoreactive proteins were hypothetical proteins, described for the first time in this study. One of the top immunogenic proteins, RAMA, was characterized and confirmed to be a serological marker of recent exposure to P. vivax infection. These novel immunoproteomes should greatly facilitate the identification of promising novel malaria antigens and may warrant further study.
Journal of Human Genetics, 2012
Recent genome-wide association studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (S... more Recent genome-wide association studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 6p21.1 and 6p22.3 as type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility loci in the European and Japanese populations. However, these SNPs have not been well evaluated in Chinese population. Here, we performed a case-control study with 2925 T2D cases and 3281 controls in a Chinese population. We used TaqMan OpenArray and Sequenom MassARRAY to genotype the four SNPs (rs4712523, rs7756992, rs4712524 and rs6931514) in CDKAL1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 1-like 1) at 6p22.3 and one SNP (rs9472138) near vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) at 6p21.1. All the five SNPs were significantly associated with T2D risk with overall effects (odds ratio, OR) from 1.19 to 1.29 in the additive genetic model (rs6931514: OR=1.29, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI)=1.19-1.39, P=5.6 × 10(-10); rs7756992: OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.15-1.32, P=1.2 × 10(-8); rs4712523: OR=1.25, 95% CI=1.15-1.35, P=3.8 × 10(-8); rs4712524: OR=1.24, 95% CI=1.15-1.35, P=6.8 × 10(-8); rs9472138: OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.05-1.34, P=006). Conditional analysis identified two independent signals (rs6931514 at 6p22.3 and rs9472138 at 6p21.1) that were significantly associated with T2D. Compared with the wild homozygote of rs6931514 and rs9472138, subjects with variant alleles of the two SNPs had increased risk for T2D susceptibility in a dose-response manner (P(trend)=7.4 × 10(-12)). Our findings indicated that genetic variants of CDKAL1 and VEGFA on chromosome 6 may contribute to T2D risk in Chinese population, especially for rs9472138 at 6p21.1 identified for the first time to significantly increase the T2D risk in Chinese individuals.
Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 2008
Gossip-based algorithms for information dissemination have recently received significant attentio... more Gossip-based algorithms for information dissemination have recently received significant attention for sensor and ad hoc network applications because of their simplicity and robustness. However, a common drawback of many gossipbased protocols is the waste of energy in passing redundant information over the network. Thus gossip algorithms need to be re-engineered in order to become applicable to energy constrained networks. In this paper, we consider a scenario where each node in the network holds a piece of information (message) at the beginning, and the objective is to simultaneously disseminate all information (messages) among all nodes quickly and cheaply. To provide a practical solution to this problem for ad hoc and sensor networks, NBgossip algorithm is proposed, which is based on network coding and neighborhood gossip. In NBgossip, nodes do not simply forward messages they receive, instead, the linear combinations of the messages are sent out. In addition, every node exchanges messages with its neighboring nodes only. Mathematical proof and simulation studies show that the proposed NBgossip terminates in the optimal O(n)-order rounds and outperforms the existing gossip-based approaches in terms of energy consumption incurred in spreading all the information.
International Journal of Climatology, Apr 10, 2011
The nonlinear trend of runoff and its response to climate change in the Aksu River were identifie... more The nonlinear trend of runoff and its response to climate change in the Aksu River were identified and evaluated using several selected methods, including grey relation analysis, wavelet analysis, and regression analysis. The time series of runoff and related climate variables from two hydrologic stations and four meteorological stations during 1959-2005 for the Aksu River were used to construct and test empirical models. The key findings of this study indicate that although the time series of the runoff, temperature and precipitation present nonlinear trends, the runoff exhibits a linear correlation with the temperature and precipitation. These results reveal that there is a close relationship between variations in the annual runoff of the Aksu River and regional climate change; in other words, the nonlinear trend of the variations in the runoff is the response to that of regional climate change. The details supporting the key findings are as follows: (1) The annual runoff presented nonlinear trends that depend on time scales, which appeared to have resulted from the regional climate changes that occurred during the study period. (2) The periodicity of changes in runoff, temperature, and precipitation are closely correlated, that of annual runoff occurred on 24-year cycle, whereas annual average temperature and annual precipitation occurred on 23- and 25-year cycles. (3) The annual runoff exhibited a significant, positive correlation with the temperature and precipitation at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-year temporal scales.
Environmental Science and Information Application Technology, 2009. ESIAT 2009. Volume 1: 308-311.
The prediction of urban water demand using a small number of representative properties is fundame... more The prediction of urban water demand using a small number of representative properties is fundamental in evaluating carrying capacity of water resources. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have recently become popular tools in the prediction of urban water demand. In this paper, an iterative method which combining the strength of back-propagation (BP) in weight learning and genetic algorithms’ capability of searching the satisfying solution is proposed for optimizing wavelet neural networks (WNNs). Taking the city of Hefei in China as an example, the proposed genetic algorithms optimized WNN that required a few representative properties as possible for input data is applied to predict urban water demand in the future several years. The prediction performance of the GA Optimized WNN is compared with traditional neural networks, and simulation results demonstrate the accuracy and the reliability of the prediction methodology based on the proposed model. Finally, urban water demand in Hefei, 2008-2010, is obtained which provide reference for coordinated development of socio-economic and water resources in Hefei.
2009 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory, 2009
LT codes provide an efficient way to transfer information over erasure channels. Past research ha... more LT codes provide an efficient way to transfer information over erasure channels. Past research has illustrated that LT codes can perform well for a large number of input symbols. However, it is shown that LT codes have poor performance when the number of input symbols is small. We notice that the poor performance is due to the design of the LT decoding process. In this respect, we present a decoding algorithm called full rank decoding that extends the decodability of LT codes by using Wiedemann algorithm. We provide a detailed mathematical analysis on the rank of the random coefficient matrix to evaluate the probability of successful decoding for our proposed algorithm. Our studies show that our proposed method reduces the overhead significantly in the cases of small number of input symbols yet preserves the sim plicity of the original LT decoding process.
Nature communications, 2014
Male factor infertility affects one-sixth of couples worldwide, and non-obstructive azoospermia (... more Male factor infertility affects one-sixth of couples worldwide, and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is one of the most severe forms. Our previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified three susceptibility loci for NOA in Han Chinese men. Here we test promising associations in an extended three-stage validation using 3,608 NOA cases and 5,909 controls to identify additional risk loci. We find strong evidence of three NOA susceptibility loci (P<5.0 × 10(-8)) at 6p21.32 (rs7194, P=3.76 × 10(-19)), 10q25.3 (rs7099208, P=6.41 × 10(-14)) and 6p12.2 (rs13206743, P=3.69 × 10(-8)), as well as one locus approaching genome-wide significance at 1q42.13 (rs3000811, P=7.26 × 10(-8)). In addition, we investigate the phenotypic effect of the related gene (gek, orthologous to CDC42BPA) at 1q42.13 on male fertility using a Drosophila model. These results advance our understanding of the genetic susceptibility to NOA and provide insights into its pathogenic mechanism.
Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi, 2014
To investigate the joint association of adiposity, physical activity, sedentary leisure time and ... more To investigate the joint association of adiposity, physical activity, sedentary leisure time and job intensity on diabetes and impaired glycoregulation. Data was from the 2010 Zhejiang survey and 17 437 adults ( ≥18 years) were examined. Logistic regression was used in this cross-sectional study. Under the same level of sedentary leisure time, adiposity anticipants showed an OR of 2.52-2.75 times for people with diabetes than those with normal or underweight BMI, and anticipants with highest WC having an OR of 2.09-3.71 times than those with the lowest WC. With the same level of physical activity, those adiposity anticipants had an OR of 2.19-5.98 times for diabetes than those with normal or underweight BMI, and anticipants with the highest WC had an OR of 3.10-6.25 times than those with the lowest WC. Anticipants who had no physical activity but with adiposity. BMI had an OR of 3.21 times than those with normal or underweight BMI, but there was no significant difference between dia...
Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi, 2014
To assess the cardiovascular disease-related risk levels among hypertensive people in Zhejiang. S... more To assess the cardiovascular disease-related risk levels among hypertensive people in Zhejiang. Subjects were selected from local residents aged ≥18 years old, using the multi stage stratified-random sampling method. All participants accepted physical examinations including blood tests for lipids, fasting blood glucose, 2 hours blood glucose and physical measurements for obesity and blood pressure in the year 2010. Totally, 17 437 subjects were finally included in the study, in which 5 227 were diagnosed as having hypertension, with 'grade one hypertension' the majority. Cardiovascular disease-related risk factors would include older age (male >55 years, female >65 years), smoking, abnormal fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, abnormal TC, abnormal HDL-C, abdominal obesity and obesity, with rates as 42.78% , 20.89%, 5.31%, 8.35%, 9.87%, 35.66%, 40.55% and 13.93%. Most of the hypertensive people had two (30.44%) or three risk factors (29.96%). Proportions of low...
Zhonghua yu fang yi xue za zhi [Chinese journal of preventive medicine], 2013
To explore the association between dyslipidemia and different subtypes of hypertension among Zhej... more To explore the association between dyslipidemia and different subtypes of hypertension among Zhejiang population. From June to October in 2010, 19 113 local residents aged ≥ 18 years old were selected among 7571 families from fifteen counties in Zhejiang by four stage stratified-random sampling method. A self-designed questionnaire was adopted to collect information on demographic characteristics, physical activity and life style. At the same time, physical examinations including height, weight, blood pressure and blood lipids were carried out. A total of 19 113 participants completed the interviews, physical examinations and collected the blood samples.Excluding those who did not meet the criteria, 14 731 were finally enrolled in the study. The prevalence rates of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH), systolic and diastolic hypertension (SDH) were 7.16% (1055/14 731, standardized rate:5.46%), 4.60% (677/14 731, standardized rate:4.41%), 7.09% ...
Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi, 2013
To investigate factors associated with awareness, treatment and control of diabetes in Zhejiang. ... more To investigate factors associated with awareness, treatment and control of diabetes in Zhejiang. Subjects under study were selected among local residents aged ≥ 18 years old by multi stage stratified-random sampling method. All participants received physical examinations including blood tests for lipids, fasting blood glucose, 2 h blood glucose and physical measurements for obesity and blood pressure in the year 2010. Totally, 17 437 residents were finally included in the study, including 1529 patients with diabetes. The rates of awareness, treatment and control of diabetes among the subjects under study, were 59.19%, 46.63% and 23.87%, respectively. Rate of treatment in patients with awareness of diabetes and the rate of under control among patients with treated diabetes were 78.78% and 51.19% respectively. Data from multivariate logistic regression method showed that factors as older age, having family history of diabetes were associated with higher awareness of diabetes, being al...
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2009
The efficacy of autologous fat transplantation is reduced by fat absorption and fibrosis due to f... more The efficacy of autologous fat transplantation is reduced by fat absorption and fibrosis due to fat necrosis. Enhanced transplant neovascularization early after transplantation may reduce these outcomes. The authors asked whether cell and concomitant gene therapy using adipose-derived stem cells transduced with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) improves fat transplant neovascularization and survival. Human adipose-derived stem cells were expanded ex vivo for three passages, labeled with 1,1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-dioctadecyl-3,3,3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;,3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI), and transduced with VEGF or left untransduced. Human fat tissues were then mixed with the DiI-labeled VEGF-transduced adipose-derived stem cells, the DiI-labeled adipose-derived stem cells, the known vascularization-promoting agent insulin, or medium alone, and 18 nude mice were injected subcutaneously with all four preparations, with each of the four designated spots receiving one of these four mixtures in a random fashion. Six months later, transplanted tissue volume and histology were evaluated and neovascularization was quantified by counting the capillaries. Control transplant survival was 27.1 +/- 8.2 percent, but mixture with the VEGF-transduced and VEGF-untransduced stem cells significantly increased transplant survival (74.1 +/- 12.6 percent and 60.1 +/- 17.6 percent, respectively). Insulin was less effective (37.7 +/- 6.9 percent). Histological analysis revealed both types of transplants consisted predominantly of adipose tissue, unlike the control transplants, and had significantly less fat necrosis and fibrosis. The VEGF-transduced, adipose-derived stem cell-treated transplants had significantly higher capillary density than the other transplants and bore DiI-double-positive and CD31-double-positive cells (i.e., adipose-derived stem cell-derived endothelial cells). Adipose-derived stem cells together with VEGF transduction can enhance the survival and quality of transplanted fat tissues.
PloS one, 2015
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified dozens of single nucleotide polymorphisms ... more Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified dozens of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with type 2 diabetes risk. We have previously confirmed the associations of genetic variants in HHEX, CDKAL1, VEGFA and FTO with type 2 diabetes in Han Chinese. However, the cumulative effect and predictive value of these GWAS identified SNPs on the risk of type 2 diabetes in Han Chinese are largely unknown. We conducted a two-stage case-control study consisting of 2,925 cases and 3,281controls to examine the association of 30 SNPs identified by GWAS with type 2 diabetes in Han Chinese. Significant associations were found for proxy SNPs at KCNQ1 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.41, P = 9.91 × 10-16 for rs2237897], CDKN2A/CDKN2B (OR = 1.30, P = 1.34 × 10-10 for rs10811661), CENTD2 (OR = 1.28, P = 9.88 × 10-4 for rs1552224) and SLC30A8 (OR = 1.19, P = 1.43 × 10-5 for rs13266634). We further evaluated the cumulative effect on type 2 diabetes of these 4 SNPs, in combination with 5 SNPs...
PLoS ONE, 2014
Objection: To investigate the safety and treatment response of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) in combin... more Objection: To investigate the safety and treatment response of radioimmunotherapy (RIT) in combination with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for the treatment of VX 2 tumor on rabbit.
PLoS ONE, 2014
The recent discovery of hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains in rabbits in the People's Republic of Ch... more The recent discovery of hepatitis E virus (HEV) strains in rabbits in the People's Republic of China and the United States revealed that rabbits are another noteworthy reservoir of HEV. However, whether HEV from rabbits can infect humans is unclear. To study the zoonotic potential for and pathogenesis of rabbit HEV, we infected 2 cynomolgus macaques and 2 rabbits with an HEV strain from rabbits in China. Typical hepatitis developed in both monkeys; they exhibited elevated liver enzymes, viremia, virus shedding in fecal specimens, and seroconversion. Comparison of the complete genome sequence of HEV passed in the macaques with that of the inoculum showed 99.8% nucleotide identity. Rabbit HEV RNA (positive-and negative-stranded) was detectable in various tissues from the experimentally infected rabbits, indicating that extrahepatic replication may be common. Thus, HEV is transmissible from rabbits to cynomolgus macaques, which suggests that rabbits may be a new source of human HEV infection.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2007
Expression of connexins and other constituent proteins of gap junctions along with gap junctional... more Expression of connexins and other constituent proteins of gap junctions along with gap junctional intercellular communication are involved in cellular development and differentiation processes. In addition, an increasing number of hereditary skin disorders appear to be linked to connexins. Therefore, in this report, the authors studied in vitro gap junctional intercellular communication function and connexin expression in fibroblasts derived from keloid and hypertrophic scar patients. Fibroblasts harvested from each of six keloid and hypertrophic scar patients were used for this study. Gap junctional intercellular communication function was investigated using the gap fluorescence recovery after photobleaching method, and expression of connexin proteins was studied using quantitative confocal microscopic analyses. Compared with normal skin, a decreased level of gap junctional intercellular communication was seen in fibroblasts derived from hypertrophic scar tissue, whereas an extremely low gap junctional intercellular communication level was detected in fibroblasts derived from keloid tissue. We also detected little connexin 43 (Cx43) protein localized in fibroblasts derived from keloids. Moreover, Cx43 protein levels were much lower in fibroblasts derived from hypertrophic scars than in those derived from normal skin. The authors&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; data suggest that the loss of gap junctional intercellular communication and connexin expression may affect intercellular recognition and thus break the proliferation and apoptosis balance in fibroblasts derived from keloid and hypertrophic scar tissue.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2008
Flap necrosis caused by inadequate blood supply is a common postoperative complication in reconst... more Flap necrosis caused by inadequate blood supply is a common postoperative complication in reconstructive surgery. Because a putative stem cell population within the adipose tissue has been found to possess angiogenic potential, the authors sought to determine whether these cells might selectively induce neovascularization and increase the viability of random pattern skin flaps. Adipose-derived stem cells were isolated from the inguinal fat pads of ICR mice and expanded ex vivo for three passages. After the elevation of cranially based random pattern skin flaps (3 cm long and 1 cm wide), 1,1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-dioctadecyl-3,3,3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;,3&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI)-labeled adipose-derived stem cells were then injected into the pedicle base (group A) or 1.5 cm distal to the pedicle (group B). Medium containing no adipose-derived stem cells, mature adipocytes, or basic fibroblast growth factor were injected in three other control groups separately (n = 10 for each group). Millimetric measurements were taken at postoperative day 7 for evaluation of flap viability. Specimens were harvested for histologic analyses. Adipose-derived stem cells led to a statistically significant increase in flap viability in both group A and group B compared with the control and the adipocyte groups. Histologic examination also demonstrated a statistically significant increase in capillary density in both group A and group B. Moreover, some of the endothelial cells were stained positively for DiI. These findings suggest that adipose-derived stem cells have a potential for enhancing the blood supply of random pattern skin flaps. This mechanism might be both the direct differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells into endothelial cells and the indirect effect of angiogenic growth factor released from adipose-derived stem cells.
Neuroscience Letters, 2012
The present study investigates the neurological protective effects of edaravone against global br... more The present study investigates the neurological protective effects of edaravone against global brain ischemia. Gerbils were treated with edaravone (3 mg/kg; i.p.) 30 min before transient forebrain ischemia, which was induced by occluding the bilateral common carotid artery for 5 min. The effects of edaravone were examined by measuring neuronal damage and behavioral deficits. Hexanoyl-lysine adduct (HEL) and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), oxidative stress markers, were also examined to assess the anti-oxidative effects of edaravone. Edaravone treatment significantly inhibited both lipid and DNA oxidative damage 72 hours after ischemia, and decreased neuronal damage. Edaravone also significantly reduced the locomotor activity deficit 72 hours after ischemia and improved memory impairment. These findings suggest that edaravone inhibits oxidative stress and attenuates neuronal damage induced by transient forebrain ischemia in gerbils and which may contribute to improvements in behavioral deficits.
Microbes and Infection, 2014
The newly identified GPI-anchored Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 paralog (MSP1P) ha... more The newly identified GPI-anchored Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein 1 paralog (MSP1P) has a highly antigenic C-terminus that binds erythrocytes. To characterize the antigenicity and immunogenicity of two regions (PvMSP1P-19 and -33) of the highly conserved Cterminus of MSP1P relative to PvMSP1-19, 30 P. vivax malaria-infected patients and two groups of mice (immunized with PvMSP1P-19 or -33) were tested for IgG subclass antibodies against PvMSP1P-19 and -33 antigens. In the patients infected with P. vivax, IgG1 and IgG3 levels were significantly higher than those levels in healthy individuals, and were the predominant response to the two C-terminal fragments of PvMSP1P ( p < 0.05). In mice immunized with PvMSP1P-19, IgG1 levels were the highest while IgG2b levels were similar to IgG1 levels. The levels of Th1 cytokines in mice immunized with PvMSP1P-19 or -33 were significantly higher than those in mice immunized with PvMSP1-19 ( p < 0.05). Our results indicate that: (i) IgG1 and IgG3 (IgG2b in mice) are predominant IgG subclasses in both patients infected with P. vivax and mice immunized with PvMSP1P-19 or -33; (ii) the C-terminus of MSP1P induces a Th1-cytokine response. This immune profiling study provides evidence that MSP1P may be a potential candidate for vivax vaccine.
Journal of Surgical Research, 2014
The transmural biodegradable polycaprolactone/poly(D,L-lactic/glycolic acid) (PCL/PLGA) scaffold ... more The transmural biodegradable polycaprolactone/poly(D,L-lactic/glycolic acid) (PCL/PLGA) scaffold is a promising modality for diffuse coronary atherosclerosis cases that are not suitable for bypass grafting. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term performance of the PCL/PLGA scaffold in vivo in the setting of polymer and heparin degradation. After mechanical drilling through the ventricular wall was performed in the whole ventricular wall, two scaffolds were implanted into the ventricular wall. Animals were grouped into the single drilling group (SD group), the blank scaffold group (BS group), and the heparinized scaffold group (HS group) and were allowed to survived for 6 mo. Next, the patency and integrity of the scaffolds were evaluated by echocardiography and 3D-DOCTOR software. Endothelium coverage of the lumen was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Neovessels and collagen fiber within the scaffolds were identified by histologic staining. Metabolite production of prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane A2 (TXA2) in the plasma was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression levels of PGI2 synthase and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) involved in PGI2 production and COX-1 involved in TXA2 production were measured by Western blot analysis. The heparinized scaffolds were patent for up to 6 mo and the lumen was covered with confluent endothelial cells. Histologic staining revealed collagen fiber remodeling and reconstruction of the neovascular network immediately surrounding the lumen. The expression of PGI2 synthase and COX-2 in the HS group was significantly higher compared with the SD and BS groups (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01). The expression of COX-1 was similar in the three groups (P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; 0.05). Consistent with synthetase expression, a PGI2 metabolite (6-keto-PGF1a) also showed a significant increase in the HS group relative to the SD and BS groups (P = 0.021 and P = 0.015, respectively). Concomitantly, as a PGI2 antagonist, the TXA2 metabolite (TXB2) did not exhibit a significant difference among the three groups (P = 0.17). Despite polymer and heparin degradation, the scaffold could continuously maintain the structural integrity and lumen patency for up to 6 mo by reinforcement of host collagen fiber and the balance of PGI2/TXA2.
Journal of Proteomics, 2014
Completion of sequencing of the Plasmodium vivax genome and transcriptome offers the chance to id... more Completion of sequencing of the Plasmodium vivax genome and transcriptome offers the chance to identify antigens among >5000 candidate proteins. To identify those P. vivax proteins that are immunogenic, a total of 152 candidate proteins (160 fragments) were expressed using a wheat germ cell-free system. The results of Western blot analysis showed that 92.5% (148/160) of the targets were expressed, and 96.6% (143/148) were in a soluble form with 67.7% of solubility rate. The proteins were screened by protein arrays with sera from 22 vivax malaria patients and 10 healthy individuals to confirm their immune profile, and 44 (27.5%, 44/160) highly reactive P. vivax antigens were identified. Overall, 5 candidates (rhoptry-associated membrane antigen [RAMA], Pv-fam-a and -b, EXP-1 and hypothetical protein PVX_084775) showed a positive reaction with >80% of patient sera, and 21 candidates with 50% to 80%. More than 23% of the highly immunoreactive proteins were hypothetical proteins, described for the first time in this study. One of the top immunogenic proteins, RAMA, was characterized and confirmed to be a serological marker of recent exposure to P. vivax infection. These novel immunoproteomes should greatly facilitate the identification of promising novel malaria antigens and may warrant further study.
Journal of Human Genetics, 2012
Recent genome-wide association studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (S... more Recent genome-wide association studies have identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on chromosome 6p21.1 and 6p22.3 as type 2 diabetes (T2D) susceptibility loci in the European and Japanese populations. However, these SNPs have not been well evaluated in Chinese population. Here, we performed a case-control study with 2925 T2D cases and 3281 controls in a Chinese population. We used TaqMan OpenArray and Sequenom MassARRAY to genotype the four SNPs (rs4712523, rs7756992, rs4712524 and rs6931514) in CDKAL1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 1-like 1) at 6p22.3 and one SNP (rs9472138) near vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) at 6p21.1. All the five SNPs were significantly associated with T2D risk with overall effects (odds ratio, OR) from 1.19 to 1.29 in the additive genetic model (rs6931514: OR=1.29, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI)=1.19-1.39, P=5.6 × 10(-10); rs7756992: OR=1.23, 95% CI=1.15-1.32, P=1.2 × 10(-8); rs4712523: OR=1.25, 95% CI=1.15-1.35, P=3.8 × 10(-8); rs4712524: OR=1.24, 95% CI=1.15-1.35, P=6.8 × 10(-8); rs9472138: OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.05-1.34, P=006). Conditional analysis identified two independent signals (rs6931514 at 6p22.3 and rs9472138 at 6p21.1) that were significantly associated with T2D. Compared with the wild homozygote of rs6931514 and rs9472138, subjects with variant alleles of the two SNPs had increased risk for T2D susceptibility in a dose-response manner (P(trend)=7.4 × 10(-12)). Our findings indicated that genetic variants of CDKAL1 and VEGFA on chromosome 6 may contribute to T2D risk in Chinese population, especially for rs9472138 at 6p21.1 identified for the first time to significantly increase the T2D risk in Chinese individuals.
Journal of Computer Science and Technology, 2008
Gossip-based algorithms for information dissemination have recently received significant attentio... more Gossip-based algorithms for information dissemination have recently received significant attention for sensor and ad hoc network applications because of their simplicity and robustness. However, a common drawback of many gossipbased protocols is the waste of energy in passing redundant information over the network. Thus gossip algorithms need to be re-engineered in order to become applicable to energy constrained networks. In this paper, we consider a scenario where each node in the network holds a piece of information (message) at the beginning, and the objective is to simultaneously disseminate all information (messages) among all nodes quickly and cheaply. To provide a practical solution to this problem for ad hoc and sensor networks, NBgossip algorithm is proposed, which is based on network coding and neighborhood gossip. In NBgossip, nodes do not simply forward messages they receive, instead, the linear combinations of the messages are sent out. In addition, every node exchanges messages with its neighboring nodes only. Mathematical proof and simulation studies show that the proposed NBgossip terminates in the optimal O(n)-order rounds and outperforms the existing gossip-based approaches in terms of energy consumption incurred in spreading all the information.
International Journal of Climatology, Apr 10, 2011
The nonlinear trend of runoff and its response to climate change in the Aksu River were identifie... more The nonlinear trend of runoff and its response to climate change in the Aksu River were identified and evaluated using several selected methods, including grey relation analysis, wavelet analysis, and regression analysis. The time series of runoff and related climate variables from two hydrologic stations and four meteorological stations during 1959-2005 for the Aksu River were used to construct and test empirical models. The key findings of this study indicate that although the time series of the runoff, temperature and precipitation present nonlinear trends, the runoff exhibits a linear correlation with the temperature and precipitation. These results reveal that there is a close relationship between variations in the annual runoff of the Aksu River and regional climate change; in other words, the nonlinear trend of the variations in the runoff is the response to that of regional climate change. The details supporting the key findings are as follows: (1) The annual runoff presented nonlinear trends that depend on time scales, which appeared to have resulted from the regional climate changes that occurred during the study period. (2) The periodicity of changes in runoff, temperature, and precipitation are closely correlated, that of annual runoff occurred on 24-year cycle, whereas annual average temperature and annual precipitation occurred on 23- and 25-year cycles. (3) The annual runoff exhibited a significant, positive correlation with the temperature and precipitation at the 1-, 2-, 4-, and 8-year temporal scales.