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"ZHANG, WEIXIAN"
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Development of a Reinforcement Learning-Based Intelligent Irrigation Decision-Making Model
2025
Originating from the practical demands of digital irrigation district construction, this study aims to provide support for precise irrigation management. This study developed a reinforcement learning-based intelligent irrigation decision-making model for districts employing traditional surface flood irrigation methods. Grounded in the theoretical framework of water cycle processes within the Soil–Crop–Atmosphere Continuum (SPAC) system and incorporating district-specific irrigation management experience, the model achieves intelligent and precise irrigation decision-making through agent–environment interactive learning. Simulation results show that in the selected typical area of the irrigation district, during the 10-year validation period from 2014 to 2023, the model triggered a total of 22 irrigation events with an average annual irrigation volume of 251 mm. Among these, the model triggered irrigation 18 times during the winter wheat growing season and 4 times during the corn growing season. The intelligent irrigation decision-making model effectively captures the coupling relationship between crop water requirements during critical periods and the temporal distribution of precipitation, and achieves preset objectives through adaptive decisions such as peak-shifting preemptive irrigation in spring, limited irrigation under low-temperature conditions, no irrigation during non-irrigation periods, delayed irrigation during the rainy season, and timely irrigation during crop planting periods. These outcomes validate the model’s scientific rigor and operational adaptability, providing both a scientific water management tool for irrigation districts and a new technical pathway for the intelligent development of irrigation decision-making systems.
Journal Article
Monodisperse core-shell structured magnetic mesoporous aluminosilicate nanospheres with large dendritic mesochannels
by
Jianping Yang Dengke Shen Yong Wei Wei Li Fan Zhang Biao Kong Shaohua Zhang Wei Teng Jianwei Fan Weixian Zhang Shixue Dou Dongyuan Zhao
in
Aluminosilicates
,
Aluminum
,
Aluminum silicates
2015
The rational design and precise synthesis of multifunctional hybrid nanostructures with a tailored active core and a large, dendritic, modified mesoporous structured shell can promote catalysis, energy storage, and biological applications. Here, an oil-water biphase stratification coating strategy has been developed to prepare monodisperse magnetic dendritic mesoporous silica core-shell structured nano- spheres. These sophisticated Fe3O4@SiO2@dendritic-mSiO2 nanospheres feature large dendritic open pores (2.7 and 10.3 nm). Significantly, the silica shells can be converted into dendritic mesoporous aluminosilicate frameworks with unchanged porosity, a Si/Al molar ratio of 14, and remarkably strong acidic sites, through a post-synthesis approach. In addition, the resultant magnetic dendritic mesoporous aluminosilicate nanospheres exhibit outstanding properties and promising application in phosphate removal from wastewater.
Journal Article
Small Extracellular Vesicles Derived From MSCs Have Immunomodulatory Effects to Enhance Delivery of ASO-210 for Psoriasis Treatment
by
Su, Dandan
,
Yan, Jian
,
Shi, Peilin
in
Antibodies
,
Antisense oligonucleotides
,
antisense oligonucleotides-210
2022
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been increasingly used for treating autoimmune diseases due to their immune modulation functions, but inefficient homing to the target tissue and safety issues limits their wide application. Recently, increasing studies demonstrate small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) as key mediators of MSCs to exert their immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we found that sEVs derived from human umbilical cord MSCs stimulated by IFN-γ (IFNγ-sEVs) inhibited proliferation and activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and T cells in vitro . Furthermore, we confirmed that IFNγ-sEVs reduced psoriasis symptoms including thickness, erythema, and scales of skin lesions; exhausted Th17 cells, increased Th2 cells; and reduced enrichment of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-17A, IFN-γ, IL-6, and TNF-α in both spleen and skin lesions in vivo . Importantly, IFNγ-sEVs significantly improved the delivery efficiency and stability of ASO-210, the antisense oligonucleotides of miR-210 block the immune imbalance and subsequent psoriasis development. Our results reveal MSC-sEVs as promising cell-free therapeutic agents and ideal delivery vehicles of antisense oligonucleotides for psoriasis treatment.
Journal Article
Connection of spectral pattern of carbohydrate molecular structure to alteration of nutritional properties of coffee by-products after fermentation
by
Prates, Luciana
,
Yu, Peiqiang
,
Feng, Xin
in
Analytical chemistry
,
atr-ftir molecular spectroscopy
,
by-products from coffee processing
2024
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine internal structure spectral profile of by-products from coffee processing that were affected by added-microorganism fermentation duration in relation to truly absorbed feed nutrient supply in ruminant system.Methods: The by-products from coffee processing were fermented using commercial fermentation product, consisting of various microorganisms: for 0 (control), 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. In this study, carbohydrate-related spectral profiles of coffee by-products were correlated with their chemical and nutritional properties (chemical composition, total digestible nutrient, bioenergy values, carbohydrate sub-fractions and predicted degradation and digestion parameters as well as milk value of feed). The vibrational spectra of coffee by-products samples after fermentation for 0 (control), 7, 14, 21, and 28 days were determined using a JASCO FT/IR-4200 spectroscopy coupled with accessory of attenuated total reflectance (ATR). The molecular spectral analyses with univariate approach were conducted with the OMNIC 7.3 software.Results: Molecular spectral analysis parameters in fermented and non-fermented byproducts from coffee processing included structural carbohydrate, cellulosic compounds, non-structural carbohydrates, lignin compound, CH-bending, structural carbohydrate peak1, structural carbohydrate peak2, structural carbohydrate peak3, hemicellulosic compound, non-structural carbohydrate peak1, non-structural carbohydrate peak2, nonstructural carbohydrate peak3. The study results show that added-microorganism fermentation induced chemical and nutritional changes of coffee by-products including carbohydrate chemical composition profiles, bioenergy value, feed milk value, carbohydrate subfractions, estimated degradable and undegradable fractions in the rumen, and intestinal digested nutrient supply in ruminant system.Conclusion: In conclusion, carbohydrate nutrition value changes by added-microorganism fermentation duration were in an agreement with the change of their spectral profile in the coffee by-products. The studies show that the vibrational ATR-FT/IR spectroscopic technique could be applied as a rapid analytical tool to evaluate fermented by-products and connect with truly digestible carbohydrate supply in ruminant system.
Journal Article
Engineered Small Extracellular Vesicles as a FGL1/PD‐L1 Dual‐Targeting Delivery System for Alleviating Immune Rejection
2022
There is an urgent need for developing new immunosuppressive agents due to the toxicity of long‐term use of broad immunosuppressive agents after organ transplantation. Comprehensive sample analysis revealed dysregulation of FGL1/LAG‐3 and PD‐L1/PD‐1 immune checkpoints in allogeneic heart transplantation mice and clinical kidney transplant patients. In order to enhance these two immunosuppressive signal axes, a bioengineering strategy is developed to simultaneously display FGL1/PD‐L1 (FP) on the surface of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). Among various cell sources, FP sEVs derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) not only enriches FGL1/PD‐L1 expression but also maintain the immunomodulatory properties of unmodified MSC sEVs. Next, it is confirmed that FGL1 and PD‐L1 on sEVs are specifically bound to their receptors, LAG‐3 and PD‐1 on target cells. Importantly, FP sEVs significantly inhibite T cell activation and proliferation in vitro and a heart allograft model. Furthermore, FP sEVs encapsulated with low‐dose FK506 (FP sEVs@FK506) exert stronger effects on inhibiting T cell proliferation, reducing CD8+ T cell density and cytokine production in the spleens and heart grafts, inducing regulatory T cells in lymph nodes, and extending graft survival. Taken together, dual‐targeting sEVs have the potential to boost the immune inhibitory signalings in synergy and slow down transplant rejection. MSC‐derived FGL1/PD‐L1 sEVs encapsulated in FK506 exhibited a strong ability to inhibit T cell activation and proliferation, and also induced Tregs in organ recipient mice. An experimental basis for a novel intervention strategy is provided that leverages the function of target delivery sEVs to synergistically enhance two immunosuppression axes and reestablish immune tolerance, ultimately promoting organ acceptance.
Journal Article
Effect of Rearing Substrate on Nutritional Composition, Growth Performance and Multi-Omics Characteristics of Black Soldier Fly
2025
To address global protein shortages, black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.) larvae (BSFL) can be used as a sustainable feed alternative, with nutritional quality dependent on rearing substrates. This study compared quail feed (QF), food waste (FW), and quail manure (QM) for BSFL cultivation. Larvae raised on FW and QM had higher crude protein content (47.5–48.3%) than the QF group, while QF-reared larvae contained more fat (33.2%) than the other groups. QM led to larvae with the highest mineral content, and larvae from the FW group showed elevated calcium levels (5.6%). The FW-reared larvae also demonstrated superior growth, with a yield of 186.3 g/kg and a dry-matter conversion rate of 13.7%. Multi-omics analyses indicated substrate-specific differences in gut microbiota and metabolic pathways. FW promoted beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, enhancing nutrient assimilation, while QF and QM upregulated lipid and mineral processing. For sustainable protein production through BSFL rearing, FW was the most suitable substrate among the three tested, offering a balanced combination of high larval protein content and efficient growth.
Journal Article
Microbial fuel cell with high content solid wastes as substrates: a review
by
Zhao, Qingliang
,
Kabutey, Felix Tetteh
,
Zhang, Yunshu
in
Ambient temperature
,
Biochemical fuel cells
,
bioenergy
2017
With the increasing concern about the serious global energy crisis and high energy consumption during high content solid wastes (HCSWs) treatment, microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been recognized as a promising resource utilization approach for HCSW stabilization with simultaneous electrical energy recovery. In contrast to the conventional HCSW stabilization processes, MFC has its unique advantages such as direct bio-energy conversion in a single step and mild reaction conditions (viz., ambient temperature, normal pressure, and neutral pH). This review mainly introduces some important aspects of electricity generation from HCSW and its stabilization in MFC, focusing on: (1) MFCs with different fundamentals and configurations designed and constructed to produce electricity from HCSW; (2) performance of wastes degradation and electricity generation; (3) prospect and deficiency posed by MFCs with HCSWas substrates. To date, the major drawback of MFCs fueled by HCSW is the lower power output than those using simple substrates. HCSW hydrolysis and decomposition would be a major tool to improve the performance of MFCs. The optimization of parameters is needed to push the progress of MFCs with HCSW as fuel.
Journal Article
Investigating the Potential of X-Ray-Based Cancer Treatment Equipment for the Sterile Insect Technique in Aedes aegypti Control Programs
2024
The sterile insect technique (SIT) stands as an eco-friendly approach for mosquito control, but it is impeded by the limited availability of γ-ray radiation source. This research sought to investigate a different radiation source—the Varian Clinac 23EX linear accelerator, which is frequently used for X-ray therapy in cancer treatment. Evaluation parameters including emergence rate, average survival time, induced sterility (IS), male mating competitiveness of irradiated males and fecundity (the number of eggs per female per batch), and the egg hatch rate of females mated with irradiated males were assessed to gauge the application potential of this cancer treatment equipment in the realm of the SIT. The results indicated that X-rays from radiation therapy equipment can effectively suppress the hatch rate of offspring mosquitoes without adversely affecting the emergence rate of irradiated males or the fecundity of females. In addition, at an X-ray dose of 60 Gy, the induced sterility in Ae. aegypti was comparable to the sterility induced by 40 Gy of γ-rays with both treatments resulting in 99.6% sterility. Interestingly, when a release ratio of 7:1 (irradiated males:unirradiated males) was used to competitively mate with females, the IS results resulted by 60 Gy X-rays and 40 Gy γ-rays were still at 70.3% and 73.7%, respectively. In conclusion, the results underscored the potential of the Varian Clinac 23EX linear accelerator as an X-ray source in SIT research.
Journal Article
Alzheimer-Like Changes in Rat Models of Spontaneous Diabetes
by
Weixian Zhang
,
Anders A.F. Sima
,
Zhen-guo Li
in
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
,
Alzheimer Disease - etiology
,
Alzheimer Disease - pathology
2007
Alzheimer-Like Changes in Rat Models of Spontaneous Diabetes
Zhen-guo Li 1 ,
Weixian Zhang 1 and
Anders A.F. Sima 1 2
1 Department of Pathology, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
2 Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Anders A.F. Sima, Department of Pathology, Wayne State University, School
of Medicine, 540 E. Canfield Ave., Detroit, MI 48201. E-mail: asima{at}med.wayne.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE— To examine whether changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease occur in two rat models with spontaneous onset of type 1
and type 2 diabetes.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— The frontal cortices of 8-month-diabetic rats were examined with respect to neuronal densities, neurite degeneration, expression,
and/or immunolocalization of amyloid precursor protein (APP), β-secretase, β-amyloid, COOH-terminal fragment (CTF), insulin
receptor, IGF-1 receptor, glycogen synthase kinase 3-β (GSK-3β), protein kinase B (Akt), phosphorylated τ (phospho-τ), synaptophysin,
and phosphorylated neurofilaments (SMI-31).
RESULTS— Neuronal loss occurred in both models, significantly more so in type 2 diabetic BBZDR/Wor rats compared with type 1 diabetic
BB/Wor rats and was associated with a ninefold increase of dystrophic neurites. APP, β-secretase, β-amyloid, and CTF were
significantly increased in type 2 diabetic rats, as was phospho-τ. The insulin receptor expression was decreased in type 1
diabetes, whereas IGF-1 receptor was decreased in both models, as were Akt and GSK-3β expression.
CONCLUSIONS— The data show that β-amyloid and phospho-τ accumulation occur in experimental diabetes and that this is associated with neurite
degeneration and neuronal loss. The changes were more severe in the type 2 diabetic model and appear to be associated with
insulin resistance and possibly hypercholesterolemia. The two models will provide useful tools to unravel further mechanistic
associations between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.
APP, amyloid precursor protein
CNS, central nervous system
CTF, COOH-terminal fragment
GFAP, glial fibrillary acid protein
GSK-3β, glycogen synthase kinase 3-β
Footnotes
Published ahead of print at http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org on 24 April 2007. DOI: 10.2337/db07-0171.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore
be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
Accepted April 12, 2007.
Received February 6, 2007.
DIABETES
Journal Article
Multiperspective quantitative tumor–stroma ratio reveals histological areas associated with poor outcomes in oral squamous cell carcinoma
by
Si, Qian
,
Ni, Yanhong
,
Wu, Yan
in
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - pathology
,
Head and Neck Neoplasms
,
Humans
2023
Aims Different regions of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have particular histopathological characteristics, and the individual histological characteristics of the tumors are poorly understood. Therefore, calculating the proportion of tumor cells in different regions that allow assessment of the prognostic outcomes for OSCC patients would be of great clinical significance. Methods and Results We established an open‐source software‐based analytic pipeline that defines the inner tumor and invasive tumor front (ITF) in pancytokeratin‐stained whole slide images (WSIs) and quantifies the tumor‐stroma ratio (TSR) within the two regions. We applied this method to 114 patients with OSCC and predicted patient prognosis by the TSR. The proportion of tumor area in the inner tumor was generally higher than that in the ITF (p < 0.0001). TSR was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) (p = 0.016), disease‐free survival (DFS) (p = 0.026), and relapse‐free survival (RFS) (p = 0.037) in inner tumor, and TSR was an independent prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.00052), DFS (p = 0.035), and metastasis‐free survival (MFS) (p = 0.038) in the ITF. Tumor‐low status was associated with poorer prognosis. There was a significant correlation between the TSR and perineural invasion (PNI) in the inner tumor (p = 0.009). Conclusions The histopathological characteristics of different regions of OSCC may be used to develop the potential prognostic markers. The TSR of the inner tumor is more targeted in predicting prognosis and accurately assesses the risk of PNI+. Different regions of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) have particular histopathological and molecular characteristics. Histopathological‐based models may be used to stratify patients into low‐ and high‐risk classes. TSRs of the inner tumor and invasive tumor front can predict the prognosis of OSCC patients.
Journal Article