48 results on '"Cui, Qingbin"'
Search Results
2. Multispectral compression and reconstruction using weighted PCA with consideration of color difference caused by tiny wavelength change.
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Cao, Qian, Cui, Qingbin, and Ge, Jinghuan
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MULTISPECTRAL imaging , *STANDARD deviations , *PRINCIPAL components analysis - Abstract
To retain more color information in multispectral compression and reconstruction for spectral color reproduction, a weighted principal component analysis with consideration of color difference caused by tiny wavelength is proposed in this paper. The weight function, which considers the final tool for evaluating multispectral compression and the reconstruction algorithms is color difference, is the average value of spectral color differences between the spectra of a spectral dataset and the spectra obtained by subtracting tiny value from the spectral dataset. Spectral color difference formula is introduced to calculate spectral color difference between the two spectra. NCS, Munsell, and SOCS (ISO/TR 16,066:2003) are used to construct three weight functions, SCDWF-1, SCDWF-2, and SCDWF-3, respectively, to obtain the corresponding weighted principal component analysis, SCDPCA-1, SCDPCA-2, and SCDPCA-3. The root mean squared error (RMSE) and goodness fitting coefficient (GFC) are employed as the spectral evaluation index and the CIELAB color difference is employed as the colorimetric evaluation index. The feasibility and performance of the proposed methods are tested by comparing the results of principal component analysis (PCA) and the other two weighted PCA by compressing and reconstructing three different sets of test samples NCS, Munsell, and SOCS. Statistical results show that compared with PCA, the proposed SCDPCA can significantly improve the colorimetric accuracy at the expense of a small amount of spectral accuracy. Moreover, the colorimetric and spectral accuracy of SCDPCA is better than that of the other two weighted PCA recently proposed by other researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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3. Research and application of K/S value in stain identification.
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Cui, Qingbin and Shao, Fenjuan
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COLORIMETERS , *SMART homes , *HOUSEHOLD appliances , *TEXTILES , *COLORING matter in food , *IDENTIFICATION - Abstract
Purpose: The intelligent identification of stains can quickly and accurately identify stains. At present, stains are identified subjectively by appearance, color, taste, feel, location, etc. Color is an important factor in identifying stains. K/S value is used to analyze the color of textile fabric, and it has additivity. The purpose of the study is to explore its application in stain recognition is of great significance to intelligent washing. Design/methodology/approach: A certain method used to stain the textile, then the K/S value of the textile before and after the stain was analyzed and tested by the color difference instrument. The K/S curve of the stain was calculated by the addition of K/S, and then the stain was identified and distinguished. Findings: The K/S value of the textile stained with stains could be deducted by the K/S value of the color difference meter. After deducting the base cloth, the K/S curve of the same stain is basically the same. Then the stain can be identified and analyzed. Research limitations/implications: The K/S value can be used for stain analysis, but it needs to be analyzed and tested in the laboratory. Practical implications: This study provides a simple method for stains identification. Originality/value: In addition to common methods of stain identification, such as appearance, color, feel, smell, location, stain removal materials, breaking the substrate, IR, etc., K/S value can be used for stain analysis. Identifying stains and washing them in a targeted way to achieve a better washing effect could provide certain technical support for the development of smart washing and smart home appliances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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4. Comparison of life cycle assessment for laminating and glazing processes based on simapro.
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Cui, Qingbin and Shao, Fenjuan
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PRODUCT life cycle assessment , *LAMINATED materials , *PRODUCT life cycle , *GLAZES , *WASTE management , *GREEN technology - Abstract
Purpose: Both glazing and laminating play a certain role in finishing and protecting the surface of printed matter. This study makes a comparative analysis of the two through life cycle assessment (LCA) and theoretically explores the difference between them. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, the life cycle of laminating and glazing processes was calculated through using Simapro software, and the results were compared and analyzed. Findings: Twelve environmental categories were used to quantitatively analyze the environmental impact of the product. The results showed that the results of the 12 environmental categories involved in the analysis of glazing was less than that of laminating, indicating that the impact of the glazing on the environment was less than that of laminating on the environment. Research limitations/implications: In order to simplify the study, we only calculated and analyzed the laminating and glazing. Practical implications: Green packaging is the future, 3R1D, reduce, reuse, recycle and degradable. According to the calculation results, corresponding suggestions can be put forward from production, processing, use, waste and other aspects, and make corresponding contributions to the development of green packaging. Originality/value: The contribution and impact of each stage to the product life cycle can be studied. In addition, different waste disposal methods have different impacts on the environment, and the higher the recovery ratio, the better the environmental benefits of the product. Recycling should then be promoted as proportionately as possible in practice in order to reduce the environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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5. Developing Bi-Gold Compound BGC2a to Target Mitochondria for the Elimination of Cancer Cells.
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Cui, Qingbin, Ding, Wenwen, Liu, Panpan, Luo, Bingling, Yang, Jing, Lu, Wenhua, Hu, Yumin, Huang, Peng, and Wen, Shijun
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DRUG resistance in cancer cells , *CANCER stem cells , *CANCER cells , *CANCER cell proliferation , *MITOCHONDRIA , *CELL death , *REACTIVE oxygen species , *VITAMIN C - Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and mitochondrial metabolism are critical for the survival of cancer cells, including cancer stem cells (CSCs), which often cause drug resistance and cancer relapse. Auranofin is a mono-gold anti-rheumatic drug, and it has been repurposed as an anticancer agent working by the induction of both ROS increase and mitochondrial dysfunction. Hypothetically, increasing auranofin's positive charges via incorporating more gold atoms to enhance its mitochondria-targeting capacity could enhance its anti-cancer efficacy. Hence, in this work, both mono-gold and bi-gold compounds were designed and evaluated to test our hypothesis. The results showed that bi-gold compounds generally suppressed cancer cells proliferation better than their mono-gold counterparts. The most potent compound, BGC2a, substantially inhibited the antioxidant enzyme TrxR and increased the cellular ROS. BGC2a induced cell apoptosis, which could not be reversed by the antioxidant agent vitamin C, implying that the ROS induced by TrxR inhibition might not be the decisive cause of cell death. As expected, a significant proportion of BGC2a accumulated within mitochondria, likely contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction, which was further confirmed by measuring oxygen consumption rate, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP production. Moreover, BGC2a inhibited colony formation and reduced stem-like side population (SP) cells of A549. Finally, the compound effectively suppressed the tumor growth of both A549 and PANC-1 xenografts. Our study showed that mitochondrial disturbance may be gold-based compounds' major lethal factor in eradicating cancer cells, providing a new approach to developing potent gold-based anti-cancer drugs by increasing mitochondria-targeting capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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6. An Empirical Analysis of Risk Similarity among Major Transportation Projects Using Natural Language Processing.
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Erfani, Abdolmajid, Cui, Qingbin, and Cavanaugh, Ian
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RISK assessment , *NATURAL language processing , *DEEP learning , *MACHINE learning , *PUBLIC-private sector cooperation - Abstract
Risk management is widely recognized as a best practice for public agencies to ensure the successful implementation of major transportation projects. The conventional approach to identify and evaluate project risks is dominated by getting input from subject matter experts at risk workshops. However, the uniqueness of such a risk assessment approach remains unexamined. How different are the risks among various projects? Does the risk register reflect the unique feature of a project? The goal of this study is to measure the similarity of project risks across various groups by evaluating 70 major transportation projects delivered under various methods. The similarity index is calculated at three levels, that is, the entire document of the risk register, individual risk item, and the probability and consequence of each risk using a systematic comparative analysis based on natural language processing (NLP) and a state-of-the-art deep learning algorithm named Word2vec. Our study reports a high similarity of risk registers among different projects at all three levels. The analysis does show a lower similarity of risk registers for public–private partnerships (P3) projects. The primary contributions of this study are (1) develop a new approach to analyze the risk registers at the project level as the main output of risk management practice, and (2) establish the relation of risk uniqueness and project delivery method in transportation projects. Results suggest that a data-driven approach may be possible to help project teams develop a common risk register while allowing the teams to focus on each project's unique risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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7. Noncompete Provision Design for Transportation PPP Projects.
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Wang, Bing, Cui, Qingbin, and Zhang, Shuibo
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PUBLIC interest , *INDIVIDUAL investors , *PUBLIC spending , *PUBLIC-private sector cooperation , *PRIVATE sector , *CONGESTION pricing , *TOLL collection - Abstract
Projects with poor noncompete provision design have caused heavy costs for both public and private organizations, primarily due to the embedded monopoly right of the private sector to collect toll revenue. Prior studies have investigated the financial impact of including noncompete provisions in public-private partnership (PPP) contracts to ensure project attractiveness to private entities, although the potential impact of such provisions on the public interest has not been well documented. This study contributes to the literature by incorporating social benefits into an evaluation model to balance the protection of public and private interests. Three contract design alternatives—strict noncompete, compensation for competing facilities, and compete without compensation—are evaluated and compared. This study demonstrates these alternatives with the I-77 Express Lane project in North Carolina and provides several insightful results. First, a strict noncompete provision often worsens congestion, negatively affecting the public interest, and should be avoided. Second, both public and private organizations may benefit from inclusion of a compensation provision that eliminates a prospective monopoly while offering compensation for competing facilities. Third, public benefits from competing facilities present a convex curve over time, suggesting optimal timing for the government to build the competing facility. The results illustrate the significant effect of the noncompete provision on the public interest, and provide governments with a reference to balance protection of the public interest and attractiveness to private investors when designing the noncompete provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2021
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8. Combining carbon mitigation and climate adaptation goals for buildings exposed to hurricane risks.
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Liu, Xiaoyu and Cui, Qingbin
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CARBON dioxide mitigation , *HURRICANES , *BUILDING design & construction , *GREENHOUSE gases prevention , *SUBSIDIES - Abstract
Abstract As climate risks increase, there is a challenge of combining the goals of carbon mitigation and climate adaptation into building designs. These two goals are often misaligned because adaptation measures use additional materials and equipment, which can increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This phenomenon means that building design involves tradeoffs between enhanced structural resilience and reduced GHG emissions. This paper seeks to identify the optimal investment allocation mechanisms between carbon mitigation and climate adaptation measures for the design of buildings in hurricane-prone regions. A dynamic decision-making model is developed to maximize individual investors' expected payoffs over a building's lifetime. The model is based on the damage evaluation of non-stationary hurricane occurrence and building emission performance under different mitigation scenarios. The results reveal a transition from long-advocated low-carbon investments to risk-oriented portfolios for building retrofits. A case study on Anne Arundel County, MD, for which a "60-40" resilience/abatement portfolio is recommended, shows the value of enhancing structural resilience. Discretion on the accuracy of insurance premium discounts is needed to support risk mitigation efforts. Meanwhile, subsidies for emission abatements are recommended to accommodate existing emission trading schemes and building property values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2018
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9. Introduction of mechanistic-empirical pavement design into pavement carbon footprint analysis.
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Liu, Xiaoyu, Cui, Qingbin, and Schwartz, Charles W.
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PAVEMENT design & construction , *ECOLOGICAL impact , *GREENHOUSE gas mitigation , *INDUSTRIAL organization (Economic theory) , *TRANSPORTATION & the environment - Abstract
Transportation authorities and industrial organisations are currently faced with the need to incorporate greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts into pavement designs. GHG emissions have been evaluated for individual projects with unique external environments. These estimates cannot be applied to future projects with different external environments. This paper presents a GHG estimation method to assist in low-carbon design for future pavement construction. The method uses mechanistic-empirical pavement design guide to create comparable structures with different pavement techniques, traffic volumes, climate conditions, etc. The method is illustrated using the Maryland Intercounty Connector (ICC) project, which was paved with hot mix asphalt. The results show that if the ICC’s asphalt base layer was paved with foam stabilised base, GHG emissions would be reduced by up to 18.8 thousand metric tons, an equivalent to 56.5% of the total pavement construction emissions. The GHG savings would generate $111,200 of carbon offsets, which compensate approximately 5.7% of the pavement costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2018
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10. Value of performance baseline in voluntary carbon trading under uncertainty.
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Liu, Xiaoyu and Cui, Qingbin
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CARBON offsetting , *UNCERTAINTY (Information theory) , *EMISSIONS (Air pollution) , *ENERGY economics , *GREENHOUSE gas mitigation - Abstract
Voluntary carbon trading has long been criticized for producing a large number of non-additional offsets. The reason for this production lies primarily in the use of a project-based baseline that misrepresents the business-as-usual (BAU) emissions of individual projects. Performance baseline however, as an alternative baseline approach, does not rely on evaluating individual BAU emissions. Instead, it uses a pre-defined emission threshold for a class of project activities. This paper compares the effects of the two baseline approaches on sectoral emission mitigation and compliance costs by modeling dynamic emission abatement behaviors. In the context of the U.S. commercial building sector, the modeling results indicate that while both baseline approaches are capable of reducing sectoral emissions, the use of performance baseline is especially advantageous under private cost information and uncertain market environments. The performance baseline should be stratified by region to ensure the equity in offset allocation in sectors that are highly diversified in emission magnitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2018
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11. Exploring the Potential of Social Media Data to Support the Investigation of a Man-Made Disaster: What Caused the Notre Dame Fire.
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Li, Lingyao, Wang, Yu, and Cui, Qingbin
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SOCIAL media , *DISASTERS , *CROWDSOURCING , *GOVERNMENT agencies - Abstract
Man-made disasters are often unexpected events that necessitate a comprehensive investigation to ascertain their cause. These investigations are critical for government agencies, insurance corporations, and other stakeholders. Social media platforms are a rich source of information, but the credibility and vast amount of data available make it challenging to extract useful evidence. Therefore, understanding the credibility of information from different groups of users on social media and its role in retrieving and filtering relevant sources is crucial. To illustrate the potential in this regard, this study examines the Notre Dame fire as a case study, analyzing tweets posted between April 15 and 25, 2019. Using a collection of lexicons, the study establishes a text-parsing and lexicon-based rule model to classify users' opinions regarding the causes of the fire incident. Then the study characterizes the distribution of opinions between verified and nonverified users and investigates the temporal dynamics of reactions from subsets of users commenting on the event. The findings suggest that opinions from verified users were consistent with official reports, which highlights the potential value of the shared knowledge of verified users in the early stages of disaster investigation. The study further suggests that disaster responders should consider opinions from nonverified users, as they may aid investigations by identifying potential causes and providing new directions. In conclusion, this paper explores the potential of utilizing social media data as a means of supporting engineering investigations and emphasizes the importance of developing robust methodologies from crowdsourcing opinions for engineering investigations in the context of man-made disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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12. Corrigendum to "A novel survivin dimerization inhibitor without a labile hydrazone linker induces spontaneous apoptosis and synergizes with docetaxel in prostate cancer cells" [Bioorg. Med. Chem. 65 (2022) 116761].
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Peery, Robert, Cui, Qingbin, Kyei-Baffour, Kwaku, Josephraj, Sophia, Huang, Caoqinglong, Dong, Zizheng, Dai, Mingji, Zhang, Jian-Ting, and Liu, Jing-Yuan
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DOCETAXEL , *SURVIVIN (Protein) , *PROSTATE cancer , *DIMERIZATION - Published
- 2023
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13. N-Benzyldithiocarbamate Salts as Sulfur Sources to Access Tricyclic Thioheterocycles Mediated by Copper Species.
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Luo, Bingling, Cui, Qingbin, Luo, Hongwen, Hu, Yumin, Huang, Peng, and Wen, Shijun
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CARBAMATES , *SALTS , *COPPER sulfate , *HETEROCYCLIC compounds , *CHEMICAL amplification - Abstract
Using an easily prepared triethylammonium N-benzyldithiocarbamate salt as a sulfur source, a dual C−S functionalization of cyclic diaryliodoniums to form tricyclic thioheterocycles is realized. Our method uses the readily available copper sulfate to accelerate the chemical transformation under mild conditions. A broad range of cyclic diaryliodoniums with a ring size from 5- to 7-membered can be employed to gain a quick access to tricyclic thioheterocycles including dibenzothiophenes, thioxanthenes, and phenoxathiines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2016
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14. Assessing the impacts of preferential procurement on low-carbon building.
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Liu, Xiaoyu and Cui, Qingbin
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ENERGY consumption of buildings , *GLOBAL warming , *GREENHOUSE gas mitigation , *QUANTITATIVE chemical analysis , *BUILDING design & construction - Abstract
The significance of global warming is shaping building procurement, with much of the effort aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a preferential bidding mechanism. However, only a limited number of studies have quantitatively estimated the potential impact of bid preference on the emission reduction from building construction. The aim of this paper is to improve our understanding of how bid discounts change owners' procurement costs and the magnitudes of emission mitigation. A two-stage optimization model is designed to help the owner determine the discount rate that would automatically control the emission of the awarded contract within a desired level. The goal is for bidders to regard emission reduction efforts as an investment, with returns coming in the form of an increased chance of winning the bid. Our results imply that for the building retrofit project studied herein, a discount rate of 0.6 is suggested for every percentage of emission reduction. This discount level reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 28.2% while raising procurement costs by 3.7% relative to a non-preference mechanism. The increased procurement costs can be partially compensated under existing cap-and-trade scheme. The results show that the choice of discount significantly alters bidders' efforts on emission mitigation, and emission control cost can be minimized with the proposed optimization algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2016
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15. Likeability versus Competence Dilemma: Text Mining Approach Using LinkedIn Data.
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Erfani, Abdolmajid, Hickey, Paul J., and Cui, Qingbin
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TEXT mining , *ROLE theory , *DILEMMA , *SOCIAL role , *CAREER development , *WOMEN'S roles , *GENDER role - Abstract
Women are significantly underrepresented in construction and engineering industry leadership roles despite having comparable qualifications, experience, and degrees. Improvements require a better understanding of the factors leading to the underrepresentation of females in the construction industry. While prior studies report that a male-dominated culture in construction negatively impacts females' career advancement, minimal research explores the role congruity theory and the likeability and competency dilemma among construction leaders. When striving to succeed in traditionally male-dominated fields, women face a unique challenge because they need to defy gender stereotypes created by cultural norms, encapsulated by the likeability versus competency dilemma. Females who accomplish traditionally male tasks and demonstrate independence, assertiveness, self-reliance, and power are no longer seen as likeable. Through analyzing publicly available LinkedIn recommendations, this paper proposed a data-driven approach for examining the likeability and competency dilemma for female construction leaders. Results showed that female leaders in construction were seen as competent in the same way as their male counterparts, but far less likeable (a likeability score of 28% compared to 51% for males). Developing a text mining model to predict the gender of the person receiving a recommendation, this paper also highlights unconscious bias in describing and reacting to leaders' successes. The machine learning model accurately predicted the gender of the person receiving the recommendation with more than 86% accuracy. Despite possessing the sufficient capability to handle traditionally male work successfully, women receive negative judgment from colleagues, creating challenges in their career paths. Finally, the paper contributes to social role theory and role congruity theory by highlighting the differences in gender roles and leadership roles for women in the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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16. A novel survivin dimerization inhibitor without a labile hydrazone linker induces spontaneous apoptosis and synergizes with docetaxel in prostate cancer cells.
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Peery, Robert, Cui, Qingbin, Kyei-Baffour, Kwaku, Josephraj, Sophia, Huang, Caoqinglong, Dong, Zizheng, Dai, Mingji, Zhang, Jian-Ting, and Liu, Jing-Yuan
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DOCETAXEL , *SURVIVIN (Protein) , *PROSTATE cancer , *DIMERIZATION , *APOPTOSIS , *CELL survival , *CANCER cells - Abstract
[Display omitted] Survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, exists as a homodimer and is aberrantly upregulated in a wide spectrum of cancers. It was thought to be an ideal target due to its lack of expression in most adult normal tissues and importance in cancer cell survival. However, it has been challenging to target survivin due to its "undruggable" nature. We previously attempted to target its dimerization domain with a hypothesis that inhibiting survivin dimerization would promote its degradation in proteasome, which led to identification of a lead small-molecule inhibitor, LQZ-7F. LQZ-7F consists of a flat tetracyclic aromatic core with labile hydrazone linking a 1,2,5-oxadiazole moiety. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that LQZ-7F could be developed as a prodrug because the labile hydrazone linker could be hydrolyzed, releasing the tetracyclic aromatic core. To this end, we synthesized the tetracyclic aromatic core (LQZ-7F1) using reported procedure and tested LQZ-7F1 for its biological activities. Here we show that LQZ-7F1 has a significantly improved potency with submicromolar IC 50's and induces spontaneous apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. It also more effectively inhibits survivin dimerization and induces survivin degradation in a proteasome-dependent manner than LQZ-7F. We also show that the combination of LQZ-7F1 and docetaxel have strong synergism in inhibiting prostate cancer cell survival. Together, we conclude that the hydrazone linker with the oxadiazole tail is dispensable for survivin inhibition and the survivin dimerization inhibitor, LQZ-7F, may be developed as a prodrug for prostate cancer treatment and to overcome docetaxel resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2022
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17. Therapeutic implication of carbon monoxide in drug resistant cancers.
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Cui, Qingbin, Liang, Xiao-Lan, Wang, Jing-Quan, Zhang, Jian-Ye, and Chen, Zhe-Sheng
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CARBON monoxide , *ANTINEOPLASTIC agents , *GLYCOLYSIS , *DRUG resistance , *POISONOUS gases , *CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN , *CANCER cells , *CISPLATIN - Abstract
[Display omitted] Drug resistance is the major obstacle that undermines effective cancer treatment. Recently, the application of gas signaling molecules, e.g., carbon monoxide (CO), in overcoming drug resistance has gained significant attention. Growing evidence showed that CO could inhibit mitochondria respiratory effect and glycolysis, two major ATP production pathways in cancer cells, and suppress angiogenesis and inhibit the activity of cystathionine β-synthase that is important in regulating cancer cells homeostasis, leading to synergistic effects when combined with cisplatin, doxorubicin, or phototherapy, etc. in certain resistant cancer cells. In the current review, we attempted to have a summary of these research conducted in the past decade using CO in treating drug resistant cancers, and have a detailed interpretation of the underlying mechanisms. The critical challenges will be discussed and potential solutions will also be provided. The information collected in this work will hopefully evoke more effects in using CO for the treatment of drug resistant cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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18. Predictive risk modeling for major transportation projects using historical data.
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Erfani, Abdolmajid and Cui, Qingbin
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ARTIFICIAL intelligence , *PREDICTION models , *NATURAL language processing , *JUDGMENT (Psychology) , *TEAMS in the workplace - Abstract
Most of the construction practices in the field of risk identification focus on the expertise, views, and judgments of subject matter experts. While the conventional expert-based approaches provide worth, several challenges exist due to time-consuming and expensive aspects. Moreover, limited experience in major projects makes public agencies susceptible to subjective judgment biases. To address these limitations, this study introduced a data-driven framework for risk identification using historical data and artificial intelligence techniques, particularly word embedding models. The model matches various risk items in past projects by considering the semantic meaning of words to find high frequency and consequence risks. Risk registers from more than 70 U.S. major transportation projects form the input dataset. The model is tested with more than 66% recall and 0.59 F 1 -score for risk detection for new projects. Acquired knowledge from previous projects assists project teams and public agencies to be well-equipped with a risk identification model instead of starting from scratch. • A novel data-driven model for risk template generation is introduced. • A comprehensive risk database for major transportation projects is developed using historical data. • The model learns semantic textual features of risk items using word embedding models. • The model customizes risk templates considering risk prevalence, risk consequences, and project characteristics. • The experimental results revealed more than 66% of testing projects' risk items are covered by risk templates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
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19. Design, Synthesis, and Preliminary Cardioprotective Effect Evaluation of Danshensu Derivatives.
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Cui, Qingbin, Chen, Yonghong, Zhang, Mingjuan, Shan, Luchen, Sun, Yewei, Yu, Pei, Zhang, Gaoxiao, Wang, Dingyuan, Zhao, Zengchao, Xu, Qian, Xu, Benhong, and Wang, Yuqiang
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CARDIOTONIC agents , *HEME oxygenase , *CELLULAR signal transduction , *DRUG design , *LACTIC acid , *DRUG synthesis , *PHYSIOLOGY , *THERAPEUTICS ,ANIMAL models of coronary heart disease - Abstract
A series of (R)-3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid Danshensu ( DSS) derivatives were synthesized, and their cardioprotective effects were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Among the new derivatives, compound 14 showed significant protective effects in cultured myocardial cells and in the rat model of myocardial ischemia. The therapeutic efficacy of compound 14 was significantly higher than that of its parent compound DSS, and amlodipine, a first-line treatment for angina pain. Compound 14 potently scavenged free radicals, significantly decreased the levels of LDH and MDA, and inhibited the leakage of CK in animal model of ischemia. We had previously found that compound 14 activated PI3K/Akt/ GSK-3 β and Nrf2//Keap1/heme oxygenase-1 ( HO-1) signaling pathways in H9c2 cells. These results suggest that compound 14 has a unique mechanism of action, that is, multifunctional. Compound 14 may be a new potential therapy for ischemic heart diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2014
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20. Ex Post Project Risk Assessment: Method and Empirical Study.
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Erfani, Abdolmajid, Ma, Zihui, Cui, Qingbin, and Baecher, Gregory B.
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RISK assessment , *EMPIRICAL research , *MANAGEMENT styles , *MARKOV processes - Abstract
Project risk is an important part of managing large projects of any sort. This study contributes to the state of knowledge in project risk management by introducing a data-driven approach to measure risk identification performance using historical data. In the early phases of a project, the identification and assessment of risk is based largely on experience and expert judgment. As a project moves through its life cycle, these identified risks and the assessment of them evolve. Some risks become issues, some are mitigated, and some are retired as no longer important. This study investigated the quality of early risk registers and risk assessments on large transportation projects and compared them to how the identified risks evolved on historical projects. The investigation involved the use of textual analysis of archival risk register documents. Finite-state automation methods akin to Markov chain models were used to track the changes in risk attributes on large infrastructure projects as the projects matured. The objective was to be better able to anticipate how project risks will change as projects move forward and to be better able to forecast changes to the risk register from ex ante to ex post conditions. Results from 11 major US transportation projects suggested that, on average, fewer than 65% of ex ante identified risks ultimately occurred in projects and were mitigated, while more than 35% did not occur and were retired. In addition, more than half of the risks emerged during project execution when new information became available. Based on the categorization of risk management styles, we find that identifying risks early in the project life cycle is necessary, but not sufficient to ensure successful project delivery. A project team with positive doer behavior (i.e., actively monitoring and identifying risks during project execution) performed better in delivering projects on time and within budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2023
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21. Greenhouse gas emissions of alternative pavement designs: Framework development and illustrative application.
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Liu, Xiaoyu, Cui, Qingbin, and Schwartz, Charles
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GREENHOUSE gas mitigation , *PAVEMENTS , *ASPHALT pavements , *RECYCLED products , *EMISSIONS (Air pollution) ,ENVIRONMENTAL aspects - Abstract
Pavement rehabilitation is carbon intensive and the choice of pavement type is a critical factor in controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The existing body of knowledge is not able to support decision-making on pavement choice due to a lack of consensus on the system boundaries, the functional units and the estimation periods. Excessive data requirements further inhibit the generalization of the existing methodologies for design evaluation at the early planning stage. This study proposes a practical life-cycle GHG estimation approach, which is arguably effective to benchmark pavement emissions given project bid tabulation. A set of case studies conducted for this study suggest that recycled asphalt pavement (e.g., foam stabilized base (FSB), and warm mix asphalt (WMA)) would prevent up to 50% of GHGs from the initial construction phase. However, from a life-cycle perspective, pavement emissions are dictated largely by the traffic characteristics and the analysis period for the use phase. The benefits from using recycled materials (e.g., FSB) are likely to diminish if the recycled products do not perform as well as those properly proportioned with less recycled materials, or if the recycled materials are locally unavailable. When the AADT reaches 10,000, use phase releases more than 97% of the life cycle emissions and the emissions difference among alternative designs will be within 1%. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2014
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22. Turning Green to Gold in the Construction Industry: Fable or Fact?
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Lu, Yujie, Cui, Qingbin, and Le, Yun
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FINANCIAL performance , *SUSTAINABILITY , *ORGANIZATIONAL aims & objectives , *ECONOMIC value added (Corporations) , *RATE of return , *CONSTRUCTION industry , *MARKET value - Abstract
Green principles have been increasingly incorporated into planning, design, construction, and maintenance processes in the engineering and construction industry. Along with the growth of the green initiative, going green not only demonstrates corporate social responsibility, but may yield significant economic benefits. This study compares financial performance between green and conventional firms in the engineering and construction industry. A total of 22 sample companies used in this empirical analysis are categorized into two groups-green versus conventional firms-in accordance with Engineering News Record and Newsweek green company lists. Two groups are compared in terms of short-term financial performance, long-term economic value, and market value. The analysis shows that green firms outperform conventional firms on return on equity (17.4 versus 8.2%) and economic value added margin (0.35 versus ). However, the green strategy has not yet been factored into corporate market value. The findings yield important managerial implications for engineering and construction organizations to integrate sustainability into their business operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Use of LinkedIn Data and Machine Learning to Analyze Gender Differences in Construction Career Paths.
- Author
-
Hickey, Paul J., Erfani, Abdolmajid, and Cui, Qingbin
- Subjects
- *
GENDER differences (Sociology) , *RANDOM forest algorithms , *CONSUMERS , *ASPIRATORS , *EXECUTIVES , *LEADERSHIP - Abstract
Will women and men follow distinctively different paths to achieve executive engineering leadership positions in the US architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry? Using Engineering News Record's (ENR's) 2019 Top 400 list, this research analyzed LinkedIn profiles for over 2,800 executives to assess career differences between genders. Statistical comparisons of important features, highlighted by number of companies, titles, education, and network size, revealed a significant impact of gender on individual career paths. A key finding was that men ascend to leadership with a single firm throughout their career, outpacing women almost fourfold (37% to 10%). Applying random forest (RF) as an ensemble classifier, researchers successfully predicted profile gender with accuracy of 98.95% for training and 89.53% for testing samples. Collating and categorizing the activities and milestones of individual and collective executives offer insight regarding successful experiences, skills, and choices to reach leadership roles. This creates a roadmap for current and future early and midlevel professionals to model their own vocational journey and accelerate progression up the corporate ladder. From an industry perspective, firms deprive themselves and customers of the proven wide-ranging benefits of diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Public-Private Partnerships in U.S. Transportation: Research Overview and a Path Forward.
- Author
-
Papajohn, Dean, Cui, Qingbin, and Bayraktar, Mehmet Emre
- Subjects
- *
PUBLIC-private sector cooperation , *PROJECT finance , *TRANSPORTATION industry , *PROJECT management - Abstract
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are contractual relationships between government and industry to deliver facilities or service for public benefit. In the United States, existing transportation infrastructure is aging and new infrastructure is underfunded. PPPs are considered one way to help meet this looming need. Although PPPs have a long history, interest in modern PPPs is renewed. The current debate over PPPs lacks theory and research to support the various views of PPPs. Promoters say they bring needed financing, technology, management, and risk sharing to infrastructure development. Detractors say government agencies are better positioned to finance and own infrastructure and protect the public interest. The unique contribution of this paper is to provide the results of a national survey on the state-of-practice of PPPs in transportation in the United States, and to provide a comprehensive overview of research on U.S. transportation PPPs in the areas of economics, law, and public opinion. Additionally, a path forward is offered to help organize and guide research in U.S. transportation PPPs in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2011
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Legal Environment for Warranty Contracting.
- Author
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Sees, Elizabeth, Cui, Qingbin, and Johnson, Philip
- Subjects
- *
WARRANTY , *CONTRACTS , *TRANSPORTATION laws , *ROAD construction , *CONSTRUCTION industry - Abstract
Due to the public expectation of better road performance accompanied by economic development and population growth over the past decades, state highway agencies have been under intense pressure for continuous improvement in the quality and cost efficiency of transportation projects. To meet these challenges, state highway agencies must seek innovative approaches to deliver highway projects, including outsourcing some of the agency’s functions and shifting maintenance responsibilities to contractors. Many states have implemented alternative contracting methods in project programming and execution to provide lasting and functional roadways at the optimum life-cycle cost to the public. The performance warranty is one of the innovative practices that has been declared operational by the Federal Highway Administration since 1996. Use of warranties in some states has required changes to state legislation and agency regulations. This paper discusses the laws and regulations needed to successfully incorporate performance warranties into current contracting practices and avoid litigation. The state of Alabama is used as an example of a state considering the use of performance warranties. Proposals for laws and regulations will be outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Valuing the Warranty Ceiling Clause on New Mexico Highway 44 Using a Binomial Lattice Model.
- Author
-
Cui, Qingbin, Johnson, Philip, Quick, Aaron, and Hastak, Makarand
- Subjects
- *
WARRANTY , *CONTRACTS , *ROADS , *GOVERNMENT policy , *TRANSPORTATION policy , *TRANSPORTATION laws , *COST effectiveness - Abstract
In 1998 the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department (NMSHTD) agreed to pay $60 million for a 20-year pavement warranty on their Route 44 project (NM 44, now US 550). The warranty includes a ceiling clause that caps total expenditures at $110 million. As the first long-term highway warranty in the United States, the transaction set a controversial precedent that parties interested in innovative highway contracting, including other state department of transportations (DOTs), the USDOT, sureties, and contractors, view as a test case for evaluating pricing and cost-effectiveness. An interim audit report published by the State of New Mexico [Abbey (2004). Rep. to the Legislative Finance Committee, State Highway and Transportation Department, Santa Fe, N.M.] provides invaluable fiscal projections and challenges the cost effectiveness of the $60 million expenditure. This paper presents an independent analysis of the effectiveness of the warranty clauses. Based upon NMSHTD data, the analysis contends that $60 million was a fair cost of the 20-year pavement warranty at the time of acceptance if the expenditure ceiling is not considered. Furthermore, this paper argues that the ceiling on expenditure can be valuable. Using the real options approach, the paper evaluates the warranty ceiling clause on NM 44 and some policy suggestions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Chk1 Inhibitor MK-8776 Restores the Sensitivity of Chemotherapeutics in P-glycoprotein Overexpressing Cancer Cells.
- Author
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Cui, Qingbin, Cai, Chao-Yun, Wang, Jing-Quan, Zhang, Shuang, Gupta, Pranav, Ji, Ning, Yang, Yuqi, Dong, Xingduo, Yang, Dong-Hua, and Chen, Zhe-Sheng
- Abstract
P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is encoded by the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter subfamily B member 1 (ABCB1) gene, is one of the most pivotal ABC transporters that transport its substrates across the cell membrane. Its overexpression is one of the confirmed causes of multidrug resistance (MDR), which results in the failure of cancer treatment. Here, we report that checkpoint kinase (Chk) 1 inhibitor MK-8776, a drug candidate in clinical trial, can restore the sensitivity of chemotherapeutics that are substrates of P-gp in KB-C2, SW620/Ad300 cells and human embryonic kidney (HEK)293/ABCB1 cells that overexpress P-gp. MK-8776 remarkably enhanced the cellular [3H]-paclitaxel accumulation and suppressed the efflux function of P-gp without reducing its expression and affecting its cellular localization in cancer cells. Furthermore, MK-8776 (0–40 μM) stimulated the activity of ATPase in P-gp, which was 4.1-fold greater than the control. In addition, MK-8776 formed a cation–π bond and π–π interaction with key residues of the substrate-binding site in P-gp, as indicated by computer-aided molecular docking study. Our study indicated that MK-8776 may significantly enhance the sensitivity of chemotherapeutics that are substrates of P-gp, providing important information for its application in the reversal of MDR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. eIF3i regulation of protein synthesis, cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and tumorigenesis.
- Author
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Ma, Shijie, Dong, Zizheng, Cui, Qingbin, Liu, Jing-Yuan, and Zhang, Jian-Ting
- Subjects
- *
CELL cycle , *PROTEIN synthesis , *CELL proliferation , *CELL cycle regulation , *NEOPLASTIC cell transformation - Abstract
eIF3i, a 36-kDa protein, is a putative subunit of the eIF3 complex important for translation initiation of mRNAs. It is a WD40 domain-containing protein with seven WD40 repeats that forms a β-propeller structure with an important function in pre-initiation complex formation and mRNA translation initiation. In addition to participating in the eIF3 complex formation for global translational control, eIF3i may bind to specific mRNAs and regulate their translation individually. Furthermore, eIF3i has been shown to bind to TGF-β type II receptor and participate in TGF-β signaling. It may also participate in and regulate other signaling pathways including Wnt/β-catenin pathway via translational regulation of COX-2 synthesis. These multiple canonical and noncanonical functions of eIF3i in translational control and in regulating signal transduction pathways may be responsible for its role in cell differentiation, cell cycle regulation, proliferation, and tumorigenesis. In this review, we will critically evaluate recent progresses and assess future prospects in studying eIF3i. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. Special Issue: Natural Products: Anticancer and Beyond.
- Author
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Cui, Qingbin, Yang, Dong-Hua, and Chen, Zhe-Sheng
- Subjects
- *
TERPENES , *FLAVONOIDS , *ANTINEOPLASTIC agents - Abstract
An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports published within the issue which include the development and discovery of natural products as novel anticancer drug agents, the anticancer effects of flavonoids, and the anticancer activity of terpenoids.
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
30. Organizational Behavior in Megaprojects: Integrative Review and Directions for Future Research.
- Author
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Li, Yongkui, Lu, Yujie, Cui, Qingbin, and Han, Yilong
- Subjects
- *
ENGINEERING management , *ORGANIZATIONAL behavior , *SYSTEMS engineering , *COMPLEX organizations , *PROJECT management - Abstract
Megaprojects exert substantial influence on economics, society, and the environment on a global scale. Current theory-building research in the megaproject field mainly focuses on three perspectives—the socioeconomic system, systems engineering and project management, and complex organization and governance. Despite realizing the importance of megaprojects, we still lack a deep understanding of megaproject management and related organizational issues. Adopting organizational behavior (OB) theory as a point of departure, this study first reviewed the classic OB theory and current OB research status systematically. The classic OB theory was then introduced to the context of megaprojects in an attempt to build a theoretical framework of OB in megaprojects through bibliometric analysis and an integrative review approach. A multilevel framework across individual, group, project, and organizational fields was elaborated for OB research in the megaproject field, and based on the framework developed, future research directions in this research area were proposed and discussed. This research not only bridges the research gap in megaproject management from a new perspective, but also contributes to the enrichment and development of the classic OB theory in a new context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Blood Concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds Among US Workers From Various Trades.
- Author
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Zhang, Kunqi, Lan, Tuo, Bao, Wei, Cui, Qingbin, and Thorne, Peter S.
- Subjects
- *
OCCUPATIONAL disease risk factors , *BENZENE derivatives , *INDUSTRIAL safety , *OCCUPATIONAL exposure , *ORGANIC compounds , *REGRESSION analysis , *CONSTRUCTION industry , *SURVEYS , *DESCRIPTIVE statistics , *TOLUENE , *INDUSTRIAL hygiene , *DATA analysis software , *ADVERSE health care events , *ENVIRONMENTAL exposure - Abstract
The presumed high exposure to volatile organic compounds among construction workers has not been substantiated with biomonitoring evidence. This study found that construction occupation was associated with increased blood concentrations of toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and m-/p- xylene. The findings inform interventions for exposure reduction using engineering controls and personal protective equipment. Objective: This study aimed to examine blood benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and m-/p-xylene (BTEX) concentrations and their trends contrasting construction workers with workers in other occupations from 1999 to 2014 in the United States. Methods: Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, quantile regressions were performed to investigate associations between occupation and blood BTEX concentrations. Results: We found that high-risk and construction occupations were associated with increased blood concentrations of toluene, o-xylene, and m-/p-xylene at the 50–90th percentiles (P50–90), and ethylbenzene at P70–90. Moreover, although blood concentrations of ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and m-/p-xylene trended down among all US workers, no decreasing trend was observed for benzene and toluene among construction workers. Conclusions: Future studies are warranted to address questions about specific tasks to better assess VOC exposure from various trades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Construction Megaprojects.
- Author
-
Yang, Delei, He, Qinghua, Cui, Qingbin, and Hsu, Shu-Chien
- Subjects
- *
ORGANIZATIONAL citizenship behavior , *INTERORGANIZATIONAL relations , *ORGANIZATIONAL behavior , *EXCLUSIVE contracts , *CONSTRUCTION - Abstract
Megaproject stakeholders sometimes go beyond the requirements of their contract and perform actions that benefit others, despite conflicting with their own interests. This type of organizational citizen behavior (OCB) is frequently seen in the context of construction megaprojects, but its characteristics and drivers are largely unknown and little studied. Using a quantitative cross-case study, this paper presents an overview of OCB practices in construction megaprojects, which will be referred to as megaproject citizenship behavior (MCB). The paper proposes a framework for MCB based on structured interviews with megaproject participants. This framework is composed of five types of behaviors: compliance, contingent collaboration, harmonious relationship maintenance, conscientiousness, and initiative. Furthermore, MCB demonstrates three distinct features beyond the aforementioned behaviors: actions based in MCB extend beyond the megaproject organization's boundaries toward all stakeholders, they occur at an interorganizational level, and they promote harmony among participating organizations. This study's findings are discussed based on their implications for theory and future research in megaprojects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Managing Infrastructure in a Data-Rich Era.
- Author
-
Li, Dezhi, Li, Nan, and Cui, Qingbin
- Subjects
- *
HIGHWAY engineering , *TRANSPORTATION safety measures , *NATURAL language processing , *INDUSTRIAL engineering , *GEOGRAPHIC information systems , *PUBLIC opinion - Abstract
Xu et al. ([10]) developed a rule-based natural language processing (NLP) approach to extracting domain knowledge elements (DKEs) from Chinese text documents in the domain of construction safety management. The approach attempts to solve the problem of construction fire safety management and contributes to guiding project teams in the timely detection of fires, improving safety management efficiency, and reducing fire-related losses. The special collection on Managing Infrastructure in a Data-Rich Era is available in the ASCE Library at https://ascelibrary.org/jmenea/infrastructure data rich era. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
34. Special Issue on Engineering Management for Sustainable Development.
- Author
-
Cui, Qingbin and Fang, Dongping
- Subjects
- *
SUSTAINABLE engineering , *ENGINEERING management - Abstract
An introduction to the journal is presented in which the guest editors discuss engineering management challenges for sustainable infrastructure development.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Call for Papers on Engineering Management for Sustainable Development.
- Author
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Cui, Qingbin and Fang, Dongping
- Subjects
- *
PERIODICAL articles , *ENGINEERING management , *SUSTAINABLE development - Abstract
The article encourages readers to submit papers to the publication regarding engineering management for sustainable development.
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Strategic design of cost savings guarantee in energy performance contracting under uncertainty.
- Author
-
Deng, Qianli, Jiang, Xianglin, Cui, Qingbin, and Zhang, Limao
- Subjects
- *
ENERGY consumption , *ENERGY industries , *PERFORMANCE evaluation , *COST effectiveness , *PROFITABILITY , *ECONOMIC competition - Abstract
Among the key barriers to profit in Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) are uncertainties about attaining the realized energy cost savings and potential disputes over the guaranteed cost savings. In this paper, a methodology has been proposed to assist the Energy Service Company (ESCO): (1) to evaluate the risk threshold if the guarantee has already been made, and (2) to determine the guarantee design, if the guarantee has not been made yet, that not only promises the ESCO’s profitability from EPC but also maintains its competitiveness to win the bid. Uncertainties within the energy cost savings are modeled stochastically using Monte-Carlo simulation, taking both the energy price fluctuation and the facility performance variability into account. Based on that, a strategic energy savings guarantee design curve is derived, that all the points on it would return as appropriate guarantees. Finally, a campus case is presented to demonstrate the applicability for finding the appropriate guaranteed savings value. This method is also worth popularizing in similar performance-based projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Consistency and Reliability of Construction Arbitration Decisions: Empirical Study.
- Author
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Ossman III, George, Bayraktar, Mehmet Emre, and Cui, Qingbin
- Subjects
- *
LABOR arbitration , *CONSTRUCTION industry , *CASE studies , *DECISION making , *INDUSTRIAL engineering - Abstract
While construction arbitration is analyzed in a plethora of information, there is a paucity of hard data about the consistency and reliability of the construction arbitration decision. The assumption that an industry familiar adjudicator will provide a reliable and consistent decision in comparison with the expectation of the industry as a whole has not been tested. This paper presents the results of a study on the reliability and consistency of construction arbitration through the examination of a variety of arbitrators’ decisions on the same construction dispute scenario. Data was collected from attorneys, owners, owner representatives, contractors, and subcontractors. Compilation of the survey results finds little consistency in the arbitrator’s awards, but with much thoughtful care in award consideration. The results suggest that the arbitrator’s industry background does not influence the arbitrator’s award. There is also no significant award bias due to the arbitrator’s education level or years spent in construction business. The results also indicate that previous arbitration experience does not predict the award outcome. This paper concludes that construction arbitration is wholly unpredictable. However, the result will be a well-reasoned and unbiased decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2010
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
38. Stochastic Modeling for Pavement Warranty Cost Estimation.
- Author
-
Moynihan, Gary, Zhou, Hao, and Cui, Qingbin
- Subjects
- *
PAVEMENTS , *WARRANTY , *COST estimates , *STRAINS & stresses (Mechanics) , *STRUCTURAL failures , *RISK management in business , *CONSTRUCTION costs , *STOCHASTIC models - Abstract
This paper presents a cost estimation model for long-term pavement warranties with multiple distress indicators. One application area for such warranties involves performance-based specifications (PBSs). In contrast to traditional approaches, PBS gives contractors the flexibility to select construction methods, materials, and even design. However, the contractors then must warrant the performance of their work for a specified period of time. Therefore, an accurate estimation of the risks associated with the warranty is a significant cost issue for any contractor to cover potential risks while still being competitive in bidding. Quantitative evaluation of the cost of risk incurred by the warranty has several difficulties. The deterioration of a highway project is a complex process, which is affected by pavement structure, material, traffic load, and weather conditions. Based on a probabilistic risk analysis of failures of performance indicators, the resulting model can estimate the warranty cost at a detailed level. The application of the model has been demonstrated via a numerical case study using long-term pavement performance data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
39. Organizational Behavior and Governance of Megaprojects.
- Author
-
Lu, Yujie, Li, Yongkui, and Cui, Qingbin
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
40. Anatomy into the battle of supporting or opposing reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Twitter: A temporal and spatial analysis.
- Author
-
Li, Lingyao, Erfani, Abdolmajid, Wang, Yu, and Cui, Qingbin
- Subjects
- *
COVID-19 pandemic , *NATURAL language processing , *PUBLIC opinion , *ANATOMY , *POLITICAL affiliation - Abstract
Reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a battle on social media. The supporters perceived that the lockdown policy could damage the economy and exacerbate social inequality. By contrast, the opponents believed it was necessary to contain the spread and ensure a safe environment for recovery. Anatomy into the battle is of importance to address public concerns, beliefs, and values, thereby enabling policymakers to determine the appropriate solutions to implement reopening policy. To this end, we investigated over 1.5 million related Twitter postings from April 17 to May 30, 2020. With the aid of natural language processing (NLP) techniques and machine learning classifiers, we classified each tweet into either a "supporting" or "opposing" class and then investigated the public perception from temporal and spatial perspectives. From the temporal dimension, we found that both political and scientific news that were extensively discussed on Twitter led to the perception of opposing reopening. Further, being the first mover with full reopen adversely affected the public reaction to reopening policy, while being the follower or late mover resulted in positive responses. From the spatial dimension, the correlation and regression analyses suggest that the state-level perception was very likely to be associated with political affiliation and health value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
41. The antecedents of safety leadership: The job demands-resources model.
- Author
-
Cheung, Clara Man, Zhang, Rita Peihua, Cui, Qingbin, and Hsu, Shu-Chien
- Subjects
- *
INDUSTRIAL safety , *POSITIVE psychology , *TRANSFORMATIONAL leadership , *JOB descriptions , *STRUCTURAL equation modeling - Abstract
• JD-R model were used to depict what factors affect safety leadership. • Job characteristics and personal resources affect safety leadership via engagement. • Personal resources moderate how job characteristics affect engagement. Although research has shown that safety leadership is a strong predictor of safety outcomes, it is unclear what factors lead to safety leadership. This unexplored area has hindered the development of effective interventions to promote safety leadership. This study addresses the knowledge gap by examining how job characteristics and personal resources influence construction leaders' engagement in safety leadership based on the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model in positive psychology. An online survey was distributed to all managerial employees in a large U.S. construction organization, resulting in 383 valid responses. The structural equation modeling analysis indicates that job characteristics (social support, work autonomy and risk perception) and personal resources (psychological capital) significantly contribute to safety-specific transformational leadership through work engagement. Moreover, psychological capital moderates the effect of social support on leaders' engagement in safety leadership. The implications of the present findings regarding safety leadership research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
42. VOC emissions from asphalt pavement and health risks to construction workers.
- Author
-
Cui, Peng, Schito, Gabriella, and Cui, Qingbin
- Subjects
- *
CONSTRUCTION workers , *HEALTH risk assessment , *PAVEMENT maintenance & repair , *ASPHALT pavements , *MONTE Carlo method , *ROAD construction , *VOLATILE organic compounds - Abstract
Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) is used in the construction of highway roads, parking lots and other pavement repairs in the US and worldwide. During asphalt pavement installation, a large amount of asphalt fume containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is emitted, causing potential health risks to construction workers. The field data investigation in this paper reports the concentration of VOCs around the workers on site using the Photo Ionization Detection (PID) device. Additionally, this paper presents a health risk evaluation model based on the Monte Carlo simulation to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of workers during pavement construction. More specifically, distribution and sensitivity analyses illustrate the factors that pose the greatest health risks caused by certain VOCs. The study calls for better health risk controls by targeting the emission sources, propagating pathways, and individual receptors of the VOCs to protect workers' health during pavement construction. This paper contributes to the knowledge of VOCs generated from HMA and the potential health risks to construction workers, as well as suggests the implementation of new requirements for pavement construction codes and safety regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Dacomitinib antagonizes multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells by inhibiting the efflux activity of ABCB1 and ABCG2 transporters.
- Author
-
Fan, Ying-Fang, Zhang, Wei, Zeng, Leli, Lei, Zi-Ning, Cai, Chao-Yun, Gupta, Pranav, Yang, Dong-Hua, Cui, Qingbin, Qin, Zuo-Dong, Chen, Zhe-Sheng, and Trombetta, Louis D.
- Subjects
- *
CANCER treatment , *CANCER cells , *MULTIDRUG resistance , *ATP-binding cassette transporters , *EPIDERMAL growth factor receptors , *CARRIER proteins , *CELL lines , *COMPARATIVE studies , *COMPUTER simulation , *DRUG resistance , *DRUG resistance in cancer cells , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *PROTEINS , *QUINONE , *RESEARCH , *RESEARCH funding , *EVALUATION research , *CHEMICAL inhibitors - Abstract
The development of multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy remains a major challenge in the treatment of cancer. Numerous mechanisms have been recognized that cause MDR, but one of the most important mechanisms is overexpression of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, through which the efflux of various anticancer drugs against their concentration gradients is powered by ATP. In recent years, small molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been developed for treatment in various human cancers overexpressing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). At the same time, some TKIs have been shown to be capable of inhibiting ABC transporter-mediated MDR. Dacomitinib (PF-00299804) is a second generation, irreversible TKI, which has shown positive anticancer activities in some preclinical and clinical trials. As many TKIs are substrates or inhibitors of ABC transporters, this study investigates whether dacomitinib could interact with ABC subfamily members that mediate MDR, including ABCB1 (P-gp), ABCG2 (BCRP) and ABCC1 (MRP1). The results showed that dacomitinib at 1.0 μM significantly reversed drug resistance mediated by ABCB1 and ABCG2, but not ABCC1, doing so by antagonizing the drug efflux function in ABCB1- and ABCG2-overexpressing cell lines. The reversal effect on ABCB1-overexpressing cells is more potent than that on ABCG2-overexpressing cells. In addition, dacomitinib at reversal concentration affected neither the protein expression level nor the localization of ABCB1 and ABCG2. Therefore, the mechanisms of this modulating effect are likely to be the following: first, as an inhibitor of ABCB1 or ABCG2 transporters, dacomitinib binds to drug-substrate site in transmembrane domains (TMD) stably in a noncompetitive manner; or second, dacomitinib inhibits ATPase activity and maintains the stability of TMD conformation in a concentration-dependent manner thereby inhibiting the drug efflux function of ABCB1 or ABCG2 transporter. This study provides a useful combinational therapeutic strategy with dacomitinib and substrates of ABCB1 and/or ABCG2 transporters in ABCB1- or ABCG2-overexpressing cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Making optimal investment decisions for energy service companies under uncertainty: A case study.
- Author
-
Deng, Qianli, Jiang, Xianglin, Zhang, Limao, and Cui, Qingbin
- Subjects
- *
ENERGY industries , *UNCERTAINTY (Information theory) , *ENERGY consumption , *INVESTMENTS , *COST effectiveness , *STOCHASTIC processes - Abstract
Varied initial energy efficiency investments would result in different annual energy savings achievements. In order to balance the savings revenue and the potential capital loss through EPC (Energy Performance Contracting), a cost-effective investment decision is needed when selecting energy efficiency technologies. In this research, an approach is developed for the ESCO (Energy Service Company) to evaluate the potential energy savings profit, and thus make the optimal investment decisions. The energy savings revenue under uncertainties, which are derived from energy efficiency performance variation and energy price fluctuation, are first modeled as stochastic processes. Then, the derived energy savings profit is shared by the owner and the ESCO according to the contract specification. A simulation-based model is thus built to maximize the owner's profit, and at the same time, satisfy the ESCO's expected rate of return. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach, the University of Maryland campus case is also presented. The proposed method could not only help the ESCO determine the optimal energy efficiency investments, but also assist the owner's decision in the bidding selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
45. A real option-based valuation model for privately-owned public rental housing projects in China.
- Author
-
Li, Dezhi, Chen, Hongxia, Hui, Eddie Chi-man, Xiao, Chan, Cui, Qingbin, and Li, Qiming
- Subjects
- *
REAL options (Finance) , *PUBLIC housing , *RENTAL housing , *KNOWLEDGE gap theory , *REAL estate developers , *HOME ownership - Abstract
Abstract: Chinese governments' great efforts in promoting the private sector's provision of public rental housing (PRH) have little effects, and the main reason is lack of proper provision mode and relevant valuation model. This knowledge gap is filled in by proposing a privately-owned PRH provision mode and a real option-based valuation model. In the proposed provision mode, the private sector primarily refers to private real estate developers, who will have ownership and decision rights of PRH projects. Then, the embedded real option at decision making stage is identified, and corresponding option premium (OP) is assessed by the Black–Scholes model modified with value leakage. Adding OP and conventional net present value (NPV) together, the expanded net present value (ENPV) is obtained as the investment value of a privately-owned PRH project. Finally, the proposed provision mode and valuation model are both exemplified in a PRH project, which has a negative NPV indicator but a positive ENPV indicator. Through the sensitive analysis, increasing the average rent of PRH buildings is found to be the most effective measure to enhance the ENPV indicator. Therefore, the proposed PRH provision mode is a feasible way to accelerate the private sector's provision of PRH in China, and the proposed valuation model can value a privately-owned PRH project objectively and comprehensively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
46. Eco-feedback delivering methods and psychological attributes shaping household energy consumption: Evidence from intervention program in Hangzhou, China.
- Author
-
Shen, Meng, Lu, Yujie, Kua, Harn Wei, and Cui, Qingbin
- Subjects
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ENERGY consumption , *PSYCHOLOGICAL feedback , *HOUSEHOLDS , *BEHAVIOR , *ENERGY conservation , *ENVIRONMENTAL quality , *ELECTRIC power conservation , *RESIDENTIAL energy conservation - Abstract
Promoting household energy-saving behaviors requires devising effective messages and selecting appropriate message delivery methods. Meanwhile, the specific psychological factors that shape the effectiveness of interventions remains elusive. Based on an energy conservation intervention program carried out in communities in the city of Hangzhou, China in 2016, this paper investigates the impact of eco-feedback and energy-saving tips delivered to households via an instant messaging platform (i.e., WeChat), stickers combined with leaflets, and face-to-face consultations in promoting energy conservation. Psychological attributes including personal values and aspects of decision-making that affect pro-environmental behavior, as well as social and housing demographics were collected and analyzed to identify relationships between household characteristics and the effectiveness of an intervention. The findings suggest that, coupled with eco-feedback, stickers and leaflets (mean rank 37.54) performed better than other alternatives (mean rank 55.34 for WeChat group, 57.08 for consultation group) in encouraging household energy-saving behaviors. The effectiveness of eco-feedback using an instant messaging platform was revealed to be short-lived. Moreover, the study found that psychological features such as the perception of sufficient non-material incentives and opportunity to perform energy conservation behavior, as well as valuing environmental quality, personal health, and leisure time, are significantly correlated with energy savings. The findings not only contribute to future policymaking in demand-side energy conservation, but also provide insights for the cultivation of long-term behavioral changes at the neighborhood level through the effective design of communications and engagement. Image 1 • Compared the effectiveness of three types of delivering methods. • Sticker with eco-feedback is more effective in saving energy than other methods. • Effectiveness of delivering feedback using an instant message is short-lived. • Household psychological and social attributes are correlated with energy saving. • Households valuing environmental quality and health are likely to save energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2020
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47. Prediction of household electricity consumption and effectiveness of concerted intervention strategies based on occupant behaviour and personality traits.
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Shen, Meng, Lu, Yujie, Wei, Kua Harn, and Cui, Qingbin
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RADIAL basis functions , *ELECTRIC power consumption , *PERSONALITY , *FORECASTING , *ENERGY demand management , *HOUSEHOLDS , *LOAD forecasting (Electric power systems) - Abstract
Household electricity consumption influenced by various behavioural intervention strategies is difficult to predict due to the uncertainty that arises from human behaviours and their responses to intervention. Based on an energy conservation experiment conducted in Hangzhou, China, the study aims to develop an improved Support Vector Regression model that is capable of predicting household electricity consumption under multiple intervention strategies. This paper firstly proposes a variable selection approach to determine the best subset of consumption predictors using Akaike Information Criterion. The critical predictors of energy behaviours, personality traits, demographic/building features, weather indicators and the historical monthly consumption is identified in this process. Furthermore, this research also introduces the interaction effect between the energy behaviour and all other predictors to the Support Vector Regression model which applies Gaussian radial basis function optimised by genetic algorithm as the kernel function. More importantly, the proposed model is able to select the optimal intervention strategy and to predict the maximum electricity savings for each household. It enables the households to achieve an average reduction of 12.1% in monthly electricity consumption compared with the conventional behavioural intervention. Moreover, the Monte Carlo simulation is performed to explore the relationship between personality traits, the best-fit intervention strategies and the maximum electricity savings. The study also identifies five types of households with different combinations of extraversion and conscientiousness that respond differently to the optimised interventions. The findings of this study contribute to the residential demand-side energy management by enriching and diversifying personalised behavioural intervention strategies. • The improved SVR model can predict electricity usage under behavioural interventions. • 18 critical predictors including behaviours and personality traits are selected. • WeChat with feedback can lead to the largest electricity savings up to 15.97%. • 5 types of people responding differently to optimal interventions are identified. • The proposed method can achieve an average 12.1% reduction in electricity usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2020
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48. Venetoclax, a BCL-2 Inhibitor, Enhances the Efficacy of Chemotherapeutic Agents in Wild-Type ABCG2-Overexpression-Mediated MDR Cancer Cells.
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Wang, Jing-Quan, Li, Jonathan Y., Teng, Qiu-Xu, Lei, Zi-Ning, Ji, Ning, Cui, Qingbin, Zeng, Leli, Pan, Yihang, Yang, Dong-Hua, and Chen, Zhe-Sheng
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ANTINEOPLASTIC agents , *BREAST tumors , *CELL lines , *DRUG resistance in cancer cells , *DRUG synergism , *MOLECULAR structure , *MEMBRANE transport proteins , *PHARMACODYNAMICS - Abstract
Previous studies have shown that small-molecule BCL-2 inhibitors can have a synergistic interaction with ABCG2 substrates in chemotherapy. Venetoclax is a potent and selective BCL-2 inhibitor, approved by the FDA in 2016 for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). This study showed that, at a non-toxic concentration, venetoclax at 10 µM significantly reversed multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by wild-type ABCG2, without significantly affecting MDR mediated by mutated ABCG2 (R482G and R482T) and ABCB1, while moderate or no reversal effects were observed at lower concentrations (0.5 to 1 µM). The results showed that venetoclax increased the intracellular accumulation of chemotherapeutic agents, which was the result of directly blocking the wild-type ABCG2 efflux function and inhibiting the ATPase activity of ABCG2. Our study demonstrated that venetoclax potentiates the efficacy of wild-type ABCG2 substrate drugs. These findings may provide useful guidance in combination therapy against wild-type ABCG2-mediated MDR cancer in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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- 2020
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