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Kim J, Rosenberger MG, Chen S, IP CKM, Bahmani A, Chen Q, Shen J, Tang Y, Wang A, Kenna E, Son M, Tay S, Ferguson AL, Esser-Kahn AP. Discovery of New States of Immunomodulation for Vaccine Adjuvants via High Throughput Screening: Expanding Innate Responses to PRRs. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:427-439. [PMID: 36968540 PMCID: PMC10037445 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c01351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Stimulation of the innate immune system is crucial in both effective vaccinations and immunotherapies. This is often achieved through adjuvants, molecules that usually activate pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and stimulate two innate immune signaling pathways: the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B-cells pathway (NF-κB) and the interferon regulatory factors pathway (IRF). Here, we demonstrate the ability to alter and improve adjuvant activity via the addition of small molecule "immunomodulators". By modulating signaling activity instead of receptor binding, these molecules allow the customization of select innate responses. We demonstrate both inhibition and enhancement of the products of the NF-κB and IRF pathways by several orders of magnitude. Some modulators apply generally across many receptors, while others focus specifically on individual receptors. Modulators boost correlates of a protective immune responses in a commercial flu vaccine model and reduced correlates of reactogenicity in a typhoid vaccine model. These modulators have a range of applications: from adjuvanticity in prophylactics to enhancement of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Siquan Chen
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Carman KM IP
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Azadeh Bahmani
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Qing Chen
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Jinjing Shen
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Yifeng Tang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Andrew Wang
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Emma Kenna
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Minjun Son
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Savaş Tay
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Andrew L. Ferguson
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
| | - Aaron P. Esser-Kahn
- Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, 5640 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60637, United States
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Marinko J, Huang H, Penn WD, Capra JA, Schlebach JP, Sanders CR. Folding and Misfolding of Human Membrane Proteins in Health and Disease: From Single Molecules to Cellular Proteostasis. Chem Rev 2019; 119:5537-5606. [PMID: 30608666 PMCID: PMC6506414 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Advances over the past 25 years have revealed much about how the structural properties of membranes and associated proteins are linked to the thermodynamics and kinetics of membrane protein (MP) folding. At the same time biochemical progress has outlined how cellular proteostasis networks mediate MP folding and manage misfolding in the cell. When combined with results from genomic sequencing, these studies have established paradigms for how MP folding and misfolding are linked to the molecular etiologies of a variety of diseases. This emerging framework has paved the way for the development of a new class of small molecule "pharmacological chaperones" that bind to and stabilize misfolded MP variants, some of which are now in clinical use. In this review, we comprehensively outline current perspectives on the folding and misfolding of integral MPs as well as the mechanisms of cellular MP quality control. Based on these perspectives, we highlight new opportunities for innovations that bridge our molecular understanding of the energetics of MP folding with the nuanced complexity of biological systems. Given the many linkages between MP misfolding and human disease, we also examine some of the exciting opportunities to leverage these advances to address emerging challenges in the development of therapeutics and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin
T. Marinko
- Department
of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
- Center
for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
| | - Hui Huang
- Department
of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
- Center
for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
| | - Wesley D. Penn
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - John A. Capra
- Center
for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
- Department
of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37245, United States
| | - Jonathan P. Schlebach
- Department
of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States
| | - Charles R. Sanders
- Department
of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37240, United States
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3
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Niespodziany I, Mullier B, André VM, Ghisdal P, Jnoff E, Moreno-Delgado D, Swinnen D, Sands Z, Wood M, Wolff C. Discovery of a small molecule modulator of the Kv1.1/Kvβ1 channel complex that reduces neuronal excitability and in vitro epileptiform activity. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 25:442-451. [PMID: 30242974 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Kv1.1 (KCNA1) channels contribute to the control of neuronal excitability and have been associated with epilepsy. Kv1.1 channels can associate with the cytoplasmic Kvβ1 subunit resulting in rapid inactivating A-type currents. We hypothesized that removal of channel inactivation, by modulating Kv1.1/Kvβ1 interaction with a small molecule, would lead to decreased neuronal excitability and anticonvulsant activity. METHODS We applied high-throughput screening to identify ligands able to modulate the Kv1.1-T1 domain/Kvβ1 protein complex. We then selected a compound that was characterized on recombinant Kv1.1/Kvβ1 channels by electrophysiology and further evaluated on sustained neuronal firing and on in vitro epileptiform activity using a high K+ -low Ca2+ model in hippocampal slices. RESULTS We identified a novel compound able to modulate the interaction of the Kv1.1/Kvβ1 complex and that produced a functional inhibition of Kv1.1/Kvβ1 channel inactivation. We demonstrated that this compound reduced the sustained repetitive firing in hippocampal neurons and was able to abolish the development of in vitro epileptiform activity. CONCLUSIONS This study describes a rational drug discovery approach for the identification of novel ligands that inhibit Kv1.1 channel inactivation and provides pharmacological evidence that such a mechanism translates into physiological effects by reducing in vitro epileptiform activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brice Mullier
- Department of Neuroscience Research, UCB Pharma, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | | | - Philippe Ghisdal
- Department of Neuroscience Research, UCB Pharma, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Eric Jnoff
- Department of Neuroscience Research, UCB Pharma, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | | | - Dominique Swinnen
- Department of Neuroscience Research, UCB Pharma, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Zara Sands
- Department of Neuroscience Research, UCB Pharma, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Martyn Wood
- Department of Neuroscience Research, UCB Pharma, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Christian Wolff
- Department of Neuroscience Research, UCB Pharma, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
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Longhena F, Spano P, Bellucci A. Targeting of Disordered Proteins by Small Molecules in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2018; 245:85-110. [PMID: 28965171 DOI: 10.1007/164_2017_60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The formation of protein aggregates and inclusions in the brain and spinal cord is a common neuropathological feature of a number of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and many others. These are commonly referred as neurodegenerative proteinopathies or protein-misfolding diseases. The main characteristic of protein aggregates in these disorders is the fact that they are enriched in amyloid fibrils. Since protein aggregation is considered to play a central role for the onset of neurodegenerative proteinopathies, research is ongoing to develop strategies aimed at preventing or removing protein aggregation in the brain of affected patients. Numerous studies have shown that small molecule-based approaches may be potentially the most promising for halting protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases. Indeed, several of these compounds have been found to interact with intrinsically disordered proteins and promote their clearing in experimental models. This notwithstanding, at present small molecule inhibitors still awaits achievements for clinical translation. Hopefully, if we determine whether the formation of insoluble inclusions is effectively neurotoxic and find a valid biomarker to assess their protein aggregation-inhibitory activity in the human central nervous system, the use of small molecule inhibitors will be considered as a cure for neurodegenerative protein-misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Longhena
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa No. 11, Brescia, 25123, Italy
| | - PierFranco Spano
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa No. 11, Brescia, 25123, Italy
| | - Arianna Bellucci
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Viale Europa No. 11, Brescia, 25123, Italy.
- Laboratory of Personalized and Preventive Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Brenke JK, Salmina ES, Ringelstetter L, Dornauer S, Kuzikov M, Rothenaigner I, Schorpp K, Giehler F, Gopalakrishnan J, Kieser A, Gul S, Tetko IV, Hadian K. Identification of Small-Molecule Frequent Hitters of Glutathione S-Transferase–Glutathione Interaction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:596-607. [DOI: 10.1177/1087057116639992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns, the binding of glutathione S-transferase (GST) to glutathione (GSH) is used for detection of GST-tagged proteins in protein-protein interactions or enzyme assays. However, many false-positives, so-called frequent hitters (FH), arise that either prevent GST/GSH interaction or interfere with assay signal generation or detection. To identify GST-FH compounds, we analyzed the data of five independent AlphaScreen-based screening campaigns to classify compounds that inhibit the GST/GSH interaction. We identified 53 compounds affecting GST/GSH binding but not influencing His-tag/Ni2+-NTA interaction and general AlphaScreen signals. The structures of these 53 experimentally identified GST-FHs were analyzed in chemoinformatic studies to categorize substructural features that promote interference with GST/GSH binding. Here, we confirmed several existing chemoinformatic filters and more importantly extended them as well as added novel filters that specify compounds with anti–GST/GSH activity. Selected compounds were also tested using different antibody-based GST detection technologies and exhibited no interference clearly demonstrating specificity toward their GST/GSH interaction. Thus, these newly described GST-FH will further contribute to the identification of FH compounds containing promiscuous substructures. The developed filters were uploaded to the OCHEM website ( http://ochem.eu ) and are publicly accessible for analysis of future HTS results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jara K. Brenke
- Helmholtz Zentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Assay Development and Screening Platform, Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Elena S. Salmina
- Institute for Organic Chemistry, Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg, Germany
| | - Larissa Ringelstetter
- Helmholtz Zentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Assay Development and Screening Platform, Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Scarlett Dornauer
- Helmholtz Zentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Assay Development and Screening Platform, Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Maria Kuzikov
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, ScreeningPort (Fraunhofer-IME SP), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ina Rothenaigner
- Helmholtz Zentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Assay Development and Screening Platform, Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Kenji Schorpp
- Helmholtz Zentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Assay Development and Screening Platform, Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Fabian Giehler
- Helmholtz Zentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Research Unit Gene Vectors, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jay Gopalakrishnan
- Laboratory for Centrosome and Cytoskeleton Biology, CMMC, Cologne, Germany
| | - Arnd Kieser
- Helmholtz Zentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Research Unit Gene Vectors, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sheraz Gul
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, ScreeningPort (Fraunhofer-IME SP), Hamburg, Germany
| | - Igor V. Tetko
- Helmholtz Zentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Institute of Structural Biology, Neuherberg, Germany
- BigChem GmbH, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Kamyar Hadian
- Helmholtz Zentrum München für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Assay Development and Screening Platform, Institute of Molecular Toxicology and Pharmacology, Neuherberg, Germany
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6
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Development of a Fluorescent Quenching Based High Throughput Assay to Screen for Calcineurin Inhibitors. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131297. [PMID: 26176772 PMCID: PMC4503349 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently there is no effective treatment available for major neurodegenerative disorders associated to protein misfolding, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. One of most promising therapeutic approaches under development focuses on inhibiting the misfolding and aggregation pathway. However, it is likely that by the time clinical symptoms appear, there is a large accumulation of misfolded aggregates and a very substantial damage to the brain. Thus, it seems that at the clinical stage of the disease it is necessary also to develop strategies aiming to prevent the neuronal damage produced by already formed misfolded aggregates. Chronic activation of calcineurin (CaN), a type IIB phosphatase, has been implicated as a pivotal molecule connecting synaptic loss and neuronal damage to protein misfolding. The fact that the crystal structure of CaN is also well established makes it an ideal target for drug discovery. CaN activity assays for High Throughput Screening (HTS) reported so far are based on absorbance. In this article we report the development of a fluorescent quenching based CaN activity assay suitable for robotic screening of large chemical libraries to find novel inhibitors. The assay yielded a Z score of 0.84 with coefficient of variance ≤ 15%. Our results also show that this assay can be used to identify CaN inhibitors with a wide range of potencies.
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7
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Calderilla-Barbosa L, Seibenhener ML, Du Y, Diaz-Meco MT, Moscat J, Yan J, Wooten MW, Wooten MC. Interaction of SQSTM1 with the motor protein dynein--SQSTM1 is required for normal dynein function and trafficking. J Cell Sci 2014; 127:4052-63. [PMID: 25015291 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.152363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynein motor protein complex is required for retrograde transport of vesicular cargo and for transport of aggregated proteins along microtubules for processing and degradation at perinuclear aggresomes. Disruption of this process leads to dysfunctional endosome accumulation and increased protein aggregation in the cell cytoplasm, both pathological features of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the exact mechanism of dynein functionality in these pathways is still being elucidated. Here, we show that the scaffolding protein SQSTM1 directly interacts with dynein through a previously unidentified dynein-binding site. This interaction is independent of HDAC6, a known interacting protein of both SQSTM1 and dynein. However, knockdown of HDAC6 increases the interaction of SQSTM1 with dynein, indicating a possible competitive interaction. Using different dynein cargoes, we show that SQSTM1 is required for proper dynein motility and trafficking along microtubules. Based on our results, we propose a new model of competitive interaction between SQSTM1 and HDAC6 with dynein. In this model, SQSTM1 would not only affect the association of polyubiquitylated protein aggregates and endosomes with dynein, but would also be required for normal dynein function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Calderilla-Barbosa
- Department of Biological Sciences, 331 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - M Lamar Seibenhener
- Department of Biological Sciences, 331 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Yifeng Du
- Department of Biological Sciences, 331 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Maria-Theresa Diaz-Meco
- 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jorge Moscat
- 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jin Yan
- Graduate Center for Toxicology, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Marie W Wooten
- Department of Biological Sciences, 331 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Michael C Wooten
- Department of Biological Sciences, 331 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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Li X, Zhang X, Zhao S, Wang J, Liu G, Du Y. Micro-scaffold array chip for upgrading cell-based high-throughput drug testing to 3D using benchtop equipment. LAB ON A CHIP 2014; 14:471-81. [PMID: 24287736 DOI: 10.1039/c3lc51103k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based high throughput drug screening accelerates the pace of drug discovery which is routinely operated on planar high-density multi-well plates with sophisticated robotic liquid-dispensing systems for cell seeding and drug administration. Considerable efforts have been made to upgrade in vitro cellular models from 2D to a more biomimetic 3D configuration. For instance, in anti-cancer drug screening, tumor spheroids are increasingly applied as a gold-standard 3D model exhibiting cellular behaviors and drug responses distinguishable from the 2D counterpart. However, translation of spheroids to high throughput drug screening is challenging since pre-formation of spheroids and subsequent translocation to multi-well plates for drug testing are usually uncontrollable and time/reagent consuming and cell loss is inevitable during medium exchange for drug testing. Here we present an off-the-shelf micro-scaffold array chip which enables high throughput 3D cell culture, drug administration and quantitative in situ assays entirely on the same chip. The sponge-like micro-scaffolds functioned both as absorbents to realize parallel auto-loading of cells or drugs and as barriers to prevent cell loss during medium exchange via centrifugation. Rapid manual loading of cell suspensions or drugs into the 96 isolated micro-scaffolds on the chip was achieved in the timescale of several seconds, meanwhile with total medium consumption reduced to the order of microliters. Proof of concept demonstration of drug cytotoxicity testing was performed on multiple cancer cells using common benchtop equipment, making it accessible to most biomedical labs with basic cell culture setups. Higher cellular drug resistance was constantly obtained with this platform compared to the planar cultures, which was partially attributed to the malignant phenotype of cancer cells yielded by enhanced cell-matrix interactions in the micro-scaffolds. Interestingly, the high drug resistance of 3D cultured cells in the micro-scaffold was shown to be density-independent in contrast to the density-dependent drug response for 2D cultured cells, indicating intrinsic differences between the two culture models. This platform is expected to facilitate upgrade of the current cell-based high throughput drug testing to the 3D level and be widely applicable across various disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokang Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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