Localized surface plasmon resonance enhanced by the light-scattering property of silver nanoparticles for improved luminescence of polymer light-emitting diodes

Cheng-Liang Huang,Hung Ji Huang,Sy-Hann Chen,Yu-Siang Huang,Po-Ching Kao,Yuan-Fong Chou Chau,Hai-Pang Chiang 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.103 No.-

This study used photochemical reduction to successfully synthesize triangular silver nanoplates (TAgNPs)and silver nanodecahedrons (AgNDs) with higher light-absorption and higher light-scattering properties,respectively, for the same wavelength. To analyze the contribution of light-absorption and lightscatteringof silver nanoparticles to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate was doped with TAgNPs or AgNDs at the same concentration(1.17 lg/cm2) and made into polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). According to the current densityvoltageluminancecharacteristics and electroluminescence (EL) spectra, the enhancement factors for currentefficiency and EL intensity for AgND-containing PLEDs were found to be higher than those for PLEDwith TAgNPs by 24.9% and 138%, respectively. This shows that the metal nanoparticles with higher lightscatteringproperty can induce a relatively strong LSPR effect, which possibly gives a hint to design plasmonicphotovoltaic in future.

Characterization and expression of calcium-activated potassium channels (Slo) in ovary of the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain

Xue-Liang Liu,Hai-Hui Ye,Hui-Yang Huang,Jie Gong,Ya-Nan Yang 한국유전학회 2014 Genes & Genomics Vol.36 No.1

Large conductance calcium-activated potassiumchannels (Slo) play important roles in controllingneuronal excitability. At present, very little is known aboutthe function of Slo channels on ovarian development. Wecloned the SPSlo gene from the mud crab, Scylla paramamosain. This gene shows 91 and 93 % sequence identityto PISlo from the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus andCBSlo from the jonah crab, Cancer borealis, respectively. We isolated six variants of the SPSlo cDNA within S. paramamosain ovary tissue. Sequence analysis indicatedthat there were at least seven alternative sites in SPSlo,each with multiple alternative segments. Real-time PCRshowed that the SPSlo gene was expressed in various tissues,and highly expressed in brain and ovary. In addition,the expression of SPSlo changed throughout ovariandevelopment, highest at the early-developing stage (StageII) followed by a slow decrease in subsequent stages. Theseresults suggested that SPSlo channels may be implicated inthe ovarian development of the mud crab.

miR-340 Reverses Cisplatin Resistance of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Lines by Targeting Nrf2-dependent Antioxidant Pathway

Shi, Liang,Chen, Zhan-Guo,Wu, Li-li,Zheng, Jian-Jian,Yang, Jian-Rong,Chen, Xiao-Fei,Chen, Zeng-Qiang,Liu, Cun-Li,Chi, Sheng-Ying,Zheng, Jia-Ying,Huang, Hai-Xia,Lin, Xiang-Yang,Zheng, Fang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.23

Many chemotherapeutic agents have been successfully used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the development of chemoresistance in liver cancer cells usually results in a relapse and worsening of prognosis. It has been demonstrated that DNA methylation and histone modification play crucial roles in chemotherapy resistance. Currently, extensive research has shown that there is another potential mechanism of gene expression control, which is mediated through the function of short noncoding RNAs, especially for microRNAs (miRNAs), but little is known about their roles in cancer cell drug resistance. In present study, by taking advantage of miRNA effects on the resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells line to cisplatin, it has been demonstrated that miR-340 were significantly downregulated whereas Nrf2 was upregulated in HepG2/CDDP (cisplatin) cells, compared with parental HepG2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays of Nrf2-3'-untranslated region-based reporter constructor indicated that Nrf2 was the direct target gene of miR-340, miR-340 mimics suppressing Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway and enhancing the sensitivity of HepG2/CDDP cells to cisplatin. Interestingly, transfection with miR-340 mimics combined with miR-340 inhibitors reactivated the Nrf2 related pathway and restored the resistance of HepG2/CDDP cells to CDDP. Collectively, the results first suggested that lower expression of miR-340 is involved in the development of CDDP resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, at least partly due to regulating Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway.

Risk of venous thromboembolism in Chinese pregnant women: Hong Kong venous thromboembolism study

Duo Huang,Emmanuel Wong,Ming-Liang Zuo,Pak-Hei Chan,Wen-Sheng Yue,Hou-Xiang Hu,Ling Chen,Li-Xue Yin,Xin-Wu Cui,Ming-Xiang Wu,Xi Su,Chung-Wah Siu,Jo-Jo Hai 대한혈액학회 2019 Blood Research Vol.54 No.3

BackgroundPrevious Caucasian studies have described venous thromboembolism in pregnancy; however, little is known about its incidence during pregnancy and early postpartum peri-od in the Chinese population. We investigated the risk of venous thromboembolism in a “real-world” cohort of pregnant Chinese women with no prior history of venous thromboembolism.MethodsIn this observational study, 15,325 pregnancies were identified in 14,162 Chinese women at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong between January 2004 and September 2016. Demographic data, obstetric information, and laboratory and imaging data were retrieved and reviewed.ResultsThe mean age at pregnancy was 32.4±5.3 years, and the median age was 33 years (interquartile range, 29‒36 yr). Pre-existing or newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus was present in 627 women (4.1%); 359 (0.7%) women had pre-existing or newly detected hypertension. There was a small number of women with pre-existing heart disease and/or rheumatic conditions. Most deliveries (86.0%) were normal vaginal; the remaining were Cesarean section 2,146 (14.0%). The incidence of venous thromboembolism was 0.4 per 1,000 pregnancies, of which 83.3% were deep vein thrombosis and 16.7% were pul-monary embolism. In contrast to previous studies, 66.7% of venous thrombosis occurred in the first trimester.ConclusionChinese women had a substantially lower risk of venous thromboembolism during preg-nancy and the postpartum period compared to that of Caucasians. The occurrence of pregnancy-related venous thromboembolism was largely confined to the early preg-nancy period, probably related to the adoption of thromboprophylaxis, a lower rate of Cesarean section, and early mobilization.

Investigation of Microstructural Evolution and Electrical Properties for Ni-Sn Transient Liquid-Phase Sintering Bonding

Hong-Liang Feng,Ji-Hua Huang,Jian Yang,Shao-Kun Zhou,Rong Zhang,Yue Wang,Shu-Hai Chen 대한금속·재료학회 2017 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.13 No.6

Ni/Ni-Sn/Ni sandwiched simulated package structures weresuccessfully bonded under low temperature and low pressure byNi-Sn transient liquid-phase sintering bonding. The results showthat, after isothermally holding for 240 min at 300 °C and 180 minat 340 °C, Sn was completely transformed into Ni3Sn4 intermetalliccompounds. When the Ni3Sn4 phases around Ni particles werepressed together, the porosity of the bonding layer increased, whichobviously differed from the normal sintering densification process. With further analysis of this phenomenon, it was found that largevolume shrinkage (14.94% at 340 °C) occurred when Ni reactedwith Sn to form Ni3Sn4, which caused void formation. Amechanistic model of the microstructural evolution in the bondinglayer was proposed. Meanwhile, the resistivity of the bonding layerwas measured and analyzed by using the four-probe method; themicrostructural evolution was well reflected by the resistivity ofthe bonding layer. The relationship between the resistivity andmicrostructure was also discussed in detail.

Serum Peroxiredoxin3 is a Useful Biomarker for Early Diagnosis and Assessemnt of Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Chinese Patients

Shi, Liang,Wu, Li-Li,Yang, Jian-Rong,Chen, Xiao-Fei,Zhang, Yi,Chen, Zeng-Qiang,Liu, Cun-Li,Chi, Sheng-Ying,Zheng, Jia-Ying,Huang, Hai-Xia,Yu, Fu-Jun,Lin, Xiang-Yang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.7

Background: Recently, peroxiredoxin3 (PRDX3) was identified as a novel molecular marker for the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its potential clinical application as a serum marker for the early diagnosis and prognosis of HCC has not been investigated. Methods: PRDX3, alpha-fetaprotein (AFP), and other biochemical parameters were measured in serum samples from 297 Chinese patients, including 96 with HCC, 98 with liver cirrhosis (LC), and 103 healthy controls (HCs). Correlations between serum PRDX3 expression and clinicopathological variables and the relationship between serum PRDX3 expression and prognosis were analyzed. Results: Serum PRDX3 was significantly higher in HCC patients than in the LC and HC groups. The sensitivity and specificity of serum PRDX3 for the diagnosis of HCC were 85.9% and 75.3%, respectively, at a cutoff of 153.26 ng/mL, and the area under the curve was 0.865. Moreover, serum PRDX3 expression was strongly associated with AFP level, tumor diameter, TNM stage, and portal vein invasion. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis revealed that HCC patients with high serum PRDX3 expression had a shorter median survival time than those with low PRDX3 expression. Moreover, serum PRDX3 expression was an independent risk factor for overall survival. The inverse correlation between serum PRDX3 and patient survival remained significant in patients with early-stage HCC and in those with normal serum AFP levels. Conclusions: Serum PRDX3 can be used as a noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis and/or prognosis of HCC.

Associations of Plasma Glucagon Levels with Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, Albuminuria and Diabetic Kidney Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Hua-Xing Huang,Liang-Lan Shen,Hai-Yan Huang,Li-Hua Zhao,Feng Xu,Dong-Mei Zhang,Xiu-Lin Zhang,Tong Chen,Xue-Qin Wang,Yan Xie,Jian-Bin Su 대한당뇨병학회 2021 Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Vol.45 No.6

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by elevated fasting glucagon and impaired suppression of postprandial glucagon secretion, which may participate in diabetic complications. Therefore, we investigated the associations of plasma glucagon with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), albuminuria and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in T2DM patients.Methods: Fasting glucagon and postchallenge glucagon (assessed by area under the glucagon curve [AUCgla]) levels were determined during oral glucose tolerance tests. Patients with an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and/or a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) ≥30 mg/g who presented with diabetic retinopathy were identified as having DKD.Results: Of the 2,436 recruited patients, fasting glucagon was correlated with eGFR and UACR (r=–0.112 and r=0.157, respectively; P<0.001), and AUCgla was also correlated with eGFR and UACR (r=–0.267 and r=0.234, respectively; P<0.001). Moreover, 31.7% (n=771) presented with DKD; the prevalence of DKD was 27.3%, 27.6%, 32.5%, and 39.2% in the first (Q1), second (Q2), third (Q3), and fourth quartile (Q4) of fasting glucagon, respectively; and the corresponding prevalence for AUCgla was 25.9%, 22.7%, 33.7%, and 44.4%, respectively. Furthermore, after adjusting for other clinical covariates, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs; 95% confidence intervals) for DKD in Q2, Q3, and Q4 versus Q1 of fasting glucagon were 0.946 (0.697 to 1.284), 1.209 (0.895 to 1.634), and 1.521 (1.129 to 2.049), respectively; the corresponding ORs of AUCgla were 0.825 (0.611 to 1.114), 1.323 (0.989 to 1.769), and 2.066 (1.546 to 2.760), respectively. Additionally, when we restricted our analysis in patients with glycosylated hemoglobin <7.0% (n=471), we found fasting glucagon and AUCgla were still independently associated with DKD.Conclusion: Both increased fasting and postchallenge glucagon levels were independently associated with DKD in T2DM patients.

Gut Microbiota Community and Its Assembly Associated with Age and Diet in Chinese Centenarians

( Fang Wang ),( Ting Yu ),( Guo Hong Huang ),( Da Cai ),( Xiaolin Liang ),( Hai Yan Su ),( Zhenjun Zhu ),( Danlei Li ),( Yang Yang ),( Pei Hong Shen ),( Rui Feng Mao ),( Lian Yu ),( Mou Ming Zhao ),( 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2015 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.25 No.8

Increasing evidence suggests that gut microbiota underpin the development of health and longevity. However, our understanding of what influences the composition of this community of the longevous has not been adequately described. Therefore, illumina sequencing analysis was performed on the gut microbiota of centenarians (aged 100-108 years; RC) and younger elderlies (aged 85-99 years; RE) living in Bama County, Guangxi, China and the elderlies (aged 80-92 years; CE) living in Nanning City, Guangxi, China. In addition, their diet was monitored using a semiquantitative dietary questionary (FFQ 23). The results revealed the abundance of Roseburia and Escherichia was significantly greater, whereas that of Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium, Parabacteroides, Butyricimonas, Coprococcus, Megamonas, Mitsuokella, Sutterella, and Akkermansia was significantly less in centenarians at the genus level. Both clustering analysis and UniFraq distance analysis showed structural segregation with age and diet among the three populations. Using partial least square discriminate analysis and redundancy analysis, we identified 33 and 34 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) as key OTUs that were significantly associated with age and diet, respectively. Age-related OTUs were characterized as Ruminococcaceae, Clostridiaceae, and Lachnospiraceae, and the former two were increased in the centenarians; diet-related OTUs were classified as Bacteroidales, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae. The former two were deceased, whereas the later one was increased, in the high-fiber diet. The age and high-fiber diet were concomitant with changes in the gut microbiota of centenarians, suggesting that age and high-fiber diet can establish a new structurally balanced architecture of gut microbiota that may benefit the health of centenarians.

Novel DNAH1 Mutation Loci Lead to Multiple Morphological Abnormalities of the Sperm Flagella and Literature Review

Zhuang Bao-Jun,Xu Su-Yun,Dong Liang,Zhang Pei-Hai,Zhuang Bao-Lin,Huang Xiao-Peng,Li Guang-Sen,You Yao-Dong,Chen Di'Ang,Yu Xu-Jun,Chang De-Gui 대한남성과학회 2022 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.40 No.4

The protein encoded by dynein axonemal heavy chain 1 (DNAH1) is a part of dynein, which regulates the function of cilia and sperm flagella. The mutant of DNAH1 causes the deletion of inner dynein arm 3 in the flagellum, leading to multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) and severe asthenozoospermia. However, instead of asthenozoospermia and MMAF, the result caused by the mutation of DNAH1 remains unknown. Here we report a male infertility patient with severe asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. We found two heterozygous mutations in DNAH1 (c.6912C>A and c.7076G>T) and which were reported to be associated with MMAF for the first time. We next collected and analyzed 65 cases of DNAH1 mutation and found that the proportion of short flagella is the largest, while the bent flagella account for the smallest, and the incidence of head deformity is not high in the sperm of these patients. Finally, we also analyzed 31 DNAH1 mutation patients who were treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and achieved beneficial outcomes. We hope our research will be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility caused by DNAH1 mutation.

Numerical simulation and experiments of magnetic flux leakage inspection in pipeline steel

Xun-Bo Li,Xiang Li,Liang Chen,Pei-Fu Feng,Hai-Dong Wang,Zuo-Ying Huang 대한기계학회 2009 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.23 No.1

The magnetic flux leakage (MFL) method is currently the most commonly used pipeline inspection technique. In this paper, numerical simulation and experimental investigation on defect inspection in pipeline steel using MFL were carried out. In theoretical analysis, typical three-dimensional (3D) defects were accurately modeled and detailed MFL signals in the test surface were calculated by 3D finite element method (FEM). To confirm the 3D FEM results, different artificial defects were made and the MFL experiments were performed. The experimental study demonstrated that the results were agreement with the 3D FEM result. The results show that the 3D FEM is an effective analysis method for pipeline steel MFL inspection.