Bioinspired Hierarchical Layer-within-network Structure of Polymer Nanocomposites for High-performance All-solid-state Flexible Supercapacitors

Wei-Tsung Chuang,Rong-Hao Guo,Che-Min Chou,Chun-Chieh Wang,Ming-Jay Deng,Jhih-Min Lin,Chun-Yu Chen,Yao-Chang Lee 한국고분자학회 2021 한국고분자학회 학술대회 연구논문 초록집 Vol.46 No.2

To meet future demands for cutting-edge wearable electronics, flexible supercapacitors must possess many features, such as eco-friendly processing, aesthetic appeal and no health hazards, in addition to have lightweight, robust and excellent cycling stability. We proposed a biomimetic and scalable method to fabricate an all-solid-state flexible supercapacitor (assFSC) using bioinspired clay/polymer nanocomposites as electrode materials and a gel electrolyte. Experimental results from X-ray techniques (tomography, scattering and diffraction) showed that the electrode’s structure features a 3D ant-nest-like framework composed of 2D nacre-like clay nanosheets, i.e. hierarchical layers-within-networks structure. Accordingly, the structural electrodes exhibit high tensile strength of 62 MPa, Young’s modulus of 4.4 GPa, and torsional strength of 165 MPa. Under a large operating potential of 4.0 V, the assFSC exhibited ultrahigh energy density (233.3 W h kg<SUP>-1</SUP> at 2 kW kg<SUP>-1</SUP>), ultrahigh power density (125 kW kg<SUP>-1</SUP> at 55.5 W h kg<SUP>-1</SUP>), and outstanding static cyclability (less than 10% loss after 5,000 cycles). We also performed a cycle-life test under dynamic deformation and demonstrated that the assFSC had charging and discharging abilities during motion, according to particle applications of wearable electronics. Thus stable and superior electrochemical performance can be attributed to the biomimetic layers-within-networks structure, which not only provided robust framework but also induced 3D conducting networks with increasing ion channels and shortening charge transports. The shapeable electrodes made by a molding process could, therefore, be used to meet the demands for fashionable, wearable electronics.

Electrical Measurements of an AlGaN/GaN High-electron-mobility Transistor Structure Grown on Si

Zhi-Yao Zhang,Shun-Tsung Lo,Li-Hung Lin,Kuang Yao Chen,J. Z. Huang,Zhi-Hao Sun,C.-T. Liang,N. C. Chen,Chin-An Chang,P. H. Chang 한국물리학회 2012 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.61 No.9

We report on magnetotransport results for an Al_0.15Ga_0.85N/GaN high-electron-mobility-transistor structure grown on a p-type Si (111) substrate. Our results show that there exists an approximately temperature (<i>T</i>)-independent point, which could be ascribed to a direct transition from a weak insulator to a high Landau level filling factor quantum Hall state, exists in the longitudinal resistivity ρ_xx. The Hall resistivity decreases with increasing <i>T</i>, compelling experimental evidence for electron-electron interaction effects in a weakly-disordered two-dimensional (2D) system. We find that electron-electron interaction effects can be estimated and eliminated, giving rise to a corrected nominally temperature-independent Hall slope. By fitting the low-field magnetotransport data to conventional 2D weak localization theory, we find that the dephasing rate 1/τ_φ is proportional to <i>T</i>. Moreover, 1/τ_φ is finite as <i>T</i> → 0, evidence for zero-temperature dephasing in our system.

Chitosan Reduces Plasma Adipocytokines and Lipid Accumulation in Liver and Adipose Tissues and Ameliorates Insulin Resistance in Diabetic Rats

Yu-Lin Hsieh,Hsien-Tsung Yao,Ron-Shan Cheng,Meng-Tsan Chiang 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.5

Chitosan is a natural product derived from chitin. To investigate the hypoglycemic and anti-obesity effects of chitosan, male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups: normal control, diabetic, and diabetic fed 5% or 7%chitosan. Diabetes was induced in rats by injecting streptozotocin/nicotinamide. After 10 weeks of feeding, the elevated plasma glucose, tumor necrosis factor-a, and interleukin-6 and lower adiponetin levels caused by diabetes were effectively reversed by chitosan treatment. In addition, 7% chitosan feeding also elevated plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 levels and lowered the insulin resistance index (homeostasis model assessment) in diabetic rats. Lower adipocyte granular intensities and higher lipolysis rates in adipose tissues were noted in the 7% chitosan group. Moreover, chitosan feeding reduced hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol contents and increased hepatic peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor a expression in diabetic rats. Our results indicate that long-term administration of chitosan may reduce insulin resistance through suppression of lipid accumulation in liver and adipose tissues and amelioration of chronic inflammation in diabetic rats.

Effect of patient decision aids on choice between sugammadex and neostigmine in surgeries under general anesthesia: a multicenter randomized controlled trial

Wang Li-Kai,Lin Yao-Tsung,Chen Jui-Tai,Lan Winnie,Hung Kuo-Chuan,Chen Jen-Yin,Liu Kuei-Jung,Yen Yu-Chun,Chou Yun-Yun,Cherng Yih-Giun,Tam Ka-Wai 대한마취통증의학회 2023 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.76 No.4

Background: Shared decision making using patient decision aids (PtDAs) was established over a decade ago, but few studies have evaluated its efficacy in Asian countries. We therefore evaluated the application of PtDAs in a decision conflict between two muscle relaxant reversal agents, neostigmine and sugammadex, and sequentially analyzed the regional differences and operating room turnover rates.Methods: This multicenter, outcome-assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial included 3,132 surgical patients from two medical centers admitted between March 2020 and August 2020. The patients were randomly divided into the classical and PtDA groups for pre-anesthesia consultations. Their clinicodemographic characteristics were analyzed to identify variables influencing the choice of reversal agent. On the day of the pre-anesthesia consultation, the patients completed the four SURE scale (sure of myself, understand information, risk-benefit ratio, encouragement) screening items. The operating turnover rates were also evaluated using anesthesia records. Results: Compared with the classical group, the PtDA group felt more confident about receiving sufficient medical information (P < 0.001), felt better informed about the advantages and disadvantages of the medications (P < 0.001), exhibited a superior understanding of the benefits and risks of their options (P < 0.001), and felt surer about their choice (P < 0.001). Moreover, the PtDA group had a significantly greater tendency to choose sugammadex over neostigmine (P < 0.001). Conclusions: PtDA interventions in pre-anesthesia consultations provided surgical patients with clear knowledge and better support. PtDAs should be made available in other medical fields to enhance shared clinical decision-making.

An Aligned Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) Scaffold Fixed with Fibronectin to Enhance the Attachment and Growth of Human Endothelial Progenitor Cells

Chien-Ning Hsu,Ya-Ting Lin,Yu-Hsu Chen,Tsung-Yu Tseng,Hsing-Fen Tsai,Shinn-Gwo Hong,Chao-Ling Yao 한국생물공학회 2023 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.28 No.3

Repair and regeneration of vascular tissue is a crucial current research focus in the fields of biomedical engineering and regenerative medicine. Numerous studies revealed that cells are required to grow on an appropriate extracellular matrix to maintain or enhance functionality. In the present study, various surface modification methods were evaluated to fix fibronectin on the surface of a bio-based and aligned poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) film for vascular tissue engineering. After chemical modification, the properties of the fibronectin-fixed PHBV films were examined and compared with the original films, including -NH2 group expression, contact angle, mechanical properties, and fibronectin binding amount. Then, cytotoxicity and biocompatibility were measured by culture with L929 cells and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) of the fibronectinfixed PHBV films. In addition, cell morphology, cell growth kinetics, acetylated low-density lipoprotein uptake ability, lectin binding ability and specific gene expressions of cultured EPCs on fibronectin-fixed PHBV films were also analyzed. Taken together, our data demonstrated that the surface of the aligned PHBV films could be successfully modified to immobilize fibronectin. Importantly, EPCs cultured on the fibronectin-fixed PHBV films showed excellent cell biocompatibility, a rapid proliferation rate, an aligned growth direction and correct cell functions. We believed that fibronectin-fixed PHBV films can serve as a potential scaffold for vascular tissue engineering.

Decellularized Human Umbilical Artery Exhibits Adequate Endothelialization in Xenogenic Transplantation

Kai Hsia,Tien-Shiang Wang,Chin-Su Liu,Chih-Kuan Su,Chien-Chin Chen,Chang-Ching Yeh,Hsinyu Lee,Chao-Ling Yao,Tsung-Yu Tseng,Shih-Hwa Chiou,Hsu Ma,Chih-Hsun Lin,Jen-Her Lu 한국생물공학회 2023 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.28 No.3

Decellularized human umbilical arteries (dHUA) is an off-the-shelf graft that can potentially serve as vascular scaffolds in tissue engineering of small-diameter vascular grafts. This research aimed to investigate that dHUA could exhibit adequate endothelialization for a long term in xenogenic transplantation. 13 dHUAs were implanted in rat abdominal aortas up to 90 days. Rats were divided into three groups in terms of survival period: Group 1, one to seven days (n = 6); Group 2, 14 to 30 days (n = 4) and Group 3, 90 days (n = 3). The explants were analyzed by histological, immunohistochemistry and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) examination. Allograft implantation of 12 decellularized rat abdominal aortas` were processed the same way as the rat in order to make a comparison for survival rates (Group 1, n = 5; Group 2, n = 4; Group 3, n = 3). The results demonstrated that the survival rates of xenograft and allograft implantation were estimated to be 59.2% vs. 58.3% in Group 1, 50.7% vs. 58.3% in Group 2 and 3. Grafts harvested from Group 2 were showed CD31, endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression at intima, and α-smooth muscle actin, CD45, CD68 and CD168 expression at the tunica externa. A layer structure with obvious endothelialization and fiber regeneration/orientation could be inspected from the explants of Group 3. MRA demonstrated the patency of dHUA on day 30 and 90. In conclusion, more than 50% dHUA maintained patency in the xenogenic model till 90 days after surgery. A mature vessel-like functional structure with intact endothelial layer was observed then. This warrants further study in the reinforcement of decellularized vascular scaffolds.