Controlling the Thickness of Thermally Expanded Films of Graphene Oxide

Chen, Xianjue,Li, Wei,Luo, Da,Huang, Ming,Wu, Xiaozhong,Huang, Yuan,Lee, Sun Hwa,Chen, Xiong,Ruoff, Rodney S. American Chemical Society 2017 ACS NANO Vol.11 No.1

<P>'Paper-like' film material made from stacked and overlapping graphene oxide sheets can be exfoliated (expanded) through rapid heating, and this has until now been done with no control of the final geometry of the expanded graphene oxide material, i.e., the expansion has been physically unconstrained. (As a consequence of the heating and exfoliation, the graphene oxide is 'reduced', i.e., the graphene oxide platelets are deoxygenated to a degree.) We have used a confined space to constrain the expanding films to a controllable and uniform thickness. By changing the gap above the film, the final thickness of expanded films prepared from, e.g., a 10 mu m-thick graphene oxide film, could be controlled to values such as 20, 30, 50, or 100 mu m. When the expansion of the films was unconstrained, the final film was broken into pieces or had many cracks. In contrast, when the expansion was constrained, it never cracked or broke. Hot pressing the expanded reduced graphene oxide films at 1000 degrees C yielded a highly compact structure and promoted graphitization. Such thickness-controlled expansion of graphene oxide films up to tens or hundreds of times the original film thickness was used to emboss patterns on the films to produce areas with different thicknesses that remain connected 'in plane'. In another set of experiments, we treated the original graphene oxide film with NaOH before its controlled expansion resulted in a different structure featuring uniformly distributed pores and interconnected layers as well as simultaneous activation of the carbon.</P>

Efficacy and Safety of 12 Weeks of Daclatasvir, Asunaprevir Plus Ribavirin for the Treatment of HCV Genotype 1b Infection without Baseline NS5A Resistance-Associated Variants (DARING)-Interim Report

( Ming-lung Yu ),( Chao-hung Hung ),( Yi-hsiang Huang ),( Cheng-yuan Peng ),( Chun-yen Lin ),( Pin-nan Cheng ),( Rong-nan Chien ),( Shih-jer Hsu ),( Chen-hua Liu ),( Jee-fu Huang ),( Chung-feng Huang 대한간학회 2018 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2018 No.1

Aims: The current study aims to elucidate the treatment efficacy (defined as undetectable HCV RNA throughout 12 weeks of post-treatment follow-up, SVR12) and safety DCV/ASV plus ribavirin for 12 weeks in HCV-1b patients without NS5A RAS. Methods: This is a single-arm, open-label phase 2 study. Seventy directly acting antivirals (DAA)-naïve HCV-1b patients without L31/Y93 RAS are planned to receive daclatasvir (60 mg/ day) and asunaprevir (100 mg twice daily) plus weight-based ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) for 12 weeks. After treatment they were followed up for 12 weeks. Results: As of 31 Oct 2017, 58 eligible patients are allocated to treatment, with a mean age of 59.3 years and female predominance (67.2%, 39/58). The mean HCV RNA was 5.87+0.77 log10 IU/mL; 23 patients (39.7 %) had significant hepatic fibrosis (>F2). In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, the rate of undetectable HCV at week 1, week 2, week 4, week 8 and endof- treatment was 25 % (14/56), 84.8 % (39/46), 100 % (46/46), 100 % (38/38) and 100 % (27/27), respectively. Undetectable HCV RNA were observed in all of the patients with HCV RNA assessable 4 weeks (SVR4, 18/18) and 12 weeks (SVR12, 12/12) post treatment. None of the 18 patients who completed the 12-week treatment experienced relapse during post-treatment follow-up. The most common adverse event was fatigue (78.3 %), followed by pruritus (65.2 %) and dizziness (52.2 %), of which were considered as ribavirin related. None of the participating subjects withdrew treatment or follow-up throughout the trial peroid. Three serious adverse events were reported which included urosepsis, appendicitis and left ureteral stone. All were unrelated to the investigating drugs. Conclusions: 12 weeks of DCV/ASV plus ribavirin was highly effective and safe in HCV-1b patients without NS5A RAS in the interim analysis. The satisfactory results would be anticipated in the full patient set.

Graphitization of graphene oxide films under pressure

Chen, Xianjue,Deng, Xiaomei,Kim, Na Yeon,Wang, Yu,Huang, Yuan,Peng, Li,Huang, Ming,Zhang, Xu,Chen, Xiong,Luo, Da,Wang, Bin,Wu, Xiaozhong,Ma, Yufei,Lee, Zonghoon,Ruoff, Rodney S. Elsevier 2018 Carbon Vol.132 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Lightweight, flexible graphite foils that are chemically inert, high-temperature resistant, and highly electrically and thermally conductive can be used as component materials in numerous applications. “Graphenic” foils can be prepared by thermally transforming graphene oxide films. For this transformation, it is desirable to maintain a densely packed film structure at high heating rates as well as to lower the graphitizing temperatures. In this work, we discuss the pressure-assisted thermal decomposition of graphene oxide films by hot pressing at different temperatures (<I>i.e.</I>, 300 °C, 1000 °C, or 2000 °C). The films pressed at 1000 °C or 2000 °C were subsequently heated at 2750 °C to achieve a higher degree of graphitization. The combination of heating and pressing promotes the simultaneous thermal decomposition and graphitic transformation of G-O films. Films pressed at 2000 °C as well as films further graphitized at 2750 °C show high chemical purity, uniformity, and retain their flexibility. For films pressed at 2000 °C and then further heated at 2750 °C, the mechanical performances outperform the reported values of the “graphite” foils prepared by calendering exfoliated graphite flakes; the electrical conductivity is ∼3.1 × 10<SUP>5</SUP> S/m and the in-plane thermal conductivity is ∼1.2 × 10<SUP>3</SUP> W/(m·K).</P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Saikosaponin a and Saikosaponin d Inhibit Proliferation and Migratory Activity of Rat HSC-T6 Cells

Ming Feng Chen,Chao Cheng Huang,Pei Shan Liu,Chang Han Chen,Li Yen Shiu 한국식품영양과학회 2013 Journal of medicinal food Vol.16 No.9

The proliferation and migration of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) profoundly impact the pathogenesis of liver inflammation and fibrogenesis. As a perennial herb native to China, Bupleurum falcatum is administered for its anti-inflammatory,antipyretic, and antihepatotoxic effects. Saikosaponin a (SSa) and Saikosaponin d (SSd) are the major active components of triterpene saponins in Bupleurum falcatum. This study analyzes how SSa and SSd affect rat HSC-T6 cell line proliferation and migration. Experimental results indicate that, in addition to suppressing HSC-T6 proliferation, wound healing activity and cell migration in a time- and dose-dependent manner, SSa and SSd significantly induce apoptosis. Additionally, SSa and SSd decreased the expressions of extracellular matrix-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), platelet-derived growth factor receptor 1 (PDGFR1), and subsequently transforming growth factor-b1 receptor (TGF-b1R), a-smooth muscle actin, TGF-b1 and connective tissue growth factor. They also decreased phosphorylation of p38 (p-p38) and ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) of HSC-T6. Furthermore, both SSa and SSd can block PDGF-BB and TGF-b1-induced cell proliferation and migration of HSC-T6. These results suggest that SSa and SSd may inhibit proliferation and activation of HSC-T6, and the modulated mechanisms warrant further study.

Ultraviolet-assisted synthesis of encapsulating adhesives and their application for lifetime improvement of organic light emitting diodes

Chen-Ming Chen,Ming-Hua Chung,Tsung-Eong Hsieh,Bohr-Ran Huang,Huai-En Hsieh,Fuh-Shyang Juang,Yu-Sheng Tsai,Mark O. Liu,Jen-Lien Lin 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.4

The lifetimes of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been successfully enhanced with the modulation of LiF thickness and the utilization of encapsulating adhesives, which have been successfully and quickly synthesized with UV irradiation. Experimental results demonstrate that LiF and lab-made encapsulating adhesives can block the invasion of moisture as well as oxygen in the atmosphere into the OLEDs so that the lifetimes of devices with their encapsulation are 18-folds longer than those without encapsulation. The lifetimes of organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been successfully enhanced with the modulation of LiF thickness and the utilization of encapsulating adhesives, which have been successfully and quickly synthesized with UV irradiation. Experimental results demonstrate that LiF and lab-made encapsulating adhesives can block the invasion of moisture as well as oxygen in the atmosphere into the OLEDs so that the lifetimes of devices with their encapsulation are 18-folds longer than those without encapsulation.

High-Performance Bottom-Contact Organic Thin-Film Transistors Based on Benzo[<i>d</i>,<i>d</i>′]thieno[3,2-<i>b</i>;4,5-<i>b</i>′]dithiophenes (BTDTs) Derivatives

Huang, Peng-Yi,Chen, Liang-Hsiang,Kim, Choongik,Chang, Hsiu-Chieh,Liang, You-jhih,Feng, Chieh-Yuan,Yeh, Chia-Ming,Ho, Jia-Chong,Lee, Cheng-Chung,Chen, Ming-Chou American Chemical Society 2012 ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES Vol.4 No.12

<P>Three benzo[<I>d</I>,<I>d</I>′]thieno[3,2-<I>b</I>;4,5-<I>b</I>′]dithiophene (<B>BTDT</B>) derivatives, end-functionalized with benzothiophenyl (<B>BT-BTDT</B>; <B>2</B>), benzothieno[3,2-b]thiophenyl (<B>BTT-BTDT</B>; 3), and benzo[<I>d</I>,<I>d</I>′]thieno[3,2-<I>b</I>;4,5-<I>b</I>′]dithiophenyl (<B>BBTDT</B>; <B>4</B>), were prepared for bottom-contact/bottom-gate organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). An improved one-pot [2 + 1 + 1] synthetic method of <B>BTDT</B> with improved synthetic yield was achieved, which enabled the efficient realization of new <B>BTDT</B>-based semiconductors. All of the <B>BTDT</B> compounds exhibited high performance p-channel characteristics with carrier mobilities as high as 0.34 cm<SUP>2</SUP>/(V s) and a current on/off ratio of 1 × 10<SUP>7</SUP>, as well as enhanced ambient stability. The device characteristics have been correlated with the film morphologies and microstructures of the corresponding compounds.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/aamick/2012/aamick.2012.4.issue-12/am3022448/production/images/medium/am-2012-022448_0010.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/am3022448'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Real-Time Object Detection and Tracking on a Moving Camera Platform

Cheng-Ming Huang,Yi-Ru Chen,Li-Chen Fu 제어로봇시스템학회 2009 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2009 No.8

This paper presents a real-time tracking system to detect and track multiple moving objects on a controlled pan-tilt camera platform. In order to describe the relationship between the targets and camera in this tracking system, the input/output hidden Markov model (HMM) is applied here in the well-defined spherical camera coordinate. Since the detection and tracking for different targets are performed at the same time on a moving camera platform, the detection and tracking processes must be fast and effective. A hybrid detection algorithm which combines the target’"s color and optical flow information is proposed here. A two layer tracking architecture is then utilized for tracking the detected target. The bottom level utilizes the Kanade-Lucas-Tomasi (KLT) feature point tracker which identifies the local point correspondence across image frames. The particle filter at top level, which maintains the relation between target and feature points, estimates the tracked target state. The overall performance has been validated in the experiments.

Perfusion Computed Tomography in Predicting Treatment Response of Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Li, Ming-Huan,Shang, Dong-Ping,Chen, Chen,Xu, Liang,Huang, Yong,Kong, Li,Yu, Jin-Ming Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.2

Background: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the predictive value of perfusion computed tomography (CT) for response of local advanced esophageal carcinoma to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Materials and Methods: Before any treatment, forty-three local advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinomas were prospectively evaluated by perfusion scan with 16-row CT from June 2009 to January 2012. Perfusion parameters, including perfusion (BF), peak enhanced density (PED), blood volume (BV), and time to peak (TTP) were measured using Philips perfusion software. Seventeen cases received definitive radiotherapy and 26 received concurrent chemo-radiotherapy. The response was evaluated by CT scan and esophagography. Differences in perfusion parameters between responders and non-responders were analyzed, and ROCs were used to assess predictive value of the baseline parameters for treatment response. Results: There were 25 responders (R) and 18 non-responders (NR). Responders showed significantly higher BF (R:34.1 ml/100g/min vs NR: 25.0 ml/100g/min, p=0.001), BV (23.2 ml/100g vs 18.3 ml/100g, p=0.009) and PED (32.5 HU vs 28.32HU, P=0.003) than non-responders. But the baseline TTP (R: 38.2s vs NR: 44.10s, p=0.172) had no difference in the two groups. For baseline BF, a threshold of 36.1 ml/100g/min achieved a sensitivity of 56%, and a specificity of 94.4% for detection of clinical responders from non-responders. Conclusions: The results suggest that the perfusion CT can provide some helpful information for identifying tumors that may respond to radio-chemotherapy.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) gene is a potential methylation biomarker for malignancy of breast cancer

Fang-Ming Chen,Hsueh-Wei Chang,Sheau-Fang Yang,Ya-Fang Huang,Pei-Yung Nien,Yao-Tsung Yeh,Ming-Feng Hou 생화학분자생물학회 2012 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.44 No.5

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) belongs to the MAPK cascades which are central to cell proliferation and apoptosis. The carcinogenic role of MKP-1 has been reported in many types of cancer but it has rarely been investigated in breast cancer. The present study was designed to evaluate the MKP-1 mRNA expression and its possible regulation by methylation of MKP-1 promoter in the model of several breast cancer cell lines and tissues as well as controls. Our data demonstrate MKP-1mRNA expression significantly decreased in five breast cancer cell lines compared to breast controls (P <0.01). Using the methylation-specific PCR (MSP) analysis,the unmethylated reaction (U) is dominant in both normal cell lines and benign breast tumors (100% vs. 86.2%), whereas the methylated reaction (M) is dominant in both breast cancer cell lines and invasive breast tumors (100% vs. 57.2%). In terms of methylation ratio (M/M+U), methylation level in MKP-1 promoter is significantly higher in the invasive breast tumor tissues (n = 152) than in benign breast tumor tissues (n = 29)(P < 0.0001). Assessing the methylation ratio of the promoter of MKP-1 gene to diagnose the breast malignancy (invasive vs. benign), the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.809(95% CI: 0.711-0.906, P < 0.001). The best performance for this prediction has a sensitivity of 76.32% and a specificity of 82.76% at the cutoff value of 0.38. Taken together, we firstly demonstrated that the promoter methylation of MKP-1 gene is a potential breast cancer biomarker for breast malignancy.

Acupuncture for ventilator-dependent patients at a hospital-based respiratory care center: A randomized controlled trial

Jia-Ming Chen,Wan-Li Chiang,Bin-Chuan Ji,Ruei-Jhe Jhang,Pei-Hsin Chen,Ya-Lun Li,Che-Ju Chang,Sung-Yen Huang,Tsung-Chieh Lee,Chia-Yun Chen,Ching-Hsiung Lin,Sheng-Hao Lin 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.4

Background: In intensive care units, mechanical ventilation is an important therapy to help patients with dysp- nea. However, long-term ventilator dependence would consume huge medical resources and increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of the acupuncture combined with western medical care on ventilator parameters in ventilator-dependent patients. Methods: In this clinical trial, 80 ventilator-dependent patients aged 20 to 80 years old were randomly assigned to acupuncture group and control group in the respiratory care center (RCC) of Changhua Christian Hospital. Besides regular medical care and therapy, participants in the acupuncture group received acupuncture therapy at the same 17 acu-points for 20 minutes once a day, a total of 12 sessions. The ventilator parameters were recorded to evaluate the respiratory efficiency for all participants. The primary outcome was rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI), and secondary outcomes were respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV) and ventilation per minute (MV). Results: Though there was no significant difference in the parameter between the acupuncture group and the control group, we found the trend of decreasing RSBI in the acupuncture group. In subgroup analyses, the mean of RSBI significantly decreased 16.02 (with the SD in 60.84) in acupuncture group, while it increased 17.84 (with the SD in 39.38) in control group (p = 0.036) after 12 sessions. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment can improve breathing ability of patients with respirator dependence in respiratory care center.