Twisted-fin parametric study to enhance the solidification performance of phase-change material in a shell-and-tube latent heat thermal energy storage system

Bo Liu,Mahdi Jasim M,Rahbari Alireza,Majdi Hasan Sh,Xin Yi,Yaïci Wahiba,Talebizadehsardari Pouyan 한국CDE학회 2022 Journal of computational design and engineering Vol.9 No.6

Phase change material (PCM) is considered as one of the most effective thermal energy storage (TES) systems to balance energy supply and demand. A key challenge in designing efficient PCM-based TES systems lies in the enhancement of heat transmission during phase transition. This study numerically examines the privilege of employing twisted-fin arrays inside a shell-and-tube latent heat storage unit to improve the solidification performance. The presence of twisted fins contributes to the dominating role of heat conduction by their curved shapes, which restricts the role of natural convection but largely aids the overall heat-transfer process during solidification. The heat-discharge rate of twisted-fin configuration is increased by ∼14 and ∼55% compared to straight fin and no fin configurations—leading to a reduction in the solidification duration by ∼13 and ∼35%, respectively. The solidification front at various times has also been assessed through a detailed parametric study over the fin height, fin pitch number, and fin thickness. Over the range of values assumed, the fin height is the most dominant parameter – increasing the heat-retrieval rate from 10.0 to 11.4 W and decreasing the discharge time from above 3600 to 2880 s by varying the fin height from 2.5 to 7.5 mm.

IL-13 R110Q, a Naturally Occurring IL-13 Polymorphism, Confers Enhanced Functional Activity in Cultured Human Bronchial Smooth Muscle Cells

Ya-fang He,Li Hua,Yi-xiao Bao,Quan-hua Liu,Yi Chu,Ding-zhu Fang 대한천식알레르기학회 2013 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.5 No.6

Purpose: Interleukin (IL)-13, a Th2-type cytokine, plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of asthma through its direct effects on airway smoothmuscles. A naturally occurring IL-13 polymorphism, R110Q, is strongly associated with increased total serum IgE levels and asthma. In the presentstudy, we aimed to determine whether the IL-13 R110Q variant would display different biochemical properties or altered functions in comparisonwith wild-type (WT) IL-13 in cultured human bronchial smooth muscle cells (hBSMCs). Methods: Culture supernatants and cell proteins were collectedfrom cultured hBSMCs that were treated with 50 ng/mL IL-13 or IL-13 R110Q for 24 h. Eotaxin released into hBSMC culture medium was determinedby ELISA. The expression levels of the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) α-chain, smooth muscle-specific actin alpha chain (α-SMA), smoothmuscle myosin heavy chain (SmMHC), and calreticulin in the cells were measured on Western blots. Results: Compared with WT IL-13, treatmentwith the IL-13 R110Q variant resulted in a significant increase in eotaxin release as well as significant, although modest, increases in the expressionlevels of α-SMA, SmMHC, calreticulin, and FcεRI α-chain. Conclusions: The results of the present study suggenst that the IL-13 R110Q variantmay enhance enhanced functional activities in hBSMCs.

Electrochemical treatment for simultaneous removal of heavy metals and organics from surface finishing wastewater using sacrificial iron anode

Ya, Vinh,Martin, Natacha,Chou, Yi-Hsuan,Chen, Yi-Ming,Choo, Kwang-Ho,Chen, Shiao-Shing,Li, Chi-Wang Elsevier 2018 Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engine Vol.83 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Surface finishing wastewater having low pH (∼2) and high conductivity (>11 mS/cm) was treated by electrocoagulation (EC) or electrochemical Fenton (ECF) processes using sacrificial iron anodes. Under the same theoretical Fe dosage, the effects of electrolytic time, initial pH, and current density on the simultaneous removal of organic and heavy metal were investigated. A complete metal removal was achieved even at the low current density of 24.2 mA/cm<SUP>2</SUP> and short electrolytic time of 4 min, whereas approximately 40% of chemical oxygen demand was removed. Increasing the electric current density did not improve removal efficiencies, but consumed more electric energy. Low current conditions produced a brown color sludge associated with ferric hydroxide. On the contrary, a greenish color sludge was created at a high current due to the formation of ferrous hydroxide. The formation of ferrous hydroxide impacted the treated water quality. The ECF was employed to overcome the low COD removal by the EC, achieving >67% of COD removal. The costs of ECF processes were slightly greater than that of chemical coagulation, but achieving a lot greater heavy metal removals. ECF process can be a promising method for simultaneous removal of heavy metal and organics from complex industrial wastewater.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Organics and metal removals by electrochemical treatments using Fe were studied. </LI> <LI> Fe(II)/Fe(III) distribution depended on current density, reaction time, and solution pH. </LI> <LI> The lower in electric current density, the better in energy efficiency. </LI> <LI> Electrochemical Fenton enhanced organic removal unachieved by electrocoagulation. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Nursing Intervention to Decrease the Incidence of Falls in Psychiatric Inpatients

Ya-Fen Lee,Hsiao-Pin Wang,Ya-Yi Chang 한국간호과학회 2009 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2009 No.10

Cloning, Expression, and Functional Characterization of the Dunaliella salina 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate Synthase Gene in Escherichia coli

Yi, Yi,Qiao, Dairong,Bai, Linhan,Xu, Hui,Li, Ya,Wang, Xiaolin,Cao, Yi The Microbiological Society of Korea 2007 The journal of microbiology Vol.45 No.2

5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP synthase, EC 2.5.1.19) is the sixth enzyme in the shikimate pathway which is essential for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids and many secondary metabolites. The enzyme is widely involved in glyphosate tolerant transgenic plants because it is the primary target of the nonselective herbicide glyphosate. In this study, the Dunaliella salina EPSP synthase gene was cloned by RT-PCR approach. It contains an open reading frame encoding a protein of 514 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 54.6 KDa. The derived amino acid sequence showed high homology with other EPSP synthases. The Dunaliella salina EPSP synthase gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant EPSP synthase were identified by functional complementation assay.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus increases the severity of non-fatal injuries, but not the risk of fatal injuries, among driver victims of motor vehicle crashes in Taiwan

Chang Ya-Hui,Hou Wen-Hsuan,Ya-Hui Chang,Li Chung-Yi 한국역학회 2022 Epidemiology and Health Vol.44 No.-

OBJECTIVES: Limited information is available on whether diabetes increases the severity of injuries from motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). This study aimed to investigate the association of type 2 diabetes with injury severity among driver victims of MVCs. METHODS: This cohort study involved 75,737 adult driver victims with type 2 diabetes from Taiwan’s Police-Reported Traffic Accident Registry in 2015-2017, along with 150,911 sex-, age-, and calendar year-matched controls. The severity level of nonfatal injuries was derived from the International Classification of Diseases Programs for Injury Categorization based on the diagnostic codes of National Health Insurance claims within 3 days after an MVC. Information on fatal injuries within 3 days after an MVC was obtained from the Taiwan Death Registry. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of injury severity in association with type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, driver victims with type 2 diabetes experienced significantly higher risks of mild and severe non-fatal injuries than their counterparts without diabetes, with covariate-adjusted ORs of 1.08 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.11) and 1.28 (95% CI, 1.20 to 1.37), respectively. By contrast, the adjusted OR for fatal injuries was not significantly elevated, at 1.02 (95% CI, 0.89 to 1.18). Similar results were found when car and scooter driver victims were analyzed separately. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetes was found to moderately increase the severity of non-fatal injuries from MVCs among car and scooter driver victims.

Matrine Reduces Proliferation of Human Lung Cancer Cells by Inducing Apoptosis and Changing miRNA Expression Profiles

Liu, Yong-Qi,Li, Yi,Qin, Jie,Wang, Qian,She, Ya-Li,Luo, Ya-Li,He, Jian-Xin,Li, Jing-Ya,Xie, Xiao-Dong Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.5

Matrine, a main active component extracted from dry roots of Sophora flavecens, has been reported to exert antitumor effects on A549 human non-small lung cancer cells, but its mechanisms of action remain unclear. To determine effects of matrine on proliferation of A549 cells and assess possible mechanisms, MTT assays were employed to detect cytotoxicity, along with o flow cytometric analysis of DNA content of nuclei of cells following staining with propidium iodide to analyze cell cycle distribution. Western blotting was performed to determined expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, VEGF and HDAC1, while a microarray was used to assessed changes of miRNA profiles. In the MTT assay, matrine suppressed growth of human lung cancer cell A549 in a dose- and timedependent manner at doses of 0.25-2.5 mg/ml for 24h, 48h or 72h. Matrine induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and decreased the G2/M phase, while down-regulating the expression of Bcl2 protein, leading to a reduction in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. In addition, matrine down regulated the expression level of VEGF and HDAC1 of A549 cells. Microarray analysis demonstrated that matrine altered the expression level of miRNAs compared with untreated control A549 cells. In conclusion, matrine could inhibit proliferation of A549 cells, providing useful information for understanding anticancer mechanisms.

An update of preimplantation genetic diagnosis in gene diseases, chromosomal translocation, and aneuploidy screening

Chang, Li-Jung,Chen, Shee-Uan,Tsai, Yi-Yi,Hung, Chia-Cheng,Fang, Mei-Ya,Su, Yi-Ning,Yang, Yu-Shih The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine 2011 Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine Vol.38 No.3

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is gradually widely used in prevention of gene diseases and chromosomal abnormalities. Much improvement has been achieved in biopsy technique and molecular diagnosis. Blastocyst biopsy can increase diagnostic accuracy and reduce allele dropout. It is cost-effective and currently plays an important role. Whole genome amplification permits subsequent individual detection of multiple gene loci and screening all 23 pairs of chromosomes. For PGD of chromosomal translocation, fluorescence $in-situ$ hybridization (FISH) is traditionally used, but with technical difficulty. Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) can detect translocation and 23 pairs of chromosomes that may replace FISH. Single nucleotide polymorphisms array with haplotyping can further distinguish between normal chromosomes and balanced translocation. PGD may shorten time to conceive and reduce miscarriage for patients with chromosomal translocation. PGD has a potential value for mitochondrial diseases. Preimplantation genetic haplotyping has been applied for unknown mutation sites of single gene disease. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) using limited FISH probes in the cleavage-stage embryo did not increase live birth rates for patients with advanced maternal age, unexplained recurrent abortions, and repeated implantation failure. Polar body and blastocyst biopsy may circumvent the problem of mosaicism. PGS using blastocyst biopsy and array CGH is encouraging and merit further studies. Cryopreservation of biopsied blastocysts instead of fresh transfer permits sufficient time for transportation and genetic analysis. Cryopreservation of embryos may avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and possible suboptimal endometrium.

Nematicidal Activity of Paecilomyces spp. and Isolation of a Novel Active Compound

Ya-Jun Liu,Chong-Yan Zhai,Yi Liu,Ke-Qin Zhang 한국미생물학회 2009 The journal of microbiology Vol.47 No.3

Many species of Paecilomyces are entomogenous fungi and several are efficacious toward nematodes. To study the potential of Paecilomyces species in controlling nematodes, fungal extracts of 40 Paecilomyces spp. were evaluated for their nematicidal activity against Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and Panagrellus redivivus. The extracts of six Paecilomyces spp. exhibited the nematicidal activity against P. redivivus, and 11 species exhibited the nematicidal activity against B. xylophilus. The methanol extract of strain 1.01761 incubating on Czapek solid medium killed more than 95% P. redivivus in 24 h at 5 mg/ml, and the filtrate of strain 1.01788 cultured in Sabouraud's broth medium resulted in 90% mortality of B. xylophilus in 24 h at 5 mg/ml. A novel nematicidal compound, 4-(4’-carboxy-2’-ethyl-hydroxypentyl)-5,6-dihydro-6-methylcyclobuta[ b]pyridine-3,6-dicarboxylic acid, was isolated from Paecilomyces sp. YMF1.01761. The LD50 value of the compound within 24 h against P. redivivus was 50.86 mg/L, against Meloidogyne incognita was 47.1 mg/L, and against B. xylophilus was 167.7 mg/L.

Transitional Percentage of Minute Volume as a Novel Predictor of Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation in Patients with Chronic Respiratory Failure

Ya-Ru Liang,Mei-Chen Yang,Yao-Kuang Wu,I-Shiang Tzeng,Pei-Yi Wu,Shiang-Yu Huang,Chou-Chin Lan,Chin-Pyng Wu 한국간호과학회 2020 Asian Nursing Research Vol.14 No.1

Purpose: Some patients with respiratory failure fail initial weaning attempts and need prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). Prolonged MV is associated with many complications and consumption of heathcare resources. Objective weaning indices help staffs to identify high-potential patients for weaning from the MV. Traditional weaning indices are not reliable in clinical practice. Transitional percentage of minute volume (TMV%) is a new index of the work of breathing. This study aimed to investigate the utility of TMV% in the prediction of weaning potential. Methods: This study was prospectively performed including all patients with prolonged MV. Researchers recorded their demographics, TMV%, respiratory parameters, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, and laboratory data upon arrival at the respiratory care center. The factors associated with successful weaning were analyzed. Results: Out of the 120 patients included, 84 (70.0%) were successfully weaned from MV. Traditional weaning indices such as rapid shallow breathing index could not predict the weaning outcome. TMV% was a valuable parameter as patients with a lower TMV%, higher tidal volume, higher hemoglobin, lower blood urea nitrogen, and lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores had a higher rate of successful weaning. TMV%, tidal volume, and HCO3- levels were independent predictors of successful weaning, and the area under the curve was .79 in the logistic regression model. Conclusion: TMV% is a novel and effective predictor of successful weaning. Patients with lower TMV% had a higher MV weaning outcome. Once patients with a high potential for successful weaning are identified, they should be aggressively weaned from MV as soon as possible.