Synthesis and Characterization of Hollow Silver Spheres at Room Temperature

Huiyu Chen,Yaqing Liu,Guizhe Zhao 대한금속·재료학회 2011 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.7 No.2

Hollow silver spheres were synthesized at room temperature using sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as the reducing reagent and poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) as the surfactant. The size of the synthesized hollow spheres ranged from 120 to 250 nm, and the surface was composed of many smaller silver nanoparticles. The asobtained product was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and UV-vis absorption spectra. The amount of PVP had a significant effect on the morphology of the resultant silver samples. With an increasing concentration of PVP, the silver products possessed rod-like and shuttle-like shapes. The UV-vis spectrum demonstrated that the broad absorption peak centered at 417 nm resulted from the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) excitation of silver.

Green Synthesis and Characterization of Se Nanoparticles and Nanorods

Huiyu Chen,Ji-Beom Yoo,Yaqing Liu,Guizhe Zhao 대한금속·재료학회 2011 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.7 No.4

Selenium nanoparticles and nanorods were successfully prepared in a mixed solvent of ethylene glycol and water at a relatively low temperature of 85°C. No other surfactant or template was employed, and glucose was used as a green and mild reducing reagent in the current synthesis. The volume ratio of ethylene glycol to water played an important role for controlling the shapes of selenium products. The obtained selenium samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Raman spectra, and UV-vis absorption spectra. The evolution process from amorphous selenium to a trigonal phase complied with a “solid-solution-solid” formation mechanism. HRTEM and SAED results indicate that the trigonal selenium nanorods grow along the [001] direction. This method might provide an environmentally-friendly and low cost route for the synthesis of other related nanomaterials with controlled morphologies.

Formation of Flower-Like Magnesium Hydroxide Microstructure via a Solvothermal Process

Huiyu Chen,Chunju Xu,Yaqing Liu,Guizhe Zhao 대한금속·재료학회 2012 ELECTRONIC MATERIALS LETTERS Vol.8 No.5

Flower-like magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) microstructure composed of many sheet-like nanopetals was prepared on a large scale via a solvothermal reaction at 200°C for 24 h. Water and ethanol mixed solution was employed as solvent and no additional surfactant was involved during the synthetic process. The Mg(OH)2microflowers were characterized by XRD, SEM, HRTEM, and UV-vis techniques. The average size of single flower is about 2 μm and the thickness of the petals ranges from 20 to 30 nm. The temperature and volume ratio of water to ethanol were found to be key roles for controlling the morphology of Mg(OH)2 products. The assembled petals of the Mg(OH)2 microflowers became thicker and smoother with the amount of water decreased in the mixed solvent. The present method is low cost, simple handle and environmentally benign,thus, it can be relatively easy to be scaled up for industrial production.

Clean and facile synthesis of triuret from urea and dimethyl carbonate (DMC) under mild conditions

Jianchao Chen,Peihua Zhao,Hua Liu,Futian Zhu,Yaqing Liu 한국화학공학회 2012 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.29 No.3

Triuret has been successfully synthesized by the reaction of urea with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) under mild conditions in the presence of potassium methoxide as a catalyst. It has been fully characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR,13C-NMR, and MS. Effects of the catalyst, the molar ratio of starting materials, and the reaction time on the obtained product were examined in detail. It was found that when n (urea) : n (DMC)=1.2 : 1, 6 h, and 0.8% catalyst, the yield of triuret can reach 98.1%. Especially, this novel procedure is reported for the first time and has many significant advantages such as easy and clean synthesis, simple work up, and high yields.

Contrast-Enhanced Harmonic Ultrasonography for the Assessment of Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness: a Preliminary Study

Yunkai Zhu,Yaqing Chen,Jun Jiang,Ren Wang,Yongchang Zhou,Huizhen Zhang 대한영상의학회 2010 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.11 No.1

Objective: To determine whether contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography can be used to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography was performed in 103 patients suspected of prostate cancer before biopsy. Time intensity curves were reconstructed for systematic biopsy sites and sonographic abnormalities. The characteristics of the curves were described using hemodynamic indices including arrival time (AT), time-to-peak (TTP), and peak intensity (PI). The differences of hemodynamic indices between high-grade and low-grade cancer were analyzed and the correlations between the hemodynamic indices and biopsy Gleason score were studied. Results: Prostate cancer was detected in 41 of 103 patients and there were significant differences in the hemodynamic indices between the biopsy sites of the non-malignant patients and prostate cancer lesions (p < 0.05). The prostate biopsies revealed 154 prostate cancer lesions, including 31 low-grade lesions and 123 high-grade lesions. The hemodynamic indices AT and TTP of highgrade tumors were significantly shorter than those of low-grade tumors (p = 0.001, 0.002). In addition, high-grade peripheral zone (PZ) tumors had higher PI than low-grade PZ tumors (p = 0.009). The PZ prostate cancer Gleason score correlated with PI, AT and TTP, with Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.223, -0.335, and -0.351, respectively (p = 0.013, < 0.001 and < 0.001). Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurements of hemodynamic indices correlate with the prostate cancer Gleason score. Objective: To determine whether contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography can be used to predict the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasonography was performed in 103 patients suspected of prostate cancer before biopsy. Time intensity curves were reconstructed for systematic biopsy sites and sonographic abnormalities. The characteristics of the curves were described using hemodynamic indices including arrival time (AT), time-to-peak (TTP), and peak intensity (PI). The differences of hemodynamic indices between high-grade and low-grade cancer were analyzed and the correlations between the hemodynamic indices and biopsy Gleason score were studied. Results: Prostate cancer was detected in 41 of 103 patients and there were significant differences in the hemodynamic indices between the biopsy sites of the non-malignant patients and prostate cancer lesions (p < 0.05). The prostate biopsies revealed 154 prostate cancer lesions, including 31 low-grade lesions and 123 high-grade lesions. The hemodynamic indices AT and TTP of highgrade tumors were significantly shorter than those of low-grade tumors (p = 0.001, 0.002). In addition, high-grade peripheral zone (PZ) tumors had higher PI than low-grade PZ tumors (p = 0.009). The PZ prostate cancer Gleason score correlated with PI, AT and TTP, with Spearman correlation coefficients of 0.223, -0.335, and -0.351, respectively (p = 0.013, < 0.001 and < 0.001). Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced ultrasound measurements of hemodynamic indices correlate with the prostate cancer Gleason score.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of tube feet of different colors in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

Jun Ding,Dan Yang,Yinan Wang,Weijie Zhang,Tingting Chen,Yaqing Chang 한국유전학회 2017 Genes & Genomics Vol.39 No.11

The Strongylocentrotus intermedius is an important commercially cultivated marine animal in China. In recent years, some individuals with diaphanous tube feet, rather than the normal red tube feet, have been observed among animals under cultivation; the basis of this phenotypic change is uncertain. In order to better understand the differences between two color tube feet of S. intermedius at the molecular level, we constructed four cDNA libraries from tube feet and coelomocytes of S. intermedius individuals with red or diaphanous tube feet. A total of 216,729,214 clean reads were assembled into 87,510 transcripts with an average size of 1677 bp. A BlastX search showed that 72,690 transcripts had significant matches in at least one target database. Expression profile analysis was performed on the four libraries and many differentially expressed genes were identified. Using gene enrichment analysis, several biological processes related to immune responses as well as immune-related candidate genes were identified. A total of 1694 genes were immune-related, and the genes expression of red tube feet were higher than that of diaphanous tube feet. In addition, 50,427 simple sequence repeats were obtained from the S. intermedius transcriptomes, while 32,650 and 42,264 single nucleotide polymorphisms were found in S. intermedius with diaphanous tube feet and red tube feet, respectively. These results provide valuable information for the future studies involving marker-assisted breeding and the studies of population genetics and genomics on S. intermedius.

Transitional Zone Index and Intravesical Prostatic Protrusion in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Patients: Correlations according to Treatment Received and Other Clinical Data

Tao Huang,Jun Qi,YongJiang Yu,Ding Xu,Yang Jiao,Jian Kang,YunKai Zhu,YaQing Chen 대한비뇨의학회 2012 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.53 No.4

Purpose: The aim of this research was to assess the value of the transitional zone index (TZI) and intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) from transrectal ultrasonography in evaluating the severity and progression of disease by analyzing the relationship between the 2 parameters and symptoms, clinical history, and urodynamics in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients undergoing different treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 203 patients receiving medication and 162 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate because of BPH were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The clinical history and subjective and objective examination results of all patients were recorded and compared after being classified by TZI and IPP level. Linear regression was used to find correlations between IPP, TZI, and urodynamics. Results: The 2 parameters were found to differ significantly between patients receiving medication and patients undergoing surgical therapy (p<0.05). PSA, maximum flow rate (Qmax), detrusor pressure at Qmax (PdetQmax), and the bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) differed according to various TZI levels (p<0.05). In addition, the voiding symptom score, Qmax, and BOOI of subgroups with various IPP levels were also significantly different (p<0.05). Both TZI and IPP had significant effects on Qmax, BOOI, and PdetQmax (p<0.05) and the incidence of acute urinary retention (p=0.000). Conclusions: The results demonstrated that both TZI and IPP had favorable value for assessing severity and progression in patients with BPH. Further studies are needed to confirm whether the two parameters have predictive value in the efficacy of BPH treatment and could be considered as factors in the selection of therapy. Purpose: The aim of this research was to assess the value of the transitional zone index (TZI) and intravesical prostatic protrusion (IPP) from transrectal ultrasonography in evaluating the severity and progression of disease by analyzing the relationship between the 2 parameters and symptoms, clinical history, and urodynamics in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients undergoing different treatment. Materials and Methods: A total of 203 patients receiving medication and 162 patients who underwent transurethral resection of the prostate because of BPH were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The clinical history and subjective and objective examination results of all patients were recorded and compared after being classified by TZI and IPP level. Linear regression was used to find correlations between IPP, TZI, and urodynamics. Results: The 2 parameters were found to differ significantly between patients receiving medication and patients undergoing surgical therapy (p<0.05). PSA, maximum flow rate (Qmax), detrusor pressure at Qmax (PdetQmax), and the bladder outlet obstruction index (BOOI) differed according to various TZI levels (p<0.05). In addition, the voiding symptom score, Qmax, and BOOI of subgroups with various IPP levels were also significantly different (p<0.05). Both TZI and IPP had significant effects on Qmax, BOOI, and PdetQmax (p<0.05) and the incidence of acute urinary retention (p=0.000). Conclusions: The results demonstrated that both TZI and IPP had favorable value for assessing severity and progression in patients with BPH. Further studies are needed to confirm whether the two parameters have predictive value in the efficacy of BPH treatment and could be considered as factors in the selection of therapy.