Ethyl Methane Sulfonate Induces Disease Resistance in Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch.

Yang-Er Chen,Ying-Hong Zhang,Shu Yuan,Han-Mei Liu,Xian-Yin Zeng,Huai-Yu Zhang 한국원예학회 2014 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.55 No.6

To evaluate the disease resistance of Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch. ‘Schwabenland Red’ mutants induced byethyl methane sulphonate (EMS), we investigated the incidence and severity of stem rot caused by Rhizoctoniasolani Kuhn, and their morphological changes. In this study, we obtained three mutants with highly resistant diseaseafter two rounds of screening when the inoculated amount was 3 sheets/plant. The severity scale was 0 and therewere no obvious symptoms of stem rot in highly resistant Begonia × hiemalis. However, most of EMS mutagenizedplants were susceptible to stem rot caused by R. solani under this inoculated amount. In addition, these resistantmutants had different phenotypes as compared with the uninfected control plants. The color of leaves of the R. solani-resistent mutants was different with the control plants and their leaves were bigger than that of the control. The shape and number of their flowers were obviously different, as compared to the control plants.

A Combination of Chitosan and Chemical Fertilizers Improves Growth and Disease Resistance in Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch

Yang-Er Chen,Shu Yuan,Han-Mei Liu,Zhi-Yu Chen,Ying-Hong Zhang,Huai-Yu Zhang 한국원예학회 2016 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.57 No.1

Chitosan has been proposed to elicit defense responses in plants. In this study, we evaluated the potential roles of chitosan as a fertilizer supplement to stimulate Begonia × hiemalis Fotsch ‘Schwabenland Red’ growth and resistance to gray mold caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. We evaluated the effect of treatment with fertilizer containing various ratios of N, P, and K in combination with different concentrations of chitosan on plant growth and disease resistance. Of the sixteen treatments examined, the treatment consisting of an N:P:K ratio of 2.8:1.0:1.4 and chitosan concentration of 0.10 g·L-1 had the most positive effect on plant height, crown development, and other horticultural traits (i.e., flowering time, flower diameter, and flower quantity) at 20, 40, and 60 days after treatment, and significantly reduced the severity and incidence of gray mold compared to the controls and other treatments at 60 days after treatment. Furthermore, this treatment markedly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities. Based on these findings, we suggest that the chemical composition of the fertilizer and concentration of chitosan used affect the degree to which Begonia × hiemalis growth is stimulated and pathogen resistance is improved.

Improving the Sensitivity of a High-Tc SQUID Magnetometer with a Serial Array

Chiu-Hsien Wu,Hong-Chang Yang,J. C. Chen,C. T. Chiang,C. Y. Chen,Herng-Er Horng,J. T. Jeng,K. L Chen,M. J. Chen 한국물리학회 2006 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.48 No.5I

To pursue a high-reproducibility and high-quality SQUID for high-Tc superconducting applications, we have designed and fabricated a flip-chip magnetometer as a sensor for measuring weak magnetic signals. The magnetometer consists of a serial SQUID magnetometer coupled to a flux focuser. The SQUIDs are connected in series, thereby increasing the peak-to-peak value of the voltage-flux transfer function, V. A flux focuser is employed to increase the effective area of the SQUID. The serial SQUID array has high-quality device characteristics. High-Tc SQUID magnetometers exhibiting a magnetic field sensitivity of 45 fT/Hz1/2 in the white region and 200 fT/Hz1/2 at 1 Hz have been demonstrated in this work. The flip-chip SQUID magnetometer shows a sufficiently high sensitivity to record magnetocardiograms.

The stability of source localization in a whole-head magnetoencephalography system demonstrated by auditory evoked field measurements

Chen, Kuen-Lin,Yang, Hong-Chang,Tsai, Sung-Ying,Liu, Yu-Wei,Liao, Shu-Hsien,Horng, Herng-Er,Lee, Yong-Ho,Kwon, Hyukchan American Institute of Physics 2011 JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS - Vol.110 No.7

Inhibition of Metastasis and Invasion of Ovarian Cancer Cells by Crude Polysaccharides from Rosa Roxburghii Tratt in Vitro

Chen, Yang,Liu, Zhong-Jing,Liu, Jia,Liu, Li-Kun,Zhang, Er-Shao,Li, Wei-Ling Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.23

Background: Rosa Roxburghii Tratt is a promising wild fruit crop in Southwest China. Its extracts have been used as traditional Chinese medicine, which benefit immune responses and cure various health disorders. However, whether Rosa Roxburghii Tratt polysaccharides could inhibit metastasis and invasion of ovarian cancer cells remains unknown. Materials and Methods: Effects of crude polysaccharides from Rosa Roxburghii Tratt on the viability of ovarian cancer A2780 cells were detected by MTT assay. Ovarian carcinoma cell migration and invasion after exposure to Rosa Roxburghii Tratt polysaccharides were quantified by wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. Western blotting was applied to assess protein levels of MMP-9. Results: The results indicated that Rosa Roxburghii Tratt polysaccharides significantly reduced wound closure rate of A2780 cells, inhibited their migration and invasion, and suppressed the expression of MMP-9. Conclusions: Our findings indicated that Rosa Roxburghii Tratt polysaccharides have potential for develop as anti-metastatic cancer drug preparations for ovarian cancer patients.

Resonant-Frequency-Dependent Flux Noise of a High-TC rf SQUID Coupled to a Substrate Resonator

Ji-Cheng Chen,Hong-Chang Yang,Chiu-Hsien Wu,Herng-Er Horng,Jen-Tzong Jeng,Kuen-Lin Chen 한국물리학회 2006 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.48 No.5I

In the recent development of a high-TC rf SQUID magnetometer, Zhang et al. used a SrTiO3 substrate resonator with a YBCO thin film flux concentrator on it. The effective area was improved by a flux concentrator. However, there was no study of the resonant frequency of the substrate resonator. In this work, the frequency-dependent flux noise of a high-TC rf SQUID coupled to a substrate resonator was investigated. The results were analyzed with the noise theory. The optimization of the SQUID with a substrate resonator and its flux noise are discussed.

Effects of graphite additives in electrolytes on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of Alumina PEO coatings

Guo-Hua Lv,Huan Chen,Wei-Chao Gu,Wen-Ran Feng,Li Li,Er-Wu Niu,Xian-Hui Zhang,Si-Ze Yang 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.3

In the present work, graphite grains of different sizes were added into the electrolyte to prepare ceramic coatings on aluminum by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were used to characterize the coatings. A three-electrode system was used to evaluate the corrosion performances of the coatings in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. It was found that the morphology and corrosion performance of the coatings were significantly influenced by the size of the graphite grains. Compared with bigger graphite grains, finer ones were involved in the oxidation process and embedded within the ceramic coatings, which made the coatings less porous and more compact. Thus, the corrosion resistance of the coatings with embedded graphite grains was greatly improved. In the present work, graphite grains of different sizes were added into the electrolyte to prepare ceramic coatings on aluminum by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray analysis system (EDX), Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were used to characterize the coatings. A three-electrode system was used to evaluate the corrosion performances of the coatings in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. It was found that the morphology and corrosion performance of the coatings were significantly influenced by the size of the graphite grains. Compared with bigger graphite grains, finer ones were involved in the oxidation process and embedded within the ceramic coatings, which made the coatings less porous and more compact. Thus, the corrosion resistance of the coatings with embedded graphite grains was greatly improved.

Investigation of plasma electrolytic oxidation process on AZ91D magnesium alloy

Guo-Hua Lv,Huan Chen,Li Li,Er-Wu Niu,Huan Pang,Bin Zou,Si-Ze Yang 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.1

Ceramic coatings oxidized for different time periods were prepared to characterize the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process of AZ91D magnesium alloy. The coatings were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope and potentiodynamic polarization measurement. The results show that the PEO coatings perform different growth behaviors at different PEO stages, and different morphologies are exhibited on α- and β-phase of Mg substrate. The corrosion resistance measurement predicates that within the first 30 min oxidation, coating oxidized for 20 min is the best corrosion resistant. Ceramic coatings oxidized for different time periods were prepared to characterize the plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) process of AZ91D magnesium alloy. The coatings were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope and potentiodynamic polarization measurement. The results show that the PEO coatings perform different growth behaviors at different PEO stages, and different morphologies are exhibited on α- and β-phase of Mg substrate. The corrosion resistance measurement predicates that within the first 30 min oxidation, coating oxidized for 20 min is the best corrosion resistant.

Preoperative BRAF Mutation is Predictive of Occult Contralateral Carcinoma in Patients with Unilateral Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

Zhou, Yi-Li,Zhang, Wei,Gao, Er-Li,Dai, Xuan-Xuan,Yang, Han,Zhang, Xiao-Hua,Wang, Ou-Chen Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Background and Objective: The optimal resection extent for clinically unilateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) remains controversial. The objective was to investigate risk factors associated with occult contralateral carcinoma, and put emphasis on the predictive value of preoperative BRAF mutation. Materials and Methods: 100 clinically unilateral PTMC patients all newly diagnosed, previously untreated were analyzed in a prospective cohort study. We assessed the T1799A BRAF mutation status in FNAB specimens obtained from all PTMC patients before undergoing total thyroidectomy (TT) and central lymph node dissection (CLND) for PTMC. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to reveal the incidence of contralateral occult cancer, difference of risk factors and predictive value, with respect to the following variables: preoperative BRAF mutation status, age, gender, tumor size, multifocality of primary tumor, capsular invasion, presence of Hashimoto thyroiditis and central lymph node metastasis. Results: 20 of 100 patients (20%) had occult contralateral lobe carcinoma. On multi-variate analysis, preoperative BRAF mutation (p = 0.030, OR = 3.439) and multifocality of the primary tumor (p = 0.004, OR = 9.570) were independent predictive factors for occult contralateral PTMC presence. However, there were no significant differences between the presence of occult contralateral carcinomas and age, gender, tumor size, capsular invasion, Hashimoto thyroiditis and central lymph node metastasis. Conclusions: Total thyroidectomy, including the contralateral lobe, should be considered for the treatment of unilateral PTMC if preoperative BRAF mutation is positive and/or if the observed lesion presents as a multifocal tumor in the unilateral lobe.

Dexmedetomidine Attenuates Neuropathic Pain by Inhibiting P2X7R Expression and ERK Phosphorylation in Rats

Jia-Piao Lin,Chao-Qin Chen,Ling-Er Huang,Na-na Li,Yan Yang,Sheng-Mei Zhu,Yong-Xing Yao 한국뇌신경과학회 2018 Experimental Neurobiology Vol.27 No.4

α2-Adrenoceptor agonists attenuate hypersensitivity under neuropathic conditions. However, the mechanisms underlying this attenuation remain largely unknown. In the present study, we explored the potential roles of purinergic receptor 7 (P2X7R)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in the anti-nociceptive effect of dexmedetomidine in a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. An animal model of CCI was adopted to mimic the clinical neuropathic pain state. Behavioral hypersensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimuli was determined by von Frey filament and Hargreaves’ tests, and the spinal P2X7R expression level and ERK phosphorylation were analyzed using western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. In parallel with the development of mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, a significant increase in P2X7R expression was noted in the ipsilateral spinal cord on day 7 after CCI. Intrathecal administration of dexmedetomidine (2.5 μg) for 3 days not only attenuated neuropathic pain but also inhibited the CCI-induced P2X7R upregulation and ERK phosphorylation. Intrathecal dexmedetomidine administration did not produce obvious effects on locomotor function. The present study demonstrated that dexmedetomidine attenuates the neuropathic pain induced by CCI of the sciatic nerve in rats by inhibiting spinal P2X7R expression and ERK phosphorylation, indicating the potential therapeutic implications of dexmedetomidine administration for the treatment of neuropathic pain.