Enhance the performance and stability of methylammonium lead iodide perovskite solar cells with guanidinium thiocyanate additive

Nian Cheng,Weiwei Li,Menghan Zhang,Hangjuan Wu,Shujie Sun,Zhiqiang Zhao,Zhenyu Xiao,Zhuzhu Sun,Wei Zi,Liang Fang 한국물리학회 2019 Current Applied Physics Vol.19 No.1

Employing additive to regulate the morphology of perovskite film is an effective method to enhance both the power conversion efficiency and long term stability of organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells. Here, we demonstrate that guanidinium thiocyanate (GuSCN) is a suitable additive for methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite materials. Addition of GuSCN into MAPbI3 can simultaneously enhance the crystallinity, enlarge the crystal size, and reduce the trap density of the perovskite films. As a result, the MAPbI3 perovskite with 10% GuSCN exhibits superior power conversion efficiency of 16.70% compared to the pristine MAPbI3 perovskite solar cell (15.57%). At the same time, the MAPbI3 perovskite solar cell with GuSCN additive shows better stability, power conversion efficiency retains ∼90% of its initial value compared to only ∼60% for pristine MAPbI3 perovskite solar cells after being stored for 15 days without encapsulation

Prognostic Value of CD44 Variant exon 6 Expression in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: a Meta-analysis

Zhao, Shuang,He, Jin-Lan,Qiu, Zhi-Xin,Chen, Nian-Yong,Luo, Zhuang,Chen, Bo-Jiang,Li, Wei-Min Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.16

Background: CD44v6 (CD44 variant exon 6) is the chief CD44 variant isoform regulating tumor invasion, progression, and metastasis. The prognostic value of CD44v6 expression in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been evaluated in many studies, but the results have remained controversial. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis of currently available studies to investigate the prognostic value of CD44v6 expression in NSCLC patients and the relationship between the expression of CD44v6 and clinicopathological features. Materials and Methods: Two independent reviewers searched the relevant literature in Pubmed, Medline and Embase from 1946 to January 2014. Overall survival (OS) and various clinicopathological features were collected from included studies. This meta-analysis was accomplished using STATA 12.0 and Revman 5.2 software. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to estimate the effects. Results: A total of 921 NSCLC patients from ten studies met the inclusion criteria. The results showed that CD44v6 high expression was a prognostic factor for poor survival (HR=1.91, 95%CI=1.12-3.26, p<0.05). With respect to clinicopathological features, CD44v6 high expression was related to histopathologic type (squamous cell carcinoma versus adenocarcinoma: OR=2.72, 95%CI=1.38-5.38, p=0.004), and lymph node metastasis (OR=3.02, 95%CI=1.93-4.72, p<0.00001). Conclusions: Our results suggested CD44v6 high expression as a poor prognostic factor for NSCLC, and CD44v6 expression is associated with lymph node metastasis and histopathologic type. Therefore, CD44v6 expression can be used as a novel prognostic marker in NSCLC cases.

Antioxidant, Antiproliferative, and Pro-Apoptotic Activities of a Saponin Extract Derived from the Roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen

Nian-Wu He,,Yan Zhao,Ling Guo,Jun Shang,Xing-Bin Yang 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.4

Dietary and medicinal uses of Panax notoginseng have been associated with reduced risk of cancer. This study was designed to investigate the profiles of P. notoginseng saponin extract (PNSE), the major bioactive ingredients in P. notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, by high-performance liquid chromatography, and, for the first time, the anticancer effect of PNSE in the human colon cancer cell line LoVo was further evaluated. The major saponins present in PNSE were ginsenosides Rg1 (31.1%) and Rb1 (34.4%), and the total content of the eight saponins identified (notoginsenoside R1, ginsenosides Rg1, Re, Rb1, Rc, and Rd, and isomeric ginsenosides Rb2 and Rb3) was 81.7%, indicating that it was a highly purified standardized saponin extract. Furthermore, PNSE was found to have a markedly cytotoxic effect and antiproliferative activity against the LoVo cell line in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that PNSE caused cell cycle arrest at S phase. Moreover, PNSE was found to possess antioxidative capacities in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay and hydroxyl radical scavenging assay in vitro. Taken together, the present results suggest that naturally occurring PNSE may provide significant natural defense against human colon cancer.

Effects of Valproic Acid on Proliferation, Apoptosis, Angiogenesis and Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer in Vitro and in Vivo

Shan, Zhao,Feng-Nian, Rong,Jie, Geng,Ting, Zhou Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

Inhibitors of histone deacetylase activity are emerging as a potentially important new class of anticancer agents. In this study, we assessed the anticancer effects of valproic acid (VPA) on ovarian cancer in vitro and in vivo. Cultured SKOV3 cells were treated by VPA with different concentrations and time, then the effects on cell growth, cell cycle, apoptosis, and related events were investigated. A human ovarian cancer model transplanted subcutaneously in nude mice was established, and the efficacy of VPA used alone and in combination with diammine dichloroplatinum (DDP) to inhibit the growth of tumors was also assessed. Proliferation of SKOV3 cells was inhibited by VPA in a dose and time dependent fashion. The cell cycle distribution changed one treatment with VPA, with decrease in the number of S-phase cells and increase in G1-phase. VPA could significantly inhibit the growth of the epithelial ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells in vivo without toxic side effects. Treatment with VPA combined with DDP demonstrated enhanced anticancer effects. The result of flow cytometry (FCM) indicated that after VPA in vitro and in vivo, the expression of E-cadherin was increased whereas vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were decreased. This study suggests that VPA could be a novel attractive agent for treatment of ovarian cancer.

Potent Anticancer Effects of Lentivirus Encoding a Drosophila Melanogaster Deoxyribonucleoside Kinase Mutant Combined with Brivudine

Zhang, Nian-Qu,Zhao, Lei,Ma, Shuai,Gu, Ming,Zheng, Xin-Yu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

Objective: Deoxyribonucleoside kinase of Drosophila melanogaster (Dm-dNK) mutants have been reported to exert suicide gene effects in combined gene/chemotherapy of cancer. Here, we aimed to further evaluate the capacity of the mutanted enzyme and its potential for inhibiting cancer cell growth. Methods: We altered the sequence of the last 10 amino acids of Dm-dNK to perform site-directed mutagenesis and constructed active site mutanted Dm-dNK (Dm-dNKmut), RT-PCR and western bloting studies were used to reveal the expression of lentivirus mediated Dm-dNKmut in a breast cancer cell line (Bcap37), a gastric cancer cell line (SGC7901) and a colorectal cancer cell line (CCL187). [3H]-labeled substrates were used for enzyme activity assays, cell cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assays, cell proliferation using a hemocytometer and apoptosis induction by thenannexin-V-FITC labeled FACS method. In vivo, an animal study was set out in which BALB/C nude mice bearing tumors were treated with lentivirus mediated expression of Dm-dNKmut with the pyrimidine nucleoside analog brivudine (BVDU, (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-(2-deoxyuridine). Results: The Dm-dNKmut could be stably expressed in the cancer cell lines and retained its enzymatic activity. Moreover, the cells expressing Dm-dNKmut exhibited increased sensitivity in combination with BVDU, with induction of apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: These findings underlined the importance of BVDU phosphorylated by Dm-dNKmut in transduced cancer cells and the potential role of Dm-dNKmut as a suicide gene, thus providing the basis for future intensive research for cancer therapy.

Synthesis and Properties of Optically Active Helical Polyethers Bearing Indole or Carbazole Derivatives

Chunhui Zhao,Kunbing Ouyang,Nian-Fa Yang,Jin Zhang,Zhu Sheng Yang 한국고분자학회 2016 Macromolecular Research Vol.24 No.5

Six optically active oxide propane monomers (1m-6m) were synthesized in a very facile way. The monomers were polymerized using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an initiator to afford the corresponding polyethers (1p-6p). The polyether (R)-1p (specific rotation, [α]=+331) exhibited optical rotation as large as fourfold that of the monomer (R)-1m ([α]=-10). The specific optical rotation, circular dichroism (CD) and ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectra data showed that the obtained polymers can keep a prevailing helicity of the backbone in solution.

A Feeder Impedance Identification Based Droop Control Method for Accurate Reactive Power Sharing in Islanded Microgrids

Jianyong Zhao,Jian Li,Heng Nian,Lei Yang,Bao Gai,Zaiping Pan,Yourui Xu 전력전자학회 2019 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2019 No.5

Due to the unmatched feeder impedance, the conventional voltage and frequency droop control method is unable to accurately allocate the output reactive power of DG units in proportion to their power ratings. To solve this issue, this paper has proposed a feeder impedance identification based droop control method. Firstly, the relationship among the reactive power sharing, reactive power droop slope and feeder impedance in islanded microgrids is illustrated. An online feeder impedance identification method is subsequently adopted to modify the reactive power droop slope of DG unit. In this way, the effect of unmatched feeder impedance on reactive power sharing is eliminated without communication among DG units. Experimental results implemented on an islanded microgrid apparatus have validated the feasibility of the proposed droop control method.

Induction of Apoptosis in Human Leukemic Cell Lines by Diallyl Disulfide via Modulation of EGFR/ERK/PKM2 Signaling Pathways

Luo, Nian,Zhao, Lv-Cui,Shi, Qing-Qiang,Feng, Zi-Qiang,Chen, Di-Long,Li, Jing Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.8

Background: Diallyl disulfide (DADS) may exert potent anticancer action both in vitro and in vivo. Although its effects on cancer are significant, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we sought to elucidate possible links between DADS and pyruvate kinase (PKM2). Materials and Methods: $KG1{\alpha}$, a leukemia cell line highly expressing PKM2 was used with a cell counting kit (CCK)-8 and flow cytometry (FCM) to investigate the effects of DADS. Relationships between PKM2 and DADS associated with phosphorylation of EGFR, ERK1/2 and MEK, were assessed by western blot analysis. Results: In $KG1{\alpha}$ cells highly expressing PKM2, we found that DADS could affect proliferation, apoptosis and EGFR/ERK/PKM2 signaling pathways, abrogating EGF-induced nuclear accumulation of PKM2. Conclusions: These results suggested that DADS suppressed the proliferation of $KG1{\alpha}$ cells, providing evidence that its proapoptotic effects are mediated through the inhibition of EGFR/ERK/PKM2 signaling pathways.

Posterior Nutcracker Syndrome Associated with Interrupted Left Inferior Vena Cava with Azygos Continuation and Retroaortic Right Renal Vein

Xiao-Li Luo,Gen-Nian Qian,Hui Xiao,Chun-Lei Zhao,Xiao-Dong Zhou 대한영상의학회 2012 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.13 No.3

Various anatomic anomalies have been considered the causes of nutcracker syndrome (NCS). Posterior NCS refers to the condition, in which vascular narrowing was secondary to the compression of the retroaortic left renal vein while it is crossing between the aorta and the vertebral column. Here, we report an unusual case of posterior NCS associated with a complicated malformation of the interrupted left inferior vena cava with azygos continuation and retroaortic right renal vein, diagnosed by both color Doppler ultrasonography and CT angiography.

Centrifuge Model Test on Anti-dip Rock Slopes with Unequal Thicknesses Subjected to Flexural Toppling Failure

Runqing Wang,Wei Zhao,Tingkai Nian,Chunpeng Liu,Hao Wu 대한토목학회 2022 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.26 No.6

Flexural toppling failure of anti-dip rock slopes (ADRSs) with layers of equal thicknesses has been investigated by many researchers, however, in natural slopes, rock layers in ADRSs are often of unequal thicknesses. To analyze this condition, six slope models were manufactured with glass plates and tests were conducted in a geotechnical drum centrifuge. In these experiments, deformation and interlayer force characteristics were obtained with cameras and film pressure sensors. The centrifuge test results show that the failure process can be divided into three stages: failure of the slope toe, development of fractures and failure of the slope. Initial toe failure has little effect on the stability of the upper rock mass. Through centrifuge test results, it is determined that slopes with only thick layers therein can be used in the evaluation of the stability of slopes with layers of unequal thicknesses. This is because thicker strata have a greater bending stiffness and bending strength than thin strata, thus influencing slope deformation and stability.