A New Unsymmetrical Zinc Phthalocyanine as Photosensitizers for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Zhang, Dan,Zhang, Xue-Jun,Zhang, Lei,Mao, Li-Jun Korean Chemical Society 2012 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.33 No.4

A new unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine has been designed and synthesized based on the 'push-pull' and extended ${\pi}$-conjugation concept for the dye-sensitized solar cells. Three tert-butoxy groups, which act as electron releasing ('push'), enhance the solubility of phthalocyanine in common organic solvents and reduce the aggregation. Hydroxy substituted 9,10-anthraquinones act as electron acceptors ('pull') for the study of photoinduced electron transfer processes as well as grafting onto nanocrystalline $TiO_2$. The new unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine was fully characterized by FTIR, UV-vis, $^1H$ NMR, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The new sensitizer was tested in dye-sensitized solar cells, and gave a better performance.

Perioperative Comprehensive Supportive Care Interventions for Chinese Patients with Esophageal Carcinoma: a Prospective Study

Zhang, Xiao-Dan,Zhao, Qing-Yu,Fang, Yi,Chen, Guan-Xuan,Zhang, Hui-Fang,Zhang, Wen-Xiao,Yang, Xiao-Ping Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.12

Objective: To assess the effects of perioperative comprehensive supportive care interventions on outcome of Chinese esophageal cancer patients in a prospective study. Methods: 60 patients with primary esophageal carcinoma were randomized into an intervention group (IG, n=31) and a control group (CG, n=29). The Chinese version of symptom checklist-90 (SCL-90) was adopted to assess their psychological status. The interventions, including health education, psychological support, stress management, coping strategies and behavior training, were carried out in 3 phases (preoperative, postoperative I and postoperative II), and psychological effects were thereafter evaluated accordingly before surgery, and 1 week, 4 weeks and 24 weeks post-surgery. Medical costs were estimated at discharge. Survival of patients was estimated each year post-surgery. General health status and satisfaction-with-hospital were surveyed by a follow-up questionnaire 4 years post-surgery. Results: All the subjects demonstrated higher scores in the preoperative phase than the normal range of Chinese population concerning 7 psychological domains including somatization, obsessive-compulsive, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety and paranoid ideation. Although no significant difference was observed between the two groups at admission, the scores of IG, which tended to decrease at a faster rate, were generally lower than those of CG at weeks 1, 4 and 24 post-surgery. The length of hospital stay and medical costs of IG were significantly less than those of CG and satisfaction-with-hospital was better. However, there was no significant difference in 4-year survival or health status between two groups. Conclusions: Appropriate perioperative comprehensive supportive care interventions help to improve the psychological state of Chinese patients with esophageal carcinoma, to reduce health care costs and to promote satisfaction of patients and their families with hospital.

A New Unsymmetrical Zinc Phthalocyanine as Photosensitizers for Dye-sensitized Solar Cells

Dan Zhang,Xue-Jun Zhang,Lei Zhang,Li-Jun Mao 대한화학회 2012 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.33 No.4

A new unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine has been designed and synthesized based on the ‘push-pull’ and extended π-conjugation concept for the dye-sensitized solar cells. Three tert-butoxy groups, which act as electron releasing (‘push’), enhance the solubility of phthalocyanine in common organic solvents and reduce the aggregation. Hydroxy substituted 9,10-anthraquinones act as electron acceptors (‘pull’) for the study of photoinduced electron transfer processes as well as grafting onto nanocrystalline TiO2. The new unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanine was fully characterized by FTIR, UV-vis, 1H NMR, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The new sensitizer was tested in dye-sensitized solar cells, and gave a better performance.

Distinct Pro-Apoptotic Properties of Zhejiang Saffron against Human Lung Cancer Via a Caspase-8-9-3 Cascade

Liu, Dan-Dan,Ye, Yi-Lu,Zhang, Jing,Xu, Jia-Ni,Qian, Xiao-Dong,Zhang, Qi Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.15

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Here we investigated the antitumor effect and mechanism of Zhejiang (Huzhou and Jiande) saffron against lung cancer cell lines, A549 and H446. Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the contents of crocin I and II were determined. In vitro, MTT assay and annexin-V FITC/PI staining showed cell proliferation activity and apoptosis to be changed in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The inhibition effect of Jiande saffron was the strongest. In vivo, when mice were orally administered saffron extracts at dose of 100mg/kg/d for 28 days, xenograft tumor size was reduced, and ELISA and Western blotting analysis of caspase-3, -8 and -9 exhibited stronger expression and activity than in the control. In summary, saffron from Zhejiang has significant antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo through caspase-8-caspase-9-caspase-3 mediated cell apoptosis. It thus appears to have more potential as a therapeutic agent.

Fabrication of Photopolymer Hierarchical Micronanostructures by Coupling Electrospinning and Photolithography for SERS Substrates

Wen-Yi Zhang,Xin-Ze Xiao,Chao Lv,Jia Zhao,Gong Wang,Xuan Gu,Ran Zhang,Bin-Bin Xu,Dan-Dan Zhang,Ai-Wu Li,Yong-Lai Zhang,Hong-Bo Sun 한국고분자학회 2013 Macromolecular Research Vol.21 No.3

Reported here is the fabrication of photopolymer hierarchical micronanostructures through a combinative process of electrospinning and subsequent photolithography. Electrospun SU-8 (epoxy-based negative photoresist)nanofiber films have been patterned into gratings with periods of 100, 200, 300, and 400 μm, respectively. Deposition of a silver nanolayer on these interlaced nanofiber films would lead to the formation of various plasmonic nanostructures,and therefore, giving rise to abundant surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) “hot spots”. In the detection of Rhodamine 6G (R6G), probing molecule, the resultant SERS substrates show both high sensitivity and good reproducibility. The SERS enhancement factor could reach as high as ~108, indicating high efficiency. The fabrication of patterned, highly efficient SERS substrates may hold a great promise for the integration of SERS substrates in various microdevices such as microfluidic chips.

Key role of peptidoglycan on acrylamide binding by lactic acid bacteria

Dan Zhang,Wei Liu,Liang Li,Hong-Yu Zhao,Hong-Yang Sun,Ming-Han Meng,Sheng Zhang,Mei-Li Shao 한국식품과학회 2017 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.26 No.1

The primary purpose of this study was to analyze the ability of four peptidoglycan (PGN) from different lactic acid bacteria to bind acrylamide (AA) and to identify the binding mechanism. In this study, to clarify the possible binding interactions among AA and components of PGN, chemical components, surface structure, amino acids component, and functional groups of peptidoglycans were studied. It was found that PGN from Lactobacillus plantarum 1.0065 had the highest ability to bind AA with 87%. Furthermore, a significant positive relation was found between the carbohydrate content of PGN and percentage of bind AA, and the content of four specific amino acids of PGN and AA binding ability were also positive correlated. Thereinto, alanine of PGN had a significant impact on AA binding among four amino acids. Additionally, the C–O (carboxyl, polysaccharides, and arene), C=O amide, and N–H amines groups of PGN were involved in AA binding.

前衛時裝和前衛時裝革新

( Dan Zhang ),( C. Anthony Di Benedetto ) 한국마케팅과학회 2010 Journal of Global Fashion Marketing Vol.1 No.4

This is a study of the related concepts of radical fashion and radical fashion innovation. Radical fashions are defined here as those that may never enter the market at all, and exist primarily on runway shows, in exhibitions and in publicity; by contrast, radical fashion innovations may be very successful in the marketplace. Radical fashions represent a clear break from the old designs, as opposed to incremental fashions, which are defined as an extension or evolution of the old designs. Using this definition, radical fashion seems to be at odds with the definition of marketable fashion. Nevertheless, while most radical fashions do not enter the market at all and live only in runway shows, exhibitions, and museums, there are many examples of radical fashion innovations successful in the market. Accordingly, a series of questions rise: What is radical fashion? What is radical fashion innovation? What are the differences and similarities between these, and how are they connected? This study seeks to address these questions, using a foundation developed in the radical product innovation literature. Fashion innovations may be in terms form or function, or style, and can be radical (involving the breaking down of old ideas) or incremental (involving the evolution of new ideas from old ideas). We draw from the radical product innovation literature to build two related models. The first is a model of radical fashion and radical fashion innovation that illustrates the components of both concepts. The second is a model of radical fashion innovation diffusion, drawn from the general product innovation diffusion literature, which explores the evolution of and the connections between these two concepts from the beginning (i.e., the radical fashion) to the end (i.e., success in the mass market). Radical fashion may result in designs that are more suitable for the runway, catalogues, or even museum display, than for actual wear. Radical fashion has sometimes been called "new ideas before their marketing phase." Radical fashion may successfully enter the market, however, and gain wide acceptance among consumers. The transition from radical fashion to radical fashion innovation is not too different from the transition from invention to innovation, which is familiar to researchers in product innovation. Notable in this transition process is the fact that, for many product innovations, what drives the first customers to purchase (the "Visionaries," to use Moore`s terminology in his "crossing the chasm" model of innovation diffusion) may be very different from what drives the rest of the market (the "Pragmatists."). If this "chasm" or divide between the two market segments is not recognized, the innovating firm may find that their product stalls during the diffusion process and never effectively reaches the mass market. In the case of fashion products, visionaries (such as celebrities and the fashion press) prime the market and create favorable word of mouth; yet, at the same time, less-radical, wearable designs may be seen on the runway, or may be manufactured for the mass market and sold through department stores, specialty clothing stores, or even discounters. The most successful worldwide designers instinctively know this, and can continuously produce radically innovative fashion which also usually transitions to the mass market successfully. They recognize the need to reach the visionaries successfully to generate sufficient publicity and word of mouth, and also to use product design, promotion, and distribution strategies, as well as appropriate price lining policies, to reach the mass market (the pragmatists) effectively. We conclude with generalized findings and managerial implications for firms in the fashion industry. We attempt to bring the radical innovation literature, and its understanding of the process of radical innovation diffusion in the marketplace, to the expanding discussion of fashion marketing success strategic development.

Chemical constituents and their acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities from leaves of Acanthopanax henryi: potential complementary source against Alzheimer's disease

Zhang, Xiao Dan,Liu, Xiang Qian,Kim, Yang Hee,Whang, Wan Kyunn 대한약학회 2014 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.37 No.5

The aim of this study was to investigate chemical constituents of the leaves of Acanthopanax henryi, and their antioxidant, acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory activities. Caffeoyl quinic acid derivates and flavonoids were obtained from A. henry, through column chromatography technologies, and the content of major constituents was determined by the HPLC-UV method. Anti-oxidant activity of the isolated metabolites was evaluated by free radical scavenging (DPPH, ABTS radicals) and superoxide anion scavenging. The results showed that di-caffeoyl quinic acid derivates had stronger antioxidant activity than positive controls (ascorbic acid, trolox and allopurinol). Acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory activity was estimated on the constituents, among which, quercetin, 4-caffeoyl-quinic acid and 4,5-caffeoyl quinic acid were found to have strong acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory activity with $IC_{50}$ values ranging from 62.6 to $121.9{\mu}M$. The present study showed that some of the tested constituents from the leaves of A. henryi exhibit strong antioxidant and acetyl cholinesterase inhibitory effects. This suggest that the leaves of A. henryi can be used as a new natural complementary source of acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors and anti-oxidant agents, thus being a promising potential complementary source against Alzheimer's disease.

Fatigue characteristics of distributed sensing cables under low cycle elongation

Dan Zhang,Jiacheng Wang,Bo li,Bin Shi 국제구조공학회 2016 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.18 No.6

When strain sensing cables are under long-term stress and cyclic loading, creep may occur in the jacket material and each layer of the cable structure may slide relative to other layers, causing fatigue in the cables. This study proposes a device for testing the fatigue characteristics of three types of cables operating under different conditions to establish a decay model for observing the patterns of strain decay. The fatigue characteristics of cables encased in polyurethane (PU), GFRP-reinforced, and wire rope-reinforced jackets were compared. The findings are outlined as follows. The cable strain decayed exponentially, and the decay process involved quick decay, slow decay, and stabilization stages. Moreover, the strain decay increased with the initial strain and tensile frequency. The shorter the unstrained period was, the more similar the initial strain levels of the strain decay curves were to the stabilized strain levels of the first cyclic elongation. As the unstrained period increased, the initial strain levels of the strain decay curves approached those of the first cyclic elongation. The tested sensing cables differed in the amount and rate of strain decay. The wire rope-reinforced cable exhibited the smallest amount and rate of decay, whereas the GFRP-reinforced cable demonstrated the largest.

Characterizing the strain transfer on the sensing cable-soil interface based on triaxial testing

Dan Zhang,Guan-Zhong Wu,Tai-Song Shan,Bin Shi,Yuan-Jiang Fang,Kang Ren 국제구조공학회 2022 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.30 No.1

The deformation coordination between a rock/soil mass and an optical sensing cable is an important issue for accurate deformation monitoring. A stress-controlled triaxial apparatus was retrofitted by introducing an optical fiber into the soil specimen. High spatial resolution optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) was used for monitoring the strain distribution along the axial direction of the specimen. The results were compared with those measured by a displacement meter. The strain measured by the optical sensing cable has a good linear relationship with the strain calculated by the displacement meter for different confining pressures, which indicates that distributed optical fiber sensing technology is feasible for soil deformation monitoring. The performance of deformation coordination between the sensing cable and the soil during unloading is higher than that during loading based on the strain transfer coefficients. Three hypothetical strain distributions of the triaxial specimen are proposed, based on which theoretical models of the strain transfer coefficients are established. It appears that the parabolic distribution of specimen strain should be more reasonable by comparison. Nevertheless, the strain transfer coefficients obtained by the theoretical models are higher than the measured coefficients. On this basis, a strain transfer model considering slippage at the interface of the sensing cable and the soil is discussed.