Improvement of bond strength and durability of concrete incorporating high volumes of class F fly ash

Wu, Chung-Hao,Chen, Chien-Jung,Lin, Yu-Feng,Lin, Shu-Ken Techno-Press 2021 Advances in concrete construction Vol.12 No.5

This study experimentally investigated the improvement of bond strength and durability of concrete containing high volume fly ash. Concrete mixtures made with 0%, 25% and 60% replacement of cement with class F fly ash were prepared. Water-binder ratios ranged from 0.28 to 0.72. The compressive, flexural and pullout bond strength, the resistance to chloride-ion penetration, and the water permeability of concrete were measured and presented. Test results indicate that except for the concretes at early ages, the mechanical properties, bond strength, and the durability-related chloride-ion permeability and water permeability of concrete containing high volume (60% cement replacement) fly ash were obviously superior to the concrete without fly ash at later ages of beyond 56 days. The enhanced bond strength for the high volume fly-ash concrete either with or without steel confinement is a significant finding which might be valuable for the structural application.

Temperature development and cracking characteristics of high strength concrete slab at early age

Chung-Hao Wu,Yu-Feng Lin,Shu-Ken Lin,Chung-Ho Huang 국제구조공학회 2020 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.74 No.6

High-strength concrete (HSC) generally is made with high amount of cement which may release large amount of hydration heat at early age. The hydration heat will increase the internal temperature of slab and may cause potential cracking. In this study, slab specimens with a dimension of 600 × 600 × 100 mm were cast with concrete incorporating silica fume for test. The thermistors were embedded in the slabs therein to investigate the interior temperature development. The test variables include water-to-binder ratio (0.25, 0.35, 0.40), the cement replacement ratio of silica fume (RSF; 5 %, 10 %, 15 %) and fly ash (RFA; 10 %, 20 %, 30 %). Test results show that reducing the W/B ratio of HSC will enhance the temperature of first heat peak by hydration. The increase of W/B decrease the appearance time of second heat peak, but increase the corresponding maximum temperature. Increase the RSF or decrease the RFA may decrease the appearance time of second heat peak and increase the maximum central temperature of slab. HSC slab with the range of W/B ratio of 0.25 to 0.40 may occur cracking within 4 hours after casting. Reducing W/B may lead to intensive cracking damage, such as more crack number, and larger crack width and length.

Effects of nitrogen and carbon doping on properties and photocatalytic activity of TiO2-In2O3 composite

Chung-Hsin Wu,Chao-Yin Kuo,Jui-Tai Wu,Pui-Kwan Andy Hong,Chih-Hao Lai,Wei-Yang Chung 한국화학공학회 2015 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.32 No.5

TiO2-In2O3 (Ti-In) was synthesized by the sol-gel method and the composite was further doped with nitrogen and carbon to create Ti-In-N and Ti-In-C, respectively. The dye C.I. Reactive Red 2 (RR2) was used a model compound to be subjected to various composites and measured for removal by photocatalytic degradation and adsorption. Ti-In-N possessed a larger mean diameter than Ti-In-C, while the latter possessed a greater anatase content and surface area than the former. After N or C doping, the spectra of corresponding Ti-In-N and Ti-In-C showed absorption edges at longer wavelengths than the parent Ti-In. Ti-N-O and Ti-O-C bonds were found in Ti-In-N and Ti-In-C composites, respectively. Ti-In-N was more effective for RR2 photodegradation than Ti-In-C, and the Ti-In-C removed more RR2 by adsorption than Ti-In-N.

Empty nose syndrome treated by autologous auricular cartilage turbinate augmentation: a case report

Wu Tzu-I,Hao Chung-Yu,Chiu Yu-Hsun 대한미용의학회 2021 대한미용의학회지 Vol.5 No.2

Empty nose syndrome (ENS), once viewed as a psychological issue, is now a recognized complication of turbinate surgery. It is most frequently associated with total turbinate excision. Its symptoms include chronic dryness of the nose and pharynx, paradoxical obstruction of the nose, feeling of suffocation, lack of airflow sensation, and even neuropathic pain. It may cause severe stress upon the patient resulting in mood instability issues. Surgical treatment to augment turbinate volume has been reported to be an effective treatment method. We would like to report a case of ENS treated by autologous auricular cartilage turbinate augmentation.

Entomopathogenic fungi-mediated biological control of the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus

Yang Tzu-Hao,Wu Li-Hsin,Liao Chung-Ta,LIDONGWEI,Young Shin Tae,Jae Su Kim,Nai Yu-Shin 한국응용곤충학회 2023 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.26 No.1

The red palm weevil (RPW), Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, is an important pest of palms, and difficult to control by conventional methods. Therefore, microbial control is an alternative strategy for controlling RPW. Herein, a total of 15 entomopathogenic fungi (EPFs) were subjected to primary pathogenicity screening against last stage of RPW larvae. The preliminary data showed that four Beauveria bassiana isolates (JEF-484, 158, 462 and 507) and one Isaria fumosorosea isolate (JEF-014) resulted in 100 % mortality within 5–10 days post inoculation (d.p.i.), respectively. According to the time required for RPW mortality, JEF-484, 158, 462 and 014 were further sub jected to bioassays using 10 7 conidia/ml suspensions by spraying method. Based on the results, JEF-484 showed the highest mortality and shortest LT 50 on the last stage of RPW larvae, followed by JEF-158. The two isolates also showed good conidial production and high thermal stability compared to the other isolates. Therefore, JEF-484 and JEF-158 were selected for bioassays against RPW egg and the last larval stage with different concen trations of 10 5 , 10 6 and 10 7 conidia/ml conidial suspensions by spraying method. For the bioassay at the egg stage, JEF-158 showed a significantly higher ovicidal effect than JEF-484. In the larval bioassay, both EPF isolates showed a dosage-dependent effect on the RPW larvae. JEF-484 caused higher mortality in RPW larvae than JEF-158. In summary, the combination of the 2 promising EPF isolates might provide an opportunity for the practical microbial control of RPW at different life stages in palm tree fields.

Clinical Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Osteoporosis Screening With Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Hsu Chiao-Lin,Wu Pin-Chieh,Yin Chun-Hao,Chen Chung-Hwan,Lee King-Teh,Lin Chih-Lung,Shi Hon-Yi 대한영상의학회 2023 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.24 No.12

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for osteoporosis screening. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients who had and had not undergone DXA screening were identified from among those aged 50 years or older at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. Age, sex, screening year (index year), and Charlson comorbidity index of the DXA and non-DXA groups were matched using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) for propensity score analysis. For cost-effectiveness analysis, a societal perspective, 1-year cycle length, 20-year time horizon, and discount rate of 2% per year for both effectiveness and costs were adopted in the incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) model. Results: The outcome analysis included 10337 patients (female:male, 63.8%:36.2%) who were screened for osteoporosis in southern Taiwan between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2021. The DXA group had significantly better outcomes than the non-DXA group in terms of fragility fractures (7.6% vs. 12.5%, P < 0.001) and mortality (0.6% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.001). The DXA screening strategy gained an ICER of US$ -2794 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) relative to the non-DXA at the willingness-to-pay threshold of US$ 33004 (Taiwan’s per capita gross domestic product). The ICER after stratifying by ages of 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥ 80 years were US$ -17815, US$ -26862, US$ -28981, and US$ -34816 per QALY, respectively. Conclusion: Using DXA to screen adults aged 50 years or older for osteoporosis resulted in a reduced incidence of fragility fractures, lower mortality rate, and reduced total costs. Screening for osteoporosis is a cost-saving strategy and its effectiveness increases with age. However, caution is needed when generalizing these cost-effectiveness results to all older populations because the study population consisted mainly of women.

Crustal structure of the Gunsan Basin in the SE Yellow Sea from ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) data and its linkage to the South China Block

Kim, Han-Joon,Kim, Chung-Ho,Hao, Tianyao,Liu, Lihua,Kim, Kwang-Hee,Jun, Hyunggu,Jou, Hyeong-Tae,Moon, Sunghoon,Xu, Ya,Wu, Zhiqiang,Lu, Chuanchuan,Lee, Sang Hoon Elsevier 2019 Journal of Asian earth sciences Vol.180 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Two major tectonic units in NE Asia are the Sino-Korean (or North China) and South China Blocks that collided in the Permo-Triassic periods. The South China Block is suggested to extend eastward to the Korean Peninsula across the southern Yellow Sea. The Gunsan Basin is a well-defined, fault-bounded sedimentary basin in the SE Yellow Sea and is regarded as a structural link of the South China Block to the Korean Peninsula. We collected deep seismic sounding data recorded on ocean bottom seismometers to investigate how the crustal structure and nature of the South China Block vary in the Gunsan Basin toward the middle part of the Korean Peninsula. The main part of the Gunsan Basin is underlain by relatively thin (∼10 km thick) upper and much thicker (∼20 km thick) lower crustal layers, indicating a close affinity to the South China Block; whereas it shows distinction from the Korean Peninsula underlain by upper and lower crustal layers with equal (∼15 km) thickness. A change in crustal structure is recognized under the eastern margin of the Gunsan Basin toward the Korean Peninsula, that features a transition to the Korean Peninsula. The thick lower crustal layer in the Gunsan Basin appears to be inherited from the evolution of the South China Block including crustal shortening associated with the assembly of Rodinia in the Neoproterozoic before the collision between the Sino-Korean and South China Blocks.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> We image how the crustal stucture nature vary in the SE Yellow Sea. </LI> <LI> The Gunsan Basin is underlain by relatively thin upper and much thick lower crustal layers. </LI> <LI> A transition in crustal structure is recognized from the South China Block to the Korean Peninsula. </LI> <LI> The crustal structure is inherited from the growth of Rodinia. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Discovery of nitrate–CPK–NLP signalling in central nutrient–growth networks

Liu, Kun-hsiang,Niu, Yajie,Konishi, Mineko,Wu, Yue,Du, Hao,Sun Chung, Hoo,Li, Lei,Boudsocq, Marie,McCormack, Matthew,Maekawa, Shugo,Ishida, Tetsuya,Zhang, Chao,Shokat, Kevan,Yanagisawa, Shuichi,Sheen, Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan P 2017 Nature Vol.545 No.7654

Nutrient signalling integrates and coordinates gene expression, metabolism and growth. However, its primary molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood in plants and animals. Here we report unique Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> signalling triggered by nitrate with live imaging of an ultrasensitive biosensor in Arabidopsis leaves and roots. A nitrate-sensitized and targeted functional genomic screen identifies subgroup III Ca<SUP>2+</SUP>-sensor protein kinases (CPKs) as master regulators that orchestrate primary nitrate responses. A chemical switch with the engineered mutant CPK10(M141G) circumvents embryo lethality and enables conditional analyses of cpk10 cpk30 cpk32 triple mutants to define comprehensive nitrate-associated regulatory and developmental programs. Nitrate-coupled CPK signalling phosphorylates conserved NIN-LIKE PROTEIN (NLP) transcription factors to specify the reprogramming of gene sets for downstream transcription factors, transporters, nitrogen assimilation, carbon/nitrogen metabolism, redox, signalling, hormones and proliferation. Conditional cpk10 cpk30 cpk32 and nlp7 mutants similarly impair nitrate-stimulated system-wide shoot growth and root establishment. The nutrient-coupled Ca<SUP>2+</SUP> signalling network integrates transcriptome and cellular metabolism with shoot–root coordination and developmental plasticity in shaping organ biomass and architecture.

Oncogenic Pathway Combinations Predict Clinical Prognosis in Gastric Cancer

Ooi, Chia Huey,Ivanova, Tatiana,Wu, Jeanie,Lee, Minghui,Tan, Iain Beehuat,Tao, Jiong,Ward, Lindsay,Koo, Jun Hao,Gopalakrishnan, Veena,Zhu, Yansong,Cheng, Lai Ling,Lee, Julian,Rha, Sun Young,Chung, Hyu Public Library of Science 2009 PLoS genetics Vol.5 No.10

<▼1><P>Many solid cancers are known to exhibit a high degree of heterogeneity in their deregulation of different oncogenic pathways. We sought to identify major oncogenic pathways in gastric cancer (GC) with significant relationships to patient survival. Using gene expression signatures, we devised an <I>in silico</I> strategy to map patterns of oncogenic pathway activation in 301 primary gastric cancers, the second highest cause of global cancer mortality. We identified three oncogenic pathways (proliferation/stem cell, NF-κB, and Wnt/β-catenin) deregulated in the majority (>70%) of gastric cancers. We functionally validated these pathway predictions in a panel of gastric cancer cell lines. Patient stratification by oncogenic pathway combinations showed reproducible and significant survival differences in multiple cohorts, suggesting that pathway interactions may play an important role in influencing disease behavior. Individual GCs can be successfully taxonomized by oncogenic pathway activity into biologically and clinically relevant subgroups. Predicting pathway activity by expression signatures thus permits the study of multiple cancer-related pathways interacting simultaneously in primary cancers, at a scale not currently achievable by other platforms.</P></▼1><▼2><P><B>Author Summary</B></P><P>Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of global cancer mortality. With current treatments, less than a quarter of patients survive longer than five years after surgery. Individual gastric cancers are highly disparate in their cellular characteristics and responses to standard chemotherapeutic drugs, making gastric cancer a complex disease. Pathway based approaches, rather than single gene studies, may help to unravel this complexity. Here, we make use of a computational approach to identify connections between molecular pathways and cancer profiles. In a large scale study of more than 300 patients, we identified subgroups of gastric cancers distinguishable by their patterns of driving molecular pathways. We show that these identified subgroups are clinically relevant in predicting survival duration and may prove useful in guiding the choice of targeted therapies designed to interfere with these molecular pathways. We also identified specific gastric cancer cell lines mirroring these pathway subgroups, which should facilitate the pre-clinical assessment of responses to targeted therapies in each subgroup.</P></▼2>

An aromatic imine group enhances the EL efficiency and carrier transport properties of highly efficient blue emitter for OLEDs

Park, Youngil,Lee, Ji-Hoon,Jung, Dong Hyun,Liu, Su-Hao,Lin, You-Heng,Chen, Li-Yin,Wu, Chung-Chih,Park, Jongwook Royal Society of Chemistry 2010 Journal of materials chemistry Vol.20 No.28

<P>This study not only describes the synthesis and characterization of a novel indenofluorene derivative, 6,6,12,12-tetraethyl-2,8-bis-[1,1′;3′,1′]terphenyl-4′-yl-6,12-dihydro-indeno[1,2-b]fluorine (TP-EIF), for use as an emitting material in blue organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), but also the comparison with 6,6,12,12-tetraethyl-2,8-bis-[1,1′;3′,1′]terphenyl-4′-yl-6,12-dihydro-diindeno[1,2-b;1′,2′-e]pyrazine (TP-EPY). UV-visible and PL spectra showed that the TP-EPY absorption and emission bands were red-shifted with narrow full widths at half maxima (FWHMs) compared to TP-EIF, both in solution and as a film. Density functional theory electronic structure calculations suggested that the spectral differences arose from the electron withdrawing properties of the imine group in the indenopyrazine, which increased conjugation in the core group and decreased conjugation in the side group at the LUMO level. The lower energy of the LUMO in TP-EPY resulted in increased active electron injection in electron-only devices and cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements. The hole mobilities, which were measured by time of flight (TOF) methods, were 1.8 × 10<SUP>−3</SUP> and 1.1 × 10<SUP>−4</SUP> cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>−1</SUP> s for TP-EPY and TP-EIF, respectively, which demonstrated that TP-EPY displayed excellent hole transport abilities. The electron mobility was also high in TP-EPY (8.3 × 10<SUP>−5</SUP> cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>−1</SUP> s). TP-EPY was, therefore, shown to be bipolar, unlike TP-EIF. The electroluminescence (EL) performance of TP-EPY in OLED devices was higher than that of TP-EIF: the luminance efficiencies were 1.72 and 0.76 cd A<SUP>−1</SUP>, and the power efficiencies were 0.65 and 0.27 lm W<SUP>−1</SUP>, for TP-EPY and TP-EIF, respectively. In particular, the FWHMs of the EL spectral bands were 54 nm for TP-EPY and 73 nm for TP-EIF, which demonstrated enhanced emission spectral purity. The external quantum efficiency of TP-EPY was 5.1%, which was more than twice the value for TP-EIF (2.19%).</P> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>A new indenofluorene derivative, TP-EIF was synthesized, and its physical properties (optical, thermal, electrochemical, electroluminescent, and charge carrier mobility characteristics) were compared with those of the previously described TP-EPY, which has an imine group in the core structure. <IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=c0jm00581a'> </P>