Enhanced Phase Relaxation in a Hybrid Ferromagnet/Semiconductor System

Kuang Yao Chen,Chun-Kai Yang,N. Aoki,Y. Ochiai,Y. Ujiie,K. A. Cheng,Li-Hung Lin,C. F. Huang,Yu-Ru Li,Yen Shung Tseng,Po-Tsun Lin,Jau-Yang Wu,Sheng-Di Lin,C.-T. Liang 한국물리학회 2009 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.55 No.1

Hybrid ferromagnet/semiconductor systems have been the focus of considerable attention because of the transport properties of two-dimensional electron systems and their potential applications to magnetic storage and sensing devices. We use the weak localization effect to probe the dephasing mechanism at low temperatures. In our study, the zero-temperature phase-relaxation rate can be enhanced in a hybrid ferromagnet/semiconductor system, which may be due to the inhomogeneous magnetic field emanating from the Ni film. The result may improve understanding of the issue of zero-temperature dephasing in disordered systems. Hybrid ferromagnet/semiconductor systems have been the focus of considerable attention because of the transport properties of two-dimensional electron systems and their potential applications to magnetic storage and sensing devices. We use the weak localization effect to probe the dephasing mechanism at low temperatures. In our study, the zero-temperature phase-relaxation rate can be enhanced in a hybrid ferromagnet/semiconductor system, which may be due to the inhomogeneous magnetic field emanating from the Ni film. The result may improve understanding of the issue of zero-temperature dephasing in disordered systems.

Rethinking successful aging : Older female volunteers’ perspectives in Taiwan

Li-Kuang CHEN Asian Center for Women's Studies : Ewha Womans Uni 2015 Asian Journal of Women's Studies(AJWS) Vol.21 No.3

Asia and the Pacific have been increasingly becoming home to a very large proportion of older persons. It is also known that women are the majority of the senior population in most countries and age differently from men. This study aims to understand what successful aging means to elderly women in Taiwan, a country where the proportion of the elderly population has become the largest in Southeast Asia since 1990. In-depth interviews with 14 older female volunteers were analyzed to identify the components of successful aging. The respondents defined successful aging as follows: (1) being healthy, (2) having no financial worries, (3) maintaining connections with family and friends, (4) contributing to society, and (5) desiring a good death, not longevity. Gender roles and Asian culture were seen to be intertwined with these women’s perceptions, which contribute to rethinking existing models and literature in both gerontology and women’s studies. The findings of this study can also facilitate better programs and services for women so that they can reach a good old age. 亞太地區為全球高齡人口比例最高的區域, 由於女性在大多數國家是高齡人口的主要組成, 且女性老化的歷程與男性不同, 是以, 本研究以自1990年起老年人口比例佔東南亞之首的台灣為研究場域, 研究目的在瞭解高齡女性的成功老化感知。藉由深度訪談14位高齡女性志工, 本研究發現高齡女性認為成功老化必備的元素包括: (1)健康、(2)沒有經濟上的煩惱、(3)與家人及朋友保持良好互動連繫、(4)貢獻社會、及(5)善終。上述發現及針對其背後考量中因著女性角色與亞洲文化之影響的討論, 有助對現今老年學及女性研究的理論模型及文獻進一步再做思考, 並促進對女性得到好命老年的更適切方案與服務之擬定。

A Genetic Analysis of Taoyuan Pig and Its Phylogenetic Relationship to Eurasian Pig Breeds

Li, Kuan-Yi,Li, Kuang-Ti,Cheng, Chun-Chun,Chen, Chia-Hsuan,Hung, Chien-Yi,Ju, Yu-Ten Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2015 Animal Bioscience Vol.28 No.4

Taoyuan pig is a native Taiwan breed. According to the historical record, the breed was first introduced to Taiwan from Guangdong province, Southern China, around 1877. The breed played an important role in Taiwan's early swine industry. It was classified as an indigenous breed in 1986. After 1987, a conserved population of Taoyuan pig was collected and reared in isolation. In this study, mitochondrial DNA sequences and 18 microsatellite markers were used to investigate maternal lineage and genetic diversity within the Taoyuan pig population. Population differentiation among Taoyuan, Asian type, and European type pig breeds was also evaluated using differentiation indices. Only one D-loop haplotype of the Taoyuan pig was found. It clustered with Lower Changjiang River Basin and Central China Type pig breeds. Based on the polymorphism of microsatellite markers, a positive fixation index value ($F_{IS}$) indicates that the conserved Taoyuan population suffers from inbreeding. In addition, high $F_{ST}$ values (>0.2105) were obtained, revealing high differentiation among these breeds. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling showed a clear geometric structure among 7 breeds. Together these results indicate that maternally Taoyuan pig originated in the Lower Changjiang River Basin and Central China; however, since being introduced to Taiwan differentiation has occurred. In addition, Taoyuan pig has lost genetic diversity in both its mitochondrial and nuclear genomes.

Probing Insulator-quantum Hall Transitions by Current Heating

Kuang Yao Chen,N. Aoki,Y. Ochiai,K. A. Cheng,Li-Hung Lin,C. F. Huang,Yu-Ru Li,Yen Shung Tseng,Chun-Kai Yang,Po-Tsun Lin,Jau-Yang Wu,Sheng-Di Lin,C.-T. Liang 한국물리학회 2009 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.55 No.1

We report a magneto-transport study on the two-dimensional electron system (2DES) in an Al- GaAs/GaAs heterostructure. The direct insulator to quantum Hall conductor transition is observed at low temperatures by increasing the magnetic field B perpendicular to the 2DES. We can also observe the transition by varying the current I and find a relation Te~Ia between electron effective temperature Te and current. Here, a denotes the exponent for the power law. The exponent a, however, can have different values on the two sides of the transition point, which indicates different inelastic scattering mechanisms in the low-field insulator and in the quantum Hall conductor. We report a magneto-transport study on the two-dimensional electron system (2DES) in an Al- GaAs/GaAs heterostructure. The direct insulator to quantum Hall conductor transition is observed at low temperatures by increasing the magnetic field B perpendicular to the 2DES. We can also observe the transition by varying the current I and find a relation Te~Ia between electron effective temperature Te and current. Here, a denotes the exponent for the power law. The exponent a, however, can have different values on the two sides of the transition point, which indicates different inelastic scattering mechanisms in the low-field insulator and in the quantum Hall conductor.

Cometabolism degradation of lignin in sequencing batch biofilm reactors

Faguo Kuang,Yancheng Li,Lei He,Yongqiu Xia,Shubai Li,Jian Zhou 대한환경공학회 2018 Environmental Engineering Research Vol.23 No.3

Cometabolism technology was employed to degrade lignin wastewater in Sequencing Batch Biofilm Reactor. Cometabolic system (with glucose and lignin in inflow) and the control group (only lignin in inflow) were established to do a comparative study. In contrast with the control group, the average removal rates of lignin increased by 14.7% and total oarganic carbon increased by 32% in the cometabolic system with glucose as growth substrate, under the condition of 5 mg/L DO, 0.2 kgCOD/(m³·d) lignin and glucose 1.0 kgCOD/(mm³·d). Functional groups of lignin are degraded effectively in cometabolic system proved by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer, and the degradation products were amides (mainly including acetamide, N-ethylacetamide and N, N-diethylacetamide), alcohols (mainly including glycerol and ethylene glycol) and acids. Meanwhile, results of Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis showed great differences in microbial population richness between cometabolic system and the control group. The Margalef’s richness index and Shannon-Wiener’s diversity index of microorganism in cometabolic system were 3.075 and 2.61, respectively. The results showed that extra addition of glucose, with a concentration of 943 mg/L, was beneficial to lignin biodegradation in cometabolic system.

Bandgap Engineering of Monolayer MoS2 under Strain: A DFT Study

Can Li,Bowen Fan,Weiyi Li,Luowei Wen,Yan Liu,Tao Wang,Kuang Sheng,You Yin 한국물리학회 2015 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.66 No.11

In this paper, density functional theory calculations are used to investigate the monolayer MoS2 in terms of the strain by analyzing the structure parameters: the bandgap, the density of states (DOS) and the Milliken charges. The calculations indicate that an increasing external stain tends to depress the ripple structure with a shorter S-S interlayer spacing and to enlarge the length of the Mo-S bond. Tensile strain dramatically alteres the bandgap; however, compressive strain almost does not. The change in the bandgap is explained by an analysis of the DOS, the partial density of states (PDOS), the structure parameters and the Mulliken charge distribution. The effects of strain on the Mulliken charge and the length of the Mo-S band cause bandgap differences under tensile and compressive strain.

발 ( 跋 ) 「 일명구화파열지전말 」

이광도 ( Kuang T'ao Li ) 한국중국학회 1967 중국학보 Vol.7 No.1

IRE1α protects against osteoarthritis by regulating progranulin-dependent XBP1 splicing and collagen homeostasis

Liang Li,Zhang Fengmei,Feng Naibo,Kuang Biao,Fan Mengtian,Chen Cheng,Pan Yiming,Zhou Pengfei,Geng Nana,Li Xingyue,Xian Menglin,Deng Lin,Li Xiaoli,Kuang Liang,Luo Fengtao,Tan Qiaoyan,Xie Yangli,Guo Fen 생화학분자생물학회 2023 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.55 No.-

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a full-joint, multifactorial, degenerative and inflammatory disease that seriously affects the quality of life of patients due to its disabling and pain-causing properties. ER stress has been reported to be closely related to the progression of OA. The inositol-requiring enzyme 1α/X-box-binding protein-1 spliced (IRE1α/XBP1s) pathway, which is highly expressed in the chondrocytes of OA patients, promotes the degradation and refolding of abnormal proteins during ER stress and maintains the stability of the ER environment of chondrocytes, but its function and the underlying mechanisms of how it contributes to the progression of OA remain unclear. This study investigates the role of IRE1α/ERN1 in OA. Specific deficiency of ERN1 in chondrocytes spontaneously resulted in OA-like cartilage destruction and accelerated OA progression in a surgically induced arthritis model. Local delivery of AdERN1 relieved degradation of the cartilage matrix and prevented OA development in an ACLT-mediated model. Mechanistically, progranulin (PGRN), an intracellular chaperone, binds to IRE1α, promoting its phosphorylation and splicing of XBP1u to generate XBP1s. XBP1s protects articular cartilage through TNF-α/ERK1/2 signaling and further maintains collagen homeostasis by regulating type II collagen expression. The chondroprotective effect of IRE1α/ERN1 is dependent on PGRN and XBP1s splicing. ERN1 deficiency accelerated cartilage degeneration in OA by reducing PGRN expression and XBP1s splicing, subsequently decreasing collagen II expression and triggering collagen structural abnormalities and an imbalance in collagen homeostasis. This study provides new insights into OA pathogenesis and the UPR and suggests that IRE1α/ERN1 may serve as a potential target for the treatment of joint degenerative diseases, including OA.

Expression and Effects of JMJD2A Histone Demethylase in Endometrial Carcinoma

Wang, Hong-Li,Liu, Mei-Mei,Ma, Xin,Fang, Lei,Zhang, Zong-Feng,Song, Tie-Fang,Gao, Jia-Yin,Kuang, Ye,Jiang, Jing,Li, Lin,Wang, Yang-Yang,Li, Pei-Ling Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.7

Previous studies have demonstrated that JMJD2A is a potential oncogene and is overexpressed in human tumors. However, its role in the endometrial carcinoma remains largely unknown. In this study, we discovered that JMJD2A was overexpressed in endometrial carcinoma, using immunohistochemistry, quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting. Downregulation of JMJD2A led to reduced endometrial carcinoma RL95-2 and ISK cell proliferation, invasion and metastasis as asessed with cell counting kit-8, cell migration and invasive assays. Collectively, our results support that JMJD2A is a promoter of endometrial carcinoma cell proliferation and survival, and is a potential novel drug target.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Smoking Intentions among Non-smoking and Smoking Adolescents in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia

Hock, Lim Kuang,Ghazali, Sumarni Mohamad,Cheong, Kee Chee,Kuay, Lim Kuang,Li, Lim Hui,Huey, Teh Chien,Ying, Chan Ying,Yen, Yeo Lay,Ching, Fiona Goh Swee,Yi, Khoo Yi,Lin, Chong Zhuo,Ibrahim, Normala,Mu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.10

Intention to smoke is a valid and reliable factor for predicting future smoking habits among adolescents. This factor, however, has received inadequate attention in Malaysia. The present paper elaborates the prevalence and factors associated with intent to initiate or to cease smoking, among adolescent nonsmokers and smokers in Kota Tinggi, Johor, Malaysia. A total of 2,300 secondary school students aged 13-16 years were selected through a two-stage stratified sampling method. A set of standardized questionnaires was used to assess the smoking behavior among adolescents and the inter-personal and intra-personal factors associated with smoking intention (intention to initiate smoking or to cease smoking). Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors related to smoking intention. The prevalence of intention to smoke in the future or to cease smoking among non-smoking adolescents and current smokers were 10.7% and 61.7% respectively. Having friends who smoke, social influence, and poor knowledge about the ill effects on health due to smoking showed significant relationships with intention to smoke in the future among non-smokers. Conversely, perceived lower prevalence of smoking among peers, weak contributory social influence, and greater awareness of the ill effects of smoking are factors associated with the intention to cease smoking sometime in the future. The study found that prevalence of intention to initiate smoking is low among non-smokers while the majority of current smokers intended to cease smoking in the future. Existing anti-smoking programmes that integrate the factors that have been identified in the current study should be put in motion to reduce the prevalence of intention to initiate smoking and increase the intention to cease smoking among adolescents.