Transparent conducting oxide glass grown with TiO2-nanotube array for dye-sensitized solar cell

Chen-Hon Chen,Keh-Chang Chen,Ju-Liang He 한국물리학회 2010 Current Applied Physics Vol.10 No.2

An arc ion plating (AIP) deposition system was employed to produce metal titanium layer on transparent conducting oxide glass, and followed by anodically oxidizing to form a TiO2-nanotube array electrode. A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) was then assembled as ITO glass/[TiO2-nanotube (N3 dye)]/I2 + LiI electrolyte/Pt/ITO glass. Anodizing bath composition was varied, and post-annealing was carried out. Consequent changes in the TiO2-nanotube array microstructure and photovoltaic efficiency of the assembled DSC device were revealed. Experimental results show that a 5-lm thick metal titanium layer can be obtained after 45 min AIP deposition. The metal titanium layer underwent complete conversion into XRD-amorphous TiO2-nanotube array after anodic oxidation for 2 h. The tube can reach 10.7 ㎛ long with tube inner diameter 92 nm. The ammonium fluoride in the anodizing bath accelerates the tube growth rate. Thermal annealing at temperatures over 250 ℃ works best on anatase crystallization of the TiO2-nanotube. An ultimate photovoltaic efficiency 1.88% (active area 1 ㎠) of the assembled DSC device can be obtained for the TiO2-nanotube grown ITO glass annealed at 350 ℃.

Mind the Gap between Supply and Demand: Migrant and Native Care Workers in Long-Term Care in Taiwan

Liang-Ju Chen,Ling-Chu Chen,Arwin Lin 한국사회복지학회 2015 한국사회복지학회 학술대회 자료집 Vol.2015 No.4

Gastrodia elata Bl. Attenuated Learning Deficits Induced by Forced-Swimming Stress in the Inhibitory Avoidance Task and Morris Water Maze

Pei-Ju Chen,Keng-Chen Liang,Hui-Chen Lin,Ching-Liang Hsieh,Kuan-Pin Su,Mei-Chu Hung,Lee-Yan Sheen 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.6

This study adopted the forced-swimming paradigm to induce depressive symptoms in rats and evaluated the effects on learning and memory processing. Furthermore, the effects of the water extract of Gastrodia elata Bl., a well-known Chinese traditional medicine, on amnesia in rats subjected to the forced-swimming procedure were studied. Rats were subjected to the forced-swimming procedure, and the inhibitory avoidance task and Morris water maze were used to assess learning and memory performance. The acquisition of the two tasks was mostly impaired after the 15-minute forced-swimming procedure. Administration of the water extract of G. elata Bl. for 21 consecutive days at a dosage of 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg of body weight significantly improved retention in the inhibitory avoidance test, and the lower dose showed a better effect than the higher one and the antidepressant fluoxetine (18 mg/kg of body weight). In the Morris water maze, the lower dose of the water extract of G. elata Bl. significantly improved retention by shortening escape latency in the first test session and increasing the time in searching the target zone during the probe test. These findings suggest that water extracts of G. elata Bl. ameliorate the learning and memory deficits induced by forced swimming.

Association of XRCC3 Thr241Met Polymorphisms and Gliomas Risk: Evidence from a Meta-analysis

Liang, Hong-Jie,Yan, Yu-Lan,Liu, Zhi-Ming,Chen, Xu,Peng, Qi-Liu,Wang, Jian,Mo, Cui-Ju,Sui, Jing-Zhe,Wu, Jun-Rong,Zhai, Li-Min,Yang, Shi,Li, Tai-Jie,Li, Ruo-Lin,Li, Shan,Qin, Xue Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.7

The relationship between the X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) Thr241Met polymorphism and gliomas remains inclusive or controversial. For better understanding of the effect of XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism on glioma risk, a meta-analysis was performed. All eligible studies were identified through a search of PubMed, Elsevier Science Direct, Excerpta Medica Database (Embase) and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM) before May 2013. The association between the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and gliomas risk was conducted by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). A total of nine case-control studies including 3,533 cases and 4,696 controls were eventually collected. Overall, we found that XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of gliomas (T vs. C: OR=1.10, 95%CI=1.01-1.20, P=0.034; TT vs. CC: OR=1.30, 95%CI=1.03-1.65, P=0.027; TT vs. TC/CC: OR=1.29, 95%CI=1.01-1.64, P=0.039). In the subgroup analysis based on ethnicity, the significant association was found in Asian under four models (T vs. C: OR=1.17, 95%CI=1.07-1.28, P=0.00; TT vs. CC: OR=1.79, 95%CI=1.36-2.36, P=0.00; TT vs. TC/CC: OR=1.75, 95%CI=1.32-2.32, P=0.00; TT/TC vs. CC: OR=1.11,95% CI=1.02-1.20). This meta-analysis suggested that the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism is a risk factor for gliomas, especially for Asians. Considering the limited sample size and ethnicities included in the meta-analysis, further large scale and well-designed studies are needed to confirm our results.

Modeling and representation of a computer-aided conceptual design system

Bing Liang,Yuan Chen,Ju-Fan Zhang,Ying Hu 대한기계학회 2012 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.26 No.11

A novel hierarchical function action behavior mechanism (FABM) modeling framework is proposed to conduct intelligent mapping from the overall function to the principle solution, according to the requirements of customers. Based on the hierarchical modeling framework, an object-oriented representation method is developed to express the inheritance and the interconnecting characteristics between any two objects. In addition, the rules of expansion and modification in demand behavior are proposed to solve the combinational explosion problem, and the combinational rules in the mechanism behavior are developed to extend the innovation of the principle solution. A case study on the pan mechanism design for a cooking robot is presented to demonstrate the implementation of intelligent reasoning based on the FABM model.

Antiviral effects of Bovine antimicrobial peptide against TGEV in vivo and in vitro

Xiuli Liang,Xiaojun Zhang,Kaiqi Lian,Xiuhua Tian,Mingliang Zhang,Shiqiong Wang,Cheng Chen,Cunxi Nie,Yun Pan,Fangfang Han,Zhanyong Wei,Wen-Ju Zhang 대한수의학회 2020 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.21 No.5

Background: In suckling piglets, transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) causes lethal diarrhea accompanied by high infection and mortality rates, leading to considerable economic losses. This study explored methods of preventing or inhibiting their production. Bovine antimicrobial peptide-13 (APB-13) has antibacterial, antiviral, and immune functions. Objectives: This study analyzed the efficacy of APB-13 against TGEV through in vivo and in vitro experiments. Methods: The effects of APB-13 toxicity and virus inhibition rate on swine testicular (ST) cells were detected using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT). The impact of APB-13 on virus replication was examined through the 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID50). The mRNA and protein levels were investigated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot (WB). Tissue sections were used to detect intestinal morphological development. Results: The safe and effective concentration range of APB-13 on ST cells ranged from 0 to 62.5 μg/mL, and the highest viral inhibitory rate of APB-13 was 74.1%. The log10TCID50 of 62.5 μg/mL APB-13 was 3.63 lower than that of the virus control. The mRNA and protein expression at 62.5 μg/mL APB-13 was significantly lower than that of the virus control at 24 hpi. Piglets in the APB-13 group showed significantly lower viral shedding than that in the virus control group, and the pathological tissue sections of the jejunum morphology revealed significant differences between the groups. Conclusions: APB-13 exhibited good antiviral effects on TGEV in vivo and in vitro.

An Alkaline pH Control Strategy for Methionine Adenosyltransferase Production in Pichia pastoris Fermentation

Xiaoqing Hu,Ju Chu,Si-Liang Zhang,Ying-ping Zhuang,Xin Wu,Huaxin Chen,Zhongyuan Lv,Zhongyi Yuan 한국생물공학회 2014 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.19 No.5

Pichia pastoris is a successful system forexpressing heterologous proteins and its fermentation pH isalways maintained below 7.0. However, particular proteinsare unstable under acidic conditions, such as methionineadenosyltransferase (MAT), and thus fermentation underacidic pH conditions is unsuitable because protein activityis lost owing to denaturation. Here, a strategy employingalkaline pH in the late fermentation period was developedto improve MAT production. Initially, P. pastoris KM71was transformed with the mat gene to overexpress MAT. After 72 h of in vitro incubation at different pH values, theexpressed MAT displayed highest stability at pH 8.0;however, pH 8.0 inhibited cell growth and induced cellrupture, thus affecting protein production. To balance MATstability and Pichia cell viability, different pH controlstrategies were compared. In strategy A (reference), theinduction pH was maintained at 6.0, whereas in strategy B,it was gradually elevated to 8.0 through a 25 h transitionperiod (80 ~ 105 h). MAT activity was 0.86 U/mg (twofoldhigher than the control). However, MAT content wasreduced by 50% when compared with strategy A, becauseof proteases released upon cell lysis. To improve cellviability under alkaline conditions, glycerol was added inaddition to methanol (strategy C). When compared withstrategy B, the MAT-specific activity remained nearlyconstant, whereas the expression level increased to 1.27 g/L. The alkaline pH control strategy presented herein for MATproduction represents an excellent alternative for expressingproteins that are stable only under alkaline conditions.

Metallic Stent Placement in Hemodialysis Graft Patients after Insufficient Balloon Dilation

Huei-Lung Liang,Huay-Ben Pan,Yih-Huie Lin,Chiung-Yu Chen,Hsiao-Min Chung,Tung-Ho Wu,Kang-Ju Chou,Pin-Hong Lai,Chien-Fang Yang 대한영상의학회 2006 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.7 No.2

Objective: We wanted to report our experience of metallic stent placement after insufficient balloon dilation in graft hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: Twenty-three patients (13 loop grafts in the forearm and 10 straight grafts in the upper arm) underwent metallic stent placement due to insufficient flow after urokinase thrombolysis and balloon dilation. The indications for metallic stent deployment included 1) recoil and/or kinked venous stenosis in 21 patients (venous anastomosis: 17 patients, peripheral outflow vein: four patients); and 2) major vascular rupture in two patients. Metallic stents 8 10mm in diameter and 40 80 mm in length were used. Of them, eight stents were deployed across the elbow crease. Access patency was determined by clinical follow-up and the overall rates were calculated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: No procedure-related complications (stent fracture or central migration) were encountered except for a delayed Wallstent shortening/migration at the venous anastomosis, which resulted in early access failure. The overall primary and secondary patency rates ( standard error) of all the vascular accesses in our 23 patients at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months were 69% 9 and 88% 6, 41% 10 and 88% 6, 30% 10 and 77% 10, and 12% 8 and 61% 13, respectively. For the forearm and upper-arm grafts, the primary and secondary patency rates were 51% 16 and 86% 13 vs 45% 15 and 73% 13 at 6 months, and 25% 15 and 71% 17 vs 23% 17 and 73% 13 at 12 months (p = .346 and .224), respectively. Conclusion: Metallic stent placement is a safe and effective means for treating peripheral venous lesions in dialysis graft patients after insufficient balloon dilation. No statistically difference in the patency rates between the forearm and upper-arm patient groups was seen.

Genetic Diversity and Structure of Cordyceps sinensis Populations from Extensive Geographical Regions in China as Revealed by Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat Markers

Hong-Hui Liang,Zhou Cheng,Xiao-Ling Yang,Shan Li,Zu-Quan Ding,Tong-Shui Zhou,Wen-Ju Zhang,Jia-Kuan Chen 한국미생물학회 2008 The journal of microbiology Vol.46 No.5

Cordyceps sinensis is one of the most valuable medicinal caterpillar fungi native to China. However, its productivity is extremely limited and the species is becoming endangered. The genetic diversity of eighteen C. sinensis populations across its major distributing regions in China was evaluated by inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. A total of 141 markers were produced in 180 individuals from the 18 populations, of which 99.3% were polymorphic. The low average of Shannon (0.104) and Nei index (0.07) of the 18 populations indicates that there are little genetic variations within populations. For all 18 populations, estimates of total gene diversity (HT), gene diversity within populations (HS), coefficient of genetic differentiation (GST), and gene flow (Nm) were 0.170, 0.071, 0.583, and 0.357, respectively. This pattern suggests that the genetic diversity of C. sinensis is low and most of the ISSR variations are found among populations with little gene exchange. The 18 populations are divided into five groups based on the genetic distance and the grouping pattern matches with the geographic distribution along the latitudinal gradient. The five groups show obvious difference in the GST and Nm values. Therefore, the genetic diversification of C. sinensis populations may be determined by geographic isolation and the combined effects of life history characters and the interaction with host insect species. The information illustrated by this study is useful for selecting in situ conservation sites of C. sinensis.

Flexible ultrathin metamaterial absorber for wide frequency band, based on conductive fibers

Kim, Young Ju,Hwang, Ji Sub,Khuyen, Bui Xuan,Tung, Bui Son,Kim, Ki Won,Rhee, Joo Yull,Chen, Liang-Yao,Lee, YoungPak Informa UK (TaylorFrancis) 2018 Science and technology of advanced materials Vol.19 No.1