Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 (BST) nanoparticles coated with SiO2 were used as the starting material to prepare BST-xSiO2 (x = 0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 wt%) ceramic-glass composites. The coated SiO2 results ...in the sintered composites with a lower porosity. All the composites exhibited an almost frequency independent dielectric constant that corresponds with a quite low dielectric loss (tanδ < 0.02) over a frequency range from 100 Hz to 1 MHz. It is found that the Curie temperature decreased with increasing x due to the reaction between the SiO2 and BST. As the x increased, the dielectric constant of the composites decreased and the electric breakdown strength increased. Interestingly, it is also found that the charge-discharge efficiency increased with an increasing x. The energy-storage density of more than 2.5 J/cm3 with a charge-discharge efficiency of about 80% was achieved in the composite with x = 1.0 wt%.
•BST-SiO2 composites were prepared using SiO2-coated BST nanoparticles.•A new phase (BaTiSiO5) plays an important role in the properties of the composites.•The energy-storage density is enhanced due to the increase of Eb of the composites.•The composites exhibit a high charge-discharge efficiency.
(G2019S) mutation of leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is the most common genetic cause of both familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) cases. Twelve- to sixteen-month-old (G2019S) LRRK2 ...transgenic mice prepared by us displayed progressive degeneration of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) dopaminergic neurons and parkinsonism phenotypes of motor dysfunction. LRRK2 is a member of mixed lineage kinase subfamily of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases (MAPKKKs). We hypothesized that (G2019S) mutation augmented LRRK2 kinase activity, leading to overphosphorylation of downstream MAPK kinase (MKK) and resulting in activation of neuronal death signal pathway. Consistent with our hypothesis, (G2019S) LRRK2 expressed in HEK 293 cells exhibited an augmented kinase activity of phosphorylating MAPK kinase 4 (MKK4) at Ser(257), and protein expression of active phospho-MKK4(Ser257) was upregulated in the SN of (G2019S) LRRK2 transgenic mice. Protein level of active phospho-JNK(Thr183/Tyr185) and phospho-c-Jun(Ser63), downstream targets of phospho-MKK4(Ser257), was increased in the SN of (G2019S) LRRK2 mice. Upregulated mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic Bim and FasL, target genes of phospho-c-Jun(Ser63), and formation of active caspase-9, caspase-8 and caspase-3 were also observed in the SN of (G2019S) LRRK2 transgenic mice. Our results suggest that mutant (G2019S) LRRK2 activates MKK4-JNK-c-Jun pathway in the SN and causes the resulting degeneration of SNpc dopaminergic neurons in PD transgenic mice.
A feeding trial was conducted to determine the dietary methionine requirement of juvenile golden pompano (initial body weight 12.40 ± 0.02 g). Six diets were formulated with six graded levels of ...methionine (8.6, 9.2, 10.4, 11.5, 13.2 and 14.5 g kg−1). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 20 juvenile fish in seawater floating net cages (1.0 m × 1.0 m × 1.5 m). Fish were fed twice daily (08:30 and 16:30) to apparent satiation for 56 days. Weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency (FE), nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE), proximate body composition, morphometry and haematology were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the dietary methionine levels. WG, SGR and FE increased with increasing levels of methionine up to 13.2 g kg−1 diet (P < 0.05) and remained nearly the same thereafter. NRE also increased with increasing levels of methionine up to 13.2 g kg−1 diet (P < 0.05) and remained nearly the same thereafter. Linear regression analysis on WG and NRE indicated that the recommended optimum dietary methionine levels for optimal growth of juvenile pompano were 10.6 and 12.7 g kg−1 diet, respectively, corresponding to 24.6 and 29.5 g kg−1 dietary protein, respectively, so the level of dietary methionine should be between 10.6 and 12.7 g kg−1 diet, corresponding to 24.6–29.5 g kg−1 dietary protein. Additionally, the estimated requirements for the other essential amino acids were calculated from A/E ratios of whole‐body amino acid profile based on the methionine requirement determined from the present experiment.
CuO was used as an additive in BaTiO3-SiO2 ceramic-glass composites sintered from SiO2-coated BaTiO3 nanoparticles. The effects of the CuO content on the microstructure, phase composition, dielectric ...property, and energy-storage performance were investigated. The porosity of the composites was obviously reduced by the addition of CuO. All the composites suggested a perovskite phase. The maximal polarization, remnant polarization, and dielectric breakdown strength were strongly dependent on the CuO content. A maximal discharged energy density of 1.43 J/cm3 with a charge-discharge efficiency of 53% was achieved in the composite with 2.0 mol% CuO, which was enhanced by about 4 times as compared with that of the pure BaTiO3-SiO2 composite.
Crystallization behaviors and related dielectric properties of semicrystalline matrix in polymer-ceramic nanocomposites have been systemically investigated by using P(VDF-TrFE) 70/30 mol.% as matrix ...and Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 nanoparticles as filler. It is found that due to the presence of ceramic nanofiller, there are two types of crystals formed in the matrix: one formed on the surface of the ceramic nanoparticles and the other formed in the polymer. The former favors the all-trans β phase due to the interaction between matrix chains and ceramic surface. The later has defects that result in two low-temperature phases: the well-ordered β phase and less-ordered β phase (i.e. β′ phase). The conformation defects of the β′ phase result in it a lower dielectric permittivity than β phase. The proportion of β’ phase decreases with increasing ceramic content and only β phase can be observed in the nanocomposites with a ceramic content higher than 35 vol%. These results were reflected in and confirmed by the DSC analyses and the dielectric properties.
Abstract Objective This study evaluated customer attitudes, perceptions, and utilisation of a traffic-light food labelling (TFL) programme before and after the TFL was implemented in a worksite ...canteen in Taiwan. Study design A one-arm intervention was implemented in the canteen and buffet of a research park in Taiwan. Phase 1 consisted of dissemination of information regarding the TFL, targeting the customers (June–July, 2014); phase 2 consisted of implementation of the TFL in the buffet starting in August 2014. The TFL included red, yellow and green labels, indicating ‘unhealthy/stop’, ‘moderately unhealthy/wait’ and ‘healthy/go’, respectively. Methods The evaluation was based on two independent anonymous surveys in July 2014 (in phase 1) and April 2015 (in phase 2). Customers were invited to take a survey regarding the TFL programme, the food environment in the canteen, and their lunch choices. Logistic regression models examined the changes in customers' attention and attitudes towards the labelling and their food choices between the two surveys. Results The customers reported positive attitudes towards the TFL. The proportion of customers who reported choosing foods based on the recommendations increased from 38% to 50% ( P < 0.01). The proportion of the buffet customers who chose green-light entrées and red-light entrées changed from 13% and 63% to 36% and 21%, respectively ( P < 0.001). The availability of green-light entrées in the buffet increased as well. Conclusions This first report of a TFL intervention in an Asian worksite suggests that TFL is acceptable and well understood by this population and may assist customers in choosing healthier items when healthier choices are available.
The prevalence and factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) -associated mixed cryoglobulinaemia in Asia remain elusive, and we aimed to investigate these topics.
An 8-year prospective cohort study was ...conducted in 678 consecutive Taiwanese individuals with chronic HCV infection (438 completed an anti-HCV therapy course).
Of 678 individuals, 437 (64.5%) had mixed cryoglobulinaemia and 20 (2.9%) had mixed cryoglobulinaemic syndrome. At baseline, IgM (cut-off >122 mg/dL), triglycerides and IgG levels, and HCV genotype 3 were independently associated with mixed cryoglobulinaemia. Rheumatoid factor (RF) levels were associated with mixed cryoglobulinaemic syndrome (cut-off >12.2 IU/mL). At 24 weeks post-therapy, the 362 individuals with a sustained virological response (SVR) had higher cured (106/362 (29.3%) versus 10/76 (13.2%), p = 0.003) and lower persistent (100/362 (27.6%) versus 33/76 (43.4%), p = 0.003) mixed cryoglobulinaemia rates than non-SVR patients. Among SVR patients, compared with baseline levels, RF, IgG and IgM levels decreased, except in individuals with new mixed cryoglobulinaemia. Pre-therapy IgM levels were associated with 24-week post-therapy new (95% CI of OR 1.002–1.023) and persistent (95% CI of OR 1.004–1.015) mixed cryoglobulinaemia in SVR patients. After up to 8 years, 24-week post-therapy IgM levels were associated with mixed cryoglobulinaemia in SVR patients (9/51; 17.64%; 95% CI of HR 1.004–1.011). Among 17 SVR patients with pre-therapy mixed cryoglobulinaemic syndrome, 5 (29.4%) had long-term mixed cryoglobulinaemia and 4 (23.5%) had mixed cryoglobulinaemic syndrome.
Over 60% of chronic HCV-infected individuals had mixed cryoglobulinaemia, and 17.64% of SVR patients had mixed cryoglobulinaemia 8 years post-therapy. Pre-therapy RF and IgM levels marked HCV-associated mixed cryoglobulinaemic syndrome and mixed cryoglobulinaemia, respectively.
Composite thin film is highly desirable for the dielectric applications. In order to develop composite thin film, a nanocomposite, in which nanosized CaCu
3
Ti
4
O
12
(CCTO) particles are used as ...filler and P(VDF–TrFE) 55/45 mol% copolymer is used as polymer matrix, is investigated. The contents of CCTO in the nanocomposites range from 0% to 50 vol%. The dielectric property of these nanocomposites was characterized at frequencies ranging from 100 Hz to 1 MHz and at temperatures ranging from 200 K to 370 K. A dielectric constant of 62 with a loss of 0.05 was obtained in nanocomposite with 50 vol% CCTO at room temperature at 1 kHz. At the phase transition temperature (∼340 K) of the copolymer, a dielectric constant of 150 with a loss less than 0.1 was obtained in this nanocomposite. It is found that the dielectric loss of the nanocomposites is dominated by the polymer which has a relaxation process. Comparing to composites made using microsized CCTO, the nanocomposites exhibit a much lower dielectric loss and a lower dielectric constant. This indicates that the nanosized CCTO particles have a lower dielectric constant than the microsized CCTO particles.
Signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 3 (SCUBE3) is a secreted glycoprotein that is overexpressed in lung cancer tumor tissues and is correlated with the invasive ability in a lung ...cancer cell line model. These observations suggest that SCUBE3 may have a role in lung cancer progression. By exogenous SCUBE3 treatment or knockdown of SCUBE3 expression, we found that SCUBE3 could promote lung cancer cell mobility and invasiveness. Knockdown of SCUBE3 expression also suppressed tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis in vivo. The secreted SCUBE3 proteins were cleaved by gelatinases (matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9) in media to release two major fragments: the N-terminal epidermal growth factor-like repeats and the C-terminal complement proteins C1r/C1s, Uegf and Bmp1 (CUB) domain. Both the purified SCUBE3 protein and the C-terminal CUB domain fragment, bound to transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) type II receptor through the C-terminal CUB domain, activated TGF-β signaling and triggered the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This process includes the induction of Smad2/3 phosphorylation, the increase of Smad2/3 transcriptional activity and the upregulation of the expression of target genes involved in EMT and cancer progression (such as TGF-β1, MMP-2, MMP-9, plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, Snail and Slug), thus promoting cancer cell mobility and invasion. In conclusion, in lung cancer cells, SCUBE3 could serve as an endogenous autocrine and paracrine ligand of TGF-β type II receptor, which could regulate TGF-β receptor signaling and modulate EMT and cancer progression.
RNA-binding proteins have an important role in messenger RNA (mRNA) regulation during tumour development and carcinogenesis. In the present study, we examined the insulin-like growth factor 2 ...mRNA-binding proteins (IGF2BPs; hereafter refered to as IMPs) and Lin28 family expressions in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) patients and correlated their expression levels with the response to chemotherapy, hCTR1 expression and patient survival.
Patients clinical information, real-time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, western blot, Transwell migration invasion assays, and cytotoxicity assays were used.
From 140 EOC patients, high expression of IMP3 or Lin28B was associated with poor survival, and women diagnosed at advanced stages with elevated IMP3 and Lin28B were at higher risk of developing chemoresistance. High IMP3 levels combined with high Lin28B levels significantly correlated with the poorest 5-year survival rates. Knockdown of IMP3 or Lin28B decreased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and increased the platinum sensitivity, but not taxol sensitivity, of ovarian cancer cells through increased expression of hCTR1, a copper transporter involved in platinum uptake. High expression of hCTR1 correlated with low expression of IMP3/Lin28B and better progression-free survival in advanced-stage EOC patients.
Testing for a combination of elevated IMP3 and Lin28B levels could further facilitate the identification of a patient subgroup with the worst prognosis.
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