Use of Sand Compaction Piles for Improvement of a Coal Ash Pond

Effects of sand compaction piles on ground improvement of a coal ash pond and axial performance on four drilled shafts through improved coal ash layer at a power plant in southern Taiwan is studied in this paper. Effects of the sand compaction piles improvement is evaluated by comparing the SPT-N values before and after ground improvement. The load versus displacement relation at head, the axial force along the shaft, the t-z curves and/or the toe q-z curve, which are the main concerns of shaft load test results, are presented and discussed in the paper

Lowly Expressed Ribosomal Protein S19 in the Feces of Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become one of the most common fatal cancers. CRC tumorigenesis is a complex process involving multiple genetic changes to several sequential mutations or molecular alterations. P53 is one of the most significant genes; its mutations account for more than half of all CRC. Therefore, understanding the cellular genes that are directly or indirectly related to p53 is particularly crucial for investigating CRC tumorigenesis. In this study, a p53-related ribosomal protein, ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19), obtained from the feces of CRC patients is evaluated by using specifically quantitative real-time PCR and knocked down in the colonic cell line by gene silencing. This study found that CRC patients with higher expressions of RPS19 in their feces had a better prognosis and consistent expressions of RPS19 and BAX in their colonic cells. In conclusion, the potential mechanism of RPS19 in CRC possibly involves cellular apoptosis through the BAX/p53 pathway, and the levels of fecal RPS19 may function as a prognostic predictor for CRC patients

Novel Codon-optimization Genes Encoded in Chlorella for Triacylglycerol Accumulation

AbstractMicroalgae have been recognized as one of the potential resources for biodiesel production based on its fast growth or its high total lipid content depending on species. Expression of Kennedy pathway genes, which encodes GPAT, LPAAT, PAP, and DGAT for increasing the metabolic flux towards the TAG storage in Chlorella sp. from 20 to 46 wt% and total lipid accumulation from 35 to 60wt.% corresponding to each specific gene combination under autotrophy, compare to the wild type (vector only). The highest TAG content was found in cells expressing a quadruple-gene construct (GPAT-LPAAT-PAP-DGAT) in the Kennedy pathway, corresponding to 46wt.% of TAG and 60wt.% of total lipid content. This work provides the optimization of TAG production in Chlorella sp. can be achieved by manipulating the selected genes, in turns making commercially producing biodiesel practical

Ionospheric Responses to the July 15 - 16, 2000 Magnetic Storm around Geographic Longitude 121˚E

This study presents observed behavior of ionospheric responses using vertical total electron contents (VTEC) and NmF2. The data were collected from global positioning system (GPS) networks and ionosondes around the geographic longitude of 121°E from mid- to low-latitudes for the severe magnetic storm on 15 July 2000. The results show that the severe magnetic storm caused significant density depletion and a G-condition occurrence in the western Pacific region on 15 - 16 July 2000. The G-condition is observed on the ionograms at Chung-Li station around 2330 UT on July 15. Furthermore, the variation of the F-peak height (HmF2) at Cebu indicates that a zonal electric field produced an upward drift and enhanced the fountain effect from 1000 UT on July 15. The observation of a G-condition indicates that a storm-induced neutral-wind circulation was the main cause of compositional change; i.e., an increase in the N2/O ratio and its associated loss coefficients that produced a negative storm phase along the chain of geographic longitude 121°E

Yang-Dan-Tang, Identified from 15 Chinese Herbal Formulae, Inhibits Human Lung Cancer Cell Proliferation via Cell Cycle Arrest

Lung cancer has long been one of the most deadly forms of cancer. The majority of lung cancers are of the non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) type. Here we used the non-small-cell lung carcinoma cell line A549 to screen 15 different traditional Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) formulae to explore the possible mechanisms of alternative medicine in lung cancer therapy. We identified three formulae (Formulae 3, 5, and 14) that substantially decreased the survival of A549 cells but did not affect MRC5 normal lung tissue cells. Formula 14, Yang-Dan-Tang, a modified decoction of Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae, was chosen for further characterization. Flow cytometry analysis showed that treatment of Formula 14 induced cell cycle arrest in G1 and G2 phase without causing significant cell death. These results were also confirmed by Western blot analysis, with decreased expression of G1/S and G2/M promoting cell cycle machinery including cyclin D3, cyclin B1, CDK4, and CDK6. This study provides further insight into the possible working mechanism of Yang-Dan-Tang in patients

Optimal Color Stability for White Organic Light-Emitting Diode (WOLED) by Using Multiple-Ultra-Thin Layers (MUTL)

The work demonstrates the improvement of color stability for white organic light-emitting diode (WOLED). The devices were prepared by vacuum deposition on ITO-glass substrates. These guest materials of 5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnaphthacene (Rubrene) were deposited in 4,4′-bis(2,2-diphenyl vinyl)-1,1′-biphenyl (DPVBi), resulting in an emitting layer. Experimental results reveal that the properties in the multiple-ultra-thin layer (MUTL) are better than those of the emitting layer with a single guest material, reaching the commercial white-light wavelength requirement of 400–700 nm. The function of the MUTL is as the light-emitting and trapping layer. The results show that the MUTL has excellent carrier capture effect, leading to high color stability of the device at various applied voltages. The Commissions Internationale De L’Eclairage (CIE) coordinate of this device at 3~7 V is few displacement and shows a very slight variation of (0.016, 0.009). The CIE coordinates at a maximal luminance of 9980 cd/m2 are (0.34, 0.33)

Molecular and clinical analyses of 84 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex

BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by the development of multiple hamartomas in many internal organs. Mutations in either one of 2 genes, TSC1 and TSC2, have been attributed to the development of TSC. More than two-thirds of TSC patients are sporadic cases, and a wide variety of mutations in the coding region of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes have been reported. METHODS: Mutational analysis of TSC1 and TSC2 genes was performed in 84 Taiwanese TSC families using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and direct sequencing. RESULTS: Mutations were identified in a total of 64 (76 %) cases, including 9 TSC1 mutations (7 sporadic and 2 familial cases) and 55 TSC2 mutations (47 sporadic and 8 familial cases). Thirty-one of the 64 mutations found have not been described previously. The phenotype association is consistent with findings from other large studies, showing that disease resulting from mutations to TSC1 is less severe than disease due to TSC2 mutation. CONCLUSION: This study provides a representative picture of the distribution of mutations of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes in clinically ascertained TSC cases in the Taiwanese population. Although nearly half of the mutations identified were novel, the kinds and distribution of mutation were not different in this population compared to that seen in larger European and American studies

A predicted protein, KIAA0247, is a cell cycle modulator in colorectal cancer cells under 5-FU treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the predominant gastrointestinal malignancy and the leading cause of cancer death. The identification of genes related to CRC is important for the development of successful therapies and earlier diagnosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Molecular analysis of feces was evaluated as a potential method for CRC detection. Expression of a predicted protein with unknown function, KIAA0247, was found in feces evaluated using specific quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Its cellular function was then analyzed using immunofluorescent staining and the changes in the cell cycle in response to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) were assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Gastrointestinal tissues and peripheral blood lymphocytes ubiquitously expressed KIAA0247. 56 CRC patients fell into two group categories according to fecal KIAA0247 mRNA expression levels. The group with higher fecal KIAA0247 (<it>n </it>= 22; ≥ 0.4897) had a significantly greater five-year overall survival rate than the group with lower fecal KIAA0247 (<it>n </it>= 30; < 0.4897) (66.0 ± 11.6%; <it>p </it>= 0.035, log-rank test). Fecal expression of KIAA0247 inversely related to CRC tumor size (Kendall's tau-b = -0.202; <it>p </it>= 0.047). Immunofluorescent staining revealed that the cytoplasm of CRC cells evenly expresses KIAA0247 without 5-FU treatment, and KIAA0247 accumulates in the nucleus after 40 μM 5-FU treatment. In HCT116 p53^-/-cells, which lack p53 cell cycle control, the proportion of cells in the G2/M phase was larger (13%) in KIAA0247-silent cells than in the respective shLuc control (10%) and KIAA0247-overexpressing cells (7%) after the addition of low dose (40 μM) 5-FU. Expression of three cyclin genes (cyclin A2, cyclin B1, and cyclin B2) also downregulated in the cells overexpressing KIAA0247.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is the first description of a linkage between KIAA0247 and CRC. The study's data demonstrate overexpression of KIAA0247 associates with 5-FU therapeutic benefits, and also identify the clinical significance of fecal KIAA0247 in CRC.</p

Enhancing Color Purity and Stable Efficiency of White Organic Light Diodes by Using Hole-Blocking Layer

The organic light-emitting diodes with triple hole-blocking layer (THBL) formation sandwich structure which generate white emission were fabricated. The 5,6,11,12-tetraphenylnapthacene (Rubrene), (4,4′-N,N′-dicarbazole)biphenyl (CBP), and 4,4′-bis(2,2′diphenylvinil)-1,1′-biphenyl (DPVBi) were used as emitting materials in the device. The function of CBP layer is not only an emitting layer but also a hole-blocking layer (HBL), and the Rubrene was doped into the CBP. The optimal configuration structure was indium tin oxide (ITO)/Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) (5 nm)/[4,4-bis[N-(1-naphthyl)-N-phenylamino]biphenyl (NPB) (35 nm)/CBP (HBL1) (5 nm)/DPVBi (I) (10 nm)/CBP (HBL2) : Rubrene (4 : 1) (3 nm)/DPVBi (II) (30 nm)/CBP (HBL3) (2 nm)/4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (BPhen) (10 nm)/Lithium fluoride (LiF)/aluminum (Al). The result showed that the device with Rubrene doped in CBP (HBL2) exhibited a stable white emission with the color coordinates of (0.322, 0.368), and the coordinate with the slight shift of ±Δx,y = (0.001, 0.011) for applied voltage of 8–12 V was observed