Orderly arranged NLO materials on exfoliated layeredtemplates based on dendrons with alternating moietiesat the periphery†

Nonlinear optical dendrons with alternating terminal groups of the stearyl group (C18) and chromophorewere prepared through a convergent approach. These chromophore-containing dendrons were used asthe intercalating agents for montmorillonite via an ion-exchange process. An orderly exfoliatedmorphology is obtained by mixing the dendritic structure intercalated layered silicates with a polyimide.As a result, optical nonlinearity, i.e. the Pockels effect was observed for these nanocomposites withoutresorting to the poling process. EO coefficients of 9–22 pm V 1 were achieved despite that relativelylow NLO densities were present in the nanocomposites, particularly for the samples comprising thedendrons with alternating moieties. In addition, the hedging effects of the stearyl group on the selfalignmentbehavior, electro-optical (EO) coefficient and temporal stability of the dendron-intercalatedmontmorillonite/polyimide nanocomposites were also investigated

Preparation of a Polypyrrole-Polyvinylsulphonate Composite Film Biosensor for Determination of Cholesterol Based on Entrapment of Cholesterol Oxidase

In this paper, a novel amperometric cholesterol biosensor with immobilization of cholesterol oxidase on electrochemically polymerized polypyrrole–polyvinylsulphonate (PPy–PVS) films has been accomplished via the entrapment technique on the surface of a platinum electrode. Electropolymerization of pyrrole and polyvinylsulphonate on the Pt surface was carried out by cyclic voltammetry between −1.0 and +2.0 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) at a scan rate of 100 mV upon the Pt electrode with an electrochemical cell containing pyrrole and polyvinylsulphonate. The amperometric determination is based on the electrochemical detection of H2O2 generated in the enzymatic reaction of cholesterol. Determination of cholesterol was carried out by the oxidation of enzymatically produced H2O2 at 0.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The effects of pH and temperature were investigated and optimum parameters were found to be 7.25 and 35 °C, respectively. The storage stability and operational stability of the enzyme electrode were also studied. The results show that 32% of the response current was retained after 19 activity assays. The prepared cholesterol biosensor retained 43% of initial activity after 45 days when stored in 0.1 M phosphate buffer solution at 4 °C

二氧化矽包覆超順磁鐵鉑合金粒子在螢光/磁振造影上的應用

超順磁奈米粒子最近在磁振造影(MRI)做為顯影劑上的應用有越來越重要的趨勢。然而，其對於細胞的標定性低以及疏水性限制了它在生物與臨床上的應用。本文的目的在於研發在不同粒徑的超順磁鐵鉑合金(FePt)奈米粒子分別包覆上無孔系的二氧化矽／多孔性的二氧化矽，並在其表面修飾上Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)螢光染料，使奈米粒子同時具有螢光以及磁振造影顯影劑之雙重功能，並利用外層修飾Polyethylene glycol (PEG)分子讓奈米粒子能表現出在水溶液中有良好的分散性以及降低奈米材料可能會導致的細胞毒性，並利用共軛焦顯微鏡(confocal microscopy)來觀察其在細胞內的分布情形，最後再利用磁振造影來觀察鐵白金粒子的顯影效果，並比較孔隙的有無對實驗結果造成的影響。Superparamagnetic nanoparticles have demonstrated their practicability as MRI contrast agents. However, low intracellular labeling efficiency and hydrophobicity has limited the potential usage in vitro, in vivo and in clinic. Here, the hydrophilic polyethylene glycol-lyated (PEG-lyated) fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-binded silica-coated / mesoporous silica-coated FePt nanoparticles (FePt@SiO2-FITC-PEG / FePt@MSN-FITC-PEG) were developed as a potential bifunctionally magnetic vector for fluorescence/MRI dual imaging. The hydrophilic PEG-lyated nanopraticles exhibited stable water-dispersity and successful intracellular fluorescence imaging in HT29 cell line. FePt@MSN-FITC -PEG was uptaken via endocytic pathway and trapped in endosomes/lysosomes within 12 h observed by confocal microscopy. Moreover, magnetic resonance relaxometry reveals that FePt@MSN-FITC have a high T2-shortening effect because of the superparamagnetic chemically disordered face-centered cubic (fcc) FePt that can induce sufficient cell MRI contrast. This novel PEG-lyated delivery system is a potential nanocarrier for the combination of fluorescence and MRI contrast for the diagnosis of cancer.謝誌 i 中文摘要 ii Abstract iii Chapter 1: Background and Significations 1 Chapter 2: Introduction 4 2-1 Magnetism of Material 4 2-1-1. Magnetic Moment 4 2-1-2. Magnetization 5 2-1-3. Saturation Magnetization 6 2-1-5. Hysteresis 7 2-1-6. Diamagnetism 9 2-1-7. Ferromagnetism and Anti-ferromagnetism 10 2-1-8. Paramagnetism 11 2-1-9. Superparamagnetism 12 2-2-10 Application of Superparamagnetic Nanoparticle in Biomaterials. 17 2-2. Silica Nanoparticles 22 2-2-1. Introduction 23 2-2-2. Organically Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Phases 27 2-2-3 Mesoporous Materials for Drug Delivery 29 2-4. Magnetic Resonance Image 30 Chapter 3: Experimental Materials and Methods 36 3-1. Experimental Design 36 3-2. Materials 37 3-3. Synthesis of FePt Nanoparticle 38 3-3-1. 4 nm FePt Synthesis 38 3-3-2. 7nm FePt Synthesis 38 3-4. Synthesis of FePt@MSN-FITC / PEG. 39 3-5. Synthesis of FePt@SiO2-FITC / PEG 40 3-6. Cell Testing 41 3-7. Cell image 42 3-8. Magnet Resonance Image 43 4. Instrument 45 4-1. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) 45 4-2. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) 45 4-3. Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) 46 4-4. Determination of the Iron Content of the FePt@SiO2-FITC/PEG and FePt@MSN-FITC/PEG by Atomic Absorbance Spectrophotometry 46 4-5. Size and ζ-Potential Measurement of FePt@SiO2-FITC/PEG and FePt@MSN-FITC / PEG by Dynamic Light Scattering 47 4-6 Determination of Iron Content in Sample by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) 48 5 Result and Discussion 49 5-1 The characterizations of FePt 49 5-2 The characterizations of FePt @SiO2-FITC/PEG 53 5-3. The characterizations of FePt @MSN-FITC/PEG 54 5-4. In vitro cytotoxicity 56 6. Conclusion 56 Reference 5

Trilinolein, a Natural Triacylglycerol, Protects Cerebral Ischemia through Inhibition of Neuronal Apoptosis and Ameliorates Intimal Hyperplasia via Attenuation of Migration and Modulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 and RAS/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway in VSMCs

Cerebrovascular disease is one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide, and seeking a potential treatment is essential. Trilinolein (TriL) is a natural triacylglycerol presented in several plants. The effects of TriL on cerebrovascular diseases such as cerebral ischemia and carotid stenosis have never been studied. Accordingly, we investigated the protection of TriL on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration in vivo and in vitro. The cerebral infarction area, the intima to media area (I/M ratio), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-staining of the carotid artery were measured. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-stimulated A7r5 cell migration and potential mechanisms of TriL were investigated by wound healing, transwell, and Western blotting. TriL (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced: the cerebral infarction area; neurological deficit; TUNEL-positive apoptosis; intimal hyperplasia; and PCNA-positive cells in rodents. TriL (5, 10, and 20 µM) significantly inhibited PDGF-BB-stimulated A7r5 cell migration and reduced matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), Ras, MEK, and p-ERK protein levels in PDGF-BB-stimulated A7r5 cells. TriL is protective in models of I/R-induced brain injury, carotid artery ligation-induced intimal hyperplasia, and VSMC migration both in vivo and in vitro. TriL could be potentially efficacious in preventing cerebral ischemia and cerebrovascular diseases

Diabetes Mellitus and Heart Failure

The coexistence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF) is frequent and is associated with a higher risk of hospitalization for HF and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. It has been estimated that millions of people are affected by HF and DM, and the prevalence of both conditions has increased over time. Concomitant HF and diabetes confer a worse prognosis than each alone; therefore, managing DM care is critical for preventing HF. This article reviews the prevalence of HF and diabetes and the correlated prognosis as well as provides a basic understanding of diabetic cardiomyopathy, including its pathophysiology, focusing on the relationship between DM and HF with a preserved ejection fraction and summarizes the potential aldosterone and the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists approaches for managing heart failure and DM. Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is) are an emerging class of glucose-lowering drugs, and the role of SGLT2Is in DM patients with HF was reviewed to establish updated and comprehensive concepts for improving optimal medical care in clinical practice

Article The Binding Affinity and Molecular Basis of the Structure-Binding Relationship between Urinary Tamm-Horsfall Glycoprotein and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α

molecule

東南亞裔新移民母親之家長參與及與子女學校生活適應之關聯 Parental Involvement of Southeastern Asian Female Immigrants and Its Relationship to Their Children’s School Life Adjustments

本研究之目的在瞭解東南亞裔新移民母親之家長參與，及其與子女學校生活適應之關聯，以臺北、桃園、臺中、雲林、屏東與澎湖等六縣地區為取樣範圍，並依據新移民子女性別及父親教育背景，在同班級內挑選本地家庭作為對照。以問卷調查與電話訪問蒐集資料，共計三百九十五組新移民家庭與五百零九組本地樣本，資料採因素分析、卡方與變異數分析。研究結果為：一、新移民子女同儕關係感受較本地組差，其餘面向無族裔差別；二、新移民母親除學校活動參與，與本地組無差外，其餘層面皆較弱。兩族裔呈現出母親涉入家庭規矩頻率與子女學習方法／態度、學校環境感受有關，家庭環境豐富性亦與子女師生關係有關，惟家庭規矩與同儕關係在新移民子女身上無關。研究者最後提出討論與建議。 The purpose of the current research was to investigate the relationship of parental involvement of female immigrants from Southeastern Asian countries to the school life adjustments of their children. Samples were collected from six counties: Taipei, Tao-Yuan, Tai-Chung, Yun-Lin, Ping-Tong, and Pen-Hu. Local children, who were in the same classroom as the immigrant parents’ children, were of the same gender, and had fathers with similar educational backgrounds, were selected as the control group. Altogether, 395 immigrant families and 509 local comparative families participated. Data were analyzed through factor analysis, chi-square test, and ANOVA. Results were as follows: 1. No ethnic differences in learning attitudes, curriculum and environment perceptions, and student-teacher relationships were noted. However, the immigrant children tend to have less positive perceptions regarding peer relationships than the local (control) group. 2. Other than school activity participation, the immigrant mothers participated less on various levels of parental involvement. For both ethnic groups, involvement of mothers in family discipline was positively related to the learning attitudes of children and school environment perception. However, the relationship between children’s peer network and mothers’ family discipline was shown in the local (control) group, but not in the immigrant group. Nevertheless, the higher the family enrichment was, the more favorable the children’s relationship with their teachers for both ethnic groups

New Cytotoxic Terpenoids from Soft Corals Nephthea chabroli and Paralemnalia thyrsoides

A novel cytotoxic diterpenoid, chabrolin A (1) (possessing an unprecedented terpenoid skeleton), as well as three new cytotoxic sesquiterpenoids, parathyrsoidins E–G (2–4), were isolated by cytotoxicity-guided fractionation from soft corals Nephthea chabroli and Paralemnalia thyrsoides. The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data

Design of an MWW Zeolite Catalyst for Linear Alkylbenzene Synthesis with Improved Catalytic Stability

The effect of micro-meso hierarchical porosity on the catalytic performance of MWW zeolites during linear alkylbenzene (LAB) synthesis was studied. The catalytic active sites of the MWW zeolite during LAB synthesis are identified as the acid sites located on the external surface cage (EC-12) and the internal supercage (C10-12). The catalytic stability of MCM-22 obtained from the optimum preparation protocol could be improved by increasing the number of EC-12 cages as well as increasing the S-meso and pore volume. The catalytic activity of ITQ-2 by delamination for LAB synthesis is mainly attributed to the acid site located at surface cage EC-12. The ITQ-2 sample subjected to the optimum delamination procedure exhibited very strong stability even in benzene lean LAB feed or 0.1% octadiene-containing LAB feed. Alternatively, the pillared MCM-36 zeolite increases the C10-12 supercage and mesoporous surface area, enabling MCM-36 to catalyse a lower LAB product selectivity with formation of more di-alkylate by-products with a similar LAB isomer selectivity.1111sciescopu

Post-discharge re-hospitalization and in-hospital mortality in Taiwanese women with hip fracture

[[abstract]]Objectives: To explore the factors concerning postdischarge rehospitalization and in-hospital mortality among Taiwanese women older than 50 years with hip fracture. Materials and methods: The National Health Insurance database from 2000 to 2006 was used to identity relevant cases. Women inpatients aged over 50 years with new-onset hip fracture in 2003 were identified. We analyzed the factors affecting postdischarge rehospitalization and in-hospital mortality. Results: In 2003, there were 9467 new-onset hip fracture inpatients claimed among Taiwanese women aged over 50 years. The 3-year cumulative rates of rehospitalization after discharge and in-hospital mortality rate were 11.01% (1043) and 7.10% (672), respectively. The factors determined to be related to rehospitalization were patient age, hospital level, length of stay of the initial hospitalization due to hip fracture, and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) score. The factors determined to be related to in-hospital mortality were age, urbanization level of region where patients were insured, hospital level, length of stay of the initial hospitalization due to hip fracture, and CCI score. Conclusion: Characteristics of women aged over 50 years with hip fracture remain an important issue based on high rehospitalization and in-hospital mortality rates. We have identified related risk factors that may be helpful in treating hip fracture among this population segment