Research Interests:
Infection of poultry with influenza A subtype H7 viruses occurs worldwide, but the introduction of this subtype to humans in Asia has not been observed previously. In March 2013, three urban residents of Shanghai or Anhui, China,... more
Infection of poultry with influenza A subtype H7 viruses occurs worldwide, but the introduction of this subtype to humans in Asia has not been observed previously. In March 2013, three urban residents of Shanghai or Anhui, China, presented with rapidly progressing lower respiratory tract infections and were found to be infected with a novel reassortant avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus. We obtained and analyzed clinical, epidemiologic, and virologic data from these patients. Respiratory specimens were tested for influenza and other respiratory viruses by means of real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assays, viral culturing, and sequence analyses. A novel reassortant avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus was isolated from respiratory specimens obtained from all three patients and was identified as H7N9. Sequencing analyses revealed that all the genes from these three viruses were of avian origin, with six internal genes from avian influenza A (H9N2) viruses. Substitution Q226L (H3 numbering) at the 210-loop in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene was found in the A/Anhui/1/2013 and A/Shanghai/2/2013 virus but not in the A/Shanghai/1/2013 virus. A T160A mutation was identified at the 150-loop in the HA gene of all three viruses. A deletion of five amino acids in the neuraminidase (NA) stalk region was found in all three viruses. All three patients presented with fever, cough, and dyspnea. Two of the patients had a history of recent exposure to poultry. Chest radiography revealed diffuse opacities and consolidation. Complications included acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiorgan failure. All three patients died. Novel reassortant H7N9 viruses were associated with severe and fatal respiratory disease in three patients. (Funded by the National Basic Research Program of China and others.).
Research Interests:
We describe the fabrication of a suite of flexible porphyrin cages and nanorings from a simple tetraalkene-derived zinc porphyrin monomer via a highly efficient template-directed strategy. The zinc porphyrin monomers were preorganized... more
We describe the fabrication of a suite of flexible porphyrin cages and nanorings from a simple tetraalkene-derived zinc porphyrin monomer via a highly efficient template-directed strategy. The zinc porphyrin monomers were preorganized together by coordination with N atoms of multidentate ligands. Subsequent one-step olefin metathesis furnished a bisporphyrin cage, a triporphyrin nanoring, and a hexaporphyrin nanoring. In the case of the hexaporphyrin nanoring, 24 terminal olefins from six porphyrin monomers reacted with each other to form 12 new double bonds, delivering the final product. The triporphyrin and hexaporphyrin nanorings were further employed as hosts to encapsulate C60 and C70.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Abstract Objective: C4 deficiency is the most commonly inherited immune disorder in human. The present study investigated the characteristics of the IgAN patients with low serum C4 levels. Methods: We performed a prospective observational... more
Abstract Objective: C4 deficiency is the most commonly inherited immune disorder in human. The present study investigated the characteristics of the IgAN patients with low serum C4 levels. Methods: We performed a prospective observational study. Clinical as well as histopathologic parameters were assessed. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed concerning the primary outcome defined as the serum creatinine increased 1.5-fold from baseline. The prognostic significances of clinical and histopathologic parameters were determined using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Five-hundred twelve biopsy proven IgAN cases were available for analysis with a median follow-up of 38.4 months. Ninety-nine cases (19.34%) presented with low C4 levels (LowC4 group) and the other 413 cases did not (NlowC4 group). At the time of renal biopsy, renal injury was lighter in the LowC4 group compared with the NlowC4 group. Renal C4 deposition was significantly decreased while IgM deposition was increased in the LowC4 group. A correlation analysis shows that lower C4 levels were associated with better renal presentations at biopsy. However, the risk of developing the primary outcome was significantly greater in those with low C4 levels. Specifically, during the follow-up period, the risk of developing primary outcome was nearly ten folds higher in those with low C4, compared to those without low C4. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of low C4 levels in IgAN patients. These patients with low C4 levels exhibited better renal presentations at the time of renal biopsy, whereas might be associated with a poor prognosis.
Research Interests:
This article presents a new modeling strategy in functional data analysis. We consider the problem of estimating an unknown smooth function given functional data with noise. The unknown function is treated as the realization of a... more
This article presents a new modeling strategy in functional data analysis. We consider the problem of estimating an unknown smooth function given functional data with noise. The unknown function is treated as the realization of a stochastic process, which is incorporated into a diffusion model. The method of smoothing spline estimation is connected to a special case of this approach. The resulting models offer great flexibility to capture the dynamic features of functional data, and allow straightforward and meaningful interpretation. The likelihood of the models is derived with Euler approximation and data augmentation. A unified Bayesian inference method is carried out via a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm including a simulation smoother. The proposed models and methods are illustrated on some prostate-specific antigen data, where we also show how the models can be used for forecasting.
Research Interests:
In longitudinal biomedical studies, there is often interest in the rate functions, which describe the functional rates of change of biomarker profiles. This paper proposes a semiparametric approach to model these functions as the... more
In longitudinal biomedical studies, there is often interest in the rate functions, which describe the functional rates of change of biomarker profiles. This paper proposes a semiparametric approach to model these functions as the realizations of stochastic processes defined by stochastic differential equations. These processes are dependent on the covariates of interest and vary around a specified parametric function. An efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm is developed for inference. The proposed method is compared with several existing methods in terms of goodness-of-fit and more importantly the ability to forecast future functional data in a simulation study. The proposed methodology is applied to prostate-specific antigen profiles for illustration. Supplementary materials for this paper are available online.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The clinical impact of blood pressure (BP) and of antihypertensive therapy (AHT) in acute ischemic stroke remains uncertain. We reviewed the charts of patients admitted to the Montreal General Hospital between April 1, 2002 and October... more
The clinical impact of blood pressure (BP) and of antihypertensive therapy (AHT) in acute ischemic stroke remains uncertain. We reviewed the charts of patients admitted to the Montreal General Hospital between April 1, 2002 and October 15, 2005. Ischemic stroke was considered severe if the Canadian Neurological Scale at presentation was < or =7. Poor outcome at 10 days after onset was defined as a modified Rankin Scale >3. Acute change in BP was defined as the percent difference between the mean 24-hour mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the baseline MAP. AHT was considered present if administered > or =5 days during the first week after stroke onset. The association between predictors and outcome was assessed using unconditional multivariable logistic regression. Covariates used included age, stroke severity, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, premorbid hypertension and hyperlipidemia. Three hundred and sixty-four patients were included. Compared to patients with intermediate baseline BP, those with a MAP >130 mm Hg [OR = 2.47 (95% CI, 1.04-5.85)] or a MAP <90 mm Hg [OR = 2.94 (95% CI, 1.28-6.77)] were found to have an increased risk of poor outcome after covariate adjustment. A 15% increase in MAP was associated with an increased risk of poor outcome [OR = 5.34 (95% CI, 1.18-24.3)] while AHT in the first week after stroke onset was found to result in a decreased risk [OR = 0.39 (95% CI, 0.17-0.90)]. However, neither of these findings remained significant after adjustment for the described covariates. Both high and low MAP at presentation are associated with worse short-term outcome after ischemic stroke.
Research Interests: Risk assessment, Logistic Regression, Stroke, Humans, Hypertension, and 25 moreDiabetes mellitus, Blood Pressure, Female, Male, Atrial Fibrillation, Cerebrovascular diseases, Brain Ischemia, Ischemic Stroke, Risk factors, Clinical Sciences, Aged, Time Factors, Odds ratio, Retrospective Studies, Prognosis, Risk Factors, Risk Assessment, Cerebrovascular, Coronary Artery Disease, Acute Ischemic Stroke, Neurosciences, Logistic Models, Severity of Illness Index, Acute Disease, and Recovery of Function
Research Interests: Marketing, Psychology, Chemical Education, Education, Pediatric Psychology, and 28 moreFamily, Quality of life, Asthma, Psychological Well Being, Tourism, California, Students, Humans, Child, Female, Male, Young Adult, Social Economic, Conceptual Model, Universities, Pediatric, Structural Equation Model, Prescription drugs, Health Status, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Questionnaires, Adult, Health surveys, Psychological Theory, Psychological Models, Age Structure, Support System, and Substance-Related Disorders
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have mapped risk alleles for at least 10 distinct cancers to a small region of 63 000 bp on chromosome 5p15.33. This region harbors the TERT and CLPTM1L genes; the former encodes the catalytic... more
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have mapped risk alleles for at least 10 distinct cancers to a small region of 63 000 bp on chromosome 5p15.33. This region harbors the TERT and CLPTM1L genes; the former encodes the catalytic subunit of telomerase reverse transcriptase and the latter may play a role in apoptosis. To investigate further the genetic architecture of common susceptibility alleles in this region, we conducted an agnostic subset-based meta-analysis (association analysis based on subsets) across six distinct cancers in 34 248 cases and 45 036 controls. Based on sequential conditional analysis, we identified as many as six independent risk loci marked by common single-nucleotide polymorphisms: five in the TERT gene (Region 1: rs7726159, P = 2.10 × 10(-39); Region 3: rs2853677, P = 3.30 × 10(-36) and PConditional = 2.36 × 10(-8); Region 4: rs2736098, P = 3.87 × 10(-12) and PConditional = 5.19 × 10(-6), Region 5: rs13172201, P = 0.041 and PConditional = 2.04 × 10(-6); and Region 6: rs10069690, P = 7.49 × 10(-15) and PConditional = 5.35 × 10(-7)) and one in the neighboring CLPTM1L gene (Region 2: rs451360; P = 1.90 × 10(-18) and PConditional = 7.06 × 10(-16)). Between three and five cancers mapped to each independent locus with both risk-enhancing and protective effects. Allele-specific effects on DNA methylation were seen for a subset of risk loci, indicating that methylation and subsequent effects on gene expression may contribute to the biology of risk variants on 5p15.33. Our results provide strong support for extensive pleiotropy across this region of 5p15.33, to an extent not previously observed in other cancer susceptibility loci.
Research Interests:
Fog samples were collected at Pancheng in the Nanjing area of China during December 2006 and December 2007. Fog droplet spectra, surface meteorological elements and visibility were also measured during the same period. The data from PM10,... more
Fog samples were collected at Pancheng in the Nanjing area of China during December 2006 and December 2007. Fog droplet spectra, surface meteorological elements and visibility were also measured during the same period. The data from PM10, SO2 and NO2 measurements were obtained from the air quality monitoring networks of Nanjing. The total ionic concentration (TIC) and electrical conductivity (EC) in fog samples, and the local pollutant emissions were one or two orders of magnitude higher than those found in Europe or South America for instance. Pollutants were expected to be mainly from local sources, including factories, plants, freeways, soil sources, house construction, and biomass burning. Advection also contributed to pollution levels in radiation–advection fogs. The scavenging of NH3 and coarse particles by fog droplets was the main cause for the high mean pH value of 5.9. In-phase temporal evolution of TIC, [SO42−], [NO3−], SO2, NO2, PM10 and S/LWC (S: the surface area of fog droplets per unit volume of air; LWC: liquid water content) was found to be due to the interaction of air pollutants and fog droplets, change of air mass due to advection, and so on. S/LWC seemed to be a better indicator for describing the relationship between TIC and microphysics with respect to LWC. A formula between TIC and S/LWC was derived and the related parameters were discussed. Depositions of chemical species in fog cases were estimated and the result showed that deposition was efficient.
Research Interests: Air Quality, Atmospheric Science, China, Atmospheric sciences, Far East, and 16 morePh, Deposition, Droplets, South America, Scavenging, Chine, Biomass burning, Surface Area, Electrical Conductivity, Chemical Composition, Water Content, Neutralisation, Electric Conductivity, Neutralization, Liquid Water Content, and Air Pollutants
Asiaticoside (ATS) isolated from the leaves of Centella asiatica possesses strong wound-healing properties and reduces scar formation. However, the specific effects of asiaticoside on the formation of keloidal scars remain unknown. In the... more
Asiaticoside (ATS) isolated from the leaves of Centella asiatica possesses strong wound-healing properties and reduces scar formation. However, the specific effects of asiaticoside on the formation of keloidal scars remain unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the in vitro effects of asiaticoside on the proliferation, collagen expression, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad signaling of keloid-derived fibroblasts. Fibroblasts isolated from keloid tissue and normal skin tissues were treated with asiaticoside at different concentrations. Afterwards, they were subjected to RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. The inhibitory effects of asiaticoside on fibroblast viability were assayed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Asiaticoside decreased fibroblast proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. It also inhibited type I and type III collagen protein and mRNA expressions. In addition, asiaticoside reduced the expression of both TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII at the transcriptional and translational level. Moreover, it increased the expression of Smad7 protein and mRNA. However, asiaticoside did not influence the expression of Smad2, Smad3, Smad4, phosphorylated Smad2, and phosphorylated Smad3. Taken together, these results suggest that asiaticoside could be of potential use in the treatment and/or prevention of hypertrophic scars and keloids.
Research Interests: Wound Healing, Adolescent, Signal Transduction, Humans, Keloid, and 16 moreCollagen, Female, Male, Young Adult, Clinical Sciences, mRna expression levels, Adult, Time Factors, Western blot, Cell Proliferation, Growth Factor, Cell Survival, Triterpenes, Case Control Studies, MTT assay, and Transforming Growth Factor
Automated inspection of apple quality involves computer recognition of good apples and blemished apples based on geometric or statistical features derived from apple images. This paper introduces a Gabor feature-based kernel principal... more
Automated inspection of apple quality involves computer recognition of good apples and blemished apples based on geometric or statistical features derived from apple images. This paper introduces a Gabor feature-based kernel principal component analysis (PCA) method by combining Gabor wavelet representation of apple images and the kernel PCA method for apple quality inspection using near-infrared (NIR) imaging. First, Gabor wavelet decomposition of whole apple NIR images was employed to extract appropriate Gabor features. Then, the kernel PCA method with polynomial kernels was applied in the Gabor feature space to handle non-linear separable features. The results show the effectiveness of the Gabor-based kernel PCA method in terms of its absolute performance and comparative performance compared to the PCA, kernel PCA with polynomial kernels, Gabor-based PCA and the support vector machine methods. Using the proposed Gabor kernel PCA eliminated the need for local feature segmentation, but also resolved the non-linear separable problem. An overall 90.6% recognition rate was achieved.
Research Interests:
... Images Images, Journal/Book title, Volume, Issue, Page, Search tips. ... The chemical and digestive properties of a soluble glucan from Agrobacterium sp. ZX09. ... b, School of LifeScience, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing... more
... Images Images, Journal/Book title, Volume, Issue, Page, Search tips. ... The chemical and digestive properties of a soluble glucan from Agrobacterium sp. ZX09. ... b, School of LifeScience, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China. ...
Research Interests:
... modeling approaches, such as state space models (Jones, 1993; Durbin and Koopman, 2001), linear dynamic models (West and Harrison, 1997) and many other diffusion type models in finance, eg the stochastic volatility model (Hull and... more
... modeling approaches, such as state space models (Jones, 1993; Durbin and Koopman, 2001), linear dynamic models (West and Harrison, 1997) and many other diffusion type models in finance, eg the stochastic volatility model (Hull and White, 1987), ...
... Crystallization of Y 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 Rich Glasses: Synthesis of YAG Glass-Ceramics. Salaheddine Alahraché, Michaël Deschamps, Julien Lambert, Matthew R. Suchomel, Domingos De Sousa Meneses, Guy Matzen, Dominique Massiot, Emmanuel... more
... Crystallization of Y 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 Rich Glasses: Synthesis of YAG Glass-Ceramics. Salaheddine Alahraché, Michaël Deschamps, Julien Lambert, Matthew R. Suchomel, Domingos De Sousa Meneses, Guy Matzen, Dominique Massiot, Emmanuel Véron, and Mathieu Allix. ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Page 1. International Journal of Network Security, Vol.3, No.3, PP.244258, Nov. 2006 244 Alert Correlation for Extracting Attack Strategies Bin Zhu and Ali A. Ghorbani (Corresponding author: Ali A. Ghorbani) Faculty of Computer ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Reaction mechanisms in the formation of PZT solid solution were studied under hydrothermal conditions (Pb/(Zr + Ti) = 1.0 to 1.9, Zr/Ti = 0/10 to 10/0, 1M to 5M KOH, 100C to 220C, 2 h). A yellow tabular crystallite with tetragonal... more
Reaction mechanisms in the formation of PZT solid solution were studied under hydrothermal conditions (Pb/(Zr + Ti) = 1.0 to 1.9, Zr/Ti = 0/10 to 10/0, 1M to 5M KOH, 100C to 220C, 2 h). A yellow tabular crystallite with tetragonal symmetry and Pb/Ti [approx] 2 was formed at 100 to 130C. A PZT crystallite was formed just above 150C. The crystallite was a mixture of Ti-rich PZT and Zr-rich PZT phases. When the temperature and KOH concentration were increased, the composition of the PZT product tended to be homogeneous. The PZT in the morphotropic phase boundary zone was formed at Zr/Ti = 5/5, 5M KOH, 220C, 2h. Neither PbTiO[sub 3] nor PbZrO[sub 3] was detected as a separate phase under the above hydrothermal conditions.
Research Interests: Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electron Microscopy, Kinetics, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and 11 moreCrystal structure, Alkali Metals, Potassium, Phase Transformation, X ray diffraction, Chemical Reaction, Chemical Composition, Reaction Mechanism, Lead Zirconate Titanate, Morphotropic Phase Boundary, and Solid Solution
Research Interests:
In the present study, an attempt has been made to petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of Prunus amygdalus Batsch seeds (Semen amygdali), Cimicifuga foetida L. rhizomes (Rhizoma Cimicifugae), Peucedanum... more
In the present study, an attempt has been made to petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of Prunus amygdalus Batsch seeds (Semen amygdali), Cimicifuga foetida L. rhizomes (Rhizoma Cimicifugae), Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim roots (Radix Peucedani), Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng. seeds (Semen Momordicae), and Bupleurum chinense DC. roots (Radix Bupleuri chinensis) for their in vivo anthelmintic activity against monogenean Dactylogyrus intermedius in goldfish (Carassius auratus). The results showed that the efficacies of methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts from R. Bupleuri chinensis were found to be, in this order, more effective than others with the 48 h-EC50 and EC90 values of 3.5 and 6.9, 6.0 and 8.4, 7.4 and 11.2 mg/L, respectively, followed by ethyl acetate extract of R. cimicifugae and chloroform extract of R. peucedani with EC50 189.2 and 240.4 mg/L. The promising methanol, chloroform, and ethyl acetate extracts from R. Bupleuri chinensis were subjected to acute toxicity tests for the evaluation of their safety to the host. After 48-h exposure, the mortalities of goldfish were recorded, and the established LC50 values were 10.1-, 4.2-, and 8.4-fold higher than the corresponding EC50. These results indicated that the three extracts from R. Bupleuri chinensis exhibit potential to be used as preferred natural antiparasitics for the control of the D. intermedius, especially for the methanolic one.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), one of the key components of Salvia milthorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae), is used to treat liver disease. The present study was carried out to investigate the possible mechanisms involved in the hepatoprotective... more
Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), one of the key components of Salvia milthorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae), is used to treat liver disease. The present study was carried out to investigate the possible mechanisms involved in the hepatoprotective effects of Tan IIA on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatocyte toxicity. In cultures treated with 1 or 2 microM CCl(4), Tan IIA (10-75 microM) significantly increased hepatocyte survival rates. However, only at a concentration of 75 microM could Tan IIA partially reverse the CCl(4) (3 microM)-induced decrease of survival rate (34 +/- 3% vs. 18 +/- 3%, n = 8, p < 0.01). In isolated mitochondria energized with succinate, Tan IIA could inhibit the large swelling effect induced by CCl(4) (1 and 2 microM). Base on these results, Tan IIA could protect rat primary cultured hepatocytes from CCl(4)-induced toxicity partially by the inhibitory effect on the opening of mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT).
Research Interests:
Using an atmospheric photochemical model, the photochemical ozonecreation potential (POCP) values of non-methane hydrocarbon(NMHC) species are studied under different NMHC/NOx ratios. The behavior of POCP values of NMHC changing with time... more
Using an atmospheric photochemical model, the photochemical ozonecreation potential (POCP) values of non-methane hydrocarbon(NMHC) species are studied under different NMHC/NOx ratios. The behavior of POCP values of NMHC changing with time is also discussed under the condition of higher NMHC/NOx ratios, referring to the situation of China. The following results can beobtained. Alkenes, high-reactivity alkanes and aromatics, andformaldehyde are the primary contributors of photochemicalozone; The POCP values of NMHC species vary withNMHC/NOx ratios systematically. The POCP values of highreactivity species decrease with NMHC/NOx ratio increasing,but the POCP values of low reactivity species changelittle. The POCP value for a given NMHC species varieswith time of photochemical reactions. The POCP values oflow reactivity species increase with time, but the POCPvalues of high reactivity species change little. NOx, alkenes,aromatics, and aldehydes have higher reactivity and shorterlifetimes, therefore their transportation distances arelimited and they mainly produce local pollution. Alkanes havelower chemical reactivity and longer lifetimes so that theycan transport farther distance from their sources.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Software refactoring is to restructure artifacts to improve software quality, especially readability, extensibility, and maintainability, while preserving its external behaviors. Software refactoring has been successfully applied to... more
Software refactoring is to restructure artifacts to improve software quality, especially readability, extensibility, and maintainability, while preserving its external behaviors. Software refactoring has been successfully applied to source code and design models. However, refactoring has not yet been introduced to formal specifications. Compared to source code in programming languages similar to nature languages, formal specifications in formal mathematic languages are in urgent need of refactoring because mathematic languages are usually more difficult to understand or modify. Furthermore, formal specifications' inherent formality makes it easier to validate behavior preservation of refactorings, which dramatically increases the dependability of refactorings. This paper illustrates the necessity and possibility of refactoring formal specifications. It first illustrates the necessity with an motivating example, and then proposes a series of primitive refactorings and advanced refactorings that are composed of primitive refactorings.
Research Interests:
Let G be a group and A a G-graded quasi-hereditary algebra. Then its characteristic module is proved to be G-gradable, i.e., it is isomorphic to a G-graded module as A-modules. This implies that the Ringel dual A′ of A admits a canonical... more
Let G be a group and A a G-graded quasi-hereditary algebra. Then its characteristic module is proved to be G-gradable, i.e., it is isomorphic to a G-graded module as A-modules. This implies that the Ringel dual A′ of A admits a canonical G-grading which extends to the graded situation the typical equivalence between Δ-good and ∇-good modules of A and A′, respectively. It follows some consequences: the derived category of finitely generated G-graded A-modules is equivalent to the derived category of finitely generated G-graded A'-modules; if G is finite, then the Ringel dual of the smash product A#G* is isomorphic to the smash product A'#G* of A' with G.
Research Interests:
[reaction: see text]Epothilones A (1) and B (2) are potent antitumor natural products with a Taxol-like mechanism of action. A total synthesis of epothilone A (1) is reported, which utilized chiral silane-based bond construction... more
[reaction: see text]Epothilones A (1) and B (2) are potent antitumor natural products with a Taxol-like mechanism of action. A total synthesis of epothilone A (1) is reported, which utilized chiral silane-based bond construction methodology to introduce the key C-6 and C-7 stereocenters of fragment 4. The C-15 stereocenter of fragment 5 was established by a lipase-mediated kinetic resolution. The fragments were assembled with a Suzuki coupling reaction and an aldol condensation and cyclized with a Yamaguchi-type macrolactonization reaction.
Research Interests:
While the amount of business information increases at a phenomenal rate, decision makers could easily feel overloaded. Simultaneously, they could also feel the lack of related information for decisions at hand. Various visualization... more
While the amount of business information increases at a phenomenal rate, decision makers could easily feel overloaded. Simultaneously, they could also feel the lack of related information for decisions at hand. Various visualization techniques have been developed to help people gain more value from large-scale information collections, but applying visualization in the context of decision-making is not well understood. Through a review of related literature in information visualization and decision support, we identify different roles that visualization technologies could play in decision support. We also elaborate how evaluation studies could help decision makers take better advantage of existing visualization technologies.
Research Interests:
We study the cluster combinatorics of d-cluster tilting objects in d-cluster categories. Using mutations of maximal rigid objects in d-cluster categories, which are defined in a similar way to mutations for d-cluster tilting objects, we... more
We study the cluster combinatorics of d-cluster tilting objects in d-cluster categories. Using mutations of maximal rigid objects in d-cluster categories, which are defined in a similar way to mutations for d-cluster tilting objects, we prove the equivalences between d -cluster tilting objects, maximal rigid objects and complete rigid objects. Using the chain of d+1d+1 triangles of d-cluster tilting objects in [O. Iyama, Y. Yoshino, Mutations in triangulated categories and rigid Cohen–Macaulay modules, Invent. Math. 172 (1) (2008) 117–168], we prove that any almost complete d -cluster tilting object has exactly d+1d+1 complements, compute the extension groups between these complements, and study the middle terms of these d+1d+1 triangles. All results are the extensions of corresponding results on cluster tilting objects in cluster categories established for d-cluster categories in [A. Buan, R. Marsh, M. Reineke, I. Reiten, G. Todorov, Tilting theory and cluster combinatorics, Adv. Math. 204 (2006) 572–618]. They are applied to the Fomin–Reading generalized cluster complexes of finite root systems defined and studied in [S. Fomin, N. Reading, Generalized cluster complexes and Coxeter combinatorics, Int. Math. Res. Not. 44 (2005) 2709–2757; H. Thomas, Defining an m-cluster category, J. Algebra 318 (2007) 37–46; K. Baur, R. Marsh, A geometric description of m-cluster categories, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 360 (2008) 5789–5803; K. Baur, R. Marsh, A geometric description of the m -cluster categories of type DnDn, preprint, arXiv:math.RT/0610512; see also Int. Math. Res. Not. 2007 (2007), doi:10.1093/imrn/rnm011], and to that of infinite root systems [B. Zhu, Generalized cluster complexes via quiver representations, J. Algebraic Combin. 27 (2008) 25–54].
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
A composite of samarium doped ceria (SDC) and a binary carbonate eutectic (52 mol% Li2CO3/48 mol% Na2CO3) is investigated with respect to its morphology, conductivity and fuel cell performances. The morphology study shows the composition... more
A composite of samarium doped ceria (SDC) and a binary carbonate eutectic (52 mol% Li2CO3/48 mol% Na2CO3) is investigated with respect to its morphology, conductivity and fuel cell performances. The morphology study shows the composition could prevent SDC particles from agglomeration. The conductivity is measured under air, argon and hydrogen, respectively. A sharp increase in conductivity occurs under all the atmospheres, which relates to the superionic phase transition in the interface phases between SDC and carbonates. Single cells with the composite electrolyte are fabricated by a uniaxial die-press method using NiO/electrolyte as anode and lithiated NiO/electrolyte as cathode. The cell shows a maximum power density of 590 mW cm−2 at 600 °C, using hydrogen as the fuel and air as the oxidant. Unlike that of cells based on pure oxygen ionic conductor or pure protonic conductor, the open circuit voltage of the SDC–carbonate based fuel cell decreases with an increase in water content of either anodic or cathodic inlet gas, indicating the electrolyte is a co-ionic (H+/O2−) conductor. The results also exhibit that oxygen ionic conductivity contributes to the major part of the whole conductivity under fuel cell circumstances.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
A method to automatically separate black walnut meat from shells would be highly beneficial to the walnut processing industry. We describe a machine vision system with backlight illumination. Backlit images of walnut meat and shells... more
A method to automatically separate black walnut meat from shells would be highly beneficial to the walnut processing industry. We describe a machine vision system with backlight illumination. Backlit images of walnut meat and shells showed quite different texture patterns due to their different light transmittance properties. This texture pattern was described by the combination of two complimentary texture description operators: local binary pattern and local variance. The resultant feature vectors were fed into a classifier, the supervised self-organizing map (SOM), to determine if the images were meat or shell. Results showed that the proposed approach was very effective in walnut meat and shell separation, with an overall separation accuracy of 98.2%. The high separation accuracy, fast computation speed, and instrument low cost make the proposed imaging system a great potential in walnut processing industry.
Research Interests:
This work focuses on the behaviour and role of protons and oxygen ions for the electrical properties of salt-oxide composites based on halides, more specifically on fluorides e.g. MFx (M=Li, Na, Ca, Ba, Sr, Mg, x=1, 2)-based composites... more
This work focuses on the behaviour and role of protons and oxygen ions for the electrical properties of salt-oxide composites based on halides, more specifically on fluorides e.g. MFx (M=Li, Na, Ca, Ba, Sr, Mg, x=1, 2)-based composites with oxides. The electrical properties were studied by using DC measurements, employing either gas concentration cell or fuel cell techniques. The conductivity of the fluoride-based composite electrolytes is 10−3–10−2 S/cm at temperatures between 600 and 800°C. Proton and oxygen ion defects, their generation and transport, showed a very strong dependence on the employed gas resources. Possessing both proton and oxygen ion conduction, on one hand, enhances the material total conductivity and, on the other hand, may promote the electrode reaction and the kinetics at two interfaces between the electrolyte and electrodes for fuel cells, thus, enhancing the current exchange rate and fuel cell performance. Using these composite electrolytes, a typical power density of 120–160 mW/cm2 under a current density 300–800 mA/cm2 was obtained in a fuel cell. Although both proton and oxygen ion conduction are possible, the proton defect concentration and related conduction generally predominate as the basic feature of the halide-based composite materials.
Research Interests:
Ceria-carbonate composite materials have been widely investigated as candidate electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells operated at 300–600 °C. However, fundamental studies on the composite electrolytes are still in the early stages and... more
Ceria-carbonate composite materials have been widely investigated as candidate electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells operated at 300–600 °C. However, fundamental studies on the composite electrolytes are still in the early stages and intensive research is demanded to advance their applications. In this study, the crystallite structure, microstructure, chemical activity, thermal expansion behavior and electrochemical properties of the samaria doped ceria-carbonate (SCC) composite have been investigated. Single cells using the SCC composite electrolyte and Ni-based electrodes were assembled and their electrochemical performances were studied. The SCC composite electrolyte exhibits good chemical compatibility and thermal-matching with Ni-based electrodes. Peak power density up to 916 mW cm−2 was achieved at 550 °C, which was attributed to high electrochemical activity of both electrolyte and electrode materials. A stable discharge plateau was obtained under a current density of 1.5 A cm−2 at 550 °C for 120 min. In addition, the ionic conducting property of the SCC composite electrolyte was investigated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique. It was found that the hybrid-ionic conduction improves the total ionic conductivity and fuel cell performance. These results highlight potential low-temperature application of ceria-carbonate composite electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells.► Ceria-carbonate composite is employed as electrolyte for low-temperature SOFCs. ► Composite electrolyte shows good chemical & thermal compatibility with Ni-based electrodes. ► A maximum power density of 916.2 mW cm−2 is obtained at 550 °C. ► Fuel cell keeps stable under a high discharging current density of 1.5 A cm−2 for 120 min. ► The hybrid-ionic conduction property of composite electrolyte is studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy technique.
Research Interests: Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Fuel Cell, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Hydrogen Energy, and 12 moreSolid oxide fuel cell, Composite Material, Current Density, Single Cell, CHEMICAL SCIENCES, Ionic Conductivity, Microstructures, Low Temperature, Electrochemical Properties, Compatibility, Thermal Expansion, and Peak Power
Pr2NiO4–Ag composite was synthesized and evaluated as cathode component for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells based on ceria-carbonate composite electrolyte. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the formation of a single phase... more
Pr2NiO4–Ag composite was synthesized and evaluated as cathode component for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells based on ceria-carbonate composite electrolyte. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that the formation of a single phase K2NiF4–type structure occurs at 1000 °C and Pr2NiO4–Ag composite shows chemically compatible with the composite electrolyte. Symmetrical cells impedance measurements prove that Ag displays acceptable electrocatalytic activity toward oxygen reduction reaction at the temperature range of 500–600 °C. Single cells with Ag active component electrodes present better electrochemical performances than those of Ag-free cells. An improved maximum power density of 695 mW cm−2 was achieved at 600 °C using Pr2NiO4–Ag composite cathode, with humidified hydrogen as fuel and air as the oxidant. Preliminary results suggest that Pr2NiO4–Ag composite could be adopted as an alternative cathode for low temperature solid oxide fuel cells.► Pr2NiO4 (PNO) is used as low temperature SOFCs cathode with composite electrolyte. ► The K2NiF4 type structure of PNO is formed at 1000 °C. ► PNO, Ag and electrolyte show chemical compatibility with one another at 650 °C. ► Infiltration of nano-Ag to PNO improves the ORR activity and fuel cell performance. ► A peak power output of 695 mW cm−2 is obtained at 600 °C with PNO–Ag composite cathode
Research Interests:
This work reports on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on abundant natural resources of industrial grade mixed rare-earth carbonates and composites. The materials possessed natural compositions and nano-scale particles. The... more
This work reports on solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on abundant natural resources of industrial grade mixed rare-earth carbonates and composites. The materials possessed natural compositions and nano-scale particles. The electrolytes made from these materials were able to achieve excellent fuel cell performances, 300–800 mW/cm2, at low temperatures (LT: 300–600 °C). Ionic transport mechanism, two-phase interface functions and composite role in electrolytes as well as resulted advanced fuel cell performances are discussed.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
... c Time taken by a pairing computation. d In this case, Alice can only prove to Charlie. [40] (denoted as Wan05a). ... LNCS, vol. 1514, pp. 286–299. Springer, Heidelberg (1998) 18. Damgård, IB: Practical and provably secure release of... more
... c Time taken by a pairing computation. d In this case, Alice can only prove to Charlie. [40] (denoted as Wan05a). ... LNCS, vol. 1514, pp. 286–299. Springer, Heidelberg (1998) 18. Damgård, IB: Practical and provably secure release of a secret and exchange of signatures. ...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Eccentric muscle actions are known to induce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle weakness (reduced static strength and dynamic peak power output) that may persist for several days. The aim of the present study was to determine... more
Eccentric muscle actions are known to induce delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle weakness (reduced static strength and dynamic peak power output) that may persist for several days. The aim of the present study was to determine whether DOMS-inducing exercise affects physiological responses to subsequent submaximal dynamic exercise. Physiological and metabolic responses to a standardized exercise task were measured 2 days after the performance of an eccentric or concentric exercise bout. Six healthy, untrained male subjects aged 30 +/- 7 years (mean +/- S.D.) performed repeated eccentric contractions during 30 min of bench stepping (47-cm step, 15 steps min-1). On another occasion, they performed concentric contractions by walking uphill (8% incline) for 30 min at 5 km h-1, which elicited a similar heart rate response to bench stepping. Two days after the eccentric or concentric exercise, the subjects cycled for 15 min on an electrically braked cycle ergometer at a work rate (172 +/- 37 W) equivalent to 80% VO2 max. The order of the preceding treatments was randomized and the treatments were carried out 2 weeks apart. Two days after the eccentric exercise, all subjects reported leg muscle soreness and exhibited elevated levels of serum creatine kinase activity (P < 0.01) and plasma cortisol concentration (P < 0.05). After uphill walking, the subjects were not sore and serum creatine kinase activity was unchanged. Minute volume, breathing frequency, respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, venous blood lactate concentration and plasma cortisol concentration were all higher (P < 0.05) during cycling after eccentric exercise compared with after uphill walking. Increases in plasma catecholamine concentrations and numbers of circulating leucocytes after cycling at 80% VO2 max for 15 min were similar under both experimental conditions, but the delayed leucocytosis (at 150 min post-exercise) was significantly greater (P < 0.01) for the post-eccentric exercise condition. We conclude that dynamic submaximal exercise performed 2 days following exercise with a large eccentric component produces physiological responses that are indicative of a higher relative exercise stress. It is likely that such effects will significantly limit the level and duration of exercise that can be achieved in subsequent training bouts over several days.
Research Interests: Pain, Skeletal muscle biology, Sports, Cortisol, Humans, and 20 moreBicycling, Hormones, Male, Heart rate, Heart, Lung, Respiration, Creatine Kinase, Physiological Response, Adult, Sports Sciences, Curriculum and Pedagogy, Muscle contraction, Physiological Stress Markers, *Physical Exertion, Catecholamines, Peak Power, Pulmonary Gas Exchange, Delayed onset muscle soreness, and Respiratory exchange ratio
Research Interests:
We report a rapid and cost-effective method to coat SDC nano-particles with a thin LiZn-oxide nanocomposite layer. This composite is determined to have a structure with two phases consisting of Li2O and ZnO and examined to distribute over... more
We report a rapid and cost-effective method to coat SDC nano-particles with a thin LiZn-oxide nanocomposite layer. This composite is determined to have a structure with two phases consisting of Li2O and ZnO and examined to distribute over the surfaces of SDC nano-particles uniformly by using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM). The measurments of electrical property demonstrate that such a thin layer enables the ionic conductivity of SDC to be significantly increased (higher than 0.1 S cm−1 at the temperature of 300 °C) equivalent to the conductivity of pure SDC at 800 °C or YSZ at 1000 °C. This superionic conductivity is caused by the two-phase interfaces formed between nano-particles.► We have coated LiZn-oxide on SDC nano-particles forming a core–shell two-phase nanocomposite thin film. ► Electrical property measurments show that such a thin layer has significantly enhanced ionic conductivity. ► This enhancement of conductivity is benefited from the interfaces between nano-particles. ► This novel SDC nanocomposites have opened a new advanced low temperature SOFC technology.