Reducing CO2 accumulation and its phytotoxicity to lettuce with absorbent in hermetic storage as a simulation of long-term fumigation

Samuel S. Liu,Yong-Biao Liu 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.3

Long-term fumigation with pure phosphine at low-temperature injures lettuce and the injury is likely causedby a potential accumulation of CO2. In this study, iceberg and romaine lettuce were stored hermetically in fumigationchamberswith and without absorbents for CO2 and ethylene for 3 days at 2 ºC as a simulation of long-termfumigation to determine the effects of the absorbents on accumulations of CO2 and ethylene and postharvestquality of lettuce. In the absence of absorbents, CO2 level increased from 0.08% at the start to 3.36% at the endof the 3-day hermetic storage. No accumulation of ethylenewas detected. Hermetic storage resulted in significantCO2 injuries to both iceberg and romaine lettuce and quality degradation as compared with the controls at14 days after treatment. In the storage with absorbents, the CO2 level remained low throughout the storageand ethylene was undetectable, and the CO2 injury level was the same or lower than the control. Lettuce qualityscores were either the same or better than lettuce in the control. Our findings suggest that the accumulation ofCO2 alone caused injuries associated with long-term phosphine fumigation and CO2 absorbent has the potentialto prevent such injuries.

The Social Consequences of Using Agent - Based Systems

Samuel Chong,Michael S . H . Heng,Kecheng Liu 한국경영정보학회 2001 한국경영정보학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2001 No.-

β-blockers in advanced cirrhosis: More friend than enemy

( Ki Tae Yoon ),( Hongqun Liu ),( Samuel S. Lee ) 대한간학회 2021 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.27 No.3

Nonselective beta-adrenergic blocker (NSBB) therapy for the prevention of initial and recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhotic patients with gastroesophageal varices has been used for the past four decades. NSBB therapy is considered the cornerstone of treatment for varices, and has become the standard of care. However, a 2010 study from the group that pioneered β-blocker therapy suggested a detrimental effect of NSBBs in decompensated cirrhosis, especially in patients with refractory ascites. Since then, numerous additional studies have incompletely resolved whether NSBBs are deleterious, although more recent evidence weighs against a harmful effect. The possibility of a “therapeutic window” has also been raised. We aimed to review the literature to analyze the pros and cons of using NSBBs in patients with cirrhosis, not only with respect to bleeding or mortality but also to other potential benefits and risks. β-blockers are highly effective in preventing first bleeding and recurrent bleeding. Furthermore, NSBBs improve congestion/ischemia of the gut mucosa, decrease intestinal permeability, and therefore indirectly alleviate systemic inflammation. β-blockers shorten the electrocardiographic prolonged QTc interval and may also decrease the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma. On the other hand, the possibility of deleterious effects in cirrhosis has not been completely eliminated. NSBBs may be associated with an increased risk of portal vein thrombosis, although this could be correlational artifact. Overall, we conclude that β-blockers in cirrhosis are much more of a friend than enemy. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2021;27:425-436)

Galectin-3 inhibits cardiac contractility via a tumor necrosis factor alpha-dependent mechanism in cirrhotic rats

Ki Tae Yoon,Hongqun Liu,Jing Zhang,Sojung Han,Samuel S. Lee 대한간학회 2022 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.28 No.2

Background/Aims: Galectin-3 plays a key pathogenic role in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of galectin-3 on cardiomyopathy – related factors and cardiac contractility in a rat model of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. Methods: Rats were divided into two sets, one for a functional study, the other for cardiac contractile-related protein evaluation. There were four groups in each set: sham operated and sham plus N-acetyllactosamine (N-Lac, a galectin-3 inhibitor; 5 mg/kg); bile duct ligated (BDL) and BDL plus N-Lac. Four weeks after surgery, ventricular level of galectin-3, collagen I and III ratio, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured either by Western blots or immunohistochemistry or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Blood pressure was measured by polygraph recorder. Cardiomyocyte contractility was measured by inverted microscopy. Results: Galectin-3 and collagen I/III ratio were significantly increased in cirrhotic hearts. TNFα and BNP were significantly increased in BDL serum and heart compared with sham controls. Galectin-3 inhibitor significantly decreased galectin-3, TNFα, and BNP in cirrhotic hearts but not in sham controls. N-Lac also significantly improved the blood pressure, and systolic and diastolic cardiomyocyte contractility in cirrhotic rats but had no effect on sham controls. Conclusion: Increased galectin-3 in the cirrhotic heart significantly inhibited contractility via TNFα. Inhibition of galectin-3 decreased the cardiac content of TNFα and BNP and reversed the decreased blood pressure and depressed contractility in the cirrhotic heart. Galectin-3 appears to play a pathogenic role in cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.

Developmental competence of porcine parthenogenetic embryos relative to embryonic chromosomal abnormalities

Hao, Yan-Hong,Lai, Liang-Xue,Liu, Zhong-Hua,Im, Gi-Sun,Wax, David,Samuel, Melissa,Murphy, Clifton N.,Sutovsky, Peter,Prather, Randall S. Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 2006 Molecular reproduction and development Vol.73 No.1

<P>Parthenogenetically activated (PA) embryos exhibit delayed development, a lower blastocyst rate, and less successful development in vitro compared to in vitro fertilized (IVF) embryos. To investigate the possible mechanisms for unsuccessful parthenogenetic development, this study analyzed the chromosome abnormalities and developmental potential of porcine PA embryos. Mature oocytes were electrically activated and cultured in Porcine Zygote Medium-3 (PZM<SUB>3</SUB>) supplemented with 3 mg/ml BSA for 6, 7, or 8 days. The percentage of PA blastocysts was lower than that of IVF embryos on days 6 and 7 (16.4 ± 7.4 vs. 28.7 ± 3.7; 10.9 ± 2.8 vs. 21.5 ± 4.7, P < 0.05; respectively), and the PA blastocysts had significantly fewer nuclei than IVF blastocysts (23.2 ± 1.8 vs. 29.7 ± 0.8; 29.7 ± 3.3 vs. 32.0 ± 2.4, P < 0.05). The percentage of abnormal PA embryos (including embryos with condensed nuclei, arrested embryos and fragmented embryos) was higher than that of IVF embryos (PA: 52.9 ± 12.8 vs. 16.4 ± 7.4 on day 6), and increased with culture time (71.9 ± 12.1 vs. 10.9 ± 2.8. on day 7,and 75.0 ± 22.6 vs. 12.1 ± 2.3 on day 8, P < 0.05). The Day-6 PA blastocysts (n = 147) were divided into three classes according to the total number of nuclei (<20, 20–39, >40) and into three groups according to the morphological diameter (<150, 150–180, >180 µm). Of the haploid blastocysts, 56.1% had less than 20 nuclei, and 71.5% were less than 150 µm in diameter. Of all (114) blastocysts suitable for analysis, 55.5% displayed chromosomal abnormalities. Among chromosomal abnormalities in PA blastocysts, haploid blastocysts were most prevalent (43.6%), while polyploidy (4.4%) and mixoploidy (7.7%) embryos were less prevalent. Chromosomal abnormalities of porcine PA embryos might contribute to a higher rate of abnormal embryonic development. We suggest that a careful consideration should be given when using the blastocysts with smaller size, and establishing the optimum culture condition for PA embryos development in vitro. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.</P>

Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis Contributes to Pathogenesis of Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy in Bile Duct-Ligated Mice (초)

( Soon Woo Nam ),( Hong Qun Liu ),( Joe Z. Wong ),( Annie Y. Feng ),( Samuel S. Lee ) 대한간학회 2010 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.16 No.3(S)

Observation of Substrate Orientation-Dependent Oxygen Defect Filling in Thin WO_3−δ/TiO₂ Pulsed Laser-Deposited Films with in Situ XPS at High Oxygen Pressure and Temperature

Braun, Artur,Aksoy Akgul, Funda,Chen, Qianli,Erat, Selma,Huang, Tzu-Wen,Jabeen, Naila,Liu, Zhi,Mun, Bongjin S.,Mao, Samuel S.,Zhang, Xiaojun American Chemical Society 2012 Chemistry of materials Vol.24 No.17

<P>Substoichiometric tungsten oxide films of approximately 10 nm thickness deposited with pulsed laser ablation on single-crystal TiO<SUB>2</SUB> substrates with (001) and (110) orientation show defect states near the Fermi energy in the valence-band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra. The spectral weight of the defect states is particularly strong for the film grown on the (001) surface. In situ XPS under an oxygen pressure of 100 mTorr shows that the spectral weight of the defect states decreases significantly at 500 K for the film on the (110) substrate, whereas that of the film grown on the (001) substrate remains the same at a temperature up to 673 K. Furthermore, diffusion of titanium from the substrate to the film surface is observed on the (110) substrate, as is evidenced by the sudden appearance of the Ti 2p core level signature above 623 K and below 673 K. The film grown on the (001) surface does not show such an interdiffusion effect, which suggests that the orientation of the substrate can have a significant influence on the high-temperature integrity of the tungsten oxide films. Quantitative analysis of the O 1s core level XPS spectra shows that chemisorbed water from sample storage under ambient conditions is desorbed during heating under oxygen exposure.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/cmatex/2012/cmatex.2012.24.issue-17/cm301829y/production/images/medium/cm-2012-01829y_0011.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/cm301829y'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>