Preparation and photocatalytic activity of a novel BiOCl/g‑C3N4 thin film prepared via spin coating

Wei‑Qin Cai,De‑Fang Zhang,Feng‑Jun Zhang,Won‑Chun Oh 한국세라믹학회 2020 한국세라믹학회지 Vol.57 No.3

Novel BiOCl/g-C3N4 thin film photocatalysts were synthesized via a simple two-step spin coating method. The prepared photocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of the thin films for the degradation of rhodamine B under visible light (λ ≥ 400 nm) was investigated. The results showed that the BiOCl/g-C3N4 thin film photocatalysts exhibited significantly improved visible light absorption compared to the pure BiOCl thin film. The BiOCl/g-C3N4 film showed a rhodamine B degradation efficiency of 81.0% under visible light, which is 23.8 times higher than that of the pure BiOCl thin film. This excellent photocatalytic activity of the BiOCl/g-C3N4 film can be attributed to its efficient electron–hole separation due to the presence of g-C3N4.

A New ent-Kaurane type Diterpenoid Glycoside from Inula japonica Thunb

Jiang Jiang Qin,Jia Xian Zhu,Wei Dong Zhang1,2,Yan Zhu,Jian Jun Fu,Xiao Hua Liu,Hui Zi Jin 대한약학회 2009 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.32 No.10

A new ent-kaurane type diterpenoid glycoside, 17-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-16α-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (1), together with 17-hydroxy-16α-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (2), 16α,17-dihydroxyl-ent-kauran-19-oic acid (3), and 16α-hydroxy-17-acetoxy-ent- kauran-19-oic acid (4) were isolated from the aerial parts of Inula japonica Thunb. The structure of 1 was determined mainly by use of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques including HSQC, 1H-1H COSY, HMBC, and NOESY. In addition, 4 exhibited significant inhibitory activity on NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells with IC50 value of 14.3 μg/mL.

Influence of Perineural Invasion on Survival and Recurrence in Patients with Resected Pancreatic Cancer

Zhang, Jun-Feng,Hua, Rong,Sun, Yong-Wei,Liu, Wei,Huo, Yan-Miao,Liu, De-Jun,Li, Jiao Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.9

Background: Perineural invasion (PNI) has been reported as one of the sources of locoregional recurrence in resected pancreatic cancer (PC). However the impact of PNI in resected pancreatic cancer remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between PNI status and clinical outcomes. Methods: Publications were identified which assessed prognostic significance of PNI status in resected pancreatic cancer up to February 2013. A meta-analysis was performed to clarify the association between PNI status and clinical outcomes. Results: A total of 21 studies met the inclusion criteria, covering 4,459 cases. Analysis of these data showed that intrapancreatic PNI was correlated with reduced overall survival only in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients (HR=1.982, 95%CI: 1.526-2.574, p=0.000). Extrapancreatic PNI was correlated with reduced overall survival in all resected pancreatic cancer patients (HR=1.748, 95%CI: 1.372-2.228, p=0.000). Moreover, intrapancreatic PNI status may be associated with tumor recurrence in all resected pancreatic cancer patients (HR=2.714, 95%CI: 1.885-3.906, p=0.000). Conclusion: PNI was an independent and poor prognostic factor in resected PDAC patients. Moreover, intrapancreatic PNI status may be associated with tumor recurrence.

The MTHFR C677T Polymorphism and Prostate Cancer Risk: New Findings from a Meta-analysis of 7306 Cases and 8062 Controls

Zhang, Wei-Bing,Zhang, Jun-Hong,Pan, Zheng-Qi,Yang, Qi-Sheng,Liu, Bo Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.6

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an essential enzyme involved in folate metabolism; a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C677T has been reported to be linked with altered incidences of several diseases. We here conducted a meta-analysis of 15 published epidemiological studies with a total of 7306 cases and 8062 controls to evaluate its association with prostate cancer risk with overall and subgroup analyses. No statistical relationship was found overall with any genetic model (TT vs. CC: OR = 0.80, 95%CI = [0.62, 1.04], P = 0.094; CT vs. CC: OR = 0.97, 95%CI = [0.84; 1.12], P = 0.667; Dominant: OR = 0.94, 95%CI = [0.82; 1.07], P = 0.343; Recessive: OR = 0.81, 95%CI = [0.64; 1.04], P = 0.104), but after the exclusion of several studies, we could observe the homozygote TT to confer less susceptibility to prostate cancer in carriers; moreover, different effects of the polymorphism on prostate cancer risk was detected from subgroup analysis stratified by participants' residential region: significant reduced prostate cancer risk was found to be associated with the polymorphism from Asian studies (TT vs. CC: OR = 0.47, 95%CI = [0.33; 0.67], P < 0.001; CT vs. CC: OR = 0.73, 95%CI = [0.60; 0.90], P = 0.002; Dominant: OR = 0.67, 95%CI = [0.56; 0.82], P < 0.001; Recessive: OR = 0.55, 95%CI = [0.40; 0.76], P < 0.001) while studies from Europe indicated a slight increased risk under dominant model with marginal significance (OR = 1.14, 95%CI = [0.99; 1.30], P = 0.064). Moreover, the protective effect of the polymorphism against prostate cancer was also shown by studies performed in yellow Asians (TT vs. CC: OR = 0.48, 95%CI = [0.31; 0.75], P = 0.001; CT vs. CC: OR = 0.68, 95%CI = [0.51; 0.90], P = 0.006; Dominant: OR = 0.63, 95%CI = [0.48; 0.82], P < 0.001; Recessive: OR = 0.57, 95%CI = [0.39; 0.84], P = 0.004). We propose that these phenomena should be viewed with the consideration of folate metabolism profile and different gene background as well as living habits of different populations, and more relevant studies should be conducted to confirm our hypothesis and provide a comprehensive and clear picture concerning this topic.

A Novel Missense Mutation of Keratin 17 Gene in a Chinese Family with Steatocystoma Multiplex

( Wei Wei Ha ),( Jing Wang ),( Wen Wang ),( Hong Yang Fu ),( Hua Yang Tang ),( Xian Fa Tang ),( Jun Zhu ),( Xian Yong Yin ),( Sen Yang ),( Xue Jun Zhang ) 대한피부과학회 2013 Annals of Dermatology Vol.25 No.4

Macrophages Promote Coal Tar Pitch Extract-induced Tumorigenesis of BEAS-2B Cells and Tumor Metastasis in Nude Mice Mediated by AP-1

Zhang, Peng,Jin, Yue-Fei,Zhang, Qiao,Wu, Yi-Ming,Wu, Wei-Dong,Yao, Wu,Wu, Yong-Jun,Li, Zhi-Tao,Zhao, Yong,Liu, Yu,Feng, Fei-Fei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.12

Background: We sought to evaluate the role of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) on the promotion of coal tar pitch extract (CTPE)-induced tumorigenesis of human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and tumor metastasis in nude mice, and related mechanisms. Materials and Methods: BEAS-2B cells were first treated with 2.4 mg/mL CTPE for 72 hours. After removal of CTPE, the cells were continuously cultured and passaged using trypsin-EDTA. THP-1 cells were used as macrophage-like cells. BEAS-2B cells under different conditions (n=6/group) were injected into the back necks of nude mice, and alterations of tumor xenograft growth, indicative of tumorigenicity, and tumor metastasis were determined. Pathological changes (tumor nests and microvascular lesions) of HE-stained tumor tissues were also evaluated. The expression of AP-1(c-Jun) in xenografts and metastatic tumors was determined using immunohistochemistry. Results: Tumor size and weight in nude mice transplanted with the mixture of CTPE-induced passage 30 BEAS-2B and THP-1 cells (2:1) were increased compared to those from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells at passage 30 alone at different observation time points. Tumor metastasis to lymph nodes and liver was only detected after transplantation of a mixture the two kinds of cells. The numbers of tumor nests and microvascular lesions, and the expression levels of AP-1 (c-Jun) in tumors from the mixture of two kinds of cells were increased apparently in contrast to those in tumor from the CTPE-treated BEAS-2B cells of passage 30 alone. In addition, there was positive correlation between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and the number of microvascular lesions, or between AP-1 (c-Jun) expression level and tumor metastasis in these two groups. Conclusions: TAMs not only facilitate tumorigenesis transformation of CTPE-induced BEAS-2B cells, but also promote tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis in nude mice in vivo, which may be mediated by AP-1.

Clinical Significance of SH2B1 Adaptor Protein Expression in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Zhang, Hang,Duan, Chao-Jun,Chen, Wei,Wang, Shao-Qiang,Zhang, Sheng-Kang,Dong, Shuo,Cheng, Yuan-Da,Zhang, Chun-Fang Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.5

The SH2B1 adaptor protein is recruited to multiple ligand-activated receptor tyrosine kinases that play important role in the physiologic and pathologic features of many cancers. The purpose of this study was to assess SH2B1 expression and to explore its contribution to the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: SH2B1 expression in 114 primary NSCLC tissue specimens was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathological parameters and patients' outcome. Additionally, 15 paired NSCLC background tissues, 5 NSCLC cell lines and a normal HBE cell line were evaluated for SH2B1 expression by RT-PCR and immunoblotting, immunofluorescence being applied for the cell lines. Results: SH2B1 was found to be overexpressed in NSCLC tissues and NSCLC cell lines. More importantly, high SH2B1 expression was significantly associated with tumor grade, tumor size, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, and recurrence respectively. Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with high SH2B1 expression had both poorer disease-free survival and overall survival than other patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that SH2B1 overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the SH2B1 protein may contribute to the malignant progression of NSCLC and could offer a novel prognostic indicator for patients with NSCLC.

VUV spectroscopic properties of rare-earth (RE³⁺ = Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, Tb³⁺, Dy³⁺) -activated layered borate Ba₆Gd₉B₇₉O₁₃₈

Zhang, Zhi-Jun,Zhang, Shao-Lin,Zhang, Wei-Bin,Yang, Woochul Elsevier 2017 SOLID STATE SCIENCES Vol.64 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectroscopic properties of rare-earth RE<SUP>3+</SUP>- activated (RE<SUP>3+</SUP> = Sm<SUP>3+</SUP>, Eu<SUP>3+</SUP>, Tb<SUP>3+</SUP> and Dy<SUP>3+</SUP>) Ba<SUB>6</SUB>Gd<SUB>9</SUB>B<SUB>79</SUB>O<SUB>138</SUB> borates (BGBO) are investigated. The strong absorption bands in the VUV range of un-doped and RE<SUP>3+</SUP>-activated BGBO were observed. The band range from 140 to 200 nm with a peak at about 173 nm results from the host lattice absorption. For Sm<SUP>3+</SUP>-activated BGBO, the charge transfer transition from O<SUP>2-</SUP> to Sm<SUP>3+</SUP> was observed at 202 nm. In addition, it exhibits bright red emission originating from the Sm<SUP>3+</SUP> <I>f</I>-<I>f</I> transitions of <SUP>4</SUP>G<SUB>5/2</SUB> → <SUP>6</SUP>H<SUB> <I>J</I> </SUB> (<I>J</I> = 5/2, 7/2 and 9/2). The O<SUP>2-</SUP>-Eu<SUP>3+</SUP> charge transfer (CT) at 249 nm is observed in the excitation spectrum for Eu<SUP>3+</SUP>-doped BGBO. For Tb<SUP>3+</SUP>-activated BGBO, the broad bands around 208 and 230 nm are due to the spin-allowed and spin-forbidden <I>f</I>-<I>d</I> transitions of Tb<SUP>3+</SUP>, respectively. In addition, the absence of the <I>f</I>-<I>d</I> transitions of Sm<SUP>3+</SUP> and Dy<SUP>3+</SUP> in the excitation spectra probably due to the photo-ionization effect. It is demonstrated that there are energy transfers from the BGBO host lattice to the luminescent activators depending on the activators.</P> <P><B>High lights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> VUV spectroscopic properties of rare-earth ions in Ba<SUB>6</SUB>Gd<SUB>9</SUB>B<SUB>79</SUB>O<SUB>138</SUB> have been investigated. </LI> <LI> The CT bands of O<SUP>2-</SUP>-Sm<SUP>3+</SUP> and O<SUP>2-</SUP>-Eu<SUP>3+</SUP> charge transfer bands were observed at 202 and 249 nm, respectively. </LI> <LI> The <I>f</I>-<I>d</I> spin-allowed (208 nm) and spin-forbidden (230 nm) transitions of Tb<SUP>3+</SUP> were observed. </LI> <LI> Energy transfer from the host to rare-earth activators has been demonstrated. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Extraction of density-of-states in amorphous InGaZnO thin-film transistors from temperature stress studies

Xing-Wei Ding,Jianhua Zhang,Weimin Shi,Hao Zhang,Chuanxin Huang,Jun Li,Xueyin Jiang,Zhilin Zhang 한국물리학회 2014 Current Applied Physics Vol.14 No.12

The instability of amorphous InGaZnO (a-IGZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) with different active layer thicknesses under temperature stress has been investigated through using the density-of-states (DOS). Interestingly, the a-IGZO TFT with 22 nm active layer thickness showed a better stability than the others, which was observed from the decrease of interfacial and semiconductor bulk trap densities. The DOS was calculated based on the experimentally-obtained activation energy (EA), which can explain the experimental observations. We developed the high-performance Al2O3 TFT with 22 nm IGZO channel layer (a high mobility of 7.4 cm2/V, a small threshold voltage of 2.8 V, a high Ion/Ioff 1.8 107, and a small SS of 0.16 V/dec), which can be used as driving devices in the next-generation flat panel displays.

Nonlinear Optical Properties of Silicon Nanocrystals Grown by Using a SiOx/SiO2 Superlattice Approach

Rong-Jun Zhang,Wei-Jie Lu,Qing-Yuan Cai,Wei-Xi Zhou,Yu-Xiang Zheng,Liang-Yao Chen,Hui Zhou,Shi-Xiong Qian,Se-Young Seo 한국물리학회 2010 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.56 No.4

The nonlinear optical properties have been studied using the Z-scan technique for silicon nanocrystals embedded in a SiO2 matrix formed by high-temperature annealing of SiOx/SiO2 superlattices grown by thermal evaporation. A mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser system producing 140-fs-long pulses at 800 nm was used as the optical source for the Z-scan measurements. The nonlinear refractive index and the nonlinear absorption coefficient of the silicon nanocrystals were found to be 1.2 × 10−13 cm2/W and 1.5 × 10−9 cm/W, respectively, and to be strongly enhanced compared to those of bulk silicon. Such enhancement of the nonlinear optical properties is considered to be due to the quantum confinement effect of silicon nanocrystals.