In Vivo Imaging of the Tumor‐Associated Enzyme NCEH1 with a Covalent PET Probe

Herein, we report the development of an ¹⁸F‐labeled, activity‐based small‐molecule probe targeting the cancer‐associated serine hydrolase NCEH1. We undertook a focused medicinal chemistry campaign to simultaneously preserve potent and specific NCEH1 labeling in live cells and animals, while permitting facile ¹⁸F radionuclide incorporation required for PET imaging. The resulting molecule, [¹⁸F]JW199, labels active NCEH1 in live cells at nanomolar concentrations and greater than 1000‐fold selectivity relative to other serine hydrolases. [¹⁸F]JW199 displays rapid, NCEH1‐dependent accumulation in mouse tissues. Finally, we demonstrate that [¹⁸F]JW199 labels aggressive cancer tumor cells in vivo, which uncovered localized NCEH1 activity at the leading edge of triple‐negative breast cancer tumors, suggesting roles for NCEH1 in tumor aggressiveness and metastasis.     

Dose verification of volumetric modulation arc therapy by using a NIPAM gel dosimeter combined with a parallel-beam optical computed tomography scanner

Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) was developed to shorten treatment time and increase target conformance. However, a true three-dimensional (3D) gel dosimeter is needed for dose verification. In this study, two clinic cases were adopted: a simple case of lung cancer and a complex case of larynx cancer. For each clinic case, two treatment plans were generated for the same planning target volume using VMAT and intensity modulated radiation therapy calculation software packages. An N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) polymer gel dosimeter was used for 3D dose verification. In addition, the dose characteristics of the NIPAM gel dosimeter were investigated for the two clinic cases.

     

On the development of a triple‐preserving Maxwell's equations solver in non‐staggered grids

We present in this paper a finite difference solver for Maxwell's equations in non‐staggered grids. The scheme formulated in time domain theoretically preserves the properties of zero‐divergence, symplecticity, and dispersion relation. The mathematically inherent Hamiltonian can be also retained all the time. Moreover, both spatial and temporal terms are approximated to yield the equal fourth‐order spatial and temporal accuracies. Through the computational exercises, modified equation analysis and Fourier analysis, it can be clearly demonstrated that the proposed triple‐preserving solver is computationally accurate and efficient for use to predict the Maxwell's solutions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impact of an indium oxide/indium-tin oxide mixed structure for GaN-based light-emitting diodes

An interesting GaN-based light emitting diode (LED) using a 50 nm indium oxide (In₂O₃)/250 nm indium-tin oxide (ITO) mixed structure to replace the commonly used ITO (250 nm) current spreading layer is fabricated and studied. Use of the In₂O₃ layer could reduce the contact resistance of p-GaN in LEDs. In addition, this highly-resistive In₂O₃ layer, below the ITO layer could improve the current spreading performance. Experimentally, at room temperature, using this mixed structure, the luminous and EL intensities are enhanced by 17.7 and 17.1%, respectively.     

The influence of lanthanum doping on the physical and electrical properties of BTV ferroelectric thin films

In this study, the ferroelectricity of as-deposited Bi_3.9La_0.1Ti_2.9V_0.1O₁₂ (BLTV), Bi_3.9Ti_2.9V_0.1O₁₂ (BTV), and Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BIT) thin films was prepared and compared by rf magnetron sputtering technology. For the BLTV, BTV, and BIT thin films deposited on Pt/Ti/SiO₂/Si and SiO₂/Si substrate, the physical and electrical characteristics of lanthanum doped BTV (BLTV) were better than those of BIT and BTV thin films. Regarding the physical properties, the micro-structure of as-deposited BTV and BLTV thin films were obtained and compared by XRD patterns and SEM images. The BLTV and BTV thin films were also exhibited clear the ferroelectricity. The remanent polarization (P _r ) of as-deposited BLTV thin films was 11 μC/cm² as the measured frequency of 100 kHz. It was higher than those of BTV thin films. Finally, the polarization of BLTV thin film capacitor decreased by 9%, while that of the BTV decreased by 15% after the fatigue test with 10⁹ switching cycles.     

Environmental radiation detected at Lin Shin hospital in Taichung during the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident

This work is the first evaluation of environmental gamma exposure rates by the Nuclear Medicine Department at Lin Shin Hospital (LSH) in Taichung with Thermoluminescent dosimeter (TLD-100H) during the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident. After the 9.0 M_W strong earthquake hit northern Japan on March 11, 2011, a TLD-100H was used to monitor environmental kerma rate at Taichung (2,500 km away from northern Japan) from Mar-08 to Apr-09, 2011 and evaluated kerma rate due to global fallout of the sever FNPP accidents. Exposure rates varied widely among positions close to the PET/CT facility. Observed kerma rates of up to 4.12 ± 0.62 mSv mo⁻¹ indicated an explicit, heavy leakage of photon through the PET/CT facility. No significant contributions were detected at Taichung, Taiwan. Hence, the health effect cause by the “extra radiation” from FNPP accidents is negligible. As this was a rare case of environmental monitoring during a nuclear power plant accident, its findings are of considerable significance.     

Nickel,copper and manganese hexacyanoferrate with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) hybrid film modified electrode for selectively determination of ascorbic acid

The NiHCF-PEDOT, CuHCF-PEDOT and MnHCF-PEDOT films were prepared on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by multiple scan cyclic voltammetry and characterized using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques. The advantages of these films are demonstrated for selectivity detection of ascorbic acid using cyclic voltammetry and amperometric method. Interestingly, the NiHCF-PEDOT and CuHCF-PEDOT modified electrodes exhibited a wide linear response range (5 × 10⁻⁶−3 × 10⁻⁴ M, R ² = 0.9973 and 1.8 × 10⁻³−1.8 × 10⁻² M, R ² = 0.9924). The electrochemical sensors facilitated the oxidation of AA but not responded to other electroactive biomolecules such as dopamine, uric acid, H₂O₂, glucose. The difference is MnHCF-PEDOT/GCE that no response to AA. In addition, the NiHCF-PEDOT and CuHCF-PEDOT modified electrodes exhibited a distinct advantage of simple preparation, specificity, stability and reproducibility.     

Voltage-controlled optical switch in planar nematic liquid crystal film

This study presents an integrated device that consists of a directional coupler and an electro-optic switch. The device is designed to include a nematic liquid crystal cell, comprising a grating-like electrode. Applying the appropriate voltage to the cell yields a periodically distributed refractive index. An incident polarized beam will couple to an adjacent channel if it is parallel to the channel. The coupling efficiency is controlled by applied voltage. An obliquely injected polarized beam will be reflected and refracted in the channel, and propagated along a curved path. The route of the beam can be controlled by applying the voltage. A multiport routing was achieved for voltage modulation. In addition, the distribution of refractive index is also investigated by employing conoscopic technique experimentally and numerically.     

Numerical simulation of blue InGaN light-emitting diodes with polarization-matched AlGaInN electron-blocking layer and barrier layer

The effect of polarization-matched AlGaInN electron-blocking layer and barrier layer on the optical performance of blue InGaN light-emitting diodes is numerically investigated. The polarization-matched AlGaInN electron-blocking layer and barrier layer are employed in an attempt to reduce the polarization effect inside the active region of the light-emitting diodes. The simulation results show that the polarization-matched AlGaInN electron-blocking layer is beneficial for confining the electrons inside the quantum well region. With the use of both polarization-matched AlGaInN electron-blocking layer and barrier layer, the optical performance of blue InGaN light-emitting diodes is greatly improved due to the increased overlap of electron and hole wavefunctions. The method proposed in this paper can also be applied to the light-emitting diodes operating in other spectral range.