Showing papers by "Tse-Chuan Chou published in 2011"

Elevated BCRP/ABCG2 Expression Confers Acquired Resistance to Gefitinib in Wild-Type EGFR-Expressing Cells

Abstract: Background The sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is strongly associated with activating EGFR mutations. Although not as sensitive as patients harboring these mutations, some patients with wild-type EGFR (wtEGFR) remain responsive to EGFR TKIs, suggesting that the existence of unexplored mechanisms renders most of wtEGFR-expressing cancer cells insensitive.

Integrated microfluidic system for electrochemical sensing of glycosylated hemoglobin

Abstract: This article reports a new miniature electrochemical detection system integrating a sample pretreatment device for fast detection of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), which is a common indicator for diabetes mellitus. In this system, circular micropumps, normally closed microvalves, dielectrophoretic (DEP) electrodes, and electrochemical sensing electrode are integrated to perform several crucial processes. These processes include separation of red blood cells (RBCs), sample/reagent transportation, mixing, cell lysis, and electrochemical sensing. For the HbA1C measurement, the RBCs are separated and are collected from whole human blood by using a positive DEP force generated by the DEP electrodes. The collected RBCs are then lysed to release HbA1C for the subsequent electrochemical detection processes. Experimental data show that the RBCs are successfully separated and are collected using the developed system with a RBCs capture rate of 84.2%. The subsequent detection of HbA1C is automatically completed by utilizing electrochemical sensing electrode. The microfluidic system only consumes a sample volume of 200 μl. The entire process is automatically performed within a short period of time (10 min). The development of this integrated microfluidic system may be promising for the clinical monitoring of diabetes mellitus.

A Nonenzymatic Amperometric Method for Fructosyl‐Valine Sensing Using Ferroceneboronic Acid

Abstract: Fructosyl valine (Fru-Val) is a glycosylated component of hemoglobin (HbA1c) that can serve as a diagnostic target for type 2 diabetes. While average blood glucose levels fluctuate significantly, the more stable levels of HbA1c can serve as a better long-term diagnostic marker. Here a diagnostic system, incorporating an amperometric method, for detecting Fru-Val (at +0.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl), using ferrocene boronic acid (FcBA) is presented. FcBA can complex diols, and has easily detectable redox properties. The boronic acid group in FcBA mediates complexation, while the Fe(II)/Fe(III) couple serves as a transducer. The diagnostic system, based on a miniaturized bare glassy carbon paste electrode (GCPE), has a fast response time.

Real-time telemetry system for amperometric and potentiometric electrochemical sensors

Abstract: A real-time telemetry system, which consists of readout circuits, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a microcontroller unit (MCU), a graphical user interface (GUI), and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, is proposed for amperometric and potentiometric electrochemical sensors By integrating the proposed system with the electrochemical sensors, analyte detection can be conveniently performed The data is displayed in real-time on a GUI and optionally uploaded to a database via the Internet, allowing it to be accessed remotely An MCU was implemented using a field programmable gate array (FPGA) to filter noise, transmit data, and provide control over peripheral devices to reduce power consumption, which in sleep mode is 70 mW lower than in operating mode The readout circuits, which were implemented in the TSMC 018-μm CMOS process, include a potentiostat and an instrumentation amplifier (IA) The measurement results show that the proposed potentiostat has a detectable current range of 1 nA to 100 μA, and linearity with an R2 value of 099998 in each measured current range The proposed IA has a common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) greater than 90 dB The proposed system was integrated with a potentiometric pH sensor and an amperometric nitrite sensor for in vitro experiments The proposed system has high linearity (an R2 value greater than 099 was obtained in each experiment), a small size of 56 cm × 87 cm, high portability, and high integration

Oxygenate additive for internal combustion engine fuel, fuel composition comprising the same and improved process for producing highly methylated glycerol ethers

Abstract: The invention relates to an oxygenate additive for an internal combustion engine fuel, comprising glycerol dimethyl ethers (GDMEs) and glycerol trimethyl ether (GTME); a fuel composition comprising the oxygenate additive; an improved process for methylation of glycerol with dimethyl sulfate to produce highly methylated glycerol ethers; and uses of ethers produced from the process for diesel fuel, for gasoline and for aviation turbine fuel, or as a green solvent or as an antifreezer.

Synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (oxygenated fuel) from methanol and carbon dioxide

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing dimethyl carbonate (DMC) by liquid-liquid phase reactive extraction for improving water and products removal after reaction and increasing the yield of DMC. The process includes: (a) providing methanol, CO2, catalyst, and the hydrophobic fuel; (b) providing a reactor; (c) adding methanol, CO2, catalyst, and hydrophobic fuel to the reactor; (d) esterifying methanol with CO2 to obtain dimethyl carbonate allowing to dissolve into the hydrophobic fuel; and (e) separating the hydrophobic fuel; (f) separating the produced water from the esterification. The hydrophobic fuel comprises: butane, propane, gasoline and other hydrophohic organic fuels.

Comparative Analysis of Trends Resulting from the Use of a Multi-Gaussian Curve Fitting Method Applied to the Visible Raman Spectra of Sputtered Amorphous Carbon

Abstract: This paper discusses the application of a direct integral area method and a multi-Gaussian curve fitting method to the interpretation of visible Raman spectra. A data analysis study was performed on three amorphous carbon films prepared by magnetron sputtering. Application of XPS, AES and the direct integration of the areas under the curves generated by visible Raman spectra, gave results that represented the diamondlike qualities of three amorphous carbon films in a similar manner, but the representation of data-trends using the multi-Gaussian curve fitting method was irregular. More specifically, we discovered that both the number of Gaussian curves applied, and the analytic regions chosen for analyzing the spectra affected the interpretation of the data obtained; our results indicate that the multi-Gaussian curve fitting method may give rise to inconsistent results when applied to the analysis of the visible Raman spectra of diamond-like (amorphous) carbon films. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.M2010234]