National Chung Hsing University

About: National Chung Hsing University is a education organization based out in Taichung, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Thin film. The organization has 19443 authors who have published 24060 publications receiving 540154 citations. The organization is also known as: NCHU.

Comparative study of CO2 capture by carbon nanotubes, activated carbons, and zeolites

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), granular activated carbon (GAC), and zeolites were modified by 3-aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTS) and were selected as adsorbents to study their physicochemical properties and adsorption behaviors of CO2 from gas streams. The surface nature of these adsorbents was changed after the modification, which make them adsorb more CO2 gases. Under the same conditions, the modified CNTs possess the greatest adsorption capacity of CO2, followed by the modified zeolites and then the modified GAC. The mechanism of CO2 adsorption on these adsorbents appears mainly attributable to physical force, which makes regeneration of spent adsorbents at a relatively low temperature become feasible. The APTS-modified CNTs show good performance of CO2 adsorption as compared to many types of modified carbon and silica adsorbents reported in the literature. This suggests that the APTS-modified CNTs are efficient CO2 adsorbents and that they possess potential applications for CO2 capture from gas streams.

Antioxidant properties of several medicinal mushrooms.

Abstract: Three species of medicinal mushrooms are commercially available in Taiwan, namely, Ganoderma lucidum (Ling-chih), Ganoderma tsugae (Sung-shan-ling-chih), and Coriolus versicolor (Yun-chih). Methano...

Tumor-associated macrophages: The double-edged sword in cancer progression

Abstract: Purpose Inflammation plays a critical role in cancer progression. In this study we investigate the pro-tumorigenic activities and gene expression profiles of lung cancer cells after interaction with macrophages. Materials and Methods We measured intratumoral microvessel counts and macrophage density in 41 lung cancer tumor specimens and correlated these with the patients' clinical outcome. The interaction between macrophages and cancer cell lines was assessed using a transwell coculture system. The invasive potential was evaluated by in vitro invasion assay. The matrix-degrading activity was assayed by gelatin zymography. The microarray was applied to a large-scale analysis of the genes involved in the interaction, as well as to monitor the gene expression profiles of lung cancer cells responding to anti-inflammatory drugs in cocultures. Results The macrophage density positively correlated with microvessel counts and negatively correlated with patient relapse-free survival (P < .05). After coculture with ...

Extinction vulnerability of tropical montane endemism from warming and upslope displacement: a preliminary appraisal for the highest massif in Madagascar

Abstract: One of the predicted biological responses to climate warming is the upslope displacement of species distributions. In the tropics, because montane assemblages frequently include local endemics that are distributed close to summits, these species may be especially vulnerable to experiencing complete habitat loss from warming. However, there is currently a dearth of information available for tropical regions. Here, we present a preliminary appraisal of this extinction threat using the herpetological assemblage of the Tsaratanana Massif in northern Madagascar (the island’s highest massif), which is rich with montane endemism. We present meteorological evidence (individual and combined regional weather station data and reanalysis forecast data) for recent warming in Madagascar, and show that this trend is consistent with recent climate model simulations. Using standard moist adiabatic lapse rates, these observed meteorological warming trends in northern Madagascar predict upslope species displacement of 17–74 m per decade between 1993 and 2003. Over this same period, we also report preliminary data supporting a trend for upslope distribution movements, based on two surveys we completed at Tsaratanana. For 30 species, representing five families of reptiles and amphibians, we found overall mean shifts in elevational midpoint of 19–51 m upslope (mean lower elevation limit 29–114 m; mean upper elevation limit � 8t o 53 m). We also found upslope trends in mean and median elevational observations in seven and six of nine species analysed. Phenological differences between these surveys do not appear to be substantial, but these upslope shifts are consistent with the predictions based on meteorological warming. An elevational range displacement analysis projects complete habitat loss for three species below the 21C ‘dangerous’ warming threshold. One of these species is not contracting its distribution, but the other two were not resampled in 2003. A preliminary review of the other massifs in Madagascar indicates potential similar vulnerability to habitat loss and upslope extinction. Consequently, we urgently recommend additional elevational surveys for these and other tropical montane assemblages, which should also include, when possible, the monitoring of local meteorological conditions and habitat change.