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.

Auxetic Foam‐Based Contact‐Mode Triboelectric Nanogenerator with Highly Sensitive Self‐Powered Strain Sensing Capabilities to Monitor Human Body Movement

Abstract: The first contact-mode triboelectric self-powered strain sensor using an auxetic polyurethane foam, conductive fabric, and polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE) is fabricated. Utilizing the auxetic properties of the polyurethane foam, the auxetic polyurethane foam would expand into the PTFE when the foam is stretched, causing contact electrification. Due to a larger contact area between the PTFE and the foam as the foam is stretched, this device can serve effectively as a strain sensor. The sensitivity of this method is explored, and this sensor has the highest sensitivity in all triboelectric nanogenerator devices that are used previously as a strain sensor. Different applications of this strain sensor are shown, and this sensor can be used as a human body monitoring system, self-powered scale to measure weight, and a seat belt to measure body movements inside a car seat.

Defect reduction and efficiency improvement of near-ultraviolet emitters via laterally overgrown GaN on a GaN/patterned sapphire template

Abstract: An approach to improve the defect density and internal quantum efficiency of near-ultraviolet emitters was proposed using a combination of epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELOG) and patterned sapphire substrate (PSS) techniques. Especially, a complementary dot array pattern corresponding to the underlying PSS was used for the ELOG-SiO2 mask design. Based on the transmission-electron-microscopy and etch-pit-density results, the ELOG∕SiO2∕GaN∕PSS structure can reduce the defect density to a level of 105cm−2. The internal quantum efficiency of the InGaN-based ELOG-PSS light-emitting diode (LED) sample showed three times in magnitude as compared with that of the conventional GaN/sapphire one. Under a 20mA injection current, the output powers of ELOG-PSS, PSS, and conventional LED samples were measured to be 3.3, 2.9, and 2.5mW, respectively. The enhanced output power could be due to a combination of the reduction in dislocation density (by ELOG) and improved light extraction efficiency (by PSS). Unlike the previ...

Identification of oleosins as major allergens in sesame seed allergic patients.

Abstract: Background: The prevalence of sesame allergy is increasing in European countries. Cases of severe allergy lack any evidence of specific immunoglobulin (Ig)Es by prick tests and CAPSystem-FEIA. The reasons for this negativity are unknown. Methods: In 32 patients displaying immediate symptoms such as anaphylactic shock, asthma, urticaria, angioedema, sesame allergy was diagnosed by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) or convincing clinical history. However, 10 patients had negative prick tests and CapSystem-FEIA. The specificity of IgEs was further investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), isoelectrofocalisation (IEF)-blotting, and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) blotting using total sesame extracts and purified fraction of oil bodies. Monospecific rabbit antibodies directed to two oleosin isoforms (15 and 17 kDa) were used. Results: By ELISA, white sesame seed extract allowed the detection of higher levels of IgE than brown sesame extract. In all sera, numerous bands binding IgEs were detected by IEF or SDS-PAGE. In reducing conditions, two bands (15–17 kDa), could be separated from 2S albumin. Oleosins, present in oil bodies fractions, were recognized by IgEs from all sera. Conclusion: Oleosins are major allergens of sesame seeds and may be relevant to severe anaphylaxis. Falsely negative prick tests could be due to the lack of oleosins in presently available extracts, or to the fact that epitopes might be buried in the inner molecule. Detection tests currently used to identify sesame allergens based on sesame vicillins or other storage proteins could be insufficient for the detection of sesame seed contamination. Oleosins have been named Ses i 4 (17 kDa) and Ses i 5 (15 kDa), in accordance with the IUIS Nomenclature Committee.

IRON MAN is a ubiquitous family of peptides that control iron transport in plants.

Abstract: Iron (Fe) is an essential mineral nutrient that severely affects the growth, yield and nutritional quality of plants if not supplied in sufficient quantities. Here, we report that a short C-terminal amino-acid sequence consensus motif (IRON MAN; IMA) conserved across numerous, highly diverse peptides in angiosperms is essential for Fe uptake in plants. Overexpression of the IMA sequence in Arabidopsis induced Fe uptake genes in roots, causing accumulation of Fe and manganese in all plant parts including seeds. Silencing of all eight IMA genes harboured in the Arabidopsis genome abolished Fe uptake and caused severe chlorosis; increasing the Fe supply or expressing IMA1 restored the wild-type phenotype. IMA1 is predominantly expressed in the phloem, preferentially in leaves, and reciprocal grafting showed that IMA1 peptides in shoots positively regulate Fe uptake in roots. IMA homologues are highly responsive to the Fe status and functional when heterologously expressed across species. IMA constitutes a novel family of peptides that are critical for the acquisition and cellular homeostasis of Fe across land plants. Iron (Fe) is one of the essential micronutrients for plant growth, but overload of Fe causes toxicity. Now researchers have identified a new family of small peptides that regulate Fe homeostasis by acting as phloem-mobile signals in flowering plants.