Regulation of Ferroptosis by Non-Coding RNAs in Head and Neck Cancers

Ferroptosis is a newly identified mode of programmed cell death characterized by iron-associated accumulation of lipid peroxides. Emerging research on ferroptosis has suggested its implication in tumorigenesis and stemness of cancer. On the other hand, non-coding RNAs have been shown to play a pivotal role in the modulation of various genes that affect the progression of cancer cells and ferroptosis. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the theoretical modeling of ferroptosis and its relationship between non-coding RNAs and head and neck cancers. Aside from the significance of ferroptosis-related non-coding RNAs in prognostic relevance, we also review how these non-coding RNAs participate in the regulation of iron, lipid metabolism, and reactive oxygen species accumulation. We aim to provide a thorough grounding in the function of ferroptosis-related non-coding RNAs based on current knowledge in an effort to develop effective therapeutic strategies for head and neck cancers.     

Corrosion behavior of pure tin deposit under 55 °C/85 % RH reliability test

With recent moves to implement lead-free manufacturing in the electronics industry, more attention is being paid to the use of tin. One of greatest limitations regarding the reliability of tin is the undesirable development of tin whiskers. Many factors have been identified as being the cause of these whiskers, though tin corrosion has not. Three types of tin deposit grain structures have been developed in an effort to reduce the growth of whisker formations as type (A) with vertical and regular grain boundary; type (B) with horizontal and irregular grain boundary; and type (C) as a combination of both vertical (the top layer) and horizontal (the bottom layer) grain structures. We kept a series of samples in an oven for 1 year at 55 °C/85 % RH (relative humidity), and then used focused ion beam to examine the corrosion microstructure that occurred three types of deposit structures. We found the preferred path of corrosion to occur along the grain boundary and that tin oxide enlarges the volume of the deposit. In order to release the compressive stress that developed during corrosion, whiskers were formed as the grain structure being vertical. Corrosion developed in different locations of various deposits made of the three grain structures. We studied resulting in whisker growth, cracking and the development of internal oxide.     

Synthesis of UV-curable silane-coupling agent as an adhesion promoter

In color filter industry, a problem was found that the adhesion strength between glass substrate and black matrix was largely decreased after ITO sputtering process. In order to solve this problem, a new UV-curable silane-coupling agent (UV-SCA) was synthesized to be an adhesion promoter, which was synthesized by the reaction between the hydroxyl group of bisphenol A epoxy diacrylate and the isocyanate group of 3-(isocyanatopropyl)-triethoxysilane. The adhesion strength between glass substrate and black film, which was prepared from the carbon black photo-resist with or without the addition of UV-SCA, was determined by a tensile/compression strength tester, and the effect of UV-SCA on the adhesion strength before and after ITO sputtering process was also discussed.     

DNA molecule stretching through thermo-electrophoresis and thermal convection in a heated converging-diverging microchannel

A novel DNA molecule stretching technique is developed and tested herein. Through a heated converging-diverging microchannel, thermal convection and thermophoresis induced by regional heating are shown to significantly elongate single DNA molecules; they are visualized via a confocal laser scanning microscopy. In addition, electrophoretic stretching is also implemented to examine the hybrid effect on the conformation and dynamics of single DNA molecules. The physical properties of the DNA molecules are secured via experimental measurements.     

Hydrophilic polystyrene/maleic anhydride ultrafine fibrous membranes

Polystyrene/maleic anhydride (PSMA) was synthesized to reach a viscosity‐average molecular weight of 700 kDa and fabricated into ultrafine fibrous membranes consisting of fibers with an average diameter of 300 nm. These ultrafine PSMA fibers were rendered insoluble in organic solvents by reactions with hydrazine and ethylenediamine (ED). The highly efficient incorporation of diamines into the fibrous membranes was easily achieved by brief immersions in either dilute (0.5 wt %) hydrazine for 1 min or ED ether solution for 2 min. Heating at 150°C for 5 min produced crosslinked PSMA with very little or no solubility in acetone with the retention of the fibrous membrane structure. The ED‐crosslinked membranes were particularly stable to both bases and acids as well as hydrophilic solvents, had a 46° water contact angle, and absorbed 22 times the amount of water as the as‐spun fibrous membrane. This post‐fiber‐formation crosslinking approach was robust, highly efficient, and fast and required very little crosslinking reagent. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

A Bipolar Host Material Containing Triphenylamine and Diphenylphosphoryl‐Substituted Fluorene Units for Highly Efficient Blue Electrophosphorescence

Highly efficient blue electrophosphorescent organic light‐emitting diodes incorporating a bipolar host, 2,7‐bis(diphenylphosphoryl)‐9‐[4‐(N,N‐diphenylamino)phenyl]‐9‐phenylfluorene (POAPF), doped with a conventional blue triplet emitter, iridium(III) bis[(4,6‐difluoro‐phenyl)pyridinato‐N,C^2´]picolinate (FIrpic) are fabricated. The molecular architecture of POAPF features an electron‐donating (p‐type) triphenylamine group and an electron‐accepting (n‐type) 2,7‐bis(diphenyl‐phosphoryl)fluorene segment linked through the sp³‐hybridized C9 position of the fluorene unit. The lack of conjugation between these p‐ and n‐type groups endows POAPF with a triplet energy gap (E_T) of 2.75 eV, which is sufficiently high to confine the triplet excitons on the blue‐emitting guest. In addition, the built‐in bipolar functionality facilitates both electron and hole injection. As a result, a POAPF‐based device doped with 7 wt% FIrpic exhibits a very low turn‐on voltage (2.5 V) and high electroluminescence efficiencies (20.6% and 36.7 lm W^?1). Even at the practical brightnesses of 100 and 1000 cd m^?2, the efficiencies remain high (20.2%/33.8 lm W^?1 and 18.8%/24.3 lm W^?1, respectively), making POAPF a promising material for use in low‐power‐consumption devices for next‐generation flat‐panel displays and light sources.     

Plasma induced patterning of polydimethylsiloxane surfaces

We report on a plasma-based method to fabricate chemical and physical patterns on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces. A copper TEM grid was placed on cured, planar (2D) and periodic (3D) PDMS surfaces, and the samples exposed to a low-pressure “air” plasma. The pattern of the grid was precisely replicated, forming hydrophilic channels only where the grid wires contacted the PDMS surface. Exposed regions of the surface between the mesh wires were not chemically modified and retained their hydrophobic character. This plasma-based procedure provides a simple, fast, and inexpensive method for creating patterned chemical functionalities on 2D and 3D PDMS surfaces for directed assembly and for the development of micro-scale sensors and bio-chip devices.     

Six-Sigma project selection using national quality award criteria and Delphi fuzzy multiple criteria decision-making method

Six-Sigma is a tactical tool of significant value in achieving operational excellence. The project selection decision, under a resources constraint, is the early stage of implementation for a Six-Sigma intervention. The project selection decision is challenging due to its fuzzy group decision-making aspect inherent to the problem. The present study proposes to adopt national quality award criteria as the Six-Sigma project selection criteria, and proposes a hierarchical criteria evaluation process. The strategic criteria are evaluated by the management team using a Delphi fuzzy multiple criteria decision-making method. Then, the tactical sub-criteria which contain additional operational issues are evaluated by the Six-Sigma Champion. The proposed methodology is successfully applied in solving the project selection problem deriving from a component manufacturer. The empirical outcomes are promising. Moreover, the results show that the higher a project’s priority is, the greater the financial gains will be on completion of the project. Accordingly, the proposed methodology can prioritize the financial gain – which is the key performance indicator for a Six-Sigma project. Additionally, the quality status of the case company has been significantly improved through implementation of the Six-Sigma project. The systematic evaluation process also influences employees to adopt an analytical operations philosophy. Moreover, the commercial objectives of the company are brought into focus by the proposed methodology.     

Trend transformation of drain-current degradation under drain-avalanche hot-carrier stress for CLC n-TFTs

Continuous-wave green laser-crystallized (CLC) single-grain-like polycrystalline silicon n-channel thin-film transistors (poly-Si n-TFTs) demonstrate the higher electron mobility and turn-on current than excimer laser annealing (ELA) poly-Si n-TFTs. Furthermore, high drain voltage accelerates the flowing electrons in n-type channel, and hence the hot-carriers possibly cause a serious damage near the drain region and deteriorate the source/drain (S/D) current. In this study, at high drain stress voltage, it appears that CLC TFT was degraded in the initial stress time (before 50 s), but the drain current was enhanced after 50 s. After 50 s stress time, the amount of grain boundary trap states near the drain side was getting large and the reflowing holes damaged the source region or injected into gate oxide near source side as well.