Purpose This study investigates the influence of individual- and country-level factors on citizen... more Purpose This study investigates the influence of individual- and country-level factors on citizen members’ attitude and actions regarding plastic waste. At the individual level, it assesses the influence of the diversity of environmental news use from traditional media, online social networks, and other internet sources on the public’s support for policy and green behaviors related to plastic waste. Design/methodology/approach We utilized secondary survey data collected from 27 European countries by Eurobarometer. Results The two-level analysis show that several individual factors including gender, age, political ideology, risk perception, and most importantly diversity of sources in environmental news use, from all three types of media sources, was positively associated with participants’ policy support and green behaviors related to plastic waste. This research also found the influence of several country-level variables on green behaviors toward plastic waste. Implications When as...
Using the 2016 European Commission’s Eurobarometer survey, this study analyzed how a multitude of... more Using the 2016 European Commission’s Eurobarometer survey, this study analyzed how a multitude of factors are associated with identification and intention of following proper antibiotic treatment. Multilevel analyses showed that knowledge and information from medical professionals and mass media (individual-level predictors), and advanced access to education (a structural-level factor) are associated with identification. For intention, structural factors (Access to Information & Communications, Health & Wellness, Nutrition & Basic Medical Care) contributed significant variances to the model, in addition to the individual-level effects (sources and trust in medical professionals and mass media). Results demonstrate a need to consider these structural-level influences to shed light on the process though which antibiotic resistance preventions and interventions might impact individuals’ health literacy and behavioral outcomes.
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2021
This study examines how newsroom work in the United States has changed in response to some of the... more This study examines how newsroom work in the United States has changed in response to some of the latest developments in the news media environment. Using nationally representative survey data, we explore what professional routines American journalists have adopted to avoid spreading or being accused of publishing misinformation. Findings suggest that journalists have added new or intensified practices to increase accountability and transparency. In addition, role conceptions, perception of fake news, and responsibility for social media audiences impact the adoption of such practices. Journalists are more likely to embrace transparency than accountability, suggesting the emergence of new journalistic norms in today’s newsrooms.
Abstract Surveying journalists in Vietnam, a socialist-communist country, this study attempts to ... more Abstract Surveying journalists in Vietnam, a socialist-communist country, this study attempts to bring insights into the effects of digital platforms on newsroom practices. Specifically, it looks at how journalists from mainstream news media organizations routinize the use of Facebook for various professional purposes. Additionally, this research examines journalists’ role conceptions and how these values influence news workers’ use of Facebook. Its findings show that journalists in this Southeast Asian country are embracing Facebook in their reporting, understanding audience, and branding. Results also indicate that the two important predictors of journalists’ Facebook use for work are the interpretive and populist-mobilizer functions of the news media. Theoretical implications of those findings are discussed in the context of a socialist-communist media system.
Triangulating several methods including automated framing analysis and assessment of textual elem... more Triangulating several methods including automated framing analysis and assessment of textual elements, this study examines how the elite press from three countries frames the Rohingya refugee crisis in 2017. Results from our framing and textual analysis show differences in how the press from the three countries portrayed the crisis. Specifically, The Irrawaddy (Myanmar) tends to incorporate a nationalist narrative into news content, playing down the violence used against Rohingyas. The New Nation (Bangladesh) frames the crisis according to the country's priorities, focusing its coverage on the humanitarian aspects of the crisis. The New York Times uses a Western hegemonic discourse. Textual analysis indicates that although the same words are used in the frames of the Rohingya crisis, some represent different meanings. Findings are discussed using the lens of ideological and cultural influence.
This study investigates the news coverage of climate change in 45 different countries and territo... more This study investigates the news coverage of climate change in 45 different countries and territories. Using the news framing approach, this study identifies the connections between several national socioeconomic, governance, and environmental traits and the portrayals of climate change. Although climate change is a global issue that affects every country in the world, how the news media frame it varies from country to country. Such a variation is related to each country's economic development, climate severity, and governance. The findings of this study contribute to framing literature by assessing frame use in national contexts, filling in the gap in the application of this theoretical framework.
Since 2016, online social networks (OSNs), especially their “big data” algorithms, have been inte... more Since 2016, online social networks (OSNs), especially their “big data” algorithms, have been intensively blamed in popular news discourse for acting as echo chambers. These chambers entrap like-minded voters in closed ideological circles that cause serious damage to democratic processes. This study examines this “echo chamber” argument through the rather divisive case of EU politics among EU citizens. Based on an exploratory secondary analysis of the Eurobarometer 86.2 survey dataset, we investigate whether the reliance on OSNs as a primary EU political news source can lead people to more polarisation in EU-related political beliefs and attitudes than a reliance on traditional media. We found little evidence for this polarisation, lending credence to a rejection of social media’s “echo chamber” effect.
Prior studies suggested that holding preinvestigational new drug application (PIND) meetings with... more Prior studies suggested that holding preinvestigational new drug application (PIND) meetings with FDA has a positive effect on clinical development time (CDT). New product marketing applications submitted to FDA CDER during fiscal years 2008-2012 were assessed for whether a PIND meeting was held and, if so, a qualitative assessment of meeting content was performed. Discussions contained in the PIND meeting minutes tended to reflect topics appropriate to an early phase of drug development, including chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) and safety topics (eg, nonclinical and clinical domains). Additionally, FDA commonly provided additional advice most often in the clinical and CMC domains. Applications for which a PIND meeting was held during drug development had shorter CDTs than those that did not. This analysis showed the importance of early communication with FDA during development, and small companies with limited regulatory experience may gain the greatest benefit from e...
Recent evidence suggests that the cytosolic presence of branched chain amino acid aminotransferas... more Recent evidence suggests that the cytosolic presence of branched chain amino acid aminotransferase (BCAT1) in adult tissues is associated with diverse pathological conditions including cancer and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis; in these diseases, BCAT1 appears to modulate the expression of many key proteins and to be a new druggable target. In cancer, BCAT1 physically associates with CD147 and regulates the levels and the cellular localization of the protein in a number of different cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Silencing of Bcat1 gene downregulates the total expression of CD147 in MDA-MB-435 cells, while inhibition of BCAT1 by sodium 4-methyl-5-oxo-hexanoate (ERG240) leads to suppression of the extracellular CD147 in the same cells. In turn, suppression of extracellular CD147 results in downregulation of CD147-associated proteins such as MCT4, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cyclophilin A, and GAPDH. Furthermore, inhibition of BCAT1 is associated with preve...
Phosphor particles were introduced as a luminescent medium to improve the overall efficiency of d... more Phosphor particles were introduced as a luminescent medium to improve the overall efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
Rare-earths codoped long afterglow strontium aluminate phosphors with high brightness were synthe... more Rare-earths codoped long afterglow strontium aluminate phosphors with high brightness were synthesized via a facile combustion synthesis method using urea as a fuel. The resulted phosphor particles were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope, whereas their optical properties were monitored by photoluminescence spectroscopy. The prepared SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+, Li+ samples showed a broad green-yellowish emission, peaking at 512 nm when excited by 348 nm. Compared to traditional SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphor, the initial luminescence brightness of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+, codoped with Li+ improved from 1.89 cd/m2 to 2.71 cd/m2 and the afterglow decay time was prolonged from 103 to 121 min. The possible mechanism of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+, Li+ phosphorescence enhancement has been discussed.
Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 2003
Current combination treatment strategies in malignancy are designed to evaluate the use of cytoto... more Current combination treatment strategies in malignancy are designed to evaluate the use of cytotoxic drugs and antiangiogenic agents. Endostatin, a fragment of collagen XVIII, specifically inhibits proliferation, migration, and differentiation of endothelial cells in vitro as well as angiogenesis and tumor progression in in vivo models. In this study, we determine the antitumor effect of rhEndostatin administered alone or in combination with Adriamycin against established orthotopic murine mammary carcinoma. Mice bearing orthotopically established DA-3 mammary adenocarcinoma tumors received varying doses of rhEndostatin alone and in combination with Adriamycin to assess tumor growth inhibition. Additional studies of this in vivo combination included a determination of Adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity and in vitro effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation and cord formation. For single-agent activity, optimal tumor growth inhibition was observed after s.c. admin...
Despite increased public screening, many individuals with depression remain undetected or untreat... more Despite increased public screening, many individuals with depression remain undetected or untreated. This study explored the performance of an Internet-based program in screening for depression. Methods: The Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale was adapted as an online screening test. The program advised persons whose score indicated a high probability of depression to seek treatment and asked them to complete a survey of attitudes and preferences that could be printed and taken to a health professional. Responses were collected anonymously for epidemiologic research. Demographic characteristics of participants were compared with those of the U.S. population and participants in previous community screenings. The costs of the program were calculated. Results: The CES-D scale was completed 24,479 times during the eight-month study period. The respondents' median age category was 30 to 45 years, and almost 30 percent were male; 58 percent (N=14,185) screened positive for depression, and fewer than half of those had never been treated for depression. The proportion of younger individuals was larger than in previous public screenings, but was still lower than that in the U.S. population. Our sample contained a lower proportion of minorities than the U.S. population (16.6 percent versus 28.3 percent).
We aimed to describe characteristics associated with attrition for patients in community mental h... more We aimed to describe characteristics associated with attrition for patients in community mental health treatment with chronic mental illness with and without substance use disorders. Baseline assessments included symptom severity, treatment satisfaction, social support, and a structured diagnostic interview. Treatment attrition was assessed at six months. At six months, 36% of the dual diagnosis group (n = 25), and 61%
Spherical-shaped, Tb 3+ /Al 3+ codoped Gd 2 O 3 phosphor particles were synthesized using a urea ... more Spherical-shaped, Tb 3+ /Al 3+ codoped Gd 2 O 3 phosphor particles were synthesized using a urea homogeneous precipitation method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy measurements confirmed the formation of nearly-uniform spherical particles with sizes in the range, 250 ± 50 nm. In this study we examined the effects of the Al 3+ codoping concentration on the photoluminescence emission of Tb 3+ doped Gd 2 O 3 phosphor particles. The results confirmed that incorporating Al 3+ into Gd 2 O 3 :Tb 3+ phosphor is highly favorable for improving the emission of the synthesized Gd 2 O 3 :Tb 3+ phosphor particles. In addition, the simple approach for the luminescence enhancement given here can be extended to the other phosphor systems.
This report presents a fabrication result of nearly uniform-shaped color-tunable Y 2 O 3 submicro... more This report presents a fabrication result of nearly uniform-shaped color-tunable Y 2 O 3 submicron particles codoped with Eu and Tm ions. The resulted particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope and field emission transmission electron microscope, whereas their optical properties were monitored by photoluminescence spectroscopy. The room temperature luminescence emission of synthesized particles was investigated in detail. It was shown that Eu 3+ and Tm 3+ codoped Y 2 O 3 submicron particles exhibits red luminescence (612 nm) under 255 nm excitation, while the emission color of the same particles can be tuned to blue (459 nm) under 320 nm excitation. Different concentrations of Eu 3+ and Tm 3+ were induced into the Y 2 O 3 lattice and the luminescence quenching was observed at high dopant concentrations.
Angiogenesis, the process of new capillary formation from pre-existing vessels, has been establis... more Angiogenesis, the process of new capillary formation from pre-existing vessels, has been established as an important mechanism involved in pathologic processes, such as cancer, as well as in normal physiology (Ribatti, D.; Vacca, A.; Roncali, L.; Dammacco, F. Angiogenesis under normal and pathological conditions. Haematologica 1991, 76 (4), 311-320). Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is a critical mediator of angiogenesis that is important for normal reproduction and wound healing. FGF-2 mediates its pro-angiogenic effects by binding to heparin sulfate proteoglycan in addition to a tyrosine kinase receptor (Baird, A.; Schubert, D.; Ling, N.; Guillemin, R. Receptor and heparin-binding domain of basic fibroblast growth factor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 1998, 5 (7), 2324-2328; Richard, C.; Roghani, M.; Moscatelli, D. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 mediates cell attachment through interactions with two FGF receptor-1 isoforms and extracellular matrix or cell-associated heparin sulfate proteoglycans. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2000, 276 (2), 399-405; Casu, B.; Guerrini, M.; Naggi, A.; Perez, M.; Torri, G.; Ribatti, D.; Carminati, P.; Giannini, G.; Penco, S.; Pisano, C.; Belleri, M.; Rusnati, M.; Presta, M. Short heparin sequences spaced by glycol-split urinate residues are antagonists of fibroblast growth factor 2 and angiogenesis inhibitors. Biochemistry 2002, 41 (33), 10519-10528; Murphy, P.V.; Pitt, N.; O'Brien, A.; Enright, P.M.; Dunne, A.; Wilson, S.J.; Duane, R.M.; O'Boyle, K.M. Identification of novel inhibitors of fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) binding to heparin and endothelial cell survival from a structurally diverse carbohybrid library. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2002, 12 (22), 3287-3290). We developed a liposomal-based peptide vaccine, L(HBD) that targets the heparin binding domain of the FGF-2 molecule. This vaccine, when inoculated into mice, inhibits angiogenesis in response to FGF-2 in a hepatic sponge model as well as tumor progression in two models of pulmonary metastatic disease. In the present studies, we further characterize the immunological and physiological responses to this vaccine. Vaccinated animals generated a specific anti-FGF-2 antibody (titer of 1:5000) that was able to inhibit FGF-2 binding to heparin sulfate in a dose dependent fashion. Cell mediated immunity was evidenced by a delayed type hypersensitivity response following challenge with the heparin binding domain peptide. Despite an immune response toward FGF-2, vaccination with L(HBD) did not result in alterations in mean time to wound healing when compared to unvaccinated animals or those treated with a liposome control. In reproductive studies, vaccinated females were not impaired in their ability to: 1) become pregnant, 2) support the growth and development of their embryos, and 3) deliver viable offspring. Furthermore, when assessed histologically, these offspring did not demonstrate any alterations in organogenesis when compared to pups born to untreated or liposome control treated females. Thus, while vaccination against FGF-2 induces a specific FGF-2 antibody response, and inhibits angiogenesis and tumor development in a pathological setting, it does not adversely alter normal physiological events dependent on FGF-2.
Purpose This study investigates the influence of individual- and country-level factors on citizen... more Purpose This study investigates the influence of individual- and country-level factors on citizen members’ attitude and actions regarding plastic waste. At the individual level, it assesses the influence of the diversity of environmental news use from traditional media, online social networks, and other internet sources on the public’s support for policy and green behaviors related to plastic waste. Design/methodology/approach We utilized secondary survey data collected from 27 European countries by Eurobarometer. Results The two-level analysis show that several individual factors including gender, age, political ideology, risk perception, and most importantly diversity of sources in environmental news use, from all three types of media sources, was positively associated with participants’ policy support and green behaviors related to plastic waste. This research also found the influence of several country-level variables on green behaviors toward plastic waste. Implications When as...
Using the 2016 European Commission’s Eurobarometer survey, this study analyzed how a multitude of... more Using the 2016 European Commission’s Eurobarometer survey, this study analyzed how a multitude of factors are associated with identification and intention of following proper antibiotic treatment. Multilevel analyses showed that knowledge and information from medical professionals and mass media (individual-level predictors), and advanced access to education (a structural-level factor) are associated with identification. For intention, structural factors (Access to Information & Communications, Health & Wellness, Nutrition & Basic Medical Care) contributed significant variances to the model, in addition to the individual-level effects (sources and trust in medical professionals and mass media). Results demonstrate a need to consider these structural-level influences to shed light on the process though which antibiotic resistance preventions and interventions might impact individuals’ health literacy and behavioral outcomes.
Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly, 2021
This study examines how newsroom work in the United States has changed in response to some of the... more This study examines how newsroom work in the United States has changed in response to some of the latest developments in the news media environment. Using nationally representative survey data, we explore what professional routines American journalists have adopted to avoid spreading or being accused of publishing misinformation. Findings suggest that journalists have added new or intensified practices to increase accountability and transparency. In addition, role conceptions, perception of fake news, and responsibility for social media audiences impact the adoption of such practices. Journalists are more likely to embrace transparency than accountability, suggesting the emergence of new journalistic norms in today’s newsrooms.
Abstract Surveying journalists in Vietnam, a socialist-communist country, this study attempts to ... more Abstract Surveying journalists in Vietnam, a socialist-communist country, this study attempts to bring insights into the effects of digital platforms on newsroom practices. Specifically, it looks at how journalists from mainstream news media organizations routinize the use of Facebook for various professional purposes. Additionally, this research examines journalists’ role conceptions and how these values influence news workers’ use of Facebook. Its findings show that journalists in this Southeast Asian country are embracing Facebook in their reporting, understanding audience, and branding. Results also indicate that the two important predictors of journalists’ Facebook use for work are the interpretive and populist-mobilizer functions of the news media. Theoretical implications of those findings are discussed in the context of a socialist-communist media system.
Triangulating several methods including automated framing analysis and assessment of textual elem... more Triangulating several methods including automated framing analysis and assessment of textual elements, this study examines how the elite press from three countries frames the Rohingya refugee crisis in 2017. Results from our framing and textual analysis show differences in how the press from the three countries portrayed the crisis. Specifically, The Irrawaddy (Myanmar) tends to incorporate a nationalist narrative into news content, playing down the violence used against Rohingyas. The New Nation (Bangladesh) frames the crisis according to the country's priorities, focusing its coverage on the humanitarian aspects of the crisis. The New York Times uses a Western hegemonic discourse. Textual analysis indicates that although the same words are used in the frames of the Rohingya crisis, some represent different meanings. Findings are discussed using the lens of ideological and cultural influence.
This study investigates the news coverage of climate change in 45 different countries and territo... more This study investigates the news coverage of climate change in 45 different countries and territories. Using the news framing approach, this study identifies the connections between several national socioeconomic, governance, and environmental traits and the portrayals of climate change. Although climate change is a global issue that affects every country in the world, how the news media frame it varies from country to country. Such a variation is related to each country's economic development, climate severity, and governance. The findings of this study contribute to framing literature by assessing frame use in national contexts, filling in the gap in the application of this theoretical framework.
Since 2016, online social networks (OSNs), especially their “big data” algorithms, have been inte... more Since 2016, online social networks (OSNs), especially their “big data” algorithms, have been intensively blamed in popular news discourse for acting as echo chambers. These chambers entrap like-minded voters in closed ideological circles that cause serious damage to democratic processes. This study examines this “echo chamber” argument through the rather divisive case of EU politics among EU citizens. Based on an exploratory secondary analysis of the Eurobarometer 86.2 survey dataset, we investigate whether the reliance on OSNs as a primary EU political news source can lead people to more polarisation in EU-related political beliefs and attitudes than a reliance on traditional media. We found little evidence for this polarisation, lending credence to a rejection of social media’s “echo chamber” effect.
Prior studies suggested that holding preinvestigational new drug application (PIND) meetings with... more Prior studies suggested that holding preinvestigational new drug application (PIND) meetings with FDA has a positive effect on clinical development time (CDT). New product marketing applications submitted to FDA CDER during fiscal years 2008-2012 were assessed for whether a PIND meeting was held and, if so, a qualitative assessment of meeting content was performed. Discussions contained in the PIND meeting minutes tended to reflect topics appropriate to an early phase of drug development, including chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) and safety topics (eg, nonclinical and clinical domains). Additionally, FDA commonly provided additional advice most often in the clinical and CMC domains. Applications for which a PIND meeting was held during drug development had shorter CDTs than those that did not. This analysis showed the importance of early communication with FDA during development, and small companies with limited regulatory experience may gain the greatest benefit from e...
Recent evidence suggests that the cytosolic presence of branched chain amino acid aminotransferas... more Recent evidence suggests that the cytosolic presence of branched chain amino acid aminotransferase (BCAT1) in adult tissues is associated with diverse pathological conditions including cancer and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis; in these diseases, BCAT1 appears to modulate the expression of many key proteins and to be a new druggable target. In cancer, BCAT1 physically associates with CD147 and regulates the levels and the cellular localization of the protein in a number of different cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Silencing of Bcat1 gene downregulates the total expression of CD147 in MDA-MB-435 cells, while inhibition of BCAT1 by sodium 4-methyl-5-oxo-hexanoate (ERG240) leads to suppression of the extracellular CD147 in the same cells. In turn, suppression of extracellular CD147 results in downregulation of CD147-associated proteins such as MCT4, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), cyclophilin A, and GAPDH. Furthermore, inhibition of BCAT1 is associated with preve...
Phosphor particles were introduced as a luminescent medium to improve the overall efficiency of d... more Phosphor particles were introduced as a luminescent medium to improve the overall efficiency of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).
Rare-earths codoped long afterglow strontium aluminate phosphors with high brightness were synthe... more Rare-earths codoped long afterglow strontium aluminate phosphors with high brightness were synthesized via a facile combustion synthesis method using urea as a fuel. The resulted phosphor particles were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscope, whereas their optical properties were monitored by photoluminescence spectroscopy. The prepared SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+, Li+ samples showed a broad green-yellowish emission, peaking at 512 nm when excited by 348 nm. Compared to traditional SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+ phosphor, the initial luminescence brightness of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+, codoped with Li+ improved from 1.89 cd/m2 to 2.71 cd/m2 and the afterglow decay time was prolonged from 103 to 121 min. The possible mechanism of SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+, Li+ phosphorescence enhancement has been discussed.
Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, 2003
Current combination treatment strategies in malignancy are designed to evaluate the use of cytoto... more Current combination treatment strategies in malignancy are designed to evaluate the use of cytotoxic drugs and antiangiogenic agents. Endostatin, a fragment of collagen XVIII, specifically inhibits proliferation, migration, and differentiation of endothelial cells in vitro as well as angiogenesis and tumor progression in in vivo models. In this study, we determine the antitumor effect of rhEndostatin administered alone or in combination with Adriamycin against established orthotopic murine mammary carcinoma. Mice bearing orthotopically established DA-3 mammary adenocarcinoma tumors received varying doses of rhEndostatin alone and in combination with Adriamycin to assess tumor growth inhibition. Additional studies of this in vivo combination included a determination of Adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity and in vitro effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cell proliferation and cord formation. For single-agent activity, optimal tumor growth inhibition was observed after s.c. admin...
Despite increased public screening, many individuals with depression remain undetected or untreat... more Despite increased public screening, many individuals with depression remain undetected or untreated. This study explored the performance of an Internet-based program in screening for depression. Methods: The Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scale was adapted as an online screening test. The program advised persons whose score indicated a high probability of depression to seek treatment and asked them to complete a survey of attitudes and preferences that could be printed and taken to a health professional. Responses were collected anonymously for epidemiologic research. Demographic characteristics of participants were compared with those of the U.S. population and participants in previous community screenings. The costs of the program were calculated. Results: The CES-D scale was completed 24,479 times during the eight-month study period. The respondents' median age category was 30 to 45 years, and almost 30 percent were male; 58 percent (N=14,185) screened positive for depression, and fewer than half of those had never been treated for depression. The proportion of younger individuals was larger than in previous public screenings, but was still lower than that in the U.S. population. Our sample contained a lower proportion of minorities than the U.S. population (16.6 percent versus 28.3 percent).
We aimed to describe characteristics associated with attrition for patients in community mental h... more We aimed to describe characteristics associated with attrition for patients in community mental health treatment with chronic mental illness with and without substance use disorders. Baseline assessments included symptom severity, treatment satisfaction, social support, and a structured diagnostic interview. Treatment attrition was assessed at six months. At six months, 36% of the dual diagnosis group (n = 25), and 61%
Spherical-shaped, Tb 3+ /Al 3+ codoped Gd 2 O 3 phosphor particles were synthesized using a urea ... more Spherical-shaped, Tb 3+ /Al 3+ codoped Gd 2 O 3 phosphor particles were synthesized using a urea homogeneous precipitation method. Field emission scanning electron microscopy measurements confirmed the formation of nearly-uniform spherical particles with sizes in the range, 250 ± 50 nm. In this study we examined the effects of the Al 3+ codoping concentration on the photoluminescence emission of Tb 3+ doped Gd 2 O 3 phosphor particles. The results confirmed that incorporating Al 3+ into Gd 2 O 3 :Tb 3+ phosphor is highly favorable for improving the emission of the synthesized Gd 2 O 3 :Tb 3+ phosphor particles. In addition, the simple approach for the luminescence enhancement given here can be extended to the other phosphor systems.
This report presents a fabrication result of nearly uniform-shaped color-tunable Y 2 O 3 submicro... more This report presents a fabrication result of nearly uniform-shaped color-tunable Y 2 O 3 submicron particles codoped with Eu and Tm ions. The resulted particles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope and field emission transmission electron microscope, whereas their optical properties were monitored by photoluminescence spectroscopy. The room temperature luminescence emission of synthesized particles was investigated in detail. It was shown that Eu 3+ and Tm 3+ codoped Y 2 O 3 submicron particles exhibits red luminescence (612 nm) under 255 nm excitation, while the emission color of the same particles can be tuned to blue (459 nm) under 320 nm excitation. Different concentrations of Eu 3+ and Tm 3+ were induced into the Y 2 O 3 lattice and the luminescence quenching was observed at high dopant concentrations.
Angiogenesis, the process of new capillary formation from pre-existing vessels, has been establis... more Angiogenesis, the process of new capillary formation from pre-existing vessels, has been established as an important mechanism involved in pathologic processes, such as cancer, as well as in normal physiology (Ribatti, D.; Vacca, A.; Roncali, L.; Dammacco, F. Angiogenesis under normal and pathological conditions. Haematologica 1991, 76 (4), 311-320). Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is a critical mediator of angiogenesis that is important for normal reproduction and wound healing. FGF-2 mediates its pro-angiogenic effects by binding to heparin sulfate proteoglycan in addition to a tyrosine kinase receptor (Baird, A.; Schubert, D.; Ling, N.; Guillemin, R. Receptor and heparin-binding domain of basic fibroblast growth factor. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 1998, 5 (7), 2324-2328; Richard, C.; Roghani, M.; Moscatelli, D. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 mediates cell attachment through interactions with two FGF receptor-1 isoforms and extracellular matrix or cell-associated heparin sulfate proteoglycans. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 2000, 276 (2), 399-405; Casu, B.; Guerrini, M.; Naggi, A.; Perez, M.; Torri, G.; Ribatti, D.; Carminati, P.; Giannini, G.; Penco, S.; Pisano, C.; Belleri, M.; Rusnati, M.; Presta, M. Short heparin sequences spaced by glycol-split urinate residues are antagonists of fibroblast growth factor 2 and angiogenesis inhibitors. Biochemistry 2002, 41 (33), 10519-10528; Murphy, P.V.; Pitt, N.; O'Brien, A.; Enright, P.M.; Dunne, A.; Wilson, S.J.; Duane, R.M.; O'Boyle, K.M. Identification of novel inhibitors of fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) binding to heparin and endothelial cell survival from a structurally diverse carbohybrid library. Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 2002, 12 (22), 3287-3290). We developed a liposomal-based peptide vaccine, L(HBD) that targets the heparin binding domain of the FGF-2 molecule. This vaccine, when inoculated into mice, inhibits angiogenesis in response to FGF-2 in a hepatic sponge model as well as tumor progression in two models of pulmonary metastatic disease. In the present studies, we further characterize the immunological and physiological responses to this vaccine. Vaccinated animals generated a specific anti-FGF-2 antibody (titer of 1:5000) that was able to inhibit FGF-2 binding to heparin sulfate in a dose dependent fashion. Cell mediated immunity was evidenced by a delayed type hypersensitivity response following challenge with the heparin binding domain peptide. Despite an immune response toward FGF-2, vaccination with L(HBD) did not result in alterations in mean time to wound healing when compared to unvaccinated animals or those treated with a liposome control. In reproductive studies, vaccinated females were not impaired in their ability to: 1) become pregnant, 2) support the growth and development of their embryos, and 3) deliver viable offspring. Furthermore, when assessed histologically, these offspring did not demonstrate any alterations in organogenesis when compared to pups born to untreated or liposome control treated females. Thus, while vaccination against FGF-2 induces a specific FGF-2 antibody response, and inhibits angiogenesis and tumor development in a pathological setting, it does not adversely alter normal physiological events dependent on FGF-2.
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Papers by Hong Thanh Vu