Publications by authors named "B S Liao"
Background: Hearing loss adversely impacts language development, acquisition, and the social and cognitive maturation of affected children. The hearing loss etiology mainly includes genetic factors and environmental factors, of which the former account for about 50-60%.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the genetic basis of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) by identifying and characterizing novel variants in the CDH23 gene.
Article Synopsis
- Platelets play a critical role in blood clotting and the immune response, relying on a balanced relationship between their production and destruction influenced by reactive oxygen species (ROS).
- Moderate levels of ROS enhance platelet production and function, aiding in processes like collagen binding and thrombus formation, but high levels can lead to platelet apoptosis and increased risk of thrombosis.
- The review emphasizes the need for further research into specific ROS signaling pathways, which could lead to new therapies for platelet-related disorders by leveraging the beneficial aspects of ROS while managing their harmful effects.
Article Synopsis
- SARS-CoV-2 can infect liver cells (hepatocytes), leading to elevated liver enzymes and more severe disease in those with pre-existing liver conditions.
- The study shows that the virus replicates and spreads in hepatocytes, with infection being dependent on two specific proteins, ACE2 and TMPRSS2, which are found on the liver cells.
- Infection causes rapid liver cell death, with the Omicron variant causing quicker but less extensive damage compared to other strains, as seen in both human liver cells and infected mice.
Article Synopsis
- Gallium metal is found in Fankou lead-zinc ore, and its extraction using the zinc hydrometallurgy process faces challenges due to impurities affecting electrowinning efficiency.
- The study reveals that aluminum impurities do not affect gallium product quality but lower current efficiency, whereas zinc impurities have a significant negative impact, leading to reduced gallium purity.
- Optimal conditions for gallium electrowinning, including specific alkali concentrations, are recommended to enhance production efficiency in zinc hydrometallurgy systems.
Background: Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is a rapid and powerful method for gene functional analysis in plants that pose challenges in stable transformation. Numerous VIGS systems based on Agrobacterium infiltration has been widely developed for tender tissues of various plant species, yet none is available for recalcitrant perennial woody plants with firmly lignified capsules, such as tea oil camellia. Therefore, there is an urgent need for an efficient, robust, and cost-effective VIGS system for recalcitrant tissues.
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