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Biomedical subjects

Hao Yan

Publications and source records attributed to Hao Yan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Investigation of the Causal Association Between Biological Aging Indicators and Vascular Disease Through Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Analysis.

ObjectiveThis study used two-sample Mendelian Randomization to investigate the causal link between multiple biological aging indicators and vascular disease.MethodsSummary genetic data was obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) focusing on aging-related exposures and various vascular disease outcomes. The exposures included granulocyte proportions, PAI-1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), telomere lengths, and the Frailty Index. The primary analysis employed the Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW) method to estimate causal relationships, supported by MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods. Sensitivity analyses, including Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger regression, leave-one-out test, and the MR Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier (MR-PRESSO) test, were conducted to evaluate heterogeneity and pleiotropy.ResultsThe analysis revealed distinct pathways after sensitivity adjustments. A higher genetically predicted Frailty Index was associated with an increased risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (OR=2.5935, 95% CI: 1.3936-4.8268, P=0.0026, false discovery rate (FDR)=0.0475), atherosclerosis excluding cerebral and coronary sclerosis (OR=2.0262, 95% CI:1.5179-2.705, P=1.66×10-6, FDR=1×10-4), and arterial thromboembolic events (OR = 4.0306, 95% CI: 1.7133-9.4818, P = 0.0014, FDR = 0.0337). Conversely, longer telomere length demonstrated a strong, specific protective effect against abdominal aortic aneurysm (OR=0.5008, 95% CI:0.4111-0.6100, P=6.42×10-12, FDR=9.25×10-10), indicating that shorter telomere length is associated with an increased risk of AAA. Furthermore, a lower granulocyte proportion was causally linked to an increased risk of thoracic aortic aneurysm (OR=0.0181, 95% CI: 0.0014-0.2376, P=0.0023, FDR=0.0465).ConclusionThis study identifies three genetic pathways linking biological aging to vascular disease, offering new molecular targets for its prevention and treatment.

Humans↗

DNA tile based self-assembly: building complex nanoarchitectures.

DNA tile based self-assembly provides an attractive route to create nanoarchitectures of programmable patterns. It also offers excellent scaffolds for directed self-assembly of nanometer-scale materials, ranging from nanoparticles to proteins, with potential applications in constructing nanoelectronic/nanophotonic devices and protein/ligand nanoarrays. This Review first summarizes the currently available DNA tile toolboxes and further emphasizes recent developments toward self-assembling DNA nanostructures with increasing complexity. Exciting progress using DNA tiles for directed self-assembly of other nanometer scale components is also discussed.

Base Composition↗

Ge/Si nanowire heterostructures as high-performance field-effect transistors.

Semiconducting carbon nanotubes and nanowires are potential alternatives to planar metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) owing, for example, to their unique electronic structure and reduced carrier scattering caused by one-dimensional quantum confinement effects. Studies have demonstrated long carrier mean free paths at room temperature in both carbon nanotubes and Ge/Si core/shell nanowires. In the case of carbon nanotube FETs, devices have been fabricated that work close to the ballistic limit. Applications of high-performance carbon nanotube FETs have been hindered, however, by difficulties in producing uniform semiconducting nanotubes, a factor not limiting nanowires, which have been prepared with reproducible electronic properties in high yield as required for large-scale integrated systems. Yet whether nanowire field-effect transistors (NWFETs) can indeed outperform their planar counterparts is still unclear. Here we report studies on Ge/Si core/shell nanowire heterostructures configured as FETs using high-kappa dielectrics in a top-gate geometry. The clean one-dimensional hole-gas in the Ge/Si nanowire heterostructures and enhanced gate coupling with high-kappa dielectrics give high-performance FETs values of the scaled transconductance (3.3 mS microm(-1)) and on-current (2.1 mA microm(-1)) that are three to four times greater than state-of-the-art MOSFETs and are the highest obtained on NWFETs. Furthermore, comparison of the intrinsic switching delay, tau = CV/I, which represents a key metric for device applications, shows that the performance of Ge/Si NWFETs is comparable to similar length carbon nanotube FETs and substantially exceeds the length-dependent scaling of planar silicon MOSFETs.

Germanium↗

Two-dimensional LNA/DNA arrays: estimating the helicity of LNA/DNA hybrid duplex.

We measured the helical repeats of a non-natural nucleic acid, locked nucleic acid (LNA), by incorporating LNA strands into the outer arms of a DNA double crossover (DX) molecule; atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging of the two-dimensional (2D) arrays self-assembled from these DX molecules allows us to derive the helical repeat of the LNA/DNA hetero-duplex to be 13.2 +/- 0.9 base pairs per turn.

Base Sequence↗

Combinatorial self-assembly of DNA nanostructures.

Here we report a modular design of self-assembly of DNA nanostructures in a combinatorial approach; a square with approximately 25 nm cavity dimension, a chair with approximately 80 nm in height and a line with approximately 100 nm in length are formed through combinations of four cross-shaped DNA tiles which are kept constant and six variable linker tiles.

DNA↗

A study of DNA tube formation mechanisms using 4-, 8-, and 12-helix DNA nanostructures.

This paper describes the design and characterization of a new family of rectangular-shaped DNA nanostructures (DNA tiles) containing 4, 8, and 12 helices. The self-assembled morphologies of the three tiles were also investigated. The motivation for designing this set of DNA nanostructures originated from the desire to produce DNA lattices containing periodic cavities of programmable dimensions and to investigate the mechanism of DNA tube formation. Nine assembly scenarios have been investigated through the combination of the three different tiles and three sticky end association strategies. Imaging by atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed self-assembled structures with varied cavity sizes, lattice morphologies, and orientations. Six samples show only tube formation, two samples show both 2D lattices (>2 microm) and tubes, and one sample shows only 2D lattices without tubes. We found that a lower tile dimensional anisotropy, weaker connection, and corrugated design favor the large 2D array formation, while the opposite (higher tile anisotropy, stronger connection, and uncorrugated design) favors tube formation. We discuss these observations in terms of an energy balance at equilibrium and the kinetic competition between diffusion-limited lateral lattice growth versus fluctuation of the lattice to form tubes at an early stage of the assembly. The DNA nanostructures and their self-assembly demonstrated herein not only provide a new repertoire of scaffolds to template the organization of nanoscale materials, but may also provide useful information for investigating other self-assembly systems.

Anisotropy↗

Recognition imaging with a DNA aptamer.

We have used a DNA-aptamer tethered to an atomic force microscope probe to carry out recognition imaging of IgE molecules attached to a mica substrate. The recognition was efficient (approximately 90%) and specific, being blocked by injection of IgE molecules in solution, and not being interfered with by high concentrations of a second protein. The signal/noise ratio of the recognition signal was better than that obtained with antibodies, despite the fact that the average force required to break the aptamer-protein bonds was somewhat smaller.

Aluminum Silicates↗

Periodic square-like gold nanoparticle arrays templated by self-assembled 2D DNA Nanogrids on a surface.

We report the use of a self-assembled two-dimensional (2D) DNA nanogrid as a template to organize 5-nm gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) into periodic square lattices. Each particle sits on only a single DNA tile. The center-to-center interparticle spacing between neighboring particles is controlled to be approximately 38 nm. These evenly distributed Au NP arrangements with accurate control of interparticle spacing may find applications in nanoelectronic and nanophotonic devices.

DNA↗

Addressable molecular tweezers for DNA-templated coupling reactions.

Here we report the construction of fully addressable DNA-based molecular tweezers to actuate coupling reactions in a programmable fashion. Three tweezers, each bearing two coupling reactants, are self-assembled on a linear DNA track. A fourth tweezer floating freely in solution can be brought to any one of the tweezers and close them by the addition of a unique pair of "fuel" DNA strands. The coupling reactions happen when the tweezers are closed, and this can be controlled sequentially from one tweezer to another. A molecular device of this kind would not only enable programmable chemical reactions but also allow distance-dependent control of biomolecular interactions.

DNA↗

Dopant-free GaN/AlN/AlGaN radial nanowire heterostructures as high electron mobility transistors.

We report the rational synthesis of dopant-free GaN/AlN/AlGaN radial nanowire heterostructures and their implementation as high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). The radial nanowire heterostructures were prepared by sequential shell growth immediately following nanowire elongation using metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies reveal that the GaN/AlN/AlGaN radial nanowire heterostructures are dislocation-free single crystals. In addition, the thicknesses and compositions of the individual AlN and AlGaN shells were unambiguously identified using cross-sectional high-angle annular darkfield scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Transport measurements carried out on GaN/AlN/AlGaN and GaN nanowires prepared using similar conditions demonstrate the existence of electron gas in the undoped GaN/AlN/AlGaN nanowire heterostructures and also yield an intrinsic electron mobility of 3100 cm(2)/Vs and 21,000 cm(2)/Vs at room temperature and 5 K, respectively, for the heterostructure. Field-effect transistors fabricated with ZrO(2) dielectrics and metal top gates showed excellent gate coupling with near ideal subthreshold slopes of 68 mV/dec, an on/off current ratio of 10(7), and scaled on-current and transconductance values of 500 mA/mm and 420 mS/mm. The ability to control synthetically the electronic properties of nanowires using band structure design in III-nitride radial nanowire heterostructures opens up new opportunities for nanoelectronics and provides a new platform to study the physics of low-dimensional electron gases.

Aluminum Compounds↗

Self-assembling a molecular pegboard.

This paper describes the design, construction, and application of a self-assembled, chemically addressable DNA nanogrid composed of DNA tiles of nanometer dimensions. This self-assembled structure permits precise placement of molecules at predetermined locations on a "molecular pegboard". We used the indexed DNA nanogrids to identify single molecules of DNA that hybridize at particular locations.

DNA↗

Electrochemical synthesis of a polypyrrole thin film with supercritical carbon dioxide as a solvent.

A conductive polypyrrole (PPy) film was successfully synthesized in a homogeneous supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2)/acetonitrile (AN) system. The occurrence of a homogeneous supercritical state was confirmed by observations of the phase behavior of the system through a high-pressure cell with a viewing window. The concentration of a supporting electrolyte, tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF6), significantly changed the phase behavior of the scCO2/AN system. The polymerization rate of the film in that system decreased with further addition of CO2. This result suggested that the low viscosity of scCO2 did not play an important role in improving the growth rate of the PPy film. The low polymerization rate might have been due to the electron-transfer resistance arising from the low dielectric constant of scCO2/AN mixture. The roughness of the film prepared in the homogeneous scCO2/AN system was 1/10 that synthesized in AN itself as a solvent. The slow growth of film and the high diffusion rate of the monomer seemed to account for the smooth flat film formation.

Journal Article↗

Self-assembly of symmetric finite-size DNA nanoarrays.

We report a novel and cost-effective strategy to self-assemble finite-size DNA nanoarrays. This strategy takes advantage of the geometric symmetry of the DNA nanostructures. In general, to construct a 2D array with a total of N tiles containing Cm symmetry, where m = 2, 3, 4, or 6, the number of unique tiles the fixed-size array requires is N/m, if N/m is an integral number, or Int(N/m) + 1, if N/m is an nonintegral number. We herein demonstrate two examples of fixed-size arrays with C2 and C4-fold symmetry.dagger

DNA↗