Optimization of the Viability of Probiotics in a Fermented Milk Drink by the Response Surface Method

Chen, Ming-Ju,Chen, Kun-Nan,Lin, Chin-Wen Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.5

Growth promoters were added to skim milk to retain the viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum to help the product meet the "therapeutic minimum" at the time of consumption. The experiments were divided into two parts. The first part of the study used chicory inulin, isomalto-oligosaccharides and sucrose to investigate the effects of sugars on the activity of L. acidophilus and B. longum. The results indicated that the addition of isomalto-oligosaccharides stimulated growth of L. acidophilus and B. longum, resulting in a higher level of the probiotics after one month storage and yielded better $\beta$-galactosidase activity during fermentation. The second part studied the effects of three growth promoters on the viability of the probiotic cultures and the response surface method was employed to find the optimal ratio for addition of the growth promoters. The optimal ratio for added calcium gluconate, sodium gluconate and N-acetylglucosamine in fermented milk drinks were established. The response surface method proved to be a very effective way of optimizing the activity of probiotic cultures when developing a new fermented milk drink.

Optimization of the Growth Rate of Probiotics in Fermented Milk Using Genetic Algorithms and Sequential Quadratic Programming Techniques

Chen, Ming-Ju,Chen, Kun-Nan,Lin, Chin-Wen Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2003 Animal Bioscience Vol.16 No.6

Prebiotics (peptides, N-acetyglucoamine, fructo-oligosaccharides, isomalto-oligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides) were added to skim milk in order to improve the growth rate of contained Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterium bifidum. The purpose of this research was to study the potential synergy between probiotics and prebiotics when present in milk, and to apply modern optimization techniques to obtain optimal design and performance for the growth rate of the probiotics using a response surface-modeling technique. To carry out response surface modeling, the regression method was performed on experimental results to build mathematical models. The models were then formulated as an objective function in an optimization problem that was consequently optimized using a genetic algorithm and sequential quadratic programming approach to obtain the maximum growth rate of the probiotics. The results showed that the quadratic models appeared to have the most accurate response surface fit. Both SQP and GA were able to identify the optimal combination of prebiotics to stimulate the growth of probiotics in milk. Comparing both methods, SQP appeared to be more efficient than GA at such a task.

2D-to-3D Conversion System using Depth Map Enhancement

( Ju-chin Chen ),( Meng-yuan Huang ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2016 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.10 No.3

This study introduces an image-based 2D-to-3D conversion system that provides significant stereoscopic visual effects for humans. The linear and atmospheric perspective cues that compensate each other are employed to estimate depth information. Rather than retrieving a precise depth value for pixels from the depth cues, a direction angle of the image is estimated and then the depth gradient, in accordance with the direction angle, is integrated with superpixels to obtain the depth map. However, stereoscopic effects of synthesized views obtained from this depth map are limited and dissatisfy viewers. To obtain impressive visual effects, the viewer`s main focus is considered, and thus salient object detection is performed to explore the significance region for visual attention. Then, the depth map is refined by locally modifying the depth values within the significance region. The refinement process not only maintains global depth consistency by correcting non-uniform depth values but also enhances the visual stereoscopic effect. Experimental results show that in subjective evaluation, the subjectively evaluated degree of satisfaction with the proposed method is approximately 7% greater than both existing commercial conversion software and state-of-the-art approach.

Discriminant Metric Learning Approach for Face Verification

( Ju-chin Chen ),( Pei-hsun Wu ),( Jenn-jier James Lien ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2015 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.9 No.2

In this study, we propose a distance metric learning approach called discriminant metric learning (DML) for face verification, which addresses a binary-class problem for classifying whether or not two input images are of the same subject. The critical issue for solving this problem is determining the method to be used for measuring the distance between two images. Among various methods, the large margin nearest neighbor (LMNN) method is a state-of-the-art algorithm. However, to compensate the LMNN`s entangled data distribution due to high levels of appearance variations in unconstrained environments, DML`s goal is to penalize violations of the negative pair distance relationship, i.e., the images with different labels, while being integrated with LMNN to model the distance relation between positive pairs, i.e., the images with the same label. The likelihoods of the input images, estimated using DML and LMNN metrics, are then weighted and combined for further analysis. Additionally, rather than using the k-nearest neighbor (k-NN) classification mechanism, we propose a verification mechanism that measures the correlation of the class label distribution of neighbors to reduce the false negative rate of positive pairs. From the experimental results, we see that DML can modify the relation of negative pairs in the original LMNN space and compensate for LMNN`s performance on faces with large variances, such as pose and expression.

Development and Verification of an Optimum Composition Model for a Synbiotic Fermented Milk Using Sequential Quadratic Programming Techniques

Chen, Ming-Ju,Chen, Kun-Nan,Lin, Chin-Wen Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.10

The purpose of this research was to develop an optimum composition model for a new synbiotic fermented dairy product with high probiotic cell counts, and to experimentally verify this model. The optimum composition model indicated the growth promoter ratio that could provide the highest growth rate for probiotics in this fermented product. Different levels of growth promoters were first blended with milk to improve the growth rates of probiotics, and the optimum composition model was determined. The probiotic viabilities and chemical properties were analyzed for the samples made using the optimal formula. The optimal combination of the growth promoters for the synbiotic fermented milk product was 1.12% peptides, 3% fructooligosaccharides (FOS), and 1.87% isomaltooligosaccharides (IMO). A product manufactured according to the formula of the optimum model was analyzed, showing that the model was effective in improving the viability of both Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp.

Study of the Microbial and Chemical Properties of Goat Milk Kefir Produced by Inoculation with Taiwanese Kefir Grains

Chen, Ming-Ju,Liu, Je-Ruei,Lin, Chin-Wen,Yeh, Yu-Tzu Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2005 Animal Bioscience Vol.18 No.5

One of the prerequisites for the successful implementation of industrial-scale goat kefir production is to understand the effects of different kefir grains and culture conditions on the microbial and chemical properties of the goat kefir. Thus, the objectives of the present study were to evaluate the characteristics of kefir grains in Taiwan on the microbial and chemical properties of goat milk kefir, as well as to understand the influence of culture conditions on production of medium chain-length triglycerides (MCT). Kefir grains were collected from households in northern Taiwan. Heat-treated goat milk was inoculated with 3-5% (V/W) kefir grains incubated at 15, 17.5, 20 or 22.5$^{\circ}C$ for 20 h, and the microflora count, ethanol content, and caproic (C6), caprylic (C8), and capric acid (C10) levels measured at 4 h intervals. Our results indicate that incubation with kefir grains results in 10$^6$-10$^7$ CFU/ml microflora count and 1.18 g/L of ethanol content at 20 h of fermentation. Incubation with 5% kefir grain at 20-22.5$^{\circ}C$ produces the highest MCT levels.

The Effects of Freeze Drying and Rehydration on Survival of Microorganisms in Kefir

Chen, Hsi-Chia,Lin, Chin-Wen,Chen, Ming-Ju Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.1

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of freeze drying on the microorganisms in kefir. Influences of lyoprotectants and rehydrated media (water at $4^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$; 10% reconstituted milk at $4^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$) on the viability of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in freeze-dried kefir were investigated. Kefir was made from cow milk which was inoculated with 5% kefir grains, and incubated at $20^{\circ}C$ for 20 h. Lyoprotectants (galactose, lactose, maltose, sucrose and trehalose) were added independently before dehydration of kefir by freeze drying. Results indicated significant loss in viability of microorganisms in kefir after freeze-drying. Addition of 10% galactose or 10% sucrose as lyoprotectants significantly increased the survival rates of both lactic acid bacteria and yeasts (p<0.05). The $4^{\circ}C$ rehydration temperature showed the best viabilities for yeasts, however, viability was not significantly affected by rehydration media (p>0.05).

TiO₂ Nanotube Photocatalysts Decorated with Perovskite Quantum Dots for CO₂ Conversion

Chen-Chin Lee,Yun-Ju Liu,Hyeonseok Lee 한국고분자학회 2021 한국고분자학회 학술대회 연구논문 초록집 Vol.46 No.2

Nanostructured TiO₂ is considered as a promising photocatalyst for CO₂ conversion. However, even the nanostructured TiO₂ can not overcome its innate limitations such as its wide bandgap. In this work, we demonstrate the synthesis of perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) and its incorporation to TiO₂ nanotubes (TNTs) as light absorber. Two different PQDs based on CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ and CH3NH3PbI3 are prepared and decorated to TNT. The PQD-decorated TNTs are characterized, varying the PQD solution concentration. The PQD-decorated TNTs show the enhanced absorbance through all measured wavelengths and excellent charge tranfer properties. In particular, among the samples, the PQD/TNT photocatalysts prepared with 70-times diluted PQD solution produce the most improved photocurrents under CO₂-saturated electrolyte both for CH₃NH₃PbBr₃ QD/TNT (~50 μA) and CH₃NH₃PbI₃ QD/TNT (~70 μA), suggesting superior photocatalytic capability for CO₂ conversion.

Poster Session : Cancer Biology ; Essential roles of c-jun and NF-IL6beta in promoter activation of cyclooxygenase 2 gene

( Lei Chin Chen ),( Ju Ming Wang ),( Wen Chang Chang ) 한국생화학분자생물학회 (구 한국생화학회) 2007 생화학분자생물학회 춘계학술발표논문집 Vol.2007 No.-

An 8-Week Low-Intensity Progressive Cycling Training Improves Motor Functions in Patients with Early-Stage Parkinson’s Disease

Hsiu-Chen Chang,Chin-Song Lu,Wei-Da Chiou,Chiung-Chu Chen,Yi-Hsin Weng,Ya-Ju Chang 대한신경과학회 2018 Journal of Clinical Neurology Vol.14 No.2

Background and Purpose The effects of high-intensity cycling as an adjuvant therapy forearly-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD) were highlighted recently. However, patients experience difficultiesin maintaining these cycling training programs. The present study investigated the efficacyof cycling at a mild-to-moderate intensity in early-stage PD. Methods Thirteen PD patients were enrolled for 16 serial cycling sessions over a 2-month period. Motor function was assessed using the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale part III(UPDRS III) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) test as primary outcomes. The Montreal CognitiveAssessment (MoCA), modified Hoehn and Yahr Stage (mHYS), total UPDRS, Falls EfficacyScale, New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire, Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living, 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire, Patient Global Impression of Change, and gait performancewere assessed as secondary outcomes. Results The age and the age at onset were 59.67±7.24 and 53.23±10.26 years (mean±SD), respectively. The cycling cadence was 53.27±8.92 revolutions per minute. The UPDRS III scoreimproved significantly after 8 training sessions (p=0.011) and 16 training sessions (T2) (p=0.001) in the off-state, and at T2 (p=0.004) in the on-state compared to pretraining (T0). TheTUG duration was significantly shorter at T2 than at T0 (p<0.05). The findings of MoCA, totalUPDRS, double limb support time, and mHYS (in both the off- and on-states) also improvedsignificantly at T2. Conclusions Our pioneer study has demonstrated that a low-intensity progressive cycling exercisecan improve motor function in PD, especially akinesia. The beneficial effects were similarto those of high-intensity rehabilitation programs.