The Ineffable Reality of the World and the Turning of the Dharma Wheel: An Exploration of Pedagogical Strategies in the Prajñāpāramitā-sūtras

Yao-ming Tsai 금강대학교 불교문화연구소 2020 불교학 리뷰 Vol.27 No.-

This paper mainly focuses on the issue of the reality of the world and the way in which the reality of the world is demonstrated. The usage of languages is never confined within the sphere of everyday life or phenomenal world. Buddhist teachings, especially the Prajñāpāramitā-sūtras, use whatever language to demonstrate and elucidate the ineffable reality of the world. For example, space is invariably declared as empty and such technical terms with negative prefixes as not-arising (an-utpāda) and not-ceasing (a-nirodha) are adopted to express the meaning of space. Whatever terminology may be used to point to the reality, but the reality cannot be identified as or contained in conventional construction. Concerning the gap revealed by the ineffability of the reality, i.e., what is left by the insufficiency and inadequacy of discourses, meditative practices and insightful wisdom may take over to fill up.

Potential of Bioengineering Processes for Therapeutic Repopulation of the Liverwith Cells

Yao-Ming Wu,Vinay Kumaran,Daniel Benten,Sanjeev Gupta 한국생물공학회 2007 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.12 No.1

Multiple unique aspects of liver biology make this organ an excellent paradigm for novel cell and gene therapy applications. In recent years, insights were obtained into how transplanted cells engraft and proliferate in the liver, including in the context of pre-existing disease. Also, a variety of animal models were studied to establish the basis of cell and gene therapy applications in specific disorders. Through ongoing research activity, additional mechanisms in liver repopulation have been uncovered, where manipulation of specific cell compartments and cellular processes, e.g., those aimed at extracellular matrix component receptors or soluble signals in transplanted and native cells can be exploited for enhancing cell engraftment and proliferation. Such studies demonstrate the possibility of applying biotechnology and/or bioengineering principles to organ replacement aimed at cell and gene therapy. Joining of these disciplines with research in stem cell biology, particularly in efforts concerning targeting of transplanted stem cells to given organs with achievement of lineage-specific cell differentiation and function, will be particularly important for future cell and gene therapy applications. This review offers an overview of relevant mechanisms in liver repopulation.

Induction of Forkhead Class box O3a and apoptosis by a standardized ginsenoside formulation, KG-135, is potentiated by autophagy blockade in A549 human lung cancer cells

Yao, Chih-Jung,Chow, Jyh-Ming,Chuang, Shuang-En,Chang, Chia-Lun,Yan, Ming-De,Lee, Hsin-Lun,Lai, I-Chun,Lin, Pei-Chun,Lai, Gi-Ming The Korean Society of Ginseng 2017 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.41 No.3

Background: KG-135, a standardized formulation enriched with Rk1, Rg3, and Rg5 ginsenosides, has been shown to inhibit various types of cancer cells; however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we explored its effects in A549 human lung cancer cells to investigate the induction of Forkhead Class box O3a (FOXO3a) and autophagy. Methods: Cell viability was determined by sulforhodamine B staining. Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were analyzed using flow cytometry. The changes of protein levels were determined using Western blot analysis. Autophagy induction was monitored by the formation of acidic vesicular organelles stained with acridine orange. Results: KG-135 effectively arrested the cells in G1 phase with limited apoptosis. Accordingly, a decrease of cyclin-dependent kinase-4, cyclin-dependent kinase-6, cyclin D1, and phospho-retinoblastoma protein, and an increase of p27 and p18 proteins were observed. Intriguingly, KG-135 increased the tumor suppressor FOXO3a and induced the accumulation of autophagy hallmark LC3-II and acidic vesicular organelles without an increase of the upstream marker Beclin-1. Unconventionally, the autophagy adaptor protein p62 (sequestosome 1) was increased rather than decreased. Blockade of autophagy by hydroxychloroquine dramatically potentiated KG-135-induced FOXO3a and its downstream (FasL) ligand accompanied by the cleavage of caspase-8. Meanwhile, the decrease of Bcl-2 and survivin, as well as the cleavage of caspase-9, were also drastically enhanced, resulting in massive apoptosis. Conclusion: Besides arresting the cells in G1 phase, KG-135 increased FOXO3a and induced an unconventional autophagy in A549 cells. Both the KG-135-activated extrinsic FOXO3a/FasL/caspase-8 and intrinsic caspase-9 apoptotic pathways were potentiated by blockade of autophagy. Combination of KG-135 and autophagy inhibitor may be a novel strategy as an integrative treatment for cancers.

A Buddhist Critique of the So-called “Dignity of Life” and “Death with Dignity” from the Perspective of Temporality

Yao-ming TSAI 금강대학교 불교문화연구소 2021 불교학 리뷰 Vol.29 No.-

본 연구는 『아함경』으로 알려진 불교 문헌에 근거하여 ‘삶의 존엄성’과 ‘존엄사’를 시간성의 관점에서 비판적으로 탐구하려는 것이다. 관련 주제에 대한 분석은 ‘존엄성’, ‘삶’, ‘죽음’과 같은 몇 가지 핵심 개념을 정의하고 명확히 하는 것에서 시작한다. 그 후 존엄성을 삶이나 죽음과 연결하는 것이 적절한가에 대한 비판적인 검토가 이어진다. 강조하려는 요점은 비록 존엄성이라는 개념이 시간적인 맥락 속에서 경험되는 사회적이고 문화적인 범주에서는 중요한 역할을 할 수 있지만, 시간성이 결여된 생사의 과정(윤회)이라는 범주에서는 매우 큰 어려움에 직면한다는 것이다. 만일 ‘삶의 존엄성’과 ‘존엄사’라는 문구가 당연한 것으로 받아들여진다면, 잘못된 용어 적용 범주의 오류를 범하게 될 수 있고, 따라서 생명윤리나 생사학의 상호 연관된 담론은 우리를 기만하거나 오도할지도 모르는 것이다. 나는 생사의 과정(윤회)이 무엇보다 존엄성이나 모욕에 관한 것이 아니라, 오히려 우리가 갇혀 있는 괴로움과 그 갇혀 있는 괴로움의 지멸에 관한 것이라고 주장한다. 본 연구의 비판적 통찰은 삶과 죽음의 어려운 상황에 대처하도록 철학도의 마음을 열어 줄 수 있을 뿐 아니라, 삶과 죽음의 철학과 관련된 향후 연구에 있어 지침이 될 수 있을 것이다. This study, drawn from Buddhist scriptures known as the Āgama-sūtras, critically investigates “dignity of life” and “death with dignity” from the perspective of temporality. The analysis starts by defining and clarifying some key concepts such as dignity, life, and death. This is followed by a critical examination of the appropriateness of connecting dignity either with life or with death. A point that should be emphasized is that although the concept of dignity can play a significant role in the social and cultural categories experienced in a temporal context, it encounters enormous difficulties in the category of the process of life-and-death devoid of temporality. If the phrases “dignity of life” and “death with dignity” are taken for granted, then the fallacy of misplaced categories of terminological application can be committed, and therefore the correlated discourses of bioethics or thanatology may be deceptive or misleading. I argue that the process of life-and-death is, first and foremost, neither about dignity nor about indignity, but about entrapped suffering and the cessation of the entrapped suffering. The critical insight of this study may not only be able to open the mind of the students of philosophy to tackle difficult situations in life-and-death, but also serve as a guideline in the future studies related to philosophy of life-and-death.

Robust model predictive current control for six-phase PMSMS with virtual voltage vectors

Yao, Ming,Peng, Jingyao,Sun, Xiaodong The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2022 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.22 No.11

In this paper, a compensation prediction model current control based on the extended state observer is proposed for the static errors and oscillations of output current caused by parameter disturbance deviations. First, the parameter change part is regarded as the total disturbance, and a mathematical model of the motor is established. Then, virtual voltage vectors are introduced to eliminate the effect of leakage inductance mismatch and to further suppress current harmonics. Furthermore, the state observer is designed to estimate disturbances and currents. The estimated values from the state observer are used as the feedforward part to cancel disturbances in the system. Then, the stability of the proposed algorithm is verified by a pole configuration analysis. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed by a six-phase permanent magnet synchronous hub motor experiment.

How to Reduce Adverse Outcomes in the Early Learning Curve of Minimally Invasive Hepatectomy

Yao-Ming Wu 대한외과학회 2022 대한외과학회 학술대회 초록집 Vol.2022 No.11

Prevalence and impacts of male urinary incontinence on quality of life, mental health, work limitation, and health care seeking in China, Taiwan, and South Korea (LUTS Asia): Results from a cross-sectional, population-based study

Ming-Chieh Cheng,Shih-Ping Liu,Yao-Chi Chuang,Karina Chin Po Hsu,Po-Ming Chow 대한비뇨의학회 2022 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.63 No.1

Purpose: Male urinary incontinence (UI) is a global health issue associated with bothersome symptoms which affect daily life. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of male UI in China, Taiwan, and South Korea and to determine if UI is an independent risk factor affecting the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mental health, work limitations, and healthcare seeking behavior. Materials and Methods: A post-hoc analysis was conducted on the LUTS Asia database which was collated from a cross-sectional, population-based internet survey in China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Prevalence of male UI was assessed, and the effect on HRQoL, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) depression and anxiety scores, work performance, and healthcare seeking behaviors was determined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 4,076 male participants were surveyed. Prevalence of male UI was 17.3%. UI adversely affected the HRQoL in both physical and mental domains. Both multivariate and univariate analyses showed that male UI could be correlated with a negative effect on the HADS anxiety and depression scores. Multivariate analysis suggested that work difficulties were correlated to the presence of UI. Up to 28% of participants who reported urge UI only did not adopt any management measures. Conclusions: UI is common in men over 40 years and adversely impacts HRQoL. It is an independent risk factor for anxiety and depression and may cause significant work limitations. Despite these negative effects, many men still do not seek any intervention.

An Examination of Temporality in Mindfulness Meditation

Yao-ming Tsai 금강대학교 불교문화연구소 2020 불교학 리뷰 Vol.28 No.-

Mindfulness meditation is a way to steady the mind from the ground up and maintain awareness of the actual activities of one’s body, feelings, mind, and related factors. Nowadays, more and more people emphasize present-moment awareness as a key feature of mindfulness exercises and consequently regard mindfulness as the art of being in the present moment. However, from a temporal perspective, the present is constantly fluctuating. To what extent is mindfulness about present moment awareness and what role do the past and future play in that awareness? This paper seeks to address this issue by exploring the Satipaṭṭhānasutta (The Discourse on the Ways of Attending to Mindfulness) and other Buddhist texts on meditative practices. If mindfulness is to be developed to its maximum capacity, including meditative absorption (Pāli, jhāna), meditative concentration (Pāli, samādhi) and nibbāna, then just focusing on the present momentz and non-judgmentally observing our experiences will not be enough, both theoretically and practically, to achieve many of the stated goals of the Satipaṭṭhāna-sutta. This paper proposes that, theoretically, a philosophy of time and temporality is required to answer the difficult question of how mindfulness and meditative absorption are possible while the present is non-abiding, and practically, a more comprehensive strategy to deal with the past, future and present is also essential in overcoming the overall suffering of existence.

A Real-Time Vibration Frequency Measurement System of Bridge Pier

Yao-Ming Hong,Jian-Rong Zeng,Yao-Chiang Kan,Hsueh-Chun Lin 보안공학연구지원센터 2014 International Journal of Hybrid Information Techno Vol.7 No.6

This study developed a real-time remote monitoring system (RTRMS) to receive the vibration frequency of bridge pier. The system included a front station and a middle station. A multi-hop wireless routing is employed to transmit the data from the front to the middle station. The front station includes a receiver equipped to receive the vibration frequency, and a wireless sensor network to transmit the data. The middle station is designed by an embedded system for storing the data. The pressure test shows that the loss rate of received data is less than 0.6%. The consuming power of one day is 3 ampere hours in the front station and 30 ampere hours in the middle station if the 12 voltage battery is used.

Research on Learning Evidence Improvement for kNN Based Classification Algorithm

Ming Yao 보안공학연구지원센터 2014 International Journal of Database Theory and Appli Vol.7 No.1