Optical Triangular Waveform Generation with Alterable Symmetry Index Based on a Cascaded SD-MZM and Polarization Beam Splitter-combiner Architecture

Dun Sheng Shang,Guang Fu Bai,Jian Tang,Yan Ling Tang,Guang Xin Wang,Nian Xie 한국광학회 2023 Current Optics and Photonics Vol.7 No.5

A scheme is proposed to generate triangular waveforms with alterable symmetry. The key component is a cascaded single-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (SD-MZM) and optical polarization beam splittercombiner architecture. In this triangular waveform generator, the bias-induced phase shift, modulation index and controllable delay difference are changeable. To generate triangular waveform signals with different symmetry indexes, different combinations of these variables are selected. Compared with the previous schemes, this generator just contains one SD-MZM and the balanced photodetector (BPD) is not needed, which means the costs and energy consumption are significantly reduced. The operation principle of this triangular waveform generator has been theoretically analyzed, and the corresponding simulation is conducted. Based on the theoretical and simulated results, some experiments are demonstrated to prove the validity of the scheme. The triangular waveform signals with a symmetry factor range of 20–80% are generated. Both experiment and theory prove the feasibility of this method.

Synthesis and Properties of Optically Active Helical Polyethers Bearing Indole or Carbazole Derivatives

Chunhui Zhao,Kunbing Ouyang,Nian-Fa Yang,Jin Zhang,Zhu Sheng Yang 한국고분자학회 2016 Macromolecular Research Vol.24 No.5

Six optically active oxide propane monomers (1m-6m) were synthesized in a very facile way. The monomers were polymerized using potassium hydroxide (KOH) as an initiator to afford the corresponding polyethers (1p-6p). The polyether (R)-1p (specific rotation, [α]=+331) exhibited optical rotation as large as fourfold that of the monomer (R)-1m ([α]=-10). The specific optical rotation, circular dichroism (CD) and ultraviolet (UV)-visible spectra data showed that the obtained polymers can keep a prevailing helicity of the backbone in solution.

Helix-Sense-Selective Anionic Polymerization of (S)-2'-Methyloxy-2- Vinyl-1,1'-Binaphthyl

Ye-Hui Chen,Nian-Fa Yang,Li-Wen Yang,Zhu Sheng Yang 한국고분자학회 2014 Macromolecular Research Vol.22 No.11

A new non-randomized multi-category response model for surveys with a single sensitive question: Design and analysis

Man-Lai Tang,Guo-Liang Tian,Nian-Sheng Tang,Zhenqiu Liu 한국통계학회 2009 Journal of the Korean Statistical Society Vol.38 No.4

In this article, we develop a non-randomized multi-category response model for a single sensitive survey question with multiple outcomes. Unlike existing randomized response models, our proposed model does not require any randomizing device and the respondents are merely asked to answer a non-sensitive question. It thus reduces cost, ensures reproducibility of respondents' answer (i.e., the same respondent gives the same answer if the survey is re-conducted under the non-randomized multi-category model), enhances respondents' trust on the privacy policy, and motivates respondents' cooperation. We show maximum likelihood estimates (MLEs) of cell probabilities can be obtained in closed- form. Bootstrap standard errors and confidence intervals (CIs) of the cell probabilities or their functions are then given. Bayesian estimation via the data augmentation algorithm is developed when prior information on the parameters of interest is available. Simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the performance of the MLEs and CI estimates. A real data set from a questionnaire on sexual activities in Korean adolescents is used to illustrate the proposed design and analysis methods.

Linking an Anxiety-Related Personality Trait to Cardiac Autonomic Regulation in Well-Defined Healthy Adults: Harm Avoidance and Resting Heart Rate Variability

Lien-Cheng Kao,Yu-Wen Liu,Nian-Sheng Tzeng,Terry B. J. Kuo,San-Yuan Huang,Chuan-Chia Chang,Hsin-An Chang 대한신경정신의학회 2016 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.13 No.4

ObjectiveaaAnxiety trait, anxiety and depression states have all been reported to increase risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD), possibly through altering cardiac autonomic regulation. Our aim was to investigate whether the relationship between harm avoidance (HA, an anxiety-related personality trait) and cardiac autonomic regulation is independent of anxiety and depression states in healthy adults. MethodsaaWe recruited 535 physically and mentally healthy volunteers. Participants completed the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Tri-dimensional Personality Questionnaire. Participants were divided into high or low HA groups as discriminated by the quartile value. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring heart rate variability (HRV). We obtained the time and frequency-domain indices of HRV including variance (total HRV), the low-frequency power (LF; 0.05–0.15 Hz), which may reflect baroreflex function, the high-frequency power (HF; 0.15–0.40 Hz), which reflects cardiac parasympathetic activity, as well as the LF/HF ratio. ResultsaaThe BDI and HA scores showed associations with HRV parameters. After adjustment for the BDI scores and other control variables, HA is still associated with reduced variance, LF and HF power. Compared with the participants with low HA, those with high HA displayed significant reductions in variance, LF and HF power and a significant increase in their LF/HF ratio. ConclusionaaThis study highlights the independent role of HA in contributing to decreased autonomic cardiac regulation in healthy adults and provides a potential underlying mechanism for anxiety trait to confer increased risk for CVD.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Comorbid Major Depression and Heart Rate Variability: A Case-Control Study in Taiwan

Hsin-An Chang,Chuan-Chia Chang,Nian-Sheng Tzeng,Terry B. J. Kuo,Ru-Band Lu,San-Yuan Huang 대한신경정신의학회 2013 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.10 No.4

Objective Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) has been reported in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but the results are mixed. Little is known about the impact of comorbid major depression (MD) on HRV in GAD patients. Both issues necessitate further investigation. Methods Twenty unmedicated, physically healthy GAD patients, 20 GAD patients with a secondary diagnosis of MD, 40 MD patients and 60 matched controls were recruited. We used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to assess anxiety and depression severity, respectively. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring HRV parameters. Frequency-domain indices of HRV were obtained. Results Three patient groups had more anxiety and depression symptoms than control subjects, but heart rates (HRs) were significantly elevated only in GAD patients with comorbid depression. Relative to controls, GAD patients had reduced HRV while GAD patients with comorbid depression displayed the greatest reductions in HRV among three patients groups. Correlation analyses revealed anxiety/depression severity significantly associated with HRs, variance, LF-HRV and HF-HRV. However, separately analyzing among individual groups and adjusting for HRV-associated covariables rendered the correlations non-significant. Conclusion Our results suggest that reduction in HRV is a psychophysiological marker of GAD and individuals with comorbid GAD and MD may be distinguished based on psychophysiological correlates (for example, HF-HRV) from non-comorbid GAD patients. Taken into account that comorbid depression may confer increased risks for cardiovascular events in GAD patients, this subgroup of GAD patients may benefit better from cardiovascular risk reduction strategies.

Development and Characterization of a Specific Anti-Caveolin-1 Antibody for Caveolin-1 Functional Study in Human, Goat and Mouse

Ke, Meng-Wei,Jiang, Yan-Nian,Li, Yi-Hung,Tseng, Ting-Yu,Kung, Ming-Shung,Huang, Chiun-Sheng,Cheng, Winston Teng-Kuei,Hsu, Jih-Tay,Ju, Yu-Ten Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.6

Caveolin-1 of the caveolin family of proteins regulates mammary gland development and has been shown to play a contradictory role in breast tumor progression. A specific anti-Caveolin-1 antibody will be useful for functional study of Caveolin-1 in different tissues. In this study, we generated a rabbit polyclonal antibody that specifically recognizes the N-terminal amino acids 50-65 of Caveolin-1. This polyclonal antibody specifically reacted with Caveolin-1 extracted from cells of different species, including human epithelial A431 cells, goat primary mammary epithelial cells and mice fibroblast NIH 3T3 cells, by Western blotting. Endogenous Caveolin-1 protein expressing in cells and normal human tissues was detected by this polyclonal antibody using immunocytofluorescent and immunohistochemical staining, respectively. Furthermore, an apparent decrease in Caveolin-1 expression in tumorous breast and colon tissues was detected by this polyclonal antibody. In conclusion, we have identified amino acids 50-65 of Caveolin-1, which contains an epitope that is specific to Caveolin-1 and is conserved in the human, goat and mouse. In future, this anti-Caveolin-1 antibody can be used to examine the progression of breast and colon cancers and to study functions of Caveolin-1 in human, goat and mouse cells.

Real-World Evidence for the Association Between Pneumonia-Related Intensive Care Unit Stay and Dementia

Chun-Han Wu,Chung-Kan Peng,Chi-Hsian Chung,Wu-Chien Chien,Nian-Sheng Tzeng 대한신경정신의학회 2022 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.19 No.4

Objective There is limited clarity concerning the risk of dementia after pneumonia with intensive care unit (ICU) stay. We conducted a nationwide cohort study, which aimed to investigate the impact of dementia after pneumonia with and without intensive care unit admission.Methods Data was obtained from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2015. A total of 7,473 patients were identified as having pneumonia required ICU stay, along with 22,419 controls matched by sex and age. After adjusting for confounding factors, multivariate Cox regression model analysis was used to compare the risk of developing dementia during the 15-years follow-up period.Results The enrolled pneumonia patients with ICU admission had a dementia rate of 9.89%. Pneumonia patients without ICU admission had a dementia rate of 9.21%. The multivariate Cox regression model analysis revealed that the patients with ICU stay had the higher risk of dementia, with a crude hazard ratio of 3.371 (95% confidence interval, 3.093–3.675; p<0.001).Conclusion This study indicated that pneumonia with ICU stay is associated with an increased risk of dementia. A 3-fold risk of dementia was observed in patients admitted to the ICU compared to the control group.

β-arrestin Promotes c-Jun N-terminal Kinase Mediated Apoptosis via a GABA_BR·β-arrestin·JNK Signaling Module

Wu, Jin-Xia,Shan, Feng-Xiao,Zheng, Jun-Nian,Pei, Dong-Sheng Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.2

Evidence is growing that the $GABA_B$ receptor, which belongs to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, is involved in tumorigenesis. Recent studies have shown that ${\beta}$-arrestin can serve as a scaffold to recruit signaling protein c-Jun N-terminal knase (JNK) to GPCR. Here we investigated whether ${\beta}$-arrestin recruits JNK to the $GABA_B$ receptor and facilitates its activation to affect the growth of cancer cells. Our results showed that ${\beta}$-arrestin expression is decreased in breast cancer cells in comparison with controls. ${\beta}$-arrestin could enhance interactions of the $GABA_BR{\cdot}{\beta}-arrestin{\cdot}JNK$ signaling module in MCF-7 and T-47D cells. Further studies revealed that increased expression of ${\beta}$-arrestin enhances the phosphorylation of JNK and induces cancer cells apoptosis. Collectively, these results indicate that ${\beta}$-arrestin promotes JNK mediated apoptosis via a $GABA_BR{\cdot}{\beta}-arrestin{\cdot}JNK$ signaling module.

L-Theanine-Treated Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Alleviate the Cytotoxicity Induced by N-Nitrosodiethylamine in Liver

Lai Yun-Ju,Sung Yi-Ting,Lai Yi-An,Chen Li-Nian,Chen Tung-Sheng,Chien Chiang-Ting 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2022 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.19 No.6

BACKGROUND: Liver inflammation is the main cause of severe liver diseases, including liver fibrosis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell therapy topics are receiving increasingly more attention. The therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have become one of the most discussed issues. While other stem cells have therapeutic effects, they have only one or two clinical applications. MSCs are responsible for repairing a variety of tissue injuries. Moreover, MSCs could be derived from several sources, including adipose tissue. MSCs are usually more abundant and easier to obtain compared to other stem cells. METHODS: To prove the concept that MSCs have homing ability to the injured tissue and assist in tissue repair, we examined the effects of intravenous injected adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs) in a N-nitrosodiethylamine (DEN)-induced liver injury rat model. RESULTS: The significant repairing ability of ADSCs was observed. The levels of fibrosis, apoptosis, and tumorigenesis in the DEN-injured liver tissues all decreased after ADSC treatment. Furthermore, to enhance the therapeutic effects of ADSCs, we pretreated them with L-theanine, which promotes the hepatocyte growth factor secretion of ADSC, and therefore improved the healing effects on injured liver tissue. CONCLUSION: ADSCs, especially L-theanine-pretreated ADSCs, have anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and anti-tumorigenesis effects on the N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced liver injury rat model.