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.

Evaluating the effects of programs for reducing achievement gaps: a case study in Taiwan

Yao-Ting Sung,Fen-Lan Tseng,Nien-Ping Kuo,Tien-Ying Chang,Jia-Min Chiou 서울대학교 교육연구소 2014 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.15 No.1

Considering that achievement gaps have become a serious educational problem worldwide, the Ministry of Education in Taiwan has been addressing a series of policies to reduce achievement gaps, but the effect of these policies has not yet been carefully examined. Therefore, the present study investigated current educational policies, achievement gap phenomenon, and its changing trends in the use of national standardized tests in Taiwan and evaluated the degree to which these policies are reducing the achievement gaps among Taiwanese students. Junior high school graduates who took the high school entrance examination between 2004 and 2010 were recruited to examine the associations between their academic achievements and variables such as socioeconomic status (SES), ethnicity, and school district. Time series analyses were conducted to determine the longitudinal trends for the achievement gaps. The results revealed that achievement gaps are decreasing among different ethnicities, but they are increasing among different SESs and school districts. These findings demonstrate some positive effects of the educational policies introduced in Taiwan, but also the need for further modification and precise implementation of these policies. Suggestions for implementing educational programs and policies to reduce achievement gaps are also presented.

Progressive collapse analysis of steel frame structure based on the energy principle

Chang Hong Chen,Yan Fei Zhu,Yao Yao,Ying Huang 국제구조공학회 2016 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.21 No.3

The progressive collapse potential of steel moment framed structures due to abrupt removal of a column is investigated based on the energy principle. Based on the changes of component's internal energy, this paper analyzes structural member's sensitivity to abrupt removal of a column to determine a sub-structure resisting progressive collapse. An energy-based structural damage index is defined to judge whether progressive collapse occurs in a structure. Then, a simplified beam damage model is proposed to analyze the energies absorbed and dissipated by structural beams at large deflections, and a simplified modified plastic hinges model is developed to consider catenary action in beams. In addition, the correlation between bending moment and axial force in a beam during the whole deformation development process is analyzed and modified, which shows good agreement with the experimental results.

Crop Production Estimation and Famine Evaluation for North Korea by Using Remote Sensing Technology

Yao, Wang Chang,Zhen, Yang,Zheng, Niu 대한원격탐사학회 2001 International Symposium on Remote Sensing Vol.17 No.1

Crop production assessments are extremely valuable because of their economic importance in influencing international trade and national economic policies. Associated with the serious problems of food supplies in the whale wand, crop production assessments are becoming outstandingly significant. Moreover, because of its goad time properties and accuracy, remote sensing technique has become an important measure of crap production assessments. In addition, models for forecasting native crop yields using remotely sensed satellite data have been intensively studied and well developed.

Systematic Study on the Magnetic Properties of MgO-based Magnetic Tunnel Junctions in Order to Obtain High TMR Ratio

Yao-Jen Chang,A. Canizo-Cabrera,Valentin Garcia-Vazquez,Yang-Hua Chang,Te-ho Wu 한국자기학회 2010 한국자기학회 학술연구발표회 논문개요집 Vol.2010 No.12

A Busbar Integrated SiC-based Converter with Embedded Heat-pipes

Yao Chang,Amir Sajjad Bahman,Haoze Luo,Wuhua Li,Xiangning He,Francesco Iannuzzo,Frede Blaabjerg 전력전자학회 2019 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2019 No.5

In this paper, a bus-bar integrated packaging technology for press-pack power modules is proposed. The proposed packaging technology features high power-density, even pressure distribution among chips, and low stray parameters. The structure design and fabrication flow process are analyzed and experiments are made to verify the feasibility of proposed solution. The critical challenge about the package is related to thermal management. To reduce the thermal stress of chips, a heat-pipe integrated heatsink is developed and finite-element-method (FEM) simulations are used to evaluate the cooling performance of the proposed heatsink. The results demonstrate that the proposed heatsink has a relatively low cost and works effectively. It paves the way to better packaging design and more efficient thermal management method for high power devices.

Elastic flexural and torsional buckling behavior of pre-twisted bar under axial load

Chang Hong Chen,Yao Yao,Ying Huang 국제구조공학회 2014 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.49 No.2

According to deformation features of pre-twisted bar, its elastic bending and torsion buckling equation is developed in the paper. The equation indicates that the bending buckling deformations in two main bending directions are coupled with each other, bending and twist buckling deformations are coupled with each other as well. However, for pre-twisted bar with dual-axis symmetry cross-section, bending buckling deformations are independent to the twist buckling deformation. The research indicates that the elastic torsion buckling load is not related to the pre-twisted angle, and equals to the torsion buckling load of the straight bar. Finite element analysis to pre-twisted bar with different pre-twisted angle is performed , the prediction shows that the assumption of a plane elastic bending buckling deformation curve proposed in previous literature (Shadnam and Abbasnia 2002) may not be accurate, and the curve deviates more from a plane with increasing of the pre-twisting angle. Finally, the parameters analysis is carried out to obtain the relationships between elastic bending buckling critical capacity, the effect of different pre-twisted angles and bending rigidity ratios are studied. The numerical results show that the existence of the pre-twisted angle leads to “resistance” effect of the stronger axis on buckling deformation, and enhances the elastic bending buckling critical capacity. It is noted that the “resistance” is getting stronger and the elastic buckling capacity is higher as the cross section bending rigidity ratio increases.

Mixed Reinforcement Learning for Efficient Policy Optimization in Stochastic Environments

Yao Mu,Baiyu Peng,Ziqing Gu,Shengbo Eben Li,Chang Liu,Bingbing Nie,Jianfeng Zheng,Bo Zhang 제어로봇시스템학회 2020 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2020 No.10

Reinforcement learning has the potential to control stochastic nonlinear systems in optimal manners successfully. We propose a mixed reinforcement learning (mixed RL) algorithm by simultaneously using dual representations of environmental dynamics to search the optimal policy. The dual representation includes an empirical dynamic model and a set of state-action data. The former can embed the designer’s knowledge and reduce the difficulty of learning, and the latter can be used to compensate the model inaccuracy since it reflects the real system dynamics accurately. Such a design has the capability of improving both learning accuracy and training speed. In the mixed RL framework, the additive uncertainty of stochastic model is compensated by using explored state-action data via iterative Bayesian estimator (IBE). The optimal policy is then computed in an iterative way by alternating between policy evaluation (PEV) and policy improvement (PIM). The effectiveness of mixed RL is demonstrated by a typical optimal control problem of stochastic non-affine nonlinear systems (i.e., double lane change task with an automated vehicle).

Teriparatide treatment shows faster healing than sacroplasty for postmenopausal women with sacral insufficiency fracture

Yao-Chun Yang,Min-Hong Hsieh,Jui-Teng Chien,Keng-Chang Liu,Chang-Chen Yang 대한골다공증학회 2023 Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia Vol.9 No.1

Objectives: Sacral insufficiency fracture (SIF) is not an uncommon osteoporosis fracture among the elderly. Aside from traditional treatments, sacroplasty and teriparatide (TPTD) injection have been introduced. This report aims to compare the effects of sacroplasty and teriparatide on clinical outcomes of SIF. Methods: Thirty-one elderly patients with SIF were enrolled in this retrospective observational study. Four male patients were excluded. Fourteen patients who received TPTD for 6 months were classified into the TPTD group (TT), and 13 who underwent sacroplasty were classified into the sacroplasty group (SS). All patients in both groups were instructed to take calcium and vitamin D supplements daily. Their symptoms and signs, visual analog score (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), and radiographic studies were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The TT group showed significantly lower VAS than SS group after 3 (P < 0.001) and 6 months of treatment (P < 0.001). The TT group also has significant lower ODI than SS group after 1 (P = 0.010), 3 (P = 0.005) and 6 months (P < 0.001) of treatment. Upon generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis, the TT group showed significantly more reduction in both VAS and ODI compared to the SS group at 1 month (P = 0.022, P = 0.001), 3 months (P < 0.001, P < 0.001), and 6 months (P < 0.001, P < 0.001) post-treatment. Conclusions: Postmenoposal woman with SIF who received TPTD healed better than those who underwent sacroplasty after 1 month treatment.

Oriental Hybrid Lily Cultivars Vary in Susceptibility to Upper Leaf Necrosis

Yao-Chien Chang,Joseph P. Albano,William B. Miller 한국원예학회 2006 한국원예학회 기타간행물 Vol.- No.-