Classifying Endemic Fagaceae Species in Taiwan using Leaf Images

( Hao-chun Hsu ),( Cheng-hao Lee ),( Chih-kai Yang ),( Fang-hua Chu ),( Ming-jer Tsai ),( Yan-fu Kuo ) 한국농업기계학회 2018 한국농업기계학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.23 No.1

Fagaceae is one of the plant family which dominate the broad-leaved forests in Taiwan and have considerable value in economy and ecology. Traditionally, plant species identification based on leaf morphologies and is conducted using naked-eye observation. This study is proposed to distinguish the Fagaceae species using image processing and machine learning. In this study, leaf images of 10 Fagaceae species were collected. A serial of traits relevant to leaf morphologies, such as morphological, color, shape, and venation traits, were quantified from the leaf images. A support vector machine classifier was then developed to identify the species using the quantified traits. The proposed approach reached an identification accuracy of 95.8%.

Synthesis of Per-O-trimethylsilylated Thioglycosides and 1,6-Anhydrohexopyranoses

Yen-Chun Ko,Cheng-Fang Tsai,Cheng-Chung Wang,Shang-Cheng Hung 한국당과학회 2012 한국당과학회 학술대회 Vol.2012 No.1

Pathophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis in Female Patients: An Ultrasonographic Study

Yi-An Lu,Tuan-Jen Fang,Yu-Cheng Pei,Yun-Chen Tsai,Wan-Ni Lin 대한이비인후과학회 2023 Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology Vol.16 No.4

Objectives. Laryngeal ultrasonography (LUS) has been suggested as an alternative diagnostic tool for unilateral vocal foldparalysis (UVFP). The present study applied LUS and quantitative laryngeal electromyography (LEMG) in female UVFPpatients to investigate the pathophysiologic mechanisms of UVFP. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, vocal fold (VF) length parameters included resting and phonating VF length measuredusing B-mode LUS, and color Doppler vibrating length (CDVL) measured using the color Doppler mode. Results. Forty female patients with UVFP were enrolled, among whom 11 and 29 were assigned to the thyroarytenoid (TA)muscle+cricothyroid (CT) muscle group (with CT involvement) and the TA (without CT involvement) group, respec-tively. In the TA group, the turn frequency in thyroarytenoid-lateral cricoarytenoid (TA-LCA) on the paralyzed side,as observed through LEMG, correlated with the VF length during the resting phase (R =0.368, P =0.050) and CDVLvalues (R =0.627, P =0.000) on the paralyzed side. In the TA+CT group, the turn ratio in the CT muscle correlatedwith the normalized phonatory vocal length change (nPLC; R =0.621, P =0.041) on the paralyzed side. Conclusion. CDVL and nPLC are two parameters that can be utilized to predict the turn frequencies of TA-LCA in UVFPcases without CT involvement, and the turn ratio of CT in cases of UVFP with CT involvement, respectively. The find-ings suggest that LUS, as a noninvasive tool, can serve as an alternative method for assessing the severity of laryngealnerve injury and offer valuable insights into the pathophysiology of UVFP.

Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Increased Autonomic Activation and Improved Symptoms of Depression and Insomnia among Patients with Major Depression Disorder

I-Mei Lin,Sheng-Yu Fan,Cheng-Fang Yen,Yi-Chun Yeh,Tze‐Chun Tang,Mei-Feng Huang,Tai-Ling Liu,Peng-Wei Wang,Huang-Chi Lin,Hsin-Yi Tsai,Yu-Che Tsai 대한정신약물학회 2019 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.17 No.2

Objective: Autonomic imbalance is considered a psychopathological mechanism underlying major depressive disorder (MDD). Heart rate variability (HRV) is an index for autonomic activation. Poor sleep quality is common among patients with MDD. HRV biofeedback (BF) has been used for regulating autonomic balance among patients with physical illness and mental disorders. The purpose of present study was to examine the effects of HRV-BF on depressive symptoms, sleep quality, pre-sleep arousal, and HRV indices, in patients with MDD and insomnia. Methods: In this case-controlled study, patients with MDD and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score higher than 6 were recruited. The HRV-BF group received weekly 60-minute protocol for 6 weeks, and the control group who have matched the age and sex received medical care only. All participants were assessed on Beck Depression Inventory-II, Back Anxiety Inventory, PSQI, and Pre-Sleep Arousal Scale. Breathing rates and electrocardiography were also performed under resting state at pre-testing, and post-testing conditions and for the HRV-BF group, also at 1-month follow-up. Results: In the HRV-BF group, symptoms of depression and anxiety, sleep quality, and pre-sleep arousal were significantly improved, and increased HRV indices, compared with the control group. Moreover, in the HRV-BF group, significantly improved symptoms of depression and anxiety, decreased breathing rates, and increased HRV indices were detected at post-testing and at 1-month follow-up, compared with pre-testing values. Conclusion: This study confirmed that HRV-BF is a useful psychosocial intervention for improving autonomic balance, baroreflex, and symptoms of depression and insomnia in MDD patients.

An update of preimplantation genetic diagnosis in gene diseases, chromosomal translocation, and aneuploidy screening

Chang, Li-Jung,Chen, Shee-Uan,Tsai, Yi-Yi,Hung, Chia-Cheng,Fang, Mei-Ya,Su, Yi-Ning,Yang, Yu-Shih The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine 2011 Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine Vol.38 No.3

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is gradually widely used in prevention of gene diseases and chromosomal abnormalities. Much improvement has been achieved in biopsy technique and molecular diagnosis. Blastocyst biopsy can increase diagnostic accuracy and reduce allele dropout. It is cost-effective and currently plays an important role. Whole genome amplification permits subsequent individual detection of multiple gene loci and screening all 23 pairs of chromosomes. For PGD of chromosomal translocation, fluorescence $in-situ$ hybridization (FISH) is traditionally used, but with technical difficulty. Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) can detect translocation and 23 pairs of chromosomes that may replace FISH. Single nucleotide polymorphisms array with haplotyping can further distinguish between normal chromosomes and balanced translocation. PGD may shorten time to conceive and reduce miscarriage for patients with chromosomal translocation. PGD has a potential value for mitochondrial diseases. Preimplantation genetic haplotyping has been applied for unknown mutation sites of single gene disease. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) using limited FISH probes in the cleavage-stage embryo did not increase live birth rates for patients with advanced maternal age, unexplained recurrent abortions, and repeated implantation failure. Polar body and blastocyst biopsy may circumvent the problem of mosaicism. PGS using blastocyst biopsy and array CGH is encouraging and merit further studies. Cryopreservation of biopsied blastocysts instead of fresh transfer permits sufficient time for transportation and genetic analysis. Cryopreservation of embryos may avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and possible suboptimal endometrium.

Fe3+-binding transferrin nanovesicles encapsulating sorafenib induce ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Youmei Xiao,Zhanxue Xu,Yuan Cheng,Rufan Huang,Yuan Xie,Hsiang‑i Tsai,Hualian Zha,Lifang Xi,Kai Wang,Xiaoli Cheng,Yanfeng Gao,Changhua Zhang,Fang Cheng,Hongbo Chen 한국생체재료학회 2023 생체재료학회지 Vol.27 No.00

Background Ferroptosis, iron-dependent cell death, is an established mechanism for cancer suppression, particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Sorafenib (SOR), a frontline drug for the treatment of HCC, induces ferroptosis by inhibiting the Solute Carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), with inadequate ferroptosis notably contributing to SOR resistance in tumor cells. Methods To further verify the biological targets associated with ferroptosis in HCC, an analysis of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was performed to find a significant co-upregulation of SLC7A11 and transferrin receptor (TFRC), Herein, cell membrane-derived transferrin nanovesicles (TF NVs) coupled with Fe3+ and encapsulated SOR (SOR@TF-Fe3+ NVs) were established to synergistically promote ferroptosis, which promoted the iron transport metabolism by TFRC/TF-Fe3+ and enhanced SOR efficacy by inhibiting the SLC7A11. Results In vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that SOR@TF-Fe3+ NVs predominantly accumulate in the liver, and specifically targeted HCC cells overexpressing TFRC. Various tests demonstrated SOR@TF-Fe3+ NVs accelerated Fe3+ absorption and transformation in HCC cells. Importantly, SOR@TF-Fe3+ NVs were more effective in promoting the accumulation of lipid peroxides (LPO), inhibiting tumor proliferation, and prolonging survival rates in HCC mouse model than SOR and TF- Fe3+ NVs alone. Conclusions The present work provides a promising therapeutic strategy for the targeted treatment of HCC.

Sleep Quality and Self-Stigma Mediate the Association Between Problematic Use of Social Media and Quality of Life Among People With Schizophrenia in Taiwan: A Longitudinal Study

Mohsen Saffari,Kun-Chia Chang,Jung-Sheng Chen,Marc N. Potenza,Cheng-Fang Yen,Ching-Wen Chang,Po-Ching Huang,Hsin-Chi Tsai,Chung-Ying Lin 대한신경정신의학회 2023 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.20 No.11

Objective Problematic use of social media (PUSM) may affect sleep quality and self-stigma in people with schizophrenia and consequently reduce their quality of life (QoL). This longitudinal study investigated if sleep quality and self-stigma mediated relationships between PUSM and QoL.Methods One-hundred-and-ninety-three outpatients with schizophrenia were recruited from a psychiatric center in Taiwan from April 2019 to August 2021 and participated in a longitudinal study at intervals of three months between measurements. QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire Brief Version; sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; self-stigma using the Self-Stigma Scale-Short; and PUSM using the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale. Via SPSS 20.0, general estimating equation models assessed temporal associations between variables. Via R software, mediating effects of self-stigma and sleep quality were examined through Monte Carlo simulations with 20,000 repetitions.Results Mean scores of physical, psychological, social and environmental QoL ranged from 11.86 to 13.02. Mean scores of sleep quality and self-stigma were 9.1±4.5 and 2.2±0.8, respectively. Sleep quality and self-stigma were directly related to QoL (p<0.001) and mediated indirect relationships between PUSM and all components of QoL with a range of 95% confidence intervals spanning from -0.0591 to -0.0107 for physical QoL; -0.0564 to -0.0095 for psychological QoL; -0.0292 to -0.0035 for social QoL; and -0.0357 to -0.0052 for environmental QoL.Conclusion Sleep quality and self-stigma mediated relationships between PUSM and QoL in people with schizophrenia. Developing interventions targeting PUSM, sleep, and self-stigma may help improve QoL in people with schizophrenia.

Potential of a combination of entomopathogenic fungal strains and a non-ionic surfactant to control the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Wu Sing-Shan,Tseng Ching-Tzu,Yang Yu-Hung,Liu Yao-Chia,Chang Ju-Chun,Gyawali Purushottam,Li Yi-Hsuan,Yang Tzu-Hao,Tsai Yi-Fang,Tang Li-Cheng,Nai Yu-Shin 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.4

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is an emerging invasive pest in Taiwan that feeds on a wide range of crops and causes serious damage. Herein, an entomopathogenic fungal library (EFLib) was constructed to identify potential microbes to control FAW. Twenty-eight indigenous entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) were iso lated and investigated for their potential pathogenicity, with Metarhizium pinghaense (Mp-NCHU-124) and Beauveria bassiana (Bb-NCHU-157) exerting dose-dependent effects on the 4th instar FAW larvae. The non-ionic surfactant Silwet L-77 rapidly killed FAW larvae after spraying at a concentration of 300 mg/kg and the toxic effect of Silwet L-77 on FAW larvae was dose-dependent. When the EPF isolates (10 6 conidia/mL) were applied to FAW larvae in combination with the non-ionic surfactant Silwet L-77 (30–90 mg/kg), the mortality rate dramatically increased and the LT 50 reduced, with increased fungal mycosis (Mp-NCHU-124: 38% to 72% and Bb-NCHU-157: 20 to 62%), indicating the high compatibility of EPF with the non-ionic surfactant. Thus, the Silwet L-77+EPF combined formulation has potential for practical field application for FAW pest control and sustainable agriculture in the future.