Evaluation of a rotating packed bed equipped with blade packings for methanol and 1-butanol removal

Chia-Chang Lin,Yu-Chiao Lin,Shu-Ching Chen,Ling-Jung Hsu 한국공업화학회 2010 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.16 No.6

Absorption removal of methanol and 1-butanol from gaseous streams with water was investigated in the RPB equipped with blade packings. The removal efficiency (E) of methanol and 1-butanol was found to increase with the RPB speed and the liquid flow rate but decrease with the gas flow rate. Also, the overall volumetric gas-side mass transfer coefficient (KGa) for methanol and 1-butanol absorption was observed to increase with the RPB speed, the gas flow rate, and the liquid flow rate. According to the obtained dependence of KGa on the gas and liquid flow rates, the mass transfer in methanol and 1-butanol absorption was observed to be controlled primarily by the gas-side mass transfer. Furthermore, the height of a transfer unit (HTU) for methanol and 1-butanol absorption decreased with the RPB speed and the liquid flow rate but increased with the gas flow rate. The obtained results demonstrated that mass transfer efficiency of the RPB equipped with blade packing was comparable to that of a hollow fiber absorber. Consequently, the RPB equipped with blade packings has a great potential in the removal of alkanols from the exhausted gases. 2010 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-α Subunit Targeting Suppresses Metastasis in Advanced Thyroid Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo

( Ching-ling Lin ),( Ming-lin Tsai ),( Yu-hsin Chen ),( Wei-ni Liu ),( Chun-yu Lin ),( Kai-wen Hsu ),( Chien-yu Huang ),( Yu-jia Chang ),( Po-li Wei ),( Shu-huey Chen ),( Li-chi Huang ),( Chia-hwa Lee 한국응용약물학회 2021 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.29 No.5

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancers, such as papillary and follicular cancers, have a favorable prognosis. However, poorly differentiated thyroid cancers, such as medullary, squamous and anaplastic advanced thyroid cancers, are very aggressive and insensitive to radioiodine treatment. Thus, novel therapies that attenuate metastasis are urgently needed. We found that both PDGFC and PDGFRA are predominantly expressed in thyroid cancers and that the survival rate is significantly lower in patients with high PDGFRA expression. This finding indicates the important role of PDGF/PDGFR signaling in thyroid cancer development. Next, we established a SW579 squamous thyroid cancer cell line with 95.6% PDGFRA gene insertion and deletions (indels) through CRISPR/Cas9. Protein and invasion analysis showed a dramatic loss in EMT marker expression and metastatic ability. Furthermore, xenograft tumors derived from PDGFRA geneedited SW579 cells exhibited a minor decrease in tumor growth. However, distant lung metastasis was completely abolished upon PDGFRA gene editing, implying that PDGFRA could be an effective target to inhibit distant metastasis in advanced thyroid cancers. To translate this finding to the clinic, we used the most relevant multikinase inhibitor, imatinib, to inhibit PDGFRA signaling. The results showed that imatinib significantly suppressed cell growth, induced cell cycle arrest and cell death in SW579 cells. Our developed noninvasive apoptosis detection sensor (NIADS) indicated that imatinib induced cell apoptosis through caspase-3 activation. In conclusion, we believe that developing a specific and selective targeted therapy for PDGFRA would effectively suppress PDGFRA-mediated cancer aggressiveness in advanced thyroid cancers.

Delay of Surgery for Spinal Metastasis due to the COVID-19 Outbreak Affected Patient Outcomes

Chia-Jung Hsieh,Chun-Yu Wu,Yen-Heng Lin,Yu-Cheng Huang,Wen-Chi Yang,Tom Wei-Wu Chen,Wei-Li Ma,Wei-Hsin Lin,Feng-Ming Hsu,Furen Xiao,Shih-Hung Yang,Dar-Ming Lai,Chang-Mu Chen,Shin-Yi Chao,Fon-Yih Tsuan 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.4

Objective: The present study is to analyze the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 2019) outbreak and the subsequent lockdown on the outcomes of spinal metastasis patients. Methods: The study was a retrospective analysis of data from a prospective cohort study. All patients underwent surgical intervention for spinal metastases between January 2019 and December 2021 and had at least 3 months of postoperative follow-up. The primary outcome was overall mortality during the 4 different stages (pre-COVID-19 era, COVID-19 pandemic except in Taiwan, national lockdown, lifting of the lockdown). The secondary outcomes were the oncological severity scores, medical/surgical accessibility, and patient functional outcome during the 4 periods as well as survival/mortality. Results: A total of 233 patients were included. The overall mortality rate was 41.20%. During the Taiwan lockdown, more patients received palliative surgery than other surgical methods, and no total en bloc spondylectomy was performed. The time from surgeon visit to operation was approximately doubled after the COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan (75.97, 86.63, 168.79, and 166.91 hours in the 4 periods, respectively). The estimated survival probability was highest after the national lockdown was lifted and lowest during the lockdown. In the multivariate analysis, increased risk of mortality was observed with delay of surgery, with emergency surgery having a higher risk with delays above 33 hours, urgent surgery (below 59 and above 111 hours), and elective surgery (above 332 hours). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic and related policies have altered daily clinical practice and negatively impacted the survival of patients with spinal metastases.

A Study of Nursing Preceptor's Need for the Curriculum of Faculty Development

Chia Hsien Su,Mei Chun Lai,Lin Nu Hsu,Chu Yu Chan 한국간호과학회 2011 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2011 No.10

Indoxyl sulfate, homocysteine, and antioxidant capacities in patients at different stages of chronic kidney disease

Chen Cheng-Hsu,Huang Shih-Chien,Yeh En-Ling,Lin Pei-Chih,Tsai Shang-Feng,Huang Yi-Chia 한국영양학회 2022 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.16 No.4

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Increased levels of uremic toxins and decreased antioxidant capacity have a significant impact on the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it remains unclear whether they interact with each other to mediate the damage of kidney function. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether uremic toxins (i.e., homocysteine and indoxyl sulfate [IS]), as well as glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities are dependently or independently associated with kidney function during different stages of CKD patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS One hundred thirty-two patients diagnosed with CKD at stages 1 to 5 participated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS Patients who had reached an advanced CKD stage experienced an increase in plasma uremic toxin levels, along with decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. Plasma homocysteine, cysteine, and IS concentrations were all positively associated with each other, but negatively correlated to GSH-Px activity levels after adjusting for potential confounders in all CKD patients. Although plasma homocysteine, cysteine, IS, and GSH-Px levels were significantly associated with kidney function, only plasma IS levels still had a significant association with kidney function after these parameters were simultaneously adjusted. In addition, plasma IS could interact with GSH-Px activity to be associated with kidney function. CONCLUSIONS IS plays a more dominant role than homocysteine and GSH-Px activity in relation to kidney function.

Neutron and X-ray scattering on the monolayer structure of a lecithin fullerene-derivative.

Jeng, U-Ser,Lin, Tsang-Lang,Shin, Kwanwoo,Lee, Hsin-Yi,Hsu, Chia-Hung,Chi, Zau-Ann,Shih, Ming Chih,Torikai, Naoya American Scientific Publishers 2007 Journal of nanoscience and nanotechnology Vol.7 No.4

<P>Using neutron reflectivity with contrast variation, X-ray reflectivity, and grazing incident small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS), we have characterized the in-depth and in-plane structural characteristics of the Langmuir and Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films formed by a novel lecithin C60-derivative, FPTL, of three phospholipids jointly bonded on one single olefinic moiety of a C60 cage. Based on the neutron reflectivity measured, we have proposed a monolayer structure, with the C60 cages of FPTL lifted into the air and hydrophilic phospholipid heads immersed in water, for the FPTL Langmuir layer formed on water. On the other hand, the LB film of FPTL prepared on mica exhibits clear Kiessig fringes in the X-ray reflectivity profile, indicating a 27 angstroms monolayer film with less molecular orientation. With GISAXS, we have extracted an in-plane correlation length of about 210 A for a possible in-plane aggregation of C60 of FPTL in the LB monolayer. We have also demonstrated the highly ordered monolayer structures of a lecithin lipid, in elucidating the positive effect of the attached functional group-phospholipids on the monolayer formation of the lecithin C60-derivative.</P>

Comparison of the Efficacy of Two Microsphere Embolic Agents for Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Shao-Hua Lee,Chia-Ying Lin,Ya-Chun Hsu,Yi-Sheng Liu,Ming-Tsung Chuang,Ming-Ching Ou 대한암학회 2020 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.52 No.1

Purpose Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) delivers cytotoxic drugs intra-arterially and induces ischemic necrosis by arterial embolization. Embolization is achieved using a variety of agents that differ widely in particle size and range, deformation, and in vivo arterial distribution. The clinical significance of these differences has not been thoroughly characterized. The present study is to compare the efficacy of Embosphere and Embozene microspheres in TACE therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and Methods This retrospective study includes 108 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who received TACE/doxorubicin with Embozene (70 patients) or Embosphere (38 patients) at a single medical center. Patient outcomes, including liver function, tumor size, tumor response, and complications after treatment, were analyzed. The change in total target lesion size and tumor response was evaluated according to embolization agent and clinical characteristics. Results The postoperative glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (mean, 194.5 vs. 147.5; p=0.032) and bilirubin (mean, 1.11 mg/dL vs. 0.73 mg/dL; p=0.016) were higher among patients treated with Embozene, the decrease in the number (55.86±25.55% vs. 41.81±38.51%, p=0.027) and size (56.37±25.91 mm vs. 43.44±37.89 mm, p=0.001) of liver tumors relative to baseline was greater in these patients than in those treated with Embosphere. These greater antitumor effects were achieved using lower doses of doxorubicin than for treatment with Embozene. Minor complications were more common among patients treated with Embosphere than with Embozene. Conclusion These results suggest that Embozene is more efficacious than Embosphere for HCC treatment using TACE/doxorubicin.

Deubiquitination and Stabilization of PD-L1 by CSN5

Lim, Seung-Oe,Li, Chia-Wei,Xia, Weiya,Cha, Jong-Ho,Chan, Li-Chuan,Wu, Yun,Chang, Shih-Shin,Lin, Wan-Chi,Hsu, Jung-Mao,Hsu, Yi-Hsin,Kim, Taewan,Chang, Wei-Chao,Hsu, Jennifer L.,Yamaguchi, Hirohito,Ding Elsevier 2016 Cancer cell Vol.30 No.6

<P><B>Summary</B></P> <P>Pro-inflammatory cytokines produced in the tumor microenvironment lead to eradication of anti-tumor immunity and enhanced tumor cell survival. In the current study, we identified tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) as a major factor triggering cancer cell immunosuppression against T cell surveillance via stabilization of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). We demonstrated that COP9 signalosome 5 (CSN5), induced by NF-κB p65, is required for TNF-α-mediated PD-L1 stabilization in cancer cells. CSN5 inhibits the ubiquitination and degradation of PD-L1. Inhibition of CSN5 by curcumin diminished cancer cell PD-L1 expression and sensitized cancer cells to anti-CTLA4 therapy.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> TNF-α stabilizes cancer cell PD-L1 in response to chronic inflammation </LI> <LI> Activation of NF-κB by TNF-α induces CSN5 expression leading to PD-L1 stabilization </LI> <LI> CSN5 enzyme activity controls T cell suppression via PD-L1 deubiquitination </LI> <LI> Destabilization of PD-L1 by CSN5 inhibitor curcumin benefits anti-CTLA4 therapy </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Fuzzy AHP Approach to TQM Strategy Evaluation

Ming-Lang Tseng,Yuan-Hsu Lin,Anthony SF Chiu,Chia Yi Chen 대한산업공학회 2008 Industrial Engineeering & Management Systems Vol.7 No.1

In recent years, many electronics producing firms have looked upon total quality management (TQM) strategy as a means by which they could maintain competitive advantage. This empirical research evaluates TQM strategic factors in order to determine the critical success factors in environmental uncertainty. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) is the proposed research methodology to discuss and tackle the different decision criteria like effective leadership, people management, customer focus, strategic plan and process management, being involved in identifying the TQM strategic critical success factors with uncertainty. The result shows that effective leadership is the most critical success factor in TQM strategy.

Predictive maintenance of abnormal wind turbine events by using machine learning based on condition monitoring for anomaly detection

Huan Chen,Jyh-Yih Hsu,Jia-You Hsieh,Hsin-Yao Hsu,Chia-Hao Chang,Yu-Ju Lin 대한기계학회 2021 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.35 No.12

The predictive maintenance of wind turbines has become a critical issue with the rapid development of wind power generation. The early detection of abnormal operation conditions can prevent failure status, which takes a long time to recover. Energy waste can also be reduced while maintenance efficiency can be improved by using a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system to monitor the operation status of wind turbines. Massive data are generated from different sensors during wind turbine operation, and SCADA can be used to gather reports about hundreds of possible abnormal conditions. The popular maintenance methods have been mostly designed on the basis of statistical analysis and data mining. However, such schemes need not only big data but also sophisticated processing techniques. This study addresses the aforementioned challenges by proposing a deep learning model with comprehensive data preprocessing and hyperparameter tuning on batch size to achieve abnormal early detection. The necessary data preprocessing is initially conducted besides the conventional data cleaning and normalization steps, and time-series data windowing and label settings are also performed. Then, the imbalanced classes in the records are addressed by adopting an augmentation scheme called the synthetic minority oversampling technique. Principal component analysis is also used to enhance the training. Finally, the proposed deep learning method with fine-tuning is compared with three machine learning models for early anomaly event detection. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme can identify potential faults 72 hours before they occur, and the precision rate exceeds 90 %.