Feedback Analysis of Sequential Circuits

Edward Chin Hsi Ling,Tay Beng Kang 대한전자공학회 1994 JTC-CSCC : Joint Technical Conference on Circuits Vol.- No.-

Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor in Spinal Cord Injury

Chin-Chu Ko,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Jau-Ching Wu,Wen-Cheng Huang,Henrich Cheng 대한척추신경외과학회 2019 Neurospine Vol.16 No.4

Spinal cord injury (SCI), with an incidence rate of 246 per million person-years among adults in Taiwan, remains a devastating disease in the modern day. Elderly men with lower socioeconomic status have an even higher risk for SCI. Despite advances made in medicine and technology to date, there are few effective treatments for SCI due to limitations in the regenerative capacity of the adult central nervous system. Experiments and clinical trials have explored neuro-regeneration in human SCI, encompassing cell- and molecule-based therapies. Furthermore, strategies have aimed at restoring connections, including autologous peripheral nerve grafts and biomaterial scaffolds that theoretically promote axonal growth. Most molecule-based therapies target the modulation of inhibitory molecules to promote axonal growth, degrade glial scarring obstacles, and stimulate intrinsic regenerative capacity. Among them, acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) has been investigated for nerve repair; it is mitogenic and pluripotent in nature and could enhance axonal growth and mitigate glial scarring. For more than 2 decades, the authors have conducted multiple trials, including human and animal experiments, using aFGF to repair nerve injuries, including central and peripheral nerves. In these trials, aFGF has shown promise for neural regeneration, and in the future, more trials and applications should investigate aFGF as a neurotrophic factor. Focusing on aFGF, the current review aimed to summarize the historical evolution of the utilization of aFGF in SCI and nerve injuries, to present applications and trials, to summarize briefly its possible mechanisms, and to provide future perspectives.

The Effects of Freeze Drying and Rehydration on Survival of Microorganisms in Kefir

Chen, Hsi-Chia,Lin, Chin-Wen,Chen, Ming-Ju Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2006 Animal Bioscience Vol.19 No.1

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of freeze drying on the microorganisms in kefir. Influences of lyoprotectants and rehydrated media (water at $4^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$; 10% reconstituted milk at $4^{\circ}C$, $25^{\circ}C$) on the viability of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in freeze-dried kefir were investigated. Kefir was made from cow milk which was inoculated with 5% kefir grains, and incubated at $20^{\circ}C$ for 20 h. Lyoprotectants (galactose, lactose, maltose, sucrose and trehalose) were added independently before dehydration of kefir by freeze drying. Results indicated significant loss in viability of microorganisms in kefir after freeze-drying. Addition of 10% galactose or 10% sucrose as lyoprotectants significantly increased the survival rates of both lactic acid bacteria and yeasts (p<0.05). The $4^{\circ}C$ rehydration temperature showed the best viabilities for yeasts, however, viability was not significantly affected by rehydration media (p>0.05).

Study of Oil-Water Ratio and Flow Rate of MQL Fluid in High Speed Milling of Inconel 718

Yunn-Shiuan Liao,Chin-Hsi Liao,Hsien-Mou Lin 한국정밀공학회 2017 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.18 No.2

High speed milling of Inconel 718 by carbide tool aided by MQL of various oil-water ratios and flow rates of the fluid was investigated. Tool wear and cutting force were taken to assess the effectiveness of the fluids. The action of the fluid in machining Inconel 718 under MQL was also studied. EDX analysis of the rake face of the tool shows that the fluid has penetrated into the chiptool interface and works as the diffusion barrier as well. The results reveal that the amounts of fluid penetration and wetting area are essential for effective fluid action. Tool wear and cutting force are found to decrease with increasing flow rate of the fluid irrespective of oil-water ratio. But the improvements are negligible as compared with those resulted from the flow rates of 100 ml/ hr and 60 ml/hr. This can also be confirmed by the little difference of wetting area beyond the flow rate of 60 ml/hr. Based on this study, it is concluded that the most appropriate oil-water ratio and flow rate of the fluid used in MQL in high speed milling of Inconel 718 are 60:40 and 60 ml/hr, respectively.

Measurement of Deformity at the Craniovertebral Junction: Correlation of Triangular Area and Myelopathy

Chih-Chang Chang,Jau-Ching Wu,Chin-Chu Ko,Hsuan-Kan Chang,Yi-Hsuan Kuo,Chao-Hung Kuo,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Wen-Cheng Huang 대한척추신경외과학회 2022 Neurospine Vol.19 No.4

Objective: Diseases of the craniovertebral junction (CVJ) are commonly associated with deformity, malalignment, and subsequent myelopathy. The misaligned CVJ might cause compression of neuronal tissues and subsequently clinical symptoms. The triangular area (TA), measured by magnetic resonance imaging/images (MRI/s), is a novel measurement for quantification of the severity of compression to the brain stem. This study aimed to assess the normal and pathological values of TA by a comparison of patients with CVJ disease to age- and sex-matched controls. Moreover, postoperative TAs were correlated with outcomes. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent surgery for CVJ disease were included for comparison to an age- and sex-matched cohort of normal CVJ persons as controls. The demographics, perioperative information, and pre- and postoperative 2-year cervical MRIs were collected for analysis. Cervical TAs were measured and compared. Results: A total of 201 patients, all of whom had pre- or postoperative MRI, were analyzed. The TA of the CVJ deformity group was larger than the healthy control group (1.62 ± 0.57 cm2 vs. 1.01 ± 0.18 cm2 , p < 0.001). Moreover, patients who had combined anterior odontoidectomy and posterior laminectomy with fixation had the greatest reduction in the TA (1.18 ± 0.58 cm2 ). Conclusion: In CVJ deformity, the measurement of the cervical TA could indicate the severity of brain stem compression. After surgery, the TA had a varying degree of improvement, which could represent the efficacy of surgery.

Efficacy of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate and Amla (Emblica officinalis) Extract for the Treatment of Diabetic-Uremic Patients

Tung-Sheng Chen,Show-Yih Liou,Hsi-Chin Wu,Fuu-Jen Tsai,Chang-Hai Tsai,Chih-Yang Huang,Yen-Lin Chang 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.7

Uremic patients with diabetes suffer from high levels of oxidative stress due to regular hemodialysis therapy (neutrophil activation induced by hemo-incompatibility between the hemodialyser and blood) and complications associated with diabetes. Several plasma biomarkers were screened in 13 uremic diabetic patients after receiving the mixture of (–)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major component of green tea extract, and Amla extract (AE), from Emblica officinalis, the Indian gooseberry, for 3 months. We found that oral administration of a 1:1 mixture of EGCG and AE for 3 months significantly improved antioxidant defense as well as diabetic and atherogenic indices in uremic patients with diabetes. Furthermore, no significant changes in hepatic function, renal function, or inflammatory responses were observed. These results suggest that a 1:1 combination of EGCG and AE is a safe and effective treatment for uremic patients with diabetes.

Comparison of Cortical Bone Trajectory to Pedicle-Based Dynamic Stabilization: An Analysis of 291 Patients

Chih-Chang Chang,Hsuan-Kan Chang,Chin-Chu Ko,Ching-Lan Wu,Yi-Hsuan Kuo,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Wen-Cheng Huang,Jau-Ching Wu 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.1

Objective: Pedicle-based dynamic stabilization (DS) has gained popularity outside of America. Although pedicle screw (PS) loosening has always been a concern, it is reportedly innocuous. Cortical bone trajectory (CBT) screw is an emerging option with less invasiveness and similar effectiveness to PS in short-segment lumbar fusion. This study aimed to verify the use of CBT for DS by comparing the outcomes between pedicle- and CBT-based DS. Methods: Consecutive patients with lumbar spondylosis or low-grade spondylolisthesis who underwent 1- or 2-level DS between L3–5 with a minimum follow-up of 24 months were reviewed. Screw loosening was determined by computed tomography and the incidences were compared. Results: A total of 291 patients who underwent Dynesys DS (235 pedicle- and 56 CBT-based, respectively) were compared. The demographics and preoperative conditions were similar. All the clinical outcomes improved at 24-month postoperation, while the CBT-based group had less operation time and blood loss than the pedicle-based group. The rates of screw loosening were lower in the CBT-based (5.4% per screw and 12.5% per patient) than the pedicle-based group (9% per screw and 26.4% per patient). Furthermore, there were no differences in the clinical outcomes and complication profiles. Conclusion: The CBT-based DS for 1- or 2-level lumbar degeneration demonstrated equivalent clinical improvement as the pedicle-based DS. The adaption of CBT-based screws for DS could be a less invasive approach (shorter operation time and less blood loss), with lower chances of screw loosening than the conventional PS-based DS.

Development and characterization of a potential diagnostic monoclonal antibody against capsid protein VP1 of the chicken anemia virus

Yi-Yang Lien,Chi-Hung Huang,Fang-Chun Sun,Shyang-Chwen Sheu,Tsung-Chi Lu,Meng-Shiunn Lee,Shu-Chin Hsueh,Hsi-Jien Chen,Meng-Shiou Lee 대한수의학회 2012 JOURNAL OF VETERINARY SCIENCE Vol.13 No.1

Chicken anemia virus (CAV) is an important viral pathogen that causes anemia and severe immunodeficiency syndrome in chickens worldwide. In this study, a potential diagnostic monoclonal antibody against the CAV VP1 protein was developed which can precisely recognize the CAV antigen for diagnostic and virus recovery purposes. The VP1 gene of CAV encoding the N-terminus-deleted VP1 protein, VP1Nd129, was cloned into an Escherichia (E.) coli expression vector. After isopropyl-b-D-thiogalactopyronoside induction, VP1Nd129 protein was shown to be successfully expressed in the E. coli. By performing an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay using two coating antigens, purified VP1Nd129 and CAV-infected liver tissue lysate, E3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) was found to have higher reactivity against VP1 protein than the other positive clones according to the result of limiting dilution method from 64 clones. Using immunohistochemistry, the presence of the VP1-specific mAb, E3, was confirmed using CAV- infected liver and thymus tissues as positive-infected samples. Additionally, CAV particle purification was also performed using an immunoaffinity column containing E3 mAb. The monoclonal E3 mAb developed in this study will not only be very useful for detecting CAV infection and performing histopathology studies of infected chickens, but may also be used to purify CAV particles in the future.