An efficient nitridation approach to enhance luminescent intensity of YAG : Ce3+ phosphor by using hexamethylenetetramine

Pin-Chun Lin,Chien-Hao Huang,Wei-Ren Liu 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2014 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.15 No.3

Nitrogen-doped YAG : Ce3+ phosphors have been firstly studied by using hexamethylenetetramine (HMT) as a nitrogen source by a solid state reaction. The optimal content of HMT is by introducing 50 wt.% with precursors of Y2O3, Al2O3 and CeO2 under annealing at 1450 o C for 8 hours. The XRD data indicate that the lattice constants increase with the content of HMT. SEM morphologies demonstrate that after nitrogen doping, the surface and particle size of YAG become smoother and larger than un-treated one. The PL intensity of YAG : Ce after HMT treatment gives a incensement in range of 3.46% ~ 9.87%. The luminous efficacy of as-synthesized YAG : Ce phosphor + Blue chip was dramatically enhanced by 40%. Using the doped samples, the white LED luminous efficiency obtained 78.4 lm/W and was successfully obtained with the combination of blue LED chip, thus improving the performance of the LED. The enhancement in luminesce was resulted from the modification of its surface morphology, crystallinity and grain size.

Clinical Outcomes and Cost-Effectiveness of Osteoporosis Screening With Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Hsu Chiao-Lin,Wu Pin-Chieh,Yin Chun-Hao,Chen Chung-Hwan,Lee King-Teh,Lin Chih-Lung,Shi Hon-Yi 대한영상의학회 2023 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.24 No.12

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for osteoporosis screening. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients who had and had not undergone DXA screening were identified from among those aged 50 years or older at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. Age, sex, screening year (index year), and Charlson comorbidity index of the DXA and non-DXA groups were matched using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) for propensity score analysis. For cost-effectiveness analysis, a societal perspective, 1-year cycle length, 20-year time horizon, and discount rate of 2% per year for both effectiveness and costs were adopted in the incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) model. Results: The outcome analysis included 10337 patients (female:male, 63.8%:36.2%) who were screened for osteoporosis in southern Taiwan between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2021. The DXA group had significantly better outcomes than the non-DXA group in terms of fragility fractures (7.6% vs. 12.5%, P < 0.001) and mortality (0.6% vs. 4.3%, P < 0.001). The DXA screening strategy gained an ICER of US$ -2794 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) relative to the non-DXA at the willingness-to-pay threshold of US$ 33004 (Taiwan’s per capita gross domestic product). The ICER after stratifying by ages of 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥ 80 years were US$ -17815, US$ -26862, US$ -28981, and US$ -34816 per QALY, respectively. Conclusion: Using DXA to screen adults aged 50 years or older for osteoporosis resulted in a reduced incidence of fragility fractures, lower mortality rate, and reduced total costs. Screening for osteoporosis is a cost-saving strategy and its effectiveness increases with age. However, caution is needed when generalizing these cost-effectiveness results to all older populations because the study population consisted mainly of women.

Quadrature Oscillators with Grounded Capacitors and Resistors Using FDCCIIs

Jiun-Wei Horng,Chun-Li Hou,Chun-Ming Chang,Hung-Pin Chou,Chun-Ta Lin,Yao-Hsin Wen 한국전자통신연구원 2006 ETRI Journal Vol.28 No.4

Two current-mode and/or voltage-mode quadrature oscillator circuits each using one fully-differential secondgeneration current conveyor (FDCCII), two grounded capacitors, and two (or three) grounded resistors are presented. In the proposed circuits, the current-mode quadrature signals have the advantage of high-output impedance. The oscillation conditions and oscillation frequencies are orthogonally (or independently) controllable. The current-mode and voltage-mode quadrature signals can be simultaneously obtained from the second proposed circuit. The use of only grounded capacitors and resistors makes the proposed circuits ideal for integrated circuit implementation. Simulation results are also included.

Novel Variants in the FIG4 Gene Associated With Chinese Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis With Slow Progression

Chang-Yun Liu,Ji-Lan Lin,Shu-Yan Feng,Chun-Hui Che,Hua-Pin Huang,Zhang-Yu Zou 대한신경과학회 2022 Journal of Clinical Neurology Vol.18 No.1

Background and Purpose Mutations in the FIG4 gene have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) type 11 in Caucasian populations. The purpose of this study was to identify FIG4 variants in a cohort of 15 familial ALS (FALS) indexes and 275 sporadic ALS (SALS) patients of Han Chinese origin. Methods All 23 exons of FIG4 were sequenced using targeted next-generation sequencing. An extensive literature review was performed to detect genotype-phenotype associations of FIG4 mutations. Results No FIG4 variants were identified in the FALS patients. One novel heterozygous missense variant (c.352G>T [p.D118Y]) and one novel heterozygous nonsense variant (c.2158G>T [p.E720X]) in FIG4 were identified in two SALS patients. The p.E720X variant is interpreted as likely pathogenic while the p.D118Y variant is a variant of uncertain significance. The patient carrying the p.E720X mutation developed lower-limb-onset slowly progressive ALS, and survived for 11.5 years. The patient harboring the FIG4 p.D118Y variant also presented with progressive ALS, with the score on the ALS Functional Rating Scale–Revised (ALSFRS-R) decreasing by 0.4 per month. The rate of decrease in the ALSFRS-R scores from symptom onset to diagnosis seemed to be lower in the patients carrying FIG4 variants than the no-FIG4-mutation ALS patients in this study. Conclusions Our findings suggest that ALS patients carrying FIG4 mutations are not common in the Chinese population and are more likely to exhibit slow progression.

Fragrant Bamboo: The Constructivist Inquiry-based Science Project Curriculum Implementing Place-based Education for Preschool Children in Taiwan Tayal Indigenous Tribe

Shu-Chen Chien,Chao-Ti Hsiung,Shu-Fang Chen,Chun-Pin Lin 환태평양유아교육연구학회 2010 Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhoo Vol.4 No.2

The collaborative teaching research was conducted in northern Taiwan’s Tayal indigenous tribe to practice a constructivist inquiry-based science project curriculum implementing place-based education for kindergarten children. Research participants included 2 classroom teachers and 15 young children. Entering the natural tribal context, the researcher collected data through field observations, interviews, and other documentation. Qualitative method was adopted to analyze research data. A bamboo project was implemented relating to children’s life experiences. Research findings reveal: (1) teachers and children managed to co-construct a science project curriculum based on local resources and Tayal traditional knowledge (2) children developed basic scientific concepts and knowledge about natural plants through the inquiry-based project curriculum and (3) teachers regarded their roles as being colearners with children and realized the importance of children’s active involvement in the constructivist inquiry-based teaching. The result can help to improve science teaching/learning for indigenous children by utilizing environmental resources as well as traditional knowledge in future education.

Glutathione S-Transferase Expression in Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinomas: a Taiwan Study

Chen, Szu-Han,Wu, Wen-Jeng,Tu, Hung-Pin,Li, Wei-Ming,Huang, Chun-Nung,Li, Ching-Chia,Lin, Hui-Hui,Ke, Hung-Lung Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.11

Objectives: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes play important roles in resistance to cell apoptosis and carcinogenesis. We aimed to establish the relationship between GST expression and the prognosis of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTT-UC) in Taiwan. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed 46 patients with pathologically confirmed UUT-UC at Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. In each patient, expression of GSTT1 and GSTP1 was compared between urothelial carcinoma and normal urothelial cells by Western blotting. Results: GSTP1 expression in the UUT-UC cells was significantly higher than that in normal urothelial cells (1.6 fold, p<0.001). Expression of GSTT1 was significantly associated with the invasiveness of the carcinoma (p=0.006). Conclusions: In UUT-UC, GSTP1 might be a potential tumor marker, whereas high GSTT1 expression could be used as an indicator of cancer progression. This study is the first to demonstrate potential applications of different GST isoenzymes for biomolecular analysis of UUT-UCs in Taiwan.

Efficacy and Safety of 12 Weeks of Daclatasvir, Asunaprevir Plus Ribavirin for the Treatment of HCV Genotype 1b Infection without Baseline NS5A Resistance-Associated Variants (DARING)-Interim Report

( Ming-lung Yu ),( Chao-hung Hung ),( Yi-hsiang Huang ),( Cheng-yuan Peng ),( Chun-yen Lin ),( Pin-nan Cheng ),( Rong-nan Chien ),( Shih-jer Hsu ),( Chen-hua Liu ),( Jee-fu Huang ),( Chung-feng Huang 대한간학회 2018 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2018 No.1

Aims: The current study aims to elucidate the treatment efficacy (defined as undetectable HCV RNA throughout 12 weeks of post-treatment follow-up, SVR12) and safety DCV/ASV plus ribavirin for 12 weeks in HCV-1b patients without NS5A RAS. Methods: This is a single-arm, open-label phase 2 study. Seventy directly acting antivirals (DAA)-naïve HCV-1b patients without L31/Y93 RAS are planned to receive daclatasvir (60 mg/ day) and asunaprevir (100 mg twice daily) plus weight-based ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) for 12 weeks. After treatment they were followed up for 12 weeks. Results: As of 31 Oct 2017, 58 eligible patients are allocated to treatment, with a mean age of 59.3 years and female predominance (67.2%, 39/58). The mean HCV RNA was 5.87+0.77 log10 IU/mL; 23 patients (39.7 %) had significant hepatic fibrosis (>F2). In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, the rate of undetectable HCV at week 1, week 2, week 4, week 8 and endof- treatment was 25 % (14/56), 84.8 % (39/46), 100 % (46/46), 100 % (38/38) and 100 % (27/27), respectively. Undetectable HCV RNA were observed in all of the patients with HCV RNA assessable 4 weeks (SVR4, 18/18) and 12 weeks (SVR12, 12/12) post treatment. None of the 18 patients who completed the 12-week treatment experienced relapse during post-treatment follow-up. The most common adverse event was fatigue (78.3 %), followed by pruritus (65.2 %) and dizziness (52.2 %), of which were considered as ribavirin related. None of the participating subjects withdrew treatment or follow-up throughout the trial peroid. Three serious adverse events were reported which included urosepsis, appendicitis and left ureteral stone. All were unrelated to the investigating drugs. Conclusions: 12 weeks of DCV/ASV plus ribavirin was highly effective and safe in HCV-1b patients without NS5A RAS in the interim analysis. The satisfactory results would be anticipated in the full patient set.