Nucleophosmin modulates the alleviation of atopic dermatitis caused by the marine-derived compound dihydroaustrasulfone alcohol

Han-Chun Hung,Chien-Wei Feng,Yen-You Lin,Chun-Hong Chen,Kuan-Hao Tsui,Wu-Fu Chen,Chieh-Yu Pa,Jyh-Horng Sheu,Chun-Sung Sung,Zhi-Hong Wen 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and its prevalence is increasing. AD usually elicits skin barrier dysfunction, dry skin and itching. As the mechanisms of AD remain unknown, there is an urgent need to find effective therapies. Because of the diversity and complexity of marine environments, the discovery of drugs from marine organisms as novel therapeutic agents for human diseases has seen renewed interest. Dihydroaustrasulfone alcohol (WA-25), the synthetic precursor of austrasulfone, which is a natural product isolated from a Formosan soft coral, has been shown to possess many therapeutic effects in our previous studies. However, the detailed mechanisms and therapeutic effects of WA-25 on AD are incompletely understood. We performed in vitro and in vivo studies to examine the effects of WA-25 on AD. We showed that WA-25 blocks inflammation and oxidative stress. Simultaneously, we also found that WA-25 reduces the AD scores and AD-induced transepidermal water loss (TEWL), scratching behavior, and alloknesis. WA-25 is more effective in cases of AD than are the drugs that are currently used clinically. Importantly, we also found that when nucleophosmin (NPM) was inhibited or when its expression was reduced, the anti-inflammatory and anti-AD effects of WA-25 were blocked. These data suggest that NPM plays dual roles in inflammation and AD. Overall, these results suggest that WA-25 is a potential anti-inflammatory and AD therapeutic agent that is modulated by NPM.

Bidirectional Hybrid DWDM-PON for HDTV/Gigabit Ethernet/CATV Applications

Hai-Han Lu,Wen-Shing Tsai,Tzu-Shen Chien,Shih-Hung Chen,Yu-Chieh Chi,Che-Wei Liao 한국전자통신연구원 2007 ETRI Journal Vol.29 No.2

A new scheme for bi-directional HDTV/Gigabit Ethernet/CATV transmission over a hybrid densewavelength- division-multiplexing passive optical network (DWDM-PON) is proposed and demonstrated. It is based on injection-locked vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and distributed-feedback laser diodes as transmitters. Services with 129 HDTV channels, a 1.25 Gbps Gigabit Ethernet connection, and 77 CATV channels are successfully demonstrated over 40 km single-mode fiber links. Good performance of bit error rate, carrier-to-noise ratio, composite second order, and composite triple beat is achieved in our proposed bidirectional DWDM-PON.

Liver lesions detected in a hepatitis B core total antibody-positive patient masquerading as hepatocellular carcinoma

Chun Han Nigel Tan,Gwyneth Shook Ting Soon,Wei Chieh Alfred Kow 한국간담췌외과학회 2017 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.21 No.3

Peliosis Hepatis (PH) is a rare vascular disorder of the liver, characterized by the presence of cystic blood-filled cavities distributed throughout the hepatic parenchyma. The pathogenesis of PH remains controversial. The preoperative diagnosis of PH is difficult, due to the non-specific imaging characteristics of PH and almost all cases are diagnosed on histology post resection. This study presents a case of PH masquerading as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The patient is a 45-year old Chinese lady, who presented with transaminitis. She was found to be hepatitis B virus core total antibody-positive with an alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) of 29.4 ng/ml. Triphasic liver computed tomography showed several arterial hypervascular lesions and hypoenhancing lesions on the venous phase, particularly in the segments 6/7. Subsequently, a magnetic resonance imaging scan showed multiple lesions in the right hemiliver with an indeterminate enhancement patterns. Subsequently, she decided to undergo a resection procedure. Histopathology revealed findings consistent with PH with some unusual features. This case demonstrates a clinical conundrum, in which PH presented with a raised AFP, in a patient with risk factors for the development of HCC. The clinical suspicion of PH should be high in patients, who present with multiple hepatic lesions with variable enhancement patterns.

Fabrication of alignment layer free flexible liquid crystal cells using thermal nanoimprint lithography

Tzu-Chieh Lin,Shao-Chi Yu,Pei-Shiang Chen,Kai-Yuan Chi,Han-Chang Pan,Chih-Yu Chao 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.3

In this article, thermal nanoimprint lithography (thermal-NIL) has been utilized to transfer the microgroove pattern onto the plastic substrate. Without coating alignment polymer, the microgrooves on the flexible substrates can align liquid crystals (LCs) directly. The flexible LC cell is shown to maintain comparable electro-optical properties while bending. The plastic film and the alignment layer integrated into an alignment substrate could effectively prevent cracks of the additional polymer alignment layer during the bending process. This method is applicable to the roll-to-roll process to increase the production efficiency. In this article, thermal nanoimprint lithography (thermal-NIL) has been utilized to transfer the microgroove pattern onto the plastic substrate. Without coating alignment polymer, the microgrooves on the flexible substrates can align liquid crystals (LCs) directly. The flexible LC cell is shown to maintain comparable electro-optical properties while bending. The plastic film and the alignment layer integrated into an alignment substrate could effectively prevent cracks of the additional polymer alignment layer during the bending process. This method is applicable to the roll-to-roll process to increase the production efficiency.

Preparation of polyaminated Fe3O4@chitosan core-shell magnetic nanoparticles for efficient adsorption of phosphate in aqueous solutions

Chun-Chieh Fu,Hai Nguyen Tran,Xing-Han Chen,Ruey-Shin Juang 한국공업화학회 2020 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.83 No.-

In this study, novel polyethylenimine (PEI)-grafted chitosan (CS) core-shell (called as Fe3O4/CS/PEI)magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized and applied for adsorbing phosphate in water. The magneticand physicochemical properties of as-synthesized nanoparticles werefirst analyzed by means of asuperconducting quantum interference device, X-ray diffractometer, X-ray photoelectron spectroscope,Fourier-transform infrared spectroscope, transmission electron microscope, zeta potential analyzer, andnitrogen sorptiometer. The followed experiments indicated that the amount of phosphate adsorbedincreased with increasing equilibrium pH to near 4.0 and then decreased when the pH was furtherincreased. The adsorption isotherms of phosphate on Fe3O4/CS/PEI particles were wellfit by the Langmuirequation, and its maximum adsorption was 48.2 mg g 1 at an equilibrium pH of 3.0 and 25 C. Theprimary mechanism for phosphate adsorption on Fe3O4/CS/PEI particles was electrostatic attraction. Thepreferential adsorption of phosphate in the presence of other excess anions including chloride, nitrate,carbonate, and sulfate was presented. Under the conditions studied, more than 90% of phosphate wasdesorbed from the laden Fe3O4/CS/PEI particles by 0.05 mol L 1 of NaOH solution. The remainedadsorption efficiency obtained in thefive-cycle reusability tests has demonstrated the promisingapplication potential of Fe3O4/CS/PEI particles.

Bridging therapies to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: A bridge to nowhere?

Chun Han Nigel Tan,Yue Yu,Yan Rui Nicholas Tan,Boon Leng Kieron Lim,Shridhar Ganpathi Iyer,Krishnakumar Madhavan,Alfred Wei Chieh Kow 한국간담췌외과학회 2018 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.22 No.1

Backgrounds/Aims: Liver Transplantation (LT) is a recognized treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). The role of Bridging Therapies (BT) remains controversial. Methods: From January 2001 to October 2012, 192 patients were referred to the National University Hospital, Singapore for consideration of LT for HCC. Sixty-five patients (33.8%) were found suitable for transplant and were placed on the waitlist. Analysis was performed in these patients. Results: The most common etiology of HCC was Hepatitis B (n=28, 43.1%). Thirty-six patients (55.4%) received BT. Seventeen patients (47.2%) received TACE only, while 10 patients (27.8%) received radiofrequency ablation (RFA) only. The remaining patients received a combination of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) and RFA. Baseline tumor and patient characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The overall dropout rate was 44.4% and 31.0% in the BT and non-BT groups, respectively (p=0.269). The dropout rate due to disease progression beyond criteria was 6.9% (n=2) in the non-bridged group and 22.2% (n=8) in the bridged group (p=0.089). Thirty-nine patients (60%) underwent LT, of which all patients who underwent Living Donor LT did not receive BT (n=4, 21.1%, p=0.030). The median time to LT was 180 days (range, 20-558 days) in the non-BT group and 291 days (range, 17-844 days) in the BT group (p=0.214). There was no difference in survival or recurrence between the BT and non-BT groups (p=0.862). Conclusions: BT does not influence the dropout rate or survival after LT but it should be considered in patients who are on the waitlist for more than 6 months.

Evaluation of Heat Transfer in Acupuncture Needles: Convection and Conduction Approaches

Ya-Chien Chung,Chieh-Han John Tzou,Tzyy-Yih Yang 사단법인약침학회 2015 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.8 No.2

Originating in ancient China, acupuncture using needles has been developed for thousands of years and has received attention for its reported medical remedies, such as pain relief and chronic disease treatment. Heat transfer through the needles, which might have effects on the biomechanism of acupuncture, providing a stimulus and regulating homeostasis, has never been studied. This article analyzes the significance of heat transfer through needles via convection and conduction, approached by means of computational analysis. The needle is a cylindrical body, and an axis symmetrical steady-state heat-transfer model that viscosity and static pressure was not applied. This article evaluates heat transfer via acupuncture needles by using five metal materials: silver, copper, brass, iron, and stainless steel. A silver needle of the type extensively applied in acupuncture can dissipate more than seven times as much heat as a stainless steel needle of the same type. Heat transfer through such a needle is significant, compared to natural body-energy consumption over a range of ambient temperatures. The mechanism by which heat flows in or out of the body through the needles may be crucial in the remedial efficacy of acupuncture.

Downside Risk Control in Continuous Time Portfolio Management

Ya-Wen Hwang,Han-Cong Cai,Shih-Chieh Bill Chang 한국증권학회 2013 Asia-Pacific Journal of Financial Studies Vol.42 No.6

Institutionally managed savings have dramatically increased in recent decades. In order to ensure that portfolio managers work directly for investors, controlling downside risk is a crucial mechanism in the agent’s asset allocation strategy. In this paper, we extend the agent’s asset allocation problem by incorporating multi-period downside control over the time-varying opportunity set. We show that optimal asset allocation can be regarded as a series of separate dynamic strategies in replicating the synthetic call options with the utility-related mutual fund and guarantee exercise. Numerical simulations show that increasing the minimum effectively increases the equity holding. Moreover, fund managers are inclined to hold only fixed income portfolios once the target return is obtained.

Phase Transformation Behavior of Bi2O3-ZnO-Nb2O5 Ceramics sintered at low Temperature

Shiao Fu-Thang,Ke Han-Chou,Lee Ying-Chieh 한국분말야금학회 2006 한국분말야금학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2006 No.1

To co-fire with commercial LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic) materials at , different contents of were added to the (BZN) ceramics. According to the test results, the cubic phase of BZN was transformed into orthorhombic in all the test materials. phase was formed in test materials with of addition. The phase transformation of cubic BZN was controlled during the synthesis process with excess ZnO content. The Cubic and orthorhombic phases of BZN could coexist and be sintered densely at .

Robust Fuzzy Control for Discrete Perturbed Time-Delay Affine Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Models

Wen-Jer Chang,Wei-Han Huang,Cheung-Chieh Ku 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2011 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.9 No.1

The purpose of this paper is to study the stability analysis and controller synthesis principles of Discrete Perturbed Time-Delay Affine (DPTDA) Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy models. In general, the T–S fuzzy model is a weighted sum of some linear subsystems via fuzzy membership functions. This paper considers fuzzy rules include both linear nominal parts and uncertain parameters in the time-delay affine T–S fuzzy model. For DPTDA T–S fuzzy models, the T–S fuzzy control scheme is used to confront the H∞ performance constraints. Some sufficient conditions are derived on robust H∞ disturbance attenuation in which both robust stability and a prescribed performance are required to be achieved. In order to find suitable fuzzy controllers, the Iterative Linear Matrix Inequality (ILMI) algorithm is employed to solve these sufficient conditions. At last, a numerical simulation for the nonlinear truck-trailer system is given to show the applications of the present design approach.