Effect of Carbon-Nanotube Addition on Thermal Stability of Ti-based Metallic Glass Composites

Hsu Chih-Feng,Lee Pee-Yew 한국분말야금학회 2006 한국분말야금학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2006 No.1

The preparation of metallic glass composite powders was accomplished by the mechanical alloying of a pure Ti, Cu, Ni, Sn and carbon nanotube (CNT) powder mixture after 8 h milling. In the ball-milled composites, the initial CNT particles were dissolved in the Ti-based alloy glassy matrix. The bulk metallic glass composite was successfully prepared by vacuum hot pressing the as-milled CNT/ metallic glass composite powders. A significant hardness increase with the CNT additions was observed for the consolidated composite compacts.

A P2P-to-UPnP Proxy Gateway Architecture for Home Multimedia Content Distribution

( Chih-lin Hu ),( Hsin-cheng Lin ),( Yu-feng Hsu ),( Bing-jung Hsieh ) 한국인터넷정보학회 2012 KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Syst Vol.6 No.1

Deploying advanced home networking technologies and modern home-networked devices in residential environments provides a playground for new home applications and services. Because home multimedia entertainment is among the most essential home applications, this paper presents an appealing home media content sharing scenario: home-networked devices can discover neighboring devices and share local media content, as well as enormous amounts of Internet media content in a convenient and networked manner. This ideal scenario differs from traditional usages that merely offer local media content and require tedious manual operations of connection setup and file transfer among various devices. To achieve this goal, this study proposes a proxy gateway architecture for home multimedia content distribution. The proposed architecture integrates several functional mechanisms, including UPnP-based device discovery, home gateway, Internet media provision, and in-home media content delivery. This design addresses several inherent limitations of device heterogeneity and network interoperability on home and public networks, and allows diverse home-networked devices to play media content in an identical and networked manner. Prototypical implementation of the proposed proxy gateway architecture develops a proof-of-concept software, integrating a BitTorrent peer-to-peer client, a UPnP protocol stack, and a UPnP AV media server, as well as media distribution and management components on the OSGi home gateway platform. Practical demonstration shows the proposed design and scenario realization, offering users an unlimited volume of media content for home multimedia entertainment.

Antiproliferative and Antitumorigenic Activity of Toona sinensis Leaf Extracts in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Chih-Jen Yang,Yu-Jung Huang,Cheng-Yuan Wang,Chuan-Sheng Wang,Pei-Hui Wang,Jen-Yu Hung,Tung-Heng Wang,Hseng-Kuang Hsu,Hurng-Wern Huang,S.P. Anand Kumar,Ming-Shyan Huang,Ching-Feng Weng 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.1

Toona sinensis is a traditional Chinese herb, and the extracts of T. sinensis leaf possess a variety of biological functions. This study attempted to test the antiproliferative effect of TSL-1 (a bioactive fraction of T. sinensis) in H441 cells (lung adenocarcinoma). The data showed that the antiproliferative effect of TSL-1 on H441 cells is prominent using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. TSL-1-induced apoptosis was confirmed by cell morphology, sub-G1 peak accumulation, cleavage of poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase, and propidium iodide-annexin V double staining. Furthermore, decreased Bcl-2 accompanied by increased Bax (in western blotting) was found with TSL-1 treatment of H441 cells. TSL-1 treatment-induced G1 arrest was concurrent with the down-regulation of protein levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 in H441 cells. Peroral and intraperitoneal administrations of TSL-1 were performed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy, and peroral administration of TSL-1 was also used to elucidate the therapeutic efficacy in the H441 cell xenograft model in vivo. The data revealed that TSL-1 treatment inhibited H441 tumor growth in both therapeutic and preventive experiments. Taken together, these results demonstrate that TSL-1 possesses the capability of preventing and alleviating lung cancer proliferation in vitro and in vivo with proven nephrological and hepatic safety and has the potential to be developed as an anti–lung cancer drug.

Dielectric properties of Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 ceramic modified by Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 at microwave frequencies

Chun-Hsu Shen,Cheng-Liang Huang,Chuan-Feng Shih,Chih-Ming Huang 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.5

The effect of Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 addition on the microwave dielectric properties of Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 ceramics was investigated. The Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content plays a significant role in improving the dielectric properties. Microwave dielectric measurements show an increase in the dielectric constant (εr) and temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency (τf) and a decrease in the quality factor (Q × f value) with increasing Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content. By properly adjusting the Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content, a zero τf value can also be obtained, which make Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 a promising material in wireless systems. At 1300 ℃, the 0.81Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3–0.19Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 ceramics possess excellent microwave dielectric properties: a dielectric constant (εr) of 25.61, a Q × f value of 69,100 GHz, and a τf value of -6 ppm/℃. The effect of Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 addition on the microwave dielectric properties of Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 ceramics was investigated. The Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content plays a significant role in improving the dielectric properties. Microwave dielectric measurements show an increase in the dielectric constant (εr) and temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency (τf) and a decrease in the quality factor (Q × f value) with increasing Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content. By properly adjusting the Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content, a zero τf value can also be obtained, which make Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 a promising material in wireless systems. At 1300 ℃, the 0.81Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3–0.19Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 ceramics possess excellent microwave dielectric properties: a dielectric constant (εr) of 25.61, a Q × f value of 69,100 GHz, and a τf value of -6 ppm/℃.

Hybrid Navigation of a Four-Wheeled Tour-Guide Robot

Yuan-Pao Hsu,Ching-Chih Tsai,Zeng-Chung Wang,Yi-Jiang Feng,Hung-Hsing Lin 제어로봇시스템학회 2009 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2009 No.8

This paper develops methodologies and techniques for motion control and autonomous navigation of a tour-guide robot with a four-wheeled omni-directional mobile platform. A nonlinear unified kinematical control method is presented for point stabilization and trajectory tracking of a mobile robot which equipped with four independent driving omni-directional wheels equally spaced at 90 degrees between adjacent wheels. A hybrid navigation method is proposed to achieve safely autonomous navigation of the tour-guide robot; this approach includes two behaviors: one is the point-to-point trajectory tracking, and the other is the obstacle avoidance function using the traversability distance histogram (TDH) method to avoid barriers in museums. The effectiveness and merit of the proposed techniques are exemplified by conducting several experiments on an experimental four-wheeled omni-directional tour-guide robot.

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.

Quercetin-mediated Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis Involving Activation of a Caspase Cascade through the Mitochondrial Pathway in Human Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells

Chu-Chung Chou,Jai-Sing Yang,Hsu-Feng Lu,Siu-Wan Ip,Chyi Lo,Chih-Chung Wu,Jing-Pin Lin,Nou-Ying Tang,Jing-Gung Chung,Ming-Jen Chou,Ying-Hock Teng,Dar-Ren Chen 대한약학회 2010 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.33 No.8

Dietary polyphenols have been correlated with a reduced risk of developing cancer. Quercetin (a natural polyphenolic compound) induced apoptosis in many human cancer cell lines, including breast cancer MCF-7 cells. However, the involvement of possible signaling pathways and the roles of quercetin in apoptosis are still undefined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of quercetin on the induction of the apoptotic pathway in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. When MCF-7 cells were treated with quercetin for 24 and 48 h and at various doses (10-175 μM), cell viability decreased significantly in time- and dose-dependent manners. Exposure of MCF-7 cells to 10-175 μM quercetin resulted in an approximate 90.25% decrease in viable cells. To explicate the mechanism underlying the antiproliferative effect of quercetin, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was investigated after exposure to 150 μM quercetin for 6-48 h. Quercetin caused a remarkable increase in the number of S phase (14.56%to 61.35%) and sub-G1 phase cells (0.1% to 8.32%) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Quercetin caused S phase arrest by decreasing the protein expression of CDK2, cyclins A and B while increasing the p53 and p57 proteins. Following incubation with quercetin for 48 h, MCF-7 cells showed apoptotic cell death by the decreased levels of Bcl-2 protein and ΔΨ m and increased activations of caspase-6, -8 and -9. Moreover, quercetin increased the AIF protein released from mitochondria to nuclei and the GADD153 protein translocation from endoplasmic reticulum to the nuclei. These data suggested that quercetin may induce apoptosis by direct activation of the caspase cascade through the mitochondrial pathway in MCF-7 cells.

Does Spore Count Matter in Fungal Allergy?: The Role of Allergenic Fungal Species

Wan-Rou Lin,Yi-Hsing Chen,Mey-Fann Lee,Ling-Yi Hsu,Chih-Jen Tien,Feng-Ming Shih,Shih-Ching Hsiao,Pi-Han Wang 대한천식알레르기학회 2016 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.8 No.5

Purpose: Fungi have been known to be important aeroallergens for hundreds of years. Most studies have focused on total fungal concentration; however, the concentration of specific allergenic fungi may be more important on an individual basis. Methods: Ten fungal allergic patients and 2 non-fungal allergic patients were enrolled. The patients with a decrease in physician or patient global assessment by more than 50% of their personal best were considered to have an exacerbation of allergic symptoms and to be in the active stage. Those who maintained their physician and patient global assessment scores at their personal best for more than 3 months were considered to be in the inactive stage. The concentrations of dominant fungi in the patients’ houses and outdoors were measured by direct and viable counts at active and inactive stages. Results: The exacerbation of allergic symptoms was not correlated with total fungal spore concentration or the indoor/outdoor ratio (I/O). Specific fungi, such as Cladosporium oxysporum (C. oxyspurum), C. cladosporioides, and Aspergillus niger (A. niger), were found to be significantly higher concentrations in the active stage than in the inactive stage. Presumed allergenic spore concentration threshold levels were 100 CFU/m3 for C. oxysporum, and 10 CFU/m3 for A. niger, Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium oxalicum. Conclusions: The major factor causing exacerbation of allergic symptoms in established fungal allergic patients may be the spore concentration of specific allergenic fungi rather than the total fungal concentration. These results may be useful in making recommendations as regards environmental control for fungal allergic patients.