Traditional Chinese medicine attenuates hospitalization and mortality risks in diabetic patients with carcinoma in situ in Taiwan

Tsai Li-Jen,Chung Chi-Hsiang,Lin Chien-Jung,Su Sheng-Chiang,Kuo Feng-Chih,Liu Jhih-Syuan,Chen Kuan-Chan,Ho Li-Ju,Kuo Chih-Chun,Chang Chun-Yung,Lin Ming-Hsun,Chu Nain-Feng,Lee Chien-Hsing,Hsieh Chang-H 한국한의학연구원 2022 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.11 No.2

Background: Diabetic patients are at high risk of developing cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become increasingly popular as an adjuvant treatment for patients with chronic diseases, and some studies have identified its beneficial effect in diabetic patients with cancer. The purpoes of this study was to outline the potential of TCM to attenuate hospitalization and mortality rates in diabetic patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Methods: A total of 6,987 diabetic subjects with CIS under TCM therapy were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, along with 38,800 of 1:1 sex-, age-, and index year-matched controls without TCM therapy. Cox proportional hazard analysis was conducted to compare hospitalization and mortality rates during an average of 15 years of follow-up. Results: A total of 3,999/1,393 enrolled-subjects (28.62%/9.97%) had hospitalization/mortality, including 1,777/661 in the TCM group (25.43%/9.46%) and 2,222/732 in the control group (31.80%/10.48%). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed a lower rate of hospitalization and mortality for subjects in the TCM group (adjusted HR=0.536; 95% CI=0.367–0.780, P<0.001; adjusted HR=0.783; 95% CI=0.574– 0.974, P = 0.022). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative risk of hospitalization and mortality in the case and control groups was significantly different (log rank, P<0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). Conclusions: Diabetic patients with CIS under TCM therapy were associated with lower hospitalization and mortality rates compared to those without TCM therapy. Thus, TCM application may reduce the burden of national medical resources.

Low-Cost Camera Based Laser Power Monitoring and Stabilizing for Micro-Hole Drilling

Chien-Fang Ding,Meng-Shiou Lee,Kuan-Ming Li 한국정밀공학회 2017 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.18 No.9

In this study, a laser power monitoring and stabilizing system for micro-hole drilling based on optical outputs of a CMOS sensor is presented. The correlation between the laser power and the average brightness of the beam spots on the images was investigated. The estimated laser power was used to build an on-line closed loop control of micro-hole drilling. Experimental results showed that the shortest response time of the laser monitoring system was only 30 ms, which was much faster than a thermopile power meter. The average measuring error was 3%, compared with thermopile power meter. In the PCB drilling experiments of 30 kHz pulse repetition frequency, the PID controller could compensate the power disturbances from 38.4% to 1.8%, and the aspect ratio from 20% to 5%. This study demonstrates the feasibility to develop a low-cost laser power monitoring and stabilizing system in laser micromachining processes.

Enhanced Performance of Pseudo-Bilayer Organic Photovoltaic Devices via Small Molecule Doping

Syu, Yu-Wei,Huang, Peng-Yi,Li, Husan-De,Hsu, Ching-Ling,Chiu, Kuan-Cheng,Kim, Choongik,Chen, Ming-Chou,Chao, Yu-Chiang American Chemical Society 2014 The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part C Vol.118 No.19

<P>Controlling both the film crystallinity of the active layer for better charge transport and the interdiffusion between donor and acceptor materials for optimal bicontinuous networks is essential in producing pseudo-bilayer polymer solar cells. In this work, we investigated the influence of a doping solution-processable small molecule with high carrier mobility, 5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl) anthradithiophene (TES-ADT), on the performance of pseudo-bilayer polymer solar cells made of an underlayer of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and an upper layer of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). By analysis of the X-ray diffraction and UV–vis absorbance spectra of P3HT:TES-ADT blend films it was demonstrated that the film crystallinity was enhanced by TES-ADT doping in the P3HT underlayer. The hole mobility extracted from the current density–voltage curves of hole-only devices based on P3HT:TES-ADT demonstrated an optimized value with proper TES-ADT doping and thermal annealing. An intermixed photoactive layer was observed for the annealed device, indicating the occurrence of interdiffusion with a large interfacial area. With improved film crystallinity and interdiffusion, the optimal device performance was obtained when 5% TES-ADT was blended with P3HT and a thermal annealing treatment at 150 °C for 1 min was conducted. At that optimal condition, the mean crystallite size was increased by 35%, and hence the enhancement of 8% and 14% in power conversion efficiency and short-circuit current density was observed, respectively.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/jpccck/2014/jpccck.2014.118.issue-19/jp502331x/production/images/medium/jp-2014-02331x_0007.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/jp502331x'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

Parameter Optimization of Micromilling Brass Mold Inserts for Microchannels with Taguchi Method

Pin-Chuan Chen,Yu-Chieh Chen,Chang-Wei Pan,Kuan-Ming Li 한국정밀공학회 2015 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

Achieving excellent quality of micromilled surfaces usually requires additional efforts and cost, and Taguchi methodology is anefficient tool in the parameter optimization process. The aim of this study is to explore the optimal cutting parameters for minimalsurface roughness of a micromilled brass mold inset, and the controlling parameters included coolant, spindle speed, feed rate, depthof cut, and the stepover. An orthogonal array and factor analysis were carried out to identify the optimal cutting combination, andthis combination included air coolant, spindle speed of 45,000 rpm, feed rate of 100 mm/min, stepover of 10% of milling bit diameter,and the depth of cut of 5 μm. To further confirm the analysis, multiple confirmation runs were realized and the averagely measuredsurface roughness was 0.03 μm with a stand deviation of 0.004 μm.

Optimization of Micromilling Microchannels on a Polycarbonate Substrate

Pin-Chuan Chen,Chang-Wei Pan,Wei-Chen Lee,Kuan-Ming Li 한국정밀공학회 2014 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

Rapidly prototyping a polymer microfluidic device is a growing interest for various applications and micromilling is one of the common approaches to manufacture polymer microfluidic devices. The advantages of using micromilling for polymer microfluidic devices include shorter fabrication process, lower cost, easier user interface, and being capable of fabricating complicated structures, which make micromilling a perfect tool in research idea testing and validation. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of each micromilling parameter to the surface roughness on a polycarbonate substrate, followed by the factor analysis to determine the optimal cutting conditions. The parameters included spindle speed, feed rate, and the depth of cut, and the roughness was measured by a stylus profilemeter. The smallest roughness achieved was 0.127 µm with the spindle speed of 20,000 rpm, feed rate of 300 mm/min, and the depth of cut of 10 µm. Factor analysis was used to determine that the spindle speed has the largest impact while the depth of cut has the minimized impact to the surface quality. To further confirm the optimal cutting conditions, twelve reservoirs were micromilled with the optimal cutting conditions and the average roughness is 0.14 µm with a stand deviation of 0.08 µm.

Analysis of Tool Wear by Using a Cutting Bending Moment Model for Milling Processes

Hsiang-Chun Tseng,Meng-Shiun Tsai,Bu-Ci Yeh,Kuan-Ming Li 한국정밀공학회 2022 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.23 No.8

In this study, we developed a bending moment model that considers the cutting forces acting on a sensory tool holder along the rotational direction. The polar plot of the bending moment during cutting can be used to investigate the cutting behavior. Cutting processes with different cutting depths and widths result in different polar plots, as verified experimentally. To evaluate the effect of tool wear on the polar plot, the bending moment equations were modified to incorporate the developed tool wear model. The simulation results indicated that tool wear can increase the size of the polar plot and vary the angle of the plot. By examining the change of this angle, one can determine the level of tool wear. The experimental results of this study indicated that the derived equation can predict the tool wear behavior with an average accuracy of 84%. Thus, the proposed integrated model enables the accurate prediction of tool wear. Consequently, the polar plot can feasibly be used to detect the level of tool wear.