Voicing Back through the Shattered Self: Mental Illness, Marital Dynamics, and Diasporic Tensions in The Colour of Mehndi

Hsin-Ju Kuo 한국영미문학페미니즘학회 2023 영미문학페미니즘 Vol.31 No.2

In analyzing the novel The Colour of Mehndi, this article aims to explore a broader literary landscape of South Asian women’s writings and calls for further exploration of the intricate relationships among mental illness, marital dynamics, ethnicity, and cultural pressure within diasporic communities. First, this article scrutinizes South Asian immigrant women’s writings within a diasporic context, focusing mainly on the juxtaposition of homogeneity and heterogeneity in their literary landscapes. Then, the study delves into the complex negotiations of self-identity amid the intricate tapestry of diaspora and matrimony. Through the poignant story of Nazli, the female protagonist caught amidst dual socio-cultural challenges, the essay elucidates women’s multifaceted oppression stemming from the diaspora, gender expectations, and mental health afflictions. One central theme is the amplified adherence to traditional diaspora customs, serving as coping mechanisms and potential sources of emotional turmoil. The article further sheds light on the heightened cultural stigmas associated with mental health within South Asian diasporic communities, emphasizing how these deterrents, combined with societal norms, often internalize distress and avoidance of professional intervention. Nazli’s harrowing journey culminating in her tragic end accentuates the need to address these pervasive issues. This work illuminates the profound intersections of mental health, cultural identity, and societal structures by juxtaposing socio-somatic paradigms with more conventional psychosomatic frameworks. The study advocates for a more nuanced understanding of diasporic women’s lived experiences, catalyzing a broader academic and socio-cultural discourse on the pivotal themes of identity, marital relations, ethnicity, and mental health in the diaspora.

Emblica officinalis Gaertn. Attentuates N-Nitrosodiethylamine-Induced Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Inflammation in Rat Livers

Kuo-Hsin Chen,Bor-Ru Lin,Chiang-Ting Chien,Chien-Hsin Ho 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.7

Inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to liver injury. Amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) is rich in vitamin C, gallic acid, flavonoids, and tannins, which may protect against hepatoxicity-induced liver injury. We elucidated the effects of supplementary Amla (100 mg/kg of body weight) on N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced injury by evaluating reactive oxygen species (ROS) responses in the liver and bile, the degree of accumulated leukocytes and Kupffer cell infiltration, 3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxynonenal stains, apoptosis and autophagy, plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) levels, and antioxidant/oxidant enzymes in rats. Amla was more potent than vitamin C in scavenging O_2^−·, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide. N-Nitrosodiethylamine increased ROS production in liver and bile, hepatic Kupffer cell and leukocyte infiltration, 3-nitrotyrosine and 4-hydroxynonenal accumulations, apoptosis and autophagy, and plasma ALT, AST, and γ-GT levels in the rats, decreased hepatic manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and catalase protein expressions, and enhanced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) protein expressions. Amla significantly preserved MnSOD and catalase expressions and decreased iNOS and CYP2E1 protein expressions in N-nitrosodiethylamine-treated livers. Amla decreased N-nitrosodiethylamine-enhanced hepatic apoptosis and autophagy appearances via down-regulation of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Beclin-1 expression. Thus Amla supplementation counteracts N-nitrosodiethylamine-induced liver injury via its antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and anti-autophagy properties.

A Novel Character Segmentation Method for Text Images Captured by Cameras

Hsin-Te Lue,Kuo-Chin Fan,Chih-Wei Lin,Ming-Gang Wen,Chih-Chang Yu 한국전자통신연구원 2010 ETRI Journal Vol.32 No.5

Due to the rapid development of mobile devices equipped with cameras, instant translation of any text seen in any context is possible. Mobile devices can serve as a translation tool by recognizing the texts presented in the captured scenes. Images captured by cameras will embed more external or unwanted effects which need not to be considered in traditional optical character recognition (OCR). In this paper, we segment a text image captured by mobile devices into individual single characters to facilitate OCR kernel processing. Before proceeding with character segmentation, text detection and text line construction need to be performed in advance. A novel character segmentation method which integrates touched character filters is employed on text images captured by cameras. In addition, periphery features are extracted from the segmented images of touched characters and fed as inputs to support vector machines to calculate the confident values. In our experiment, the accuracy rate of the proposed character segmentation system is 94.90%, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Moldable Job Scheduling for HPC as a Service with Application Speedup Model and Execution Time Information

Kuo-Chan Huang,Tse-Chi Huang,Mu-Jung Tsaia Hsi-Ya Chang,Yuan-Hsin Tung 한국정보기술융합학회 2013 JoC Vol.4 No.4

Acupuncture-Related Rapid Dermal Spread of Breast Cancer: A Rare Case

Hsin-Shun Tseng,Szu-Erh Chan,Shou-Jen Kuo,Dar-Ren Chen 한국유방암학회 2011 Journal of breast cancer Vol.14 No.4

Many ethnic Chinese patients seek second or adjuvant alternative therapies after breast cancer is diagnosed. Chinese herbs and acupuncture are the most popular methods in East Asia. We present a case of acupuncture manipulation-related cutaneous spread that no literature reported before. Post-acupuncture cutaneous spread was noted in a 54-year-old woman with left neck lymph node recurrence after complete surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. The results of chest computed tomography and skin biopsy showed the metastatic breast cancer in the dermis. Six courses of paclitaxel and gemcitabine followed by trastuzumab were given as therapeutic chemotherapy. The neck mass and cutaneous lesions subsided after 2 courses of chemotherapy. Direct puncture of a metastatic lymph node might increase the incidence of tumor spread on the skin. Therefore, despite the efficacy of complementary and alternative medicine, its safety and possible side effects should be more emphasized.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Comorbid Major Depression and Heart Rate Variability: A Case-Control Study in Taiwan

Hsin-An Chang,Chuan-Chia Chang,Nian-Sheng Tzeng,Terry B. J. Kuo,Ru-Band Lu,San-Yuan Huang 대한신경정신의학회 2013 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.10 No.4

Objective Decreased heart rate variability (HRV) has been reported in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but the results are mixed. Little is known about the impact of comorbid major depression (MD) on HRV in GAD patients. Both issues necessitate further investigation. Methods Twenty unmedicated, physically healthy GAD patients, 20 GAD patients with a secondary diagnosis of MD, 40 MD patients and 60 matched controls were recruited. We used the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to assess anxiety and depression severity, respectively. Cardiac autonomic function was evaluated by measuring HRV parameters. Frequency-domain indices of HRV were obtained. Results Three patient groups had more anxiety and depression symptoms than control subjects, but heart rates (HRs) were significantly elevated only in GAD patients with comorbid depression. Relative to controls, GAD patients had reduced HRV while GAD patients with comorbid depression displayed the greatest reductions in HRV among three patients groups. Correlation analyses revealed anxiety/depression severity significantly associated with HRs, variance, LF-HRV and HF-HRV. However, separately analyzing among individual groups and adjusting for HRV-associated covariables rendered the correlations non-significant. Conclusion Our results suggest that reduction in HRV is a psychophysiological marker of GAD and individuals with comorbid GAD and MD may be distinguished based on psychophysiological correlates (for example, HF-HRV) from non-comorbid GAD patients. Taken into account that comorbid depression may confer increased risks for cardiovascular events in GAD patients, this subgroup of GAD patients may benefit better from cardiovascular risk reduction strategies.

Ginsenoside compound K reduces the progression of Huntington's disease via the inhibition of oxidative stress and overactivation of the ATM/AMPK pathway

Kuo-Feng Hua,A-Ching Chao,Ting-Yu Lin,Wan-Tze Chen,Yu-Chieh Lee,Wan-Han Hsu,Sheau-Long Lee,Hsin-Min Wang,Ding-I. Yang,Tz-Chuen Ju 고려인삼학회 2022 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.46 No.4

Background: Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion oftrinucleotide CAG repeat in the Huntingtin (Htt) gene. The major pathogenic pathways underlying HDinvolve the impairment of cellular energy homeostasis and DNA damage in the brain. The protein kinaseataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is an important regulator of the DNA damage response. ATM isinvolved in the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), suggesting that AMPK plays acritical role in response to DNA damage. Herein, we demonstrated that expression of polyQ-expandedmutant Htt (mHtt) enhanced the phosphorylation of ATM. Ginsenoside is the main and most effectivecomponent of Panax ginseng. However, the protective effect of a ginsenoside (compound K, CK) in HDremains unclear and warrants further investigation. Methods: This study used the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of HD and performed behavioral tests,survival rate, histological analyses, and immunoblot assays. Results: The systematic administration of CK into R6/2 mice suppressed the activation of ATM/AMPK andreduced neuronal toxicity and mHTT aggregation. Most importantly, CK increased neuronal density andlifespan and improved motor dysfunction in R6/2 mice. Conversely, CK enhanced the expression of Bcl2protected striatal cells from the toxicity induced by the overactivation of mHtt and AMPK. Conclusions: Thus, the oral administration of CK reduced the disease progression and markedlyenhanced lifespan in the transgenic mouse model (R6/2) of HD.

Atypical Angioma Serpiginosum

Ju-Hsin Chen,Kuo-Hsien Wang,Chung-Hong Hu,Jainn-Shiun Chiu 연세대학교의과대학 2008 Yonsei medical journal Vol.49 No.3

Angioma serpiginosum is an uncommon, acquired vascular nevoid disorder with capillary dilation and proliferation in the papillary dermis. The eruptions are asymptomatic and characterized by grouped, erythematous to violaceous, serpiginous and punctate macules. The condition usually appears in females during adolescence on unilateral lower extremities and the buttocks. We report a rare case with a late onset and atypical distribution of lesions in a 48-year-old female patient who had groups of punctate lesions on her left foot for four to five years. Histopathological examination showed hyperkeratosis and multiple dilated and proliferated capillaries in the papillary dermis. Inflammation and extravasation of red blood cells were not found. According to the clinical and pathological findings, we established a diagnosis of angioma serpiginosum. She was treated with a pulsed dye laser, and the angiomatous lesions subsequently improved.

Effects of nitrogen and carbon doping on properties and photocatalytic activity of TiO2-In2O3 composite

Chung-Hsin Wu,Chao-Yin Kuo,Jui-Tai Wu,Pui-Kwan Andy Hong,Chih-Hao Lai,Wei-Yang Chung 한국화학공학회 2015 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.32 No.5

TiO2-In2O3 (Ti-In) was synthesized by the sol-gel method and the composite was further doped with nitrogen and carbon to create Ti-In-N and Ti-In-C, respectively. The dye C.I. Reactive Red 2 (RR2) was used a model compound to be subjected to various composites and measured for removal by photocatalytic degradation and adsorption. Ti-In-N possessed a larger mean diameter than Ti-In-C, while the latter possessed a greater anatase content and surface area than the former. After N or C doping, the spectra of corresponding Ti-In-N and Ti-In-C showed absorption edges at longer wavelengths than the parent Ti-In. Ti-N-O and Ti-O-C bonds were found in Ti-In-N and Ti-In-C composites, respectively. Ti-In-N was more effective for RR2 photodegradation than Ti-In-C, and the Ti-In-C removed more RR2 by adsorption than Ti-In-N.

The Taiwan WRF Ensemble Prediction System: Scientific Description, Model-Error Representation and Performance Results

Chih-Hsin Li,Judith Berner,Jing-Shan Hong,Chin-Tzu Fong,Ying-Hwa Kuo 한국기상학회 2020 Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences Vol.56 No.1

The Taiwan mesoscale ensemble prediction system (EPS) based on theWeather Research and Forecast model (WRF), also called WEPS, is designed to provide reliable ensemble forecasts for the East Asian region centered on Taiwan. The most skillful ensemble is obtained if model-uncertainty is represented in addition to initial condition uncertainty. A number of numerical prediction experiments are conducted to obtain the optimal configuration consisting of multiple physics-schemes, and two stochastic parameterization schemes: The Stochastic-Kinetic Energy Backscatter (SKEB) Scheme and the Stochastically Perturbed of Physics-Tendency (SPPT) scheme. The performance of the best configuration of WEPS is objectively verified against ECMWF reanalysis and a high-resolution simulation. Further analysis finds little impact of the stochastic schemes on quantitative precipitation forecasts and a single Typhoon case study. We conclude that for best performance over the East Asian domain, stochastic parameterizations alone are not sufficient to represent model-uncertainty and need to be augmented with a multi- physics suite.