Population Aging and Changes in Dependency Ratios in Taiwan

Chao Nan Chen,Huo Ying Wu,Geor Ge Lee 한국노인복지학회 2001 International Journal of Welfare for the Aged Vol.5 No.-

Bandwidth-Related Optimization in High-Speed Frequency Dividers using SiGe Technology

Chao-Zhou Nan,Xiao-Peng Yu,Wei-Meng Lim,Bo-Yu Hu,Zheng-Hao Lu,Yang Liu,Kiat-Seng Yeo 대한전자공학회 2012 Journal of semiconductor technology and science Vol.12 No.1

In this paper, the trade-off related to bandwidth of high-speed common-mode logic frequency divider is analyzed in detail. A method to optimize the operating frequency, band-width as well as power consumption is proposed. This method is based on bipolar device characteristics, whereby a negative resistance model can be used to estimate the optimal normalized upper frequency and lower frequency of frequency dividers under different conditions, which is conventionally ignored in literatures. This method provides a simple but efficient procedure in designing high performance frequency dividers for different applications. To verify the proposed method, a static divide-by-2 at millimeter wave ranges is implemented in 180 ㎚ SiGe technology. Measurement results of the divider demonstrate significant improvement in the figure of merit as compared with literatures.

DL-RRT* Algorithm for Least Dose Path Re-planning in Dynamic Radioactive Environments

Nan Chao,Yong-kuo Liu,HONG XIA,Min-jun Peng,Abiodun Ayodeji 한국원자력학회 2019 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.51 No.3

One of the most challenging safety precautions for workers in dynamic, radioactive environments isavoiding radiation sources and sustaining low exposure. This paper presents a sampling-based algorithm,DL-RRT*, for minimum dose walk-path re-planning in radioactive environments, expedient for occupationalworkers in nuclear facilities to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure. The method combines theprinciple of random tree star (RRT*) and D* Lite, and uses the expansion strength of grid search strategyfrom D* Lite to quickly find a high-quality initial path to accelerate convergence rate in RRT*. The algorithminherits probabilistic completeness and asymptotic optimality from RRT* to refine the existingpaths continually by sampling the search-graph obtained from the grid search process. It can not only beapplied to continuous cost spaces, but also make full use of the last planning information to avoid globalre-planning, so as to improve the efficiency of path planning in frequently changing environments. Theeffectiveness and superiority of the proposed method was verified by simulating radiation field undervarying obstacles and radioactive environments, and the results were compared with RRT* algorithmoutput.

Bandwidth-Related Optimization in High-Speed Frequency Dividers using SiGe Technology

Nan, Chao-Zhou,Yu, Xiao-Peng,Lim, Wei-Meng,Hu, Bo-Yu,Lu, Zheng-Hao,Liu, Yang,Yeo, Kiat-Seng The Institute of Electronics and Information Engin 2012 Journal of semiconductor technology and science Vol.12 No.1

In this paper, the trade-off related to bandwidth of high-speed common-mode logic frequency divider is analyzed in detail. A method to optimize the operating frequency, band-width as well as power consumption is proposed. This method is based on bipolar device characteristics, whereby a negative resistance model can be used to estimate the optimal normalized upper frequency and lower frequency of frequency dividers under different conditions, which is conventionally ignored in literatures. This method provides a simple but efficient procedure in designing high performance frequency dividers for different applications. To verify the proposed method, a static divide-by-2 at millimeter wave ranges is implemented in 180 nm SiGe technology. Measurement results of the divider demonstrate significant improvement in the figure of merit as compared with literatures.

A False Positive 18F-FDG PET/CT Scan Caused by Breast Silicone Injection

Chao-Jung Chen,Bi-Fang Lee,Wei-Jen Yao,Pei-Shan Wu,Wen-Chung Chen,Shu-Lin Peng,Nan-Tsing Chiu 대한영상의학회 2009 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.10 No.2

We present here the case of a 40-year-old woman with a greater than 10 year prior history of bilateral breast silicone injection and saline bag implantation. Bilateral palpable breast nodules were observed, but the ultrasound scan was suboptimal and the magnetic resonance imaging showed no gadoliniumenhanced tumor. The 18F-FDG PET/CT scan showed a hypermetabolic nodule in the left breast with a 30% increase of 18F-FDG uptake on the delayed imaging, and this mimicked breast cancer. She underwent a left partial mastectomy and the pathology demonstrated a siliconoma.

Evaluation of insecticidal activity of the essential oil of Allium chinense G. Don and its major constituents against Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel

Xin Chao Liu,Xiao Nan Lu,Qi Zhi Liu,Zhi Long Liu 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.4

Water-distilled essential oil from the dried bulbs of Allium chinense (Liliaceae) was analyzed by gaschromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Eighteen compounds, accounting for 98.4% of the total oil,were identified and the main components of the essential oil of A. chinense were methyl allyl trisulfide(30.7%), dimethyl trisulfide (24.1%), methyl propyl disulfide (12.8%) and dimethyl disulfide (9.6%) followed bymethyl allyl disulfide (3.4%) and methyl propyl trisulfide (3.6%). The essential oil exhibited contact toxicityagainst the booklice (Liposcelis bostrychophila) with an LC50 value of 441.8 μg/cm2 while the two major constituents,dimethyl trisulfide and methyl propyl disulfide had LC50 values of 153.0 μg/cm2 and 738.0 μg/cm2 againstthe booklice, respectively. The essential oil of A. chinense possessed strong fumigant toxicity against the booklicewith an LC50 value of 186.5 μg/l while methyl allyl trisulfide (LC50=90.4 μg/l) and dimethyl trisulfide (LC50=114.2 μg/l) exhibited stronger fumigant toxicity than methyl propyl disulfide (LC50= 243.4 μg/l) and dimethyldisulfide (LC50= 340.8 μg/l) against the booklice. The results indicated that the essential oil and itsmajor constituentshave potential for development into natural insecticides or fumigants for control of insects in stored grains.

Roles of Fibroblast Growth Factor-inducible 14 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Li, Nan,Hu, Wen-Jun,Shi, Jie,Xue, Jie,Guo, Wei-Xing,Zhang, Yang,Guan, Dong-Xian,Liu, Shu-Peng,Cheng, Yu-Qiang,Wu, Meng-Chao,Xie, Dong,Liu, Shan-Rong,Cheng, Shu-Qun Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.6

The prognostic value of the fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR), western blot assays and immunohistochemistry analysis were here performed in order to compare Fn14 expressios in paired liver samples of HCC and normal liver tissue. Most of the tumor tissues expressed significantly higher levels of Fn14 compared to adjacent non-tumor tissues, with Fn14High accounting for 54.6% (142/260) of all patients. The Pearson ${\chi}^2$ test indicated that Fn14 expression was closely associated with serum alpha fetal protein (AFP) (P=0.002) and tumor number (p=0.019). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that along with tumor diameter and portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT ) type, Fn14 was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival (OS) (HR=1.398, p=0.008) and recurrence (HR=1.541, p=0.001) rates. Fn14 overexpression HCC correlated with poor surgical outcome, and this molecule may be a candidate biomarker for prognosis as well as a target for therapy.

The Effects of Environmental Toxins on Allergic Inflammation

San-Nan Yang,Chong-Chao Hsieh,Hsuan-Fu Kuo,Min-Sheng Lee,Ming-Yii Huang,Chang-Hung Kuo,Chih-Hsing Hung 대한천식알레르기학회 2014 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.6 No.6

The prevalence of asthma and allergic disease has increased worldwide over the last few decades. Many common environmental factors are associated with this increase. Several theories have been proposed to account for this trend, especially those concerning the impact of environmental toxicants. The development of the immune system, particularly in the prenatal period, has far-reaching consequences for health during early childhood, and throughout adult life. One underlying mechanism for the increased levels of allergic responses, secondary to exposure, appears to be an imbalance in the T-helper function caused by exposure to the toxicants. Exposure to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals can result in dramatic changes in cytokine production, the activity of the immune system, the overall Th1 and Th2 balance, and in mediators of type 1 hypersensitivity mediators, such as IgE. Passive exposure to tobacco smoke is a common risk factor for wheezing and asthma in children. People living in urban areas and close to roads with a high volume of traffic, and high levels of diesel exhaust fumes, have the highest exposure to environmental compounds, and these people are strongly linked with type 1 hypersensitivity disorders and enhanced Th2 responses. These data are consistent with epidemiological research that has consistently detected increased incidences of allergies and asthma in people living in these locations. During recent decades more than 100,000 new chemicals have been used in common consumer products and are released into the everyday environment. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the environmental effects on allergies of indoor and outside exposure.

A novel Fabry-Perot fiber optic temperature sensor for early age hydration heat study in Portland cement concrete

Zou, Xiaotian,Chao, Alice,Wu, Nan,Tian, Ye,Yu, Tzu-Yang,Wang, Xingwei Techno-Press 2013 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.12 No.1

Concrete is known as a heterogeneous product which is composed of complex chemical composition and reaction. The development of concrete thermal effect during early age is critical on its future structural health and long term durability. When cement is mixed with water, the exothermic chemical reaction generates hydration heat, which raises the temperature within the concrete. Consequently, cracking may occur if the concrete temperature rises too high or if there is a large temperature difference between the interior and the exterior of concrete structures during early age hydration. This paper describes the contribution of novel Fabry-Perot (FP) fiber optic temperature sensors to investigate the thermal effects of concrete hydration process. Concrete specimens were manufactured under various water-to-cement (w/c) ratios from 0.40 to 0.60. During the first 24 hours of concreting, two FP fiber optic temperature sensors were inserted into concrete specimens with the protection of copper tubing to monitor the surface and core temperature change. The experimental results revealed effects of w/c ratios on surface and core temperature developments during early age hydration, as well as demonstrating that FP fiber optic sensors are capable of capturing temperature variation in the concrete with reliable performance. Temperature profiles are used for calculating the apparent activation energy ($E_a$) and the heat of hydration (H(t)) of concrete, which can help us to better understand cement hydration.

Gallbladder Cancer: a Subtype of Biliary Tract Cancer Which is a Current Challenge in China

Qu, Kai,Liu, Si-Nan,Chang, Hu-Lin,Liu, Chang,Xu, Xin-Sen,Wang, Rui-Tao,Zhou, Lei,Tian, Feng,Wei, Ji-Chao,Tai, Ming-Hui,Meng, Fan-Di Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.4

Biliary tract cancers, broadly described as malignancies that arise from the biliary tract epithelia, are usually divided into two major clinical phenotypes: cholangiocarcinoma and gallbladder cancer, differing in etiopathogenesis, risk factors, and perhaps molecular and genetic signatures. Atypical symptoms and lack of tumor biomarkers make it difficult to diagnose in early stages. At the time of presentation, few patients are candidates for potentially curative surgical resection. We here assessed and compared features of a total of 150 cases divided into extra- and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and gallbladder cancers (GBC). Althought there were no significant differences in serum tumour marker levels, GBC patients had the poorest prognosis. Furthermore, gallbladder cancer respond poorly to chemotherapy or radiation therapy and approximately half of untreated patients died within 10 months. Therefore, treatment for patients with gallbladder cancer is still in challenge. Outcomes and survival of these patients had improved little over the past three decades - a period in which new successful treatments have greatly contributed to the prolonged patient survival for many other cancers.