Why the Asia crazy for international publication?

Po-Fen Tai 한국사회학회 2015 한국사회학회 사회학대회 논문집 Vol.2015 No.12

Piezoelectric Properties of Lead-Free Na_0.5K_0.5NbO₃ Ceramics Co-Doped with NiO and CuO

Tai, Weon-Pil,Kim, Young-Hyeok,Ok, Yun-Po,Ji, Han-Na,Kang, Sang-Kyu,Lee, Jae-Shin Informa UK (Taylor Francis) 2010 Integrated ferroelectrics Vol.114 No.1

Current Indications for Spinal Endoscopic Surgery and Potential for Future Expansion

Kuo-Tai Chen,김진성,Abel Po-Hao Huang,Martin Hsiu-Chu Lin,Chien-Min Chen 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.1

Endoscopic spine surgery (ESS) has evolved as a safe, effective, and efficient alternative for minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). The innovation of full-endoscopic systems makes definitive decompression surgery through different approaches feasible. The approach can be determined according to the location of the target lesion or the surgeon's preference. During the past 2 decades, ESS has expanded its indications from lumbar to cervical spines. Except for decompression, endoscopy-assisted fusion surgery is also developing. However, ESS is still evolving and has a steep learning curve. The revolution of technologies and ESS techniques will enable surgeons to treat various spinal diseases more practically. In recent years, the application of the computer-assisted navigation system and augmented reality have reformed imaging quality and interpretation. The endoscopic rhizotomy techniques have opened a new way for MISS of chronic low back pain. This review introduces the current indications of ESS and its potential future expansion.

Life table of cycad scale, Aulacaspis yasumatsui (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), reared on Cycas in Taiwan

Rafique Bailey,Po-Yung Lai,Ti- Chuan Hsu,Niann-Tai Chang 한국응용곤충학회 2010 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.13 No.3

Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), an invasive scale insect, attacks different species of Cycas (Cycadales: Cycadaceae) in Taiwan. Development, survival and fecundity of A. yasumatsui were studied on Cycas taitungensis at 24 °C, 70±10% RH, and a photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D) h under laboratory conditions. Data on the life history of A. yasumatsui were analyzed using the age-stage, two-sex life table, to address variable development rates among individuals and between sexes. The egg incubation time was 7.26 days for both females and males and female nymphal development duration was 28.65 days. The development duration of male nymphal stages+pupal stage was 19 days. The total pre-oviposition period (TPOP) was 35.92 days. The maximum longevity of female adults was 67 days and 1 day for males. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.100 day-1, the finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.11 day-1, the net reproduction rate (Ro) was 111.51 offspring /individual, and the mean generation time (T) was 47.24 day. Life table data can be used to project population growth, to design mass rearing programs and to establish management tactics to control insect pests.

Effects of multi-strain probiotic supplementation on intestinal microbiota, tight junctions, and inflammation in young broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica

Chi Huan Chang,Po Yun Teng,Tzu Tai Lee,Bi Yu 아세아·태평양축산학회 2020 Animal Bioscience Vol.33 No.11

Objective: This study assessed the effects of probiotics on cecal microbiota, gene expression of intestinal tight junction proteins, and immune response in the cecal tonsil of broiler chickens challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica. Methods: One-day-old broiler chickens (n = 240) were randomly allocated to four treatments: negative control (Cont), multi-strain probiotic-treated group (Pro), Salmonella-infected group (Sal), and multi-strain probiotic-treated and Salmonella-infected group (ProSal). All chickens except those in the Cont and Pro groups were gavaged with 1×108 cfu/mL of S. enterica subsp. enterica 4 days after hatching. Results: Our results indicated that body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio of birds were significantly reduced (p<0.05) by Salmonella challenge. Chickens challenged with Salmonella decreased cecal microbial diversity. Chickens in the Sal group exhibited abundant Proteobacteria than those in the Cont, Pro, and ProSal groups. Salmonella infection downregulated gene expression of Occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO1), and Mucin 2 in the jejunum and Occludin and Claudin in the ileum. Moreover, the Sal group increased gene expression of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, and lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha factor (LITAF) and reduced levels of transforming growth factor-β4 and IL-10 compared with the other groups (p<0.05). However, chickens receiving probiotic diets increased Lactobacillaceae abundance and reduced Enterobacteriaceae abundance in the ceca. Moreover, supplementation with probiotics increased the mRNA expression of Occludin, ZO1, and Mucin 2 in the ileum (p<0.05). In addition, probiotic supplementation downregulated the mRNA levels of IFN-γ (p<0.05) and LITAF (p = 0.075) and upregulated IL-10 (p = 0.084) expression in the cecal tonsil. Conclusion: The administration of multi-strain probiotics modulated intestinal microbiota, gene expression of tight junction proteins, and immunomodulatory activity in broiler chickens.

Mesenchymal Stem Cell Secreted-Extracellular Vesicles are Involved in Chondrocyte Production and Reduce Adipogenesis during Stem Cell Differentiation

Tsai Yu-Chen,Cheng Tai-Shan,Liao Hsiu-Jung,Chuang Ming-Hsi,Chen Hui-Ting,Chen Chun-Hung,Zhang Kai-Ling,Chang Chih-Hung,Lin Po-Cheng,Huang Chi-Ying F. 한국조직공학과 재생의학회 2022 조직공학과 재생의학 Vol.19 No.6

BACKGROUND: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are derived from internal cellular compartments, and have potential as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in degenerative disease associated with aging. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have become a promising tool for functional EVs production. This study investigated the efficacy of EVs and its effect on differentiation capacity. METHODS: The characteristics of MSCs were evaluated by flow cytometry and stem cell differentiation analysis, and a production mode of functional EVs was scaled from MSCs. The concentration and size of EVs were quantitated by Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA). Western blot analysis was used to assess the protein expression of exosomespecific markers. The effects of MSC-derived EVs were assessed by chondrogenic and adipogenic differentiation analyses and histological observation. RESULTS: The range of the particle size of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs)- and Wharton’s jelly -MSCs-derived EVs were from 130 to 150 nm as measured by NTA, which showed positive expression of exosomal markers. The chondrogenic induction ability was weakened in the absence of EVs in vitro. Interestingly, after EV administration, type II collagen, a major component in the cartilage extracellular matrix, was upregulated compared to the EV-free condition. Moreover, EVs decreased the lipid accumulation rate during adipogenic induction. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the production model could facilitate production of effective EVs and further demonstrated the role of MSC-derived EVs in cell differentiation. MSC-derived EVs could be successfully used in cell-free therapy to guide chondrogenic differentiation of ADSC for future clinical applications in cartilage regeneration.

Two-sex life table and predation rate of Cybocephalus flavocapitis Smith (Coleoptera: Cybocephalidae) reared on Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), in Taiwan

Rafique Bailey,Niann-Tai Chang,Po-Yung Lai 한국응용곤충학회 2011 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.14 No.4

Development, survival, and fecundity of the predator, Cybocephalus flavocapitis Smith, reared on its host Aulacaspis yasumatsui Takagi, were studied at 24 °C, 70±10% RH, and photoperiod of 12:12 (L:D)h under laboratory conditions. Developmental periods for egg, larval, and pupal stages were 6.4, 12.1 and 14.3 d,respectively. The mean longevity of adults was 85.1 d. Raw life history data of all individuals were pooled and analyzed according to the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.05 d^(−1),the finite rate of increase (λ) was 1.05 d^(−1), the net reproductive rate (R0) was 29.1 offspring, and the mean generation time (T) was 63.3 d. When we incorporated the age-stage variability of predation rate with the two-sex life table, our results indicated that the predation rates of larvae and adults were 743 eggs and 1595scales, respectively. The net predation rate of C. flavocapitis is 1874 scales. Additionally, we compared life table results of C. flavocapitis with those of a previous life table study on Cybocephalus nipponicus because both species are currently used for the biological control of A. yasumatsui in Taiwan.

The Natural Flavonoid Apigenin Suppresses Th1- and Th2-Related Chemokine Production by Human Monocyte THP-1 Cells Through Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways

Ching-Hua Huang,Po-Lin Kuo,Ya-Ling Hsu,Tai-Tsung Chang,Hsing-I Tseng,Yu-Te Chu,Chang-Hung Kuo,Huan-Nan Chen,Chih-Hsing Hung 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.2

Dietary flavonoids have various biological functions, and there is increasing evidence that reduced prevalence and severity of allergic reactions are associated with the intake of flavonoids. Among natural flavonoids, apigenin is a potent anti-inflammatory agent. However, the mechanisms of apigenin's effect remain uncertain. Monocyte-derived chemokine (MDC) plays a pivotal role in recruiting T-helper (Th) 2 cells in the allergic inflammation process. In the late phase of allergic inflammation, the Th1 chemokine interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) has also been found in elevated levels in the bronchial alveolar fluid of asthmatic children. We used human THP-1 monocyte cells, pretreated with or without apigenin, prior to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. By means of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we found that apigenin inhibited production of both MDC and IP-10 by THP-1 cells and that the suppressive effect of apigenin was not reversed by the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182780. The p65 phosphorylation of nuclear factor κB remained unaffected, but the phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways were all blocked. We found that inhibition of c-raf phosphorylation might be the target of apigenin's anti-inflammation property.

Circulating Current Reduction of Parallel Connected Four-Pole Inverters

Meng-Jiang Tsai,Po-Tai Cheng 전력전자학회 2015 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2015 No.6

Connecting the four-pole inverters (FPIs) in parallel has many benefits, like lower cost, high flexibility and excellent reliability, and becomes a favorite option in industry. However, such side effects of parallel connection as the circulating current will lead to severe distortion and extra loss. The circulating current is mainly caused by the difference of common mode voltage (CMV) and closely associated with switching states. The zero states contain extremes of CMV levels, which aims to significantly affect the circulating current. This paper presents a three-dimensional pulse width modulation (3-D PWM) approach adapted to the parallel connected FPIs. The 3-D modulation scheme substituting the zero states with active states is socalled three-dimensional active zero state PWM (3-D AZSPWM) and based classical 3-D space vector PWM (3-D SVPWM), possessing low current distortion and high dc-link utilization characteristic. By synthesizing output references without zero states, both CMV levels and circulating current can be suppressed in effect. Based on a two-module parallel connected system, the simplified model is made to discuss the phenomenon of circulating current. Besides, the simulation and test results are presented to validate the performance of 3-D PWM in balanced and unbalanced condition respectively.

Improved DC Voltage Utilization for the Star-Connected Cascaded H-bridges Converter under Unbalanced Voltage Sags

Hsin-Chih Chen,Po-Tai Cheng 전력전자학회 2015 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2015 No.6

The static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) are installed at the medium-voltage level of power system for grid voltage regulation and power factor improvement. The star-connected cascaded multilevel converter is widely for high voltage and high rated power STATCOM application. The voltage balancing control is a fundamental issue for cascaded converter, which can be implemented by negative sequence current and zero sequence voltage injection. The zero sequence voltage injection increases the DC voltage utilization, thus the DC voltage and cascaded number should be expanded to avoid over-modulation. However, the increase of DC voltage and cascaded number result in the high cost of the system but reduce the efficiency. On the other hand, the negative sequence current injection results in significant peak current and would trigger the over-current protection. This study provides a voltage balancing strategy to improve the DC voltage utilization by regulating the effectiveness between zero sequence voltage and negative sequence current injection. In addition, the proposed method is based on power flow management. All the unbalanced components of grid voltage and converter output current are considered, thus the proposed method can satisfy for grid fault operation. Laboratory test results are for proposed method variation and validate that the converter can accomplish system operation and manage DC voltage utilization during grid fault operation.