Toward an understanding of high school in‑service English teachers’ identities in their professional development

Shih‑Chieh Chien 서울대학교 교육연구소 2019 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.20 No.3

Teacher identity has increasingly become a major educational research area. Nevertheless, high school in-service English teachers’ identity changes, as facilitated by their further studies in the pursuit of professional development are less explored. This study begins to fill this gap by examining their identities as to how they strike a balance as a teacher and a student concurrently. Based on interviews with 11 teachers at a high school in Taiwan, both positive and negative changes were reported by the teachers, despite wide-ranging foci. Their productive and additive identity changes were primarily related to their sense of competence and fulfillment in terms of enhancing professional knowledge, increasing research capacities, and broadening horizons, whereas subtractive and split changes were mainly related to disciplinary differences. It can be concluded that teachers’ identities are constructed and reconstructed as they seek to negotiate between their own beliefs and the natures of different disciplines. Implications of this study are discussed.

Effect of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) on Social Interaction and Quality of Life in Patients with Schizophrenia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Experimental Study

Shih Chieh-An,Yang Man-Hua 한국간호과학회 2023 Asian Nursing Research Vol.17 No.1

Purpose: Most patients with schizophrenia exhibit low willingness to return to society because of negative social experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic led to severe social isolation for schizophrenia patients. However, animal-assisted therapy (AAT) can improve individuals' empathy, social functions, and quality of life. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of AAT in improving social interactions and quality of life in patients with chronic schizophrenia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An experimental study was conducted, with six institutions for psychiatric rehabilitation in Taiwan as the case institutions. Patients in these institutions were randomly allocated to the experimental group, which received 60 minutes of AAT once a week for 12 weeks, or the control group, which engaged in routine discussion groups and watched short films about animals. Comparisons between the two groups were made before and after the intervention on social function, social adaptive function, and quality of life. Data were collected before the intervention (T1), immediately after the intervention (T2), and 3 months after the intervention (T3). Results: Comparison between groups showed that social functioning was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at T2. However, there was no sign of improvement in social adaptive functions of the experimental group. The experimental group exhibited significantly higher quality of life than the control group at T2 and T3. Conclusions: There was an impact of COVID-19 on the studied effects. AAT improved social functioning and quality of life in patients with chronic schizophrenia. The effect on quality of life lasted only up to 3 months after the intervention. AAT should be promoted for use as a community-based rehabilitation tool in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200061715.

Benzodiazepine-Associated Carcinogenesis

Shih-Chieh Ku,Pei-Shen Ho,Yu-Ting Tseng,Ta-Chuan Yeh,Shu-Li Cheng,Chih-Sung Liang 대한신경정신의학회 2018 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.15 No.9

Objective Cellular, animal, and human epidemiological studies suggested that benzodiazepines increase the risk of cancer and cancer mortality. Obesity is also clearly linked to carcinogenesis. However, no human studies have examined benzodiazepine-associated carcinogenesis as assessed by changes in cancer biomarkers. Methods A total of 19 patients were recruited, and received a 6-week treatment of 0.5 mg lorazepam. The measured cancer biomarkers were angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2), soluble CD40 ligand, epidermal growth factor, endoglin, soluble Fas ligand (sFASL), heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF), insulin-like growth factor binding protein, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-18, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PLGF), placental growth factor, transforming growth factor (TGF)-α, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, urokinase-type plasminogen (uPA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D. Results Six cancer biomarkers were significantly increased in all patients as a whole. The subgroup analysis revealed a distinct pattern of change. Overweight patients showed a significant increase in 11 cancer biomarkers, including ANG-2, sFASL, HB-EGF, IL-8, PLGF, TGF-α, TNF-α, uPA, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D. However, normal-weight patients did not show any changes in cancer biomarkers. Conclusion Adiposity may have primed the carcinogenic potential, leading to lorazepam-associated carcinogenesis in overweight patients. Epidemiological studies addressing this issue should consider the potential modulator contributing to benzodiazepine-associated carcinogenesis.

Effect of a Carbon Additive on the TbCu7-type Melt-spun Sm(Co, M)7 (M=Ti, Zr, Hf, V and Ge) Ribbons

Chih-Chieh Hsieh,Shih-Teng Huang,Jin-Sheng Guo,Chih-Wei Shih,Wen-Cheng Chang,Huang-Wei Chang,Chun-Chung Shaw 한국물리학회 2013 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.63 No.3

The effect of a carbon additive on the microstructure and the magnetic properties of melt-spunSmCo7−xMxCy (M=Ti, Zr, Hf, V and Ge; x = 0 - 0.3 and y = 0 - 0.1) ribbons was studied. Based on the XRD and the TEM analyses, a pure 1:7 phase could be formed for the C-containingribbons with M= Ti and Ge. However, carbide phases, i.e., Sm2C3 for M=Zr and Hf, and SmCoC2for M=V, respectively, were found. Nevertheless, a slight C addition may effectively refine themicrostructure and improve both the intrinsic coercvity and the magnetic energy product in all thestudied ribbons. Among them, the SmCo6.9V0.1C0.1 ribbons with r = 58.7 emu/g, iHc = 13.5kOe and (BH)max = 9.3 MGOe, and the SmCo6.9Hf0.1C0.1 ribbons with r = 61.6 emu/g, iHc =11.8 kOe and (BH)max = 10.3 MGOe are most suitable for the bonded magnet applications.

Toposequence for Distribution and Transformation of Phosphorus Fractions in Humid Subalpine Forests

Shih-Hao Jien,Yue-Ming Chen,Chih-Chieh Hu,Tsai-Huei Chen,Chih-Yu Chiu 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

A Micro Cutter Auto-Alignment System with On-Machine Positioning Error Measurement and Compensation Methods

Shih-Ming Wang,Ji-Jun Lin,Zhe-Zhi Ye,Shambaljamts Tsooj,Chun-Chieh Wang 한국정밀공학회 2014 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

To perform an accurate micro machining process, accurate alignment of the micro cutter with respect to the local coordinate frame for machining is essential. Due to the fragility of the micro tool, traditional cutter alignment method used in industry is no longer proper for micro machining. Utilizing machine vision technology with 2 CCDs, a micro tool positioning error measurement and auto-compensation method and system were proposed. In the measurement method, Power Law Method was first used to enhance the image taken by a CCD. Canny Edge Method and image projection method were then used to identify the contours of the cutter and the workpiece from the image. Finally, the position errors of the cutter were determined through calculating the number of pixels between the cutter and the workpiece. The proposed error compensation system can automatically generate NC codes which will accurately re-locate the cutter based on the measured position errors . Experiments were conducted on a micro machine tool, and the results have shown that the y-dir. positioning error of the cutter was significantly improved from -0.025 mm to 0.001 mm, and the total machining error was reduced from -0.02 mm to -0.001 mm.

Prevalence and impacts of male urinary incontinence on quality of life, mental health, work limitation, and health care seeking in China, Taiwan, and South Korea (LUTS Asia): Results from a cross-sectional, population-based study

Ming-Chieh Cheng,Shih-Ping Liu,Yao-Chi Chuang,Karina Chin Po Hsu,Po-Ming Chow 대한비뇨의학회 2022 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.63 No.1

Purpose: Male urinary incontinence (UI) is a global health issue associated with bothersome symptoms which affect daily life. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of male UI in China, Taiwan, and South Korea and to determine if UI is an independent risk factor affecting the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), mental health, work limitations, and healthcare seeking behavior. Materials and Methods: A post-hoc analysis was conducted on the LUTS Asia database which was collated from a cross-sectional, population-based internet survey in China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Prevalence of male UI was assessed, and the effect on HRQoL, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) depression and anxiety scores, work performance, and healthcare seeking behaviors was determined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: A total of 4,076 male participants were surveyed. Prevalence of male UI was 17.3%. UI adversely affected the HRQoL in both physical and mental domains. Both multivariate and univariate analyses showed that male UI could be correlated with a negative effect on the HADS anxiety and depression scores. Multivariate analysis suggested that work difficulties were correlated to the presence of UI. Up to 28% of participants who reported urge UI only did not adopt any management measures. Conclusions: UI is common in men over 40 years and adversely impacts HRQoL. It is an independent risk factor for anxiety and depression and may cause significant work limitations. Despite these negative effects, many men still do not seek any intervention.

A study on microstructural and dielectric properties of Ba0.5-xZnxSr0.45Ca0.05TiO3 ceramics

Ying-Chieh Lee,Hui-Ju Hsu,I-Yu Huang,Huei-Jyun Shih,Christian Pithan 한양대학교 청정에너지연구소 2023 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.24 No.6

reaction process and sintered at temperatures ranging from 1150 °C to 1250 °C. The properties of these ceramics werefound to be significantly affected by variations in the Zn content. Densification of the BZSCT ceramics was observed to occurat sintering temperatures exceeding 1225 °C. Notably, the crystalline phases and dielectric properties of these ceramics werestrongly influenced by the Zn content. Three distinct secondary phases were identified in the BZSCT ceramics, includingBaZn2.03Ti3.93O10.89, Ba2ZnTi5O13 and Zn2TiO4. The addition of Zn resulted in a shift of the Curie point to lower temperatures. Specifically, with Zn substitution (up to 15 at.%), a Curie point of -60 °C was observed in the BZSCT ceramics. Theseceramics exhibited a high dielectric constant of 1035, a low dielectric loss of 0.017%, and an impressive Q value of 442 whensintered at 1225 °C. Moreover, when comparing the dielectric constants of BZSCT ceramics at 1 MHz and 1 GHz, it wasnoted that the permittivity was only slightly reduced by less than 30% at lower frequencies. In contrast, the permittivity ofBST ceramics decreased significantly, by approximately 70%, at microwave frequencies. These findings highlight the uniqueproperties and potential applications of BZSCT ceramics, particularly in microwave applications where they outperformtraditional BST ceramics.

Hericium erinaceus Mycelium and Its Isolated Compound, Erinacine A, Ameliorate High-Fat High-Sucrose Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction and Spatial Learning Deficits in Aging Mice

Yun-Chieh Tsai,Yu-Chen Lin,Chun-Chih Huang,Oliver B. Villaflores,Tzong-Yuan Wu,Shih-Ming Huang,Ting-Yu Chin 한국식품영양과학회 2019 Journal of medicinal food Vol.22 No.5

Aging and lifestyle factors, including high-sugar and high-fat diets, promote a systemic metabolic imbalance that promotes neurodegeneration. Hericium erinaceus has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, its functional activities, such as antimetabolic dysfunction, antineuroinflammatory activities, and stimulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis, have been revealed. This study demonstrated that Hericium erinaceus mycelium (HEM) and an isolated diterpenoid derivative, erinacine A (EA), may reverse spatial learning disabilities in aging mice (15 months old) fed with a high-fat and high-sucrose diet (HFSD). Aging mice were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: (1) a chow diet (control), (2) an HFSD, and an HFSD supplemented with either (3) HEM or (4) EA for 18 weeks. The Morris water maze (MWM) and Y-maze were used for behavioral assessments. Both HEM- and EA-treated mice had shorter mean daily escape latencies than HFSD-treated mice in the MWM. In addition, HEM-treated mice had a slightly increased exploratory time and frequency in the novel arm in the Y-maze. Quantitative PCR revealed that both HEM- and EA-treated mice exhibited reduced messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and HEM-treated mice exhibited increased mRNA expression of NGF and NeuN in the hippocampus. Moreover, HEM and EA also decreased body weight, abdominal fat, plasma glucose, serum and liver total cholesterol, and liver triacylglycerol. Thus, HEM may be a potential health-promoting supplement for minimizing the progression of aging and obesity-induced neurodegeneration by reducing metabolic abnormalities and neuroinflammatory cytokines and increasing neurogenesis factors.

Long-term Multiple Chemical Exposure Assessment for a Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) Industry

Wang, Ying-Fang,Wang, Shih-Min,Kuo, Yu-Chieh,Yoon, Chungsik,Wang, Ya-Fen,Tsai, Perng-Jy Taiwan Association for Aerosol Research 2017 Aerosol and air quality research Vol.17 No.11