Using the Juice of Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) as Culture Medium to Increase the Cell Density and the Production of Microbial Lipid

Yu-Hsien Lien,Fu-Yao Liu,Jyy-Ning Chen,Yu-Shan Huang,Yu-Hong Wei,Chiyang Yu,Che-Chi Shu 한국생물공학회 2019 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.24 No.2

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is one of the most well-known aquatic weeds as it causes problems in watercourses all over the world. This invasive species is fast-growing and thus has the potential for its use in preparing growth medium of microorganisms. Toward it, the pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification are positively the decisive processes. But there are other crucial processes, which are usually ignored by researchers. To the best of my knowledge, this presented work is the first time discovering that the juice obtained from water lettuce is valuable. Except for sterilization, no treatment is needed for the water lettuce’s juice and it can be directly served for cell growth. For Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris, Bacillus subtilis, Lactococcus Lactis, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus plantarum, the cell density in the broth of water lettuce’s juice as the only carbon source is 10-60% higher than that in LB, YPD, BHI, M17, MRS. We then examined the production of microbial lipid by YM prepared in the juice of water lettuce. In comparison to commercial medium YM broth, the YM with juice caused 84% increase in the production of microbial lipid. A simple process of collecting juice notably increased productivity.

The Determinants of Self-Management in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy under the eHealth care Era

Yu-Shan Huang,Chia-En Li,Yu-Chi Chen 한국간호과학회 2023 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2023 No.11

Synthesis and application of cationic spherical polyelectrolyte brushes as retention and drainage aid in bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp

Yu Huang,Houbin Li,Xiongzhi Zhang,Kaiqiao Fu,Chi Huang,Shiju Yuan 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.31 No.-

In the present study, a series of cationic spherical polyelectrolyte brushes (CSPB), consisting of a silicacore and a shell of copolymer of acrylamide (AM) and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl] trimethylammoniumchloride (METAC), were synthesized. Then a dual-component system which was composed of CSPB andanionic polyacrylamide (APAM) was used to improve the retention and drainage properties of bleachedeucalyptus kraft pulp and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). Comparative researches about retentionand drainage properties between CSPB/APAM system and cationic starch/APAM system wereundertaken as well. Results showed that further improvement in first-pass retention (FPR) of pulp,FPR of PCC and drainage time could be achieved by CSPB/APAM system. It was also found that increase ofshear intensity led to a decrease in retention efficiency, while it had no significant influence on drainagetime of pulp. However, due to the symmetrical or quasi-symmetrical spherical brush structure, CSPB stillshowed better retention efficiency than cationic starch under different turbulent conditions. Furthermore, the flocculation mechanism of the CSPB/APAM dual-component system was proposedin the paper.

Towards an Omni-directional Orientation Manipulation of Spherical Piezoelectric Motor: A Torque Vector Composition Method

Tai-Chi Hwang,Yu-Ting Sung,Yu-Hsi Huang,Chi-Ying Lin 제어로봇시스템학회 2021 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2021 No.10

This paper presents the application of a torque vector composition method realizing omni-directional rotor orientations for a novel standing wave spherical piezoelectric motor (SPM). The developed SPM system comprises four stators where each stator can provide three fundamental orientations or torque vectors implemented with the technique of electrode configuration. The concept of vector composition applied to the SPM system is illustrated with two stator actuation configurations: symmetrical and adjacent actuation stator pairs. The proposed method has the advantage of easy generation of new rotor orientations by adjusting the magnitude ratio of the excitation signals given to the stators. Composited vector analysis shows that the use of all stator pairs is able to offer omni-directional rotor orientations in the xy, yz, and xz planes. The estimated orientations in the experiments demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed torque vector composition method and the potentials of expanding omni-directional orientations to the whole 3D space with more than two actuating units.

Validation of the Chinese Version of the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale

Kuan-Wei Huang,Pao-Yen Lin,Yu Lee,Yu-Chi Huang,Chi-Fa Hung,Sheng-Yu Lee,Chih-Ken Chen,Liang-Jen Wang 대한신경정신의학회 2022 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.19 No.7

Objective The Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS) is an interview-based assessment tool for evaluating the cognitive deficit and daily functioning of patients with schizophrenia.Methods Sixty-eight patients with schizophrenia and 68 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited to validate the Chinese version of SCoRS in this study. All participants underwent cognitive assessment using the SCoRS, which was verified by the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), and the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment, Brief Version (UPSA-B). Patients with schizophrenia were additionally assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).Results SCoRS ratings reported by patients (SCoRS-S), those reported by the interviewer (SCoRS-I), and SCoRS global scores (SCoRS-G) showed significant correlation with all subscales of the BACS and the UPSA-B. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, SCoRS-S, SCoRS-I, and SCoRS-G significantly differentiated patients with schizophrenia from healthy controls. Moreover, SCoRS-S and SCoRS-I ratings showed positive correlation with the negative symptoms and general symptoms of PANSS.Conclusion The Chinese version of SCoRS showed good discriminant, concurrent, and external validity, suggesting that it is a useful and convenient tool for assessment of cognitive function among Mandarin-speaking patients with schizophrenia in clinical practice.

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor-α Subunit Targeting Suppresses Metastasis in Advanced Thyroid Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo

( Ching-ling Lin ),( Ming-lin Tsai ),( Yu-hsin Chen ),( Wei-ni Liu ),( Chun-yu Lin ),( Kai-wen Hsu ),( Chien-yu Huang ),( Yu-jia Chang ),( Po-li Wei ),( Shu-huey Chen ),( Li-chi Huang ),( Chia-hwa Lee 한국응용약물학회 2021 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.29 No.5

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy. Patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancers, such as papillary and follicular cancers, have a favorable prognosis. However, poorly differentiated thyroid cancers, such as medullary, squamous and anaplastic advanced thyroid cancers, are very aggressive and insensitive to radioiodine treatment. Thus, novel therapies that attenuate metastasis are urgently needed. We found that both PDGFC and PDGFRA are predominantly expressed in thyroid cancers and that the survival rate is significantly lower in patients with high PDGFRA expression. This finding indicates the important role of PDGF/PDGFR signaling in thyroid cancer development. Next, we established a SW579 squamous thyroid cancer cell line with 95.6% PDGFRA gene insertion and deletions (indels) through CRISPR/Cas9. Protein and invasion analysis showed a dramatic loss in EMT marker expression and metastatic ability. Furthermore, xenograft tumors derived from PDGFRA geneedited SW579 cells exhibited a minor decrease in tumor growth. However, distant lung metastasis was completely abolished upon PDGFRA gene editing, implying that PDGFRA could be an effective target to inhibit distant metastasis in advanced thyroid cancers. To translate this finding to the clinic, we used the most relevant multikinase inhibitor, imatinib, to inhibit PDGFRA signaling. The results showed that imatinib significantly suppressed cell growth, induced cell cycle arrest and cell death in SW579 cells. Our developed noninvasive apoptosis detection sensor (NIADS) indicated that imatinib induced cell apoptosis through caspase-3 activation. In conclusion, we believe that developing a specific and selective targeted therapy for PDGFRA would effectively suppress PDGFRA-mediated cancer aggressiveness in advanced thyroid cancers.

Who Wants Checks and Balances? Endogeneity of the Balancing Perspective

Yu, Eric Chen-Hua,Huang, Chi,Hsiao, Yi-Ching Center for Asian Public Opinion ResearchCollaborat 2015 Asian journal for public opinion research Vol.2 No.3

The premise of the intentional model of split-ticket voting is that some voters split their tickets simply because they prefer divided government and believe in constant "checks and balances." This article examines whether this premise stands firm in an emerging democracy like Taiwan. That is, by using survey data in Taiwan, we explore whether one's attitude toward divided or unified government is "real." We hypothesize that a citizen's attitude toward "checks and balances" is subject to change, and conditional on whether her preferred party is in power. Specifically, we speculate that a citizen would tend to hold the balancing perspective or favor divided government, if her preferred party is in opposition. However, if her preferred party becomes the ruling party, she would be more likely to oppose (hold) the balancing (non-balancing) perspective or favor unified government. We then utilize panel survey data embedded in Taiwan's Election and Democratization Studies (TEDS) to verify our hypothesis.

새로운 다수제적 혼합제도에 대한 대만 시민의 인식도 -코호트 분석

( Chi Huang ),( Ching Hsin Yu ),( Yi Ching Hsiao ) 한국선거학회 2011 선거연구 Vol.1 No.2

선거제도는 투표를 의석으로 전환하는 규칙을 제공하며, 그에 따라 선거에서 누가 승리하고 패배하는가를 결정한다. 선거제도가 정치에서 수행하는 역할에 의문을 던지는 사람은 별로 없을 것이다. 그러나 기존 연구는 일반 시민들이 선거제도를 어떻게 인식하고 이해하고 있는가 (특히 선거제도가 근본적 변화를 경험하고 있는 이행기 동안에) 라는 질문에 대해서 이상하게도 침묵을 지키고 있다. 대만의 선거제도 개혁 경험은 이러한 빈 공간을 채울 수 있는 좋은 기회를 제공해 준다. 대만은 2008년에 의원 선거제도를 변화시켰는데, 지난 50년간 지속되어 왔던 단기비이양식(SNTV) 제도에서 다수제적 혼합선거제도 (MMM)로 바꿨다. 새로운 다수제적 혼합선거제도는 전체 의석 수, 선거구 크기, 선거 공식, 그리고 투표 구조 등에 있어서 과거의 단기비이양식 제도와 상당히 달랐다. 이 글은 새로운 선거제도를 소개하고 이 제도전반에 대한 시민들의 인식도를 알아보고자 한다. 또한 이 글에서는 시민들의 선거제도에 대한 지식이 2008년 선거 이전과 이후에 어떻게 변화했는지 살펴본다. 두 선거 제도 사이에 상당한 차이가 존재하기 때문에, 먼저 새로운 제도에 대한 시민들의 전반적 지식을 조사한다. 그 다음 설문조사 자료를 사용하여, 선거 기간과 비선거 기간 사이에 시민들의 지식 변화를 고찰한다. 분석 결과에 따르면, 다수의 시민들이 새로운 다수제적 혼합선거제도의 주요 구성 요인에 대해 완전히 이해하지 못하고 있다. 특히, 최소 조건에 대한 조항이 가장 적은 관심을 받고 있다. 더 나아가, 새로운 선거제도에 대한 시민들의 지식은 선거 모멘텀에 영향을 받아, 선거일이 다가옴에 따라 지식이 올라가고 선거일 이후에는 감소하는 것으로 나타났다. 마지막으로, 보다 구체적인 코호트 분석을 통해 시민들 중에 어떤 집단이 선거제도 변화와 관련된 정보를 가장 잘 획득하는지를 고찰한다. 본 연구 결과는 선거제도 지식에 대한 선거 주기 가설을 부분적으로 지지해준다. Electoral systems provide the rules of translating votes into seats and thus decide who wins and loses in elections. Few would doubt the critical roles that electoral systems play in politics. Yet current literature is curiously silent about how ordinary citizens perceive and understand the electoral system, especially during the transition period when the system is undergoing fundamental changes. The experiences of electoral reform in Taiwan provide an opportune case to fill up this gap. Taiwan transformed its legislative electoral system from a half-century long SNTV (single non-transferable vote) system to a MMM (mixed-member majoritarian) electoral system in 2008. The new MMM system is a sharp departure from the original SNTV system in the total number of legislative seats, the district magnitude, electoral formula, and ballot structure. This essay intends to introduce the new MMM system and explore citizens` awareness of the new MMM system in general. Also, it explores the changes of citizens` knowledge of the new electoral system before and after the 2008 legislative election. Given the significant differences between the SNTV system and the MMM system, it firstly tests of citizens` overall knowledge of the new MMM system. Then, with the help of survey data, it examines the changes of citizens` knowledge in election periods and non-election periods. The findings show a majority of citizens are not fully aware of the institutional components of the new MMM system. In particular, the threshold regulation receives the least attention by citizens. Furthermore, it finds that citizens` knowledge of the new MMM system is a function of electoral momentum, i.e., citizens` knowledge rises as the election date approaches and declines after the election date. Then we proceed with a more detailed cohort analyses to examine which groups of citizens are more likely to pick up information related to the electoral system changes. Our findings partially support our electoral cycle hypothesis of electoral system knowledge.

Experimental study and modeling of masonry-infilled concrete frames with and without CFRP jacketing

Huang, Chao-Hsun,Sung, Yu-Chi,Tsai, Chi-Hsin Techno-Press 2006 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.22 No.4

Most existing concrete structures in Taiwan are considered nonductile due to insufficient transverse reinforcement and poor detailing of frame elements. Such features are fairly typical for buildings constructed prior to 1997, at which time the local building code was revised based on ACI 318-95. Among these structures, many contain perimeter or partition walls made of concrete or clay brick for architectural purposes. These walls, though treated as non-structural components in common design practice, could affect the structural behavior of the buildings during an earthquake. To study the behavior of such structures under seismic load, experiments were conducted on concrete frames of various configurations to show the force-deformation relationships, damage patterns, and other characteristics of the frames. For further interest, similar units with columns jacketed by carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer (CFRP) were also tested to illustrate the effectiveness of this technique in the retrofit of concrete frames.

Comparisons of Moisturizing Function Between Rayon Fabric with Collagen Peptides from Fish Scales and Regular Rayon Fabric Under Various Relative Humidity

Chi‑Shih Huang,Erh‑Jen Hou,Ying‑Chou Lee,Tzong‑Huei Lee,Yi‑Jun Pan,Ta Yu,Wei‑Hsin Lin,Chun‑Han Shih,Wei‑Che Chang 한국섬유공학회 2023 Fibers and polymers Vol.24 No.12

The study was inspired by the specialized facial masks made of rayon non-woven fabrics which contained collagen peptides for improving moisturizing function. This study explored the moisturizing function of a rayon fabric containing collagen peptides extracted from tilapia fish scales under various conditions of relative humidity. This research had implications for the development of clothing that can prevent dry skin. A two-stage nested design experiment was adopted. The first-stage factor such as the fabric has two levels and the second-stage factor such as the relative humidity with three levels nested under each level of the first-stage factor. Preliminary results indicated that introducing a new variable (i.e., fabric moisturizing value, which combines the moisture regains of adsorption and desorption) would be useful. The moisturizing value of the novel rayon fabric and regular rayon fabric increased with the increase in relative humidity, and moisturizing effect of the novel rayon fabric with collagen peptides was better than that of the regular rayon fabric. Therefore, the novel rayon fabric may be suitable for preventing dry skin in winter.