To Create a Campus Learning Space that Students Love to Go

Yun-Chieh Liu 한국환경교육학회 2017 한국환경교육학회 학술대회 자료집 Vol.2017 No.6

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.

The effect of ferulic acid ethyl ester on leptin-induced proliferation and migration of aortic smooth muscle cells

Yung-Chieh Tsai,Yen-Mei Lee,Sy-Ying Leu,Hsiao-Yen Chiang,Mao-Hsiung Yen,Pao-Yun Cheng,Chih-Hsiung Hsu 생화학분자생물학회 2015 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.47 No.-

Leptin is a peptide hormone, which has a central role in the regulation of body weight; it also exerts many potentially atherogenic effects. Ferulic acid ethyl ester (FAEE) has been approved for antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to investigate whether FAEE can inhibit the atherogenic effects of leptin and the possible molecular mechanism of its action. Both of cell proliferation and migration were measured when the aortic smooth muscle cell (A10 cell) treated with leptin and/or FAEE. Phosphorylated p44/42MAPK, cell cycle-regulatory protein (for example, cyclin D1, p21, p27), β-catenin and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) proteins levels were also measured. Results demonstrated that leptin (10, 100 ng ml−1) significantly increased the proliferation of cells and the phosphorylation of p44/42MAPK in A10 cells. The proliferative effect of leptin was significantly reduced by the pretreatment of U0126 (0.5 μM), a MEK inhibitor, in A10 cells. Meanwhile, leptin significantly increased the protein expression of cyclin D1, p21, β-catenin and decreased the expression of p27 in A10 cells. In addition, leptin (10 ng ml−1) significantly increased the migration of A10 cells and the expression of MMP-9 protein. Above effects of leptin were significantly reduced by the pretreatment of FAEE (1 and 10 μM) in A10 cells. In conclusion, FAEE exerts multiple effects on leptin-induced cell proliferation and migration, including the inhibition of p44/42MAPK phosphorylation, cell cycle-regulatory proteins and MMP-9, thereby suggesting that FAEE may be a possible therapeutic approach to the inhibition of obese vascular disease.

Enhancement of thermoelectric properties in liquid-phase sintered Te-excess bismuth antimony tellurides prepared by hot-press sintering

Kim, Yun Min,Lydia, R.,Kim, Jin-Hee,Lin, Chan-Chieh,Ahn, Kyunghan,Rhyee, Jong-Soo Elsevier 2017 Acta materialia Vol.135 No.-

<P>Various approaches have been applied to improve the thermoelectric performance of bismuth antimony telluride based materials. Here, we prepare the bulk pellets of nominal Te-excess p-type Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3+x (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1) samples by a high-temperature solid state reaction followed by a hot-press sintering, and performe structural investigations including X-ray diffraction measurements and a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis as well as a thermoelectric property characterization including electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, thermal conductivity, and Hall effect. We demonstrate that a liquid-phase sintering of Te-excess samples can provide a preferential orientation of a bulk pellet along a measured direction, an improvement in hole carrier concentration, and sub-micron sized Sb precipitates acting as a phonon scattering center, resulting in an enhancement in power factor and a reduction in lattice thermal conductivity compared to the pristine x = 0 sample. Consequently, the hot-pressed bulk pellet of the nominal Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3.4 composition exhibits an impressively high ZT of 1.41 at 417 K along the vertical direction, which is about 31 % enhancement in ZT compared to the pristine Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3 sample. The significantly improved values of practical thermoelectric properties such as engineering (ZT)(eng), maximum efficiency eta(max), and output power density P-d indicates a practical applicability in thermoelectric energy harvesting technologies. (C) 2017 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</P>

Longevity, tumor, and physical vitality in rats consuming ginsenoside Rg1

Chao-Chieh Hsieh,Chiung-Yun Chang,Tania Xu Yar Lee,Jinfu Wu,Suchada Saovieng,Yu-Wen Hsieh,Maijian Zhu,Chih-Yang Huang,Chia-Hua Kuo The Korean Society of Ginseng 2023 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.47 No.2

Background: Effects of the major ginsenoside Rg1 on mammalian longevity and physical vitality are rarely reported. Purpose: To examine longevity, tumor, and spontaneous locomotor activity in rats consuming Rg1. Methods: A total of 138 Wistar rats were randomized into 2 groups: control (N = 69) and Rg1 (N = 69). Rg1 (0.1 mg/kg per day) were orally supplemented from 6 months of age until natural death. Spontaneous mobility was measured by video-tracking together with body composition (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) and inflammation markers at 5, 14, 21, and 28 months of age. Results: No significant differences in longevity (control: 706 days; Rg1: 651 days, p = 0.77) and tumor incidence (control: 19%; Rg1: 12%, p = 0.24) were observed between the two groups. Movement distance in the control group declined significantly by ~60% at 21 months of age, together with decreased TNF-α (p = 0.01) and increased IL-10 (p = 0.02). However, the movement distance in the Rg1 group was maintained ~50% above the control groups (p = 0.01) at 21 months of age with greater magnitudes of TNF-α decreases and IL-10 increases. Glucose, insulin, and body composition (bone, muscle and fat percentages) were similar for both groups during the entire observation period. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest a delay age-dependent decline in physical vitality during late life by lifelong Rg1 consumption. This improvement is associated with inflammatory modulation. Significant effects of Rg1 on longevity and tumorigenesis were not observed.

New Frontiers or the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome - Focused on Stem Cells, Platelet-Rich Plasma, and Low-Energy Shock Wave

Chih-Chieh Lin,Yun-Ching Huang,Wei-Chia Lee,Yao-Chi Chuang 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2020 International Neurourology Journal Vol.24 No.3

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), which is characterized by bladder pain and irritative voiding symptoms, is a frustrating disease without effective treatment. The cause is still largely not understood, although urothelium ischemia/hypoxia, apoptosis, denudation, and infiltration of inflammatory cells are common histopathological findings. The current uncertainty regarding the etiology and pathology of IC/BPS has a negative impact on its timely and successful treatment; therefore, the development of new treatment modalities is urgently needed. Herein, we present advances in our knowledge on this topic and review the potential application of regenerative medicine for the treatment of IC/BPS. This article provides information on the basic characteristics and clinical evidence of stem cells, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and low-energy shock waves (LESWs) based on a literature review with a search strategy for articles related to IC/BPS, stem cells, PRP, and LESW published in MEDLINE and PubMed. Stem cells, PRP, and LESW, which modulate inflammatory processes and promote tissue repair, have been proven to improve bladder regeneration, relieve bladder pain, inhibit bladder inflammation, and increase bladder capacity in some preclinical studies. However, clinical studies are still in their infancy. Based on the mechanisms of action of stem cells, PRP, and LESW documented in many preclinical studies, the potential applications of regenerative medicine for the treatment of IC/BPS is an emerging frontier of interest. However, solid evidence from clinical studies remains to be obtained.

Extremely Low Lattice Thermal Conductivity and Point Defect Scattering of Phonons in Ag-doped (SnSe)_1–<i>x</i>(SnS)_<i>x</i> Compounds

Lin, Chan-Chieh,Lydia, R.,Yun, Jae Hyun,Lee, Ho Seong,Rhyee, Jong Soo American Chemical Society 2017 Chemistry of materials Vol.29 No.12

<P>Single crystalline SnSe has been reported to exhibit the high thermoelectric zT value of 2.6 at 923 K along the b-axis direction, due to its low thermal conductivity [Zhao, L. D.; et al. Nature 2014, 508, 373]. However, the strongly anisotropic properties of the orthorhombic structure degrade the thermoelectric performance of polycrystalline SnSe, resulting in a low zT of 0.6 and 0.8 for Ag- and Na-doped SnSe, respectively. Here, we prepared Ag0.01Sn0.99Se1-xSx (x = 0, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, and 0.35) compounds by melting and hot press sintering. The compounds showed extremely low thermal conductivity (0.11 W m(-1) K-1 at 825 K for x = 0.15). Using transmission electron microscopy images, we found that SnS alloying induced numerous nanoscale point defects. A Debye-Callaway model analysis supported the conclusion that the extremely low lattice thermal conductivity could be attributed to the point defect scattering of phonons. This resulted in a high zT of 1.67 at 823 K for the x = 0.15 sample, which is the state-of-the-art zT value for polycrystalline SnSe. Because the compounds are based on the environmentally friendly and cheap materials Sn, Se, and S, they make promising candidates for thermoelectric applications.</P>

Prognostic value of right pulmonary artery distensibility in dogs with pulmonary hypertension

I-Ping Chan,Min-Chieh Weng,Tung Hsueh,Yun-Chang Lin,Shiun-Long Lin 대한수의학회 2019 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.20 No.4

The right pulmonary artery distensibility (RPAD) index has been used in dogs with pulmonary hypertension (PH) caused by heartworm infection, myxomatous mitral valve disease, or patent ductus arteriosus. We hypothesized that this index correlates with the tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient (TRPG) assessed by echocardiography and could predict survival in dogs with PH secondary to various causes. To assess this hypothesis, the medical records of 200 client-owned dogs at a referral institution were retrospectively reviewed. The RPAD index and the ratios of acceleration time to peak pulmonary artery flow (AT) and to the ejection time of pulmonary artery flow (ET) were recorded for each dog. The owners were contacted for follow-up assessments. The findings indicated that the RPAD index was correlated with the TRPG (R2 = 0. 362, p < 0.001). The survival time was significantly shorter in dogs with an RPAD index ≤ 21% that were followed up for 3 months and in dogs with an RPAD index ≤ 24% that were followed up for 1 year. Thus, the RPAD index was correlated with the TRPG and could predict the clinical outcome in dogs with PH caused by various diseases. This index could be used to evaluate the severity of PH in dogs without tricuspid regurgitation.

Resource Management in 5G Mobile Networks: Survey and Challenges

Wei-Che Chien,Shih-Yun Huang,Chin-Feng Lai,Han-Chieh Chao 한국정보처리학회 2020 Journal of information processing systems Vol.16 No.4

With the rapid growth of network traffic, a large number of connected devices, and higher application services, the traditional network is facing several challenges. In addition to improving the current network architecture and hardware specifications, effective resource management means the development trend of 5G. Althoughmany existing potential technologies have been proposed to solve the some of 5G challenges, such as multipleinput multipleoutput (MIMO), softwaredefined networking (SDN), network functions virtualization (NFV), edge computing, millimeterwave, etc., research studies in 5G continue to enrich its function and move toward B5G mobile networks. In this paper, focusing on the resource allocation issues of 5G core networks and radio access networks, we address the latest technological developments and discuss the current challenges for resource management in 5G.

Use of Paclitaxel Coated Drug Eluting Technology to Improve Central Vein Patency for Haemodialysis Access Circuits: Any Benefit?

Tze Tec Chong,Hao Yun Yap,Chieh Suai Tan,Qingwei Shaun Lee,Sze Ling Chan,Ian Jun Yan Wee,Tjun Yip Tang 대한혈관외과학회 2020 Vascular Specialist International Vol.36 No.1

Purpose: Central venous stenosis is a recurring problem affecting dialysis access patency. Increasing evidence suggests that the use of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) improves target lesion primary patency (TLPP) in dialysis access. However, few studies have investigated the use of DCBs specifically in central venous stenosis. Thus, this study presents our initial experience with DCBs in the central vein of a dialysis access circuit. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of all hemodialysis patients who underwent central vein angioplasty with DCB between February 2017 and March 2018 at Singapore General Hospital. We compared the primary patency post DCB angioplasty to the primary patency of the patient’s previous plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA). Results: We observed a 100% anatomic and procedural success rate with no complications. The median follow-up period was 151 days (interquartile range, 85.5- 234 days) and no patients were lost to follow-up. The 30- and 90-day TLPPs after DCB were 93.3% and 75.7%, respectively. The mean primary patency in our study group post-DCB during the follow-up period was 164 days (vs. 140 days in the POBA group). However, no statistically significant difference was detected. Conclusion: DCB showed a similar TLPP to that for POBA in treating central venous stenosis with a trend toward a longer re-intervention-free period for DCB. However, there were numerous confounding factors and a well-designed randomized controlled trial is warranted to assess the true utility of DCB in treating central venous stenosis.