Early Intervention with High-Dose Steroid Pulse Therapy Prolongs Disease-Free Interval of Severe Alopecia Areata: A Retrospective Study

( Chao Chun Yang ),( Chun Te Lee ),( Chao Kai Hsu ),( Yi Pei Lee ),( Tak Wah Wong ),( Sheau Chiou Chao ),( Julia Yu Yun Lee ),( Hamm Ming Sheu ),( Wenchieh Chen ) 대한피부과학회 2013 Annals of Dermatology Vol.25 No.4

Background: Spontaneous recovery of severe alopecia areata is rare and the condition is difficult to treat. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate and compare the effects and safety of steroid pulse therapy between oral and intravenous administrations between 1999 and 2010 at the Department of Dermatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital. Methods: Data were retrospectively retrieved. A satisfactory response was defined as more than 75% hair regrowth in the balding area. Results: A total of 85 patients with more than 50% hair loss were identified and treated, with an overall satisfactory response rate of 51.8%. The mean follow-up time was 37.6 months, with a relapse rate of 22.7%. Patients with alopecia areata (hereafter, AA) of recent onset within one year showed higher response rates (p< 0.001) and lower relapse rates compared to patients with AA persisting for more than 1 year. Further, even in patients with alopecia totalis, alopecia universalis or ophiasis type, early treatment resulted in a satisfactory response rate of 47% among the treated patients. In general, oral therapy was as effective and well-tolerated as intravenous therapy. Conclusion: The response rate is determined by disease severity and time of intervention, not by the administration form of steroid pulse therapy. Oral steroid pulse therapy can be considered as the first-line treatment for patients with severe AA of recent onset within one year. (Ann Dermatol 25(4) 471∼474, 2013)

The Investigation and 3D Numerical Simulation of Herb Roots in Reinforcing Soil and Stabilizing Slope

Yang Yang,Jinxia Wang,Qingsong Duan,Chao Su,Mingjiao Yan,Yijia Dong 대한토목학회 2018 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.22 No.12

This paper investigated and simulated the mechanical effect of root reinforcing soil and stabilizing slope. The unconfined compression test was used to investigate the reinforcement soil behavior of herb roots. This paper used the 3D finite element to quantify the mechanical effect of the herb root for slope’s stability in terms of the safety factor. The soil was simulated by an elasticplastic model, and the root was simulated by a linear elastic model. Results show that using the Root Content (RC) to estimate the additional cohesion cr of Setaria sphacelata and Orchardgrass was a simple and reliable method. Lateral fine roots can play a more significant role in reinforcing soils and slopes. Compared to various slope angles, the steep slope was less stable. The slope existed a slope angle threshold αthr. When the slope angle α was smaller than αthr, the herb root system can improve the stability of slope. The α existed an optimal angle αopt for the root system. When α = αopt and α < αthr, the herb roots can exert its maximum stabilization capacity. Moreover, we can select herb species with lateral fine roots and more roots in deeper soil layer. Results can better estimate the cr for the herb of lateral fine roots and select the herb and the slope’s geometry in the engineering.

Finite-time Synchronization of a Class of Coupled Memristor-based Recurrent Neural Networks: Static State Control and Dynamic Control Approach

Chao Yang,Yicheng Liu,Fangmin Li,Yangfan Li 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2021 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.19 No.1

This paper investigates the problem of the finite-time synchronization of a class of coupled memristorbased recurrent neural networks (MRNNs) with time delays. Based on the drive-response concept and differentialinclusions theory, several sufficient assumptions are given to ensure the finite-time synchronization of MRNNs. In order to realize the finite-time synchronization between the drive system and the response system, we designthree classes of novel control rules such as static state controller, static output controller, dynamic state controller. Using the theory of differential inclusion, a generalized finite-time convergence theorem and Lyapunov method, theconditions herein are easy to be verified. Moreover, the upper bounds of the settling time of synchronization areestimated and the designed dynamic state controllers have good anti-interference capacity. Finally, two numericalexamples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness and the validity of theoretical results.

Stress concentration factors test of reinforced concrete-filled tubular Y-joints under in-plane bending

Chao Yang,Jun-fen Yang,Mingzhou Su,Ming Lian 국제구조공학회 2016 Steel and Composite Structures, An International J Vol.22 No.1

To study the stress concentration factors (SCFs) of concrete-filled tubular Y-joints subject to in-plane bending, experiments were used to investigate the hot spot stress distribution along the intersection between chord and brace. Three concrete-filled tubular chords forming Y-joints were tested with different reinforcing components, including doubler-plate, sleeve, and haunch-plate reinforcement. In addition, an unreinforced joint was also tested for comparison. Test results indicate that the three different forms of reinforcement effectively reduce the peak SCFs compared with the unreinforced joint. The current research suggests that the linear extrapolation method can be used for chords, whereas the quadratic extrapolation method must be used for braces. The SCF is effectively reduced and more evenly distributed when the value of the axial compression ratio in the chord is increased. Furthermore, the SCFs obtained from the test results were compared to predictions from some well-established SCF equations. Generally, the predictions from those equations are very consistent for braces, but very conservative for concretefilled chords.

The finite-time ruin probability in two non-standard renewal risk models with constant interest rate and dependent subexponential claims

Yang Yang,Jinguan Lin,Chao Huang,Xin Ma 한국통계학회 2012 Journal of the Korean Statistical Society Vol.41 No.2

This paper considers an ordinary renewal risk model and a compound renewal risk model with constant interest rate, subexponential claims and a general premium process. We derive some asymptotic results on the finite-time ruin probabilities.

25th the Fall of Berlin Wall

Chao Yang 한국콘텐츠학회 2015 ICCC International Digital Design Invitation Exhib Vol.2015 No.5

Monitoring Analysis and Numerical Simulation of the Land Subsidence in Linear Engineering Areas

Chao Jia,Xiao Yang,Jing Wu,Pengpeng Ding,Chao Bian 대한토목학회 2021 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.25 No.7

Non-uniform land subsidence can cause subgrade deformation and threaten the safety of linear projects such as high-speed railways. The Lunan high-speed railway is taken as the research background. Combined with the hydrogeological and engineering geological conditions, the regional land subsidence is analyzed by the combined method of the differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (D-InSAR) and small baseline subset interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SBAS-InSAR), which is verified by using precise leveling and GPS monitoring data. The accurate land subsidence analysis of large-scale linear engineering is realized. The distribution situation and change laws of land subsidence in linear engineering areas are revealed. Then, a three-dimensional coupled numerical model of land subsidence along a large-scale linear project is established by using the finite difference method. The spatial distribution characteristics of land subsidence in the linear engineering area are quantitatively analyzed and predicted. The main factors affecting land subsidence and the degree of land subsidence are discussed while keeping the pumping rate constant. The results show that: 1) The combined method of D-InSAR and SBAS-InSAR has high accuracy in the land subsidence monitoring of linear engineering. 2) There are five non-uniform settlement funnels along the Lunan high-speed railway. The groundwater over-extraction and coal mining are the main reasons for the land subsidence. 3) Realizing water source conversion and reduce groundwater exploitation are the main factors in linear engineering areas as soon as possible.

Pattern-Oriented Agent-Based Simulation for Analyzing Family Strategies in Civil Service Examination in Imperial China

Chao YANG,Toru TAKAHASHI,Takashi YAMADA,Setsuya KURAHASHI,Isao ONO,Takao TERANO 제어로봇시스템학회 2009 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2009 No.8

Pattern Oriented Modeling (POM) is an approach to bottom-up complex system analysis which was developed in ecology and for agent-based complex systems. This paper proposes a pattern-oriented agent-based simulation (POABS) approach to analyze agent-based complex system. We apply POABS to a history simulation domain to analyze a particular family line with more successful candidates in the civil service examination in imperial China. In order to decode family strategies along such an elite family line, we develop POABS to test relevant patterns observed in the real family system. Inverse simulation technique is applied to evaluate each simulated pattern through fitting the time-series of simulated profile data to real profile data with real-coded GA. Intensive experiments show a practical applicability of POABS in agent-based complex system.

Study on Waterborne Polyurethanes Based on Poly(dimethyl siloxane) and Perfluorinated Polyether

Yang Du,Chao Zhou,Zhihui Yang 한국고분자학회 2015 Macromolecular Research Vol.23 No.9

Methylsiloxane and fluorinated segments were introduced into the polymer backbone of polyurethane by direct reaction of isocyanate with dialcohol terminated perfluoropolyether (E10-H) and poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS). The polyurethane structure was revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer in ATR mode and Xray photoelectron spectroscope. It was found that the silicon and fluorine moieties easily migrated to the surface of material in film-forming process due to their lower energy, so the water contact angle on membrane surface was greatly enhanced (maximum 100.1º), and the hydrophobic property of material was improved. Different degree of phase separation was observed by scanning electron microscope. Increment of PDMS or E10-H content caused the phase separation obviously, but section of PDMS and E10-H modified polyurethane showed that phase separation reduced. The linear dynamic viscoelastic measurements indicated that the dynamic storage modulus of all samples increased with the increment of frequency, and PDMS modified WPU’s grew fastest. The slope of G' vs. G'' showed a decrement, so each sample had a shear thinning behavior. The perfluoropolyether oil was to reduce viscosity of the system.

Transfer matrix for rotor coupler with parallel misalignmen

Chao-Yang Tsai,Shyh-Chin Huang 대한기계학회 2009 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.23 No.5

A transfer matrix for shafts coupler with parallel misalignment (offset) was derived. The responses of a rotor system composed of flexible shafts, unbalanced disks, elastic supports and shafts coupler with misalignment were then investigated. Through the derivation, the boundary shears induced by a rotating shaft were first discovered to be coupled in two perpendicular directions. These coupling shears might reduce the first critical speed up to 50% in the free-free case. The studies showed that the shafts coupler altered the rotor’s critical speeds and the misalignment played as an external load resulting through the whole driven shaft. The combined effects of disk unbalance and shaft misalignment showed that the misalignment predominated the response in most of the rotation speeds, but the unbalance could become significant at high speed. The whirling orbits before and after the misalignment were illustrated as well, and numerical results showed that the two ends of the misalignment whirled asynchronously as the rotation fell into some regions.