Dexamethasone regulates the development and connexin43 expression of rat preantral follicles

( Shiao-hsuan Yang ),( Chueh-ko Yang ),( Cheng-hsuan Wu ),( Horng-der Tsai ) 대한산부인과학회 2016 대한산부인과학회 학술대회 Vol.102 No.-

Objectives: Corticorsterone has been shown to inhibit luteinizing hormone production and the receptors had been found in the follicles. Ovarian follicles represent the basic functional unit of the ovary. In the study we had evaluated the effect of synthetic glucocorticoids dexamethasone (DEX) on the growth (the increase in size), differentiation and connexin 43 of intact preantral follicles in a serum-free culture system. Materials and methods: Preantral follicles with two layer granulosa cells and intact membrane were dissected mechanically from the ovaries of 24-day-old rats and cultured for 72 hours with or without recombinant human follicle- stimulating hormone (FSH) in the presence or absence of increasing concentrations of glucocorticoids. To assess growth rates, follicles were cultured for 72 hours and analyzed for follicle diameter and follicle cell numbers changes. After 72 hours, the follicles were collected and their connexin 43 and inhibin-α contents were determined. Results: Follicles cultured in the absence of FSH grew slowly (around 10% in diameter). Treatment of the follicles with FSH induced an increase in both of follicle size, follicular cell number, and follicle cell differentiation based on increased inhibin-α synthesis. When follicles were cultured with a constant dose of FSH (100 mIU/ml) and increasing doses of dexamethasone (DEX) (0.001-1 μg/ml), the growth rate was reduced by 18-83%. The inhibitory effect by DEX was concentration dependent. The addition of DEX (0.1 μg/ml) decreased FSH-induced follicle cell number. This decrease was associated with decreased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and inhibin-α, a differential marker of preantral follicle. The DEX-induced decrease in the inhibin-α content was also associated with decreased expression of the connexin 43. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that DEX is able to attenuate the FSH-stimulated preantral follicle development.

Changes in Nitrogen and Phosphorus Chemical Structure and Nutrients Release from Raw Biomass to its Converted Biochar

Yu-Hsuan Huang,Chi-Peng Chen,Da-Fang Lin,Chih-Hsin Cheng,Yaw-Wen Yang,Ling-Yun Jang,Oleg Menyailo 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

Bostrycin production by agro-industrial residues and its potential for food processing

Yi-Hsuan Huang,Wen-Jen Yang,Chih-Yu Cheng,Huang-Mo Sung,Shuen-Fuh Lin 한국식품과학회 2017 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.26 No.3

Bostrycin, a red antibacterial agent produced by Nigrospora sp. no. 407, is considered for meat processing. To optimize production, the culture conditions of submerged fermentation (SmF) and solid-state fermentation (SSF) were investigated. The optimal SmF conditions were a medium containing 1.0% cane molasses and incubation at 30 C and 150 rpm for 6 days. In SSF, other than bostrycin, less pigment was produced and the optimal ratio of bagasse to water was 1:2 for 10 days. The production and recovery rate of bostrycin by SmF were 120 mg/L and 40%, respectively. Bostrycin exhibited thermostable, pHdependent color change and dose-dependent antibacterial activity against Clostridium botulinum. Bostrycin-modified meat turned strong red for at least 24 h and could not be removed by washing; bostrycin maintained its antibacterial activity with a bacteriostasis rate of 91% on Staphylcoccus aureus. This is an easy and inexpensive means of acquiring bostrycin from molasses and sugarcane.

A Novel Current-Shunt-Input Voltage-Series-Output High Step-Up Converter with a New Coupled-Inductor Boost Module

Sung-Pei Yang,Shin-Ju Chen,Chao-Ming Huang,Cheng-Hsuan Chiu 전력전자학회 2023 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2023 No.-

In this paper, a novel current-shunt-input voltage-series-output high step-up converter with a new coupled-inductor boost module is proposed. The proposed converter can achieve a high voltage gain, which is more than that of a conventional boost converter, without operating in an extremely large duty cycle. The operating principle, steady-state analysis and component design considerations are presented herein. Prototype of 40 V input, 400 V output, 50 kHz switching frequency and 200~500 W rated power of the proposed converters are built and tested. The Is-Spice simulations and experimental results are thus shown to verify the theoretical analysis of the proposed converter. It can also obtain the high efficiency of 93.9 % at 200 W.

Incongruent Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cortisol in Schizophrenia: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial of Laughter Intervention

Shu-Li Cheng,Fu-Chi Yang,Hsuan-Te Chu,Chia-Kuang Tsai,Shih-Chieh Ku,Yu-Ting Tseng,Ta-Chuan Yeh,Chih-Sung Liang 대한신경정신의학회 2020 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.17 No.12

Objective Schizophrenia has been associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Furthermore, alterations in neurotrophic factors might contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. We aimed to evaluate the effects of a simulated laughter intervention on the levels of cortisol and BDNF and to determine whether the effects associated with simulated laughter could be sustained after discontinuation of the intervention. Methods In this randomized controlled study, patients with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV clinical criteria were randomly assigned to receive either 8-week-long simulated laughter intervention (n=32) or treatment-as-usual group (control group, n=27). The serum levels of BDNF and cortisol were measured at baseline, week 8, and four weeks after discontinuation (week 12) of the intervention program. Results After an 8-week simulated laughter intervention, the laughter group had significantly higher levels of BDNF; however, four weeks after discontinuation of the intervention, the levels of BDNF significantly dropped. Interestingly, the levels of cortisol did not change significantly at week 8, but they were significantly elevated at week 12. The levels of BDNF and cortisol in the control group did not change significantly between week 0 and week 8. Conclusion These findings suggest that the simulated laughter intervention has an early effect on neurogenesis with a significant delayed effect on stress regulation in subjects with schizophrenia.

The Interaction of Oxytocin and Social Support, Loneliness, and Cortisol Level in Major Depression

Tsung-Yu Tsai,Huai-Hsuan Tseng,Mei Hung Chi,Hui Hua Chang,Cheng-Kuan Wu,Yen Kuang Yang,Po See Chen 대한정신약물학회 2019 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.17 No.4

Objective: Loneliness is a specific risk factor for depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. The present study examined whether the serum oxytocin level would interact with social support and buffers loneliness and hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal (HPA)-axis activity in drug-naïve patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: Twenty-six patients with MDD (male:female = 3:23; mean age, 45.54 ± 12.97 years) were recruited. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale and self-reported Measurement of Support Function Questionnaire were administered. Serum oxytocin and cortisol levels were assessed using a commercial immunoassay kits. Results: In MDD patients, a negative association was found between degrees of social support and loneliness ( = −0.39, p = 0.04). The interaction between social support and serum oxytocin level was negatively associated with loneliness ( = −0.50, p = 0.017) and serum cortisol level ( = −0.55, p = 0.020) after adjusting for age. Follow-up analyses showed that the association between higher social support and lower loneliness was observed only in the higher-oxytocin group (r = −0.75, p = 0.003) but not in the lower group (r = −0.19, p = 0.53). The significance remained after further adjusting for sex and depression severity. Conclusion: Low oxytocin level is a vulnerability factor for the buffering effect of social support for loneliness and aberrant HPA-axis activity in MDD patients.

Dextromethorphan Protect the Valproic Acid Induced Downregulation of Neutrophils in Patients with Bipolar Disorder

Ru-Band Lu,Yun-Hsuan Chang,Sheng-Yu Lee,Tzu-Yun Wang,Shu-Li Cheng,Po See Chen,Yen Kuang Yang,Jau-Shyong Hong,Shiou-Lan Chen 대한정신약물학회 2020 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.18 No.1

Objective: Valproic acid (VPA) is an anticonvulsant and commonly long term used as a mood stabilizer for patients with mood disorders. However its chronic effects on the hematological changes were noticed and need to be further evaluated. In this study, we evaluated, in Taiwanese Han Chinese patients with bipolar disorders (BD), the chronic effects of VPA or VPA plus dextromethorphan (DM) on the hematological molecules (white blood cell [WBCs], red blood cells [RBCs], hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets). Methods: In a 12-week, randomized, double-blind study, we randomly assigned BD patients to one of three groups: VPA plus either placebo (VPA+P, n = 57) or DM (30 mg/day, VPA+DM30, n = 56) or 60 mg/day (VPA+DM60, n = 53). The Young Mania Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were used to evaluate symptom severity, and the hematological molecules were checked. Results: Paired t test showed that the WBC, neutrophils, platelets and RBCs were significantly lowered after 12 weeks of VPA+P or VPA+DM30 treatment. VPA+DM60 represented the protective effects in the WBCs, neutrophils, and RBCs but not in the platelets. We further calculated the changes of each hematological molecules after 12 weeks treatment. We found that combination use of DM60 significantly improved the decline in neutrophils induced by the long-term VPA treatment. Conclusion: Hematological molecule levels were lower after long-term treatment with VPA. VPA+DM60, which yielded the protective effect in hematological change, especially in the neutrophil counts. Thus, DM might be adjunct therapy for maintaining hematological molecules in VPA treatment.

Four-Stage Framework for Implementing a Chatbot System in Disaster Emergency Operation Data Management: A Flood Disaster Management Case Study

Meng-Han Tsai,Cheng-Hsuan Yang,James Yichu Chen,Shih-Chung Kang 대한토목학회 2021 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.25 No.2

This research proposes a four-stage consultant framework for applying a chatbot as a data management system. With the advancement of computational power and data storage technology, the increasing amount of data makes the issue of data management difficult to address. Management of a massive amount of data by utilizing chatbots to play the roles of a data manager and a data provider has been extensively studied. Although a chatbot system has been proven to increase the overall efficiency of data management, implementing a chatbot system in a government department remains a challenge, especially in a field with highly complex data. This research presents the authors’ experience of applying a chatbot system in a department of the government of Taiwan for disaster response operations. A four-stage consulting framework comprising 1) existing workflow review, 2) usability evaluation, 3) system improvement, and 4) management plan (EUSM) was thus proposed. After a two-year field test, the authors found that the framework could help the department in clarifying their working process, increase the overall efficiency of the chatbot system, and identify the major issues of introducing the chatbot system.

SEMA: A Site Equipment Management Assistant for Construction Management

Meng-Han Tsai,Cheng-Hsuan Yang,Chen-Hsuan Wang,I-Tung Yang,Shih-Chung Kang 대한토목학회 2022 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.26 No.3

Collecting construction equipment information such as the site equipment enter and exit date-time, driver's name, type, and quantity is essential in construction management. Most construction projects use paper to record the equipment access history. However, manual recording is always labour-intensive and time-consuming. Therefore, this research aims to develop an assistant system, Site Equipment Management Assistant (SEMA), to automate the site equipment management processes. With the introduction of image recognition and multiple objects tracking technologies, the proposed system can extract equipment-related information from raw videos. SEMA is designed as a chatbot system that contains three major modules: data acquisition, information extraction, and information delivery. A deep learning-based model was first trained to automatically recognize and track construction equipment passing by the site monitor. Information such as equipment entering and exiting date-time, type, and quantity would be extracted and stored in a database. A chatbot interface was developed for users to obtain data from the database through an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. A system evaluation and usability test were conducted. The results showed that the system could effectively improve the construction equipment management process. SEMA can save 60.7% of users' operation time on obtaining related information.

Potential of a combination of entomopathogenic fungal strains and a non-ionic surfactant to control the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda)

Wu Sing-Shan,Tseng Ching-Tzu,Yang Yu-Hung,Liu Yao-Chia,Chang Ju-Chun,Gyawali Purushottam,Li Yi-Hsuan,Yang Tzu-Hao,Tsai Yi-Fang,Tang Li-Cheng,Nai Yu-Shin 한국응용곤충학회 2022 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.25 No.4

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is an emerging invasive pest in Taiwan that feeds on a wide range of crops and causes serious damage. Herein, an entomopathogenic fungal library (EFLib) was constructed to identify potential microbes to control FAW. Twenty-eight indigenous entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) were iso lated and investigated for their potential pathogenicity, with Metarhizium pinghaense (Mp-NCHU-124) and Beauveria bassiana (Bb-NCHU-157) exerting dose-dependent effects on the 4th instar FAW larvae. The non-ionic surfactant Silwet L-77 rapidly killed FAW larvae after spraying at a concentration of 300 mg/kg and the toxic effect of Silwet L-77 on FAW larvae was dose-dependent. When the EPF isolates (10 6 conidia/mL) were applied to FAW larvae in combination with the non-ionic surfactant Silwet L-77 (30–90 mg/kg), the mortality rate dramatically increased and the LT 50 reduced, with increased fungal mycosis (Mp-NCHU-124: 38% to 72% and Bb-NCHU-157: 20 to 62%), indicating the high compatibility of EPF with the non-ionic surfactant. Thus, the Silwet L-77+EPF combined formulation has potential for practical field application for FAW pest control and sustainable agriculture in the future.