Acupuncture for ventilator-dependent patients at a hospital-based respiratory care center: A randomized controlled trial

Jia-Ming Chen,Wan-Li Chiang,Bin-Chuan Ji,Ruei-Jhe Jhang,Pei-Hsin Chen,Ya-Lun Li,Che-Ju Chang,Sung-Yen Huang,Tsung-Chieh Lee,Chia-Yun Chen,Ching-Hsiung Lin,Sheng-Hao Lin 한국한의학연구원 2023 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.12 No.4

Background: In intensive care units, mechanical ventilation is an important therapy to help patients with dysp- nea. However, long-term ventilator dependence would consume huge medical resources and increase the risk of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of the acupuncture combined with western medical care on ventilator parameters in ventilator-dependent patients. Methods: In this clinical trial, 80 ventilator-dependent patients aged 20 to 80 years old were randomly assigned to acupuncture group and control group in the respiratory care center (RCC) of Changhua Christian Hospital. Besides regular medical care and therapy, participants in the acupuncture group received acupuncture therapy at the same 17 acu-points for 20 minutes once a day, a total of 12 sessions. The ventilator parameters were recorded to evaluate the respiratory efficiency for all participants. The primary outcome was rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI), and secondary outcomes were respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV) and ventilation per minute (MV). Results: Though there was no significant difference in the parameter between the acupuncture group and the control group, we found the trend of decreasing RSBI in the acupuncture group. In subgroup analyses, the mean of RSBI significantly decreased 16.02 (with the SD in 60.84) in acupuncture group, while it increased 17.84 (with the SD in 39.38) in control group (p = 0.036) after 12 sessions. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment can improve breathing ability of patients with respirator dependence in respiratory care center.

Comprehensive profiles and diagnostic value of menopausal-specific gut microbiota in premenopausal breast cancer

Hou Ming-Feng,Ou-Yang Fu,Li Chung-Liang,Chen Fang-Ming,Chuang Chieh-Han,Kan Jung-Yu,Wu Cheng-Che,Shih Shen-Liang,Shiau Jun-Ping,Kao Li-Chun,Kao Chieh-Ni,Lee Yi-Chen,Moi Sin-Hua,Yeh Yao-Tsung,Cheng Chi 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

In Western countries, breast cancer tends to occur in older postmenopausal women. However, in Asian countries, the proportion of younger premenopausal breast cancer patients is increasing. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in breast cancer. However, studies on the gut microbiota in the context of breast cancer have mainly focused on postmenopausal breast cancer. Little is known about the gut microbiota in the context of premenopausal breast cancer. This study aimed to comprehensively explore the gut microbial profiles, diagnostic value, and functional pathways in premenopausal breast cancer patients. Here, we analyzed 267 breast cancer patients with different menopausal statuses and age-matched female controls. The α-diversity was significantly reduced in premenopausal breast cancer patients, and the β-diversity differed significantly between breast cancer patients and controls. By performing multiple analyses and classification, 14 microbial markers were identified in the different menopausal statuses of breast cancer. Bacteroides fragilis was specifically found in young women of premenopausal statuses and Klebsiella pneumoniae in older women of postmenopausal statuses. In addition, menopausal-specific microbial markers could exhibit excellent discriminatory ability in distinguishing breast cancer patients from controls. Finally, the functional pathways differed between breast cancer patients and controls. Our findings provide the first evidence that the gut microbiota in premenopausal breast cancer patients differs from that in postmenopausal breast cancer patients and shed light on menopausal-specific microbial markers for diagnosis and investigation, ultimately providing a noninvasive approach for breast cancer detection and a novel strategy for preventing premenopausal breast cancer.

Facile synthesis of a 56π-electron 1,2-dihydromethano-[60]PCBM and its application for thermally stable polymer solar cells

Li, Chang-Zhi,Chien, Shang-Chieh,Yip, Hin-Lap,Chueh, Chu-Chen,Chen, Fang-Chung,Matsuo, Yutaka,Nakamura, Eiichi,Jen, Alex K.-Y. Royal Society of Chemistry 2011 Chemical communications Vol.47 No.36

<P>A facile synthesis was employed to make a 56π-electron methano-PC<SUB>61</SUB>BM with a very small 1,2-dihydromethano (CH<SUB>2</SUB>) group. This new fullerene derivative possesses high electron mobility (0.014 cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>−1</SUP> s<SUP>−1</SUP>) and higher LUMO energy level (0.15 eV) than PC<SUB>61</SUB>BM. Bulk hetero-junction devices based on using poly(3-hexylthiophene) and methano-PC<SUB>61</SUB>BM as active layer exhibited better performance and thermal stability than those using the PC<SUB>61</SUB>BM analogue.</P> <P>Graphic Abstract</P><P>We have designed and synthesized a new 56π-electron methano-PC<SUB>61</SUB>BM using a very small and stable 1,2-dihydromethano (CH<SUB>2</SUB>) group. <IMG SRC='http://pubs.rsc.org/services/images/RSCpubs.ePlatform.Service.FreeContent.ImageService.svc/ImageService/image/GA?id=c1cc14446d'> </P>

A study of flow patterns for staggered cylinders at low Reynolds number by spectral element method

Li-Chieh Hsu,Chien-Lin Chen,Jian-Zhi Ye 대한기계학회 2017 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.31 No.6

This study investigates the pattern of flow past two staggered array cylinders using the spectral element method by varying the distancebetween the cylinders and the angle of incidence (α) at low Reynolds numbers (Re = 100-800). Six flow patterns are identified as Shearlayer reattachment (SLR), Induced separation (IS), Vortex impingement (VI), Synchronized vortex shedding (SVS), Vortex pairing andenveloping (VPE), and Vortex pairing splitting and enveloping (VPSE). These flow patterns can be transformed from one to another bychanging the distance between the cylinders, the angle of incidence, or Re. SLR, IS and VI flow patterns appear in regimes with smallangles of incidence (i.e., α ≤ 30° ) and hold only a single von Karman vortex shedding in a wake with one shedding frequency. SVS,VPE and VPSE flow patterns appear in regimes with large angles of incidence (i.e., 30° ≤ α ≤ 50° ) and present two synchronized vonKarman vortices. Quantitative analyses and physical interpretation are also conducted to determine the generation mechanisms of the saidflow patterns.

Optimal power consumption design of the amorphous silicon thin-film transistor gate driver circuit for 10.1-in. display panel manufacturing

Yiming Li,Chien-Hshueh Chiang,Yu-Yu Chen,Chieh-Yang Chen 한국정보디스플레이학회 2013 Journal of information display Vol.14 No.1

In this paper, the dynamic characteristics of the novel amorphous silicon thin-film transistor gate drive circuit applied on a 10.1-in. panel are optimized by using a multi-objective optimization method. Simultaneously, considering the multiple electrical characteristics of the tested circuit, the achieved results reveal interesting properties as well as good sensitivity of the optimized design parameters. The optimal specifications not only suppress the output ripple, but also reduce the dynamic and static power consumptions.

Effects of Long-term Climate Change on Typhoon Rainfall Associated with Southwesterly Monsoon Flow near Taiwan: Mindulle (2004) and Morakot (2009)

Wang Chung-Chieh,Tseng Li-Shan,Huang Chien-Chang,Chuang Pi-Yu,Su Nan-Chou,Chen Cheng-Ta,Lo Shih-How,Tsuboki Kazuhisa 한국기상학회 2024 Asia-Pacific Journal of Atmospheric Sciences Vol.60 No.3

Typhoons Morakot (2009) and Mindulle (2004) were two of the rainiest and most damaging typhoons to hit Taiwan on record, where both cases are associated with a strong low-level southwesterly monsoon flow. The moisture-rich southwesterly monsoon flow and the typhoon-induced northwesterly current usually converge on Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range to produce catastrophic rainfall. The two storms are simulated with a cloud-resolving model (CRM) using the pseudo-global-warming (PGW) methodology to assess the fraction of precipitation attributable to long-term climate change. For each storm, two scenarios are simulated and compared—the control run in present-day climate and the sensitivity test in a past environment four decades ago, where the climate-change signal (“deltas”) is computed using global reanalysis data as the difference between 1990–2009 and 1950–1969. Being realistically reproduced by the CRM at a 3-km grid size in the control run, both typhoons progress in the sensitivity test with highly similar evolution to their present-day counterpart, even though the background in the sensitivity run is slightly cooler and drier than the present. Under the current climate, Morakot and Mindulle produce more rainfall by about 5 mm per day within 300–400 km from the center during their lifespan (equal to an increase of ~4–8%) compared to their counterparts in past climates. Such results are in close agreement with previous studies, and the shift in mean daily rainfall is tested as statistically significant at a confidence level of 99.5%. The water budget analysis shows that the increased rainfall from past to present climate is accounted for mainly by the low-level convergence of moisture associated with a more vigorous secondary circulation and a higher precipitable water amount.

Dielectric properties and microstructures of (CaxSr1-x) ZrO3 ceramics

Yu-De Li,Jian-Ming Chen,Ying-Chieh Lee 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2018 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.19 No.6

The effects of Ca/Sr ratio and the sintering temperature on the properties of (CaxSr(1-x))ZrO3 (CSZ) ceramics were investigatedin this study. CSZ ceramics were prepared using solid-state reaction process, which were sintered in air at temperaturesranging from 1350 oC to 1450 oC. Their structures were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning ElectronMicroscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The change in Ca/Sr ratio significantly affected thecrystalline phase and the dielectric properties of the (CaxSr(1-x))ZrO3 ceramics. The secondary phase, Ca0.15Zr0.85O1.85, wasobserved and increased correspondingly with the rising of sintering temperatures. In order to understand the effects ofsecondary phase on the dielectric properties of CSZ ceramics, the Ca0.15Zr0.85O1.85 phase was prepared individually using solidstatemethod. The Ca0.15Zr0.85O1.85 ceramics sintered at 1500 oC for 2 hours possessed a dielectric constant (εr) of 21.7, adielectric loss (tanδ) of 49.510−4 and an Insulation Resistance (IR) of 2.1 × 1010 Ω. The (Ca0.7Sr0.3)ZrO3 ceramics exhibited thebest dielectric properties, with a permittivity of 29, a dielectric loss (tanδ) of 2.7 × 10−4, and an Insulation Resistance (IR) of2.6 × 1012 Ω.

Parameter Optimization of Micromilling Brass Mold Inserts for Microchannels with Taguchi Method

Pin-Chuan Chen,Yu-Chieh Chen,Chang-Wei Pan,Kuan-Ming Li 한국정밀공학회 2015 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

Achieving excellent quality of micromilled surfaces usually requires additional efforts and cost, and Taguchi methodology is anefficient tool in the parameter optimization process. The aim of this study is to explore the optimal cutting parameters for minimalsurface roughness of a micromilled brass mold inset, and the controlling parameters included coolant, spindle speed, feed rate, depthof cut, and the stepover. An orthogonal array and factor analysis were carried out to identify the optimal cutting combination, andthis combination included air coolant, spindle speed of 45,000 rpm, feed rate of 100 mm/min, stepover of 10% of milling bit diameter,and the depth of cut of 5 μm. To further confirm the analysis, multiple confirmation runs were realized and the averagely measuredsurface roughness was 0.03 μm with a stand deviation of 0.004 μm.

Gravity effect of silica and polystyrene particles on deposition pattern control and particle size distribution on hydrophobic surfaces

Ting-Yu Hu,Chieh Wang,Kai-Chieh Yang,Li-Jen Chen 한국공업화학회 2022 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.106 No.-

Ring-like residual deposits are often observed after drying suspension droplets on surfaces. That introducesa crucial defect in practical applications, such as ink-jet printing that requires a uniform deposit. In this study, depositions after drying sessile/pendant droplets with silica/polystyrene particles wereexamined to identify the effect of gravitational sedimentation of particles on self-pinning and depositionpattern. The suspension droplet with larger polystyrene (or silica) particles would trigger the self-pinningat larger (or smaller) particle concentrations. The deposition pattern of pendant drops with silica particlesis hill-like. This is due to the large density difference between silica and water to induce high sedimentationvelocity, and the particles would precipitate and aggregate along the air–liquid interface to form ahollow shell deposit. The depositions for suspensions with bi-dispersed particles, the larger silica particleswould accumulate at the bottom of the deposit due to the higher sedimentation velocity, in contrastto the well-mixed in the deposits for bi-dispersed polystyrene particles. The sedimentation and capillaryflow velocities were calculated and discussed. These new findings reveal that the particle density (gravityeffect) can be used to adjust the sedimentation velocity to control the deposition morphology and particlesize distribution even to suppress the coffee-ring effect.

Structural Relationships Between Student-Perceived Teacher Authentic Leadership, Students’ State Mindfulness and Creative Self-Efficacy: Evidence from Art Students in Taiwan

Chuan-Chung Hsieh,Chen-Ya Lien,Hui-Chieh Li 한국교육개발원 2024 KEDI Journal of Educational Policy Vol.21 No.1

This study explores the effect of student-perceived teacher authentic leadership on students’ creative self-efficacy, and the manner in which state mindfulness mediates the relationship. We tested the conceptual model using structural equation modeling (SEM) of data collected from 479 students of art-talent classes in Taiwan. The results revealed that student-perceived teacher authentic leadership and students’ state mindfulness positively predict their creative self-efficacy. Students’ state mindfulness plays a mediating role between perceived teacher authentic leadership and students’ creative self-efficacy. Discussion and implications of the results are presented.