Tenofovir Alafenamide for Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Advanced Fibrosis and Partial Virologic Responses to Oral Nucleos(T)Ide Analogues- Interim Report

( Ming-lung Yu ),( Ming-lun Yeh ),( Chi-yi Chen ),( Pin-nan Cheng ),( Ming-jong Bair ),( Jyh-jou Chen ),( Ching-chu Lo ),( Chi-ming Tai ),( Ching-yang Tsai ),( Kuo-chih Tseng ),( Chien-hung Chen ),( C 대한간학회 2020 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2020 No.1

Aims: Insufficient data regarding the treatment strategy for partial response to nucleot(s)ide analogue (NUC) raised the aim of investigating tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) switching for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with advanced fibrosis and partial response to other NUCs. Methods: CHB patients with advanced fibrosis (stage 3 or 4) and under NUC (except TAF) therapy with detectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA for >52 weeks are enrolled to TAF 25 mg/day for 96 weeks. The objectives are viral suppression, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization and safety. Results: From Feb. 2019, 34 patients, including 21 (61.8%) with entecavir, 10 (29.4%) TDF and 3 (8.8%) lamivudine or adefovir, were enrolled (15 [44.1%] male, median 53 years). The fibroscan demonstrated a mean of 10.5 kPa (7 [20.6%] cirrhotic). Sixteen (47.1%) patients were HBV e antigen positive, seven (20.6%) had YMDD mutation. The median HBV DNA level declined from 68.5 IU/mL at enrollment to 27.0 IU/mL at 4^th week, and undetectable at 12^th, 24^th, 36^th week, respectively, after TAF switching, with undetectable HBV DNA in 14/34 (41.2%), 17/33 (51.5%), 15/25 (60.0%), and 9/15 (60.0%) patients and rate of ALT normalization (≤40 U/L) of 85.3%, 85.3%, 84.8%, 92.0%, and 80.0%, respectively, after TAF switching. (figure 1) Two patients experienced transient virological breakthrough and another one developed at the final time follow up. Serum creatinine and eGFR levels were stable after TAF switching (figure 1). Two patients early terminated including one at 12^th week due to personal reason, and another one accidently died at 20^th week due to acute heart attack. Others suffered only mild degrees of adverse events which were considered unrelated to treatment. Conclusions: The preliminary results demonstrated the TAF switching is effective and safe in viral suppression for CHB patients with advanced fibrosis and partial virologic responses to other NUCs.

Damage detection in stiffened plates by wavelet transform

Yang, Joe-Ming,Yang, Zen-Wei,Tseng, Chien-Ming The Society of Naval Architects of Korea 2011 International Journal of Naval Architecture and Oc Vol.3 No.2

In this study, numerical analysis was carried out by using the finite element method to construct the first mode shape of damaged stiffened plates, and the damage locations were detected with two-dimensional discrete wavelet analysis. In the experimental analysis, four different damaged stiffened structures were observed. Firstly, each damaged structure was hit with a shaker, and then accelerometers were used to measure the vibration responses. Secondly, the first mode shape of each structure was obtained by using the wavelet packet, and the location of cracks were also determined by two-dimensional discrete wavelet analysis. The results of the numerical analysis and experimental investigation reveal that the proposed method is applicable to detect single crack or multi-cracks of a stiffened structure. The experimental results also show that fewer measurement points are required with the proposed technique in comparison to those presented in previous studies.

Path planning on satellite images for unmanned surface vehicles

Yang, Joe-Ming,Tseng, Chien-Ming,Tseng, P.S. The Society of Naval Architects of Korea 2015 International Journal of Naval Architecture and Oc Vol.7 No.1

In recent years, the development of autonomous surface vehicles has been a field of increasing research interest. There are two major areas in this field: control theory and path planning. This study focuses on path planning, and two objectives are discussed: path planning for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and implementation of path planning in a real map. In this paper, satellite thermal images are converted into binary images which are used as the maps for the Finite Angle $A^*$ algorithm ($FAA^*$), an advanced $A^*$ algorithm that is used to determine safer and suboptimal paths for USVs. To plan a collision-free path, the algorithm proposed in this article considers the dimensions of surface vehicles. Furthermore, the turning ability of a surface vehicle is also considered, and a constraint condition is introduced to improve the quality of the path planning algorithm, which makes the traveled path smoother. This study also shows a path planning experiment performed on a real satellite thermal image, and the path planning results can be used by an USV.

Path planning on satellite images for unmanned surface vehicles

Joe-Ming Yang,Chien-Ming Tseng,P.S. Tseng 대한조선학회 2015 International Journal of Naval Architecture and Oc Vol.7 No.1

In recent years, the development of autonomous surface vehicles has been a field of increasing research interest. There are two major areas in this field: control theory and path planning. This study focuses on path planning, and two objectives are discussed: path planning for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) and implementation of path planning in a real map. In this paper, satellite thermal images are converted into binary images which are used as the maps for the Finite Angle A* algorithm (FAA*), an advanced A* algorithm that is used to determine safer and suboptimal paths for USVs. To plan a collision-free path, the algorithm proposed in this article considers the dimensions of surface vehicles. Furthermore, the turning ability of a surface vehicle is also considered, and a constraint condition is introduced to improve the quality of the path planning algorithm, which makes the traveled path smoother. This study also shows a path planning experiment performed on a real satellite thermal image, and the path planning results can be used by an USV.

Damage detection in stiffened plates by wavelet transform

Joe-Ming Yang,Zen-Wei Yang,Chien-Ming Tseng 대한조선학회 2011 International Journal of Naval Architecture and Oc Vol.3 No.2

In this study, numerical analysis was carried out by using the finite element method to construct the first mode shape of damaged stiffened plates, and the damage locations were detected with two-dimensional discrete wavelet analysis. In the experimental analysis, four different damaged stiffened structures were observed. Firstly, each damaged structure was hit with a shaker, and then accelerometers were used to measure the vibration responses. Secondly, the first mode shape of each structure was obtained by using the wavelet packet, and the location of cracks were also determined by two-dimensional discrete wavelet analysis. The results of the numerical analysis and experimental investigation reveal that the proposed method is applicable to detect single crack or multi-cracks of a stiffened structure. The experimental results also show that fewer measurement points are required with the proposed technique in comparison to those presented in previous studies.

Impact of Esophageal Motility on Microbiome Alterations in Symptomatic Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Patients With Negative Endoscopy: Exploring the Role of Ineffective Esophageal Motility and Contraction Reserve

Ming-Wun Wong,I-Hsuan Lo,Wei-Kai Wu,Po-Yu Liu,Yu-Tang Yang,Chun-Yao Chen,Ming-Shiang Wu,Sunny H Wong,Wei-Yi Lei,Chih-Hsun Yi,Tso-Tsai Liu,Jui-Sheng Hung,Shu-Wei Liang,C Prakash Gyawali,Chien-Lin Che 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2024 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.30 No.3

Background/AimsIneffective esophageal motility (IEM) is common in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and can be associated with poor esophageal contraction reserve on multiple rapid swallows. Alterations in the esophageal microbiome have been reported in GERD, but the relationship to presence or absence of contraction reserve in IEM patients has not been evaluated. We aim to investigate whether contraction reserve influences esophageal microbiome alterations in patients with GERD and IEM. MethodsWe prospectively enrolled GERD patients with normal endoscopy and evaluated esophageal motility and contraction reserve with multiple rapid swallows during high-resolution manometry. The esophageal mucosa was biopsied for DNA extraction and 16S ribosomal RNA gene V3-V4 (Illumina)/full-length (Pacbio) amplicon sequencing analysis. ResultsAmong the 56 recruited patients, 20 had normal motility (NM), 19 had IEM with contraction reserve (IEM-R), and 17 had IEM without contraction reserve (IEM-NR). Esophageal microbiome analysis showed a significant decrease in microbial richness in patients with IEM-NR when compared to NM. The beta diversity revealed different microbiome profiles between patients with NM or IEM-R and IEM-NR (P = 0.037). Several esophageal bacterial taxa were characteristic in patients with IEM-NR, including reduced Prevotella spp. and Veillonella dispar, and enriched Fusobacterium nucleatum. In a microbiome-based random forest model for predicting IEM-NR, an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.81 was yielded. ConclusionsIn symptomatic GERD patients with normal endoscopic findings, the esophageal microbiome differs based on contraction reserve among IEM. Absent contraction reserve appears to alter the physiology and microbiota of the esophagus.

Up-regulation of Bax and endonuclease G, and down-modulation of Bcl-XL involved in cardiotoxin III-induced apoptosis in K562 cells

Sheng-Huei Yang,Ching-Ming Chien,Mei-Chin Lu,Yi-Hsiung Lin,Xiu-Wei Hu,Shinne-Ren Lin 생화학분자생물학회 2006 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.38 No.4

Cardiotoxin III (CTX III), a basic polypeptide with 60 amino acid residues isolated from Naja naja atra venom, has been reported to have anticancer activity. CTX III-induced K562 cell apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation (DNA ladder, sub-G1 for-mation) and phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization with an IC50 value of 1.7 g/ml at 48 h. A mechanistic analysis demonstrated that CTX III-induced apop-totic cell death was accompanied by up-regulation of both Bax and endonuclease G (Endo G), and downregulation of Bcl-XL. CTX III had no effect on the levels of Bcl-2, Bid, XIAP survivin, and AIF proteins. CTX III treatment caused loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Ψm), release of mitochon-drial cytochrome c to the cytosol, and activation of both caspase-9 and -3. CTX III-induced apoptosis was significantly blocked by the broad-spectrum cas-pase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK. However, CTX III did not generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and talase, did not block CTX III-induced apoptosis in K562 cells. Modulation of Bax, Bcl-XL, and the Endo G proteins, release of mitochondrial cytochome c, and activation of caspase-3 and -9 all are involved in the CTX III-triggered apoptotic process in human leukemia K562 cells.

Design and Implementation of Electronic Ballast for Electrodeless Fluorescent Lamp with Primary-Side Control

Chang-Hua Lin,Chien-Ming Wang,Liang-Cheng Lee,Ting Ou-Yang 전력전자학회 2015 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2015 No.6

A microcontroller-based electronic ballast for electrodeless fluorescent lamp (EFL) is implemented in this paper. The main circuit consists of a class D converter and a resonant circuit to form a resonant inverter. In addition, an 8-bit microcontroller is employed to act as the control core of the system to achieve soft start and smooth dimming feature. Moreover, we not only discuss the lamp model, the related control methods, but also implement the lamp current regulation by using the primary-side control to stabilize the preset lamp current. Finally, the experimental results are used to verify the feasibility and validity of the proposed system.

The Inventory and Statistics of Potential Large-scale Landslide Areas in Southern Taiwan

( Kuo-wei Li ),( Chien-yu Lin ),( Jyh-jong Liao ),( Yi-wen Pan ),( Keng-hao Kang ),( Che-ming Yang ) 대한지질공학회 2019 대한지질공학회 학술발표회논문집 Vol.2019 No.2

This study produced an inventory of the 2,523 potential large-scale landslide areas (PLSLAs) in southern Taiwan. These PLSLAs were delineated using LiDAR DEM of 1m resolution after the 2009 Typhoon Morakot by other institutes. Using the inventory, we conducted a statistical analysis of the important geologic and geomorphologic factors possibly related to a PLSLA. The statistical analyses reveal that, among the 2,523 PLSLAs, (1) 82% of elevation are between 750 and 2,750 m, (2) 79% of the area are between 10 and 40 hectares, (3) 76% of the slope height are between 200 and 600 m, (4) 86% of the slope are between 25 and 40 degrees and (5) 83 percent of stream order are less than 3. Rock formations of these PLSLAs range from Oligocene to Miocene; 67% of the strata are slate, and 12% are interbedded of sandstone and shale. This study selected 24 medium to high risk cases of the 2,523 PLSLAs, and interpreted the micro-geomorphological features from 1m LiDAR DEM. The following three patterns were present: (1) PLSLA with clear features of gravitational slope deformation in slope height more than 500 m condition, (2) PLSLA with the relic of paleo landslides induced by gravitational buckling, toppling, or plane sliding, (3) PLSLA with river bank erosion on slope toe and head-cut erosion induced by gully development. Based on statistics, the stream order of the PLSLAs with gravitational slope deformation usually would exceed 3; 83% of PLSLAs are the areas also with paleo large-scale landslide.

Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Understanding Slow-moving Landslide

( Wei-an Chao ),( Ming-chien Chung ),( Keng-hao Kang ),( Chih-pin Lin ),( Tung-lin Tai ),( Hao-wen Yang ) 대한지질공학회 2019 대한지질공학회 학술발표회논문집 Vol.2019 No.2

Landslides have caused extensive infrastructure damage and threatened the human fatalities through the centuries. Among all triggered factors, massive precipitation and large earthquakes are considered to be the two key activators for pushing landslide moving, particularly for catastrophic landslides. The most acceptable mechanism resulting the landslide movement is liquefaction due to increasing water pore pressure. In this study, a landslide site has been well understood by hydrological, geophysical, geological, geodetic, geotechnical and seismological (H4GS) perspectives. Our seismic monitoring of daily relative velocity changes (dv/v) in sliding material decreased coinciding with first-half rainy period yet increased observing in post-half raining event. Geodetic survey (real-time kinematic, RTK; total station) before and after rainy period presents the vertical subsidence without any horizontal movement. The results from multidisciplinary investigation allow us to draw the conceptual model of landslide healing process caused by the water loading. Under the stability condition (F > 1.0) for each sliding materials, unconsolidated landslide colluvium and impermeable sliding surface could trap the seepage water to be as water pool, provided compact force acting on the materials below the sliding boundary. The vertical force of compaction facilitates to increasing the cohesion and strength of materials, tending the landslide material to be much stability. We demonstrated that healing process is periodically occurred but only for prolonged and intense precipitation combined with stability condition.