ANALYZING ISUAL SPECTROPHOTOMETER DATA USING A TWO-COLOR DIAGRAM METHOD

CHEN ALFRED BING-CHIH,CHIANG PO-SHIH,HUANG TIAN-HSIANG,KUO CHENG-LING,WANG SHI-CHUN,SU HAN-TZONG,HSU RUE-RoN,CHANG MING-HUI,CHANG YEOU-SHIN,LIU TIE-YUE,MENDE STEPHEN B.,FREY HARALD U.,FUKUNISHI HIROSH The Korean Astronomical Society 2005 Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society Vol.38 No.2

Transient luminous events (TLEs; sprites, elves, jets and etc.) are lightning-related optical flashes occurring above thunderstorms. Since the first discovery of sprites in 1989, scientists have learned a great deal about the morphological, spectroscopic and electromagnetic characteristics of TLEs through ground and spacecraft campaigns. However, most of the TLE studies were based on events recorded over US High Plains. To elucidate the possible biasing effects, space-borne observations are needed and have their merits. Imager of sprites and Upper Atmospheric Lightning (ISUAL) on the FORMOSAT-2 satellite is the first instrument to carry out a true global measurement of TLEs from a low- earth orbit. In this short paper, we apply a common astronomical data analysis technique, two-color diagram, on the ISUAL spectrophotometer (SP) data. By choosing appropriated bandpasses and converting the measured flux of TLEs into the unit of magnitude, two-color diagrams of TLEs can be constructed. We demonstrate that two-color diagrams, which were constructed from the narrow-band spectrophotometer data, can be used to classify different types of TLEs and trace their temporal evolution. The amount of reddening due to Earth's atmosphere can also be estimated from two-color diagrams assembled from the broad-band spectrophotometer data.

Influence of high-cycle fatigue on the tension stiffening behavior of flexural reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete beams

Chen, How-Ji,Liu, Te-Hung,Tang, Chao-Wei,Tsai, Wen-Po Techno-Press 2011 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.40 No.6

The objective of this study was to experimentally investigate the bond-related tension stiffening behavior of flexural reinforced concrete (RC) beams made with lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) under various high-cycle fatigue loading conditions. Based on strain measurements of tensile steel in the RC beams, fatigue-induced degradation of tension stiffening effects was evaluated and was, compared to reinforced normal weight concrete (NWC) beams with equal concrete compressive strengths (40 MPa). According to applied load-mean steel strain relationships, the mean steel strain that developed under loading cycles was divided into elastic and plastic strain components. The experimental results showed that, in the high-cycle fatigue regime, the tension stiffening behavior of LWAC beams was different from that of NWC beams; LWAC beams had a lesser reduction in tension stiffening due to a better bond between steel and concrete. This was reflected in the stability of the elastic mean steel strains and in the higher degree of local plasticity that developed at the primary flexural cracks.

Time-dependent properties of lightweight concrete using sedimentary lightweight aggregate and its application in prestressed concrete beams

Chen, How-Ji,Tsai, Wen-Po,Tang, Chao-Wei,Liu, Te-Hung Techno-Press 2011 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.39 No.6

We have developed a lightweight aggregate (LWA) concrete made by expanding fine sediments dredged from the Shihmen Reservoir (Taiwan) with high heat. In this study, the performance of the concrete and of prestressed concrete beams made of the sedimentary LWA were tested and compared with those made of normal-weight concrete (NC). The test results show that the lightweight concrete (LWAC) exhibited comparable time-dependent properties (i.e., compressive strength, elastic modulus, drying shrinkage, and creep) as compared with the NC samples. In addition, the LWAC beams exhibited a smaller percentage of prestress loss compared with the NC beams. Moreover, on average, the LWAC beams could resist loading up to 96% of that of the NC beams, and the experimental strengths were greater than the nominal strengths calculated by the ACI Code method. This investigation thus established that sedimentary LWA can be recommended for structural concrete applications.

Evaluation of the Mutagenicity of Leachates Obtained from an Incinerator Fly Ash using a Salmonella Reverse Mutation Assay

Po-Wen Chen,Zhen-Shu Liu,Min-Jie Wun 대한환경공학회 2015 대한환경공학회 학술발표논문집 Vol.2015 No.10

Valsartan regulates TGF-b/Smads and TGF-b/p38 pathways through lncRNA CHRF to improve doxorubicin-induced heart failure

Lei Chen,Kui-Po Yan,Xin-Can Liu,Wei Wang,Chao Li,Ming Li,Chun-Guang Qiu 대한약학회 2018 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.41 No.1

This study investigated the interaction amongvalsartan (VAL), TGF-b pathways, and long non-codingRNA (lncRNA) cardiac hypertrophy-related factor (CHRF)in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced heart failure (HF), andexplored their roles in DOX-induced HF progression. HFmice models in vivo were constructed by DOX induction. The expression of CHRF and TGF-b1 in hearts wasdetected, along with cardiac function, caspase-3 activity,and cell apoptosis. Primary myocardial cells were pretreatedwith VAL, followed by DOX induction in vitro forfunctional studies, including the detection of cell apoptosiswith terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-endlabeling and the expression of proteins associated withTGF-b1 pathways. HF models were established in vivo andin vitro. Expression of CHRF and TGF-b1 was up-regulated,and cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activity wereincreased in the hearts and cells of the HF models. VALsupplementation alleviated the cardiac dysfunction andinjury in the HF process. Moreover, overexpressed CHRFup-regulated TGF-b1, promoted myocardial cell apoptosis,and reversed VAL’s cardiac protective effect, while interferenceof CHRF (si-CHRF) did the opposite. Down-regulationof CHRF reversed the increased expression of TGFb1and the downstream proteins induced by pcDNA-TGFb1in HL-1 cells, while overexpression of CHRF reversedthe VAL’s cardiac protective effect in vivo. In conclusion,VAL regulates TGF-b pathways through lncRNA CHRF toimprove DOX-induced HF.

Influence of high-cycle fatigue on the tension stiffening behavior of flexural reinforced lightweight aggregate concrete beams

How-Ji Chen,Te-Hung Liu,Chao-Wei Tang,Wen-Po Tsai 국제구조공학회 2011 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.40 No.6

The objective of this study was to experimentally investigate the bond-related tension stiffening behavior of flexural reinforced concrete (RC) beams made with lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) under various high-cycle fatigue loading conditions. Based on strain measurements of tensile steel in the RC beams, fatigue-induced degradation of tension stiffening effects was evaluated and was, compared to reinforced normal weight concrete (NWC) beams with equal concrete compressive strengths (40 MPa). According to applied load-mean steel strain relationships, the mean steel strain that developed under loading cycles was divided into elastic and plastic strain components. The experimental results showed that, in the high-cycle fatigue regime, the tension stiffening behavior of LWAC beams was different from that of NWC beams; LWAC beams had a lesser reduction in tension stiffening due to a better bond between steel and concrete. This was reflected in the stability of the elastic mean steel strains and in the higher degree of local plasticity that developed at the primary flexural cracks.

Antioxidative and Hepatoprotective Effects of Magnolol on Acetaminophen-induced Liver Damage in Rats

Yung-Hsiang Chen,Feng-Yen Lin,Po-Len Liu,Yi-Tsau Huang,Jen-Hwey Chiu,Yi-Chun Chang,Kee-Ming Man,Chuang-Ye Hong,Yen-Yi Ho,Ming-Tsung Lai 대한약학회 2009 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.32 No.2

Acute liver failure (ALF), an often fatal condition characterized by massive hepatocyte necrosis, is frequently caused by drug poisoning, particularly with acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol/APAP). Hepatocyte necrosis is consecutive to glutathione (GSH) depletion and mitochondrial damage caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction. Magnolol, one major phenolic constituent of Magnolia officinalis, have been known to exhibit potent antioxidative activity. In this study, the anti-hepatotoxic activity of magnolol on APAP-induced toxicity in the Sprague-Dawley rat liver was examined. After evaluating the changes of several biochemical parameters in serum, the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were elevated by APAP (500 mg/kg) intraperitoneal administration (8 and 24 h) and reduced by treatment with magnolol (0.5 h after APAP administration; 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μg/kg). Histological changes around the hepatic central vein, lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance/TBARS), and GSH depletion in liver tissue induced by APAP were also recovered by magnolol treatment. The data show that oxidative stress followed by lipid peroxidation may play a very important role in the pathogenesis of APAP-induced hepatic injury; treatment with lipid-soluble antioxidant, magnolol, exerts anti-hepatotoxic activity. Our study points out the potential interest of magnolol in the treatment of toxic ALF.

Time-dependent properties of lightweight concrete using sedimentary lightweight aggregate and its application in prestressed concrete beams

How-Ji Chen,Wen-Po Tsai,Chao-Wei Tang,Te-Hung Liu 국제구조공학회 2011 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.39 No.6

We have developed a lightweight aggregate (LWA) concrete made by expanding fine sediments dredged from the Shihmen Reservoir (Taiwan) with high heat. In this study, the performance of the concrete and of prestressed concrete beams made of the sedimentary LWA were tested and compared with those made of normal-weight concrete (NC). The test results show that the lightweight concrete (LWAC) exhibited comparable time-dependent properties (i.e., compressive strength, elastic modulus, drying shrinkage, and creep) as compared with the NC samples. In addition, the LWAC beams exhibited a smaller percentage of prestress loss compared with the NC beams. Moreover, on average, the LWAC beams could resist loading up to 96% of that of the NC beams, and the experimental strengths were greater than the nominal strengths calculated by the ACI Code method. This investigation thus established that sedimentary LWA can be recommended for structural concrete applications.

Central Pontine Myelinolysis in a Normonatremic Patient with Depression

Yu Chia Liu,Yen Kuang Yang,Po See Chen,Wei Hung Chang 대한정신약물학회 2021 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.19 No.3

A 76-year-old male presented with a recurrent depressive episode, an unsteady gait and cognitive impairment. Extensive blood tests, including hemogram, biochemical tests, folic acid, vitamin B12, and thyroid hormone, showed normal results. With the exception of the unsteady gait, neurological examination was negative. Brian magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed the typical feature of central pontine myelinolysis (CPM); however, there was no history of alcoholism, liver transplantation, malnutrition or rapid correction of hyponatremia. The patient had taken venlafaxine to treat major depressive disorder for more than 20 years. After discontinuation of venlafaxine, the unsteady gait gradually resolved, and subsequent MRI revealed reduction of the lesions over 6 months. We discuss herein the possible correlation between chronic use of venlafaxine and CPM.

Sweet Olive Extract Attenuates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice

Li-Shian Shi,Po-Chen Liu,Yu-Fang Tseng,Yu-Ling Chen,Yi-Ling Ye 한국식품영양과학회 2018 Journal of medicinal food Vol.21 No.12

Sweet olive (Osmanthus fragrans flowers) is used to treat dysentery and reduce phlegm and stasis in traditional Chinese medicine. Recently, we found that verbascoside, the major component in the sweet olive ethanolic extract (OFE), inhibited IL-8 secretion in human colorectal adenocarcinoma WiDr cells. However, evidence-based treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with the extract is yet to be performed. To evaluate the therapeutic effect of OFE, we measured IL-8 suppression by OFE and verbascoside in a WiDr cell culture assay. In the IL-8 secretion assay, both OFE (100 μg/mL) and verbascoside (10 μM) significantly inhibited IL-8 production in WiDr cells. Furthermore, we designed cotreated (dextran sulfate sodium [DSS]+OFE-treated) and post-treated (DSS–OFE-treated) protocols to access the therapeutic effects of OFE in vivo. Mice treated with 500 mg/kg per day OFE exhibited significant improvement in IBD symptoms, including disease activity index score, body weight, and colon length maintenance. The suppressive effects on myeloperoxidase expression and lower histopathology scores (including neutrophil infiltration) for the colon were also found. These findings suggest that OFE exerts anti-inflammatory effect on DSS-induced colitis.