Girls’ and Boys’ Science Choices and Learning in Upper-Secondary Schools in Taiwan

Hsiao-chin Hsieh,Pei-ying Chen,Ta-sen Lin 숙명여자대학교 아시아여성연구원 2017 Asian Women Vol.33 No.3

This study explores differences in how high school girls and boys in upper-secondary schools in Taiwan choose courses and learn science. The Actor-Network Theory (ANT) is adopted as the analytical approach. Two upper-secondary schools, LL Senior High School and MM Vocational High School, were selected due to their emphasis on science and technology education. Student surveys were conducted to investigate how students chose between courses and majors; two chemistry lab classes, one led by a male teacher and the other by a female teacher, in LL Senior High School, and one chemical-engineering lab class of MM Vocational High School were observed multiple times. Lab class teachers from both schools were interviewed. The survey data showed clear gender segregation in both schools, but only part of the students considered gender to be an important factor influencing their selection of courses and major fields. Observations of the relatively gender-balanced chemistry laboratories revealed that equipment and instrumentation were sufficient and equally accessible to all, that girls and boys behaved differently in the lab, and that patterns of teacher-student interaction varied by teacher’s gender, which might result in differences in laboratory learning between boys and girls. The concept of embodied pedagogical insight of female teachers, which may specifically benefit girls’ learning, is discussed.

Evolutionary Dynamics of the Weighted Voter Model with Opinion Strength on Complex Networks

Shaoting Tang,Shu Yan,Sen Pei,Zhiming Zheng 한국물리학회 2015 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.66 No.11

The voter model has served to address the emergence of consensus within populations of individuals. However, the dynamics based on the classic voter model has usually been analyzed based on the assumption that the two states in the model are simply equivalent. In this paper, we discuss a mathematical description of the weighted voter model and obtain a series of results for the evolutionary process on complex networks. For homogeneous networks, we study the active link density analytically and find that the opinion strength plays a crucial role in determining whether the system can reach consensus. We also extend our research to heterogeneous networks and discover that the network structure can affect the convergence time but has less influence on the positive proportion. The results can be applied to various pervasive cases in which two conflicting opinions interact with each other.

Development of a Cycling Safety Services System and Its Deep Learning Bicycle Crash Model

I-Hsuan Peng,Pei-Chun Lee,Chen-Kang Tien,Jyun-Sen Tong 한국통신학회 2022 Journal of communications and networks Vol.24 No.2

This research developed an Internet of things (IoT)services system for cyclists to keep them safe when cycling –from terminal to back end – called the cycling safety servicessystem. The proposed system consists of wearable devices, aservice mobile app, and back-end services, primarily providingthree categories of services: (1) The cycling team services, (2)the physiological status services, and (3) the environmental informationservice, incorporating the technologies of deep learning,IoT end device development, mobile app programming, RESTfulAPI implementation, open data exploitation, etc. The proposedsystem aims at protecting the cyclists from being left out whencycling as a team, warning them when their physiological statusis going to be abnormal or when there is a possibility of a bicyclecrash, as well as proactively sending out urgent messages withlocation information when a crash occurs. Moreover, to enablethe mobile app to recognize crash events, this research traineda deep learning bicycle crash model of 87.8049% accuracy andimplemented a procedure in the mobile app based on this modelto detect bicycle crashes automatically. The proposed system alsoprovides a way for the cyclists to report any false crash alarm sothat the crash model can be re-trained to reduce its false alarmratio after the system is distributed to the consumers in thefuture. This research confirmed that the proposed system workswell, and suggests that the proposed system, the crash model, thedata collection method with its associated mobile apps, and theanonymous crash locations collected in the future can be valuableand contribute to the cycling society and relevant researchers ina positive way.

Genetic diversity and population structure of the amylolytic yeast Saccharomycopsis fibuligera associated with Baijiu fermentation in China

Wang Ju-Wei,Han Pei-Jie,Han Da-Yong,Zhou Sen,Li Kuan,He Peng-Yu,Zhen Pan,Yu Hui-Xin,Liang Zhen-Rong,Wang Xue-Wei,Bai Feng-Yan 한국미생물학회 2021 The journal of microbiology Vol.59 No.8

The amylolytic yeast Saccharomycopsis fibuligera is a predominant species in starters and the early fermentation stage of Chinese liquor (Baijiu). However, the genetic diversity of the species remains largely unknown. Here we sequenced the genomes of 97 S. fibuligera strains from different Chinese Baijiu companies. The genetic diversity and population structure of the strains were analyzed based on 1,133 orthologous genes and the whole genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Four main lineages were recognized. One lineage contains 60 Chinese strains which are exclusively homozygous with relatively small genome sizes (18.55–18.72 Mb) and low sequence diversity. The strains clustered in the other three lineages are heterozygous with larger genomes (21.85–23.72 Mb) and higher sequence diversity. The genomes of the homozygous strains showed nearly 100% coverage with the genome of the reference strain KPH12 and the sub-genome A of the hybrid strain KJJ81 at the above 98% sequence identity level. The genomes of the heterozygous strains showed nearly 80% coverage with both the sub-genome A and the whole genome of KJJ81, suggesting that the Chinese heterozygous strains are also hybrids with nearly 20% genomes from an unidentified source. Eighty-three genes were found to show significant copy number variation between different lineages. However, remarkable lineage specific variations in glucoamylase and α-amylase activities and growth profiles in different carbon sources and under different environmental conditions were not observed, though strains exhibiting relatively high glucoamylase activity were mainly found from the homozygous lineage.

Effects of the Frequency-degree Correlation on Local Synchronization in Complex Networks

Shijin Jiang,Wenyi Fang,Shaoting Tang,Sen Pei,Shu Yan,Zhiming Zheng 한국물리학회 2015 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.67 No.2

We investigate the effects of the frequency-degree correlation on local synchronization in complex networks with Kuramoto oscillators. We find that a discontinuous synchronization transition occurs in the local patterns for heterogenous networks while for homogenous networks, the local synchronization transition remains continuous. Then, we extend our study to a general frequency-degree correlation case and conclude that the positive correlation does not change the local synchronization patterns while in the case of a negative correlation, the local synchronization transition degenerates to second order. Moreover, the correlation parameter α is verified to have a strong influence on the synchronization level. In particular, smaller |α| results in higher synchronization ability and faster speed to a synchronized state. Our study provides a deeper understanding of the effects of the frequency-degree correlation on network synchronization.

A long-term tunnel settlement prediction model based on BO-GPBE with SHM data

Yang Ding,Yu-Jun Wei,Pei-Sen Xi,Peng-Peng Ang,Zhen Han 국제구조공학회 2024 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.33 No.1

The new metro crossing the existing metro will cause the settlement or floating of the existing structures, which will have safety problems for the operation of the existing metro and the construction of the new metro. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor and predict the settlement of the existing metro caused by the construction of the new metro in real time. Considering the complexity and uncertainty of metro settlement, a Gaussian Prior Bayesian Emulator (GPBE) probability prediction model based on Bayesian optimization (BO) is proposed, that is, BO-GPBE. Firstly, the settlement monitoring data are analyzed to get the influence of the new metro on the settlement of the existing metro. Then, five different acquisition functions, that is, expected improvement (EI), expected improvement per second (EIPS), expected improvement per second plus (EIPSP), lower confidence bound (LCB), probability of improvement (PI) are selected to construct BO model, and then BO-GPBE model is established. Finally, three years settlement monitoring data were collected by structural health monitoring (SHM) system installed on Nanjing Metro Line 10 are employed to demonstrate the effectiveness of BO-GPBE for forecasting the settlement.

Novel DNAH1 Mutation Loci Lead to Multiple Morphological Abnormalities of the Sperm Flagella and Literature Review

Zhuang Bao-Jun,Xu Su-Yun,Dong Liang,Zhang Pei-Hai,Zhuang Bao-Lin,Huang Xiao-Peng,Li Guang-Sen,You Yao-Dong,Chen Di'Ang,Yu Xu-Jun,Chang De-Gui 대한남성과학회 2022 The World Journal of Men's Health Vol.40 No.4

The protein encoded by dynein axonemal heavy chain 1 (DNAH1) is a part of dynein, which regulates the function of cilia and sperm flagella. The mutant of DNAH1 causes the deletion of inner dynein arm 3 in the flagellum, leading to multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) and severe asthenozoospermia. However, instead of asthenozoospermia and MMAF, the result caused by the mutation of DNAH1 remains unknown. Here we report a male infertility patient with severe asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. We found two heterozygous mutations in DNAH1 (c.6912C>A and c.7076G>T) and which were reported to be associated with MMAF for the first time. We next collected and analyzed 65 cases of DNAH1 mutation and found that the proportion of short flagella is the largest, while the bent flagella account for the smallest, and the incidence of head deformity is not high in the sperm of these patients. Finally, we also analyzed 31 DNAH1 mutation patients who were treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and achieved beneficial outcomes. We hope our research will be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility caused by DNAH1 mutation.

Efficacy and Safety of Ceritinib 450 mg/day with Food and 750 mg/day in Fasted State in Treatment-Naïve Patients with ALK+ Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: Results from the ASCEND-8 Asian Subgroup Analysis

조병철,김동완,Ullas Batra,박근칠,김상위,Cheng-Ta Yang,Pei-Jye Voon,Virote Sriuranpong,K. Govind Babu,Khalid Amin,Yingbo Wang,Paramita Sen,Khemaies Slimane,Sarayut Geater 대한암학회 2023 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.55 No.1

Purpose Previous report from the ASCEND-8 trial showed consistent efficacy with less gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity in patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase-rearranged (ALK+) advanced/metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with ceritinib 450-mg with food compared with 750-mg fasted. In this subgroup analysis, we report outcomes in Asian patients of the ASCEND-8 trial.Materials and Methods Key efficacy endpoints were blinded independent review committee (BIRC)–assessed overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) evaluated per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors v1.1. Other efficacy endpoints were investigator-assessed ORR and DOR; BIRC- and investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) and disease control rate; overall survival (OS). Safety was evaluated by frequency and severity of adverse events.Results At final data cutoff (6 March 2020), 198 treatment-naïve patients were included in efficacy analysis, of which 74 (37%) comprised the Asian subset; 450-mg fed (n=29), 600-mg fed (n=19), and 750-mg fasted (n=26). Baseline characteristics were mostly comparable across study arms. At baseline, more patients in 450-mg fed arm (44.8%) had brain metastases than in 750-mg fasted arm (26.9%). Per BIRC, patients in the 450-mg fed arm had a numerically higher ORR, 24-month DOR rate and 24-month PFS rate than the 750-mg fasted arm. The 36-month OS rate was 93.1% in 450-mg fed arm and 70.9% in 750-mg fasted arm. Any-grade GI toxicity occurred in 82.8% and 96.2% of patients in the 450-mg fed and 750-mg fasted arms, respectively.Conclusion Asian patients with ALK+ advanced/metastatic NSCLC treated with ceritinib 450-mg fed showed numerically higher efficacy and lower GI toxicity than 750-mg fasted patients.

Monosomal Karyotypes among 1147 Chinese Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Prevalence, Features and Prognostic Impact

Yang, Xiao-Fei,Sun, Ai-Ning,Yin, Jia,Cai, Cheng-Sen,Tian, Xiao-Peng,Qian, Jun,Chen, Su-Ning,Wu, De-Pei Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

A monosomal karyotype (MK), defined as ${\geq}2$ autosomal monosomies or a single monosomy in the presence of additional structural abnormalities, was recently identified as an independent prognostic factor conveying an extremely poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In the present study, after excluding patients with t(15;17), t(8;21), inv(16) and normal karyotypes, 324 AML patients with cytogenetic abnormalities were the main subject of analysis. The incidences of MK were 13% in patients aged 15 to 60 years and 18% in those between 15 and 88 years old. MK was much more prevalent among elderly patients (p < 0.001) and was significantly associated with the presence of -7, -5, del(5q), abn12p, abn17p, -18 or 18q-, -20 or 20q- and CK (for all p < 0.001 except for abn12p p=0.009), and +8 or +8q was less frequent in MK+ AML(p=0.007). No correlation was noted between monosomal karyotype and FAB subtype (p > 0.05); MK remained significantly associated with worse overall survival among patients with complex karyotype (p=0.032); A single autosomal monosomy contributed an additional negative effect in OS of patients with structural cytogenetic abnormalities (P=0.008). This report presents the prevalence, feature and prognostic impact of MK among a large series of Chinese AML patients from a single center for the first time.

Fabrication and applications of ultraflexible nanostructures using dielectric heating-assisted nanoimprint on PVC films

Tsung-Yeh Wu,Po-Cheng Tsai,Shu-Cheng Lo,Yi-Ru Li,Kuang-Li Lee,Sen-Yeu Yang,Pei-Kuen Wei 한국물리학회 2018 Current Applied Physics Vol.18 No.1

We developed dielectric heating-assisted nanoimprint method for rapid fabrication of ultraflexible nanostructures. Using spin-coating polyvinyl-chloride (PVC) film on the glass slide, the dielectric heating on PVC film helped the pattern transfer from the mold to PVC film in few seconds. Various kinds of nanostructures were successfully made on PVC films with about 20-mm thickness. We demonstrated the applications of ultraflexible metallic nanostructures for bending measurement using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on the curved surfaces. For measuring bending angles using SPR on capped nanowire arrays, the minimum detection angle was 2.4 103 degree under 0.02 nm wavelength resolution. For SERS measurement, the nanorod arrays on a curved substrate can increase SERS signals for two times as compared to planar SERS substrate.