Where Are Landscape Designers' Spatial Abilities in the Brain? An fMRI Study

Shih-Han Hung,Chia-Yi Huang,Tsung-Ren Huang,Shih-An Tang,Yu-Ping Tsai,Chun-YenChang 인간식물환경학회 2023 인간식물환경학회지 Vol.26 No.5

Background and objective: To effectively understand and communicate their work, landscape designers should possessexcellent spatial abilities. Neurological methods have confirmed that activation of the occipital lobe, parietal cortex, andprefrontal cortex affect the judgment of space; however, few studies have measured spatial abilities in landscape design. This study aimed to identify the potential role of various brain regions during spatial interpretation processes by landscapedesigners, particularly the effect of stimulating the frontal lobe on enhancing design capabilities. Methods: This study tested the spatial abilities of landscape designers when transforming a planar drawing into a sectionaldrawing and the brain regions activated in this process. The subjects were asked to identify the correct option whenmatching given section lines in a planar drawing. The correct answer rate and response time were used to score brainactivation during spatial task processes. A total of 16 valid subjects were divided into high- and low-accuracy groupsaccording to the correct answer rate. Results: The results for the high-accuracy group showed that the left inferior frontal gyrus was activated during spatialdesign tasks. In contrast, the findings for the low-accuracy group revealed that the left middle occipital gyrus was activatedfor processing visual information. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the frontal lobe plays a role in allowing landscape designers to make planar tocross-sectional inferences via mental rotations and categorical spatial relations. The findings offer implications forlandscape designers in stimulating the frontal lobe and enhancing their design capabilities.

Prediction of the Duration to Next Admission for an Acute Affective Episode in Patients with Bipolar I Disorder

Pao-Huan Chen(Pao-Huan Chen),Chun-Ming Shih(Chun-Ming Shih),Chi-Kang Chang(Chi-Kang Chang),Chia-Pei Lin(Chia-Pei Lin),Yung-Han Chang(Yung-Han Chang),Hsin-Chien Lee(Hsin-Chien Lee),El-Wui Loh(El-Wui Lo 대한정신약물학회 2023 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.21 No.2

Objective: Predicting disease relapse and early intervention could reduce symptom severity. We attempted to identify potential indicators that predict the duration to next admission for an acute affective episode in patients with bipolar I disorder. Methods: We mathematically defined the duration to next psychiatric admission and performed single-variate regressions using historical data of 101 patients with bipolar I disorder to screen for potential variables for further multivariate regressions. Results: Age of onset, total psychiatric admissions, length of lithium use, and carbamazepine use during the psychiatric hospitalization contributed to the next psychiatric admission duration positively. The all-in-one found that hyperlipidemia during the psychiatric hospitalization demonstrated a negative contribution to the duration to next psychiatric admission; the last duration to psychiatric admission, lithium and carbamazepine uses during the psychiatric hospitalization, and heart rate on the discharge day positively contributed to the duration to next admission. Conclusion: We identified essential variables that may predict the duration of bipolar I patients’ next psychiatric admission. The correlation of a faster heartbeat and a normal lipid profile in delaying the next onset highlights the importance of managing these parameters when treating bipolar I disorder.

Health benefits of evidence-based biophilic-designed environments: A review

Shih-Han Hung,Chun-Yen Chang 인간식물환경학회 2021 인간식물환경학회지 Vol.24 No.1

Background and objective: People-nature experiences, which suggest that humans seek connections between nature and other forms of life, were presented by biologist E. O. Wilson in 1984. Biophilic design attributes support environments that can improve human connections to nature. A significant amount of literature on environmental psychology provides empirical evidence that nature benefits humans, and that practical landscape and built environments can be designed to link humans and nature (e.g., the 14 biophilic design patterns). To date, however, there has been no well-done research on reviewing the health benefits of biophilic design. Methods: The paper provides a narrative review on biophilic design and human health. The scope of this article is limited to biophilic-design books and peer-review articles related to “biophilic design,” “evidence-based,” “benefits,” “health,” rather than an attempt to identify universal issues with biophilia hypothesis. Results: A total of 45 papers were included in our review, which was related to the top five biophilic design patterns and design: the presence of natural images, the presence of plants, visual and non-visual connections to nature, and material connection with nature. These studies were related to physiology and psychology through direct or indirect connections with nature and experiences in space and place. Conclusion: This study presents two important comparisons of the empirical research on biophilic design and human health that can explain the relationship of people-nature experiences to biophilic design and human health and provides insights into related researches and recommendations for future application of our findings.

A model study for an Oceania watershed: spatio‐temporal changes of mesozooplankton in riverine and estuarine parts of the Lanyang River in Taiwan

Dahms, Hans‐,Uwe,Tseng, Li‐,Chun,Hsiao, Shih‐,Hui,Chen, Qing‐,Chao,Hwang, Jiang‐,Shiou Springer Japan 2013 Ecological research Vol.28 No.2

<P><B>Abstract</B></P><P>The mesozooplankton of a river tributary in Oceania is evaluated and is correlated against environmental, abiotic, and biological attributes of this lotic system. Abundance, distribution, and the diversity of mesozooplankton was studied at nine stations including one estuarine station during ten sampling campaigns from June 2004 to December 2005 along the Lanyang River, the largest river and estuarine ecosystem in northeastern Taiwan. Mesozooplankton was dominated by copepods, cladocerans, and fish larvae. Among all samples, the highest abundances of mesozooplankton (5,049.36 individuals m<SUP>−3</SUP>) occurred in the estuary station in August 2004, which also corresponds to the highest salinities (37.0), indicating the marine role in shaping the estuarine planktonic assemblages. The abundance of mesozooplankton and number of mesozooplankton taxa were significantly higher in samples of the estuarine station than in the riverine stations (<I>p</I> < 0.05, one‐way ANOVA). The number of mesozooplankton taxa number was affected by water temperature (<I>r</I> = 0.697; <I>p</I> = 0.025, Pearson's correlation) that was primarily influenced by the weather that was in turn affected by seasonal monsoons.</P>

Comparisons of Moisturizing Function Between Rayon Fabric with Collagen Peptides from Fish Scales and Regular Rayon Fabric Under Various Relative Humidity

Chi‑Shih Huang,Erh‑Jen Hou,Ying‑Chou Lee,Tzong‑Huei Lee,Yi‑Jun Pan,Ta Yu,Wei‑Hsin Lin,Chun‑Han Shih,Wei‑Che Chang 한국섬유공학회 2023 Fibers and polymers Vol.24 No.12

The study was inspired by the specialized facial masks made of rayon non-woven fabrics which contained collagen peptides for improving moisturizing function. This study explored the moisturizing function of a rayon fabric containing collagen peptides extracted from tilapia fish scales under various conditions of relative humidity. This research had implications for the development of clothing that can prevent dry skin. A two-stage nested design experiment was adopted. The first-stage factor such as the fabric has two levels and the second-stage factor such as the relative humidity with three levels nested under each level of the first-stage factor. Preliminary results indicated that introducing a new variable (i.e., fabric moisturizing value, which combines the moisture regains of adsorption and desorption) would be useful. The moisturizing value of the novel rayon fabric and regular rayon fabric increased with the increase in relative humidity, and moisturizing effect of the novel rayon fabric with collagen peptides was better than that of the regular rayon fabric. Therefore, the novel rayon fabric may be suitable for preventing dry skin in winter.

Clinical Significance of Reticulocyte Maturity Index As An Early Marker of Bone Marrow Engraftment

Kim, Myung-Shih,Han, Kyungja,Kim, Yong-Goo,Kim, Chun-Choo,Cho, Suk-Goo,Shim, Sang-In 가톨릭 의과학연구원 1997 가톨릭 의과학연구원 국제학술대회 Vol.1 No.-

Electroencephalographic spectrogram–guided total intravenous anesthesia using dexmedetomidine and propofol prevents unnecessary anesthetic dosing during craniotomy: a propensity score–matched analysis

Lin Feng-Sheng,Shih Po-Yuan,Sung Chao-Hsien,Chou Wei-Han,Wu Chun-Yu 대한마취통증의학회 2024 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.77 No.1

Background: The bispectral index (BIS) may be unreliable to gauge anesthetic depth when dexmedetomidine is administered. By comparison, the electroencephalogram (EEG) spectrogram enables the visualization of the brain response during anesthesia and may prevent unnecessary anesthetic consumption. Methods: This retrospective study included 140 adult patients undergoing elective craniotomy who received total intravenous anesthesia using a combination of propofol and dexmedetomidine infusions. Patients were equally matched to the spectrogram group (maintaining the robust EEG alpha power during surgery) or the index group (maintaining the BIS score between 40 and 60 during surgery) based on the propensity score of age and surgical type. The primary outcome was the propofol dose. Secondary outcome was the postoperative neurological profile.Results: Patients in the spectrogram group received significantly less propofol (1585 ± 581 vs. 2314 ± 810 mg, P < 0.001). Fewer patients in the spectrogram group exhibited delayed emergence (1.4% vs. 11.4%, P = 0.033). The postoperative delirium profile was similar between the groups (profile P = 0.227). Patients in the spectrogram group exhibited better in-hospital Barthel’s index scores changes (admission state: 83.6 ± 27.6 vs. 91.6 ± 17.1; discharge state: 86.4 ± 24.3 vs. 85.1 ± 21.5; group–time interaction P = 0.008). However, the incidence of postoperative neurological complications was similar between the groups.Conclusions: EEG spectrogram–guided anesthesia prevents unnecessary anesthetic consumption during elective craniotomy. This may also prevent delayed emergence and improve postoperative Barthel index scores.

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.

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.