Preschool Inclusion Placement in Taiwan

Shu-hsien Tseng 환태평양유아교육연구학회 2018 Asia-Pacific journal of research in early childhoo Vol.12 No.3

Despite the steady decline in birth rate in Taiwan, the number of special education children continues to increase, especially after the implementation of the Early Childhood Education and Care Act in 2012. The most significant increase was seen with placing special education preschoolers in inclusion classrooms. In particular, the number of students receiving itinerant services has grown the most dramatically, accompanied by a decrease in the number of students receiving special education programs delivered in regular classrooms. However, almost half of the counties and cities in Taiwan failed to deliver itinerant services to half of the special education students in their jurisdictions, which signals a shortage of special education support for regular early childhood teachers. The lack of clear guidelines in the current policies for preschool inclusion placement has also led to the neglect of special education inclusion students right to appropriate education. Responding suggestions are discussed.

Practice and Challe nge of Inclusive Education in Taiwan

( Hsien Tseng Shu ),( Tien Miau Wang ) 대구대학교 특수교육문제연구소 2013 한국특수교육문제연구소 학술대회발표자료집 Vol.2013 No.1

Antifungal effect and chitinase activities of the froth of spittlebug Poophilus costalis (Walker) (Hemiptera: Cercopoidea: Aphrophoridae)

Shu-Chen Chang,Hsien-Tzung Shih,Kuang-Hui Lu 한국응용곤충학회 2019 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.22 No.1

Nymphs of xylophagous spittlebug Poophilus costalis (Walker, 1851) produce froth that covers their entire body surface. However, no mold has ever been found on this froth under natural conditions. This study has shown that the froth of P. costalis can repress the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. pisi. Three chitinases, i.e., β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, chitobiosidase, and endochitinase, with specific activities of 1.759, 0.365, and 1.172 U/mg protein, respectively, and a protease with minimal activity have been detected in this froth. β-N-actylglucosaminidase activity was also detected in the source of the froth, the nymphal Malpighian tubules and the host plant Commelina diffusa Burm. f. These findings suggest that the antifungal effect of the froth from P. costalis may be attributed to the chitinase produced by its Malpighian tubules and/or its host plant.

Using the Juice of Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) as Culture Medium to Increase the Cell Density and the Production of Microbial Lipid

Yu-Hsien Lien,Fu-Yao Liu,Jyy-Ning Chen,Yu-Shan Huang,Yu-Hong Wei,Chiyang Yu,Che-Chi Shu 한국생물공학회 2019 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.24 No.2

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is one of the most well-known aquatic weeds as it causes problems in watercourses all over the world. This invasive species is fast-growing and thus has the potential for its use in preparing growth medium of microorganisms. Toward it, the pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification are positively the decisive processes. But there are other crucial processes, which are usually ignored by researchers. To the best of my knowledge, this presented work is the first time discovering that the juice obtained from water lettuce is valuable. Except for sterilization, no treatment is needed for the water lettuce’s juice and it can be directly served for cell growth. For Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Pichia pastoris, Bacillus subtilis, Lactococcus Lactis, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus plantarum, the cell density in the broth of water lettuce’s juice as the only carbon source is 10-60% higher than that in LB, YPD, BHI, M17, MRS. We then examined the production of microbial lipid by YM prepared in the juice of water lettuce. In comparison to commercial medium YM broth, the YM with juice caused 84% increase in the production of microbial lipid. A simple process of collecting juice notably increased productivity.

Anti-tumor and Anti-inflammatory Activity of the Methanol Extracts from Adlay Bran

Ming-Yi Lee,Shu-Hsien Tsai,Yueh-Hsiung Kuo,Wenchang Chiang 한국식품과학회 2008 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.17 No.6

Adlay bran is a waste product previously thought to have no commercial value. Its methanolic extract was fractionated using n-hexane (ABM-Hex), ethyl acetate (ABM-EtOAc), 1-butanol (ABM-BuOH), and water (ABM-H₂O). The ABM-EtOAc fraction exhibited a strongest inhibition against growth of human lung cancer cell A549 and human colorectal carcinoma cells HT-29 and COLO 205. Inhibition of cell cycle progression at G?/G₁ transition, increase of cells at the sub-G1 phase, and DNA ladders were observed in cells treated with ABM-EtOAc. The ABM-BuOH fraction showed the strongest inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interlukin (IL)-1β in stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Further, ABM-EtOAc and ABM-BuOH inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in A549 and HT-29 carcinoma cells, while COX-1 expression was not affected. These results reveal that both ABM-EtOAc and ABM-BuOH may aid the prevention of cancers and the applications in cancer chemotherapy.

Isolation of Exopolysaccharide Producing Lactobacillus Strains from Sorghum Distillery Residues Pickled Cabbage and their Antioxidant Properties

Ying-Jang Lai,Shu-Hsien Tsai,Ming-Yi Lee 한국식품과학회 2014 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.23 No.4

Twelve Lactobacillus strains isolated fromsorghum distillery residue (SDR) pickled cabbage werestudied for their in vitro scavenging activity against hydroxylradicals and DPPH free radicals, inhibition of lipidperoxidation, and their resistance to hydrogen peroxide incell lysate or intact cells. Lactobacillus brevis D7, at a doseof 1010 CFU/mL, showed the highest hydroxyl radical andDPPH scavenging activities, as well as total antioxidativeactivity, with inhibition rates of 51.2, 44.9, and 65.2%,respectively in intact cells. On the other hand, the L. brevisD7 strain was the most resistant against hydrogen peroxide. L. brevis D7 isolated from SDR pickled cabbage should beconsidered as a potential antioxidant to be used infunctional foods. Correlation analysis showed that DPPHfree radical scavenging activity is a potential screeningindicator for high exopolysaccharide (EPS) producingLactobacillus species.

Similarities and Differences in East Asian Confucian Culture: A Comparative Analysis

Min-hua Huang,Shu-Hsien Chang 숙명여자대학교 아시아여성연구원 2017 OMNES: The Journal of Multicultural Society Vol.7 No.2

In East Asia, Confucianism has long been regarded as the cultural basis for social norms and political order. In the past literature, many scholars have argued that the special nature of Confucian culture is an important factor hindering the modernization of East Asian countries. However, rapid modernization in the past two decades has shown that East Asia is not limited in its modernization by its cultural features. In this paper, the authors explore how the effects of modernization and democratization affect Confucian values in East Asian. Using data from the latest wave of the Asian Barometer Survey data in nine East and Southeast Asian countries, the authors find that modernization and democratization might attenuate Confucianism, but this trend is actually transformative instead of linear, meaning that Confucianism may be transformed into a post-modern culture that offers spiritual well-being and continues to guide the future progress of human civilization.

Intra-Arterial Treatment in Patients with Acute Massive Gastrointestinal Bleeding after Endoscopic Failure: Comparisons between Positive versus Negative Contrast Extravasation Groups

Wei-Chou Chang,Chang-Hsien Liu,Hsian-He Hsu,Guo-Shu Huang,Ho-Jui Tung,Tsai-Yuan Hsieh,Shih-Hung Tsai,Chung-Bao Hsieh,Chih-Yung Yu 대한영상의학회 2011 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.12 No.5

Objective: To determine whether treatment outcome is associated with visualization of contrast extravasation in patients with acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic failure. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to December 2009, patients that experienced a first attack of acute gastrointestinal bleeding after failure of initial endoscopy were referred to our interventional department for intra-arterial treatment. We enrolled 79 patients and divided them into two groups: positive and negative extravasation. For positive extravasation, patients were treated by coil embolization; and in negative extravasation, patients were treated with intra-arterial vasopressin infusion. The two groups were compared for clinical parameters, hemodynamics, laboratory findings, endoscopic characteristics, and mortality rates. Results: Forty-eight patients had detectable contrast extravasation (positive extravasation), while 31 patients did not (negative extravasation). Fifty-six patients survived from this bleeding episode (overall clinical success rate, 71%). An elevation of hemoglobin level was observed in the both two groups; significantly greater in the positive extravasation group compared to the negative extravasation group. Although these patients were all at high risk of dying, the 90-day mortality rate was significantly lower in the positive extravasation than in the negative extravasation (20% versus 42%, p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis suggested that successful hemostasis (odds ratio [OR] = 28.66) is the most important predictor affecting the mortality in the two groups of patients. Conclusion: Visualization of contrast extravasation on angiography usually can target the bleeding artery directly, resulting in a higher success rate to control of hemorrhage. Objective: To determine whether treatment outcome is associated with visualization of contrast extravasation in patients with acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding after endoscopic failure. Materials and Methods: From January 2007 to December 2009, patients that experienced a first attack of acute gastrointestinal bleeding after failure of initial endoscopy were referred to our interventional department for intra-arterial treatment. We enrolled 79 patients and divided them into two groups: positive and negative extravasation. For positive extravasation, patients were treated by coil embolization; and in negative extravasation, patients were treated with intra-arterial vasopressin infusion. The two groups were compared for clinical parameters, hemodynamics, laboratory findings, endoscopic characteristics, and mortality rates. Results: Forty-eight patients had detectable contrast extravasation (positive extravasation), while 31 patients did not (negative extravasation). Fifty-six patients survived from this bleeding episode (overall clinical success rate, 71%). An elevation of hemoglobin level was observed in the both two groups; significantly greater in the positive extravasation group compared to the negative extravasation group. Although these patients were all at high risk of dying, the 90-day mortality rate was significantly lower in the positive extravasation than in the negative extravasation (20% versus 42%, p < 0.05). A multivariate analysis suggested that successful hemostasis (odds ratio [OR] = 28.66) is the most important predictor affecting the mortality in the two groups of patients. Conclusion: Visualization of contrast extravasation on angiography usually can target the bleeding artery directly, resulting in a higher success rate to control of hemorrhage.

Exploring Forecast Error and the Informational Content of Implied Volatility in the Taiwan Market

Chi-Tai Lin,Yen-Hsien Lee,Shu-Mei Chiang 한국증권학회 2012 Asia-Pacific Journal of Financial Studies Vol.41 No.5

This paper employs the autoregressive conditional jump intensity model, incorporating a forecast error, to investigate the relationships between the changes in the implied volatility and the relevant determinants in the Taiwan market. We further apply the orthogonality test to explore forecast error and content of information. The empirical results show that the changes in the implied volatility are affected by the contemporaneous returns, lagged returns,lagged changes in the implied volatility, contemporaneous daily changes in the realized volatility and lagged forecast error. At the same time, these results are consistent with the behavioral explanations of Hibbert et al. [Journal of Banking and Finance (2008) vol. 32, pp. 2254–2266]. We also demonstrate that the implied volatility in Taiwan seems to be an efficient forecast of future realized volatility during the whole of the sample period, except for the financial crisis period.

High Efficiency Transformation by Electroporation of Yarrowia lipolytica

Jia-Hung Wang,Wenpin Hung,Shu-Hsien Tsai 한국미생물학회 2011 The journal of microbiology Vol.49 No.3

Yarrowia lipolytica was usually transformed by heat shock, but linearized integrative vectors always resulted in a low transformation efficiency when electroporation was used. To develop a high efficiency integrative transformation method by electroporation of Y. lipolytica, we report here that pretreatment of Y. lipolytica with 150 mM LiAc for 1 h before electroporation will approximately 30-fold of increase transformation efficiency. A cell concentration of 1010/ml and instrument settings of 1.5 kV will generate the highest transformation efficiencies. We have developed a procedure to transform Y. lipolytica that will be able to yield an efficiency of 2.1×104 transformants/μg for integrative linear DNA. With our modifications, the electroporation procedures became a very efficient and reliable tool for Y. lipolytica transformation.