Improving the Performance of ITO Thin Films by Coating PEDOT:PSS

Tsai-Cheng Li,Rwei-Ching Chang 한국정밀공학회 2014 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.1 No.4

This work studies the effect of PEDOT:PSS on electrical, optical and mechanical properties of ITO glass. Various thickness PEDOT:PSS films are deposited on ITO glass by spin coating. The sheet resistance, transmittance, surface roughness, residual stress, friction, and critical load of the coated specimens are tested in sequence. We find that PEDOT:PSS films not only improve the electric performance but also increase the adhesion of ITO glass. The experimental results show that the PEDOT:PSS film improves the surface roughness and then results in a lower electric resistance. It also increases the adhesion and reduces the residual stress of the ITO films. Furthermore, only 1% transmittance is lost due to the PEDOT:PSS film, showing the potential in the applications of organic photovoltaic cells and light-emitting diodes.

A Hybrid Dynamic Stabilization and Fusion System in Multilevel Lumbar Spondylosis

Li-Yu Fay,Chih-Chang Chang,Hsuan-Kan Chang,Tsung-Hsi Tu,Tzu-Yun Tsai,Ching-Lan Wu,Wen-Cheng Huang,Jau-Ching Wu,Henrich Cheng 대한척추신경외과학회 2018 Neurospine Vol.15 No.3

Objective: The Dynesys-Transition-Optima (DTO) hybrid system was designed to achieve arthrodesis and stabilization in patients with lumbar degeneration. Satisfactory outcomes were demonstrated previously. However, no study has evaluated the effects of using the DTO system in patients with lumbar spondylolisthesis or stenosis. Methods: This retrospective study included 35 consecutive patients with multilevel lumbar degeneration with or without spondylolisthesis who underwent surgery using the DTO system. Imaging studies included pre- and postoperative radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography. The clinical outcomes were measured by Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) scores, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for back and leg pain. Results: Thirty patients (85.7%) with a mean age of 61.9 years completed the follow-up, with a mean duration of 35.1 months. There were 21 patients in the spondylolisthesis group and 9 in the stenosis group. The spondylolisthesis group had worse functional scores than the stenosis group preoperatively. After DTO surgery, all patients showed significant improvements in clinical outcomes, including VAS for back and leg pain, ODI, and JOA scores (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. At a 2-year follow-up, lumbar alignment was well maintained in both groups (p=0.116). There were no significant differences in lumbar alignment between the 2 groups. Conclusion: During a follow-up period of over 2 years, both patients with spondylolisthesis and those with stenosis showed improvements and similar disability and pain scores after surgery using the DTO system. Lumbar alignment was also well maintained.

The Study of the Cycle Time Improvement by Work-In-Process Statistical Process Control Method for IC Foundry Manufacturing

Yu Cheng Lin,Chih Hung Tsai,Rong Kwei Li,Ching Piao Chen,Hsien Ching Chen 한국품질경영학회 2008 The Asian Journal on Quality Vol.9 No.3

The definition of cycle time is the time from the wafer start to the wafer output. It usually takes one or two months to get the product since customer decides to produce it. The cycle time is a critical factor for customer satisfaction because it represents the response time to the market. Long cycle time reflects the ineffective investment for the capital. The cycle time is very important for foundry because long cycle time will cause customer unsatisfied and the order loss. Consequently, all of the foundries put lots of human source in the cycle time improvement. Usually, we make decisions based on the experience in the cycle time management. We have no mechanism or theory for cycle time management. We do work-in-process (WIP) management based on turn rate and standard WIP (STD WIP) set by experiences. But the experience didn`t mean the optimal solution, when the situation changed, the cycle time or the standard WIP will also be changed. The experience will not always be applicable. If we only have the experience and no mechanism, management will not be work out. After interview several foundry fab managers, all of the fab can`t reflect the situation. That is, all of them will have an impact period after product mix or utilization varied. In this study, we want to develop a formula for standard WIP and use statistical process control (SPC) concept to set WIP upper/lower limit level. When WIP exceed the limit level, it will trigger action plans to compensate WIP Profile. If WIP Profile balances, we don`t need too much WIP. So WIP level could be reduced and cycle time also could be reduced.

Ectopic EBP2 expression enhances cyclin E1 expression and induces chromosome instability in HEK293 stable clones

( Ming Cheng Lee ),( Chan Hsun Hsieh ),( Shu Chen Wei ),( Shu Chen Shen ),( Chiung Nien Chen ),( Vin Cent Wu ),( Li Ying Chuang ),( Fon Jou Hsieh ),( C. H. Herbert Wu ),( Jyy Jih Tsai Wu ) 생화학분자생물학회 2008 BMB Reports Vol.41 No.10

Incongruent Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Cortisol in Schizophrenia: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial of Laughter Intervention

Shu-Li Cheng,Fu-Chi Yang,Hsuan-Te Chu,Chia-Kuang Tsai,Shih-Chieh Ku,Yu-Ting Tseng,Ta-Chuan Yeh,Chih-Sung Liang 대한신경정신의학회 2020 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.17 No.12

Objective Schizophrenia has been associated with dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Furthermore, alterations in neurotrophic factors might contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. We aimed to evaluate the effects of a simulated laughter intervention on the levels of cortisol and BDNF and to determine whether the effects associated with simulated laughter could be sustained after discontinuation of the intervention. Methods In this randomized controlled study, patients with schizophrenia according to DSM-IV clinical criteria were randomly assigned to receive either 8-week-long simulated laughter intervention (n=32) or treatment-as-usual group (control group, n=27). The serum levels of BDNF and cortisol were measured at baseline, week 8, and four weeks after discontinuation (week 12) of the intervention program. Results After an 8-week simulated laughter intervention, the laughter group had significantly higher levels of BDNF; however, four weeks after discontinuation of the intervention, the levels of BDNF significantly dropped. Interestingly, the levels of cortisol did not change significantly at week 8, but they were significantly elevated at week 12. The levels of BDNF and cortisol in the control group did not change significantly between week 0 and week 8. Conclusion These findings suggest that the simulated laughter intervention has an early effect on neurogenesis with a significant delayed effect on stress regulation in subjects with schizophrenia.

An update of preimplantation genetic diagnosis in gene diseases, chromosomal translocation, and aneuploidy screening

Chang, Li-Jung,Chen, Shee-Uan,Tsai, Yi-Yi,Hung, Chia-Cheng,Fang, Mei-Ya,Su, Yi-Ning,Yang, Yu-Shih The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine 2011 Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine Vol.38 No.3

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is gradually widely used in prevention of gene diseases and chromosomal abnormalities. Much improvement has been achieved in biopsy technique and molecular diagnosis. Blastocyst biopsy can increase diagnostic accuracy and reduce allele dropout. It is cost-effective and currently plays an important role. Whole genome amplification permits subsequent individual detection of multiple gene loci and screening all 23 pairs of chromosomes. For PGD of chromosomal translocation, fluorescence $in-situ$ hybridization (FISH) is traditionally used, but with technical difficulty. Array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) can detect translocation and 23 pairs of chromosomes that may replace FISH. Single nucleotide polymorphisms array with haplotyping can further distinguish between normal chromosomes and balanced translocation. PGD may shorten time to conceive and reduce miscarriage for patients with chromosomal translocation. PGD has a potential value for mitochondrial diseases. Preimplantation genetic haplotyping has been applied for unknown mutation sites of single gene disease. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) using limited FISH probes in the cleavage-stage embryo did not increase live birth rates for patients with advanced maternal age, unexplained recurrent abortions, and repeated implantation failure. Polar body and blastocyst biopsy may circumvent the problem of mosaicism. PGS using blastocyst biopsy and array CGH is encouraging and merit further studies. Cryopreservation of biopsied blastocysts instead of fresh transfer permits sufficient time for transportation and genetic analysis. Cryopreservation of embryos may avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and possible suboptimal endometrium.

The Study of the Cycle Time Improvement by Work-In-Process Statistical Process Control Method for IC Foundry Manufacturing

Lin, Yu-Cheng,Tsai, Chih-Hung,Li, Rong-Kwei,Chen, Ching-Piao,Chen, Hsien-Ching The Korean Society for Quality Management 2008 The Asian Journal on Quality Vol.9 No.3

The definition of cycle time is the time from the wafer start to the wafer output. It usually takes one or two months to get the product since customer decides to produce it. The cycle time is a critical factor for customer satisfaction because it represents the response time to the market. Long cycle time reflects the ineffective investment for the capital. The cycle time is very important for foundry because long cycle time will cause customer unsatisfied and the order loss. Consequently, all of the foundries put lots of human source in the cycle time improvement. Usually, we make decisions based on the experience in the cycle time management. We have no mechanism or theory for cycle time management. We do work-in-process (WIP) management based on turn rate and standard WIP (STD WIP) set by experiences. But the experience didn't mean the optimal solution, when the situation changed, the cycle time or the standard WIP will also be changed. The experience will not always be applicable. If we only have the experience and no mechanism, management will not be work out. After interview several foundry fab managers, all of the fab can't reflect the situation. That is, all of them will have an impact period after product mix or utilization varied. In this study, we want to develop a formula for standard WIP and use statistical process control (SPC) concept to set WIP upper/lower limit level. When WIP exceed the limit level, it will trigger action plans to compensate WIP Profile. If WIP Profile balances, we don't need too much WIP. So WIP level could be reduced and cycle time also could be reduced.

Impact of the COVID-19 vaccine booster strategy on vaccine protection: a pilot study of a military hospital in Taiwan

Wang Yu-Li,Cheng Shu-Tsai,Shen Ching-Fen,Huang Shu-Wei,Cheng Chao-Min 대한백신학회 2023 Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research Vol.12 No.4

Purpose: The global fight against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to widespread vaccination efforts, yet the optimal dosing schedule for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines remains a subject of ongoing research. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of administering two booster doses as the third and fourth doses at different intervals to enhance vaccine protection. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at a military regional hospital operated by the Ministry of National Defense in Taiwan. A cohort of vaccinated individuals was selected, and their vaccine potency was assessed at various time intervals following their initial vaccine administration. The study participants received booster doses as the third and fourth doses, with differing time intervals between them. The study monitored neutralizing antibody titers and other relevant parameters to assess vaccine efficacy. Results: Our findings revealed that the potency of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine exhibited a significant decline 80 days after the initial vaccine administration. However, a longer interval of 175 days between booster injections resulted in significantly higher neutralizing antibody titers. The individuals who received the extended interval boosters exhibited a more robust immune response, suggesting that a vaccine schedule with a 175-day interval between injections may provide superior protection against SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: This study underscores the importance of optimizing vaccine booster dosing schedules to maximize protection against SARS-CoV-2. The results indicate that a longer interval of 175 days between the third and fourth doses of the vaccine can significantly enhance the neutralizing antibody response, potentially offering improved protection against the virus. These findings have important implications for vaccine distribution and administration strategies in the ongoing battle against the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Further research and large-scale trials are needed to confirm and extend these findings for broader public health implications.

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.

Statin and the Risk of Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack in Head and Neck Cancer Patients with Radiotherapy

Bo-Ching Lee,Cheng-Li Lin,Hsin-Hsi Tsai,Chia-Hung Kao 대한뇌졸중학회 2018 Journal of stroke Vol.20 No.3