Prediction of Recurrence of Early Gastric Cancer After Curative Resection

Lai, Ji Fu,Kim, Sungsoo,Kim, Kiyeol,Li, Chen,Oh, Sung Jin,Hyung, Woo Jin,Rha, Sun Young,Chung, Hyun Cheol,Choi, Seung Ho,Wang, Lin Bo,Noh, Sung Hoon Springer - Society of Surgical Oncology 2009 Annals of Surgical Oncology Vol.16 No.7

Attenuating Development of Cardiovascular Hypertrophy with Hydrolysate of Chicken Leg Bone Protein in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Cheng, Fu-Yuan,Wan, Tien-Chun,Liu, Yu-Tse,Lai, Kung-Ming,Lin, Liang-Chuan,Sakata, Ryoichi Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2008 Animal Bioscience Vol.21 No.5

This study developed a natural ingredient as a functional food possessing properties of attenuation of hypertension and cardiovascular hypertrophy. In a previous study hydrolysates obtained from chicken leg bone protein using Alcalase strongly inhibited angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) in vitro. In particular, hydrolysate (A4H) from four hours of incubation exhibited the highest ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 = 0.545 mg/ml). A4H was selected as a potent ACE inhibitor and orally administrated to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) for eight weeks to investigate attenuating effects on age-related development of hypertension and cardiovascular hypertrophy. Results showed that treatment with A4H of SHRs attenuated the development of hypertension as effectively as the clinical antihypertensive drug captopril. Moreover, a significantly lower heart to body weight ratio and thinness of coronary arterial wall was observed in SHRs that had been treated with A4H or captopril. The results suggest that A4H can be utilized in developing an ACE inhibitor as a potential ingredient of functional foods to alleviate hypertension and cardiovascular hypertrophy.

Acceleration-based fuzzy sliding mode control for high-rise structures with hybrid mass damper

Yanhui Liu,Zhenfeng Lai,Dongfan Ye,Ping Tan,Fu-lin Zhou 국제구조공학회 2024 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.33 No.6

The Hybrid Mass Damper (HMD) has proven effective in mitigating vibrations in high-rise structures subject to seismic and wind-induced excitations. One derivative configuration of the HMD mounts an Active Mass Damper (AMD) atop a Tuned Mass Damper (TMD). However, the control efficacy of such HMDs may be compromised when confronted with loads that exceed their design parameters. Additionally, the confined structural space within high-rise structures often limits the feasibility and economic viability of retrofitting HMD systems. This study introduces an Acceleration-based Fuzzy Power Approach Rate Sliding Mode Control (AFP-SMC) algorithm aimed at enhancing the control efficacy of HMDs while minimizing their stroke and force output requirements. Employing the Canton Tower as a research prototype, an analytical model incorporating HMDs was established, and a comparative analysis between the AFP-SMC and Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG) control algorithms was conducted for efficacy. The control performance of the AFP-SMC control algorithm under different control parameter variations was investigated. Furthermore, by experimentally assessing the AMD subsystem within the Canton Tower, friction and ripple force formulas were derived to bolster the analytical model, thereby validating the robustness of the AFP-SMC algorithm. The results show that the proposed AFP-SMC algorithm effectively reduces the vibration response of the structure and the stroke and control force output of HMDs, and exhibits superior overall control performance and robustness compared to the LQG algorithm.

Pyogenic Liver Abscess as a Warning Sign for Primary Liver Cancer: A Nationwide Population-based Study

Huang, Wen-Kuan,Lin, Yung-Chang,Chiou, Meng-Jiun,Yang, Tsai-Sheng,Chang, John Wen-Cheng,Yu, Kuang-Hui,Kuo, Chang-Fu,See, Lai-Chu Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.8

Background: There have been no large-scale population-based studies to estimate the subsequent risk of primary liver cancer (PLC) among patients with pyogenic liver abscess (PLA). This study aimed to provide relevant data. Materials and Methods: The Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database for the years 2000 and 2005 was used. The PLA group were adult inpatients who were newly diagnosed with PLA from 2000 to 2008. The control group was randomly selected and matched with the PLA group in terms of age, sex, and date in which medical treatment was sought other than for PLA. Results: There were 1,987 patients each in the PLA and control groups. In total, 56 had PLC, 48 (2.4%, 601.5 per 100,000 person-years) from the PLA group, and 8 from the control group. After adjusting for potential covariates, the hazard ratio of PLC for the PLA group was 3.4 times that of the control group (95% confidence interval = 1.6-7.3, p <0.001). The PLC risk for the PLA group was significantly higher within the first year after PLA diagnosis (hazard ratio: 35.4) as compared with the control group and became insignificant (hazard ratio: 2.0, 95% confidence interval = 0.8-4.9) more than one year after PLA diagnosis. Conclusions: Patients with PLA have a higher rate of PLC than matched controls, especially within the first year after the diagnosis of PLA, suggesting PLA is a warning sign for PLC.

Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor${\gamma}$ Is Involved in Weaning to Estrus of Primiparous Sows by Regulating the Expression of Hormone Genes in Hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary Axis

Kong, L.J.,Wang, A.G.,Fu, J.L.,Lai, CH.H.,Wang, X.F.,Lin, H.CH. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2007 Animal Bioscience Vol.20 No.3

The objective of this study was to determine whether peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$(PPAR${\gamma}$ is involved in the regulation of weaning to estrus of primiparous sows. Twelve sows composed of 6 groups of 2 full-sibs in a similar age (325.2 d), body weight (BW; 152.4 kg) and backfat thickness (BFT; 27.0 mm) at start of lactation, were allocated to accept 31 MJ (restricted group, R-group) or 53 MJ (control group, C-group) DE/d treatment, respectively. The experimental results indicated that the low energy intake resulted in excessive losses of BW and BFT during lactation in R-group sows, which may be related to decrease of serum 15-deoxy-${\Delta}^{12,14}$-prostaglandin $J_2$ (15d-$PGJ_2$), a ligand of PPAR${\gamma}$ The obvious peak and the frequency of LH, FSH and estradiol ($E_2$) were only observed in C-group sows. Except for $E_2$ at d 1 and 2, serum FSH, LH and $E_2$ concentrations in R-group were lower than those in C-group sows after weaning. However, the serum progesterone ($P_4$) level in R-group sows was always more than that in C-group. The expression abundances of PPAR${\gamma}$and GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) in pituitary, FSH receptor (FSH-R), LH receptor (LH-R), estrogen receptor (ES-R) and aromatase in ovary of anestrous sows were lower than those of estrous sows. Neither the BFT nor the BW was associated with the mRNA abundance of PPAR${\gamma}$in hypothalamus during lactation. Expressions of PPAR${\gamma}$in pituitary and ovary were affected evidently by the BFT changes and only by the loss of BW of sows during and after lactation. Furthermore, PPAR${\gamma}$mRNA level in ovary was significantly related to the expression abundances of GnRH-R, FSH-R, ES-R and aromatase, and GnRH-R was obviously associated with PPAR${\gamma}$expression in pituitary. However, PPAR${\gamma}$expression in hypothalamus likely has no effects on these genes expression and no obvious difference for all sows. Not serum $E_2$ or $P_4$ alone but the ratios of $E_2$ to $P_4$ and 15d-$PGJ_2$ to $P_4$, and serum FSH and LH were evidently related to PPAR${\gamma}$expression in pituitary and ovary. It is concluded that PPAR${\gamma}$is associated with body conditions, reproduction hormones and their receptor expression, which affected the functions of pituitary and ovary and ultimately the estrus after weaning of primiparous sows.

Mutual Funds Herding under Financial Crises : Evidence from Taiwan Stock Markets

Yu-Fen Chen,Sheng-Yung Yang,Fu-Lai Lin 한국재무학회 2012 한국재무학회 학술대회 Vol.2012 No.09

This paper intends to investigate herding behavior of mutual fund managers participated in Taiwan stock market, especially as they were facing the regional and global financial crises in 1997 and 2008. Furthermore, it identifies fund managers’ optimal choices of trading strategies as they are facing the shallow-dish characteristics in Taiwan stock market. The empirical results reveal that fund managers do herd as they are picking up their portfolios. Instead of pursuing stocks with high speculative intensity, mutual fund managers adhere to the prudent rule to trade. However, the trading styles are not robust during the period of 1997 Asian financial crisis.

A Study of Optical Properties of InGaAs/GaAs Quantum Dots

Gwo-Jen Jan,Chih-Ming Lai,Fu-Yu Chang,Hao-Hsing Lin 한국물리학회 2003 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.42 No.III

The optical properties of InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) were investigated by temperature-dependent photoluminescence (PL) and photoreflectance (PR) spectroscopies. The surface morphology and structure analysis of InGaAs QDs were also examined and characterized by a field emission scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an atomic force microscope (AFM). The In$_{0.5}$Ga$_{0.5}$As/GaAs self-assembled QDs specimens were grown with gas-source molecular beam epitaxy and migration enhanced techniques. The area density of the QDs is on an order of magnitude about 1 $\times$ 10$^{10}$ dots/cm$^2$. The measured PL results exhibited 5 major energy peaks, two of which are attributed to InGaAs QDs, one is attributed to the InGaAs wetting layer and the other two are attributed to GaAs band-gap transitions. Two of the low energy features are identified to the optical transitions of the ground state. They were originated from the two kinds of InGaAs QDs which might be formed with slight change of the indium composition. An inverted ``S curve'' shape of the temperature-dependent PL peak energies was observed. This abnormal behavior of the line-shape is attributed to carrier localization. The results of PR measurement which reveal energy features on the high energy side contributed by GaAs is also reported.

Significantly Higher Percentage of Circulating CD27high Plasma Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients with Infection than with Disease Flare-Up

Deng-Ho Yang,Deh-Ming Chang,Jenn-Haung Lai,Fu-Huang Lin,Chen-Hung Chen 연세대학교의과대학 2010 Yonsei medical journal Vol.51 No.6

Purpose: To distinguish lupus flare-up from infection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we analyze the expression of circulating CD27 high plasma cells in SLE patients with and without infection, in comparison to non-SLE patients with infection. Materials and Methods: The percentage of circulating CD27 high plasma cells was measured by flow cytometry in the following four groups: 36 SLE patients without infection, 23 SLE patients with infection, eight non-SLE patients with infection, and 26 healthy controls. Results: The frequency of CD27high plasma cells had a correlation with the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) (r = 0.866, p < 0.05), level of anti-dsDNA (r = 0.886, p < 0.05), C3 (r = - 0.392, p < 0.05), and C4(r = - 0.337, p < 0.05) in SLE patients without infection, but there was no correlation with disease activity in SLE patients with infection. Among three groups in particular-SLE without infection, SLE with infection, and non-SLE with infection-the percentages of CD27 high plasma cells were elevated. The percentage of CD27high plasma cells was higher in SLE patients with infection, when compared to SLE patients without infection. Conclusion: The percentage of CD27high plasma cells is a biomarker for disease activity of SLE without infection, under correlation with SLEDAI, anti-dsDNA, and C3 and C4 level. However, when the SLE patients have an infection, the percentage of CD27 high plasma cells is not an adequate biomarker for the survey of disease activity. The percentage of CD27 high plasma cells may serve as a potential parameter to distinguish a lupus flare-up from infection.

Arm Exoskeleton Rehabilitation Robot with Assistive System for Patient after Stroke

Guan De Lee,Wei-Wen Wang,Kai-Wen Lee,Sheng-Yen Lin,Li-Chen Fu,Jin-Shin Lai,Wen-Shiang Chen,Jer-Junn Luh 제어로봇시스템학회 2012 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2012 No.10

Exercise dosage is proven to be an important factor in the physical treatment. Robot assistive approach can improve the rehabilitation quality and evaluate patient’s recovery quantitatively. This paper presents kinematic structure, assistive control system, and integrated F/T sensor for an upper limb rehabilitation robot. By using the human arm dynamic, there are three rehabilitation modes presented in this paper: active mode, assistive mode, and passive mode. In assistive mode, we have two strategies to implement it. One is to amplify interactive torque, and the other is to apply assist-as-needed concept. The goal of this mode is to assist patients to finish motion tasks. The rehabilitation robot under investigation has 7 degree of freedom (DOF) actuated by DC motors, which are programmed to drive the robot arm in the 3D space. To validate our control design, some realistic experiments are conducted and its satisfactory performance is demonstrated. This work is approved clinical testing by the Department of Health, Executive Yuan, R.O.C. So far, we are demonstrating the effect of our controller.