A Big Data Analysis System for Financial Trading

Shian Chang Huang People&Global Business Association 2017 Global Business and Finance Review Vol.22 No.3

Big data analysis and cloud computing are becoming increasingly involved in the area of finance. The high computation capability enables one to apply complicated analysis utilizing large amounts offinancial data. Big data analysis can find hidden patterns in large amounts of data.This capability can help investors in derivatives pricing, risk management and financial forecasting, and profitable trading. Owing to the high risk associated with trading financial options, this study aims to develop anintelligent option trading support system, where nonlinear or kernel canonical correlation analysis (KCCA) is used to extract the hidden forces that drive the price movement of an option, and a generalized dynamic kernel based predictors are employed to generate trading signals. Comparing with convectional feature extractions and pure regression models, the performance improvement of the new method is significant and robust. The cumulated trading profits are substantially increased. The resultant intelligent trading support system can help investors, fund managers and investment decision-makers make better and profitable decisions.

An Intelligent System for Business Data Mining

Shian Chang Huang,Tung Kuang Wu,Nan Yu Wang People&Global Business Association 2017 Global Business and Finance Review Vol.22 No.2

Mining high-dimensional business data is a challenging problem. Particularly in bankruptcy predictions, we need to analyze large amounts of information from financial statements and stock markets. This paper proposes a new strategy to deal with the problem. Because of the highly correlation among financial information, this study employed a technique called generalized discriminant analysis (GDA) to identify important features and reduce the data dimension. GDA is a nonlinear discriminant analysis using kernel function operator. It’s easy to deal with a wide class of nonlinearity in financial data, and can reduce the computational loading of subsequent prediction classifier. Due to the promising success of kernel machines in many applications, this study utilized a generalized multiple kernel machine (GMKM) to serve as the predictor. Combining the strengths of GDA and GMKM, our system robustly outperforms traditional prediction systems.

Effects of a simulation-based blended training model on nurses’ treatment decision-related knowledge about oral cancer in Taiwan: a pilot survey

Chia-Chang Huang,Shiau-Shian Huang,Ying-Ying Yang,Shou-Yen Kao 한국보건의료인국가시험원 2021 보건의료교육평가 Vol.18 No.-

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of virtual reality (VR) simulations combined with bedside assignments on nurses’ self-efficacy in providing pre-treatment educational services. Between March 2019 and November 2020, we conducted a study of VR educational materials that were developed to cover information about the treatment of oral cancers. The effects of the VR simulation, the thinking-path tracking map method, and bedside assignments on the nurses’ treatment decision-related knowledge were evaluated in a ward for oral cancer patients at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. The blended training model significantly increased nurses’ familiarity (P<0.01) and confidence (P<0.03) regarding their knowledge of treatments and treatment decision-related knowledge. This model also significantly increased their confidence in their skills in bedside pre-treatment education for admitted oral cancer patients (P<0.002). Oral cancer-specific VR materials enhanced the effectiveness of skills training among nurses in the oral cancer ward.

Dreyfus scale-based feedback increased medical students’ satisfaction with the complex cluster part of a interviewing and physical examination course and improved skills readiness in Taiwan

Shiau-Shian Huang,Chia-Chang Huang,Ying-Ying Yang,Shuu-Jiun Wang,Boaz Shulruf,Chen-Huan Chen 한국보건의료인국가시험원 2019 보건의료교육평가 Vol.16 No.-

PurposeIn contrast to the core part of the clinical interviewing and physical examination (PE) skills course, corresponding to the basic, head-to-toe, and thoracic systems, learners need structured feedback in the cluster part of the course, which includes the gastrointestinal, neuromuscular, and musculoskeletal systems. This study evaluated the effects of using Dreyfus scale-based feedback, which has elements of continuous professional development, instead of Likert scale-based feedback in the cluster part of training in Taiwan. MethodsInstructors and final-year medical students in the 2015-2016 classes of National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan comprised the regular cohort, whereas those in the 2017-2018 classes formed the intervention cohort. In the intervention cohort, Dreyfus scale-based feedback, rather than Likert scale-based feedback, was used in the cluster part of the course. ResultsIn the cluster part of the course in the regular cohort, pre-trained standardized patients rated the class climate as poor, and students expressed low satisfaction with the instructors and course and low self-assessed readiness. In comparison with the regular cohort, improved end-of-course group objective structured clinical examination scores after the cluster part were noted in the intervention cohort. In other words, the implementation of Dreyfus scale-based feedback in the intervention cohort for the cluster part improved the deficit in this section of the course. ConclusionThe implementation of Dreyfus scale-based feedback helped instructors to create a good class climate in the cluster part of the clinical interviewing and PE skills course. Simultaneously, this new intervention achieved the goal of promoting medical students’ readiness for interviewing, PE, and self-directed learning.

Nerve growth factor upregulates sirtuin 1 expression in cholestasis: a potential therapeutic target

Ming-Shian Tsai,Po-Huang Lee,Cheuk-Kwan Sun,Ting-Chia Chiu,Yu-Chun Lin,I-Wei Chang,Po-Han Chen,Ying-Hsien Kao 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

This study investigated the regulatory role of nerve growth factor (NGF) in sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression in cholestatic livers. We evaluated the expression of NGF and its cognate receptors in human livers with hepatolithiasis and the effects of NGF therapy on liver injury and hepatic SIRT1 expression in a bile duct ligation (BDL) mouse model. Histopathological and molecular analyses showed that the hepatocytes of human diseased livers expressed NGF, proNGF (a precursor of NGF), TrkA and p75NTR, whereas only p75NTR was upregulated in hepatolithiasis, compared with non-hepatolithiasis livers. In the BDL model without NGF therapy, p75NTR, but not TrkA antagonism, significantly deteriorated BDL-induced liver injury. By contrast, the hepatoprotective effect of NGF was abrogated only by TrkA and not by p75NTR antagonism in animals receiving NGF therapy. Intriguingly, a positive correlation between hepatic SIRT1 and NGF expression was found in human livers. In vitro studies demonstrated that NGF upregulated SIRT1 expression in mouse livers and human Huh-7 and rodent hepatocytes. Both NGF and proNGF induced protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity in Huh-7 cells, whereas inhibition of TrkA and p75NTR activity prevented oxidative cell death. Mechanistically, NGF, but not proNGF, upregulated SIRT1 expression in human Huh-7 and rodent hepatocytes via nuclear factor (NF)-κB activity, whereas NGF-induced phosphoinositide-3 kinase/Akt, extracellular signal–regulated kinase and NF-κB signaling and SIRT1 activity were involved in its hepatoprotective effects against oxidative injury. These findings suggest that pharmacological manipulation of the NGF/SIRT1 axis might serve as a novel approach for the treatment of cholestatic disease.

Electron-Electron Interactions in a Two-Dimensional Electron Systemin an Al0.15Ga0.85N/GaN Heterostructure Grown on p-Type Si

Jian-Zhe Huang,Li-Hung Lin,Chin-An Chang,Chi-Te Liang,Kuang Yao Chen,Kui-Ming Chen,N. C. Chen,P. H. Chang,Shiou-Shian Han,Zhi-Hao Sun 한국물리학회 2007 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.50 No.3

We report on experimental studies of an Al$_{0.15}$Ga$_{0.85}$N/GaN high-electron-mobility transistor structure grown on a $p$-type Si (111) substrate. This structure is compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology and, thus, has great potential device applications. The low-temperature magnetoresistivity shows a parabolic dependence on the applied perpendicular magnetic field. This effect is ascribed to electron-electron interaction (EEI) effects in a weakly-disordered two-dimensional system. Our experimental results agree with the EEI theory when the correction term in the ballistic region has been subtracted.

Effects of virtual reality training on decreasing the rates of needlestick or sharp injury in new-coming medical and nursing interns in Taiwan

Szu-Hsien Wu,Chia-Chang Huang,Shiau-Shian Huang,Ying-Ying Yang,Chih-Wei Liu,Boaz Shulruf,Chen-Huan Chen 한국보건의료인국가시험원 2020 보건의료교육평가 Vol.17 No.-

Purpose: Senior nursing and medical interns’ lack of familiarity and confidence with respect to practicing universal precaution for theprevention of occupational needlestick or sharp injuries may harm themselves. Trainees’ self-reported needlestick or sharp injury ratewas known to be especially high during the first 2 months of internship in Taiwan. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the effect of newly developed virtual reality (VR) game, which uses Gagne’s learning model to improve universal precaution for needlestickor sharp injury prevention and decrease the rates of needle stick or sharp injuries in new-coming medical and nursing interns in Taiwan. Methods: From 2017 to 2019, the VR system was developed and applied in training of 59 new-coming nursing and 50 medical interns. Occupational needlestick or sharp injury prevention was sought to be achieved through a game of right and wrong choices for safe orunsafe universal precaution behaviors. Results: In comparison with medical interns, a higher proportion of nursing interns had past experiences of deep occupational needlestick or sharp injury. Before VR training, the familiarity and confidence for needlestick or sharp injury prevention were higher amongnursing interns than medical interns. Trainees with past experiences of deep needlestick or sharp injury exhibited better performanceon the accuracy rate and time needed to complete 20 decisions than those without past experiences in VR practice. All trainees showedan improved performance after VR training. A high proportion of trainees reported that the VR-based training significantly decreasedtheir anxiety about needlestick or sharp injury prevention. Conclusion: This self-developed VR game system using Gagne’s flow improved universal precaution for needlestick or sharp injuryprevention and reduced the needlestick or sharp injury rates in the first 2 months of nursing and medical internship.

Equal Z standard-setting method to estimate the minimum number of panelists for a medical school’s objective structured clinical examination in Taiwan: a simulation study

Ying-Ying Yang,Pin-Hsiang Huang,Ling-Yu Yang,Chia-Chang Huang,Chih-Wei Liu,Shiau-Shian Huang,Chen-Huan Chen,Fa-Yauh Lee,Shou-Yen Kao,Boaz Shulruf 한국보건의료인국가시험원 2022 보건의료교육평가 Vol.19 No.-

Purpose Undertaking a standard-setting exercise is a common method for setting pass/fail cut scores for high-stakes examinations. The recently introduced equal Z standard-setting method (EZ method) has been found to be a valid and effective alternative for the commonly used Angoff and Hofstee methods and their variants. The current study aims to estimate the minimum number of panelists required for obtaining acceptable and reliable cut scores using the EZ method. Methods The primary data were extracted from 31 panelists who used the EZ method for setting cut scores for a 12-station of medical school’s final objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) in Taiwan. For this study, a new data set composed of 1,000 random samples of different panel sizes, ranging from 5 to 25 panelists, was established and analyzed. Analysis of variance was performed to measure the differences in the cut scores set by the sampled groups, across all sizes within each station. Results On average, a panel of 10 experts or more yielded cut scores with confidence more than or equal to 90% and 15 experts yielded cut scores with confidence more than or equal to 95%. No significant differences in cut scores associated with panel size were identified for panels of 5 or more experts. Conclusion The EZ method was found to be valid and feasible. Less than an hour was required for 12 panelists to assess 12 OSCE stations. Calculating the cut scores required only basic statistical skills.

Negative effects on medical students’ scores for clinical performance during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan: a comparative study

Eunice Jia-Shiow Yuan,Shiau-Shian Huang,Chia-An Hsu,Jiing-Feng Lirng,Tzu-Hao Li,Chia-Chang Huang,Ying-Ying Yang,Chung-Pin Li,Chen-Huan Chen 한국보건의료인국가시험원 2023 보건의료교육평가 Vol.20 No.-

Purpose Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has heavily impacted medical clinical education in Taiwan. Medical curricula have been altered to minimize exposure and limit transmission. This study investigated the effect of COVID-19 on Taiwanese medical students’ clinical performance using online standardized evaluation systems and explored the factors influencing medical education during the pandemic. Methods Medical students were scored from 0 to 100 based on their clinical performance from 1/1/2018 to 6/31/2021. The students were placed into pre-COVID-19 (before 2/1/2020) and midst-COVID-19 (on and after 2/1/2020) groups. Each group was further categorized into COVID-19-affected specialties (pulmonary, infectious, and emergency medicine) and other specialties. Generalized estimating equations (GEEs) were used to compare and examine the effects of relevant variables on student performance. Results In total, 16,944 clinical scores were obtained for COVID-19-affected specialties and other specialties. For the COVID-19-affected specialties, the midst-COVID-19 score (88.51–3.52) was significantly lower than the pre-COVID-19 score (90.14–3.55) (P<0.0001). For the other specialties, the midst-COVID-19 score (88.32–3.68) was also significantly lower than the pre-COVID-19 score (90.06–3.58) (P<0.0001). There were 1,322 students (837 males and 485 females). Male students had significantly lower scores than female students (89.33–3.68 vs. 89.99–3.66, P=0.0017). GEE analysis revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic (unstandardized beta coefficient=-1.99, standard error [SE]=0.13, P<0.0001), COVID-19-affected specialties (B=0.26, SE=0.11, P=0.0184), female students (B=1.10, SE=0.20, P<0.0001), and female attending physicians (B=-0.19, SE=0.08, P=0.0145) were independently associated with students’ scores. Conclusion COVID-19 negatively impacted medical students' clinical performance, regardless of their specialty. Female students outperformed male students, irrespective of the pandemic.