Dielectric properties of Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 ceramic modified by Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 at microwave frequencies

Chun-Hsu Shen,Cheng-Liang Huang,Chuan-Feng Shih,Chih-Ming Huang 한국물리학회 2009 Current Applied Physics Vol.9 No.5

The effect of Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 addition on the microwave dielectric properties of Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 ceramics was investigated. The Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content plays a significant role in improving the dielectric properties. Microwave dielectric measurements show an increase in the dielectric constant (εr) and temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency (τf) and a decrease in the quality factor (Q × f value) with increasing Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content. By properly adjusting the Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content, a zero τf value can also be obtained, which make Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 a promising material in wireless systems. At 1300 ℃, the 0.81Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3–0.19Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 ceramics possess excellent microwave dielectric properties: a dielectric constant (εr) of 25.61, a Q × f value of 69,100 GHz, and a τf value of -6 ppm/℃. The effect of Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 addition on the microwave dielectric properties of Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 ceramics was investigated. The Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content plays a significant role in improving the dielectric properties. Microwave dielectric measurements show an increase in the dielectric constant (εr) and temperature coefficient of the resonant frequency (τf) and a decrease in the quality factor (Q × f value) with increasing Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content. By properly adjusting the Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 content, a zero τf value can also be obtained, which make Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3 a promising material in wireless systems. At 1300 ℃, the 0.81Mg0.95Ni0.05TiO3–0.19Nd0.5Na0.5TiO3 ceramics possess excellent microwave dielectric properties: a dielectric constant (εr) of 25.61, a Q × f value of 69,100 GHz, and a τf value of -6 ppm/℃.

Indoxyl sulfate, homocysteine, and antioxidant capacities in patients at different stages of chronic kidney disease

Chen Cheng-Hsu,Huang Shih-Chien,Yeh En-Ling,Lin Pei-Chih,Tsai Shang-Feng,Huang Yi-Chia 한국영양학회 2022 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.16 No.4

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Increased levels of uremic toxins and decreased antioxidant capacity have a significant impact on the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it remains unclear whether they interact with each other to mediate the damage of kidney function. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether uremic toxins (i.e., homocysteine and indoxyl sulfate [IS]), as well as glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities are dependently or independently associated with kidney function during different stages of CKD patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS One hundred thirty-two patients diagnosed with CKD at stages 1 to 5 participated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS Patients who had reached an advanced CKD stage experienced an increase in plasma uremic toxin levels, along with decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. Plasma homocysteine, cysteine, and IS concentrations were all positively associated with each other, but negatively correlated to GSH-Px activity levels after adjusting for potential confounders in all CKD patients. Although plasma homocysteine, cysteine, IS, and GSH-Px levels were significantly associated with kidney function, only plasma IS levels still had a significant association with kidney function after these parameters were simultaneously adjusted. In addition, plasma IS could interact with GSH-Px activity to be associated with kidney function. CONCLUSIONS IS plays a more dominant role than homocysteine and GSH-Px activity in relation to kidney function.

Effects of substrate treatment on the electroluminescence performance of flexible OLEDs

Chin H.Chen,Shih Feng Hsu,Shiao Wen Hwang,Shih-Nan Lee 한국물리학회 2004 Current Applied Physics Vol.4 No.6

Electroluminescence (EL) performance of exible organic light-emitting device (FOLED) has been found to be highly dependentupon the morphology of the surface of the indium thin oxide (ITO)/plastic substrate as well as the patterning and processingconditions of the substrate. We will present evidence showing that luminance eciency of FOLED can be greatly improved bypretreatment. Surface analysis of the ITO/PET by means of atomic force microscope (AFM) and optical microscope will becompared with that of the ITO/glass and the inuence of exible OLEDs substrate treatment by various methods on EL perfor-mance will also be discussed.

Does Spore Count Matter in Fungal Allergy?: The Role of Allergenic Fungal Species

Wan-Rou Lin,Yi-Hsing Chen,Mey-Fann Lee,Ling-Yi Hsu,Chih-Jen Tien,Feng-Ming Shih,Shih-Ching Hsiao,Pi-Han Wang 대한천식알레르기학회 2016 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.8 No.5

Purpose: Fungi have been known to be important aeroallergens for hundreds of years. Most studies have focused on total fungal concentration; however, the concentration of specific allergenic fungi may be more important on an individual basis. Methods: Ten fungal allergic patients and 2 non-fungal allergic patients were enrolled. The patients with a decrease in physician or patient global assessment by more than 50% of their personal best were considered to have an exacerbation of allergic symptoms and to be in the active stage. Those who maintained their physician and patient global assessment scores at their personal best for more than 3 months were considered to be in the inactive stage. The concentrations of dominant fungi in the patients’ houses and outdoors were measured by direct and viable counts at active and inactive stages. Results: The exacerbation of allergic symptoms was not correlated with total fungal spore concentration or the indoor/outdoor ratio (I/O). Specific fungi, such as Cladosporium oxysporum (C. oxyspurum), C. cladosporioides, and Aspergillus niger (A. niger), were found to be significantly higher concentrations in the active stage than in the inactive stage. Presumed allergenic spore concentration threshold levels were 100 CFU/m3 for C. oxysporum, and 10 CFU/m3 for A. niger, Penicillium brevicompactum and Penicillium oxalicum. Conclusions: The major factor causing exacerbation of allergic symptoms in established fungal allergic patients may be the spore concentration of specific allergenic fungi rather than the total fungal concentration. These results may be useful in making recommendations as regards environmental control for fungal allergic patients.

Fabrication of blue top-emitting organic light-emitting devices with highly saturated color

Chin H.Chen,Chung-Chun Lee,Andrew T.Hu,Shih Feng Hsu 한국물리학회 2004 Current Applied Physics Vol.4 No.6

Blue top-emitting organic light-emitting devices (TOLEDs) with highly saturated color were developed by microcavity eect. Thedevice structure studied was glass/reective silver/indium-tin oxide (ITO)/organic electroluminescent stack/semi-transparent cathode(calcium/silver). By changing the thicknesses of ITO and organic layers in the microcavity structure device doped withp-bis(p-N,N-di-phenyl-aminostyryl)benzene (DSA-ph), highly saturated color with Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage chromaticitycoordinates (CIEx;y) of (0.14, 0.08) was obtained.

Efficacy and Safety of 12 Weeks of Daclatasvir, Asunaprevir Plus Ribavirin for the Treatment of HCV Genotype 1b Infection without Baseline NS5A Resistance-Associated Variants (DARING)-Interim Report

( Ming-lung Yu ),( Chao-hung Hung ),( Yi-hsiang Huang ),( Cheng-yuan Peng ),( Chun-yen Lin ),( Pin-nan Cheng ),( Rong-nan Chien ),( Shih-jer Hsu ),( Chen-hua Liu ),( Jee-fu Huang ),( Chung-feng Huang 대한간학회 2018 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2018 No.1

Aims: The current study aims to elucidate the treatment efficacy (defined as undetectable HCV RNA throughout 12 weeks of post-treatment follow-up, SVR12) and safety DCV/ASV plus ribavirin for 12 weeks in HCV-1b patients without NS5A RAS. Methods: This is a single-arm, open-label phase 2 study. Seventy directly acting antivirals (DAA)-naïve HCV-1b patients without L31/Y93 RAS are planned to receive daclatasvir (60 mg/ day) and asunaprevir (100 mg twice daily) plus weight-based ribavirin (1000-1200 mg/day) for 12 weeks. After treatment they were followed up for 12 weeks. Results: As of 31 Oct 2017, 58 eligible patients are allocated to treatment, with a mean age of 59.3 years and female predominance (67.2%, 39/58). The mean HCV RNA was 5.87+0.77 log10 IU/mL; 23 patients (39.7 %) had significant hepatic fibrosis (>F2). In the modified intention-to-treat analysis, the rate of undetectable HCV at week 1, week 2, week 4, week 8 and endof- treatment was 25 % (14/56), 84.8 % (39/46), 100 % (46/46), 100 % (38/38) and 100 % (27/27), respectively. Undetectable HCV RNA were observed in all of the patients with HCV RNA assessable 4 weeks (SVR4, 18/18) and 12 weeks (SVR12, 12/12) post treatment. None of the 18 patients who completed the 12-week treatment experienced relapse during post-treatment follow-up. The most common adverse event was fatigue (78.3 %), followed by pruritus (65.2 %) and dizziness (52.2 %), of which were considered as ribavirin related. None of the participating subjects withdrew treatment or follow-up throughout the trial peroid. Three serious adverse events were reported which included urosepsis, appendicitis and left ureteral stone. All were unrelated to the investigating drugs. Conclusions: 12 weeks of DCV/ASV plus ribavirin was highly effective and safe in HCV-1b patients without NS5A RAS in the interim analysis. The satisfactory results would be anticipated in the full patient set.

Delay of Surgery for Spinal Metastasis due to the COVID-19 Outbreak Affected Patient Outcomes

Chia-Jung Hsieh,Chun-Yu Wu,Yen-Heng Lin,Yu-Cheng Huang,Wen-Chi Yang,Tom Wei-Wu Chen,Wei-Li Ma,Wei-Hsin Lin,Feng-Ming Hsu,Furen Xiao,Shih-Hung Yang,Dar-Ming Lai,Chang-Mu Chen,Shin-Yi Chao,Fon-Yih Tsuan 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.4

Objective: The present study is to analyze the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 2019) outbreak and the subsequent lockdown on the outcomes of spinal metastasis patients. Methods: The study was a retrospective analysis of data from a prospective cohort study. All patients underwent surgical intervention for spinal metastases between January 2019 and December 2021 and had at least 3 months of postoperative follow-up. The primary outcome was overall mortality during the 4 different stages (pre-COVID-19 era, COVID-19 pandemic except in Taiwan, national lockdown, lifting of the lockdown). The secondary outcomes were the oncological severity scores, medical/surgical accessibility, and patient functional outcome during the 4 periods as well as survival/mortality. Results: A total of 233 patients were included. The overall mortality rate was 41.20%. During the Taiwan lockdown, more patients received palliative surgery than other surgical methods, and no total en bloc spondylectomy was performed. The time from surgeon visit to operation was approximately doubled after the COVID-19 outbreak in Taiwan (75.97, 86.63, 168.79, and 166.91 hours in the 4 periods, respectively). The estimated survival probability was highest after the national lockdown was lifted and lowest during the lockdown. In the multivariate analysis, increased risk of mortality was observed with delay of surgery, with emergency surgery having a higher risk with delays above 33 hours, urgent surgery (below 59 and above 111 hours), and elective surgery (above 332 hours). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic and related policies have altered daily clinical practice and negatively impacted the survival of patients with spinal metastases.