Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2014-01-08"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 27806

Broad Ranges and Fast Responses of Single-Component Blue-Phase Liquid Crystals Containing Banana-Shaped 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Cores
(2014-01-08)
Chiang, I-Hung
;
Long, Chun-Ji
;
Lin, Hsin-Chieh
;
Chuang, Wei-Tsung
;
Lee, Jey-Jau
In this study, we synthesized two novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole-based bent-core liquid crystals (OXD7*, OXD5B7F*) containing a chiral tail that display broad ranges of the blue phase III (34 and 7 K, respectively); we characterized them using polarized optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and circular dichroism. The electro-optical responses of both of these liquid crystals are much faster than those of previously reported single-component blue-phase liquid crystals. To optimize its electro-optical performance, we mixed OXD7* (the blue-phase range of which is broader than that of OXD5B7F*) with its analogue OXD6 (at weight ratios of 6:4 and 4:6). We also performed molecular modeling of single-component BPLCs (OXD7* and OXD5B7F*) to analyze the possible parameters affecting their blue phase ranges.
Overexpression of Endothelin 1 Triggers Hepatocarcinogenesis in Zebrafish and Promotes Cell Proliferation and Migration through the AKT Pathway
(2014-01-08)
Lu, Jeng-Wei
;
Liao, Chung-Yi
;
Yang, Wan-Yu
;
Lin, Yueh-Min
;
Jin, Shiow-Lian Catherine
Hepatocarcinogenesis commonly involves the gradual progression from hepatitis to fibrosis and cirrhosis, and ultimately to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Endothelin 1 (Edn1) has been identified as a gene that is significantly up-regulated in HBx-induced HCC in mice. In this study, we further investigated the role of edn1 in hepatocarcinogenesis using a transgenic zebrafish model and a cell culture system. Liver-specific edn1 expression caused steatosis, fibrosis, glycogen accumulation, bile duct dilation, hyperplasia, and HCC in zebrafish. Overexpression of EDN1 in 293T cells enhanced cell proliferation and cell migration in in vitro and xenotransplantation assays and was accompanied with up-regulation of several cell cycle/proliferation- and migration-specific genes. Furthermore, expression of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway-related mediators, such as spliced XBP1, ATF6, IRE1, and PERK, was also up-regulated at both the RNA and protein levels. In the presence of an EDN1 inhibitor or an AKT inhibitor, these increases were diminished and the EDN1-induced migration ability also was disappeared, suggesting that the EDN1 effects act through activation of the AKT pathway to enhance the UPR and subsequently activate the expression of downstream genes. Additionally, p-AKT is enhanced in the edn1 transgenic fish compared to the GFP-mCherry control. The micro RNA miR-1 was found to inhibit the expression of EDN1. We also observed an inverse correlation between EDN1 and miR-1 expression in HCC patients. In conclusion, our data suggest that EDN1 plays an important role in HCC progression by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway and is regulated by miR-1.
Realization of Metal-Insulator Transition and Oxidation in Silver Nanowire Percolating Networks by Terahertz Reflection Spectroscopy
(2014-01-08)
Tsai, Yao-Jiun
;
Chang, Chi-Ying
;
Lai, Yi-Chun
;
Yu, Pei-Chen
;
Ahn, Hyeyoung
Metal nanowires (NWs) enable versatile applications in printed electronics and optoelectronics by serving as thin and flexible transparent electrodes. The performance of metal NWs as thin electrodes is highly correlated to the connectivity of NW meshes. The percolation threshold of metal NW films corresponds to the minimum density of NWs to form the transparent, yet conductive metal NW networks. Here, we determine the percolation threshold of silver NW (AgNW) networks by using morphological analysis and terahertz (THz) reflection spectroscopy. From the divergent behavior of carrier scattering time and the increase of carrier backscattering factor, the critical NW density at which crossover from Drude to non-Drude behavior of THz conductivity occurs can be unambiguously determined for AgNW thin films. Furthermore, the natural oxidation of AgNWs which causes the gradual reduction of the connectivity of the AgNW network is also realized by the THz spectroscopy. The selective oxidation of NW-to-NW junctions weakens the ohmic contact, and for AgNWs near a critical density, it can even lead to metal insulator transition. The presented results offer invaluable information to accelerate the deployment of metal nanowires for next-generation electronics and optoelectronics on flexible substrates.
Evaluation of the Antitumor Effects of BPR1J-340, a Potent and Selective FLT3 Inhibitor, Alone or in Combination with an HDAC Inhibitor, Vorinostat, in AML Cancer
(2014-01-08)
Lin, Wen-Hsing
;
Yeh, Teng-Kuang
;
Jiaang, Weir-Torn
;
Yen, Kuei-Jung
;
Chen, Chun-Hwa
Overexpression or/and activating mutation of FLT3 kinase play a major driving role in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Hence, pharmacologic inhibitors of FLT3 are of therapeutic potential for AML treatment. In this study, BPR1J-340 was identified as a novel potent FLT3 inhibitor by biochemical kinase activity (IC50 approximately 25 nM) and cellular proliferation (GC(50) approximately 5 nM) assays. BPR1J-340 inhibited the phosphorylation of FLT3 and STAT5 and triggered apoptosis in FLT3-ITD+ AML cells. The pharmacokinetic parameters of BPR1J-340 in rats were determined. BPR1J-340 also demonstrated pronounced tumor growth inhibition and regression in FLT3-ITD+ AML murine xenograft models. The combination treatment of the HDAC inhibitor vorinostat (SAHA) with BPR1J-340 synergistically induced apoptosis via Mcl-1 down-regulation in MOLM-13 AML cells, indicating that the combination of selective FLT3 kinase inhibitors and HDAC inhibitors could exhibit clinical benefit in AML therapy. Our results suggest that BPR1J-340 may be further developed in the preclinical and clinical studies as therapeutics in AML treatments.
Ultrathin Oriented BiFeO3 Films from Deposition of Atomic Layers with Greatly Improved Leakage and Ferroelectric Properties
(2014-01-08)
Liu, Yen-Ting
;
Ku, Ching-Shun
;
Chiu, Shang-Jui
;
Lee, Hsin-Yi
;
Chen, San-Yuan
Highly (001)-oriented BiFeO3 ultrathin films of total thickness of less than 10 nm were deposited on Si(001) substrates via deposition of atomic layers (ALD) with a LaNiO3 buffer. A radio-frequency (RF)-sputtered sample of the same thickness was prepared for comparison. The ALD combined with interrupted flow and an exchange reaction between Bi and Fe precursors provides a superior method to grow ternary compounds. According to X-ray diffraction, upon deposition at a temperature of less than 550 degrees C, the only phase in the film was BiFeO3. Anomalous fine structure from synchrotron X-ray diffraction certified the valence bonding through the BiFeO3 (001) diffraction signal. The stoichiometric ratio of BiFeO3 obtained from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that ALD has a proportion much improved over the RF preparation, and this is also in agreement with the results for diffraction anomalous fine structure. The use of high-resolution transmission electron and atomic force microscopes showed that the layer structure and morphology from ALD presented a satisfactory coverage, more conformal than that with the RF method. The BiFeO3 thin film deposited with ALD shows excellent leakage, improved at least 1000 times with respect to the RF preparation, making this method suitable for the fabrication of ferroelectric random-access memory devices. From the hysteresis loop, the largest remanent polarization was observed as 2P(r) = 2.0 mu C cm(-2).
Identification and Chronological Analysis of Genomic Signatures in Influenza A Viruses
(2014-01-08)
Hu, Yuh-Jyh
;
Tu, Po-Chin
;
Lin, Chun-Sheng
;
Guo, Szu-Ting
;
分子醫學與生物工程研究所
An increase in the availability of data on the influenza A viruses (IAV) has enabled the identification of the potential determinants of IAV host specificity using computational approaches. In this study, we proposed an alternative approach, based on the adjusted Rand index (ARI), for the evaluation of genomic signatures of IAVs and their ability to distinguish hosts they infected. Our experiments showed that the host-specific signatures identified using the ARI were more characteristic of their hosts than those identified using previous measures. Our results provided updates on the host-specific genomic signatures in the internal proteins of the IAV based on the sequence data as of February 2013 in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Unlike other approaches for signature recognition, our approach considered not only the ability of signatures to distinguish hosts (according to the ARI), but also the chronological relationships among proteins. We identified novel signatures that could be mapped to known functional domains, and introduced a chronological analysis to investigate the changes in host-specific genomic signatures over time. Our chronological analytical approach provided results on the adaptive variability of signatures, which correlated with previous studies' findings, and indicated prospective adaptation trends that warrant further investigation.
Porous Inorganic Materials from Living Porogens: Channel-like TiO2 from Yeast-Assisted Sol-Gel Process
(2014-01-08)
Chang, Yi-Chun
;
Lee, Chi-Young
;
Chiu, Hsin-Tien
;
應用化學系
;
Department of Applied Chemistry
Vitality of yeast cells maintained in an aqueous sol-gel solution containing titanium tetraisopropoxide and glucose. The living cells and their metabolites acted as the porogens for a channel-like TiO2 precursor. Further processing of the precursor offered a channel-like meso/macroporous TiO2, a potential anode material for Li-ion battery.
Image Alignment for Tomography Reconstruction from Synchrotron X-Ray Microscopic Images
(2014-01-09)
Cheng, Chang-Chieh
;
Chien, Chia-Chi
;
Chen, Hsiang-Hsin
;
Hwu, Yeukuang
;
Ching, Yu-Tai
A synchrotron X-ray microscope is a powerful imaging apparatus for taking high-resolution and high-contrast X-ray images of nanoscale objects. A sufficient number of X-ray projection images from different angles is required for constructing 3D volume images of an object. Because a synchrotron light source is immobile, a rotational object holder is required for tomography. At a resolution of 10 nm per pixel, the vibration of the holder caused by rotating the object cannot be disregarded if tomographic images are to be reconstructed accurately. This paper presents a computer method to compensate for the vibration of the rotational holder by aligning neighboring X-ray images. This alignment process involves two steps. The first step is to match the "projected feature points" in the sequence of images. The matched projected feature points in the x-theta plane should form a set of sine-shaped loci. The second step is to fit the loci to a set of sine waves to compute the parameters required for alignment. The experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms two previously proposed methods, Xradia and SPIDER. The developed software system can be downloaded from the URL, http://www.cs.nctu.edu.tw/similar to chengchc/SCTA or http://goo.gl/s4AMx.
Protective effects of Zhibai Dihuang Wan on renal tubular cells affected with gentamicin-induced apoptosis
(2014-01-10)
Hsu, Yung-Ho
;
Chen, Tso-Hsiao
;
Wu, Mei-Yi
;
Lin, Yuh-Feng
;
Chen, Wen-Liang
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Zhibai Dihuang Wan (ZDW) is an ancient traditional Chinese medicine composed of eight herbal ingredients and has been used to treat chronic kidney inflammation and diabetes for thousands of years. Nonetheless, the influence of ZDW on acute kidney injury is still unknown. We intended to identify the influence of ZDW on cell growth and gentamicin-induced apoptotic injury in renal tubular cells. Materials and methods: We extracted ZDW with artificial intestinal fluid and treated rat renal tubular cells (NRK-52E) with various concentrations of the ZDW extraction. Cell proliferation and gentamicin-induced apoptosis of NRK-52E cells were evaluated using real-time proliferation monitoring and annexin V staining, respectively. Western blotting was used to evaluate the levels of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 expression. The effect of ZDW on gentamicin-induced kidney injury was also monitored in mice using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and the measurement of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Results: We found that 30 mu g/ml of ZDW promoted cell proliferation of the rat renal tubular cells. ZDW also expressed a dose-dependent protective effect against gentamicin-induced apoptosis in the cells. Pretreatment with 3 mu g/ml or 30 mu g/ml of ZDW maximally increased Bcl-2 and decreased cleaved caspase-3 in the gentamicin-treated NRK-52E cells. Among the herbal ingredients of ZDW, only Phellodendron amurense Rupr., bark (Cortex Phellodendri), and Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, rhizome inhibited both the gentamicin-induced Bcl-2 decrease and cleaved caspase-3 increase. Phellodendron amurense Rupr., bark and Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, rhizome also inhibited gentamicin-induced apoptosis at particular concentrations; however, these two ingredients were less effective than ZDW. In the mouse model of gentamicin-induced nephropathy, the ZDW treatment significantly reduced apoptotic cells in the renal cortex and improved renal function. Conclusions: Our results suggest that ZDW at adequate doses attenuates gentamicin-induced apoptotic injury in renal tubular cells and also protects kidneys from gentamicin-induced injury in mice. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
More on the one-dimensional sliding-coin puzzle
(2014-01-10)
Lin, Ting-Yu
;
Tsai, Shi-Chun
;
Tsai, Wen-Nung
;
Tsay, Jong-Chuang
;
資訊工程學系
Consider a line of n nickels and n pennies with all nickels arranged to the left of all pennies, where n >= 3. The puzzle asks the player to rearrange the coins such that nickels and pennies alternate in the line. In each move, the player is allowed to slide k adjacent coins to hew positions without rotating. We first prove that for any integer k >= 2 it takes at least n moves to achieve the goal. A well-known optimal solution for the case k = 2 matches the lower bound. We also give optimal solutions for the case k = 3. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
多平面掃描洩漏波天線
(2014-01-11)
張榮原
;
陳富強
一種多平面掃描洩漏波天線，包括基板、第一天線串列、第二天線串列與多個控制單元。第一天線串列與第二天線串列相互交叉設置，以共用多個天線單元中的一預設天線單元。部分天線單元從預設天線單元的一第一與一第二傳輸線向外串接而形成第一天線串列，其餘的天線單元從預設天線單元的一第三與一第四傳輸線向外串接而形成第二天線串列。控制單元用以控制第一至第四傳輸線與這些天線單元之間的傳輸路徑，並致使洩漏波束切換至不同的掃描平面，且洩漏波束透過這些天線單元而隨著頻率的變化來進行掃描。
照明控制模組、包含其之攝影機及照明控制方法
(2014-01-11)
莊仁輝
;
羅國華
;
洪邦展
本發明提供一種照明控制模組、包含其之攝影機及照明控制方法。根據本發明之攝影機包含一感光模組、一發光模組以及一照明控制模組。該感光模組可接收來自該攝影機之一攝影方向上之一反射光線，並產生該攝影方向上之一影像。該發光模組向該攝影方向發射一光線。此外，該照明控制模組連接該發光模組，用以控制該發光模組所發射之該光線週期性地自一第一亮度變化至一第二亮度。
流體式光波導元件及其形成方法
(2014-01-11)
范士岡
;
簡家齊
;
盧羿彣
本發明提供一種流體式光波導元件及其形成方法，其是在包層流體中，藉由施加電場方式，驅動纖核流體於電極上。由於纖核流體是被電場所定義，所以各種二維形狀之纖核液體皆可藉由施加電壓所在的電極圖形上形成。本發明之流體式光波導元件擁有流體界面較平滑的優點，而且穩定的纖核與包層流體會消除流體流動時所產生的散射損失。
高速升壓之充電泵電路
(2014-01-11)
陳建廷
;
趙昌博
;
邵啟意
在此揭露一種充電泵電路(charge pump circuit)，其包含輸入訊號、二極體、第一控制開關、第二控制開關與充電元件。二極體用於控制輸入訊號的正向充電而防止該控制訊號的逆向漏電。當輸入訊號為第一電壓位準時，第一控制開關為關閉(close)，而當輸入訊號為第二電壓位準時，第一控制開關為開啟(open)。當輸入訊號為第一電壓位準時，第二控制開關為開啟(open)，而當輸入訊號為第二電壓位準時，第二控制開關為關閉(close)。每個充電元件電性連接該二極體，當輸入訊號為第一電壓位準時，電元件為充電狀態，而當輸入訊號為第二電壓位準時，充電元件為放電狀態。此充電泵電路可在一工作週期內完成升壓輸出電壓N倍的工作，大幅縮短升壓的時間。
辨識電器狀態的電力監測裝置及其電力監測方法
(2014-01-11)
曹孝櫟
;
賴易聖
;
林明駿
;
陳勇旗
一種辨識電器狀態的電力監測裝置及其電力監測方法，電力監測裝置包括量測模組以及變化偵測與搜尋模組。量測模組測量電源的電耗特性，並且變化偵測與搜尋模組偵測並計算電耗特性的變化。當偵測到變化時，變化偵測與搜尋模組依據此變化來搜尋電器特徵資料庫，以取得對應此變化的電器及其電器狀態。電力監測裝置依據變化偵測與搜尋模組產生之電器變化資料，記載電器的狀態及記錄其耗電情形，並透過比對電器特徵資料庫得知一電器相對於其他相同電器或具備相同功能之其他電器運作是否有效率，以達到節能效果。
可交聯之富勒烯衍生物及其反式結構有機太陽能電池
(2014-01-11)
許千樹
;
鄭彥如
;
謝朝翔
;
李佩蓉
本發明揭露一種可交聯之富勒烯衍生物及其反式結構有機太陽能電池。此可交聯之富勒烯衍生物包含有一富勒烯本體、一橋接官能基及一可交聯官能基。橋接官能基係接合於富勒烯本體與可交聯官能基之間。富勒烯本體可包含碳六十或碳七十之富勒烯，而橋接官能基可包含環烷類(cyclic hydrocarbon)或雜環(heterocyclic ring)基團。可交聯官能基則可包含一熱交聯官能基或一光交聯官能基。
全晶片上寬工作電壓溫度製程電壓的感測系統
(2014-01-11)
陳璽文
;
張銘宏
;
謝維致
;
黃威
本發明提供一種全晶片上寬工作電壓溫度製程電壓的感測系統，其係設置於一晶片上，該感測系統包含：一電壓感測裝置、一製程感測裝置、及一溫度感測裝置。其中，溫度感測裝置包含：一偏壓電流產生器、一環形振盪器、一固定脈衝產生器、一及閘、及一第一計數器。偏壓電流產生器依據晶片之工作電壓，而產生一與溫度相關之輸出電流。環形振盪器由輸出電流而產生一振盪訊號，固定脈衝產生器產生固定寬度之一脈衝訊號。第一及閘連接至環形振盪器及固定脈衝產生器，以對振盪訊號及脈衝訊號執行邏輯及運算，以產生一溫度感測訊號。
具有感測生理狀態之決策支援系統
(2014-01-11)
蕭子健
;
李柏明
;
謝岱凌
一種具有感測生理狀態之決策支援系統，係由一資料庫儲存一基準生理資料及一決策歷史資料，將一感測模組套接在一人體身上，感測該人體之生理狀態後，產生一生理訊號，並傳送至一處理模組，該處理模組接收到該生理訊號，便自該資料庫讀取該基準生理資料及該決策歷史資料，將該生理訊號與該基準生理資料及該決策歷史資料進行一分析動作，以產生一分析結果，最後由一顯示模組將該分析結果予以顯示，提供一使用者在決策時參考，以做出正確之決策。
使用無源極和汲極接面場效電晶體之基本互補式邏輯閘之構造及其製造方法
(2014-01-11)
莊紹勳
;
謝易叡
本發明提出一種使用無源極、汲極接面之場效電晶體之基本互補式邏輯閘之構造及其製造方法，於半導體晶圓(wafer)上，形成無源極和汲極接面之N通道電晶體及無源極和汲極接面之P通道電晶體，在電晶體間以導電之連接結構互相連接，形成基本互補式邏輯閘(如inverter,NAND,NOR等邏輯閘)。
應用於駐極體揚聲器模擬平台之參數鑑別方法及其最佳化方法
(2014-01-11)
白明憲
;
王俊仁
;
姜達銘
;
林書如
本發明提供一種應用於駐極體揚聲器模擬平台之參數鑑別方法及其最佳化方法，駐極體揚聲器包含電系統、聲學系統及機械系統，可用機電聲類比電路來進行分析模擬。將電系統及聲學系統映射至機械系統中，將機械系統與聲學系統耦合成機-聲系統並簡化成二階系統，藉由將駐極體揚聲器置入氣密之測試箱中量測可求得機-聲系統之參數，代入機電聲類比電路中以建立完整的機電聲類比電路，其可作為駐極體揚聲器之模擬平台，以準確模擬出駐極體揚聲器的聲壓響應。本發明更提供將駐極體揚聲器之結構進行最佳化之方法，藉由調整結構特性以提升駐極體揚聲器之聲壓響應及工作頻寬。