Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2016-06-21"

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LiPISC: A Lightweight and Flexible Method for Privacy-Aware Intersection Set Computation
(2016-06-21)
Ren, Wei
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Huang, Shiyong
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Ren, Yi
;
Choo, Kim-Kwang Raymond
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資訊工程學系
Privacy-aware intersection set computation (PISC) can be modeled as secure multi-party computation. The basic idea is to compute the intersection of input sets without leaking privacy. Furthermore, PISC should be sufficiently flexible to recommend approximate intersection items. In this paper, we reveal two previously unpublished attacks against PISC, which can be used to reveal and link one input set to another input set, resulting in privacy leakage. We coin these as Set Linkage Attack and Set Reveal Attack. We then present a lightweight and flexible PISC scheme (LiPISC) and prove its security (including against Set Linkage Attack and Set Reveal Attack).
Electrically switchable organo-inorganic hybrid for a white-light laser source
(2016-06-21)
Huang, Jui-Chieh
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Hsiao, Yu-Cheng
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Lin, Yu-Ting
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Lee, Chia-Rong
;
Lee, Wei
We demonstrate a spectrally discrete white-light laser device based on a photonic bandgap hybrid, which is composed of a soft photonic crystal; i.e., a layer of dye-doped cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC), sandwiched between two imperfect but identical, inorganic multilayer photonic crystals. With a sole optical pump, a mono-, bi-, or tri-chromatic laser can be obtained and, through the soft photonic crystal regulated by an applied voltage, the hybrid possesses electrical tunability in laser wavelength. The three emitted spectral peaks originate from two bandedges of the CLC reflection band as well as one of the photonic defect modes in dual-mode lasing. Thanks to the optically bistable nature of CLC, such a white-light laser device can operate in quite an energy-saving fashion. This technique has potential to fulfill the present mainstream in the coherent white-light source.
Time-varying land subsidence detected by radar altimetry: California, Taiwan and north China
(2016-06-21)
Hwang, Cheinway
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Yang, Yuande
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Kao, Ricky
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Han, Jiancheng
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Shum, C. K.
Contemporary applications of radar altimetry include sea-level rise, ocean circulation, marine gravity, and icesheet elevation change. Unlike InSAR and GNSS, which are widely used to map surface deformation, altimetry is neither reliant on highly temporally-correlated ground features nor as limited by the available spatial coverage, and can provide long-term temporal subsidence monitoring capability. Here we use multi-mission radar altimetry with an approximately 23 year data-span to quantify land subsidence in cropland areas. Subsidence rates from TOPEX/POSEIDON, JASON-1, ENVISAT, and JASON-2 during 1992-2015 show time-varying trends with respect to displacement over time in California's San Joaquin Valley and central Taiwan, possibly related to changes in land use, climatic conditions (drought) and regulatory measures affecting groundwater use. Near Hanford, California, subsidence rates reach 18 cm yr(-1) with a cumulative subsidence of 206 cm, which potentially could adversely affect operations of the planned California High-Speed Rail. The maximum subsidence rate in central Taiwan is 8 cm yr(-1). Radar altimetry also reveals time-varying subsidence in the North China Plain consistent with the declines of groundwater storage and existing water infrastructure detected by the Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites, with rates reaching 20 cm yr(-1) and cumulative subsidence as much as 155 cm.
An Integrative Transcriptomic Analysis for Identifying Novel Target Genes Corresponding to Severity Spectrum in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
(2016-06-22)
Yang, Chung-Wei
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Chen, Chien-Lin
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Chou, Wei-Chun
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Lin, Ho-Chen
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Jong, Yuh-Jyh
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disease resulting from a recessive mutation in the SMN1 gene. This disease affects multiple organ systems with varying degrees of severity. Exploration of the molecular pathological changes occurring in different cell types in SMA is crucial for developing new therapies. This study collected 39 human microarray datasets from ArrayExpress and GEO databases to build an integrative transcriptomic analysis for recognizing novel SMA targets. The transcriptomic analysis was conducted through combining weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) for gene module detection, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for functional categorization and filtration, and Cytoscape (visual interaction gene network analysis) for target gene identification. Seven novel target genes (Bmp4, Serpine1, Gata6, Ptgs2, Bcl2, IL6 and Cntn1) of SMA were revealed, and are all known in the regulation of TNF alpha for controlling neural, cardiac and bone development. Sequentially, the differentially expressed patterns of these 7 target genes in mouse tissues (e.g., spinal cord, heart, muscles and bone) were validated in SMA mice of different severities (pre-symptomatic, mildly symptomatic, and severely symptomatic). In severely symptomatic SMA mice, TNF alpha was up-regulated with attenuation of Bmp4 and increase of Serpine1 and Gata6 (a pathway in neural and cardiac development), but not in pre-symptomatic and mildly symptomatic SMA mice. The severely symptomatic SMA mice also had the elevated levels of Ptgs2 and Bcl2 (a pathway in skeletal development) as well as IL6 and Cntn1 (a pathway in nervous system development). Thus, the 7 genes identified in this study might serve as potential target genes for future investigations of disease pathogenesis and SMA therapy.
An Initial Attack of Urinary Stone Disease Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Developing New-Onset Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Nationwide Population-Based Study
(2016-06-23)
Lei, Wei-Yuan
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Chang, Chih-Yu
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Wu, Jr-Hau
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Lin, Fei-Hung
;
Chen, Cheng Hsu
Background The neurotransmitter pathways in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and urinary stone attacks are both related to serotonin, and each disease may be influenced by viscero-visceral hyperalgesia. However, the relationship between urinary tract stone disease and IBS has never been addressed. We aimed to investigate the risk of suffering new-onset IBS after an initial urinary stone attack using a nationwide database. Methods A study group enrolled a total of 13,254 patients who were diagnosed with an initial urinary stone attack; a comparison group recruited 39,762 matched non-urinary stone participants during 2003 and 2007. We followed each patient for 3 years to determine new-onset IBS. We also used Cox proportional hazards models to analyze the risk of IBS between the study and comparison groups after modified by demographics, residence, patient characteristics and personal histories. Results The occurrence rates of IBS were 3.3% (n = 440) and 2.6% (n = 1,034) respectively in the study and comparison groups. A covariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of IBS in the study group that was 1.28 times greater (HR = 1.29, 95% CI, 1.15-1.44) than that in the comparison group was showed in the stratified Cox proportional analysis. The adjusted HRs of IBS did not decrease after considering demographics and past histories. The majority of IBS (30.5%) occurred within the first 6 months after the stone attack. Conclusion Patients with an initial urinary stone attack are at increased risk of developing new-onset IBS. The HRs of IBS did not decrease even after adjusting for patient demographics and past histories. Most importantly, 30.5% of IBS occurred within the first 6 months after the urinary stone attack.
Single-Tube Reaction Using Perfluorocarbons: A Prerequisite Step Leading to the Whole-Slide In Situ Technique on Histopathological Slides
(2016-06-23)
Chen, Yi-Chang
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Teng, Tsung-Han
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Tsai, Jane S. -C.
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Huang, Hsien-Da
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Chang, Yih-Leong
Developing a robust, novel method for performing multiple reactions in a single tube is not only time-and cost-saving but also critical for future high-throughput whole-slide in situ techniques on diseased tissues. In this study, we introduce the use of perfluorocarbons and compound-coated magnetic particles to create pseudochambers in a single tube, allowing different reactions to be performed in different phases. Perfluorocarbons also serve as cell lysis buffer and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) buffer owing to their highly penetrating, repellent and emulsifiable properties. Using this method, nucleic acids can be isolated and purified from various sample types and sizes, followed by PCR, real-time PCR, or multiplex PCR in the same tube. No incubation or enzyme digesting time is needed and the risk of cross-contamination is reduced. Tests can be performed in microemulsions (water-in-oil droplets) containing sequence-specific captures and probes for further high-throughput detection. We present a simple, quick, and robust procedure as a prerequisite step to future high-throughput in situ techniques.
Exploring in vivo cholesterol-mediated interactions between activated EGF receptors in plasma membrane with single-molecule optical tracking
(2016-06-24)
Lin, Chien Y.
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Huang, Jung Y.
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Lo, Leu-Wei
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光電工程學系
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田家炳光電中心
Background: The first step in many cellular signaling processes occurs at various types of receptors in the plasma membrane. Membrane cholesterol can alter these signaling pathways of living cells. However, the process in which the interaction of activated receptors is modulated by cholesterol remains unclear. Methods: In this study, we measured single-molecule optical trajectories of epidermal growth factor receptors moving in the plasma membranes of two cancerous cell lines and one normal endothelial cell line. A stochastic model was developed and applied to identify critical information from single-molecule trajectories. Results: We discovered that unliganded epidermal growth factor receptors may reside nearby cholesterol-riched regions of the plasma membrane and can move into these lipid domains when subjected to ligand binding. The amount of membrane cholesterol considerably affects the stability of correlated motion of activated epidermal growth factor receptors. Conclusions: Our results provide single-molecule evidence of membrane cholesterol in regulating signaling receptors. Because the three cell lines used for this study are quite diverse, our results may be useful to shed light on the mechanism of cholesterol-mediated interaction between activated receptors in live cells.
Suppression of photo-bias induced instability for amorphous indium tungsten oxide thin film transistors with bi-layer structure
(2016-06-27)
Liu, Po-Tsun
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Chang, Chih-Hsiang
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Chang, Chih-Jui
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光電工程學系
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Department of Photonics
This study investigates the instability induced by bias temperature illumination stress (NBTIS) for an amorphous indium-tungsten-oxide thin film transistor (a-IWO TFT) with SiO2 backchannel passivation layer (BPL). It is found that this electrical degradation phenomenon can be attributed to the generation of defect states during the BPL process, which deteriorates the photo-bias stability of a-IWO TFTs. A method proposed by adding an oxygen-rich a-IWO thin film upon the a-IWO active channel layer could effectively suppress the plasma damage to channel layer during BPL deposition process. The bi-layer a-IWO TFT structure with an oxygen-rich back channel exhibits superior electrical reliability of device under NBTIS. Published by AIP Publishing.
DDX3 Represses Stemness by Epigenetically Modulating Tumor-suppressive miRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
(2016-06-27)
Li, Hao-Kang
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Mai, Ru-Tsun
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Huang, Hsien-Da
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Chou, Chih-Hung
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Chang, Yi-An
Studies indicate that the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is responsible for poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. In this study, the functional role of DDX3 in regulation of hepatic CSCs was investigated. Our results demonstrated that reduced DDX3 expression was not only inversely associated with tumor grade, but also predicted poor prognosis of HCC patients. Knockdown of DDX3 in HCC cell line HepG2 induced stemness gene signature followed by occurrence of self-renewal, chemoreisistance, EMT, migration as well as CSC expansion, and most importantly, DDX3 knockdown promotes tumorigenesis. Moreover, we found positive correlations between DDX3 level and expressions of tumor-suppressive miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-122 and miR-145, but not miR-10b and miR-519a, implying their involvement in DDX3 knockdown-induced CSC phenotypes. In addition, DDX3 reduction promoted up-regulation of DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A), while neither DNMT3B nor DNMT1 expression was affected. Enriched DNMT3A binding along with hypermethylation on promoters of these tumor-suppressive miRNAs reflected their transcriptional repressions in DDX3-knockdown cells. Furthermore, individual restoration of these tumor-suppressive miRNAs represses DDX3 knockdown-induced CSC phenotypes. In conclusion, our study suggested that DDX3 prevents generation of CSCs through epigenetically regulating a subset of tumor-suppressive miRNAs expressions, which strengthens tumor suppressor role of DDX3 in HCC.
Observing Growth of Nanostructured ZnO in Liquid
(2016-06-28)
Hsieh, Ting-Huan
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Chen, Jui-Yuan
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Huang, Chun-Wei
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Wu, Wen-Wei
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材料科學與工程學系
Hydrothermal synthesis is commonly used to produce a large area of ZnO nanowires because of its simple and inexpensive process. However, the mechanism of hydrothermal synthesis remains unknown. In this work, zinc acetate and HMTA dissolved in deionized water as a precursor solution were sealed in a liquid cell for observation by in situ transmission electron microscopy. The growth of ZnO nanowires was classified into two steps. The first step was the nucleation and growth of ZnO nanoparticles. The ZnO nanoparticles grew as a result of either isotropic monomer attachment on the {2 (11) over bar0} and {0 (1) over bar 10} surfaces or coalescence of nanoparticles in the same crystal arrangement. The second step was the anisotropic growth of ZnO nanoparticles into nanowires on the (0001) surface. Because the (0001) surface is Zn-terminated with positive charges that can attract the negatively charged monomers, i.e., [Zn(OH)(4)](2-),the monomers tended to deposit on the (0001) surface, resulting in ZnO nanowires growing along the [0001] direction. Moreover, the growth of ZnO nanowires was identified to be a reaction controlled system. The direct observation of the dynamic process sheds light on the hydrothermal synthesis method.
Maximum likelihood detection for coded combinerless LINC-OFDM systems
(2016-06-29)
Wu, Wen-Rong
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Cheng, Sheng-Lung
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Hsu, Ying-Pei
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電信工程研究所
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Institute of Communications Engineering
Owning to the high peak-to-average power ratio problem, the power efficiency of orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing ( OFDM) systems is usually low. It deteriorates in millimeter wave systems in which the design of an efficient linear power amplifier is much more challenging. The linear-amplification-with-nonlinear-component ( LINC) technique can serve as a remedy, decomposing the input signal into two constant-envelop component signals followed by high-efficient nonlinear amplifiers. However, the power combiner, a key component used to combine the amplified signals, is difficult to implement. Combinerless LINC systems employ two transmit antennas such that two component signals can be naturally combined at the receiver. Unfortunately, the performance of combinerless LINC-OFDM systems is seriously degraded if difference, even small, exists between the two channels. The maximum likelihood ( ML) receiver can effectively solve the problem; however, its computational complexity is prohibitedly high. We propose a coded combinerless LINC-OFDM system, including a convolutional encoder and a list Viterbi algorithm ( LVA) decoder, to solve the problem. The LVA can provide a small number of candidates for the ML detector, dramatically reducing the required computational complexity. We also utilize an enhanced zero-forcing equalizer such that the soft-demapping operation can be effectively conducted. Finally, we propose a simple iterative interference cancellation scheme to further enhance the performance. Simulations show that the proposed combinerless LINC-OFDM system can outperform the conventional OFDM while the consumed power is much lower.
Spatial Control of Cell-Nanosurface Interactions by Tantalum Oxide Nanodots for Improved Implant Geometry
(2016-06-30)
Dhawan, Udesh
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Pan, Hsu An
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Lee, Chia Hui
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Chu, Ying Hao
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Huang, Guewha Steven
Nanotopological cues can be exploited to understand the nature of interactions between cells and their microenvironment to generate superior implant geometries. Nanosurface parameters which modulate the cell behavior and characteristics such as focal adhesions, cell morphology are not clearly understood. Here, we studied the role of different nanotopographic dimensions in modulating the cell behavior, characteristics and ultimately the cell fate and accordingly, a methodology to improve implant surface geometry is proposed. Tantalum oxide nanodots of 50, 100nm dot diameter with an inter-dot spacing of 20, 70nm and heights 40, 100nm respectively, were engineered on Silicon substrates. MG63 cells were cultured for 72 hours and the modulation in morphology, focal adhesions, cell extensible area, cell viability, transcription factors and genes responsible for bone protein secretion as a function of the nanodot diameter, inter-dot distance and nanodot height were evaluated. Nanodots of 50nm diameter with a 20nm inter-dot spacing and 40nm height enhanced cell spreading area by 40%, promoted cell viability by 70% and upregulated transcription factors and genes twice as much, as compared to the 100nm nanodots with 70nm inter-dot spacing and 100nm height. Favorable interactions between cells and all dimensions of 50nm nanodot diameter were observed, determined with Scanning electron microscopy and Immunofluorescence staining. Nanodot height played a vital role in controlling the cell fate. Dimensions of nanodot features which triggered a transition in cell characteristics or behavior was also defined through statistical analysis. The findings of this study provide insights in the parameters of nanotopographic features which can vitally control the cell fate and should therefore be taken into account when designing implant geometries.
Stark Spectroscopy of Rubrene. I. Electroabsorption Spectroscopy and Molecular Parameters
(2016-06-30)
Iimori, Toshifumi
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Ito, Ryuichi
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Ohta, Nobuhiro
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Nakano, Hideyuki
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應用化學系
Electroabsorption spectroscopy investigation and the determination of molecular parameters for rubrene dispersed in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix are reported. The features of the band system in the absorption spectrum in PMMA are analogous to those in solutions. The changes in the electric dipole moment and the polarizability between the excited and ground states are determined from analysis of the Stark effect in the absorption band. The change in the transition dipole moment in the presence of an external electric field is also observed. Although rubrene is predicted to be classified as a nonpolar molecule, there is a contribution of the difference in the electric dipole moment between the excited and ground states to the electroabsorption spectrum. The origin of the nonzero difference in the electric dipole moment is argued. Stark fluorescence spectroscopy investigation is reported in Part II of this series.
ZnO-Based Microcavities Sculpted by Focus Ion Beam Milling
(2016-06-30)
Chang, Tsu-Chi
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Hong, Kuo-Bin
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Lai, Ying-Yu
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Chou, Yu-Hsun
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Wang, Shing-Chung
We reported an easy fabrication method to realize ZnO-based microcavities with various cavity shapes by focused ion beam (FIB) milling. The optical characteristics of different shaped microcavities have been systematically carried out and analyzed. Through comprehensive studies of cathodoluminescence and photoluminescence spectra, the whispering gallery mode (WGM) was observed in different shaped microcavities. Up further increasing excitation, the lasing action was dominated by these WGMs and matched very well to the simulated results. Our experiment shows that ZnO microcavities with different shapes can be made with high quality by FIB milling for specific applications of microlight sources and optical devices.
在不同模式的電腦支援協作學習環境下，師培生理解教學理論層次之差異－以Blackboard和Knowledge Forum為例
(國立交通大學傳播與科技學系和台灣資訊社會研究學會, 2016-07)
林倍伊林顯達李佩蓉詹雯靜洪國財洪煌堯
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Pei-Yi Lin
;
Hsien-Ta Lin
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Pei-Jung Li
;
Wen-Ching Chan
本研究旨在探究如何運用電腦支援協作學習模式，瞭解師培生在不同的資訊學習環境下對教學專業理解之差異。本研究分析師培生在不同數位平台—黑板數位學習平台（Blackboard, BB）與知識論壇平台（Knowledge Forum, KF）—上的概念學習與理解情形。研究對象為某國立大學之49位學生，研究設計將學生分為使用BB組（N=25）與使用KF組（N=24）。研究資料包含學生在BB以及KF平台上的活動，以及學生的文章內容。主要研究結果如下：第一、兩組學生在相同教師及相同課程設計下，平台上的活動量大致相同，在總文章數和總文字數上沒有顯著差異，但在回文數上，BB組的學生比KF組的學生表現較佳。第二、在教育理論與教師專業概念的高層次理解層面上，KF組學生比BB組學生表現更佳。本研究根據上述結果，進一步討論在資訊社會的趨勢下，如何運用教學科技幫助師培生對教學專業理解之能力。
Calix[4]arenes with Combined Axial Chirality and Inherent Chirality: Synthesis, Absolute Configuration and Chiral Recognition
(2016-07-01)
Zhang, Wen-Zhen
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Ma, Hui
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Xiang, Guang-Ya
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Luo, Jun
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Chung, Wen-Sheng
Calix[4]arene diastereomeric pairs with combined axial chirality and inherent chirality were readily synthesized via monoalkylation of 1,2-substituted calix[4]arene crown-4 incorporating an axially chiral binaphthyl moiety with different electrophiles as a key step. The reaction showed high generality and distinct diastereoselectivity. The easy separation of the diaster-eomers, the good diastereoselectivity of the reaction, and the poor stereoselectivity of the chiral recognition of diastereomeric pairs were attributed to the remarkable steric effect of the axially chiral binaphthyl moiety. Absolute configurations were determined by X-ray crystallography.
Removal Efficiency of Bimodal PM2.5 and PM10 by Electret Respirators and Mechanical Engine Intake Filters
(2016-07)
Chen, Sheng-Chieh
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Chang, De-Qiang
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Pei, Chenxing
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Tsai, Chuen-Jinn
;
Pui, David Y. H.
As China is receiving an economic boom, PM (particulate matter) pollutions not only have become a serious regional problem but also frequently impacted its neighboring counties, e.g., Korea and Japan. In addition to its adverse effects on human health, the on-and off-road engines operated in ambient can also be affected. In this study, a simple system for generating simulated ambient bimodal PMs comprising fine (PM2.5), coarse (PM2.5-10) particles was developed for evaluating the initial efficiency of seven respirator and four engine intake filters. In addition to the size fractional efficiency curves for each filter media determined from the SMPS (scanning mobility particle sizer) and APS (aerodynamic particle sizer), both number and mass based efficiency of these filters for PM2.5, PM2.5-10 and PM10 were also obtained to evaluate their performances against ambient PM pollutions. Data showed that the engine intake filters had a low efficiency for both mass and number based PM2.5, which was only about 25-30%. However, there was a large difference between their number and mass based PM10 efficiency. The former was much lower than the latter because these filters are with high efficiency only for coarse particles. Besides, the most of particles in number was resided in the fine size range while the mass was in coarse size range. For the respirator filtration tests, results showed that most of them can effectively remove both PM2.5 and PM10, in which the mass efficiency was always higher than that of number. The PM2.5 number efficiency results showed there are three out of seven respirator filters are with N-95 rated level, in which the efficiency of their most penetrating particle size is higher than 95%. The current simple experimental system could be applied to examine different purpose filters which protect human health and outdoor engines against ambient PM2.5 and PM10.
Profile of achievement goals in mathematics: A two-year study with cognitive and affective outcomes
(2016-07-01)
Chen, Ssu-Kuang
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Lo, Meng-Ting
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Lin, Sunny S. J.
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教育研究所
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Institute of Education
【校友動態】夏日釣遊趣
(國立陽明大學牙醫校友會, 2016-07)
林培堯
Optimal Floating Gate Potential for Extending Data Retention of Post-Baking Method in Sub-20 nm Triple Level per Cell NAND Flash Memory
(2016-07)
Hsu, Yu-Cheng
;
Lin, Wei
;
Chang, Chun-Yen
;
電機學院
;
電子工程學系及電子研究所
A post-baking method with an optimized data pattern is developed to eliminate the program/erase (PE) cycle-induced damage of sub-20 nm NAND Flash memory and to improve its reliability. The electric field of the tunneling oxide (E-ox)-dependent oxide recovery is discussed in detail. The experimental results reveal that additional traps in the tunneling oxide are induced by the E-ox during the baking process via an electron-phonon interaction and the effectiveness of oxide recovery is reduced by the generation of these additional traps. Hence, the additional traps degrade the read margin and retention ability. Therefore, an optimized data pattern is produced to minimize E-ox and reduce the number of additional traps formed during the post-baking process. When the optimized data pattern is utilized in post-baking, the endurance of the sub-20 nm three-level-per-cell (TLC) NAND Flash memory is quadruple improved under one year retention condition.