Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2016-12-27"

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Interleukin-18 deteriorates Fabry cardiomyopathy and contributes to the development of left ventricular hypertrophy in Fabry patients with GLA IVS4+919 G>A mutation
(2016-12-27)
Chien, Yueh
;
Chien, Chian-Shiu
;
Chiang, Huai-Chih
;
Huang, Wei-Lin
;
Chou, Shih-Jie
Rationale: A high incidence of GLA IVS4+919 G>A mutation in patients with Fabry disease of the later-onset cardiac phenotype, has been reported in Taiwan. However, suitable biomarkers or potential therapeutic surrogates for Fabry cardiomyopathy (FC) in such patients under enzyme replacement treatment (ERT) remain unknown. Objective: Using FC patients carrying IVS4+919 G>A mutation, we constructed an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-based disease model to investigate the pathogenetic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in ERT-treated FC. Results and methods: The iPSC-differentiated cardiomyocytes derived from FC-patients (FC-iPSC-CMs) carried IVS4+919 G>A mutation recapitulating FC characteristics, including low a-galactosidase A enzyme activity, cellular hypertrophy, and massive globotriaosylceramide accumulation. Microarray analysis revealed that interleukin-18 (IL-18), a pleiotropic cytokine involved in various myocardial diseases, was the most highly upregulated marker in FC-iPSC-CMs. Meanwhile, IL-18 levels were found to be significantly elevated in the culture media of FC-iPSC-CMs and patients\' sera. Notably, the serum IL-18 levels were highly paralleled with the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy in Fabry patients receiving ERT. Finally, using FC-iPSC-CMs as in vitro FC model, neutralization of IL-18 with specific antibodies combined with ERT synergistically reduced the secretion of IL-18 and the progression of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in FC-iPSC-CMs. Conclusion: Our data demonstrated that cardiac IL-18 and circulating IL-18 are involved in the pathogenesis of FC and LVH. IL-18 may be a novel marker for evaluating ERT efficacy, and targeting IL-18 might be a potential adjunctive therapy combined with ERT for the treatment of advanced cardiomyopathy in FC patients with IVS4+919 G>A mutation.
Glucocorticoids may compromise the effect of gefitinib in non-small cell lung cancer
(2016-12-27)
Wang, Hsian-Yu
;
Chang, Yu-Ling
;
Cheng, Chun-Chun
;
Chao, Min-Wu
;
Lin, Su-I
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have shown remarkable benefits in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with drug-sensitive mutations in the EGFR gene. Responsive patients are usually continuously prescribed with TKIs until disease progression. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are potent homeostasis maintaining drugs and are frequently used in cancer patients to alleviate discomforts caused by anti-cancer therapies. Several previous studies reported that concomitant use of GCs may compromise the efficacy of chemo-therapeutics in patients with solid tumors. Little is known in the concomitant use of target therapy with GCs in treating NSCLC. In this study, we hypothesized that concomitant use of GCs in EGFR-TKI therapy may be detrimental and addressed this issue using cell cultures and xenograft studies followed by a retrospective population study based on data from the Taiwan national health insurance system. In cell cultures and xenograft studies, GCs were shown to unequally compromise the anti-cancer efficacy of TKIs in both PC9 and NCI-H1975 NSCLC cells models. In the retrospective population study, patients with similar disease status that were co-medicated with GCs had a significantly higher risk of disease progression.
Stepwise Structural Evolution of a DTS-F2BT Oligomer and Influence of Structural Disorder on Organic Field Effect Transistors and Organic Photovoltaic Performance
(2016-12-27)
Huang, Chi-Feng
;
Huang, Sin-Hong
;
Hsieh, Chou-Ting
;
Chao, Yi-Hsiang
;
Li, Chia-Hua
An A-D-A oligomer, DTS(F2BT)(2), was synthesized; its structural evolution was studied with DSC, POM, 2D-WAXD, and in-situ GI-XRD. The structural evolution of DTS(F2BT)(2) is stepwise and kinetically slow. Both rapid drying and the presence of PC71BM trapped DTS(F2BT)(2) in a less ordered nematic (N) phase. PDMS-assisted crystallization enabled a pristine DTS(F2BT)(2) thin film to attain a more ordered equilibrium phase, and enhanced the OFET mobility of DTS(F2BT)(2). In OPV devices, DIO additive drove the DTS(F2BT)(2) domains in the DTS(F2BT)(2):PC71BM blended film from the N phase toward the equilibrium phase, and resulted in enhanced OPV performances. These results reveal the slow ordering process of the A-D-A oligomer, and the importance of monitoring the degree of structural evolution of the active thin films in organic optoelectronics.
Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy of dimethyl-substituted Criegee intermediate (CH3)(2)COO
(2016-12-28)
Nakajima, Masakazu
;
Endo, Yasuki
;
應用化學系
;
Department of Applied Chemistry
Pure rotational transitions of the dimethyl-substituted Criegee intermediate (dimethyl carbonyl oxide, acetone oxide), (CH3)(2)COO, were observed in the discharge plasma of a C(CH3)(2)I-2/O-2 gas mixture by Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy. The observed spectra show small splittings due to the internal rotations of the two methyl groups. Precise rotational constants of the molecule and the barrier heights of the methyl internal rotations were experimentally determined. Published by AIP Publishing.
小檔案：花布的小秘密
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
嚴銘浩
店內不是任何東西都可以買，以這一件旗袍為例，因為是創辦人曾林美惠女士五十年前在日本留學的畢業作品，是鎮店之寶。
小檔案：耕山農創組織
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
王毓楷
耕山農創組織
小鎮知識的夢想萌芽地巷弄裡的瓦當人文書屋
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
吳哲夫
2013年，文化部透過文化創意產業圓夢計畫，對文化創意產業挹注資金。當年的220件的申請中，75件通過，獨立書店共有8件，瓦當人文書屋便是其一。陳晏華與丈夫Hamu都是愛書人，透過計畫順利獲得了50萬的創業基金，以人文書刊為主瓦當於是在當年9月誕生了。獨立書店出現的浪潮，面對的是實體書店衰微的趨勢。瓦當人文書屋步步探入社區，試圖在竹東當地找尋到自身定位。
在地商家進駐竹東動漫園區發揚本土竹東打造動漫魔法森林
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
陳咨諭
　2015年12月18日，位於竹東火車站旁的竹東動漫園區魔法森林正式開幕，是新竹縣政府規劃利用竹東火車站旁的展演空間打造動漫產業的基地，以「一線九驛夢工廠計畫」結合在地文化、動漫產業、生活創意，邀請國內外創作家進駐，更發包各式展覽、推廣在地企業，提升台灣軟實力與文化創意價值。
酒吧教室—桂花巷的由來
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
王毓楷
位在南庄十三間老街上的芳山農吧，顛覆一般人對於酒吧的認知，老闆娘芳芳表示農吧的由來，就是想把農業結合酒吧的形式用故事說給大家聽，「調酒是一個吸引人進來的方法，其實真正想傳達的是在地有什麼食材，把它融入調酒裡面的故事」。芳芳進而表示他們希望透過酒，向遊客機會教育南庄的特別之處，像是依季節提供不同種的調酒，甚至推出與當地歷史相關的種類，讓人知道究竟南庄有哪些食材與它們的特別之處，因此長期耕耘地方的耕山農創也常與芳山農吧合作舉辦活動。
METHOD FOR POST-AUTHENTICATING USER EQUIPMENT, CONTROLLER AND NETWORK SYSTEM
(2016-12-29)
Jyh-Cheng Chen
;
Jen-Shun Yang
;
Yi-Hao Lin
;
Shang-Chun Ou
A method for post-authenticating user equipment (UE), a controller and a network system are disclosed. The method includes: determining whether an external channel quality of at least one gateway is higher than a threshold when UE connects to an access point (AP) routed by the gateway; when the external channel quality is not higher than the threshold, authenticating the UE incompletely and controlling the AP to limit a network capability providing to the UE; estimating a future channel capacity of the gateway; calculating a priority weight of each UE; selecting candidate UE from the UEs according to the future channel capacity and the priority weight of each UE; arranging an authenticating mechanism for completely authenticating the candidate UE at a timing point corresponding to the future channel capacity.
Color Sequential Image Method and System Thereof
(2016-12-29)
Yi-Pai HUANG
;
Chi-Wen CHANG
;
Fang-Cheng LIN
;
Han-Ping SHIEH
;
Meng-Chao KAO
A color sequential image method for displaying images using two color fields includes analyzing and sorting percentages of a plurality of colors constituting an input color image, in which a first color possesses a most percentage, a second color possesses a middle percentage, and a third color possesses a third percentage. The method further includes forming a first color field image according to the first color and the third color, and a second color field image according to the second color and the third color.
Use of known compounds as d-amino acid oxidase inhibitors
(2016-12-29)
The invention utilizes virtual screening strategy to seek for current market drugs as anti-schizophrenia therapy drug repurposing. Drug repurposing strategy finds new uses other than the original medical indications of existing drugs. Finding new indications for such drugs will benefit patients who are in needs for a potential new therapy sooner since known drugs are usually with acceptable safety and pharmacokinetic profiles. In this study, repurposing marketed drugs for DAAO inhibitor as new schizophrenia therapy was performed with virtual screening on marketed drugs and its metabolites. The identified and available drugs and compounds were further confirmed with in vitro DAAO enzymatic inhibitory assay.
花布的另外一種美
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
嚴銘浩
在「保證責任苗栗縣手工業生產合作社-附設職業訓練中心」（合作社）多個面向的工作中，庇護性就業服務算是最特別的一環，因為所需要的心力都比較大。身心障礙者給一般人的刻板印象都是比較難相處的，合作社如何幫助他們呢?
舊文化新方向花花世界玩布工坊
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
陳咨諭
鳥聲啁啾、花團錦簇，周遭一片生機盎然，一幢童話故事中才會出現的蘑菇小屋隱身在竹東動漫園區內，這裡就是拼布達人鄧淑裕所創辦的──「花花世界玩布工坊」，也是自創立以來持續投入客家花布推廣的在地商家。
遊尞南庄尋訪耕山農創
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
王毓楷
由於社會企業並沒有明確的定義，多數人往往不清楚社會企業究竟代表的是什麼，尤其對僅短暫使用過組織服務的一般消費者而言，難以完全理解社會企業經營者的真正理想與抱負，唯有透過實地經驗與實際參與人的角度出發，才更能確立並體現社會企業的真正價值。
以心經營，多元發展，推廣客家保證責任苗栗縣手工業生產合作社-附設職業訓練中心
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
嚴銘浩
社會上有很多弱勢族群，直接的幫助可以短暫地解決他們的困難，但長遠的話就必需幫助他們以一己之力融入社會。位於苗栗縣竹南鎮的保證責任苗栗縣手工業生產合作社（簡稱合作社）藉由幫助弱勢族群發展長才，協助他們融入社會，長期的、根本的解決他們的生計問題。「合作社不是以盈利為目的，主要的重點是在於我們怎麼樣幫助弱勢的族群。」理事主席曾建龍說。
小檔案：玩布工坊的啟發與蘊含
(國立交通大學客家文化學院, 2016-12-29)
陳咨諭
1964年生於日本，回台長大又隨家人移民美國，在加州獲美術碩士，回台後從事美術相關工作。提倡當代藝術，認為藝術該與生活結合，最著名的作品即為大片的花布創作，在國外文化不斷侵入之時，將台灣傳統文化帶上國際，提升曝光度、知名度。
Design and optimization of a nanoprobe comprising amphiphilic chitosan colloids and Au-nanorods: Sensitive detection of human serum albumin in simulated urine
(2016-12-30)
Jean, Ren-Der
;
Larsson, Mikael
;
Cheng, Wei-Da
;
Hsu, Yu-Yuan
;
Bow, Jong-Shing
Metallic nanoparticles have been utilized as analytical tools to detect a wide range of organic analytes. In most reports, gold (Au)-based nanosensors have been modified with ligands to introduce selectivity towards a specific target molecule. However, in a recent study a new concept was presented where bare Au-nanorods on self-assembled carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan (CHC) nanocarriers achieved sensitive and selective detection of human serum albumin (HSA) after manipulation of the solution pH. Here this concept was further advanced through optimization of the ratio between Au-nanorods and CHC nanocarriers to create a nanotechnology-based sensor (termed CHC-AuNR nanoprobe) with an outstanding lower detection limit (LDL) for HSA. The CHC-AuNR nanoprobe was evaluated in simulated urine solution and a LDL as low as 1.5 pM was achieved at an estimated AUNR/CHC ratio of 2. Elemental mapping and protein adsorption kinetics over three orders of magnitude in HSA concentration confirmed accumulation of HSA on the nanorods and revealed the adsorption to be completed within 15 min for all investigated concentrations. The results suggest that the CHC-AuNR nanoprobe has potential to be utilized for cost-effective detection of analytes in complex liquids. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Improved measurement of the reactor antineutrino flux and spectrum at Daya Bay
(2017-01)
An, F. P.
;
Balantekin, A. B.
;
Band, H. R.
;
Bishai, M.
;
Blyth, S.
A new measurement of the reactor antineutrino flux and energy spectrum by the Daya Bay reactor neutrino experiment is reported. The antineutrinos were generated by six 2.9 GW(th) nuclear reactors and detected by eight antineutrino detectors deployed in two near (560 m and 600 m flux-weighted baselines) and one far (1640 m flux-weighted baseline) underground experimental halls. With 621 days of data, more than 1.2 million inverse beta decay (IBD) candidates were detected. The IBD yield in the eight detectors was measured, and the ratio of measured to predicted flux was found to be 0.946 +/- 0.020 (0.992 +/- 0.021) for the Huber+Mueller (ILL+Vogel) model. A 2.9 sigma deviation was found in the measured IBD positron energy spectrum compared to the predictions. In particular, an excess of events in the region of 4-6 MeV was found in the measured spectrum, with a local significance of 4.4 sigma. A reactor antineutrino spectrum weighted by the IBD cross section is extracted for model-independent predictions.
Design of light guide sleeve on hyperspectral imaging system for skin diagnosis
(2017-01-01)
Yan, Yung-Jhe
;
Chang, Chao-Hsin
;
Huang, Ting-Wei
;
Chiang, Hou-Chi
;
Wu Jeng-Fu
A hyperspectral imaging system is proposed for early study of skin diagnosis. A stable and high hyperspectral image quality is important for analysis. Therefore, a light guide sleeve (LGS) was designed for the embedded on a hyperspectral imaging system. It provides a uniform light source on the object plane with the determined distance. Furthermore, it can shield the ambient light from entering the system and increasing noise. For the purpose of producing a uniform light source, the LGS device was designed in the symmetrical double-layered structure. It has light cut structures to adjust distribution of rays between two layers and has the Lambertian surface in the front-end to promote output uniformity. In the simulation of the design, the uniformity of illuminance was about 91.7%. In the measurement of the actual light guide sleeve, the uniformity of illuminance was about 92.5%.