Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2019-11-27"

Now showing 1 - 20 of 6391

A collective tracking method for preliminary sperm analysis
(2019-11-27)
Wei, Sung-Yang
;
Chao, Hsuan-Hao
;
Huang, Han-Ping
;
Hsu, Chang Francis
;
Li, Sheng-Hsiang
Background Total motile sperm count (TMSC) and curvilinear velocity (VCL) are two important parameters in preliminary semen analysis for male infertility. Traditionally, both parameters are evaluated manually by embryologists or automatically using an expensive computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) instrument. The latter applies a point-tracking method using an image processing technique to detect, recognize and classify each of the target objects, individually, which is complicated. However, as semen is dense, manual counting is exhausting while CASA suffers from severe overlapping and heavy computation. Methods We proposed a simple frame-differencing method that tracks motile sperms collectively and treats their overlapping with a statistical occupation probability without heavy computation. The proposed method leads to an overall image of all of the differential footprint trajectories (DFTs) of all motile sperms and thus the overall area of the DFTs in a real-time manner. Accordingly, a theoretical DFT model was also developed to formulate the overall DFT area of a group of moving beads as a function of time as well as the total number and average speed of the beads. Then, using the least square fitting method, we obtained the optimal values of the TMSC and the average VCL that yielded the best fit for the theoretical DFT area to the measured DFT area. Results The proposed method was used to evaluate the TMSC and the VCL of 20 semen samples. The maximum TMSC evaluated using the method is more than 980 sperms per video frame. The Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) between the two series of TMSC obtained using the method and the CASA instrument is 0.946. The PCC between the two series of VCL obtained using the method and CASA is 0.771. As a consequence, the proposed method is as accurate as the CASA method in TMSC and VCL evaluations. Conclusion In comparison with the individual point-tracking techniques, the collective DFT tracking method is relatively simple in computation without complicated image processing. Therefore, incorporating the proposed method into a cell phone equipped with a microscopic lens can facilitate the design of a simple sperm analyzer for clinical or household use without advance dilution.
Metronidazole versus lactic acid for treating bacterial vaginosis (VITA): protocol for a randomised controlled trial to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of topical lactic acid gel for treating second and subsequent episodes of bacterial vaginosis
(2019-11-27)
Armstrong-Buisseret, Lindsay
;
Brittain, Clare
;
David, Miruna
;
Dean, Gillian
;
Griffiths, Frances
Background Bacterial vaginosis (BV) affects 30-50% of women at some time in their lives and is an embarrassing and distressing condition which can be associated with potentially serious comorbidities. Current antibiotic treatments such as metronidazole are effective but can result in side effects, and recurrence is common. This trial aims to investigate whether lactic acid gel is clinically effective and cost effective in the treatment of recurrent BV compared with metronidazole. Methods VITA is an open-label, multicentre, parallel group randomised controlled trial for women with a clinical diagnosis of BV and at least one previous BV episode in the past 2 years. Participants will be randomised 1:1 to intravaginal lactic acid gel 5 ml once daily for 7 days or oral metronidazole tablets 400 mg twice daily for 7 days. All participants will be followed up for 6 months to assess health status and healthcare costs. A subgroup will be interviewed to further explore adherence, tolerability and acceptability of treatment. The estimated sample size is 1900 participants to detect a 6% absolute increase in response rate to 86% in those receiving lactic acid gel. The primary outcome is participant-reported resolution of BV at Week 2. Discussion Results from this trial will help inform UK treatment guidelines for BV and may provide an alternative effective treatment for recurrent episodes of this condition which avoids repeated exposure to antibiotics.
Intra-substance steroid injection for full-thickness supraspinatus tendon rupture
(2019-11-27)
Liu, Chung-Ting
;
Yang, Ten-Fang
;
交大名義發表
;
生物科技學院
;
National Chiao Tung University
Background The use of steroid injection for treatment of a full-thickness rotator cuff tear is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of this treatment method. Methods Twelve patients in Group 1 received an intra-substance injection into rupture area of supraspinatus tendon with Diprospan 1 cc (betamethasone disodium phosphate 2 mg and betamethasone dipropionate 5 mg) and 1% xylocaine 1 cc. Twelve patients in Group 2 received an injection with normal saline 1 cc and 1% xylocaine 1 cc. The rupture size was measured by sonography before the injection, 3 months after the injection, and 6 months after the injection. Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) score and Pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score were measured and compared between the two groups before the injection, 1 week after the injection, 3 months after the injection, and 6 months after the injection. Results Pain and function improved more in Group 1 than in Group 2. The therapeutic effect lasted for at least 6 months in both groups. The size of the supraspinatus tendon rupture was not increased after injection in either group. Conclusions Intra-substance injection into rupture area of supraspinatus tendon with steroid and xylocaine is effective to reduce pain and improve function in patients with full-thickness supraspinatus tendon rupture without increasing the size of the rupture.
A comprehensive framework of TDR landslide monitoring and early warning substantiated by field examples
(2019-11-28)
Chung, Chih-Chung
;
Lin, Chih-Ping
;
土木工程學系
;
Department of Civil Engineering
Due to the climate change and hazardous geological environment in Taiwan, real-time landslide monitoring for safety of adjacent tribes or infrastructures is much conspicuous. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) is considered as valuable technology for continuously capturing dynamics and locations of shear deformations with high temporal and spatial coverages. In this study, a comprehensive framework was proposed by integrating up-to-date procedure of installation guide, data acquisition, sliding deformation identification, and early warning processing. The advantages of the proposed framework were then examined and substantiated via field cases. The first case is at a large colluvium slope in Lushan, central Taiwan. The colluvium is still active after heavy rainfall events, but limited evidence of sliding characteristic was collected previously by manual inclinometer logging. Therefore, the TDR framework was deployed and multiple landslide surfaces at great depths were timely observed. Movement of colluvium mass was thereby interpreted as a buckling fold. Additionally, creep occurred among the colluvium layer during the monsoon season because of strength weakening influenced by pore pressure fluctuations. Monitoring results of the second landslide case in Jufan, northern Taiwan, reported the dynamics of a thin sliding plane captured with TDR high temporal resolution. This unique behavior was further applied for devising of a novel early-warning strategy in terms of time-variation of TDR response, validating that the comprehensive framework of TDR landslide can effectively contribute to early warning.
Screw-Dislocation-Driven Growth Mode in Two Dimensional GaSe on GaAs(001) Substrates Grown by Molecular Beam Epitaxy
(2019-11-28)
Nhu Quynh Diep
;
Liu, Cheng-Wei
;
Wu, Ssu-Kuan
;
Chou, Wu-Ching
;
Sa Hoang Huynh
Regardless of the dissimilarity in the crystal symmetry, the two-dimensional GaSe materials grown on GaAs(001) substrates by molecular beam epitaxy reveal a screw-dislocation-driven growth mechanism. The spiral-pyramidal structure of GaSe multi-layers was typically observed with the majority in epsilon-phase. Comprehensive investigations on temperature-dependent photoluminescence, Raman scattering, and X-ray diffraction indicated that the structure has been suffered an amount of strain, resulted from the screw-dislocation-driven growth mechanism as well as the stacking disorders between monolayer at the boundaries of the GaSe nanoflakes. In addition, Raman spectra under various wavelength laser excitations explored that the common epsilon-phase of 2D GaSe grown directly on GaAs can be transformed into the beta-phase by introducing a Se-pretreatment period at the initial growth process. This work provides an understanding of molecular beam epitaxy growth of 2D materials on three-dimensional substrates and paves the way to realize future electronic and optoelectronic heterogeneous integrated technology as well as second harmonic generation applications.
【DAAD德國留學暨獎學金說明會】
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
全新落成，醫學院國際交流中心正式揭幕
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
陽明近年積極致力於國際化，第一座專為國際生打造的全新空間──「醫學院國際交流中心」，11月25日正式揭幕，將提供更舒適現代的...
【校務研究專題演講】
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
【12月生技咖啡館】老頑童的創業之旅
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
【職場軟實力系列講座】醫藥生技產業趨勢&職務解析
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
截長補短～面對與跨越學習障礙
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
劉容孜
;
陽明電子報編輯小組
【職場軟實力系列講座】109年度高普考考試講座
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
走吧～來去交大草地音樂祭
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陳貞吟
;
連聖豪
;
蔣卉綺
;
顏良毅
;
陽明電子報編輯小組
交大邀請陽明同學參加一年一度的【清交草地音樂祭】活動
【探索大腦的奧秘系列工作坊Ⅴ】找回記憶中的你
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
台聯大高手齊聚陽明，師生盃桌球賽熱鬧開打
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
睽違三年，台灣聯合大學系統「師生盃桌球友誼賽」，今年再度輪由陽明主辦。四校共16支球隊，11月16日齊聚陽明活動中心二樓綜合球...
【台聯大溫世仁卓越學術講座】2016年諾貝爾化學獎得主演講
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
青春、活力、歡笑，第45屆校運美好封存
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
今年校運會可說是有史以來最冷的一次，強勁的東北季風不斷迎面襲來，綿綿細雨也幾乎整日不停。儘管風雨交加，海拔165公尺高的山頂...
【剪一顆詩宇宙】古國萱創作分享與剪紙工作坊
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
永不放棄，食安所鄭程日同學獲頒「抗癌鬥士」
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
從罹癌到雙腿髖骨頭壞死，走過三年多辛苦抗癌路，目前就讀於「食品安全及健康風險評估研究所」碩二的鄭程日同學，不但積極樂觀抗...
溫馨休憩空間，守仁樓教師休息室正式啟用
(國立陽明大學, 2019-11-29)
陽明電子報編輯小組
陽明的老師們，現在又多了一個休憩、交誼的空間喔！醫學院特地在守仁樓開闢了一個教師休息室──Medicine Faculty Lounge，11月14...