National Cheng Kung University

About: National Cheng Kung University is a education organization based out in Tainan City, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Thin film. The organization has 49723 authors who have published 69799 publications receiving 1437420 citations. The organization is also known as: NCKU.

Amelioration of collagen-induced arthritis in rats by Nanogold

Abstract: Objective Angiogenesis plays a part in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and nanogold inhibits the activity of an angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). We therefore investigated whether intraarticular delivery of nanogold ameliorates collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in rats. Methods Binding of 13-nm nanogold to VEGF in human RA synovial fluid (SF) and its effects on RA SF–induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration were assessed. Nanogold was administered intraarticularly to rats with CIA before the onset of arthritis. Progression of CIA was monitored by measures of clinical, radiologic, and histologic changes. In addition, the microvessel density and extent of infiltrating macrophages as well as levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the ankle joints were determined. Results Nanogold bound to VEGF in RA SF, resulting in inhibition of RA SF–induced endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Significant reductions in ankle circumference, articular index scores, and radiographic scores were observed in the nanogold-treated rats with CIA compared with their control counterparts. In addition, the histologic score (of synovial hyperplasia, cartilage erosion, and leukocyte infiltration), microvessel density, macrophage infiltration, and levels of TNFα and IL-1β were also significantly reduced in the ankle joints of nanogold-treated rats. Conclusion Our results are the first to demonstrate that intraarticular administration of nanogold ameliorates the clinical course of CIA in rats. Nanogold exerted antiangiogenic activities and subsequently reduced macrophage infiltration and inflammation, which resulted in attenuation of arthritis. These results demonstrate proof of principle for the use of nanogold as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of RA.

Pattern discovery of fuzzy time series for financial prediction

Abstract: A fuzzy time series data representation method based on the Japanese candlestick theory is proposed and used in assisting financial prediction. The Japanese candlestick theory is an empirical model of investment decision. The theory assumes that the candlestick patterns reflect the psychology of the market, and the investors can make their investment decision based on the identified candlestick patterns. We model the imprecise and vague candlestick patterns with fuzzy linguistic variables and transfer the financial time series data to fuzzy candlestick patterns for pattern recognition. A fuzzy candlestick pattern can bridge the gap between the investors and the system designer because it is visual, computable, and modifiable. The investors are not only able to understand the prediction process, but also to improve the efficiency of prediction results. The proposed approach is applied to financial time series forecasting problem for demonstration. By the prototype system which has been established, the investment expertise can be stored in the knowledge base, and the fuzzy candlestick pattern can also be identified automatically from a large amount of the financial trading data.

Reemergence of Enterovirus 71 in 2008 in Taiwan: Dynamics of Genetic and Antigenic Evolution from 1998 to 2008

Abstract: In recent years, enterovirus 71 (EV71) has been a cause of numerous outbreaks of hand-foot-and-mouth disease, with severe neurological complications in the Asia-Pacific region. The reemergence in Taiwan of EV71 genotype B5 in 2008 resulted in the largest outbreak of EV71 in Taiwan in the past 11 years. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that dominant genotype changes from B to C or C to B occurred at least three times between 1986 and 2008. Furthermore, antigenic cartography of EV71 by using neutralization tests revealed that the reemerging EV71 genotype B5 strains formed a separate cluster which was antigenically distinct from the B4 and C genotypes. Moreover, analyses of full-length genomic sequences of EV71 circulating in Taiwan during this period showed the occurrence of intra- and interserotypic recombination. Therefore, continuous surveillance of EV71 including the monitoring of genetic evolution and antigenic changes is recommended and may contribute to the development of a vaccine for EV71.

Preparation of Au/Pt Bimetallic Nanoparticles in Water-in-Oil Microemulsions

Abstract: The preparation and characterization of bimetallic nanoparticles at various molar ratios of Au/Pt by the coreduction of chloroauric and chloroplatinic acid with hydrazine in the water-in-oil microemulsions of water/AOT/isooctane at 25 °C were described The Au/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles prepared using feeding solutions with the concentration ratios of [HAuCl4]/[H2PtCl6] = 9/1−1/9 essentially were monodispersed and had mean diameters of 3−45 nm Both the UV/vis absorption spectra and XRD patterns of the bimetallic systems and the physical mixtures of individual metallic nanoparticles suggested the formation of bimetallic nanoparticles The EDX analysis on individual particles confirmed the presence of two metals in a particle It was indicated that the composition for each particle was roughly consistent with that of the feeding solution The XPS analysis showed that the resultant Au/Pt bimetallic nanoparticles had a structure of Au-core/Pt-shell and their surface composition varied linearly with that of