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Pan SH, Sun YH, Tzeng HY, Rodriguez LJ, Bain A. First Evidence of Thalassochory in the Ficus Genus: Seed Dispersal Using the Kuroshio Oceanic Current. Plants (Basel) 2024; 13:1398. [PMID: 38794468 DOI: 10.3390/plants13101398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
AIM Plants distributed between southern Taiwan and the north of the Philippines are spread among numerous small islands in an area crossed by the powerful Kuroshio current. Oceanic currents can be effective seed-dispersal agents for coastal plant species. Moreover, the Luzon Strait is an area prone to tropical cyclones. The aim of this study is to look at the dispersal capability of an endangered coastal plant species, the Mearns fig (Ficus pedunculosa var. mearnsii), using both experimental and population genetics methods. LOCATION Southern Taiwan, the Philippines, and the islands between Luzon and Taiwan Island. METHODS This study combined two types of analysis, i.e., buoyancy experiments on syconia and double digest restriction-associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD), to analyze the population genetics of the Mearns fig. RESULTS We first discovered that mature Mearns fig syconia could float in seawater. They have a mean float duration of 10 days to a maximum of 21 days. Germination rates varied significantly between Mearns fig seeds that had undergone different durations of flotation treatment. Population genetic analysis shows a high degree of inbreeding among various Mearns fig populations. Moreover, no isolation by distance was found between the populations and individuals. MAIN CONCLUSIONS From our analysis of the genetic structure of the Mearns fig populations, we can clearly highlight the effect of the Kuroshio oceanic current on the seed dispersal of this fig tree. Comprehensive analysis has shown that Mearns fig seeds are still viable before the mature syconium sinks into the seawater, and so they could use the Kuroshio Current to float to the current population locations in Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Hung Pan
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, 250 Kuokwang Road, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Hsuan Sun
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, 250 Kuokwang Road, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Hsy-Yu Tzeng
- Department of Forestry, National Chung-Hsing University, 250 Kuokwang Road, Taichung 40227, Taiwan
| | - Lillian Jennifer Rodriguez
- Institute of Biology, National Science Complex, College of Science, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101, Philippines
| | - Anthony Bain
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lienhai Rd., Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
- International Ph.D. Program for Science, National Sun Yat-Sen University, 70 Lienhai Rd., Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
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Wu KW, Yu CH, Huang TH, Lu SH, Tsai YL, Wang TM, Lu TW. Children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy display specific kinematic strategies during obstacle-crossing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17094. [PMID: 37816796 PMCID: PMC10564917 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44270-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness with increased neuromechanical challenge and fall risks, especially during obstructed locomotion. This study aimed to identify the kinematic strategies for obstacle-crossing in DMD via synthesizing the changes in the joint kinematics and associated end-point control. Fourteen boys with DMD (age: 9.0 ± 2.5 years) and fourteen typically developed controls (age: 9.0 ± 2.8 years) each crossed obstacles of three different heights (10%, 20% and 30% of leg length) while the angular motions of the trunk-pelvis-leg apparatus and foot-obstacle clearances were measured. Two-way analyses of variance were used to analyze group and obstacle height effects. Compared to the controls, the DMD group crossed obstacles with significantly increased step width, but decreased crossing speed, crossing step length, trailing toe-obstacle clearance and leading heel-obstacle horizontal distance (p < 0.05). When the leading toe was above the obstacle, the patients showed significantly increased pelvic hiking, pelvic and trunk anterior tilt and ankle plantarflexion, but decreased hip flexion in both limbs (p < 0.05). Similar kinematic changes were found during trailing-limb crossing, except for an additional increase in swing-hip abduction and decrease in contralateral trunk side-bending and stance-knee flexion. Patients with DMD crossed obstacles via a specific kinematic strategy with altered end-point control, predisposing them to a greater risk of tripping during trailing-limb crossing. These results suggest that crossing kinematics in DMD should be monitored-especially in the proximal segments of the pelvis-leg apparatus-that may lead to an increased risk of falling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuan-Wen Wu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Cheng-Hao Yu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tse-Hua Huang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shiuan-Huei Lu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Lin Tsai
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ting-Ming Wang
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tung-Wu Lu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
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Wang RH, Kao CC, Su YC, Chen SY, Hsu HC, Lu CH, Jone KY. Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self-management Scale: Development and psychometric testing. J Adv Nurs 2023; 79:4034-4043. [PMID: 37259482 DOI: 10.1111/jan.15723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To develop and psychometrically test Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self-management Scale in people with type 2 diabetes. DESIGN Cross-sectional design. METHODS Based on literature reviews and examination by experts, a 20-item scale was developed and administered to 350 participants with type 2 diabetes who were enrolled from two endocrine clinics by convenience sampling in Taiwan. Item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), concurrent and predictive validity as well as reliability were used to examine the psychometric characteristics of the scale. Data were collected from November 2021 to March 2022. RESULTS EFA and CFA supported a 12-item scale with three factors, namely learning proactively, taking on challenges and thinking positively, fit the data well. The total score of the 12-item scale significantly and positively correlated with diabetes-specific quality of life, and significantly and negatively correlated with baseline and 9-month haemoglobin A1c levels. Cronbach's α for overall scale and subscales ranged between .78 and .91. CONCLUSION The 12-item Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self-management Scale demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability in people with type 2 diabetes. IMPACT Nurses could apply this new scale to identify the degree of using character strengths in self-management in people with type 2 diabetes; accordingly, character strength-based interventions could be provided to improve self-management in such patients with diabetes. Furthermore, the 12-item Character Strengths Use in Diabetes Self-management Scale has the potential to be used to measure the effectiveness of strength-based interventions in people with Type 2 diabetes. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION Five patients with type 2 diabetes were invited to take the original 20-item scale to evaluate the clarity, readability and comprehensiveness of the 20 items.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruey-Hsia Wang
- College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chan Kao
- School of Nursing, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Su
- College of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shi-Yu Chen
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Chieh-Hua Lu
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuen-Yung Jone
- School of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Lo J, Wu HE, Liu CC, Chang KC, Lee PY, Liu PL, Huang SP, Wu PC, Lin TC, Lai YH, Chang YC, Chen YR, Lee SI, Huang YK, Wang SC, Li CY. Nordalbergin Exerts Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects by Attenuating MAPK Signaling Pathway, NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and ROS Production in LPS-Stimulated BV2 Microglia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087300. [PMID: 37108458 PMCID: PMC10138998 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia-associated neuroinflammation is recognized as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases; however, there is no effective treatment for the blockage of neurodegenerative disease progression. In this study, the effect of nordalbergin, a coumarin isolated from the wood bark of Dalbergia sissoo, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses was investigated using murine microglial BV2 cells. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay, whereas nitric oxide (NO) production was analyzed using the Griess reagent. Secretion of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) was detected by the ELISA. The expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and NLRP3 inflammasome-related proteins was assessed by Western blot. The production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular ROS was detected using flow cytometry. Our experimental results indicated that nordalbergin ≤20 µM suppressed NO, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β production; decreased iNOS and COX-2 expression; inhibited MAPKs activation; attenuated NLRP3 inflammasome activation; and reduced both intracellular and mitochondrial ROS production by LPS-stimulated BV2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that nordalbergin exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities through inhibiting MAPK signaling pathway, NLRP3 inflammasome activation and ROS production, suggesting that nordalbergin might have the potential to inhibit neurodegenerative disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung Lo
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-En Wu
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Chih Liu
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Che Chang
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Center of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Po-Yen Lee
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Po-Len Liu
- Department of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Pin Huang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chang Wu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Chieh Lin
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Hung Lai
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Yo-Chen Chang
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Yuan-Ru Chen
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-I Lee
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Kai Huang
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Chi Wang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yang Li
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed critical knowledge gaps in our understanding of and a need to update the traditional view of transmission pathways for respiratory viruses. The long-standing definitions of droplet and airborne transmission do not account for the mechanisms by which virus-laden respiratory droplets and aerosols travel through the air and lead to infection. In this Review, we discuss current evidence regarding the transmission of respiratory viruses by aerosols-how they are generated, transported, and deposited, as well as the factors affecting the relative contributions of droplet-spray deposition versus aerosol inhalation as modes of transmission. Improved understanding of aerosol transmission brought about by studies of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection requires a reevaluation of the major transmission pathways for other respiratory viruses, which will allow better-informed controls to reduce airborne transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia C Wang
- Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 804, Republic of China.
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Aerosol Science Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 804, Republic of China
- Department of Chemistry, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 804, Republic of China
| | - Kimberly A Prather
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
| | - Josué Sznitman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Jose L Jimenez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
- Department of Chemistry and CIRES, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
| | - Seema S Lakdawala
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA
| | - Zeynep Tufekci
- School of Information and Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Linsey C Marr
- Aerosol Science Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 804, Republic of China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
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Hsu CC, Huang YK, Kang JH, Ko YF, Liu CW, Jaw FS, Chen SC. Novel design for a dynamic ankle foot orthosis with motion feedback used for training in patients with hemiplegic gait: a pilot study. J Neuroeng Rehabil 2020; 17:112. [PMID: 32811516 PMCID: PMC7433152 DOI: 10.1186/s12984-020-00734-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We designed a novel ankle foot orthosis (AFO), namely, ideal training AFO (IT-AFO), with motion feedback on the hemiparetic lower limb to improve ambulation in individuals with stroke-related hemiplegia. We, therefore sought to compare the kinematic parameters of gait between IT-AFO with and without dynamic control and conventional anterior-type AFO or no AFO. METHODS Gait parameters were measured using the RehaWatch® system in seven individuals with hemiplegia (mean 51.14 years). The parameters were compared across four conditions: no AFO, conventional anterior AFO, IT-AFO without dynamic control, and IT-AFO with dynamic control, with three trials of a 10-m walk test for each. RESULTS The dorsiflexion angle increased during the swing phase when the IT-AFO was worn, and it was larger with dynamic control. These data can confirm drop foot improvement; however, the difference between the parameters with- and without-AFO control conditions was not significant in the swing phase. The IT-AFO with or without dynamic control enhanced the loading response to a greater extent between the hemiparetic and unaffected lower limbs than conventional AFO or no AFO. The duration of the stance phase on the hemiparetic lower limb was also longer when using IT-AFO with and without dynamic control than that when using conventional AFO, which improved asymmetry. User comfort and satisfaction was greater with IT-AFO than with the other conditions. CONCLUSIONS The IT-AFO with dynamic control improved gait pattern and weight shifting to the hemiparetic lower limb, reducing gait asymmetry. The difference with and without dynamic control of IT-AFO is not statistically significant, and it is limited by sample size. However, this study shows the potential of IT-AFO in applying positive motion feedback with gait training. TRIAL REGISTRATION Taipei Medical University-Joint Institutional Review Board. N201510010 . Registered 12 February 2015. http://ohr.tmu.edu.tw/main.php .
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chao Hsu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yin-Kai Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wuxing St., Xinyi Dist, Taipei City, 110, Taiwan
| | - Jiunn-Horng Kang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wuxing St., Xinyi Dist, Taipei City, 110, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Feng Ko
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Liu
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Shan Jaw
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Ching Chen
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wuxing St., Xinyi Dist, Taipei City, 110, Taiwan.
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Hu HF, Chang YP, Lin C, Yen CF. Quality of life of gay and bisexual men during emerging adulthood in Taiwan: Roles of traditional and cyber harassment victimization. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213015. [PMID: 30818330 PMCID: PMC6394984 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined factors related to the quality of life (QOL) of gay and bisexual men during emerging adulthood in Taiwan. The factors included traditional harassment (e.g., verbal ridicule, relational exclusion, physical aggression, and theft of belongings), cyber harassment, sex- and gender-related factors (e.g., sexual orientation, age at initial identification of sexual orientation, self-reported level of gender nonconformity, and perceived social acceptance toward homosexuality and bisexuality), and demographic characteristics. In total, 305 Taiwanese gay and bisexual men, aged 20-25 years, were recruited. Their QOL, traditional harassment, and cyber harassment data were collected using the World Health Organization Questionnaire on Quality of Life: Short Form, School Bullying Experience Questionnaire, and Cyberbullying Experiences Questionnaire, respectively. In total, 60.3%, 34.4%, 28.2%, and 29.5% of the participants reported experiencing traditional harassment, cyber harassment, traditional harassment across multiple contexts, and harassment in multiple forms, respectively. Both traditional and cyber harassment were significantly associated with lower QOL. Individuals who experienced traditional harassment across multiple contexts and harassment in multiple forms had lower QOL in nearly all domains than did individuals who had experienced traditional harassment in a single context and harassment of a single form. However, the QOL did not significantly differ between individuals who had experienced traditional harassment in a single context and nonvictims nor between individuals who had experienced harassment of a single form and nonvictims. Lower education level, older age at initial identification of sexual orientation, higher perception of gender nonconformity, and lower perceived social acceptance toward homosexuality and bisexuality were significantly associated with lower QOL. Clinical and public health professionals should consider these factors when developing programs to enhance the QOL of gay and bisexual men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huei-Fan Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Tainan Municipal Hospital (Managed by Show Chwan Medical Care Corporation), Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ping Chang
- School of Nursing, The State University of New York, University at Buffalo, New York, United States of America
| | - Chienho Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, Chimei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (CFY); (CL)
| | - Cheng-Fang Yen
- Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
- * E-mail: (CFY); (CL)
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Kao CF, Chiou HY, Chang YC, Hsueh CS, Jeng CR, Tsai PS, Cheng IC, Pang VF, Chang HW. The Characterization of Immunoprotection Induced by a cDNA Clone Derived from the Attenuated Taiwan Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Pintung 52 Strain. Viruses 2018; 10:E543. [PMID: 30287770 PMCID: PMC6213177 DOI: 10.3390/v10100543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) poses a great threat to the global swine industries and the unreliable protection induced by the currently available vaccines remains a major challenge. We previously generated a genogroup 2b (G2b) PEDV Taiwan Pintung 52 (PEDVPT) strain, PEDVPT-P96, and determined its promising host immune response against the virulent PEDVPT-P5 strain. To study the attenuation determinants of PEDVPT-P96 and establish a PEDVPT-P96-based recombinant vector as a vaccine platform for further antigenicity modification, iPEDVPT-P96, a full-length cDNA clone of PEDVPT-P96, was established. Comparing to the parental PEDVPT-P96 virus, the iPEDVPT-P96 virus showed efficient replication kinetics with a delayed decline of viral load and similar but much more uniform plaque sizes in Vero cells. In the 5-week-old piglet model, fecal viral shedding was observed in the PEDVPT-P96-inoculated piglets, whereas those inoculated with iPEDVPT-P96 showed neither detectable fecal viral shedding nor PEDV-associated clinical signs. Moreover, inoculation with iPEDVPT-P96 elicited comparable levels of anti-PEDV specific plasma IgG and fecal/salivary IgA, neutralizing antibody titers, and similar but less effective immunoprotection against the virulent PEDVPT-P5 challenge compared to the parental PEDVPT-P96. In the present study, an infectious cDNA clone of an attenuated G2b PEDV strain was successfully generated for the first time, and the in vitro and in vivo data indicate that iPEDVPT-P96 is further attenuated but remains immunogenic compared to its parental PEDVPT-P96 viral stock. The successful development of the iPEDVPT-P96 cDNA clone could allow for the manipulation of the viral genome to study viral pathogenesis and facilitate the rapid development of effective vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Fei Kao
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Hue-Ying Chiou
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, 250 Kuo Kuang Rd, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
| | - Yen-Chen Chang
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Shun Hsueh
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Chian-Ren Jeng
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Pei-Shiue Tsai
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Ivan-Chen Cheng
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Victor Fei Pang
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
| | - Hui-Wen Chang
- School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
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Abstract
Smartphones have become the major communication and portable computing devices that access the Internet through Wi-Fi or mobile networks. Unfortunately, users without a mobile data subscription can only access the Internet at limited locations, such as hotspots. In this paper, we propose a collaborative bandwidth sharing protocol (CBSP) built on top of MultiPath TCP (MPTCP). CBSP enables users to buy bandwidth on demand from neighbors (called Helpers) and uses virtual interfaces to bind the subflows of MPTCP to avoid modifying the implementation of MPTCP. However, although MPTCP provides the required multi-homing functionality for bandwidth sharing, the current packet scheduling in collaborative MPTCP (e.g., Co-MPTCP) leads to the so-called biased-feeding problem. In this problem, the fastest link might always be selected to send packets whenever it has available cwnd, which results in other links not being fully utilized. In this work, we set out to design an algorithm, called Scheduled Window-based Transmission Control (SWTC), to improve the performance of packet scheduling in MPTCP, and we perform extensive simulations to evaluate its performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Hsun Tsai
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Ming Chou
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kun-chan Lan
- Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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Robalino J, Wilkins B, Bracken-Grissom HD, Chan TY, O’Leary MA. The Origin of Large-Bodied Shrimp that Dominate Modern Global Aquaculture. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0158840. [PMID: 27415002 PMCID: PMC4945062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several shrimp species from the clade Penaeidae are farmed industrially for human consumption, and this farming has turned shrimp into the largest seafood commodity in the world. The species that are in demand for farming are an anomaly within their clade because they grow to much larger sizes than other members of Penaeidae. Here we trace the evolutionary history of the anomalous farmed shrimp using combined data phylogenetic analysis of living and fossil species. We show that exquisitely preserved fossils of †Antrimpos speciosus from the Late Jurassic Solnhofen limestone belong to the same clade as the species that dominate modern farming, dating the origin of this clade to at least 145 mya. This finding contradicts a much younger Late Cretaceous age (ca. 95 mya) previously estimated for this clade using molecular clocks. The species in the farmed shrimp clade defy a widespread tendency, by reaching relatively large body sizes despite their warm water lifestyles. Small body sizes have been shown to be physiologically favored in warm aquatic environments because satisfying oxygen demands is difficult for large organisms breathing in warm water. Our analysis shows that large-bodied, farmed shrimp have more gills than their smaller-bodied shallow-water relatives, suggesting that extra gills may have been key to the clade's ability to meet oxygen demands at a large size. Our combined data phylogenetic tree also suggests that, during penaeid evolution, the adoption of mangrove forests as habitats for young shrimp occurred multiple times independently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Robalino
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, HSC T-8 (040), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
| | - Blake Wilkins
- Department of Biology, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus, North Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Heather D. Bracken-Grissom
- Department of Biology, Florida International University, Biscayne Bay Campus, North Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Tin-Yam Chan
- Institute of Marine Biology and Center of Excellence for the Oceans, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Maureen A. O’Leary
- Department of Anatomical Sciences, HSC T-8 (040), Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
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