The Balance between the Data Protection Law Regime and Modern Technologies: Collision or Collaboration? − A Comparative Study of Regulatory Instruments in the EU and Taiwan

The aim of this thesis is to discuss and evaluate how to strike a balance between the benefits and the risks of biometric and Radio-frequency Identification (RFID) technologies within a data protection regime. This presents a problem because of the lack of an applicable theoretical framework and clear guidelines and principles for legal regulations to deal with such technologies. The theory chosen here is the Principle of Generic Consistency (PGC), which has been justified as the basic principle of human rights in any given community. This thesis then elaborates on specific applications of the PGC in relation to various issues by defining relevant privacy concepts and describing how they are analysed to allow the identification, evaluation, and comparison of competing rights and interests in a specific conflict. Probing and evaluating current regulation of technologies at stake in Europe and Taiwan, it is argued that the right to benefit from advances in science and technology and the right to privacy are bound to come into conflict. However, it is problematic to suggest that the balancing of competing rights is a zero-sum trade-off. Instead, in line with the broad concept of privacy, it is contended that there is the possibility for the two sets of values to support each other. In this case, the thesis suggests a co-operative framework, which relies on a consistent approach to maintain valid consent, precautionary and preventive measures to tackle the risks of developing such technologies, and an independent institutional framework for personal data protection. Lastly, the thesis proposes a PGC-derived regulatory framework and model for Taiwan. As the Formosan hydra-headed bureaucracy model generates inconsistent data protection consequences, it is suggested that an institutional framework comprising an independent regulatory body might be able to assist the success of the co-operative model more effectively

Ginseng essence, a medicinal and edible herbal formulation, ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in rats

AbstractBackgroundGinseng essence (GE) is a formulation comprising four medicinal and edible herbs including ginseng (Panax ginseng), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), lotus seed (Nelumbo nucifera), and lily bulb (Lilium longiflorum). This study was aimed at investigating the hepatoprotective effect of GE against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats.MethodsWe treated Wistar rats daily with low, medium, and high [0.625 g/kg body weight (bw), 1.25 g/kg bw, and 3.125 g/kg bw, respectively] doses of GE for 9 wk. After the 1st wk of treatment, rats were administered 20% CCl4 (1.5 mL/kg bw) two times a week to induce liver damage until the treatment ended.ResultsSerum biochemical analysis indicated that GE ameliorated the elevation of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and albumin decline in CCl4-treated rats. Moreover, CCl4-induced accumulation of hepatic total cholesterol and triglyceride was inhibited. The hepatoprotective effects of GE involved enhancing the hepatic antioxidant defense system including glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. In addition, histological analysis using hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome staining showed that GE inhibited CCl4-induced hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining of alpha-smooth muscle actin indicated that CCl4-triggered activation of hepatic stellate cells was reduced.ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that GE improves CCl4-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis by attenuating oxidative stress. Therefore, GE could be a promising hepatoprotective herbal formulation for future development of phytotherapy

MG63 Osteoblast-Like Cells Exhibit Different Behavior when Grown on Electrospun Collagen Matrix versus Electrospun Gelatin Matrix

Electrospinning is a simple and efficient method of fabricating a non-woven polymeric nanofiber matrix. However, using fluorinated alcohols as a solvent for the electrospinning of proteins often results in protein denaturation. TEM and circular dichroism analysis indicated a massive loss of triple-helical collagen from an electrospun collagen (EC) matrix, and the random coils were similar to those found in gelatin. Nevertheless, from mechanical testing we found the Young's modulus and ultimate tensile stresses of EC matrices were significantly higher than electrospun gelatin (EG) matrices because matrix stiffness can affect many cell behaviors such as cell adhesion, proliferation and differentiation. We hypothesize that the difference of matrix stiffness between EC and EG will affect intracellular signaling through the mechano-transducers Rho kinase (ROCK) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and subsequently regulates the osteogenic phenotype of MG63 osteoblast-like cells. From the results, we found there was no significant difference between the EC and EG matrices with respect to either cell attachment or proliferation rate. However, the gene expression levels of OPN, type I collagen, ALP, and OCN were significantly higher in MG63 osteoblast-like cells grown on the EC than in those grown on the EG. In addition, the phosphorylation levels of Y397-FAK, ERK1/2, BSP, and OPN proteins, as well as ALP activity, were also higher on the EC than on the EG. We further inhibited ROCK activation with Y27632 during differentiation to investigate its effects on matrix-mediated osteogenic differentiation. Results showed the extent of mineralization was decreased with inhibition after induction. Moreover, there is no significant difference between EC and EG. From the results of the protein levels of phosphorylated Y397-FAK, ERK1/2, BSP and OPN, ALP activity and mineral deposition, we speculate that the mechanism that influences the osteogenic differentiation of MG63 osteoblast-like cells on EC and EG is matrix stiffness and via ROCK-FAK-ERK1/2

A Study of Success Rate of Miniscrew Implants as Temporary Anchorage Devices in Singapore

Objective. To find out the success rate of miniscrew implants in the National Dental Centre of Singapore (NDCS) and the impact of patient-related, location-related, and miniscrew implant-related factors. Materials and Methods. Two hundred and eighty-five orthodontic miniscrew implants were examined from NDCS patient records. Eleven variables were analysed to see if there is any association with success. Outcome was measured twice, immediately after surgery prior to orthodontic loading (T1) and 12 months after surgery (T2). The outcome at T2 was assessed 12 months after the miniscrew's insertion date or after its use as a temporary anchorage device has ceased. Results. Overall success rate was 94.7% at T1 and 83.3% at T2. Multivariate analysis revealed only the length of miniscrew implant to be significantly associated with success at both T1 ( = 0.002) and T2 ( = 0.030). Miniscrew implants with lengths of 10-12 mm had the highest success rate (98.0%) compared to other lengths, and this is statistically significant ( = 0.035). At T2, lengths of 10-12 mm had significantly ( = 0.013) higher success rates (93.5%) compared to 6-7 mm (76.7%) and 8 mm (82.1%) miniscrew implants. Conclusion. Multivariate statistical analyses of 11 variables demonstrate that length of miniscrew implant is significant in determining success

A Study of Success Rate of Miniscrew Implants as Temporary Anchorage Devices in Singapore

Objective. To find out the success rate of miniscrew implants in the National Dental Centre of Singapore (NDCS) and the impact of patient-related, location-related, and miniscrew implant-related factors. Materials and Methods. Two hundred and eighty-five orthodontic miniscrew implants were examined from NDCS patient records. Eleven variables were analysed to see if there is any association with success. Outcome was measured twice, immediately after surgery prior to orthodontic loading (T1) and 12 months after surgery (T2). The outcome at T2 was assessed 12 months after the miniscrew’s insertion date or after its use as a temporary anchorage device has ceased. Results. Overall success rate was 94.7% at T1 and 83.3% at T2. Multivariate analysis revealed only the length of miniscrew implant to be significantly associated with success at both T1 (P=0.002) and T2 (P=0.030). Miniscrew implants with lengths of 10–12 mm had the highest success rate (98.0%) compared to other lengths, and this is statistically significant (P=0.035). At T2, lengths of 10–12 mm had significantly (P=0.013) higher success rates (93.5%) compared to 6-7 mm (76.7%) and 8 mm (82.1%) miniscrew implants. Conclusion. Multivariate statistical analyses of 11 variables demonstrate that length of miniscrew implant is significant in determining success

影響消費中國製食品意願的因素:以金門地區婦女為例

[[volume]]37

miRTarBase update 2014: an information resource for experimentally validated miRNA-target interactions

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules capable of negatively regulating gene expression to control many cellular mechanisms. The miRTarBase database (http://mirtarbase.mbc.nctu.edu.tw/) provides the most current and comprehensive information of experimentally validated miRNA-target interactions. The database was launched in 2010 with data sources for >100 published studies in the identification of miRNA targets, molecular networks of miRNA targets and systems biology, and the current release (2013, version 4) includes significant expansions and enhancements over the initial release (2010, version 1). This article reports the current status of and recent improvements to the database, including (i) a 14-fold increase to miRNA-target interaction entries, (ii) a miRNA-target network, (iii) expression profile of miRNA and its target gene, (iv) miRNA target-associated diseases and (v) additional utilities including an upgrade reminder and an error reporting/user feedback system

Incidence Rate and Predictors of Globus Pallidus Necrosis after Charcoal Burning Suicide

Objective: This study examined predictors of globus pallidus necrosis as there was a paucity of literature of globus pallidus necrosis resulted from carbon monoxide poisoning after charcoal burning suicide. Methods: A total of 67 patients who had attempted charcoal burning suicide were recruited and stratified into two subgroups based on either presence (n = 40) or absence (n = 27) of globus pallidus necrosis. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiographic data were obtained for cross-sectional analysis. All patients were followed to investigate the risks for mortality. Results: The patients aged 36.8 ± 11.1 years (67.2%) were male. Patients with globus pallidus necrosis were younger (p = 0.044) and had less hypertension (p = 0.015) than patients without globus pallidus necrosis. Furthermore, patients with globus pallidus necrosis suffered from severer medical complications, i.e., fever (p = 0.008), acute myocardial injury (p = 0.022), acute rhabdomyolysis (p = 0.022), and neuropsychiatric symptoms (p < 0.001) than patients without globus pallidus necrosis. Moreover, patients with globus pallidus necrosis received less hyperbaric oxygen therapy than without necrosis (p = 0.024). Two patients (3.0%) died on arrival. In a multivariable regression model, it was revealed that acute myocardial injury (odds ratio 4.6, confidence interval 1.1-18.9, p = 0.034) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (odds ratio 8.0, confidence interval 2.0-31.4, p = 0.003), decreased blood bicarbonate level (odds ratio 0.8, confidence interval 0.7-1.0, p = 0.032), and younger age (odds ratio 0.9, confidence interval 0.9-1.0, p = 0.038) were significant predictors for globus pallidus necrosis. Conclusion: Although patients who had attempted charcoal burning suicide had a low mortality rate (3.0%), globus pallidus necrosis was not uncommon (59.7%) in this population. Further studies are warranted.Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, TaiwanChang Gung Memorial Hospital [CLRPG3D0016, CORPG5G0051]Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]