Chih-Hung Lee

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Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Multiple genetic and environmental factors are thought to be responsible for susceptibility to AD. In this study, we collected 2,478 DNA samples including 209 AD patients and 729 control subjects from Taiwanese population and 513 AD patients and 1027 control subject from Japanese population for(More)
Kawasaki disease (KD) is characterized by systemic vasculitis with unknown etiology. Previous studies from Japan indicated that a gene polymorphism of ITPKC (rs28493229) is responsible for susceptibility to KD. We collected DNA samples from 1,531 Taiwanese subjects (341 KD patients and 1,190 controls) for genotyping ITPKC. In this study, no significant(More)
Pain and itch are closely related sensations, yet qualitatively quite distinct. Despite recent advances in brain imaging techniques, identifying the differences between pain and itch signals in the brain cortex is difficult due to continuous temporal and spatial changes in the signals. The high spatial resolution of positron emission tomography (PET) and(More)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease usually occurring in synovial tissues and joints, is highly associated with genetic and environmental factors. ORAI1, a gene related to cellular immune system, has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases and immune diseases. To identify whether ORAI1 gene(More)
BACKGROUND/AIMS Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the TSC1 and TSC2 genes. Previous studies have estimated the prevalence of TSC to be 1:8,000 to 1:30,000. The numbers of patients and the populations accessed in these studies are relatively small. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of(More)
3D IC technology stacks multiple integrated chips and its application is more and more popular. Therefore, developing CAD tools for the requirement of 3D architecture becomes urgent and important. In this paper, we present an integer linear programming (ILP) model for the application of resource layer assignment in high level synthesis. Our objective is to(More)
Acne is a common disease in adolescence with female preponderance. It could cause poor self-esteem and social phobia. Previous studies based on questionnaires from several thousands of adolescents showed that acne is associated with major depression and suicide. However, the gender- and age-specific risk of depression and suicide in patients with acne(More)
TRP channels are expressed in various cells in skin. As an organ system to border the host and environment, many nonneuronal cells, including epidermal keratinocytes and melanocytes, express several TRP channels functionally distinct from sensory processing. TRPV1 and TRPV3 in keratinocytes of the epidermis and hair apparatus inhibit proliferation, induce(More)


How To Put U.N. Rights Council Back on Track

By Peggy Hicks

Jewish organizations justifiably have been outraged by the council’s partisan approach to Israel. Human Rights Watch labeled the council’s treatment of the conflict in Lebanon “a blow to its credibility and an abdication of its responsibility to protect human rights for all.”

Given the extraordinarily high expectations when the council opened its first session in Geneva this past June, this is a stunning fall from grace. There are some who already are prepared to pronounce the council dead on arrival. But the obituary writers should put away their pens. While the council is in deep trouble, it can be saved if supporters of human rights exert leadership and mount an effective drive to win over moderate states from all regions of the world.

The council is foundering for two reasons: first, the role played by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which has fought doggedly within the council to shield states (other than Israel) from criticism; and second, the failure of states that ordinarily support human rights to act as an effective counterweight to the OIC.

Seventeen council members belong to the OIC, and three OIC members, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, respectively chair the council’s regional groups for Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. OIC members, led by Pakistan, have acted in virtual unison to undermine the council. For example, when four of the council’s independent experts reported the findings of their visit to Lebanon and Israel, state after state from the OIC took the floor to denounce the experts for daring to look beyond Israeli violations to discuss Hezbollah’s as well.

States that support human rights, meanwhile, were silent. Thirty-seven of the council’s 47 members are considered democracies, and 26 have been labeled “free” by Freedom House. Yet only Chile spoke in defense of the experts and their report. This gap illustrates a much broader problem: the absence of leadership from states that supported the creation of a stronger, more effective council, and the willingness of moderate states to side with regimes that have notoriously bad human rights records and nefarious agendas.

The European Union and Latin American states have been anemic in raising their voices to protect human rights. E.U. member states need to speak sooner and more forcefully on the issues that they care about, but thus far they have been hamstrung by their desire to first achieve consensus. When they finally formulate a position, all too often they delegate responsibility to the country that holds the E.U. presidency (currently Finland) to speak on their behalf, allowing obstructionist states to dominate debate. E.U. members need to recognize that many voices singing the same tune can be more powerful than one singing alone. Latin American states, such as Argentina and Chile, have a crucial role to play in filling the leadership void. They need to reach out to moderate states in Africa and Asia where their views will have added legitimacy given their histories of overcoming human rights abuses at home.

Although the United States voted against creation of the council and is not a member, it still must actively support these efforts rather than cede the floor to the OIC. The United States should work behind the scenes to push for stronger leadership from traditional human rights supporters, to encourage swing states to join in efforts to strengthen the council and to put pressure on American allies such as Pakistan and Egypt to change their obstructive behavior.

The OIC’s mantra has been that the council should work cooperatively with abusive governments rather than condemn them. Since states tend to fear the airing of their own dirty laundry, many have bought into this argument. Others simply have resigned themselves to the notion that the council will not be able to speak out more forcefully. But while cooperation, through training and technical assistance, can help willing governments improve their human rights records, the council must be willing to condemn states that are intransigent and to take concrete actions against those that egregiously violate human rights.

To get back in the game, states that support the cause of human rights need to come together to build a council that can provide real protection for victims of abuses. Progressive states must stop being so timid when it comes to focusing on abuses in places like Chechnya, Sri Lanka or Zimbabwe. They should rally support to confront violators of human rights and expose obstruction of efforts to do so.

The council’s future also depends on convincing swing states from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe to support real action by the council and, when necessary, to be willing to go against the well-established tradition of voting with their regional blocs. These states need to know that if they side with the Pakistans and Algerias of the council to block efforts to address situations like Darfur, their conduct in Geneva will be made known, and they will pay a price both back home and in their international reputation.

Despite the council’s disappointing record to date, it’s too early to pull the plug. Instead, its critics should push for leadership from supporters of human rights and encourage the council’s member states to vote their conscience, not their location. The victims of human rights abuses deserve that much.

Peggy Hicks is Human Rights Watch’s global advocacy director.

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A GLAZE is a glass that has been modified to melt onto a clay. The chemical name for glass is SILICON DIOXIDE. Common names for glass are sand, quartz and flint. Silicon dioxide is one of the most common minerals composing the earth and can be easily found in most parts of the world. Glass cannot be used alone to make glazes however, because its melting point is 3100° Fahrenheit, making it unusable as a pure component. This is simply because the melting point of our clays, even our highest firing clays such as stoneware and porcelain, is much below this. Thus the clay would melt in the kiln long before the glaze itself would.

Therefore, modifications need to be made to the SILICA to lower its melting temperature. FLUXES are chemicals added to the SILICA to lower its melting point. The FLUXES comprise a large group of minerals, and one of the few things they have in common is their lower melting points, relative to SILICA. Since low fire glazes require more melting, they generally contain a higher percentage of FLUXES relative to SILICA than do the high fire glazes used on stoneware and porcelain. Simply stated, the more FLUX added to a glaze, the lower the melting point will be.

Additionally, there is a third class of ingredient that must be added to a glaze to produce an acceptable result. Since glaze is to be applied to bisque ware that will undergo additional shrinkage during the glaze firing, the glaze itself must 'shrink-to-fit' the bisque to which it is applied. The ceramic material we already know that will shrink is CLAY itself. So, an amount of CLAY, called the ALUMINA portion is added to the glaze to achieve this essential shrinkage. Remember, a generalized formula for clay is SILICA, ALUMINA, water and various impurities. Thus, the addition of ALUMINA to a glaze in the form of a clay actually introduces two of the three essential parts of a functional glaze: SILICA AND ALUMINA.

All GLAZES are composed of three components:

the glass former

the portion that 'shrinks-to-fit' the clay

to lower the melting point of the higher temperature ingredients

 REFRACTORY INGREDIENTS are those with high melting points, such as the SILICAS and ALUMINAS.

SILICA is added to glazes by the addition of compounds such as: SILICA, BALL CLAY, KAOLIN, and FELDSPAR.

SILICA is a commonly used name for Silicon dioxide. Other names for this compound are glass, quartz, and flint.

BALL CLAY is a commonly used clay in glazes and in clay bodies, and is a source of SILICA and ALUMINA.

KAOLIN is another commonly used clay, very white in color, used in glazes and in the formulation of Porcelain clays in particular.

FELDSPAR is probably the single most commonly used glaze ingredient. It is a natural mineral, derived for granite. It is a source of SILICA, ALUMINA, and a relatively smaller amount of FLUX.

ALUMINA is added to glazes by the addition of BALL CLAY, KAOLIN, and FELDSPAR (discussed above).

FLUX is added to glaze by a wide variety of compounds, a few of which are listed here:

lead oxide or carbonate

 whiting (calcium carbonate)

 dolomite (calcium/magnesium carbonate)

 gerstley borate

  bone ash (calcium oxide)

 commercially prepared frits

 organic ashes

 and many others

 barium carbonate

 most coloring oxides

 feldspar (contains some flux)

 and many, many more

A BASE GLAZE is a mixture of these three basic groups: SILICA, FLUX AND ALUMINA. A base glaze is clear or white in color. All colored glazes derive from additions of colorants to a base glaze.

Here is a typical base glaze formula:

HIGH ALUMINA MAT Cone 10 (This is a shorthand for 2350° Fahrenheit.)

 (Source of SILICA, ALUMINA)

 (Source of FLUX)

  (Source of FLUX)

NOTE: All three categories of essential glaze ingredients are present. We do not know from this analysis whether they are present in the proper proportions or not. This would involve a quantitative analysis that is beyond the scope of this class. If you are interested in further study, read the text, Ceramics, a Potter's Handbook, by Glenn C. Nelson. GLAZE CALCULATION is a course offered here at Glendale College that provides in depth study in this field.

The BASE GLAZE will be white or clear unless colorants are added. For a discussion of color in glaze go to GLAZE COLOR.

Ingredients have several characteristics that make them suitable for use in glazes besides whether they are sources of SILICA, FLUX AND ALUMINA. Obviously, we need to find sources that are INEXPENSIVE. Also, we are looking for the ingredients that are NON-TOXIC. Lead, for example, is inexpensive and an excellent flux, but is so toxic that it is not used much anymore. A third requirement is that the potential glaze ingredient must be INSOLUBLE in water. This is because glaze is applied to a piece of bisque as a liquid SUSPENSION of materials in water. After dipping, the water in the glaze absorbs into the porous bisque, depositing the insoluble glaze materials on the surface of the pot. Thus the water serves only as the VEHICLE to get the glaze onto the bisque. Were a glaze ingredient SOLUBLE in water, it would travel with the water into the bisque, and not be deposited on the surface. Suppose this soluble ingredient were a FLUX -- then the FLUX would travel with the water into the bisque, leaving the glaze. Thus the bisque would melt, and the glaze would not. You would have, in a sense, turned the pot inside out. Therefore, all glaze materials must be INSOLUBLE in water.

If a chemical in INEXPENSIVE, NON-TOXIC, INSOLUBLE, and a source of SILICA, FLUX OR ALUMINA, you can bet we use it in glaze composition.

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Despite doubts over Nishikori, Japan will be well represented in the men's draw after Taro Daniel, Yoshihito Nishioka and Tatsuma Ito came through their third-round qualifiers on Friday.

The 21-year-old American-born Daniel and 18-year-old Nishioka, ranked 246 in the world, qualified for the main draw of a grand slam for the first time.


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Aussie snakes slither into species book

Scientists have added dozens of Australian species to the family of small worm-like snakes called Scolecophidia, which are some of the least-understood creatures on Earth.

Researchers from France, Australia and the United States analysed the genomes of 741 animals from 27 recognised species in a subgroup known as Australian blind snakes.

The data suggest the number of species is "at least two times the current number of recognised, nominal species," said a summary of the results, published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.

Snakes are divided into two major groups: Scolecophidia, which are generally less than 30 centimetres (12 inches) long, and the more common Alethinophidia, which include boas, pythons, cobras and vipers.

There were previously 3,432 recognised species, according to a joint statement by France's CNRS national research centre and National Museum of Natural History.

Of these, there were 402 known species of Scolecophidia. But the new findings suggest the sub-group of blind snakes alone may have between 29 and 65 hitherto unknown types.

"If this pattern were to repeat on a global scale, it would mean that the number of recognised Scolecophidia species is between 830 and 1,370 species instead of the current 402," said the statement.


My Fuul Recipe

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

Salaam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah

I make my fuul from scratch, though I do try to keep a can or two around for emergencies!

I buy a big two-pound bag of dried fuul (small brown fava beans) and make a huge batch all at once. Rinse the beans, then soak at least overnight in plenty of water. Drain and rinse, then put in a pot with water to cover. Cook until tender, adding a bit of additional water as necessary.

At this stage, before adding any seasoning, I portion out the fuul into ziptop freezer bags, the place on a cookie sheet flat and freeze in my deep freezer. When I want fuul, I get a bag out the night before and put it in the fridge.

Open the bag and empty the fuul into a pot. Add salt and pepper to taste, one tablespoon of tahini and a teaspoon of cumin. Add the juice of one lemon. Cook for about fifteen minutes or so to heat through and allow the flavors to meld. Mash the fuul with the back of a fork or a potato masher. If you like a smooth consistency you can put it in a food processor. Add chopped garlic at the last minute, then serve in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and serve chopped tomatoes, boiled egg, sliced cheddar cheese, and pickled vegetables (torshis) on the side with pita bread.

This will fill you up and keep you going well into the day!


The incident occured as fans surged forward after Oriol Riera had given Osasuna the lead.

The match was suspended for 35 minutes to allow the area to be secured.

"Five people have been taken to hospital with bruises and mutltiple injuries. 20 have required medical attention for more minor injuries," Osasuna said via their official Twitter account.

Osasuna need to win to have any chance of surviving in the top flight next season and three other games involving teams fighting relegation were also delayed so that the second-half in all the matches will take place at the same time.


Smart Grids on the Line: Year In Review 2012

A crew from the St. Louis, Mo.-based power company Ameren Corp. restrings power lines downed by Superstorm Sandy in Hopewell township, N.J., Nov. 3, 2012.Jackie Schear—The Trentonian/APAn employee of Tokyo Electric Power Co. installs a smart meter to work with the company’s new flexible-rate plan, June 1, 2012.Ryohei Moriya—The Yomiuri Shimbun/APWhen Superstorm Sandy struck the East Coast of the United States on Oct. 29, 2012, it deprived some 8.5 million people of electric power. In the weeks that followed, workers from all over North America arrived to restart flooded substations and reconnect distribution lines that had been knocked out by downed trees and utility poles. As the crews worked, electrical and civil engineers raised anew a topic that had been addressed off and on for a decade—the value of the smart grid.

Simply defined, an electric power grid is a network of wires, transformers, substations, and machines that connects power plants with customers. A “smart” power grid would include an array of sensors, communications networks, control systems, and computers that would operate in parallel with the end-to-end system and substantially improve its efficiency, security, and reliability. In particular, a smart grid could react to and minimize the impact of unforeseen events, such as power outages, giving the grid an unprecedented “self-healing” capability. Utilities would be able to charge customers variable rates based on fluctuations in supply and demand, and consumers could programmatically adjust their use of electricity in order to minimize costs. Finally, a stronger and smarter grid could do a better job of integrating wind and solar energy into the electricity supply, and it could support a system for charging plug-in electric vehicles.

A Self-Healing Grid

Even the smartest array of sensors and controllers could not have kept Sandy from blowing down power lines. However, a truly smart grid could at least be self-correcting and self-optimizing in the event of damage to the distribution system. That limited self-healing capacity would have three primary objectives. The most fundamental would be continual monitoring and reaction. Sensors such as phasor measurement units (PMUs) would monitor electrical parameters such as voltage and current multiple times per second and feed the data to control-room operators. The data would be time-stamped, geographically located, and delivered at subsecond intervals, enabling the grid to “tune” itself constantly to an optimal state.

Empowered Consumers

Distributed Energy Resources

In a similar manner, smart grids would facilitate the integration of renewable energy resources such as wind power and solar power. Those resources reduce society’s consumption of fossil fuels, but they are notoriously dependent on meteorological conditions and are therefore intermittent in their supply, which creates special problems for integration into traditional power grids.

A Secure Grid?