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Year: 2022

Thammasat University lecturer develops environmental-friendly fertilizer pellet production technology

Posted on by Thammasat University

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dusit Athinuwat, Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University received a grant from the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT), Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI) for research and development on the production of microorganism-infused manure pellets for rice stubble and straw in rice field decomposition to reduce the burning of rice straw and rice stubble in the farmer community.

Later, continued to receive funding in conveying the production technology and the use of manure to farmers. The project was completed in early 2022 by operating in 10 provinces under cooperation with Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) in 6 northeastern provinces, namely; Udon Thani, Roi Et, Buriram (2 areas), Nakhon Ratchasima, Khon Kaen, Amnat Charoen and the central region, namely; Kanchanaburi and Nakhon Nayok, the eastern Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University region in Chonburi Province. In every area, there will be pilot plots of 5 rai for operation demonstration and training to educate farmers on microorganisms’ production, expansion and preservation and the production of manure pellets to ensure that the farmers are able to start the production by themselves.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dusit Athinuwat, Department of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University revealed that it provided a household-sized fertilizer pelletizing machine to farmers, one per group, as a model for fertilizer production for the community until the results are extended in every area of ​​200 rai per area. As for the use of fertilizer pellets, after harvesting, the efficient microorganism-infused manure pellets for rice stubble and straw in rice field decomposition was sown at the rate of 100 kg/rai and then plowed over the rice stubble and straw and leave it for 14 days. During planting, when the rice produces grains, farmers then to inject the fermented water of the project with selected strains of microorganisms to increase the weight of the ear of rice. Most importantly, during the preparation of the planting area, no rice stubble is burned. Comparing to traditional cultivation methods, the use of microorganism-infused manure pellets provides beneficial results as follows:

1. Reduce environmental problems and PM 2.5 dust problems caused by burning stubble after the harvest season by about 50 percent.

2. The soil condition is more crumbly. This allows the rice roots to seek food better. Usually after harvesting, farmers would leave rice straw and rice stubble to dry in their fields for about 4-5 months, so the soil becomes dry and hard. Until the new planting season arrives, they began to plow and burn the rice straw and rice stubble to prepare the fields for planting. The project is grounded to providing advice on plowing shortly after harvesting and while the soil is still moist, the soil is looser than the farmer’s existing method applied.

3. The average rice yield increased by 26 percent/ rai according to the experiment in the Pathum Thani 1 rice plot in Ayutthaya province which can increase rice yield from 600 kg/rai to 760 kg/rai.

4. Reduce the use of fertilizer by about 800-1,200 baht/rai because throughout the planting season, there is fertilizer from rice straw and rice stubble. Farmers therefore does not require additional fertilizers.

5. As a result of reducing costs and increasing yields, farmers earn about 18% more income.

6. Farmers obtain additional income from the production and sale of microorganism-infused manure pellets for rice stubble and straw in rice field decomposition. As far as we know, there are groups of farmers trained in Udon Thani province who are interested in producing microorganism-infused manure pellets for sale as supplementary income.

For future guidelines, there should be extension and campaigning for the use of microorganism-infused manure pellets for rice stubble and straw in rice field decomposition to reduce production costs, increase income for farmers and encourage farmers to produce fertilizer for using in the community. As part of the project, about 400 farmers have been trained and all have the capacity to become role models for training and extending this knowledge to other farmers.

London Academy of Trading (LAT) wins Most Outstanding Trading Courses Provider 2022 from The Global 100

Posted on by Global University Systems

The London Academy of Trading (LAT), the UK’s first accredited trading academy, has won its third award this year with the “Most Outstanding Trading Courses Provider – 2022” from The Global 100.

With its global readership of more than 293,000, The Global 100 does not follow the usual process of many publishers. Instead, they use a very specific, comprehensive evaluation process. After the closure of the voting period, which involves a strict format of self-submission and third-party nomination, firms are shortlisted and then the winners are selected. For each category, a propriety method of analysis ranks winners based on their domestic and international work.

“This is a very challenging award to win, so we are delighted to have been chosen as the Most Outstanding Trading Courses Provider for 2022”, says Paddy Osborn, MD and Academic Dean of LAT. “Although it is flattering to be recognised for our achievements, our aim is simply to do everything in our power to help students to achieve their personal goals.”

Judges of the Global 100 looked at the scale, nature and strategic complexity of the work conducted by the participants. They also took into consideration whether participants were quick, within budget, used ground-breaking or innovative processes and focused strongly on the complexity and strategic significance of the work conducted.

LAT is very flexible, allowing students to study around other commitments, offering monthly intakes and options to study online, on campus or a blended combination of both. The faculty is composed of experienced traders and analysts from institutions including HSBC, Bank of America and Bloomberg who all trade live accounts and are available to students 10 hours a day to provide help and advice.

Earlier this year LAT continued its Women in Trading Scholarship programme, offering 30% scholarships to women for the fourth year running, and established a long-term partnership with ShareVision, the dynamic streaming platform for traders, economists and global financial news.

Mechanisms driving 1,2-Dichloropropane-induced cancer in printing industry

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Study finds that when exposed to 1,2-dichloropropane, cells show altered gene expression that induces cellular cascades promoting cancer

1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) is a solvent used in the printing industry. It was linked to cholangiocarcinoma in 2013, when printing company employees exposed to 1,2-DCP were diagnosed with the cancer. To understand the genes influencing cholangiocarcinoma development, scientists examined gene expression profiles in co-cultured cholangiocytes and macrophages exposed to 1,2-DCP. They found DNA repair genes in cholangiocytes and cell cycle genes in macrophages were upregulated, yielding novel insights on the pathogenesis of this elusive occupational hazard.

1,2-Dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) is a solvent widely used in the printing industry. It rose to prominence when it was linked to the development of cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer, in the employees of an offset printing firm in Osaka in 2013. Thereafter, the International Agency for the Research on Cancer reclassified 1,2-DCP as being carcinogenic to humans, and many studies have since focused on occupational cholangiocarcinoma on exposure to 1,2-DCP.

Common cholangiocarcinoma develops in the cholangiocytes (or epithelial cells) of the bile duct and liver. On the other hand, occupational cholangiocarcinoma has markedly different features, such as the presence of non-characteristic precancerous lesions and inflammatory changes in the surrounding non-cancerous tissue. Research suggests that while 1,2-DCP primarily targets cholangiocytes, it indirectly damages their DNA in the presence of inflammatory cells called macrophages. However, the exact mechanism of 1,2-DCP-induced cholangiocarcinoma remains a mystery.

To solve this problem, in a new study, a group of researchers led by Professor Gaku Ichihara from Tokyo University of Science (TUS), identified the gene expression profiles of cholangiocytes co-cultured with macrophages and exposed to 1,2-DCP. Prof. Ichihara says, “Our findings identified the upregulation of genes tied to DNA repair and the cell cycle in cholangiocytes and macrophages, respectively. This suggests that the DNA damage, cell proliferation, and ultimately neoplasia occurring in the bile ducts is likely driven by the altered cell function induced by the abnormal gene expression.”

In the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports (published online on 02 July 2022), Prof. Ichihara, together with his colleagues Shigeyuki Shichino and Kouji Matsushimia at TUS, Kazuo Kinoshita from Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, and Sahoko Ichihara from Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, co-cultured cholangiocytes and macrophages that were exposed to varying concentrations of 1,2-DCP for 24 hours. The concentrations selected mirrored the occupational exposure of workers in a poorly ventilated environment.

Prof. Ichihara’s previous work had shown that in the presence of macrophages, 1,2-DCP induced the expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase, which is a DNA-mutating enzyme, along with excess DNA damage and reactive oxygen species production in cholangiocytes. To delve deeper, the team used transcriptomics to study the gene expression patterns in the cells and identify the intracellular mechanisms driving carcinoma formation.

The data revealed that in the presence of 1,2-DCP, co-cultured cholangiocytes showed higher expression of base excision repair genes, whereas macrophages revealed upregulation of cell cycle genes. “The upregulation of DNA repair genes suggests an increase in DNA damage as 1,2-DCP concentration increases. Furthermore, macrophages could proliferate at a given site following 1,2-DCP exposure. Since they play an important role in the regulation of inflammatory responses by releasing cytokines and signaling molecules, their overstimulation could result in the persistent production of these compounds which ultimately influence various pathological states and cancer,” explains Prof. Ichihara.

The implications of the study are far-reaching in the fields of environmental toxicology and occupational cancer prevention. The team’s findings show that it is possible to pinpoint how potential carcinogens promote cancer without directly damaging DNA. Prof. Ichihara and his team are confident they can build on their findings and design further studies to fully understand the cross talk between cholangiocytes and macrophages and elucidate the mechanisms behind the erroneous DNA damage repair in cholangiocytes.

***

Reference

Title of original paper: Transcriptome analysis of human cholangiocytes exposed to carcinogenic 1,2‑dichloropropane in the presence of macrophages in vitro

Journal: Scientific Reports

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-15295-3

 

Changes in protein structure, assembly with fluoride nanoparticles and coexisting ions

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

Protein function and activity is determined by both their assembly and secondary structure. Abnormalities related to either protein aggregation or secondary structure can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. In a new study, an international research team reveal how fluoride nanoparticles, materials used in in vivo imaging, affect the assembly and structure of the amyloid β protein. Their results present a step towards better treatment and prevention of neurologic disorders like Alzheimer’s disease.

Self-assembly, or the association of individual units of a material into ordered structures or patterns, is a phenomenon of great research interest for materials scientists. One prominent example of self-assembly comes from the self-assembly of proteins in biological systems. The function and activity of proteins are governed by their assembly state. Additionally, the protein’s “secondary structure,” characterized by its folding into structures, such as a β-sheet, also plays a role. In fact, abnormalities in the protein secondary structures or their assembly can lead to various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.

Nanoparticles (NPs) offer a promising route for the treatment and prevention of such diseases by allowing a controlled and targeted drug delivery. Additionally, inorganic NPs, such as fluoride NPs, are used in brain imaging applications. Compared to organic NPs, inorganic NPs are considered a better candidate for developing high functional materials. But, there is much concern regarding their bio-toxicity. While their interactions with bioproteins have been studied, the mechanism underlying these interactions are not well understood.

An international team of scientists from Tokyo University of Science (TUS) in Japan and Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan has now addressed this issue. In their study, which was made available online on June 2, 2022, and was published in Volume 5, Issue 6 the journal ACS Applied Bio Materials on June 20, 2022, the team investigated a section of the amyloid β peptide (a protein found in the plaques forming in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease) in solution with fluoride ceramic (CeF3) NPs. The study was led by Junior Associate Professor Masakazu Umezawa and included contributions from Mr. Naoya Sakaguchi from TUS and Assistant Professors Mehdi Amouei Torkmahalleh and Dhawal Shah from Nazarbayev University.

The team used a technique called “Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy” (FTIR) to directly monitor the effect of the NP surface on the peptide bonds. “We found that, near the nanoparticle surface, peptides are more likely to form β-sheets. This comes as an effect of hydrophobicity. The parts of the peptide that repelled by the water solution stick to the nanoparticles, and form aggregates more easily,” explains Dr. Umezawa.

In addition, the team investigated the effect of other surrounding ions in the solution. “What we found was very surprising. Even without the nanoparticles, the environment affected the rate of secondary structure formation,” says Dr. Umezawa, “This effect, resulting from a combination of electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding, was exaggerated upon adding nanoparticles. With a careful choice of ions and nanoparticles, the β-sheet formation can be either suppressed or promoted. This implies that the process can be controlled and engineered to eradicate adverse effects.”

The experimental results were complemented with molecular dynamics simulations performed by the Nazarbayev University team. This, in turn, helped design and guide the experiments as well as provide insights into the results.

With this deeper understanding of the interaction between proteins and NPs, the study paves the way for controlled protein folding processes. With such control, any protein deformations could be eliminated, and positive interactions and structural changes could be promoted. This could lead to a better prevention and treatment protocol for Alzheimer’s disease and, eventually, to a better quality of life for aged adults.

***

Reference

Title of original paper: Changes in the Secondary Structure and Assembly of Proteins on Fluoride Ceramic (CeF3) Nanoparticle Surfaces

Journal: ACS Applied Bio Materials

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.2c00239

Webinar on stress, anxiety, depression for Malaysian primary school students

Posted on by AZMI SALIM, HAZLIN HASAN, MAS'UDAH ASMUI, ANITA KASSIM, MAISARAH AHMAD KAMIL

On 17th June 2022 (Friday), the Centre for Applied Management (PPPG), Faculty of Business and Management, UiTM Pahang Branch, Jengka Campus organised an online knowledge transfer webinar on Stress, Anxiety and Depression Among Students: Issues and Challenges through Cisco Webex and Facebook Live platforms targeted to primary school students from an identified rural area in Malaysia.

This program was participated by the Felda community of the Jengka region, which consisted of teachers, parents and pupils of two primary schools: SK Felda Jengka 11 and SK Felda Jengka 15. In Malaysia, the community of Felda, or Federal Land Development Authority, is a community of once-impoverished rural settlers who, under the Felda initiative, cultivate either rubber or oil palm and were paid wages until their crops matured. Due to the rural location of the community within Malaysia, the need to overcome issues of stress, anxiety and depression brought on by online and distance learning due to the pandemic among primary school students was identified, which led to the inception of this program.

The webinar featured two panelists who were experts in their respective fields: Hazlin Hasan, the Head Researcher and Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Business and Management, UiTM Pahang Branch, and Anita Kassim, a senior psychology officer from the UiTM Pahang Branch. The program managed to attract a total of 132 participants who were teachers, parents, and pupils of year 5 and year 6 (aged between 11 to 12 years old) from the two schools.

One of the objectives of the program was to support the university’s aspiration to foster knowledge sharing practices among the community and NGOs through knowledge transfer by utilising the resources, expertise, and knowledge of the faculty. The program also aimed to share the findings of a grant-based research led by Hazlin Hasan to participants on current issues and challenges faced by students related to stress, anxiety, and depression. Knowledge was also shared from a psychological perspective on the appropriate actions that can be taken by stakeholders to address this issue at an early stage before it becomes severe.

The Centre for Applied Management (PPPG) is very grateful to all parties who have made this program a success, especially the headmasters, teachers, and PTA of SK Felda Jengka 11 and SK Felda Jengka 15. It is hoped that this cooperation can be nurtured and strengthened further in the future for mutual benefits and in turn give positive impacts to the local community.

This webinar program has successfully accomplished two Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) namely SDG3 (Good Health and Well Being) and SDG4 (Quality Education), particularly in response to the need for inclusive, fair and equal access to education amidst challenges brought by the pandemic which has necessitated online learning even among the rural communities.

ITS continues its eighth inbound staff mobility program offline

Posted on by ITS Global Engagement

After the COVID-19 outbreak halted physical mobility programs for 2 years, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember held the 8th Inbound Staff Mobility (ISM) program offline in Surabaya on June 6–11, 2022. Initiated in 2017, this program gives participants the opportunity to learn best practices and to build international networks between higher-education institutions all around the world.

Twenty-three participants from 11 institutions in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, and Turkey, such as Universiti Putra Malaysia, Mahidol University, and University of Szczecin, joined the event. ISM consisted of visits to related units and departments, student sessions, and workshop sessions covering various topics in internationalization of education, such as managing mobility programs, developing and maintaining partnerships, and conducting short programs.

This program is conducted in parallel with the Internationalization Training and Workshop for Indonesian Universities (Pelatihan Penguatan Kantor Urusan Internasional). Thus, all the participants have the chance to build even wider networks in Indonesia through the Exhibition Partnership event managed in the Global Kampong Building.

Besides the workshops and networking event, ISM is also a way to present Indonesia’s culture and tourism. During the program, ISM participants learned Bahasa Indonesia and experienced dancing to Tari Poco-Poco and Saman Dance. In the last day of the program, participants had the chance to experience a 1-day trip to one of the most iconic Indonesian tourism spots, Mount Bromo.

Research focusing on evolution in the workplace

Posted on by Editorial Team

During the last decade, countries across Asia have experienced fundamental changes caused by a combination of new technologies, shifting economic forces, and the impact of Covid-19.

Understanding what it means for the workforce is not always easy. But scholars at Lingnan University have been tracking trends, analysing key factors, and stating their views on what to expect next.

Some of these research projects can be grouped under the heading of employment, youth transition and well-being in Hong Kong.

However, the work also takes account of international and comparative dimensions and how higher education systems in Asia should evolve to meet new challenges.

For instance, governments encourage greater focus on courses designed to speed up the transition to a knowledge-based economy. They want more entrepreneurial, innovation-driven graduates ready to enter the workplace.

That is great in principle, but amid the Covid-linked slowdown in hiring, these efforts have exacerbated the problems of graduate unemployment or underemployment.

Analysis shows the rapid increase of people qualified in favoured disciplines has outpaced actual market demand. And that realisation has sparked public policy debate and extensive academic research into the social and economic consequences.

To contribute, Lingnan University formed a research team to explore different aspects. These ranged from the “massification” and privatisation of higher education to the changing social production of labour. They also included the transition made by young people entering the workplace and youth well-being in a time of stress and uncertainty.

In line with Lingnan’s “Impact with Care” philosophy, each research project is linked to one or more of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These give countries a clear roadmap for the 21st century and promote partnerships that can address regional and global issues more effectively.

In that respect, Lingnan has established strong research links with prestigious partner institutions in Europe and Asia. The list already includes centres at the University of Oxford and the University of Turku in Finland, plus the Graduate School of Education at Peking University.

An immediate benefit of such tie-ups is the platform they provide for professors and postgraduates to test out theories and exchange ideas. But they also create opportunities to co-host international conferences, collaborate on papers, and publish findings in highly respected peer-reviewed journals.

Three recent publications by Professor Ngai Pun, head and chair professor of Cultural Studies in the Department of Cultural Studies, neatly illustrate the scope of the research.

One examined the making of the new Chinese working class, whose efforts and struggles are significantly reshaping the future of class relations in China.

Another involved a critical policy analysis of unemployment insurance in Hong Kong. And a third addressed the question of mobilising truck drivers in China, with its implications for the new migrant struggle and the emergence of “infrastructural capitalism”.

Other scholars have studied the effectiveness of working from home during Covid; the psychological distance among Hong Kong’s working adults with regard to the Greater Bay Area; and personal income and happiness in a rich global city.

All the latest Lingnan University publications related to employment, youth transition and well-being can be found in the webpage.

London Academy of Trading, Australia’s ISP Pty to market courses together

Posted on by Global University Systems

London Academy of Trading is set to market its range of financial courses in a partnership with Australia’s ISP Pty.

A dual-accredited provider of financial trading education, LAT, which prides itself on being the most trusted trading skills educator, will partner market its range of courses in Australia, New Zealand and Asia-Pacific with ISP Pty.

“LAT’s curriculum and teaching approach develops students’ creativity, resilience and practical skills to enhance their opportunities for employment or for trading financial markets,” says Paddy Osborn, MD and Academic Dean. “LAT develops its curriculum and utilises the diversity within its student community to maximise the effectiveness of its courses and enhance the experience for all students.”

Based in Sydney, ISP is a strategic marketing, recruitment consulting and operational company, specialising in supporting clients across different global education sectors, from online international education to local face-to-face educators.

“We have more than 30 years’ experience in providing a range of innovative and sector changing outcomes in the Australian and international education arenas,” says Mark Skinner, Chair and Founder of ISP. “LAT opens a unique window for Australians and New Zealanders seeking to gain the necessary insights into the fast-changing specialist world of equities, crypto currencies, wealth management and global financial market development.

“Being based in one of the two great financial capitals of the world, with a 12-year history of high-quality, modern teaching and hands-on tutors available throughout the day, LAT’s established online services provide great opportunities to provide insights that the market seeks.”

The LAT faculty is composed of experienced traders and analysts from major institutions such as HSBC, Bank of America and Bloomberg. All LAT academic staff trade live accounts daily and are available 10 hours a day to provide students with one-to-one help and guidance.

“The research we undertook in Australia and New Zealand confirmed that a significant sector of the market is looking for a better global understanding, balanced with local inputs from people with proven records across different markets and trading aspirations”, says Mark Skinner. “LAT has been doing that successfully for many years for students across the UK, EU, Middle East, Far East and Africa.”

The ISP team has won two Australian Government Export Awards for educational development success, created the largest student accommodation network in the Southern Hemisphere (Unilodge), and developed programs now taught in 12 different countries and recognised by over 250 universities around the world.

LAT recently won the “Most Outstanding Trading Courses Provider 2022 – UK” in the Global 100 Awards, to add to its other two awards already achieved in 2022.

The University of Europe for Applied Sciences announces cooperation with Magnum Photos

Posted on by Global University Systems

The University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) has announced it has partnered with the renowned photo agency Magnum Photos with immediate effect. As part of this partnership, Magnum Photos will offer two workshops a year for UE students in Berlin and Hamburg, with the aim to bring Magnum and aspiring photographers together to learn from each other.

With this cooperation, UE continues its collaboration with leading Industry partners and underlines its expertise in the field of practice-oriented sciences.

Long-term cooperation with Magnum Photos

Commenting on the cooperation, Heike Ollertz, Dean of the Faculty of Art & Design and Professor of Photography and New Media at UE, said: “With Magnum Photos, we now have the world’s most renowned photo agency at our side and can give our students the best insight into the practical side of their studies.

“The cooperation with Magnum Photos is designed for the long term for our UE locations in Berlin and Hamburg and brings our young photographers early in contact with international and very successful professionals from the practice.”

Personalised support from internationally recognised photographers

UE students will receive one-to-one support and feedback from renowned photographers including Nanna Heitmann and Yael Martínez, who will lead the September workshop at UE. Nanna Heitmann, who has won the World Press Photo Award, among others, is a German-Russian documentary photographer currently living in Moscow. Mexican photographer, Yael Martínez, has established himself through group exhibitions in America, Europe, Asia and Africa. He was also recently announced as a World Press Photo winner. Works by both have been published in a number of high-profile publications including TIME Magazine, National Geographic, Stern and Vogue.

Sonia Jeunet, Education Director of Magnum Photos, added: “We are delighted to launch a partnership with the University of Europe for Applied Sciences through our first workshop aimed at the photographers from their campuses in Germany. This collaboration contributes to our mission of offering photographic education to practitioners at different stages in their careers.”

The first exclusive workshop for UE students, including lectures, will take place at the beginning of September as part of Berlin Photo Week. Here, participants will photograph according to Magnum photographers’ specifications, perform editing and sequencing exercises, participate in group critiques, receive constructive feedback and learn the basics of the editorial market.

Magnum Photos will host another workshop for UE students later in the year.

Taipei Medical University’s Dr Lin-Yi Tseng wins research award

Posted on by Taipei Medical University

Dr. Lin-Yi Tseng is currently an associate professor from the Center for General Education at Taipei Medical University. Her work on “the Development of Western Medicine in Dadaocheng(大稻埕) in Modern Taiwan” recently won the 8th Professor Shutsung Liao Research Award by North America Taiwanese Professors’ Association (NATPA).

According to Dr. Tseng, Dadaocheng played a very important role in the modernization of Taiwan’s medical care, and was the location of many firsts, such as Taiwan’s first general hospital, “Hongji Hospital”; Taiwan’s first female physician, A-Hsin Tsai (蔡阿信); Taiwan’s first dentist, Dr. Tseng-Chyuan Chen (陳增全) (Tseng-Chyuan Dentistry); and the first Indigenous Taiwanese physician (from the Puyuma tribe) to complete a Western-style medical education path, Dr. Tang-Shan Hsieh (謝唐山). In addition, from the Japanese Colonial Period to the early Post-War Period, Dadaocheng had a large number of western hospitals and pharmacies, such as Watsons Pharmacy and Taihetang Pharmacy, etc., which influenced the medical development of not just Taipei, but arguably even all of Taiwan. Unfortunately, Dadaocheng’s medical history and contributions are rarely covered in our history textbooks, and there is a dearth of complete and comprehensive professional research, which is a pity.

Dr. Tseng’s research depicts the evolvement of medical care over decades. The Japanese colonial period brought modern medical care to Taiwan. Through the establishment of new medical schools and hospitals, as well as various medical experiments, the medical foundation of modern Taiwan was laid. Among them, Dadaocheng is an important area for the attainment and practice of medical knowledge.

Dr. Tseng indicated that “humanities” are also of great significance to medical research. With the passage of time, many important medical materials in Taiwan may gradually disappear. As a historian, one has the responsibility of getting Taiwanese people understand the medical history of modern Taiwan through interviews, studies, writing and publications. Furthermore, as a lecturer at a medical university, it is one’s responsibility to get students to understand the medical development of modern Taiwan. The research results should also be published as a historical publication so that more people can understand the deep relationship between Dadaocheng and Western medicine.