Modified automotive organic friction materials through infiltration of liquid carbon precursors

Kuo‑Jung Lee,Ting‑Yu Wu,Hsun‑Yu Lin,Huy‑Zu Cheng,Chih‑Feng Wang 한국탄소학회 2019 Carbon Letters Vol.29 No.4

This research combines the liquid carbon precursor infiltration process for carbon/carbon composites with the fabrication procedure for organic, carbon-matrix friction materials in automotive. In the densification process, different liquid carbon precursors and numbers of densification cycle are adopted to investigate the influence on physical and mechanical properties, microstructure and tribological behavior. Experimental results indicate that the infiltration of liquid carbon precursors could improve the physical, mechanical properties and tribological performances of organic friction materials. The open porosity decreases with the number of densification cycle. Both bulk density and hardness increase with the number of densification cycle. The resin-based specimens show higher hardness and lower open porosity than those of the pitch-based specimens after each densification cycle. The tribological measurement of specimens with different carbon precursors shows that the pitch-based specimen shows lower and more stable friction coefficients and exhibits lower weight losses in comparison with other carbon precursors. Morphological observations show that a large area of smooth lubricative film was easily presented on the worn surfaces of the pitch-based specimens, whereas it was seldom observed on the worn surfaces of the preform specimen and resin-based specimens.

Traditional Chinese medicine attenuates hospitalization and mortality risks in diabetic patients with carcinoma in situ in Taiwan

Tsai Li-Jen,Chung Chi-Hsiang,Lin Chien-Jung,Su Sheng-Chiang,Kuo Feng-Chih,Liu Jhih-Syuan,Chen Kuan-Chan,Ho Li-Ju,Kuo Chih-Chun,Chang Chun-Yung,Lin Ming-Hsun,Chu Nain-Feng,Lee Chien-Hsing,Hsieh Chang-H 한국한의학연구원 2022 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.11 No.2

Background: Diabetic patients are at high risk of developing cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has become increasingly popular as an adjuvant treatment for patients with chronic diseases, and some studies have identified its beneficial effect in diabetic patients with cancer. The purpoes of this study was to outline the potential of TCM to attenuate hospitalization and mortality rates in diabetic patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS). Methods: A total of 6,987 diabetic subjects with CIS under TCM therapy were selected from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan, along with 38,800 of 1:1 sex-, age-, and index year-matched controls without TCM therapy. Cox proportional hazard analysis was conducted to compare hospitalization and mortality rates during an average of 15 years of follow-up. Results: A total of 3,999/1,393 enrolled-subjects (28.62%/9.97%) had hospitalization/mortality, including 1,777/661 in the TCM group (25.43%/9.46%) and 2,222/732 in the control group (31.80%/10.48%). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed a lower rate of hospitalization and mortality for subjects in the TCM group (adjusted HR=0.536; 95% CI=0.367–0.780, P<0.001; adjusted HR=0.783; 95% CI=0.574– 0.974, P = 0.022). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the cumulative risk of hospitalization and mortality in the case and control groups was significantly different (log rank, P<0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). Conclusions: Diabetic patients with CIS under TCM therapy were associated with lower hospitalization and mortality rates compared to those without TCM therapy. Thus, TCM application may reduce the burden of national medical resources.

A GPU-based Two Dimensional Flood Simulation System

Kuo-Chan Hung,Chih-Yung Feng,Kun-Huai Cheng,Pei-Cheng Tsao1,Hung-Kwai Chen 한국방재학회 2016 Journal of Disaster Management Vol.1 No.1

Abstract A GPU-based flood simulation system is developed in this research. The system comprises two main components: a GPU-lized two bdimensional flood simulation model named GLMRT and a web-GIS user interface. GLMRT is designed and constructed with following features. First, GLMRT is constructed based on Lattice Boltzmann method(LBM) and two dimensional shallow water equations. Second, GLMRT is combined with sink/source terms including excess rainfall and pump-like drainage. Third, a dry-wet boundary determining mechanism is considered in GLMRT. Fourth, real DEM data can be used in simulating water movement on the land surface. Finally, GPU accelerated technique is integrated into GLMRT to overcome the issue of time cost in calculation. The web-GIS based user interface is built based on cloud platform to assist data flow organization and real time simulation. The interface integrates real DEM data and receives precipitation estimation products from the Taiwan Typhoon and Flood Research Institute(TTFRI) and Central Weather Bureau(CWB). The simulation results would be displayed on the web-GIS via file and database transfer. Besides, a real time rendering technique based on real time simulation is developed, too. The real time rendering technique displays the simulation results via memory on GPU device and eliminates the time cost in data output. GLMRT solves a 800-second simulation of Zengwen Reservoir virtual dam break with 2,046x1,525 DEM grids (40 m resolution) within 140.11 seconds on the NVIDIA Tesla K20c. Compare to the 60,919 seconds computation time on the Intel?? Xeon?? CPU X5650 2.66GHz, the GLMRT gets a speedup of 438x. On the other hand, using GLMRT alone to simulate a 12-hour rainfall duration induced inundation would spend about 1.2 hours, which can provide buffer time for the requirement of flood prevention operation. Abstract A GPU-based flood simulation system is developed in this research. The system comprises two main components: a GPU-lized two bdimensional flood simulation model named GLMRT and a web-GIS user interface. GLMRT is designed and constructed with following features. First, GLMRT is constructed based on Lattice Boltzmann method(LBM) and two dimensional shallow water equations. Second, GLMRT is combined with sink/source terms including excess rainfall and pump-like drainage. Third, a dry-wet boundary determining mechanism is considered in GLMRT. Fourth, real DEM data can be used in simulating water movement on the land surface. Finally, GPU accelerated technique is integrated into GLMRT to overcome the issue of time cost in calculation. The web-GIS based user interface is built based on cloud platform to assist data flow organization and real time simulation. The interface integrates real DEM data and receives precipitation estimation products from the Taiwan Typhoon and Flood Research Institute(TTFRI) and Central Weather Bureau(CWB). The simulation results would be displayed on the web-GIS via file and database transfer. Besides, a real time rendering technique based on real time simulation is developed, too. The real time rendering technique displays the simulation results via memory on GPU device and eliminates the time cost in data output. GLMRT solves a 800-second simulation of Zengwen Reservoir virtual dam break with 2,046x1,525 DEM grids (40 m resolution) within 140.11 seconds on the NVIDIA Tesla K20c. Compare to the 60,919 seconds computation time on the Intel?? Xeon?? CPU X5650 2.66GHz, the GLMRT gets a speedup of 438x. On the other hand, using GLMRT alone to simulate a 12-hour rainfall duration induced inundation would spend about 1.2 hours, which can provide buffer time for the requirement of flood prevention operation.

Self-organizing Map Network for Automatically Recognizing Color Texture Fabric Nature

Kuo, Chung-Feng Jeffrey,Kao, Chih-Yuan The Korean Fiber Society 2007 Fibers and polymers Vol.8 No.2

The method of recognizing color texture brought forth in the present study is to employ unsupervised learning network to automatically recognize the fabric type and the main texture types. Firstly, the color scanner is adopted to extract fabric image which is afterwards saved as the digital image. Secondly, CIE-Lab color model is taken to obtain the feature value and wavelet transform is utilized to display the texture of the fabric image. Thirdly, co-occurrence matrix is employed to figure out the feature values of the texture structure such as angular second moment, entropy, homogeneity, contrast. Finally, self-organizing map (SOM) network is used as the classifier. The experiment result shows that the study can automatically and accurately classify the fabric types (including shuttle-woven fabric, jersey fabric and non-woven fabric) and main texture type of the fabric (such as plain weave, twill weave, satin weave, single jersey, double jersey and non-woven fabric).

Controlled Release of Clenbuterol from a Hydroxyapatite Carrier for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Yi-Wen Lin,Chih-Hsiang Fang,Ya-Jyun Liang,Ching-Yun Yang,Wei-Ting Kuo,Feng-Huei Lin 한국생체재료학회 2023 생체재료학회지 Vol.27 No.00

Background Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, and Aβ aggregation is considered to be the central process implicated in its pathogenesis. Current treatments are faced by challenges such as serious side effects and reduced drug bioavailability. In this study, we developed a drug delivery system for intramuscular injection that uses cellular activity to achieve constant and long-term drug release. Methods Synthesized mesoporous hydroxyapatite (SHAP) was prepared via co-precipitation, and hydrophobic surface modification using stearic acid was then used to load clenbuterol by physical absorption, thus creating the drug delivery system. Clenbuterol release was achieved through cellular activity, with macrophage uptake triggering lysosome/endosome disruption, cytoplasmic release, extracellular exocytosis, and subsequent systemic circulation. Results We found that clenbuterol-loaded SHAP enabled sustained release for more than 2 weeks and effectively modulated inflammation, reduced Aβ oligomer-induced toxicity, and prevented Aβ aggregation. Conclusions Our findings suggest that treatment with clenbuterol loaded in this SHAP delivery system could be a promising strategy for treating Alzheimer’s disease.

Middle Cerebral Artery Compromise Associated With Post-traumatic Hydrocephalus: A Case Report

Tzu-Ning Chen,Keng-Liang Kuo,Chih-Lung Lin,Yu-Feng Su 대한신경손상학회 2023 Korean Journal of Neurotrauma Vol.19 No.4

Post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is a commonly encountered complication following decompressive craniectomy, and is usually characterized by symptoms including headache, nausea, vomiting, and papilledema. Extracranial herniation accompanied by hemiplegia is a rare complication in patients with PTH who underwent craniectomy after subdural hematoma removal. We report a case of PTH that presented with extracranial herniation within one month of decompressive craniectomy. Following ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation, left hemiplegia improved dramatically with restoration of the left middle cerebral artery blood flow, which was evident on serial imaging. Vascular compromise is often overshadowed by increased intracranial pressure when clinicians are dealing with traumatic brain injury patients. Delicate neurological and radiological examinations and prompt early interventions could lead to optimal outcomes in patients receiving decompressive craniectomy.

Real-World Effectiveness and Safety of SOF/LDV for Pa-tients with Chronic Hepatitis C in Taiwan

( Ching-chu Lo ),( Pin-nan Cheng ),( Chi-yi Chen ),( Chung-feng Huang ),( Hsing-tao Kuo ),( Kuo-chih Tseng ),( Yi-hsiang Huang ),( Chi-ming Tai ),( Cheng-yuan Peng ),( Ming-jong Bair ),( Chien-hung Ch 대한간학회 2021 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2021 No.1