Seismic behavior of structures isolated with a hybrid system of rubber bearings

Bo-Jen Chen,L. L. Chung,Tsu-Cheng Chiang,C. S. Tsai 국제구조공학회 2006 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.22 No.6

Seismic behavior of structures isolated with a hybrid system of rubber bearings

Chen, Bo-Jen,Tsai, C.S.,Chung, L.L.,Chiang, Tsu-Cheng Techno-Press 2006 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.22 No.6

The enlargement of interest in base isolators as an earthquake-proof design strategy has dramatically accelerated experimental studies of elastomeric bearings worldwide. In this paper, a new base isolator concept that is a hybrid system of rubber bearings is proposed. Uniaxial, biaxial, and triaxial shaking table tests are also performed to study the seismic behavior of a 0.4-scale three-story isolated steel structure in the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering in Taiwan. Experimental results demonstrate that structures with a hybrid system of rubber bearings composed of stirruped rubber bearings and laminated rubber bearings can actually decrease the seismic responses of the superstructure. It has been proved through the shaking table tests that the proposed hybrid system of rubber bearings is a very promising tool to enhance the seismic resistance of structures. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the proposed analytical model in this paper can predict the mechanical behavior of the hybrid system of rubber bearings and seismic responses of the base-isolated structures.

A fermentation strategy for production of recombinant protein subjected to plasmid instability

Shu-Jen Chen,Bo-Shun Ke,I-Chung Chiu 한국화학공학회 2008 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.25 No.5

The appearance of plasmid-losing cells in a recombinant Escherichia coli culture was observed when the cell mass became doubled after induction, which corresponded to the timing of cell fission. Accordingly, a two-stage fermentation strategy capable of maintaining plasmid stability without selective pressure in a recombinant E. coli culture was proposed. In the first stage (cell growth stage), a high cell density culture was obtained by incubating the cells in the R medium. In the second stage (producing stage), the cells were devoted to producing the recombinant protein by introducing the fresh LB medium supplemented with isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). It was necessary to prevent the doubling in the cell mass after induction; otherwise cell fission would occur and generate plasmid-losing cells. The present strategy is expected to be extensively applicable in recombinant E. coli cultures

Dual Constant Voltage Mode Control for Resonant Current Reduction in E-Bike’s Low-Profile Wireless Charging System

Laskar Pamungkas,Bo-Chih Shih,Yu-Chen Chang,Huang-Jen Chiu 전력전자학회 2023 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2023 No.-

This paper focuses on implementing a series-series (SS) resonant wireless power transfer (WPT) with a primary-side resonant current reduction while entering the constant voltage (CV) mode. The prototyping scale and the research methodology are conducted by referring to the electric bicycle (E-Bike) charging applications. Firstly, the basic principles of the WPT system are studied. Then the performance of the resonant tank parameters is analyzed under the switching frequency variation by the equivalent model of the WPT circuit. The conventional CC/CV control method is briefly explained, as well as its limitation. Afterward, the Dual Constant Voltage Mode (DCVM) is proposed to overcome that limitation, resulting in an efficiency improvement when the WPT system enters the light-load condition. Subsequently, the firmware is designed to achieve a practical CC/CV charging mode. Finally, a 200 Watt SS-WPT system with the DCVM optimization is built and experimentally tested in the 20 mm air-gap to verify the theoretical derivation. The power transfer efficiency can reach 90% at the full-load, and the light-load efficiency can be optimized, as the main contribution of this research.

Vertical distributions of lateral forces on base isolated structures considering higher mode effects

Tsai, C.S.,Chen, Wen-Shin,Chen, Bo-Jen,Pong, Wen-Shen Techno-Press 2006 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.23 No.5

Base isolation technology has been accepted as a feasible and attractive way in improving seismic resistance of structures. The seismic design of new seismically isolated structures is mainly governed by the Uniform Building Code (UBC-97) published by the International Conference of Building Officials. In the UBC code, the distribution formula of the inertial (or lateral) forces leads to an inverted triangular shape in the vertical direction. It has been found to be too conservative for most isolated structures through experimental, computational and real earthquake examinations. In this paper, four simple and reasonable design formulae, based on the first mode of the base-isolated structures, for the lateral force distribution on isolated structures have been validated by a multiple-bay three-story base-isolated steel structure tested on the shaking table. Moreover, to obtain more accurate results for base-isolated structures in which higher mode contributions are more likely expected during earthquakes, another four inertial force distribution formulae are also proposed to include higher mode effects. Besides the experimental verification through shaking table tests, the vertical distributions of peak accelerations computed by the proposed design formulae are in good agreement with the recorded floor accelerations of the USC University Hospital during the Northridge earthquake.

Impact of Interleukin-10 Gene Polymorphisms on Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Wen-Chien Ting,Lu-Min Chen,Li-Chia Huang,Mann-Jen Hour,Yu-Hsuan Lan,Hong-Zin Lee,Bang-Jau You,Ta-Yuan Chang,Bo-Ying Bao 대한의학회 2013 Journal of Korean medical science Vol.28 No.9

Chronic inflammation is thought to be the leading cause of colorectal cancer, and interleukin-10 (IL10) has been identified as a potent immunomodulatory cytokine that regulates inflammatory responses in the gastrointestinal tract. Although several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL10 have been associated with the risk of colorectal cancer, their prognostic significance has not been determined. Two hundred and eightytwo colorectal cancer patients were genotyped for two candidate cancer-associated SNPs in IL10. The associations of these SNPs with distant metastasis-free survival and overall survival were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression model. The minor homozygote GG genotype of IL10 rs3021094 was significantly associated with a 3.30-fold higher risk of death compared with the TT+TG genotypes (P = 0.011). The patients with IL10rs3021094 GG genotype also had a poorer overall survival in Kaplan-Meier analysis (log-rank P = 0.007) and in multivariate Cox regression model (P = 0.044) adjusting for age, gender,carcinoembryonic antigen levels, tumor differentiation, stage, lymphovascular invasion,and perineural invasion. In conclusion, our results suggest that IL10 rs3021094 might be a valuable prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer patients.

Piecewise exact solution for seismic mitigation analysis of bridges equipped with sliding-type isolators

Tsai, C.S.,Lin, Yung-Chang,Chen, Wen-Shin,Chiang, Tsu-Cheng,Chen, Bo-Jen Techno-Press 2010 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.35 No.2

Recently, earthquake proof technology has been widely applied to both new and existing structures and bridges. The analysis of bridge systems equipped with structural control devices, which possess large degrees of freedom and nonlinear characteristics, is a result in time-consuming task. Therefore, a piecewise exact solution is proposed in this study to simplify the seismic mitigation analysis process for bridge systems equipped with sliding-type isolators. In this study, the simplified system having two degrees of freedom, to reasonably represent the large number of degrees of freedom of a bridge, and is modeled to obtain a piecewise exact solution for system responses during earthquakes. Simultaneously, we used the nonlinear finite element computer program to analyze the bridge responses and verify the accuracy of the proposed piecewise exact solution for bridge systems equipped with sliding-type isolators. The conclusions derived by comparing the results obtained from the piecewise exact solution and nonlinear finite element analysis reveal that the proposed solution not only simplifies the calculation process but also provides highly accurate seismic responses of isolated bridges under earthquakes.

Piecewise exact solution for analysis of base-isolated structures under earthquakes

Tsai, C.S.,Chiang, Tsu-Cheng,Chen, Bo-Jen,Chen, Kuei-Chi Techno-Press 2005 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.19 No.4

Base isolation technologies have been proven to be very efficient in protecting structures from seismic hazards during experimental and theoretical studies. In recent years, there have been more and more engineering applications using base isolators to upgrade the seismic resistibility of structures. Optimum design of the base isolator can lessen the undesirable seismic hazard with the most efficiency. Hence, tracing the nonlinear behavior of the base isolator with good accuracy is important in the engineering profession. In order to predict the nonlinear behavior of base isolated structures precisely, hundreds even thousands of degrees-of-freedom and iterative algorithm are required for nonlinear time history analysis. In view of this, a simple and feasible exact formulation without any iteration has been proposed in this study to calculate the seismic responses of structures with base isolators. Comparison between the experimental results from shaking table tests conducted at National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering in Taiwan and the analytical results show that the proposed method can accurately simulate the seismic behavior of base isolated structures with elastomeric bearings. Furthermore, it is also shown that the proposed method can predict the nonlinear behavior of the VCFPS isolated structure with accuracy as compared to that from the nonlinear finite element program. Therefore, the proposed concept can be used as a simple and practical tool for engineering professions for designing the elastomeric bearing as well as sliding bearing.

Piecewise exact solution for analysis of base-isolated structures under earthquakes

C. S. Tsai,Tsu-Cheng Chiang,Bo-Jen Chen,Kuei-Chi Chen 국제구조공학회 2005 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.19 No.4

Base isolation technologies have been proven to be very efficient in protecting structures from seismic hazards during experimental and theoretical studies. In recent years, there have been more and more engineering applications using base isolators to upgrade the seismic resistibility of structures. Optimum design of the base isolator can lessen the undesirable seismic hazard with the most efficiency. Hence, tracing the nonlinear behavior of the base isolator with good accuracy is important in the engineering profession. In order to predict the nonlinear behavior of base isolated structures precisely, hundreds even thousands of degrees-of-freedom and iterative algorithm are required for nonlinear time history analysis. In view of this, a simple and feasible exact formulation without any iteration has been proposed in this study to calculate the seismic responses of structures with base isolators. Comparison between the experimental results from shaking table tests conducted at National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering in Taiwan and the analytical results show that the proposed method can accurately simulate the seismic behavior of base isolated structures with elastomeric bearings. Furthermore, it is also shown that the proposed method can predict the nonlinear behavior of the VCFPS isolated structure with accuracy as compared to that from the nonlinear finite element program. Therefore, the proposed concept can be used as a simple and practical tool for engineering professions for designing the elastomeric bearing as well as sliding bearing.

Professionals’ experiences and attitudes toward use of Traditional Chinese Medicine in hospice palliative inpatient care units: A multicenter survey in Taiwan

Yu-Jia Lin,Hsiao-Ting Chang,Ming-Hwai Lin,Ru-Yih Chen,Ping-Jen Chen,Wen-Yuan Lin,Jyh-Gang Hsieh,Ying-Wei Wang,Chung-Chieh Hu,Yi-Sheng Liou,Tai-Yuan Chiu,Chun-Yi Tu,Yi-Jen Wang,Bo-Ren Cheng,Tzeng-Ji Ch 한국한의학연구원 2021 Integrative Medicine Research Vol.10 No.2

Background: Medical staff may have difficulties in using conventional medicine to manage symptoms among terminally ill patients, including adverse effects of the treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as a complementary or alternative medicine, and has been increasingly used in the field of palliative medicine in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of and attitudes toward using TCM among palliative care professionals, and to provide preliminary information about its use in palliative care. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study conducted in eight inpatient hospice wards in Taiwan between December 2014 and February 2016. The questionnaire was self-administered, and was analyzed with descriptive statistics including Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test. Results: A total of 251 palliative care professionals responded to the questionnaire, of whom 89.7% and 88.9% believed that the use of TCM could improve the physical symptoms and quality of life in terminally ill patients, respectively. Overall, 59.8%, of respondents suggested that TCM had rare side effects, and 58.2% were worried that TCM could affect the liver and kidney function of patients. In total, 89.7% and 88.0% of professionals agreed there were no suitable clinical practice guidelines and educational programs, respectively, for TCM use in palliative care. Conclusions: Most of the respondents agreed there was insufficient knowledge, skills-training, and continuing education on the use of TCM in terminally ill patients in Taiwan. These results show that to address patient safety considerations, guidelines about use of TCM in palliative care should be established.