Engineering Consulting Project Budget Allocation and Cost Control Model Based on Baseline Productivity

Shih-Hsu Wang 대한토목학회 2023 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.27 No.6

This study developed an engineering consulting project budget allocation and control model based on baseline productivity of staff of various positions for each work item. The research model included two modules, namely the staff budget and time budget. The staff budget module determined the working hours and budgets of staff of various positions for each work item of the new project. The time budget module is to plan an implementation period and budget allocation for each work item of the new project. Four findings were inferred from the obtained results. First, the control chart method was an appropriate method for determining the baseline productivity of engineering consulting project. Second, the root mean square error (RMSE) of the staff budget module was 1.99 – 2.81 NT$/m, and the budget allocation results obtained with this module were similar to those produced by experienced project managers. Third, the RMSE of the time budget module was 2.23%, which is more accurate than are existing practical methods. Fourth, the accuracy of the budget stress index proposed by this study was 81.48% – 84.00%. This index can assist project managers in determining projects, work items, and cost control benchmarks for staff working at various positions.

Novel Patched 1 Mutations in Patients with Gorlin-Goltz Syndrome Strategic Treated by Smoothened Inhibitor

( Shih-wen Hsu ),( Chien-yio Lin ),( Chuang-wei Wang ),( Wen-hung Chung ),( Chih-hsun Yang ),( Yao-yu Chang ) 대한피부과학회 2018 Annals of Dermatology Vol.30 No.5

We studied a family with Gorlin-Goltz syndrome. The novel mutations of our cases were located on the 21st exon of the PTCH1 gene (c.3450C>G). The father, who received a strategic 56-day vismodegib treatment for disease control, was the first patient with Gorlin syndrome treated with the hedgehog inhibitor in Taiwan. The lesions regressed gradually, with scar formation, and were subsequently removed via a wide excision. Further details are provided below. (Ann Dermatol 30(5) 597∼601, 2018)

The Characteristics of Acute Aortic Dissection among Young Chinese Patients: A Comparison between Marfan Syndrome and Non-Marfan Syndrome Patients

Shih-Hung Tsai,Yen-Yue Lin,Chin-Wang Hsu,Yu-Long Chen,Min-Tser Liao,Shi-Jye Chu 연세대학교의과대학 2009 Yonsei medical journal Vol.50 No.2

Purpose: Aortic dissection (AoD) is one of the most common catastrophes involving the aorta. Nevertheless, early diagnosis remains to be a challenge in the Emergency Department (ED), particularly in young individuals. In this study, we attempted to identify the characteristics of acute AoD among young individuals, particular in patients with Marfan syndrome. Materials and Methods: This was an retrospective chart-review study conducted in a tertiary referring hospital. The hospital database was queried for the combination of AoD and patients under age of 40 years. The medical charts were reviewed to obtain demographic data, clinical data and laboratory characteristics by using a standardized data collection sheet. A comparison between Marfan syndrome and non-Marfan syndrome patients was performed. Results: During the 10- years period, 18 of 344 patients with acute AoD were younger than 40 years-old. Patients with Marfan syndrome developed acute AoD at a younger age than patients without Marfan syndrome. The mean diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower in patients with Marfan syndrome upon presenting to the ED than those without. Patients with Marfan syndrome had trends toward higher risk of development of type A AoD, increased recurrence rate and higher mortality rate than those without. However, statistical significance was not present. Conclusion: ED physicians should have high alert to acute AoD in young patients presenting with severe unexplained chest and back pain, particularly in those patients with a history of heart diseases, hypertension, and Marfan syndrome or featuring Marfanoid habitus. Acute coronary syndrome, unexplained abdominal symptoms, and sudden cardiac arrest could be the initial manifestation of AoD in young patients. A low threshold to perform enhanced computed tomography may facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment in this patient population. Purpose: Aortic dissection (AoD) is one of the most common catastrophes involving the aorta. Nevertheless, early diagnosis remains to be a challenge in the Emergency Department (ED), particularly in young individuals. In this study, we attempted to identify the characteristics of acute AoD among young individuals, particular in patients with Marfan syndrome. Materials and Methods: This was an retrospective chart-review study conducted in a tertiary referring hospital. The hospital database was queried for the combination of AoD and patients under age of 40 years. The medical charts were reviewed to obtain demographic data, clinical data and laboratory characteristics by using a standardized data collection sheet. A comparison between Marfan syndrome and non-Marfan syndrome patients was performed. Results: During the 10- years period, 18 of 344 patients with acute AoD were younger than 40 years-old. Patients with Marfan syndrome developed acute AoD at a younger age than patients without Marfan syndrome. The mean diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower in patients with Marfan syndrome upon presenting to the ED than those without. Patients with Marfan syndrome had trends toward higher risk of development of type A AoD, increased recurrence rate and higher mortality rate than those without. However, statistical significance was not present. Conclusion: ED physicians should have high alert to acute AoD in young patients presenting with severe unexplained chest and back pain, particularly in those patients with a history of heart diseases, hypertension, and Marfan syndrome or featuring Marfanoid habitus. Acute coronary syndrome, unexplained abdominal symptoms, and sudden cardiac arrest could be the initial manifestation of AoD in young patients. A low threshold to perform enhanced computed tomography may facilitate early diagnosis and timely treatment in this patient population.

Interpretation and Use of Natriuretic Peptides in Non-Congestive Heart Failure Settings

Shih-Hung Tsai,Yen-Yue Lin,Shi-Jye Chu,Ching-Wang Hsu,Shu-Meng Cheng 연세대학교의과대학 2010 Yonsei medical journal Vol.51 No.2

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) have been found to be useful markers in differentiating acute dyspneic patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) and emerged as potent prognostic markers for patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). The best-established and widely used clinical application of BNP and NT-proBNP testing is for the emergent diagnosis of CHF in patients presenting with acute dyspnea. Nevertheless, elevated NPs levels can be found in many circumstances involving left ventricular (LV) dysfunction or hypertrophy; right ventricular (RV) dysfunction secondary to pulmonary diseases; cardiac inflammatory or infectious diseases;endocrinology diseases and high output status without decreased LV ejection fraction. Even in the absence of significant clinical evidence of volume overload or LV dysfunction, markedly elevated NP levels can be found in patients with multiple comorbidities with a certain degree of prognostic value. Potential clinical applications of NPs are expanded accompanied by emerging reports regarding screening the presence of secondary cardiac dysfunction;monitoring the therapeutic responses, risk stratifications and providing prognostic values in many settings. Clinicians need to have expanded knowledge regarding the interpretation of elevated NPs levels and potential clinical applications of NPs. Clinicians should recognize that currently the only reasonable application for routine practice is limited to differentiation of acute dyspnea, rule-out-diagnostic-tests, monitoring of therapeutic responses and prognosis of acute or decompensated CHF. The rationales as well the potential applications of NPs in these settings are discussed in this review article.

Hypoglycemia Revisited in the Acute Care Setting

Shih-Hung Tsai,Der-Ming Chu,Yen-Yue Lin,Chin-Wang Hsu,Chien-Sheng Cheng 연세대학교의과대학 2011 Yonsei medical journal Vol.52 No.6

Hypoglycemia is a common finding in both daily clinical practice and acute care settings. The causes of severe hypoglycemia (SH) are multi-factorial and the major etiologies are iatrogenic, infectious diseases with sepsis and tumor or autoimmune diseases. With the advent of aggressive lowering of HbA1c values to achieve optimal glycemic control, patients are at increased risk of hypoglycemic episodes. Iatrogenic hypoglycemia can cause recurrent morbidity, sometime irreversible neurologic complications and even death, and further preclude maintenance of euglycemia over a lifetime of diabetes. Recent studies have shown that hypoglycemia is associated with adverse outcomes in many acute illnesses. In addition, hypoglycemia is associated with increased mortality among elderly and non-diabetic hospitalized patients. Clinicians should have high clinical suspicion of subtle symptoms of hypoglycemia and provide prompt treatment. Clinicians should know that hypoglycemia is associated with considerable adverse outcomes in many acute critical illnesses. In order to reduce hypoglycemia-associated morbidity and mortality, timely health education programs and close monitoring should be applied to those diabetic patients presenting to the Emergency Department with SH. ED disposition strategies should be further validated and justified to achieve balance between the benefits of euglycemia and the risks of SH. We discuss relevant issues regarding hypoglycemia in emergency and critical care settings.

Risk Factors for Recurrent Hypoglycemia in Hospitalized Diabetic Patients Admitted for Severe Hypoglycemia

Yen-Yue Lin,Chin-Wang Hsu,Wayne Huey-Herng Sheu,Shi-Jye Chu,Chin-Pyng Wu,Shih-Hung Tsai 연세대학교의과대학 2010 Yonsei medical journal Vol.51 No.3

Purpose: Severe hypoglycemia can result in neural damage, impaired cognitive function, coma, seizures, or death. The decision to admit diabetic patients after initial treatment in the emergency department remains unclear. Our purpose is to identify risk factors for developing recurrent hypoglycemia in diabetic patients admitted for severe hypoglycemia. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 233 subjects (92 males, 141 females; mean age, 74.1 ± 9.8 years) with type 2 diabetes treated at a tertiary care teaching hospital and hospitalized for severe hypoglycemia. Results: Seventy-four (31.8%) patients were categorized with recurrent hypoglycemia and 159(68.2%) with non-recurrent. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with loss of a recent meal, coronary artery disease, infection, and poor renal function (lower estimated glomerular filtration rate) were at risk for recurrent hypoglycemia. The use of calcium-channel blockers appeared to be a protective factor for the development of recurrent hypoglycemia. Conclusion: There may be a subset of patients with severe hypoglycemia and certain risk factors for recurrent hypoglycemia that should be admitted.

Decellularized Human Umbilical Artery Exhibits Adequate Endothelialization in Xenogenic Transplantation

Kai Hsia,Tien-Shiang Wang,Chin-Su Liu,Chih-Kuan Su,Chien-Chin Chen,Chang-Ching Yeh,Hsinyu Lee,Chao-Ling Yao,Tsung-Yu Tseng,Shih-Hwa Chiou,Hsu Ma,Chih-Hsun Lin,Jen-Her Lu 한국생물공학회 2023 Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering Vol.28 No.3

Decellularized human umbilical arteries (dHUA) is an off-the-shelf graft that can potentially serve as vascular scaffolds in tissue engineering of small-diameter vascular grafts. This research aimed to investigate that dHUA could exhibit adequate endothelialization for a long term in xenogenic transplantation. 13 dHUAs were implanted in rat abdominal aortas up to 90 days. Rats were divided into three groups in terms of survival period: Group 1, one to seven days (n = 6); Group 2, 14 to 30 days (n = 4) and Group 3, 90 days (n = 3). The explants were analyzed by histological, immunohistochemistry and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) examination. Allograft implantation of 12 decellularized rat abdominal aortas` were processed the same way as the rat in order to make a comparison for survival rates (Group 1, n = 5; Group 2, n = 4; Group 3, n = 3). The results demonstrated that the survival rates of xenograft and allograft implantation were estimated to be 59.2% vs. 58.3% in Group 1, 50.7% vs. 58.3% in Group 2 and 3. Grafts harvested from Group 2 were showed CD31, endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression at intima, and α-smooth muscle actin, CD45, CD68 and CD168 expression at the tunica externa. A layer structure with obvious endothelialization and fiber regeneration/orientation could be inspected from the explants of Group 3. MRA demonstrated the patency of dHUA on day 30 and 90. In conclusion, more than 50% dHUA maintained patency in the xenogenic model till 90 days after surgery. A mature vessel-like functional structure with intact endothelial layer was observed then. This warrants further study in the reinforcement of decellularized vascular scaffolds.

Building Information Model and Optimization Algorithms for Supporting Campus Facility Maintenance Management: A Case Study of Maintaining Water Dispensers

Li-Hsi Yang,Liuya Xu,Wei-Chih Wang,Shih-Hsu Wang 대한토목학회 2021 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.25 No.1

Effective management for the maintenance of water dispensers dispersed throughout an academic campus is essential for ensuring the quality of drinking water. Conventionally, water dispenser maintenance is conducted approximately bimonthly or when a passive fault notice is obtained. This maintenance frequency usually results in ineffective allocation of maintenance staff and poor maintenance quality. This study proposes a new model for campus facility maintenance management that enables maintenance staff to maintain water dispensers at the optimal time and select the shortest maintenance path. The proposed model was developed using the maintenance information of the Construction Operations Building Information Exchange obtained from building information models of multiple buildings, water dispenser operation data from a water dispenser monitoring module, and an optimization algorithm developed by integrating Dijkstra’s algorithm, simulated annealing, and a genetic algorithm to identify the shortest maintenance path. The proposed model was tested on a campus in Northern Taiwan. The application results revealed that maintenance strategies could be systematically established to determine the optimal time to dispatch maintenance staff based on the lowest unit cost criterion; this approach was also used to identify the shortest maintenance path through multiple buildings.

The Real-time Video Stabilization for the Rescue Robot

Jen-Pin Hsiao,Cheng-Chung Hsu,Tzu-Chiang Shih,Pau-Lo Hsu,Syh-Shiuh Yeh,Bor-Chyun Wang 제어로봇시스템학회 2009 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2009 No.8

When rescue robots navigate in a rough terrain, significant vibration of the video occurs unavoidably and a video stabilization system is proposed in this paper to reduce the disturbance on the visual system of the present rescue robots. The Kalman filter is applied to estimate the motion vector of the robot and the false estimation occurrence can be thus greatly reduced by applying analysis of correlation and variance of the motion vector estimation. With a hierarchical searching algorithm implemented on the TI DSP 6437, the frame rate can be improved from 10 fps to 28 fps to realize the real-time video stabilization and furthermore, the cooperative mission of multiple rescue robots has been achieved by applying the developed visual servo technique. The proposed virtual bounded motion control algorithm further leads the robots approaching the target precisely with cooperation of multiple rescue robots. The demo video is available at: http://lab816.cn.nctu.edu.tw/DemoVideo/.

IPv6 DoS Attacks Detection Using Machine Learning Enhanced IDS in SDN/NFV Environment

Chia-Wei Tseng,Li-Fan Wu,Shih-Chun Hsu,Sheng Wang Yu 한국통신학회 2020 한국통신학회 APNOMS Vol.2020 No.09

The rapid growth of IPv6 traffic makes security issues become more important. This paper proposes an IPv6 network security system that integrates signature-based Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) and machine learning classification technologies to improve the accuracy of IPv6 denial-of-service (DoS) attacks detection. In addition, this paper has also enhanced IPv6 network security defense capabilities through software-defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualization (NFV) technologies. The experimental results prove that the detection and defense mechanisms proposed in this paper can effectively strengthen IPv6 network security.