Enhanced Performance of Pseudo-Bilayer Organic Photovoltaic Devices via Small Molecule Doping

Syu, Yu-Wei,Huang, Peng-Yi,Li, Husan-De,Hsu, Ching-Ling,Chiu, Kuan-Cheng,Kim, Choongik,Chen, Ming-Chou,Chao, Yu-Chiang American Chemical Society 2014 The Journal of Physical Chemistry Part C Vol.118 No.19

<P>Controlling both the film crystallinity of the active layer for better charge transport and the interdiffusion between donor and acceptor materials for optimal bicontinuous networks is essential in producing pseudo-bilayer polymer solar cells. In this work, we investigated the influence of a doping solution-processable small molecule with high carrier mobility, 5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl) anthradithiophene (TES-ADT), on the performance of pseudo-bilayer polymer solar cells made of an underlayer of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and an upper layer of [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). By analysis of the X-ray diffraction and UV–vis absorbance spectra of P3HT:TES-ADT blend films it was demonstrated that the film crystallinity was enhanced by TES-ADT doping in the P3HT underlayer. The hole mobility extracted from the current density–voltage curves of hole-only devices based on P3HT:TES-ADT demonstrated an optimized value with proper TES-ADT doping and thermal annealing. An intermixed photoactive layer was observed for the annealed device, indicating the occurrence of interdiffusion with a large interfacial area. With improved film crystallinity and interdiffusion, the optimal device performance was obtained when 5% TES-ADT was blended with P3HT and a thermal annealing treatment at 150 °C for 1 min was conducted. At that optimal condition, the mean crystallite size was increased by 35%, and hence the enhancement of 8% and 14% in power conversion efficiency and short-circuit current density was observed, respectively.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/jpccck/2014/jpccck.2014.118.issue-19/jp502331x/production/images/medium/jp-2014-02331x_0007.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/jp502331x'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>

A Stability-Guaranteed Integral Sliding Disturbance Observer for Systems Suffering from Disturbances with Bounded First Time Derivatives

Yu-Sheng Lu,Chien-Wei Chiu 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2011 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.9 No.2

This paper presents an integral sliding disturbance observer (I-SDOB) to compensate for unknown disturbances for a class of nonlinear systems. To guarantee the existence of a sliding mode for disturbance estimation, the proposed I-SDOB needs only a small switching gain compared with conventional sliding disturbance observers, which leads to further alleviation of chatter. Moreover, the stability analysis of the controller-observer system is given based on the Lyapunov theory. Applica-tions of the proposed scheme to a two-link robotic manipulator have been conducted, and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

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.

Correlation between goose circovirus and goose parvovirus with gosling feather loss disease and goose broke feather disease in southern Taiwan

Chiu-Huang Ting,Chia-Ying Lin,Yang-Chieh Huang,Shyh-Shyan Liu,Shao-Yu Peng,Chen-Wei Wang,Hung-Yi Wu 대한수의학회 2021 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.22 No.1

Background: Goslings in several Taiwanese farms experienced gosling feather loss disease (GFL) at 21–35 days and goose broke feather disease (GBF) at 42–60 days. The prevalence ranges from a few birds to 500 cases per field. It is estimated that about 12,000 geese have been infected, the morbidity is 70–80% and the mortality is 20–30%. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the pathogens that cause GFL and GBF. Focus on the study of the correlation between goose circovirus (GoCV) and goose parvovirus (GPV) with the goose feather loss in southern Taiwan. Furthermore, a phylogenetic tree was established to align the differences between southern and northern Taiwan and compare with virus strains from China and Europe. Methods: Samples were collected from animal hospitals. Molecular and microscopy diagnostics were used to examine 92 geese. Specific quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) assays are performed to evaluate GPV and GoCV viral loads and simultaneously evaluated the feather loss conditions in geese with the scoring method. Results: High prevalence of GoCV and GPV infection in geese showing signs of GFL and GBF. Inclusion body was detected in the feather follicles and Lieberkühn crypt epithelial cells. The Q-PCR showed the high correlation between feather loss and viruses during 3rd–5th week. However, the infection was not detected using the same test in 60 healthy geese. Conclusions: Thus, GFL and GBF appear to be significantly closely related to GoCV and GPV. The geese feathers showed increasing recovery after being quarantined and disinfected.

Serotonin Modulates the Correlations between Obsessive-compulsive Trait and Heart Rate Variability in Normal Healthy Subjects: A SPECT Study with [123I]ADAM and Heart Rate Variability Measurement

Che Yu Kuo,Kao Chin Chen,I Hui Lee,Huai-Hsuan Tseng,Nan Tsing Chiu,Po See Chen,Yen Kuang Yang,Wei Hung Chang 대한정신약물학회 2022 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.20 No.2

Objective: The impact of serotonergic system on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is well studied. However, the correlation between OC presentations and autonomic nervous system (ANS) is still unclear. Furthermore, whether the correlation might be modulated by serotonin is also uncertain. Methods: We recruited eighty-nine healthy subjects. Serotonin transporter (SERT) availability by [123I]ADAM and heart rate variability (HRV) tests were measured. Symptoms checklist-90 was measured for the OC presentations. The interaction between HRV and SERT availability were calculated and the correlation between HRV and OC symptoms were analyzed after stratified SERT level into two groups, split at medium. Results: The interactions were significant in the factors of low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD). Furthermore, the significantly negative correlations between OC symptoms and the above HRV indexes existed only in subjects with higher SERT availability. Conclusion: OC symptoms might be correlated with ANS regulations in subjects with higher SERT availability.

On a Synchronous-Reluctance Motor Speed Drive with Intuitive Commutation Tuning

Kai-Wei Hu,Chang-Ming Liaw,Chiu-Fa Lee,Yu-Te Su 전력전자학회 2015 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2015 No.6

This paper presents a synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) drive with proper commutation instant tuning. Owing to the inaccurate and varied machine parameters, the optimal torque generating capability of a SynRM drive is difficult to achieve successfully. In the proposed intuitive commutation scheme, the commutation angle is first properly set by a minimum loss commutation (MLC) scheme and a field-weakening commutation (FWC) scheme. Then an intuitive commutation tuning (ICT) scheme is developed to adjust the commutation angle automatically for compensating the effects caused by the variations of system parameters and operating conditions. In addition, the current and speed controls are properly designed to yield good whole driving responses, including starting, acceleration/deceleration, reversible, dynamic and static running characteristics.

Development and Preliminary Evaluation of Psychometric Properties of Symptom-Management Self-Efficacy Scale for Breast Cancer Related to Chemotherapy

Shu-Yuan Liang,Wei-Wen Wu,Chiu-Ya Kuo,Yu-Ying Lu 한국간호과학회 2015 Asian Nursing Research Vol.9 No.4

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and preliminarily evaluate the reliability and validity of the Symptom-Management Self-Efficacy ScaleeBreast Cancer (SMSES-BC) related to chemotherapy. Methods: The study included three stages. This paper presents the results of stage 2 and stage 3. In total, 34 items in the SMSES-BC were found during stage 1 from qualitative findings, a literature review, and expert suggestions; the 34 items were used for the psychometric properties test. Test-retest reliability and Cronbach a were assessed in the first sample, which included 45 participants for the pilot test (stage 2). The second sample, which included 152 patients, was used to assess the construct validity and concurrent validity (stage 3). Results: The pilot test results revealed a test-retest reliability of .73 (p < .001) and Cronbach a coefficient of .96 for the total scale. Three factors (managing chemotherapy-related symptoms, acquiring problem solving, and managing emotional and interpersonal disturbances) were identified from exploratory factor analysis. Correlation coefficient r was .40 (p < .001), which supported the association between SMSES-BC and the General Self-Efficacy Scale for concurrent validity. Conclusions: The study results demonstrate acceptable reliability and validity for the SMSES-BC that was developed for measuring symptom-management self-efficacy related to chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer. This study suggests further research to validate the construct of the SMSES-BC.

Multipoint Fuzzy Prediction for Load Forecasting in Green Buildings

Hsuan-Hao Chang,Wei-Yu Chiu,Ting-Yen Hsieh 제어로봇시스템학회 2016 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2016 No.10

A novel load forecasting mechanism that uses fuzzy logic and big data, termed multipoint fuzzy prediction (MPFP), is proposed. The prediction mechanism is based on historical data and, therefore, is adaptive to dynamic changes over time when the database is updated properly. The MPFP can be combined with green buildings and renewable energy sources to reduce peak loads and energy consumption. An energy management system (EMS) can be integrated into the framework to achieve an improved level of performance. On the basis of a prediction of load curves, the EMS can discharge energy storage devices when electricity prices are high and charge them when electricity prices are low, reducing costs. Real power demand data were employed to illustrate the validity of the proposed MPFP scheme.

Dual-Active-Bridge Converter with Triple Phase Shift Control for a Wide Operating Voltage Range

Yi-Hsuan Chen,Ta-Wei Huang,Shih-Hao Kuo,Yu-Chen Chang,Huang-Jen Chiu,Serafin Bachman,Marek Jasi?ski 전력전자학회 2023 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2023 No.-

An optimal modulation scheme with Triple-Phase-Shift (TPS) control that increase efficiency in the whole load range is presented for a Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converter under wide output voltage range conditions. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the DAB with TPS modulation, identifying all the switching modes to operate the DAB where expressions for the transfer functions, the peak inductor current and RMS inductor current are provided. An analysis of minimum Peak Current and minimum RMS Current Control also are investigated. On this basic all-ZVS modulation scheme is originally proposed to improve light-load efficiency and to reduce the switching losses. A 15 kW prototype circuit is applied, and experimental results are presented to validate that the modulation and efficiency improvement are realized by applying the optimized modulation scheme. The experimental results also verify the effectiveness of the closed-loop control strategy.

Reinforcement Learning Based Electricity Price Controller in Smart Grids

Yi-Hsin Lin,Wei-Yu Chiu 제어로봇시스템학회 2021 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2021 No.10

Striking a balance between power supply and demand is the most imperative target for any electricity grid system. In order to address variability of renewable energy in the modern grid, a robust and elastic balancing scheme is required. Conventional model-based approaches can suffer from great performance degradation given the uncertainty induced by the renewable energy. As such, this study explores a model-free approach by proposing a reinforcement learning based pricing scheme that balances the power supply and demand. A price signal is considered as the control signal for the balance management. Case studies involving different market parameters and different time resolutions were conducted to show the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.