The Use of a Multiple Risk Level Model to Tackle the Duration of Risk for Construction Activity

Hsien-Kuan Chang,Wen-der Yu,Shao-Tsai Cheng,Tao-Ming Cheng 대한토목학회 2019 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.23 No.6

The project evaluation and review technique (PERT) is the most well-known method to handle the risk due to uncertain activity durations, previous studies show that the β-distribution-based PERT estimation tends to be over-optimistic and it offers no control of the project in terms of risk duration. This study proposes a multiple risk-level (MRL) model that uses a site spatial constraint, environmental effects and the “5 Ms” of construction management to tackle the duration of risk during a construction project. A Risk-based Critical Path Scheduling Method (R-CPSM) that uses MRL is developed to calculate the duration of the project. A case study using a project selected from a previous study is used to compare the four estimation methods: two traditional PERT methods (3.2σs and 6σs), a Monte Carlo Simulation and the proposed MRL model. The results show that, compared with traditional approaches to estimate durations of uncertain activity, the proposed R-CPSM method is more systematic that can be combined with a cost estimation process and offers a rectification mechanism that dynamically monitors and adjusts the important factors that affect the risk duration. This method gives a more realistic estimate that is in agreement with the results of previous studies.

Conjugation of mono-sulfobetaine to alkyne-PPX films via click reaction to reduce cell adhesion

Chien, Hsiu-Wen,Keng, Ming-Chun,Chen, Hsien-Yeh,Huang, Sheng-Tung,Tsai, Wei-Bor Techno-Press 2016 Biomaterials and biomedical engineering Vol.3 No.1

A surface resisting protein adsorption and cell adhesion is highly desirable for many biomedical applications such as diagnostic devices, biosensors and blood-contacting devices. In this study, a surface conjugated with sulfobetaine molecules was fabricated via the click reaction for the anti-fouling purpose. An alkyne-containing substrate (Alkyne-PPX) was generated by chemical vapor deposition of 4-ethynyl-[2,2]paracyclophane. Azide-ended mono-sulfobetaine molecules were synthesized and then conjugated on Alkyne-PPX via the click reaction. The protein adsorption from 10% serum was reduced by 57%, while the attachment of L929 cells was reduced by 83% onto the sulfobetaine-PPX surface compared to the protein adsorption and cell adhesion on Alkyne-PPX. In conclusion, we demonstrate that conjugation of mono-sulfobetaine molecules via the click chemistry is an effective way for reduction of non-specific protein adsorption and cell attachment.

Conjugation of mono-sulfobetaine to alkyne-PPX films via click reaction to reduce cell adhesion

Chien, Hsiu-Wen,Keng, Ming-Chun,Chen, Hsien-Yeh,Huang, Sheng-Tung,Tsai, Wei-Bor Techno-Press 2016 Biomaterials and Biomechanics in Bioengineering Vol.3 No.1

A surface resisting protein adsorption and cell adhesion is highly desirable for many biomedical applications such as diagnostic devices, biosensors and blood-contacting devices. In this study, a surface conjugated with sulfobetaine molecules was fabricated via the click reaction for the anti-fouling purpose. An alkyne-containing substrate (Alkyne-PPX) was generated by chemical vapor deposition of 4-ethynyl-[2,2]paracyclophane. Azide-ended mono-sulfobetaine molecules were synthesized and then conjugated on Alkyne-PPX via the click reaction. The protein adsorption from 10% serum was reduced by 57%, while the attachment of L929 cells was reduced by 83% onto the sulfobetaine-PPX surface compared to the protein adsorption and cell adhesion on Alkyne-PPX. In conclusion, we demonstrate that conjugation of mono-sulfobetaine molecules via the click chemistry is an effective way for reduction of non-specific protein adsorption and cell attachment.

Fibrous dysplasia in maxilla in a patient on hemodialysis with severe secondary hyperparathyroidism

Hui-Hsin Yang,Cheng-Hsien Wu,Hsin-Lin Tsai,Jei-Wen Chang 대한내과학회 2022 The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine Vol.37 No.3

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DESTINATION BRAND COOLNESS: CONCEPTUALIZATION AND SCALE DEVELOPMENT

Hsiu-Yu Teng,Cheng-Hsien Tsai,Chia-Wen Hung,Hui-Chen Hung 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2023 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2023 No.07

Destination branding has become an important trend in modern tourism. The development of destination brands has become a strategic tool worldwide because of the growing competition between destinations. In recent years, many tourist destinations have combined unique, creative, and attractive elements to transform themselves into “cool” tourist destinations. Destination brand coolness refers to tourists’ subjective and positive perception of tourist destinations and their beliefs that the destination brand offer distinctive, novel characteristics and attributes that the visitors are attracted to. Creating destination brand coolness can help tourist destinations differentiate themselves from their competitive counterparts, thereby attracting tourists. However, no study has conceptualized the construct of destination brand coolness, let alone developing scales that measure destination brand coolness.

Fluorescence Characteristic Spectra of Domestic Fuel Products through Laser Induced Fluorescence Detection

Wu, Ting-Nien,Chang, Shui-Ping,Tsai, Wen-Hsien,Lin, Cian-Yi Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment 2014 지하수토양환경 Vol.19 No.5

Traditional investigation procedures of soil and groundwater contamination are followed by soil gas sampling, soil sampling, groundwater sampling, establishment of monitoring wells, and groundwater monitoring. It often takes several weeks to obtain the analysis reports, and sometimes, it needs supplemental sampling and analysis to delineate the polluted area. Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) system is designed for the detection of free-phase petroleum pollutants, and it is suitable for on-site real-time site investigation when coupling with a direct push testing tool. Petroleum products always contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds possessing fluorescence characteristics that make them detectable through LIF detection. In this study, LIF spectroscopy of 5 major fuel products was conducted to establish the databank of LIF fluorescence characteristic spectra, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, marine fuel and low-sulfur fuel. Multivariate statistical tools were also applied to distinguish LIF fluorescence characteristic spectra among the mixtures of selected fuel products. This study successfully demonstrated the feasibility of identifying fuel species based on LIF characteristic fluorescence spectra, also LIF seemed to be uncovered its powerful ability of tracing underground petroleum leakages.

Fluorescence Characteristic Spectra of Domestic Fuel Products through Laser Induced Fluorescence Detection

Ting-Nien Wu,Shui-Ping Chang,Wen-Hsien Tsai,Cian-Yi Lin 한국지하수토양환경학회 2014 지하수토양환경 Vol.19 No.5

Traditional investigation procedures of soil and groundwater contamination are followed by soil gas sampling, soil sampling,groundwater sampling, establishment of monitoring wells, and groundwater monitoring. It often takes several weeks toobtain the analysis reports, and sometimes, it needs supplemental sampling and analysis to delineate the polluted area. Laserinduced fluorescence (LIF) system is designed for the detection of free-phase petroleum pollutants, and it is suitable for onsitereal-time site investigation when coupling with a direct push testing tool. Petroleum products always contain polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compounds possessing fluorescence characteristics that make them detectable through LIFdetection. In this study, LIF spectroscopy of 5 major fuel products was conducted to establish the databank of LIFfluorescence characteristic spectra, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, marine fuel and low-sulfur fuel. Multivariate statisticaltools were also applied to distinguish LIF fluorescence characteristic spectra among the mixtures of selected fuel products. This study successfully demonstrated the feasibility of identifying fuel species based on LIF characteristic fluorescencespectra, also LIF seemed to be uncovered its powerful ability of tracing underground petroleum leakages.

Development of primary cell cultures from the adult xylem-feeding leafhopper, Kolla paulula, as a tool for studying Wolbachia biology

Rong-Jen Shiau,Yu-Der Wen,Hsien-Tzung Shih,Shin-Yi Chen,Chiou-Chu Su,Wei-Huang Tsai 한국응용곤충학회 2011 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.14 No.4

Xylophagous leafhoppers are vectors of xylem-limited plant pathogens such as citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) and Pierce's disease, which cause Xylella diseases. Currently, no cure for Xylella diseases exists. The objective of endosymbiont control using Wolbachia pipientis is to reduce the populations of insect vectors,potentially preventing the expansion of Xylella diseases. The purpose of this study was to establish primary cell cultures from adult xylem-feeding leafhoppers to study Wolbachia biology. Cells from adult male and female Kolla paulula (Walker) (Hemiptera: Membracoidea: Cicadellinae) were successfully cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium containing 20% fetal bovine serum and were maintained for more than 6 months. Cells of both male and female adults are round and semi-attached. The doubling times for male and female K. paulula cells are approximately 8 and 10 days, respectively. The presence of Wolbachia in K. paulula cell cultures was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of Wolbachia surface protein (wsp) gene. The cell cultures developed in this study may be useful in studying interactions between Wolbachia and its hosts of different genders.