Effects of Mold Growth on Building Materials by Different Environments in Taiwan

An Cheng,Yu Hsin,Wei-Ting Lin 대한토목학회 2014 KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Vol.18 No.4

The main of study is to investigate the effect of moisture variation and micro-structure on the growth mold at surface of buildingmaterials. The two different water-cement ratio of mortars (w/c = 0.4, 0.6), brick and tiles were used in this study. The mercuryIntrusion Porosity-Meter (MIP) was used to determine the pore distribution of building materials. The moisture variation of materialswas recorded in constant climate chamber (25oC, relative humidity 80%), general indoor environment (28oC, relative humidity 55%)and water damage simulation environment. The results indicated that the pore size and distribution will affect the surface water ratioand moisture content of materials. The surface water ratio of specimen was affected by different environment seriously. The surfacewater ratio was an important factor in mold growth.

Identification of candidate odorant‐degrading enzyme genes in the antennal transcriptome of Aphidius gifuensis

Kang Zhi‐Wei,Liu Fang‐Hua,Xu Yong‐Yu,Cheng Jia‐Hui,Lin Xiao‐Li,Jing Xiang‐Feng,Tian Hong‐Gang,Liu Tong‐Xian 한국곤충학회 2021 Entomological Research Vol.51 No.1

Odorant‐degrading enzymes (ODEs) have been found in insect antennae and play a critical role in signal chemical degradation once the message is conveyed. Significant progress has been made in characterizing ODEs in a variety of pests but very little is known in their natural enemies. We have carried out an antennae‐ and sex‐specific transcriptome of Aphidius gifuensis, a natural enemy of aphid, to identify the candidate ODEs. Based on the antennae‐ and sex‐specific transcriptome, a total of 100 putative ODEs were identified including one aldehyde oxidase (AOX), four alcohol dehydrogenases (ADs), eight UDP‐glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs), 45 cytochrome P450 (P450s), nine glutathione S‐transferases (GSTs) and 40 carboxylesterases (CCEs or CXEs). Additionally, we used RT‐qPCR to determine the expression profiles of these genes in tissues of both sexes. Based on the phylogenic analysis and tissue‐expression patterns, AgifEstE4, AgifCXE3, AgifCCE4, AgifCCE7, and AgifCCE18 were suggested as key ODEs in A. gifuensis. In addition, the female or male specifically enriched genes, such as AgifCCE17, AgifEstB1, AgifCYP18a1, AgifUGT2C2, were also considered to involve in the chemosensory processing in A. gifuensis. This study not only identified the candidate ODEs in A. gifuensis but also provided source for further exploration of the molecular mechanisms of chemical signal transductions in A. gifuensis, as well as other hymenopteran species.

Full-space Cloud of Random Points with a Scrambling Metasurface

Li, Zile,Dai, Qi,Mehmood, Muhammad Q.,Hu, Guangwei,yanchuk, Boris Luk’,Tao, Jin,Hao, Chenglong,Kim, Inki,Jeong, Heonyeong,Zheng, Guoxing,Yu, Shaohua,Alù,, Andrea,Rho, Junsuk,Qiu, Cheng-Wei Nature Publishing Group UK 2018 Light, science & applications Vol.7 No.1

<▼1><P>With the rapid progress in computer science, including artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing, full-space spot generation can be pivotal to many practical applications, such as facial recognition, motion detection, augmented reality, etc. These opportunities may be achieved by using diffractive optical elements (DOEs) or light detection and ranging (LIDAR). However, DOEs suffer from intrinsic limitations, such as demanding depth-controlled fabrication techniques, large thicknesses (more than the wavelength), Lambertian operation only in half space, etc. LIDAR nevertheless relies on complex and bulky scanning systems, which hinders the miniaturization of the spot generator. Here, inspired by a Lambertian scatterer, we report a Hermitian-conjugate metasurface scrambling the incident light to a cloud of random points in full space with compressed information density, functioning in both transmission and reflection spaces. Over 4044 random spots are experimentally observed in the entire space, covering angles at nearly 90°. Our scrambling metasurface is made of amorphous silicon with a uniform subwavelength height, a nearly continuous phase coverage, a lightweight, flexible design, and low-heat dissipation. Thus, it may be mass produced by and integrated into existing semiconductor foundry designs. Our work opens important directions for emerging 3D recognition sensors, such as motion sensing, facial recognition, and other applications.</P></▼1><▼2><P><B>Metasurfaces: scrambling light for 3D detection and recognition</B></P><P>Firing light at a manufactured 'metasurface'—one carrying patterns at a smaller scale than the wavelength of the light—fills large volumes of space with defined points of light, potentially improving 3-D recognition and sensor applications. Cheng-Wei Qui and colleagues at the National University of Singapore, with co-workers across Asia and in the USA, created their unique metasurface from amorphous silicon. Light is scattered from and transmitted through the material to generate a cloud of data points in the surrounding space in which the structure and motion of objects under study can be analyzed. The initial development work with this “scrambling metasurface” suggests it could improve pattern recognition, including face recognition, motion detection and augmented reality applications. The researchers describe how their innovation overcomes significant limitations of existing methods in these fields.</P></▼2>

Palliative Care for Adult Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis in Asia: Challenges and Opportunities

Wei-Min Chu,Hung-Bin Tsai,Yu-Chi Chen,Kuan-Yu Hung,Shao-Yi Cheng,Cheng-Pei Lin 한국호스피스완화의료학회 2024 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.27 No.1

This article underscores the importance of integrating comprehensive palliative care for noncancer patients who are undergoing hemodialysis, with an emphasis on the aging populations in Asian nations such as Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China. As the global demographic landscape shifts towards an aging society and healthcare continues to advance, a marked increase has been observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis who require palliative care. This necessitates an immediate paradigm shift to incorporate this care, addressing the intricate physical, psychosocial, and spiritual challenges faced by these individuals and their families. Numerous challenges impede the provision of effective palliative care, including difficulties in prognosis, delayed referrals, cultural misconceptions, lack of clinician confidence, and insufficient collaboration among healthcare professionals. The article proposes potential solutions, such as targeted training for clinicians, the use of telemedicine to facilitate shared decision-making, and the introduction of time-limited trials for dialysis to overcome these obstacles. The integration of palliative care into routine renal treatment and the promotion of transparent communication among healthcare professionals represent key strategies to enhance the quality of life and end-of-life care for people on hemodialysis. By embracing innovative strategies and fostering collaboration, healthcare providers can deliver more patient-centered, holistic care that meets the complex needs of seriously ill patients within an aging population undergoing hemodialysis.

A study on Safe Pork Consumption Behavior in Taiwan

( Cheng-wei Chen ),( Yu-ping Fan ),( Cheng-hsing Yeh ) 한국농업경제학회 2009 KOREAN JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS(KJAT) Vol.50 No.3

Pork is the most popular meat in Taiwan, that makes hog industry an important agriculture industry. The government had lauched the traceability system of agricultural products from 2004. It is needed to appreciate the policy affecting consumers’ willingness to buy safe pork for hog industry to separate market. This research use consumer decision process model and market segmentation to separate four respective factors as age group, educational background, family income, and the population element as family structure to find out the habit of safe pork consumption. This study was based on household as its unit, and had conducted questionnaire survey upon the primary purchasers of pork, which were then analyzed with descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and the logit model so as to differentiate the preference of demographic characteristics among consumers with various features. This research indicated consumers with more members of household, older, less educated,less income, less cognitive about pork risk would have higher possibility to buy warm pork. Consumers with female, more educated, more income, more cognitive about pork risk would have higher willingness to pork with traceability system.However consumers in Taiwan still prefer buy warm body pork, little perception about pork marketing risk. The government should improve pork safety by more inspecting hog farms, processing factories and markets and educating consumers the knowledge of safe pork by television broadcasting and other mass media.

Complete ¹H-NMR and <SUP>13</SUP>C-NMR spectral assignment of five malonyl ginsenosides from the fresh flower buds of Panax ginseng

Yu-Shuai Wang,Yin-Ping Jin,Wei Gao,Sheng-Yuan Xiao,Yu-Wei Zhang,Pei-He Zheng,Jia Wang,Jun-Xia Liu,Cheng-He Sun,Ying-Ping Wang 고려인삼학회 2016 Journal of Ginseng Research Vol.40 No.3

Background: Ginsenosides are the major effective ingredients responsible for the pharmacological effects of ginseng. Malonyl ginsenosides are natural ginsenosides that contain a malonyl group attached to a glucose unit of the corresponding neutral ginsenosides. Methods: Medium-pressure liquid chromatography and semipreparative high-performance liquid chromatography were used to isolate purified compounds and their structures determined by extensive one-dimensional- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. Results: A new saponin, namely malonyl-ginsenoside Re, was isolated from the fresh flower buds of Panax ginseng, along with malonyl-ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd. Some assignments for previously published ¹H- and <SUP>13</SUP>C-NMR spectra were found to be inaccurate. Conclusion: This study reports the complete NMR assignment of malonyl-ginsenoside Re, Rb₁, Rb₂, Rc, and Rd for the first time.

A Study on Safe Pork Consumption Behavior in Taiwan

Cheng-Wei Chen,Yu-Ping Fan,Cheng-Hsing Yeh 한국농업경제학회 2009 農業經濟硏究 Vol.50 No.4

Pork is the most popular meat in Taiwan, that makes hog industry an important agriculture industry. The government had lauched the traceability system of agricultural products from 2004. It is needed to appreciate the policy affecting consumers’ willingness to buy safe pork for hog industry to separate market. This research use consumer decision process model and market segmentation to separate four respective factors as age group, educational background, family income, and the population element as family structure to find out the habit of safe pork consumption. This study was based on household as its unit, and had conducted questionnaire survey upon the primary purchasers of pork, which were then analyzed with descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and the logit model so as to differentiate the preference of demographic characteristics among consumers with various features. This research indicated consumers with more members of household, older, less educated, less income, less cognitive about pork risk would have higher possibility to buy warm pork. Consumers with female, more educated, more income, more cognitive about pork risk would have higher willingness to pork with traceability system.However consumers in Taiwan still prefer buy warm body pork, little perception about pork marketing risk. The government should improve pork safety by more inspecting hog farms, processing factories and markets and educating consumers the knowledge of safe pork by television broadcasting and other mass media.

Sublimation and high-temperature stability of SnO2-doped Bi2O3 ionic materials in controlled atmosphere

Yu-Hung Cheng,Yen-Yu Chen,Wen-Cheng J. Wei 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2018 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.19 No.5

Sublimation of Bi2O3-based materials is an important degradation issue for the long-term applications of many electronicdevices. A series of SnO2-doped Bi2O3 materials (SBO), was synthesized, densified, and then tested in air or strong reducingatmosphere. The SnO2-doping effects and sublimation kinetics of the SBO materials were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD),scanning electron microscope (SEM) and precise mass loss measurement. The results show that formation of Bi2Sn2O7 phasegreatly retards the mass loss of SBO. The SBO samples show a surface sublimation in an energy of 52.6 kJ.mol−1. However,the sublimation is also controlled by surface microstructure as the amount of vaporizing species (the Bi or gaseous Bi-oxides)is more than 0.1 mass%. The evaporation is retarded on the rough surface and the mechanism of surface evaporation ischanged to diffusional control.

Hydration of DCPD over sulfonic acid-functionalized SBA-15 catalyst

Yu-Cheng Lin,Yu-Wei Huang,Ku-Hsiang Sung,Tsung-Han Lin,Soofin Cheng 한국공업화학회 2016 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.44 No.-

Sulfonic acid-functionalized SBA-15 materials (SA-SBA-15) with ordered channeling pores weresynthesized by one-pot co-condensation and used to catalyze the hydration of dicyclopentadiene(DCPD). The target product, cydecanol (DCPD-OH) has been used as a modifier for polyester or alkydresin. Propylsulfonic acid functionalized SBA-15 was found to be more efficient than the silica gelcounterpart or arylsulfonic acid functionalized material in catalyzing DCPD hydration to yield DCPD-OH. The DCPD conversion and DCPD-OH yield increased with the decrease in H2O/DCPD ratio. Optimal DCPDconversion and DCPD-OH selectivity were obtained with the molar composition of DCPD:H2O:H+[1TD$DIF]-catalyst = 1:30:0.1.

Synthesis of (Bi, Mn, Fe)-doped ceria electrolytes by low-temperature processes

Yu-Hung Cheng,Wen-Cheng J. Wei 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2019 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.20 No.2

The effects of low temperature processes and the dopants of bismuth, manganese and iron co-doping in Ce1-x,Mx)O2 materialshave been investigated. The CeO2-based powders were synthesized by EDTA-citric acid method and their sintering behaviorwas analyzed by dilatometry (DIL) and density measurement. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and various electron microscopies wereused to identify crystalline phases and microstructure. The results show that solubility limit of Mn and Fe in ceria is less than1 at% while that of Bi is at 8-9 at%. Two electrolytes, Ce0.9(Bi0.09Mn0.005Fe0.005)O2 and Ce0.9(Bi0.1)O2, are selected and sinteredto full density at 1050-1100 oC for 1 hr improved by doping trace amount of Mn and Fe The detail microstructurecharacterization of the doped samples are discussed.