The pinch technology combined with a heat pump applied in a three-effect evaporator and energy-saving performance assessment

Chi-I Tuan,Ting-Chien Chen,Yi-Lung Yeh,Lang-Fong Hsu 한국화학공학회 2012 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.29 No.3

This research investigated optimal energy utilization with pinch technology based on an actual gelatin production factory using a three-effect evaporator (TEE). A TEE is a well-known device used extensively when concentrating process fluid with large amounts of boiler steam. Under ideal energy use conditions, the exhaust heat can be recovered with the addition of a heat pump system. The study results showed that the original energy demand and discharge of the TEE were 1,736.2 and 1,733.2 kWh, respectively. Simulating the pinch technology use, the energy demand and discharge decreased to 1,531.5 and 1,527.7 kWh, respectively. When the heat pump was used to recover the exhaust heat, 324 kL per annum of fuel oil was saved, while electricity use increased 131 kWh. The total investment cost was 86,550 US$, but the total annual operation cost could save up to 166,421 US$. The net present value was estimated to be 544,316 US$ with a 5-year equipment operation. The investment expense could be completely recovered within a seven-month remuneration period.

Altered Auditory P300 Performance in Parents with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Offspring

Mei Hung Chi,Ching-Lin Chu,I Hui Lee,Yi-Ting Hsieh,Ko Chin Chen,Po See Chen,Yen Kuang Yang 대한정신약물학회 2019 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.17 No.4

Objective: Altered event-related potential (ERP) performances have been noted in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients and reflect neurocognitive dysfunction. Whether these ERP alterations and correlated dysfunctions exist in healthy parents with ADHD offspring is worth exploring. Methods: Thirteen healthy parents with ADHD offspring and thirteen healthy controls matched for age, sex and years of education were recruited. The auditory oddball paradigm was used to evaluate the P300 wave complex of the ERP, and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and continuous performance test were used to measure neurocognitive performance. Results: Healthy parents with ADHD offspring had significantly longer auditory P300 latency at Fz than control group. However, no significant differences were found in cognitive performance. Conclusion: The presence of a subtle alteration in electro-neurophysiological activity without explicit neurocognitive dysfunction suggests potential candidate of biological marker for parents with ADHD offspring.

An Energy Harvester Based on a Bistable Origami Mechanism

Tien-Hoang Ngo,I-Ting Chi,Minh-Quang Chau,Dung-An Wang 한국정밀공학회 2022 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.23 No.2

This paper describes a vibration energy harvester based on an origami mechanism through piezoelectric energy conversion. The device is capable of broadband energy harvesting from low frequency ambient vibrations. This design utilizes bistability inherent in the waterbomb base origami structure to increase the bandwidth of its frequency response. The folding along the crease pattern of the origami mechanism can facilitate large bending deformations of piezoelectric films to generate high electric power output. The compact size and light weight of the origami mechanism render it convenient for integration into various hosts subjected to vibrations. Performance of the origami mechanism is investigated under external excitations with various vibration magnitudes and acceleration levels. This work demonstrates a scheme of broadband vibration energy harvesting by integration of an origami structure with piezoelectric materials. A high fractional bandwidth of 40% is attained under a sinusoidal excitation with a peak acceleration of 0.1 g.

A REALTIME FLOOD FORECAST MODEL FOR A TIDE-AFFECTED RIVER BASIN

LAI CHINTU,TSAY TING-KUEI,CHIEN CHEN-HO,TAN CHIH-HUNG,WU I-LING,WU NAN-CHING,LIN CHI-YAO 한국수자원학회 2005 한국수자원학회 학술대회 Vol.2005 No.1

Molecular structure and developmental expression of zebrafish atp2a genes

Yen-Yu Lai,Chiung-Wen Pai,I-Ting Tsai,Chi-Yuan Chou,Chia-Ti Tsai,Yau-Hung Chen 한국유전학회 2011 Genes & Genomics Vol.33 No.5

We isolated two atp2a genes, atp2a1 and atp2a2a, from embryonic zebrafish. Amino acid sequences deduced from zebrafish atp2a genes are aligned with orthologue proteins from other species, the results showed that they share high percentage of identities (82%-94%) and acidic pIs (5.03-5.33). Whole mount in situ hybridization experiments showed that atp2a1and atp2a2a are maternal inherited genes which can be detected at 1-cell stage embryos and express in the entire animal pole from 6 hours post-fertilization (hpf) to 12 hpf. At the later stages (48-96 hpf), expression of atp2a1 was restricted in head and trunk muscles as well as in some neurons. In contrast to the strongly expression of atp2a1 in head muscle,expression of atp2a2a was detected in head muscle in a fainter manner. In addition, transcripts of atp2a2a were observed in the developing heart during early cardiogenesis. The present studies not only help us to comparatively analyze atp2a genes across species, but also provide useful information about expressions during early embryogenesis that will help in further investigations of functional studies of Atp2a in the future.

Ledipasvir/Sofosbuvir for 12 Weeks Is Safe and Effective in CHC and CHB Coinfection Patients: A Phase 3 Study in Taiwan

( Chun-Jen Liu ),( Wan-Long Chuang ),( I-Shyan Sheen ),( Horng-Yuan Wang ),( Chi-Yi Chen ),( Kuo-Chih Tseng ),( Ting-Tsung Chang ),( Benede tta Massetto ),( Jenny Yang ),( Gregory Camus ),( Fangqiu Zh 대한간학회 2017 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2017 No.1

Aims: Patients co-infected with HCV and HBV have more rapid progression and worse outcomes than mono-infected patients. Taiwan has among the highest prevalence of chronic HCV/HBV coinfection in Southeast Asia. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of an all-oral treatment with ledipasvir(LDV)/sofosbuvir(SOF) for 12 weeks in chronic HCV and HBV coinfection. Methods: Patients with or without compensated cirrhosis chronic HCV GT1/GT2 and HBV (HBsAg+) treatment naïve were enrolled into open-label, receiving LDV 90 mg/SOF 400 mg(QD) for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint is SVR12. HBV DNA was monitored at all study visits and it will be monitored for 2 years post-treatment. Results: A total of 111 patients (68[61%] with GT1 and 43[39%] with GT2) were enrolled and treated. The majority were female(62%), treatment naive(67%), and non-cirrhotic(85%), with a mean age of 55 years and mean BMI of 24.5kg/m2. All but one was HBeAg negative. Mean baseline HBV DNA was 2.1 log10IU/mL. SVR4 was 100%(111/111). The mean change in HBV DNA ranged from -0.06 log10IU/mL at week 1 to +0.49 log10IU/mL at follow-up visit 4; HBV DNA kinetics are shown in Fig 1. 60(54%) patients had an increase in HBV DNA> 10 x BL or became HBV DNA > LLOQ. No patients had ALT ≥ 2 X baseline. No patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events (AEs). Three patients had serious AEs(optic neuritis, post procedural bleeding and duodenal ulcer bleeding; none was considered drug related). Conclusions: In chronic HCV/HBV infection patients, LDV/SOF for 12 weeks resulted in an SVR4 rate of 100%. Although most patients had an increase in HBV DNA during treatment, this was not associated with ALT elevations ≥2 X baseline, and no patients started HBV therapy to date. This all-oral, interferon-free regimen was well tolerated, supporting its potential as a treatment option for HCV/HBV co-infected patients.

Comedications and potential drug-drug interactions with direct-acting antivirals in hepatitis C patients on hemodialysis

( Po-yao Hsu ),( Yu-ju Wei ),( Jia-jung Lee ),( Sheng-wen Niu ),( Jiun-chi Huang ),( Cheng-ting Hsu ),( Tyng-yuan Jang ),( Ming-lun Yeh ),( Ching-i Huang ),( Po-cheng Liang ),( Yi-hung Lin ),( Ming-ye 대한간학회 2021 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.27 No.1

Background/Aims: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) have been approved for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis. Nevertheless, the complicated comedications and their potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with DAAs might limit clinical practice in this special population. Methods: The number, class, and characteristics of comedications and their potential DDIs with five DAA regimens were analyzed among HCV-viremic patients from 23 hemodialysis centers in Taiwan. Results: Of 2,015 hemodialysis patients screened in 2019, 169 patients seropositive for HCV RNA were enrolled (mean age, 65.6 years; median duration of hemodialysis, 5.8 years). All patients received at least one comedication (median number, 6; mean class number, 3.4). The most common comedication classes were ESRD-associated medications (94.1%), cardiovascular drugs (69.8%) and antidiabetic drugs (43.2%). ESRD-associated medications were excluded from DDI analysis. Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the highest frequency of potential contraindicated DDIs (red, 5.6%), followed by glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (4.0%), sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (1.3%), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (1.3%), and elbasvir/grazoprevir (0.3%). For potentially significant DDIs (orange, requiring close monitoring or dose adjustments), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the highest frequency (19.9%), followed by sofosbuvir/ledipasvir (18.2%), glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (12.6%), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (12.6%), and elbasvir/grazoprevir (7.3%). Overall, lipid-lowering agents were the most common comedication class with red-category DDIs to all DAA regimens (n=62), followed by cardiovascular agents (n=15), and central nervous system agents (n=10). Conclusions: HCV-viremic patients on hemodialysis had a very high prevalence of comedications with a broad spectrum, which had varied DDIs with currently available DAA regimens. Elbasvir/grazoprevir had the fewest potential DDIs, and sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir had the most potential DDIs. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2021;27:186-196)