Search

Wetland is an important carbon pool, and the degradation of wetlands causes the loss of organic carbon and total nitrogen. This study aims to explore how wetland degradation succession affects soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in alpine wetland. A field survey of 180 soil-sampling profiles was conducted in an alpine wetland that has been classified into three degradation succession stages. The SOC and TN contents of soil layers from 0 to 200 cm depth were studied, including their distribution characteristics and the relationship between soil water content (SWC) and microtopography. The results showed that SOC and TN of different degradation succession gradients followed the ranked order of Non Degradation (ND) > Light Degradation (LD) > Heavy Degradation (HD). SWC was positively correlated with SOC and TN (p

MiSeq sequencing technology was used to analyze the microbial community diversity of soil in alpine wetlands to understand the degradation processes and environmental factors in these areas. The results showed that the severity of soil degradation changed the species diversity of soil microorganisms at the level of OTUs, and grass patches contained more species than frozen-thawing patches. The soil fungi species of OTUs changed significantly. The diversity indexes of bacteria (between the frozen-thawing patches and the grass patches) were higher than that of fungi. The dominant microbial species were consistent among different degradation stages. The dominant species of bacteria and fungi were Proteobacteria and RB41, and Ascomycota and

HLA-DQB1*05:02:12 differs from HLA-DQB1*05:02:01:01 by one nucleotide substitution at position 351 (GA) in exon 2.

The present study constructs a servo&ndash, hydraulic system to simulate the filling and packing processes of an injection molding machine. Experiments are performed to evaluate the velocity and position control of the system in the filling stage and the pressure control in the packing stage. The results demonstrate that the proposed system meets the required performance standards when operated with the proportional-integral&ndash, derivative (PID) controller under a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz.

The present study constructs a servo-hydraulic system to simulate the filling and packing processes of an injection molding machine. Experiments are performed to evaluate the velocity and position control of the system in the filling stage and the pressure control in the packing stage. The results demonstrate that the proposed system meets the required performance standards when operated with a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz.

Background Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) has been categorized into seven different categories according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria. Enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA) was found to represent the largest category in a Taiwanese cohort study. The aim in this study was to compare the clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of ERA in a single tertiary center in Taiwan, as compared to those of other categories of JIA. Furthermore, we determined patients’ characteristics and risk factors that can help assess the outcomes in ERA. Methods A retrospective chart review of all patients with JIA referred to a pediatric rheumatology clinic in the National Taiwan University Hospital between 1993 and 2018 were identified according to ILAR criteria. Outcomes were assessed based on the Wallace criteria to categorize patients into active and non-active, including inactive, remission on medication, and remission off medication, groups. A subset of samples was further tested by DNA sequencing to identify HLA-B27 subtypes. Results One-hundred and eighty-three patients were included in the study, with a mean of 8 years’ follow-up. ERA was the single largest category of JIA (39.9%); psoriasis and undifferentiated JIA were both the least common type (0.5%). ERA was male predominant (86%), had a late age of onset (11.0 ± 3.2 years), and the majority of ERA patients was HLA-B27-positive (97%). Of 25 HLA-B27-positive ERA patients checked by HLA-B27 sequencing, 23 were B*27:04 and 2 were B*27:05. ERA patients were significantly less likely to achieve non-active status compared to patients with persistent oligoarthritis (P = 0.036). In terms of treatment response to TNF-α inhibitors in methotrexate-refractory ERA, 26 patients remained active and only 11 patients (30%) achieved a non-active status. Sacroiliitis was a risk factor contributing to poorer treatment response in ERA (P = 0.006). Conclusion ERA represented the most common category of JIA in Taiwan. Those ERA patients with sacroiliitis were likely to have persistent active disease and may require a more aggressive treatment strategy to improve their outcomes.

One nucleotide replacement at residue 369 of HLA-B*46:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA-B*46:01:19.

In this paper, a real-time configurable intelligent property (IP) core is presented for image/video decoding process in compatibility with the standard MPEG-4 Visual and the standard H.264/AVC. The inverse quantised discrete cosine and integer transform can be used to perform inverse quantised discrete cosine transform and inverse quantised inverse integer transforms which only required shift and add operations. Meanwhile, COordinate Rotation DIgital Computer iterations and compensation steps are adjustable in order to compensate for the video compression quality regarding various data throughput. The implementations are embedded in publicly available software XVID Codes 1.2.2 for the standard MPEG-4 Visual and the H.264/AVC reference software JM 16.1, where the experimental results show that the balance between the computational complexity and video compression quality is retained. At the end, FPGA synthesised results show that the proposed IP core can bring advantages to low hardware costs and a...

This paper studies the system modeling and mode-switch control for a novel 3-mode (serial/parallel/pure electric) range-extender electric vehicle (REEV). The REEV is modeled with low-order dynamics of 8 subsystems: the driving pattern, drivers behavior, lithium batteries, a spark-ignition engine, a traction motor, a generator, a 6-speed transmission, and a longitudinal vehicle dynamics. Dynamics of the REEV is the integration of above subsystems. To properly evaluate the system performance of the REEV, a rule-based mode-switch control rule is designed with 7 operation modes (System Ready, EV, Serial, Coast Down, Coast-Down Regen., Idle Regen., Parallel). By applying the control rules for the 3-mode REEV, the vehicle can properly operate. Simulation is conducted on the Matlab/Simulink platform. The results show that this study details the system dynamics of subsystems and the vehicle. Meanwhile the rule-based control strategy governs the subsystems well. The developed simulator can be utilized for specification designs of real vehicles and for vehicle control unit designs in the near future.

The permanent magnet synchronous motor take place under certain conditions chaotic phenomenon, according to the differential geometry theory, using the method of linear completely accurate, to design the control chaotic control law, and then through the experiments to verify its validity.

In this study, Simulink models for MCU and VCU of ITRI's CPEV were developed with the aim to replace the existing controllers (MCU and VCU) with emulator (Simulink and Opal-RT) models. Moreover, CAN Bus was implemented to facilitate real-time communication between Opal-RT and dSPACE emulators. The constructed platform was used to achieve experimental verification for rapid development of ITRI's CPEV control units. With the motor failure model and development of multi-traction motor EV model, the stability and the maneuverability of multi-traction motor EV occurred in the fault mode was studied. Based on this study, this project will develop real-time fault detection and failure management strategy for motor drive system for intelligent electric vehicle.

A micro–electro-mechanical system (MEMS)-based image stabilizer is proposed to counteracting shaking in cell phone cameras. The proposed stabilizer (dimensions, 8.8 � 8.8 � 0.2 mm 3 ) includes a two-axis decoupling XY stage and has sufficient strength to suspend an image sensor (IS) used for anti-shaking function. The XY stage is designed to send electrical signals from the suspended IS by using eight signal springs and 24 signal outputs. The maximum actuating distance of the stage is larger than 25 lm, which is sufficient to resolve the shaking problem. Accordingly, the applied voltage for the 25 lm moving distance is lower than 20 V; the dynamic resonant frequency of the actuating device is 4485 Hz, and the rising time is 21 ms.

Vacancy defects of the particle deposition patterns were demonstrated for a sedimentation process and can be reduced using a two-zeta potential ( η ) stage control strategy revealed from the Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) simulation results. The KMC approach is a statistical-based algorithm to simulate the moving steps of particles in a solution during the sedimentation based on the thermodynamic theory. The vacancy distribution of the deposition pattern was predicted by the KMC simulation. Results show that the vacancy distribution was greatly influenced by the presence of the η value in the particle solution. For the η = 0 mV case, the particles were aggregated and deposited in the center to form an “island-like” (convex) structure due to the Van der Waal attractive forces among these particles. However, the particles were moved away from the center to the edge areas for the η = 10 mV case due to strong electrostatic forces among the particles in the solution. The particles were stacked to generate a “valley-like” (concave) pattern after reaching to a steady state. Moreover, the vacancy of the deposition pattern in the bottom layer can be greatly reduced using the two- η -stage control strategy during the sedimentation process.

To identify the contribution of HLA-DRB1 alleles to susceptibility or resistance to multiple sclerosis (MS) in Caucasians through a meta-analysis of non-family-based studies.A systematic review of case-control studies in Caucasians was performed. Studies examining allele or phenotype frequencies were analyzed separately. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used. We also used the relatively predispositional effect (RPE) method to analyze several allele frequency studies to avoid skewed results due to some strongly associated alleles.A total of 5464 cases and 7809 controls from 14 allele frequency studies and a total of 5401 cases and 7538 controls from 23 phenotype frequency studies were analyzed. DRB1*15 was definitely the strongest risk factor for MS (allele group, Pc0.00013, OR 2.59, 95%CI 2.34-2.87; phenotype group, Pc0.00013, OR 3.35, 95%CI 2.95-3.80). DRB1*03 frequencies were significantly increased among MS cases in the phenotype group (Pc= 0.0013, OR 1.21, 95%CI 1.09-1.33) but not in the allele group. DRB1*14 and DRB1*07 showed protective effects against MS in both groups (DRB1*14, allele group, Pc0.00013, OR 0.53, 95%CI 0.42-0.66; phenotype group, Pc0.00013, OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.45-0.71; DRB1*07, allele group, Pc0.0026, OR 0.75, 95%CI 0.64-0.87; phenotype group, Pc0.00013, OR 0.67, 95%CI 0.61-0.73). By RPE method, DRB1*14, and DRB1*07 showed protective effects after excluding DRB1*15 from the analysis. DRB1*03 was significantly higher in MS cases than controls after removing both DRB1*15 and DRB1*14.In Caucasians, we highlighted the definite protective role of HLA-DRB1*14 and DRB1*07 for MS. DRB1*03 is probably the only risk factor for MS besides DRB1*15 and a common genetic foundation for autoimmune disease. Targeting to these alleles may have potential values in prevention or therapy for MS in the specific population.

The control objective of minimization of the fuel consumption and exhaust emission in hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) has generally been achieved by a supervisory controller. The drivability and NVH of HEV especially during mode changes, on the other hand, have drawn significant attention in recent years. In this paper, for the purpose of control simulation, a hybrid drivetrain model including a slipping clutch is first developed. A robust control strategy based on fuzzy sliding mode control (FSMC) technique is then proposed for smooth mode changes of HEV. Simulation results demonstrate that smooth and fast transition from pure electrical driving to hybrid driving can be achieved by controlling the integrated starter generator (ISG). The FSMC smoothing controller, along with a rule-based supervisory controller, is robust against modeling uncertainties in the vehicle mass and the friction coefficient of the clutch.

In this paper, a low-complexity IP Core based on the CORDIC algorithm is proposed for image/video decoding process in compatibility with the standard MPEG-4 Visual and the standard H.264/AVC. This, Inverse Discrete Cosine and Integer Transform (IDCIT), can be used to support multiplierless 1-D 8-point IDCT and 1-D 4-point/8-point inverse integer transforms. Meanwhile, the number for CORDIC iterations and compensation steps are adjustable in order to compensate the video compression quality. The implementations are embedded in public available software XVID Codes 1.2.2 for the standard MPEG-4 Visual and the H.264/AVC reference software JM 16.1, where the experimental results show that a trade-off between video compression quality in PSNR and computational complexity is obtained.

This work presents a thermal actuating XY-stage by using MEMS-based (micro-electro-mechanical system) technologies. The proposed stage is designed as a decoupling XY stage has dimensions of 8.8 × 8.8 × 0.2 mm3 and contains a two-axis decoupling XY stage and has sufficient strength to suspend an image sensor used for anti-shaking function. The processes used to fabricate the stabilizer include Silicon on Isolator (SOI) process, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) processes and HF vapor process. The maximum actuating distance of the stage is larger than 25μm which is sufficient to resolve the shaking problem. Accordingly, the applied voltage for the 25μm moving distance is lower than 20volts. Moreover, the dynamic resonant frequency of the actuating device is 3.5 kHz.

The present study focuses on implementing a novel CMOS-MEMS thermal switch by using commercially available TSMC 0.35 µm two-poly four-metal (2P4M) CMOS process. There are two novel designs in this paper: first, the soft contact structure and post-processing fabrication; second, a new design of thermal actuator. To create the soft contact structure, residual stress effect has been utilized to make different bending curvatures. According to the experiments, the layer Metal1 has the largest residual stress [1] effect that can achieve the largest deflection in z-axis. Because the residual stress of the layer metal-1 is negative, the structure will bend down after release, the largest contact area which has been set up to get the lowest contact miss ability. In the post-processing fabrication, 0.3µm thickness gold will be patterned on the contact tips. Due to gold, rather than Aluminum, has no oxidation issue, it has more reliability on preventing the problem of oxidation than Aluminum. In the new thermal actuator design, we design a novel folded-flexure [2, 3] with the electrothermal excitation to turn the switch on or off. In the prototype, the device size is 500 µm * 400 µm and the gap between two contact pads is 9 µm in off-state. Depending on the simulation results, the switch can work stably at 3 volts, and the working temperature and operating bandwidth are individually 20–200 °C.

Cooling is a potential treatment for induced epilepsy. There is no electric current pass through the organization of brain because it will damage it with high temperature. EEG electrodes and thermal electric (TE) coolers were integrated and placed in the head of rat. EEG electrodes were used to measure brain waveform and TE cooler was employed to be a cooling actuator to decrease temperature on the surface of cortex. Brain cortex can be cooled down lower than body temperature in order to suppress epilepsy and variance of temperature do not exceed over ± 2 °C. The experiment for suppressing epilepsy was implemented and brain waveforms of induced epilepsy were detected. Suppression with focal cooling is the main technology for the current study. We are currently determining the efficacy for the therapy of certain focal epilepsies.

This work presents a MEMS-based image stabilizer applied for anti-shaking function in photographic cell phones. The proposed stabilizer is designed as a two axis decoupling XY stage and strong to suspend an image sensor. Based on the special designs of a hollow handle layer and a corresponding wire bonding assisted holder, electrical signals of the suspended image sensor can be sent out with signal springs. The longest traveling distance of the stabilizer is 25μm with 51V applied voltage and sufficient to resolve the anti-shaking problem in a three megapixel image sensor and with excellent decoupling capability.

Background: Minor histocompatibility antigens influence the occurrence of graft-vs.-host disease and graft-vs.-leukemia effects after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We determined the population frequencies of HA-1 and HA-2 alleles in Taiwan and exploited their potential applications in allogeneic HSCT. Methods: HA-1 and HA-2 were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism in healthy controls (221 for HA-1 and 306 for HA-2) and HLA-matched donor-recipient sibling pairs with HSCT (92 for HA-1 and 38 for HA-2). The association of genetic polymorphisms with HSCT outcome was evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The allele frequencies in controls were 35.3% and 64.7% for HA-1 H and HA-1 R , and 89.0% and 11.0% for HA-2 V and HA-2 M , respectively. HA-1 disparity was denoted in 16.3% of HLA-matched donor-recipient sibling pairs, while it was not associated with HSCT outcome. HA-2 disparity was not observed in the donor-recipient pairs studied. The possibilities of using HA-1 and HA-2 variabilities as molecular markers for hematopoietic chimerism after HSCT were 39.2% and 18.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Our data provide the information on allele and genotype frequencies of HA-1 and HA-2 in a Taiwanese population, and suggest that prospective genomic typing for HA-1 and HA-2 alleles of the donor and recipient could be a useful approach for molecular identification of hematopoietic chimerism after HSCT, rather than prognosis of clinical outcome. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1287–93.

Nickle phthalocyanine(NiPc) and Nickle tetrasulfo-phthalocyanine (NiTSPc) were introduced respectively into silica gel matrix by sol-gel technique. Composites were produced and their UV/Vis spectra were measured. The results show that the introduction of soluble tetrasulfo-substituents can greatly increase the solubility of phthalocyanine molecule, which is helpful for the steady co-existence of phthalocyanine in sol-gel hybrid and therefore beneficial to the production of homogeneous composite.

This work develops an image stabilizer (IS) that is fabricated using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology and is designed to counteract the vibrations when human using cellular phone cameras. The proposed IS has dimensions of 8.8 × 8.8 × 0.3 mm3 and is strong enough to suspend an image sensor. The processes that is utilized to fabricate the IS includes inductive coupled plasma (ICP) processes, reactive ion etching (RIE) processes and the flip-chip bonding method. The IS is designed to enable the electrical signals from the suspended image sensor to be successfully emitted out using signal output beams, and the maximum actuating distance of the stage exceeds 24.835 µm when the driving current is 155 mA. Depending on integration of MEMS device and designed controller, the proposed IS can decrease the hand tremor by 72.5%.

Presented is a microelectromechanical system-based thermal actuating image stabiliser. The proposed stage has dimensions of 14.9×14.9×0.2 mm3 and contains a four-axis decoupling XY stage used for anti-shaking. The processes used to fabricate the stabiliser include silicon on isolator process, inductively coupled plasma process and flip-chip bonding technique. The maximum actuating distance of the stage is larger than 25 µm, which is sufficient to resolve the shaking problem in 3× optical zoom condition. According to the experiment results, the supplied voltage for the 25 µm moving distance is lower than 20 V, and the dynamic resonant frequency of the actuating device is 4.7 kHz.

This work presents a MEMS-based image stabilizer applied for anti-shaking function in photographic cell phones. The proposed stabilizer is designed as a two-axis decoupling XY stage 1.4 × 1.4 × 0.1 mm3 in size, and adequately strong to suspend an image sensor for anti-shaking photographic function. This stabilizer is fabricated by complex fabrication processes, including inductively coupled plasma (ICP) processes and flip-chip bonding technique. Based on the special designs of a hollow handle layer and a corresponding wire-bonding assisted holder, electrical signals of the suspended image sensor can be successfully sent out with 32 signal springs without incurring damage during wire-bonding packaging. The longest calculated traveling distance of the stabilizer is 25 µm which is sufficient to resolve the anti-shaking problem in a three-megapixel image sensor. Accordingly, the applied voltage for the 25 µm moving distance is 38 V. Moreover, the resonant frequency of the actuating device with the image sensor is 1.123 kHz.

In this investigation, we present a two dimensional high aspect ratio XY stage, designed as an image stabilizer. This stabilizer is 8×8×0.75 mm3, and sufficiently strong to support a suspended image sensor for anti-shaking photographic function. This stabilizer is fabricated by the silicon-on-glass (SOG) process including inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-RIE) processes, in which the anchor layer, pre-etching layer and structure layers are identified without an additional release step as is required in traditional silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer etching process. When an actuator is fabricated, flip-chip bonding is adopted to attach a 3 megapixel image sensor to this device. The longest calculated traveling distance of the stabilizer is 25 µm and special stoppers are designed to prevent the actuator from moving out of range, and sticking to the side by pull-in phenomenon. Accordingly, the applied voltage at the 25 µm moving distance is 84 V. Furthermore, the dynamic resonant frequency of the actuating device with an image sensor is 1.013 kHz.