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This study investigated the effects of tempeh on the cognitive and antioxidant status in senescence-accelerated mouse prone 8 (SAMP8) mice. Six-month-old SAMP8 mice were divided into one control and three tempeh groups; the tempeh groups were administered 300, 600, and 900 mg/kg body weight (BW) tempeh. The results revealed tempeh groups had stronger cognitive ability, lower malondialdehyde and carbonyl protein levels, and higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities in the hippocampus, striatum, and cortex. Of them, the 900 mg/kg BW tempeh showed the most superior results on increasing SOD and CAT mRNA expressions and reducing amyloid β (Aβ) and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 levels; it also increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) levels by reducing p-p38 and p-JNK expression. In conclusion, tempeh may protect neurons against oxidative stress and Aβ-induced damage and reduce memory impairment by modulating Nrf2 via mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway.

In general, thermal expansion and contraction of PVC (polyvinyl chloride) can occur when the environmental temperature changes. Therefore, the process parameters of PVC plastic spiral pipes have to be changed often to prevent the production of defective products. Traditionally, experienced workers have been relied upon to adjust the process parameters to suit the changing external temperature. To replace the manual adjustments of the experienced workers, this study empirically collected data from a manufacturer of extruded PVC plastic spiral pipes, and used a combination of the back-propagation network and the Taguchi method to establish a parameter prediction model that can predict the extrusion process parameters necessary for the changing external temperature. With a higher than 99% prediction accuracy, the proposed model can assist manufacturers in automatically and accurately adjusting the PVC pulling (or rotating) speed of the haul unit during extrusion.

To rapidly adapt to global competition, manufacturers' business models have shifted from a company focus to a focus on the whole supply chain. The 'industry global e-logistics diffusion plan' has provided funds for manufacturers to establish their IT-based logistics systems. However, the performance of such establishments has not yet been evaluated, particularly under the influences of governmental policy. This study investigated the impacts of successful IT-based logistics systems and partnership in the supply chain on business performance moderated by governmental policy and organisational effects. The findings show that, for both large corporations and small-and-medium companies, their IT systems inputs and partnership would positive affect business performance. Governmental policy shows its moderating effect on IT systems inputs boosting up business performance. Yet, particularly for large corporations, organisational factors can also moderate the causal relationship between IT systems inputs and business performance.

The mechanisms and kinetics of the anodic oxidation of chloride ion on SnO2−PdO−RuO2−TiO2/Ti (SPR) anode and the oxidation of formaldehyde with hypochlorite ion were studied, and the new kinetic data based on theoretical analysis were evaluated in this investigation. The reaction order of the anodic oxidation of chloride ion on SPR was unity. Also, the oxidation of formaldehyde with hypochlorite ion was second order in formaldehyde and first order in hypochlorite ion. Furthermore, the activation energy was evaluated as 37.9 kJ mol-1. Formaldehyde was degraded from 3000 to 279 ppm, and the degradation fraction was 90.7% when the electrolysis time was 111 min. A model calculation of the in situ oxidative degradation of formaldehyde with electrogenerated hypochlorite ion correlated well with experimental results.

This study reports a new behavior in narrow-width transistors resulting from the interaction of oxides grown with nitrogen implant with the nitridation associated with growing other oxides. Nitric oxide (NO) annealing of 28-/spl Aring/ oxides grown on nitrogen-implanted silicon results in the decrease of NMOS threshold voltage and in the increase (absolute value) of PMOS threshold with decreasing width. This effect arises from the positive charge from NO anneal interacting with the parasitic transistor associated with the shallow trench isolation edge recess. The parasitic impact becomes more pronounced for narrower widths due to higher effect of recess on total transistor width.

Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PZN) ceramic is used to improve the piezoelectric properties of PZT ceramics. Complete perovskite phase is synthesized for PZN content up to 10 mol%. Piezoceramics having dielectric constant higher than 3000 and planar coupling factor about 60% are obtainable. However, these properties seem to be deteriorated by decreasing the thickness of ceramic plate. Plate with thickness smaller than 100μm shows nothing in superior piezoelectric properties. The second phase ZrO2 due to the evaporation of PbO phase during sintering is the dominant factor. This non-piezoelectric phase exists on the surface of piezoceramic plate and gradually plays an important role when thickness is thin enough. Experimental results demonstrate both the control of PbO vapor pressure and the processing conditions can effectively reduce such deterioration.