Showing papers by "Chung Yuan Christian University published in 2007"

A scenario planning approach for the flood emergency logistics preparation problem under uncertainty

Abstract: This paper aims to develop a decision-making tool that can be used by government agencies in planning for flood emergency logistics. In this article, the flood emergency logistics problem with uncertainty is formulated as two stochastic programming models that allow for the determination of a rescue resource distribution system for urban flood disasters. The decision variables include the structure of rescue organizations, locations of rescue resource storehouses, allocations of rescue resources under capacity restrictions, and distributions of rescue resources. By applying the data processing and network analysis functions of the geographic information system, flooding potential maps can estimate the possible locations of rescue demand points and the required amount of rescue equipment. The proposed models are solved using a sample average approximation scheme. Finally, a real example of planning for flood emergency logistics is presented to highlight the significance of the proposed model as well as the efficacy of the proposed solution strategy.

Optimal inventory model for items with imperfect quality and shortage backordering

Abstract: In this study, we develop an optimal inventory model for items with imperfect quality and shortage backordering. Such implicit assumption is reasonable in view of the fact that poor-quality items do exist during production. They are usually picked up during the screening process and are withdrawn from stock instantaneously. It is assumed that all customers are willing to wait for new supply when there is a shortage. The analysis shows that our model is a generalization of the models in current literatures. An algorithm and numerical analysis developed show that our model always results in better performance.

Free-Volume Depth Profile of Polymeric Membranes Studied by Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy: Layer Structure from Interfacial Polymerization

Abstract: The free-volume depth profile of asymmetric polymeric membrane systems prepared by interfacial polymerization is studied using positron annihilation spectroscopy coupled with a variable monoenergy slow positron beam. Significant variations of S, W, and R parameters from the Doppler broadened energy spectra vs positron incident energy up to 30 keV and orthopositronium lifetime and intensity are observed at different doping times of triethylenetetraamine (TETA) reacting with trimesoyl chloride (TMC) in an interfacial polymerization on modified porous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) asymmetric membrane. The positron annihilation data are analyzed in terms of free-volume parameters as a function of depth from the surface to nano- and micrometer regions of asymmetric membranes. A multilayer structure is obtained in polymerized polyamide (PA) on modified PAN membranes (m-PAN): a nanometer scale skin polyamide layer, a nanometer to micrometer scale transition layer from dense to porous m-PAN, and the porous m-PAN suppo...

Thermally Reversible Cross‐Linked Polyamides with High Toughness and Self‐Repairing Ability from Maleimide‐ and Furan‐Functionalized Aromatic Polyamides

Abstract: Polyamides having various amounts of maleimide (PA-MI) and furan (PA-F) pendent groups, respectively, as well as their cross-linked polymers (PA-MI/PA-F) were prepared. PA-MI/PA-F cross-linked polymers showed thermally reversible cross-linking behavior via Diels-Alder (DA) and retro-DA reactions. Cross-linked PA-MI/PA-F films exhibited enhanced toughness and mechanical properties compared to PA-MI and PA-F precursors. Moreover, PA-MI/PA-F films also showed thermal self-repairing behavior, which was observed in the micrographs and instron tests.

Face Recognition Using Total Margin-Based Adaptive Fuzzy Support Vector Machines

Abstract: This paper presents a new classifier called total margin-based adaptive fuzzy support vector machines (TAF-SVM) that deals with several problems that may occur in support vector machines (SVMs) when applied to the face recognition. The proposed TAF-SVM not only solves the overfitting problem resulted from the outlier with the approach of fuzzification of the penalty, but also corrects the skew of the optimal separating hyperplane due to the very imbalanced data sets by using different cost algorithm. In addition, by introducing the total margin algorithm to replace the conventional soft margin algorithm, a lower generalization error bound can be obtained. Those three functions are embodied into the traditional SVM so that the TAF-SVM is proposed and reformulated in both linear and nonlinear cases. By using two databases, the Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) multiview and the facial recognition technology (FERET) face databases, and using the kernel Fisher's discriminant analysis (KFDA) algorithm to extract discriminating face features, experimental results show that the proposed TAF-SVM is superior to SVM in terms of the face-recognition accuracy. The results also indicate that the proposed TAF-SVM can achieve smaller error variances than SVM over a number of tests such that better recognition stability can be obtained

Membrane biofouling by extracellular polymeric substances or soluble microbial products from membrane bioreactor sludge

Abstract: This study extracted the soluble microbial products and loosely bound and tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from suspended sludge from a membrane bioreactor, original and aerobically/anaerobically digested, and compared their fouling potentials on a microfiltration membrane The resistance of cake layer accounts for 95-98% of the total filtration resistances when filtering the whole sludges, with anaerobically digested sludge presenting the highest resistance among the three tested sludges The tightly bound EPS has the highest potential to foul the membrane; however, the loosely bound EPS contribute most of the filtration resistances of the whole sludges The foulants corresponding to the irreversible fouling have chemical fingerprints similar to those from loosely bound EPS, which have a greater predilection to proteins and humic substances than to polysaccharides

Faster electro-optical response characteristics of a carbon-nanotube-nematic suspension

Abstract: The response times of rotational molecular orientation of neat and carbon-nanotube-doped nematic liquid crystals were acquired through the measurement of transient current induced by a direct-current step voltage and from optical transmission data. A model based on the dielectric displacement current was developed to describe the electric field dependence of the response and to yield a rotational viscosity that would decrease with increasing concentration of carbon nanotubes. Optical dynamic response also showed a reduced rotational viscosity, with the lightly doped cells exhibiting a faster relaxation process than that of the neat cell.

Hiding Sensitive Association Rules with Limited Side Effects

Abstract: Data mining techniques have been widely used in various applications. However, the misuse of these techniques may lead to the disclosure of sensitive information. Researchers have recently made efforts at hiding sensitive association rules. Nevertheless, undesired side effects, e.g., nonsensitive rules falsely hidden and spurious rules falsely generated, may be produced in the rule hiding process. In this paper, we present a novel approach that strategically modifies a few transactions in the transaction database to decrease the supports or confidences of sensitive rules without producing the side effects. Since the correlation among rules can make it impossible to achieve this goal, in this paper, we propose heuristic methods for increasing the number of hidden sensitive rules and reducing the number of modified entries. The experimental results show the effectiveness of our approach, i.e., undesired side effects are avoided in the rule hiding process. The results also report that in most cases, all the sensitive rules are hidden without spurious rules falsely generated. Moreover, the good scalability of our approach in terms of database size and the influence of the correlation among rules on rule hiding are observed

Bioanalytics and biolabeling with semiconductor nanoparticles (quantum dots)

Abstract: In this mini-review recent applications of quantum dots in bioanalytics and biolabeling are discussed. The state-of-the-art of the field is summarized, some selected applications are highlighted, and future directions are suggested.

Effects of aeration intensity on formation of phenol-fed aerobic granules and extracellular polymeric substances

Abstract: Effect of air aeration intensities on granule formation and extracellular polymeric substances content in three identical sequential batch reactors were investigated. The excitation-emission-matrix spectra and multiple staining and confocal laser scanning microscope revealed proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and humic substances in the sludge and granule samples. Seed sludge flocs were compacted at low aeration rate, with produced extracellular polymeric substances of 50.2-76.7 mg g(-1) of proteins, 50.2-77.3 mg g(-1) carbohydrates and 74 mg g(-1) humic substances. High aeration rate accelerated formation of 1.0-1.5 mm granules with smooth outer surface. The corresponding quantities of extracellular polymeric substances were 309-537 mg g(-1) of proteins, 61-109 mg g(-1) carbohydrates, 49-92 mg g(-1) humic substances, and 49-68 mg g(-1) lipids. Intermediate aeration rate produced 3.0-3.5 mm granules with surface filaments. Reactor failure occurred with overgrowth of filaments, probably owing to the deficiency of nutrient in liquid phase. No correlation was noted between extracellular polymeric substances composition and the proliferation of filamentous microorganisms on granule surface.

The Impact of Internet Virtual Physics Laboratory Instruction on the Achievement in Physics, Science Process Skills and Computer Attitudes of 10th-Grade Students

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the impact of Internet Virtual Physics Laboratory (IVPL) instruction with traditional laboratory instruction in physics academic achievement, performance of science process skills, and computer attitudes of tenth grade students. One-hundred and fifty students from four classes at one private senior high school in Taoyuan Country, Taiwan, R.O.C. were sampled. All four classes contained 75 students who were equally divided into an experimental group and a control group. The pre-test results indicated that the students’ entry-level physics academic achievement, science process skills, and computer attitudes were equal for both groups. On the post-test, the experimental group achieved significantly higher mean scores in physics academic achievement and science process skills. There was no significant difference in computer attitudes between the groups. We concluded that the IVPL had potential to help tenth graders improve their physics academic achievement and science process skills.

Charmless three-body decays of B mesons

Abstract: Branching fractions and $CP$-violating asymmetries of charmless ${\overline{B}}_{s}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}PPP$ decays with $P=K$, $\ensuremath{\pi}$ are studied using a simple model based on the factorization approach. The penguin-dominated modes ${\overline{B}}_{s}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\overline{K}}^{0}{K}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${K}^{0}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ have the largest rates among the three-body ${B}_{s}$ decays, and they are dominated by the ${K}_{0}^{*}(1430)$ resonances and nonresonant contributions. The branching fraction of ${\overline{B}}_{s}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{0}{K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ is predicted to be of order $1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$, which is in the middle of the measured result $(0.2--3.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}6}$ obtained by LHCb. We find sizable $CP$ violation in ${K}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, ${K}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$, ${K}^{0}{K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$, and ${K}_{S}{K}_{S}{K}_{S}$ channels. Just as the ${B}_{u}$ sector, the $CP$ asymmetries of ${\overline{B}}_{s}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${\overline{B}}_{s}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{K}^{0}{K}^{+}{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ have similar magnitudes but are opposite in sign. Several model-independent relations based on $U$-spin symmetry for $CP$ asymmetries are derived. Although they cannot be tested by the present available data, they can be checked by the dynamical calculations. Since the $U$-spin symmetry that relates various matrix elements of scalar densities, for example, $⟨{K}^{0}K|\overline{d}q|0⟩$ and $⟨{\overline{K}}^{0}\ensuremath{\pi}|\overline{s}q|0⟩$, is badly broken, the derived $U$-spin relations are generally not well respected.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields affect osteoblast proliferation and differentiation in bone tissue engineering

Abstract: Bone tissue engineering is an interdisciplinary field involving both engineers and cell biologists, whose main purpose is to repair bone anatomical defects and maintain its functions. A novel system that integrates pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) and bioreactors was applied to bone tissue engineering for regulating osteoblast proliferation and differentiation in'vitro. Osteoblasts were acquired from the calvaria of newborn Wistar rats and isolated after sequential digestion. Poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffolds were made by the solvent merging/particulate leaching method. Osteoblasts were seeded into porous PLGA scaffolds with 85% porosity and cultured in bioreactors for the 18-day culture period. Cells were exposed to PEMF pulsed stimulation with average (rms) amplitudes of either 0.13, 0.24, or 0.32 mT amplitude. The resulting induced electric field waveform consisted of single, narrow 300 micros quasi-rectangular pulses with a repetition rate of 7.5'Hz. The results showed that PEMF stimulation for 2 and 8 h at .13 mT increased the cell number on days 6 and 12, followed by a decrease on day 18 using 8 h stimulation. However, ALP activity was decreased and then increased on days 12 and 18, respectively. On the other hand, PEMF-treated groups (irrespective of the stimulation time) at 0.32 mT inhibited cell proliferation but enhanced ALP activity during the culture period. These findings suggested that PEMF stimulation with specific parameters had an effect on regulating the osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. This novel integrated system may have potential in bone tissue engineering.

Strong decays of charmed baryons in heavy hadron chiral perturbation theory

Abstract: Strong decays of charmed baryons are analyzed in the framework of heavy hadron chiral perturbation theory (HHChPT) in which heavy quark symmetry and chiral symmetry are synthesized. HHChPT works excellently for describing the strong decays of s-wave charmed baryons. For L=1 orbitally excited states, two of the unknown couplings, namely, $h_2$ and $h_{10}$, are determined from the resonant $\Lambda_c^+\pi\pi$ mode produced in the $\Lambda_c(2593)$ decay and the width of $\Sigma_c(2800)$, respectively. Predictions for the strong decays of the p-wave charmed baryon states $\Lambda_c(2625)$, $\Xi_c(2790)$ and $\Xi_c(2815)$ are presented. Since the decay $\Lambda_c(2593)^+\to\Lambda_c^+\pi\pi$ receives non-resonant contributions, our value for $h_2$ is smaller than the previous estimates. We also discuss the first positive-parity excited charmed baryons. We conjecture that the charmed baryon $\Lambda_c(2880)$ with $J^P=\frac52^+$ is an admixture of $\Lambda_{c2}(\frac52^+)$ with and $\tilde\Lambda''_{c3}(\frac52^+)$: both are L=2 orbitally excited states. The potential model suggests $J^P=\frac52^-$ or $\frac32^+$ for $\Lambda_c(2940)^+$. Measurements of the ratio of $\Sigma_c^*\pi/\Sigma_c\pi$ will enable us to discriminate the $J^P$ assignments for $\Lambda_c(2940)$. We advocate that the $J^P$ quantum numbers of $\Xi_c(2980)$ and $\Xi_c(3077)$ are $\frac12^+$ and $\frac52^+$, respectively. Under this $J^P$ assignment, it is ready to understand why $\Xi_c(2980)$ is broader than $\Xi_c(3077)$.

Apoptotic signaling in methylglyoxal-treated human osteoblasts involves oxidative stress, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, caspase-3, and p21-activated kinase 2.

Abstract: Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive dicarbonyl compound endogenously produced mainly from glycolytic intermediates. MG is cytotoxic through induction of cell death, and elevated MG levels in diabetes patients are believed to contribute to diabetic complications. In this report, we show for the first time that MG treatment triggers apoptosis in human osteoblasts. We further show that MG-induced apoptosis of osteoblasts involves specific apoptotic biochemical changes, including oxidative stress, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation, mitochondrial membrane potential changes, cytochrome C release, increased Bax/Bcl-2 protein ratios, and activation of caspases (caspase-9, caspase-3) and p21-activated protein kinase 2 (PAK2). Treatment of osteoblasts with SP600125, a JNK-specific inhibitor, led to a reduction in MG-induced apoptosis and decreased activation of caspase-3 and PAK2, indicating that JNK activity is upstream of these events. Experiments using anti-sense oligonucleotides against PAK2 further showed that PAK2 activation is required for MG-induced apoptosis in osteoblasts. Interestingly, we also found that MG treatment triggered nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, although the precise regulatory role of NF-kappaB activation in MG-induced apoptosis remains unclear. Lastly, we examined the effect of MG on osteoblasts in vivo, and found that exposure of rats to dietary water containing 100-200 microM MG caused bone mineral density (BMD) loss. Collectively, these results reveal for the first time that MG treatment triggers apoptosis in osteoblasts via specific apoptotic signaling, and causes BMD loss in vivo.

Recognition of Electromyographic Signals Using Cascaded Kernel Learning Machine

Abstract: Electromyographic (EMG) signals recognition is a complex pattern recognition problem due to its property of large variations in signals and features. This paper proposes a novel EMG classifier called cascaded kernel learning machine (CKLM) to achieve the goal of high-accuracy EMG recognition. First, the EMG signals are acquired by three surface electrodes placed on three different muscles. Second, EMG features are extracted by autoregressive model (ARM) and EMG histogram. After the feature extraction, the CKLM is performed to classify the features. CKLM is composed of two different kinds of kernel learning machines: generalized discriminant analysis (GDA) algorithm and support vector machine (SVM). By using GDA, both the goals of the dimensionality reduction of input features and the selection of discriminating features, named kernel FisherEMG, can be reached. Then, SVM combined with one-against-one strategy is executed to classify the kernel FisherEMG. By cascading SVM with GDA, the input features will be nonlinearly mapped twice by radial-basis function (RBF). As a result, a linear optimal separating hyperplane can be found with the largest margin of separation between each pair of postures' classes in the implicit dot product feature space. In addition, we develop a digital signal processor (DSP)-based EMG classification system for the control of a multi-degrees-of-freedom prosthetic hand for the practical implementation. Based on the clinical experiments, the results show that the proposed CKLM is superior to other frequently used methods, such as k-nearest neighbor algorithm, multilayer neural network, and SVM. The best EMG recognition rate 93.54% is obtained by CKLM.

High-Input and Low-Output Impedance Voltage-Mode Universal Biquadratic Filter Using DDCCs

Abstract: A new three inputs and single output voltage-mode universal biquadratic filter with high-input and low-output impedance using three plus-type differential difference current conveyors, two grounded capacitors and two grounded resistors is presented. The proposed circuit offers the following features: realization of all the standard filter functions, that is, high-pass, bandpass, low-pass, notch, and all-pass filters, no requirements for component matching conditions, the use of only grounded capacitors and resistors, high-input and low-output impedance and low active and passive sensitivities.

Hyperglycemia enhances adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation: involvement of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma signaling.

Abstract: The molecular events of hyperglycemia-triggered increase in adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation remain unclear. We examined the effects of hyperglycemia on adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation and its involved signaling molecules, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), ERKs, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma). Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from FVB/N mice were capable of differentiating into adipocytes in adipogenic medium. The effects of high glucose (HG) (25.5 mm) were assessed in vitro by RT-PCR, ELISA, flow cytometry, immunostaining, and immunoblotting. The in vivo effect of hyperglycemia was further studied in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic FVB/N mice. Exposure of MSCs to HG enhanced adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation as compared with 5.5 mm glucose. HG increased PPAR gamma expression and PI3K activity and its downstream effector Akt phosphorylation during adipogenesis. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt activity with PI3K inhibitor LY294002 or by expressing the dominant negative p85 or Akt prevented the HG-enhanced PPAR gamma-dependent adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation. Moreover, HG increased the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 during adipogenesis. MAPK/ERK inhibitor PD98059 inhibited the PI3K activity, Akt phosphorylation, and lipid accumulation triggered by HG. PI3K inhibitor LY294002 did not affect the HG-increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation during adipogenesis. We next observed that adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation of MSCs isolated from STZ-induced diabetic mice is enhanced. Moreover, triglyceride, PPAR gamma expression, phosphorylated Akt and ERK1/2, and marrow fat in bones of STZ-diabetic mice were also increased. These results suggest that hyperglycemia enhances the adipogenic induction of lipid accumulation through an ERK1/2-activated PI3K/Akt-regulated PPAR gamma pathway.