Chung Yuan Christian University

About: Chung Yuan Christian University is a education organization based out in Taoyuan City, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Membrane & Fuzzy logic. The organization has 9819 authors who have published 11623 publications receiving 213139 citations. The organization is also known as: Tiong-gôan-tāi-ha̍k & CYCU.

Variable mold temperature to improve surface quality of microcellular injection molded parts using induction heating technology

Abstract: Microcellular foam injection molding provides many advantages over conventional foams and their unfoamed counterparts, but its applications are limited by visible surface quality problems such as silver streaks and swirl marks. In this study, we propose a variable mold temperature method to improve the surface quality of molded parts. Electromagnetic induction heating is used in combination with water cooling to achieve rapid mold surface temperature control during the microcellular foam injection molding process. The effect of processing parameters, such as mold temperature, melt temperature, and injection velocity on the part surface quality, was investigated using surface roughness measurements and visual inspection of the molded parts. The results show that using induction heating to increase the mold surface temperature from 100°C to 160°C can decrease surface roughness of polycarbonate moldings from 25 µm to 6.5 µm. It was also found that the flow marks formed by gas bubbles on the part surface can be removed completely at a mold temperature of 160°C. Further increases in the mold temperature show slight improvements in the surface roughness up to 180°C, at which point the surface roughness starts to level off at 5 µm. This surface roughness value reflects an 80% improvement without a significant increase in cycle time over parts molded at a mold temperature of 60°C using water heating. Higher melt temperature and faster injection speed will also improve the surface quality of microcellular injection molded parts but not as significantly. The usefulness of a variable mold temperature in improving part surface quality during microcellular foam injection molding has been successfully demonstrated. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 27:224–232, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.20133

Novel sliding mode controller for synchronous motor drive

Abstract: A novel sliding mode controller with an integral-operation switching surface is proposed. Furthermore, an adaptive sliding mode controller is investigated, in which a simple adaptive algorithm is utilized to estimate the bound of uncertainties. The position control for a permanent magnet (PM) synchronous servo motor drive using the proposed control strategies is illustrated. The theoretical analysis and the theorems for the proposed sliding mode controllers are described in detail. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed controllers provide high-performance dynamic characteristics and are robust with regard to plant parameter variations and external load disturbance.

Curcumin inhibits ROS formation and apoptosis in methylglyoxal-treated human hepatoma G2 cells.

Abstract: Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive dicarbonyl compound endogenously produced mainly from glycolytic intermediates. Elevated MG levels in diabetes patients are believed to contribute to diabetic complications. MG is cytotoxic through induction of apoptosis. Curcumin, the yellow pigment of Curcuma longa, is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we investigated the effect of curcumin on MG-induced apoptotic events in human hepatoma G2 cells. We report that curcumin prevented MG-induced cell death and apoptotic biochemical changes such as mitochondrial release of cytochrome c, caspase-3 activation, and cleavage of PARP (poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase). Using the cell permeable dye 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) as an indicator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, we found that curcumin abolished MG-stimulated intracellular oxidative stress. The results demonstrate that curcumin significantly attenuates MG-induced ROS formation, and suggest that ROS triggers cytochrome c release, caspase activation, and subsequent apoptotic biochemical changes.

Citrinin induces apoptosis via a mitochondria-dependent pathway and inhibition of survival signals in embryonic stem cells, and causes developmental injury in blastocysts

Abstract: The mycotoxin CTN (citrinin), a natural contaminant in foodstuffs and animal feeds, has cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on various mammalian cells. CTN is known to cause cell injury, including apoptosis, but the precise regulatory mechanisms of CTN action, particularly in stem cells and embryos, are currently unclear. In the present paper, I report that CTN has cytotoxic effects on mouse embryonic stem cells and blastocysts, and is associated with defects in their subsequent development, both in vitro and in vivo. Experiments in embryonic stem cells (ESC-B5) showed that CTN induces apoptosis via ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, loss of MMP (mitochondrial membrane potential), induction of cytochrome c release, and activation of caspase 3. In this model, CTN triggers cell death via inactivation of the HSP90 [a 90 kDa isoform of the HSP (heat-shock protein) family proteins]/multichaperone complex and subsequent degradation of Ras and Raf-1, further inhibiting anti-apoptotic processes, such as the Ras→ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) signal transduction pathway. In addition, CTN causes early developmental injury in mouse ESCs and blastocysts in vitro. Lastly, using an in vivo mouse model, I show that consumption of drinking water containing 10 μM CTN results in blastocyst apoptosis and early embryonic developmental injury. Collectively, these findings show for the first time that CTN induces ROS and mitochondria-dependent apoptotic processes, inhibits Ras→ERK survival signalling via inactivation of the HSP90/multichaperone complex, and causes developmental injury in vivo.