Process Planning of Stamping Die Layout for Structure Parts of Automotive Panels

專家系統是以知識表示與知識推理技術來模擬由領域專家才能解決的複雜問題。模具工法專家系統將隱藏於模具設計廠中難以記錄的知識參數化與系統化，並儲存於資料庫中，透過有規則的推論過程進行特徵辨識與工法內容編排，並以知識工程系統作為知識管理，將所有特徵與工法內容協定儲存於資料庫中，以利後續之案例查詢。 本文以Java語言實作結構件工法排程專家系統，並以Spring Solid System作為CAD(computer-aided design)系統之主幹，讀取鈑金曲面模型資料進行特徵辨識分析，特徵辨識結果即為工法推論引擎之輸入端，輸出端則以Java3D呈現模具工法，再依據工法內容推算模具相關參數以作為模具設計之參考。The expert system is based on knowledge representation and reasoning techniques to simulate the complex problems which can be resolved by experts in the particular fields. The die layout expert system stores the knowledge which is hidden in the die design factory and hard to record in the database parametrically and systematically. The system uses rule-based reasoning process to implement feature recognition and process planning, and also uses knowledge-based engineering system to manage those information data. All feature and process protocol also store in the database for querying. The die layout expert system for structure parts is programmed in Java language, and uses Spring Solid System as the backbone of the CAD system to read the digital surface model for feature recognition. The results of feature recognition would be the input of die layout reasoning engine, and the output of die layout is displayed by Java3D. Finally, calculating the relevant parameters of die according to die layout as the reference of die designing

Primary congenital pulmonary hypoplasia of a neonate

Pulmonary hypoplasia is a rare but usually lethal disease. We report a full-term male neonate who presented with respiratory failure immediately after birth. Chest X-ray revealed a small lung volume despite advanced ventilator support. Respiratory failure persisted and this baby died at 40.5 hours of age. The autopsy showed a lung-to-birth weight ratio of 0.69% and a radial alveoli count of 2.97. All this information confirmed the diagnosis of primary congenital pulmonary hypoplasia

Linking CO to Urea Production from CO₂ and NO₃^–/NO₂^– Co-Electrolysis on Transition Metals

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2ER) has the potential to advance carbon neutrality and renewable energy storage. Advanced CO2ER catalysts can selectively produce a wide array of products. Their importance is amplified when coreducing CO2 with nitrate/nitrite ions (NO3–/NO2–) to generate organic compounds containing C–N bonds, enhancing product diversity and value. Some transition metals effectively catalyze the coreduction of CO2 and NO3–/NO2– to yield urea. However, a disparity exists between the experimental observations that underscore the significance of CO production in urea synthesis and the theoretical perspectives that dismiss the role of CO in C–N bond creation. To reconcile this disparity, we utilized density functional theory combined with a constant electrode potential model to investigate four facile CO2 + *N1 (the intermediates from NO3–/NO2– reduction to NH3) couplingsrepresenting the primary C–N formation pathways on a range of transition metal surfaces. Our comprehensive study elucidates the relationships among C–N coupling barriers, *N1, and CO adsorption energies. Notably, we found that while CO is not involved in C–N formation, a catalyst’s proficiency in generating CO from CO2ER is indicative of its reduced adsorption strength. This result indicates a heightened reactivity in forming C–N bonds via the CO2 + *N1 couplings. Our theoretical exploration adeptly bridges the discrepancies observed between earlier experimental and theoretical studies

Linking CO to Urea Production from CO₂ and NO₃^–/NO₂^– Co-Electrolysis on Transition Metals

Electrochemical reduction of CO2 (CO2ER) has the potential to advance carbon neutrality and renewable energy storage. Advanced CO2ER catalysts can selectively produce a wide array of products. Their importance is amplified when coreducing CO2 with nitrate/nitrite ions (NO3–/NO2–) to generate organic compounds containing C–N bonds, enhancing product diversity and value. Some transition metals effectively catalyze the coreduction of CO2 and NO3–/NO2– to yield urea. However, a disparity exists between the experimental observations that underscore the significance of CO production in urea synthesis and the theoretical perspectives that dismiss the role of CO in C–N bond creation. To reconcile this disparity, we utilized density functional theory combined with a constant electrode potential model to investigate four facile CO2 + *N1 (the intermediates from NO3–/NO2– reduction to NH3) couplingsrepresenting the primary C–N formation pathways on a range of transition metal surfaces. Our comprehensive study elucidates the relationships among C–N coupling barriers, *N1, and CO adsorption energies. Notably, we found that while CO is not involved in C–N formation, a catalyst’s proficiency in generating CO from CO2ER is indicative of its reduced adsorption strength. This result indicates a heightened reactivity in forming C–N bonds via the CO2 + *N1 couplings. Our theoretical exploration adeptly bridges the discrepancies observed between earlier experimental and theoretical studies

The Overall Efficacy and Outcomes of Metronomic Tegafur-Uracil Chemotherapy on Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Real-World Cohort Experience

Metronomic chemotherapy inhibits tumor growth by continuous administration of lower-dose chemotherapy. Our study aimed to demonstrate the outcomes of metronomic chemotherapy with tegafur–uracil in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA HNSCC). This was a retrospective study including 240 patients with LA HNSCC. After standard treatment, 96 patients were further treated with metronomic tegafur-uracil, and 144 patients were not. No statistical differences were found between both groups with regard to sex, clinical stage, or primary treatment choice. There were more hypopharyngeal cancers and more patients with poor clinicopathological features, including lymphovascular invasion, extranodal extension, and positive margins in the tegafur–uracil group. The median follow-up duration was 31.16 months. Overall survival (OS) was not reached in the tegafur–uracil group and was 54.1 months in the control group (p = 0.008). The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 54.5 months in the tegafur–uracil group and 34.4 months in the control group (p = 0.03). Neither group reached distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS, p = 0.02). In patients with LA HNSCC, adding tegafur–uracil as metronomic chemotherapy after either curative surgery with adjuvant chemoradiotherapy or definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy significantly improved the OS, DFS, and DMFS with tolerable adverse events

Investigation of Lethal Concurrent Outbreak of Chlamydiosis and Pigeon Circovirus in a Zoo

During the spring, an outbreak of sudden death involving 58 birds occurred in a zoo. Histopathological examinations revealed variable numbers of intracytoplasmic basophilic microorganisms in the macrophages, hepatocytes, and renal epithelium of most birds, along with occasional botryoid intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies within histiocytes in the bursa of Fabricius. Based on the results of histopathological examinations, immunohistochemical staining, transmission electron microscopy, and polymerase chain reactions, genotype B Chlamydia psittaci infection concurrent with pigeon circovirus (PiCV) was diagnosed. A retrospective survey, including two years before the outbreak and the outbreak year, of C. psittaci and PiCV infections of dead birds in the aviaries, revealed that the outbreak was an independent episode. The findings of this study indicate that concurrent infection with C. psittaci and PiCV might lead to lethal outbreaks of chlamydiosis, particularly Streptopelia orientalis. In addition, persistently monitoring both pathogens and identifying potential PiCV carriers or transmitters might also help prevent lethal disease outbreaks