Effects of Planting Density on Visually Graded Lumber and Mechanical Properties of Taiwania

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of planting density on the quality of visually graded lumber, and the strength properties of 35-year-old Taiwania (Taiwania cryptomerioides Hay). The results are summarized as follows.(1) Lumber obtained from the site with type S planting density (6940 trees/ha) were mostly of better grade (84.6% including first and second grades), followed by type Q (2500 trees/ha) (69.1%), type R (3300 trees/ha) (62.5%), whereas poorer lumber was found mostly from trees with type P planting density (1000 trees/ha) (41.6%).(2) Specimens cut from trees of type S planting density site had the largest average values of ultrasonic velocity (Vu), dynamic modulus of elasticity obtained from transversal vibration (Edt), dynamic modulus of elasticity obtained from ultrasonic velocity (Edu), modulus of elasticity at bending (MOE), and modulus of rupture at bending (MOR), followed in decreasing order by those of type P, type R, and type Q sites.(3) Interrelations between Vu, Edu, Edt, MOE, and MOR can be represented by positive linear regression formulas. The differences were highly significant

In Vitro Activities of Antibiotic Combinations Against Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Combination therapy has been recommended to treat Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections worldwide. The purpose of the present study was to determine the in vitro activities of piperacillin, cefepime, aztreonam, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin alone and in combination against 100 clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa from one medical center in southern Taiwan. The combination susceptibility assay was performed using the checkerboard technique. The percentage of resistance of P. aeruginosa to single agents in our study was relatively high for the Asia-Pacific area, except to aztreonam. Piperacillin plus amikacin exhibited the highest potential for synergy (59/100) in this study. Moreover, a high percentage of synergism was also noted with amikacin combined with cefepime (7/100) or aztreonam (16/100). The combination of two beta-lactams, such as cefepime with piperacillin, and aztreonam with cefepime or piperacillin, showed synergistic effects against some P. aeruginosa isolates. Although ciprofloxacin is a good anti-pseudomonal agent, a very low potential for synergy with other antibiotics was demonstrated in this study. No antagonism was exhibited by any combination in our study. Among piperacillin-resistant strains, there was synergy with a beta-lactam plus amikacin, including the combination of piperacillin and amikacin. However, the combination of two beta-lactams, such as piperacillin and cefepime or aztreonam, did not have any synergistic activity against these strains. In summary, the combinations of amikacin with the tested beta-lactams (piperacillin, aztreonam, cefepime) had a greater synergistic effect against P. aeruginosa, even piperacillin-resistant strains, than other combinations. Understanding the synergistic effect on clinical strains may help clinicians choose better empirical therapy in an area with high prevalence of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa

Ring Characteristics and Compressive Strength of Japanese Cedar Trees Grown Under Different Silvicultural Treatments

The effects of different plantation spacings and thinning treatments on the ring characteristics, compressive strength, and dynamic modulus of elasticity (DMOE) of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) trees were investigated. The results revealed that young trees of more-closely spaced plantations (3000 trees/ha) had higher wood density and compressive strength than those of more-widely spaced plantations (2200 trees/ha). Different (first and second) thinning treatments of the 2 initial spacings had little effect on ring characteristics or compressive strength. Overall, the average ring characteristics, compressive strength, and DMOE of 35-yr-old Japanese cedar at different plantation spacings and thinning treatments showed no statistically significant differences. The results suggest that using these silvicultural treatments with a longer rotation age will have no detrimental effects on the wood density, compressive strength, or DMOE

C-reactive Protein Positively Correlates With Metabolic Syndrome in Kidney Transplantation Patients

ObjectiveC-reactive protein (CRP) is an independent risk factor for renal allograft loss and predicts all-cause mortality in kidney transplantation patients. Metabolic syndrome has also been associated with increased mortality in kidney transplantation patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between CRP and metabolic syndrome in kidney transplantation patients.Materials and MethodsFasting blood samples were obtained from 55 kidney transplantation patients. Metabolic syndrome and its components were defined using diagnostic criteria from the International Diabetes Federation.ResultsIn total, 13 kidney transplantation patients (23.6%) had metabolic syndrome. Fasting CRP levels positively correlated with metabolic syndrome (p = 0.001). Univariate linear regression analysis indicated that fasting serum CRP values were positively correlated with body weight (p = 0.001), waist circumference (p = 0.008), body mass index (p < 0.001), and body fat mass (p = 0.042). Multivariate forward stepwise linear regression analysis of the significant variables showed that body mass index (β = 0.455, R2 = 0.207, p < 0.001) was an independent predictor of serum CRP levels in kidney transplantation patients.ConclusionCRP level positively correlated with metabolic syndrome in kidney transplantation patients. Body mass index was an independent predictor of serum CRP levels in kidney transplantation patients

Fabrication and Performance of MEMS-Based Pressure Sensor Packages Using Patterned Ultra-Thick Photoresists

A novel plastic packaging of a piezoresistive pressure sensor using a patterned ultra-thick photoresist is experimentally and theoretically investigated. Two pressure sensor packages of the sacrifice-replacement and dam-ring type were used in this study. The characteristics of the packaged pressure sensors were investigated by using a finite-element (FE) model and experimental measurements. The results show that the thermal signal drift of the packaged pressure sensor with a small sensing-channel opening or with a thin silicon membrane for the dam-ring approach had a high packaging induced thermal stress, leading to a high temperature coefficient of span (TCO) response of −0.19% span/°C. The results also show that the thermal signal drift of the packaged pressure sensors with a large sensing-channel opening for sacrifice-replacement approach significantly reduced packaging induced thermal stress, and hence a low TCO response of −0.065% span/°C. However, the packaged pressure sensors of both the sacrifice-replacement and dam-ring type still met the specification −0.2% span/°C of the unpackaged pressure sensor. In addition, the size of proposed packages was 4 × 4 × 1.5 mm3 which was about seven times less than the commercialized packages. With the same packaging requirement, the proposed packaging approaches may provide an adequate solution for use in other open-cavity sensors, such as gas sensors, image sensors, and humidity sensors

Thermal Effect on Structure of Silver in Ion-Exchanged Soda-Lime Glasses and Aluminum-Doped Zinc Oxide Films

Heat treatment is commonly used during device processing in order to achieve specific functionalities of the devices. How a series of heat treatment applies to accomplish this goal can be found in the literature. However, specific properties of the devices after the treatment are more emphasized than the details of the structural modifications in the industrial applications. In this paper, it is intended to illustrate the fundamental changes in the structure due to heat treatment which result in the desired physical properties of the devices. Two study cases, Ag ion-exchanged soda-lime glasses and aluminum doped ZnO (AZO) films, were illustrated. The changes in chemical states, the structural modification during and after heat treatment are explored. By understanding how the metallic Ag formed and accumulated during annealing, an optimum heat treatment to grow the proper size and density of silver quantum dots in the films are possible. Post annealing effect on the AZO films shows that the crystallinity, the peak positions shifts, and grain sizes were changed after annealing. Both illustrated cases indicate thermally induced changes in chemical state, the stress release, and rearrangement of atoms in materials during and after annealing

Longitudinal stage profiles forecasting in rivers for flash floods

Copyright © 2010 Elsevier. NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Hydrology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Hydrology Vol. 388 (2010), DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.05.028A flash flood routing model with artificial neural networks predictions was developed for stage profiles forecasting. The artificial neural network models were used to predict the 1-3 h lead time river stages at gauge stations along a river. The predictions were taken as interior boundaries in the flash flood routing model for the forecast of longitudinal stage profiles, including the un-gauged sites of a whole river. The flash flood routing model was based on the dynamic wave equations with discretization processes of the four-point finite difference method. Five typhoon events were applied to calibrate the rainfall-stage model and the other three events were simulated to verify the model's capability. The results revealed that the flash flood river routing model conjunction with artificial neural networks can provide accurate river stages for flood forecasting.National Science Council of Taiwa

Phase-controlled vibrational laser percussion drilling

In this study, a phase-controlled vibration was applied to a laser percussion drilling process to improve the depth of penetration. To investigate the effects of phase-controlled vibration on the depth of penetration, a novel method that controls the phase offset between the accelerating motion and the emission of the laser beam was developed. The method is based on coaxial sensing of the working surface using a photodiode, coupled with microcontroller control of the drilling laser operation. Through real-time optical signal acquisition and analysis of laser machining processes, correlations between the accelerating motion and the emission of the laser beam were simultaneously obtained. All of the processing work was performed in air at standard atmospheric conditions, and gas assist was not used. This study showed that the application of phase-controlled vibration improved the depth of penetration in laser percussion machining and can contribute to the development of precision drilling in the industry