Development of Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) System with PV Ceramic Tile and its Application for Building Façade

AbstractIn this paper, the single-crystal silicon-based solar cells laminated between tempered glass and ceramic tile is developed to be utilized in the building's façade. Firstly, the electrical, optical, and thermal properties of the proposed PV module are evaluated. Then, the wind-resistance test is implanted to evaluate the installation feasibility in Taiwan where have typhoon frequently. The electrical and deflection characteristics of the proposed PV module have no obviously changed after a 50 thermal cycling test and a 200hour humidity-freeze test, based on IEC 61215, and a wind-resistance test, respectively. Finally, electrical power generation of the proposed BIPV system with 1 kWp electrical power capacity installed in a demonstration house is performed. The experimental results indicate that accumulative power generation is 185 kWh during 6-month monitoring period. And that, the exterior temperature of the demonstration house is lower than that on the surface of the BIPV system about 10°C. The proposed BIPV system not only provides the passive energy for its power loading, but also improves the indoor thermal environment by fluent natural ventilation

Crystallization of Adenylylsulfate Reductase from Desulfovibrio gigas: A Strategy Based on Controlled Protein Oligomerization

Adenylylsulfate reductase (adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate reductase, APS reductase or APSR, E.C.1.8.99.2) catalyzes the conversion of APS to sulfite in dissimilatory sulfate reduction. APSR was isolated and purified directly from massive anaerobically grown Desulfovibrio gigas, a strict anaerobe, for structure and function investigation. Oligomerization of APSR to form dimers–α_2β_2, tetramers–α_4β_4, hexamers–α_6β_6, and larger oligomers was observed during purification of the protein. Dynamic light scattering and ultracentrifugation revealed that the addition of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) or adenosine 5′-phosphosulfate (APS) disrupts the oligomerization, indicating that AMP or APS binding to the APSR dissociates the inactive hexamers into functional dimers. Treatment of APSR with β-mercaptoethanol decreased the enzyme size from a hexamer to a dimer, probably by disrupting the disulfide Cys156—Cys162 toward the C-terminus of the β-subunit. Alignment of the APSR sequences from D. gigas and A. fulgidus revealed the largest differences in this region of the β-subunit, with the D. gigas APSR containing 16 additional amino acids with the Cys156—Cys162 disulfide. Studies in a pH gradient showed that the diameter of the APSR decreased progressively with acidic pH. To crystallize the APSR for structure determination, we optimized conditions to generate a homogeneous and stable form of APSR by combining dynamic light scattering, ultracentrifugation, and electron paramagnetic resonance methods to analyze the various oligomeric states of the enzyme in varied environments

Effectiveness and minimum effective dose of app-based mobile health interventions for anxiety and depression symptom reduction: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Mobile health (mHealth) apps offer new opportunities to deliver psychological treatments for mental illness in an accessible, private format. The results of several previous systematic reviews support the use of app-based mHealth interventions for anxiety and depression symptom management. However, it remains unclear how much or how long the minimum treatment dose is for an mHealth intervention to be effective. Just-in-time adaptive intervention (JITAI) has been introduced in the mHealth domain to facilitate behavior changes and is positioned to guide the design of mHealth interventions with enhanced adherence and effectiveness. OBJECTIVE: Inspired by the JITAI framework, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the dose effectiveness of app-based mHealth interventions for anxiety and depression symptom reduction. METHODS: We conducted a literature search on 7 databases (ie, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, Scopus, Cochrane Library (eg, CENTRAL), ScienceDirect, and ClinicalTrials, for publications from January 2012 to April 2020. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating app-based mHealth interventions for anxiety and depression. The study selection and data extraction process followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We estimated the pooled effect size using Hedge g and appraised study quality using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs. RESULTS: We included 15 studies involving 2627 participants for 18 app-based mHealth interventions. Participants in the intervention groups showed a significant effect on anxiety (Hedge g=-.10, 95% CI -0.14 to -0.06, I2=0%) but not on depression (Hedge g=-.08, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.07, I2=4%). Interventions of at least 7 weeks\u27 duration had larger effect sizes on anxiety symptom reduction. CONCLUSIONS: There is inconclusive evidence for clinical use of app-based mHealth interventions for anxiety and depression at the current stage due to the small to nonsignificant effects of the interventions and study quality concerns. The recommended dose of mHealth interventions and the sustainability of intervention effectiveness remain unclear and require further investigation

Comparison of Renal Function and Other Health Outcomes in Vegetarians versus Omnivores in Taiwan

Renal disease is one of the top 10 leading causes of death, and the incidence of end-stage renal disease in Taiwan is the highest in the world. Many dietitians consider the diet of plant origin consumed by vegans to be ‘lighter’ and ‘more healthful’ than the diet of both plant and animal origin consumed by omnivores. Dietary protein has significant effects on renal functions. The study explored the effects of both the diets on renal functions. The study subjects included 102 Buddhist nun vegetarians and an equal number of matched control group (omnivores). A cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the effects of the diet of plant origin and the diet of both plant and animal origin on renal functions. There was no difference in the renal functions between the two groups. However, systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, serum sodium, glucose, cholesterol levels, and urinary specific gravity were lower in the vegetarian group. Although these results were compatible with general concepts regarding diet of plant origin, after adjusting for age, the duration of intake of this diet had no effect on the renal functions. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the renal functions, in terms of the estimated glomerular filtration rate, were not different between the vegetarians and the omnivores

A Model of Technological Imagination and Creativity: Cognitive Task Analysis

An integrated model of cognitive tasks involved in the process of a technological innovation was proposed based on these theories: 1. CDIO theory of technological innovation, 2. Wallas’s creative thinking processes, 3. Khalr & Simon’s theory of scientific discovery, and 4. the conceptual combination theory of imagination. The central theme of this model is the proposition that three cognitive conditions are necessary for technological imagination and innovation: 1. cross-domain knowledge, 2. simple heuristics, and 3. pattern recognition ability. Although the required domain knowledge and implementation methods are different across domains, heuristics that lead to a breakthrough at each phase of CDIO in a technological innovation are similar, with conceptual combination as the cognitive engine for generating original and imaginative ideas

Smectite clay microstructural behaviour on the Atterberg limits transition

Particle space arrangement is a very important factor that determines the physico-mechanical properties of soil. Formations of three-dimensional (3D) structured networks within gelled or flocculated suspension may prevent clay particles and aggregates from building dense aggregates and by encapsulate water within the ultrathin and closed void network, lead to poor sludge dewatering. To better understand the water retention behaviour of smectite-rich clays, a microstructural investigation was conducted on Amcol Australian bentonite in aqueous suspension in near the liquid limit (LL) and the plastic limit (PL). The investigation was conducted with the aid of synchrotron-powered transmission X-ray microscope tomography (TXM), with subsequent computer reconstruction. Images from the microscopy studies were statistically analysed using the STatistical IMage ANalysing (STIMAN) system. The study found that clay particles form a spanned framework in which mineral particles, aggregates and water-filled voids assemble as hierarchic structural elements. The size of these structural elements was larger in the water suspension and subsequently became smaller as an effect of water loss in the suspension>liquid and>plastic limit conditions. The clay suspension structure was almost isometric, with a low anisotropy coefficient: K - 9%. This parameter increased to K - 17% in (LL) and increased further in (PL) conditions to K - 35%. Voids within structural elements were much smaller than the water filled inter-flock voids, with their median diameter 140nm (suspension), 120nm (LL) and 90nm (PL). Significant differences in Atterberg limits values were observed between powder freshly mixed with water and a seasoned sample. Therefore, careful consideration of the sample mineral composition, clay content and genesis must be given due to preparation for geotechnical examination

Case report: Steroid-responsive acute chorea as first presentation of the coexistence of Moyamoya and Graves' disease

BackgroundChorea is a movement disorder characterized by abrupt, rapid, and uncontrollable, random movements from one part of the body to another with motor impersistence. Sporadic chorea is rarely caused by either thyrotoxicosis or Moyamoya disease (MMD).Methods and resultsIn this case report, we describe a female patient with chorea with the rare coexistence of Graves' disease and Moyamoya disease. Tc-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer (ECD) brain perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed mild to moderate hypoperfusion in bilateral frontal and left temporal regions. After administering dexamethasone 20 mg for 5 days, her choreic movement symptoms recovered rapidly.ConclusionAlthough uncommon, thyrotoxicosis and Moyamoya disease can co-occur, especially in Asian female adults. Excessive thyroid hormones contribute to the dysregulation of neurotransmitters in basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits. Moyamoya disease is responsible for ischemic changes affecting the excitatory–inhibitory circuits between the basal ganglia and the neocortex. Under a state of coexistence, thyrotoxicosis exaggerates cerebral metabolism, aggravating the impaired cerebral perfusion induced by Moyamoya disease. Moreover, inflammatory reactions caused by thyroid autoantibodies may also promote the progression of Moyamoya disease. In our experience, treatment with steroids may not only synergize the anti-thyroid effect but may also be a way to modulate the neurotransmitters within the basal ganglia or restore cerebral perfusion. We suggest that evaluation of the thyroid function status in Moyamoya disease is essential

Analysis and Monitoring Results of a Building Integrated Photovoltaic Façade Using PV Ceramic Tiles in Taiwan

Single-crystal silicon-based solar cells laminated with tempered-glass and ceramic tiles for use in a building’s façade have been developed. The optical, thermal, and electrical properties of the proposed PV module are first evaluated, and then a wind-resistance test is carried out to evaluate the feasibility of installing it in Taiwan. The electrical and deflection characteristics of the proposed PV module did not change significantly after a 50 thermal cycling test and a 200-hour humidity-freeze test, based on IEC 61215 and a wind-resistance test. Finally, the electrical power generation ability of the proposed BIPV system with 1 kWp electrical power capacity was examined. Building information modeling software tools were used to simulate the BIPV system and carry out the energy analysis. The simulation results show a very consistent trend with regard to the actual monthly electricity production of the BIPV system designed in this work. The BIPV system was able to produce an accumulative electrical power of 185 kWh during the 6-month experimental period. In addition, the exterior temperature of the demonstration house was about 10°C lower than the surface of the BIPV system, which could reduce indoor temperature