A reassessment of Asian pacific excellence programs in higher education: the Taiwan experience

With the growth of competition between nations in our knowledge-based world economy, excellence programs are becoming a national agenda item in developing as well as developed Asian countries. The main purpose of this paper is to compare the goals, funding policies and selection criteria of excellence programs in China, Japan, Korea and Taiwan and to analyze the academic achievement of their top ranked universities in three areas: research output, internationalization, and excellence, by using data from the Shanghai Jiao Tong, QS, and HEEACT rankings. The effectiveness of Taiwan??s ??Development Plan for World Class Universities and Research Centers of Excellence?? was assessed as a case study in the paper via a survey targeting on 138 top administrators from 11 Taiwan??s universities and 30 reviewers. The study found that more funding nations had, the more outputs and outcomes they would gain, for example China. The Taiwan case demonstrates that world-class universities and research centers are needed in Asian nations despite the concerns for inequality which they raise.     

Synthesis of nano-ceria powder of high thermal stability

A new method is studied for preparing nano-ceria by acid leaching MgO from CeO₂−MgO mixed powder made by calcining a gel. The MgO in the mixed powder can be leached completely with acetic acid solution at room temperature, but the CeO₂ remains unaffected. The surface area (Sg) of the resulting CeO₂ increases with Mg/Ce ratio, but approaches constant after the ratio is larger than a given value which is higher for the higher gel calcining temperature. When Mg/Ce is 8 (molar ratio) and the calcining temperature is 1253 K, the Sg of the resulting ceria remains 25.1 m²/g even after annealed at 1253 K for 4 h. In comparison with the conventional methods, CeO₂ from the new method shows higher surface area and higher thermal stability.     

Glass Structure Changes in CO$_{2}$ -Laser Writing of Long-Period Fiber Gratings in Boron-Doped Single-Mode Fibers

We investigate in detail the process of CO₂-laser writing of long-period fiber gratings (LPFGs) in unannealed and annealed boron-doped fiber samples by using repeated scanning of CO₂-laser pulses. We find that the writing dynamics depends strongly on the CO₂-laser energy density and the annealing temperature of the fiber. Our results from analyzing the writing dynamics reveal the relative importance of various physical effects arising from glass structure changes due to different writing conditions and thus provide a better understanding of the formation and the properties of CO₂-laser written LPFGs.     

基于语议网格的政府长期档案管理系统的开发

长期保存（LTP）是一个极具吸引力的新研究领域,其目标是使档案的持续性能保持一段可预见的足够时间。然而这项研究一开始就遭遇了诸多挑战,比如归档时框架、正规方法和工作流模型的缺失,进一步的亏损无法保持档案间的互操作性,以及无信息衰减迹象的信息丢失等。本研究旨在探究各类文件的LTP如何不受时间演变、技术、数字环境变化的影响。基本需求源于存储管理与信息管理的整合,以及数据、元数据、索引等的安全保存。 本文介绍了政府档案管理和知识管理LTP流程有关上述需求的演变发展。资源的有效搜索、数据的有效存储/访问、一致的用户界面、共置备份的恢复图、以及认证和安全管理的动态调整构成随后的任务。接着,论文详细阐述了示范语义数据网格及其注解和服务配套机制,这当中本体起到关键作用。最后,论文总结了习得经验,以及有关LTP语义网格的未来工作。     

Evolutionary Fuzzy ARTMAP Neural Networks and their Applications to Fault Detection and Diagnosis

In this paper, two mutation-based evolving artificial neural networks, which are based on the Fuzzy ARTMAP (FAM) network and evolutionary programming, are proposed. The networks utilize the knowledge base extracted from a set of data to perform search and adaptation. The performances of the two networks are assessed using benchmark problems, with the results analyzed and discussed. The effects of the network parameters are evaluated through a parametric study. The applicability of the networks is also demonstrated using a real fault detection and diagnosis task in a power generation plant. The experimental results consistently indicate the usefulness of the proposed evolutionary FAM-based networks in yielding good classification performances with parsimonious network structures.     

Enhancing empathy instruction using a collaborative virtual learning environment for children with autistic spectrum conditions

Empathy is an essential part of normal social function that people with autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) lack. This study uses the intervention of enhancing empathy via 3D animated scenarios of empathy in a virtual learning environment to help those deficient in empathy. Specifically, this study explores the understanding of empathy, perspective-taking and the performance of understanding of empathy via a collaborative virtual learning environment (CVLE) - empathy system. The study, which used CVLE - 3D empathy systems and three participants diagnosed with ASCs, conducted multiple baseline research for evidence of improved understanding of empathy via system usage. This experimental study lasted 5 months and the experimental results indicate that using the CVLE 3D empathy system had significant and positive effects on participant use of empathy, both within the CVLE 3D empathy system and in terms of maintaining learning in understanding empathy.     

Strain gradient theory based on a new framework of non-local model

A new framework of non-local model for the strain energy density is proposed in this paper. The global strain energy density of the representative volume element is treated as a non-local variable and can be obtained through a special integral of the local strain energy density. The local strain energy density is assumed to be dependent on both the strain and the rotation-gradient. As a result of the non-local model, a new strain gradient theory is derived directly, in which the first and second strain gradients, as well as the triadic and tetradic stress, are introduced in the context of work conjugate. For power law hardening materials, size effects in thin metallic wire torsion and ultra-thin cantilever beam bend are investigated. It is found that the result predicted by the theoretical model is well consistent with the experimental data for the thin wire torsion. On the other hand, the calculation result for the micro-cantilever beam bend clearly shows the size effect.     

Corrosion fatigue behavior of dissimilar metal weldments under nominal constant ΔK loading mode in a simulated BWR coolant environment

Corrosion fatigue behavior of the dissimilar metal weldment, Alloy 52-A508, under a simulated BWR coolant condition was studied. Corrosion fatigue crack growth rates of the dissimilar metal weldments were observed to increase with crack extension under the nominal constant ΔK loading mode. It could be accounted for by a decrease in the Cr and Ni contents and the crack closure effect with the weld depth. Finite element analysis on the welding residual stress was performed. The trend of analytical results agreed well with that of the residual stress measurements obtained by a hole-drilling strain gauge method.     

Theoretical analysis of SAW propagation characteristics in (100) oriented AlN/diamond structure

In this study, the finite element method is employed to calculate SAW characteristics in (100) AlN/diamond based structures with different electrical interfaces; i.e., IDT/ AlN/diamond, AlN/IDT/diamond, IDT/AlN/thin metal film/ diamond, and thin metal film/AlN/IDT/diamond. The effects of Cu and Al electrodes as well as the thickness of electrode on phase velocity, coupling coefficient, and reflectivity of SAWs are illustrated. Propagation characteristics of SAWs in (002) AlN/diamond-based structures are also presented for comparison. Simulation results show that to retain a large reflectivity for the design of RF filters and duplexers, the Cu IDT/(100) AlN/diamond structure possesses the highest phase velocity and largest coupling coefficient at the smallest AlN film thickness- to-wavelength ratio.     

A Fast-Settling Wideband-IF ASK Baseband Circuit for a Wireless Endoscope Capsule

A novel automatic-gain-control (AGC) architecture utilizing wideband current feedback is proposed for the baseband circuit of a wireless endoscope capsule. The baseband circuit consists of a fast-settling wideband AGC loop and an amplitude-shift-keying demodulator. Additional integrators in the reverse signal path provide negative feedback, bandpass-filtering effect, attenuating low-frequency noises, and dc offset from the radio-frequency front end. The baseband circuit fabricated in a 180-nm complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor process achieves a wide-intermediate-frequency (IF) carrier frequency in the range of 0.5-40 MHz, a measured settling time of 2 mus, and an input sensitivity of -57 dBm. The entire baseband demodulator dissipates only 5 mA, with a 1.8-V supply at a data rate of 1.37 Mb/s and an IF carrier frequency of 10 MHz.