An ergonomic study of visual optimization by light color managements

Light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) have the advantage of controllable light colors and provide the optimal lighting quality against various color attributes required in different environments. However, from the humanized design point of view, beside satisfying physical demands of people, it is also important to achieve satisfaction. With a good match between the LED lighting equipment and ambient colors, the space imagery that complies with psychological needs of human beings can be found. This is expected to become a new market direction for future lighting. In this study, the LED light source feature of adjustable correlated color temperature is used to match wall colors of typical commercial spaces and for the investigation and analysis of the impact of colors of light sources and environments on human beings. The measures of mental and subjective feelings of a group of people under various circumstances have also been investigated. Multivariate analysis of variance has been conducted on three color temperatures of light sources, six wall colors, and measures of five emotion adjectives, and the correlation between these three variables has been further investigated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 41, 72–84, 2016     

Improving proton exchange membrane fuel cell performance with carbon nanotubes as the material of cathode microporous layer

The cathode microporous layer (MPL) is fabricated by various multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and its influence on the performance of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is evaluated. Three types of CNT with different dimensions are employed in the experiments, and the conventional MPL made by acetylene black (AB) is also considered for the purpose of comparison. The results show that the employment of CNT as MPL composition indeed may improve fuel cell performance significantly in comparison with the case of AB. The type of CNT with the largest tube diameter and straight cylinder in shape exhibits the highest cell performance. The corresponding optimal CNT loading and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) content in the MPL are also evaluated. Results show that the case of cathode MPL composed of 1.5 mg cm^?2 CNT and 20 wt% PTFE exhibits the best performance in all the experimental cases. The present data reveal that the application of CNT for MPL fabrication is beneficial to promote PEMFC performance. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

High Cytoplasmic Expression of Krüppel-like Factor 4 Is an Independent Prognostic Factor of Better Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Hepatocarcinogenesis is complex, with an extraordinary molecular heterogeneity. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) plays an important role in cell proliferation and differentiation, and it can function as a tumor suppressor or an oncoprotein, depending on tissue type. The role of KLF4 in HCC remains controversial. The aim of this study was to explore the clinical significance of KLF4 expression in HCC. The study included 205 patients with surgical resection. We performed immunostaining for KLF4 and Ki-67 to investigate the correlations of the clinicopathological parameters of HCC and to examine the proliferative index. KLF4 staining was observed in the cytoplasm of non-tumorous hepatocytes and tumor cells. We subdivided the immunohistological staining results for KLF4 into low expression (Staining 0 and 1+) and high expression (Staining 2+ and 3+) subgroups. The expression of KLF4 was significantly correlated with tumor differentiation (p = 0.001). The Ki-67 proliferative index was significantly lower in well-differentiated HCCs (0.781% ± 1.02% vs. 2.16% ± 3.14%, p = 0.012), but not significantly different between low-KLF4 expression and high-KLF4 expression (1.87% ± 2.93% vs. 2.51% ± 3.28%, p = 0.32). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that a high expression of KLF4 was significantly correlated with a longer disease-specific survival (p = 0.019). Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that high KLF4 expression was an independent predictor of a better disease-specific survival (p = 0.017; hazard ratio = 0.398; 95% confidence interval: 0.19–0.85). High cytoplasmic expression of KLF4 was associated with better disease-specific survival and was an independently favorable prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma. These promising results suggest that KLF4 may play an anti-oncogenic role in hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Analysis for vertical velocity of seismic waves

Abstract

Presented here are the results of seismic wave velocities analyzed using the acceleration time‐histories recorded at the downhole strong motion array of the Lotung large scale seismic test site during the May 20, 1986 Hualien earthquake. The spectral ratios between the surface and downhole accelerograms were used to identify the frequencies of maximum amplification of soil layers, and an elastic 1‐D wave propagation model was proposed to estimate the wave velocities of the ground during the earthquake. The results obtained indicate that significant reduction of shear wave velocity as well as soil modulus was induced by earthquake excitation as compared to the values obtained from low strain level soil testings.     

Model interpretation of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and polarization behavior of H2/CO mixture oxidation in polymer electrolyte fuel cells

A mathematical model is proposed based on electrode kinetics analysis for the oxidation of 2% CO+H₂ mixture in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Successful simulation of the polarization curve and experimental impedance spectra for Pt/C electrode system confirm the validity of the model which shows that the impedance is strongly dependent on electrode potential. With the increase of potential, an inductive behavior will occur. It is believed that the appearance of this inductive pattern can be used as a criterion for the onset of CO oxidation by the coincidence of the potential at which inductive behavior occurs with the ignition potential for CO oxidation. The effects of change of CO oxidation rate constant and CO adsorption equilibrium constant on impedance pattern, as well as on CO surface coverage and Faradaic current are also delineated with the use of the proposed model.     

Fouling Inhibition of Membrane Separation by H2O2/UV Pre-oxidation for Color Filter Effluent Reuse

This study evaluated the feasibility of treating color filter effluent by H₂O₂/UV pre-oxidation and membrane postseparation for in-house reuse. The effluent qualities were TOC of 5.8–34 mg/L, color of 46–138 ADMI, and conductivity of 1020–3500 μS/cm. Although the RO separation could directly remove TOC, color, and conductivity effectively, the serious fouling problem still existed. Through H₂O₂/UV pre-oxidation (UV = 13 W, H₂O₂ = 200 mg/L), organic and biofouling were inhibited to increase the normalized flux decline from 5% to 77%. That is, H₂O₂/UV pre-oxidation could mitigate the permeate flux decline as well as to improve the water quality for water reuse.     

Direct Bonding of Aluminum to Alumina for Thermal Dissipation Purposes

In this study, aluminum foil was bonded directly to alumina substrate at a temperature higher than 1000°C in an inert atmosphere. A platinum marker was used to locate the original interface after bonding. With the help of the Pt marker, the microstructure analysis revealed that the aluminum foil oxidized first, and the newly formed alumina was subsequently bonded to the alumina substrate. The bonding strength increased with increases in bonding temperature until 1100°C. The strong interface also led to high thermal conductivity.     

CuInSe2 Formation from CuSe/In2Se3 and Cu2Se/In2Se3 Powders: Reaction Kinetics and Mechanisms

CuInSe₂ (CIS) powders were synthesized using CuSe, Cu₂Se, and In₂Se₃ as the raw materials. The formation mechanisms and reaction kinetics from CuSe/In₂Se₃ and Cu₂Se/In₂Se₃ powders in a selenium atmosphere were investigated. It was observed that the formation temperature of α‐CIS powders synthesized using Cu₂Se/In₂Se₃ as the raw materials was higher than that using CuSe/In₂Se₃. Both reactions for Cu₂Se/In₂Se₃ and CuSe/In₂Se₃ mixtures follow one‐dimensional diffusion‐controlled reactions with apparent activation energies of 124.3 and 73.2 kJ/mol, respectively. For both mixtures the indium‐rich β‐CIS phase resulting from Cu⁺ ion diffusion toward the In₂Se₃ phase was observed. The particle size and morphology of the newly formed CIS was similar to In₂Se₃, which indicated that the CIS formation kinetics may be dominated by the diffusion of Cu⁺ ions. The Cu–Se liquid phase resulting from the peritectic decomposition of CuSe₂ and CuSe at a relatively low temperature may promote Cu⁺ diffusion into the In₂Se₃ surface, assisting CIS formation.