Assessment of a simple obstacle detection device for the visually impaired

A simple obstacle detection device, based upon an automobile parking sensor, was assessed as a mobility aid for the visually impaired. A questionnaire survey for mobility needs was performed at the start of this study. After the detector was developed, five blindfolded sighted and 15 visually impaired participants were invited to conduct travel experiments under three test conditions: (1) using a white cane only, (2) using the obstacle detector only and (3) using both devices. A post-experiment interview regarding the usefulness of the obstacle detector for the visually impaired participants was performed. The results showed that the obstacle detector could augment mobility performance with the white cane. The obstacle detection device should be used in conjunction with the white cane to achieve the best mobility speed and body protection.     

Biocompatible transferrin-conjugated sodium hexametaphosphate-stabilized gold nanoparticles: synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity and cellular uptake

The feasibility of using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for biomedical applications has led to considerable interest in the development of novel synthetic protocols and surface modification strategies for AuNPs to produce biocompatible molecular probes. This investigation is, to our knowledge, the first to elucidate the synthesis and characterization of sodium hexametaphosphate (HMP)-stabilized gold nanoparticles (Au-HMP) in an aqueous medium. The role of HMP, a food additive, as a polymeric stabilizing and protecting agent for AuNPs is elucidated. The surface modification of Au-HMP nanoparticles was carried out using polyethylene glycol and transferrin to produce molecular probes for possible clinical applications. In vitro cell viability studies performed using as-synthesized Au-HMP nanoparticles and their surface-modified counterparts reveal the biocompatibility of the nanoparticles. The transferrin-conjugated nanoparticles have significantly higher cellular uptake in J5 cells (liver cancer cells) than control cells (oral mucosa fibroblast cells), as determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This study demonstrates the possibility of using an inexpensive and non-toxic food additive, HMP, as a stabilizer in the large-scale generation of biocompatible and monodispersed AuNPs, which may have future diagnostic and therapeutic applications.     

Solder bonding with a buffer layer for MOEMS packaging using induction heating

In this paper, the selective induction heating technology is applied to glass–glass and glass–silicon solder bonding for MOEMS (optical MEMS) packaging. The Ni bumping with a buffer layer is successful to release the thermal stress for avoiding delamination. The Au wetting layer must be thick enough to prevent from being solved entirely into Sn, and it will improve bonding strength. The bonding specimens are soaked into 25°C water and placed into 85°C/85% RH oven, respectively. No moisture penetrates into the cavity after 1 day in both test conditions. In the test condition of 125°C leakage-test liquid (Galden HS260), no bubble is observed. The lowest bonding strength is 3 MPa.     

Pharmacokinetic model of daily selenium intake from contaminated seafood in Taiwan

Contaminated seafood has been reported as an important source of human exposure to metals in Taiwan. Seafood represents a non-negligible source of selenium in the human diet. This study was designed to determine the concentration of selenium in different types of seafood and predict the concentration of selenium in the blood of Taiwanese using a one-compartment steady-state pharmacokinetic (PK) model. Samples involved three subgroups, including fish, crustaceans and bivalve molluscs. Quantitative analysis for selenium was performed using an ICP-AES (Perkin Elmer) instrument. Selenium concentrations in seafood ranged from 0.63 to 2.01 microg/g wet wt. The highest selenium concentration found in fish was 2.01+/-0.36 microg/g wet wt in Salmo salar Linnaeus. In general, selenium concentration increased in the order of bivalve molluscs相似文献   

Discovering gene–gene relations from sequential sentence patterns in biomedical literature

In this paper, we have developed a gene–gene relation browser (DiGG) that integrates sequential pattern-mining and information-extraction model to extract from biomedical literature knowledge on gene–gene interactions. DiGG combines efficient mining technique to enable the discovery of frequent gene–gene sequences even for very long sentences. Our approach aims to detect associated gene relations that are often discussed in documents. Integration of the related relations will lead to an individual gene relation network. Graphic presentation will be used to demonstrate the relationships between gene products. A salient feature of this approach is that it incrementally outputs new frequent gene relations in an online visualization fashion.     

Oxidative steam reforming of ethanol over PtRu/ZrO2 catalysts modified with sodium and magnesium

This paper reports the catalytic performance of a PtRu/ZrO₂ catalyst modified with Na and Mg in an oxidative steam reforming of ethanol (OSRE) reaction tested in the temperature range of 300–400 °C. The results show that the PtRuMg₁/ZrO₂ catalyst requires higher temperatures (T_R ~ 400 °C) to achieve complete conversion than either the PtRuNa₁/ZrO₂ or PtRu/ZrO₂ catalysts (T_R ~ 300 °C). Also, an apparent coke deposit is found on the PtRuMg₁/ZrO₂ catalyst. The preferential PtRuNa₁/ZrO₂ catalyst shows active at temperatures as low as 300 °C and produces less CO (< 0.2%) at temperatures lower than 340 °C.     

Solder bonding with a buffer layer for MOEMS packaging using induction heating

In this paper, the selective induction heating technology is applied to glass–glass and glass–silicon solder bonding for MOEMS (optical MEMS) packaging. The Ni bumping with a buffer layer is successful to release the thermal stress for avoiding delamination. The Au wetting layer must be thick enough to prevent from being solved entirely into Sn, and it will improve bonding strength. The bonding specimens are soaked into 25°C water and placed into 85°C/85% RH oven, respectively. No moisture penetrates into the cavity after 1 day in both test conditions. In the test condition of 125°C leakage-test liquid (Galden HS260), no bubble is observed. The lowest bonding strength is 3 MPa.

     

Lipid metabolism of Tsaiya ducks: plasma and liver related traits under ad libitum and fasting

This study investigated related traits of lipid metabolism in plasma and liver of layer Tsaiya ducks. Each of 60 ducks was randomly allocated into an ad libitum feeding and a three-day fasting group during the growing period (8–12 weeks old) and during the initial laying period (26–30 weeks old; 10–14 weeks from the onset of laying), respectively. Results indicated that, even under ad libitum conditions, Tsaiya ducks had high concentrations of plasma glycerol and ketone bodies. Plasma triacylglycerol (TG) contents of laying ducks were approximately seven-fold higher than those of growing ducks. Contents of liver fat and ketone bodies, plasma phospholipid and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations were higher in the laying period than in the growing period. The lipogenesis-related traits, including blood glucose, plasma TG and phospholipid concentrations, were significantly decreased by fasting (P < 0.05). In contrast, the lipolysis-related traits, including plasma NEFA, glycerol and ketone body concentrations, were significantly increased by fasting (P < 0.05). After fasting, body and liver weights of ducks and contents of abdominal fat and liver TG were significantly decreased (P < 0.05); conversely, concentrations of liver ketone bodies were markedly increased (P < 0.05). This study indicated that fasting depressed lipogenesis and increased lipolysis in Tsaiya ducks. In addition, in laying ducks, lipogenesis was more active than in the growing ducks. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pathways of ethanol steam reforming over ceria-supported catalysts

Ceria-supported Pt, Ir and Co catalysts are prepared herein by the deposition–precipitation method and investigated for their suitability in the steam reforming of ethanol (SRE) at a temperature range of 250–500 °C. SRE is tested in a fixed-bed reactor under an H₂O/EtOH molar ratio of 13 and 20,000 h⁻¹ GHSV. Possible pathways are proposed according to the assigned temperature window to understand the different catalysts attributed to specific reaction pathways. The Pt/CeO₂ catalyst shows the best carbon–carbon bond-breaking ability and the lowest complete ethanol conversion temperature of 300 °C. Acetone steam reforming over the Ir/CeO₂ catalyst at 400 °C promotes a hydrogen yield of up to 5.3. Lower reaction temperatures for the water–gas shift and acetone steam reforming are in evidence for the Co/CeO₂ catalyst, whereas the carbon deposition causes its deactivation at temperature over 500 °C.