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Symptoms of depression and high risk of sarcopenia are common among the older population; however, the associations between these remain unclear. Thus, the present study identified whether depressive symptoms are associated with older adults’ sarcopenia risks. This nationally representative study in Taiwan investigated the older adult population (≥ 65 years) using a telephone survey conducted between 2019 and 2020. Design: Self-reported data obtained included depressive symptoms (5-item from Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale), sarcopenia risks (SARC-F questionnaire), and individual characteristics. The generalized additive models were used to examine the nonlinear associations between depressive symptoms and the risk of sarcopenia. A total of 1,068 older Taiwanese adults (72.15 ± 5.71 years; 52.7% women) participated in the survey. In the unadjusted model, the results showed a significant nonlinear association between high scores on the CES-D and sarcopenia scores (p

Micro-scale hole drilling on metallic sheets has been employed in a wide range of personal computing devices, such as smart phones and tablet computers. Laser machining, micro-electro-discharge machining, and chemical etching are the methods used for fabricating micro-scale holes. In this paper, we propose a hybrid sequential stamping and laser machining process. The alignment in the hybrid process is critical, and a patented device called the ball-cone-hole magnet was used in the experiments to achieve an alignment error of less than 1 µm. The fabrication results obtained by laser-only, stamping-only, and the proposed hybrid process were compared. The diameters of inlets and outlets, as well as the cross-section of holes, were compared herein. The surface roughness of the sidewalls’ inside holes was measured. The proposed hybrid stamping and laser machining process provides an alternative fabrication method for the micro-scale hole drilling process with better hole quality than a laser-only machi...

Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in commercial buildings consume the largest amount of energy. Recent surge in energy cost necessitates constant re-evaluation of HVAC system for most of the buildings. The objective of this study is to present the strategic approach on energy saving analysis of the HVAC system and chiller sizing optimization for a library building. Energy modeling code (eQUEST) for buildings simulation has been applied to verify and predict the long-term energy consumption of HVAC systems. To improve the accuracy of simulation results, the actual performance curves of the chillers and pumps were the inputs of curve fitting data from on-site field measurements data. Energy consumption data acquisition from the building energy management system (BEMS) for one year has been conducted comprehensively to calibrate energy modeling and to quantify energy saving results. The results revealed good agreement between energy modeling and BEMS data with the error of les...

Background Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant and adjuvant analgesic. It is effective in several pain studies. Neuropathic pain is the most difficult type of pain to treat. In this study, we examined if intrathecal gabapentin could prevent nerve injury-induced pain. Methods Under isoflurane anaesthesia, male Sprague–Dawley rats (200–250 g) underwent right L5/6 spinal nerve ligation and placement of an intrathecal catheter connected to an infusion pump. After surgery, intrathecal saline or gabapentin (20 µg h−1) was given for 7 days (n=8 per group). The right hind paw withdrawal threshold to von Frey filament stimuli and withdrawal latency to radiant heat were determined before (baseline) and once daily for 7 days after surgery. Haematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue staining were used to evaluate the neurotoxicity of gabapentin (40 µg h−1). Results Seven days after nerve ligation, the affected paw withdrawal threshold and latency of saline-treated rats decreased from the baseline 11.7 (11.7–22.2) [median (inter-quartile range)] to 1.6 (0.9–3.2) g and 10.8 (10.5–11.2) to 4.3 (4.2–7) s, respectively. Rats receiving gabapentin (20 µg h−1) had higher withdrawal threshold [9.9 (9.9–19.3) g] and latency [11.5 (9.7–11.9) s] on day 7 after ligation. No obvious histopathological change or growth retardation was detected after intrathecal gabapentin (40 µg h−1) infusion. Conclusions We showed a preventative effect of intrathecal gabapentin on the development of nerve injury-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Our data suggest that continuous intrathecal gabapentin may be considered as an alternative for the prevention of nerve injury-induced pain.

A field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based adaptive backstepping control system with radial basis function network (RBFN) observer is proposed to control the mover position of a linear induction motor (LIM). First, the indirect field-oriented mechanism is adopted for controlling the LIM. Next, a backstepping control law is designed step by step for the tracking control of periodic reference trajectories, in which the uncertainties are lumped by a conservative constant. However, the lumped uncertainty is unknown and difficult to obtain in advance in practical applications. Therefore an RBFN is derived to observe the lumped uncertainty in real-time, and an adaptive backstepping control system with RBFN observer is resulted. Then, an FPGA chip is adopted to implement the indirect field-oriented mechanism and the developed control algorithms for possible low-cost, high-performance industrial applications. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is verified by some simulated and experimental results. By using the adaptive backstepping control system with RBFN observer, the FPGA-based LIM drive possesses the advantages of good transient control performance and robustness to uncertainties in the tracking of periodic reference trajectories.

An interval type-2 fuzzy neural network (IT2FNN) is developed for the position control of a Θ-axis motion-control stage using a linear ultrasonic motor to confront the uncertainties of the motion-control stage. A T2FNN consists of a type-2 fuzzy linguistic process as the antecedent part and a three-layer interval neural network as the consequent part. A general T2FNN is computationally intensive due to the complexity of reducing type 2 to type 1. Therefore an IT2FNN is adopted to simplify the computational process. Moreover, the developed IT2FNN combines the merits of an interval type-2 fuzzy logic system and a neural network. Furthermore, the parameter-learning of the IT2FNN, which is based on the supervised gradient decent method using a delta adaptation law, is performed on line. Experimental results show that the dynamic behaviours of the proposed IT2FNN control system are more effective and robust with regard to uncertainties than the type-1 FNN control system.

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is an important pest of agriculture and horticulture crops that includes many morphologically indistinguishable biotypes. Molecular markers can provide a scientific method to rapidly identify biotypes. In this study, we attempted to develop specific primer sets for rapidly and stably identifying various biotypes of B. tabaci. We developed sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers for each of six B. tabaci (Gennadius) biotypes (A, B, Q, Nauru, An and S). Two primer sets (BaAF/BaAR and BaQF/BaQR) were designed from random amplified polymorphic DNA-specific fragments for the A and Q biotypes. Four forward primers, BaBF, BaNaF, BaANF and BaSF, with a common reverse primer, L2-N-3014, for the other four biotypes of B, Nauru, An and S, respectively, were used based on their individual mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I sequences. Six of these SCARs were useful in distinguishing each biotype from the others. Application of these SCARs will be helpful in rapidly identifying biotypes for quarantine pest control to prevent the invasion of the various biotypes.

Background T-type Ca 2+ channels (TCC) are important for pain transmission, especially the Ca V 3.2 subtype. In this study, we examined the effects of intrathecal TCC blockers in the L5/6 spinal nerve ligation pain rat model. Methods Under isoflurane anaesthesia, rats received right L5/6 spinal nerve ligation and intrathecal catheters (attached to an infusion pump) were sited. After surgery, saline, mibefradil, ethosuximide or NiCl 2 were given intrathecally for seven days. The right hindpaw withdrawal thresholds to von Frey hair stimuli and withdrawal latencies to radiant heat were measured before and once daily for seven days after surgery. Double immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to examine the expression of Ca V 3.2 in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord. Results On post-ligation day seven, rats receiving mibefradil, ethosuximide or NiCl 2 had significant higher median withdrawal thresholds (15.0, 10.2, and 10.9 g) and latencies (8.0, 7.6 and 7.6 s) than saline-treated rats (1.6 g and 4.3 s, respectively). Ca V 3.2 was expressed in parvalbumin + , IB4 + , CGRP + and VR1 + neurones in DRG and most neurones in spinal dorsal horn. Ca V 3.2 was up-regulated in the right L5/6 DRG and spinal cord seven days after nerve ligation. Conclusions In this study, we demonstrated that intrathecal TCC blockers attenuate the development of nerve injury-induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Our data suggest that continuous intrathecal infusion of TCC or Ca V 3.2 blockers may be a promising alternative for the management of nerve injury-induced pain.

There are various types of foundation structure for offshore wind power, engineers may assess the condition of ocean at wind farm, and arrange the transportation, installation of each structure members, furthermore, considering the ability of manufacture steel structure as well, then make an optimum design. To design jacket offshore structure, unlike onshore cases, offshore structure also need to estimate the wave excitation effect. The aim of this paper is to study the difference of natural frequency between different kinds of structural stiffness and discuss the effect of different setting of boundary condition during analysis, besides, compare this value with the natural frequency of sea wave, in order to avoid the resonance effect. In this paper, the finite element analysis software ABAQUS is used to model and analyze the natural vibration behavior of the jacket structure.

Instrumental measurement of color places hue in a 360° continuum, but sensory description of color usually refers to distinct hues - red, green, yellow etc. Color evaluation of «Golden Delicious » apples by both an instrumental method and an experienced sensory panel was conducted to determine if sensory panelists perceive changes of golden apple color in green and yellow hues separately or on a hue continuum from green to yellow. Apple color changed from green to yellow during storage. Two different sensory scoring ballots were used to determine if sensory panelists view color in discrete green and yellow hues or on a green-to-yellow continuum. Data collected from this sandy demonstrated that sensory panelists can detect the color changes of decreasing greenness, increasing yellowness, and color change from green to yellow in an equal fashion. Hue angle represented the best predictor of sensory color perception

Scalp avulsion is a rare but severe injury and usually happens as an industrial accident. This report concerns a successful salvage in scalp avulsion resulting from hair entrapment in a rotating machine. Most of the literature on scalp avulsion has focused on the technique of scalp replantation, with few addressing preoperative evaluation and preparation in the emergency department. The work-up before surgical treatment will also be reviewed. Scalp avulsion is a threatening blood loss injury. Rapid cessation of bleeding, wound compression and aggressive fluid resuscitation are important. With adequate resuscitation, careful evaluation and replantation as soon as possible the outcome is usually acceptable.

In Hong Kong, high-density condominiums are routinely appraised by practitioners using the traditional comparative method. They collect a vast volume of transaction records, selecting suitable comparables from their data bank and then apply their professional judgment to adjust for any differences on factors such as view, orientation, area, floor height and market situation etc.

The frozen-food industry is one of the largest segments in the U.S. and world food markets. According to (1993), sales of frozen foods grew to $50 billion in the United States and an additional $25 billion in Europe in 1990. Frozen foods fill important niches in the overall market because they provide convenient prepared or semiprepared products, can be available all year at consistent cost in markets where fresh or refrigerated products are not, and can be transported greater distances with minimal damage and degradation (Persson and Londahl, 1993). Frozen foods generally have been perceived by consumers as having better quality than foods processed and preserved by other methods. However, growth of sales of frozen foods have been slowed by the deficiencies in frozen foods as compared to fresh, shelf-stable, and refrigerated alternatives (Dagnoli and Erikson, 1989). The consumers expect the quality of the frozen food to be close to that of a fresh product. Thus, the quality of the frozen foods is most important in determining growth and success.

The magnetic properties and microstructure of ultrathin Co films grown on a Si(111)-7×7 surface were investigated. The experimental results observed by surface magneto-optic Kerr effect (SMOKE) and scanning tunneling microscopy show that the surface morphological evolution of x ML (monolayer) Co∕Si(111) films is strongly related to their magnetic properties. Due to the formation of a CoSi2 layer, no magnetic signal could be detected by SMOKE for x=2.1. Both longitudinal and polar hysteresis loops appear for 4.2–8.5 ML Co∕Si(111) films because of their rougher surfaces. When the Co thickness is increased to 11 ML, a magnetic hysteresis loop only occurs in the longitudinal configuration, which can be attributed to the contribution of volume anisotropy. After annealing an 11 ML Co∕Si(111) film at 400 and 500K, the surface becomes rougher, inducing magnetic anisotropy on the polar configuration. When the annealing temperature was increased to 600K, however, the Co could react with Si to form a nonmagnetic cob...

We propose a novel design of the single cell gap transflective LCD. By using the photo-alignment technique, we fabricated a transflective LCD with the hybrid and homogeneous alignments in reflective and transmitting regions respectively. The higher aperture ratio and simpler process are the features of our design while compared to the design of dual cell gap. The experimental results showed good performances regarding to VHR, RDC and anchoring effects.

A high reliability complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) winner-takes-all/ loser-takes-all circuit of O(N) complexity with programmable capability is designed. Based on the proposed architecture, the precision of the circuit is independent of the number of inputs. This circuit is easily programmed for WTA or LTA function by an enable signal, without modifying the circuit structure or preprocessing the input variables. Since the circuit contains only simple logic gates and a single comparator, it is tolerant of VLSI process variations. The response time of the circuit increases linearly with the number of inputs. The input signal range of the circuit allows rail- to-rail (0-VDD) operation. The supply voltage ranges from 2.7 V to 5 V. An experimental chip with six inputs was fabricated using 0.5-mm CMOS double-poly double-metal technology. The results show that a cell is either a winner or a loser if its input voltage is larger or smaller than the other cells by 10 mV.