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This chapter provides the user with a basic understanding of the control architecture and technology necessary to implement a building automation system executing direct digital control. The sensor and actuator technology level has traditionally been hardwired, but that is changing too. Traditionally sensors and actuators only used electrical signals rather than networking technology. Industry standard signals like 4 to 20 milliamps that are wired to a controller are most common. The most common implementation of distributed systems is to have both a zone level controller, tailored to simple applications like the variable air volume (VAV) terminal unit, as well as an equipment level, or general purpose, controller for larger pieces of equipment like the VAV air handler. The enterprise supervisor was selected for discussion first under this building automations systems technology section because it is responsible for overall building coordination. In the past, approaches have been taken from custom computer based systems to dedicated personal computers, as well as to develop custom microprocessor-based equipment.

Objectives: This study investigated the prevalence and determinants of the use of dietary supplements and non-prescription medicines by older adults in Taiwan. Methods: Data are from the 1999 Survey of Health and Living Status of the Elderly in Taiwan. The survey involved a national random sample of 2360 men and 2080 women, 53 years or older. Results: Overall, 32.4% of elderly men and 42.7% of elderly women used at least one kind of dietary supplement during the past 12 months. Approximately 16% of elderly men and 19% of elderly women used multivitamin and mineral supplements, 10.5 and 22% used calcium, and 10 and 14% used vitamin E, respectively. Conclusions: The rates of supplement use are generally lower than those observed in the USA but comparable to that in other industrialised countries. Elderly who are females or who are more highly educated or physically more active are more frequent supplement users.

Objective:The study was conducted to gain an understanding of the status of potential nutrition risks in > 53-year-old men and women in Taiwan.Methods:The study employed a validated nutrition-risk screening questionnaire, the Mini Nutritional Assessment, to assess the potential risk of undernutrition in the elderly population in Taiwan. The questionnaire was translated into the local language, Chinese, and was modified slightly based on cultural considerations. It was administered to 4440 randomly selected subjects by means of face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire included questions on subjective self-evaluations, global parameters, simple dietary assessment and some anthropometric measurements.Results:Results show that the questionnaire can be used effectively as a tool to screen for individuals who are at risk of undernutrition. It showed that the proportion of the elderly population at risk of nutritional inadequacy is relatively low, but does increase with advanced ageing. The proportion of the elderly considered at high risk of undernutrition was found to increase with age, ranging from 0.88% for 53–60-year-old subjects to 1.86% for subjects aged 60–70 years, 3.6% for 70–80-year-olds and 5.3% for >80-year-old subjects.Conclusion:The study showed that a simple questionnaire adopted from the Mini Nutritional Assessment can be employed to provide a preliminary screening and to identify individuals who are potentially at increased risk of nutritional inadequacy in the elderly population in Taiwan.