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Laser drilling is not only widely used in a variety of materials but also commonly applied to diverse industrial fields. Due to the fast processing speed, the monitoring of the laser drilling process has always been a challenge. Some studies have been conducted to measure the signal of laser-induced plasma in the laser percussion drilling process by applying an external electric field to monitor the laser percussion drilling process in real-time. Using the laser-induced plasma signal for monitoring purposes, the relationship model between the measured plasma signal and the hole size achieved with laser percussion drilling has not been established. Once the relationship model is determined, the plasma signal can be used to predict the size of the laser drilled hole dimensions in real-time, and further realize a closed-loop control of the laser processing for a higher control technology. For this reason, we conducted a series of laser percussion drilling experiments with a fibre laser on 304 stainless steel and established a model by curve fitting with the laser percussion drilled hole sizes and the plasma signals in various laser processing parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catechin content and antioxidant properties of various Camellia sinensis twig extracts, including a water extract (WE), 10% ethanol extract (10% EE), 50% ethanol extract (50% EE), and 95% ethanol extract (95% EE) were investigated. The 50% EE had the highest total phenolic content (161.3 ± 8.5 mg gallic acid equivalents/L) and total flavonoid content (278.9 ± 12.2 mg quercetin equivalents/L). High-performance liquid chromatography analysis suggested that epigallocatechin gallate and epigallocatechin were the predominant catechins in the twig extracts. The relative concentrations of six catechins isolated from the extracts were: 50% EE > 10% EE > WE > 95% EE. The 50% EE showed free radical-scavenging activity. The concentration of dry matter of 50% EE required to scavenge 50% of ABTS radicals was 102.8 ± 4.2 μg/mL. These results suggest that 50% EE can potentially be used as a source of catechins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper describes the age, period and cohort effects on breast cancer mortality in Taiwan. Female breast cancer mortality data were collected from the Taiwan death registries for 1971-2010. The annual percentage changes, age- standardised mortality rates (ASMR) and age-period-cohort model were calculated. The mortality rates increased with advancing age groups when fixing the period. The percentage change in the breast cancer mortality rate increased from 54.79% at aged 20-44 years, to 149.78% in those aged 45-64 years (between 1971-75 and 2006-10). The mortality rates in the 45-64 age group increased steadily from 1971 to 1975 and 2006-10. The 1951 birth cohorts (actual birth cohort; 1947-55) showed peak mortalities in both the 50-54 and 45-49 age groups. We found that the 1951 birth cohorts had the greatest mortality risk from breast cancer. This might be attributed to the DDT that was used in large amounts to prevent deaths from malaria in Taiwan. However, future researches require DDT data to evaluate the association between breast cancer and DDT use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swarming behaviour of copepods was studied at a coral reef in Lungdong Bay, northeastern Taiwan. Copepod distribution was documented by underwater photography and samples were obtained by SCUBA diving, deploying plankton nets, and suction devices. Copepod assemblages found at Lungdong Bay comprised four copepod orders (Calanoida, Cyclopoida, Harpacticoida and Poecilostomatoida). A new representative ofDioithonasp swarmed predominantly in summer (April to September 2008). The average density of the swarms was positively affected by temperature. Both the position and the average density were negatively affected by typhoons. Abundances were highest at the reef bottom, followed by the sea bottom outside the reef, in March and April 2008. In May, the highest densities were found at the water surface outside the reef. Adult females dominated the stage composition only at the reef surface during April, whereas early copepodids were most abundant at all other sampling dates and sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Background: Static lung hyperinflation (SLH) measured using body plethysmography in patients with asthma is associated with poor outcomes. The severity of SLH may be associated with small airway dysfunction (SAD), which can be measured using impulse oscillometry (IOS). Objective: This study aims to determine the correlation between SLH and SAD in patients with severe asthma and assess the improvement in SLH and SAD with treatment., Methods: We analyzed data from patients who were enrolled in the Taiwan Severe Asthma Registry, which comprises a prospective observational cohort. Plethysmography and IOS were performed regularly. The relationship between spirometry and IOS parameters was determined. Changes in the clinical outcomes in response to treatment were analyzed., Results: Of 107 patients with severe asthma, 83 (77.6%) had SLH based on an increased residual volume to total lung capacity ratio (RV/ TLC). Most patients were older women with worse pulmonary function and SAD than those without SLH. SAD, defined as increased airway resistance/reactance, was significantly correlated with SLH. Airway reactance at 5 Hz (X5) ≤-0.21 kPa/(L/s) detected SLH with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.84 (P<.0001; sensitivity, 85.2%; and specificity, 83.3%). After 12 months, patients who received add-on biologics (vs those who did not) had significantly reduced exacerbations, fractional exhaled nitric oxide level, and blood eosinophil counts, as well as improved forced expiratory volume in the first second, X5, and a trend toward reduced RV/TLC ratio., Conclusions: In severe asthma, airway reactance (X5) could be a novel parameter for assessing SLH.

Secondary personality change (SPC) can be caused by various medical conditions and is rarely reported. We retrospectively investigated the prevalence, characteristics, clinical features and treatment response in psychiatric in-patients with a primary diagnosis of SPC. Ten cases of SPC were diagnosed in a series of 5774 patients. Head trauma was the leading cause of SPC. Impulsivity, affective lability and aggression were commonly found in these SPC patients. After medication treatment, all SPC patients had mild to moderate improvement. Secondary personality change is rarely diagnosed in psychiatric in-patients and responds poorly to medication treatment.