Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2019-04-02"

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Development of a Smart Helmet for Strategical BCI Applications
(2019-04-02)
Ko, Li-Wei
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Chang, Yang
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Wu, Pei-Lun
;
Tzou, Heng-An
;
Chen, Sheng-Fu
Conducting electrophysiological measurements from human brain function provides a medium for sending commands and messages to the external world, as known as a brain-computer interface (BCI). In this study, we proposed a smart helmet which integrated the novel hygroscopic sponge electrodes and a combat helmet for BCI applications; with the smart helmet, soldiers can carry out extra tasks according to their intentions, i.e., through BCI techniques. There are several existing BCI methods which are distinct from each other; however, mutual issues exist regarding comfort and user acceptability when utilizing such BCI techniques in practical applications; one of the main challenges is the trade-off between using wet and dry electroencephalographic (EEG) electrodes. Recently, several dry EEG electrodes without the necessity of conductive gel have been developed for EEG data collection. Although the gel was claimed to be unnecessary, high contact impedance and low signal-to-noise ratio of dry EEG electrodes have turned out to be the main limitations. In this study, a smart helmet with novel hygroscopic sponge electrodes is developed and investigated for long-term usage of EEG data collection. The existing electrodes and EEG equipment regarding BCI applications were adopted to examine the proposed electrode. In the impedance test of a variety of electrodes, the sponge electrode showed performance averaging 118 k, which was comparable with the best one among existing dry electrodes, which averaged 123 k. The signals acquired from the sponge electrodes and the classic wet electrodes were analyzed with correlation analysis to study the effectiveness. The results indicated that the signals were similar to each other with an average correlation of 90.03% and 82.56% in two-second and ten-second temporal resolutions, respectively, and 97.18% in frequency responses. Furthermore, by applying the proposed differentiable power algorithm to the system, the average accuracy of 21 subjects can reach 91.11% in the steady-state visually evoked potential (SSVEP)-based BCI application regarding a simulated military mission. To sum up, the smart helmet is capable of assisting the soldiers to execute instructions with SSVEP-based BCI when their hands are not available and is a reliable piece of equipment for strategical applications.
Applications of Copolymers Consisting of 2,6-di(9H-carbazol-9-yl)pyridine and 3,6-di(2-thienyl)carbazole Units as Electrodes in Electrochromic Devices
(2019-04-02)
Kuo, Chung-Wen
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Chang, Jui-Cheng
;
Huang, Yu-Ting
;
Chang, Jeng-Kuei
;
Lee, Li-Ting
A series of carbazole-based polymers (PdCz, P(dCz2-co-dTC1), P(dCz2-co-dTC2), P(dCz1-co-dTC2), and PdTC) were deposited on indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive electrodes using electrochemical polymerization. The as-prepared P(dCz2-co-dTC2) displayed a high T (57.0%) and multichromic behaviors ranging from yellowish green, greenish gray, gray to purplish gray in different redox states. Five organic electrochromic devices (ECDs) were built using dCz- and dTC-containing homopolymers and copolymers as anodic materials, and poly(3,4-(2,2-dimethylpropylenedioxy)thiophene) (PProdot-Me-2) as the cathodic material. The P(dCz2-co-dTC2)/PProdot-Me-2 ECD presented remarkable electrochromic behaviors from the bleached to colored states. Moreover, P(dCz2-co-dTC2)/PProdot-Me-2 ECD displayed a high optical contrast (T, 45.8%), short switching time (ca. 0.3 s), high coloration efficiency (528.8 cm(2) C-1) at 580 nm, and high redox cycling stability.
PlantTalk: A Smartphone-Based Intelligent Hydroponic Plant Box
(2019-04-02)
Van, Lan-Da
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Lin, Yi-Bing
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Wu, Tsung-Han
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Lin, Yun-Wei
;
Peng, Syuan-Ru
This paper proposes an IoT-based intelligent hydroponic plant factory solution called PlantTalk. The novelty of our approach is that the PlantTalk intelligence can be built through an arbitrary smartphone. We show that PlantTalk can flexibly configure the connections of various plant sensors and actuators through a smartphone. One can also conveniently write Python programs for plant-care intelligence through the smart phone. The developed plant-care intelligence includes automatic LED lighting, water spray, water pump and so on. As an example, we show that the PlantTalk intelligence effectively lowers the CO2 concentration, and the reduction speed is 53% faster than a traditional plant system. PlantTalk has been extended for a plant factory called AgriTalk.
Medical Image Segmentation with Adjustable Computational Complexity Using Data Density Functionals
(2019-04-02)
Chen, Chien-Chang
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Tsai, Meng-Yuan
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Kao, Ming-Ze
;
Lu, Henry Horng-Shing
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統計學研究所
Featured Application The research work proposes an avenue of image segmentation that can simultaneously reduce computational complexity and filter image pollution for clinical investigations. Abstract Techniques of automatic medical image segmentation are the most important methods for clinical investigation, anatomic research, and modern medicine. Various image structures constructed from imaging apparatus achieve a diversity of medical applications. However, the diversified structures are also a burden of contemporary techniques. Performing an image segmentation with a tremendously small size (<25 pixels by 25 pixels) or tremendously large size (>1024 pixels by 1024 pixels) becomes a challenge in perspectives of both technical feasibility and theoretical development. Noise and pixel pollution caused by the imaging apparatus even aggravate the difficulty of image segmentation. To simultaneously overcome the mentioned predicaments, we propose a new method of medical image segmentation with adjustable computational complexity by introducing data density functionals. Under this theoretical framework, several kernels can be assigned to conquer specific predicaments. A square-root potential kernel is used to smoothen the featured components of employed images, while a Yukawa potential kernel is applied to enhance local featured properties. Besides, the characteristic of global density functional estimation also allows image compression without losing the main image feature structures. Experiments on image segmentation showed successful results with various compression ratios. The computational complexity was significantly improved, and the score of accuracy estimated by the Jaccard index had a great outcome. Moreover, noise and regions of light pollution were mostly filtered out in the procedure of image compression.
Mechanical stretch induces hair regeneration through the alternative activation of macrophages
(2019-04-03)
Chu, Szu-Ying
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Chu, Chih-Hung
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Hsien-DaHuang
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Yen, Meng-Hua
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Hong, Hsiao-Chin
Tissues and cells in organism are continuously exposed to complex mechanical cues from the environment. Mechanical stimulations affect cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration, as well as determining tissue homeostasis and repair. By using a specially designed skinstretching device, we discover that hair stem cells proliferate in response to stretch and hair regeneration occurs only when applying proper strain for an appropriate duration. A counterbalance between WNT and BMP-2 and the subsequent two-step mechanism are identified through molecular and genetic analyses. Macrophages are first recruited by chemokines produced by stretch and polarized to M2 phenotype. Growth factors such as HGF and IGF-1, released by M2 macrophages, then activate stem cells and facilitate hair regeneration. A hierarchical control system is revealed, from mechanical and chemical signals to cell behaviors and tissue responses, elucidating avenues of regenerative medicine and disease control by demonstrating the potential to manipulate cellular processes through simple mechanical stimulation.
On Sample-Size Calculations for Precise Contrast Analysis in ANCOVA
(2019-04-03)
Shieh, Gwowen
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交大名義發表
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管理科學系
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National Chiao Tung University
;
Department of Management Science
The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is a useful statistical procedure that incorporates covariate features into the adjustment of treatment effects. The consequences of omitted prognostic covariates on the statistical inferences of ANCOVA are well documented in the literature. However, the corresponding influence on sample-size calculations for precise interval estimation has not been fully evaluated. This article aims to explicate the deficiency of approximate methods for ignoring the stochastic nature of covariate variables and to present exact approaches for precise interval estimation of treatment contrasts under the assumption that the covariate variables have a joint multinormal distribution. The desired precision of a confidence interval is assessed with respect to the control of expected half-width and to the assurance probability of interval half-width within a designated value. Numerical appraisals show that the suggested approaches outperform the approximate formulas for the two precision considerations.
Essential Role of Visfatin in Lipopolysaccharide and Colon Ascendens Stent Peritonitis-Induced Acute Lung Injury
(2019-04-04)
Lee, Yi-Chen
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Lin, Chun-Yu
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Chen, Yen-Hsu
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Chiu, Wen-Chin
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Wang, Yen-Yun
Acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening syndrome characterized by acute and severe hypoxemic respiratory failure. Visfatin, which is known as an obesity-related cytokine with pro-inflammatory activities, plays a role in regulation of inflammatory cytokines. The mechanisms of ALI remain unclear in critically ill patients. Survival in ALI patients appear to be influenced by the stress generated by mechanical ventilation and by ALI-associated factors that initiate the inflammatory response. The objective for this study was to understand the mechanisms of how visfatin regulates inflammatory cytokines and promotes ALI. The expression of visfatin was evaluated in ALI patients and mouse sepsis models. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms were investigated using human bronchial epithelial cell lines, BEAS-2B and NL-20. An increase of serum visfatin was discovered in ALI patients compared to normal controls. Results from hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry staining also showed that visfatin protein was upregulated in mouse sepsis models. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced visfatin expression, activated the STAT3/NF kappa B pathway, and increased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL1-beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha in human bronchial epithelial cell lines NL-20 and BEAS-2B. Co-treatment of visfatin inhibitor FK866 reversed the activation of the STAT3/NF kappa B pathway and the increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by LPS. Our study provides new evidence for the involvement of visfatin and down-stream events in acute lung injury. Further studies are required to confirm whether the anti-visfatin approaches can improve ALI patient survival by alleviating the pro-inflammatory process.
9,10-Dihydro-as-indacenodithiophenes: Isomers with an asIndacene Core
(2019-04-05)
Miyoshi, Hirokazu
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Nabe, Akino
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Chatterjee, Shreyam
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Tobe, Yoshito
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應用化學系
Two isomers of 9,10-dihydro-as-indacenodithiophenes (DIDTs) and the corresponding diketones having an as-indacene core were synthesized. Their thermal, photophysical, and electrochemical properties were investigated, revealing that they depend on the direction of the fusion of the thiophene rings. For the DIDTs, the effect of the mode of ring fusion on the physical properties is discussed by comparison with the previously reported derivatives of DIDT isomers with an s-indacene core. The observed difference between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)/ lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) levels of the DIDT isomers is ascribed to the efficiency of 7z-conjugation, which depends on a- or f3-linkage between the terminal thiophenes with the central benzene ring. In addition, the effect of the peripheral aromatic ring (thiophene or benzene) is elucidated by comparison with indeno[2,1-a]fluorene (DIF) bearing an as-indacene core. The HOMO levels of DIDTs are significantly raised compared to that of structurally related DIF because of electron-donating character of the thiophene rings. For the DIDT diketones, structural effect due to the proximate carbonyl groups is discussed by comparison with the isomers with remote carbonyl groups. In diketones bearing proximate carbonyl groups, the LUMO levels are destabilized owing to antibonding interaction between the carbonyl oxygen atoms, resulting in approach of the LUMO and LUMO+1 energy levels.
Multi-channel EEG recordings during a sustained-attention driving task
(2019-04-05)
Cao, Zehong
;
Chuang, Chun-Hsiang
;
King, Jung-Kai
;
Lin, Chin-Teng
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腦科學研究中心
We describe driver behaviour and brain dynamics acquired from a 90-minute sustained-attention task in an immersive driving simulator. The data included 62 sessions of 32-channel electroencephalography (EEG) data for 27 subjects driving on a four-lane highway who were instructed to keep the car cruising in the centre of the lane. Lane-departure events were randomly induced to cause the car to drift from the original cruising lane towards the left or right lane. A complete trial included events with deviation onset, response onset, and response offset. The next trial, in which the subject was instructed to drive back to the original cruising lane, began 5-10 seconds after finishing the previous trial. We believe that this dataset will lead to the development of novel neural processing methodology that can be used to index brain cortical dynamics and detect driving fatigue and drowsiness. This publicly available dataset will be beneficial to the neuroscience and brain-computer interface communities.
A Density Functional Theory Study on Nonlinear Optical Properties of Double Cage Excess Electron Compounds: Theoretically Design M[Cu(Ag)@(NH3)(n)](M = Be, Mg and Ca; n=1-3)
(2019-04-05)
Liang, Yan Ying
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Li, Bo
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Xu, Xuan
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Gu, Feng Long
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Zhu, Chaoyuan
In this work, we investigated the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of excess electron electride molecules of M[Cu(Ag)@(NH3)(n)](M = Be, Mg and Ca; n = 1-3) using density functional theory (DFT). This electride molecules consist of an alkaline-earth (Be, Mg and Ca) together with transition metal (Cu and Ag) doped in NH3 cluster. The natural population analysis of charge and their highest occupied molecular orbital suggests that the M[Cu(Ag)@(NH3)(n)] compound has excess electron like alkaline-earth metal form double cage electrides molecules, which exhibit a large static first hyperpolarizability (beta(e)(0)) (electron contribution part) and one of which owns a peak value of beta(e)(0) 216,938 (a.u.) for Be [Ag@(NH3)(2)] and vibrational harmonic first hyperpolarizability [(beta(nr)(zzz)) (nuclear contribution part) values and the ratio of beta(nr)(zzz)/beta(e)(zzz'), namely, eta values from 0.02 for Be[Ag@(NH3)] to 0.757 for Mg [Ag@(NH3)(3)]. The electron density contribution in different regions on beta(e)(zzz) values mainly come from alkaline-earth and transition metal atoms by first hyperpolarizability density analysis, and also explains the reason why beta(e)(zzz) values are positive and negative. Moreover, the frequency-dependent values ss(-2 omega,omega,omega) are also estimated to make a comparison with experimental measures. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
「慢綜藝」之風　台灣跟得上嗎
(2019-04-07)
黃齡萱
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Department of Communication and Technology
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傳播與科技學系
【陸綜火什麼？綜藝熱潮與現象大解析】專題

2013年在韓國開始了「慢綜藝」風潮，而2017年是慢綜藝在中國爆發的一年。何謂慢綜藝？2019年的現況又是如何？中國如何成功移植韓國的慢綜藝，再對比台灣處境，是否也可以拍攝這類型的綜藝節目呢？
從一線到迴圈　推動循環經濟
(2019-04-07)
梁書瑜
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Department of Communication and Technology
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傳播與科技學系
【垃圾消失了？循環經濟大解密】專題

透過觀察荷蘭及台灣兩國的循環經濟政策來探討這個新興的商業模式未來的發展。
青年不喝茶了？淺談社會焦慮
(2019-04-07)
許家芸
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Department of Communication and Technology
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傳播與科技學系
【大家一起來找茶！】專題

自古以來茶總是跟中國人民的生活有著緊密的關係，然而在這個瞬息萬變的時代裡，年輕人還會喝茶嗎？而這樣不同以往的喝茶習慣，是否又帶出了這一個世代新的文化樣貌？
總編輯的話
(2019-04-07)
彭姿敏
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Department of Communication and Technology
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傳播與科技學系
本期為喀報310期，共計8篇文章，包含六篇文化現象、兩篇藝文評論。本期頭題為許可晴的〈金裝佛裝　不如給我「韓」裝〉，文章內容符合時下流行話題，十分貼近生活。
職人間的華麗競合　假面飯店
(2019-04-07)
郭玟妤
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Department of Communication and Technology
;
傳播與科技學系
【日本影劇為何深？】專題

將職人生活穿插於故事主線、深刻描繪職人專業的的日本影劇屢見不鮮，但如果戲劇中同時出現兩種專業，且專業之間互有衝突呢？職業原則恰恰相反的飯店人員與刑警，要如何攜手合作，一齊揪出殺人案兇手？
談極簡　你生命中最重要的是什麼
(2019-04-07)
林芷懷
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Department of Communication and Technology
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傳播與科技學系
【極簡生活修練題】專題

紀錄片《極簡主義：記錄生命中的重要事物》始於雷恩與約書亞的旅程，一路記錄生命中的重要事物。
別再催婚了！單身女性崛起
(2019-04-07)
王允姸
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Department of Communication and Technology
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傳播與科技學系
【單身化社會：單身女性何去何從】專題

透過統計圖表分析台灣女性的單身比例及意願。
影像新視野　空拍的改革與影響
(2019-04-07)
程安瑜
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Department of Communication and Technology
;
傳播與科技學系
【俯瞰新視界：無人飛行機】專題

近年來無人飛行機興起，尤其以空拍機最廣為人知，帶來在影像創作上極大的改變。因為使用門檻逐漸下降，空拍機日益普及，也衍生許多問題。面對如此困難，我們勢必將學習如何去應對，讓空拍機的使用更為安全。
金裝佛裝　不如給我「韓」裝　
(2019-04-07)
許可晴
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Department of Communication and Technology
;
傳播與科技學系
【從衣到妝　韓式時尚滲透全台】專題

所謂「人要衣裝，佛要金裝」，時尚風格百百種，你喜歡哪一國的化妝品和穿衣風格呢？在台灣除了歐美風、日系風格，近年隨著韓國文化的流行，「K-Beauty」、「K-Fashion」也跟著風靡台灣。
Tolerance interval for the mixture normal distribution
(2019-04-08)
Chen, Chian
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Wang, Hsiuying
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統計學研究所
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Institute of Statistics
Tolerance intervals (TIs) are widely used in numerous industries, ranging from engineering to pharmaceuticals. In these applications, it is commonly assumed that data are normally distributed. However, the normality assumption may not apply in many situations, such as in the case of multiple production lines. As a result, the mixture normal distribution may be a more applicable model than the normal distribution to fit real data. Although the conventional distribution-free TI can be adopted for the mixture normal distribution, it leads to an unsatisfactory coverage probability when the sample size is not sufficiently large. In this study, we propose two Tls for the mixture normal distribution. The first is based the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm combined with the bootstrap method and the second is based on the asymptotic property of sample quantiles. The simulation results show that the proposed TIs have coverage probability closer to the nominal level than the distribution-free interval. A real engineering data example is used to illustrate the methods.