A Visual and Persuasive Energy Conservation System Based on BIM and IoT Technology.

Comfort level in the human body is an index that is always difficult to evaluate in a general and objective manner. Therefore, building owners and managers have been known to adjust environmental physical parameters such as temperature, humidity, and air quality based on people's subjective sensations to yield satisfactory feelings of comfort. Furthermore, electricity consumption could be reduced by minimizing unnecessary use of heating and cooling equipment based on precise knowledge of comfort levels in interior spaces. To achieve the aforementioned objectives, this study undertook the following four tasks: first, providing visualization and smart suggestion functions to assist building managers and users in analyzing and developing plans based on the demands of space usage and electrical equipment; second, using Internet of Things technology to minimize the difference between real situations and those simulated in building information modeling (BIM); third, accurately evaluating interior environment comfort levels and improving equipment operating efficiency based on quantized comfort levels; and fourth, establishing a persuasive workflow for building energy saving systems. Through developing this system, COZyBIM will help to enhance the satisfactions of comfort level in interior space and operate energy consuming equipment efficiently, to reach the target of energy saving.

What are the sympatric mechanisms for three species of terrestrial hermit crab (Coenobita rugosus, C. brevimanus, and C. cavipes) in coastal forests?

Terrestrial hermit crabs play a significant role in coastal ecology. For example, as seed dispersers and debris scavengers in coastal forests, they accelerate the decomposition of organic substances. In the Indo-Pacific Ocean, Coenobita rugosus, C. brevimanus, and C. cavipes are the three most common species of terrestrial hermit crab. Because the mechanisms that contribute to the sympatry of these three species of crab have not been identified, this study investigated the three most likely explanations: niche differences, competition, and predation. The results showed that the three species displayed niche differences in terms of seasonal activity, habitat, utilization of shells, and food preference, suggesting that competition for resources is avoided. The habitat of terrestrial hermit crabs in Taiwan is closely associated with that of humans. Our study helps improve our understanding of the ecology of terrestrial hermit crabs and their conservation.

The role of a second isolated retinal artery in branch retinal vein obstruction.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of a second isolated retinal artery in eyes with and without branch retinal vein obstruction (BRVO). METHODS: A retrospective study of the color photographs and fluorescein angiograms of 100 patients with unilateral BRVO (64 superotemporal and 34 inferotemporal) and a control group of 33 patients (66 eyes) with different ailments was made. The prevalence of a second isolated retinal artery, which coursed closer to the macular region, in BRVO eyes, fellow eyes and eyes of the control group was evaluated. The types and sites of arteriovenous crossings were also recorded for comparison. RESULTS: The eyes with BRVO, which involved the superotemporal quadrant, had significantly larger numbers of arteriovenous crossings than did fellow eyes (p = 0.02) and control eyes (p = 0.001). In the superotemporal quadrant, a significantly higher percentage (35 of 66, 53%) of the control eyes had a second isolated retinal artery than did BRVO eyes (16 of 64 cases, 25%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The second isolated retinal artery, which has not been previously mentioned in the literature, may lower the chance of arteriovenous crossings and play a protective role in BRVO.

Visual results and complications after trans pars plana vitrectomy and lensectomy for lens dislocation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between the cause of lens dislocation and visual outcomes with complications in patients undergoing trans pars plana vitrectomy (TPPV) and trans pars plana lensectomy (TPPL) for lens dislocation. METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out from July 1995 through November 2003. After excluding patients with previous retinal detachment or combing lens dislocation and post-TPPV/TPPL follow-up intervals of less than 6 months, 36 eyes from 36 patients who had undergone vitrectomy and lensectomy for lens subluxation or dislocation due to trauma or intraocular surgery were examined. Their presenting features and complications were recorded. The relationship between the cause of lens dislocation and visual outcome with complications was tested using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The cause of lens dislocation included blunt and penetrating eye trauma, and intraocular surgery. Final best-corrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 45% of eyes in the traumatic arm and in 31% of eyes in the iatrogenic arm. Visual acuity improved after TPPV/TPPL in 90% of the eyes in the traumatic arm and in 81% of the eyes in the iatrogenic arm. Of all of the eyes, 39% had significant complications affecting postoperative visual outcomes, including retinal detachment, cystoid macular edema, vitreous hemorrhage and glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in visual outcomes and complications between the traumatic and iatrogenic arms of the study. Therefore, the cause of lens dislocation was not a predictor of visual outcomes. Nonetheless, posterior segment complications including retinal detachment and glaucoma were major causes of poor postoperative visual outcomes.

A 10-year comparison of endogenous endophthalmitis outcomes: an east Asian experience with Klebsiella pneumoniae infection.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the infection sources and causative organisms in cases of endogenous endophthalmitis and review the outcomes for patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae infection during a 10-year period. METHODS: All cases of endogenous endophthalmitis treated at one Taiwanese hospital from July 1992 to June 2002 were retrospectively reviewed (n = 74; 86 eyes). The study was divided into two 5-year periods, with patients stratified into Group F or Group L according to onset date within the first or last of these periods, respectively. The outcomes of cases of K. pneumoniae infection in Group L (21 eyes) and Group F (32 eyes) were compared. RESULTS: The major source of infection (liver abscess) and the causative organism (K. pneumoniae) did not change throughout the 10-year review period; however, outcomes for Group L appeared superior. The interval from onset of ocular symptoms to ophthalmic consultation was shorter for Group L; however, a statistically significant difference was not demonstrated by between-group comparison. Patients with good final vision typically had good initial vision in cases of K. pneumoniae infection. CONCLUSION: The authors' experience with endogenous endophthalmitis has confirmed the findings of analogous East Asian studies, with liver abscess as the major source of infection and K. pneumoniae as the causative organism. Superior outcome may be achieved with more comprehensive and collaborative management, ideally through the combined efforts of multiple medical subspecialties.

Clinicopathological study of the idiopathic macular hole: comparison of epiretinal membrane peeling and internal limiting membrane peeling.

The aim of this study was to identify the internal limiting membrane (ILM) and epiretinal membrane (ERM) harvested during macular hole surgery under light microscopy and electron microscopy and to evaluate the difference in specimen loss rate with and without the aid of indocyanine green (ICG) staining. Thirty-two consecutive patients (34 eyes) with stage 2-4 macular holes were included. ERM peeling (macular hole with ERM) or ILM peeling (macular hole without ERM), with or without the use of ICG, was used during macular hole surgery with vitrectomy. There were 26 specimens for pathology; 12 specimens (46%) were lost during processing. ICG staining did not reduce the specimen loss rate. The specimens harvested from intentional ILM peeling displayed a smooth, translucent ILM. The specimens harvested from ERM peeling showed moderate cellular proliferation abutting on the ILM, and all specimens had an ILM. The pathological findings confirmed the clinical observations in all the cases studied. The ILM appeared in all specimens harvested by ERM peeling during macular hole surgery. ICG staining does not alter the specimen loss rate during pathological processing.

Postoperative endophthalmitis by Flavimonas oryzihabitans.

A 55-year-old man suffered from blurred vision of the left eye (visual acuity was counting fingers/5-10 cm) 8 days after undergoing cataract surgery. After thorough ophthalmologic examinations with gram-negative bacillus justified on smear of vitreous specimen, postoperative endophthalmitis (os) was impressed. Intravitreous injection of 1.0 mg of vancomycin, 0.4 mg of amikacin, and 0.4 mg of dexamethasone was given twice and vitreous fluid culture was also performed. However, the inflammatory condition was not well controlled. Because the results of vitreous fluid culture revealed Flavimonas oryzihabitans infection which is sensitive to piperacillin, we performed the 3rd intravitreous injection of 1.0 mg of piperacillin and 0.4 mg of dexamethasone. The inflammatory condition was under control and the visual acuity of left eye improved. For patients with ocular diseases, postoperative endophthalmitis by Flavimonas oryzihabitans is a rare condition. According to the results of this case, intravitreous injection of piperacillin was effective against the pathogen.

Study of induced thermoluminescence in CVD diamond film by low-energy X-rays.

For diamond film the one-hit model that is used to interpret low-energy X-ray thermoluminescence (TL) will require some modifications. After the films were irradiated with a superficial X-ray machine with different peak voltages, a two-compartment model with three parameters, the target size, the microscopic saturation factor and the high-LET saturation factor, was used to more precisely describe the TL response to X-ray with energies down to 10 kV. The microdosimetric distribution was calculated using single-event Monte Carlo code developed by authors together with EEDL cross-section data library. Some mechanistic insight into the physical aspect of radiation interaction with solid detectors can be obtained. The sensitive size in diamond was found to be about 15 nm. The saturation of one group of sublevels combined with the activation of another group of sublevels caused the relative efficiency to have a local minimum near 20 keV. The relative efficiency becomes higher below 10 keV, which is similar to the increasing relative biological effectiveness when the linear energy transfer passing through a biological system increases. The similarity made this material to be a molecular-scale dosimeter in the future.

Tritium release from nuclear power plants in Taiwan.

Tritium is produced in light water reactors from various sources and the design source terms for both BWR and PWR plants are reviewed. The chemical forms of tritium produced in the coolant are discussed in terms of water radiolysis and free radical reactions in the reactor core regions, and the major form of tritium released from the coolant systems is confirmed to be tritiated water. The tritium activity concentrations and inventories in various coolant systems have been measured, and the release pathways of tritium from nuclear power plants are also reviewed in this paper. Decreasing trends of tritium release from nuclear power plants in both liquid waste and ventilation sources have been observed in Taiwan. The impact of tritium release on environmental radiation is estimated with well-established screening models, and the results confirm that the impact is less than 1% of the regulatory limits and less than 0.1% of the natural radiation background.

Inhibition of experimental angiogenesis of cornea by somatostatin.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the inhibitory activity of somatostatin 14 on the angiogenesis of cornea in vivo. METHODS: Corneal neovascularization was induced with a pellet containing 90 ng of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in a rat corneal pocket model. Three kinds of pellets were made containing bFGF plus somatostatin (SST) 0 ng, 20 ng and 200 ng for the control group, group 1 and group 2, respectively. Neovascularization was observed biomicroscopically from day 4 to day 8, and the corneas were then examined for changes in histology. Quantitation of angiogenesis in the cornea was accomplished by caliper and image analysis. RESULTS: The 200-ng dose of SST showed significant inhibition of both length and area of neovascularization on day 7 (0.62+/-0.11 mm vs 1.29+/-0.16 mm, 0.50+/-0.16 mm2 vs 1.35+/-0.29mm2, group 2 vs control; P<0.05). The 20 ng of somatostatin did not demonstrate any significant inhibition of neovascularization compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that SST 14 can reduce bFGF-induced corneal angiogenesis. This shows the potential value of somatostatin in the treatment of corneal neovascularization.

Indoor light on thermoluminescence of CVD diamond film used as a high-energy photon dosimeter.

The effect of light on polycrystalline diamond film that was produced by chemical vapor deposition and is used as a thermoluminescent dosimeter should be considered, although some researchers have indicated that such an effect was theoretically unlikely to happen. A 15 min exposure to a normal desk light bulb induces significant thermoluminescence (TL) comparable to a 0.5 Gy exposure to high-energy photons. This light-induced TL will be saturated within 2 h. The saturated TL intensity depends on the frequency of the light and the blue light dominates. The TL peak area at a temperature of 605 K is insensitive to light but is sensitive to high-energy photons. Another peak at about 410 K is caused by light only, because the TL from the ionization radiation at the same location is bleached. The effect of light could be easily distinguished by a numerical or an experimental method. Lamps with a green lampshade or pure red lights are suggested for use as indoor light sources. To reduce the effect of light, pre-heating treatment before readout is also suggested.