A Study on Fire Retardant and Soundproof Properties of Stainless Steel EAF Reducing Slag Applied to Fiber Reinforced Cement Boards.

In recent years, cases of the improper utilization of steel furnace slag have been widely reported, resulting in a crisis of nowhere for recycled resources such as inorganic slag. The misplacement of resource materials that originally had sustainable-use value not only has a great impact on society and the environment but also greatly reduces industrial competitiveness. To solve the dilemma of steel furnace-slag reuse, it is critical to find solutions to the stabilization of steelmaking slag under the innovative thinking of the circular economy. In addition to enhancing the reuse value of recycled resources, the balance between economic development and environmental impact is also crucial. The high-performance building material could provide a solution based on a high-value market. With the development of society and the increasing requirements for quality of life, the requirements for the soundproof and fireproof performance of lightweight decorative panels common in cities have gradually become popular. Therefore, the high performance of fire retardant and soundproofing could be the main development focus of high-value building materials to ensure circular economic feasibility. This study continues the research results of the application of inorganic re-cycled engineering materials in recent years, and the application of electric-arc furnace (EAF)-reducing slag to the development of base materials for reinforced cement boards, in order to complete the development of high-value panels with fireproof and sound-insulation properties in line with the engineering characteristics of the boards. The research results showed the optimization of the proportions of the cement boards with EAF-reducing slag as a raw material. The proportions of EAF-reducing slag to fly ash at ratios of 70:30 and 60:40 all met the requirements of ISO 5660-1 Class I flame resistance; the sound transmission loss in the overall frequency band can reach more than 30 dB, which is higher by 3-8 dB or more than the same board with similar specifications (such as 12 mm gypsum board) in the present building-materials market The products could be developed into building partitions and ceiling decoration boards with high performance in terms of fire retardant and soundproofing values, and also reduce the use of natural raw materials by more than 35%. The results of this study could meet environmental compatibility targets and contribute towards greener buildings. This model of circular economics would achieve energy reduction, emissions reductions, and be environmentally friendly.

A Study on the Fire-Retardant and Sound-Proofing Properties of Stainless Steel EAF Oxidizing Slag Applied to the Cement Panel.

Because of incomplete recycling resource management and technology development, inorganic sludge and slag has been misused in Taiwan. The recycling of inorganic sludge and slag is a pressing crisis. Resource materials with a sustainable use value are misplaced and have a significant impact on society and the environment, which greatly reduces industrial competitiveness. To solve the dilemma of EAF oxidizing slag recycled from the steel-making process, it is important to find solutions to improve the stability of EAF oxidizing slags based on the innovative thinking of the circular economy. We can improve the value of recycling resources and solve the contradiction between economic development and environmental impact. The project team intends to investigate the development and application of reclaiming EAF oxidizing slags blended with fire-retardant materials, which will integrate R&D work from four different aspects. First, a verification mechanism is carried out to establish stainless steel furnace materials. Suppliers must be assisted in conducting quality management for EAF oxidizing slags to ensure the quality of the materials provided. Next, high-value building materials must be developed using slag stabilization technology, and fire-retardant tests must be conducted on the recycled building materials. A comprehensive evaluation and verification of the recycled building materials must be undertaken, and high-value green building materials must be produced with fire-retardant and sound-proofing characteristics. Integration with national standards and regulations can drive the market integration of high-value building materials and the industrial chain. On the other hand, the applicability of existing regulations to facilitate the legal use of EAF oxidizing slags will be explored.

Slower tempo makes worse performance? The effect of musical tempo on cognitive processing speed.

The effects of musical tempo on cognitive processing speed were investigated, and the mediating effect of arousal was empirically tested. In an experiment, participants were divided into fast tempo, slow tempo, and no-music groups and completed three cognitive processing speed tests measuring motor speed, visuospatial processing speed, and linguistic processing speed. The results indicated a significant effect of musical tempo on processing speed and task performance in all three tasks. The slow-tempo group exhibited slower processing speed and worse performance than the no-music group in all three tasks. The fast tempo group displayed no significant difference in processing speed or performance compared with the no-music group. In the linguistic processing task, those who listened to slow-tempo music had better accuracy than those in the other conditions. Arousal did not mediate the relationship between musical tempo and cognitive processing speed.

Non-health outcomes affecting self-care behaviors and medical decision-making preference in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The effects of patient sustained self-care behaviors on glycemic control are even greater than the effects of medical treatment, indicating the value of identifying the factors that influence self-care behaviors. To date, these factors have not been placed in a single model to clarify the critical path affecting self-care behaviors. The aims of this study were to explore the relationships of these factors and the differences in patient preference for medical decision-making. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among outpatients with type 2 diabetes at a regional teaching hospital. Purposive sampling was adopted to recruit 316 eligible patients via self-administered questionnaires. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used for analysis. RESULTS: Significant direct pathways were identified from health literacy to self-efficacy, patient empowerment, and self-care behaviors; from self-efficacy to self-care behaviors; and from patient empowerment to self-care behaviors. Indirect pathways were from health literacy to self-care behaviors via self-efficacy or patient empowerment. The pathway from health literacy to self-efficacy was significantly stronger in those preferring shared decision-making than in those who preferred physician decision-making. CONCLUSIONS: Health literacy is a critical factor in improving self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes, and the effect of health literacy on self-efficacy was more significant in the shared decision-making than in the physician decision-making. Therefore, developing an effective health strategy to strengthen health literacy awareness and designing friendly, diverse health literacy materials, and application tools is the most important factor to facilitate self-care behaviors in this population.

Polyamide 6/Poly(vinylidene fluoride) Blend-Based Nanocomposites with Enhanced Rigidity: Selective Localization of Carbon Nanotube and Organoclay.

Polyamide 6 (PA6)/poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) blend-based nanocomposites were successfully prepared using a twin screw extruder. Carbon nanotube (CNT) and organo-montmorillonite (30B) were used individually and simultaneously as reinforcing nanofillers for the immiscible PA6/PVDF blend. Scanning electron micrographs showed that adding 30B reduced the dispersed domain size of PVDF in the blend, and CNT played a vital role in the formation of a quasi-co-continuous PA6-PVDF morphology. Transmission electron microscopy observation revealed that both fillers were mainly located in the PA6 matrix phase. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the presence of 30B facilitated the formation of γ-form PA6 crystals in the composites. Differential scanning calorimetry results indicated that the crystallization temperature of PA6 increased after adding CNT into the blend. The inclusion of 30B retarded PA6 nucleation (γ-form crystals growth) upon crystallization. The Young's and flexural moduli of the blend increased after adding CNT and/or 30B. 30B exhibited higher enhancing efficiency compared with CNT. The composite with 2 phr 30B exhibited 21% higher Young's modulus than the blend. Measurements of the rheological properties confirmed the development of a pseudo-network structure in the CNT-loaded composites. Double percolation morphology in the PA6/PVDF blend was achieved with the addition of CNT.

Dynamic observation and quantification of type I/II collagen in chondrogenesis of mesenchymal stem cells by second-order susceptibility microscopy.

Second-order susceptibility (SOS) microscopy is used to image and characterize chondrogenesis in cultured human mesenchymal stem cells. SOS analysis shows that the SOS tensor ratios can be used to characterize type I and II collagens in living tissues and that both collagen types are produced at the onset of chondrogenesis. Time-lapse analysis shows a modulation of extracellular matrix results in a higher rate in increase of type II collagen, as compared to type I collagen. With time, type II collagen content stabilizes at the composition of 70% of total collagen content. SOS microscopy can be used to continuously and noninvasively monitor the production of collagens I and II. With additional development, this technique can be developed into an effective quality control tool for monitoring extracellular matrix production in engineered tissues.

Dynamic visualization of the recovery of mouse hepatobiliary metabolism to acetaminophen-overdose damage.

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is one of the world's leading causes of drug-induced hepatotoxicity. Although traditional methods such as histological imaging and biochemical assays have been successfully applied to evaluate the extent of APAP-induced liver damage, detailed effect of how APAP overdose affect the recovery of hepatobiliary metabolism and is not completely understood. In this work, we used intravital multiphoton microscopy to image and quantify hepatobiliary metabolism of the probe 6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate in APAP-overdose mice. We analyzed hepatobiliary metabolism for up to 7 days following the overdose and found that the excretion of the probe molecule was the most rapid on Day 1 following APAP overdose and slowed down on Days 2 and 3. On Day 7, probe excretion capability has exceeded that of the normal mice, suggesting that newly regenerated hepatocytes have higher metabolic capabilities. Our approach may be further developed applied to studying drug-induced hepatotoxicity in vivo.

Influence of chopstick size on taste evaluations.

This study explored the influence of the length of chopsticks on taste evaluations. Participants (N=78; M age=21.1 yr., SD=3.8) reported a greater liking for their food and higher purchase intentions when using long rather than short chopsticks. Findings also indicated that the long (vs short) chopsticks caused people to slow down when eating, resulting in greater eating duration and a higher number of mouthfuls. The findings of this study provide insights on research into the role of tableware in food intake.

Biomechanical analysis and design of a dynamic spinal fixator using topology optimization: a finite element analysis.

Surgeons often use spinal fixators to manage spinal instability. Dynesys (DY) is a type of dynamic fixator that is designed to restore spinal stability and to provide flexibility. The aim of this study was to design a new spinal fixator using topology optimization [the topology design (TD) system]. Here, we constructed finite element (FE) models of degenerative disc disease, DY, and the TD system. A hybrid-controlled analysis was applied to each of the three FE models. The rod structure of the topology optimization was modelled at a 39 % reduced volume compared with the rigid rod. The TD system was similar to the DY system in terms of stiffness. In contrast, the TD system reduced the cranial adjacent disc stress and facet contact force at the adjacent level. The TD system also reduced pedicle screw stresses in flexion, extension, and lateral bending.

Biomechanical comparison of the K-ROD and Dynesys dynamic spinal fixator systems - a finite element analysis.

Dynamic spinal fixators, such as the Dynesys (DY) and K-ROD (KD) systems, are designed to restore spinal stability and to provide flexibility. The long-term complications of implant breakage and the biomechanics of the adjacent and the bridged levels using the KD system are still unknown. Therefore, this study aims to investigate and compare the biomechanical effects of the KD system and the DY system. Finite element (FE) models of the degenerated lumbar spine, the DY system, and the KD system were each reconstructed. Hybrid-controlled analysis was applied in the three FE models. The FE results indicated that the KD system supplies the most stiffness during extension and the least stiffness during flexion, in contrast to the DY system. In contrast to the DY system, the KD system increased the facet contact force of the adjacent level, but this system decreased the screw stress on the cranial adjacent disc and the pedicle during flexion.

The influence of different magnitudes and methods of applying preload on fusion and disc replacement constructs in the lumbar spine: a finite element analysis.

In a finite element (FE) analysis of the lumbar spine, different preload application methods that are used in biomechanical studies may yield diverging results. To investigate how the biomechanical behaviour of a spinal implant is affected by the method of applying the preload, hybrid-controlled FE analysis was used to evaluate the biomechanical behaviour of the lumbar spine under different preload application methods. The FE models of anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and artificial disc replacement (ADR) were tested under three different loading conditions: a 150 N pressure preload (PP) and 150 and 400 N follower loads (FLs). This study analysed the resulting range of motion (ROM), facet contact force (FCF), inlay contact pressure (ICP) and stress distribution of adjacent discs. The FE results indicated that the ROM of both surgical constructs was related to the preload application method and magnitude; differences in the ROM were within 7% for the ALIF model and 32% for the ADR model. Following the application of the FL and after increasing the FL magnitude, the FCF of the ADR model gradually increased, reaching 45% at the implanted level in torsion. The maximum ICP gradually decreased by 34.1% in torsion and 28.4% in lateral bending. This study concluded that the preload magnitude and application method affect the biomechanical behaviour of the lumbar spine. For the ADR, remarkable alteration was observed while increasing the FL magnitude, particularly in the ROM, FCF and ICP. However, for the ALIF, PP and FL methods had no remarkable alteration in terms of ROM and adjacent disc stress.

Effect of spacer diameter of the Dynesys dynamic stabilization system on the biomechanics of the lumbar spine: a finite element analysis.

STUDY DESIGN: A finite element analysis to simulate the behavior of lumbar spines implanted with a posterior dynamic neutralization system, Dynesys, under displacement-controlled loading. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Dynesys spacers with different diameters would alter the distribution of range of motion, disk stress, and facet contact force at the Dynesys bridging level and the cranial adjacent level. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: The Dynesys system is designed to preserve intersegmental motion and reduce loading at adjacent levels, but clinical reports do not support these claims. This system has been shown to be almost as stiff as rigid fixation, which acts to hinder intersegmental motion. Few studies have investigated methods of reducing this stiffness. METHODS: In the finite element study, a previously validated lumbar spine model was used. Five Dynesys constructs with different spacer diameters (0.8, 0.9, 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2 times the original standard size) were implanted into the spine model and bore 4 displacement-controlled loading cases: flexion, extension, torsion, and lateral bending. Resultant range of motions (ROMs), disk stress, and facet contact forces at the bridged level and the cranial adjacent level were compared with the results of a spine model without Dynesys implantation. RESULTS: The results of ROMs, disk stress, and facet contact forces at the bridged levels were all less than those in the intact spine, except for contact forces at the left facet under lateral bending, facet contact forces at the right facet under torsion, and disk stress under torsion. The results of ROMs, disk stress, and facet contact forces at the cranial adjacent levels were all higher than those in the intact spine. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study show that changing the diameter of the spacers will alter the stiffness of the Dynesys construct. Dynesys constructs with larger diameters behave stiffer under flexion but behave softer under extension, torsion, and lateral bending. Changing the diameter of the Dynesys spacers does not significantly influence the load distribution at adjacent levels.

Photoactivation studies of zinc porphyrin-myoglobin system and its application for light-chemical energy conversion.

An artificial zinc porphyrin-myoglobin-based photo-chemical energy conversion system, consisting of ZnPP-Mb or ZnPE(1)-Mb as a photosensitizer, NADP(+) as an electron acceptor, and triethanolamine as an electron donor, has been constructed to mimic photosystem I. The photoirradiated product is able to reduce a single-electron acceptor protein cytochrome c, but cannot catalyze the two-electron reduction of acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase, thus demonstrating a single electron transfer mechanism. Furthermore, the artificial system can bifunctionally promote oxidoredox reactions, depending on the presence or absence of a sacrificial electron donor, thus suggesting its potential application in electrochemical regeneration steps involved in chemical transformation and/or energy conversion.

Effect of perceived benefits on reluctance to trade.

People often tend to be reluctant to trade an owned object for an alternative object. This concept of reluctance to trade is generally called "endowment effect". Loss aversion, which denotes that losses are weighted more heavily than gains, has been applied to interpret the endowment effect. Specifically, no "reluctance to trade" will occur when no loss is involved. In this research, 172 (90 women, 82 men; M age=21 yr., SD= 1.2) and 152 (82 women, 70 men; M age=21 yr., SD= 1.8) undergraduates voluntarily participated in two experiments, respectively. Results of both experiments indicated that participants were willing to trade an owned object for an alternative object when both objects were of the same benefit type and were reluctant to trade when objects were different. Clearly, an exchange was perceived as lower loss when the owned object and the alternative object were of the same benefit type, leading to no reluctance to trade.

An exploration of Taiwanese adolescents' impulsive buying tendency.

The purpose of this study was to examine via a questionnaire the personal characteristics and impulsive buying tendencies of 15- to 19-year-old Taiwanese adolescents. Results indicated that the impulsive buying was significantly associated with gender, age, and amount of pocket money available. Females indicated more impulsive buying than did males, and gradually increased with age. Impulsive buying significantly increased with the increase in the amount of pocket money available. Possible extensions of the research in this area are offered.