2016 ANNUAL REVIEW Ministry of Science and Technology

has been able to create various colored patterns on the surface of fabric by varying the speed of a coating machine's rotary cutter, and has used this method to apply or remove color from irregular patches of denim. This revolutionary coating technique can conserve 90% of process water, making it very environmentally friendly. In the future, the Center expects to attract even more domestic firms to engage in collaboration in the form of both joint R&D and manpower training. The Center is thus creating even greater value for Taiwan's weaving industry, and is becoming an important R&D platform for fabric membrane coatings. The Coating Center has used the new "one- way moisture-wicking broken coating technique" to develop textiles that can rapidly wick away sweat when they are in contact with the skin. These textiles contain a waterproof layer possessing the "lotus leaf effect," and this layer ensures that absorbed sweat does not diffuse back to the skin, which enables the textiles to quickly wick up sweat and gives them a dry and comfortable feel. This type of textile is particularly suitable for use in high-end bras. In addition, while the production of conventional dyed and dusted blue jeans requires ten complicated procedures, including water-hungry dyeing and dusting steps, the Center (2) Advanced technology R&D on domestically- produced smart machine tool controllers "Dry eye syndrome" is a commonly seen problem in ophthalmological outpatient clinics, and has symptoms including dry eyes, the feeling of foreign objects in the eyes, painful burning, aversion to wind, aversion to light, and sensitivity to external irritation. In severe cases, patients' eyes are bloodshot and swollen, with abrasion of the corneal epithelium. Over the long term, dry eye syndrome may cause pathologies of the cornea and conjunctiva, which will affect vision. Most patients with dry eye syndrome are middle-aged or older, and account for approximately 10-15% of the population as a whole. Dry eye syndrome is chiefly caused by insufficient tear secretion and excessively rapid tear evaporation (resulting in an unstable tear film), and is considered to be another modern "disease of civilization". The most common ophthalmological diagnostic method for dry eye syndrome is to place tear test paper in a patient's eyes for five minutes to measure the amount of tear secretion, but this Schematic diagram of the lotus effect created by the one-way moisture-wicking broken coating technique Samples of one-way wicking fabrics Lotus effect Unprocessed Water repellent One-way wicking Dry surface will not adhere Broken upper gel surface layer (one-way wicking surface) Water droplets are guided into the fabric Source: Provided by the Coating Center, National Taipei Institute of Technology method causes discomfort in patients. Furthermore, measurement of tear stability, which involves the use of a fluorescent agent to stain the surface of the eyeball, is often unacceptable to patients, and yields results with limited reproducibility. A research team has relied on thermal imaging algorithmic analysis technology developed by the Department of Biomedical Engineering at National Yang Ming University, clinical trials at Far Eastern Hospital, and United Integrated Services Co., Ltd.'s thermal imaging system to develop a more reliable computer-aided infrared thermal imaging diagnostic system for dry eye syndrome. This project has verified that infrared thermal imaging can replace the use of fluorescent imaging and tear test paper in the measurement of "tear breakup time" (tear film stability) and amount of tear secretion. The system also allows non-contact screening for meibomian gland dysfunction, avoids the discomfort caused by traditional contact-type testing methods, facilitates excellent patient compliance with testing, and greatly shortens testing time. MOST Ministry of Science and Technology Ministry of Science and Technology 34 2016 ANNUAL REVIEW