Design, fabrication and characterization of monolithic embedded parylene microchannels in silicon substrate

This paper presents a novel channel fabrication technology of bulk-micromachined monolithic embedded polymer channels in silicon substrate. The fabrication process favorably obviates the need for sacrifical materials in surface-micromachined channels and wafer-bonding in conventional bulk-micromachined channels. Single-layer-deposited parylene C (poly-para-xylylene C) is selected as a structural material in the microfabricated channels/columns to conduct life science research. High pressure capacity can be obtained in these channels by the assistance of silicon substrate support to meet the needs of high-pressure loading conditions in microfluidic applications. The fabrication technology is completely compatible with further lithographic CMOS/MEMS processes, which enables the fabricated embedded structures to be totally integrated with on-chip micro/nano-sensors/actuators/structures for miniaturized lab-on-a-chip systems. An exemplary process was described to show the feasibility of combining bulk micromachining and surface micromachining techniques in process integration. Embedded channels in versatile cross-section profile designs have been fabricated and characterized to demonstrate their capabilities for various applications. A quasi-hemi-circular-shaped embedded parylene channel has been fabricated and verified to withstand inner pressure loadings higher than 1000 psi without failure for micro-high performance liquid chromatography (µHPLC) analysis. Fabrication of a high-aspect-ratio (internal channel height/internal channel width, greater than 20) quasi-rectangular-shaped embedded parylene channel has also been presented and characterized. Its implementation in a single-mask spiral parylene column longer than 1.1 m in a 3.3 mm × 3.3 mm square size on a chip has been demonstrated for prospective micro-gas chromatography (µGC) and high-density, high-efficiency separations. This proposed monolithic embedded channel technology can be extensively implemented to fabricate microchannels/columns in high-pressure microfludics and high-performance/high-throughput chip-based micro total analysis systems (µTAS)

Distribution of Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidative Activities of Rice Kernel and Their Relationships with Agronomic Practice

The phenolic and antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of two Japonica rice cultivars, Taikeng no. 16 (medium and slender grain) and Kaohsiung no. 139 (short and round grain), grown under organic and conventional farming were examined. Analyses shows that Kaohsiung no. 139 contains the highest amount of secondary metabolites and continuous farming can increase its production. Results also suggest that phenolic content under different agronomic practices, has not shown significant differences but organically grown rice has proven to be better in higher accumulation of other secondary metabolites (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), flavonoid content, and ferrous chelating capacity). In nutshell, genetic traits and environment have significant effect on phenolic compounds and the least variation reported under agronomic practices

EXPLORING CALL CENTER ENABLED MECHANISMS FOR FIRM\u27S COMBINATIVE CAPABILITIES

The knowledge mechanisms of call centers have been emphasized by many pervious studies. Yet there is little empirical research that examines the call centers\u27 influence on firms\u27 combinative capabilities. To address this gap, this study examines call center enabled organizational mechanisms that contribute to the firms\u27 combinative capabilities. The study identifies differential effects from three types of combinative capabilities including system capabilities, coordination capabilities, and socialization capabilities. Through in-depth case studies of four Taiwanese call centers, this study finds seven organizational mechanisms including centralized information deployment and knowledge encapsulation, institution changing and foolproof, information hub and relationship management, decision making ladder, training center, network configuration, and job embeddedness . The findings provide practical implications to industry managers engaged in call center implementations from a combinative capabilities perspective. Future research directions are also discussed

Retraction and Generalized Extension of Computing with Words

Fuzzy automata, whose input alphabet is a set of numbers or symbols, are a formal model of computing with values. Motivated by Zadeh's paradigm of computing with words rather than numbers, Ying proposed a kind of fuzzy automata, whose input alphabet consists of all fuzzy subsets of a set of symbols, as a formal model of computing with all words. In this paper, we introduce a somewhat general formal model of computing with (some special) words. The new features of the model are that the input alphabet only comprises some (not necessarily all) fuzzy subsets of a set of symbols and the fuzzy transition function can be specified arbitrarily. By employing the methodology of fuzzy control, we establish a retraction principle from computing with words to computing with values for handling crisp inputs and a generalized extension principle from computing with words to computing with all words for handling fuzzy inputs. These principles show that computing with values and computing with all words can be respectively implemented by computing with words. Some algebraic properties of retractions and generalized extensions are addressed as well.Comment: 13 double column pages; 3 figures; to be published in the IEEE Transactions on Fuzzy System

Scientific and Regulatory Perspective on Monoclonal Antibody Biosimilars

Similar biotherapeutic products (SBPs), also called biosimilars, exhibit similar biological and clinical properties to authorized reference products. Biosimilars, including small molecules like erythropoietin and complex macromolecules like monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), have been used extensively in disease treatment. Monoclonal antibody biosimilars have gradually become a dominant development in the global pharmaceutical industry since their patents or data protection have been expired or nearing expiration. Since the mAb biosimilars are complex biological macromolecules with various post-translation modifications, it is important to evaluate whether these tiny differences significantly affect the quality. From a regulatory perspective, the comparability study needs to be performed to demonstrate that the quality, safety, and efficacy are similar to the biological reference. Based on these comprehensive comparative results, the indicated extrapolation might be acceptable. Post-market surveillance is also required because of unexpected biological variation caused by slightly different manufacturing processes. This chapter presents the scientific and regulatory considerations for monoclonal antibody biosimilar products for manufactures and for the regulatory authorities to administrate wisely and comprehensively

DEXON: A Highly Scalable, Decentralized DAG-Based Consensus Algorithm

A blockchain system is a replicated state machine that must be fault tolerant. When designing a blockchain system, there is usually a trade-off between decentralization, scalability, and security. In this paper, we propose a novel blockchain system, DEXON, which achieves high scalability while remaining decentralized and robust in the real-world environment. We have two main contributions. First, we present a highly scalable sharding framework for blockchain. This framework takes an arbitrary number of single chains and transforms them into the \textit{blocklattice} data structure, enabling \textit{high scalability} and \textit{low transaction confirmation latency} with asymptotically optimal communication overhead. Second, we propose a single-chain protocol based on our novel verifiable random function and a new Byzantine agreement that achieves high decentralization and low latency

Transition-Aware Decoupling-Capacitor Allocation in Power Noise Reduction

Abstract-Dynamic power noises may not only degrade the circuit performance but also reduce the noise margin which may result in the functional errors in integrated circuit. Decoupling capacitor (decap) allocation is one of the most effective way in reducing serious dynamic power noises (hotspots). To allocate decap bef ore placement, we observed that not only locations but also rising time of functional cells are required to accurately predict power noises. Compared to a previous work which only takes neighborhood relation into consideration, our method is more efficient in reducing hotspots. Furthermore, to reduce the hotspots af ter placement, instead of only using the empty space as proposed in the previous work, we move out cells in the area with serious power noise area (hot area). The obtained empty space can be used to accommodate decaps to further reduce the hotspots. The experimental result shows, compared to the previous work [1], our estimation function to allocate decap before placement is 23% better in reducing power noises. Moreover, compared to a method which fills decaps to all remaining empty space, our cell move algorithm can almost eliminate all the remaining hot grid nodes and hot cells. In summary, compared to the original circuits (without decap), about 60% of hotspots can be removed using our prediction function before placement, and most of the remaining hotspots are removed by our cell moving step after placement

Correlation of the composite equilibrium score of computerized dynamic posturography and clinical balance tests

AbstractBackgroundThe computerized dynamic posturography has been widely used to access balance control in patients with balance dysfunction. A composite-equilibrium score (CS) can be calculated from the sensory organization test using the computerized dynamic posturography. However, the correlation between the composite equilibrium score and clinical tests and its ability to predict falls has rarely been explored in the past.MethodsA total of 60 patients with chief complaint of dizziness were enrolled in our study, and clinical assessments were done including the sensory organization test (SOT), Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Tinetti Performance-Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA), and the dynamic gait index (DGI). The age and the subjective feeling of the severity of dizziness quantified by the visual analog scale (VAS) of each patient were also recorded.ResultsStatistical analysis revealed significant correlation between the composite equilibrium score and the TUG, POMA (gait, balance and total scores), and the DGI. However, there is statistically significant correlation between neither the CS and the age nor the VAS of dizziness. When grouping the DGI, POMA (total score), and the TUG cutoff to predict fall risks, the correlations to the CS can still be established except the TUG.ConclusionFrom the results of our study, the validity of the clinical tests was established in assessment of balance function, and clinicians can utilize these tools for preliminary evaluation of patient balance when computerized dynamic posturography is not available. In addition, CS can be used to predict the risk of falls