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The focal plane camera is the core component of the Wide Field-of-view Cherenkov/fluorescence Telescope Array (WFCTA) of the Large High-Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO). Because of the capability of working under moonlight without aging, silicon photomultipliers (SiPM) have been proven to be not only an alternative but also an improvement to conventional photomultiplier tubes (PMT) in this application. Eighteen SiPM-based cameras with square light funnels have been built for WFCTA. The telescopes have collected more than 100 million cosmic ray events and preliminary results indicate that these cameras are capable of working under moonlight. The characteristics of the light funnels and SiPMs pose challenges (e.g. dynamic range, dark count rate, assembly techniques). In this paper, we present the design features, manufacturing techniques and performances of these cameras. Finally, the test facilities, the test methods and results of SiPMs in the cameras are reported here., Comment: 45 pages, 21 figures, article

The autofocusing (AF) performance of cell phone cameras is critically dependent on the design of the voice-coil motor (VCM) used to drive the lens module. Also, the metal springs in the AF module should combine high stiffness with a good actuation response and a light weight. The present study utilizes a reverse engineering approach to construct three-dimensional finite element models of the top and bottom springs in the VCM mechanism. Simulations are then performed to investigate the von Mises stress distribution and stiffness characteristics of the two springs given horizontal and vertical orientations of the AF module, respectively. In performing the simulations, the actuation force is computed using two different analysis methods, namely a simplify structure method and a coupled electromagnetic-structural method. It is shown that the simplify structure method has the advantages of a lower computational complexity and a more comprehensive modeling capability. A further series of simulations is thus to examine the effects of the spring shape parameters on the reaction force developed by the spring stiffness. The results show that the spring stiffness increases with an increasing thickness and a decreasing rib length. The simulation results obtained for different spring shape parameter settings are summarized in the form of a parameter design chart for predicting the reaction force given known values of the spring rib length and spring thickness.

Each SiPM based Cherenkov telescope of LHAASO has an array of 32*32SiPMs. SiPM-based camera can be run in the moon night and achieve about 30% of duty cycle. The gain of the SiPM varies with the intensity of the sky background light. A UV-LED system is mounted at the center of the mirror to monitor and calibrate the gain of the SiPM-based camera. The LED is also used to monitor the temperature and high voltage compensation loop which is used to keep the SiPM gain stable in the case of environmental temperature changes. LED is working in the constant temperature system. The change of LED luminous intensity with ambient temperature is less than 0.8%. The first two SiPM based Cherenkov telescopes were successfully run in the first half of 2019. The design and performance of LED calibration system, which is a very important tool to monitor the gain stability of the SiPM-based camera, are presented in the paper.

The LHAASO-WFCTA experiment, which aims to observe cosmic rays in the sub-EeV range using the fluorescence technique, uses a new generation of high-performance telescopes. To ensure that the experiment has excellent detection capability associated with the measurement of the energy spectrum, the primary composition of cosmic rays, and so on, an accurate geometrical reconstruction of air-shower events is fundamental. This paper describes the development and testing of geometrical reconstruction for stereo viewed events using the WFCTA (Wide Field of view Cherenkov/Fluorescence Telescope Array) detectors. Two approaches, which take full advantage of the WFCTA detectors, are investigated. One is the stereo-angular method, which uses the pointing of triggered SiPMs in the shower trajectory, and the other is the stereo-timing method, which uses the triggering time of the fired SiPMs. The results show that both methods have good geometrical resolution; the resolution of the stereo-timing method is slightly better than the stereo-angular method because the resolution of the latter is slightly limited by the shower track length.

In order to study the out-of-plane stability of the large-span single space tube truss during lifting, the eigenvalue buckling mode of the truss was calculated by mode analysis in ANSYS, the eigenvalue buckling mode with different combination coefficients was applied to the truss, and the stability bearing capacity was taken as the measurement to conduct the whole process tracking analysis. Finally, the most appropriate eigenvalue buckling mode combination was found as the initial imperfection, and it was applied to a large-span single regular triangle space tube truss and inverted triangle space tube truss to verify its stability during hoisting, respectively. The results show that the combination form of the eigenvalue buckling mode is the most appropriate initial imperfection. When the large-span single regular triangle space tube truss and inverted triangle space tube truss are hoisted, local buckling occurs when the body force is up to 0.30 times and 0.15 times of gravity, respectively, and overall instability occurs when the body force is up to 0.56 times and 0.51 times of gravity, respectively. It can be obviously obtained that the large-span single space tube truss may be destabilized under its own weight during hoisting, local buckling has occurred in some member bars before overall instability, and it is necessary to check the truss stability before hoisting in actual engineering.

The steel arches with weld H-shaped sections are frequently used in various engineering structures. The welding procedure will produce residual stress, which affects the stability of the arches. This paper presented a numerical model to explore the influence of welding residual stress on the stability behavior of the steel arch. Then, the buckling load and structural deformation of the steel arch under uniform load were obtained through the static analysis, and the stability performance of entire structure was discussed. Furthermore, in order to compare the mechanical properties of the arch simulated by different elements, the shell element and beam element were used respectively in the finite element modal to obtain ultimate bulking load of the structure with the same section. It is concluded that the existence of welding residual stress reduced the ultimate bearing capacity of steel arch under uniform load.

Background:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease and is characterized by multiple autoantibodies associated with a multisystem illness. However, studies of dyslipidemia in pediatric SLE patients are limited.Objectives:The aim of our study is to describe the lipid profiles associated with disease activity and organ damage and their correlation with laboratory parameters in pediatric SLE patients.Methods:We retrospectively reviewed medical records from a single tertiary hospital in Taipei, Taiwan from 2002 to 2018. One hundred and twenty-four patients diagnosed with SLE were included. Dyslipidemia is defined as elevations in total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride (TG) levels, and a reduction in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. We gathered all of the lipid profiles, clinical characteristics, and laboratory parameters from each patient. Pediatric SLE patients participated in this study, based on their lipid profile, were classified as dyslipidemic or not. The mean values of each evaluated parameters were calculated and analyzed with generalized estimating equation (GEE) method.Results:Total thirty-one SLE patients were enrolled; twenty-four (77%) patients had dyslipidemia. The levels of total cholesterol, TG, and LDL in the dyslipidemic group are significantly higher than those of non-dyslipidemia (214.0 mg/dLvs145.0 mg/dL, 130.1 mg/dLvs76.4 mg/dL, 138.7 mg/dLvs82.0 mg/dL; respectively). The mean values of white blood cell count (6726/µL) in dyslipidemia group are significantly higher than non-dyslipidemia group (4521/µL;p=0.0157). In contrast, the level of high-sensitivity CRP in the non-dyslipidemia group (0.2 mg/dL) are significantly lower than those of patients with dyslipidemia (0.49 mg/dL;p=0.0486).Conclusion:It has been well known that CRP could suppress HDL and increase TG and that elevation of CRP might indicate increased cardiovascular risk. Our results demonstrated that elevated high sensitivity CRP levels were noted in SLE patients with dyslipidemia. It is suggested that routine monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors, such as dyslipidemia, should be recommended for pediatric SLE patients.References:[1]Szabó, M.Z., Szodoray, P. & Kiss, E. Immunol Res (2017) 65: 543.[2]Atta, A.M., Silva, J.P.C.G., Santiago, M.B. et al. Clin Rheumatol (2018) 37: 1539.[3]Yu, H.H., Chen, P.C., Yang, Y.H. Atherosclerosis. 2015; 243(1): 11–18.Acknowledgments:The authors acknowledge statistical assistance provided by the Center of Statistical Consultation and Research in the Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University HospitalDisclosure of Interests:None declared

In this paper, analytical simulations of the steel-laminated elastomeric bearing (SLEB) using a three-dimensional (3D) finite element model incorporating material, geometric nonlinearities, and a frictional contact algorithm in LS-DYNA code is conducted. In order to simulate the nonlinear responses of the elastomeric bearing under the compression and shear, a hyperviscoelastic rubber model such as The MAT_77_H (MAT_HYPERVISCOELASTIC_RUBBER) in LS- DYNA code is adopted. Based on the proposed material model for the SLEB, the interaction effects of the SLEB under compression, bending, and torsion are analyzed. Analytical results are compared with the test results of the SLEBs. A set of material parameters is proposed for 3D FEM analysis of SLEBs. The proposed material model demonstrates its accuracy.

On the basis of Shagang Group’s 5000 mm heavy plate mills, conventional rolling processes with different broadside rolling ratios were simulated by the three-dimensional rigid plastic thermomechanical finite element (FE) model developed in the author’s previous work. By analysing the simulation results, it was found that the final plate plan view patterns after hot rolling processes were bound closely to the broadside rolling ratio and the finishing rolling ratio. Then, predictive models for plate end edge shapes and side edge shapes were formulated by nonlinear regressive analysis of the simulation results and modified by the lengths of the uneven shapes for higher accuracy. The validity of the prediction models was confirmed by comparing the predicted concavity and convexity lengths with those measured from industrial tests. The predicted plate edge shapes were in good agreement with those of the FE simulation. On the basis of the plate plan view pattern prediction models, methods to improve the plate p...

Using commercial finite element (FE) analysis software DEFORM-3D, a rigid plastic thermomechanical finite element model was developed to investigate inhomogeneous plastic deformations during heavy plate hot rolling. A single pass rolling process, a longitudinal rolling process and a broadside-longitudinal rolling process were simulated by this 3D FE model. The simulated results of the broadside-longitudinal rolling process were in good agreement with the actual rolled one. Basing on the simulation results, formation laws of concave side shapes and convex end shapes were clarified. Evolutions of the uneven shapes in the longitudinal rolling process and the broadside–longitudinal rolling process were analysed in detail. The results obtained from the simulation results provided guidelines for further investigation on plate plan view pattern control.

Visual Light Communication (VLC) is a system that uses light wavelengths that is not injurious to the eye for communication purposes. This system provides a solution to some technological problems such as the increasingly limited availability of conventional bandwidths for electronic equipment. Recent development in solid-state lighting (SSL) allows it to be highly efficient, longer life time and versatile. These advantages made SSL to be highly acceptable by the public and are slowly replacing the conventional fluorescent lamps. The improvement and acceptability of the solid-state lighting allows a great advancement in the development of VLC. However, the focus of the development of SSL has been for lighting purposes and not for VLC system. This work investigate the degradation behavior of SSL under switching condition with various stress condition such as temperature, frequency, modulation index so as to provide the feasibility of the use of SSL for VLC.

A new business model, product service sys- tems, is proposed to promote a shift in focus from selling purely products to selling functions. This is achieved through a mix of products and services that fulfill the same consumer demands, while eliciting less environmental impact. Development of product service systems has become an increasingly important strategy in achieving social, economic, and environmental sustainability because product service systems advocates reducing resource con- sumption, while delivering better and more widely avail- able goods and services. This paper proposes an evaluation framework of sustainable performance to implement product service systems. A literature review discusses 32 criteria categorized into two aspects: product and organi- zation. The fuzzy Delphi method is then applied to identify the consistency of criteria. The relative weights of the selected criteria are determined using Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. Results indicate that the top three cri- teria in product aspect are maintenance system (weight = 0.172), use time or frequency (weight = 0.145), and price of the product (weight = 0.132). For the organization aspect, the top three criteria are integrated service plan (weight = 0.197), product development and design (weight = 0.144) and optimized transportation network (weight = 0.089). The demand for implementing product service systems is completely different from selling traditional goods because product service systems must consider the issue of sustainability. The proposed evalua- tion framework can help companies identify the potential products suitable in implementing product service systems.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Inflammation is implicated in diabetes and cyclooxygenase (COX) is involved in vascular inflammatory processes, participating in both atherosclerosis and thrombosis. The aims were to determine whether levels of monocyte COX and plasma COX metabolites are increased in Type 1 diabetic patients and to determine whether these could be linked to histone hyperacetylation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Monocytes from 19 Type 1 diabetic and 39 non-diabetic control subjects were probed for COX and acetylated histone H4 proteins by immunoblotting. Plasma COX metabolite levels [thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2))] were determined by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Monocyte COX-2 expression was significantly up-regulated (1.3-fold) in diabetic relative to the non-diabetic control subjects and plasma PGE(2) was markedly elevated (2.7-fold). In diabetic subjects, monocyte acetylated histone H4 levels were significantly elevated; sub-group analysis indicated that the increased histone acetylation was found only in the complication-free group. CONCLUSIONS: Results support increased inflammatory activity in Type 1 diabetes that involves COX-2 and increased prostaglandin production, which may predispose patients to cardiovascular events. The observation of elevated histone acetylation only in complication-free diabetic subjects suggests that this may be a protective mechanism. This merits further investigation as histone hyperacetylation has been associated with reduced expression of factors involved in vascular injury and remodelling.

Blue InGaN/GaN multiple-quantum-well light-emitting diodes were grown on sapphire substrates by using a metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy system. A Mg-doped AlGaN electron-blocking barrier was introduced under various Cp2Mg ow conditions at a high temperature of 1050 C. The characterization included current-voltage, capacitance-voltage and electroluminescence analyses. The luminescence e ciency showed an improvement of more than 90 % when the Cp2Mg ow rate was increased from 50 to 200 sccm. The forward voltage was reduced to 3.18 V at 20 mA. The series resistance was also estimated to be 10.81 . Secondary-ion mass spectrometry revealed the Mg doping pro les close to the quantum-well active region. The increased Mg concentration resulted in improved hole injection and carrier concentration. This is in agreement with the increased electroluminescence e ciency and luminous intensity and with the lower turn-on voltage. The Xray di raction study showed a full width at half maximum of 290.1 arcsec from the GaN (0002) di raction and 325.9 arcsec from the GaN (10 12) di raction.

In this paper, we demonstrate the use of photonic crystal (PC) directional couplers to separate light of wavelengths at 1.31 and 1.55 m. The PC structure consists of InAlGaAs nanorods arranged in hexagonal lattice. The simulation of our device is implemented by the finite-difference time-domain method. The devices are fabricated by e-beam lithography and conventional photolithography. We use the strong inverse method (SIM) of e-beam lithography to make the pattern smoother. The measurement results confirm that 1.31/1.55-m wavelength splitter can be realized in PC structures formed by nanorods.

A compact circular stacked planar inverted-F antenna implantable for biotelemetry communication in the 402–405 MHz medical-implant-communication-service (MICS) frequency band is presented. By properly embedding a circular hook-shaped slot to each radiating patch of the proposed PIFA structure, antenna size and impedance bandwidth can be significantly improved. The constructed antenna presents a broad 10 dB impedance bandwidth of 84 MHz from measurement by inserting it inside the skin-simulating fluid. Also, the proposed antenna has characteristics of a compact size with a radius of only 5 mm, a radiation efficiency of 1.3%, and a monopole-like radiation pattern suitable for implantable device use.

In this study, an optimal cross-coupling control (OCCC) strategy was applied to a rim motor wheelchair, with the aim of adjusting the speed ratio of the left and right wheels in order to follow specified paths with various turning radius. The control strategy concept enabled the left and right motors to adjust the speed most quickly within the equal time to reach the speed ratios of the two motors. Thus, the speed compensation values of the two wheels could be designed to be equal. The measured results showed that this method could maintain a vehicle on the desired driving path under different environmental disturbances, thus increasing the safety level in different environments. As compared to the traditional cross-coupling controller, this approach could reduce errors in the reference speed and time to reach the reference speed, minimize path deviations, and improve the operational performance of rim motor wheelchairs.

Due to the unique characteristics of laser energy in the broad applications for nanotechnologies, there are many important developments in laser processing methods for modern industries, especially for the urgent needs of nanoscale metallic particles and the related laser processes. In this chapter, the formation of copper particles by laser-enhanced electroplating with continuous and pulsed laser output modes is introduced. According to the electrochemical dynamics theory, the mechanism of the proposed technique for particles formation is mainly due to the thermal effects from the laser interaction in electroplating. In the experiments, the laser energy absorbed by the electrolyte jet and the temperature rise of the electrode during the laser radiation were measured. In the numerical simulation, the temperature fields of the impinging jet of the laser nozzle were calculated. It shows that the growth of the particle corresponds significantly to the laser power and pulse mode of the laser interaction.

Ensuring that water resources development in harmony with aquatic environment is the major water policy of Taiwan in the 21st century, Taiwan's water authority has adopted several methodologies, such as utilizing ecological engineering techniques, establishing integrated water resources management configuration, involving the public in decision-making processes, etc., and applying them in the field. Significant consequences in ecological engineering were obtained in several cases, such as for Ta-Chia Creek, where wire cages, tires, and boulders were installed to improve the stream habitat, and for Wu-Lao Creek, where natural water purification facilities were constructed to reduce river pollution. Although the sustainable methodologies have been widely accepted by hydraulic engineers in Taiwan, lack of engineer-friendly evaluation indices or methods hindered the further progress of river ecological engineering projects. This research applied a non-metric multidimensional–scaling (MDS) analysis to measure the assemblage change of river aquatic habitat. A dike construction project at Chu-Lan Creek was selected for verification in this study. The analyzed results showed that the dike construction project did affect the aquatic habitat in Chu-Lan Creek. The proposed MDS analysis successfully captured the effect of the construction. The MDS method could be used to evaluate the improvement or damage of aquatic habitat by a traditional hydraulic approach or a new ecological hydraulic developed technique in Taiwan.

Structural characteristics of optical quality poly(2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phen- ylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV) films drop-cast from toluene solutions have been examined by use of wide- angle (WAXS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) as well as field-emission scanning electron microscopy. For the as-cast film SAXS and WAXS patterns clearly suggest existence of nanodomains of mesomorphic order. Under grazing incidence, both SAXS and WAXS patterns of the as-cast film exhibit impressive uniaxial symmetry with strong scattering along the film normal; however, the corresponding normal-incidence patterns are circularly isotropic, implying in-plane random orientation. A structural model consisting of preferentially uniaxial-oriented nanodomains and disordered matrix is therefore proposed for the as-cast film. Annealing at 210 °C results in disorientation of nanodomains: this decrease in structural asymmetry upon heat treatment correlates well with concomitant changes in charge transport behavior determined from time-of-flight measurements, manifesting dramatically decreased charge mobility as well as transition from nondispersive to dispersive modes.

In this paper, a total of 60 concrete cylinders 30 cm in diameter and 60 cm in length confined by steel jackets of different thicknesses and different types of lateral steel reinforcements are tested to obtain the stress–strain curves of the cylinders. A constitutive model is proposed to describe the behavior of concrete confined by steel reinforcement, steel jackets, and both steel reinforcement and steel jackets used to retrofit and strengthen reinforced concrete structures. The confined concrete stress–strain curve of the proposed model is divided into two regions: the curve in the first region is approximated using a second-order polynomial equation, and that in the second region using an nth-order power-law equation, where n is a function of the unconfined concrete strength and the lateral confining stress. The results of the experiments show that different types of lateral steel reinforcement contribute greatly to the compressive strength of concrete cylinders confined by the reinforcement. Comparing the stress–strain curves of the uniaxial test with that from the proposed model, we conclude that the proposed model for concrete confined by a steel jacket and lateral steel reinforcement can predict the experimental results very well.Key words: constitutive model, steel jacket, confined concrete.

This paper investigates the stability robustness of linear output feedback systems with actuator saturation as well as both time-varying structured (elemental) and unstructured (norm-bounded) parameter uncertainties by directly considering the mixed quadratically coupled uncertainties in the problem formulation. Based on the Lyapunov approach and some essential properties of matrix measures, a new sufficient condition is proposed for ensuring that the linear output feedback systems with actuator saturation as well as both time-varying structured and unstructured parameter uncertainties are robustly stable. A numerical example is given to illustrate the application of the presented sufficient condition.

Structural development in cast films of poly(2,5-di-n-octyloxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (DO-PPV) upon heat treatment was studied by means of polarized light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet−visible spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Results indicated the dominance of a lamellar phase of biaxially refringent nematic-like texture upon short-term heat treatments at elevated temperatures (Ta) between 160 and 240 °C. A further increase in Ta results in dissipation of the mesomorphic order near the isotropization temperature Ti = ca. 300 °C. This lamellar phase, 1.8 nm in layer spacing at room temperature, typically consists of beads or grains approximately 10−20 nm in diameter that agglomerate into wormlike features in the absence of external stress. Mechanical shear right after high-temperature annealing results in disintegration of worms formed in the tranquil state; the constituent beads nevertheless reagglomerate into new worml...

In order to maximize Cu volume and reduce via resistance, barrier thickness reduction is a strong option. Alternative barriers for next-generation BEOL were evaluated in terms of barrier performance to O 2 and Cu diffusion, and effects on reliability. A clear correlation of O 2 barrier performance to electromigration was observed, suggesting that the key role of the barrier layer is to prevent oxidation of Cu or the Cu/barrier interface. Long-throw PVD-TaN showed superior O 2 barrier performance to alternative metals such as PEALD-TaN, thermal ALD-TaN, -TaN(Mn) and - MnN and MnSiO3 self-forming barrier.

We investigated genetic susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) by studying the association of MKL1 gene polymorphisms with CAD in the Chinese Han population. We performed a case-control study with 476 unrelated CAD patients and 325 non-CAD controls. All SNPs were genotyped with a TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. The distribution of MKL1-184CT gene polymorphism in each group was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequency of the MKL1 T allele in the CAD group was significantly higher than in the control group (38.6 vs 30.8%). After logistic regression models adjusted for CAD risk factors, the risk of CAD among CT genotypes was 1.765 times higher than among the CC genotypes [odds ration (OR) = 1.765, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.246-2.5], and for TT genotypes it was 1.806 times higher than for the CC genotypes (OR = 1.806, 95%CI = 1.203-2.71). In summary, genotypes with at least one T allele (CT or TT genotypes) had a significantly increased CAD risk than the CC genotypes, with a ratio of 1.78 to 1 (OR = 1.780, 95%CI = 1.311-2.418). There was a close association between -184 T allele and 3VD (OR = 1.614, 95%CI = 1.259-2.07, P0.05). We conclude that the -184CT of MKL1 is an important susceptibility factor for CAD in the Han Chinese in Henan Province. Homozygosity for the T allele is not only associated with an increased risk for CAD, it is also correlated with severity of stenosis in the Chinese Han population.

Communications network has increased dramatically in size and complexity in the past few years. A typical network may consist of hundreds of nodes from various manufacturers with different traffic and bandwidth requirements. The increasing complexity poses serious problems to network management and control. As faults are inevitable, quick detection, identification and recovery are crucial to make the systems more robust and their operation more reliable. This article proposes a novel event correlation scheme for fault identification in communications network. This scheme is based on the bi-level feedback queues scheduling policy. The causality graph model is used to describe the cause-and-effect relationships between network events. The use of scheduling policy makes the correlation process simple and fast. A simulation model is developed to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed scheme. From simulation results, we notice that this scheme not only identifies multiple problems at one time but also is insensitive to noise. As the time complexity of the correlation procedure is close to a function of n, where n is the number of observed symptoms, with order O(n); therefore, the on-line fault identification is easy to achieve.

The evolution of high-energy density fuels over the past three decades is briefly described. This period can be characterized by exceedingly slow progress and notable lack of success toward the development of practical, economically viable fuel systems. Recently, two novel ultrahigh-energy density fuels, one naturally occurring and one synthetic, have emerged; these fuels, which are both composed of compact hydrocarbon molecules, have energy contents or heating values significantly greater than that of currently used standard missile fuel JP-10 (up to 160K Btu/gal (44.7K MJ/m3) vs 141.7K Btu/gal (39.6K MJ/m3)). In addition, these fuels also exhibit superior low-temperature, viscometric, flash-point, and other properties that are desired and, indeed, required for practical fuels. Initial research and development of these fuels are described, and their chemistries, properties, and, in the case of the naturally occurring fuel, engine test results are provided.

We have studied the effects of recombinant human thrombopoietin (TPO, mpl ligand) on the megakaryocyte colony formation from control human bone marrow cells, human leukemia cells at diagnosis, and human bone marrow cells after induction chemotherapy for acute leukemias. In the control human bone marrow cells from four adults and nine children who had localized malignancy and histologically normal-looking marrow. TPO alone effectively stimulated megakaryocyte colony formation, and interleukin-3 (IL-3) synergized this. In 17 patients (13 adults and four children) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at diagnosis, TPO stimulated leukemic colony formation in only one patient with FAB M7 subtype. In 11 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at diagnosis, TPO did not enhance leukemic colony formation. After 17 courses of induction chemotherapy, nine for AML and eight for ALL, TPO stimulated megakaryocyte colony formation to a level of 51%, of that in the control human bone marrow cells. This may suggest that the administration of TPO to patients with M7 subtype warrants caution, whereas it is probably safe to give TPO at any time to patients with ALL. The administration of TPO to patients with acute leukemias after induction chemotherapy could stimulate megakaryocytopoiesis.

Since the electron cyclotron auto-resonance maser (CARM) is operated with the wave refractive index being very close to unity, a little variation of the refractive index in the CARM calculations might be crucial. Therefore, a modified self-consistent one-dimensional nonlinear model was developed by exactly setting the evolving wave refractive index and keeping all second-order terms to examine the inadequacy induced by the simplification of the earlier one-dimensional models. Comparisons of the numerical results obtained by the earlier models and the modified model for a CARM amplifier reveal that the inadequate relaxation of the limited azimuthal and axial bunching region for electrons to lose energy in the earlier models was the main reason for the overestimate of the linear gain and the saturated efficiency for the fast (the slow) wave branch with initial refractive index n0 1). However, the earlier model with fixed n0=1 is an excellent approximation whatever linear or saturated state is consider...

Cystic formation in association with adrenal neuroblastoma may be related to hemorrhage and necrosis of the tumor. We present an unusual case of congenital cystic fetal neuroblastoma of the right adrenal gland detected at 37 weeks' gestation which evolved into a complex echogenic mass 6 weeks after birth. Surgical exploration revealed a 3.5 x 3 x 3 cm right complex adrenal tumor which was resected. The infant did well 10 weeks after tumor resection. Typically adrenal hemorrhage may appear sonographically to be entirely echogenic, of mixed echogenicity, or anechoic when first imaged. Gradually, the texture of the hematoma will evolve and become more cystic and echolucent on follow-up ultrasound examinations. In contrast, our case of congenital adrenal cystic neuroblastoma became more complex after resolution of the hemorrhagic cyst. This case suggests that adrenal hemorrhagic and adrenal cystic neuroblastoma with a hemorrhagic cyst have different sonographic appearances. We suggest that additional imaging and surgical intervention should be considered whenever a cystic suprarenal mass becomes more complex after resolution and demonstrates no significant decrease in size in postnatal examinations.

We have studied the effect of propofol on the cytochrome P450-dependent mono-oxygenase system in human liver microsomes by assaying mono-oxygenase activities toward specific cytochrome P450 isoform test substrates, aniline, 7-ethoxycoumarin, benzphetamine and benzo(a) pyrene. Propofol inhibited benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation to a greater extent than the oxidative metabolism of the other test substrates, even at 0.05 mmol litre−1 The degrees of inhibition of benzphetamine N-demethylation and 7-ethoxy-coumarin O-de-ethylation were similar, while aniline hydroxylation was least affected by propofol. Spectral analysis showed that propofol competed with carbon monoxide for binding to the haem moiety of haemoprotein in the P450 enzyme. The variable inhibition observed may be caused by the differential binding of propofol to P450 isoforms. Propofol 0.05–1.0 mmol litre−1 exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on human cytochrome P450 2E1, 2B1 and 1A1. These inhibitory actions of propofol on human liver microsomal enzymes in vitro suggest that potential drug interactions may exist between propofol and other drugs administered clinically. (Br. J. Anaesth. 1995; 74: 558–562)

Three metal level 56nm-pitch Cu dual damascene interconnects in k2.7 low-k ILD have been demonstrated by using sidewall-image-transfer (SIT) patterning scheme to investigate the feasibility of the SIT process for sub 50nm-pitch technology node. 45nm-pitch line resistance (R) and capacitance (C) simulation are performed to estimate the R-C variation for double patterning schemes. The photoresist mandrel SIT process for 56nm-pitch Cu line is investigated to develop the constant line pitch and less line edge roughness (LER). The basic electrical properties such as line open/short and via chain open/short yields are ∼100%. The 56nm-pitch R-C variation is comparable to simulated 80nm-pitch R-C variation. The SIT patterning process is a strong candidate to improve the R-C variation for sub50nm-pitch technology nodes.

We have performed extensive small-angle light scattering (SALS) measurements on a three-component microemulsion (AOT/decane/water) as a function of the dispersed phase concentration and the temperature. All samples have a water/AOT molar fraction w=40.8. Such a system presents a very complex phase diagram with many structural configurations. With the SALS technique, we have been able to observe all the phase separation lines. In particular we give details on the system structure on the percolation phenomenon and on the bicontinuous phase recently observed. In particular we show that the percolation is driven by a long-scale aggregation between microemulsion droplets.

This paper describes the development of the source-doublet-based potential paneling method for oscillating cascade unsteady aerodynamic load predictions. By using the integral influence coefficient method and by using the interblade phase angles, the unsteady loads on an oscillating cascade can be accurately predicted at a minimum cost. As the grids are placed only on the blade surfaces, the blades are allowed to vibrate without grid deformation problems. Four notable subsonic oscillating cascade test cases that cover most important parameters, e.g., blade geometry, interblade phase angle, flow coefficient, flow speed, frequency, etc., are studied in this paper. The agreement between the present solutions and other numerical/experimental results demonstrates the robustness of the present model. Applicability of the method for realistic compressible flow cascades is also discussed.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin malignancy in the United States and presents with a wide range of aggressiveness from extremely slow-growing to highly aggressive. There is a clinical need to determine the metastatic potential of the primary tumor to design the most appropriate treatment plan ranging from watchful waiting to more aggressive, invasive surgical treatments. In this study we have developed a nanoparticle based imaging agent that targets SPARC (Secreted Protein Acidic Rich in Cysteine), a molecular marker of prostate cancer metastatic potential. Previous studies by this group used phage display to identify a peptide with high binding affinity and specificity for SPARC. In this study, the SPARC-targeted peptide sequence was used to design a biomaterial with improved pharmacokinetic properties by attaching it to a biocompatible nanoparticle that is also coupled to a fluorophore for in vivo imaging. Prostate cancer cell lines with varying degrees of SPARC expression were used to show the ability of the targeted nanoparticle to bind specifically to SPARC in vitro and in vivo including the clinically relevant bone and lung metastases. We show that in vivo imaging information correlates with the metastatic potential of the prostate tumor. This prognostic information could enable doctors to stratify patients and design personalized treatment strategies.

Some pre‐tensioned 4‐node rectangular elements and 8‐node triangular elements are constructed for the free vibration analysis of membranes by finite element. The shape functions are given to derive the element stiffness and mass matrices in accordance with the minimum potential energy principle. Two typical examples show that the calculation by the 4‐node rectangular element is very close to the theoretical solution, and 8‐node rectangular element has higher accuracy than the 4‐node rectangular element. For dense grid, the result is almost consistent with the theoretical solution.

Self-aligned shallow trench isolation recess effect on 42nm node NAND flash to achieve high performance and good reliability has been studied and demonstrated. As cell STI recess is increased by 23nm, 29% narrower cell Vth distribution width and 54% less cell Vth shift after 125°C, 2 hours can be obtained. Furthermore, the endurance window is obviously improved ~0.5V as the distance of the active area edge to control gate (CG) is increased at the same time. Deeper STI recess and enough active area edge to CG distance are a promising profile for floating gate based NAND flash at 42nm node and beyond.

Thermotropic nematic and chiral-nematic poly(p-phenylene)s were prepared into well-aligned films between fused-silica substrates in which conjugated backbones were uniaxially and helically oriented. With unpolarized photoexcitation at 350 nm, a nematic film produced a degree of linear polarization of 9 near the emission peak at 410 nm with no evidence of excimer formation. With the same photoexcitation of a chiral-nematic film, the degree of circular polarization was found to vary from −1.3 in the 390–430 nm spectral region to between +0.3 and +0.9 beyond the edge of the selective reflection band. The crossover behavior unique to light emission from the selective reflection region remains inexplicable with existing theories on light propagation through periodically structured films.

The long-term outcome of 1390 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), treated in two successive clinical trials (Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group (TPOG)-ALL-97 and TPOG-ALL-2002) between 1997 and 2007, is reported. The event-free survival improved significantly (P=0.0004) over this period, 69.3+/-1.9% in 1997-2001 to 77.4+/-1.7% in 2002-2007. A randomized trial in TPOG-97 testing L-asparaginase versus epidoxorubicin in combination with vincristine and prednisolone for remission induction in standard-risk (SR; low-risk) patients yielded similar outcomes. Another randomized trial, in TPOG-2002, showed that for SR patients, two reinduction courses did not improve long-term outcome over one course. Decreasing use of prophylactic cranial irradiation in the period 1997-2008 was not associated with increased rates of CNS relapse, prompting complete omission of prophylactic cranial irradiation from TPOG protocols, beginning in 2009. Decreased use of etoposide and cranial irradiation likely contributed to the low incidence of second cancers. High-risk B-lineage ALL, T-cell, CD10 negativity, t(9;22), infant, and higher leukocyte count were consistently adverse factors, whereas hyperdiploidy >50 was a consistently favorable factor. Higher leukocyte count and t(9;22) retained prognostic significance in both TPOG-97 and TPOG-2002 by multivariate analysis. Although long-term outcome in TPOG clinical trials is comparable with results being reported worldwide, the persistent strength of certain prognostic variables and the lower frequencies of favorable outcome predictors, such as ETV6-RUNX1 and hyperdiploidy >50, in Taiwanese children warrant renewed effort to cure a higher proportion of patients while preserving their quality of life.

Cavity-enhanced photothermal spectroscopy has been applied to perform ultrasensitive absorption measurements on thin metallic and high-reflectivity dielectric films. The novel method can be employed to determine minute surface-specific absorbances of alpha in the range of a few parts in 10(6) and has high sensitivity since the sample is placed inside a resonant optical cavity. Spatial-, spectral-, and time-resolved measurements were carried out. Laser surface heating calculations have been performed and can be evaluated to yield the thermal diffusivity of the thin films with a resolution at the level of a few micrometers.