Preconcentration-enhanced Immunosensing for Whole Human Cancer Cell Lysate based on a Nanofluidic Preconcentrator

Hsuan Franziska Wu,Tamara G. Amstislavskaya,Pin-Hsuan Chen,Ting-Feng Wu,Yu-Hung Chen,Chun-Ping Jen 한국바이오칩학회 2016 BioChip Journal Vol.10 No.3

Sample preconcentration is an important step that increases the accuracy of subsequent detection, especially for samples with extremely low concentrations. Due to the overlap of electrical double layers in a nanofluidic channel, the concentration polarization effect can be generated by applying an electric field. A nonlinear electrokinetic flow is induced, which results in the fast accumulation of proteins in front of the induced ionic depletion zone, the so-called exclusion- enrichment effect. In this way, a protein sample can be driven by electroosmotic flow and accumulated at a specific location. In the present study, a nanofluidic preconcentrator fabricated with the help of junction gap electric breakdown was integrated with microelectrodes for immunoassay. The preconcentration chip for proteins was fabricated using simple standard soft lithography with a polydimethylsiloxane replica. Human galectin-1 proteins from the cell lysate of T24 cells were concentrated and immunoassayed in the proposed microchip. The capability of the proposed microchip for concentrating multiple proteins from cell lysates and immunoassays after preconcentration was demonstrated. Immunosensing was evaluated by measurements of both fluorescence intensities and impedance, which proved the enhancement of preconcentration for immunoassay.

The Incidence and Wage Effects of Overeducation: The Case of Taiwan

Chun-Hung A. Lin,Chun-Hsuan Wang 중앙대학교 경제연구소 2005 Journal of Economic Development Vol.30 No.1

This paper, based on data from Survey of Family Income and Expenditure of Taiwan, shows that the recent trends of job match in Taiwan labor market have been marked by increasing proportion of overeducated workers due to the higher education expansion policy, while the incidence of undereducation continues to decline. Furthermore, workers’ economic position is not completely determined by their educational levels. Working experience also plays an important role in workers’ job placement and their wages. Workers with relatively less working experience are more likely to be overeducated, while workers with relatively more working experience are more likely to be undereducated. Overeducated (Undereducated) workers would earn more (less) than their co-workers with adequate education but less (more) than the workers having the same educational level with adequate education for jobs. However, the rewards (penalties) to adequate education and overeducation (undereducation) decline as more experience accumulated. Evidence also shows effect of bumping down from overeducation on the wages and employment of lower educated workers.

Room-temperature flexible thin film transistor with high mobility

Hsiao-Hsuan Hsu,Chun-Yen Chang,Chun-Hu Cheng 한국물리학회 2013 Current Applied Physics Vol.13 No.7

We report a room-temperature and high-mobility InGaZnO thin-film transistor on flexible substrate. To gain both high gate capacitance and low leakage current, we adopt stacked dielectric of Y2O3/TiO2/Y2O3. This flexible IGZO TFT shows a low threshold voltage of 0.45 V, a small sub-threshold swing of 0.16 V/decade and very high field-effect mobility of 40 cm2/V. Such good performance is mainly contributed by improved gate stack structure and thickness modulation of IGZO channel that reduce the interface trap density without apparent mobility degradation.

Low power resistive random access memory using interfaceengineered dielectric stack of SiOx/a-Si/TiOy with 1D1R-like structure

Chun-Hu Cheng,K.I. Chou,Zhi-Wei Zheng,Hsiao-Hsuan Hsu 한국물리학회 2014 Current Applied Physics Vol.14 No.1

In this study, we report a resistive random access memory (RRAM) using trilayer SiOx/a-Si/TiOy film structure. The low switching energy of <10 pJ, highly uniform current distribution (<13% variation), fast 50-ns speed and stable cycling endurance for 106 cycles are simultaneously achieved in this RRAM device. Such good performance can be ascribed to the use of interface-engineered dielectric stack with 1D1R-like structure. The SiOx tunnel barrier in contact with top Ni electrode to form diode-like rectifying element not only lowers self-compliance switching currents, but also improves cycling endurance, which is favorable for the application of high-density 3D memory.

Lattice Relations and Solidification of the Complex Regular Eutectic (Cr,Fe)-(Cr,Fe)23C6

Hsuan-Han Lai,Chih-Chun Hsieh,Chi-Ming Lin,Weite Wu 대한금속·재료학회 2017 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.23 No.3

The eutectic (Cr,Fe)-(Cr,Fe)23C6 showed a triaxial fishbone structure and could be categorized as a “complexregular structure”. In this study, the lattice relations of the fishbone (Cr,Fe)23C6 were examined and the solidificationprocess was observed using a transmission electron microscope and a confocal laser scanning microscope. Forone of the three fish bones in a eutectic cell, parallel (Cr,Fe)23C6 lamellas at one side of the spine had the samelattice direction, as did those in the (Cr,Fe) phase. The lattices of neighboring (Cr,Fe)23C6 and (Cr,Fe) phases werenot coherent. Lamellar (Cr,Fe)23C6 on opposite sides of a spine had different lattice directions, and their latticeboundary was in the spine. By using the confocal laser scanning microscope, the solidification of lamellar eutecticstructure could be observed. At the low cooling rate of 5oC·min-1, parallel lamellas would grow thick blocksinstead of thin plates. To obtain a thin lamellar eutectic structure, the cooling rate should be higher, likethe rate in welding.

A Novel Single-Stage LED Driver with Coupled Inductors and Interleaved PFC

Chun-An Cheng,Chien-Hsuan Chang,Hung-Liang Cheng,Ching-Hsien Tseng 전력전자학회 2015 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2015 No.6

This paper proposes a novel single-stage lightemitting diode (LED) driver with coupled inductors and interleaved power-factor correction (PFC), suitable for streetlight applications. The presented LED driver integrates an interleaved boost PFC converter with coupled inductors and a half-bridge-type series-resonant converter cascaded with a full-bridge rectifier into a single-stage power-conversion circuit. Coupled inductors inside the interleaved boost PFC converter sub-circuit are designed to operate in discontinuous-conduction mode (DCM) for achieving input-current shaping, and the half-bridge-type series-resonant converter cascaded with a full-bridge rectifier is designed for obtaining zero-voltage switching (ZVS) on two power switches to reduce their switching losses. Analysis of operational modes and design equations for the presented LED driver are described and included. In addition, the proposed driver features high power factor, low total-harmonic distortion (THD) of input current and soft-switching. Finally, a prototype 165W-rated LED driver is developed and tested with a utility-line input voltage of 110V. Satisfactory outcomes from experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed circuit.

A Single-Stage LED Tube Lamp Driver with Input-Current Shaping for Energy-Efficient Indoor Lighting Applications

Chun-An Cheng,Chien-Hsuan Chang,Hung-Liang Cheng,Tsung-Yuan Chung,Ching-Hsien Tseng,Kuo-Ching Tseng 전력전자학회 2016 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.16 No.4

This study proposes a single-stage light-emitting diode (LED) tube lamp driver with input-current shaping for T8/T10-type fluorescent lamp replacements. The proposed AC–DC LED driver integrates a dual-boost converter with coupled inductors and a half-bridge series-resonant converter with a bridge rectifier into a single-stage power conversion topology. This paper presents the operational principles and design considerations for one T8-type 18 W-rated LED tube lamp with line input voltages ranging from 100 V rms to 120 V rms. Experimental results for the prototype driver show that the highest power factor (PF = 0.988), lowest input current total harmonic distortion (THD = 7.22%), and highest circuit efficiency (η = 92.42%) are obtained at an input voltage of 120 V. Hence, the proposed driver is feasible for use in energy-efficient indoor lighting applications.

Health Care Utilization and Expenditures of Patients with Diabetes Comorbid with Depression Disorder: A National Population-Based Cohort Study

Chun-Jen Huang,Hui-Min Hsieh,Herng-Chia Chiu,Peng-Wei Wang,Mei-Hsuan Lee,Chih-Yi Li,Ching-Hua Lin 대한신경정신의학회 2017 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.14 No.6

Objective: The study investigated to compare health care utilization and expenditures between diabetic patients with and without depression in Taiwan. Methods: Health care utilization and expenditure among diabetic patients with and without depression disorder during 2000 and 2004 were examined using Taiwan’s population-based National Health Insurance claims database. Health care utilization included outpatient visits and the use of inpatient services, and health expenditures were outpatient, inpatient, and total medical expenditures. Moreover, general estimation equation models were used for analyzing the factors associated with outpatient visits and expenditures. Multiple logistic regression analysis was applied for identifying the factors associated with hospitalization. Results: The average annual outpatient visits and annual total medical expenditures in the study period were 44.23–52.20; NT$87,496–133,077 and 30.75–32.92; NT$64,411–80,955 for diabetic patients with and without depression. After adjustment for covariates, our results revealed that gender and complication were associated with out-patient visits. Moreover, the time factor was associated with the total medical expenditure, and residential urbanization and complication factors were associated with hospitalization. Conclusion: Health care utilization and expenditures for diabetic patients with depression were significantly higher than those without depression. Sex, complications, time, and urbanization are the factors associated with health care utilization and expenditures.

Effects of Vanadium Content on the Microstructure and Dry Sand Abrasive Wear of a Eutectic Cr-Fe-C Hardfacing Alloy

Hsuan-Han Lai,Chih-Chun Hsieh,Chi-Ming Lin,Weite Wu 대한금속·재료학회 2016 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.22 No.1

In this study, the effects of vanadium on the morphology and wear behavior of a eutectic Cr-Fe-C hardfacing alloy were discussed. The alloys tested contained different amounts of vanadium, ranging from 0 to 2.39 wt%. A fibrous V4C3 was found when the alloy contained 0.93 wt% vanadium. The addition of vanadium was found to decrease the fraction of eutectic M23C6 and increase the width of the interspaces between the eutectic cells. The DTA results revealed that V4C3 formed just before the eutectic α+M23C6 during solidification. The surface hardness was shown to increase with increasing vanadium content, which also caused the hardness deviation and wear loss to decrease; however, the addition of vanadium was not shown to affect the hardness of eutectic α+M23C6. The V4C3 could be scratched off during the wear test due to the increase in the width of the interspaces between the eutectic cells; therefore, the alloys that contained 0.93 and 2.39 wt% vanadium exhibited similar wear loss results.

A Single-Stage LED Tube Lamp Driver with Input-Current Shaping for Energy-Efficient Indoor Lighting Applications

Cheng, Chun-An,Chang, Chien-Hsuan,Cheng, Hung-Liang,Chung, Tsung-Yuan,Tseng, Ching-Hsien,Tseng, Kuo-Ching The Korean Institute of Power Electronics 2016 JOURNAL OF POWER ELECTRONICS Vol.16 No.4

This study proposes a single-stage light-emitting diode (LED) tube lamp driver with input-current shaping for T8/T10-type fluorescent lamp replacements. The proposed AC-DC LED driver integrates a dual-boost converter with coupled inductors and a half-bridge series-resonant converter with a bridge rectifier into a single-stage power conversion topology. This paper presents the operational principles and design considerations for one T8-type 18 W-rated LED tube lamp with line input voltages ranging from 100 V rms to 120 V rms. Experimental results for the prototype driver show that the highest power factor (PF = 0.988), lowest input current total harmonic distortion (THD = 7.22%), and highest circuit efficiency (η = 92.42%) are obtained at an input voltage of 120 V. Hence, the proposed driver is feasible for use in energy-efficient indoor lighting applications.