An optoelectrokinetic technique for programmable particle manipulation and bead-based biosignal enhancement.

Wang, Kuan-Chih,Kumar, Aloke,Williams, Stuart J,Green, Nicolas G,Kim, Kyung Chun,Chuang, Han-Sheng Royal Society of Chemistry 2014 Lab on a chip Vol.14 No.20

<P>Technologies that can enable concentration of low-abundance biomarkers are essential for early diagnosis of diseases. In this study, an optoelectrokinetic technique, termed Rapid Electrokinetic Patterning (REP), was used to enable dynamic particle manipulation in bead-based bioassays. Various manipulation capabilities, such as micro/nanoparticle aggregation, translation, sorting and patterning, were developed. The technique allows for versatile multi-parameter (voltage, light intensity and frequency) based modulation and dynamically addressable manipulation with simple device fabrication. Signal enhancement of a bead-based bioassay was demonstrated using dilute biotin-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) solutions mixed with streptavidin-conjugated particles and rapidly concentrated with the technique. As compared with a conventional ELISA reader, the REP-enabled detection achieved a minimal readout of 3.87 nM, which was a 100-fold improvement in sensitivity. The multi-functional platform provides an effective measure to enhance detection levels in more bead-based bioassays.</P>

Validation of the Chinese Version of the Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale

Kuan-Wei Huang,Pao-Yen Lin,Yu Lee,Yu-Chi Huang,Chi-Fa Hung,Sheng-Yu Lee,Chih-Ken Chen,Liang-Jen Wang 대한신경정신의학회 2022 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.19 No.7

Objective The Schizophrenia Cognition Rating Scale (SCoRS) is an interview-based assessment tool for evaluating the cognitive deficit and daily functioning of patients with schizophrenia.Methods Sixty-eight patients with schizophrenia and 68 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited to validate the Chinese version of SCoRS in this study. All participants underwent cognitive assessment using the SCoRS, which was verified by the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), and the UCSD Performance-based Skills Assessment, Brief Version (UPSA-B). Patients with schizophrenia were additionally assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).Results SCoRS ratings reported by patients (SCoRS-S), those reported by the interviewer (SCoRS-I), and SCoRS global scores (SCoRS-G) showed significant correlation with all subscales of the BACS and the UPSA-B. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, SCoRS-S, SCoRS-I, and SCoRS-G significantly differentiated patients with schizophrenia from healthy controls. Moreover, SCoRS-S and SCoRS-I ratings showed positive correlation with the negative symptoms and general symptoms of PANSS.Conclusion The Chinese version of SCoRS showed good discriminant, concurrent, and external validity, suggesting that it is a useful and convenient tool for assessment of cognitive function among Mandarin-speaking patients with schizophrenia in clinical practice.

Novel Turbo Receiver for MU-MIMO SC-FDMA System

Hung-Sheng Wang,Fang-Biau Ueng,Yu-Kuan Chang 한국전자통신연구원 2018 ETRI Journal Vol.40 No.3

Single carrier‐frequency‐division multiple access (SC‐FDMA) has been adopted as the uplink transmission standard in fourth‐generation cellular networks to facilitate power efficiency transmission in mobile stations. Because multiuser multiple‐input multiple‐output (MU‐MIMO) is a promising technology employed to fully exploit the channel capacity in mobile radio networks, this study investigates the uplink transmission of MU‐MIMO SC‐FDMA systems with orthogonal space‐frequency block codes (SFBCs). It is preferable to minimize the length of the cyclic prefix (CP). In this study, the chained turbo equalization technique with chained turbo estimation is employed in the designed receiver. Chained turbo estimation employs a short training sequence to improve the spectrum efficiency without compromising the estimation accuracy. In this paper, we propose a novel and spectrally efficient iterative joint‐channel estimation, multiuser detection, and turbo equalization for an MU‐MIMO SC‐FDMA system without CP‐insertion and with short TR. Some simulation examples are presented for the uplink scenario to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.

Novel Deadlock Control for Smartphone Manufacturing Systems Using Petri Nets

Yi-Nan Lin,Sheng-Kuan Wang,Gwo-Jen Chiou,Cheng-Ying Yang,Victor R. L. Shen,Tony Tong-Ying Juang,Ting-Jui Huang 제어·로봇·시스템학회 2022 International Journal of Control, Automation, and Vol.20 No.3

Currently, the marketing strategy in the manufacturing industry is becoming more and more competitive. Thus, the production efficiency becomes the main developing trend, which many people are now pursuing. However, the automatic production might cause resource conflicts and system deadlocks. In this study, Petri net models and analysis were used to effectively avoid deadlocks and to achieve the goal of lean production. The iPhone XS device developed by Apple is now a popular product. Consequently, this paper aims to describe its manufacturing system by using Petri net models. Meanwhile, the siphon property of Petri nets can be used to detect the deadlock in the manufacturing processes and to avoid it from occurring. Two simulation software tools, WoPeD and PIPE, were applied to conduct the experiments. The experimental results have indicated that our proposed approach is more feasible and acceptable than other existing ones.

Surgical Outcomes and Predictive Factors in Patients With Detrusor Underactivity Undergoing Bladder Outlet Obstruction Surgery

Ming-Syun Chuang,Yin-Chien Ou,Yu-Sheng Cheng,Kuan-Yu Wu,Chang-Te Wang,Yuan-Chi Huang,Yao-Lin Kao 대한배뇨장애요실금학회 2024 International Neurourology Journal Vol.28 No.1

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of bladder outlet surgery in patients with detrusor underactivity (DU) and to identify factors associated with successful outcomes.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of men diagnosed with DU in urodynamic studies who underwent bladder outlet surgery for lower urinary tract symptoms between May 2018 and April 2023. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, uroflowmetry (UFM), and multichannel urodynamic studies were administered. Successful treatment outcomes were defined as either an IPSS improvement of at least 50% or the regaining of spontaneous voiding in patients urethral catheterization prior to surgery.Results: The study included 93 male patients. Men diagnosed with significant or equivocal bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) experienced significant postoperative improvements in IPSS (from 20.6 to 6.0 and from 17.4 to 6.5, respectively), maximum urine flow rate (from 5.0 mL/sec to 14.4 mL/sec and from 8.8 mL/sec to 12.2 mL/sec, respectively) and voiding efficiency (from 48.8% to 86.0% and from 61.2% to 85.1%, respectively). However, in the group without obstruction, the improvements in IPSS and UFM results were not significant. The presence of detrusor overactivity (odds ratio [OR], 3.152; P=0.025) and preoperative urinary catheterization (OR, 2.756; P=0.040) were associated with favorable treatment outcomes. Conversely, an unobstructed bladder outlet was identified as a negative prognostic factor.Conclusions: In men with DU accompanied by equivocal or significant BOO, surgical intervention to alleviate the obstruction may enhance the IPSS, quality of life, and UFM results. However, those with DU and an unobstructed bladder outlet face a comparatively high risk of treatment failure. Preoperative detrusor overactivity and urinary catheterization are associated with more favorable surgical outcomes. Consequently, active deobstructive surgery should be considered for patients with DU who are experiencing urinary retention. Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of bladder outlet surgery in patients with detrusor underactivity (DU) and to identify factors associated with successful outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of men diagnosed with DU in urodynamic studies who underwent bladder outlet surgery for lower urinary tract symptoms between May 2018 and April 2023. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire, uroflowmetry (UFM), and multichannel urodynamic studies were administered. Successful treatment outcomes were defined as either an IPSS improvement of at least 50% or the regaining of spontaneous voiding in patients urethral catheterization prior to surgery. Results: The study included 93 male patients. Men diagnosed with significant or equivocal bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) experienced significant postoperative improvements in IPSS (from 20.6 to 6.0 and from 17.4 to 6.5, respectively), maximum urine flow rate (from 5.0 mL/sec to 14.4 mL/sec and from 8.8 mL/sec to 12.2 mL/sec, respectively) and voiding efficiency (from 48.8% to 86.0% and from 61.2% to 85.1%, respectively). However, in the group without obstruction, the improvements in IPSS and UFM results were not significant. The presence of detrusor overactivity (odds ratio [OR], 3.152; P=0.025) and preoperative urinary catheterization (OR, 2.756; P=0.040) were associated with favorable treatment outcomes. Conversely, an unobstructed bladder outlet was identified as a negative prognostic factor. Conclusions: In men with DU accompanied by equivocal or significant BOO, surgical intervention to alleviate the obstruction may enhance the IPSS, quality of life, and UFM results. However, those with DU and an unobstructed bladder outlet face a comparatively high risk of treatment failure. Preoperative detrusor overactivity and urinary catheterization are associated with more favorable surgical outcomes. Consequently, active deobstructive surgery should be considered for patients with DU who are experiencing urinary retention.

Molecular Recognition Enables Nanosubstrate-Mediated Delivery of Gene-Encapsulated Nanoparticles with High Efficiency

Peng, Jinliang,Garcia, Mitch André,Choi, Jin-sil,Zhao, Libo,Chen, Kuan-Ju,Bernstein, James R.,Peyda, Parham,Hsiao, Yu-Sheng,Liu, Katherine W.,Lin, Wei-Yu,Pyle, April D.,Wang, Hao,Hou, Shuang,Tse American Chemical Society 2014 ACS NANO Vol.8 No.5

<P/><P>Substrate-mediated gene delivery is a promising method due to its unique ability to preconcentrate exogenous genes onto designated substrates. However, many challenges remain to enable continuous and multiround delivery of the gene using the same substrates without depositing payloads and immobilizing cells in each round of delivery. Herein we introduce a gene delivery system, nanosubstrate-mediated delivery (NSMD) platform, based on two functional components with nanoscale features, including (1) DNA⊂SNPs, supramolecular nanoparticle (SNP) vectors for gene encapsulation, and (2) Ad-SiNWS, adamantane (Ad)-grafted silicon nanowire substrates. The multivalent molecular recognition between the Ad motifs on Ad-SiNWS and the β-cyclodextrin (CD) motifs on DNA⊂SNPs leads to dynamic assembly and local enrichment of DNA⊂SNPs from the surrounding medium onto Ad-SiNWS. Subsequently, once cells settled on the substrate, DNA⊂SNPs enriched on Ad-SiNWS were introduced through the cell membranes by intimate contact with individual nanowires on Ad-SiNWS, resulting in a highly efficient delivery of exogenous genes. Most importantly, sequential delivery of multiple batches of exogenous genes on the same batch cells settled on Ad-SiNWS was realized by sequential additions of the corresponding DNA⊂SNPs with equivalent efficiency. Moreover, using the NSMD platform <I>in vivo</I>, cells recruited on subcutaneously transplanted Ad-SiNWS were also efficiently transfected with exogenous genes loaded into SNPs, validating the <I>in vivo</I> feasibility of this system. We believe that this nanosubstrate-mediated delivery platform will provide a superior system for <I>in vitro</I> and <I>in vivo</I> gene delivery and can be further used for the encapsulation and delivery of other biomolecules.</P>