A timing controller embedded driver IC with 3.24‐Gbps eDP interface for chip‐on‐glass TFT‐LCD applications

This paper presents a timing controller embedded driver (TED) IC with 3.24‐Gbps embedded display port (eDP), which is implemented using a 45‐nm high‐voltage CMOS process for the chip‐on‐glass (COG) TFT‐LCD applications. The proposed TED‐IC employs the input offset calibration scheme, the zero‐adjustable equalizer, and the phase locked loop‐based bang‐bang clock and data recovery to enhance the maximum data rate. Also, the proposed TED‐IC provides efficient power management by supporting advanced link power management feature of eDP standard v1.4. Additionally, the smart charge sharing is proposed to reduce the dynamic power consumption of output buffers. Measured result demonstrates the maximum data rate of 3.24 Gbps from a 1.1 V supply voltage with a 7.9‐inch QXGA 60‐Hz COG‐LCD prototype panel and 44% power saving from the display system.     

Does RFID improve firms’ financial performance? an empirical analysis

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is viewed as a technology that improves supply chain efficiency by enhancing inventory efficiency, optimizing logistics, and coordinating the flow of materials. Although RFID has gained great attention in many business applications, the financial gain that accrues over time from RFID adoption is not well understood. We examine the effects of RFID on firm profits while adjusting for self-selection of adoption choice. We find that firms self-select into a certain adoption mode on the basis of their organizational characteristics. Our results also show that RFID confers significant benefits for firms that have adopted RFID. Interestingly, improved inventory ratio and sales efficiency begin to play a greater role in shaping higher profitability over time for firms that have adopted RFID possibly due to time-consuming processes for them to reap the benefits from RFID. However, we find that the values of RFID that accrue to firms are not universal across firm. That is, our results suggest that RFID confers a significant value for certain firms while it does not for other firms with unobservable disadvantages. In sum, our study sheds new light on what drives firms to adopt RFID and on which firms achieve higher financial performance in a post-adoption period as a result of RFID adoption.     

Preparation and optimisation of liposome‐in‐alginate beads containing oyster hydrolysate for sustained release

Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) hydrolysate shows antihypertensive effect in our previous study. Oral administration of oyster hydrolysate can loss bioactive peptides due to enzymatic degradation in vivo. To maximise its bioavailability, liposome‐in‐alginate (LA) beads were used to encapsulate the oyster hydrolysates to protect from degradation and obtain sustained release. The preparation conditions of the LA beads were optimised by response surface method using a model peptide of tyrosylalanine (YA). Their characterisation, swelling and release properties were investigated. The optimised conditions for the concentration of calcium chloride, sodium alginate and the amount of ethanol‐dissolved lecithin (EDL) were 0.5 m , 3% and 95.4 mg, respectively. The encapsulation efficiencies of YA and the oyster hydrolysate in the optimised condition were 74.9% and 84.3%, respectively. The release time of the oyster hydrolysate in the simulated gastrointestinal fluid was up to 16 h. The LA beads can be recommended to encapsulate oyster hydrolysate for bioavailability improvement.     

Low temperature curable epoxy siloxane hybrid materials for LED encapsulant

A thermally cured epoxy‐siloxane hybrid material that is curable at low temperature (L‐expoxy hybrimer) was investigated for use as an LED encapsulant. This new hybrimer was fabricated using thermally initiated, cationic polymerization of cycloaliphatic epoxy oligosiloxane (CAEO) resin, derived from non‐hydrolytic sol – gel, mixed with oxetane hardener in the presence of a hexafluoroantimonate‐type thermo‐cationic initiator. The L‐epoxy hybrimer was cured at a lower temperature (below 120 ° C) than previously reported for an epoxy hybrimer with anhydride hardener (above 180 ° C). The L‐epoxy hybrimer showed high thermal resistance to yellowing under long‐term high temperature condition, and maintained good optical transmittance. Also, it had a high refractive index (up to 1.57), as well as the hardness (Shore D 80), and low water‐vapor permeability, w hen the new hybrimer was used to encapsulate an LED, it showed good adhesion without cracks or delamination and maintained their initial performance after the long‐term aging tests (120 and 85 ° C at 85% humidity). © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 39968.     

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of novel phthalimide‐derived monoazo disperse dyes containing ester groups

The synthesis and spectroscopic properties of monoazo dye series, whose members consist of N‐alkylphthalimide diazo components combined with a coupling component containing two ester groups, are reported. Such colourants are potentially alkali‐clearable as a consequence not only of the presence of diester functionality on the coupler, but also through use of the base‐sensitive phthalimide system. Shortening the N‐alkyl group by removing one or two methylene units from a butyl chain made little difference to absorption properties, as would be expected given the relatively minor differences in inductive character produced. Shifts in the absorption maximum of the dyes associated with dibromination of the phthalimidylazo motif and its subsequent cyanodehalogenation were in agreement with theory and literature data for related series. Diester substitution on the coupling component brought about hypsochromism and hypochromism.     

高速钢刃具低温处理改性机理的研究

讨论了高速钢刃具低温处理改性的机理。从宏观机械性能的测定和微观组织结构和变化来观察分析，得知低温处理工件使用寿命成倍提高的主要原因在于其组织细化，从而获得韧性和耐磨性增强的结果，据此，在实用上，对新材料以微观组织是否细化来判定低温改性的可能性；以耐磨性（或韧性）的变化来预测改性程度。     

A comparative study of the analytical methods for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seafood by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

This study was performed to establish a rapid analytical method to determine the presence of fourteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in seafoods by high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC/FLD). The samples were prepared using two methods: the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, Safe (QuEChERS) method and the alkali digestion method. The QuEChERS method involved a convenient and effective solid–liquid extraction and a simple purification. The alkali digestion method was comprised of a liquid–liquid extraction after saponification with potassium hydroxide followed by purification. The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantification (LOQs) of the QuEChERS method ranged from 0.05 to 1.60 μg kg^?1, and those of the alkali digestion method ranged from 0.28 to 5.18 μg kg^?1. The repeatability for all target analytes was similar for the two methods, that is, 0.66–4.24% and 0.26–5.75% for the QuEChERS and alkali digestion methods, respectively. At analyte concentrations of 2.5–50 μg kg^?1, the recovery of the QuEChERS method ranged from 86.87% to 115.67% and that of the alkali digestion method ranged from 69.22% to 100.21%.     

Preparation and characterization of styrene/styryl–polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane hybrid copolymers

BACKGROUND: Organic–inorganic nanocomposites were prepared by copolymerization of various monomers and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) derivatives. Preliminary results showed that styrene/styryl–POSS copolymers could be obtained using CpTiCl₃ catalyst. In the work reported here, the copolymerization of styrene and styryl‐substituted POSS was studied in detail for a more effective catalyst, Cp*TiCl₃. RESULTS: The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the copolymers prepared increased with increasing POSS content. The degradation temperature (T_d) of the copolymers was 60 °C higher than that of syndiotactic polystyrene under nitrogen. Although the thermal properties were improved by incorporation of POSS, the catalytic activity decreased with POSS content. The racemic triad and syndiotactic index of the copolymers decreased with increasing POSS content. Gel permeation chromatograms of the copolymers exhibited multimodal distribution due to the presence of multi‐active centres, which were formed by interaction of Ti with the POSS siloxane linkage. CONCLUSION: With the incorporation of POSS, the thermal properties of polystyrene were improved. The styrene/styryl–POSS copolymers are formed through the various active sites arising from the interactions of Ti with POSS. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Novel azo dyes derived from phthalimide. Part 2: Dyeing properties and colour fastness on polyester fibres†

The coloration and fastness properties of 18 carbocyclic monoazo disperse dyes bearing a phthalimide ring fused to the aromatic ring of their diazo components have been investigated. In each case, the phthalimidyl nitrogen atom was substituted with either a butyl, sec‐butyl or isopropyl group, while the adjoined phenyl ring bore a substitution pattern typical of commercial colorants. Dye uptake and build‐up onto both conventional and microfibre polyester through exhaustion dyeing were examined: while the expected tendency of greater exhaustion on microfibre was noted, there were few clear trends with respect to dye structure. The nature of the N‐alkyl group made no consistent difference to dye uptake. Attempts to explain the observed percentage exhaustion values by mapping them to calculated partition coefficient or solubility parameter values were unsuccessful. Wash fastness tended to be best for blue dicyano‐substituted derivatives, which may be as a result in part of these substituents promoting hydrolysis of the adjacent phthalimide ring to give more soluble phthalate species. In contrast, the dicyano dyes had relatively poor photostability compared with their unsubstituted analogues.     

Assessment of the crack growth characteristics at the low corrosion fatigue limit of an A106 Gr b steel pipe weld

In the area of heavy construction, welding processes are vital in the production and maintenance of pipelines and power plants. The fusion welding process generates formidable welding residual stresses and metallurgical change, which increase the crack driving force and reduce the resistance of brittle fracture as well as environmental fracture. This is a serious problem with many alloys as well as A106 Gr B steel pipe. This pipe, used in petrochemical and heavy chemical plants, either degrades due to corrosive environments, e.g., chlorides and sulfides, and/or becomes damaged during service due to the various corrosion damage mechanisms. Thus, in this study, the sulfide corrosion fatigue strength of multi-pass welded A106 Gr B steel pipe was evaluated in a 5.0 wt.% NaCl solution that was saturated with H2S gas at room temperature on the basis of NACE TM 0177-90. The crack growth characteristics of the welded pipe were then assessed at the low limit of sulfide corrosion fatigue strength, which was previously obtained from the sulfide corrosion fatigue (SCF) tests. From the results, in terms of the SCF, all the specimens failed at the heat-affected zone, where a high welding residual stress distributes. It was found that the fatigue crack grew at the low corrosion fatigue limit (σ _{SCFun-notched}), which was 32 % (160MPa) of the ultimate tensile strength (502MPa) of the welded specimens.