Improved shape evolution of copper interconnects prepared by jet-stream etching

In the preparation of copper interconnects in the conductor pattern of a printed circuit board (PCB), wet etching processes are commonly adopted for creating patterns of high-density interconnects. Currently available techniques of immersion and spray etching could lead to poorly shaped wires due to complex flow fields or the disturbing puddling effect. A modified technique of arrayed jet-stream etching was developed in this work, aiming at producing well-defined copper interconnects on a PCB in a significantly shorter time. The results were appealing in that copper interconnects of 35/140 μm (thickness/width) exhibiting etching factors of greater than 6 were obtained in 20 s, much better than the conventional ones with etching factors of 3 to 5 and etching times of at least 2 min. In addition, uniformly etched copper interconnects with less than 20 μm undercuts were observed on one etching line. One additional point to note is that no banking agents or inhibitors as commonly seen in conventional etching techniques were needed in this new processing method.     

生物滞留系统对城市公路径流的治理作用 有无内部蓄水层设计的对比研究

研究评价了两种生物滞留系统对于综合公路径流的治理作用。该实验位于炎热干旱的德州布赖恩市德州农工大学（TAMU）河滨校区,实验者制作了5个大型的生态滞留装置,以便于在底部形成61cm深的内部蓄水（IWS）层,分别对有无内部蓄水层设计的生物滞留系统进行了模拟真实径流水量和水质的合成公路径流测试。比较结果表明,内部蓄水（IWS）层能减少洪峰流量、延长径流滞留时间,同时还显著提高了对铜、悬浮固体以及氮和磷的去除效果。尽管内部蓄水层改善了公路径流的治理,但在炎热干旱地区使用内部蓄水层持水仍面临巨大挑战,因为大量的水会通过蒸发而散失掉。接下来的研究需要制定关于内部蓄水层在炎热干旱地区应用的进一步方针。     

New indole–carbazole hybrids as glass-forming high-triplet-energy materials

New indole–carbazole hybrids are reported as glass-forming high-triplet-energy materials. They were synthesized by the tandem addition–elimination–(Michael) addition reaction of 9-ethyl-9H-carbazole-3-carbaldehyde with 1H-indole or 2-phenyl-1H-indole followed by alkylation with the different agents. The synthesized compounds exhibit moderate thermal stabilities with 5% weight loss temperatures ranging from 281 to 308 °C. Their glass transition temperatures are in the range of 89–143 °C. Most of the new indole–carbazole hybrids in dilute solutions exhibit high triplet energies (2.97–2.99 eV).     

气动齿轮马达泄漏量的计算研究

由于气动齿轮马达具有许多优点,在工程中广泛应用。根据齿轮式气动马达的结构和工作原理,按照流体力学方法推导了气动齿轮马达的径向泄漏耗气量和轴向泄漏耗气量,对一种锚杆钻机使用的气动齿轮马达进行了泄漏量计算。     

Characterization of the Ultrathin HfO2 and Hf-Silicate Films Grown by Atomic Layer Deposition

The physical properties of HfO₂ and Hf-silicate layers grown by the atomic layer chemical vapor deposition are characterized as a function of the Hf concentration and the annealing temperature. The peaks of Fourier transform infrared spectra at 960, 900, and 820 cm_-1 originate from Hf-O-Si chemical bonds, revealing that a Hf-silicate interfacial layer began to form at the HfO₂/SiO ₂ interface after post deposition annealing process at 600 degC for 1 min. Moreover, the intensity of the peak at 750 cm^-1 can indicate the degree of crystallization of HfO₂. The formed Hf-silicate layer between HfO² and SiO² is also confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy     

High Risk of Viral Reactivation in Hepatitis B Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

HBV reactivation (HBVr) can occur in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and negative patients. Here, we determined the incidence of HBVr and its related hepatitis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). From 2000 to 2017, 3307 SLE cases were retrospectively reviewed for episodes of hepatitis. The incidence, long-term outcomes and risk factors associated with HBVr, including HBsAg reverse seroconversion (RS) were analyzed. Among them, 607 had available HBsAg status. Fifty-five (9.1%) patients were positive for HBsAg and 63 (11.4%) were HBsAg-negative/antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc)-positive (resolved hepatitis B infection, RHB). None of them received antiviral prophylaxis before immunosuppressive treatment. During a mean 15.4 years of follow-up, 30 (54.5%) HBsAg-positive patients developed HBVr and seven (23.3%) died of liver failure, whereas only two (3.2%) RHB cases experienced HBsAg reverse seroconversion (RS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age ≥ 40 years at diagnosis of SLE (HR 5.30, p < 0.001), receiving glucocorticoid-containing immunosuppressive therapy (HR 4.78, p = 0.003), and receiving glucocorticoid ≥ 10 mg prednisolone equivalents (HR 3.68, p = 0.003) were independent risk factors for HBVr in HBsAg-positive patients. Peak level of total bilirubin ≥ 5 mg/dL during HBVr was an independent factor of mortality (p = 0.002). In conclusion, the risk of HBVr was associated with glucocorticoid daily dose. Antiviral prophylaxis is mandatory for SLE patients diagnosed at age of ≥40 years who receive ≥ 10 mg daily dose of oral prednisone or equivalent.     

Structural and optical characterization of c-axis textured BaTiO<Subscript>3</Subscript> thin films on MgO fabricated by RF magnetron sputtering

In this paper, BaTiO₃ thin films were prepared by RF magnetron sputtering on MgO substrates and their properties such as the crystal structure and optical waveguide properties were investigated. The optimum deposition parameters, such as substrate temperature, deposition pressure, gas flow ratio, the RF power and the after annealing temperature, were obtained in order to get the best BaTiO₃ film quality. The XRD results show that highly c-axis textured BaTiO₃ thin films were successfully grown on MgO substrate. Films obtained under the optimum deposition parameters, substrate temperature of 650°C, RF power of 50 W, deposition pressure 18 mTorr and gas flow ratio O₂/(Ar+ O₂) of 15% namely, reaches a full width at half maximum intensity (FWHM) of BaTiO₃ (002) XRD peak of 0.25°. The FWHM of BaTiO₃ (002) XRD peak was further reduced to 0.24° via post-treatment with furnace annealing (at 800°C for 2 h) which indicates the film crystal quality is further improved. The bright and sharp TE modes measured by m-line spectroscopy of the BaTiO₃ film were observed indicating its possible application in optical waveguide.     

支持Internet上个性化信息重组与发布的Web挖掘关键技术的研究

Internet上个性化信息的重组与发布是Web个性化技术的一个重要组成部分,这一领域目前存在的主要问题是:并非没有信息重组和发布的工具,而是缺乏能够使这类工具高效工作的支持技术。本文提出一种将流数据处理技术引入Web点击流、IP地址流及页面文本流挖掘和分析过程,研究基于Web数据流挖掘的用户行为和需求分析方法;将本体和领域知识引入Web内容挖掘过程,研究领域知识指导下的Web内容挖掘方法;将基于Web数据流挖掘的用户行为和需求分析与领域知识指导下的Web内容挖掘相结合,研究Internet上Web信息模式和Web用户模型及其相互关系的建立;将上述研究成果应用于实际,以期达到高效地支持Internet上满足用户个性化要求的信息重组与发布的目的。     

Cross-Talk among Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils,Immune, and Non-Immune Cells via Released Cytokines,Granule Proteins,Microvesicles, and Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation: A Novel Concept of Biology and Pathobiology for Neutrophils

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are traditionally regarded as professional phagocytic and acute inflammatory cells that engulf the microbial pathogens. However, accumulating data have suggested that PMNs are multi-potential cells exhibiting many important biological functions in addition to phagocytosis. These newly found novel activities of PMN include production of different kinds of cytokines/chemokines/growth factors, release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET)/ectosomes/exosomes and trogocytosis (membrane exchange) with neighboring cells for modulating innate, and adaptive immune responses. Besides, PMNs exhibit potential heterogeneity and plasticity in involving antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), cancer immunity, autoimmunity, inflammatory rheumatic diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, PMNs may also play a role in ameliorating inflammatory reaction and wound healing by a subset of PMN myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC). Furthermore, PMNs can interact with other non-immune cells including platelets, epithelial and endothelial cells to link hemostasis, mucosal inflammation, and atherogenesis. The release of low-density granulocytes (LDG) from bone marrow initiates systemic autoimmune reaction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In clinical application, identification of certain PMN phenotypes may become prognostic factors for severe traumatic patients. In the present review, we will discuss these newly discovered biological and pathobiological functions of the PMNs.     

Microchannel geometry design for rapid and uniform reagent distribution

Rapid and uniform reagent distribution is critical to the performance of a high-throughput microfluidic system, and its geometric design of the microchannels dominates the accuracy and distribution uniformity of the daughter droplets. This research’s purpose is to optimize the geometry of the T-junction to achieve a uniform distribution of two daughter droplets from a single liquid droplet. Models of gas–liquid flow were realized in the transient numerical simulations to investigate the geometry-dependent pressure distributions and the flowing velocities inside the droplet during the splitting process that leads to an improved design of the T-junction that can increase the stability of the droplet splitting process. To validate that increasing the stability of the splitting process can help improve the distribution uniformity of the daughter droplets, microfluidic devices were manufactured on poly(methyl methacrylate) substrates with micromilling and thermal bonding for experiments. In the multiple experiments, 2 μl of reagent was loaded into the microfluidic device and a uniform pneumatic pressure was applied to push the droplet into the T-junction for splitting. The experimental results, after statistical analysis, show that the improved T-junction can achieve better distribution uniformity of the daughter droplets with a higher reliability and a less reagent loss during the splitting process.