Automotive 2.1 μm Full-Depth Deep Trench Isolation CMOS Image Sensor with a 120 dB Single-Exposure Dynamic Range.

An automotive 2.1 μm CMOS image sensor has been developed with a full-depth deep trench isolation and an advanced readout circuit technology. To achieve a high dynamic range, we employ a sub-pixel structure featuring a high conversion gain of a large photodiode and a lateral overflow of a small photodiode connected to an in-pixel storage capacitor.

Public interest in the digital transformation accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and perception of its future impact.

Background/aims: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has accelerated digital transformation (DT). We investigated the trend of the public interest in technologies regarding the DT and Koreans' experiences and their perceptions of the future impact of these technologies.

Methods: Using Google Trends, the relative search volume (RSV) for topics including "coronavirus," "artificial intelligence," "cloud," "big data," and "metaverse" were retrieved for the period from January 2020 to January 2022.

Single-Layered Microfluidic Network-Based Combinatorial Dilution for Standard Simplex Lattice Design.

In this paper, we presented a straightforward strategy to generate 15 combinations of three samples based on an experimental simplex lattice design using a single-layer microfluidic network. First, we investigated the performances of the plain structural and the groove structural combinatorial devices by computational simulation (CFD-ACE+). The simulated output concentrations were extremely close to the desirable values within an absolute error of less than 1%.

Boronate-functionalized hydrogel as a novel biosensing interface for the glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA) based on the competitive binding with signaling glycoprotein.

According to recent increases in public healthcare costs associated with diabetes mellitus, the development of new glycemic monitoring techniques based on the biosensing of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA), a promising long-term glycemic biomarker, has become a major challenge. In the development of HbA biosensors for point-of-care applications, the selection of an effective biorecognition layer that provides a high reaction yield and specificity toward HbA is regarded as the most significant issue. To address this, we developed a novel HbA biosensing interfacial material by the integration of boronate hydrogel with glass fiber membrane.

Simultaneous detection of duplex DNA oligonucleotides using a SERS-based micro-network gradient chip.

We report the development of a programmable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based micro-network gradient platform to simultaneously detect two different types of DNA oligomer mixtures. The utility of this platform was demonstrated by quantitative analysis of two breast cancer-related (BRCA1) DNA oligomer mixtures. To generate on-demand concentration gradients, the microfluidic circuit was designed using an electric-hydraulic analogy.

SERS-based immunoassay using a gold array-embedded gradient microfluidic chip.

Here we report the development of a programmable and fully automatic gold array-embedded gradient microfluidic chip that integrates a gradient microfluidic device with gold-patterned microarray wells. This device provides a convenient and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS)-based immunoassay platform for cancer biomarkers. We used hollow gold nanospheres (HGNs) as SERS agents because of their highly sensitive and reproducible characteristics.

Gravity-oriented microfluidic device for uniform and massive cell spheroid formation.

We propose a simple method for forming massive and uniform three-dimensional (3-D) cell spheroids in a multi-level structured microfluidic device by gravitational force. The concept of orienting the device vertically has allowed spheroid formation, long-term perfusion, and retrieval of the cultured spheroids by user-friendly standard pipetting. We have successfully formed, perfused, and retrieved uniform, size-controllable, well-conditioned spheroids of human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK 293) in the gravity-oriented microfluidic device.

Design of pressure-driven microfluidic networks using electric circuit analogy.

This article reviews the application of electric circuit methods for the analysis of pressure-driven microfluidic networks with an emphasis on concentration- and flow-dependent systems. The application of circuit methods to microfluidics is based on the analogous behaviour of hydraulic and electric circuits with correlations of pressure to voltage, volumetric flow rate to current, and hydraulic to electric resistance. Circuit analysis enables rapid predictions of pressure-driven laminar flow in microchannels and is very useful for designing complex microfluidic networks in advance of fabrication.

Droplet-based microfluidic device for multiple-droplet clustering.

We present a multiple-droplet clustering device that can perform sequential droplet trapping and storing. Shape-dependent droplet manipulation in forward and backward flows has been incorporated to achieve high trapping and storing efficiency in a 10 × 12 array of clustering structures (e.g.

Parallel synchronization of two trains of droplets using a railroad-like channel network.

We present a simple method of water-in-oil droplet synchronization in a railroad-like channel network. The network consisted of a top channel, a bottom channel, and ladder-like channels interconnected between the two main channels. The presence of the pressure difference between the top and bottom channels resulted in the crossflow of carrier oil through the ladder network until the pressure in each channel was balanced automatically.

Guiding, distribution, and storage of trains of shape-dependent droplets.

We present a simple method of guiding, distributing, and storing of a train of shape-dependent droplets by using side flows, cavity guiding tracks, and storage chambers. The squeezing flow makes a train of flattened droplets to align to one side of the wall and the pushing flow guides it to one of the designated guiding tracks. Then the guided droplets move along the guiding track due to the lowered surface energy when they flow along the track.

On-demand electrostatic droplet charging and sorting.

This study reports a droplet-based microfluidic device for on-demand electrostatic droplet charging and sorting. This device combines two independent modules: one is a hydrodynamic flow focusing structure to generate water-in-oil droplets, and the other is the two paired-electrodes for charging and sorting of the droplets. Depending on the polarity on charging electrodes, water-in-oil droplets can be electrostatically charged positively or negatively, followed by automatic real-time electric sorting.

2-layer based microfluidic concentration generator by hybrid serial and volumetric dilutions.

We present a 2-layer based microfluidic concentration generator by a hybrid of a serial and a volumetric dilution for dose-response experiments in drug screening. The hybrid dilution method using 2-layer based microfluidic network significantly reduces the total number of cascaded serial dilution stages. The proposed strategy is capable of generating a large number of universal stepwise monotonic concentrations with a wide range of logarithmic and linear scales.

Generalized serial dilution module for monotonic and arbitrary microfluidic gradient generators.

In this paper, we propose a generalized serial dilution module for universal microfluidic concentration gradient generators including N cascaded-mixing stages in a stepwise manner. Desired concentrations were generated by means of controlled volumetric mixing ratios of two merging solutions in each stage. The flow rates were adjusted by controlling channel length, which is proportional to fluidic resistance in each channel.

Concurrent droplet charging and sorting by electrostatic actuation.

This paper presents a droplet-based microfluidic device for concurrent droplet charging and sorting by electrostatic actuation. Water-in-oil droplets can be charged on generation by synchronized electrostatic actuation. Then, simultaneously, the precharged droplets can be electrostatically steered into any designated laminar streamline, thus they can be sorted into one of multiple sorting channels one by one in a controlled fashion.

A serial dilution microfluidic device using a ladder network generating logarithmic or linear concentrations.

In this paper, we propose a serial dilution microfluidic chip which is able to generate logarithmic or linear step-wise concentrations. These concentrations were generated via adjustments in the flow rate of two converging fluids at the channel junctions of the ladder network. The desired dilution ratios are almost independent of the flow rate or diffusion length of molecules, as the dilution device is influenced only by the ratio of volumetric flow rates.

Multi-well chip for forming a uniform embryoid body in a tiny droplet with mouse embryonic stem cells.

A multi-well chip (MWC) is described by which mouse embryonic carcinoma (EC) stem cells form a comparatively more rapid and uniform embryoid body (EB) over the conventional hanging drop (HD) method. The newly developed MWC consists of an array of extruded through-holes, each of which holds a droplet of the cell suspension. The study found that the small curvature radius of the droplet in the MWC improved the EB formation rate of a hanging drop from 70% to 98%.

Novel platform for minimizing cell loss on separation process: Droplet-based magnetically activated cell separator.

To reduce the problem of cell loss due to adhesion, one of the basic phenomena in microchannel, we proposed the droplet-based magnetically activated cell separator (DMACS). Based on the platform of the DMACS-which consists of permanent magnets, a coverslip with a circle-shaped boundary, and an injection tube-we could collect magnetically (CD45)-labeled (positive) cells with high purity and minimize cell loss due to adhesion. To compare separation efficiency between the MACS and the DMACS, the total number of cells before and after separation with both the separators was counted by flow cytometry.

MobileNurse: hand-held information system for point of nursing care.

Healthcare information travels with patients and clinicians and therefore the need for information to be ubiquitously available is key to reliable patient care and reliable medical systems. We have implemented MobileNurse, a prototype point-of-care system using PDA. MobileNurse has four modules each of which performs: (1) patient information management; (2) medical order check; (3) nursing recording; and (4) nursing care plan.

The knowledge modeling for chronic urticaria assessment in clinical decision support system with PDA.

The benefits of a clinical information system would be enhanced by a clinical decision support system (CDSS). We have developed urticaria diagnosis knowledge model for clinical practice. In order to construct a more accurate, evidenced-based and comprehensive knowledge base for urticaria, we arranged and integrated knowledge from literatures-based knowledge, as provided by; The Korean Academy of Asthma and Allergy [1], the American Allergy Association based on an algorithm of chronic urticaria assessment.