Objective: We studied associations between jobtitle- based measures of force and repetition and incident carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Background: Job exposure matrices (JEMs) are not commonly used in studies of work-related upperextremity disorders. Method: We enrolled newly hired workers in a prospective cohort study. We assigned a Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code to each job…
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine reference physical performance values in older aging workers. Background: Cross-sectional physical performance measures were collected for 736 manufacturing workers to assess effects of work and nonwork factors on agerelated changes in musculoskeletal function and health. Method: Participants underwent surveys and physical testing that includ…
Herbarium genomics is proving promising as next-generation sequencing approaches are well suited to deal with the usually fragmented nature of archival DNA. We show that routine assembly of partial plastome sequences from herbarium specimens is feasible, from total DNA extracts and with specimens up to 146 years old. We use genome skimming and an automated assembly pipeline, Iterative Organe…
1. Using scripting languages such as R to perform population genetic analyses can improve the reproducibility of research, but usingRcan be challenging for many researchers due to its steep learning curve. 2. POPGENREPORT is a new R package that simplifies performing population genetics analyses in R, through the use of a new report-generating function. The function POPGENREPORT allows use…
The Barringtonia asiatica is a medium size tree commonly found in Car Nicobar Island known for its ichthyotoxic property. It grows on sandy and rocky shore areas and has lantern shaped seeds, locally called Kinyav used during the calm season in shallow and low tide waters for killing fishes, octopus, etc. At every successful operation they harvest about 1–3 kg and on the whole about 10–…
Research on bullying is an important avenue for understanding the social integration of students in special education. Focused on 3,305 students who self-reported victimization of two to three times per month or more, this study compared the pattern of verbal, relational, and physical bullying among students in general education and special education. Overall, students in special education repo…
The authors used data from the National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2; SRI International, 2000) to examine the aspects of self-determination assessed in NLTS2 and measurement equivalence and latent differences across the 12 disability categories recognized in the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA; 2004). NLTS2 included a direct assessment with items representing 3 of th…
Abstract—We present the design, fabrication, and optical characterization of silicon-air-silicon-based distributed Bragg reflectors, or quarter wavelength mirrors, in sizes ranging from 200 μm × 200 μm to 5 mm × 5 mm. Such mirrors can be used in conjunction with either single-element photodetectors or large-area focal plane arrays to realize tunable multispectral sensors or adaptive foca…
Abstract—This letter investigates the capillary filling in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels using 3-D printed molds to produce channels with circular cross sections. The circular cross sections are prevalent in biology and anatomy, yet they cannot readily be mimicked with existing soft-lithography techniques. The molds are printed directly from computer-aided design files, making rap…
Abstract—This paper investigates the crystallinity, microstructure, surface morphology, stress characteristics, and Young’s Modulus of ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) electron-beam (E-beam) evaporated silicon films with a low thermal budget. The films are evaporated at various substrate temperatures ranging from 200 °C–625 °C, deposition rates ranging from 50 to 400 nm/min, and annealed at 600 …
This article describes a follow-up analysis of findings from a randomized study that tested the efficacy of a blended version of Enhanced Anchored Instruction (EAI) designed to improve both the computation and problem-solving performances of middle school students with disabilities. The goals of the secondary analysis were to track overall error patterns of students in computing with fractions …
Abstract—We report on characterization of Si-to-Si contact microswitches fabricated in an ultraclean encapsulation process. This three-terminal microswitch relies on a curved beam (source) that actuates toward the contact terminal (drain) by charging the control terminal (gate). The operation range of this switch from −60 °C to 300 °C is investigated, which approximately yields a resistan…
Abstract—Several parameters associated with the configuration of a microliter aqueous droplet are determined by the electrical impedance measurements conducted during electrowetting. In each case, the wetted area of a dielectric-coated electrode is first determined from the impedance data, and the known dielectric thickness and permittivity. The wetted area data is then employed in a series …
Abstract—We propose a novel filter coupling scheme, which combines the merits of mechanically and electrically coupled methods to enable a well-defined narrow bandwidth and a decent stopband rejection in a CMOS-MEMS bandpass filter. In the proposed design, a previously developed free–free beam arrayed resonator is employed as a basic resonant tank for the filter concept validation. By the …
Abstract—The self-assembly of known good dies on hosting substrates using liquid surface tension is a promising technology to create highly integrated 3-D and heterogeneous microelectronic systems. In this paper, we investigate the effects of the edge structures of self-assembled chips on alignment accuracies. Nine types of 100-μm-thick Si chips (3 mm × 3 mm) with and without step geometrie…
Abstract—A vibrating micromechanical spoke-supported ring resonator employing a central peg-anchor, balanced non-intrusive quarter-wavelength extensional support beams, and notched support attachments attains high Q-factor in vacuum, posting 10 000 at 441 MHz when made of polysilicon structural material and 42 900 at 2.97 GHz when made of microcrystalline diamond. The latter marks the highes…
Abstract—This paper presents a highly sensitive tactile sensing array. Sensing elements of the array comprise multiwall carbon nanotubes and polydimethylsiloxane polymer. A novel lithography process is proposed for fabricating an SU-8 mold for shaping the sensing cells in the array. In addition, a nylon membrane filter is proposed to serve as a mold for numerous microdome patterns, which wer…
Abstract—A passive thermal micro-actuator with large area specific work and large displacement, fabricated of electroplated nickel on a silicon substrate is presented. The actuation relies on the thermal expansion of beams in a V-shaped geometry. Two V-shaped beam stacks are aligned opposite to each other and are coupled to a lever transmission. The actuator exhibits low energy losses due to …
Abstract—This paper reports on the successful demonstration of Ge/ZnS-based Fabry–Perot filters operating in the longwave infrared (LWIR). The suitability of thermally deposited Ge and ZnS as thin-film mirror materials for micromachined LWIR Fabry–Perot filters has been fully investigated, and it is shown that a film growth temperature higher than 150 °C is key to depositing durable ZnS …
Ancestrally, relatively attractive individuals and relatively formidable males may have had reduced incentives to be egalitarian (i.e., to act in accordance with norms promoting social equality). If selection calibrated one’s egalitarianism to one’s attractiveness/formidability, then such people may exhibit reduced egalitarianism (“observed egalitarianism”) and be perceived by others a…
While smiling enhances women’s facial attractiveness, the findings are inconclusive for men. The present study investigated the effect of smiling on male facial attractiveness for short- and long-term prospective partners using East Asian and European samples. In Experiment 1 (N ¼ 218), where female participants rated male facial attractiveness, the facilitative effect of smiling was present…
Abstract—The frictional characteristics of ∼62-μm diameter borosilicate glass balls used as rolling elements for a miniature electromagnetic linear actuator were assessed. The glass balls were placed between two silicon plates of the actuator with linear bearing tracks fabricated in the shape of V-grooves on the silicon surface. Rolling friction experiments were conducted using the electro…
Abstract—A multi-sensor flexible strip is developed for a urethral catheter to measure distributed pressure in a human urethra. The developed sensor strip has important clinical applications in urodynamic testing for analyzing the causes of urinary incontinence in patients. There are two major challenges in the development of the sensor. First, a highly sensitive sensor strip that is flexibl…
Abstract—SU8-based micromechanical structures are widely used as thermal actuators in the development of compliant micromanipulation tools. This paper reports the design, nonlinear thermomechanical analysis, fabrication, and thermal actuation of SU8 actuators. The thermomechanical analysis of the actuator incorporates nonlinear temperature-dependent properties of SU8 polymer to accurately mod…
Abstract—Digital micromirror device (DMD)-based grayscale lithography is a promising tool for 3-D photolithography of thick photoresists, because this technique provides a patterning solution for free-form 3-D microstructures. Among the numerous process parameters in DMD-based grayscale lithography, the exposure dose pattern corresponding to the grayscale mask pattern, the focal position in t…
Abstract—In this paper, we proposed a dual-mode intraocular pressure (IOP) sensor that has two separated diaphragms to conduct the changes of inductance and capacitance, and we compared the sensor’s performance with that of the conventional single variable capacitive sensor (single-mode sensor). Both mode sensors were used to monitor the pressure in in vitro tests with multiple media and in…
Abstract—Our research group previously developed an integrated micro-laser Doppler velocimeter only 2.8 × 2.8 mm in area and 1-mm thick by minimizing a number of components with multifunctional parts, such as a glass cover with lenses for hermetic sealing and laser collimation, a silicon base for casing, a mirror mount, a laser diode bench, and others. In this paper, by applying a fast Fouri…
Abstract—The first- and second-order temperature coefficients and the total temperature-induced frequency deviation of degenerately n-type-doped silicon resonators are modeled. Modeling is based on finite element modelling-based sensitivity analysis of various resonator geometries combined with the experimental results on doping-dependent elastic constants of n-type-doped silicon. The analysi…
Abstract—To date, many vibration-based sensing modalities have relied upon monitoring small shifts in the natural frequency of a system to detect structural changes (e.g., in mass or stiffness), which are attributable to the chemical or biological species, or other phenomena, that are being measured. Often, this approach carries significant signal processing expense due to the presence of el…
Abstract—The scanning probe microscope has revolutionized our ability to image and characterize the physical and chemical properties of material with atomic resolution. It has evolved as a versatile instrument for nanofabrication including atomic deposition, nanolithography, nanomachining, atomic manipulation, and assembly. However, in order to enable practical nanofabrication with scanning …
Abstract—In this paper, we present the fabrication and test results of an oxide-coated polysilicon disk resonator gyroscope in a wafer-scale encapsulation process. We demonstrate the effects of an oxide coating on the device structure and the key performance parameters of resonant-based sensors, such as the temperature coefficient of frequency and quality factor (Q). Results from the as-fabr…
Abstract—We present a technique for estimation of the model parameters for a single-mode vibration of symmetric micromechanical resonators, including the coefficients of conservative and dissipative nonlinearities. The nonlinearities result in an amplitude-dependent frequency and a nonexponential decay, which are characterized from the ringdown response. An analysis of the amplitude of the ri…
Abstract—This paper investigates in detail a micro scale in-plane gap closing electrostatic energy harvester with strong nonlinearities in squeeze-film damping, electromechanical coupling, and impacts on end-stops. The device shows softening response on increasing the bias voltage and saturation behavior on impact with end-stops at high enough acceleration amplitude. We demonstrate that a lu…
Abstract—This paper presents a wine-glass bulk mode disk resonator based on a novel transverse piezoelectric actuation technique to achieve bulk mode resonance of the single crystalline silicon disk structure. The device is fabricated in a commercial microelectromechnical systems (MEMS) process, and combines reasonable quality factor and superior motional resistance in a low-cost technology.…
Abstract—This paper presents the concept, basic theory, fabrication, and testing results of dual-electrode bimorph piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducers (pMUTs) for both air- and liquid-coupled applications. Both the theoretical analyses and experimental verifications under the proposed differential drive scheme display high drive sensitivity and an electromechanical coupling ene…
Abstract—This paper reports a novel infrared focal plane array (FPA) using SiNx/SiO2/SiNx sandwiched structure as the supporting frames for bimaterial cantilever pixels. The device was fabricated by a bulk silicon process, where a trench backfill technique was employed to form the SiNx/SiO2/SiNx sandwiched frames. By replacing the silicon frame with SiNx/SiO2/SiNx sandwiched frame, the fill f…
Abstract—This paper reports an acceleration sensing method based on two weakly coupled resonators (WCRs) using the phenomenon of mode localization. When acceleration acts on the proof masses, differential electrostatic stiffness perturbations will be applied to the WCRs, leading to mode localization, and thus, mode shape changes. Therefore, acceleration can be sensed by measuring the amplitud…
Abstract—This paper presents the implementation of an automated roll-to-roll fluidic self-assembly system based on the surface tension driven self-assembly with applications in the field of macroelectronics. The reported system incorporates automated agitation, web motion, component dispensing, and recycling. The process enables the assembly and electrical connection of semiconductor dies/chi…
Abstract—This paper demonstrates a new class of AlN-based piezoelectric resonators for operation in the microwave frequency range. These novel devices are identified as cross-sectional-Lamémode resonators (CLMRs) as they rely on the piezoelectric transduction of a Lamé mode, in the cross section of an AlN plate. Such a 2-D mechanical mode of vibration, characterized by motion along both the…
Abstract—This paper presents a novel tri-beam structured dog-bone resonance-mode micro-sensor, with a frequency readout piezoresistive Wheatstone-bridge independently located at the central beam for the detection of liquid-phase bio/chemical analyte. Compared with the conventional dual-beam dog-bone resonator, the tri-beam resonator has advantages in the elimination of signal feed-through an…
Abstract—This paper reports a three degree-offreedom (3DoF) microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) resonant sensing device consisting of three weakly coupled resonators with enhanced sensitivity to stiffness change. If one resonator of the system is perturbed by an external stimulus, mode localization occurs, which can be detected by a change of modal amplitude ratio. The perturbation can be,…
Abstract—In this paper, a smart pill for local drug delivery is presented. The pill is designed to achieve local therapy on gastrointestinal tissue thanks to a novel drug delivery system (DDS). The DDS consists of a miniature electrolytic pump. This microfabricated pump is ideal for medical applications because of its low power consumption, compatibility with small size batteries, integrabili…
Abstract—This paper presents a novel z-axis Lorentz force magnetometer coupled with a low-power readout integrated circuit. The sensor is fabricated using an industrial process, and exploits an Al-on-polysilicon multi-loop architecture that gives a five-fold sensitivity and resolution improvement, useful for off-resonance operation. The integrated readout is based on a differential charge amp…
Abstract—In this paper, the design and fabrication of a new radio frequency (RF) microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch structure is presented. This RF MEMS switch is developed to get the minimum permanent deformation on the microbridge after 200 °C thermal treatment. The residual stress-based buckling on the MEMS bridge is simulated for 5–40-MPa/μm stress gradient (σ) with 5-MPa/…
Abstract—In this paper, we design, fabricate, and validate a large-stroke 3-degree-of-freedom (DOF) positioning stage with integrated displacement sensors for feedback control in a single-mask microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) fabrication process. Three equal shuttles exactly define the position of the stage in x, y, and Rz. The kinematic relation between the shuttle positions and the sta…
Abstract—This paper reports a highly reliable electrostatic microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) relay for high-power switching applications. The main proposal to elevate reliability is to reduce thermal damage in the contact area. Since a contact resistance is the key parameter determining the amount of Joule-heating and the corresponding thermal damage, we devised a unique spring structur…
Abstract—This paper, the first of two parts, reports the design and fabrication of a fully integrated oven controlled microelectromechanical oscillator (OCMO). This paper begins by describing the limits on oscillator frequency stability imposed by the thermal drift and electronic properties (Q, resistance) of both the resonant tank circuit and feedback electronics required to form an electro…
Copping, Campbell, and Muncer (2014) have recently published an article critical of the psychometric approach to the assessment of life history (LH) strategy. Their purported goal was testing for the convergent validation and examining the psychometric structure of the High-K Strategy Scale (HKSS). As much of the literature on the psychometrics of human LH during the past decade or so has emana…
In light of previous research showing that different types of relationships affect levels of testosterone in men, this study examined whether categorizing relationship types according to relationship length can shed further light on variations in levels of testosterone. Salivary testosterone samples were obtained from a sample of men and details about their relationship status, sociosexual orie…
This analysis of previously collected data examined four fitness-relevant issues for their possible role in marital conflict. These were sex, finances, division of labor, and raising children, selected in light of their pertinence to sex differences in reproductive strategies. Over 2,000 couples in five diverse cultures were studied. Marital conflict was assessed by the Problems with Partner sc…